Are you serious? If you put Drew Doughty on this team in Kieths spot he would be just as effective, and that's not taking away from keith, he's an excellent player but he's not light years ahead of every other defenseman, there is at least 10-15 right around where he is.
- Dcoms

Are you serious? If you put Drew Doughty on this team in Kieths spot he would be just as effective, and that's not taking away from keith, he's an excellent player but he's not light years ahead of every other defenseman, there is at least 10-15 right around where he is.
- Dcoms

- Ogilthorpe2

Greatest meme ever.

Actually no. Keith has an innate ability to log far more effective minutes than almost any other defensemen in the league, in my opinion, its what separates him from the pack.
- Bjm84

Says the homer with Blackhawk colored glasses. In your opinion the guy you watch play every game is better than the guy you rarely watch, oh what a surprise. I can say the same thing about Letang, but only because I watch him play every game of the season. You on the other hand who watch him play 1-2 times a year are going to do nothing but bash him. But Letang is to the Penguins what Keith is to the Blackhawks and what Doughty is to the Kings. The Kings are known as a deffensive team but their best defenseman doesn't log effective minutes, ok that makes sense?

- Ogilthorpe2

I'm going to borrow this, where do I send the commission check?

The Hawks have been paying about $300K of Rundblad's salary and the Coyotes picked up the balance.

Unless about 10 defenceman in the Hawks organization move to the KHL or quit to become missionaries in Africa, there isn't a way in hell Bowman even thinks about giving this joker $900K +. He will be in the Swedish league hauling down $85K with an Ikea endorsement contract.
- RickJ

There's always the chance they offer him BEFORE RFA. Like $750k or something.

Like I said, I know people hate on him AND I'm not a fan either. But I think Stanbow gives us all the one fingered salute and resigns him.

Says the homer with Blackhawk colored glasses. In your opinion the guy you watch play every game is better than the guy you rarely watch, oh what a surprise. I can say the same thing about Letang, but only because I watch him play every game of the season. You on the other hand who watch him play 1-2 times a year are going to do nothing but bash him. But Letang is to the Penguins what Keith is to the Blackhawks and what Doughty is to the Kings. The Kings are known as a deffensive team but their best defenseman doesn't log effective minutes, ok that makes sense?
- Dcoms

Letang is a slightly better Mike Green and neither is in the area code of Keith or Doughty. And I have watched him play extensively. Seems team Canada does too because he isn't even a consideration to play at the international level.

Says the homer with Blackhawk colored glasses. In your opinion the guy you watch play every game is better than the guy you rarely watch, oh what a surprise. I can say the same thing about Letang, but only because I watch him play every game of the season. You on the other hand who watch him play 1-2 times a year are going to do nothing but bash him. But Letang is to the Penguins what Keith is to the Blackhawks and what Doughty is to the Kings. The Kings are known as a deffensive team but their best defenseman doesn't log effective minutes, ok that makes sense?
- Dcoms

So because many folks, including those opinions in NHL circles, don't agree with you, that means they don't watch Doughty play?

It's not hard to watch every game Letang plays considering he plays half of them if he's lucky.

Says the homer with Blackhawk colored glasses. In your opinion the guy you watch play every game is better than the guy you rarely watch, oh what a surprise. I can say the same thing about Letang, but only because I watch him play every game of the season. You on the other hand who watch him play 1-2 times a year are going to do nothing but bash him. But Letang is to the Penguins what Keith is to the Blackhawks and what Doughty is to the Kings. The Kings are known as a deffensive team but their best defenseman doesn't log effective minutes, ok that makes sense?
- Dcoms

That outta take, what, three weeks of the season? Sorry...couldn't resist.

Says the homer with Blackhawk colored glasses. In your opinion the guy you watch play every game is better than the guy you rarely watch, oh what a surprise. I can say the same thing about Letang, but only because I watch him play every game of the season. You on the other hand who watch him play 1-2 times a year are going to do nothing but bash him. But Letang is to the Penguins what Keith is to the Blackhawks and what Doughty is to the Kings. The Kings are known as a deffensive team but their best defenseman doesn't log effective minutes, ok that makes sense?
- Dcoms

relative to their team you maybe right mr crosbyite...but that does not make them them equivalent players...and nobody is trashing letang

Says the homer with Blackhawk colored glasses. In your opinion the guy you watch play every game is better than the guy you rarely watch, oh what a surprise. I can say the same thing about Letang, but only because I watch him play every game of the season. You on the other hand who watch him play 1-2 times a year are going to do nothing but bash him. But Letang is to the Penguins what Keith is to the Blackhawks and what Doughty is to the Kings. The Kings are known as a deffensive team but their best defenseman doesn't log effective minutes, ok that makes sense?
- Dcoms

If Letang were as effective in his minutes as Keith was in his then perhaps the Penguins would be bowing out of the playoffs every year? Because you can bet Keith's minutes make the difference between winning and losing.

Just sayin' bro.

Nothing could be further from the truth. I enjoy the Chicago blog (fans very entertaining), but sometimes a comment is made that is pure fiction. Fowler was NEVER trade bait. EVER. Teams wanted him and were turned away. Once Lovejoy was traded (Fowler D partner last few years) for Despres, Fowler has never looked better. His defensive game has gotten only better. To suggest he's a "liability" is ludicrous. Even JJ acknowledges he's been very good.

Good luck Saturday. Predicted a 7 game series from the start. Time for the Ducks to put up or shut up as far as I'm concerned. Sure would love to have Keith on our team though.
- quackup

Anaheim bubbled BURST

http://www.nicholsonhocke...ade-talk-for-sabres-myers

Last night's game was absolutely HUGE for the Chicago Blackhawks, and I will tell you why. Until last night, ANA was the undisputed best team in the playoffs, not having lost a single game in regulation time, and often dominating teams for a full 60 minutes. Until last night ANA WAS the unstoppable object. Before last night, the Hawks were the only team in the playoffs giving the Ducks a hard time because of the massive character and talent on the Hawks, until last night the Hawks were the immovable object!

Then last night's game occurred and EVERYTHING in the Hockey Universe changed. The Ducks weren't just beat in regulation, the Hawks took the game to them basically only skating FOUR Defensemen! The penalties were not only even, but heavily in ANA's favour as they were given a goal that should not have counted, and were allowed to blatantly interfere and instigate skirmishes after the whistle without retribution. The fact is, for the first time in this series, the immovable object suddenly became the unstoppable force, and when the Hawks play like this (through all four of their incredibly deep lines), they are essentially unbeatable.

Over the last 2 years, the Ducks have lead playoff series 3-2, only to lose the final two games. Bruce Boudreau is a very good hockey coach, who has won championships in Jr. hockey and the AHL, but not in the NHL. In fact, Boudreau's teams are noted as starting fast, but not finishing. This season is the FIRST time that a Boudreau coached NHL team has made it to the conference finals. Up 3-2 to the Hawks, they got owned last night in CHI. The pressure is now ALL ON THE DUCKS and their HC to prove to anyone that they can win a conference championship. In a game where they had a chance to advance to the Cup finals, ANA's best players were their WORST! Getzlaf, Perry, Kesler, Beauchemin and Andersen were ALL BELOW AVERAGE when it counted the most! Why is that do you suppose? Just a coincidence?

The Blackhawks finally showed the Ducks that with a lineup that skates essentially 4 Defensemen, they can take the game to the Ducks for 60 minutes. That hasn't happened until last night and now the Ducks have something new to deal with, which is, what do we do to adjust to what the Hawks are doing!!! For the first time in the playoffs, what the Ducks were serving wasn't palatable and now they are thinking about the Hawks strengths, and not weaknesses. Add this to a team that simply DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO WIN THE BIGGEST GAMES and you have a serious problem in Anaheim right now!

For tomorrow night, the Hawks simply need to come out with 4 Defensemen, and play their game, and they will win. Yep, that's right, I am telling you (not even just suggesting it) that the Hawks will win. Because the combination of the Hawks character with now superior play is unbeatable. It won't matter what the Ducks do if the Hawks simply come out and play their own game again. The Blackhawks KNOW how to win the biggest games and the Ducks/Boudreau simply don't! Its Science!

If Letang were as effective in his minutes as Keith was in his then perhaps the Penguins would be bowing out of the playoffs every year? Because you can bet Keith's minutes make the difference between winning and losing.

Just sayin' bro.
- Bjm84

Letang is the new style "rover" type defensemen like Green, Leddy, Karlsson etc. Great offensively, great skaters, but not exactly defensive specialists.

A number of posters here suggested Crawford was also displaying this demeanor based on his body language. I expect Andersen to come out and play well and I hope the Hawk players do as well. While I think the Hawks will take the series it will require the full effort of all Blackhawk players, especially their best players.
- paulr

It will take the same type of effort like last night and then some. Crow was good last night IMO but he will have to be better overall with a stronger effort.

That outta take, what, three weeks of the season? Sorry...couldn't resist.
- MNHawk

There's always the chance they offer him BEFORE RFA. Like $750k or something.

Like I said, I know people hate on him AND I'm not a fan either. But I think Stanbow gives us all the one fingered salute and resigns him.
- MNHawk

All joking aside, Rundblad has no performance based bargaining power. He will be looking for a team to sign with in August and any offers coming his way will be at the NHL minimum. Hawks can't afford to spend an extra $400K over league salary minimum on this Swedish donkey.

Are you serious? If you put Drew Doughty on this team in Kieths spot he would be just as effective, and that's not taking away from keith, he's an excellent player but he's not light years ahead of every other defenseman, there is at least 10-15 right around where he is.
- Dcoms

Ha, name them. I will concede Doughty is probably closest

Are you serious? If you put Drew Doughty on this team in Kieths spot he would be just as effective, and that's not taking away from keith, he's an excellent player but he's not light years ahead of every other defenseman, there is at least 10-15 right around where he is.
- Dcoms

I would say doughty is better than keith. Keith is great, there's no doubt about it. He's top tier but I think (and this is my personal opinion) people can overhype him sometimes. He played a phenomenal game last night, and he's played really well these whole playoffs minus a few bad plays early early on in the post season.

If Corey Crawford plays above average on Saturday, the Hawks win Game 7.

I have zero doubts the Hawks best players (Toews, Kane, Saad, Seabrook, Keith) etc. will continue to be better than the Anaheim group.

- Ogilthorpe2

everyone ripping off the hawks twitter account today

Chicago Blackhawks @NHLBlackhawks · 15h 15 hours ago
Tonight's 3 Stars:

3. #KNEELBEFORESAAD
2. #SHOWTIME
1. #CHICAGORUNSONDUNCAN (ie Duncan Keith)

My guess is that Saad gets 3 years at $13.5 million.
- EKolb13

If I were Saad, I would definitely prefer a term friendly contract. 3 yrs would allow him to renegotiate in his prime and hopefully cash in on a long term, strong money contract. But money is money, and maybe in the short term he wants more. He can certainly get it, but hopefully we get to keep him.

If Corey Crawford plays above average on Saturday, the Hawks win Game 7.

I have zero doubts the Hawks best players (Toews, Kane, Saad, Seabrook, Keith) etc. will continue to be better than the Anaheim group.
- CaptainBlackhawk

imagine if someone like Richards or Sharp show up to play...

imagine if someone like Richards or Sharp show up to play...
- FourFeathers773

That's gravy so long as the best players are playing their best.

Says the homer with Blackhawk colored glasses. In your opinion the guy you watch play every game is better than the guy you rarely watch, oh what a surprise. I can say the same thing about Letang, but only because I watch him play every game of the season. You on the other hand who watch him play 1-2 times a year are going to do nothing but bash him. But Letang is to the Penguins what Keith is to the Blackhawks and what Doughty is to the Kings. The Kings are known as a deffensive team but their best defenseman doesn't log effective minutes, ok that makes sense?
- Dcoms

If you're seriously equating Kris Letang to Duncan Keith, I called you out in the blog. You don't watch nearly enough Western Conference hockey. Letang is a very good defenseman. Not as durable as Keith, not as well-rounded. 2 Norrises to 0.