Not what I said. Not what I said at all. The Hawks have gotten away with lots, but most of it within the flow of the game. The Ducks have gotten away with more...especially the after the whistle/away from the play nonsense that a physical team, who's stated objective is to beat the Hawks into submission, is more likely to attempt.

Cross-checking apparently no longer a penalty.
- Ogilthorpe2

seabrook has gotten away with a few of those. and look at any series. in the playoffs, rarely is that after the whistle stuff called, on any team. and it doesnt get called much in the regular season either.

Fixed.

If they called penalties in the playoffs like they do in the regular season, the Ducks would spen 1/2 of each game two men short.
- Ogilthorpe2

youre absurd.

You guys seen James Tanner's blog today: "Is Duncan Keith really 'A Warrior'?" Wow!

Well a beautiful day today huh fellas...

just catching up...and the latest is Kris Letang is the 2nd coming of Duncan Keith...? Hilarious...

No question a huge game on Saturday awaits. Hawks will need a big effort and you wonder how early Q goes to his 'nuclear option' of Toews and Kane? And yes to Runblad over KT.


As mentioned already the dogcrap officiating continued last night in a big way with the Ducks getting a ton of help from the zebras. And not just the noncalls, but all of the after the whistle garbage as well.

I think Steve mentioned they let a ton of stuff go and then called a ridiculous ticky tac foul on the Hawks there early in the third. The no call for interfering with Craw on the 2nd duck goal was a joke as well.

Hawks will have to find a way...but let's enjoy today...and take a breath before Saturday night.

if i can start my team today, with any d man, just for 1 year, and not taking into account contracts, im still taking shea weber. and just in advance, i know he hasnt won a cup.
- flyershockey

OK, that's def 1 guy I put in "class" with Keith. But Shea Weber has never done what Keith has done in these playoffs, this series, or last night. He's big, he's mean, he can shoot the hell out of the puck, but . . .

He said 10-15 guys are on par with Keith. Waiting.

JJ the last several blogs have been spot on, a little homer-ish but that is what we pay for. Also your responces to critics here and elsewhere have also been good. Nicely done! Heres hoping we get several more with the Hawks still in contention.

OK, that's def 1 guy I put in "class" with Keith. But Shea Weber has never done what Keith has done in these playoffs, this series, or last night. He's big, he's mean, he can shoot the hell out of the puck, but . . .

He said 10-15 guys are on par with Keith. Waiting.
- John Jaeckel

Everyone I think is as good, if not better than keith (no specific order)

doughty
karlsson (offensively)
weber
Giordano
Subban
Hedman


Players I think could be at keith's level in the not too distant future

OEL
Carlson
Josi
Ekblad
Faulk

Keith’s shot could be more accurate

-- I love the guy, but that is an understatement

Ducks will likely use their home advantage to much better results on faceoffs once again, that will be important. I fully expect Andersen to be a lot better than he has been the last couple games. As usual, getting by that Ducks forecheck quickly and establishing some zone time will be key. And it would be nice to see Sharp score once or twice.

This will be a great game, great finale for this amazing series. Has to be, both teams are too good to end it with a weak effort.

Everyone I think is as good, if not better than keith (no specific order)

doughty
karlsson (offensively)
weber
Giordano
Subban
Hedman


Players I think could be at keith's level in the not too distant future

OEL
Carlson
Josi
Ekblad
Faulk
- benjichronic

Decent list, I think there are a few more like Suter and McDonagh who are also in the picture, and some other young players who show the potential to be there in the not too distant future.

But.....all that being said, very few of those players listed are as good defensively as Keith. Some are closer than others, but none of them bring the complete game on both sides of the ice that he does.

And speaking strictly of defense, Keith may not be the best pure defenseman on the Hawks. That probably goes to #4.

Everyone I think is as good, if not better than keith (no specific order)

doughty
karlsson (offensively)
weber
Giordano
Subban
Hedman


Players I think could be at keith's level in the not too distant future

OEL
Carlson
Josi
Ekblad
Faulk
- benjichronic

Is that you Paul Holmgren?

You guys seen James Tanner's blog today: "Is Duncan Keith really 'A Warrior'?" Wow!
- meta_puck_luck

Where? Link?

OK. David Rundblad is better than Kris Letang.
- BreakoutHockey

This regular season:
Runblad +17
Letang +12

See Runblad is better!

Everyone I think is as good, if not better than keith (no specific order)

doughty
karlsson (offensively)
weber
Giordano
Subban
Hedman

- benjichronic

Judging from watching Keith much more often than all of the other guys, I would put him on par with Hedman, Doughty and that's it. Keith is better defensively than he is offensively IMO. The others have more “skill”, they can carry the puck in or make the plays in the o-zone which Keith can't or won't, but overall, right now, he is the man.

and they let go a faceoff violation late in the game that would have put the blackhawks down a man. i haven't seen any blackhawks fans mentioning that when criticizing the refs.
- nurk

If you went by the letter of the law it is questionable as it looks for deliberate hand passes not hitting the puck with your hand while holding the stick. For all the crap calls missed in this series and all of the playoffs that one is a stretch but could probably be argued.

Not in the same realm as a missed GI call resulting in a goal or a blatant elbow to the face resulting in a warning. Or the Stoner incident. yes there are misses on both ends but don't sit there and say its been even. At the end of the day, hockey fans including hawks fans should be used to payoff officiating. So on to Game 7.

Is that you Paul Holmgren?
- FourFeathers773

??

Judging from watching Keith much more often than all of the other guys, I would put him on par with Hedman, Doughty and that's it. Keith is better defensively than he is offensively IMO. The others have more “skill”, they can carry the puck in or make the plays in the o-zone which Keith can't or won't, but overall, right now, he is the man.
- stonefire

Hedman, doughty, gio, weber I'd say are all just as good as keith. Not a knock by any means, that's a hell of a crowd to be accompanied with.

If you went by the letter of the law it is questionable as it looks for deliberate hand passes not hitting the puck with your hand while holding the stick. For all the crap calls missed in this series and all of the playoffs that one is a stretch but could probably be argued.

Not in the same realm as a missed GI call resulting in a goal or a blatant elbow to the face resulting in a warning. Or the Stoner incident. yes there are misses on both ends but don't sit there and say its been even. At the end of the day, hockey fans including hawks fans should be used to payoff officiating. So on to Game 7.
- Vark37

Pretty sure you meant Playoff.......unless you are powerenforcer

Hedman, doughty, gio, weber I'd say are all just as good as keith. Not a knock by any means, that's a hell of a crowd to be accompanied with.
- benjichronic

Here is where your assessment is lacking

all of those guys, with the exception of Doughty have accomplished jack sh/t in the playoffs and none of those guys have raised their game at both ends of the ice like keith has come postseason play

Pretty sure you meant Playoff.......unless you are powerenforcer
- TheTrob

Your are correct sir.

Where? Link?
- TheTrob

He's joking

He's joking
- ehawk

Sorry, somehow missed the sarcasm.

Everyone I think is as good, if not better than keith (no specific order)

doughty
karlsson (offensively)
weber
Giordano
Subban
Hedman


Players I think could be at keith's level in the not too distant future

OEL
Carlson
Josi
Ekblad
Faulk
- benjichronic

doughty YES
karlsson (offensively) 1/2 DOESN'T COUNT, SORRY
weber NO
Giordano NO
Subban Meh, maybe some day
Hedman NO

How many of those guys skate this many minutes and play like Keith did last night at both ends? None, except maybe Doughty


Players I think could be at keith's level in the not too distant future

OEL MAYBE
Carlson Eh, MAYBE
Josi YES
Ekblad MAYBE
Faulk NEVER

Here is where your assessment is lacking

all of those guys, with the exception of Doughty have accomplished jack sh/t in the playoffs and none of those guys have raised their game at both ends of the ice like keith has come postseason play
- FourFeathers773

A lot of good dmen out there but to me the difference is Keith's ability to make elite D plays in both ends of the ice in the playoffs while logging crazy amounts of minutes while taking the best shots ANH and others can dish out. Don't see others being as capable as exhaustion sets in for others, both physical and mental, usually leads to lots of bad plays. Keith is not perfect and does make some blunders but not many and a lot of the time he is able to recover and fix it.

Sorry, somehow missed the sarcasm.
- TheTrob

Unfortunately his post probably can't be too far off for reality based on Tanners work

Understandable.

Everyone I think is as good, if not better than keith (no specific order)

doughty he is close
karlsson (offensively) it is a defensive position
weber excellent but no hardware
Giordano might of would of should of
Subban no
Hedman great player but no


Players I think could be at keith's level in the not too distant future

OEL ...
Carlson...
Josi...
Ekblad...
Faulk
- benjichronic

...All, Remains to be seen but not at this time

Lidstrom was a true phenom, and the benchmark for modern day d-men. You have to agree Keith is the best d-man the Hawks have iced since Chelios. Both of those guys have the hardware to show for it (be it well short of Niklas). Another Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy cements Duncs claim over all you listed, even without it only Drew has anything close to Keith and his trophy case has afeww empty spots.