Who are those teams this year?
- DarthKane

Tampa in my opinion, pretty good situation there, especially what Stevie Y has been able to resign guys for.

I'm not sure I want it to happen.

That line was magic last year - 53 goals 5X5 = 39% of the team's 5X5 goals. If they fall off at all....

They're down 17 goals already by losing Teravainen (9) and Shaw (8) - so those have to be made up + another 25 to get to about 2 goals 5X5 per game - that's 42 goals right there.

10 more each from Toews (11 last year) and Hossa (6 last year)? Maybe - that would replace Shaw and Teravainen - but if (because of splitting up PAK) some of that comes from a fall-off from Kane and Panarin....

Right now, it looks like Crawford and Darling are going to be under enormous pressure to give up 2 or less in every game.
- StLBravesFan

I believe this is the thing, and not necessarily a bad thing. Hawks proved they can win a lot of extra points in OT last year.

Crow and Darling need to be good, but they've proven they are, and the Hawks D is what will be the key.

I still think the D can be better than its ever been in any cup winning season.

Nothing wrong with winning games 3-2 and 2-1, and picking up an extra 10 pts in OT games.

Go this route, give one or two (not 5!) young guys experience, and work on the and if it looks like you don't have a legit shot without a LW, get one at the trade deadline.

Carcillo actually had a decent amount of skill when he wasn't being a complete idiot. TooToo not so much.
- bhawks2241

I know its not true, and I'm not taking the time to look it up, but in the few games I remember Hawks playing against Tootoo, it seemed like he scored a goal against them.

I can remember thinking, (think it was Detroit) "how can they let that guy score against them all the time"

I believe this is the thing, and not necessarily a bad thing. Hawks proved they can win a lot of extra points in OT last year.

Crow and Darling need to be good, but they've proven they are, and the Hawks D is what will be the key.

I still think the D can be better than its ever been in any cup winning season.

Nothing wrong with winning games 3-2 and 2-1, and picking up an extra 10 pts in OT games.

Go this route, give one or two (not 5!) young guys experience, and work on the and if it looks like you don't have a legit shot without a LW, get one at the trade deadline.
- vabeachbear

I think what makes this a bad thing is that while getting these extra points in the regular season can get you in the playoffs, when you get to the playoffs, and it's 5-on-5 instead of 3-on-3, are they gonna be good enough to win those games?

I think what makes this a bad thing is that while getting these extra points in the regular season can get you in the playoffs, when you get to the playoffs, and it's 5-on-5 instead of 3-on-3, are they gonna be good enough to win those games?
- tvetter

Bingo - great point. Another reason why the 3-on-3 is really a joke, it isn't a true reflection of the game played in the playoffs.
IF they kept the 1 point for ties, there would be different teams in the playoffs, and I bet the games would be better.

I think what makes this a bad thing is that while getting these extra points in the regular season can get you in the playoffs, when you get to the playoffs, and it's 5-on-5 instead of 3-on-3, are they gonna be good enough to win those games?
- tvetter

My point was more, they get into playoffs with the extra points from OTs. If the big gap is that 1LW, you get that guy at the trade deadline.

I myself, wouldn't trade a TVR for a 1LW right now, for a couple reasons;

1. I love the depth on D, its a strength, don't lose that, and
2. Mostly because I don't think TVR brings back a legit 1LW. I think he brings back a fringe guy, and I wouldn't lose my D depth for a fringe guy, they have enough of those already.

My point was more, they get into playoffs with the extra points from OTs. If the big gap is that 1LW, you get that guy at the trade deadline.

I myself, wouldn't trade a TVR for a 1LW right now, for a couple reasons;

1. I love the depth on D, its a strength, don't lose that, and
2. Mostly because I don't think TVR brings back a legit 1LW. I think he brings back a fringe guy, and I wouldn't lose my D depth for a fringe guy, they have enough of those already.
- vabeachbear

Agree with all of this. I think that IF they move any Dmen, it should be closer to the TDL.

My point was more, they get into playoffs with the extra points from OTs. If the big gap is that 1LW, you get that guy at the trade deadline.

I myself, wouldn't trade a TVR for a 1LW right now, for a couple reasons;

1. I love the depth on D, its a strength, don't lose that, and
2. Mostly because I don't think TVR brings back a legit 1LW. I think he brings back a fringe guy, and I wouldn't lose my D depth for a fringe guy, they have enough of those already.
- vabeachbear

Who does bring back a "legit 1LW" at the TDL - Schmaltz? Motte? Pokka? TVR then?

It's not like this team has so much depth in Rockford that they can afford to take a chance on moving one of the few they have - and I'm not sure they would return more than a "maybe" (but probably not) guy who "maybe" (but probably not) would slot top-6.

I know its not true, and I'm not taking the time to look it up, but in the few games I remember Hawks playing against Tootoo, it seemed like he scored a goal against them.

I can remember thinking, (think it was Detroit) "how can they let that guy score against them all the time"
- vabeachbear

Tootoo goes to the net. And the hawks pretty much let the opposition do that.

Tootoo goes to the net. And the hawks pretty much let the opposition do that.
- 6628

So I guess my natural question is could he play with 19 and 81. If he went to the net, would he allow 19 to not, and thus, not take that extra pounding?

I guess similar to Shaw (and no, not saying he's as good as Shaw, so don't shoot me)