Was thinking something similar and would take it a step further to suggest that was TVR's absolute worst game in a Hawk sweater.

Sample size of one, move on. I like what you did with the lines though on D how about Seabs with Keith and Kempny with Hammer?
- HawkintheD

I'd love to see 2-7 back together, but ever since Oduya walked, Q has gone with 2-4 as his top defensive shutdown pair...so I'm not expecting to see a 2+7 reunion.

-I agree JVR look lost
- Don't talk bad about soupy, I took a beating last week for that
-Hated the tootoo signing
-I keep waiting for the real Toews to appear
- waitforawhistle

I'm as big a Toews fanboy as there is ... but ... a disturbing pattern started to emerge a couple years ago and it has continued and showed up again last night. In fact it is the play that started rash of penalties that turned to score around. I'm speaking of Toews taking a slashing penalty in the o-zone and then whining about it as if it was a bad call.

First, it wasn't a bad call - he swung his stick and cracked the Blues player on his arms/hands. Second, it was in the o-zone which makes it a stupid penalty to take. Third, and most important, Toews whining sets a bad tone for the rest of the team. The unquestioned leader of the team shouldn't be whining about a call the ref was justified in making.

I don't know if Toews is a great player anymore, but he is at least still a very good player. He is supposed to be a great leader. I hope Seabrook has another chat with him about extracting his head from his posterior. Just play hockey and keep your whining to a minimum.

There will definitely be some growing pains this season, but I still think it will be exciting to watch some of these guys guys develops. Considering the number of rookies the Hawks had playing last night it wasn't as bad as most of us are feeling.

Hartman - good game
Motte - good game
Forsling - good game
Kempny - good game
Schmaltz - poor game
Hinostroza - poor game

6 rookies in the line-up and 4 play well, that's pretty good. I know we need better than "pretty good" but I'm hoping Hartman, Motte, Kempny and Forsling will get better with more experience. Same for Schmaltz and Hinostroza, but if they don't then Desjardins and Rasmussen can replace them on the 4th line.

I posted comments similar to JJ's in another forum before I even read his. Schmaltz isn't ready. 4th line will be a lot better with Rasmussen and Desi on it. Penalty kill was a train wreck. It didn't help vets that should know better kept taking penalties to extend the long power play that basically decided the game. PK will be helped with #4 out there next game. Desi is also missing, but they will have to weather that hole for a while. I liked what the third line was doing, once they get some chemistry going they are going to be a real PITA to the top lines in the league. Panik is ok, but not a top 6 guy. TVR was bad, Forsling was slightly better. But, that is the battle for the #6 spot going forward until there are injuries.

I would like to see Hartman eventually get a chance to take the crease position on the PP. If Motte continues to show playmaking ability, maybe he takes a point on one of the PP units too.

I'd love to see 2-7 back together, but ever since Oduya walked, Q has gone with 2-4 as his top defensive shutdown pair...so I'm not expecting to see a 2+7 reunion.
- EnzoD

Agreed. With Campbell back and if Kempny & Forsling can remain strong then I think Keith and Seabrook should be able to play together.

What we witnessed last night is how important a top 4 defenseman is when you play against a playoff team, can't wait to see the chain reaction of inserting Nik back into the starting line up.

I think the third line with Motte and Hartman will be a fun grinding line to watch, but the lone bright spot for the hawks last night is Kempny. As JJ said has a nice athletic low stride and is physically engaged. Laid a great clean hit in the offensive zone and made some really nice passes to facilitate transition through the neutral zone.

Having him evolve into a #4 dman could allow Soupy and Forsling to slot into the right amount of minutes on the third pairing eventually.

Agreed on all this except that it was close. It wasn't close. The first period was close.

I agree, more work, more time, but the sheer number of kids is a problem. For all the GOOD things Forsling did last night, he really struggled at times.

Panik is so rough around the edges. And he's really still a kid. Schmaltz is not ready. Has talent. But he is not ready for the physicality of the NHL. At all.

Work in progress.
- John Jaeckel

Wait a minute, you are speaking to a fan base that doesn't believe in marinating and teaching players in the AHL for more than a weekend. Play more than 15-20 games in Rockford and you are labeled a wasted draft pick.

Some of it is a direct result of salary cap necessities, but nobody will convince me that most Euro's and virtually all NCAA players coming from their 30 game a year, play on the weekend weekend leagues don't require an introduction to pro hockey at a rung below the NHL. Schmaltz and Forsling may turn out to be great players eventually, but they won't be ready to play against the best of NHL teams for awhile. Last night was the first demonstration of that.

Ya I was just being dramatic. I absolutely hated his effort last night. For his first NHL game, it looked like he didn't give a frank and was just going through the motions. Maybe try him on the wing with Moose+Hino tomorrow? It's clear he cannot physically handle the load of a Center in the NHL right now.
- EnzoD

I was very surprised they were trying him out at center. From what I saw at UND, the frozen four and pre-season, i would have bet $ that they would start him at wing.

Fabbri is naturally a center and still hasn't played a lick of it yet. I know he is smaller and younger but it gets to the point of putting the player in the best chance to succeed which I don't think they are doing with Schmaltz though necessity sometimes forces you do to things you don't want to do.

What did I expect??? Just what you delivered.

Listen ..... the Hawks took a sequence of penalties and the Blues cashed in on 3 of them. After 57 minutes the Hawks were down a goal. Then StL scored two empty net goals. The over hyped 5v5 scoring - Hawks 0 StL 0. The kids did ok. The vets did ok. The team did ok. We have higher expectations than ok. I get it.

Let's give Q and the players a few practices, a few games, a few different line/pairing combinations to figure things out.

I thought Kempny and Motte had nice games. TVR not so much. But it was just one game.
- -Doh-

The Hawks 3rd line scored 5v5, didn't they? I think we are +1 5v5..

I'd love to see 2-7 back together, but ever since Oduya walked, Q has gone with 2-4 as his top defensive shutdown pair...so I'm not expecting to see a 2+7 reunion.
- EnzoD

I know, was mostly wishful thinking on my part and hope that Q would reunite them.

I agree, Rasmussen needs to be in there. What was Q's thinking when he iced that lineup last night?

Did the Blues target TVR like that last year? I never thought he was a true top 4 guy, but if he was as bad as is being said on here, what happened? Is he hurt again, or is there a psychological component to this? When the Hawks signed Campbell, that was a tacit admission that no, TVR is not a legit top 4 guy. Furthermore, how could he not know that he is a top candidate for the trading block, as we have discussed on here ad nauseam.

I don't see how TVR nets the Hawks a quality forward in return right now. Everybody knows the situation with him, bags tagged for Vegas, injury history, etc. He can only be considered a rental, and the rental market won't heat up for a few more months.

What did I expect??? Just what you delivered.

Listen ..... the Hawks took a sequence of penalties and the Blues cashed in on 3 of them. After 57 minutes the Hawks were down a goal. Then StL scored two empty net goals. The over hyped 5v5 scoring - Hawks 0 StL 0. The kids did ok. The vets did ok. The team did ok. We have higher expectations than ok. I get it.

Let's give Q and the players a few practices, a few games, a few different line/pairing combinations to figure things out.

I thought Kempny and Motte had nice games. TVR not so much. But it was just one game.
- -Doh-

Hartman's goal was 5X5 - but it was the only one, and 5X5 scoring isn't over-hyped.

They spend +/- 45 minutes each game skating 5X5 - and if they can't score enough in 75% of the game, they aren't going to be able to win.

I'm as big a Toews fanboy as there is ... but ... a disturbing pattern started to emerge a couple years ago and it has continued and showed up again last night. In fact it is the play that started rash of penalties that turned to score around. I'm speaking of Toews taking a slashing penalty in the o-zone and then whining about it as if it was a bad call.

First, it wasn't a bad call - he swung his stick and cracked the Blues player on his arms/hands. Second, it was in the o-zone which makes it a stupid penalty to take. Third, and most important, Toews whining sets a bad tone for the rest of the team. The unquestioned leader of the team shouldn't be whining about a call the ref was justified in making.

I don't know if Toews is a great player anymore, but he is at least still a very good player. He is supposed to be a great leader. I hope Seabrook has another chat with him about extracting his head from his posterior. Just play hockey and keep your whining to a minimum.
- EbonyRaptor

I agree with you that the penalty on Toews was the right call. He slashed into the hands, which is pretty much an easy call for the refs. Even if he only hit his stick or hip, slashing into that area is playing with fire.

EKB13

But that's what John just posted in this blog.

"But the "delusion" that this team as currently composed merits consideration as a Cup contender should be over this morning."

Hey I would love not to have to dress 6 rookies on opening night & Chicago won't be soon enough. Forsling won't be staying, 9 games tops. Schmaltz will end up in the AHL, Rasmussen will end up as the #4 C I assume & when Desjardins returns in another 10 games or so he will help the 4th line.

Chicago isn't a guaranteed cup winner no 1 is but they are certainly on my list of possibles as essentially constructed just not with the line up & players dressed last night. I don't even judge teams for the 1st 10 games. Then I take a snap shot. Even then until the last team in the league plays it's 25th game & the grind & injuries set in all you have to do is stay in the hunt. It's those last 55 games that decide who's going some where & who isn't.
- striker777

If you look at the two parts in bold - it is essentially saying the same thing. I guess if you want to cherry pick one line out of a broader explanation in the blog - which does contain some optimism coupled with a rational view, then go right ahead. That doesn't mean that I view it as what you claim. In addition, it also means that I'll probably tune out your view of things while I'm at it.

JJ, For comparison purposes, do you consider Lehtera a top 6 forward?

I think it will be interesting to see in the next couple of years how Schmaltz is viewed compared to say how TT was viewed.
- Jason Millen

Good third liner, IMO

I'm as big a Toews fanboy as there is ... but ... a disturbing pattern started to emerge a couple years ago and it has continued and showed up again last night. In fact it is the play that started rash of penalties that turned to score around. I'm speaking of Toews taking a slashing penalty in the o-zone and then whining about it as if it was a bad call.

First, it wasn't a bad call - he swung his stick and cracked the Blues player on his arms/hands. Second, it was in the o-zone which makes it a stupid penalty to take. Third, and most important, Toews whining sets a bad tone for the rest of the team. The unquestioned leader of the team shouldn't be whining about a call the ref was justified in making.

I don't know if Toews is a great player anymore, but he is at least still a very good player. He is supposed to be a great leader. I hope Seabrook has another chat with him about extracting his head from his posterior. Just play hockey and keep your whining to a minimum.
- EbonyRaptor

Ebony,
See my rant on page 2.
As to the 2nd bolded point above, IDK either -- but he sure in hell is paid like one of THE top 3, top 5, top 10 players in the NHL. Really don't know that's the case, certainly not what we saw last year and this year is only a 1 game sample.

But I see nothing that tells me he's done anything in the off-season to make 2016-17 that much better for him. Notoriously slow starter regardless. And this year looks like it may be no exception.

So let's see . . . whines about the revolving door on wing, gets paid like a top player, cannot seem to make other players around him better. Me thinks he really needs to look in the mirror a little more often. Past performance is no indication of future results. Just like stocks and stock funds.

Wait a minute, you are speaking to a fan base that doesn't believe in marinating and teaching players in the AHL for more than a weekend. Play more than 15-20 games in Rockford and you are labeled a wasted draft pick.

Some of it is a direct result of salary cap necessities, but nobody will convince me that most Euro's and virtually all NCAA players coming from their 30 game a year, play on the weekend weekend leagues don't require an introduction to pro hockey at a rung below the NHL. Schmaltz and Forsling may turn out to be great players eventually, but they won't be ready to play against the best of NHL teams for awhile. Last night was the first demonstration of that.
- RickJ

DING DING DING DING

There will definitely be some growing pains this season, but I still think it will be exciting to watch some of these guys guys develops. Considering the number of rookies the Hawks had playing last night it wasn't as bad as most of us are feeling.

Hartman - good game
Motte - good game
Forsling - good game
Kempny - good game
Schmaltz - poor game
Hinostroza - poor game

6 rookies in the line-up and 4 play well, that's pretty good. I know we need better than "pretty good" but I'm hoping Hartman, Motte, Kempny and Forsling will get better with more experience. Same for Schmaltz and Hinostroza, but if they don't then Desjardins and Rasmussen can replace them on the 4th line.
- DarthKane

Vinny Hinostroza is not an NHL player now or at any time in the near future. He skates very fast but does little else playing the game.

I agree, Rasmussen needs to be in there. What was Q's thinking when he iced that lineup last night?

Did the Blues target TVR like that last year? I never thought he was a true top 4 guy, but if he was as bad as is being said on here, what happened? Is he hurt again, or is there a psychological component to this? When the Hawks signed Campbell, that was a tacit admission that no, TVR is not a legit top 4 guy. Furthermore, how could he not know that he is a top candidate for the trading block, as we have discussed on here ad nauseam.

I don't see how TVR nets the Hawks a quality forward in return right now. Everybody knows the situation with him, bags tagged for Vegas, injury history, etc. He can only be considered a rental, and the rental market won't heat up for a few more months.
- 333inthe3rd

I think from watching TVR he didn't play well positionally when they pressed the attack on his side. A few times he tried to make a play to strip the attacking forward and found himself no longer between the forward and the net. Would have been better served to just try to keep the attacker to the outside then make the all or nothing play to get the puck IMO. He also took a couple of penalties that killed the momentum. It was about the worst game I've seen for him.

Ya I was just being dramatic. I absolutely hated his effort last night. For his first NHL game, it looked like he didn't give a frank and was just going through the motions. Maybe try him on the wing with Moose+Hino tomorrow? It's clear he cannot physically handle the load of a Center in the NHL right now.
- EnzoD

After putting some thought to it last night, I'm not a fan of the idea of both Schmaltz and Hinostroza skating on the ice together at this point. I'd rather see one of them skating with Rasmussen and Tootoo. Preferably Hinostroza. Schmaltz needs to head to Rockford.

Ebony,
See my rant on page 2.
As to the 2nd bolded point above, IDK either -- but he sure in hell is paid like one of THE top 3, top 5, top 10 players in the NHL. Really don't know that's the case, certainly not what we saw last year and this year is only a 1 game sample.

But I see nothing that tells me he's done anything in the off-season to make 2016-17 that much better for him. Notoriously slow starter regardless. And this year looks like it may be no exception.

So let's see . . . whines about the revolving door on wing, gets paid like a top player, cannot seem to make other players around him better. Me thinks he really needs to look in the mirror a little more often. Past performance is no indication of future results. Just like stocks and stock funds.
- savvyone-1

Hey Savvy! What do you think of Forsling?

Vinny Hinostroza is not an NHL player now or at any time in the near future. He skates very fast but does little else playing the game.
- RickJ

Agreed.

As much as it pleases me to hear a worrying tone from your fanbase, I don't think you have any reason to be all doom and gloom already. From my view, the Blues were awful until around February last season. There's plenty of time to build chemistry and teach the youngsters.

There will definitely be some growing pains this season, but I still think it will be exciting to watch some of these guys guys develops. Considering the number of rookies the Hawks had playing last night it wasn't as bad as most of us are feeling.

Hartman - good game
Motte - good game
Forsling - good game
Kempny - good game
Schmaltz - poor game
Hinostroza - poor game

6 rookies in the line-up and 4 play well, that's pretty good. I know we need better than "pretty good" but I'm hoping Hartman, Motte, Kempny and Forsling will get better with more experience. Same for Schmaltz and Hinostroza, but if they don't then Desjardins and Rasmussen can replace them on the 4th line.
- DarthKane

I think it's debatable how good Forsling was. When he shines, he really shines, because he has natural ability. But he struggled a lot in certain situations last night.

The overall amount of rookies is what it is except no one (except maybe Stanley or the FO) has a gun to Q's head saying you have to play schmaltz over Rasmussen. I know some get all warm and squishy over Schmaltz but for the role in question, Ras is a better choice.

There also should be no debate that when Desjardins comes back one of the kiddies should sit. Again, Desi is not the sexy shiny penny that some seem to get all excited about—but he plays a mans game and is highly effective (usually) in that role. He has the skins on the wall so to speak as a lower line, lunch pail player.