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

Let's slow down on the Toews hate train real quick. He's got Richard Panik as a LW and is deployed as a shutdown guy. In a game the Hawks were BADLY out shot 33-19, Toews was a +6 Corsi (11 shots for, 5 against). Toews was on the ice for more than half the shots for and only 5 of 33 against, including some PK time. That is elite level shutdown play.

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.
- RobShouts

Ehhhhh, sort of. Points will matter in April. Hugely.

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

Well Savvy, somebody should phone up Mike Babcock and ask him what he thinks and see if he could convince Lou Lamoriello to give up a 2nd or 3rd rounder for the over the hill #19. I seem to recall his team hoisting a trophy a couple of weeks ago while a lot of other superstars were at their team training camps already.

Well Savvy, somebody should phone up Mike Babcock and ask him what he thinks and see if he could convince Lou Lamoriello to give up a 2nd or 3rd rounder for the over the hill #19. I seem to recall his team hoisting a trophy a couple of weeks ago while a lot of other superstars were at their team training camps already.
- RickJ

Toews for Matthews

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.
- breadbag

So given that this was about his worst game in a Hawk sweater, what is going on? Injury or psychological? He has to see the writing on the wall. Campbell here now. Kempny. Forsling. Most likely to go to Vegas this summer. Last year he was playing top 4 minutes, whether or not he deserved them. Sometimes he exceeded expectations, sometimes not. This year, different story. The Hawks need to deal him, but last night's game didn't help his trade value.

Brandon Saad

Wish he was still here. Top line needs a LW for sure. It is a need and Bowman needs to start putting out feelers pretty soon. Panik is a 3LW maybe fill in as 2LW.

Hey Savvy! What do you think of Forsling?
- EKB13

Hi Eli,
Hope you are settling into your new abode and things are going well for you!

I like a lot of what I see, doesn't have great speed (IMO, good) but seems to have excellent mobility and quick feet. Good instincts and seems to handle heavy pressure a bit better than I expected.

I really want to see the next 5-7 games against NHL competition before thinking he's a lock to stay. I will say this -- his upside is SO much more than TVR (who has looked pretty bad in preseason and last night). I still think there's a good chance they send him back to Sweden for their season and like Kruger, he ends up back here in April in time for (hopefully) end of season games and playoffs.

Clearly though, another steal (maybe not quite as good as the Leddy larceny for Cam Barker) but close. Good job by the scouts on this one.

Which brings up the question: who the (frank) scouted Rundblad? Or was that Stan's little foray into things he really knows nothing about? Makes one wonder, doesn't it?!

Well Savvy, somebody should phone up Mike Babcock and ask him what he thinks and see if he could convince Lou Lamoriello to give up a 2nd or 3rd rounder for the over the hill #19. I seem to recall his team hoisting a trophy a couple of weeks ago while a lot of other superstars were at their team training camps already.
- RickJ

Finally, the Cap space we need for an aging washed up vet! Though if you think LL gives Stan more than a 4th rounder and middling prospect you're dreaming.

57 was baaaaaaaad. I didn't have a problem with any of the other defenders. Fourth line was baaaaaaad but that isn't outside the realm of expectations with what they put out there. Some really dumb penalties, plus some really terrible officiating did not help.

Third line was pretty solid. A little disappointed they didn't get more minutes. It looked to me like they had some chemistry.

19 and 81 looked meh. The super PAK was eh. Overall, STL looked like they were more prepared for the game and did a good job stiffing the Hawks. Next two against the Preds could be doozies while this group gets their legs under them.

Its going to take some games. Can't wait for Eddie and Pat to tell me the last time the Hawks started a season 0-3.

So given that this was about his worst game in a Hawk sweater, what is going on? Injury or psychological? He has to see the writing on the wall. Campbell here now. Kempny. Forsling. Most likely to go to Vegas this summer. Last year he was playing top 4 minutes, whether or not he deserved them. Sometimes he exceeded expectations, sometimes not. This year, different story. The Hawks need to deal him, but last night's game didn't help his trade value.
- 333inthe3rd

I doubt one game will hurt TvR's value. But I believe that he'll get moved sometime this season.

EKB13

It's not remotely the same. John doesn't have them as a cup contender as currently constructed I do.

I was simply pointing out that you said no 1 did say they weren't. John said just that. All good.

Do as you choose there young fella. Grab your shovel & sand bucket the bells gone recess is over. Ha-ha!

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.
- John Jaeckel

Forsling - fair enough, but that's to be expected from a young defenseman. The same could have been said for Keith and Seabrook back in the day. Forsling needs time to develop.

Desjardins - I never implied he was a "sexy shiny penny", I stated he's missed on the 4th line and should be playing once healthy. Desjardins will also help improve the PK with was painfully poor last night.

Which brings up the question: who the (frank) scouted Rundblad? Or was that Stan's little foray into things he really knows nothing about? Makes one wonder, doesn't it?!

- savvyone-1

I'd like to know the answer to that.

Toews for Matthews
- EnzoD

Matthews and McDavid now rule the NHL world, superceding all known hockey stars who have ever come before them.

At least until some nasty, insensitive NHL coaches like Sutter or Hitchcock or Julien decide to test their mettle with some physical play.

Reply below was posted just as JJ put up his new blog. Regarding the bolded:

Toews looks physically sick to me. Anyone see any of his recent interview clips? Face looks drawn (sallow). He's either lost weight on purpose (puzzling) or there's something else going on.

He appears to be no stronger, no faster than last year. There is no appreciable difference in shot strength or stickhandling or faceoffs. In fact, he seemed to lose a lot of the important draws (I lost count of the PP draws in Blues zone that were lost and subsequently cleared).

You know Bogie, everyone puts it on Hossa's age/declining skills (I don't see much of that) and on revolving wing. OTOH, for years Kane has had to drag around various players. Yet there are always these excuses for Toews. He's making $10.4M. If you are giving a player that much dough, I think you would expect they'd perform regardless.

I'm not saying Toews is a bad player by any stretch but am questioning what the guy did (at least this past off-season when all we saw were pics of him wakeboarding or rock climbing or cliff diving etc etc) to get ready for the season. If anything, playing in the WCOH should have given him (and the others that played) a leg-up on the rest of the league that did not by having to play/compete against the best players in a tournament.

Folks are talking about Anisimov's PK penalty (slash on the hands) that put us 2 down. Why not talk about Toews ill-timed INITIAL penalty that led to having to go on the PK? I know for many, Toews is above reproach. However, when you are making the most coin in the league, I would expect more. I'll sit back and wait for the flaming to begin.

On another topic (our D), Seabrook looks like he's worked in the off-season to drop weight (looks a lot more svelte and ready to go) and improve his foot speed. He looked mighty good to me. And TVR . . . well, once again, he showed that in spite of his thinking the game fine, his physical limitations of limited mobility and foot speed (like Pokka) are going to likely see him traded before trade deadline. Compared to Kempny or Forsling, TVR is only 1 notch above the 3 wheeled shopping cart when it comes to skating, speed and mobility.

>End rant . . . pulls on flameproof gear and waits for the fallout to begin

- savvyone-1

I think there will come a point this year where the Hawks have to decide which high priced vet they're going to have to move in order to retool to be able to contend next season.

Well Savvy, somebody should phone up Mike Babcock and ask him what he thinks and see if he could convince Lou Lamoriello to give up a 2nd or 3rd rounder for the over the hill #19. I seem to recall his team hoisting a trophy a couple of weeks ago while a lot of other superstars were at their team training camps already.
- RickJ

Ha Rick, knowing Stan he probably wouldn't get more than a few late round picks and have to retain salary.

Yes, he did hoist a trophy. My point I guess missed though was is he now the highest paid shut-down guy in the NHL? It's great that he is capable of that but last I looked, you don't pay a guy $10.4M for that -- maybe $3M if you're Swedish and get rag-dolled a lot.

Honestly, I expect more out of the guy and I just am not seeing it. His salary (and of course Kane's) are what keeps the club from being able to add any legit NHL'ers on wing. It's why I said he needs to look in the mirror.

Let's slow down on the Toews hate train real quick. He's got Richard Panik as a LW and is deployed as a shutdown guy. In a game the Hawks were BADLY out shot 33-19, Toews was a +6 Corsi (11 shots for, 5 against). Toews was on the ice for more than half the shots for and only 5 of 33 against, including some PK time. That is elite level shutdown play.
- JRoenick97

I think you're mixing SOG and SAT:

The 11 for / 5 against you're quoting for Toews is SAT 5X5 - which compares to team SAT of 39 / 53 (5X5).

He was on the ice for 28% of the total team SAT - tied with Hossa, Kane, and Anisimov (Panarin was on the ice for 13).

Quick hits from the Hawks side of things after last night.

JVR is terrible and clearly picked/ focused on
Cambell looks slow
Tootoo was a ghost, not surprising
Toews looks like hes lost a step or jump, maybe just this game
Bot 6 are going to get the top 6 worn out by the allstar break
- Gerk

Agree. Fair assesment. I also noticed Campbell seemed slow in his first step. Toews looked the same as he did last year. Haven't seen improvement in any part of his game for several years now. He's above criticism according to some though. He's not getting paid 10 mil to be a shutdown center.

Matthews and McDavid now rule the NHL world, superceding all known hockey stars who have ever come before them.

At least until some nasty, insensitive NHL coaches like Sutter or Hitchcock or Julien decide to test their mettle with some physical play.
- RickJ

You're an Ontario guy, right? Did you watch that Leafs game? Matthews is a BIG boy at 19 and I love his attitude and demeanor. 4 goals and he only celebrated on the first one. Like Brett Hull says, act like you've been there before. The steal and score on goal 3 (?) was a thing of beauty. Also, Lucic fighting Engelland for a clean hit...that should be interesting up in Oil Country. McDavid is a skinny guy and he is going to get bullied all season.

I think there will come a point this year where the Hawks have to decide which high priced vet they're going to have to move in order to retool to be able to contend next season.
- hawks1921

One game into the season?

Ha Rick, knowing Stan he probably wouldn't get more than a few late round picks and have to retain salary.

Yes, he did hoist a trophy. My point I guess missed though was is he now the highest paid shut-down guy in the NHL? It's great that he is capable of that but last I looked, you don't pay a guy $10.4M for that -- maybe $3M if you're Swedish and get rag-dolled a lot.

Honestly, I expect more out of the guy and I just am not seeing it. His salary (and of course Kane's) are what keeps the club from being able to add any legit NHL'ers on wing. It's why I said he needs to look in the mirror.
- savvyone-1

I thought Marcus had a nice game last night. Got an apple on a nice poke check on the forecheck. Tyler Motte looks like he could be a nice this year.

This was the Hawks first exhibition game of the year....and it showed. Give the boys a couple of games to get acquainted with each other. Criticizing now a whole bunch of players after only the first true meet and greet on the ice is a little über in my opinion.

I doubt one game will hurt TvR's value. But I believe that he'll get moved sometime this season.
- EKB13

If it's all in his head for the possible reasons I mentioned, he should be dealt ASAP. Nobody will be served well if that's what is going on and he remains here.

This was the Hawks first exhibition game of the year....and it showed. Give the boys a couple of games to get acquainted with each other. Criticizing now a whole bunch of players after only the first true meet and greet on the ice is a little über in my opinion.
- spanky

True. It is early. I hope the game serves as a bit of a slap in the face for the team to get their game going.