Great write up John...

while I can certainly see the Rags being there in June the only way the Hawks will be there is if they have tickets.

As Kwolf mentions the Hawks scoring woes continue to dog this team. Unless Bowman somehow can get some depth at the TDL this team has no chance come April May etc...Other teams will load up on the PAK line and continue shut us down.

It's too bad Larmer didn't play last night after the latest carnival move by McD and company - with the One More Shift PR stunt. The Hawks should stop screwing around and retire his number.

The offside call was brutal but within the letter of the law. And if you're going to call the offsides you should have damn well called the too many men which was blatant.

Meanwhile Raanta looked really good last night and has played extremely well. What exactly did Stan get in the trade for him? Ryan Haggerty who's now with the Pens farm team. Another stellar move by Stan.

Offside is not a judgement call. It is or it ain't. And the linesmen need help. Game is too fast and the guys are too big for a linesman to get things right even most of the time. They need help and last night they got it. Legit overturn of the goal. Simple as that. By a nose hair doesn't matter. Now the too many men, that's another story.
- 6628

I disagree with the challenge concept. I disagree with the way offside is called. If a foot is off the ice yet not over the line it shouldn't be offside. That's all I have to say about that.

GO HOCKS!

Great write up John...

while I can certainly see the Rags being there in June the only way the Hawks will be there is if they have tickets.

As Kwolf mentions the Hawks scoring woes continue to dog this team. Unless Bowman somehow can get some depth at the TDL this team has no chance come April May etc...Other teams will load up on the PAK line and continue shut us down.

It's too bad Larmer didn't play last night after the latest carnival move by McD and company - with the One More Shift PR stunt. The Hawks should stop screwing around and retire his number.

The offside call was brutal but within the letter of the law. And if you're going to call the offsides you should have damn well called the too many men which was blatant.

Meanwhile Raanta looked really good last night and has played extremely well. What exactly did Stan get in the trade for him? Ryan Haggerty who's now with the Pens farm team. Another stellar move by Stan.
- DK002

Well - maybe - but after 39 games with Chicago over 2 seasons - how much more than Ryan Haggerty was he worth - the deciders apparently thought that Darling had more upside - and was more controllable for a longer period of time - and that the Fin
was more expendable.

Meh I'll start caring when I see you complaining about the refs being inconsistent after giving the Hawks favorable calls over the other team. Then I'll know you seriously care about refereeing inconsistencies rather than just looking for something to complain about after things don't go your way.
- rangerdanger94

Oh so you presume to know what I'm thinking, surprised a new Yorker who thinks he's the center of the universe and knows all, good intentions gone bad, have a good day all knowing

Oh so you presume to know what I'm thinking, surprised a new Yorker who thinks he's the center of the universe and knows all, good intentions gone bad, have a good day all knowing
- BetweenTheDots

I doubt you've ever complained about a missed too many men penalty when it was the Hawks that were the ones to get away with it. Am I wrong?

I doubt you've ever complained about a missed too many men penalty when it was the Hawks that were the ones to get away with it. Am I wrong?
- rangerdanger94

I always forget reading and understanding what someone wrote is a skill.

I disagree with the challenge concept. I disagree with the way offside is called. If a foot is off the ice yet not over the line it shouldn't be offside. That's all I have to say about that.

GO HOCKS!
- hocktock

Ok Forest.

I doubt you've ever complained about a missed too many men penalty when it was the Hawks that were the ones to get away with it. Am I wrong?
- rangerdanger94

Don't bother wasting your time refs league everyone anti hawks you should know better

Toews won't play tomorrow. Seabrook is uncertain. That's not good.

Per Eklund, Kevin Dineen's dad died. Thoughts and prayers to the family.

Toews won't play tomorrow. Seabrook is uncertain. That's not good.
- rickboardman

Do we know what his injury is? Back or head ??

Do we know what his injury is? Back or head ??
- z1990z

As far as I know, the only statement that it was his back came from Chris Kuc via "a source." If it were a concussion, though, would he even be trying to skate, doing public appearances, etc.? Don't know as I haven't had one.

ETA: Thought you were asking about Toews.

Do we know what his injury is? Back or head ??
- z1990z

Seabrook was holding his head when he went down. I'm assuming concussion.

Nice write-up JJ

A couple of points

A. Some people on the board are all "why did StanBo trade Raanta -"
As I recall
1. Attitude
2. Superathletic - but left the top half of the net open
3. Control
4 . about $.45M a year

Good enough for me even if only 2 are spot on...

B. Someone a few threads back pointed out that plays start and end with Panak. After watching last night critically I now see the point and agree. He skates too hard at the net, often overshoots his position on the ice and puts himself in a position to get a crap shot into the goalies pads. If he does not get a shot off he is a turnover machine at least a bad pass that may kill the cycle.

C. Random thought on turnovers -
Rankings out of 754 players
Forsling - 742
Campbell - 746
Seabrook 749

Leading candidates for Tournament of Bad

Just throwing out a thought of refs (not only in this sport but in general)

Has the referee become an outdated concept?

There's always this talk about how "fast" the game has become compared to generations past, well technology has evolved to the point where a lot of these issues could be fixed with technology.

Pucks, sticks, skates, heck even entire uniforms could be outfitted with different types of technology to make it a lot easier to call the games by the strict definition of the rules.

Purists would likely argue against it and there's also what would almost surely be an adjustment period that could be painful. The game could also be slowed down by more stoppages and increased penalty calls as a result of the strict guidelines.

Would it give us a better game? Hard to say without trying it but the technology is there to make most of the refs current on ice job obsolete. You could probably get by with one ref on the ice to drop the puck and call penalties based on communication from a "ref video booth". Maybe occasionally break up fights (while they're still allowed as infrequent as they happen now). Maybe you need 2 bodies just in case one n ice official gets hurt.

Don't bother wasting your time refs league everyone anti hawks you should know better
- Bobd62

Actually the repeated theme has been that the poor officiating impacts all teams, nobody is saying its only the Hawks. But nice try. You got any more?

Do we know what his injury is? Back or head ??
- z1990z

Broken ear

I doubt you've ever complained about a missed too many men penalty when it was the Hawks that were the ones to get away with it. Am I wrong?
- rangerdanger94

so whats your point...they have gotten away with a few they also have lead the league in being penalized for TMOI...and yeah many of us do notice the missed the calls that go in our favor...

JJ nailed it on all points:

1. Hawks scoring was huge concern coming into the season...they scored alot of goals the 1st 5-6 games and since its been mostly famine; they are a 1 line team with 5 rooks at forward...no surprise they are having problems. Keith has not scored but he shoud lead the league in missing the net. Toews off to a another slow start with no 1lw and then gets injured.

2. NHL referring is just awful...nothing more to say. Sick of crosschecks, slashes, boarding not getting called while a touch of the hands is an automatic hook.

3. On getting the puck up. No question with the speed of the game and someone targeting your ass from 3 feet away...it aint that easy to get that puck up and over. And the goalies know it...they are awfully good and covering the front of the net low.

Hockey patriarch Bill Dineen dies at 84
http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1179817
(via http://thesco.re/theScore_app )

so whats your point...they have gotten away with a few they also have lead the league in being penalized for TMOI...and yeah many of us do notice the missed the calls that go in our favor...

JJ nailed it on all points:

1. Hawks scoring was huge concern coming into the season...they scored alot of goals the 1st 5-6 games and since its been mostly famine; they are a 1 line team with 5 rooks at forward...no surprise they are having problems. Keith has not scored but he shoud lead the league in missing the net. Toews off to a another slow start with no 1lw and then gets injured.

2. NHL referring is just awful...nothing more to say. Sick of crosschecks, slashes, boarding not getting called while a touch of the hands is an automatic hook.

3. On getting the puck up. No question with the speed of the game and someone targeting your ass from 3 feet away...it aint that easy to get that puck up and over. And the goalies know it...they are awfully good and covering the front of the net low.
- bogiedoc

There just chumming, trying to get a bite. I imagine they are one and the same person.

I was thinking about the expansion draft and the fact that Panarin is #22 on the points list for forwards so far this year.

If Panarin doesn't hit his bonuses, his stock goes down, so maybe $6M AAV works for a deal. And, if Kruger gets taken in the expansion draft, there is no need to trade Crawford.

As far as the UFA's, I think there is no way the Hawks could keep Darling as backup. But if Panarin misses and Kruger is gone, they could give Campbell $3M AAV for one more year. Perhaps a slight raise to Kempny, too.

Oh, yeah... And hope that Toews spends the offseason working out with Hossa so that he looks like the Toews of old. And hope the rookies spend the summer practicing putting the puck in the net.

Why are the Hawks not scoring ?

Hartman. 5 goals

Motte. 3 goals

Schmaltz. 1 goal

Hinostrozza 1 goal

Kempny. 0

Desjardin. 0

Rasmussen. 2 goals

Too too. 0

Toews. 4 goals

That is a total of 16 goals from 9 players......not good!


We traded two players last year, TT and Danault and right now those two have 13 goals so far. I would say Stan made some hefty mistakes with the two trades and over estimating the strength of the rookies.

Why are the Hawks not scoring ?

Hartman. 5 goals

Motte. 3 goals

Schmaltz. 1 goal

Hinostrozza 1 goal

Kempny. 0

Desjardin. 0

Rasmussen. 2 goals

Too too. 0

Toews. 4 goals

That is a total of 16 goals from 9 players......not good!


We traded two players last year, TT and Danault and right now those two have 13 goals so far. I would say Stan made some hefty mistakes with the two trades and over estimating the strength of the rookies.
- spanky

Stan was trying to make a splash with Danault and give us another chance at a cup. It didn't work out. If he doesn't try to win a cup last year, everyone would have been all over him for not trying. And the only way to get rid of the Bickell contract anchor was to throw in TT as a sweetener. Again, if that trade never happens, everyone is screaming at why is Bickell still on the roster. Catch 22. And you can't say that Danault and TT would have produced the same being on the Hawks this year either. We'll never know. It happened, there ya go. But we probably could use those 13 goals....

Stan was trying to make a splash with Danault and give us another chance at a cup. It didn't work out. If he doesn't try to win a cup last year, everyone would have been all over him for not trying. And the only way to get rid of the Bickell contract anchor was to throw in TT as a sweetener. Again, if that trade never happens, everyone is screaming at why is Bickell still on the roster. Catch 22. And you can't say that Danault and TT would have produced the same being on the Hawks this year either. We'll never know. It happened, there ya go. But we probably could use those 13 goals....
- Matt_Foleys_bro

Well said! But Stan is still not off the hook. He went overboard with signing his core players.. I give him a pass on Toews and Kane but SEABROOK's contract was a killer... Seven years, no trade clause , Ouch! Furthermore, Stan over appraised his rookies...highly unlikely, that any of our rookies will be eventually become 1st or2nd liners. So now our top player is Hossa . We are still looking for a LW for the top line..our farm team woen't bring you the LW. Stan needs to bring out the magic wand to get a LW THAT CAN SCORE.

Well said! But Stan is still not off the hook. He went overboard with signing his core players.. I give him a pass on Toews and Kane but SEABROOK's contract was a killer... Seven years, no trade clause , Ouch! Furthermore, Stan over appraised his rookies...highly unlikely, that any of our rookies will be eventually become 1st or2nd liners. So now our top player is Hossa . We are still looking for a LW for the top line..our farm team woen't bring you the LW. Stan needs to bring out the magic wand to get a LW THAT CAN SCORE.
- spanky

Stan is rewarding the players that have brought 3 cups in 6 years. Maybe a bit overpriced, hoping that the cap would climb. But that's how you attract other free agents here. You pay the players that deserve it...if you can. In hindsight, yes, they are a bit overpriced...based on "projections" of the cap. Obviously, we got it up the wazoo with that when they fell below projections. With rookies, there's no way to tell. Who knows who's the next Kane or Keith. That's why they're called rookies. I'm not trying to be an A-hole, I understand your concerns. I don't like it either. They made the deals/signings with the hopes things would go in their direction. And they didn't. And yes, we are still looking for that elusive 1LW. I'm all for Stan and his magic wand too!!! Let's hope there's a 1LW under Stan's Christmas tree!!! Ha!!!