You are assuming it has to be the 3rd line C being that shutdown guy. What's wrong with it being the 4th line C like it was in previous years with Kruger holding down that spot? The Hawks are in a good spot if Kero can continue to play like a 3C and then they can slide Kruger back into his home at the 4C. The 4th line can maybe go back to being the primary "shutdown" line.

Kero has shown he can play decent D and (more than just last night) has shown more offensive upside than Kruger. I mean, does it even matter what you label the bottom 6 lines? Just have Kruger's line do the shutdown role and let Kero center the other line.
- breadbag

No argument. So you're saying the third line would be more of a secondary scoring line? Meh, maybe. But you can't have it both ways. The "shutdown" role is valuable, whether you call it 3rd line or you're lucky and deep enough to call it fourth line.

Again, then I want to see Kero produce consistently against the big boys, not just Colorado.

I am not concerned with labeling Kero as 3rd liner, 4th liner or anything else. They way the kid is playing he deserves to be on the team, even when Kruger returns. If Kero's play declines send him back to Rockford, if not keep him with the big club and Q will find a place for him.

Edit: this isn't directed at you Enzo, I just replied to the last post.
- DarthKane

Agreed.

All I know is I'm getting sick and tired of the team allowing the pass or/and not covering the forward who's on the back side of the goalie, 2 out of 3 goals against Minnesota were scored that way, the Caps scored 4 times that way and last night 2 of the 4 goals were scored that way, the defense including forwards suck right now, there seems to be no urgency with this team as if they are just going through the motions, if that's the case let the kids get more minutes

51 has lost two steps.
- John Jaeckel

Boy he can't get rid of that puck fast enough, but on another note, watching games on the tele and I see Keith fall to the ice once or twice a game with no one around him? Sure they call it a toe pick but....

Boy he can't get rid of that puck fast enough, but on another note, watching games on the tele and I see Keith fall to the ice once or twice a game with no one around him? Sure they call it a toe pick but....
- BetweenTheDots

I would like to see Forsling get another recall for a few more games. Put him in the PP (hopefully that can help augment the play...but unlikely) and play him with Hjalmarsson.

and so has 19

and so has 7

but 51 is not costing the team 17 million dollars a year and is off the books next year
- Hawkster

And Toews gets the "he must be hurt" or "needs a superstar LW to carry...i mean, play with him" excuses time and time again. His is the biggest albatross contract that can't be moved based on the golden god image the PR monster created

As far as the continuing mocking of "moving Hossa to the 3rd line"...it had much more to do with moving him away from Toews - which both last year and this year shows he's been anchored down with 19 more than anything.

I don't understand why Q keeps trying to put 88 and 72 with 19 at times when the aye absolutely die when they hit Toews stick. Whether it's him just mishandling the puck, passing it to no one, or simply falling down

Q called him out last night, and CC hasn't been very good since coming back from IR. Post surgery numbers:

REC 5-4-1
MIN 582:31
GA 30
SA 308
SV 278
SV % .903
GAA 3.09
SO 0

Darling in BOS?
- scottak

where did you see Q call him out...I heard him say specifically craw needed to be better last night...he was reluctant to say anything about his overall post injury play...

you get vanek for a couple of late round picks and maybe some guy in rck and have the wings retain 50%...take him...what the hell

igninla...sorry...NO...he does nothing to solve the hawks problems

All I know is I'm getting sick and tired of the team allowing the pass or/and not covering the forward who's on the back side of the goalie, 2 out of 3 goals against Minnesota were scored that way, the Caps scored 4 times that way and last night 2 of the 4 goals were scored that way, the defense including forwards suck right now, there seems to be no urgency with this team as if they are just going through the motions, if that's the case let the kids get more minutes
- BetweenTheDots

If our players were standing in the positions that opponents are scoring from on us -well, they would be on their rear-ends.
We are way too soft on opponents crowding our crease and goalie. Our players like Hartman who try it at the other end of the rink literally get attacked.

As far as the continuing mocking of "moving Hossa to the 3rd line"...it had much more to do with moving him away from Toews - which both last year and this year shows he's been anchored down with 19 more than anything.

I don't understand why Q keeps trying to put 88 and 72 with 19 at times when the aye absolutely die when they hit Toews stick. Whether it's him just mishandling the puck, passing it to no one, or simply falling down
- PatShart

Yes. That puck seems to just slide off his stick on its own.
Any time he is on the power play, I keep thinking "Don't give it to Toews! Don't give it to Toews!"

If our players were standing in the positions that opponents are scoring from on us -well, they would be on their rear-ends.
We are way too soft on opponents crowding our crease and goalie. Our players like Hartman who try it at the other end of the rink literally get attacked.
- 67hawks

That's the way it's been for years. It's like they don't want to hit anybody. Safest place on the ice for the opposition is the hawks crease. The Duchene goal last night, he was not afraid to get blasted wheeling around the defenseman or cutting to the net because he knows nobody is going to run him. I stopped bringing this up 5 years ago because it's not about to change, but it's still frustrating to watch.

Yes. That puck seems to just slide off his stick on its own.
Any time he is on the power play, I keep thinking "Don't give it to Toews! Don't give it to Toews!"
- 67hawks

The problem I've noticed with Toews recently is he always shoots. ALWAYS. He fakes the look to pass, but always fires short side top corner. Every goalie must know that by now. He's trying to force it. Pass the thing, 19.

As far as the continuing mocking of "moving Hossa to the 3rd line"...it had much more to do with moving him away from Toews - which both last year and this year shows he's been anchored down with 19 more than anything.

I don't understand why Q keeps trying to put 88 and 72 with 19 at times when the aye absolutely die when they hit Toews stick. Whether it's him just mishandling the puck, passing it to no one, or simply falling down
- PatShart

Meh, he's scoring in transition, like he did with every other team he was on before joining the Hawks and moving to a generic cycle cycle shot from half boards 10000 times per season

As far as the continuing mocking of "moving Hossa to the 3rd line"...it had much more to do with moving him away from Toews - which both last year and this year shows he's been anchored down with 19 more than anything.

I don't understand why Q keeps trying to put 88 and 72 with 19 at times when the aye absolutely die when they hit Toews stick. Whether it's him just mishandling the puck, passing it to no one, or simply falling down
- PatShart

Maybe in your case it did.

For many others (including some in the hockey media) it was about an "obvious decline of his skills in the twilight of his career."

Which should perhaps be a tip off for those saying the same thing about a guy ten years his junior.

Okay lets figure out this forward situation...

We have Kane, Anisimov, Panarin, Toews, Hossa, Panik, Kruger, and Hartman right now as players that will almost certainly if healthy be starting come playoff time. That leaves 4 more spots open to be able to roll 4 lines.

IMO, one of those 4 will be someone not currently on the team. I think we inevitably will upgrade at some point, probably at LW...and hopefully someone that can put up 20g and 35ish pts(AKA a very solid 3rd liner that might also be able to plug in with Toews and Hossa).

Then the question becomes do we see 2 more rookies(Motte/Schmaltz/Hinostroza/Kero) and 1 vet(Desjardins/Rasmussen/Tootoo), or 1 more rookie and 2 more vets.....or no more rookies and all 3 vets. Or no vets and all rookies. Lots of possibilities. Some time ago i would included Desjardins in the lineup, not anymore. I think he's on the fence now like Schmaltz, Tootoo, and all the others I've mentioned in this paragraph.

Or we could go after a 3C:

Panarin/Hinostroza-AA-Kane/Hossa
Hinostroza/Panarin-Toews-Hossa/Kane
Hartman-3C-Panik
Rasmussen-Kruger-Desjardins/Tootoo

you get vanek for a couple of late round picks and maybe some guy in rck and have the wings retain 50%...take him...what the hell

igninla...sorry...NO...he does nothing to solve the hawks problems
- bogiedoc

Exactly. Vanek is Detroit's most productive player this season(30 points in 33 games) and he is playing to get paid a big final contract before he retires. This is honestly the best time to acquire him.

Exactly. Vanek is Detroit's most productive player this season(30 points in 33 games) and he is playing to get paid a big final contract before he retires. This is honestly the best time to acquire him.
- Hawks_49

if you want more from DTW, (and don't shoot me), but steve ott has a 59.5% faceoff win% and is 800k, Glendenning is 54% but signed for 5 years at 1.8m per

brian boyle TB is 51% 2m UFA
john mitchell COL is 55% UFA 1.8m
Pageau OTT is 51% RFA 900k
Hanzal is 54% UFA 3.1m
someone mentioned brock nelson, but he's worse at the dot than AA

Bickell practicing with the Canes in a no-contact jersey.

Looks like he might get into contact in a week or two.

Bickell practicing with the Canes in a no-contact jersey.

Looks like he might get into contact in a week or two.
- BINGO!

That's great news to hear. Always liked Bickell. Hopefully no setbacks for him.

if you want more from DTW, (and don't shoot me), but steve ott has a 59.5% faceoff win% and is 800k, Glendenning is 54% but signed for 5 years at 1.8m per

brian boyle TB is 51% 2m UFA
john mitchell COL is 55% UFA 1.8m
Pageau OTT is 51% RFA 900k
Hanzal is 54% UFA 3.1m
someone mentioned brock nelson, but he's worse at the dot than AA
- jt19

Those would all be nice adds. Especially a guy like Boyle. Big body, responsible defensively, gets in the dirty areas.

If our players were standing in the positions that opponents are scoring from on us -well, they would be on their rear-ends.
We are way too soft on opponents crowding our crease and goalie. Our players like Hartman who try it at the other end of the rink literally get attacked.
- 67hawks

I remember the stint of games till the circus trip, the Hawks did a great job of keeping opponents to half the ice, great job. Since then terrible just terrible at it. Defense takes effort and it sure looks like the effort isn't there

Bickell practicing with the Canes in a no-contact jersey.

Looks like he might get into contact in a week or two.
- BINGO!

Teravainen on pace for about 45 points, playing a middle 6 centre role on a line with Sebastian Aho and Lee Stempniak.

Takes a couple shifts per night on RW with Skinner and Rask when they need a kickstart. He's been real good, real smart player.

if you want more from DTW, (and don't shoot me), but steve ott has a 59.5% faceoff win% and is 800k, Glendenning is 54% but signed for 5 years at 1.8m per

brian boyle TB is 51% 2m UFA
john mitchell COL is 55% UFA 1.8m
Pageau OTT is 51% RFA 900k
Hanzal is 54% UFA 3.1m
someone mentioned brock nelson, but he's worse at the dot than AA
- jt19

Nelson is playing LW this year. He's cheap $2.5 mil for the year (not sure what that would be at the deadline). And $2.5 mil next year, then an RFA. I was thinking get him for this year. If you can fit him next year, great! if not, he can be exposed for the expansion draft (I think) or trade him.