He lacks the necessary depth of hockey knowledge to accurately assess players so its much easier to simply call those with criticism "complainers" or "spoiled".
- EnzoD

Wow I guess posting the facts as they stand at moment is consider a lack of hockey knowledge .And droning on about the Captains contract is consider a high hockey IQ ..Ok lol

Well that's a shame...

Wings 6-5 Bruins (SO)

The Bruin players claimed they were fighting for Julien...

...but that collapse may just get him fired.

Why not put Toews on the third line and be the shutdown guy.? Maybe a little less pressure will get him going. Furthermore, Toews will have an easier time scoring on the third line than the second line. Hossa will be one of his winger... They will produce a lot of havoc for the opponents. It's worth a try....because Toews is non productive on the second line.

Why not put Toews on the third line and be the shutdown guy.? Maybe a little less pressure will get him going. Furthermore, Toews will have an easier time scoring on the third line than the second line. Hossa will be one of his winger... They will produce a lot of havoc for the opponents. It's worth a try....because Toews is non productive on the second line.
- spanky

The only way that would work is if the Hawks had another top 6 quality center or even line, but they don't. Toews line is going to be a top 6 line when coaches match them no matter who is with him.

Plus, Toews is already facing the highest QOC on the team - Kruger wasn't getting his match-ups in terms of QOC, he was getting AA's matches but in the DZ; and Kero may be getting the DZS, but he's not facing as high of QOC as Kruger was so not Kruger's either.

Well that's a shame...

Wings 6-5 Bruins (SO)

The Bruin players claimed they were fighting for Julien...

...but that collapse may just get him fired.
- ArlingtonRob

what is it with all these high scoring massive come back games...wings over come 3-0, 4-1, 5-4 and did not have a lead until the SO win...

is really no lead safe in this league anymore...whats changed

Just to throw this out there...Friedman brought up Sharp as pure speculation as a possibility to play 1LW

For starters we know the chemistry is there. It wouldn't cost us much and Dallas owes us one for the giveaway to acquire him in the first place. It's also a no lose proposition for the hawks IMO. Imagine the fan fare if it happened. People would go nuts and if they lost in playoofs they wouldn't have given much up to bring back an old favorite and can preserve some of these young guys.

I know the guy is having a down year (some injuries in there too) but we know nothing would bring the best out in him like playing here again which in his mind is his home. Pretty sure he never sold his house here either...
- hawks1921

some would say it was the bad chemistry in the locker room
yes he has been hurt alot only 20 games so far with 4 goals and 2 came last night...
he plays on a high octane team, point production should be higher
he is a UFA
I would say no but hell it could happen..

I doubt he resigns with the stars..be lucky to get a 2 year deal for 3 mil/per

The only way that would work is if the Hawks had another top 6 quality center or even line, but they don't. Toews line is going to be a top 6 line when coaches match them no matter who is with him.

Plus, Toews is already facing the highest QOC on the team - Kruger wasn't getting his match-ups in terms of QOC, he was getting AA's matches but in the DZ; and Kero may be getting the DZS, but he's not facing as high of QOC as Kruger was so not Kruger's either.
- L_B_R

Exactly.

They seriously allow "you" to personally attack people on here now?I guess the ref has put away his whistle.
- eagle50

Eli's not around. In the meantime, cool it Enzo. All these comments will be appropriately addressed.

I don't know how many people have a subscription to the Atlantic, but there was just a great article about the Hawks d-men.

It pretty much sums up that the Hawks d-corp is one of the best transition groups in the league as a whole, but their shot rates are low. Only Kempny and TVR have positive shot differentials so far this year, though Seabrook was in that group before he got paired with Campbell. Campbell would be in that group if you took out his time with Forsling. Keith and Hjammer are not putting up the best shot rates but they're also allowing the least amount of shots against outside of Kempny. Rozsival and Forsling neither had good shot rates for or against (just bad, in other words).

As for zone exits and entries, it gets kind of interesting. Five of the Blackhawks’ defensemen have posted zone exit rates above the league average, led by Duncan Keith. Kempny and Seabrook are the best duo for their ability to both exit the zone with possession and break-up entry attempts by the opposition more than the league average defenseman. Seabrook's numbers for entry break-ups is impressive. Hjammer is having a down year for moving the puck (zone exit numbers are sub par), but he's still one of the best d-men at breaking up zone entries by opposing players. TVR excels at neither taking or preventing entries, but he's a good possession maintainer once in the zone, making him a steady and useful but not extraordinary 3rd pair player.

The Hawks defense is currently ranked 7th based on XPM, the “total impact” stat and the overall team is the 2nd best transition team in the league. This lines up with how the Hawks are typically top 1-2 team in timed possession, but yet, their shot metrics are average. At this point, it really looks like their issues are in-zone - getting off enough shots, including quality shots. Part of it is because they currently like passing to make the goalie move rather than playing a net-front presence style (personnel issue?) but either way, it's not working on a consistent basis.

Of note, these particular stats are looking at transition and shot numbers only, so there are other areas such as passing and turnovers that could also be impacting the shot porous nature of the team as a whole. The fact that they can move the puck well is encouraging, but they need to figure out how to make it translate into better possession and ultimately scoring. Tweaking to the pairings would likely have a positive impact as well.
- L_B_R[/img]

I subscribe to The Athletic Chicago (best hockey coverage by far and v solid on the rest of Chicago sports too as far as I can tell - I basically only follow hockey). There was a piece a bit before the one the LBR is talkiing about that's has video breakdown from a college coach. It talks about some of the same shot differentials and then does some analysis of controlled zone entries. Pretty good stuff. Also Powers does a great job of keeping tabs on prospects. You can check out 3 articles per month for free and if you watch they run specials on subscriptions. Highly recommend it.

I subscribe to The Athletic Chicago (best hockey coverage by far and v solid on the rest of Chicago sports too as far as I can tell - I basically only follow hockey). There was a piece a bit before the one the LBR is talkiing about that's has video breakdown from a college coach. It talks about some of the same shot differentials and then does some analysis of controlled zone entries. Pretty good stuff. Also Powers does a great job of keeping tabs on prospects. You can check out 3 articles per month for free and if you watch they run specials on subscriptions. Highly recommend it.
- Marlowe

Totally agree and recommendd it as well. Was sad when Powers left ESPN but glad he's at the Athletic and turned out to be a good thing. He's great and Hedger has some good analysis too. I think the player report cards they do are after games are a collaborative effort.

Their football coverage is really good too (even though the team's not).

I subscribed probably like you when my three free reads would get used up in the same day.

Eli's not around.
- John Jaeckel

Not as much as I'd like to be...

If someone could please clarify, how does Crawfords and, to a lesser degree, Hammers NTC work. Do they provide a list of 10 teams that they won't agree to or a list of 10 that they will. Can't see Hammer getting moved at all and pretty sure Seabrooks is iron clad. Thanks, in advance.

If someone could please clarify, how does Crawfords and, to a lesser degree, Hammers NTC work. Do they provide a list of 10 teams that they won't agree to or a list of 10 that they will. Can't see Hammer getting moved at all and pretty sure Seabrooks is iron clad. Thanks, in advance.
- walter34

Hammer has to submit a 10 team list for trade.
Crawford's hasn't been disclosed according to capfriendly... but usually its a 5 or 10 team list.

Seabrook has full NMC until like 2022, when he starts having to submit lists.

Funny to see Leddy in play for the Islanders as trade bait. Exactly what we already knew about him. Fast but soft as butter on a kitchen table for a week!!!!

Funny to see Leddy in play for the Islanders as trade bait. Exactly what we already knew about him. Fast but soft as butter on a kitchen table for a week!!!!
- moots

Loved him as a number 5, still don't know what Q was thinking having him out there on the ice in OT vs the Kings of game 7, anyways not true about all, many here felt the Islanders fleeced us, top 4 not in Chicago.

Loved him as a number 5, still don't know what Q was thinking having him out there on the ice in OT vs the Kings of game 7, anyways not true about all, many here felt the Islanders fleeced us, top 4 not in Chicago.
- BetweenTheDots

The nice thing about Leddy was the skating. Forwards didn't get by him clean, even if he was too soft on them, he did get his stick in there. Then skating the puck up the ice, he was great. Take the puck from his end to the attack by himself. The hawks were lucky to have someone like that playing on the 3rd pair.

Loved him as a number 5, still don't know what Q was thinking having him out there on the ice in OT vs the Kings of game 7, anyways not true about all, many here felt the Islanders fleeced us, top 4 not in Chicago.
- BetweenTheDots

Don't forget the Justin Williams tomahawk chop on Leddy's stick that caused him to lose it and get him out of position

Why not put Toews on the third line and be the shutdown guy.? Maybe a little less pressure will get him going. Furthermore, Toews will have an easier time scoring on the third line than the second line. Hossa will be one of his winger... They will produce a lot of havoc for the opponents. It's worth a try....because Toews is non productive on the second line.
- spanky

Toews obviously has better hands, but he and Jordan Staal are similar type players.

Often Jordan is at his best when he is the driving force on a line and doesn't have to distribute the puck or get it back from other skilled players. When you put him with a couple guys who will just get the puck in deep and raise hell, he's usually more effective.

Perhaps something like that would help Toews, forcing him to play more with the puck on his stick because the other two guys he's with don't really want it.

http://www.espn.com/nhl/i...world-junior-championship

Hawks have no one in the top 50 in rankings. trading away #1's and trading Timo and bladder for 3 #2's hurt plus Knott (I would have taken killington) has not been good. Debrinct was honorable mention.

http://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/18503838/nhl-ranking-top-50-prospects-following-world-junior-championship

Hawks have no one in the top 50 in rankings. trading away #1's and trading Timo and bladder for 3 #2's hurt plus Knott (I would have taken killington) has not been good. Debrinct was honorable mention.
- kmw4631

God I hate ESPN and their paywall.

Loved him as a number 5, still don't know what Q was thinking having him out there on the ice in OT vs the Kings of game 7, anyways not true about all, many here felt the Islanders fleeced us, top 4 not in Chicago.
- BetweenTheDots

Say what you will about Leddy, but at least when Martinez scored that goal Leddy was near the slot ready to defend when that damn puck hit him. I've seen a lot worse in hawk games since then. As a #5 he was an awesome option for Q. The cap sucks, wtf.

Loved him as a number 5, still don't know what Q was thinking having him out there on the ice in OT vs the Kings of game 7, anyways not true about all, many here felt the Islanders fleeced us, top 4 not in Chicago.
- BetweenTheDots

Say what you will about Leddy, but at least when Martinez scored that goal Leddy was near the slot ready to defend when that damn puck hit him. I've seen a lot worse in hawk games since then. As a #5 he was an awesome option for Q. The cap sucks, wtf.

JJ whats your hunch... do you see the Hawks going after a Vanek/Iginla type to fill out the top 6 or do we go as is??

It is cool to see the development of guys like Kero and Hino. If Hino can be more consistent with his hands, his speed makes a lethal tool in the bottom 6.

Say what you will about Leddy, but at least when Martinez scored that goal Leddy was near the slot ready to defend when that damn puck hit him. I've seen a lot worse in hawk games since then. As a #5 he was an awesome option for Q. The cap sucks, wtf.
- 6628

Leddy is just now hitting the age where dmen usually start to shine too. Easy to forget how young he was when the Hawks brought him in. He is 25 (about the same age as TVR) and younger than Kempny, but nearly at the 500 game / 200 point mark from the blueline.

Edit: just to add, if Leddy was still with the Hawks, his 191 points would have him sitting tied for #12 in Hawks D scoring all-time. Not bad for a guy who could play another decade or so.

JJ whats your hunch... do you see the Hawks going after a Vanek/Iginla type to fill out the top 6 or do we go as is??

It is cool to see the development of guys like Kero and Hino. If Hino can be more consistent with his hands, his speed makes a lethal tool in the bottom 6.
- z1990z

I don't think it's limited to Vanek by any means but if I had to bet where they'll land . . .