So Kruger wasn't injured and Q just felt like putting an end to the whole rolling 4 lines thing just for poops and giggles?

He also should have added - We have Q behind the bench, they have BB.
- powerenforcer

Now if they could only do something about that TVR problem.

Note: the expansion draft can't come soon enough.

So Kruger wasn't injured and Q just felt like putting an end to the whole rolling 4 lines thing just for poops and giggles?
- SimpleJack

Kruger is one of Q's guys, so I'm wondering what he did to find the dog house in such a big way.

So Kruger wasn't injured and Q just felt like putting an end to the whole rolling 4 lines thing just for poops and giggles?
- SimpleJack

Trade imminent?

Kruger is one of Q's guys, so I'm wondering what he did to find the dog house in such a big way.
- ArlingtonRob

It is odd Rob, at first I thought, maybe they found out b/t periods 2 & 3 that he was traded. But then he played a shift so there goes that theory out the window. Really don't know what happened at all.

Now if they could only do something about that TVR problem.

Note: the expansion draft can't come soon enough.
- ArlingtonRob

Don't stress over TVR. Q has begun the process of breathing new life into the corpse named Rozsival, he will be ready by playoff time and TVR will not be seen again.

It is odd Rob, at first I thought, maybe they found out b/t periods 2 & 3 that he was traded. But then he played a shift so there goes that theory out the window. Really don't know what happened at all.
- ILGolfer

Seemed like Q wanted to get a goal to take the lead. Saw Kruger lift his arms thinkimg a penalty should have been called and seemed to turn the puck over in the o zone a Couple times.

Don't stress over TVR. Q has begun the process of breathing new life into the corpse named Rozsival, he will be ready by playoff time and TVR will not be seen again.
- RickJ

Not the reassurance I was looking for Rick...

anyone know the stats for Toews for the first part of the season and then his stretch since retuning from injury?

Seemed like Q wanted to get a goal to take the lead. Saw Kruger lift his arms thinkimg a penalty should have been called and seemed to turn the puck over in the o zone a Couple times.
- stan-ley-cups

Kruger is having a tough year in general. SB's herculean task will be getting rid of him and his $3M cap hit this summer. Vegas WON'T be taking him.

anyone know the stats for Toews for the first part of the season and then his stretch since retuning from injury?
- kevndevries

Not good

Really good

Vegas is going to have to get to the Cap floor. So they might

If Hawks don't pick up Boyle, is there any chance of Latta being called up to center the 4th line, while Kruger sits?

If Hawks don't pick up Boyle, is there any chance of Latta being called up to center the 4th line, while Kruger sits?
- BMWChiFan

I would think that YES is the answer...

...but who knows.

If Hawks don't pick up Boyle, is there any chance of Latta being called up to center the 4th line, while Kruger sits?
- BMWChiFan

Why will Kruger be sitting?

Why will Kruger be sitting?
- SimpleJack

Why was he sitting tonight? Bad wrist, can't take/win draws, can't score, not effective on PK, and has been taking quite a few careless penalties. Kruger looks frustrated, and maybe Q is getting frustrated with him.

Hartman and Kero on the ice to finish the game

Darling looked great again when he gets a chance to play
- BetweenTheDots

Kruger is no longer considered a top defensive specialist on the team.

Looking at Kero's splits (albeit small sample size), I think they are pretty interesting:

January (13 games): 41.6% at the dot - 14:19 TOI
February (10 games): 53.2% at the dot - 12:08 TOI (doesn't include today's game)

I haven't dipped into advanced analytics yet, but the basic statistics are eye-catching to me. He's improved big time over the course of the past month at the dot (which is obviously very important), but he's earning less time on ice which is somewhat confusing to me, and again I haven't looked at more advanced statistics, but he's earned Q's trust and has been playing a bigger role on the PK now. Also - if you haven't noticed - he's been on the ice when the other team pulls their goalies.

This is potentially where the team meets the crossroads in regards to Kruger. Marcus has obviously played a HUGE role in the team's last two SC runs. He was routinely out there frustrating the likes of Koivu, Getzlaf, Bergeron, Krejci, Kopitar, etc. in the playoffs. BUT, considering where the team stands from a cap perspective, the writing is there on the wall that he's very likely to be the next cap casualty as he is more of a luxury. Of course you need guys like Krugs and you would much rather prefer to hold on to him for the playoffs than trade him, but if Kero continues to develop, and the team DOES indeed pull the plug on a big, seasoned veteran for the bottom-six who can play center (i.e. Boyle), maybe the team moves Kruger before the deadline rather than potentially losing him to Vegas in the off-season (or having another team strong-arm the 'Hawks into a deal).

Idk. Just some random thoughts that came to mind.

Ek hearing something about Drouin! Probably not for the Hawks but could be interesting! Of course there's the possibility that nothing is going on haha

Ek hearing something about Drouin! Probably not for the Hawks but could be interesting! Of course there's the possibility that nothing is going on haha
- akuroski

Well he can hear a lot of things that others don´t so maybe that´s not that serious? Is there a stat where we could see how many of his hearings turn out to be real??

Ek hearing something about Drouin! Probably not for the Hawks but could be interesting! Of course there's the possibility that nothing is going on haha
- akuroski

Those damn voices

Boyle to play center, Oduya or Brandon Smith for D. Get Hammer and Kruger healthy. Team looks pretty good. Beyond that, it's a question of degree; can Schmaltz keep it up in the playoffs playing with Toews and Panik. Every game moves the needle on that question towards "yes."

Schmaltz - Toews - Panik
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Hartman - Boyle - Hossa
Turco/Ras/Desi - Kruger - Kero/(Tootoo/Latta)
- matt_ahrens

I'd love that.

Boyle and either Oduya or Smith (preferably Oduya given his familiarity with the system). Those would be ideal fits, IMO.

Now, can you get those guys at a fair price? Can you get them without dealing Hartman, Schmaltz, Forsling or DeBrincat?

Does Stevie Y value Tanner Kero enough to take him and a draft pick(s) for Boyle? Can you get Oduya for Motte?

Not sure they win this game with Crawford in goal. Darling was freakish on those 3 side to side saves.

Thought the 4th line played as well as any game this year, Desi too. They had tons of zone time and a few chances as well.

I just shake my head at Schmaltz. Are the evaluators that good or are they even surprised the kid is this good this fast? How can he go from being invisible before his demotion to being dangerous every shift defensively as well as offensively vs top 4 pairings?

Your the opposing coach, do you send out your top pairing vs the Toews or Anisimov line?

Is it time to stop thinking of Panik as a question mark, in other words has he found the consistency that held him back from being a top or middle 6 guy? He's now playing freely enough to show solid IQ to go along with plus size, skating and hands.

Jurco passed the fancy stat and eye test. Think he was smart enough to firstly do no harm as he acclimates. As mentioned, by I think JJ, there were times he seemed uncertain of his positioning but is smart enough to know when in doubt get to the middle of the ice. Smart players do that. ... Went to the front of the net, showed solid hands, work along the wall, smooth skating with good size. Won't know what they have for at least 10-15 games if and when he becomes comfortable enough to play without thinking. So far so good for this fan.

Think Q found a new toy when he dressed 11 forwards vs MN. He now can double shift, mix and match and play by feel. Think we saw that with Kruger. I think even Q sees enough of Kruger's offensive ineptness that he now feels he can "trust" Kero in some of Kruger's defensive roles and know he has a guy who won't whiff trying to clear a puck 50% of the time, as Kruger did in front of the bench when they desperately needed a line change, and get more than a point every 25 games.

Biggest smile my mind got from this game was seeing Kruger pushed down the lineup. Not so much he's an abomination offensively but that Q is entertaining the idea that Kero might be able to fill some of Kruger's defensive assignments and add more than hitting the Power Ball hope of offensive production from his 3C.

We all know what having Kero and Hartman on the ice with their goalie pulled in Q's world means. High praise.

Was at the game last night.

The team overall looks very free and easy right now. The chemistry on the Tazer line is uncanny right now.

Defensively it was obvious they missed Hammer. Rozy was ok but looked smothered and handcuffed a few time. TVR looked about as uncomfortable as Sean Spicer in front of the WH press core. However I thought Campbell and Seabrook looked really really good.

Not sure they win this game with Crawford in goal. Darling was freakish on those 3 side to side saves.

Thought the 4th line played as well as any game this year, Desi too. They had tons of zone time and a few chances as well.

I just shake my head at Schmaltz. Are the evaluators that good or are they even surprised the kid is this good this fast? How can he go from being invisible before his demotion to being dangerous every shift defensively as well as offensively vs top 4 pairings?

Your the opposing coach, do you send out your top pairing vs the Toews or Anisimov line?

Is it time to stop thinking of Panik as a question mark, in other words has he found the consistency that held him back from being a top or middle 6 guy? He's now playing freely enough to show solid IQ to go along with plus size, skating and hands.

Jurco passed the fancy stat and eye test. Think he was smart enough to firstly do no harm as he acclimates. As mentioned, by I think JJ, there were times he seemed uncertain of his positioning but is smart enough to know when in doubt get to the middle of the ice. Smart players do that. ... Went to the front of the net, showed solid hands, work along the wall, smooth skating with good size. Won't know what they have for at least 10-15 games if and when he becomes comfortable enough to play without thinking. So far so good for this fan.

Think Q found a new toy when he dressed 11 forwards vs MN. He now can double shift, mix and match and play by feel. Think we saw that with Kruger. I think even Q sees enough of Kruger's offensive ineptness that he now feels he can "trust" Kero in some of Kruger's defensive roles and know he has a guy who won't whiff trying to clear a puck 50% of the time, as Kruger did in front of the bench when they desperately needed a line change, and get more than a point every 25 games.

Biggest smile my mind got from this game was seeing Kruger pushed down the lineup. Not so much he's an abomination offensively but that Q is entertaining the idea that Kero might be able to fill some of Kruger's defensive assignments and add more than hitting the Power Ball hope of offensive production from his 3C.

We all know what having Kero and Hartman on the ice with their goalie pulled in Q's world means. High praise.
- Mr Ricochet

I think you're right on.