IMO, faceoffs are VERY important, esp on the powerplay and penalty kill. Even MORE SO, in the playoffs.
- tompo1015

What makes them magically more important in the playoffs?

Rasmussen is slow, not very good along the walls. Someone to plug in the 82 game season but not sure I want to see him play game 83
- PatShart

He plays in front of Yurko....Unless Yurko has an epiphany that lasts more than a week.

2014 kings had kopitar carter richards stoll down middle. the first two being all star players.

koivu staal hanzal don't exactly exude all star calibre talent. just guys.

hawks be just fine coming out of the central with what they have.
- Vanhawk

It's still a pretty darn good 1-3 down the middle come Playoff time. I know people aren't gonna look at Hanzal as such a BIG accquistion for Minny because he's not a huge point producer but that team was DEEP already and are even deeper now with him as their 3rd line guy. Plus they'll have Haula as their 4th line guy. Hanzal isn't gonna be looked at to do too much for that team with all the guys they already have being main point producers so it should free him up to make some more plays need be for them. Never a good situation when your division rival and likely Playoff opponent gets stronger in general, let alone where you are probably at your weakest.

I think you guys focus on FO% wayyyy too much.
- Feds91Stammer

We look for any reason we can to complain.

Still at it, huh??


- 93Joe

When you trade from home and only make intermediate term trades. ..... way too much time on your hands.

When you trade from home and only make intermediate term trades. ..... way too much time on your hands.
- ILGolfer

Go work on some Iron Condors or something.

What makes them magically more important in the playoffs?
- Feds91Stammer

Games having closer scoring and against increasingly difficult competition. Any slight edge is magnified that much more

What makes them magically more important in the playoffs?
- Feds91Stammer

A playoff series can turn on the bad bounce on a power play, penalty kill. If you win the faceoff, you control the action.

Is Shalunov really coming over to play with the Hawks this year?
- z1990z

I think it's more likely they'll bring in KHL player(s) in the offseason.

Go work on some Iron Condors or something.
- Feds91Stammer

Feds......nice job....impressive!!! I sell premium so I use ICs in the IRA and short strangles in the NQ account. Do you trade yourself?

I don't disagree about the experience but there is a reason Kruger doesn't take faceoffs...And using a guy who is well below 50% instead of him is telling.

From what I heard the Wild gave a vg prospect...Hawks are short on those and also paid through the nose with draft picks. I could make the case the Hawks needed Hanzal more than the Wild but they didn't have the currency.

If another addition happens don't be surprised if it isn't a dman instead of a center.
- Al

Exactly. I think Minny could possibly end up paying the prospect, 1st, and two 2nds depending on how far they go. Absurd for a rental. Even more absurd for someone like Hanzal but they're in it to win it now and have a young team I guess.

He plays in front of Yurko....Unless Yurko has an epiphany that lasts more than a week.
- Al

if Jurco shows any chemistry with Hossa...he'll definitely get the nod over Rass

Rads doesn't do any one thing well

No speed, size but not physical, and not strong on the boards/on the puck

So here's a question for the board......wasn't Krugs lousy at the dot a few years ago and then they worked with him and he got a LOT better....aka over 50%......have that tried that with AA?

Exactly. I think Minny could possibly end up paying the prospect, 1st, and two 2nds depending on how far they go. Absurd for a rental. Even more absurd for someone like Hanzal but they're in it to win it now and have a young team I guess.
- Assman22

Did I miss something? I thought Minny only gave up draft picks + a conditional one if they get to the 3rd round?

Fills in the gaps if we can land them. Boyle at 2 mill and JO making 3.75. How do you make that money work?
- z1990z

By the way, I have not heard Boyle's name connected to the Hawks specifically in at least a week. To say he is "the target" now might be inaccurate. He may be "a" target, right now.

Just telling you what I have heard and only that.

What makes them magically more important in the playoffs?
- Feds91Stammer

Playoff games are usually tighter checking and less scoring and the fewer times you allow the opponent to set up possession in your d-zone because they won the faceoff the better chance you have to win. It is more important for the Hawks than most other teams because the Hawks are usually smaller than the opponent and therefore don't win board battles or stick-on-stick battles and therefore if the opponent gets the puck on the faceoff it often turns into a Chinese fire drill for the Hawks.

Did I miss something? I thought Minny only gave up draft picks + a conditional one if they get to the 3rd round?
- ILGolfer

And Grayson Downing. College guy playing in the AHL now.

Feds......nice job....impressive!!! I sell premium so I use ICs in the IRA and short strangles in the NQ account. Do you trade yourself?
- ILGolfer

Nope just familiar with things being that I have a Finance degree and some FINRA licenses.

Probably not, he's just big. He doesn't do much for me anyway.
- BlazinMike

Franson is not a great skater, has limited him his whole career.

I think it's more likely they'll bring in KHL player(s) in the offseason.
- Dabearshawks

You're probably correct.

@BrianHedger
#RedWings source says they do hope to move Vanek etc., which should come as no surprise at all.

Playoff games are usually tighter checking and less scoring and the fewer times you allow the opponent to set up possession in your d-zone because they won the faceoff the better chance you have to win. It is more important for the Hawks than most other teams because the Hawks are usually smaller than the opponent and therefore don't win board battles or stick-on-stick battles and therefore if the opponent gets the puck on the faceoff it often turns into a Chinese fire drill for the Hawks.
- EbonyRaptor

I think execution after the faceoff is more important than actual faceoffs. Unless of course you just dominate and win 60+% of the faceoffs in a series there is not much of an advantage totals wise.

So here's a question for the board......wasn't Krugs lousy at the dot a few years ago and then they worked with him and he got a LOT better....aka over 50%......have that tried that with AA?
- ILGolfer

I think they have, to lesser effect.

I think you guys focus on FO% wayyyy too much.
- Feds91Stammer

Overall yes. But face-offs do matter a lot in certain situations, like the ones Kruger has cover most of the last 2-3 years and now can't. Hawks have no one over 50% other than Toews. And Kruger who now can't take draws.

And Grayson Downing. College guy playing in the AHL now.
- JRoenick97

Ah, missed that JR.....grazie fine sir!