I have to concede that a keith ior Crawford injury puts the Hawks in a real bind.

That said, your "statistical" Epidemiologial assessment of keith's health or chances for productivity are way too broad.

Again, I will concede, knowing Keith was slowed by a knee injury and surgery (not an ACL or reconstruction BTW) over the last couple of seasons that if he doesn't ever fully recover, he will never be the Keith of old again.

All that said, if he is fully recovered this season, which odds are he should be, then there is no reason he can't be the Duncan Keith we all remember.

Why? Because he is an off the charts freakish athlete—genetically—and this is proven. Because in spite of big minutes and "hard miles," he's been incredibly durable over the course of his career. He's not a big guy like Seabrook.

And there have been numerous defensemen of his size and style who have been highly effective into their late 30's. And none were quite the native athlete he is.
- John Jaeckel

Not to mention that Ulf's system may allow/encourage Keith to skate with the puck more. I felt that the Hawks shifted to a "have the defender bring the puck up to our blue line and then sit there and drop it to Kane, Panarin or others way to much last year". I would expect to see a more mobile/activated D this year.

Everyone talking about fighting, and more importantly talking about the importance of winning a hockey fight...I'd say that you haven't been on a team or in a locker room where fighting happens. The players don't care about who wins the fight. It is all about who/how/why/etc that player answers the bell and the reasons behind it. Let Tootoo go up against the biggest guy out there, let him get ragdolled, but if he goes up against that guy for taking liberties, stepping out of line, etc then that is all the team and players will care about and will rally behind.
- HawkFan27

I was responding to this in regards to Tootoo "More so than any tough on this team in recent years. For a little guy too." Which is just incorrect. I fully understand that the fight is about rallying the team usually more so than for personal issues, not who wins or loses.

1more John, he wore number 20 and also scored 50 goals in a season! And I don't mean Mike Hudson .
On to another subject, Fortin looks like he put the required work in, DeBrincat will have to once hesees where he is at. And Little Nicky? Sounds like he could give 2craps if he comes to camp looking like A 13 year old bantam player. Said it before, BUST, unload that kid while you have the chance. He won't get a pass this year from Dineen and Ulfie when it comes to grinding it out.
- wonthecup10

You don't trade your best drafted offensive tlaent in 6+ years. He was on a point per game tear the second half of the season. Give the kid a break, he was a rookie.

So. . .the new design does not appear to be very popular. McD not going to like his jerseys dropping out of the top 5.


- pdx2ord

I don't like those collars at all. I need a new jersey and I think I'm going to look to pick up an old one for cheaper.

There is no doubt having the opposing team having to have their heads on swivels is a plus after having watched the liberties taken against the 'Hawks this year.
A great PK that frequently scores short handed goals also allows for players to retaliate here and there without worrying about losing the game for retaliating.
- 35Tony0

Good point about short handed goals. Last year the penalty killing forwards took such short shifts they were almost no threat to score a shortie. That allowed the opponents power play personnel to be incredibly aggressive and risk taking which hurt the PK. That is another change I hope Ulf makes. The forwards need to look to see if they have a decent chance at a shorthanded goal before heading to the bench. I know ultimately this is Q's decision, but the overall strategy needs to be more opportunistic.

SH goals
2016/17 - 1
2015/16 - 10
2014/15 - 3
2013/14 - 9
2012/13 -5

I don't like those collars at all. I need a new jersey and I think I'm going to look to pick up an old one for cheaper.
- DarthKane

I want an away white, but hate the collar on this one. I prefer the old ones too and would like to find Seabs Hoss or Saad.

They had one guy who could play and fight, albeit on the back end of his career. But he had a few good years in Chicago.

#24.
- John Jaeckel

The squads from 88-91 were comprised of a lot of guys who had skills but werent shy to throw 'em down when required.

The game was also 80000x slower
- fattybeef

Watch reruns of the '91 season - especially the opening of game one against the Stars.

Not. A. Slow. Game. At. All.

Disagree. Bollig ragdolled Tootoo and only lost 1 fight as a Hawk (to McGrattan).
- Murph76

Fair.

After two first round exits people complain this team has lost it's depth at forward. Would Teuvo have been a better option on the third line? YES. Have the Hawks won a playoff round since TT has been traded? NOPE.

I'm not saying Teuvo is a star or a second line centre or even a top 6 forward. But TT is a solid depth forward and would be a welcome addition to the third line. Unless you would prefer to have Jurco there.
- DarthKane

The 2016 exit wasn't from a lack of depth....they were fine at F....including Mr. Teuvo. They just lost to a better team and their D depth was questionable.

This year, agreed. Depth killed them, but to dump Bickell and not retain salary somebody had to go.

Let's hope Ruuta does not become a right handed Danny Richmond in that 44.
- Omahawk

it's funny....I was thinking the same thing......thus my concern on D guys.......

The game was also 80000x slower
- fattybeef

Eras change. Gretz was one of the best ever. You want a SLOOOOW game...forget the 1980s, try the 1990s...mid 1990s hockey was garbage. But I guess people who love cycles, hits and the trap it was great times.

Not sure if this is of interest to anyone but with the talk of old time hockey there is a charity game for Special Olympics Aug 5th at Fox Valley Ice Arena full of Hawk ulumni. Check out the rosters: https://www.givegab.com/c...aign=socialshare-Campaign

Parayko 5 yr/26.5M according to Eklund

EDIT: 27.5M, Eklund wrong again

http://www.tsn.ca/report-...-year-27-5m-deal-1.809410

There is no doubt having the opposing team having to have their heads on swivels is a plus after having watched the liberties taken against the 'Hawks this year.
A great PK that frequently scores short handed goals also allows for players to retaliate here and there without worrying about losing the game for retaliating.
- 35Tony0

Are you thinking Bouma or Wingels are going to score shorthanded goals on the regular? Wingels maybe though he only has 4 SHG in his career (none in the last 3 years), but Bouma has all of 1 SHG.

I want an away white, but hate the collar on this one. I prefer the old ones too and would like to find Seabs Hoss or Saad.
- HawkintheD

Their's a good sports store in Vancouver near my office, I'm going to pop by to pick up a Keith or Saad jersey.

Brander's team also found that forwards:

Improve more quickly than they decline and typically begin "a significant decline in their early 30s."
Perform within 90 per cent of their peak from 24 to 32 years old.
25 is their most common age, with 24-27 very similar.

Defencemen, the co-authors report:

Improve and decline more slowly than forwards and do so very symmetrically.
Perform within 90 per cent of their peak from 24 to 34 years old (two years longer than forwards).
26 is their Peak age with 25 and 27 very similar.

Would not most agree Hawks are a Keith injury away (or maybe Crawford) from it getting dicey making the playoffs??
- VopatsRash

I think the Hawks are an injury away in almost any top 6 / top 4 (plus goalie) position from that: Toews, Kane, Anisimov, Saad, Seabrook - where is the even temporary back-up to plug anything more than a week's worth of injury?

I want an away white, but hate the collar on this one. I prefer the old ones too and would like to find Seabs Hoss or Saad.
- HawkintheD

Went to the downtown store Tuesday. They are still doing 2:1 on all Reenok jerseys. All home jerseys are gone. They have away and St Paddy's and some very large black.

Good point about short handed goals. Last year the penalty killing forwards took such short shifts they were almost no threat to score a shortie. That allowed the opponents power play personnel to be incredibly aggressive and risk taking which hurt the PK. That is another change I hope Ulf makes. The forwards need to look to see if they have a decent chance at a shorthanded goal before heading to the bench. I know ultimately this is Q's decision, but the overall strategy needs to be more opportunistic.

SH goals
2016/17 - 1
2015/16 - 10
2014/15 - 3
2013/14 - 9
2012/13 -5
- -Doh-

Wasn't last year's lone goal an ENG by Hossa?

The game was also 80000x slower
- fattybeef

Compared to Gretzky's time - and the goalies were shorter and skinnier (because the equipment wasn't so outrageous) and the skaters were also less well protected, so not as many blocked shots.

But the point about Gretzky's smarts - yes - because my points above applied to all players, and Gretzky still excelled.

Curious what you Chicago baseball fans think about what the White Sox are doing.

As a Sox fan, I am both excited/scared. 5-6 prospects in the overall top 30 in baseball, 2-3 awesome power arms and lots of overall pitching quality depth.

But it's also all sunshine and roses with prospects, no guarantees of success.

As a HAWK fan, honestly, this is the kind of rebuild I would like to see the Hawks do in 3-5 years. Tear the whole thing down, stock up on HIGH quality prospects and high picks—not the best of the scratch and dent bin and a slow slide to mediocrity like Detroit has.

Really tank for 3 years or so, then come back like the team did from 07-10.

Thoughts?

Are you thinking Bouma or Wingels are going to score shorthanded goals on the regular? Wingels maybe though he only has 4 SHG in his career (none in the last 3 years), but Bouma has all of 1 SHG.
- L_B_R

Not at all...I was saying they will not be thinking twice about playing hard because they have confidence the PK will get done and possibly even get a shortie out of it. We are already sure of seeing 2 of the top 4 PK forwards replaced with Hossa and Kruger gone.
A new Blackhawk could carve out a nice little NHL career from performing well on the PK this coming year.

They had one guy who could play and fight, albeit on the back end of his career. But he had a few good years in Chicago.

#24.
- John Jaeckel

Yeah they had some very tough guys. Tough guys who could play too. Manson, Ladd, Curt Frazier
Behn Wilson ect just alot of others who took a good knuckle sandwich

Parayko 5 yr/26.5M according to Eklund

EDIT: 27.5M, Eklund wrong again

http://www.tsn.ca/report-...-year-27-5m-deal-1.809410
- TommyWantWingy

This is the concern, This kind of deal. They are not gonna stop.
I guess I will be very happy because as they continue these signings, these deals will they will break the current agreement with the Cap as it is...
Colton Parayko
They drafted the kid out of the AJHL he goes to college, signs his first entry level deal and after two NHL seasons he gets a THIRD yr deal at 5.5 million.
He always had the shot, but now has scored 13 nhl goals and 4 post season goals.

again no bridge deal,

More than Hammer, almost as much as Keith's deal.

I am not trying to downplay the position he will be asked to play, just the fact that his third NHl is a 5.5 mil figure.

Good point about short handed goals. Last year the penalty killing forwards took such short shifts they were almost no threat to score a shortie. That allowed the opponents power play personnel to be incredibly aggressive and risk taking which hurt the PK. That is another change I hope Ulf makes. The forwards need to look to see if they have a decent chance at a shorthanded goal before heading to the bench. I know ultimately this is Q's decision, but the overall strategy needs to be more opportunistic.

SH goals
2016/17 - 1
2015/16 - 10
2014/15 - 3
2013/14 - 9
2012/13 -5
- -Doh-

Might be the understatement of the year.
If we continue with the 4 corners defense that collapses in on our G, gives point men all D to wind up and shoot AND the D do absolutely nothing to move opposing players out of the shot lane so that our G can see -- I am going to change channels each time we are on the PK.

There's a reason there was only 1 SH goal last season.
That BS PK scheme has to go.
Pressuring the puck forces mistakes and leads to SH opportunities.
If Q is unwilling to let go of some of the special teams strategy, it's time for Stan to step in again.