Been lurking here for roughly five years and thought it was time to finally create an account. Looking forward to an exciting season and joining in on the conversation. Just want to thank JJ and the regulars for giving me a place to spend some time and talk Hawks/Hockey

Been lurking here for roughly five years and thought it was time to finally create an account. Looking forward to an exciting season and joining in on the conversation. Just want to thank JJ and the regulars for giving me a place to spend some time and talk Hawks/Hockey
- machinedog14

Welcome aboard MDog!

Been lurking here for roughly five years and thought it was time to finally create an account. Looking forward to an exciting season and joining in on the conversation. Just want to thank JJ and the regulars for giving me a place to spend some time and talk Hawks/Hockey
- machinedog14

Welcome aboard. Look forward to reading what you have to say.

Forsling has obvious puck skill, a good shot, decent enough size, and great mobility laterally. He is also clearly a work in progess with his decision making, and adjusting to the pace and size of NHL forwards. I'm glad Q is giving him some time to grow and learn on the job. After seeing Franson's defensive deficiencies result in two penalties, I would be shocked to see the Top 6 defense group change barring an injury. Murphy > Franson and he also has room to grow his game at only 23.
- EnzoD

"The state of the defense"

We will look back to the beginning of the season, and compare team defense after a full season without:
* Hossa
* Bowman makes a trade to improve quality of '4-#7 defensemen
* Q implemented a system wherein forwards had to be accountable for helping the defense
* Q told Kane to be accountable

I don't know any of this transpires. But somehow there has to be less shots, less quality looks against, difficulty to play against in defensive effort from all lines.

Failure to advance much past the defensive effort and results early in the season can only mean at best a .500 record. That means no playoffs. McDonough will react accordingly.

I believe that Stan and Joel are smart enough to do something about the current level of play we have seen

We'll see.

These (frank)ing stick infraction calls are garbage. Hawks player gets blatantly hooked down off a d-zone faceoff and no call. then this soft as cotton penalty .

ugh...cubs down 4-1 after 2...maybe the nats finally break through...

what a snoozer...the highlight so far is seabs going in the bench head over skates

Our possession numbers will continue to suck if Q never adjusts his strategy. Its like he only knows how to coach one style of hockey.

If you continue to sink the forwards in your defensive zone you will struggle to get the puck out of your own zone

The blender needs to come out. Line 2 is brutal right now. Forsling bouncing back so far tonight, was the best Dman that period.

I see the Preds, Wild, Blues continue to do this to us and we keep playing the same style.

We have such great forwards with speed and we don't use them to go after their defenseman

ugh...cubs down 4-1 after 2...maybe the nats finally break through...
- bogiedoc

The mojo hasn't felt right all year. The starting pitching was not as good this year. The sp throwing best late season is torched 2nd inning. Net's beatable but doubtful by Cubs. The NL world series rep resetative will be weak. Take Astros.

Now the sole team with any hope is Blackhawks. Maybe Cubs next year.

I see the Preds, Wild, Blues continue to do this to us and we keep playing the same style.

We have such great forwards with speed and we don't use them to go after their defenseman
- BetweenTheDots

How long before Q does something about It?
Does he need to let it happen, then tell the players what they must do to change the poor results. Defensive strategy changes firthcoming!?

The blender needs to come out. Line 2 is brutal right now. Forsling bouncing back so far tonight, was the best Dman that period.
- breadbag

Agree and agree.

Forsling showing a lot of confidence and shades of top 4 potential.

I think getting ice time and playing in key situations is so important for all these young D.

We may look back come playoff time and be really comfortable with 42, 44, 6 and 5 rounding out the backend heading into playoffs (a boy can dream thats how it will play out anyway).

I see the Preds, Wild, Blues continue to do this to us and we keep playing the same style.

We have such great forwards with speed and we don't use them to go after their defenseman
- BetweenTheDots

Shots at 5v5 are 7 to 6. Neither team was doing much of anything that period.

But yes, the fact that Kane is currently at 0% OZS is ridiculous. Suter-Spergeon are always being thrown out there when Kane hits the ice which seems silly when Kane isn't in a position to do jack.

Been lurking here for roughly five years and thought it was time to finally create an account. Looking forward to an exciting season and joining in on the conversation. Just want to thank JJ and the regulars for giving me a place to spend some time and talk Hawks/Hockey
- machinedog14

Welcome Dog!

Forsling looked great that first period.

Not sure why Kane is dangling at the blue line and setting his forwards offside.

I hope that somebody wakes these guys up in the locker room. I'd be pissed if I had to pay to watch this garbage.

Shots at 5v5 are 7 to 6. Neither team was doing much of anything that period.

But yes, the fact that Kane is currently at 0% OZS is ridiculous. Suter-Spergeon are always being thrown out there when Kane hits the ice which seems silly when Kane isn't in a position to do jack.
- L_B_R

Yeah but the puck for the last 10 minutes was in our own zone. Wilds defenseman are anticipating the outlet pass and are breaking it up, over and over and over again. Q needs to put forwards at the blue line on top of defenseman and make them worry about breakaways and make then very uncomfortable.

Shots at 5v5 are 7 to 6. Neither team was doing much of anything that period.

But yes, the fact that Kane is currently at 0% OZS is ridiculous. Suter-Spergeon are always being thrown out there when Kane hits the ice which seems silly when Kane isn't in a position to do jack.
- L_B_R

Only 5 shifts for 38-15-88 - 5:08 TOI for Kaner - seems very low to me, considering only one PK.

I thought the Hawks did a nice job keeping the puck away from Crawford, considering the zone time the Wild had.

Only 5 shifts for 38-15-88 - 5:08 TOI for Kaner - seems very low to me, considering only one PK.

I thought the Hawks did a nice job keeping the puck away from Crawford, considering the zone time the Wild had.
- StLBravesFan

Me thinks Kane might be hurt or sick , he looks like crap for Kane

Nah Kane's fine. Just a lack of chemistry right now.

Nifty move by Anisimov to draw that penalty

Yeah but the puck for the last 10 minutes was in our own zone. Wilds defenseman are anticipating the outlet pass and are breaking it up, over and over and over again. Q needs to put forwards at the blue line on top of defenseman and make them worry about breakaways and make then very uncomfortable.
- BetweenTheDots

If they were there that long, they didn't get a whole lot of anything done in the zone.

Idk why you're that worried about the Wild - two years ago they were regular season champs against the Hawks but the Hawks owned them last season and in every game that actually counted aka the playoffs. It was the snooziest 1st period ever and that's saying something since the Hawks-Wild games tend to be like Nyquil. Watch this be a one goal game off a meh shot.

Get mad at that powerplay if you need to be annoyed. Deployment of forwards is another thing that is vexing though lol.

Q to Debrincat : Don't (frank)ing do that when we're changing.

Boom!,#40

If they were there that long, they didn't get a whole lot of anything done in the zone.

Idk why you're that worried about the Wild - two years ago they were regular season champs against the Hawks but the Hawks owned them last season and in every game that actually counted aka the playoffs. It was the snooziest 1st period ever and that's saying something since the Hawks-Wild games tend to be like Nyquil. Watch this be a one goal game off a meh shot.

Get mad at that powerplay if you need to be annoyed. Deployment of forwards is another thing that is vexing though lol.
- L_B_R

The missing link will be back on Saturday