Frustrating season with some positive signs sums it up, indeed. I think this year we just have to try to enjoy the journey. Could be better than we expect, could be a disaster. There are a fair amount of developing players on this squad, and it remains to be seen what they are like in the spring.

Saturday was a satisfying win, no doubt. I don't know how any team survives the Pens when they pull the goalie at the end, because their top 3 forwards can kill any team at any given moment. And we saw some of Crawford's best stuff throughout.

Spot on Justin!!!

In watching the game several Hawks really looked great.

Almost all were good....but my 3 STARS were....

1. Toews....a force every shift. Speed best I have seen in 2 years.

2. Forsling...Both ends of the ice, his best game of the year.

3. Schmaltz...he has had a few great games. This had to be among the best 2-3 for him this year. When he is playing like this his line is dangerous every shift.

(Honorable mention. CRAWFORD. Who was his usual solid self!!!)

With Toews and Schmaltz driving their lines like they did Saturday night, this is a solid TWO top line team that becomes a true contender.

And when Forsling can help like he did, easing the burden on Seabrook and Keith....it makes the whole defense so much better.

Great effort. Just hope we can see a stretch of it!!!!!

Great hair?
- Justin Lowe

The best thing, for me, about the past 2 wins is that when Crow let in a goal that he probably should have saved (Nash backhand vs Rangers and Hunwick backhand Vs. Pens), the boys responded and put a goal up themselves to get the game back. I hadn't seen that drive in a few games.

@ByScottPowers
Jonathan Toews out early on the ice for practice

Video is of him working on shots.

@ByScottPowers
Jonathan Toews out early on the ice for practice

Video is of him working on shots.
- JRoenick97

I took away his cell phone privileges until he starts producing

Yes. I'm here.

Shouldn't a "superstar", highest paid player play that way, for say 70-75gms versus one every few weeks?

Let's see if he can crack 60pts this year before being amazed by a 1 assist game he didn't fall down as much as usual

interesting that johnson is playing RW. wasn't he primarily a C in college? any chance he, or Kampf could be options for center for the hawks anytime soon?

Yes. I'm here.

Shouldn't a "superstar", highest paid player play that way, for say 70-75gms versus one every few weeks?

Let's see if he can crack 60pts this year before being amazed by a 1 assist game he didn't fall down as much as usual
- PatShart

WoW. I see PatShart is vying for "Hawks fan of the year award".

Maybe 19 deserves some benefit of the doubt given what he has helped the Hawks achieve over the last 8 years.

WoW. I see PatShart is vying for "Hawks fan of the year award".

Maybe 19 deserves some benefit of the doubt given what he has helped the Hawks achieve over the last 8 years.
- kwolf68

Too much nostalgia is what inhibits sports franchises from continued championship success

Especially with a hard salary cap, we need to continually evolve and adapt

Not say thanks for the memories, stick around on my couch and do whatever you want forever

Stan and Co. needed a few young guys to step up this year if this team was going to be successful. My theory was at least 2 guys needed to emerge on the backend the way they constructed the defenders and it looks like Forsling and Rutta have been leading the charge.
- Justin Lowe

I would also add DeBrincat to that list of young guys who have stepped up. Hayden as well.

In addition to new guys stepping in and making an impact, I also feel that the Hawks needed a few sophomores to ramp it up in their second season, particularly Schmaltz and Hartman.

Schmaltz has been an offensive force the past few games after taking many games to get back into a rhythm after his early season injury, so he seems to be trending up in a trajectory to take his game to a new level. As someone else posted, if he and Toews can be the engine for lines 1 and 2, then the Hawks will be a 2-line threat again.

Hartman, on the other hand, has regressed some and is not making the impact he should given his skill set and what he displayed last season. If anything I expected him to at least play on par with what he did a year ago, if not elevate his game, but he seems to have taken a step back.

interesting that johnson is playing RW. wasn't he primarily a C in college? any chance he, or Kampf could be options for center for the hawks anytime soon?
- Samwelsey

I think the next call-up at forward is Hinostroza, deservedly so, if they are strictly going to recall a center then I think Highmore or Dauphin would be next in line.

Too much nostalgia is what inhibits sports franchises from continued championship success

Especially with a hard salary cap, we need to continually evolve and adapt

Not say thanks for the memories, stick around on my couch and do whatever you want forever
- Stan_Bowman

This /\ /\ /\ /\ /\
Now do something about it!

This /\ /\ /\ /\ /\
Now do something about it!

- Hawkster

WoW. I see PatShart is vying for "Hawks fan of the year award".

Maybe 19 deserves some benefit of the doubt given what he has helped the Hawks achieve over the last 8 years.
- kwolf68

Don't worry dude. He is a fair weather hawks fan. HATES Mr Toews. Despises him actually. He goes on Ryan Wilson's Pittsburgh blog to co-bash Toew's all the time. Pretty embarrassing actually. Because points are all that matter right shartty? not guts and determination and leadership Do us a favor. Go root for the pens.

I think the next call-up at forward is Hinostroza, deservedly so, if they are strictly going to recall a center then I think Highmore or Dauphin would be next in line.
- TheTrob

Hino needs to come up. He is tearing it up and looks to have found another gear to his game.

One good game out of twenty for Toews (still see no fire in his belly or the old willingness to go to the dirty areas), and three or four for Schmaltz do not a corner turn define. At all.

And yes, the bottom six still needs an upgrade at center - my money is on David Kampf. Eventually. The dude just looks like the full package. Tenacity, wins draws, finds the smart plays...Just don't see Hinostroza (who IS better suited at wing) or Kero being...the guy.

There are a few enigmas in the bottom six - Bouma. You cannot discount his physical play or his willingness to stand up for his teammates. This kind of player stands out among a team of stick checkers and contact avoiders. But he has hands of stone.

Wingles - not a natural center, so hard to ding him too hard for his face off numbers, but he has the red ass, and can score.

Sharp - can play center, can still show some speed (if his minutes are limited), and still not afraid to mix it up on the boards. But clearly not the Sharp we got the best out of during his last tenure with the team.

On defense, Ive been a big critic of Forsling, but I hope what we are seeing is the result of good coaching, because if that keeps up, his confidence will only grow, and his timidity deep in his own zone (which I thought was his biggest problem) should begin to diminish.

Say what you want about Franson - the guy fills a role, plays within his limits, and as long as Q does not have him out there against the speed lines of other teams, he brings a calming and offense oriented influence to the ice when he is out there. ESPECIALLY on the PP.

Keith and Seabs both look tired. Maybe less PP time for Keith (for many reasons), and less minutes for Seabrook overall will keep them fresh for when their experience can serve the team best in certain situations.

Rutta - love this guy's game and he is only getting better.

Murphy.......grade A bust. Hard to make the argument that the team is worse off with Kempny out there instead of Murphy. I still think Kempny has more upside - just not understanding why Q hasn't put more faith in him.

Nearly 300 games in the NHL and Murphy still looks slow and lost.

2017-18 is likely to continue to be a work in progress right up until the playoffs. Let's hope Q doesn't burn out Crawford trying to stack points. At some point, Forsberg is going to have to play some games, if for no other reason than to rest CC.

Yes. I'm here.

Shouldn't a "superstar", highest paid player play that way, for say 70-75gms versus one every few weeks?

Let's see if he can crack 60pts this year before being amazed by a 1 assist game he didn't fall down as much as usual
- PatShart

Agreed and he did fall down plenty and made several terrible plays that were never evident in his past. He did show signs of a burst of speed occasionally and won some key faceoffs. But, to glorify Toews for a 1 game 1 assist performance is kind of reaching.

I'm glad he's working on his shot and hopefully figures out how to elevate the puck once again. He can not continue to bank in 5 hole shots especially on breakaways. If he is a top 100 player I'd like to see him get under that cross bar once again to give the goalies something to think about.

Lastly.....I especially did not like Patrick Kane's last minute shift with the empty net. With 30 some seconds left he had control of the puck on the left boards heading alone into the Penguin zone, and skated behind the net and attempted a pass out front that was immediately stolen by the Pens. The play ignited the other way and almost resulted in the tying goal. A truly selfish and dumb play.

One good game out of twenty for Toews (still see no fire in his belly or the old willingness to go to the dirty areas), and three or four for Schmaltz do not a corner turn define. At all.

And yes, the bottom six still needs an upgrade at center - my money is on David Kampf. Eventually. The dude just looks like the full package. Tenacity, wins draws, finds the smart plays...Just don't see Hinostroza (who IS better suited at wing) or Kero being...the guy.

There are a few enigmas in the bottom six - Bouma. You cannot discount his physical play or his willingness to stand up for his teammates. This kind of player stands out among a team of stick checkers and contact avoiders. But he has hands of stone.

Wingles - not a natural center, so hard to ding him too hard for his face off numbers, but he has the red ass, and can score.

Sharp - can play center, can still show some speed (if his minutes are limited), and still not afraid to mix it up on the boards. But clearly not the Sharp we got the best out of during his last tenure with the team.

On defense, Ive been a big critic of Forsling, but I hope what we are seeing is the result of good coaching, because if that keeps up, his confidence will only grow, and his timidity deep in his own zone (which I thought was his biggest problem) should begin to diminish.

Say what you want about Franson - the guy fills a role, plays within his limits, and as long as Q does not have him out there against the speed lines of other teams, he brings a calming and offense oriented influence to the ice when he is out there. ESPECIALLY on the PP.

Keith and Seabs both look tired. Maybe less PP time for Keith (for many reasons), and less minutes for Seabrook overall will keep them fresh for when their experience can serve the team best in certain situations.

Rutta - love this guy's game and he is only getting better.

Murphy.......grade A bust. Hard to make the argument that the team is worse off with Kempny out there instead of Murphy. I still think Kempny has more upside - just not understanding why Q hasn't put more faith in him.

Nearly 300 games in the NHL and Murphy still looks slow and lost.

2017-18 is likely to continue to be a work in progress right up until the playoffs. Let's hope Q doesn't burn out Crawford trying to stack points. At some point, Forsberg is going to have to play some games, if for no other reason than to rest CC.
- Return of the Roar

Calling Murphy a bust after 20 games with a new team, new system, new side, and coming from a bad Org is Grade A nonsense, especially with how he's shown improvement over the past few games while playing off side.

I have been a big Toews booster (some, like my buddy Shart, might say a "Toews apologist").

All that said, he looks better this year consistently than he has the last couple of years, but I would still say he's like 85-90% of the "Old Toews" versus say 65-70% the last couple of years.

I like Saad-Toews-Panik as a line and I think, IF the Hawks make the playoffs, that line becomes all the more valuable because they play big boy hockey as a style.

Also, you have to love what AA is bringing on L2.

Keep up the good work, Justin.
- John Jaeckel

Saad-Toews-Panik - ok - if you’re happy with Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane (and I think most of us are) - then where do you put DeBrincat?

As I said on the last blog, he’s a scorer - he needs to be a focus of a scoring line - he needs shat attempts - only one against Pittsburgh (a miss) playing mostly with Sharp and Hartman. That’s not taking advantage of his skills.

Even if you’re ok with turning him into a play-maker, with two guys who can’t score on his line, he’s not going to produce in any sense like he should.

Calling Murphy a bust after 20 games with a new team, new system, new side, and coming from a bad Org is Grade A nonsense, especially with how he's shown improvement over the past few games while playing off side.
- JRoenick97

Thanks for that comment. I was thinking the same thing. Murphy is trying to find his way here and playing for Q is not easy. Lets not forget, we all thought Oduya was a schit show when he first arrived. Look how that turned out. Q simply does have the horses on the back end anymore to operate his up tempo/possession style. He really has to x/o this current group to get the max out of them. And for some (7), limit minutes.

Don't worry dude. He is a fair weather hawks fan. HATES Mr Toews. Despises him actually. He goes on Ryan Wilson's Pittsburgh blog to co-bash Toew's all the time. Pretty embarrassing actually. Because points are all that matter right shartty? not guts and determination and leadership Do us a favor. Go root for the pens.
- Thoroldbhawks

Seabrook has guts, determination and leadership - yet is bashed daily. Is that ok? Or do you tell those posters to "do us a favor" as well?

Bickell was bashed daily...were you banishing those people as well?

I didn't know I was on the Pittsburgh board "all the time " either. Interesting. Maybe I do like Pittsburgh and don't know it. I'll look into that.

And yes, I am a fan of fair weather more so than the unfair weather

Calling Murphy a bust after 20 games with a new team, new system, new side, and coming from a bad Org is Grade A nonsense, especially with how he's shown improvement over the past few games while playing off side.
- JRoenick97

There are more Hawk defensemen than just Murphy that meet the acclimation criteria you set forth that seem to be adjusting far better.

Maybe the musical chairs exercise on D that has been going on all year is just a series of auditions to see who stays. At this point do you honestly see Murphy in the lineup with nothing more than a very light pencil-in?? How much more rope do you give the guy?

At the end of the day, accept the Hammer for Murphy deal for what its real intention was - long-term salary relief. Stan is going to have to pay some of these other guys when their ELC's expire.

There are more Hawk defensemen than just Murphy that meet the acclimation criteria you set forth that seem to be adjusting far better.

Maybe the musical chairs exercise on D that has been going on all year is just a series of auditions to see who stays. At this point do you honestly see Murphy in the lineup with nothing more than a very light pencil-in?? How much more rope do you give the guy?

At the end of the day, accept the Hammer for Murphy deal for what its real intention was - long-term salary relief. Stan is going to have to pay some of these other guys when their ELC's expire.
- Return of the Roar

Lets be fair about this. Q can be a retard with who and how much people play. Sometimes letting the dust settle can reveal alot. Rarely can the guy go two games in a row with the same line up. We all know Kempny has skill, yet he sits. Sometimes you just have to go through the growing pains of letting guys adjust into new roles.

(And being polish, I can say retard.)

Too much nostalgia is what inhibits sports franchises from continued championship success

Especially with a hard salary cap, we need to continually evolve and adapt

Not say thanks for the memories, stick around on my couch and do whatever you want forever
- Stan_Bowman

Yep.

This is why the Patriots have had such continued success. The minute a player looks like he may be on the decline they get rid of him for someone on the rise. Players need to be treated as people on an individual basis but when it comes to the team itself they are nothing but assets that you must get the most out of, whether that is as a player on your team or used to acquire returns from other teams before those returns turn to nothing.