Great blog Justin. I think you are right about Sharp. He looks done. Little left to his game right now. If they made some changes, I could see him as spot duty on the 4th line. Overall though, this team is trending in the right direction.

Happy Thanksgiving Hawks fans!!
- z1990z

With Sharp, I want to believe that he isn't recovered from the surgery, and has something left in the tank once he is fully recovered.

With Sharp, I want to believe that he isn't recovered from the surgery, and has something left in the tank once he is fully recovered.
- 333inthe3rd

Surgery like the one Sharp just had, at 36, can take a lot of wind out of your sails.

I think he may have 1 more gear, but that might be only going from 3 to 4, not 3 to 6.

IMO, his impact will be as a leader in the room and limited, bottom-6 minutes.

Maybe if he gets enough time off to rest, he may be a spark plug for the team come playoff time.

So Hayden gets fined for his high stick yesterday yet the guy who high-sticked Debrincat didn't even get a penalty.

So Hayden gets fined for his high stick yesterday yet the guy who high-sticked Debrincat didn't even get a penalty.
- 67hawks

Hadn’t seen that, that’s crazy!

Surgery like the one Sharp just had, at 36, can take a lot of wind out of your sails.

I think he may have 1 more gear, but that might be only going from 3 to 4, not 3 to 6.

IMO, his impact will be as a leader in the room and limited, bottom-6 minutes.

Maybe if he gets enough time off to rest, he may be a spark plug for the team come playoff time.
- Justin Lowe

I think you're on point with your analysis of Sharp so far. He hasn't been terrible but he hasn't been effective either. In other words, he is neither hurting or helping the team. For the $800,000 contract he signed this summer, that's not a bad thing.

Q just needs to define a role for him given his skills and physical ability (dictated by age and past injuries) and let him go from there. I agree that Sharp is at least a locker room leader and role model for the young wingers like Hartman, Hayden and DeBrincat.

A defined role is how things have worked so far for Bouma. Be a 4th line banger and leave it at that. I personally think he has done well so far. Yes, he's made mistakes or had poor coverage at times but so has everyone else.

The PP goal that Kane scored was a perfect example of how a PP should be run: fast, crisp passes to get the other team (including their goalie) moving which opens up passing and shooting lanes. The fact that Vasilevskiy was so confused as to where the puck was, flopped down to the ice, and kicked up one of his pads in desperation showed that the puck movement worked because he and the rest of his mates were a step behind.

If DeBrincat were flipped with Panik, then maybe Sharp isn't as needed on that line with him. I like the idea of rotating him in and out of the lineup to see if rest helps his productivity.

Someone has to say it, what about about getting Kruger back, especially if Carolina eats some of his contract? It'd be an improvement. He knows the system. FO% is 55% this year.... Probably have to wait until Carolina drops further in the standings. (Sorry Bingo.) How about one of the Dmen too?

So Hayden gets fined for his high stick yesterday yet the guy who high-sticked Debrincat didn't even get a penalty.
- 67hawks

Don't forget malkin running Crawford with his knee to crow's head

Don't forget malkin running Crawford with his knee to crow's head
- Scott1977

Thanks Bettman

Hawks play with that pace and intensity the next. 10 games we will be in the conversation for a playoff spot and maybe an 8 for 10 winning streak

Eakin is the PERFECT guy for that role. Too much money though.
- Justin Lowe

Not if Murphy went to Vegas. Opens the door for Gus in rockford. Maybe broaden it to get mcnabb too. Just evening thoughts

Don't forget malkin running Crawford with his knee to crow's head
- Scott1977

How this one has gone untouched is beyond me.

Did anyone else see Hedman shoot the puck in the direction of the scrum at the end of the 2nd period last game? How about Girardi elbowing Panik after the puck was deflected out of play?

Hayden better not pay that fine.

#1-10 are all GUSTAV FORSLING! I watched Forsling match-up with Stamkos and Kucherov for much of the night and held the Top 2 Offensive players in the NHL in check for the entire night (both 5v5 and on the PK) minus OT 4v3 which is just not fair. Forsling-Rutta are the PK 1 with Toews-Saad and were lights out in regulation. almost 25 minutes a night against the best line in the NHL coming into the game....just awesome stuff from Forsling. IF he can continue to play at that level, the Hawks are going to look a whole lot better moving forward. Hard to argue that Gus wasnt the best dman in White last night.

The Sharp-Hartman-Debrincat line needs to never be a thing ever again. I felt as though that line was the ONLY line all night at 5v5 that was playing in their own zone for long stretches. I really like Hayden-Wingels-Bouma when they stay out of the box (Hayden + Bouma) and dont make drop passes at the offensive blue line (Bouma). They are simply a pain in the ass to play against over all 200ft and I love it.

Anisimov had another strong game without getting on the scoresheet. I think the faceoff rules have allowed him to improve his faceoff win % this year and that's a good thing for both PP + 5v5.

Schmaltz needs to shoot the damn puck. He has obvious skill and speed but is still extremely weak and does not think to shoot the puck EVER. If he can start shooting, I think that line will be an even bigger scoring threat every night.

Franson is a poor skater by NHL standards, but he has been getting the job done 5v5 defensively more often than Seabrook has, so there's that. But, unlike Seabrook, Franson is a great PowerPlay QB at the point. Keep him in the lineup and on the PP and that unit should continue to improve (I also like Forsling on the PP over Keith/Seabrook).

Overall an entertaining and encouraging game, but when you blow a 2-0 lead and are searching for silver linings, I think that shows how far expectations have fallen for the Chicago Blackhawks.

[quote=Scott1977]What centers on the bottom feeding teams would be a fit for the hawks?

We don't know yet whether we are one of those bottom feeder teams. Maybe we'll be making our players available to the elite teams.

Hadn’t seen that, that’s crazy!
- walleyeb1

I thought it was an egregiously bad non-call. Hawks had the puck in TB’s zone and were operating with an extra man on the ice due to a delayed penalty on TB. As the puck came to dBC along the board, he got highsticked as he was losing the puck to TB to stop play. Knowing that the refs had to be watching the action closely to stop action when TB gained control, I can’t figure out how the refs missed the high stick. The only thing I thought at the time was they didn’t want to call 2 penalties on TB at that time. Really, really bad non call.

First off, I haven't posted since Justin took over, and I'd like to say you are doing a great job.

Secondly, happy thanksgiving to everyone.

Thirdly, I agree on Sharp being a non-factor thus far. Giving him some rest every few games sounds like a great idea to get some jump back in his game. One thing that sticks in my head is that if Northeastern doesn't go to the Frozen Four this year, Sikura will very likely be on the roster at the end of the season, and he likely takes some/many of Sharp's minutes. It will be interesting to see what he brings.

Eakin is the PERFECT guy for that role. Too much money though.
- Justin Lowe

That could work with Panik going the other way. But if the Hawks were to deal with Vegas Haula would be my top choice.

What about Panik for Eller?

The emergence of Forsling of late is huge for the Hawks going forward. If Forsling and Murphy can become top 4 material by season's end with one (or both) of Rutta and Kempny extended next season (hopefully Rutta if it can only be one of them) and Oesterle in the fold at $650,000, that's a very solid 6-7 defensemen going into next season.

Luc Snuggerud (22) and Joni Tuulola (21) have the upside to potentially help in the near future. With Henri Jokiharju (18), Chad Krys (19) and Ian Mitchell (18) all playing well at the moment, the future at the position looks fairly bright.

Now all Stan has to do is find a taker for Seabrook's contract...

That could work with Panik going the other way. But if the Hawks were to deal with Vegas Haula would be my top choice.

What about Panik for Eller?
- DarthKane

Haula, Eakin and Eller all would make fine 3Cs in my opinion. What do you think it would take to get them? Panik alone? Panik plus?

I'm assuming Hartman slides into Panik's role in this scenario.

The emergence of Forsling of late is huge for the Hawks going forward. If Forsling and Murphy can become top 4 material by season's end with one (or both) of Rutta and Kempny extended next season (hopefully Rutta if it can only be one of them) and Oesterle in the fold at $650,000, that's a very solid 6-7 defensemen going into next season.

Luc Snuggerud (22) and Joni Tuulola (21) have the upside to potentially help in the near future. With Henri Jokiharju (18), Chad Krys (19) and Ian Mitchell (18) all playing well at the moment, the future at the position looks fairly bright.

Now all Stan has to do is find a taker for Seabrook's contract...
- 4_in_7

I think you also need a taker for Toews. We have over 17 million invested in these two players. Even if the Hawks have to retain 5 million of their combined contract...it would still give us 12 million to buy a quality young center and defensmen.

First off, I haven't posted since Justin took over, and I'd like to say you are doing a great job.

Secondly, happy thanksgiving to everyone.

Thirdly, I agree on Sharp being a non-factor thus far. Giving him some rest every few games sounds like a great idea to get some jump back in his game. One thing that sticks in my head is that if Northeastern doesn't go to the Frozen Four this year, Sikura will very likely be on the roster at the end of the season, and he likely takes some/many of Sharp's minutes. It will be interesting to see what he brings.
- 4_in_7

I believe Sikura is a natural center but has been playing LW at Northeastern. Similar to Schmaltz, maybe the goal is to ultimately have Sikura play center but his development as a pro is best on the wing first. Either way, if Sikura signs right after college and plays immediately on the big club, he could very well be 3LW. But that would also assume DeBrincat has bumped up to the top-6 and/or Schmaltz has moved back to center.

Like any prospect, his future could go a number of ways. He could simply fizzle out and prove that he's not cut for the pros or he could be so impressive that he stakes his claim in the top 6 either as a wing or center. Or there could be various scenarios in between.

The emergence of Forsling of late is huge for the Hawks going forward. If Forsling and Murphy can become top 4 material by season's end with one (or both) of Rutta and Kempny extended next season (hopefully Rutta if it can only be one of them) and Oesterle in the fold at $650,000, that's a very solid 6-7 defensemen going into next season.

Luc Snuggerud (22) and Joni Tuulola (21) have the upside to potentially help in the near future. With Henri Jokiharju (18), Chad Krys (19) and Ian Mitchell (18) all playing well at the moment, the future at the position looks fairly bright.

Now all Stan has to do is find a taker for Seabrook's contract...
- 4_in_7

Agree, that is a decently growing pipeline on defense. I'd also add Lucas Carlsson into that blueline prospect mix.

So Hayden gets fined for his high stick yesterday yet the guy who high-sticked Debrincat didn't even get a penalty.
- 67hawks

Hayden deserved a suspension for that swing - not just a fine.

Unless someone is swinging at Corey Perry or Raffi Torres, there is no place for that in hockey.

That could work with Panik going the other way. But if the Hawks were to deal with Vegas Haula would be my top choice.

What about Panik for Eller?
- DarthKane

If we trade for anyone on Vegas should be Tuch. Young big strong skating forward with a lot of upside and plays hard in front of the net. Out here in Vegas and he is most impressive on the team. Anytime he is out there major scoring chances.

Hawks are starting to come together a bit. Many on here seem overly critical even when the boys seem to be turning a corner....

Last 3 games against a Rangers team on a SIX game win streak, the next against the Cup Champs Pens, and the third against a 15-3-2 league leading Lightning.

Hawks go 2-0-1 and grab 5 of 6 possible points.

Yet, all we hear about are the "warts" of the team. Now, I am not delusional....I see many areas to improve too. But,. seems there are many, many posters here who just want to nit-pick at every flaw of our guys.

I see a marked difference in the way the team is gelling over the last 2 weeks. I also see an improved play of Toews, Forsling and Schmaltz....three that stand out as getting their games back on the right track.

Look around the league...Habs are a mess....Oilers can't find answers (and came into the season as Cup favorites), Capitals struggling, Pens looking for answers....

The Hawks came into the season with a lot of youth, and additions of Saad, Sharp, etc. Obviously will be a roller-coaster first 30-40 games. I keep looking for how the team plays TOGETHER, and lately the "TEAM DEFENSE" has really began to mesh a little.

Are we THERE yet???...No!!!...are we trending the right direction??...I think so.

Let's see how the next set of games go coming out of this little Thankgiving break. I think we will see a team that plays a little more like a "TEAM".