thank craw for getting them 1 with a chance for 2 with his play the last 10 minutes
- bogiedoc

Get after him for letting in 4 he should have had - didn’t look ready on any of them.

toews/panik/saad...WTF

when they get chances they can't finish and tonight were a complete MIA

Not even close. Keith is still a better than decent Dman.
Seabrook is eating up huge cap space and he's useless.
- tompo1015

Dating back to last season Seabs didn't look like his former self and that was likely due to injuries.

This season, it looks like he just hasn't recovered and just plays hobbled. If that's truly the case, then kudos to him for battling. So it's not TOO shocking that his play has declined the way it has. Unfortunate, though.

Keith on the other hand was still an elite d-man last season. This season? More like a #3/#4.

No what.
- TommyHawk

No he’s not worse than Seabrook

Keith’s issue is that with no other defenseman to rely on for heavy solid d-zone play (Hjarlmarsson), he tries to do too much himself and that’s when his game deteriorates. When Keith lets the games come to him and makes the simple plays he can be brilliant. When he tries to be all over the place and make the fancy saucer passes and backhand chips, etc. he winds up turning the puck over or taking himself out of position. It’s understandable that with cement skate players like #11 & #7 he feels like he has to get to every puck and cover more ice, but it just leads to a breakdown in team defensive structure

Get after him for letting in 4 he should have had - didn’t look ready on any of them.
- StLBravesFan

i'll grant the first two...but the last two were tough chances with nice moves...

really though a rather sloppy effort once again...

No he’s not worse than Seabrook

Keith’s issue is that with no other defenseman to rely on for heavy solid d-zone play (Hjarlmarsson), he tries to do too much himself and that’s when his game deteriorates. When Keith lets the games come to him and makes the simple plays he can be brilliant. When he tries to be all over the place and make the fancy saucer passes and backhand chips, etc. he winds up turning the puck over or taking himself out of position. It’s understandable that with cement skate players like #11 & #7 he feels like he has to get to every puck and cover more ice, but it just leads to a breakdown in team defensive structure
- TheTrob

Again, I didn't say he was worse than Seabrook. I said his play has declined at a much more alarming rate than Seabrook's has.

Keith's fundamentals just look completely out of whack this season. Maybe it is due to his partner, but his IQ and hockey sense for whatever reason this season is just baffling.

Keith and Toews.....
- SimpleJack

Exactly.....but you knew that Quenneville would start his favorites Toews, Kane and Keith for the 3 on 3. That 3 some sux together. Should start with Kane Schmaltz and Rutta, then Saad, ADB and Forsling. That's our fastest top 6 for 3 on 3. Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, take a freekin seat !!!! Quenneville stubbornnes at true form. If he won't accept that his OLD core has lost a step and play the younger faster players, this team will not make the playoffs. .....it's Quenneville's decisions that will ultimately cost this team.

I'm watching the replay of Toews defending the wrap around WTF, such a poor poor play by him, just retire if you don't want to play anymore.

i'll grant the first two...but the last two were tough chances with nice moves...

really though a rather sloppy effort once again...
- bogiedoc

He was leaning on Game Winner, guessing what the guy was gonna do, which is a surefire way to get beaten. Crawford was not great tonight. But he has nothing on the trainwreck that is #7 and #2. Forsling is now our best defenseman?

Hawks got SIX shots on SEVEN powerplays. That is mind boggling pathetic.

Again, I didn't say he was worse than Seabrook. I said his play has declined at a much more alarming rate than Seabrook's has.

Keith's fundamentals just look completely out of whack this season. Maybe it is due to his partner, but his IQ and hockey sense for whatever reason this season is just baffling.
- TommyHawk

Toews and Keith this year have avoided contact at all costs

No he’s not worse than Seabrook

Keith’s issue is that with no other defenseman to rely on for heavy solid d-zone play (Hjarlmarsson), he tries to do too much himself and that’s when his game deteriorates. When Keith lets the games come to him and makes the simple plays he can be brilliant. When he tries to be all over the place and make the fancy saucer passes and backhand chips, etc. he winds up turning the puck over or taking himself out of position. It’s understandable that with cement skate players like #11 & #7 he feels like he has to get to every puck and cover more ice, but it just leads to a breakdown in team defensive structure
- TheTrob

Maybe try Kempny with him?

Again, I didn't say he was worse than Seabrook. I said his play has declined at a much more alarming rate than Seabrook's has.

Keith's fundamentals just look completely out of whack this season. Maybe it is due to his partner, but his IQ and hockey sense for whatever reason this season is just baffling.
- TommyHawk

You just can’t look at it as just one individual. Effective Defense relies on everyone on the ice covering their responsibilities. Like I stated, when he tries to do too much his decision making falters.

He is still a #1 d-man, the problem is the next best d-man on the team is a #4 on their best day at this point, so he is trying to do way too much.

Funny how Hockey gives you what you deserve

Right now Hawks have a lot of holes

So-
OT games don’t go their way- goalies need to be outstanding most nights - goal posts loom large- Captain whines constantly and fans scream for trades even though trading chips don’t exist
- draft picks have been dealt- players seem smaller and stars from the glory years are over paid and slow

It’s called- that was then- this is now

I'm watching the replay of Toews defending the wrap around WTF, such a poor poor play by him, just retire if you don't want to play anymore.
- BetweenTheDots

Don't forget also that it was Toews who coughed it up initially to start the wrap around, then lazy to get to the net.....Crawford also very slow to the post, and all night actually. ....He must be tired. WTF

Hawks got SIX shots on SEVEN powerplays. That is mind boggling pathetic.
- kwolf68

Q still plays Keith on the PP, why?

Q still plays Keith on the PP, why?
- gazza53

No idea maybe because no better option exists in Q's mind. I know Franson sucked on the Shortie, but if he isn't gonna get PP time then he's useless on this team. We have two of the slowest D-men in the NHL right now.

Get after him for letting in 4 he should have had - didn’t look ready on any of them.
- StLBravesFan

I would not be surprised if we hear CC was injured early on in this game. His slow push off from his right to left post on the wraparound goal sure looked like someone whose groin was tweaked.

That said he was a warrior in the third and kept them in it. At some point this team has to stop hoping they can win games 2-0 or 2-1. The poor play in front of CC will wear him out if he has to play 90% of the games and see 30+ shots every night.

I'm watching the replay of Toews defending the wrap around WTF, such a poor poor play by him, just retire if you don't want to play anymore.
- BetweenTheDots

You do realize that stopping that play was not his responsibility? They even said it on the broadcast between periods. That post should obviously be covered by Crawford first, but it looks like he either over slid past the far post, or stuck trying to slide back, and the second person there should be the defenseman. The center has other responsibilities.

Toews may not be playing up to what everyone thinks he should, but that one is not on him.

He was leaning on Game Winner, guessing what the guy was gonna do, which is a surefire way to get beaten. Crawford was not great tonight. But he has nothing on the trainwreck that is #7 and #2. Forsling is now our best defenseman?
- kwolf68

Absolutely. ...and Rutta right there as well. Since trading Toews or Seabrook is not an option, would they ever consider moving Keith while his value is still high?
1 more year and Keith may decline to Seabrook level. This OLD core needed to be broken up in the summer, but No.
Keith would still bring back a ton IMO.

Maybe try Kempny with him?
- gazza53

I’d be all for Kempny getting some games. He may make mistakes, but he skates well enough to recover and he needs to develop.

Seabrook is not getting press-boxed any time soon, and Rutta and Forsling have been ok and are seemingly improving. I’m fine with Franson going back to be the 7th D and watching some games. He may get pucks thru from the point, but he turns the puck over on some horrible passes on a regular basis.

Absolutely. ...and Rutta right there as well. Since trading Toews or Seabrook is not an option, would they ever consider moving Keith while his value is still high?
1 more year and Keith may decline to Seabrook level. This OLD core needed to be broken up in the summer, but No.
Keith would still bring back a ton IMO.
- Hawkytalk

Keith would bring back a ton, but he will only be moved if the Hawks are out of it at the TDL. If you move Keith now you have a Defense minus Keith, it gets uglier, despite some of his struggles and the team is probably done.

I think the Hawks need more speed on their D not less and despite his struggles Keith is still a great skater. I want less Seabrook/Franson types.

vs div 2-5-1...3.12 GA...

forget april if this continues

Absolutely. ...and Rutta right there as well. Since trading Toews or Seabrook is not an option, would they ever consider moving Keith while his value is still high?
1 more year and Keith may decline to Seabrook level. This OLD core needed to be broken up in the summer, but No.
Keith would still bring back a ton IMO.
- Hawkytalk

Trade Keith and your D becomes a collection of #5-7 D-men. Rutta and Forsling may be 4’s by the end of the year, but that’s it. No Keith makes this one of the worst D corps in the league

Trade Keith and your D becomes a collection of #5-7 D-men. Rutta and Firsling may be #4’s by the end of the year, but that’s it. No Keith makes this one of the worst D corps in the league
- TheTrob

It'd be a real poop show that's for sure. However, if the Hawks do falter, then I think he is a legit chip to trade and would bring back a haul, could make a "rebuild" a bit less painful (see Sox, White).