WOW !! What a bunch of surrender Monkey on here .HAWKS lost a game to Dallas THEY probably should not have ,we see now our goalie was playing through probable groin strain and the team had a little let down after the Preds game ,it still went to OT and HAWKS got a point .
They have been playing much better of late .Losing Crow hurts , but injuries happen it's no reason to start a rebuild .
The league as Buttman wanted is parity almost across the board . Almost any team can win any given night . Just look at the around the league any night .
I not a fan Of Q and think a change there could be beneficial, but hey he is still tinkering with things .And for all he has already done ,give him the benefit of the doubt he is going to the HOF .
Win tonight and all will be right till Sunday .
And another thing BRING BACK VINNY !!!!!!
GO HAWKS !!!!!
- oldduffman

- EnzoD

Love it!

Love it!
- Hawkster

FIFTY TWO POINTS for The $10.5 million dollar man. I guess Toews needs Crosby to play on every NHL team bc he actually showed up to play against Pittsburgh. Since the Penguins game he has reverted back to what we've seen the last 2+ seasons....no speed, no creativity, not creating (or finishing) offense, and the whining to the officials continues to annoy me. In Toews case, he is still a solid player, but worth more like $6mil at his current performance. Seabrook, on the other hand, looks like he doesnt even belong on NHL ice this season. It's scary how far his play has fallen. Remember, this is a guy who (paired with Keith) was viewed as the best Defense Pair in the NHL just 3-4 years ago. Like I said the other night.....he's currently the 11th highest paid Dman in the entire NHL but playing like the 11th or 12th best dman on the ice any given night.

19 on pace for 52 points in 82 games. This team struggles scoring and you can look no further than 19's line as a big reason for that. It's rough to see 19+7 fall off a cliff in play and impact on a shift to shift basis. What will Bowman do?
- EnzoD

2 weeks ago Toews and the team played one of their best games of the year going up against Crosby and the Pens. Now they have fallen off a cliff, playing in the absolute toughest division in hockey?

They are one point out of a playoff spot and people on here are marvelling at this Vegas team and must not think they can catch SJ or Calgary either. Guess what, Vegas is heading for the dumper and most of the teams in the Pacific are not better than the Hawks. Good coaches find a way to keep the team competitive and stay in the race, which is what Q will do. If Claude Julien can find a way to move a terrible team like the Habs into playoff contention and Randy Carlyle can keep the banged up Ducks competitive, so can Q & Co.

And by the way, since points seem to be your main measurement of #19, how many times in the past few games have you seen him make a very good setup pass and the winger fail to bury it? This guy still does a lot of very good things on the ice; Saad, Panik, Hartman and Sharp might consider popping a few themselves.

Completely agree. That's why I think there is some pressure for the younger guys to quickly improve to a high level of play. DeBrincat has far exceeded my expectations. Forsling too. Rutta doing well. Schmaltz showing signs. Hartman? TBD. Hayden: the trend is good but not there yet. Murphy? same thing. It seems like one or two or three more guys are needed
- matt_ahrens

STOP blaming the younger guys !!!
It's the CORE group of Toews, Seabrook, Sharp and Keith that have driven this team to mediocrity. ..and yes...even Kane on occasion too. Anisimov was part of this non compete group as a 3C as well. Then Q promoted him back to 2C with Kane and he's been lights out.

I'm tired of reading about all the problems and question marks of Schmaltz, Forsling, Rutta, ADB, Murphy, and Hartman. They are young and will make mistakes, however, they are the futur and need to play. Same with Kempney. ...but if course, Quenneville has to have 1 dman every stinking year to place the blame on. So typical Quenneville.

Put the blame on the lazy, tired, out of shape inefficiencis on Toews and Seabrook. ...OUR LEADERS....who are the severely over paid, and over hyped detriments to this team as of today....and probably the last seasons of 2 one and dones. They are now dragging this team to a possible last place finish to 2018.

As for Q.....maybe if his stubborness to play these core guys would change to playing the youth more on key situations, they would develop faster.
Kane, Toews and Keith as his 1st overtime unit is now a terrible decision.

Somebody else posted it before and I'm in agreement. ....this is going to be a long year with a ton of frustrations. Hard to accept that though when I honestly believe that a different coach and a new found enthusiasm would make a difference in philosophy and energy.

- EnzoD

LOL always my friend !!!

Panik is really on pace to see last season’s production: fast starts in both seasons, then long droughts....

Last season: 6 goals in the first 6 games, then no goals for the next 18.
This season: 5 goals in the first 9 games, then no goals for the next 16 (and counting).

He ended up with 22 for the season last year.
- StLBravesFan

Yep, and despite his shot percentage 3 points lower than his career number. Also on the same pace as last year's points, shots and hits. His career high last yr was 9 points off of Saad's career high of 53.

I do admit though he hasn't passed the eye test the last 5ish games. A lot of plays end on his stick............. Wondering how long Q keeps him on the #1 line and swapping him with Dcat? Dcat has already started cutting into his PP minutes. With the puck retrieval abilities of Saad and Toews he seems like a good fit with them.

2 weeks ago Toews and the team played one of their best games of the year going up against Crosby and the Pens. Now they have fallen off a cliff, playing in the absolute toughest division in hockey?

They are one point out of a playoff spot and people on here are marvelling at this Vegas team and must not think they can catch SJ or Calgary either. Guess what, Vegas is heading for the dumper and most of the teams in the Pacific are not better than the Hawks. Good coaches find a way to keep the team competitive and stay in the race, which is what Q will do. If Claude Julien can find a way to move a terrible team like the Habs into playoff contention and Randy Carlyle can keep the banged up Ducks competitive, so can Q & Co.

And by the way, since points seem to be your main measurement of #19, how many times in the past few games have you seen him make a very good setup pass and the winger fail to bury it? This guy still does a lot of very good things on the ice; Saad, Panik, Hartman and Sharp might consider popping a few themselves.
- RickJ

I've been trying to give Toews the benefit of the doubt Rick, but he simply does not look or produce like the Hawks need him to. Your'e a smart guy and have a ton of years of watching hockey. Do you not see him turn the puck over 4-5 times per game? Do you not see him lack explosiveness in his skating? Do you not see him falling on the ice and losing puck battles more than 50% of the time he engages in a puck battle? We're talking about a player who was rightfully deemed the most complete player in the entire NHL only a few years ago. What happened to that guy? Where is the bulldog 19 that won every puck battle, had 70+ points a year, and had some pace to his game? Yes, Saad and Panik are also playing poorly, but are not the big ticket $$ guy like Johnny is. I freakin loved this guy more than any player on the Hawks for the last decade, but he simply isnt playing well enough to balance out the loss of talent his Cap Hit has created. IDK how you can tell me he's playing well enough. I said yesterday, this team is NOT a bad team, they just aren't a great team. Only great teams win Stanley Cups. They should sneak into a Wild Card Playoff spot, but you better get out Bogie's prayer beads if you think they are getting out of the first 2 rounds, much less raising another banner.

I've been trying to give Toews the benefit of the doubt Rick, but he simply does not look or produce like the Hawks need him to. Your'e a smart guy and have a ton of years of watching hockey. Do you not see him turn the puck over 4-5 times per game? Do you not see him lack explosiveness in his skating? Do you not see him falling on the ice and losing puck battles more than 50% of the time he engages in a puck battle? We're talking about a player who was rightfully deemed the most complete player in the entire NHL only a few years ago. What happened to that guy? Where is the bulldog 19 that won every puck battle, had 70+ points a year, and had some pace to his game? Yes, Saad and Panik are also playing poorly, but are not the big ticket $$ guy like Johnny is. I freakin loved this guy more than any player on the Hawks for the last decade, but he simply isnt playing well enough to balance out the loss of talent his Cap Hit has created. IDK how you can tell me he's playing well enough. I said yesterday, this team is NOT a bad team, they just aren't a great team. Only great teams win Stanley Cups. They should sneak into a Wild Card Playoff spot, but you better get our Bogie's prayer beads if you think they are getting out of the first 2 rounds, much less raising another banner.
- EnzoD

There is no doubt that his game isn't as good as it was a couple of years ago - for whatever reason - health, Father time, not as committed, whatever. But despite his salary he was never going to be a one man team or carry the squad on the score sheet, so in the absence of Hossa, his linemates have to be better. Saad and Panik have to play inside the dots more and be more physical or soon be replaced by somebody like Hayden.

And BTW, tell me what NHL teams are 'great' currently? Few if any IMO and that includes Tampa. Make the playoffs you have a chance. In the case of the Central Division, probably best if the Hawks and/or Dallas finish as wild cards. One of the Blues, Jets and Preds get knocked out early that way.

2 weeks ago Toews and the team played one of their best games of the year going up against Crosby and the Pens. Now they have fallen off a cliff, playing in the absolute toughest division in hockey?

They are one point out of a playoff spot and people on here are marvelling at this Vegas team and must not think they can catch SJ or Calgary either. Guess what, Vegas is heading for the dumper and most of the teams in the Pacific are not better than the Hawks. Good coaches find a way to keep the team competitive and stay in the race, which is what Q will do. If Claude Julien can find a way to move a terrible team like the Habs into playoff contention and Randy Carlyle can keep the banged up Ducks competitive, so can Q & Co.

And by the way, since points seem to be your main measurement of #19, how many times in the past few games have you seen him make a very good setup pass and the winger fail to bury it? This guy still does a lot of very good things on the ice; Saad, Panik, Hartman and Sharp might consider popping a few themselves.
- RickJ

I respect your point of view as well Rick, and I want to give Toews the benefit of the doubt but its getting harder and harder. Its great he brought it against the Pens but his lack of compete in the first 2 periods against the Stars was disturbing and this isn't an isolated event. Happening frequently and his aversion to contact is rubbing off on His line, this line is suppose to be a heavy line to play against and they are anything but, captain has to lead by example its the only way it works.

Hmmmm Q is gone. Stan possibly moved out. Major roster changes. Fabulous run from 2009 to 2015 with 3 Cups. Will have to find a way to move Seabs and DK.
- z1990z

Keith has value IMO, Bab's I'm sure would love to have him.
Seabs is the true $7mil anchor.

Agree with Q gone, SB not so much, call me crazy but I was thinking
Sharpie might make a pretty good GM, if it were me I'd give him a shot.

Watching Kane play these past 2 games has been something else, the man is working his as s off, both ends of the ice, sorry but I am not seeing that same kind of effort from the captain, it all starts with the legs and watching him he's coasting all the time, Saad missed a shift in the beginning of the 2nd or 3rd period and the rest of the game he was pumping those legs for 200 feet every shift.

Keith has value IMO, Bab's I'm sure would love to have him.
Seabs is the true $7mil anchor.

Agree with Q gone, SB not so much, call me crazy but I was thinking
Sharpie might make a pretty good GM, if it were me I'd give him a shot.
- gazza53

You're crazy😁

I respect your point of view as well Rick, and I want to give Toews the benefit of the doubt but its getting harder and harder. Its great he brought it against the Pens but his lack of compete in the first 2 periods against the Stars was disturbing and this isn't an isolated event. Happening frequently and his aversion to contact is rubbing off on His line, this line is suppose to be a heavy line to play against and they are anything but, captain has to lead by example its the only way it works.
- BetweenTheDots

I see many of the same things you see and am not going to pretend it isn't there. But using scoring points as the measurement is just superficial is all I'm saying. What if he gets 2G and 2A tonight and they lose 6-4 - is everything better or on the right track again? A team is more than one player.

Every season Malkin goes out of the lineup for an extended period and the Pens just carry on. Last night, the Rangers had Deharnais playing center on one of their top 2 lines and they beat Carolina. The Leafs played a bunch of games without Mathews and won most of them. The Blues overcame injuries last year and have had their share this year, they still win games. So the Hawks need to do the same with Cro out injured and #19 not playing that great. That's hockey, play better thru the whole roster.

2 weeks ago Toews and the team played one of their best games of the year going up against Crosby and the Pens. Now they have fallen off a cliff, playing in the absolute toughest division in hockey?

They are one point out of a playoff spot and people on here are marvelling at this Vegas team and must not think they can catch SJ or Calgary either. Guess what, Vegas is heading for the dumper and most of the teams in the Pacific are not better than the Hawks. Good coaches find a way to keep the team competitive and stay in the race, which is what Q will do. If Claude Julien can find a way to move a terrible team like the Habs into playoff contention and Randy Carlyle can keep the banged up Ducks competitive, so can Q & Co.

And by the way, since points seem to be your main measurement of #19, how many times in the past few games have you seen him make a very good setup pass and the winger fail to bury it? This guy still does a lot of very good things on the ice; Saad, Panik, Hartman and Sharp might consider popping a few themselves.
- RickJ

Playing against the East and playing against the West are 2 different animals. In the West we were the measuring stick of what was considered elite, just like Pitt is in the East. We compete better in the East as their game allows our talent to shine while when playing the West they physically stifle our smaller not so physical talent.

While we could possibly stay in the playoff hunt, is that really good enough? Just to
make the playoffs to be embarrassed in the first round, why?

Toews is a guy I still want on my team.

I respect your point of view as well Rick, and I want to give Toews the benefit of the doubt but its getting harder and harder. Its great he brought it against the Pens but his lack of compete in the first 2 periods against the Stars was disturbing and this isn't an isolated event. Happening frequently and his aversion to contact is rubbing off on His line, this line is suppose to be a heavy line to play against and they are anything but, captain has to lead by example its the only way it works.
- BetweenTheDots

Not excusing the Capt, but I'm not sure that's a great measuring stick as the entire team had about 10 SOG through the first two periods of play.

You're crazy😁
- BetweenTheDots

It's amazing how people want to blame no 7 and 19 for all the Hawks problems.I'm not going in that direction at all.If I'm going to blame anybody for the way the Hawks are playing,it's on Q.The pp and Pk the last few years have been god Awful ,and that's what the nhl is all about now.I really think that Q has not adapted very well.The good teams have a good power play qb that can shoot the puck,not pass it back and forth for the perfect shot and waist the whole 2minutes.ITs time for a new coach,plain and simple.

I see many of the same things you see and am not going to pretend it isn't there. But using scoring points as the measurement is just superficial is all I'm saying. What if he gets 2G and 2A tonight and they lose 6-4 - is everything better or on the right track again? A team is more than one player.

Every season Malkin goes out of the lineup for an extended period and the Pens just carry on. Last night, the Rangers had Deharnais playing center on one of their top 2 lines and they beat Carolina. The Leafs played a bunch of games without Mathews and won most of them. The Blues overcame injuries last year and have had their share this year, they still win games. So the Hawks need to do the same with Cro out injured and #19 not playing that great. That's hockey, play better thru the whole roster.
- RickJ

I agree, that line has to play better, and when Toews comes out and basically says he had to reinvent himself because he can't play physical anymore. He's got to skate every shift, that's all, my personal opinion is this, Toews looks like a guy going through the motions because its his job. ☹

NEW BLOG: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=89326

STOP blaming the younger guys !!!
It's the CORE group of Toews, Seabrook, Sharp and Keith that have driven this team to mediocrity. ..and yes...even Kane on occasion too. Anisimov was part of this non compete group as a 3C as well. Then Q promoted him back to 2C with Kane and he's been lights out.

I'm tired of reading about all the problems and question marks of Schmaltz, Forsling, Rutta, ADB, Murphy, and Hartman. They are young and will make mistakes, however, they are the futur and need to play. Same with Kempney. ...but if course, Quenneville has to have 1 dman every stinking year to place the blame on. So typical Quenneville.

Put the blame on the lazy, tired, out of shape inefficiencis on Toews and Seabrook. ...OUR LEADERS....who are the severely over paid, and over hyped detriments to this team as of today....and probably the last seasons of 2 one and dones. They are now dragging this team to a possible last place finish to 2018.

As for Q.....maybe if his stubborness to play these core guys would change to playing the youth more on key situations, they would develop faster.
Kane, Toews and Keith as his 1st overtime unit is now a terrible decision.

Somebody else posted it before and I'm in agreement. ....this is going to be a long year with a ton of frustrations. Hard to accept that though when I honestly believe that a different coach and a new found enthusiasm would make a difference in philosophy and energy.
- Hawkytalk

I'm actually not BLAMING anyone. It's just the way it is right now. The guys that were top producers a few years ago aren't anymore. The youth isn't good enough to step in to become those top producers yet. It's a mis-match roster. IF the organization wants to win right now, and IF the organization wants Keith & Toews & maybe even Seabrook to be a part of that winning, it needs to add better talent than wha it has on the roster. IF, on the other hand, they want to rebuild, then they can be more patient to let the young guys develop. It is still uncertain if the young guys on the roster and in other parts of the organization will develop into top tier talent that wins Cups.