@MarkLazerus

This is a surprisingly physical, aggressive Blackhawks practice. 2-on-2 work getting heated in a good way. I figured this would be a shake-off-the-lactic-acid-after-standing-around-listening-to-speeches-for-40-minutes quickie.
- JRoenick97

Reading this is a very good thing!

I'm still pretty optimistic about this season. The Hawks have great goal tending, and on most nights very good defense. All they need is consistent scoring, which with all the new and young guys on the team, did we think it was going to click right away? So far, chemistry has started to develop for certain lines (2 and 4), and Q keeps tinkering with the 1st and 3rd lines.

I think it will all come together in the second half of the season, and they get hot at the right time (for the playoffs). Do they win the cup? Probably not, but who knows? The preds last year just barely made it into the playoffs and then made it to the finals...

I'm still pretty optimistic about this season. The Hawks have great goal tending, and on most nights very good defense. All they need is consistent scoring, which with all the new and young guys on the team, did we think it was going to click right away? So far, chemistry has started to develop for certain lines (2 and 4), and Q keeps tinkering with the 1st and 3rd lines.

I think it will all come together in the second half of the season, and they get hot at the right time (for the playoffs). Do they win the cup? Probably not, but who knows? The preds last year just barely made it into the playoffs and then made it to the finals...
- ToewsdNKanefusd

There are definitely some signs that this Hawks team is better than there record would indicate, but they have just failed to rise to the occasion against good teams. Finding a spark on the PP and getting some better backup goal tending wouldn't hurt.

In General, a bit more offensive spark would go a long way because this team is not giving up too many goals when Crawford is playing. Only 1 win in 8 starts for Anton Forsberg 1-4-3 record ain't great.

Watching lines 1 and 2 lots and lots of boardplay, except for Saad and AA

Couple of times Cat wins board battle throws puck to front of net and Captain goes behind net, nice if the Captain had any offensive instincts, its as if anyone who plays with him has no idea where he is going to be.

Would we trade Kane & Seabrook for Eric Karlsson?

Maybe a few others sprinkled in to make it a multi player swap.

Because it looks like he will be traded

Watching lines 1 and 2 lots and lots of boardplay, except for Saad and AA

Couple of times Cat wins board battle throws puck to front of net and Captain goes behind net, nice if the Captain had any offensive instincts, its as if anyone who plays with him has no idea where he is going to be.
- BetweenTheDots

What I've noticed about Toews recently, he goes behind the net, battles, comes out with the puck and has been feeding pucks back to the D men.

Watching lines 1 and 2 lots and lots of boardplay, except for Saad and AA

Couple of times Cat wins board battle throws puck to front of net and Captain goes behind net, nice if the Captain had any offensive instincts, its as if anyone who plays with him has no idea where he is going to be.
- BetweenTheDots

He did not get selected for a top 100 player due to a lack of offensive awareness. You think maybe playing with different line mates every third shift may have something to due with continuity...

What I've noticed about Toews recently, he goes behind the net, battles, comes out with the puck and has been feeding pucks back to the D men.
- breadbag

Love Toews but wondering if it would help to make his line #2 and let the Kane line play against the top line.

Also - let Sharp take more draws - I don’t know the percentages but the eye test says he wins a lot of draws

Toews must have been a draw cheater in past seasons because it seems he gets tossed 50% of the time
Followed by 30 seconds of whining

Love Toews but wondering if it would help to make his line #2 and let the Kane line play against the top line.

Also - let Sharp take more draws - I don’t know the percentages but the eye test says he wins a lot of draws

Toews must have been a draw cheater in past seasons because it seems he gets tossed 50% of the time
Followed by 30 seconds of whining
- Colbyboy

Toews or someone (maybe Kesler?) said "everyone who's good at face offs in the NHL cheats a little"

Love Toews but wondering if it would help to make his line #2 and let the Kane line play against the top line.

Also - let Sharp take more draws - I don’t know the percentages but the eye test says he wins a lot of draws

Toews must have been a draw cheater in past seasons because it seems he gets tossed 50% of the time
Followed by 30 seconds of whining
- Colbyboy

Probably not. Toews and Saad have driven a crap ton of possession for basically all the season. They really don't suck that hard, just aren't finishing. Which does also kind of suck but not like there are numerous indicators that these guys are doing all of the things wrong.

And the Kane line has a tendency to get hemmed in. I'd let them bum slay and look for as many off match ups as possible to maximize their scoring since AA is en fuego.

I don t think Karlason gets traded unless he wants a trade out of Ottawa. That's their best player and need put butts in the seats. It could happen anything is possible and Ottawa is not taking seabrook maybe kane for Karlason, probably wants 8 to 10 million per year. What about kane for Hoffman Cecei and Pague money is the same but solves three things hawks need 3rd line center lw with speed and skill and young d man, I know I'm dreaming.

Yeah sucks to be hartman on this one. Not the locker room material needed...
- riozzo

Yeah its sucks because he was right - more wasted cap space by Stan the man...don't get me wrong I'm still loving that trade for Jurco...

Meanwhile Hawks should beat another bad team tomorrow then some real competition awaits in the Jets which is in the Peg - Hawks will more than likely get blown out in that one. Followed by two more against the Central.

Would we trade Kane & Seabrook for Eric Karlsson?

Maybe a few others sprinkled in to make it a multi player swap.

Because it looks like he will be traded
- Colbyboy

If I were to put monies on Seabrook going anywhere I would say Edmonton.

I don't know who else is stupid enough to take that contract with money and term involved.

But he probably retires a hawk or gets put in LTIR or compliance buyout in 2 or 3 years.

I don t think Karlason gets traded unless he wants a trade out of Ottawa. That's their best player and need put butts in the seats. It could happen anything is possible and Ottawa is not taking seabrook maybe kane for Karlason, probably wants 8 to 10 million per year. What about kane for Hoffman Cecei and Pague money is the same but solves three things hawks need 3rd line center lw with speed and skill and young d man, I know I'm dreaming.
- Scott1977

I would pay Karlsson close to max dollars. No brainer.

I'm still pretty optimistic about this season. The Hawks have great goal tending, and on most nights very good defense. All they need is consistent scoring, which with all the new and young guys on the team, did we think it was going to click right away? So far, chemistry has started to develop for certain lines (2 and 4), and Q keeps tinkering with the 1st and 3rd lines.

I think it will all come together in the second half of the season, and they get hot at the right time (for the playoffs). Do they win the cup? Probably not, but who knows? The preds last year just barely made it into the playoffs and then made it to the finals...
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Yea, I like this thinking. Thing is, they seem to score on the rush or on odd man breaks. Possession and zone time. Play in the middle of the ice is not happening. This, imo, is why the p.p. isn't clicking. Watching scmaltz or kane skate around the perimeter is very ice follies entertaining but not good for goal production.

Hard areas!!!

#Sens  will try to make a move before holiday freeze. Lots of calls, lots of interest in the likes of Hoffman, Pageau, Brassard and Ceci. Read below:


http://ottawasun.com/spor...-front-including-karlsson

#Sens  will try to make a move before holiday freeze. Lots of calls, lots of interest in the likes of Hoffman, Pageau, Brassard and Ceci. Read below:


http://ottawasun.com/spor...-front-including-karlsson
- walleyeb1

Karlsson!!! Lol

Karlsson!!! Lol
- EnzoD

For Jurco, Pokka and a 5th

Karlsson!!! Lol
- EnzoD

Forget about Karlsson, but if Hoffman or Pageau are available that would be worth looking into.

For Jurco, Pokka and a 5th
- Slofire94

Ottawa may need to sweeten the deal.

Looking into McD's mind, I could see any move with Ottawa involve Anderson, bring the local kid home. Plus, if Crow would waive, it open up the option of a much bigger deal.

Rangers out shot 44-19 playing their back up

Now I shoot out
How does that happen

Sticking with the Ottawa theme, when you talk about dealing Brent Seabrook, based on age, $ and term, a deal that would make sense would be:

Seabrook for Bobby Ryan

Would I do it? No. But trading Seabrook (6.875 until 23-24) for Ryan (7.25 until 21-22) is the type of swap you would be looking at. So be careful with all of the "trade Seabs now" talk because you may wake up and end up with Ryan.

I think Ryan is an ok player but he would be the ultimate whipping boy here in Chicago. He make 7M+ and has 1G and 8 A.

Sticking with the Ottawa theme, when you talk about dealing Brent Seabrook, based on age, $ and term, a deal that would make sense would be:

Seabrook for Bobby Ryan

Would I do it? No. But trading Seabrook (6.875 until 23-24) for Ryan (7.25 until 21-22) is the type of swap you would be looking at. So be careful with all of the "trade Seabs now" talk because you may wake up and end up with Ryan.

I think Ryan is an ok player but he would be the ultimate whipping boy here in Chicago. He make 7M+ and has 1G and 8 A.
- Justin Lowe

I was thinking more Seabrook for Hoffman.

Spending the last several days with my old DVR before I have to give it up and lose a lot of good old games. Just rewatched game 7 of the WCF against the duck in which the hawks blew out to a 4-0 lead. No one us going to convince me that Toews wasn’t a different man such a short time ago: much better posture and noticeably bulkier in upper body and butt. Maybe it was bulkier equipment,but his whole demeanor on the ice was stronger. And, boy, was it sweet watching Hossa do his Hossa thing on both sides of the rink.......seems like so, so long ago!