Again, at the time, Pokka was a great prospect. Lots of people liked that trade, not just the Hawks. He just didn't develop quickly enough.
- JRoenick97

I think "great" is a stretch and I never liked anything about the trade. But again when you hold onto a player until about 3-4 days before the season opener, you don't have many options.

Garth Snow was in complete control of that deal and he had room in his bank account to add Leddy and Boychuk that summer, and got both for very little.

With a combined cap hit of $21 million per season anything less than 81-0-0 and 6-0 should be considered a massive fail on Stan's part. Toews is overpaid at $10.5 million.
- DarthKane

Fact

Still can't believe we traded Leddy(a #1 caliber D) for an AHLer....
- SimpleJack

He looks good this year on a good Islander team

NO, not at the time. Pokka was younger than Leddy and considered a very good prospect, and Leddy was still figuring out his game in the NHL. Again, this was at the time of the trade, not what they both became. Yes, it looks bad now because Pokka failed to develop and Leddy cemented his game, but at the time, nobody was down on Pokka.
- JRoenick97

Actually as far i as i remember and I'm sure most would agree, at that time the reaction to the trade was pretty much "That's it? That's all we got for Leddy!?!".....the same as it is now, though maybe not quite as amplified.

He looks good this year on a good Islander team
- Colbyboy

I know stop reminding me

Hawks #1 in Offensive zone time in the NHL

Hawks #1 in Offensive zone time in the NHL
- Colbyboy

So - why are they 14th in total goals scored, 15th in 5x5 goals scored?

So - why are they 14th in total goals scored, 15th in 5x5 goals scored?
- StLBravesFan

You should go be a guest coach for a day

So - why are they 14th in total goals scored, 15th in 5x5 goals scored?
- StLBravesFan

Because they're always looking for that pretty pass....instead of putting pucks on net and crashing the blue paint.

So - why are they 14th in total goals scored, 15th in 5x5 goals scored?
- StLBravesFan

Because zone time is not a guarantee to score goals....It's how you get to the offensive zone and what you do when there.

Hawks #1 in Offensive zone time in the NHL
- Colbyboy

Curious where did you get that stat from?

Because zone time is not a guarantee to score goals....It's how you get to the offensive zone and what you do when there.
- Al

I know the hawks do more laps around the zone than any other team

I know the hawks do more laps around the zone than any other team
- 6628

Yes and one big reason they don't score more often is because they don't have a consistent transition game.

I know the hawks do more laps around the zone than any other team
- 6628

That's definitely part of the reason. Seeing Kane and Schmaltz circling the wagons to result in very little gets old sometimes and begs the question of whether teammates are just watching or fighting hard to get to shooting areas.

Other reasons for the high zone time but relatively low goal output to show for it:

- Looking for the pretty pass as someone else pointed out.
- Making a pass when shooting is probably better (a Schmaltz specialty).
- Being snake bitten.

That last reason underscores another point one of you brought up earlier. The Hawks are not giving up a lot of goals, so the team could stand to win a lot more games once the scoring chances convert to goals as play over the course of a long season evens out. Add in a better powerplay, too. If the powerplay was at least middle of the pack, then the Hawks could be holding one of the top 3 playoff seeds in the Central rather than fighting for a wildcard spot.

That's definitely part of the reason. Seeing Kane and Schmaltz circling the wagons to result in very little gets old sometimes and begs the question of whether teammates are just watching or fighting hard to get to shooting areas.

Other reasons for the high zone time but relatively low goal output to show for it:

- Looking for the pretty pass as someone else pointed out.
- Making a pass when shooting is probably better (a Schmaltz specialty).
- Being snake bitten.

That last reason underscores another point one of you brought up earlier. The Hawks are not giving up a lot of goals, so the team could stand to win a lot more games once the scoring chances convert to goals as play over the course of a long season evens out. Add in a better powerplay, too. If the powerplay was at least middle of the pack, then the Hawks could be holding one of the top 3 playoff seeds in the Central rather than fighting for a wildcard spot.
- AEL_Fox

Players like Panik, who is the poster boy for this....Taking shots from prime scoring areas and putting the puck into the goalies belly. So nothing is created, no goal, no rebound and the play ends.

That's definitely part of the reason. Seeing Kane and Schmaltz circling the wagons to result in very little gets old sometimes and begs the question of whether teammates are just watching or fighting hard to get to shooting areas.

Other reasons for the high zone time but relatively low goal output to show for it:

- Looking for the pretty pass as someone else pointed out.
- Making a pass when shooting is probably better (a Schmaltz specialty).
- Being snake bitten.

That last reason underscores another point one of you brought up earlier. The Hawks are not giving up a lot of goals, so the team could stand to win a lot more games once the scoring chances convert to goals as play over the course of a long season evens out. Add in a better powerplay, too. If the powerplay was at least middle of the pack, then the Hawks could be holding one of the top 3 playoff seeds in the Central rather than fighting for a wildcard spot.
- AEL_Fox

You should be a guest coach too.

Just did some looking ahead on the schedule and, if it comes down to the last few weeks before the playoffs and we're still fighting for a birth or a better seed(which it very well might considering how many teams will be battling for position separated by only a few points) 4 of our final 5 games of the season are against the Blues and Jets. That's not good.

Just did some looking ahead on the schedule and, if it comes down to the last few weeks before the playoffs and we're still fighting for a birth or a better seed(which it very well might considering how many teams will be battling for position separated by only a few points) 4 of our final 5 games of the season are against the Blues and Jets. That's not good.
- SimpleJack

With any luck they'll be #1 and #2 in the division so they'll be resting key players and letting off the gas a little bit...

Forsling struggling tonight.

To many girls on the power play, our 4th line can do a better job

This team plays like they are out of shape
- BetweenTheDots

Do girls not know how to run a power play? Or am I missing something...

Next 6 games will tell us how good Buffalo Arizona & Florida are as well as how good the Hawks are.

On another note
Glad to see Ottawa’s trap isn’t working.
Boucher may be out before the Ball Drops on New Years.
- Colbyboy

+1000000 to that

Hawks #1 in Offensive zone time in the NHL
- Colbyboy

lot of guys with shooting % way off from their career numbers

I would think so, Toews and Saad seem to be playing some of their best hockey of the season since DeBrincat was promoted to their line. Although, the prudent thing to do would be send DeBrincat to Rockford for some seasoning.
- DarthKane

Well played!

lot of guys with shooting % way off from their career numbers
- fattybeef

Yes, and once water finds it level for those shooting below average and somehow the PP improves, the Hawks will win games. That surprising yet impressive stat of being #1 in offensive zone time on top of being in the top 10 (I believe) in Corsi and having a locked in starting goalie are something to build upon.

I personally have more faith in shooting % for certain players correcting over time than I do in the PP miraculously improving. Some of you on this board could draw up PP schemes that are worlds better than what the Hawks are currently employing.

Players like Panik, who is the poster boy for this....Taking shots from prime scoring areas and putting the puck into the goalies belly. So nothing is created, no goal, no rebound and the play ends.
- Al

Yeah, the constant chest shoots are another reason. The Hawks should ask Santa for Shooter Tutors for Christmas and set those up for all of their optional practices.

You should be a guest coach too.
- 6628

A decent power play wouldn't hurt but I tweeted this last night....

Those who want to place all the blame on the Hawks woes on their power play (15.6%) KIM-The Blues lead the West with a PP of 16.8%, the Jackets lead the Metro with a PP batting 9.4%.

The Hawks won 3 Cups and never had a top a power play....There's more to the lack of scoring than a poor power play. If memory serves me the Penguins won Cups without a top power play as well.