So then Sharp takes the draws...BFD. You're going to throw away all his other abilities because his FO % is less than ideal?
- Ogilthorpe2

Bolland is a good player, but how much better is he than say Paul Gaustad? Their numbers are fairly similar yet no one is pronouncing Gaustad as a top 6 guy. Bolland is smoother and more creative I think, but Gaustad is bigger, tougher and better in the circles.

Some just happen to believe Bolland is a third line player.

Would I be willing to let him play L2-C for a week or two? Sure I would. Won't hurt.

JJ, no response on the guess of McClement? Hes a stud defensive player who is perennial one of those "if the Selke had nothing to do with offensive output, he'd definitely be in consideration" guys. He would look really good as our 4C and take some load off the PKers. He'd be extra valuable in the playoffs as a stopper and extra center who takes faceoffs and then gets off the ice.
- ozzzie19

Have not heard his name, doesn't mean they don't like him.

I don't see Bolland ever putting up 60+ points. So I see no way that he would put up better numbers than Sharp.

You know...watching Bolland play the third line and the powerplay actually gives you a good idea if he could handle the second line duties as well. He doesn't just have to play on the second line to do that. I just don't see it.
- HawkFan27

Meh, Bolland should be a career 50point per year player 20g/30a or thereabouts per 82 games, + defensively (shut down the other teams best guys mainly) when healthy and he is worth 3.6/year. F/O% is what it is. The one game Toews was out he dominated. Don't know why that doesn't happen more often... Usually clean win or not a win at all.

He could play 2nd line center but you can also see how he is a defense first player regardless. Shown that he can score when given the opportunity / create chances but seems to prefer to play behind the goal then play the lightning fast transition game the 1st and 2nd line try to do.

Tough to tell the best shut down guy in the league to be anything else. Moving him up solves one problem and creates possibly a bigger one.

The other two guys playing with Hossa seem to know to get the heck out of the way and let the big man do his thing so that's working out fairly well. More speed on the other side would be nice though.

He's on pace for about 45 this year, he had 47 in 09-10 all in a 3rd line role playing with mostly defensive minded wingers. You honestly don't think he could chip in another 15-20 points if he was consistently playing with guys like Sharp, Kane, Hossa, or whoever Q's 2nd line flavor of the day wingers happen to be? He may not be the answer that I think he could be, but like with so many things during the Q regime, it's inexcusable that we don't know for sure.

It's going to take much more than a three game win streak to convince me that Q shouldn't be fired.
- Ogilthorpe2

Shockingly...I'm beginning to agree with you. I think Kruger is more apt to serve as a 3rd line center then a 2nd.

Problem is, Q has a massive hard on for Bolland as a checking line center, and when he does that, you negate his offensive abilities and those who play with him. Eventually, Hossa may find his way on to that line as he gets older.

This is the Bolland I have no issue with. He's producing and staying healthy...I'll take this guy all day long.

Bolland is a good player, but how much better is he than say Paul Gaustad? Their numbers are fairly similar yet no one is pronouncing Gaustad as a top 6 guy. Bolland is smoother and more creative I think, but Gaustad is bigger, tougher and better in the circles.

Some just happen to believe Bolland is a third line player.

Would I be willing to let him play L2-C for a week or two? Sure I would. Won't hurt.
- kwolf68

Everyone wants to believe Bolly is only a 3C since the 'Hawks won a cup with him at 3C.

Gaustad provides a lot of flexibility, one of which is Bolly at 2C.

Meh, Bolland should be a career 50point per year player 20g/30a or thereabouts per 82 games, + defensively (shut down the other teams best guys mainly) when healthy and he is worth 3.6/year. F/O% is what it is. The one game Toews was out he dominated. Don't know why that doesn't happen more often... Usually clean win or not a win at all.

He could play 2nd line center but you can also see how he is a defense first player regardless. Shown that he can score when given the opportunity / create chances but seems to prefer to play behind the goal then play the lightning fast transition game the 1st and 2nd line try to do.

Tough to tell the best shut down guy in the league to be anything else. Moving him up solves one problem and creates possibly a bigger one.

The other two guys playing with Hossa seem to know to get the heck out of the way and let the big man do his thing so that's working out fairly well. More speed on the other side would be nice though.
- fattybeef

Saw your post on previous blog...No, tickets aren't transferable, and no I'm not ditching them.

Point was/is, I expect a lot more out of this organization, and feel they should be held to a high level.

I get the cap situation last year, but again...that's just as much on Bowman as it was tallon, as Bowman was the "numbers guy" according to Wirtz. So while everyone wants to pin the cap issues on Tallon, it isn't the truth.

Regardless, lets see what Bowman has in store, and by 4 pm next Monday, we'll able to judge accordingly...If he adds what he is needed, then I have no problem giving him props...If he strikes out, then I hope everyone who is defending him comes down on him.

Can anyone recall if Bolland has ever played 2C when the team was fully healthy? Cause that could be a big reason why he wasn't successfull in that role. I always remembered him playing 2C when one of their big 4 was injured.

Shockingly...I'm beginning to agree with you. I think Kruger is more apt to serve as a 3rd line center then a 2nd.

Problem is, Q has a massive hard on for Bolland as a checking line center, and when he does that, you negate his offensive abilities and those who play with him. Eventually, Hossa may find his way on to that line as he gets older.

This is the Bolland I have no issue with. He's producing and staying healthy...I'll take this guy all day long.
- SteveRain

Check back in a couple of years.

Can anyone recall if Bolland has ever played 2C when the team was fully healthy? Cause that could be a big reason why he wasn't successfull in that role. I always remembered him playing 2C when one of their big 4 was injured.
- finyards

They tried him some with Hossa at one point last year, I believe. Meh.

I still wonder at what point they move Sharp back to C.

See, there's the difference. You trust Q's judgement, whereas I think he's an idiot.
- Ogilthorpe2

You think a coach with over 600 NHL wins a Stanley Cup and Only these names above him in Coaching history

Scotty Bowman, 1,244
Al Arbour, 782
Richard Irvin, Sr., 692
Pat Quinn, 684
Mike Keenan, 672
Bryan Murray, 620
Ron Wilson, 619
Jacques Lemaire, 617
Joel Quinville 611

Jacques Martin 600

You think hes "an Idiot" Wow what does a coach have to do in order to please you?

Now I'll give you some rope if you want to make the argument he may have lost his voice here and maybe the players are not responding etc etc...

BUT to call the man "an idiot" is simply a gross injustice. I think I'll trust his judgement over yours. You simply don't fall into 611 NHL wins.

They tried him some with Hossa at one point last year, I believe. Meh.

I still wonder at what point they move Sharp back to C.
- John Jaeckel

I do recall him not playing well with Hossa.

Bolland is a good player, but how much better is he than say Paul Gaustad? Their numbers are fairly similar yet no one is pronouncing Gaustad as a top 6 guy. Bolland is smoother and more creative I think, but Gaustad is bigger, tougher and better in the circles.

Some just happen to believe Bolland is a third line player.

Would I be willing to let him play L2-C for a week or two? Sure I would. Won't hurt.
- kwolf68

Don't know. That's The point. Why has he never been given the chance? Does anyone doubt that if Toews was given the 3rd line center role as a rookie that he would have excelled at it? Of course he would have, he's a great hockey player. So then what if Q just arbitrarily decided that Toews was permanently going to be his shut down center and never have the chance to prove he could be anything more just because he was good at it?

Before I get flamed, I know Bolland and Toews aren't even in the same ball park talent wise. I just think Bolland as been unfairly "type cast" as a 3rd line center without ever getting a legit cance to prove otherwise. Just because he's good at one thing doesn't mean, if given the chance, that he wouldn't be equally good at something else.

See, there's the difference. You trust Q's judgement, whereas I think he's an idiot.
- Ogilthorpe2

I'll second that!

They tried him some with Hossa at one point last year, I believe. Meh.

I still wonder at what point they move Sharp back to C.
- John Jaeckel

You mean during that stretch right before Bolland's injury where he carried the team offensively or about 2 weeks? Yeah, I remember that too. Apparently Q doesn't.

They tried him some with Hossa at one point last year, I believe. Meh.

I still wonder at what point they move Sharp back to C.
- John Jaeckel

I thought the year before the Cup Havlat Ladd and Bolland was the "second line" for most of the year Or am I wrong in this assumption? If so who was the second line in 08-09

I do recall him not playing well with Hossa.
- finyards

Then your memory is failing you, it was the best Hockey he's played in his career...until he got hurt.

Saw your post on previous blog...No, tickets aren't transferable, and no I'm not ditching them.

Point was/is, I expect a lot more out of this organization, and feel they should be held to a high level.

I get the cap situation last year, but again...that's just as much on Bowman as it was tallon, as Bowman was the "numbers guy" according to Wirtz. So while everyone wants to pin the cap issues on Tallon, it isn't the truth.

Regardless, lets see what Bowman has in store, and by 4 pm next Monday, we'll able to judge accordingly...If he adds what he is needed, then I have no problem giving him props...If he strikes out, then I hope everyone who is defending him comes down on him.
- SteveRain

I dont think the cap problem was anyones fault per se. They saw it coming everyone did. They simply decided to stack up and make a MAD charge for the cup and luckily it worked. Could you imagine if they lost to Philly then had to make the sell off. It was a huge gamble and they won.

Steve Downie traded to Colorado per Mckenzie

You think a coach with over 600 NHL wins a Stanley Cup and Only these names above him in Coaching history

Scotty Bowman, 1,244
Al Arbour, 782
Richard Irvin, Sr., 692
Pat Quinn, 684
Mike Keenan, 672
Bryan Murray, 620
Ron Wilson,
- mvp0207[15] 619
Jacques Lemaire, 617
Joel Quinville 611

Jacques Martin 600

You think hes "an Idiot" Wow what does a coach have to do in order to please you?

Now I'll give you some rope if you want to make the argument he may have lost his voice here and maybe the players are not responding etc etc...

BUT to call the man "an idiot" is simply a gross injustice. I think I'll trust his judgement over yours. You simply don't fall into 617 NHL wins.

This.

Then again, rational statements don't generate hits or replies the way hyperbole does.

It's about the same level as the "making juvenile puns out of players' names is hilarious" guy.

As JJ mentioned, it seems like the coaches and players have made a few adjustments in the last 5 or so games that have gotten things turned around. That's not to imply that this team is in great shape right now, but hopefully they can continue to play better.

Stan's got a week to add something better on the back end.

My biggest concern right now is Toews' health. I don't know that anyone in the league is more important to their team than #19 is to the Hawks.

And I'll also say the year they won Nobody trusted Niemi, almost everyone wanted a goalie. People were saying lets get something for Byfuglien as he was going to be a free agent. They wanted moves. The battle cry was lets make the moves to have a legit shot. Bowman basically held serve and made a couple minor minor moves that year and the they won.

Different team I understand and moves SHOULD be made this year. But I'll judge this season when "the season" is over and the last game is played.

Then your memory is failing you, it was the best Hockey he's played in his career...until he got hurt.
- Ogilthorpe2

I honestly thought the Bolland/Hossa combo dried up. I guess it was cause he got hurt. But best hockey of his career? Don't know about that. I would say the 2009 and 2010 playoffs were the best hockey of his career.

This.

Then again, rational statements don't generate hits or replies the way hyperbole does.

It's about the same level as the "making juvenile puns out of players' names is hilarious" guy.

As JJ mentioned, it seems like the coaches and players have made a few adjustments in the last 5 or so games that have gotten things turned around. That's not to imply that this team is in great shape right now, but hopefully they can continue to play better.

Stan's got a week to add something better on the back end.

My biggest concern right now is Toews' health. I don't know that anyone in the league is more important to their team than #19 is to the Hawks.
- arobb01

To disagree with him is one thing but to call the man an Idiot is flat out incorrect.

I honestly thought the Bolland/Hossa combo dried up. I guess it was cause he got hurt. But best hockey of his career? Don't know about that. I would say the 2009 and 2010 playoffs were the best hockey of his career.
- finyards

Yes, you are correct. I meant the best offensive hockey of his career.

Steve Downie to Av's

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