I'm glad you brought up Jimmy Howard. Take a look at these two statlines from both Howard's and Crawford's sophomore seasons as 1G in the NHL.

37-17-5, 2.79 GAA, .908% SV
30-17-7, 2.72 GAA, .903% SV

Now can you guess who's is who's? The top line is Howard's, from the '10-'11 season. I think people forget that Howard only has one extra year on his belt than Crawford. And the '10-'11 Wings were at about the same level as last year's Hawks.

Food for thought.

EDIT: Same level might be a bit generous. The Wings had a slightly better offense, which leads to Howard's extra wins.
- 1goalLordStanley

For me goaltending is pretty much all save % and wins, because GAA is so based on the style that a certain team plays. But Howard was better before the 2nd season than Crawford and I was basing somewhat subjectively. I have seen Jimmy Howard win games for the RW, I have seen CC win 2 in his whole time as a starter. I guess I'll ask, would you trade Crawford for Howard straight up?

I was trying to take a deep breath and figure this out....

A full season of Carcillo
A full season of Shaw
A full season of Bollig
A full season Brookbank

(If Mayers and Bickell can consistently play physical forecheck hockey that would be nice)

maybe the Hawks will be a bit tougher ,

But the power play and penalty kills will be about the same , unless someone else the soon to be named assistant coach is running them , We'll see, maybe it wont be that bad......

- mrpaulish

I agree with you here. Something that made Bickell play a little inconsistently was the fact that Q would shuffle him up into a Top 6 guy, where he thought he had to play more like the other guys instead of playing his style of game. If he's assigned a distinct role from Game 1 against Columbus, sure, his game will pay dividends throughout the season.

I also think that people undervalue Brookbank anymore, just because they would like to see a bigger signing. It might not look good in the headlines, but sure, I picking him up will show its worth.

I realize not much has changed personnel wise, but what I want to see is better special teams play. Everything else being the same, if the PP and PK improve, the team will also.

I'm still amazed the Hawks reached 101points last year with lousy special teams.

And ya how to improve the PK immediately?....goaltending.
- ArlingtonRob

Right?! That shows how much ridiculous talent is on this team that is being wasted by the FO waiting for years to come. What if Sharp and Hossa aren't the same in 2 years? What if Kane gets in actual trouble? This team has all the talent in the world (outside of goaltending) and the right pieces could get another cup, but Stan seems incapable of making any moves that will have a positive significant impact.

Rant over. The goalie is always the most important penalty killer, so its not really realistic for the PK to improve without an improvement in goal

Another PK issue I have is that because of Qs obsession with match ups this organ-I-zation leads the god damn universe in too many men on the ice penalities. That needs to stop, If the Hawks are short handed less that would be great for special teams.

Right?! That shows how much ridiculous talent is on this team that is being wasted by the FO waiting for years to come. What if Sharp and Hossa aren't the same in 2 years? What if Kane gets in actual trouble? This team has all the talent in the world (outside of goaltending) and the right pieces could get another cup, but Stan seems incapable of making any moves that will have a positive significant impact.

Rant over. The goalie is always the most important penalty killer, so its not really realistic for the PK to improve without an improvement in goal
- rollpards19

Lest not forget this team was absolutely manhandled 3 months ago. A goalie won't fix that. Don't fall for SB's 101pt team BS. Yes, Lou is better than CC. Yes he MAY have stopped those 2 horrible OT goals. But whose to say the 'Hawks would have won either game. Must get tougher. Yes, full seasons of guys like Shaw & Carbomb (if he doesn't self-detonate) will help. But they're still missing a 2C, a tough LW & another D-man to keep #2/#8's TOI down.

For me goaltending is pretty much all save % and wins, because GAA is so based on the style that a certain team plays. But Howard was better before the 2nd season than Crawford and I was basing somewhat subjectively. I have seen Jimmy Howard win games for the RW, I have seen CC win 2 in his whole time as a starter. I guess I'll ask, would you trade Crawford for Howard straight up?
- rollpards19

From who's side am I trading from? If I'm Holland, God no. But that's because Howard re-established himself as a solid goaltender. But he could also see some rollback again because it was only one season back on track. The fact of the matter is, it would make sense to play the season out with Crawford still between the pipes because it has worked in the past with other goalies. (Rinne's worst year to date was his second year by far)

I agree with you here. Something that made Bickell play a little inconsistently was the fact that Q would shuffle him up into a Top 6 guy, where he thought he had to play more like the other guys instead of playing his style of game. If he's assigned a distinct role from Game 1 against Columbus, sure, his game will pay dividends throughout the season.

I also think that people undervalue Brookbank anymore, just because they would like to see a bigger signing. It might not look good in the headlines, but sure, I picking him up will show its worth.
- 1goalLordStanley

Um, really? The third line was the only one that Q left alone early last year. They came out on fire the first few games. Even after their production fell off, Q kept Frolik and Bickell with Bolland exclusively well into the middle of the season.

The third line the first half of the year has been the one exception to Q's line juggling tendency.

This has been the crappiest off season I've experienced in sometime. Just a bunch of BLAH all around the league. The Blackhawks inactivity has been excruciatingly painful. But I hold out hope for something..................................
- Blackwater13

Indeed...still think the CBA is a factor and will be a big problem!

My thougts on dealing Bolland are the same...Only if part of big blockbuster trade that can make an immediate significant impact.

I don't feel Kruger can last play 16-18 mins a night as a 2 center yet and last an entire season without being pounded so bad he won't be able to do much in the playoffs.

I don't think trading Bolland alone nets the Hawks a better 2nd line center than Kane or even what Bolland could become.

But since the summer of 2010 when I wrote about the untouchable 7 there has never been a rumor of any of the core being traded that I felt credible enough to write about.

This time I believe Bolland was offered around but he is a favorite of Q's and if he has more of say so now it is more unlikely Bolland will be dealt.

OnTwitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

A lot here to chew on, Al......... The first being as far as your contacts go Kane was never shopped? Only listened when other GM's called?

Bolland is one of those guys who gives much that's never seen in the boxscore. He really is a first rate shutdown centerman, but what always is in the back of my mind is his back troubles. I wonder if that's true with the Hawks as well.

Do you think Shaw could develop into the same kind of shutdown 3rd line centerman? If so that would make Bolland, at some point, expendable. If he is you'd sure hope he's part of a bigger package, as you mention.

I agree about Kruger. Kid is light and knocked around easily. You skate him 17-18 minutes for 80 games with his fearless style and he'll be banged up come Springtime.

Another PK issue I have is that because of Qs obsession with match ups this organ-I-zation leads the god damn universe in too many men on the ice penalities. That needs to stop, If the Hawks are short handed less that would be great for special teams.
- mrpaulish

Ignoring the Too Many Men minors for a moment...weren't the Hawks one of the least penalized teams in the league last year? ...and that fact helped to minimize the negative effect of the lousy PK?

Um, really? The third line was the only one that Q left alone early last year. They came out on fire the first few games. Even after their production fell off, Q kept Frolik and Bickell with Bolland exclusively well into the middle of the season.

The third line the first half of the year has been the one exception to Q's line juggling tendency.
- NewToHockey

Allow me to reiterate. He saw his ice time gradually being taken away more or less because of the fact that he was lacking offensive production. If you do the other things right, why should you be punished for not getting points, where you aren't really expected to? It changed his game, to fight back and get try to get his time back. But it failed, got to his head, and he found himself in the press box. The role he was in wasn't what was expected of him, but I put that on Q for asking him to do too much.

If HI is correct gagne signed 4 years at $13 million. Still waiting to hear that from more credible sources.

That's an affordable 2c/3c if true.

I was trying to take a deep breath and figure this out....

A full season of Carcillo
A full season of Shaw
A full season of Bollig
A full season Brookbank

(If Mayers and Bickell can consistently play physical forecheck hockey that would be nice)

maybe the Hawks will be a bit tougher ,

But the power play and penalty kills will be about the same , unless someone else the soon to be named assistant coach is running them , We'll see, maybe it wont be that bad......

- mrpaulish

One problem or actually question. Will numbskull Q give them actual ice time? Might end up like lepisto scratched everynight and when he does play you question why he wasn't playing.

I was trying to take a deep breath and figure this out....

A full season of Carcillo
A full season of Shaw
A full season of Bollig
A full season Brookbank

(If Mayers and Bickell can consistently play physical forecheck hockey that would be nice)

maybe the Hawks will be a bit tougher ,

But the power play and penalty kills will be about the same , unless someone else the soon to be named assistant coach is running them , We'll see, maybe it wont be that bad......

- mrpaulish

The Carcillo thing still has me scratching my head...don't like it.
If Bollig makes the starting roster, I will be a very sad fan.

One way to improve this club...good veteran goaltending! I won't mention any names...

So JJ, I remember reading you said many UFAs are turned off of the idea of signing with Chicago. Does this tie StanBos hands for a trade only? Should we expect a deal before the convention (makes sense rather than face an ocean of boos at the convention for lack of movement)

If HI is correct gagne signed 4 years at $13 million. Still waiting to hear that from more credible sources.

That's an affordable 2c/3c if true.
- moylander

Sam Gagner? I haven't seen Cloutier throw up a blog about it yet.

If HI is correct gagne signed 4 years at $13 million. Still waiting to hear that from more credible sources.

That's an affordable 2c/3c if true.
- moylander

Another SB gaffe if this ends up being true. Gotta wonder how much Rockwell is going to take before he blows a head gasket.

Sam Gagner? I haven't seen Cloutier throw up a blog about it yet.
- EKolb13

That's because it has only been reporter by Hockeyy Insiderr and the fake Jonathan Willis twitter account. That guys is ridiculous. He is getting into twitter fights with everyone.

The Carcillo thing still has me scratching my head...don't like it.
If Bollig makes the starting roster, I will be a very sad fan.

One way to improve this club...good veteran goaltending! I won't mention any names...
- ArlingtonRob

Agree with you on Bollig, not that I don't like him but I want guys playing who will play more than 4 minutes of ice time a night.

Allow me to reiterate. He saw his ice time gradually being taken away more or less because of the fact that he was lacking offensive production. If you do the other things right, why should you be punished for not getting points, where you aren't really expected to? It changed his game, to fight back and get try to get his time back. But it failed, got to his head, and he found himself in the press box. The role he was in wasn't what was expected of him, but I put that on Q for asking him to do too much.
- 1goalLordStanley

He specifically got his ice time reduced because of his lack of physical play. That was stated by both Bickell himself and Q.

Agree with you on Bollig, not that I don't like him but I want guys playing who will play more than 4 minutes of ice time a night.
- dan9189

You can argue that he deserved more ice time and Q in his inherent distrust of the lower lines refused to give it to him, which resulted in the top lines being overused and worn out.

Lest not forget this team was absolutely manhandled 3 months ago. A goalie won't fix that. Don't fall for SB's 101pt team BS. Yes, Lou is better than CC. Yes he MAY have stopped those 2 horrible OT goals. But whose to say the 'Hawks would have won either game. Must get tougher. Yes, full seasons of guys like Shaw & Carbomb (if he doesn't self-detonate) will help. But they're still missing a 2C, a tough LW & another D-man to keep #2/#8's TOI down.
- blackhawk24

If the Hawks played the Yotes and got even respectable results on special teams, they would have won the series. That is why I'm very curious to see who the new assistant will be. If it's someone who can turn the PP and PK around, the Hawks are much improved without changing personell.

If the Hawks played the Yotes and got even respectable results on special teams, they would have won the series. That is why I'm very curious to see who the new assistant will be. If it's someone who can turn the PP and PK around, the Hawks are much improved without changing personel.
- NewToHockey

Bingo!

And let me point out the obvious...the importance of good, consistent goaltending...for 5 on 5 play, and especially the PK.

Mike Smith was better...

Bingo!

And let me point out the obvious...the importance of good, consistent goaltending...for 5 on 5 play, and especially the PK.

Mike Smith was better...
- ArlingtonRob

Just bi+ching for the sake of bi+ching, but I sometimes wonder how the series would have gone had the refs forced Smith to spend 15 minutes in the quiet room after the Shaw incident.

Just bi+ching for the sake of bi+ching, but I sometimes wonder how the series would have gone had the refs forced Smith to spend 15 minutes in the quiet room after the Shaw incident.
- NewToHockey

We will never know my friend...never know.