JR posted several pictures of Kane last off-season and the guy looked like he had put on 20+ lbs of muscle. Working out hard doesn't always translate on the ice unfortunately... Plus it doesn't help when you have guys like Brunette on your line that can't finish - that cost him around 20 points right there.

The Madison thing is a joke. The guy is 23 years old.... Old enough to party. Nothing illegal happened - He didn't get behind the wheel. He didn't assault anyone. People need to lay off the kid.
- CBHawks88

I was saying it seems like the same old song and dance. He claimed to be rededicated last summer and responded with a 66 point season, his worse one. I am not judging him for partying. Just saying this sounds familiar. I remember last season reading fans complain about his lack of backchecking and cherry picking, so do not expect a miraculous turnaround this year. What is he going to say to the press? "Yeah, I party hard, make over $6 mil a year, so you can't tell me how to live my life." This screams poltical correctness and a well coached speech

So true. Add Brouwer to that list too. Biggest mistake so far from Stan was the Ladd trade if you ask me.
- MjulQvist

Theres a reason why they won the cup. And that reason was NOT because they were physical on defense.

Duncan Keith
Cup year - 46 hits
Last year - 45 hits Woah huge drop off!

Niklas Hjalmarsson
Cup year - 59 hits
Last year - 42 (8 less games played)

Brent Sopel
Cup year - 50 hits (olsen had nearly as many hits in far less games)

Brent Seabrook
Cup year - 208 hits
2010 - 227 hits (increase here? wheres the stick waving?)


Brian Campbell
Cup year - 37 hits


So what I am getting at here is our defense going back to when the hawks won the cup, was NEVER really that physical other than seabrook. The numbes don't lie. What is lacking is hitting/forecheck from the forwards especially in the top 6 from guys like buff and ladd. They created a lot of turnovers and played a lot more minutes then a bottom 6 guy like bollig. They put on the big hits, not guys like brian campbell or niklas hjalmarsson.

This is why i would like to see shane doan as a hawk, would fill a huge void. Sorry but a huge pylon on defense who hits people and nothing else, isn't going to be the end all solution to helping the hawks win again
- Wowo2282

Huge difference in playing style...look at the cup winning goal. Ladd is in forechecking to pressure the Flyers dman who blindly throws the puck up the boards to be intercepted by Campbell. If the Hawks lost the puck in that postseason they used a pack mentality to pressure opposing teams to get it back. The past 2 seasons, they play perimeter catch and when it is turned over, few players try to pressure the d to get it back, rather the clear out of the zone. I saw Toews try to use the cup winning forecheck but there is a massive absence of this on the team. Look at Shaw's first goal this year. He chases in to pressure the dman, gets the puck and heads for the front of the net. Some forwards on this team take that, dump it back to the d or take a bad angle shot. MASSIVE issues there

Theres a reason why they won the cup. And that reason was NOT because they were physical on defense.
- Wowo2282

That´s right! This Big Buff´s hit on Pronger in game five still gives me a chuckle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrBbHPoqv08

, was NEVER really that physical other than seabrook. The numbes don't lie. What is lacking is hitting/forecheck from the forwards especially in the top 6 from guys like buff and ladd. They created a lot of turnovers and played a lot more minutes then a bottom 6 guy like bollig. They put on the big hits, not guys like brian campbell or niklas hjalmarsson.

This is why i would like to see shane doan as a hawk, would fill a huge void. Sorry but a huge pylon on defense who hits people and nothing else, isn't going to be teh end all solution to helping the hawks win again
- Wowo2282

Wait, Seabrook was the only physical player, but what the team is missing is the hitting from guys like Buff?
How exactly do you define physical then, because i must be thinking of a different word?
The team that won the cup had 3 guys that combined for nearly 500 hits that year, that are no longer here (Buff, Ladd & Brouwer)
Brouwer had nearly 300 in 10-11.
Those players were not adequately replaced, and has suffered from a lack of physical play, and TWO first round playoff losses.
Obviously the stick check system is a rousing success. I now see the light.

Theres a reason why they won the cup. And that reason was NOT because they were physical on defense.
- Wowo2282

Correct. it was because they were physical across the board.
Something this team does not do.

Duncan Keith
Cup year - 46 hits
Last year - 45 hits Woah huge drop off!

Niklas Hjalmarsson
Cup year - 59 hits
Last year - 42 (8 less games played)

Brent Sopel
Cup year - 50 hits (olsen had nearly as many hits in far less games)

Brent Seabrook
Cup year - 208 hits
2010 - 227 hits (increase here? wheres the stick waving?)


Brian Campbell
Cup year - 37 hits


So what I am getting at here is our defense going back to when the hawks won the cup, was NEVER really that physical other than seabrook. The numbes don't lie. What is lacking is hitting/forecheck from the forwards especially in the top 6 from guys like buff and ladd. They created a lot of turnovers and played a lot more minutes then a bottom 6 guy like bollig. They put on the big hits, not guys like brian campbell or niklas hjalmarsson.

This is why i would like to see shane doan as a hawk, would fill a huge void. Sorry but a huge pylon on defense who hits people and nothing else, isn't going to be the end all solution to helping the hawks win again
- Wowo2282

Nice post. Agree with you totally on the lack of toughness from our forwards.

The one player I argued with friends and family for the Hawks to not get rid of was Ladd. Ladd IMO was always underrated and under appreciated.

Where do you guys get this whole stick waving defense from? Guys like keith and leddy are not physical and never were. That is the way they have always played. Leddy is not going to light up people like some of you want. Seabrook hits people, look at his number of hits over the years. Where is his stick waving???? Olsen when he came up hit people, he didn't "wave" his stick. Your asking puckmoving guys like oduya, keith and leddy to all of a sudden become heavy hitters? Brookbank was a nice subtle addition, he should be able do clear the crease. Just don't expect guys like leddy to overpower men like lucic and franzen who park themselves near the net
- Wowo2282

I agree about that part. I don't know why Q would be ok with some hitting and not others. Its on the players more than the coach on that. I don't really like q. But in games where Keith gets pissed off, he can be pretty physical. I wish he would get pissed off more often. Remember last year in the playoffs after torres cheap-shotted Seabrook? He was a beast the next game. Him and Bolland

What? So a rumor will pass as "doing something" in your eyes? Here you go

-Hawks weighing trade for Luongo.
-Bowman preparing BIG offer for Doan.
-Hawks in on Semin.

Feel better?

So far all those teams you mentioned that are "trying" to get better haven't done jack- with the exception of the Flyers who offer sheeted Weber and if that gets matched they go back into the "Quiet summer" pile.

It's not the amount of Negativity on this board that's so upsetting. Well maybe it somewhat is. It's the whole black and white of it all. Either you think Stan sucks, McDonough's ruining everything and the Hawks are somehow in the toilet, or you're a rse glasses wearing, koolaid imbibing homer. And that's it. And both views are retarded. The answer lies somewhere in the middle. I understand that doesn't jibe well with internet billboard speak. But for crying eye, how about inserting some reality into the damn conversation.

The only teams that have made significant "changes" to their team are Carolina, Minnesota, and Dallas. Three teams that haven't made the playoffs or been significant
in anyway. They "Needed" to make big changes. and frankly, I'm no more scared of them than I was before. Maybe when Minnesota's kids start filtering through and filling in the key roles... maybe.

But the truth is when you go through the season with lots of rookies like Leddy and Kruger and Shaw, you sort of owe it to yourself to see how much they improve with that time you invested in them. And with the exception of Jordan Staal, who the Blackhawks couldn't acquire, I'm not sure there's a center that changed teams that I can pound my fist and say "damn, should have got him...."

And while I'm on my soapbox and preaching ( for which I apologize. I think people here read enough of my comments that I don't talk down to anyone and I respect most everyone here.) let me just add one more thing: Those of you who think it's a laugh riot or accurate to call new assistant coack Jamie Kompon---"tampon". You're not funny. You're not cute. You're not original. And you're hardly accurate. The only thing you are doing is perpetuating the perception that people who post on internet websites are mouth breathing, illiterate human scum. In short, you're better than that. Please stop.
- yahoodi

I feel so enlightened.

Nice post. Agree with you totally on the lack of toughness from our forwards.

The one player I argued with friends and family for the Hawks to not get rid of was Ladd. Ladd IMO was always underrated and under appreciated.
- roenick

It wasn't hits from the defensemen that made the Cup team, it was hits from the forwards ON the opposing defense

It wasn't hits from the defensemen that made the Cup team, it was hits from the forwards ON the opposing defense
- John Jaeckel

Ladd and Buff are two players I would like to still be on this team.

I was saying it seems like the same old song and dance. He claimed to be rededicated last summer and responded with a 66 point season, his worse one. I am not judging him for partying. Just saying this sounds familiar. I remember last season reading fans complain about his lack of backchecking and cherry picking, so do not expect a miraculous turnaround this year. What is he going to say to the press? "Yeah, I party hard, make over $6 mil a year, so you can't tell me how to live my life." This screams poltical correctness and a well coached speech
- ikeane

I am willing to cut Kane some slack on this one.I highly doubt that his wrist surgery was very helpful to his pre season training!All indications where that he was getting into great shape and then he needed surgery.Between coming off an injury,linemates and moving to centre a drop in points isn't surprising.I expect alot more from him this year though!

It wasn't hits from the defensemen that made the Cup team, it was hits from the forwards ON the opposing defense
- John Jaeckel

Much better way of saying it, I was too complicated in my description.

What? So a rumor will pass as "doing something" in your eyes? Here you go

-Hawks weighing trade for Luongo.
-Bowman preparing BIG offer for Doan.
-Hawks in on Semin.


- yahoodi

Wait, what? Hawks are interested in Luongo? Wonder what he would look like in the Indianhead sweater

banging head on the wall that the Lu saga continues. Read someone trying to stir the pot on 300level that someone saw Lu going in the side door of the Hilton...

http://300level.net/board....php?f=3&t=608&start=1530 (9th post down)

It wasn't hits from the defensemen that made the Cup team, it was hits from the forwards ON the opposing defense
- John Jaeckel

....it was hits from the forwards ON the opposing defense


That is exactly a key element in the mantra of being "tough to play against".

The Hawks have young guys who will battle to make the roster...Some of those could be chip and chase players which is needed. ...But the head coach will have to instill that style of play.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

That is exactly a key element in the mantra of being "tough to play against".

The Hawks have young guys who will battle to make the roster...Some of those could be chip and chase players which is needed. ...But the head coach will have to instill that style of play.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Lots of success, but those type of players that can play that effectively have been replace by players like Stalberg...Ladd, Brouwer, and Buff all did it to a T. Kruger and Stalberg bounce off of people

It's day 2 of the brainwashing seminar at the Hilton. Have McD and Bowman come out and addressed the masses yet, or did they avoid that and just moved on to players singing karaoke?

According to Jesse Rogers, Bowman was not asked 1 question during the hockey ops seminar.
- dan9189

Interesting...

It's day 2 of the brainwashing seminar at the Hilton. Have McD and Bowman come out and addressed the masses yet, or did they avoid that and just moved on to players singing karaoke?
- EKolb13

They're "coming out"????



Well, there's the problem right there.......

They're "coming out"????



Well, there's the problem right there.......
- JR1973

I didn't mean like that.

Hawks needs going into the offseason (IMO):

1. #2 center
2. Power Forward
3. Goalie upgrade
4. Stay at home, physical D-man


#4 to this point has been addressed; but 25% is a failing grade. Not sure as a fan how I'm supposed to be excited about this grade and be looking forward to another soft season????

Lots of success, but those type of players that can play that effectively have been replace by players like Stalberg...Ladd, Brouwer, and Buff all did it to a T. Kruger and Stalberg bounce off of people
- ikeane

Others can be schooled to play more north/south ...Shaw, Smith, Saad, Hayes, Bollig, Carcillo....

But as I have written too many times the Hawks have to define a style of play first.

Also Q. was not being booed yesterday...It's the same type of ovation he received in the past.

Common sense would say the coach who would have been most likely to be booed was Kitchen and he wasn't either...

Then you didn't watch very well. Did not read past your 1st paragraph. Not a real bright basketball fan. Sorry! Just saw the end of what ever the hell you wrote while posting this. No Anti is not elite!! But compared to CC is sure as heck is!! Crawford SUCKS!! plain and simple. I do not want to hear any more CC love. The Hawks unless they have God on D and multiple Gods as forwards will not win a cup with CC as goalie. BS on the WG book. Without the great one the Hawks may have taken them out several times in the 80's.
- PaulNewman

You must have government provided internet access. Because you have Zero ability to reason or follow any logic. I will leave it at that for fear of becoming dumber trying to slow it down any more for you.

Others can be schooled to play more north/south ...Shaw, Smith, Saad, Hayes, Bollig, Carcillo....

But as I have written too many times the Hawks have to define a style of play first.

Also Q. was not being booed yesterday...It's the same type of ovation he received in the past.

Common sense would say the coach who would have been most likely to be booed was Kitchen and he wasn't either...
- Al

So were Stan and John M. There or not? I know they weren't introduced but I know Scotty Bowman was there and he wasn't introduced

Others can be schooled to play more north/south ...Shaw, Smith, Saad, Hayes, Bollig, Carcillo....

But as I have written too many times the Hawks have to define a style of play first.

Also Q. was not being booed yesterday...It's the same type of ovation he received in the past.

Common sense would say the coach who would have been most likely to be booed was Kitchen and he wasn't either...
- Al

I had to explain to my wife they were "Q"-ing Joel, not booing, as we watched on TV. No way that many people would be booing him in the convention fanbase. Some here dislike him, but the average fan loves the coach who they won the Cup under. Kitchen and Crawford got a lot of cheers. I really didn't hear anyone getting booed, at least not from the TV.