Justin Lowe: Quick 10: Hawks Not Special Enough vs. Lightning Hawks loose 3-2 in OT last night. Here is a CHI / TB recap in top 10 form.

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving here in the US.
Thanks Justin for all you have done since jumping on board.
Hopefully things are starting to trend in a positive direction for our Hawks!!

BTW...FIRST

So they were able to hang with the Bolts, very encouraging sign. Problem for me is why do they play the eastern conference better? Is this a trend or coincidence? Or is it many parts finally working together in Q's system? I guess we'll find out, funny how one play turned the entire game around and it cost the Hawks one point. Maybe in the past they could careless with the puck but not today's team.

All this pining for other players is futile, especially if they don't play Q's way. Rather they be getting work in the AHL then in the press box.

Happy Turkey day everyone

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Americans on here. Nice write up Justin.
What do you think Kempeny ' s future is with this team . Does he stick around for added depth this year and if so will he get re signed.

Forsling looked good, but the inexperience comes up from time to time, like going to the boards in OT on the PK

Those are 10 great points. In reference to the first, there were defeinitly times the Hawks were very effective with quick outs and puck support to exit the zone.

Also about Schmaltz, I'm surprised nothing has changed since we first talked about it on here. (that he should move back to wing) This team needs a center.

I still think #14 and #12 need to trade spots.

First Happy Thanks Giving To everyone!!! Justin or any one what centers could be available in the near future? What centers on the bottom feeding teams would be a fit for the hawks? And finally I think its time to sit sharp and I agree Hartman and wiggles at center experiment needs to end both are winger playing out of position and hurting the team put kero at center of the forth line between boma and wiggles on rw maybe bring up highmore and see what they got between hayden and Hartman. Everyone have great holiday!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Yes, third Line in definite need of a shakeup, to point 6-7-8, maybe Vinnie
Highmore between Hartman/Sharp/Hayden or with Sharp on the 4th could
turn the tide?

6) It was worth a shot, but Patrick Sharp at this point should be nothing more than a 12-13th forward on this team. I wouldn't deem his play as "terrible", more like "not effective".

He came out with a lot of fire at the start of the season, but I would wager that was fueled by adrenaline more than anything.

The key to the Hawks attacking in waves and rolling 4 lines is to get the 3rd line going.

7) The Hartman at centre experiment can end for me anytime, Q. He's not a terrible option in the middle, but he's clearly better on the wing, using his skill set to fore-check, disrupt and get to the front of the net.

8) This leads me to reiterate what I've mentioned on the boards/twitter a few times. The second the Hawks deemed Schmaltz not ready for full-time action at centre (not saying they won't try him again), Stan should have been on the look for a 3rd line pivot.
- gazza53

It sure is nice to see someone on the point on the PP who has a shot that opposing players respect. This gives other players more room to operate. I have never seen any of Keith's shots cripple an opposing player taking him out of the play (as one of 11's did last night) giving more space for our guys. Opposing players salivate at Keith's shin pad shots that lead to short handed scoring opportunities.
EDIT: I have seen Keith do that to some of our own players to the backs of their legs.

Contrary to many posters here, I still think that Sharp serves a useful purpose on this team (more than a Rockford replacement would). I disagree that he is too slow. He can still be effective with less minutes on the 4th line. His cap hit is commensurate with this role.

At the risk of being accused of being continuously negative, a couple of comments:

Improved play, recently - certainly - 5 out of 6 points well earned - especially against the once and consensus future Stanley Cup champions.

With all of the talk of the PP, and its ineffectiveness but it’s improvement - I’m more concerned with the 5x5 play - only 39 goals in 21 games (including 10 in the first game, and albeit with the 3rd lowest 5x5 TOI in the league at 42.4 minutes per game). Again, athough better recently, I still see a lack of traffic at the net 5x5 - too many shots that the goalie has perfect vision on; and cross ice passing issues that allow the goalie to set up in perfect position. Maybe there are some stats out there that would cause me to rethink this.

And - through 21 games (1/4 of the season) I still see a bubble team - a .500 team that can win some games if Crawford allows two or less (10 of 21 games scoring 2 or less themselves). The 39 goals 5x5 are good for 17th in the league (again, including the 10 in the first game); they’ve given up 38 - 14th in the league.

Maybe that changes - maybe they’ll catch up to the shot percentages - maybe the top 6 will start scoring the way they should - and they should.

Happy thanksgiving to all! Would love to steal Huala or Karlson from Vegas for the 3rd line center

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Regarding Sharp, what is the recovery like after the hip surgery he had this past summer? It is hard to watch him, no doubt, but I have to wonder what is going on there.

Murphy Kronwalled a few people last night. I've always thought it would take time to realize the value out of the trade, but I have to like the trajectory of his path so far.

Overall, I think this team is headed in the right direction. It won't be long before the Toews line starts getting some good bounces.

I'm not as sold on Franson as some on here. Outside of his power play role, it is painful to watch how slow he is to react, let alone skate, in his own zone. Maybe he is a better option than Kempny and Oesterle for 6D, but that's probably not saying much.

Whatever this PK is doing, keep doing it.

That was one of their best efforts of the season. They keep playing that way, they will get past the first round, at least.

Those are 10 great points. In reference to the first, there were defeinitly times the Hawks were very effective with quick outs and puck support to exit the zone.

Also about Schmaltz, I'm surprised nothing has changed since we first talked about it on here. (that he should move back to wing) This team needs a center.

I still think #14 and #12 need to trade spots.
- breadbag

Agreed Bread, they need to look at the C spot but they've done that for the last 6-7-8 yrs. Just as tough to acquire centerman as Dmen.... But in the mean time Kero should pencil in as the 3C. No he's not dynamic but plays a responsible center and would add structure and some possession to the line. ...

Don't get Q on this one. Hartman is scuffling, he sits him for a game because of that and then inserts him at center where he's out of position? The last thing you do is play a struggling player out of position.

Someone mentioned last thread that giving Sharp a look at 3C might work. I agree on giving him a look. His wheels are fine and as a vet he's responsible.

Happy thanksgiving to all! Would love to steal Huala or Karlson from Vegas for the 3rd line center
- ikeane

He would be a good fit with our style of play.

At the risk of being accused of being continuously negative, a couple of comments:

Improved play, recently - certainly - 5 out of 6 points well earned - especially against the once and consensus future Stanley Cup champions.

With all of the talk of the PP, and its ineffectiveness but it’s improvement - I’m more concerned with the 5x5 play - only 39 goals in 21 games (including 10 in the first game, and albeit with the 3rd lowest 5x5 TOI in the league at 42.4 minutes per game). Again, athough better recently, I still see a lack of traffic at the net 5x5 - too many shots that the goalie has perfect vision on; and cross ice passing issues that allow the goalie to set up in perfect position. Maybe there are some stats out there that would cause me to rethink this.

And - through 21 games (1/4 of the season) I still see a bubble team - a .500 team that can win some games if Crawford allows two or less (10 of 21 games scoring 2 or less themselves). The 39 goals 5x5 are good for 17th in the league (again, including the 10 in the first game); they’ve given up 38 - 14th in the league.

Maybe that changes - maybe they’ll catch up to the shot percentages - maybe the top 6 will start scoring the way they should - and they should.
- StLBravesFan

They are a bubble team Sage but with upside potential. This is not a vet laden team we are hoping will play to its capabilities. It's a rookie/young team with new vets added to the core.

With young, rookie or new forwards in Dcat, Schmaltz, Hartman, Hayden, Wingels and Bouma half the forwards on a given night are new, young or a rookie. The D is the same with Forsling, Rutta, Franson and Murphy constituting 3/4 of the defense. To say that's a lot of new is an understatement.

So at the quarter pole it is expected the fancy numbers, or any numbers really, will look askew. The new guys and rookies will either acclimate and or develop or the group won't make the playoffs. And of course that means Q has to push the right buttons as well.

Great write up Justin. Keep up the good work!

Also like Eakin, but he has a 3.85 cap hit i believe

Hawks definitely trending better. PK and goaltending have been outstanding, defense is improving. PP still much of the same except for when Franson and AA are out there. Because THEY get it. Get rubber on net and fight for those rebounds.

Tampa is going to be this year’s Cup winner, and as such, this game was a really good snapshot of where the gaps in the Hawk roster lie. Tampa is deep with speed, skill and nasty on every line with a solid center for each line. The Hawks lack that depth. It is made even worse with the still largely absent Captain Serious, and not much to write home about up the middle beyond AA.

This team still loses critical board battles, makes the ever present blind pass to either no one or the opposition, and surrenders the neutral zone and blue line too easily. Absent ANY kind of a dump and chase game, an opponent that plays a 1-3-1 on the backcheck is almost always rewarded with regained possession going the other way quickly.

As I mentioned in the last blog, this team is going to be a work in progress right to the end of the regular season. All we can do is hope for some rapid maturity from the youngsters and some give a frank back in the game of 19. He has to lead by example and not by title.

Playoffs? Maybe. Past first round? Just don’t see how.

Hawks definitely trending better. PK and goaltending have been outstanding, defense is improving. PP still much of the same except for when Franson and AA are out there. Because THEY get it. Get rubber on net and fight for those rebounds.

Tampa is going to be this year’s Cup winner, and as such, this game was a really good snapshot of where the gaps in the Hawk roster lie. Tampa is deep with speed, skill and nasty on every line with a solid center for each line. The Hawks lack that depth. It is made even worse with the still largely absent Captain Serious, and not much to write home about up the middle beyond AA.

This team still loses critical board battles, makes the ever present blind pass to either no one or the opposition, and surrenders the neutral zone and blue line too easily. Absent ANY kind of a dump and chase game, an opponent that plays a 1-3-1 on the backcheck is almost always rewarded with regained possession going the other way quickly.

As I mentioned in the last blog, this team is going to be a work in progress right to the end of the regular season. All we can do is hope for some rapid maturity from the youngsters and some give a frank back in the game of 19. He has to lead by example and not by title.

Playoffs? Maybe. Past first round? Just don’t see how.
- Return of the Roar

My biggest concern remains our non existent Captain. The last time he scored outside of the empty netter against the Rangers was November 1st against the Flyers. Before that it was October 12th against the Wild.

My biggest concern remains our non existent Captain. The last time he scored outside of the empty netter against the Rangers was November 1st against the Flyers. Before that it was October 12th against the Wild.
- walleyeb1

We've talked about this one don't know how many times.
Bottom line this guy is nowhere near worth the money invested in him..not even close.
He's had the odd good game and that's somewhat encouraging but right now this is really really looking like one terrible contract...I never saw this decline coming.
If the team ever wants another snif at the cup they have to try and move him while there some meat left on the bone....even if it means taking another contract or even a salary dump with a sweetener it should be done otherwise there is no way we get cup competitive with Kaner still n his prime....way too many things have to happen. He needs to go. He can come back when they retire his number.

We've talked about this one don't know how many times.
Bottom line this guy is nowhere near worth the money invested in him..not even close.
He's had the odd good game and that's somewhat encouraging but right now this is really really looking like one terrible contract...I never saw this decline coming.
If the team ever wants another snif at the cup they have to try and move him while there some meat left on the bone....even if it means taking another contract or even a salary dump with a sweetener it should be done otherwise there is no way we get cup competitive with Kaner still n his prime....way too many things have to happen. He needs to go. He can come back when they retire his number.
- Hawkster

Whatever you think of Toews, it's probably until retirement do us part. Contracts like that make a player all but untradable. I don't think any of us saw a decline coming, because none of us expected him to be dealing with back injuries.

Let's not forget that he and Kane are a package deal. Their contracts get done together. Anybody who thinks there was a better way to negotiate with their agent and get more manageable terms, I'd sure love to hear it.

I think he is still more than serviceable, even if he is probably not going to be a force down low anymore. His line is still putting up good advanced stats, even if they aren't putting anything in the net right now.

With Seabrook, one can't even say that about the advanced stats. It really has been a tough year for him, for whatever reason.

Happy thanksgiving everyone!

Also like Eakin, but he has a 3.85 cap hit i believe
- ikeane

Eakin is the PERFECT guy for that role. Too much money though.

Eakin is the PERFECT guy for that role. Too much money though.
- Justin Lowe

Great blog Justin. I think you are right about Sharp. He looks done. Little left to his game right now. If they made some changes, I could see him as spot duty on the 4th line. Overall though, this team is trending in the right direction.

Happy Thanksgiving Hawks fans!!