Justin Lowe: Will the Stars Align?
Who we got tonight: Dallas Stars

Season Matchup: 1st matchup of the year

13-10-1 = 27 points
4th in Central
Last game: LOST vs. Hurricanes (4-3 in a shootout) on Nov 26th
GF: 70 / GA: 68
PP% = 23.0% (6th in NHL)
PK% = 83.5% (8th in NHL)
Sniper: Tyler Seguin - 12 goals
Producer: Seguin - 23 points
Tough Guys: – Antoine Roussel - 47 PIMs & - Jamie Benn - 54 hits

I'm just going to reply so that we already have more replies than a typical Pred's blog.

See... dominoes.

@TSNHockey

#TradeCentre ALERT: #Canadiens acquire forward Adam Cracknell from the #Rangers in exchange for forward Peter Holland. MORE: http://tsn.ca/1.930459


Not exactly what I was hearing, but a minor deal between Habs/Rangers.

I'm just going to reply so that we already have more replies than a typical Pred's blog.
- tyweb69

See... dominoes.

@TSNHockey

#TradeCentre ALERT: #Canadiens acquire forward Adam Cracknell from the #Rangers in exchange for forward Peter Holland. MORE: http://tsn.ca/1.930459


Not exactly what I was hearing, but a minor deal between Habs/Rangers.
- Justin Lowe

Stan...asleep at the wheel again (as usual).

I thought the Anaheim/NJ trade was interesting. The Ducks really needed a center, with their top two guys out for an extended period.

Stan...asleep at the wheel again (as usual).
- DarthKane

When will this guy get a clue? I heard he turned down a deal from EDM for McDavid!

I keep watching the other JT situation in New York. Contract up this summer and he hasn't signed yet.

Nice Blog JL. I take more of an engineering perspective - why is the glass too big? In other words - they are achieving how they are built. A mid pack team putting up mid pack numbers.

https://theathletic.com/1...st-quarter-of-the-season/

Pretty good player grade article, if you have the subscription.

Nice Blog JL. I take more of an engineering perspective - why is the glass too big? In other words - they are achieving how they are built. A mid pack team putting up mid pack numbers.
- riozzo

THis has been my takeaway as well. I am not going to get frustrated. Winning the cup is difficult, and looking at the teams we won the cup with, this team doesn't compare in the slightest.

Does Hitch have the Radulov-Seguin-Benn line together tonight?? If the Hawks can contain that line I like their chances. Always an end to end wide open game when these teams have played in recent years. Hopefully someone puts that POS Rousell on his ass before he tries to injure someone like he does every game.

Justin so with these couple of trades going down and few others in the past month are teams being proactive and not waiting for the TDL or am I wrong? Next any rumors with the hawks or all quiet from your sources? The hawks in my opinion need 2 centers a top 6 winger lw with size and speed and a solid d man not necessarly a top 4 but an experience defense man with playoff experience and seasoned vet.

Stan...asleep at the wheel again (as usual).
- DarthKane

Do I ever get to finish my morning fruit loops in peace?

When will this guy get a clue? I heard he turned down a deal from EDM for McDavid!
- BlazinMike

And two seconds for our boat anchor captain. Stupid caretaker!

Seriously, nice write up Justin. I'm glass half full on this team too and think their game is rounding into form.

If Panik could regain his first three or four game form that would be great, but not a ton to complain about now...for me anyway.

Justin so with these couple of trades going down and few others in the past month are teams being proactive and not waiting for the TDL or am I wrong? Next any rumors with the hawks or all quiet from your sources? The hawks in my opinion need 2 centers a top 6 winger lw with size and speed and a solid d man not necessarly a top 4 but an experience defense man with playoff experience and seasoned vet.
- Scott1977

Anything else? maybe a new goalie or a whole new line? Jesus.

This team ibelieve will be no better then a Wild Card Spot , just don't think we are at the level of St .Louis Nashville or perhaps even Winnipeg. Very happy with the play of the young players. Thankful we didn't trade some of these guys last year for Duchene like some were suggesting.
As long we can squeeze intothe playoffs anything can happen

Do I ever get to finish my morning fruit loops in peace?
- Stan_Bowman

speaking of fruit loops when you're done eating call Chia in Edmonton and convince him theOilers need more toughness Tootoo can be had........ for the low price of Hopkins of coarse he will have retain salary

This team ibelieve will be no better then a Wild Card Spot , just don't think we are at the level of St .Louis Nashville or perhaps even Winnipeg. Very happy with the play of the young players. Thankful we didn't trade some of these guys last year for Duchene like some were suggesting.
As long we can squeeze intothe playoffs anything can happen
- HamiltonHawk

If Bowman can unload Seabrook's contract next summer, or even better, if he can improve his play to be a reliable Top Pair Dman (like he's being paid to do) then this young group of players should have the Hawks as a Playoff Team the next few years. Will they ever have enough to win a Cup is yet to be seen. The infusion of talented youth like Debrincat, Hayden, Schmaltz, Hartman (and maybe Sikura??) combined with the veteran presence of Kane, Anisimov, Toews and Saad will give the Hawks a very balanced scoring attack for the next handful of years. The question really comes down to the defense where Forsling and Rutta have been HUGE impact players. Keith is still an Elite 25 minute a night dman and Murphy has been effective in a 3rd pair defense first role, but Cody Franson, and Brent Seabrook are defensive liabilities. Shoring up 3C and the defense over the summer, with continued growth from the young players and this could once again be a Cup Contender next season. Too much youth, and not enough center or defense depth to be a legit contender this year as currently constructed, IMO.

Anything else? maybe a new goalie or a whole new line? Jesus.
- JRoenick97

Hawks had 7-8 new faces in the lineup last year, another 5 or 6 this year...what's 4 more in the middle of a season? Get on it Stanbo!!!

I think if this team got a 3C that allowed some other players to slot into more natural positions (like Hartman) they'd be ok. Plus I'd like to see Vinny get called up at some point and I've heard Sikura mentioned as possibly being brought up if they can sign him soon after the college playoffs/championship.

This team ibelieve will be no better then a Wild Card Spot , just don't think we are at the level of St .Louis Nashville or perhaps even Winnipeg. Very happy with the play of the young players. Thankful we didn't trade some of these guys last year for Duchene like some were suggesting.
As long we can squeeze intothe playoffs anything can happen
- HamiltonHawk

We just out shot, out possessed, and basically outplayed Nashville for 3/4 of a game (barring the first half of that second period) in our second game in 2 days. Had Kane and Toews both not missed the net, I think the tune would have been a little different today. Also, Rinne played out of his mind against us, as per usual.

In the last blog, Wiz threw out if Panik and Kempny were enough for Evander Kane. Any thoughts on that? And how does the cap work with our LTIR situation? E. Kane makes 5.2 million and is unrestricted. He would be a rental. Panik makes 2.8 and Kempny makes .9, so that only comes to 3.7 million. So we would be taking on 1.5 million in salary. Is that possible with the 2.4 in LTIR we have....or do the numbers work differently when a trade is involved?

We just out shot, out possessed, and basically outplayed Nashville for 3/4 of a game (barring the first half of that second period). Had Kane and Toews both not missed the net, I think the tune would have been a little different today. Also, Rinne played out of his mind against us, as per usual.
- JRoenick97

With our backup goalie no less. Not that Forsberg didn't play well. The Hawks had sustained pressure, bodies in front of Rinne, and pushback for the team in Mustard strained sweaters...things that were pretty much completely missing in their playoff tilt.

Like you said a bit of puck luck and the mood would be better.

Justin so with these couple of trades going down and few others in the past month are teams being proactive and not waiting for the TDL or am I wrong? Next any rumors with the hawks or all quiet from your sources? The hawks in my opinion need 2 centers a top 6 winger lw with size and speed and a solid d man not necessarly a top 4 but an experience defense man with playoff experience and seasoned vet.
- Scott1977

Thats all? 2 centers a top 6 winger and a solid D-man. Not too much of an ask.

Realistically speaking, They definitely need a center. They need a solid D-man, OR the young defensemen to continue to progress and develop. A winger along the lines of E.Kane/Simmonds would be great, but no-thanks to another Weise/Fleishman type deal, again let the kids develop if that is the only choice.

If Bowman can unload Seabrook's contract next summer, or even better, if he can improve his play to be a reliable Top Pair Dman (like he's being paid to do) then this young group of players should have the Hawks as a Playoff Team the next few years. Will they ever have enough to win a Cup is yet to be seen. The infusion of talented youth like Debrincat, Hayden, Schmaltz, Hartman (and maybe Sikura??) combined with the veteran presence of Kane, Anisimov, Toews and Saad will give the Hawks a very balanced scoring attack for the next handful of years. The question really comes down to the defense where Forsling and Rutta have been HUGE impact players. Keith is still an Elite 25 minute a night dman and Murphy has been effective in a 3rd pair defense first role, but Cody Franson, and Brent Seabrook are defensive liabilities. Shoring up 3C and the defense over the summer, with continued growth from the young players and this could once again be a Cup Contender next season. Too much youth, and not enough center or defense depth to be a legit contender this year as currently constructed, IMO.
- EnzoD

Very well said , even though I don't think a cup run is in the cards this year , I'm very optimistic for the next couple years. Very impressed with the development of the young talent. I just hope we don't sacrifice young talent in another attempt to make a run for the cup again.