Justin Lowe: Quick 10: Weekend Sweep of the Bottom Dwellers Top 10 thoughts from last night's win vs. Arizona.

Foist! (?)

I think you ride Oesterle for the time being. He looked better than ok to my eye.

Toews still looks lost. And Keith still can't get his shot thru from the point.

I think you ride Oesterle for the time being. He looked better than ok to my eye.

Toews still looks lost. And Keith still can't get his shot thru from the point.
- tompo1015

I'm with you.

I like/love Franson's point shot, but other than that, not a ton there. He's a real solid #7 and a boost to a slumping PP from time to time.

In Oesterle, you have a speedy, offensively minded dman that hopefully doesn't hurt you in your own end.

Playing him for a few games with Keith might make him move and anticipate like old Duncs too.

I'm with you.

I like/love Franson's point shot, but other than that, not a ton there. He's a real solid #7 and a boost to a slumping PP from time to time.

In Oesterle, you have a speedy, offensively minded dman that hopefully doesn't hurt you in your own end.

Playing him for a few games with Keith might make him move and anticipate like old Duncs too.
- Justin Lowe

Making Kempny - #8 - or a future ex-Hawk?

If we can play the Sabers and Coyotes for the rest of the season we will be fine. The Jets game will show us how far we are from being any kind of dominant. Last night was brutal. PP was brutal. A decent team beats us. Treading water with this coaching staff. New ideas/schemes are needed with this current Hawks team.

I think you ride Oesterle for the time being. He looked better than ok to my eye.

Toews still looks lost. And Keith still can't get his shot thru from the point.
- tompo1015

He never could do it well. As great as keith has been over his entire career, a goal scoring defensemen he is not.

Hell seabrook has nearly as many goals as keith over their careers.

My points after this game:

1. Buffalo also took St Louis to OT.

2. Factor in Hartman's goals and the third line's production is about right. Speaking of Hartman, let's go easy on him and not do something stupid like trade him. I still like him and his struggles this year should lead to a team friendly new contract.

3. Watching the game on TV, I was wondering who this #10 was, as he seemed to stand out. I found out after Duclair scored. Count me in as one who likes his game. If this is the way he has generally been playing, I doubt that he is available any more.

Why is the number one PP unit still
15-19-88-2-7

Why is the number one PP unit still
15-19-88-2-7


- gazza53

See Q.....

How bout 8, 40, 12, 44 and 42. Park 40 at the net and 8 and 12 can snipe away. But we don't want to screw up the mojo of our top PP units.

kempny for duclair?

See Q.....

How bout 8, 40, 12, 44 and 42. Park 40 at the net and 8 and 12 can snipe away. But we don't want to screw up the mojo of our top PP units.
- z1990z

How bout 8, 40, 12, 44 and 42.

kempny for duclair?
- jt19

All for it, but Q would bench Duclair after his
first penalty.

Making Kempny - #8 - or a future ex-Hawk?
- StLBravesFan

I still prefer him over Oesterle simply because he has better size with the same mobility.

I still prefer him over Oesterle simply because he has better size with the same mobility.
- 67hawks

I get you can't teach size, but Oesterle seems to be quite a bit better at recognizing how and when to join the play and pinch. I know it was only one game, but there were no moments of indecision or hesitation that we have seen with Kempny. I'm not saying Kempny is bad or to get rid of him, because he is much more aggressive and is much harder to knock off the puck, but Oesterle's game seems more refined right now.

4) I didn't think Hinostroza would come up and save the Hawks season, but I was clamoring for his return to the NHL to inject this team with more speed.

He's played 2 games so far and doesn't have a point to show for it. He does have 9 shots though and his jump on that 3rd line has been really noticeable. I expect to see that continue and he'll chip in with some points soon.

I think if you give Hinostroza some guys that can skate with him, he might be a bit more productive. Sharp has been better of late, but he and Panik both seem slower this year. Not to mention, Panik doesn't seem to know what the heck to do as soon as he enter the offensive zone. What happened to the guy that would just charge the net?

Making Kempny - #8 - or a future ex-Hawk?
- StLBravesFan

They are stuck with Kempny, the Hawks know how important defensive depth is come playoff time, so they'd like to keep him.

If there was a clear cut #1 D in Rockford who's play was begging them to be called up, then it'd be easier to move him.

Gustafsson would be the closes one but Kempny in my opinion is a much better option at this point.

We'll see what happens, but I wouldn't be surprised either way.

He's only played 64 career games (1 in the playoffs) so a team would be taking a chance on his potential still and the only way the Hawks get a useful player back is if said team sees said potential as a top 4 D.

My points after this game:

1. Buffalo also took St Louis to OT.

2. Factor in Hartman's goals and the third line's production is about right. Speaking of Hartman, let's go easy on him and not do something stupid like trade him. I still like him and his struggles this year should lead to a team friendly new contract.

3. Watching the game on TV, I was wondering who this #10 was, as he seemed to stand out. I found out after Duclair scored. Count me in as one who likes his game. If this is the way he has generally been playing, I doubt that he is available any more.
- 67hawks

1. Yep, but Buffalo looked terrible vs. the Hawks. I didn't watch the Buf/Stl game, but the Hawks should have easily won on Friday.

2. Yep, you're right. Hartman has 4 on the year. I really hope they don't deal him. When he's dialed in, he's the exact kind of player the Hawks need. The only way I see Hartman going the other way is if the Hawks get one of those culture changing/"character" type players I wrote about last week.

3. He's a gem and don't foresee Duclair being a Coyote long-term. He will be available again this season or in the off-season.

Oesterle looks like he fits in perfectly. His hockey sense and positioning is superior to Kempny and Franson. He can jump in on a rush and get back with ease. I liked his play overall.

Also, what's this Hartman and Panik drama? I was dialed out this weekend.

They are stuck with Kempny, the Hawks know how important defensive depth is come playoff time, so they'd like to keep him.

If there was a clear cut #1 D in Rockford who's play was begging them to be called up, then it'd be easier to move him.

Gustafsson would be the closes one but Kempny in my opinion is a much better option at this point.

We'll see what happens, but I wouldn't be surprised either way.

He's only played 64 career games (1 in the playoffs) so a team would be taking a chance on his potential still and the only way the Hawks get a useful player back is if said team sees said potential as a top 4 D.
- Justin Lowe

He's played 1 game of the last 15 and that game was the mess vs New Jersey.

He's either banged up or buried very deep in the basement of Ulfie's doghouse. With the way the standings are, they can't afford to dress a guy they don't have any faith in defensively.

He's played 1 game of the last 15 and that game was the mess vs New Jersey.

He's either banged up or buried very deep in the basement of Ulfie's doghouse. With the way the standings are, they can't afford to dress a guy they don't have any faith in defensively.
- RickJ

He's buried. The left side is solid with Keith-Forsling-Murphy. Any injury to one of them and he draws in, just like Oesterle just drew in for Franson getting hurt.

Can someone explain the Hartman?Panik sitch Justin is referring to?!
Thanks

Why is it said frequently that all the crappy teams that the Hawks play are "better than their record." I read it on here and have heard it on news and television broadcasts many times this year. For Pete's sake, the Hawks are not as good as their record because their point total is inflated by these BTTR teams.

4) I didn't think Hinostroza would come up and save the Hawks season, but I was clamoring for his return to the NHL to inject this team with more speed.

He's played 2 games so far and doesn't have a point to show for it. He does have 9 shots though and his jump on that 3rd line has been really noticeable. I expect to see that continue and he'll chip in with some points soon.

I think if you give Hinostroza some guys that can skate with him, he might be a bit more productive. Sharp has been better of late, but he and Panik both seem slower this year. Not to mention, Panik doesn't seem to know what the heck to do as soon as he enter the offensive zone. What happened to the guy that would just charge the net?
- Chunk

I wouldn't look for too much scoring from Hinostroza, he's a bit stone hands. But his speed really helps open up the ice and make defenceman tentative. Prefer him on the wing.

Panik is lost out there, although he was a bit better last night.

Before we make #82 as the next Bobby Orr, let's see him in action against a real NHL team. Phoenix sucks!! Did he play well, sure, but he skated against the worst team in the NHL that the Hawks were tied with six minutes to play, and a team that played the night before to boot. Very average Hawks team that are painful to watch.