Justin Lowe: Time for 5 Who we got tonight: Minnesota Wild

Season Matchup:

Chicago ✔
Minnesota ✔

17-12-3 = 37 points
T-5th in Central Division (w/ Hawks)
Last game: LOSS vs. Edmonton (3-2)
GF: 89 / GA: 87
PP% = 21.6% (6th in NHL)
PK% = 82.9% (9th in NHL)
Sniper: Jason Zucker – 14 goals
Producer: Eric Staal – 27 points
Tough Guys: – Kyle Quincey - 28 PIMs (he’s living in the AHL now) & Marcus Foligno - 87 hits

First

I think pretty much all of us are Americans.

I think pretty much all of us are Americans.
- bjphawkfan

A large portion, yep. A lot of Canadians and others from around the world that pop in as well.

Winnable game at home. Hope the boys avoid a letdown after beating the Jets on the road. Enjoy the game, everyone.

Go Hawks.

I think pretty much all of us are Americans.
- bjphawkfan

Thanks for the inclusion, generous of you.

BTW its a Canadian game of which about 48% of the players are Canadian to merely 25% of American players.

Fans come from everywhere and yes your home town will be the majority of the fans but no need to point it out.

When you do that well it sounds like you know.....

Justin mentioned that Oesterle skill set for the PP is
missing throughout the lineup. True also throughout the organization? Among those who are professional, consider Snuggerud. I don't believe that Dahlstrom is exactly the prototypical quarterback mail carrier.

I know Krys is. I also suggest his upside as a third pair at least two years from now (due to weaknesses in his game - which is also the reason given for a llate cut again for the WJC. Not everyone agreed he should have been cut, as he has special ability).

I wonder if Jokiharju or Tulollu have that sort of offensive game.

We would be much better off with such a player. John Jaeckel wrote how curious he is to see how the Blackhawks defense shakes out in two years. For sure different players even on defense must start carrying the load in all situations. Both Keith and Seabrook are less capable now - not that they ever were ideal to always be on ice for pp, p.k., and any crucial moment each game.

Most of their outstanding prospects on defense are at least one year away. Even then, I do not see any whom fill another need; namely, tough mobile dman. Although Kempny if he is capable of consistent solid game would fill that opening.

For those excited about Snuggerud/Press promise shown at Traverse City, Press was recalled to Rockford. He played last game. Sort of a long shot Although you never know to sure unless you allow them to develop. Icehogs should be on Wolves station when they face off against each other a few more times this season.

Minnesota sure scored a bargain when they signed Staal. That was smart GM'ing.

Minnesota sure scored a bargain when they signed Staal. That was smart GM'ing.
- 67hawks

Is Brodin ceiling as a first pair dman? J Anderson Ek was recalled; a top prospect for Wild.

Thanks for the inclusion, generous of you.

BTW its a Canadian game of which about 48% of the players are Canadian to merely 25% of American players.

Fans come from everywhere and yes your home town will be the majority of the fans but no need to point it out.

When you do that well it sounds like you know.....
- Hawkster

He probably meant North Americans...or not. It is pretty cool the amount of out of town fans that post; whether a transplant to a current locale like myself or you just grew up somewhere else being a Hawk fan for whatever reason.

A large portion, yep. A lot of Canadians and others from around the world that pop in as well.
- Justin Lowe

I’ve never understood why Canadians are ok with calling US residents “Americans”, as if we were the only residents of “America”, as if those north of the border don’t reside in the same “America”.

I’ve never understood why Canadians are ok with calling US residents “Americans”, as if we were the only residents of “America”, as if those north of the border don’t reside in the same “America”.
- StLBravesFan

The continent may be called North America and we all reside in North America but the country is called Canada and we are Canadians.

Your country happens to be called United States of America so yes you'll be called Americans. Just happens that your country name is similar to the continent name.

If you live in South America you're not called American by the way. You say you come from Brazil or Peru etc. Try calling a Peruvian American and he'll laugh at you.

Borders, religion and politics are a great way to create division amongst people.

Saving themselves? Maybe they should just take the year off? So they are going the Pred route of last year.

The continent may be called North America and we all reside in North America but the country is called Canada and we are Canadians.

Your country happens to be called United States of America so yes you'll be called Americans. Just happens that your country name is similar to the continent name.

If you live in South America you're not called American by the way. You say you come from Brazil or Peru etc. Try calling a Peruvian American and he'll laugh at you.
- Hawkster

Anywhere In South America you might get this: what is a hockey puck, or "I have never seen hockey and I shudder to imagine watching them in a cold stadium."

I recall at college in Nebraska back in 1979 looking at hockey box scores. What are you looking at? Hockey box scores. Who cares about hockey? Oh yeah, who cares about Nebraska Cornhuskers. That did not go over very well

Borders, religion and politics are a great way to create division amongst people.

Saving themselves? Maybe they should just take the year off? So they are going the Pred route of last year.
- BetweenTheDots

We cannot "save" ourselves in most jobs we the non sports, non entertainment, non celebrity majority of the public. Of course the players still get paid in full and ticket prices are not adjusted for players giving half the effort.

For a brief second I thought, almost seems like a Donald Trump ploy, er um toy (business), er um tweet

I think pretty much all of us are Americans.
- bjphawkfan

Really, who cares?

Really, who cares?
- riozzo

We all everywhere are constitutionalist for each their country and we all unite for the love of hockey.

Except for dirty SoB like Kessler, Burrows, Bieksa whom we cuss at.

We cannot "save" ourselves in most jobs we the non sports, non entertainment, non celebrity majority of the public. Of course the players still get paid in full and ticket prices are not adjusted for players giving half the effort.

For a brief second I thought, almost seems like a Donald Trump ploy, er um toy (business), er um tweet
- jhawk59

In my opinion half effort leads to bad habits/ bad penalties. It also hurts conditioning, I remember back a few years back when they would boast about working out for 1 hour harder after the actual game. Those days appear to be gone considering they do appear to take some night off skating wise.

We all everywhere are constitutionalist for each their country and we all unite for the love of hockey.

Except for dirty SoB like Kessler, Burrows, Bieksa whom we cuss at.
- jhawk59

Catching St Louis and/or Nashville would be no easy task at this point, but I think the Hawks will finish ahead of the rest in the Central.

Catching St Louis and/or Nashville would be no easy task at this point, but I think the Hawks will finish ahead of the rest in the Central.
- breadbag

I agree, though, catching the Blues and Predators will be tough. I personally don't care if they get 1st in the Central, but the optimist in me does remember how the Hawks were far behind the Wild last season (double-digits in points IIRC) but caught up and surpassed them by March.

If what Justin is reporting is true about the core taking it easy to conserve energy (a part of me gets it but another part of me is annoyed by it), I hope the Hawks "turn it on" in March/April and don't let up as the playoffs progress. Last season they let the gas off the pedal in the final games and didn't bother to show up in the opening round.

Along the lines of what Between the Dots stated earlier, the question is how are they going to prevent that from happening again? Saying they'll turn it on later is one thing, but actually preparing and training to do it is another. They've sucked lately in delivering on what they say they'll do.

He probably meant North Americans...or not. It is pretty cool the amount of out of town fans that post; whether a transplant to a current locale like myself or you just grew up somewhere else being a Hawk fan for whatever reason.
- HawkintheD

Happy Holidays D - hope you're well sir. Let's see if they can beat two Central teams in a row...Minni better on special teams at both ends of the ice.

A large portion, yep. A lot of Canadians and others from around the world that pop in as well.
- Justin Lowe

Speaking of Canadiens, I just watched the outdoor game from last night on the NHL network (repeat) because I have no interest in watching these games anymore. It's gotten stale IMO.

Just a thought though....
Maybe the NHL should build these rinks and play these games on the European Size Ice, since they have plenty of room to build them anyway.

It would create a new dynamic and allow the game to open up with more skating, passing, and play making. It also would allow the NHL to take a look into the possibilities down the road.

It's no doubt that many fans have lost interest in the outdoor spectacle and I for one would definitely look forward to watching how it affects the game.

I'm betting that the game would not be the boring 2-0 score like last night !!

Speaking of Canadiens, I just watched the outdoor game from last night on the NHL network (repeat) because I have no interest in watching these games anymore. It's gotten stale IMO.

Just a thought though....
Maybe the NHL should build these rinks and play these games on the European Size Ice, since they have plenty of room to build them anyway.

It would create a new dynamic and allow the game to open up with more skating, passing, and play making. It also would allow the NHL to take a look into the possibilities down the road.

It's no doubt that many fans have lost interest in the outdoor spectacle and I for one would definitely look forward to watching how it affects the game.

I'm betting that the game would not be the boring 2-0 score like last night !!
- Hawkytalk

The game was boring because those two teams suck...inside or outside.

Speaking of Canadiens, I just watched the outdoor game from last night on the NHL network (repeat) because I have no interest in watching these games anymore. It's gotten stale IMO.

Just a thought though....
Maybe the NHL should build these rinks and play these games on the European Size Ice, since they have plenty of room to build them anyway.

It would create a new dynamic and allow the game to open up with more skating, passing, and play making. It also would allow the NHL to take a look into the possibilities down the road.

It's no doubt that many fans have lost interest in the outdoor spectacle and I for one would definitely look forward to watching how it affects the game.

I'm betting that the game would not be the boring 2-0 score like last night !!
- Hawkytalk

There was an outdoor game last night??