Justin Lowe: "With The Pass"
If you grew up in the 80's or 90's and are reading this hockey blog, I can only assume you've played Blades of Steel. This video game was epic (at the time) and I know my brother, friends and I would play for hours.

The reason I bring this up is that that's what I felt like I was watching last night. There was a lot of sloppy play on both ends. The Hawks for a better part of this year have really struggled with their passing. It's an area that I've examined and tried to put my finger on all year as to why it's been so bad; is it the system? Guys zigging when they should be sagging? Or is it the personnel?

FIRST. Saad-Toews-Kane....wtf was that last night??

They've seen the 'EMBRACE THE TANK' signs I put on their lawns.

To the NE, a leader who cares...

https://www.tsn.ca/zetter...and-hope-effort-1.1022456

Give them stone hands Saad & Duclair for those 2 in DET

Its the pass?
With the pass?
Hits the pass?

I dunno, but the fights were amazing!

Just like many of the core, I'm done with hockey for this season. Time to polish up the Harley for those 50 & 60 degree days that are around the corner. Hope the Hawks drop in the standings so the draft will be interesting to watch.

To the NE, a leader who cares...

https://www.tsn.ca/zetter...and-hope-effort-1.1022456
- riozzo

(frank) him, and (frank) detroit

Sure can't wait for the Karma train to catch up to Kessler...
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/140099

From the last blog:

They dont move the puck from the defenders to the forwards quickly enough. Their zone breakouts and transition has been terrible the last three years.

They look for that back door home run pass on the offside every time. I would have the defenders using their feet more and making quicker plays to get up the ice before the other team gets set. They just aren't able to do that because other teams have adjusted to their scheme and they don't have the overwhelming talent to make up for it.

Going the other way their gap coverage through the neutral zone is terrible, the defenders yield the blue line with ease and the forwards aren't working effectively with the defenders to generate turnovers in the middle of the ice.

Some of that is turnover. Some of that is guys not getting it and some of that is not having the talent to play that way. Something there has to give for them to have success moving forward.
- fattybeef

Justin, both you and fattybeef hit the nail on the head. A high tempo offense that engages the blueliners is a great strategy if the d-men can make an accurate and sharp first pass out of the zone to start the rush or carry the puck quickly out of the zone themselves.

What is ruining this strategy are forwards who can't get open to receive that first pass, defenders playing catch in our zone allowing the other team to apply pressure to force turnovers, and lack of wherewithal by the 5 guys on the ice to realize that 4-5 pinching on offense means odd-man breaks the other way will be an unwanted outcome time and again.

Solution? Like you said, practice on passing especially making and receiving the first pass out of the zone.

Another solution is making sure one defender is always back and either the other defender stays in the neutral zone or no further than the offensive blueline (if not carrying the puck) or have a forward with the foresight to not play so deep to cover for the rushing defender. This solution would work well if each D pair has a strong puck rusher and a stay-at-home defenseman.

I think it would be a big mistake for Jokiharju to get a cup of coffee this season. Develop him the right way and allow him to grow in Rockford or a European pro league next season, then consider a call up a year from now if he is truly ready.

I will re-state again that the Hawks lost to a poor Carolina team last night. Carolina is obviously not a great team but they are not even a good team.

Posters forget that the Hawks not only actually made the play-offs last season but were actually the first seed in the West. No team does that without talent.

Now I was accused of thinking the Hawks have more talent than they actually do. I certainly believe that the Hawks presently have more than enough to make the play-offs comfortably. Is there anyone who honestly believes that the Hawks have not disappointed or under-achieved this year? Did anyone honestly believe the Hawks would miss the play-offs? Of course, for such an opinion to have any relevance at all, it would have to have been said before the season started.

So if a team has enough talent to make the play-offs and fails to do so whose fault is it? Well posters it is the Coach’s fault - Q’s fault. Q has admitted as much in a recent interview, in which he said his player juggling really hurt the team - for someone who can’t get the word “consistency” out of his mouth fast enough his player juggling destroyed any chance for consistency.

However, it is even worse than that as his mindlessl player juggling was combined with “I’m smarter than everyone” stubornness. No Kane/Toews - no Kane/DeBrincat - no Keith/Murphy - no Keith/Seabrook. However, he did rock the D-Combo of Forsling/Rutta until they gave up...what was it? - 20 goals in one period or something like that. Then Forsling went from go-to D-Man to Ice Hog overnight. Rutta’s stock somehow miraculously rose from his abominable play as he just scored $2.25M.

Well it appears that Q must go - Ulfie too. Dineen just seems resigned to the craziness - a shell of a man. StanBo’s recent signings indicate that he has clearly lost touch with reality. Probably needs to go to before he re-signs Wingels and Bouma for $5M each.

To the NE, a leader who cares...

https://www.tsn.ca/zetter...and-hope-effort-1.1022456
- riozzo

The result of a cap-strapped league promoting inexpensive players to the big league before they are ready.

To the NE, a leader who cares...

https://www.tsn.ca/zetter...and-hope-effort-1.1022456
- riozzo

I am old enough to remember when the Hocks and Red Wings were good enough to make the playoffs

Hartman another nice assist last night. If you are lucky and I mean really lucky your late first round pick might turn out to be as good as .....Ryan Hartman.

FIRST. Saad-Toews-Kane....wtf was that last night??
- EnzoD

Was it just me, or were about 75% or their passes backward or sideways through the neutral zone? It looks like it has gotten to the point where even top line players are just standing around watching to see hat Kane will do with the puck. Not to start anything up on this board again, but that was the really nice thing about Panarin. Once he got comfortable (about 20 games in) he would just find open areas and skate to them ready for a pass. Last night it looked like Toews and Saad were looking to try and start a cycle game while Kane was trying to set something up. Really frustrating to watch.

Was it just me, or were about 75% or their passes backward or sideways through the neutral zone? It looks like it has gotten to the point where even top line players are just standing around watching to see hat Kane will do with the puck. Not to start anything up on this board again, but that was the really nice thing about Panarin. Once he got comfortable (about 20 games in) he would just find open areas and skate to them ready for a pass. Last night it looked like Toews and Saad were looking to try and start a cycle game while Kane was trying to set something up. Really frustrating to watch.
- Chunk

Saw that as well.

With the exception of the last 5 minutes of the game or so, it sure seemed like everyone was content to just give Kane the puck and watch.

I will re-state again that the Hawks lost to a poor Carolina team last night. Carolina is obviously not a great team but they are not even a good team.

Posters forget that the Hawks not only actually made the play-offs last season but were actually the first seed in the West. No team does that without talent.

Now I was accused of thinking the Hawks have more talent than they actually do. I certainly believe that the Hawks presently have more than enough to make the play-offs comfortably. Is there anyone who honestly believes that the Hawks have not disappointed or under-achieved this year? Did anyone honestly believe the Hawks would miss the play-offs? Of course, for such an opinion to have any relevance at all, it would have to have been said before the season started.

So if a team has enough talent to make the play-offs and fails to do so whose fault is it? Well posters it is the Coach’s fault - Q’s fault. Q has admitted as much in a recent interview, in which he said his player juggling really hurt the team - for someone who can’t get the word “consistency” out of his mouth fast enough his player juggling destroyed any chance for consistency.

However, it is even worse than that as his mindlessl player juggling was combined with “I’m smarter than everyone” stubornness. No Kane/Toews - no Kane/DeBrincat - no Keith/Murphy - no Keith/Seabrook. However, he did rock the D-Combo of Forsling/Rutta until they gave up...what was it? - 20 goals in one period or something like that. Then Forsling went from go-to D-Man to Ice Hog overnight. Rutta’s stock somehow miraculously rose from his abominable play as he just scored $2.25M.

Well it appears that Q must go - Ulfie too. Dineen just seems resigned to the craziness - a shell of a man. StanBo’s recent signings indicate that he has clearly lost touch with reality. Probably needs to go to before he re-signs Wingels and Bouma for $5M each.
- Z3Hawk

They were first seed in the west with (deep breath):
Hossa
Panarin
An effective Panik
Hartman basically scoring 20 goals
Hjalmarsson
Crawford &Darling
TVR as your "worst" d-man
Keith putting up 53 pts and Seabrook not being terrible (not good but not terrible for most of the year).

THIS year's team has nowhere near that kind of talent, ESPECIALLY on the back end and in goal

Saw that as well.

With the exception of the last 5 minutes of the game or so, it sure seemed like everyone was content to just give Kane the puck and watch.
- BINGO!

There are a few things I can't comprehend with this team:
1) We used to be great at making the simple effective exit from the d-zone. Now it is like we go out of our way to make the absolute hardest pass available.
2) Horrible lack of puck control from virtually everyone this year.
3) How after 68 games we still give up multiple (like 7-8 a game) odd man rushes per game. You would think a coach would say "hey guys, uh, don't keep doing that".

-Murphy, on the side boards near the top of the right D face off circle, with the puck
-Carolina player standing 10 feet off the boards just inside the blue line
-Hawk forward near the boards outside the blue line
-Obvious play is for Murphy to bank the puck up the boards to the Hawk forward
-What does Murphy do?
-Fires a pass straight at the Carolina forward, pass hits him in the skates
-Carolina keeps the puck in the Hawk zone for another 30-45 seconds and generates a couple of shots and 1 scoring chance.

WTF, it's a play every kid learns when he's a squirt or pee wee. Murphy must be better than that, right?

They were first seed in the west with (deep breath):
Hossa
Panarin
An effective Panik
Hartman basically scoring 20 goals
Hjalmarsson
Crawford &Darling
TVR as your "worst" d-man
Keith putting up 53 pts and Seabrook not being terrible (not good but not terrible for most of the year).

THIS year's team has nowhere near that kind of talent, ESPECIALLY on the back end and in goal
- Chunk

Thank you.

Hossa, Panarin, Hjalmarsson and TVR is an awful lot of experience and skill to lose in a single year.

Thank you.

Hossa, Panarin, Hjalmarsson and TVR is an awful lot of experience and skill to lose in a single year.
- BINGO!

Yes, it is. And maybe now people are realizing that future HOFer Hossa was the best player on the team since he arrived. No Hossa, no Cups.

If Hossa was still here, they probably limp into the playoffs this year, warts and all.

There are a few things I can't comprehend with this team:
1) We used to be great at making the simple effective exit from the d-zone. Now it is like we go out of our way to make the absolute hardest pass available.
2) Horrible lack of puck control from virtually everyone this year.
3) How after 68 games we still give up multiple (like 7-8 a game) odd man rushes per game. You would think a coach would say "hey guys, uh, don't keep doing that".
- Chunk

I wondered last night if Chicago wasn't trying to use the Canes forecheck against them by trying to utilize the stretch pass and make them back off a bit, but when it didn't work they never seemed to try anything else.

Seems like they're trying to use the same system they would with a real mobile group of defensemen, but they don't have that anymore, and it seems like they haven't changed a thing in the way they try to play.

You are so hockey illeritate - it's too hard to decide where to begin.

Hartman may look like a shiny new toy in the first few games, but just wait until the boneheaded turnovers and stupid penalties start. And after that he will start tuning out the Neanderthal you call coach. Then comes the healthy scratches and if you are lucky, some other team will overpay for Hartman and take him off your hands.

But keep talking like he is some kind of steal for your sad sorry franchise - that will most likely NOT see a cup win in your inbred lifetime!!!!!

I am old enough to remember when the Hocks and Red Wings were good enough to make the playoffs

Hartman another nice assist last night. If you are lucky and I mean really lucky your late first round pick might turn out to be as good as .....Ryan Hartman.
- VopatsRash

Ah yes, the Lord of No Cups returns.....Get lost you (frank)ing loser. Congrats on your 2nd place finish last year.

I am old enough to remember when the Hocks and Red Wings were good enough to make the playoffs

Hartman another nice assist last night. If you are lucky and I mean really lucky your late first round pick might turn out to be as good as .....Ryan Hartman.
- VopatsRash

That would make you, hmmmm - 2 years old?