Rinne will choke in game 7. Calling it.
- EnzoD

Agreed

http://www.nbcsports.com/...racker-keeping-blackhawks

Decent summary of how Blackhawk players are doing in the World Championships, including highlight videos/gifs.

- Kane playing a high tempo game scoring goals and having primary assists.
- DeBrincat hammering shots and promoted to Kane's line.
- Gustafsson peppering shots, too.
- Murphy playing big minutes, even leading the tourney in ice time.
- Anisimov lighting the lamp in a few games from the slot.
- Kahun showing some promise on faceoffs.
- Shalunov offering a glimpse of what he may provide offensively if he ever crosses the ocean.

http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/blackhawks/2018-iihf-mens-world-championship-tracker-keeping-blackhawks

Decent summary of how Blackhawk players are doing in the World Championships, including highlight videos/gifs.

- Kane playing a high tempo game scoring goals and having primary assists.
- DeBrincat hammering shots and promoted to Kane's line.
- Gustafsson peppering shots, too.
- Murphy playing big minutes, even leading the tourney in ice time.
- Anisimov lighting the lamp in a few games from the slot.
- Kahun showing some promise on faceoffs.
- Shalunov offering a glimpse of what he may provide offensively if he ever crosses the ocean.
- AEL_Fox

Q bias on Murphy was so obvious .Just another fail on Q part ,showing his personnel vendetta against Stan and the front office ..

Q bias on Murphy was so obvious .Just another fail on Q part ,showing his personnel vendetta against Stan and the front office ..

- oldduffman

Murphy, Kempy, Daley ....... Q ruined or is ruining them all. Q is over rated. Without a super star roster he is average at best.

Murphy, Kempy, Daley ....... Q ruined or is ruining them all. Q is over rated. Without a super star roster he is average at best.
- mrpaulish

Hate to agree, but do feel Ulfy is waiting in the wings to take over. Bowman isn't going anywhere given his namesake but he's as much to blame as anyone but never seems to own up to it.

Nontheless, if they empty the bank for one Tom Wilson and all will be forgotten.

http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/blackhawks/2018-iihf-mens-world-championship-tracker-keeping-blackhawks

Decent summary of how Blackhawk players are doing in the World Championships, including highlight videos/gifs.

- Kane playing a high tempo game scoring goals and having primary assists.
- DeBrincat hammering shots and promoted to Kane's line.
- Gustafsson peppering shots, too.
- Murphy playing big minutes, even leading the tourney in ice time.
- Anisimov lighting the lamp in a few games from the slot.
- Kahun showing some promise on faceoffs.
- Shalunov offering a glimpse of what he may provide offensively if he ever crosses the ocean.
- AEL_Fox

Debrincat has been very noticeable for me as well. He is truly becoming a star player.
I am not expecting much from Kahun now after seeing him play.
And with Murphy, my thoughts were exactly as those stated by previous posters. In the back of my mind I have been cursing Q when I observe the amount of ice time and the situations Murphy is being used in during these World's games.

Debrincat has been very noticeable for me as well. He is truly becoming a star player.
I am not expecting much from Kahun now after seeing him play.
And with Murphy, my thoughts were exactly as those stated by previous posters. In the back of my mind I have been cursing Q when I observe the amount of ice time and the situations Murphy is being used in during these World's games.
- 67hawks

Care to elaborate on Kahun? I had decent hopes for him after the olympics and him winning the German league championship.

Murphy, Kempy, Daley ....... Q ruined or is ruining them all. Q is over rated. Without a super star roster he is average at best.
- mrpaulish

Stop it with the Daley love

Hate to agree, but do feel Ulfy is waiting in the wings to take over. Bowman isn't going anywhere given his namesake but he's as much to blame as anyone but never seems to own up to it.

Nontheless, if they empty the bank for one Tom Wilson and all will be forgotten.
- Assman22

Sorry but Ulf isn’t taking over anything. His absurd Offensive Defensive System should have got him fired. Also no headhunting Tom Wilson coming to the Hawks.

Sorry but Ulf isn’t taking over anything. His absurd Offensive Defensive System should have got him fired. Also no headhunting Tom Wilson coming to the Hawks.
- Z3Hawk

It would be mildly entertaining watching Q turn Tom Wilson into Charmin' Ultra Soft...

Murphy, Kempy, Daley ....... Q ruined or is ruining them all. Q is over rated. Without a super star roster he is average at best.
- mrpaulish

Hmmmm Murphy and Kempny. My math says that those names check 2 out of 6 D-Men boxes every night. Why their miss-use wouldn’t be looked at as a huge screw-up by Q (and Ulf) is beyond me. The Daley situation was disgusting. Q despised him. What hurt most was Q’s idiocy forced the Hawks into a corner with no leverage and Bowman ended up trading him for nothing. Q should have been shown the door long ago and certainly after last season.

Murphy, Kempy, Daley ....... Q ruined or is ruining them all. Q is over rated. Without a super star roster he is average at best.
- mrpaulish

Same is said about Phil Jackson

Hmmmm Murphy and Kempny. My math says that those names check 2 out of 6 D-Men boxes every night. Why their miss-use wouldn’t be looked at as a huge screw-up by Q (and Ulf) is beyond me. The Daley situation was disgusting. Q despised him. What hurt most was Q’s idiocy forced the Hawks into a corner with no leverage and Bowman ended up trading him for nothing. Q should have been shown the door long ago and certainly after last season.
- Z3Hawk

When Daley was here, I remember a lot of people wanting him traded. Not saying you specifically, but most of the talk was about how he should be dealt. All Q did is not hand him minutes because he was struggling to keep up with the Hawks system. Should the coach just give in and let the player walk all over him? I remember Daley talking about how it was a change for him. He didn't wanna earn his playing time and I'm glad they moved him, but the return on the trade was kinda of awful. Sometimes players just don't fit with the team/system.

Interesting stats from this page: https://www.hockey-refere...e.com/teams/CHI/2018.html

The Blackhawks shooting percentage was a full point below the league average, which indicates that the Hawks had a varying degree of both bad luck and poor shot quality.

The Blackhawks Save Percentage was only 0.001% lower than the league average, so while Crawford's absence obviously hurt the team, most other teams had a similar quality goalie.

The second highest ice-time per game among defencemen... Jordan Oesterle, yikes.

The Hawks' leaders in Offensive Zone Start Percentage (either very dangerous scorers or defensive liabilities) were Kane, Schmaltz, Hartman, Keith, Saad. Hartman also lead the team in Penalty Minutes.

The best Fenwick For % players (how many shots on goal+missed shots vs. how many against) were Gustafsson, Saad, Toews, Hinostroza, Murphy. The worst were Forsling, Anisimov, Rutta, Hayden, Schmaltz.

3 of the 'worst' are rather highly regarded here, Forsling Hayden Schmaltz. Schmaltz also lead the team in takeaways, so go figure. Hopefully Forsling and Hayden's continued time in the AHL helps improve their ice-tilt, because teams rarely win when a large portion of their skaters are below 50% Fenwick. Marian Hossa was under 50% once in his Hawks tenure, his last year. In 2010 he had a 62% Fenwick For, meaning for every 4 shots you had towards the Hawks net, the Hawks had 6 on the oppositions when Hossa was on the ice. Fenwick isn't an end all be all, but it matters a lot.

Don't believe me? The 2012-13 Blackhawks (arguably the most dominant regular season in team history), they had 1 everyday skater under 50%, Dave Bolland with 44%. Everyone else was 51% or above! This is simply unheard of.

The good news is that this last year's Hawks team only had 5 skaters with 40 games or more at 50% or below. The Hawks still largely tilted the ice and barrage of shots against towards the opponent. Their shot quality was poor (right into the chest, Keith slapper into the shin pads, shot going way over a goalie), and their save-percentage could've been better.

With an increase in shot quality, and a return of any kind of Corey Crawford, the Hawks will be a markedly improved team next year. Rockford's playoff run and it's importance can't be overstated.

Another Bowman fail....

Confirmed: Ville Pokka (D) | Belleville Senators -> Avangard Omsk | https://t.co/KlLeL3OiwZ #KHL

— EP Transfers (@ep_transfers) May 8, 2018

Same is said about Phil Jackson
- glennjpawlak22

And the same could be said about a lot of coaches who win multiple titles.

There is a skill required to put a "superstar team" together and have it function as it should over the long haul - not every coach could have coached the 90s Bulls to 6 titles - or the 2010+ Hawks to 3 - and not every (or maybe even many) of those coaches who could do that could take a young team from scratch and turn it into a championship contender.

Interesting stats from this page: https://www.hockey-refere...e.com/teams/CHI/2018.html

The Blackhawks shooting percentage was a full point below the league average, which indicates that the Hawks had a varying degree of both bad luck and poor shot quality.

The Blackhawks Save Percentage was only 0.001% lower than the league average, so while Crawford's absence obviously hurt the team, most other teams had a similar quality goalie.

The second highest ice-time per game among defencemen... Jordan Oesterle, yikes.

The Hawks' leaders in Offensive Zone Start Percentage (either very dangerous scorers or defensive liabilities) were Kane, Schmaltz, Hartman, Keith, Saad. Hartman also lead the team in Penalty Minutes.

The best Fenwick For % players (how many shots on goal+missed shots vs. how many against) were Gustafsson, Saad, Toews, Hinostroza, Murphy. The worst were Forsling, Anisimov, Rutta, Hayden, Schmaltz.

3 of the 'worst' are rather highly regarded here, Forsling Hayden Schmaltz. Schmaltz also lead the team in takeaways, so go figure. Hopefully Forsling and Hayden's continued time in the AHL helps improve their ice-tilt, because teams rarely win when a large portion of their skaters are below 50% Fenwick. Marian Hossa was under 50% once in his Hawks tenure, his last year. In 2010 he had a 62% Fenwick For, meaning for every 4 shots you had towards the Hawks net, the Hawks had 6 on the oppositions when Hossa was on the ice. Fenwick isn't an end all be all, but it matters a lot.

Don't believe me? The 2012-13 Blackhawks (arguably the most dominant regular season in team history), they had 1 everyday skater under 50%, Dave Bolland with 44%. Everyone else was 51% or above! This is simply unheard of.

The good news is that this last year's Hawks team only had 5 skaters with 40 games or more at 50% or below. The Hawks still largely tilted the ice and barrage of shots against towards the opponent. Their shot quality was poor (right into the chest, Keith slapper into the shin pads, shot going way over a goalie), and their save-percentage could've been better.

With an increase in shot quality, and a return of any kind of Corey Crawford, the Hawks will be a markedly improved team next year. Rockford's playoff run and it's importance can't be overstated.
- ObeseOprah

I don;t get into all the advanced stats. From my eye test, and countless posts, the BHawks shot into the goalies crest more often than not all season. And that friggen slap pass is beyond annoying.

Sorry but Ulf isn’t taking over anything. His absurd Offensive Defensive System should have got him fired. Also no headhunting Tom Wilson coming to the Hawks.
- Z3Hawk

If Wilson was brought into the Hawks, he'd either:

1-Be a healthy scratch 5 times out of 10
2-Sent to Rockford
3-Just quit checking

He'd be a great fit, but he doesn't want to be here. Michael Kempny has actually looked very solid for Washington. Tells me the Hawks failed him. Is the Hawks handling of him a monumental blunder? Probably not, but it's sure looking like a blunder. Better hope that third round pick turns into something halfway decent.

Interesting stats from this page: https://www.hockey-refere...e.com/teams/CHI/2018.html

The Blackhawks shooting percentage was a full point below the league average, which indicates that the Hawks had a varying degree of both bad luck and poor shot quality.

.
- ObeseOprah

I looked at last year's bizarre stats - very high in team CF%, something like third in the league, combined with bottom half of the league in 5x5 goals - as being a function of lots of bad shots taken - your shooting percentage stat confirms that for me.

The eye test left me with the impression that the Hawks would very often shoot on net as soon as the crossed the blue line - ok when your going for a change, but too often (and, again, just an eye test - no stats to back this up) without a change - just quick shots with no one going to the net, resulting in turning the puck over instead of developing a press on the opposition.

This kept the CF% high, and (because so many shots were at unbothered goalies) the scoring percentage down.

I don;t get into all the advanced stats. From my eye test, and countless posts, the BHawks shot into the goalies crest more often than not all season. And that friggen slap pass is beyond annoying.
- riozzo

If you shoot from far enough away - without any teammate bothering the goalie - it becomes less shooting into the crest, and more the goalie has time to get the crest in front of the shot.

No stats - just my eyes.

If you shoot from far enough away - without any teammate bothering the goalie - it becomes less shooting into the crest, and more the goalie has time to get the crest in front of the shot.

No stats - just my eyes.
- StLBravesFan

This too...

I looked at last year's bizarre stats - very high in team CF%, something like third in the league, combined with bottom half of the league in 5x5 goals - as being a function of lots of bad shots taken - your shooting percentage stat confirms that for me.

The eye test left me with the impression that the Hawks would very often shoot on net as soon as the crossed the blue line - ok when your going for a change, but too often (and, again, just an eye test - no stats to back this up) without a change - just quick shots with no one going to the net, resulting in turning the puck over instead of developing a press on the opposition.

This kept the CF% high, and (because so many shots were at unbothered goalies) the scoring percentage down.
- StLBravesFan

I think you're pretty spot on. The Hawks poor play in the D-zone and Neutral zone (slingshot drop pass anyone?) likely lead to this consistent dump into the goalie. This is from either guys going for a change or just complete lack or forechecking confidence. I'm all for putting everything you can on net, but Joel should've recognized when it wasn't working.

Some teams have even gotten good at shooting it intentionally wide by a foot to set up their teammate with a rebound off the back boards.

Getting a mid-level forward and D should help, as will our guys playing for Rockford getting a little more seasoning.

TSN is reporting that Tkachuk is returning to BU this fall. Will that decision impact where he is selected in the draft? Are some lower tier teams going to be more hesitant now because they want immediate impact and also fear the UFA option that college players sometimes choose to take advantage of?

Care to elaborate on Kahun? I had decent hopes for him after the olympics and him winning the German league championship.
- ObeseOprah

He just looks ordinary. I am not seeing the speed and skill that stands out as was advertised. He is not on the first power play unit as you would expect if he was an impact player especially for a team like Germany.

Hate to agree, but do feel Ulfy is waiting in the wings to take over. Bowman isn't going anywhere given his namesake but he's as much to blame as anyone but never seems to own up to it.

Nontheless, if they empty the bank for one Tom Wilson and all will be forgotten.
- Assman22

I think the long term plan is for Colliton to step in at some point. Although I think the preference is for him to get at least one more year in with the IceHogs. I could see Granato (or Dineen, not my preference) stepping in as a place holder, if things go south quickly at the beginning of the season next year. With Colliton being promoted for fresh start of the 2019/20 season.