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Forums :: Blog World :: Justin Lowe: Those Guys Are Good: Tampa Bay Lightning
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wonthecup10
Season Ticket Holder
Joined: 02.05.2008

May 12 @ 10:32 AM ET
I agree 100% with both yourself and McCovey,( another great baseball icon was glad to be able to see him play as a kid! )
It’s not impossible because it’s not that far off that we had won three Stanley cups, but it just seems that fans are pissed off because Stan Bowman is trying to re-create the Montréal Canadiens of the 70s, and in today’s game you also need size and grit along with the speed. And it seems like he has a lot more Misses then hits.
I get what you’re saying about the snooze fest, we’ve had season tickets since 19 7273, and I agree with you on the last three years. Hopefully from the top down the mindset is “fix it or else quote, starting with the draft in late June. By July 15 we should see if it’s put up or shut up time for the BLACKHAWKS of next season.

- wonthecup10

Assman22
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: San Francisco, CA
Joined: 04.13.2012

May 12 @ 10:57 AM ET
Rockford has done it again.... a 6-3 win completes the sweep and that's 7 straight wins.

They take on the Texas Stars in round 3.

- Justin Lowe


Make like 2008 and let the vets go and kids play Bye Toews!
6628
Joined: 08.24.2009

May 12 @ 11:02 AM ET
Not ever having been in an NHL locker room, knowing how prestigious a captaincy is, and not knowing ALL of the things a letterman must do - do we know that Kane wants one?

Perhaps he would rather be the informal mentor to young players, rather than deal with the formalities of an official position.

- StLBravesFan



Good post, you might be right.
6628
Joined: 08.24.2009

May 12 @ 11:11 AM ET
The truth is the truth. When a team fails there is an obvious hierachy of blame. Q and Ulf were at the top of that hierachy. Maybe this works better for you - heard rumours that the Training Staff weren’t quite as good as they were in previous years.
- Z3Hawk



I know. I agree with you. I've never liked Q, I'm the guy who said he's a right place right time kind of guy. Blending lines constantly is all he's got. I get it. But I can't stand reading the same stuff OVER AND OVER.... even if I agree. If posting the same thing is all you've got then give it a rest, at least for a while.

Scott1977
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Yorkville, IL
Joined: 08.30.2012

May 12 @ 11:53 AM ET
Calgary might be a team I would be looking at to trade with they do not have a pick until the 4th round. Maybe 27th and 3rd for Brodie or a 3rd for ferland seeing calagary is desperate. Just an Idea
walleyeb1
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Petersburg, IL
Joined: 09.25.2014

May 12 @ 12:17 PM ET
did not see the game but the caps are surprising the hell out of me: since going down 0-2 with home losses they are 9-2 and 6-1 on the road...
- bogiedoc



Kempny was the missing piece!
walleyeb1
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Petersburg, IL
Joined: 09.25.2014

May 12 @ 12:22 PM ET
The problem actually starts with the forwards. None of them can hold a puck in the zone longer than a one and done rush. The lack of a hard forecheck leads to the team playing on their heels, always chasing back and/or getting caught in odd man rushes.

Ulf’s compensation move for the lame forecheck was to pinch a D man. And then...odd man rush time.

And why is there no forecheck? Toews is afraid of contact, and the rest of the guys are too small or too timid to be intimidating to anyone. So they get rag dolled off of the boards after the inital rush. Bottom line - no size and not enough sack.

Even an all star blue line crew gets worn down playing in their zone all night. Then throw in four of six D guys being pretty new to the NHL game and its the Benny Hill show in the D zone with 10+ grade A SOG against every night.

Watch all of the teams still in it - speed, skill AND nasty. Of the remaining teams, those with the best goalies will advance - Vegas and Tampa. Winnipeg is an A goalie away from being a dominant team for a while.

- Return of the Roar


Interesting quotes from Svedberg interview with Powers:

Svedberg believes his game progressed this season. Colliton pushed his defensemen to defend further up the ice and begin denying opponents in the neutral zone. At first, it felt unnatural, but he adjusted and is now comfortable being aggressive defensively.

“To start the season, I wasn’t used to it at all,” Svedberg said. “I don’t think anyone was. That was pretty much the biggest thing for D-men — to stop them as high as you can before they can make plays, before they enter the [offensive] zone, before they can do anything. I think everyone on our team did a very good job to adjust to that and doing it way better.

“I remember last year we were barely allowed to step outside of the dots because they don’t want us to get beat. They always want us to have numbers back home instead of forcing them to make a bad play or forcing them to get rid of the puck at the red line, so they can’t get a controlled entry. I think that helped the defensive game of our whole team.”
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.18.2016

May 12 @ 12:32 PM ET
Interesting quotes from Svedberg interview with Powers:

Svedberg believes his game progressed this season. Colliton pushed his defensemen to defend further up the ice and begin denying opponents in the neutral zone. At first, it felt unnatural, but he adjusted and is now comfortable being aggressive defensively.

“To start the season, I wasn’t used to it at all,” Svedberg said. “I don’t think anyone was. That was pretty much the biggest thing for D-men — to stop them as high as you can before they can make plays, before they enter the

- walleyeb1[offensive] zone, before they can do anything. I think everyone on our team did a very good job to adjust to that and doing it way better.

“I remember last year we were barely allowed to step outside of the dots because they don’t want us to get beat. They always want us to have numbers back home instead of forcing them to make a bad play or forcing them to get rid of the puck at the red line, so they can’t get a controlled entry. I think that helped the defensive game of our whole team.”

Thanks for sharing this quote. I believe this is a really telling sign of the monumental change in defensive philosophy at least down in Rockford, i.e. shift from Dent to Colliton. I would absolutely love if the parent team could adopt this same philosophy. The Hawks D are either pinching too much on offense or too passive with defense in their zone. Defending in the neutral zone and at the defensive blueline are simply non existent.
pdx2ord
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Portland, OR
Joined: 09.02.2015

May 12 @ 12:33 PM ET
Interesting quotes from Svedberg interview with Powers:

Svedberg believes his game progressed this season. Colliton pushed his defensemen to defend further up the ice and begin denying opponents in the neutral zone. At first, it felt unnatural, but he adjusted and is now comfortable being aggressive defensively.

“To start the season, I wasn’t used to it at all,” Svedberg said. “I don’t think anyone was. That was pretty much the biggest thing for D-men — to stop them as high as you can before they can make plays, before they enter the

- walleyeb1[offensive] zone, before they can do anything. I think everyone on our team did a very good job to adjust to that and doing it way better.

“I remember last year we were barely allowed to step outside of the dots because they don’t want us to get beat. They always want us to have numbers back home instead of forcing them to make a bad play or forcing them to get rid of the puck at the red line, so they can’t get a controlled entry. I think that helped the defensive game of our whole team.”


Very interesting. So, was Dent going it on his own, or was he trying to emulate the big club in order to prep his players? If the latter, that might explain a lot. (Clearly, I'm not good at identifying D schemes or issues)
Hawkytalk
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Frankfort, IL
Joined: 06.26.2012

May 12 @ 12:43 PM ET
Interesting quotes from Svedberg interview with Powers:

Svedberg believes his game progressed this season. Colliton pushed his defensemen to defend further up the ice and begin denying opponents in the neutral zone. At first, it felt unnatural, but he adjusted and is now comfortable being aggressive defensively.

“To start the season, I wasn’t used to it at all,” Svedberg said. “I don’t think anyone was. That was pretty much the biggest thing for D-men — to stop them as high as you can before they can make plays, before they enter the

- walleyeb1[offensive] zone, before they can do anything. I think everyone on our team did a very good job to adjust to that and doing it way better.

“I remember last year we were barely allowed to step outside of the dots because they don’t want us to get beat. They always want us to have numbers back home instead of forcing them to make a bad play or forcing them to get rid of the puck at the red line, so they can’t get a controlled entry. I think that helped the defensive game of our whole team.”


Let's hope that Q and Ulf will adopt to this system as well. The dominant teams seem to all be denying entrance from the neutral zone by defending at the center line forward.... as opposed to backing into the Dzone. Nashville put the clamps on the Hawks in last year's playoffs by doing jus that.

As for Svedberg, I've watched him play many games in pre-season as a Blackhawk and liked his reach and ability to defend. If he could only acquire that Chara mean streak and use his body more, he might have something that could help this team.
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.18.2016

May 12 @ 12:45 PM ET
Calgary might be a team I would be looking at to trade with they do not have a pick until the 4th round. Maybe 27th and 3rd for Brodie or a 3rd for ferland seeing calagary is desperate. Just an Idea
- Scott1977

As far as Calgary as a potential trade partner, I'd look at Brodie or Stone. Ferland would be nice for the bottom 6. Possibly Bennett for middle 6 option.

The ideal guy to pursue but likely not doable is Backlund to be 3C. That could make Anisimov easier to let go from a positional depth stand point.
35Tony0
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Springfield, IL
Joined: 05.10.2015

May 12 @ 12:46 PM ET
Mindset-wise, if you are the 3rd forward entering the offensive zone and you are reasonably certain a d-man is likely to pinch, the smart play would always be to penetrate no further in than the high slot.
That way, if the pinching d-man gets tangled up down low, the forward in the high slot is available to defend against a breakout.
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.18.2016

May 12 @ 12:52 PM ET
Mindset-wise, if you are the 3rd forward entering the offensive zone and you are reasonably certain a d-man is likely to pinch, the smart play would always be to penetrate no further in than the high slot.
That way, if the pinching d-man gets tangled up down low, the forward in the high slot is available to defend against a breakout.

- 35Tony0

Yes, to me, it's a counting game. If you see 3 teammates ahead of you, then hang back. How far you hang back depends on where the 4th teammate is. Play no further than the high part of the circles if you're the 4th one in. If you see 4 teammates ahead of you, then play at the blue line if not in the neutral zone depending on where the puck is at that point.
67hawks
Joined: 08.30.2012

May 12 @ 2:01 PM ET
Let's hope that Q and Ulf will adopt to this system as well. The dominant teams seem to all be denying entrance from the neutral zone by defending at the center line forward.... as opposed to backing into the Dzone. Nashville put the clamps on the Hawks in last year's playoffs by doing jus that.

As for Svedberg, I've watched him play many games in pre-season as a Blackhawk and liked his reach and ability to defend. If he could only acquire that Chara mean streak and use his body more, he might have something that could help this team.

- Hawkytalk


I always wanted the Hawks to take another look at Svedberg before he leaves this organization. And leave he will because he has been buried in their system. I wonder if he will make them regret that one day.
Spec41971
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Rolling meadows, IL
Joined: 03.04.2017

May 12 @ 4:28 PM ET
Not ever having been in an NHL locker room, knowing how prestigious a captaincy is, and not knowing ALL of the things a letterman must do - do we know that Kane wants one?

Perhaps he would rather be the informal mentor to young players, rather than deal with the formalities of an official position.

- StLBravesFan


I think anyone who is as much a student of the game as Kane is would relish wearing a letter on the uniform. He, more than most players on the team, understands the history and significance of the letter and would love to wear that.

On a somewhat related topic, I would love to see the league all the adoptions of what I will call “miniatures “ on the front of the uniform to indicate significant awards each player has earned during their career: Stanley cups, Hart’s, vezinas, scoring, all-star selections, etc. thoughts on this?
jhawk59
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 02.15.2013

May 12 @ 4:51 PM ET
True for most of that Hog roster - not unique to the tall Euro center. No one in Rockford looks to have a difference making trajectory to the NHL anytime soon, if at all.
- Return of the Roar


Forsling had the ability whether you see It now on later. On Edjsell: beware the stride and effort in his skating; long legs core strength & balance also which he can work on. Tall players sometimes skate faster than it appears they are moving. He has vision and passing ability. First game NHL on powerplay that was evident - saw in person. His size and skill is a different look to defend if he is on a second offensive line.Give him a year or partial year and work on that skating. Get stronger, too, as just his reach is valuable because right now I have yet to see if he is willingly a boards worker.

Note to STLouisBraves and Z3: let us wait and see what we have. I bet Bowman saw a skill set in a big center whom he wanted bedide his quick euro type skill cast.

Just beware either or both Edjsell and others need to be the ones who have grit and push back. Not totally soft players.
jhawk59
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 02.15.2013

May 12 @ 5:05 PM ET
Z3,

I acknowledge your detailed reports about Samuelson system not meshing with young defencemen and I am sure Bowman and Q have discussed. Let's see whom they add, eh then whom they subtract
Methinks Ulf will tweek
Hawkster
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Quebec , QC
Joined: 06.13.2008

May 12 @ 5:57 PM ET
He’ll be better when Trump pardons him....
- StLBravesFan


That will be hard to do from the jail cell.
BetweenTheDots
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 06.13.2015

May 12 @ 6:05 PM ET
I don't post too often but, the constant Q and Bowman bashing really gets to me. I have been a Blackhawk fan since the late 50's. I have seen some really good Hawk teams not win the Cup. I was 8 years old when they won it in 61 and 58 when they won it in 10. I never thought I would see them win one again and they went ahead and won 3 in 6 years. Nobody is more disappointed in them not making the playoffs than me but, it is what it is. Everybody is a genius when they are winning but, all of a sudden when they are not they are world class idiots.

If their jobs are so easy then everybody could do it, correct. It is so easy to criticize but, not so easy to do the job. It wasn't that long ago that this franchise was voted the worst franchise in all of sport. We have come along way in a short time don't you think? Maybe some of you want the likes of Bob Pulford and Alpo Suhonen back. I know I sure don't and I am grateful for Rocky and all involved for making this franchise great again.

What is it going to take to get them back on top? I don't have the answers for that because I am just a fan not some pretend expert. All I can do is hope for the best because that is all I can do.

I am far from a bandwagon fan, my family and I have had Blackhawk season tickets on 3 different occasions. I grew up loving the Blackhawks and have passed that on to my kids and now to my grandkids.

So, like I have said many times in the "Old Barn and at the UC:

"LET'S GO HAWKS"

- McCOVEY


I'm right there with you. How quickly people forget or minimize the last 10 years. Not to sound like a know it all but how can people not see minus NHL goalie equals bad season. I'm not saying they don't have some work to do and need some top 6 talent over 200 pounds or play like it but all of a sudden they are bunch of bums.

Take it one step further Scotty has always been a part of championship teams and people say oh he just goes where teams are about to win, but how many times have we not heard he was forced to leave becausehe didn't believe the direction the team was going in?

I don't know much but i do know these two have earned the right to try to rebuild this.
riozzo
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Cornwallis Island
Joined: 06.17.2014

May 12 @ 6:36 PM ET
That will be hard to do from the jail cell.
- Hawkster

Drinking the kool-aid?
Hawkster
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Quebec , QC
Joined: 06.13.2008

May 12 @ 6:43 PM ET
Drinking the kool-aid?
- riozzo[/qu

Orange kool aid?....lol....not sold in Canada
jhawk59
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 02.15.2013

May 12 @ 6:45 PM ET
I'm right there with you. How quickly people forget or minimize the last 10 years. Not to sound like a know it all but how can people not see minus NHL goalie equals bad season. I'm not saying they don't have some work to do and need some top 6 talent over 200 pounds or play like it but all of a sudden they are bunch of bums.

Take it one step further Scotty has always been a part of championship teams and people say oh he just goes where teams are about to win, but how many times have we not heard he was forced to leave becausehe didn't afspts to abhängig Time and systemd. believe the direction the team was going in?

I don't know much but i do know these two have earned the right to try to rebuild this.

- BetweenTheDots

Dont be ignorant. Queeneville got away with Coaching ineptness despite winning. A good coach gets better results, better effort, does not carry on with stupid drop pass out of our end, does not each year tolerate the ridicuous strategy on powerplay. There were good years but as talent level and talent depth dropped so too has Q sound decisions . Cmon' now Weise playoffs pedigree could not be of use here in that playoffs? Daley? Kempny were blackballed. He couldn't find a ways to get good performance out of them.

I could keep mentioning more things, like development of dmen, dumping puck in corner and not on net in some situations....enough already. Thank you Q but time to move on.
bogiedoc
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: VA
Joined: 09.27.2011

May 12 @ 7:43 PM ET
whoa...a buff bomb and a laine backdoor snipe: off to another 2 goal lead
hocktock
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Over by dere.
Joined: 07.15.2015

May 12 @ 7:45 PM ET
This coaches challenge crap is crap.

Respect the refs.

Crappy crap. Bad for the game.
hocktock
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Over by dere.
Joined: 07.15.2015

May 12 @ 7:47 PM ET
This coaches challenge crap is crap.

Respect the refs.

Crappy crap. Bad for the game.

- hocktock


And, they get it wrong.

Garbage.
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