Agree
- 6628

To Rocky
Please read the above commentary by 6628
Duh

Good post, you might be right.
- 6628

Kane wouldn’t want an “A”? Based on what? He wears one proudly every single time a captain is out - even did so ahead of Hossa. So has already proudly been the “4th”. Nothing that Kane has ever done gives any indication he would not cherish an “A”. As we speak he is actually wearing the “C” for Team USA.

Atkinson and Kane seem to have some solid chemistry, Stan needs to work the phones and acquire him.

Toews + 8th overall for Atkinson + 18th overall.

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.
- AEL_Fox

To an uneducated outside observer the present “System” would look like it was created to promote odd-man breaks against. It is what happens when you take the rule about only entering the offensive zone when it is SAFE to do so and throw it out the window.

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
- jhawk59

As the season went on the D “System” seemed to move at least somewhat to a “do it safely” approach. Or was I just wishing that? No doubt there needs to be changes defensively. The huge potential positive? We might find out that we have some really talented D-Men - like Kempny.

Kane wouldn’t want an “A”? Based on what? He wears one proudly every single time a captain is out - even did so ahead of Hossa. So has already proudly been the “4th”. Nothing that Kane has ever done gives any indication he would not cherish an “A”. As we speak he is actually wearing the “C” for Team USA.
- Z3Hawk

I didn't say he wouldn't, but he might be comfortable without it too. There are guys who don't want to be bothered with additional stuff to have to think about. And these days in this town he might be even more comfortable letting the guys with letters do the spin in the interviews.

I never had a letter on my sweater, but I was an MVP a couple of seasons way back when. Worked out ok for everyone. I was a bit too emotional in my yout to question a ref's decision in the heat of the game. I brought it all when I played, but a foul mouth was part of the package. Despite making other players around me better I would have not made a good captain. So I am an example of a guy who preferred not to have a letter.

To an uneducated outside observer the present “System” would look like it was created to promote odd-man breaks against. It is what happens when you take the rule about only entering the offensive zone when it is SAFE to do so and throw it out the window.
- Z3Hawk

I wondered why Svedberg played the way he did when he was up during the 2015/16 season, now it makes sense. It was like he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. The one thing that I do remember is he did keep the crease cleared. It’d be interesting to see what he’s like under a different D scheme.

“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.“

https://www.secondcityhoc...z-car-on-mothers-day-2018

Nice story about what Duclair did for his mom. I know, must be nice to earn a salary where you can afford to give your mom a gift like a Mercedes Benz, but still a lovely gesture regardless of what you do for a living. The reactions from his mom as well as Anthony and his dad are genuine.

Happy Mother's Day to all.

Atkinson and Kane seem to have some solid chemistry, Stan needs to work the phones and acquire him.

Toews + 8th overall for Atkinson + 18th overall.
- DarthKane

Would believe the best player in long run will be the 8th choice. And if he is a dman, we need him. Much as I want Wahlstrom

Would believe the best player in long run will be the 8th choice. And if he is a dman, we need him. Much as I want Wahlstrom
- jhawk59

I like your thinking though

Also Columbus has Panarin wanting more money. Does he get traded. Does Tortorello tolerate Toews not wanting contact,? Columbus shows they want to play young guys as much as possible. They have another couple coming and a top rookie center might bloom (from last year squad).

Get rid of Atkinson: Have read about possible discord. Not sure they would take Toews big contract despite switch in choices. They would maybe do it if they could get only 1-2 choices earlier to draft a dman IMHO.

Except - how long do you keep trying to put square pegs in round holes? At some point, change at least some of the holes to fit the pegs.

Not every basketball team should play the triangle.

Figure out how to use the players you have instead of trying to change them into your version of what a hockey player should be.

Players like Daley, Weiss, Fleischman, Kempny - each had more success before, and some after, their stint with Q and his staff.

Q won three Cups with a core that showed it could play his system successfully. Over time - and certainly since 2015 - that core was diminished by cap-induced trades, age, injury (?)....

Coaches need to adjust to what’s there- and what is likely to be there.
- StLBravesFan

Sage, if I could, I would up-vote your post.
Eloquently said.
There is something to be said about a guy "fitting in" but when you have "the CORE" as being woefully ineffectively compared to their past accomplishments (Keith, Seabrook, Toews all much less effective than the past) -- or envisioning that some day they would be less effective begs the question/reasoning behind changing some of the holes to fit the pegs.

No different than driving, right? Look a few feet ahead, you are very likely going to get into a bad situation pretty quickly because you won't ever see the car/truck/bicyclist/pedestrian that is further down the road until it's much too late to react.

This is exactly what Q has helped accomplish with the Hawks. Look in the rearview mirror or right in front of you -- you can't see that Seabrook is only going to get slower, that Keith is not going to remain superhuman forever and that Toews' head injuries are just the sort of thing to cause problems for him.

I hate Ovechkin but really want to see Kempny get his name on the CUP. Not good enough for Q but Trotz sure thinks Kempny is an NHL-caliber top 4 D man. It is time to clean house, starting w/McDonut. Hope Rocky is smart enough to get/put some hockey guys in charge.

Sage, if I could, I would up-vote your post.
Eloquently said.
There is something to be said about a guy "fitting in" but when you have "the CORE" as being woefully ineffectively compared to their past accomplishments (Keith, Seabrook, Toews all much less effective than the past) -- or envisioning that some day they would be less effective begs the question/reasoning behind changing some of the holes to fit the pegs.

No different than driving, right? Look a few feet ahead, you are very likely going to get into a bad situation pretty quickly because you won't ever see the car/truck/bicyclist/pedestrian that is further down the road until it's much too late to react.

This is exactly what Q has helped accomplish with the Hawks. Look in the rearview mirror or right in front of you -- you can't see that Seabrook is only going to get slower, that Keith is not going to remain superhuman forever and that Toews' head injuries are just the sort of thing to cause problems for him.

I hate Ovechkin but really want to see Kempny get his name on the CUP. Not good enough for Q but Trotz sure thinks Kempny is an NHL-caliber top 4 D man. It is time to clean house, starting w/McDonut. Hope Rocky is smart enough to get/put some hockey guys in charge.
- savvyone-1

While I appreciate the kind words, I want to make it clear:

I give Q full credit for coaching the team to three Cups.

Could someone else have done the same? Yeah, some. Could ANYONE have done the same? No - I think most would somehow not get to three - or even more than one. As I’ve said before - there is a definite skill to taking a loaded team to where it should go - and do it a couple of times over a period of years.

And I give Stan a lot of getting for reworking the 2010 champions (after a couple of down years) to the three year run starting in 2013.

Their time may have passed with this team - I fear it has - but that doesn’t at all negate what they did accomplish TOGETHER.

Obviously consider the source, but Ek is reporting that the Islanders are speaking to the Hawks about Crawford. If true, and he is moved where do you go in goal? Can’t be too many above average tenders available as FA.

One of the reasons I repeatedly say what I say about Q and Ulf is there are scores of fans and posters who believe that Q should be allowed to coach forever because he once won 3 Cups with incredible stacked teams. They REPEATEDLY say so and for them - end of argument, drop the mike. Completely irrelevant that the Hawks have not won a single play-off series in 3 seasons as the core aged 3 years and Hossa retired.
- Z3Hawk

Absolutely Agree with you.

One more season of failure on key decisions and they'll set this team back 10 years. But let's give them another chance ? Ok Hot Shot 3 time CUP managers. Show us that you know how to move this team forward, not backwards.

Now that Kempney is a #2 Dman and playing pretty well, I wonder what the excuse is on why our coaching staff couldn't bring the best out of him.
I'm not buying the "different system" excuse. I'd love to hear that response.

Absolutely Agree with you.

One more season of failure on key decisions and they'll set this team back 10 years. But let's give them another chance ? Ok Hot Shot 3 time CUP managers. Show us that you know how to move this team forward, not backwards.

Now that Kempney is a #2 Dman and playing pretty well, I wonder what the excuse is on why our coaching staff couldn't bring the best out of him.
I'm not buying the "different system" excuse. I'd love to hear that response.
- Hawkytalk

He might get paired with a good partner sometimes but he isn't a #2 Dman, still a #4 or #5 guy in Washington where they are primarily riding Carlson, Orlov and Niskanen. The Hawks did help Kempny along in adjusting to NA, but I assume he wasn't going to resign.

Absolutely Agree with you.

One more season of failure on key decisions and they'll set this team back 10 years. But let's give them another chance ? Ok Hot Shot 3 time CUP managers. Show us that you know how to move this team forward, not backwards.

Now that Kempney is a #2 Dman and playing pretty well, I wonder what the excuse is on why our coaching staff couldn't bring the best out of him.
I'm not buying the "different system" excuse. I'd love to hear that response.
- Hawkytalk

All good points. I can't help but wonder why Kempney is a 1st pair D for a team in the ECF however he was mostly a scratch for a team that really struggled on the back end.On another note, I'd like to think that our Captain isn't done and I'm sick of hearing this "he's played hard games" talk. There are plenty of players in Pitt, Boston, Wash, etc that have played hard games and are still producing. Its been over 2 years now. We can hope.

While I appreciate the kind words, I want to make it clear:

I give Q full credit for coaching the team to three Cups.

Could someone else have done the same? Yeah, some. Could ANYONE have done the same? No - I think most would somehow not get to three - or even more than one. As I’ve said before - there is a definite skill to taking a loaded team to where it should go - and do it a couple of times over a period of years.

And I give Stan a lot of getting for reworking the 2010 champions (after a couple of down years) to the three year run starting in 2013.

Their time may have passed with this team - I fear it has - but that doesn’t at all negate what they did accomplish TOGETHER.
- StLBravesFan

I agree with this part -- the Phil Jackson effect -- hard to keep/get the egos aligned and pulling oars in the same direction.

My issue is I would have thought Q was better/smarter than that -- but maybe, just like Jackson -- he just doesn't know how to make it happen w/o top tier/top talent.

I agree with this part -- the Phil Jackson effect -- hard to keep/get the egos aligned and pulling oars in the same direction.

My issue is I would have thought Q was better/smarter than that -- but maybe, just like Jackson -- he just doesn't know how to make it happen w/o top tier/top talent.
- savvyone-1

Yes to all of this.

Watching Tampa Washington great game so far hope it goes 7.

AA to montreal for McCarron and 35th pick or 35th and 56th picks

I stated this one before hawks 27th to jets for lowery and chariot

If hawks do trade crow, I don't see it happen but anything can happen to Islanders for either the 11th or 12th pick(Don't see giving up either pick but if I was bowman that what be asking for otherwise click hang up the phone and see if snow calls back)

Most of the pro-Bowman posters seem to always have to ask for forbearance on this horrible trade or that other disaster and advise 'well now it's just time to move on'..... Miserable GM performance is just what this team still needs, right guys?

The Caps are playing with a lot more purpose tonight than the Bolts.

Mark Schiefle was a Number 7 first round pick for the Jets
Heading toward the Cup and Stanley Cup MVP ?

Kempney was a healthy scratch in Chicago 27 times this year

Watching him in Washington leaves me confused
WTF ?

The Two best Divisions in Hockey will play for the Cup

Metro & the Central

Caps really got a bad break on the “high stick” that led to the lighting’s second goal. Does the player have to have skin broken to get the extra two minutes penalty. It was clear the mouth was cut inside, so either inside the mouth doesn’t count or the rufs blew the call a second time.

I am not a fan of off-ice review but with only one game going on a nught’ I would think there would be a lot of eyes to quickly review the play. Would almost like to see a system where every scoring play and penalty was reviewed. Don’t think there would be too many penalties as easy to overturn as the one we witnessed today. Seems pretty bush to have such an important play — and something so clearly wrong — be allowed to stand.

I didn't want wash to win, because then Kempny is the next Bobby Orr...but I guess that's inevitable

Yzerman remains the 2nd greatest GM that's never won (Poile wears that crown proudly) thankfully. But I doubt that stops the worshippers or those who never won.