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Forums :: Blog World :: Justin Lowe: Quick 5 Thoughts: 'Hogs, DiDo & Crawford
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breadbag
Location: Edmonton, AB
Joined: 11.30.2015

May 31 @ 11:29 AM ET
5'10" 168 forward. Sounds about right. Bowman upset at himself that Kahun was too big.

Kidding aside, go mining long enough and sooner or later you unearth a diamond in the rough.

Given that Rockford is stock led with bottom 6 forwards, it would be ideal if any free agent signings of Euros, college kids, etc. have top 6 potential. Tough to go from potential to realistic performance.

- AEL_Fox


I wonder what the Scouts are saying about him that he got a contract because I know anything about him. Looks like the Coyotes were interested in signing him also.
Return of the Roar
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Solidly grounded in reality, IL
Joined: 07.27.2009

May 31 @ 11:32 AM ET
If the Hawks play the same brand of hockey as the Golden Knights, I'll be happy, they just keep bringing it
- BetweenTheDots


Not in this decade.

The issue isn't Q - it is that the team just has NONE of the horses with the pedigree required to play that kind of game except for Kane and Crawford.

And the time it will take to accumulate the horses needed will outstrip the tenure of Q and SB.

Seriously - look at the Hawk roster and look at the LV roster. There are no comps to current guys anywhere to be found but 88 and 50. You cant move the dead weight, and the farm is full of never gonna bes and bottom 6/bottom D pair potential. Maaaaaybe one or two develop out with a bit more high end in two to three years.
tyweb69
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 07.02.2012

May 31 @ 11:37 AM ET
Why not do it after the season then? Why prolong the agony? Never say never, but I don’t think that happens at all.
- HawkintheD


If it was going to happen it would indeed have been right at the end of the season. Nobody gets fired in the middle of the summer.
6628
Joined: 08.24.2009

May 31 @ 11:45 AM ET
If it was going to happen it would indeed have been right at the end of the season. Nobody gets fired in the middle of the summer.
- tyweb69



If Q has another poopfit at the draft ya never know.
oldduffman
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 11.06.2013

May 31 @ 11:49 AM ET
I understand analyzing goalies because I was a goalie coach years ago. Never have been a strict butterfly guy. The play was quick and Holtby was set for the shot, except a pass to the weak side was made and the net was wide open for that shooter (Tuch). As the writer points out (and doesn't seem to like), Holtby was deep in his net. But that's a good thing because it allowed Holtby to be able to reach Tuch's shot, desperate though it was. Great theatre no matter who you pull for. I'm sitting on the couch and I'm thinking goal but my eyes don't see the puck and I'm yelling how does that not go in? Then I see the replay and wow. Most people don't ask how you stopped it, just did you stop it. Like it or not, it was a great save when it was needed the most. Good on Brayden Holtby.
- 6628

That was a great save .Holtby is really on his game , the way he is playing the puck around his net very confident .And that may what tilts the series .
Z3Hawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.04.2017

May 31 @ 11:50 AM ET
If it's true that the Hawks have sit down meetings and do things as a collective group, then these comments can't be further from the truth. Q, Bowman and others as a whole feel the same way about a player, they give them a chance to become part of the system and one they show they can't digest it, off they go
- BetweenTheDots


Absolutely wrong reading. Q does what he wants and often that seems in complete opposition to what StanBo would want. Q has a “I’m doing whatever I want. I have big guaranteed money. Fire me if you want.” Q relies on the fact that StanBo, McDonagh and others have no nads and are cheap. Q should’ve been fired long ago, certainly when he stormed out of the meeting last off-season. The lunacy that has surrounded the team, and players like Murphy in particular, just wouldn’t be allowed to occur on any other team. As with many players Q has a terrible contract resulting in the Hawks wasting Kane’s best years.
oldduffman
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 11.06.2013

May 31 @ 11:50 AM ET
If Q has another poopfit at the draft ya never know.
- 6628

We can only hope ,he should have been gone after last year Draft stunt
riozzo
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Cornwallis Island
Joined: 06.17.2014

May 31 @ 11:56 AM ET
I understand analyzing goalies because I was a goalie coach years ago. Never have been a strict butterfly guy. The play was quick and Holtby was set for the shot, except a pass to the weak side was made and the net was wide open for that shooter (Tuch). As the writer points out (and doesn't seem to like), Holtby was deep in his net. But that's a good thing because it allowed Holtby to be able to reach Tuch's shot, desperate though it was. Great theatre no matter who you pull for. I'm sitting on the couch and I'm thinking goal but my eyes don't see the puck and I'm yelling how does that not go in? Then I see the replay and wow. Most people don't ask how you stopped it, just did you stop it. Like it or not, it was a great save when it was needed the most. Good on Brayden Holtby.
- 6628

Agreed
ObeseOprah
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 01.17.2014

May 31 @ 11:58 AM ET
Not in this decade.

The issue isn't Q - it is that the team just has NONE of the horses with the pedigree required to play that kind of game except for Kane and Crawford.

And the time it will take to accumulate the horses needed will outstrip the tenure of Q and SB.

Seriously - look at the Hawk roster and look at the LV roster. There are no comps to current guys anywhere to be found but 88 and 50. You cant move the dead weight, and the farm is full of never gonna bes and bottom 6/bottom D pair potential. Maaaaaybe one or two develop out with a bit more high end in two to three years.

- Return of the Roar



That's a bit pessimistic. A rising tide (winning most of your games) raises all boats. When the Hawks were in 1st place two years ago we certainly thought differently of Keith, Schmaltz, and even guys like Anisimov and Panik.

Vegas is winning. This makes guys who were role players last year look like studs. Miller, Schmidt, Haula, Bellamare, KARLSSON, Perron, Eakin, McNabb were all starters but mostly were middling players that excited nobody. Tuch and Nosek were rookies this year, so their arrival has been heralded during the winning the same way that Shaw, Saad, and a handful of other players who have arrived during the good years was heralded.

All those Knights I listed look like horses on Vegas because they're winning. They're buying 100% into Gallant's system. Take most of these guys off the team and I guarantee their points drop.


The Hawks still have plenty of horses: Kane, Keith, Saad, Schmaltz, Debrincat are all guys that would have big roles on any team they joined. Keith checked out last year, he'll still be his HoF self next year. Saad had a down year. Schmaltz and Debrincat will have stellar years next season if they eclipse their performance from this year.

Good goaltending makes plenty of players look much better than they are.
glennjpawlak22
Joined: 11.26.2013

May 31 @ 12:06 PM ET
BREAKING: Blackhawks sign forward Jacob Nilsson

https://www.the-rink.com/...hawks-sign-jacob-nilsson/

https://www.secondcityhoc...ster-transactions-updates
tyweb69
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 07.02.2012

May 31 @ 12:09 PM ET
If Q has another poopfit at the draft ya never know.
- 6628


Yes I agree it would take something like that to have it happen prior to the season.
Z3Hawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.04.2017

May 31 @ 12:22 PM ET
Not in this decade.

The issue isn't Q - it is that the team just has NONE of the horses with the pedigree required to play that kind of game except for Kane and Crawford.

And the time it will take to accumulate the horses needed will outstrip the tenure of Q and SB.

Seriously - look at the Hawk roster and look at the LV roster. There are no comps to current guys anywhere to be found but 88 and 50. You cant move the dead weight, and the farm is full of never gonna bes and bottom 6/bottom D pair potential. Maaaaaybe one or two develop out with a bit more high end in two to three years.

- Return of the Roar


There are 2 major reasons the Knights have done what they have done - Fleury has played out of his mind and Gallant is an excellent coach. That’s it. No deeper than that. Their line-up is what it is nothing more. Tuch is a 15 goal scorer - as a 22 year old - stop pretending he’s amazing. Any approach that relies upon a goalie playing out of his mind every night and the coach outcoaching every other coach every night is ultimately doomed. The reason it is doomed? Although there is initially lots of success a super-hot goalie can lose his edge - see: Rinne - and other teams adapt to the coach, even if he is an excellent one. Therefore the margin of error is actually really slim. Wouldn’t be surprised if there is a great fall-off for the Knights next year. I guarantee they don’t get anywhere near the Final.
Cmonalready
Joined: 07.02.2012

May 31 @ 12:23 PM ET
When Ovi had a contract bigger than Kane or Toews', and we were winning cups, things were way different.
- ObeseOprah


I believe it was just a couple years ago where OVI was scoring leader and in lowest 10 or maybe even lowest in league in negative +/-. I'm not sure how anyone can find a better definition of "no defense" but for leading scorer and worst +/- at the same time. I don't respect that.
Z3Hawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.04.2017

May 31 @ 12:26 PM ET
I think that sometime after the draft and the dog nand pony show (Convention) Q will resign, knowing that there is a rift between him and everyone else.
- powerenforcer


What dreams are made of.
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.18.2016

May 31 @ 12:26 PM ET
BREAKING: Blackhawks sign forward Jacob Nilsson

https://www.the-rink.com/...hawks-sign-jacob-nilsson/

https://www.secondcityhoc...ster-transactions-updates

- glennjpawlak22

Colliton apparently was Nilsson's coach in Sweden so he must have come highly recommended by the Hogs coach.
oldduffman
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 11.06.2013

May 31 @ 12:34 PM ET
Watching sports Net hockey at noon ,they are gushing about Kempny .Maclean said the Kempny trade helped more then the Shattikirt deal .. Q !!!!
Chunk
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Why did I move back here again?, IL
Joined: 11.06.2015

May 31 @ 12:39 PM ET
Colliton apparently was Nilsson's coach in Sweden so he must have come highly recommended by the Hogs coach.
- AEL_Fox


I get that this guy is just a fringe signing for depth "somewhere", but can we please acquire or draft some TRUE centers that can play the position and not get pushed off the puck? How many times do we have to hear, "he's a center, but we like him at wing" and he ends up being "not quite good enough" to play center?

I like Schmaltz - not a good enough center
I iike what Edjsell has shown so far - not a good enough center. They moved him away from center to wing so that he could concentrate on offense.
David Kampf is the closest thing we have to a true center prospect.

I get that AA isn't great at the dot and had a down year 5 on 5, but for those of you clamoring for us to trade him, there is NO ONE currently signed that can come close to what he does for the Hawks.
Z3Hawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.04.2017

May 31 @ 12:41 PM ET
Anybody liking the save Holtby made near the end of the game last night topreserve the victory?
- 6628


I thought it was an amazing save, made even moreso by the timing of the save.
stonefire
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Prague
Joined: 10.22.2006

May 31 @ 12:42 PM ET
If Q's total mismanagement of Murphy is not the final straw, then Q's brutal handling of Kempny should be. Many people saw Kempny's abilities, a big man who can skate, hit, and shoot the puck, yet Q took every opportunity to sit him in the press box, instead of playing him. How would Kempny and Murphy look as your 3rd and 4th d-men, with a coach who actually had a clue as to what to do with them. Need we rehash Q's crap with Daley as well?

I think Q would probably sit Bobby Orr.

- plyrs99


Kempny is far from a flawless player and he is not the Hawks problem anymore, but… I am wondering, wasn't he the perfect pawn to play Ulf's system, always pushing too high and getting caught. I don't mind him falling out with the coach, that happens. But judging by his style of play, Kempny should be praised, at least for trying. Or I misunderstood the plan
Bottom line, 3rd rounder for seldomly used player with expiring contract is a win. Let it go.
stonefire
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Prague
Joined: 10.22.2006

May 31 @ 12:47 PM ET
I get that this guy is just a fringe signing for depth "somewhere", but can we please acquire or draft some TRUE centers that can play the position and not get pushed off the puck? How many times do we have to hear, "he's a center, but we like him at wing" and he ends up being "not quite good enough" to play center?

I like Schmaltz - not a good enough center
I iike what Edjsell has shown so far - not a good enough center. They moved him away from center to wing so that he could concentrate on offense.
David Kampf is the closest thing we have to a true center prospect.

I get that AA isn't great at the dot and had a down year 5 on 5, but for those of you clamoring for us to trade him, there is NO ONE currently signed that can come close to what he does for the Hawks.

- Chunk


My thoughts exactly. I am curious about Johnson, though. (And what's interesting, if I am not mistaken, Graham Knott was drafted as a winger, but later converted to play in the middle.)

Regarding Schmaltz, I wouldn't mind trying him on the RW with Toews. But who would play center with Kaner then?
BetweenTheDots
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 06.13.2015

May 31 @ 1:03 PM ET
There are 2 major reasons the Knights have done what they have done - Fleury has played out of his mind and Gallant is an excellent coach. That’s it. No deeper than that. Their line-up is what it is nothing more. Tuch is a 15 goal scorer - as a 22 year old - stop pretending he’s amazing. Any approach that relies upon a goalie playing out of his mind every night and the coach outcoaching every other coach every night is ultimately doomed. The reason it is doomed? Although there is initially lots of success a super-hot goalie can lose his edge - see: Rinne - and other teams adapt to the coach, even if he is an excellent one. Therefore the margin of error is actually really slim. Wouldn’t be surprised if there is a great fall-off for the Knights next year. I guarantee they don’t get anywhere near the Final.
- Z3Hawk


The coachi is only as good as their players perform. Its obvious the players have bought in because they've been deemed not good enough to play for their former teams. What you fail to see is the passion, determination to get to the front of the net, to take hits to make plays, sacrificing their bodies to block shots and every forward on this team plays 200 feet of hockey. Your failure to not see all this is mind blowing. Honestly you should read more maybe you'll learn something.
jhawk59
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 02.15.2013

May 31 @ 1:05 PM ET
I may be misreading this but are you saying Reaves being in the line up is preventing dirty play and thuggery? Cause I don't know what two games you've watched so far, but that is really far from the truth. Wilson is still being Wilson by being predatory on smaller, unsuspecting players, and like half the Vegas team is playing Kings style of "do it so often, the refs can't call it all" hockey with the cross-checking, boarding, and many many many slashes. I never thought I'd feel sympathy for Oshie, but the abuse he's been taking is ridiculous and not real hockey imo

If that is not what you mean, then sorry for the confusion.

PS. The Hawks currently have a lot of kids on the team - they were 13th in age last season in January but were 5th youngest by the end of the season.

- L_B_R


i could have explained farther. I am not wanting a Reeves on my team. but when you play a team that has knuckleheads like Wilson who tries to hurt unsuspecting opponent, or a smaller player than himself, well then i am not averse to Reeves being in the lineup.

i do not want one of my big ice minute (TOI) guys retaliating or thinking and looking for an opportunity to retaliate at the expense of constantly making good plays. For years in Chicago I was always worried that Seabrook or Toews get suckered into retaliation and maybe they are then rendered useless for ten minutes. Let Reeves go after Wilson or one of their star players. An eye for an eye, respect ,me or know you are getting the same treatment back. That is where Reeves can be of use. He can do some dirty work. Last thing you hate to see is your star or a key player lost for the duration of the game
walleyeb1
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Petersburg, IL
Joined: 09.25.2014

May 31 @ 1:12 PM ET
Euro smurf
- BlazinMike


5’11 180, not sure I’d characterize as a smurf. I think it’s more interesting that he played for Colliton in Mora. Dominos......
TrueGrit
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: FL
Joined: 07.19.2011

May 31 @ 1:30 PM ET
Not in this decade.

The issue isn't Q - it is that the team just has NONE of the horses with the pedigree required to play that kind of game except for Kane and Crawford.

And the time it will take to accumulate the horses needed will outstrip the tenure of Q and SB.

Seriously - look at the Hawk roster and look at the LV roster. There are no comps to current guys anywhere to be found but 88 and 50. You cant move the dead weight, and the farm is full of never gonna bes and bottom 6/bottom D pair potential. Maaaaaybe one or two develop out with a bit more high end in two to three years.

- Return of the Roar


Seriously, all those guys vegas have could have been gotten for a song last summer. There are many more out there. Q is too dumb to realize, due to his embarrasment of talented riches over the years, that the Hawks created 4 line fast hockey, which wins championships. He did his best to counter it over the years....

Michal Kempny, playing meaningful top 4 minutes for Stanley Cup final team, but could not stay in line up, and when he did, played 3rd pairing with a team that Sucked.

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

May 31 @ 1:33 PM ET
Question to the panel would trade smaltz or dcat for hanifin?
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