Don't mistake the title of this blog for more bi-polar feelings on this Blackhawks team from yours truly; these are Stan Bowman's words, not mine.
I personally am not 100% content with this 2017-18 team (obviously), but I also get it now. There are some veterans that are either just really tired from playing a lot of games or they have lost a bit of zest for the game.
I do, however, like some certain aspects from last night's 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators.
The Hawks looked great for some, good for most and completely overwhelmed for a bit. Sound like that last statement just sums up the Hawks entire season to date.
This up-and-down play all season long must be maddening for the Coaching staff, as well as, Bowman and his cronies watching games from the sidelines. However, it wasn't until recently that I've noticed that there has been a serious effort to turn this team upside down in efforts to turn this season along.
It started when Stan acquired Anthony Duclair for Richard Panik. I was a fan of the move at the time and I'm still very much a fan. What this did was inject more speed into the lineup (not that Panik was "slow") to go along with this speed theme that the Hawks were moving towards.
Along with Duclair, here is a list of players from last night's game that didn't start the team playing a role with the Hawks game-to-game:
Oesterle
Gustafsson
Kampf
Hinostroza
Jurco
That is SIX players in this lineup in favour of Sharp, Bouma, Hayden, Kero, Franson, Forsling, Rutta.
Yes, some of these scratched/AHL players will make there way back into the lineup eventually and I don't think they were removed just because of lack of speed, as that's not the case with all of these guys, but the change has been working so far.
I have heard that the BANGER line (Bouma-Wingels-Hayden) run its course with some in the organization and a formation like that would better be suited for the "tougher to play against mentality" for the playoffs. In the meantime though, a speedier, more skilled 4th line of Jurco-Kampf-Hinostroza has looked unreal. They were giving Nashville fits last night.
Another small, but a noted change was the Hawks seem to have implemented a flip shot/pass out of their D zone. This strategy can only be used when you have defenders comfortable enough to execute, but more importantly, you need speed through the neutral zone to catch up and possibly beat out icings. The Hawks seem to have more of a chance of success on those plays. Keep an eye out to see if this remains an option moving forward.
Personally, I think a change-up of strategy and/or personnel should have happened in November, but hey, I'm a pretty impatient guy.
Sure, there have been these "rumours" floating around that the Blackhawks are the best or one of the best possession teams in the league this year, so their record was baffling to most. It was evident to those who watch these guys night-in-and-night-out that this team can control the puck and create chances… from the perimeter, but getting opportunities in close is another story. Creating a faster team will open up a more opportunities to get to the net, as well as add more confusion to the defending team. The Hawks have been extremely predictable for too long and I for one am excited to keep watching those speedy, youngsters rip up and down the ice. Heck, even toss Dylan Sikura in there when you can!
Finally, a shout out to Anton Forsberg, a forgotten player in this "youth movement" had an amazing game last night. He had a small gaff on the only goal he gave up, but just like an inexperienced defenceman, mistakes will happen, you just need to learn and rebound from them; he did that!
I feel like a broken record, but I would like to see the Hawks ride him until Crawford returns. His experience this season, playoffs or not, could play a huge part in this mini-rebuild.
See ya out there!
JL
---
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»