I'm not rallying for them to fail. I am actually hoping they sack up like they did against DET and find that next level they seem to sporadically roll out.

I also think the lack of success on the power play has something to do with the lack of physical game as well as the tried and tired umbrella. Have to have someone willing to take a cross check to the head from Chara while standing in front of Rask.
- Return of the Roar

Ditto, other than Shaw. Hard to think an NHL team will give Bickell that 4 million dollar deal people think Bickell will get when he can't even get a crack at that gig despite the ineptness of the Hawk PP.

Shaw has literally already done this exact thing, so now what else do you want? How can the Hawks prove they're tough to play with the big bad Bruins? How about tape to tape passes and not getting walked out of corners? (guaranteed first round exit looks a bit premature eh?)
- rollpards19

!!

Once again, if the Hawks try to win playing Bruins hockey, they will end up like the Penguins (who tried to out-Bruin them as well). We need to play to our strengths.

Any ideas for free agency? Win or lose I want to have these conversations at THIS time of year next year and the year after and so on...I wouldnt mind getting someone older, we dont need more youth in my opinion. I'd like to see size added obviously, but I'm not sure of who is going to be available or affordable.

trying to keep my mind off of tonight

Go Hawks'

OK, that's one...and is he consistently on a PP unit? Save the finesse for the 5 on 5. You need bangers to make the PP work. More than one.
- Return of the Roar

Yes he's consistently on the PP, he's on the Toews Hossa unit pretty much every game. Bangers like the Penguins, Capitals, and Oilers? Because those are pretty much the 3 best PP's in the NHL and they don't have anyone you'd consider a "banger"

lol, i facepalmed when he did that
- FourFeathers773

It wasn't pretty and he was damn fortunate.

but if you're only going to play him 6 to 8 minutes and you're going to relegate him to the fourth line in a checking role, then you might as well not even play him because that role is just setting him up for failure.

- RetiredGoalie

.
This is exactly what Q does to certain guys. He's setting Stalberg up for failure and he's already done that with Leddy.

Just talked to a friend about this. Leddy appears to be the ONLY guy on the Hawks capable of taking the puck end-to-end and generating a chance. Each time he's done so, it's been crickets from the rest of the team -- as in not a single forward in front to either take a pass from Nick or pick up a rebound if he shoots.

If I'm Q (and thank god I'm not) -- I'm getting Leddy on the ice as much as I can and I make sure I put him (and the club) in the best position to use his talents. I tell Leddy to take off and go the length whenever he sees the lane to do so -- and if he finally gets defended, to either dump the puck deep or shoot on net. I also tell the forwards whoever is out to pay attention. When Nick takes off, that forward on whatever side drops back into a defensive role making sure to cover for Nick. I tell the other forward and C to go hi-low to the net to either take a pass or put in a rebound. How stupid can this club's staff be by not utilizing this weapon???

Get Leddy out there often and have him do short shifts, look for chances to go and tell him to do so.

At the very worst, I would put him on the third line with Bickell and Shaw if you don't trust him on either of the top lines. In my opinion, that third line should have never been broken up in the first place as it was consistently their best line
- RetiredGoalie

.

Q just loves to outsmart himself. Sort of to be expected. You can see by his gruff attitude on the odd occasion when a reporter asks him a tough question that he gives the "how dare you" type of response.

Also, the Hawks need Toews to be more effective. They've tried numberous combinations on that first line and he's still struggling to find the scoresheet. Throw Stalberg up there with him and Kane for starters and see if they can generate something.
- RetiredGoalie

You're going to get the Toews defenders all over you -- I get it in that he does play and end-to-end game but how many good chances has he passed up? Plenty. Either lack of confidence or physical ailment. Too many moves, now almost always making the extra move instead of shooting causing him to skate himself out of position TO take a shot on goal OR just as common, to allow defenders that extra moment to tie him up and take him out of the play entirely.

Playing tough is more mental than physical. I'll take a Stalberg hit over a Shaw hit any day of the week.

Which is to say I agree with the bolded comment above.
- andru2797

Only one problem...Stalberg does more fly bys than Maverick...cuz he's a pu ssy

Any ideas for free agency? Win or lose I want to have these conversations at THIS time of year next year and the year after and so on...I wouldnt mind getting someone older, we dont need more youth in my opinion. I'd like to see size added obviously, but I'm not sure of who is going to be available or affordable.

trying to keep my mind off of tonight

Go Hawks'
- BlazinMike

This might be the worst UFA year I can remember. I can't see the Hawks having the cash to re-sign Bickell, Kruger and Leddy AND make a big splash, barring a trade.

I bet you see them add a depth C though. Maybe a Boyd Gordon or Kyle Chipchura.

Indeed...but they also have their weaknesses. Toronto didn't fluke their way to almost beating them. They had the right idea: use speed and quick movement to get the Bruins to take penalties and make them pay. That's the template. The problem is until we can make them pay on the PP that doesn't work.

I will reiterate: you cannot expect the Hawks to try and play the Bruins' game and beat them at it. That's like Bruins fans asking that their team play a speed/finesse game to try and beat the Hawks.

The best way to try and beat them is to gameplan around your team's strengths.
- andru2797

Leafs also went STRAIGHT AT AND AFTER Lucic and Chara...our puss ies are allergic to them.

Only one problem...Stalberg does more fly bys than Maverick...cuz he's a pu ssy
- philco28

Hitting isn't everyones game. That's what I was getting at.

Hitting isn't everyones game. That's what I was getting at.
- andru2797

Who's game is it????

Leafs also went STRAIGHT AT AND AFTER Lucic and Chara...our puss ies are allergic to them.
- philco28

Every game Toronto tried to outhit and out-goon the Bruins, they fell apart.

The Bruins are too good at that game and will beat you if you try to play that way.

You need to counter by making them play a game they don't want to play: a speed game. When the Hawks pick up the pace and go end to end, that's to their advantage. If they try to play Bruins hockey, this series will be over in 5.

Leafs also went STRAIGHT AT AND AFTER Lucic and Chara...our puss ies are allergic to them.
- philco28

Ah Phil, I luv ya! You always call it out the way you see it -- and I agree with you here, those 2 have gone virtually untouched. I don't quite understand because we've got several guys over 6' and 200lbs+ -- yet no one is sacking up even though it's the CUP!

Hitting isn't everyones game. That's what I was getting at.
- andru2797

Hard to figure what Vik's game is...he's been scratched (rightly or wrongly) on two separate occasions now. Boss hasn't been satisfied with 25.

I wouldn't mind seeing Carcillo in for Saad tonight, but that will never happen.

.
This is exactly what Q does to certain guys. He's setting Stalberg up for failure and he's already done that with Leddy.

Just talked to a friend about this. Leddy appears to be the ONLY guy on the Hawks capable of taking the puck end-to-end and generating a chance. Each time he's done so, it's been crickets from the rest of the team -- as in not a single forward in front to either take a pass from Nick or pick up a rebound if he shoots.

If I'm Q (and thank god I'm not) -- I'm getting Leddy on the ice as much as I can and I make sure I put him (and the club) in the best position to use his talents. I tell Leddy to take off and go the length whenever he sees the lane to do so -- and if he finally gets defended, to either dump the puck deep or shoot on net. I also tell the forwards whoever is out to pay attention. When Nick takes off, that forward on whatever side drops back into a defensive role making sure to cover for Nick. I tell the other forward and C to go hi-low to the net to either take a pass or put in a rebound. How stupid can this club's staff be by not utilizing this weapon???

Get Leddy out there often and have him do short shifts, look for chances to go and tell him to do so.

.

Q just loves to outsmart himself. Sort of to be expected. You can see by his gruff attitude on the odd occasion when a reporter asks him a tough question that he gives the "how dare you" type of response.


You're going to get the Toews defenders all over you -- I get it in that he does play and end-to-end game but how many good chances has he passed up? Plenty. Either lack of confidence or physical ailment. Too many moves, now almost always making the extra move instead of shooting causing him to skate himself out of position TO take a shot on goal OR just as common, to allow defenders that extra moment to tie him up and take him out of the play entirely.
- savvyone-1

You realize the forwards are in front of d-men and offsides exists. When Leddy chooses to rush the puck (sometimes he has to with no one open, sometimes he does because he wants to) the forwards have to slow down in order to stay onsides, meaning they can't enter the zone with speed, meaning the timing is off to get someone to the net. How about Leddy headmans the puck then rushes himself. Also you calling people "Toews defenders" when all you do is defend the teams 6th defenseman is rather ironic. Toews is averaging almost exactly the same shots/game as his regular season. So either he is playing so well that he's generating a ton more chances to screw up, or he's playing the same and is shooting an unbelievably poor percentage due to bad luck/lack of execution

Every game Toronto tried to outhit and out-goon the Bruins, they fell apart.

The Bruins are too good at that game and will beat you if you try to play that way.

You need to counter by making them play a game they don't want to play: a speed game. When the Hawks pick up the pace and go end to end, that's to their advantage. If they try to play Bruins hockey, this series will be over in 5.
- andru2797

If they fell apart, it almost worked because they had a 4-1 lead with 10 minutes to go in game 7 before that epic collapse.

Agree that we shouldn't chase hits...but we better phuck'n engage Lucic and slow him down because our entire d'corps is not only hearing footsteps...they're hearing the bullet train sound of 17 in black and gold getting free runs at them time after time after time.

If they fell apart, it almost worked because they had a 4-1 lead with 10 minutes to go in game 7 before that epic collapse.

Agree that we shouldn't chase hits...but we better phuck'n engage Lucic and slow him down because our entire d'corps is not only hearing footsteps...they're hearing the bullet train sound of 17 in black and gold getting free runs at them time after time after time.
- philco28

Yep - his board game is that line's secret sauce. Don't have to lay him out - just slow him down.

Agreed all the way around. Like your idea of Toews trailing 20 and 81 into the zone and finding open ice.
- John Jaeckel

>Think if Toews CAN find some open ice, the tide can turn back towards the Hawks
>As a team, the Hawks must find a way to win the slot battles at both ends of the ice -- they sure did in Period 1 of Game 2
>It was interesting to see on Sharp's goal that the Hawks had 4 players crashing the net -- recall another sequence where the Hawks had 4 players crashing the net in Period 1 of Game 2 -- creating loads of chances
>That's what it's going to take

If they fell apart, it almost worked because they had a 4-1 lead with 10 minutes to go in game 7 before that epic collapse.

Agree that we shouldn't chase hits...but we better phuck'n engage Lucic and slow him down because our entire d'corps is not only hearing footsteps...they're hearing the bullet train sound of 17 in black and gold getting free runs at them time after time after time.
- philco28

Totally agree and we had more hits than they did Game 1 and we won!!!

Ah Phil, I luv ya! You always call it out the way you see it -- and I agree with you here, those 2 have gone virtually untouched. I don't quite understand because we've got several guys over 6' and 200lbs+ -- yet no one is sacking up even though it's the CUP!
- savvyone-1

Yo Savvy

One thing i've loved seeing this year is the blur of Bickell flying in and hammering guys cleanly, but he's gotten away from that and better find it in Beantown if he wants to cash for the max this summer.

Yep - his board game is that line's secret sauce. Don't have to lay him out - just slow him down.
- Return of the Roar

Would be really nice if Seabs', Bicks, and even Hammer himself would return the favor on 17.

This might be the worst UFA year I can remember. I can't see the Hawks having the cash to re-sign Bickell, Kruger and Leddy AND make a big splash, barring a trade.

I bet you see them add a depth C though. Maybe a Boyd Gordon or Kyle Chipchura.
- andru2797

you werent kidding about a weak UFA year. i think with buyouts and a reasonable trade though there could be something effective done

Totally agree and we had more hits than they did Game 1 and we won!!!
- Maggie

For the 3rd time all year!!!!

cant wait to see Jamie Tampon's power play genius in effect tonight