Not well. Trotz doesn't like him and there's probably a good chance him getting hurt early side tracked him.
- rollpards19

He isn't even playing. Maybe he was a product of the Hawks system and just not very good.

The boys have taken 7 out of their last possible 8 points, yet they're still not playing their best hockey. Sure, we should have beaten Calgary tonight but 3 out of 4 points on back to back games isn't the end of the world. These OT and SO losses don't feel good, but at the end of an 82 game season they will definitely help with the playoff seedings.

The Avs are still weak on the back end. Everyone is the West is beating up on the East. This team knows how to win. What has St. louis proven?
- Elbows15

Not much in the post season, but they can pile up the points during the regular when they stay healthy.

They may put it together for a cup run one of these years, but then again....

At this point I have no idea what to expect.

The Avs have me in disbelief...I don't get it at all.
The Blues are being the Blues...
...and I think the Wild, Stars and Jets are about what we've seen to this point.

So third in the Division? I don't like the sound of that...

ehhh, it's a long season. Hopefully the Hawks give a damn by New Years.
- ArlingtonRob

I think its incorrect to say they don't give a damn Rob. Guys that don't give a damn don't slam their sticks on the boards, ice or what have you. At the moment, they are second.

The boys have taken 7 out of their last possible 8 points, yet they're still not playing their best hockey. Sure, we should have beaten Calgary tonight but 3 out of 4 points on back to back games isn't the end of the world. These OT and SO losses don't feel good, but at the end of an 82 game season they will definitely help with the playoff seedings.
- DarthKane

My concern is that they're blowing points against mediocre competition. Hopefully the Hawks get their game together when the schedule gets tougher.

Pirri had a solid game, didn't see enough of Morin....it is fair critique of Q.


....and who is the new Blonde of Sportsnet Central...hubba hubba hubba
- UnnamedSource

Did not see the blond, but agree with your assessment on Pirri tonight and Morin was fine. I just wonder, giving Q the benefit, if he was trying to get Bickell going or actually their lack of ice was more of a statement to the main guys to make something happen. But that is unlikely.

Not much in the post season, but they can pile up the points during the regular when they stay healthy.

They may put it together for a cup run one of these years, but then again....
- ArlingtonRob

Yeah, so was San Jose for years. They can be shut down. They are basically a 1 line team. They have depth but it really isn't all that special.

I think its incorrect to say they don't give a damn Rob. Guys that don't give a damn don't slam their sticks on the boards, ice or what have you. At the moment, they are second.
- Elbows15

Agreed...

Hyperbole after a game that has me ticked off...that is all.

Lets establish some simple hockey facts.

Victor Stalberg is an elite skater. A guy who barely played hockey in his youth, who only later went to College to play. He has a great shot, but because he did not grow up playing hockey like many guys do, he does not have the instincts/hockey IQ. If you take away his game breaking speed, and just slow him down to average, he does not play in ECHL.

Jeremy Morin is a hockey player, he possesses and elite shot and is a natural goal scorer. He is will play physical and plays well along the wall. Morin will have a longer career than Stalberg. Morin will score more than Stalberg. RP I guess did not get the paper this morning, but Morin has 2 assists, and Stalberg...donuts....

A better analogy for some in understanding Stalberg is he is like a track star that tries to play football or wide receiver. Yes you can't teach speed, but there are nuances/subtelties that come from experience that speed can't overcome.

That from a guy who loves Stalberg.
- TrueGrit

If you take away Morin's shot he doesn't sniff the NHL, no point in playing the "what if" game. We'll see if Morin can be as productive as Stalberg playing in the same role on the same team. You may be sure, but I'm certainly not sold. And there's a decent chance Morin doesn't even hold a spot on the team, seeing as he didn't make the team out of camp.

The Avs are still weak on the back end. Everyone is the West is beating up on the East. This team knows how to win. What has St. louis proven?
- Elbows15

It is more the style of the Blues. Health is always the key to going deep in the playoffs. We should beat the Blues but it would be a very tough and bruising series. Hope they somehow play LA again or san jose

My concern is that they're blowing points against mediocre competition. Hopefully the Hawks get their game together when the schedule gets tougher.
- ArlingtonRob

This seems to have been their MO for the past few years, play to the level of the competition, lose games they should win, grind out a win or point over tough competition.

This seems to have been their MO for the past few years, play to the level of the competition, lose games they should win, grind out a win or point over tough competition.
- Walky

I'm just glad I'm not paying to attend these games. I would be P.O.'d drivin' home after this with 200 fewer bucks is my wallet.

If you take away Morin's shot he doesn't sniff the NHL, no point in playing the "what if" game. We'll see if Morin can be as productive as Stalberg playing in the same role on the same team. You may be sure, but I'm certainly not sold. And there's a decent chance Morin doesn't even hold a spot on the team, seeing as he didn't make the team out of camp.
- rollpards19

Fair enough, I am certain he will be fine. I am sure we will revisit this over time. The only thing you discount is Morins Hockey IQ vs that of vic.

Pirri had a solid game, didn't see enough of Morin....it is fair critique of Q.


....and who is the new Blonde of Sportsnet Central...hubba hubba hubba
- UnnamedSource

There is actually two of them now. Tappen from the NHL network is really hot too. Also, Andi Petrillo from HNIC. yummmmm

He isn't even playing. Maybe he was a product of the Hawks system and just not very good.
- Elbows15

I don't think that's a fair assessment at all. The third line was great last year.

I actually thought the Avs would have a 6 or 8 point edge on us with how hot they've been....but we're only 2 points behind them, though they do have 2 games in hand.
- philco28

Yeah I thought it would be more, too. And games in hand mean nothing if you don't win them. But they seem to be rolling now. We will see once they have to lean on Giggy. I think it will end up being a 3-team race for the central

Oh you are. You are an accountant and can find the pattern.
- TrueGrit

But I really want to be a lion tamer.

My concern is that they're blowing points against mediocre competition. Hopefully the Hawks get their game together when the schedule gets tougher.
- ArlingtonRob

Agreed. This results in later games against tough opponents turning into must wins. Never a good thing when fighting for a high seed.

There is actually two of them now. Tappen from the NHL network is really hot too. Also, Andi Petrillo from HNIC. yummmmm
- Elbows15

Me likey Ms Tappen.....

It is more the style of the Blues. Health is always the key to going deep in the playoffs. We should beat the Blues but it would be a very tough and bruising series. Hope they somehow play LA again or san jose
- tomcat24

New setup. Playoffs are divisional until the CF. The wild cards are the swing teams.
I think the Hawks proved they can handle the physical play and can hit just as hard. Ask Bergeron.

I'm just glad I'm not paying to attend these games. I would be P.O.'d drivin' home after this with 200 fewer bucks is my wallet.
- ArlingtonRob

I've been pretty lucky in my attendance choice over the past couple years. Last year vs Sharks when Toews fought Thornton, vs Kings in 2010-11, vs Sharks, Ducks, and Wild in 2009, 2010, and vs Ducks and Kings in 2008-2009. All great games and all well worth the money. Luckily I saw all the stinkers on TV (except 2009-10 against sharks, outshot them 45-15, lost 3-1. Huet Sucks.)

At this point I have no idea what to expect.

The Avs have me in disbelief...I don't get it at all.
The Blues are being the Blues...
...and I think the Wild, Stars and Jets are about what we've seen to this point.

So third in the Division? I don't like the sound of that...

ehhh, it's a long season. Hopefully the Hawks give a damn by New Years.
- ArlingtonRob

I think the hawks will roll after the new year. But it is tough to make up points now, with all the 3 point games. Al talks about that a lot. 3rd is not a good spot, even though we are decent on the road

There is actually two of them now. Tappen from the NHL network is really hot too. Also, Andi Petrillo from HNIC. yummmmm
- Elbows15

And dumb as a box of rocks. Reading the prompter over old footage, she told ys how great Peter CLIMB-a was. She generally smiles and nods like she has a clue while the analysts talk.

I think there is another angle to the line juggling we have to consider...


...getting a player "going"

The Hawks have 4 top end scorers/players in the NHL.....I don't believe any other team has this type of depth.

So when a player like Bickel......Saad...etc........is slumping Q has the ability to line juggle and try to jumpstart a specific player....not a reason for all of the line juggling but could be a reason for some of it.

I don't think that's a fair assessment at all. The third line was great last year.
- rollpards19

Thats your opinion. He really isn't very good. He can't stick handle. He has size but doesn't use it. Average shot. Positionally horrid. He makes the same mistakes over and over. Hockey IQ isn't there.

Third line has been pretty good this year and IMO has the potential to be better.