Hinostroza might be a diamond in the rough. Not too big but plays big.
- Elbows15

not too big...nice way to put it.

It wasn't all about layering defense, Canada was on the puck or the U.S player with the puck like a posse of badgers. There was no time to do anything the whole game, even on the powerplay. The other thing Canada did well was forecheck and cycle in the offensive zone. All that said, the Americans also played an excellent game and with a little luck or a good bounce they take it to OT or even win it. Two great teams with great coaching, except why Bylsma didn't try to get Kessel's line away from Toews' line I don't quite understand?
- paulr

The better team won because they controlled middle ice and most USA entrances and the basically played "hawk style" swarm to the puck, quick sticks everywhere and quick exits.

Granted we could go back over the tapes and say, yeah US could have scored here or there, but you'd say that for both teams.
I won't blame Dan Bylsma or the players, but I think Dan's urges to rely on Kessel, and even pulled away from the roll four line strategy the preached early.
Wheeler sat until the final period.
USA dee and forwards had spped that just got negated today.
USA defenders weren't as good.
I have been on record as Shea Weber was shot, and a guy who uses size, but taht Suter helped him look much better defensely.

Well, he proved me stupid in the way he played middle ice and his area today. He looked better alla round than I ever allowed myself to see since Suter left him.

Let's leave it as the better team won.

Hi Al. What I think I saw today was that the US defensemen were hesitant to pinch, likely out of fear of being caught deep. I think they needed to keep it in Canada's zone to have a chance to win and doing it without the defense pinching is a tall order. That said, Canada's talent is too deep for the US at this point.
- mohel

Hi Al. What I think I saw today was that the US defensemen were hesitant to pinch, likely out of fear of being caught deep. I think they needed to keep it in Canada's zone to have a chance to win and doing it without the defense pinching is a tall order. That said, Canada's talent is too deep for the US at this point.
- mohel

Yes but much of that had to do with the puck coming out so quickly most of the time. Canada had the correct gap US didn't and as a result the transition game couldn't get going.

The better team won because they controlled middle ice and most USA entrances and the basically played "hawk style" swarm to the puck, quick sticks everywhere and quick exits.

Granted we could go back over the tapes and say, yeah US could have scored here or there, but you'd say that for both teams.
I won't blame Dan Bylsma or the players, but I think Dan's urges to rely on Kessel, and even pulled away from the roll four line strategy the preached early.
Wheeler sat until the final period.
USA dee and forwards had spped that just got negated today.
USA defenders weren't as good.
I have been on record as Shea Weber was shot, and a guy who uses size, but taht Suter helped him look much better defensely.

Well, he proved me stupid in the way he played middle ice and his area today. He looked better alla round than I ever allowed myself to see since Suter left him.

Let's leave it as the better team won.
- wiz1901

US benefited from their schedule but if they win the bronze it is a vg tourney.

Players who had to play above where they should be slotted like Brown and Backes disappeared today...Versus lesser teams they shined.

US needs a center and a couple of more players....Need the young guys on defense to keep getting and better and Quick should be around for awhile too.

Structure was much better on the winning side.

US benefited from their schedule but if they win the bronze it is a vg tourney.

Players who had to play above where they should be slotted like Brown and Backes disappeared today...Versus lesser teams they shined.

US needs a center and a couple of more players....Need the young guys on defense to keep getting and better and Quick should be around for awhile too.

Structure was much better on the winning side.
- Al

Wait till next Olympics, lol. IT was a good game - the USA team had the players, just not enough chances. HOw many usa players ever got to the front of the net? Ya, you could always use more players. Just like the Hawks need a #2 center (not really - 2 cups). Just like the Yankees(tons of top players - but how many ws wins lately). YOu still need the players to make the plays when the opportunity knocks or be smart enough to take recognize an advantage or a situation, then take advantage of it. Babcock deployed a nice easy system to get the most out of his players. Maybe our Bylsma playing for OT and Oshie time. lol

Hawks trade rumors...

CSNCHICAGO.COM: Tracey Myers reports not to expect the Blackhawks to make a big move by the trade deadline.

http://spectorshockey.net...or-mill-february-21-2014/
- EKolb13

yep, I could see that coming. I get the feeling when it all shakes out at 3 PM on the 5th of march, PMB will have had 7 -8 games in rockford by then, like it or not, because he is a vet, he's in the mix for the middle the rest of the way home.
I don't think SB would trade for a guy like that because he's like the rest of us who never could play but are the best armchair GM's in the league while watching from our favorite watering holes. but as said before, SB can pull off the occasional suprise move.........like this one!

yep, I could see that coming. I get the feeling when it all shakes out at 3 PM on the 5th of march, PMB will have had 7 -8 games in rockford by then, like it or not, because he is a vet, he's in the mix for the middle the rest of the way home.
I don't think SB would trade for a guy like that because he's like the rest of us who never could play but are the best armchair GM's in the league while watching from our favorite watering holes. but as said before, SB can pull off the occasional suprise move.........like this one!
- wonthecup10

As posted yesterday, there's a better chance of Andrew Brunette wearing an Indianhead sweater again then Pierre Marc Concussion ever wearing one.

A billboard outside Chicago in Skokie:

http://khitschicago.cbslo...reads-loser-keeps-bieber/
- wiz1901

If we knew where the billboard was, we could re- route. Surely lots of women drivers slowing down and creating a jam.
Note: but I am not saying women are bad drivers.

Kolb, Why are you dumping on Bouchard ? Stan and company are obviously sampling what is out there when it comes to center. He might actually get a few games in the last 20 to see if he gels with Kane. That is not an opinion btw, just a possibility. Btw, appreciate you calling me a douchebag earlier in the thread. I checked your twitter page and you just have so many followers, I'm surprised the site did not blow up

If we knew where the billboard was, we could re- route. Surely lots of women drivers slowing down and creating a jam.
Note: but I am not saying women are bad drivers.
- jhawk59

It's off I-94 (the Edens) in Skokie. The guy owns the building and only puts up billboards when he thinks of something funny. This is where the billboard of Cutler smoking a cigarette appeared a while back.

Elbows, another one of your guys - Stephen Johns - is currently playing on NBCSN. I've read he's gonna be great; could even replace Seabrook next season...
- mohel

You forgot the red font

Yeah...that's happening!
- wiz1901

Maybe if it was in a bygone era, where this organization was back in the dark ages, no farm, not televising games, and a friendly home-town name was enough to warrant a head coaching position without much recent apprenticeship or success. (Denis ssavard)


Eddie is not NHL head coach material.

He buys a interest in a minor league team and coached it and maybe works his way to where someone trusts him again.

If now is the time to start playing predicting next coach (and why the freak would it need mentioning NOW when the team is on the top end of the pile anyway!?!??) there is more chance that Mike Babcock coaches here than Eddie

I agree 100% with this. Edzo would be the last guy I'd want coaching the team. I was responding to a post by mrpaulish and his point was that "Eddie O, always seems to be interviewing for his next coaching job". Hopefully Mcd would not consider Edzo in the event that Q ever left the organization.
These long threads of over 1000 post get hard to follow sometimes don't they.

Kolb, Why are you dumping on Bouchard ? Stan and company are obviously sampling what is out there when it comes to center. He might actually get a few games in the last 20 to see if he gels with Kane. That is not an opinion btw, just a possibility. Btw, appreciate you calling me a douchebag earlier in the thread. I checked your twitter page and you just have so many followers, I'm surprised the site did not blow up
- Omahawk

He's dumping on Bouchard because he was playing for the minor league affiliate of one of the worst teams in the NHL, and is rightfully skeptical of the guy's ability to be helpful to the Hawks. He may have seen him play in Rockford, too.

Regarding the twitter page...wtf does that have to do with why you were dumped on for your post about women's hockey? Does one need to have a twitter account with a certain number of followers in order to call out someone for an idiotic statement?

You forgot the red font
- captainserious

I would like to experiment with a player with a natural disposition to play nasty......as net front presence. Although plays the point on pp as a collegiate (as I have heard), Johns might be someone we can use their one day. He has been a forward before full transition to the defense position

First however can he play good enough "d" in the AHL and without a ton of PM.

Kolb, Why are you dumping on Bouchard ? Stan and company are obviously sampling what is out there when it comes to center. He might actually get a few games in the last 20 to see if he gels with Kane. That is not an opinion btw, just a possibility.
- Omahawk

Based on?

I don't know why everyone thinks Bouchard is a plug-in at center? I think it was wiz that mentioned this, but Bouchard hasn't lined up at center since Juniors (over a decade ago...). Since he's been in Rockford, Bouchard has not lined up at center, let alone even slid over an taken a faceoff.

As for "dumping" on Bouchard, why not? Besides the nice stickhadling ability he shows, all he's done out on the ice is cherry pick to pad his numbers. Don't ask him to play a defensive game, that won't happen. Between his age and the number of times he's been concussed, Bouchard is a shell of the NHL player he used to be.

So you're saying Bouchard is a "possibility" to line up at #2C?

Again, I ask, based on what? Because to me, Bouchard looks like a throw in for a deal for Regin that possibly drove down the return price for him and cleared out some room for the Isles in their organization to plug their kids in at the NHL and AHL levels.

If the Hawks seriously end up using Bouchard at the NHL level, then this team will have been decimated by injury and we all can forget about the Hawks going deep in the playoffs.

Btw, appreciate you calling me a douchebag earlier in the thread. I checked your twitter page and you just have so many followers, I'm surprised the site did not blow up
- Omahawk

You're welcome. I'm happy to do that for you. Any time you want to act like a sexist (frank)er with his head stuck straight up his ass, I'll gladly highlight it for you.

I would like to experiment with a player with a natural disposition to play nasty......as net front presence. Although plays the point on pp as a collegiate (as I have heard), Johns might be someone we can use their one day. He has been a forward before full transition to the defense position

First however can he play good enough "d" in the AHL and without a ton of PM.
- jhawk59

This would be most important to find out first, well before you should even nominate Johns to go stand in front of the net during a power play.

Regarding the twitter page...wtf does that have to do with why you were dumped on for your post about women's hockey? Does one need to have a twitter account with a certain number of followers in order to call out someone for an idiotic statement?
- mohel

I must have missed the memo on this...

Apparently Peter Forsberg is pissed because 3 of the four refs for the Gold medal game are Canadian, and the other is an American living in Canada.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...lections-a-bleeping-joke/

Apparently Peter Forsberg is pissed because 3 of the four refs for the Gold medal game are Canadian, and the other is an American living in Canada.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...lections-a-bleeping-joke/
- prd797

Conspiracy!

Conspiracy!
- EKolb13

Some will not notice the whole story in the link provided. The NHL made it a condition of participation that NHL refs be used in the big games. Also, each team approves the officials used. But let the conspiracy talk reign anyway!!

Apparently Peter Forsberg is pissed because 3 of the four refs for the Gold medal game are Canadian, and the other is an American living in Canada.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...lections-a-bleeping-joke/
- prd797

Now if it were the 1950-mid 60's and you are a visiting team to either Montreal or Toronto, with a lead going into the third period, then I truly understand the concern that things might get tilted, but obviously the wear and tear of his pro career has made Forsberg punch drunk or concussed, because I really don't think the officials on such a huge open world stage are gonna even think twice about "helping" their home country.

It is terrifically high percentage of superb hockey players Sweden has produced in the last decades, but a Swedish league ref would probably slow the play in a big game like this because he would be compelled to call both teams, instead of letting the play dictate the tempo.

boo hoo Pete

Some will not notice the whole story in the link provided. The NHL made it a condition of participation that NHL refs be used in the big games. Also, each team approves the officials used. But let the conspiracy talk reign anyway!!
- mohel

And given that most players in the "big games" will be from the NHL, whom the refs are used to "policing", this only makes sence.

A bad call may determined the championship; bias won't.

Kane misses a penalty shot - as usual, in too close- can't elevate.

He makes the same mistake every time.

Re Stephan Johns

a) Yup, was a forward...a long long time ago, and was made a defender where he is a better fit. The last time, I think, that was ever mentioned in print was in my 2010 mock draft were I said he may end up on the wing. That was more of a way of saying he gets more ice time if he is able to be versatile enough to play up front if not getting top minutes on a team's pairings. (sorta like Brookbank or Kostka...)

b) It is easy to be encouraged that there may be a future for Johns even if you base it on the recent history of bigger college defenders being able to help NHL clubs who are lacking six quality back liners and have taken the chance at fast tracking their former college defenders in hopes they continue to improve.

c) Can we let him play in the pros before we call him:
a stiff, a tough guy, a banger, or a replacement for any NHL defenseman?

As far as I am concerned the last nine months of this board has been a rah rah session advocating fast track NHL pro careers for over a dozen hawk hopefuls based on all their greatness before turning pro. It is time for all to get hopeful once they stick not the day they get picked, graduate, or get called up.

d) If it will make everyone feel better I will place the Stephan john's talking points and here then, at a future date, when he becomes a pro you can use them as your guide.
The Good
For a big guy he skates really well.
He has a really nice size/skill ratio for a defenseman.
He has really long arms always a plus in the new game IF you know how to keep your stick positioned.
He has a nice hard point shot.
He has always had a big heap of mean to his game.

The Concerns
His good feet seem to get him moving too much.
Still working on improving his gap control.
He moves laterally REALLY well so you want the gap filling to be a strength.
He thinks the feet are good enough to run around and still get back to fill into his position responsibilities. (I think that any knocks in the past about his defense stem from this self control/learning curve of "playing under control."
Other here have stated that one of their concerns was the current NHL refs always call the puck carrier impeding fouls when then defender has his stick parallel the ice across the attacker, and Johns seems to use his that way with regularity. he will see little ice in Rockford or Chicago if that becomes the rule.
I think college rules has helped with tempering his aggression, but pro might again put him in a position where he is going to have to control response.




I have heard all these stories from insider about how Corey Perry is hated by so many opponents for the way he plays angry, edgy and with physicality in his meet ups with the goalies.

Maybe my next birthday wish will be Johns being a pro and him actually having that same edge and mean to his game and they meet....