The issue is the Hawks are vastly superior to any team because they don't come close to playing a full 60 minutes of effective hockey.
- Al

^^^^THIS - the bolded bit - for sure! I really just want to see them put together a full 60 minutes of what they did in the first period last night.

Had to turn it off after the 2nd period ended because I couldn't handle watching another 3rd period melt down......Glad they held on for once.

Ugh....all the woulda, coulda, shoulda has to stop. They didn't stay out of the box, so they didn't roll the Coyotes. They again played down to a lesser team and proved again they are a good team, but NOT a great team. A great team waxes the Coyotes. The Hawks are NOT that.

that 1st line or Toews line is just garbage. Here Johnny here's 2 bottom 6 wingers, gods speed..........

I'm starting to think all this Hawks will be sorry when they trade Crawford because Darling can't handle a #1 job is equivalent to when the immortal Victor Stalberg got scratched in the playoffs and supposedly ruined the chemistry in the locker room....somehow, they still went on to the cup.......

That Toews patented offensive zone stick infraction made me angrier than those 3 DOG's. That guy has done it so many times in the past including quite a few while on the power play that it makes me think that he is incapable of learning anything from it.

The first DOG during his PK does not happen if this stupid penalty does not occur. Toews started this whole chain of events that just about resulted in a loss in a game that the Hawks were in complete control.

DUMB

58 years ago today, near Clear Lake, Iowa.

The Day the Music Died.
- StLBravesFan

Thanks, Buddy

^^^^THIS - the bolded bit - for sure! I really just want to see them put together a full 60 minutes of what they did in the first period last night.
- Marlowe[/quote

You will never see it consistently because it would be like everyone having a career year at the same time.

this team has WAY too many holes, and young guys who don't get it yet what it takes to play a full 60 minutes in the NHL.

Here's the scary thing.....if this team is having trouble holding on to leads in mid season regular season games, what happens come spring time when teams play with complete desperation and your warts kill you?

If anyone disagrees, go back and watch the Hawks melt down in their own zone in 2012 vs Phoenix when the larger bodied Coyotes pressured the hell out of them. It was turnover city........

Hanzal is going to fetch a nice return....Unless the deal includes Schmaltz, Motte or Forsling the Hawks won't win that bidding war.
- Al

Pass. Especially if the deal includes Schmaltz or Forsling. I'm not against dealing either one if the deal makes the team better but Hanzal would be a rental and getting a raise on the $3.1M he's already making.

[quote=Marlowe]^^^^THIS - the bolded bit - for sure! I really just want to see them put together a full 60 minutes of what they did in the first period last night.
- SteveRain[/quote

You will never see it consistently because it would be like everyone having a career year at the same time.

this team has WAY too many holes, and young guys who don't get it yet what it takes to play a full 60 minutes in the NHL.

Here's the scary thing.....if this team is having trouble holding on to leads in mid season regular season games, what happens come spring time when teams play with complete desperation and your warts kill you?

If anyone disagrees, go back and watch the Hawks melt down in their own zone in 2012 vs Phoenix when the larger bodied Coyotes pressured the hell out of them. It was turnover city........

I don't necessarily but I don't think you can characterize this as something that's been emblematic of the whole season, it's really just the last four games.

Is it a blip or a new norm? No idea.

Had to turn it off after the 2nd period ended because I couldn't handle watching another 3rd period melt down......Glad they held on for once.

Ugh....all the woulda, coulda, shoulda has to stop. They didn't stay out of the box, so they didn't roll the Coyotes. They again played down to a lesser team and proved again they are a good team, but NOT a great team. A great team waxes the Coyotes. The Hawks are NOT that.

that 1st line or Toews line is just garbage. Here Johnny here's 2 bottom 6 wingers, gods speed..........

I'm starting to think all this Hawks will be sorry when they trade Crawford because Darling can't handle a #1 job is equivalent to when the immortal Victor Stalberg got scratched in the playoffs and supposedly ruined the chemistry in the locker room....somehow, they still went on to the cup.......
- SteveRain[/quo
Minny only beat the yotes by one goal and LA also in the last week . Both those teams only scored 3 times ,. HAWKS did that in the 1st ..Yotes are not great but have played well of late ,it's easy to play when you have nothing to lose .

I buy stock in tin foil because of you
- mrpaulish

.......My Stomach is still sore from laughing!!!!!!
Dang made me drop my coffee because of you!!!

I don't necessarily but I don't think you can characterize this as something that's been emblematic of the whole season, it's really just the last four games.

Is it a blip or a new norm? No idea.
- HawkintheD

Goal differential, record since Thanksgiving USA (18-14), PP%, PK%, GPG, GAA all those stats tell me this is a decent team. Nothing more, nothing less.

Good enough to win a round, maybe 2, but not good enough to win 16 playoff games. They don't have the horses, and they don't have the assets to acquire enough new ones to fill their holes.

I also would think teams may be a little reluctant to take on Marcus Kruger's deal IF he is being shopped for a larger add, because the flat cap looming will scare teams away.

Andrew Shaw - 38 games 7 goals 12 assists 84 penalty minutes $3.9 mil cap hit. Missed a month with a concussion.
Ryan Hartmann - 48 games 11 goals 10 assists 26 penalty minutes $0.863 mil cap hit.
Discuss....

Andrew Shaw - 38 games 7 goals 12 assists 84 penalty minutes $3.9 mil cap hit. Missed a month with a concussion.
Ryan Hartmann - 48 games 11 goals 10 assists 26 penalty minutes $0.863 mil cap hit.
Discuss....
- -Doh-

Hartman's been very good, really can't ask for much more. But losing Shaw hasn't helped the cause.

I like young guys in the lineup as legitimate NHL depth players. If Schmaltz can add 10 pounds of muscle while not losing any quickness, he could be a Top 6 W in the very near future. Toews has been playing a lot closer to the level that we've seen over his career, and I love Panik's energy when he plays with 19. Kero continues to be solid as does Moose. Kruger is a warrior, but man did he get tossed around last night. Not sure how Schenn doesn't get a 3rd man in/instigator penalty after assaulting Desjardans. Kaner continues to be a beast, Panarin woke up after a brief hibernation, and Hossa had some jump in his legs that's been lacking lately, too. Entertaining game and a must have 2 points.

Hanzal is going to fetch a nice return....Unless the deal includes Schmaltz, Motte or Forsling the Hawks won't win that bidding war.
- Al

Sure, the Coyotes will nail a good return for this guy because he is big, mean and they probably don't intend to resign him. For a large man he also misses a lot of games due to ailments and injuries. I wouldn't give up Forsling or Schmaltz for him because he's purely a rental. I'd trade Darling for him and after the season the Hawks could re-sign #33 and Hanzal can go sign elsewhere. But there are a lot of teams that would beat that offer.

Andrew Shaw - 38 games 7 goals 12 assists 84 penalty minutes $3.9 mil cap hit. Missed a month with a concussion.
Ryan Hartmann - 48 games 11 goals 10 assists 26 penalty minutes $0.863 mil cap hit.
Discuss....
- -Doh-

I love Hartman's game and I wish we could have BOTH Shaw and Hartman on a 3rd line with Moose/Kero/Kruger and causing mayhem at both ends of the ice. Hopefully Debrincat can evolve into an NHL Top 6 Winger in the next 2-3 years.


Here's another one for the board to discuss...

Philip Danault: 52GP 10 G , 17 A avg 14:40 TOI @ $912,500 Cap Hit

Marcus Kruger: 41GP 2 G, 8 A avg 14:07 TOI @ $3,083,333 Cap Hit

Sure, the Coyotes will nail a good return for this guy because he is big, mean and they probably don't intend to resign him. For a large man he also misses a lot of games due to ailments and injuries. I wouldn't give up Forsling or Schmaltz for him because he's purely a rental. I'd trade Darling for him and after the season the Hawks could re-sign #33 and Hanzal can go sign elsewhere. But there are a lot of teams that would beat that offer.
- RickJ

Who would replace Crawford in the playoffs if he is injured??

I don't necessarily but I don't think you can characterize this as something that's been emblematic of the whole season, it's really just the last four games.

Is it a blip or a new norm? No idea.
- HawkintheD

It's the entire season...Many of the 1 goal wins shouldn't have been close games or were won by Darling or Crawford. Only a handful of times has a consistent effort stood out.

Pass. Especially if the deal includes Schmaltz or Forsling. I'm not against dealing either one if the deal makes the team better but Hanzal would be a rental and getting a raise on the $3.1M he's already making.
- HawkintheD

At this point I am not in favour of any high priced rentals, I just don't know if it would be enough. I think there is value in letting this group gel in the playoffs and she how some of the young guns perform when it counts most.

Goal differential, record since Thanksgiving USA (18-14), PP%, PK%, GPG, GAA all those stats tell me this is a decent team. Nothing more, nothing less.

Good enough to win a round, maybe 2, but not good enough to win 16 playoff games. They don't have the horses, and they don't have the assets to acquire enough new ones to fill their holes.

I also would think teams may be a little reluctant to take on Marcus Kruger's deal IF he is being shopped for a larger add, because the flat cap looming will scare teams away.
- SteveRain

Not disagreeing with that part at all. My comment was more on the ability to closeout teams. This giving up third period leads and not regaining them has been an issue the last 3-4 games. Prior to that there record was practically spotless...wasn't it like 84-0-5 or something ridiculous like that?

It's the entire season...Many of the 1 goal wins shouldn't have been close games or were won by Darling or Crawford. Only a handful of times has a consistent effort stood out.
- Al

Not debating or disagreeing with any of that but again was commenting more on the recent phenomenon of blowing leads in the third period...that is really a whole new wrinkle.

At this point I am not in favour of any high priced rentals, I just don't know if it would be enough. I think there is value in letting this group gel in the playoffs and she how some of the young guns perform when it counts most.
- DarthKane

Agreed. I'm all for trying to address 1LW with a long-term solution like JVR, Duchene, or another guy with a current contract that wont break the bank. Hanzal is a monster, but not a fast/skilled winger. Unless that bumps Anisimov out of the Dot and onto 1LW, I don't see a pressing need for Hanzal. Though, he is light-years better than 15 at draws...

Pass. Especially if the deal includes Schmaltz or Forsling. I'm not against dealing either one if the deal makes the team better but Hanzal would be a rental and getting a raise on the $3.1M he's already making.
- HawkintheD

Yeah, he is definitely a rental. He is UFA after this season. My guess is the return for him would have to be similar to what they got for Vermette. Same exact situation. Hawks sent a first round pick and Dahlbeck for him. My guess is it would cost our first round pick and either Motte or Pokke....something along those lines. I agree...the Hawks should not move Schmaltz or Forsling for him. I would not trade Motte either.

Agreed. I'm all for trying to address 1LW with a long-term solution like JVR, Duchene, or another guy with a current contract that wont break the bank. Hanzal is a monster, but not a fast/skilled winger. Unless that bumps Anisimov out of the Dot and onto 1LW, I don't see a pressing need for Hanzal. Though, he is light-years better than 15 at draws...
- EnzoD

That's about the only way I was thinking something like that might work but then you get back to long term solution and Hanzal has a hard time staying on the ice for a full season.

At this point I am not in favour of any high priced rentals, I just don't know if it would be enough. I think there is value in letting this group gel in the playoffs and she how some of the young guns perform when it counts most.
- DarthKane

I agree with you. That said, Hanzal at the dot is one of those little things that add up to help us come playoff time. So I am torn on that one. I think he was on the PP yesterday. Is he also on the PK? Would not be a bad add....within trade return reason.

I love Hartman's game and I wish we could have BOTH Shaw and Hartman on a 3rd line with Moose/Kero/Kruger and causing mayhem at both ends of the ice. Hopefully Debrincat can evolve into an NHL Top 6 Winger in the next 2-3 years.


Here's another one for the board to discuss...

Philip Danault: 52GP 10 G , 17 A avg 14:40 TOI @ $912,500 Cap Hit

Marcus Kruger: 41GP 2 G, 8 A avg 14:07 TOI @ $3,083,333 Cap Hit
- EnzoD

Both the Hartman/Shaw and Danault/Kruger things have been compared ad nauseum.

I believe Danault wasn't moved because we had Kruger... Danault was moved because we had Hino/McNeil/Kero/Schmaltz/Hartman. Bowman had traded for Ladd a day sooner and at the time, so at the time we had Ladd/19/81, PAK, Panik, Kruger, TT, Shaw, and Mash. Bowman wanted to add some vets (Flash and Weise), and the cost was Danault and a pick.

Im sure when bowman called, he wasn't selling Danault. He probably made a first offer and when push came to shove, bowman said "I have 5 other prospects for the bottom 6 next year, and I can part with Danault to hoist another cup". Fast forward to now and its all in hindsight that it was the wrong move.