I’m not sure if that’s bad coaching or Keith just being out of position or just poor communication. Nylander saw the way the Hawks were lined up and he decided to let Scmaltz pull it back, he knew he’d be able to beat the Hawks to the puck.
- walleyeb1

Like that you are called Walleye - love fishing them myself - but you are wrong here. All of the coaches should have been screaming at Keith if in fact he did cheat on his own. It was obscene to just give Toronto the game. Let’s line up all 5 players along the Centre line to start the next game. Arguably 3 on 3 with so much ice makes it even more imperative that someone be defending.

They need to take their 3 best offensively gifted players and skate them together like the Ducks used to do with Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry.........who those 3 are on this team? no clue......88 is 1.....
- SteveRain

That's why they need to play their young guns...figure out who can do what.

Kane and Schmaltz are the top 2 offensive forwards. Beyond that there are a lot of guy in the mix that could do the job but are not.

I think the moral of the story is that the Hawks need a top pair D. They seem to have too many guys who are 4-5-6 quality. Maybe Murphy is that guy, but I think it is hard to know until they try it. Hawks would have been fine on the Toronto PPG if AA wasn't floating around covering nobody. Between Oesterle and AA, they both moved to pressure Bozak and left that great big opportunity for Kadri.
- breadbag

Keith will only be at his best if he plays with someone who is prepared to cover for Keith’s offensive forays and knows how to play defence in the his own zone. Seabrook and Hammer sacrificed their offence to allow Keith to roam in the offensive zone. Seabrook and Hammer also covered for Keith in the defensive zone. Keith loves to pressure any player with the puck in the defensive zone with his speed, even if it puts him
out of position. However, he can’t if the other D-Man does not adjust and cover. Oesterle is not the man for this as Kadri’s goal proved.

Trading 'your hero', hang on this guy isn't your hero? What else does he have to do for you? Win another Conn Smythe then MAYBE he'll get acknowledged by the infallible opinion of gazza53?

What assets is he going to bring? Because if it's not a #1 defenseman we will lose the trade. Keith is on THE BEST DEAL in the league. You'd have to be mentally challenged to not think that. Who replaces him? Franson, Kempny, Oesterle? No, no and no.

Oh no Keith isn't matching his usual 10 goals a year, how will we survive? News flash, the whole team's D isn't scoring. Nothing is working. Asking for more Goals from Keith is like asking for more smiles from Quenneville, it's not going to happen and even if it does it won't mean much.

Every GM falls asleep each night dreaming of a #1 dman that can win Cups, and you're one of the morons who thinks that we should sell LOW on a Hall of Fame dman because he hits too many shin pads. Go get your shinebox.
- ObeseOprah

'Opinions are like bumholes, everyone has one but they think each others stink.

More Oprah blah, blah, blah

So who would bring in the best returns if traded before the season ends? This is not who should be traded, but I'm curious where the best returns would come from.

1) Keith
2) Crawford (but only if healthy and able to play)
3) Saad
4) Kane (#4 only because most teams cannot fit him into cap)
5) AA
6) Schmaltz
7) Murphy
8) Hartman

'Opinions are like bumholes, everyone has one but they think each others stink.

More Oprah blah, blah, blah

- gazza53

Outstanding response, I believe your Hawks #17 Kesler jersey is still on the way from China.

I think the problem with the hawks is they aren't going to accept the writing that's on the wall. Maybe bringing Crawford back for a game or two would be a morale boost, but let's be honest, he should be sitting on the bench for the rest of the season. What's the point to rushing him back when goal tending hasn't been the issue all season?

I know Seabrook has been horrible this season, but Duncan Keith deserves the same amount of blame.

If you would have told me four years ago that I would have kept Kane over Toews, I would have thought you were insane. I don't think it's going to be this season, but Toews days need to get numbered. Too much money tied to a player who has been so terrible the last few seasons.. he isn't a candle to the player he used to be.

Is it STAN SMASH time yet? Or no?

If not, I can just collect my thoughts on my own.

Outstanding response, I believe your Hawks #17 Kesler jersey is still on the way from China.
- ObeseOprah

you need a workout other than "typing", good luck they're on sale everywhere

Is it STAN SMASH time yet? Or no?

If not, I can just collect my thoughts on my own.


- Stan_Bowman

It's always Stan Smash time.....

I've missed you...how are things under the desk?

Is it STAN SMASH time yet? Or no?

If not, I can just collect my thoughts on my own.


- Stan_Bowman

Yep, time to change your icon bud...the Stan love is dying out at an alarming pace.

I think the problem with the hawks is they aren't going to accept the writing that's on the wall. Maybe bringing Crawford back for a game or two would be a morale boost, but let's be honest, he should be sitting on the bench for the rest of the season. What's the point to rushing him back when goal tending hasn't been the issue all season?

I know Seabrook has been horrible this season, but Duncan Keith deserves the same amount of blame.

If you would have told me four years ago that I would have kept Kane over Toews, I would have thought you were insane. I don't think it's going to be this season, but Toews days need to get numbered. Too much money tied to a player who has been so terrible the last few seasons.. he isn't a candle to the player he used to be.
- Crawford

Agreed.....88 continues to up, 19 has stayed stagnant in some areas, and declined in others. All good things come to an end.

Keith does deserve a lot of the blame. Fact is baring a compliance window in next CBA OR a guy asking to be traded I can't see Hawks sacking up to make the unpopular but smart hockey trade.

The other option is Hossa rubs his shin pads on one of these guys........

96 is reasonable, don't think its ever been 100 points but there are a lot of doormats in the league this year who will yield a lot of easy points to teams desperate for a playoff spot, mainly because they've either quit or been stripped down as a result of trades and injuries.
- RickJ

Also not supported by Math and recent history. Look at the number of "doormats" and their point totals in the last few years after 44 games. The number of teams with playoff hopes this year is equal to or greater than most years.

I have never seen Duncan Keith this checked out/unplugged in his on ice performance. What the hell is up with him? Or is it a symptom of the team wide problem?

you need a workout other than "typing", good luck they're on sale everywhere
- gazza53

Don't workout, buy my various endorsed foods and get obese, like me. I am strong, I am beautiful, and I am most certainly Obese.

I actually liked Saad on that line. They weren't stuck in their own end as much due to Saad creating turnovers, at least that is what I noticed of them in the first period.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Tyler Motte is splitting time between Columbus and the AHL. 13 points in 40 games (31 games in Columbus with 2 goals and 3 assists) . So like Forsberg, not much yet..... maybe something more down the road..... maybe not.

Also not supported by Math and recent history. Look at the number of "doormats" and their point totals in the last few years after 44 games. The number of teams with playoff hopes this year is equal to or greater than most years.
- -Doh-

We'll compare notes at the end, but it isn't going to be less than 96 to qualify for the playoffs.

I think it’s time to start looking at top 2018 draft prospects!

Tyler Motte is splitting time between Columbus and the AHL. 13 points in 40 games (31 games in Columbus with 2 goals and 3 assists) . So like Forsberg, not much yet..... maybe something more down the road..... maybe not.
- -Doh-

He's a 3rd/4th line grinder with good speed. Would be more effective than Jurco, Bouma and Sharp IMO. Point being that Forsberg was simply not a throw-in, but Bowman paid to acquire him with Motte. Give Forsberg the net and let him develop. This is turning out to be nothing more than a young player development year, so why is the 32yr old journeyman playing so much when his ability is on par with Forsberg?

I have never seen Duncan Keith this checked out/unplugged in his on ice performance. What the hell is up with him? Or is it a symptom of the team wide problem?
- z1990z

been wondering the same thing for quite some time:

1. continued impact of difficult divorce and personal issues from a couple of years ago
2. chronic knee issues
3. he doesn't like hockey anymore
4. he wants out of chicago
5. pssed off he sighed that damn 13 year contract

been wondering the same thing for quite some time:

1. continued impact of difficult divorce and personal issues from a couple of years ago
2. chronic knee issues
3. he doesn't like hockey anymore
4. he wants out of chicago
5. pssed off he sighed that damn 13 year contract
- bogiedoc

Do you keep him? Trade him?

Nothing like having the highest paid grinder in NHL history on your team. No points in 6 games and teetering on not even eclipsing 50 points this year. I admire your passionate defense of 19, but at some point you have to see the light that this guy is quite possible the most overpaid player in the entire NHL.
- EnzoD

Saying he's not Mike Richards is pretty far form a passionate defense.

been wondering the same thing for quite some time:

1. continued impact of difficult divorce and personal issues from a couple of years ago
2. chronic knee issues
3. he doesn't like hockey anymore
4. he wants out of chicago
5. pssed off he sighed that damn 13 year contract
- bogiedoc

I think IF there is an attitude problem with Keith (which is pure HB internet speculation) it has to do with #2 HATING to lose. Take away the "loser point" and the Hawks are 4 games under .500. You don't think that #2 sees Seabrook and Toews lumbering around, a bunch of AHL dmen, and young kids who should also be in the AHL as his teammates? IF there is an attitude issue (again, pure speculation from us here), I think it's frustration from losing so much IMO.

Saying he's not Mike Richards is pretty far form a passionate defense.
- JRoenick97

LOL fair enough.

probably a dumb question, but here is goes

what if a player retires before end of his contract. team is not liable i assume for the remainder of the contract? is there cap impact the following season(s)?