Where were you last game when he took a huge hit to setup a goal? Go back under your rock.
- JRoenick97

Huge hit

If Harold Snepts would have hit him he would still be laying there BIG DIFFERENCE

Agreed & Bowman has made this mess!!!!
- Goalie-33

I think Bowman isn't the only reason this team is where they are but he's not without blame.

I posted it months ago................ AA is nothing without Kane on his wing.....
MOVE HIM please for Cap relief and picks asap !!
Terrible faceoff center, old, and slow......... and all he brings is passing ability and
net front presence when Kane and Schmaltz were dangling !
- Hawkytalk

Umm he played fine. He is a north south guy that plays smart, wins board battles and doesn't do a who lot else. And tough to score with Wingles on one of the wings. I'd like to see Highmore on that other side and see what happens then.

Certainly not the worst 4.5 million they've spent.

They got zero bounces and the power play was awful. Tough to win games like that.

Looks like he is carrying something. TOI is down the last month except for a few games and he just doesn't look like he is moving right.

However the uptick in scoring from Schmalz and the revelation that Dinglecat has been has definitely made up for whatever drop off from Panarin scoring wise.

This team can't score on the power play and their team defense is suspect at best and they're skating a crap ton of 1st and 2nd year players.

IF they can keep this group together. I think they have a really good shot at doing damage next year, especially if they can roll off that Hossa money and add one more strong veteran.
- fattybeef

A (frank)ing piano?

Huge hit

If Harold Snepts would have hit him he would still be laying there BIG DIFFERENCE
- Goalie-33

Go away. All you do is come here and troll about Kane after any loss, yet when they win or he does anything good, you're a ghost. You cite pus minus, which is a garbage stat, and ignore that h drives the teams offense and has positive possession stats.

Really, go away.

Umm he played fine. He is a north south guy that plays smart, wins board battles and doesn't do a who lot else. And tough to score with Wingles on one of the wings. I'd like to see Highmore on that other side and see what happens then.

Certainly not the worst 4.5 million they've spent.

They got zero bounces and the power play was awful. Tough to win games like that.
- fattybeef

Yeah, a lot of near misses on passes in high danger areas, too. Toews had a bunch of high danger chances. Should have had a penalty shot, etc. But they didn't score on their PP anyway.

Looks like he is carrying something. TOI is down the last month except for a few games and he just doesn't look like he is moving right.

However the uptick in scoring from Schmalz and the revelation that Dinglecat has been has definitely made up for whatever drop off from Panarin scoring wise.

This team can't score on the power play and their team defense is suspect at best and they're skating a crap ton of 1st and 2nd year players.

IF they can keep this group together. I think they have a really good shot at doing damage next year, especially if they can roll off that Hossa money and add one more strong veteran.
- fattybeef

I agree on Fs.....if Vinny, Schamltz, Debrincat and DuClair take next steps. Problem is you need 20/19 to step up next year and that leaves questions on 15/38 who both I would entertain trading at the deadline to acquire pics/d prospects/cap space

Defensively......this is where you lose me. This whole unit is bad. They need a lot of help.

He's a winger. he doesn't take draws. You can't be serious.
- JRoenick97

My point thank you!

$10.5 for lazy one way player who gets credit for wins but when he's a NO SHOW like last night does not credit ripped on???

He does nothing but cherry pick & play PP

BTW the PP leader in minutes is BY FAR 88 so why is the PP so bad??

Thank you

Go away. All you do is come here and troll about Kane after any loss, yet when they win or he does anything good, you're a ghost. You cite pus minus, which is a garbage stat, and ignore that h drives the teams offense and has positive possession stats.

Really, go away.
- JRoenick97

Fun example. Last night on one of the goals Keith assisted, Gustafsson got a + because Keith made the pass and went for a change.

Go away. All you do is come here and troll about Kane after any loss, yet when they win or he does anything good, you're a ghost. You cite pus minus, which is a garbage stat, and ignore that h drives the teams offense and has positive possession stats.

Really, go away.
- JRoenick97

Not true it ALL starts with BOWMAN!!!

He needs to go before Q

Fun example. Last night on one of the goals Keith assisted, Gustafsson got a + because Keith made the pass and went for a change.
- Hawks_49

COME ON

Yes that happens but 88 is HORRID defensive player

COME ON

Yes that happens but 88 is HORRID defensive player
- Goalie-33

Stop with the words. You're bad with them.

Kane has been good this year, but quite a few times on the DEF zone he is cherry picking. And more times then usually the last few games he is puck handling out by the blue line only to loose it or have it poked out of the zone. IE needs to know when to shoot it or dump or be stronger with the puck. He can be better on D if he wants to. We have all seen it but he looks like the 22 year old kane on D the last few games. of the core he has been the best. But that is not much competition. AA has looked bad since he came back as well.

Stop with the words. You're bad with them.
- JRoenick97

Last night was BIGGEST GAME OF YEAR & 88 was on the ice for ALL 4 VAN goals & pointless

Please explain??

This attitude has to stem from an off-ice issue with Kane. I don't recall Gretzky or Lemieux being much on the defensive side of the puck. Kane backchecks way more than they do. Finest mitts I've ever seen. For 4+ decades I didn't have to pay to get in. There were a handful of players I would have paid to watch, and Kane is one of them.
- 6628

I think another factor is how the game has changed and evolved. I think that now, more than ever, guys need to put forth the complete effort. Kane does it at times, but he will always been more offensive minded. I think there are other factors that come into play when he is on the ice as well.

1) The team is more often shifting position because Kane's likes to cycle from his office on the half boards along the blue line, etc. Great when it is working, but I think sometimes the Hawks hurt themselves by getting their own guys out of position. High risk/reward.

2) The Hawks D that often see the ice when Kane is out there are not exactly pillars of strength defensively. Q likes to put some of the "join the rush" types on the ice with Kane's line to generate offense, but those guys are not the best defensively.

3) Schmaltz for as well as he plays and as hard as he works, is inexperienced and loses a fair number of draws still. For example, I've seen a number of games/periods start out exactly like this. Line 1 takes the first shift, ends with a shot on goal, which the opposing goalie holds. Line 2 comes out for their turn and the Ozone draw. Schmaltz loses the draw of the line turns it over and spends the much of their shift chasing in their own zone having to defend.

Kane is a exciting and skilled guy. He does what he does really well, but they need to find a way to balance it out when that line is on the ice. It isn't all on Kane, but no player has been on the ice for more even strength goals against (more than goals for) GF 41 GA 45. Kane has carried the team offensively at times, but when he is not scoring, the fact that his line gets scored on often is a problem.

Don't get me wrong, it isn't the only problem. Line 1 still needs to finish their chances. Toews had multiple good looks and so did Duclair, and they just missed them all. If this were horseshoes, it would be great, but in hockey, close doesn't cut it.

My point thank you!

$10.5 for lazy one way player who gets credit for wins but when he's a NO SHOW like last night does not credit ripped on???

He does nothing but cherry pick & play PP

BTW the PP leader in minutes is BY FAR 88 so why is the PP so bad??

Thank you


- Goalie-33

He has more even strength points than anyone on the team and it's not very close.

We're almost on the same page here, I just think Toews' offense isn't as bad as Kane's defense. I think Toews is a bit above average offensively, and Kane is a little bit worse defensively. They're also both deployed much differently, and properly.
- Hawks_49

100% agree....I recognize kane is not a Selke type player but he's not 100% awful either.

I don't think that's the case anymore......it's not the clear who brings 100% every night. Kane 90% of most games dominates the ice when he's on it. Can I say the same thing about Toews.........I'll also say this......

If you want to say Kane's a marque offensive player and Toews is a marque defensive player, then if you flip it.....I don't think the drop off to kane defensively is that much less then what Toews gives you offensively.......Toews offensive game has stunk for the last few years and he looks to be skating very slow.......
- SteveRain

The 2 players are not really to be compared, other than for salary which is totally irrelevant on the ice. First, one is a 2 way center and the other a scoring winger. (Remember when Stanbo had that brilliant idea back in about 2011 that Kane could be made into a center? Same stupid result as the Habs have found out this year with Jonathan Drouin.)

However, both of their games are not immune from criticism, especially this year. I can't give you a count, but if you took all of the missed goal scoring chances by Line 1 (Saad, Toews, Panik, Duclair and Debrincat) you have a massive scoring point total. Combine that with the zero production PP, that's why they aren't a playoff team. What they are is a 2 goal a game maximum squad at 5 on 5 and they lose almost every time the opposition scores 3 or more.

Last night was BIGGEST GAME OF YEAR & 88 was on the ice for ALL 4 VAN goals & pointless

Please explain??

- Goalie-33

No.

Inconsistent.....the 2017-18 Hawks mantra. 1 step forward and 1 step back....As good as they looked against Nashville, playing with desperation, winning 1 on 1 battles, doing whatever it took to win.....that's how bad they lost last night.

These defensemen who stand right in front of the goalie and don't block the shot are killing this team. Brutal game by the D overall.....Found it hilarious the commentators mentioned the Osterle pass that put Keith "in a bad position" and then I had a flashback to the countless horrible passes he would throw Seabrook with 2 guys bearing down on him over the years......truly remarkable. The talking points have never been more clearer.

They take Eddie O out of the booth and into the studio, and we get a glimpse of national Eddie O....the guy I love to listen to. Brutally honest.....calling out guys, how big a game it was, etc. That's the Eddie O we need, no the Eddie that gets sucked into the Foley @ss kissing, shout out, jovial vortex.

Bottom line....this team just isn't that good. Blame Q, blame Bowman, I blame both....the lineup is hell, and if it's anyone but Wingels on the ice in the 3rd the game probably gets tied at 3, but instead a guy without much offensive skill can't capitalize on a marque chance.

They are older, slower, and they are done.....not mathematically but you can't lose a game like last night.....all it did was neutralize the 2 pts you earned against Nashville, and dropped you further behind. 4 teams behind, and an inconsistent performance each and every night......core guys still aren't showing up enough and I'll say it again.....unless Crawford is 100% there is NO reason to rush the guy back.....you aren't going anywhere.

Oh, and the PP......why the hell they continue to do the drop pass in the neutral zone with then 3/4 other guys standing still at the blue line as 1 guy tries to weave his way in, (rarely happens) or dumps it in and is battling 2-3 guys by himself down low as the other stationary guys have zero jump to help out. It's truly remarkable how bad that set up is......
- SteveRain

Three of the Vancouver goals were deflections.

Sedin (on his goal) was all alone IN THE BLUE PAINT for what seemed liked seconds - Keith (I think) about 10 feet away - why did no one go to him to knock him out of the play? Why didn’t Forsberg at least give him some hard “taps” to bother him (if not a good hard cross check into his back)? HE WAS IN THE BLUE PAINT ALL ALONE!!!!

I think another factor is how the game has changed and evolved. I think that now, more than ever, guys need to put forth the complete effort. Kane does it at times, but he will always been more offensive minded. I think there are other factors that come into play when he is on the ice as well.

1) The team is more often shifting position because Kane's likes to cycle from his office on the half boards along the blue line, etc. Great when it is working, but I think sometimes the Hawks hurt themselves by getting their own guys out of position. High risk/reward.

2) The Hawks D that often see the ice when Kane is out there are not exactly pillars of strength defensively. Q likes to put some of the "join the rush" types on the ice with Kane's line to generate offense, but those guys are not the best defensively.

3) Schmaltz for as well as he plays and as hard as he works, is inexperienced and loses a fair number of draws still. For example, I've seen a number of games/periods start out exactly like this. Line 1 takes the first shift, ends with a shot on goal, which the opposing goalie holds. Line 2 comes out for their turn and the Ozone draw. Schmaltz loses the draw of the line turns it over and spends the much of their shift chasing in their own zone having to defend.

Kane is a exciting and skilled guy. He does what he does really well, but they need to find a way to balance it out when that line is on the ice. It isn't all on Kane, but no player has been on the ice for more even strength goals against (more than goals for) GF 41 GA 45. Kane has carried the team offensively at times, but when he is not scoring, the fact that his line gets scored on often is a problem.

Don't get me wrong, it isn't the only problem. Line 1 still needs to finish their chances. Toews had multiple good looks and so did Duclair, and they just missed them all. If this were horseshoes, it would be great, but in hockey, close doesn't cut it.
- breadbag

Good post. #2 makes a lot of sense.

No.
- JRoenick97

Gets credit when he gets his points but does not take enogh blame for terrible PP & losses

Three of the Vancouver goals were deflections.

Sedin (on his goal) was all alone IN THE BLUE PAINT for what seemed liked seconds - Keith (I think) about 10 feet away - why did no one go to him to knock him out of the play? Why didn’t Forsberg at least give him some hard “taps” to bother him (if not a good hard cross check into his back)? HE WAS IN THE BLUE PAINT ALL ALONE!!!!
- StLBravesFan

Tell it

Gets credit when he gets his points but does not take enogh blame for terrible PP & losses


- Goalie-33

Keep talking.

Three of the Vancouver goals were deflections.

Sedin (on his goal) was all alone IN THE BLUE PAINT for what seemed liked seconds - Keith (I think) about 10 feet away - why did no one go to him to knock him out of the play? Why didn’t Forsberg at least give him some hard “taps” to bother him (if not a good hard cross check into his back)? HE WAS IN THE BLUE PAINT ALL ALONE!!!!
- StLBravesFan

There was no excuse for that.