Justin Lowe: I Really Like This Team Don't mistake the title of this blog for more bi-polar feelings on this Blackhawks team from yours truly; these are Stan Bowman's, not mine.

I personally am not 100% content with this 2017-18 team, but I also get it. There are some veterans that are either just really tired from playing a lot of games or they have lost a bit of zest for the game.

I do, however, like some certain aspects from last night's 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators.

First yeehaa, nice write up again JL . Love the speed of the team, small team but hopefully the speed will compensate for that,

the guys that I did not love last night were Kane. was being way to cute a bunch of times by the blue line and let it go out. Keith's 1st period was not good, but he got better later, but he may never score another goal his shot is so weak its shocking. Subbans slapper is twice the speed of Keith. I think if we have a shot at the playoffs this is the only lineup that can do it. Our Big guys are just not dominate enough to allow ourselves to get nothing from 2-3 lines. We need to get points up and down the lineup for us to win at 65% clip. Guys like Bouma and sharp, Glass can help you split games IE win 50% but we need more then that. Juco, forsburg, Kempny can be bad sometimes (no more then keith Seabs Saad, Teows) but they have way more positive effect on the game when they are good then the other guys. Hartman might be a guy I would consider sitting but for bouma and sharp I'm just not sure.

The power play personal is better but explain to me why the call the drop back pass the push them back entry? not one Nash player leaves the blue line when the 1st guy is coming at them knowing they are going to drop it back 40 feet and then have 4 hawks players standing still. Not enough room for 9 guys on the blue line. They way you get guys moving backwards is you have multiple players and the puck entering the zone with speed.

That Hinostroza guy has been quite the addition. Every time I check to see who is doing the scoring in the Chicago games, his name is always appearing!

Did Kane find himself a new Panarin? Are they playing together?

good win...call it a forsberg goalie win....after the 1st period he once again faced a shooting gallery of high quality chances and was outstanding and a few post hits didn't hurt...

despite the positves the negatives hang in there: to many high danger sog's against another plus 40 night...preds controlled the the o-zone the entire 3rd period...

saad and toews once again scratch on the scoring sheet; yes toews fancy stats are quite good as is the overall team play in the o-zone...

but asking forsberg, glass or even craw to face that type of onslaught (as they been asked to do numerous times) is a losing proposition...

I think there is to much youth, experience and lack of team cohesion for the defensive issues to be resolved this year...

great win...but they need to keep it going: not all the teams they are chasing are going to lose together and tis the season of the 3 pts game: aves got a point last night, ducks got a win, wild got 2 in shoot out...

It thought the hawks were the better team for 60% of the night. if our power play was better that could have been higher. in our 4 minutes we might have had 2 scoring chances in there 2 they probably had 4. Also there D is very good Offensively so I'm not surprised that dictated play the last 10 minutes they had to. I think they could have easily given up a few more odd man rushes which would have changed things a bit.

That Hinostroza guy has been quite the addition. Every time I check to see who is doing the scoring in the Chicago games, his name is always appearing!

Did Kane find himself a new Panarin? Are they playing together?
- LeafGuy89

no...he has been paired with toews or third line...

This is an if, and a BIG if...but IF the Hawks find themselves back in contention at he end of this month or in a good spot, it will be REALLY interesting to see what Stan Bowman does at the TDL. I have enjoyed watching Duclair/Toews/Debrincat.

I don't know if anybody saw this...but in the second period it looked like Debrincat got hit late after passing a puck. To me it looked like he responded by absolutely flattening the guy the next time he touched the puck. I didn't see who hit ADB, or if it was him who returned the hit, but does anybody know what I am talking about? I was pretty damn impressed.

the guys that I did not love last night were Kane. was being way to cute a bunch of times by the blue line and let it go out. Keith's 1st period was not good, but he got better later, but he may never score another goal his shot is so weak its shocking. Subbans slapper is twice the speed of Keith. I think if we have a shot at the playoffs this is the only lineup that can do it. Our Big guys are just not dominate enough to allow ourselves to get nothing from 2-3 lines. We need to get points up and down the lineup for us to win at 65% clip. Guys like Bouma and sharp, Glass can help you split games IE win 50% but we need more then that. Juco, forsburg, Kempny can be bad sometimes (no more then keith Seabs Saad, Teows) but they have way more positive effect on the game when they are good then the other guys. Hartman might be a guy I would consider sitting but for bouma and sharp I'm just not sure.

The power play personal is better but explain to me why the call the drop back pass the push them back entry? not one Nash player leaves the blue line when the 1st guy is coming at them knowing they are going to drop it back 40 feet and then have 4 hawks players standing still. Not enough room for 9 guys on the blue line. They way you get guys moving backwards is you have multiple players and the puck entering the zone with speed.
- kmw4631

Like Cody Franson, I think you have seen the last of Lance Bouma in the lineup.

You have to believe sooner or later the drop pass is taken out of their attack. Voices speak and some changes happen, witness the temporary break up of the banger line.

You have to believe even sage Scotty would speak to the error of their way using the drop pass. I mean we see clearly the other team is ready to stop us when they see the drop pass. Doesn't its usefulness seem not fitting any longer. Old school. Like the statue of liberty play. Like they will come rushing in to a waiting defense which can stop them cold. They see us do this puck rush, might as well see the glee in the opponent's eyes: oh it is like we are punting. We are giving up our opportunity to advance toward a score because the opponent knows our tactic before we even get going. Like a pitchet tipping his pitches

Doesn't help advance toward victories.

hello how are you guys

You have to believer sooner or later the drop pass is taken out of their attack. Voices speak and some changes happen, witness the temporary break up of the banger line.

You have to believe even sage Scotty would speak to the error of their way using the drop pass. I mean we see clearly the other team is ready to stop us when they see the drop pass. Doesn't its usefulness seem not fitting any longer. Old school. Like the statue of liberty play. Like they will come rushing in to a waiting defense which can stop them cold. They see us do this puck rush, might as well see their opponents glee: oh it is like we are punting. We are giving up our opportunity to advance toward a score because the opponent knows our tactic before we even get going.

Doesn't help advance toward victories.
- jhawk59

That drop pass is comedic (and dangerous) at times when it is directed at no one in particular.

The Hawks need to try to make the playoffs, but they also have to look to the future. They need to play Forsberg enough to decide if he is part of their future. I think his style is similar to Crawford's and in the AHL Forsberg played better with a heavy workload. When Crawford first came up was awful handling the puck. So there is hope for Forsberg in that respect too.

Physically and speedwise Hino and Arvidsson are pretty similar. I am not saying Hino is now or ever will be as good as Arvidsson, but the possibility is there.

This is a young team and a new team. Forwards, Dmen and goalies have been put through the Q blender. I would like to see Q keep the lines and pairings together a little more. I also do not like Q switching wingers from LW to RW. Let them play either LW or RW for the rest of the year. I would like him to stick with Forsberg except for the occasional back to backs, sink or swim.

I liked Wingels taking on Watson last night. The Hawks need more of that.

The difference between winning or losing is razor thin. With the talent and young players on this Hawks team there is very little margin for error. In past years the Hawks would be outplayed for all or part of some games but still find a way to win, similar to last night. Goaltending played a huge part in those wins in past years.

Overall I would agree with Stan. I like this team too. Their inconsistency is maddening, but it is to be expected of a young team with a lot of new faces. There are plenty of players on this team at all positions with a lot of upside potential. The question is will they ever play up to their potential.

The next six games should be very telling.

Like Cody Franson, I think you have seen the last of Lance Bouma in the lineup.
- RickJ

Don't count on that. If we make the playoffs, they will become useful again as the refereeing rules change for the post season.

That Hinostroza guy has been quite the addition. Every time I check to see who is doing the scoring in the Chicago games, his name is always appearing!

Did Kane find himself a new Panarin? Are they playing together?
- LeafGuy89

They are not playing together but probably should be as evidenced by the couple of shifts together last night when Saad sat after getting hit with the puck or something.

I hope that Q noticed that this combination with Schmaltz looked dynamite during this time together.

Don't count on that. If we make the playoffs, they will become useful again as the refereeing rules change for the post season.
- 67hawks

If those 2 are in the lineup again there won't be any playoffs to worry about.

The Hawks need to try to make the playoffs, but they also have to look to the future. They need to play Forsberg enough to decide if he is part of their future. I think his style is similar to Crawford's and in the AHL Forsberg played better with a heavy workload. When Crawford first came up was awful handling the puck. So there is hope for Forsberg in that respect too.

Physically and speedwise Hino and Arvidsson are pretty similar. I am not saying Hino is now or ever will be as good as Arvidsson, but the possibility is there.

This is a young team and a new team. Forwards, Dmen and goalies have been put through the Q blender. I would like to see Q keep the lines and pairings together a little more. I also do not like Q switching wingers from LW to RW. Let them play either LW or RW for the rest of the year. I would like him to stick with Forsberg except for the occasional back to backs, sink or swim.

I liked Wingels taking on Watson last night. The Hawks need more of that.

The difference between winning or losing is razor thin. With the talent and young players on this Hawks team there is very little margin for error. In past years the Hawks would be outplayed for all or part of some games but still find a way to win, similar to last night. Goaltending played a huge part in those wins in past years.

Overall I would agree with Stan. I like this team too. Their inconsistency is maddening, but it is to be expected of a young team with a lot of new faces. There are plenty of players on this team at all positions with a lot of upside potential. The question is will they ever play up to their potential.

The next six games should be very telling.
- -Doh-

Forsling and Rutta could draw in and play with greater amount of confidance when forwards are helping out like last night.

One game at a time. Should they play same way vs Canucks.

Forsling and Rutta could draw in and play with greater amount of confidance when forwards are helping out like last night.

One game at a time. Should they play same way vs Canucks.
- jhawk59

The way this season has gone so far, I am almost expecting them to lay an egg against the Canucks.

duh, you write for them you must have some type of admiration.

That Hinostroza guy has been quite the addition. Every time I check to see who is doing the scoring in the Chicago games, his name is always appearing!

Did Kane find himself a new Panarin? Are they playing together?
- LeafGuy89

I can admit that I wasn't a Hinostroza fan at the start of the season, but he's won me over. I don't think the guy is a superstar but he's a hard working, quality depth forward.

Playoffs or not this team still needs to make some changes in the summer. Not as drastic as last year and with a focus on defense. I think the team already has a solid foundation up front but they just need more time to come together.

Guys I think are gone next year are Bouma, Wingels, Sharp, Rutta, Kempny, and Franson.

Guys that I think are 50/50 to return are Gustafsson, Duclair, Jurco.

Guys that I would expect to make the jump from the minors/college/Europe would be Hayden, Forsling and Sikura.

Guys who could/should have a reduced rolenext season - Oesterle.

I would expect to see Hinostroza, Murphy, DeBrincat, Hartman, Forsberg and Schmaltz continue to grow and make even bigger contributions to the team.

I agree with Justin, I think Forsberg has been overlooked as a key piece of the youth going forward. He's needed some time to adjust to the NHL game like any young players needs but he's really starting to find his groove.

Justin or anyone one observation I took and would like the hawks to stop doing is always looking for a tic tak toe goal especially kane and smaltz shoot the puck play north south game shoot the puck crash the net playing for playoffs lives in my opinion should be the mindset. D looked better for most of the game wouldn't mine if they input some sort of modify trap to offset d zone pressure. Still have my doubts that this team can make the playoffs but we'll see. Now question is what does Bowman do
at the TDL to continue doing trades like the duclair trade but need a young leddy type d man, so my question to the panel do trade dcat for a top 3 d man that is a leddy type player puckmoving great skater that skate the puck out of trouble push the pace make end to end rushes and quarterback a pp .

Big win last night...biggest of the season. So let's see if they can actually string a few W's together. It'll be interesting to see what they do here at the TDL if those wins happen.

Kudos to Forsberg except for his brain cramp behind the net last night. Kid was stellar.

The Hawks looked dangerous at times last night with their speed, but still getting pushed around a bit...still need more scoring. I mentioned Pat Maroon last night as well as a couple of others...he's more of a banger and is finding the net. Or similar.

Meanwhile on the backend we continue to see rotating of the d corps - assuming they're showcasing some of the younger defense prior to the TDL. Should be interesting the next couple of weeks -TDL Feb 26th.

On to Van...

the guys that I did not love last night were Kane. was being way to cute a bunch of times by the blue line and let it go out. Keith's 1st period was not good, but he got better later, but he may never score another goal his shot is so weak its shocking. Subbans slapper is twice the speed of Keith. I think if we have a shot at the playoffs this is the only lineup that can do it. Our Big guys are just not dominate enough to allow ourselves to get nothing from 2-3 lines. We need to get points up and down the lineup for us to win at 65% clip. Guys like Bouma and sharp, Glass can help you split games IE win 50% but we need more then that. Juco, forsburg, Kempny can be bad sometimes (no more then keith Seabs Saad, Teows) but they have way more positive effect on the game when they are good then the other guys. Hartman might be a guy I would consider sitting but for bouma and sharp I'm just not sure.

The power play personal is better but explain to me why the call the drop back pass the push them back entry? not one Nash player leaves the blue line when the 1st guy is coming at them knowing they are going to drop it back 40 feet and then have 4 hawks players standing still. Not enough room for 9 guys on the blue line. They way you get guys moving backwards is you have multiple players and the puck entering the zone with speed.
- kmw4631

I wouldn't sit Hartman after his last 2 games. He, on at least 3 occasions, carried the puck in the zone by himself with at least 2 Preds hanging off of him. Got the puck deep and setup some offensive zone possession. We need that kind of play right now. Maybe he doesn't socre, but those plays were great effort. He just needs to stop taking a stupid penalty late in the game. That almost cost the entire game.

1). MARKSROM is a large size goalie who appears to finally be trending (trending? Ok moving) from prospect to NHL goalkeeper.

2)..The Sedin sisters have a new stud offensive rookie in Boeser. And they are not playing as a threesome line. The Canucks sure look like an overachieving team. Oh they have Horvat too.