Remember when JJ wanted to trade Kane For Nash?


Good times, good times.

#badforthebrand
- Ogilthorpe2

I do remember that......lots of crazy rumors out there.

I did enjoy seeing Kane out there today working on his game....wish some other star players on this team would follow his lead and improve their games yearly.....instead we hear how "this is my 1st time on the ice.." for guys who are regressing at a substantial rate.

But hey......they will rebound.....just because.

I do remember that......lots of crazy rumors out there.

I did enjoy seeing Kane out there today working on his game....wish some other star players on this team would follow his lead and improve their games yearly.....instead we hear how "this is my 1st time on the ice.." for guys who are regressing at a substantial rate.

But hey......they will rebound.....just because.
- SteveRain

It seems like a long time since they've been on the ice in anger - and it has been - 15 weeks, I think - but there are still almost 11 weeks until the season opens, and about 7 until camp.

Enough time to get it all back.

I do remember that......lots of crazy rumors out there.

I did enjoy seeing Kane out there today working on his game....wish some other star players on this team would follow his lead and improve their games yearly.....instead we hear how "this is my 1st time on the ice.." for guys who are regressing at a substantial rate.

But hey......they will rebound.....just because.
- SteveRain

That was like only the second time on the ice for Kane, wasn't it? He doesn't usually start skating until July like many many players. In the summer before Kane's Art Ross season, he didn't skate until he got to Chicago in September.

Even Crosby and others start skating in July, unless they have a deep run - I remember after 2016 there was a story about him not getting back until August. They do other off-ice training instead.

That was like only the second time on the ice for Kane, wasn't it? He doesn't usually start skating until July like many many players. In the summer before Kane's Art Ross season, he didn't skate until he got to Chicago in September.

Even Crosby and others start skating in July, unless they have a deep run - I remember after 2016 there was a story about him not getting back until August. They do other off-ice training instead.
- L_B_R

Their weight bearing joints need the down time.

I do remember that......lots of crazy rumors out there.

I did enjoy seeing Kane out there today working on his game....wish some other star players on this team would follow his lead and improve their games yearly.....instead we hear how "this is my 1st time on the ice.." for guys who are regressing at a substantial rate.

But hey......they will rebound.....just because.
- SteveRain

I'm not expecting much out Saad either.

I'm not expecting much out Saad either.
- Beaver-Warrior

Getting married this weekend

here is livestream of prospect scrimmage:https://www.nhl.com/black...ge/t-277437096/c-44953703

I'm not expecting much out Saad either.
- Beaver-Warrior

Saad will rebound this season with 30 goals.

Saad will rebound this season with 30 goals.
- DarthKane

Along with 40 assists.

Getting married this weekend

here is livestream of prospect scrimmage:https://www.nhl.com/black...ge/t-277437096/c-44953703
- pdx2ord

Livestream not working..anybody else?

Their weight bearing joints need the down time.
- 35Tony0

Yeah, I think some have unrealistic expectations for timeline of players being on the ice in the summer. Like Kane last season started training with Schmaltz, Hino, Hartman, etc in mid July with Brian Keane too. July is perfectly normal for the start of on-ice work.

Livestream not working..anybody else?
- MjulQvist

It froze up and hasn't been fixed TMK

Hawks just posted this on Twitter - may be between periods?

https://twitter.com/NHLBl...tatus/1020325804394393600

It froze up and hasn't been fixed TMK
- pdx2ord

Another Bowman failure!

The play isn't the problem - the players making those plays are.

Truth of the matter is the Hawks played 20 rookies last season and they clearly were not up to playing on the level the vets are accustomed to, and that dragged them down - not only that but guys like Toews and Keith were overworked... With the Hawks teams of the past everyone was on the same page and those outlet passes were second nature to them, but the kids have never played on that level - they're rookies and they're going to make rookie mistakes... I'm sure the kids will be a lot better this season after an NHL season under their belt, a Calder Cup run and a summer to get stronger both mentally and physically... Kids that age can grow tremendously over the course of a summer....I mean some fans are acting like these kids have reached their ceiling, when many have only scratched the surface of their potential.. I know last season was painful to watch but the kids are NHL ready and the only way they're going to further their development is by playing in the league.

And if it matters that stretch pass has worked more times than not, I bet anything that stretch passed lead to more goals than it has steals the turned into goals...

Besides that stretch pass is a difficult pass to defend against - if the checker tries to break up the pass and he misses it it's an odd man rush for the Hawks, if not a breakaway... Guys like Keith know what they're doing with the stretch pass..
- Savard2Secord

There will still be massive growing pains with young players. It happens in all sports and you can't say that after only 1 summer and physical development that all goes by the way side.

I also contend that Toews and Keith both have been declining regardless of being overworked. Until I see 19 stop falling down constantly and producing again, and maybe Kruger's existence IF he is healthy (huge IF) helps 19 out. As far as 2 goes, his game has been disruptive when he had speed and the NHL allowed more stick work. Now Keith gets dominated below the dots as we all saw by Johansson in the spring of 17.

Too many ifs...…...too much HAS to go right for the playoffs to happen, where in the past too much HAD to go wrong to NOT make the playoffs.

And look Crawford....I have heard this before...all last winter and he never played another minute.....to be out 4+ months and then miraculously be OK to go is hard to fathom. Also why I think Bowman overpaid in AAV and NTC to get Ward here and I;m sure Ward knows he has a very good chance of seeing 30+ games this year.....and I don't see how they carry 3 goalies and will they lose Forsberg for nothing if he has to pass through waivers to Rockford (have to check the capfriendly)

Love your optimism but I need to see a few things before I proclaim "All is well"

That was like only the second time on the ice for Kane, wasn't it? He doesn't usually start skating until July like many many players. In the summer before Kane's Art Ross season, he didn't skate until he got to Chicago in September.

Even Crosby and others start skating in July, unless they have a deep run - I remember after 2016 there was a story about him not getting back until August. They do other off-ice training instead.
- L_B_R

Point is kane puts in individual work and you could argue has improved each year in some capacity of his game. I know 1 guy here blames Kane for ALL that goes wrong with the Hawks, but his 200 ft game is very good right now.....Kane used to be pass first, shoot second.....now he has a very good shot and is threat to score. No longer an Adam Oates type player.

That's my point.....Do we think Keith ever works on his shot to improve it? If he does it doesn't show on the ice. Guy had what? 1 goal last year? Was on an all time bad pace for shooting percentage. Toews? No idea but he and Keith's numbers continue to point down...…

The only other star player I recall improving dramatically was Sharp who was hell bent on making Team Canada in 2014 and came out blazing after working his @ss off all summer.....including the shoot out.

hard work pays off...….lets hope 2/7/20/19 are putting it in and not relying on god given skill or else nothing will change.

It seems like a long time since they've been on the ice in anger - and it has been - 15 weeks, I think - but there are still almost 11 weeks until the season opens, and about 7 until camp.

Enough time to get it all back.
- StLBravesFan

Yeah but in the past this team was playing year after year deep into the spring.....They have played all of 4 playoff games in the past 2 years and haven't advanced past mid april since they won their last cup. So staying off the ice for a proglonged period after a long season, doesn't jive anymore.

Point is....too many guys on this team are regressing and you would hope pride would kick in and they would ramp it up and come in their best shape, and let their games speak for themselves.....instead of the lip service we got all of last year.

It's only July....so I will hold off until the fall...…..but very guys seem to improve each year on this team on their individual games and seem complacent.

Another Bowman failure!
- MjulQvist

Don't forget Q.....I'm sure since he hates newer things and players he pushed for an AOL type server......

Looks like there was more to the story than some quotes posted earlier (bolded) from Toews (reported from the Herald/John Dietz)...

"If you sneak in it doesn't matter. You can go a long ways," Toews said. "For us, thinking of, 'OK, we're going to win a Cup this year. It sounds like a longshot.'

"But, as always, our No. 1 goal is getting back to the playoffs and being ready to hit our stride when we get there."

Toews laughed when asked how much playoff hockey he watched, saying "more than usual." And at one point, he thought about how amazing it was the Hawks had reached the playoffs for nine straight seasons.

"Obviously, there's no satisfaction there, but you understand it's not the worst thing to stop and smell the roses and appreciate what you've been able to experience," Toews said. "Because failing to get to the playoffs makes you realize how difficult it really is and maybe it's something you took for granted.

"But watching more hockey this spring is something that was really motivating and inspiring and exciting to want to get back to that level again.

"You dream of playing in the NHL, but at the end of the day, you want to play playoff hockey. That's what it's all about."
- HawkintheD

Sorry, no excuses here.

He is the captain, being paid $10.5MM a year. If I am signing his paycheck, and I hear three years into a decline that suddenly watching more playoff hockey than usual this offseason was the tipping point to truly motivate and excite you to get back on the horse, and that all along you have taken prior success for granted....I call BS.

And also that “what its all about” is playoff hockey comment?? No. What its all about is winning the Cup. You know - ONE GOAL.

I have a hard time believing the ONE GOAL mantra is to just make the playoffs. And if that is truly the level of expectation being set by your on ice leader.........

Point is kane puts in individual work and you could argue has improved each year in some capacity of his game. I know 1 guy here blames Kane for ALL that goes wrong with the Hawks, but his 200 ft game is very good right now.....Kane used to be pass first, shoot second.....now he has a very good shot and is threat to score. No longer an Adam Oates type player.

That's my point.....Do we think Keith ever works on his shot to improve it? If he does it doesn't show on the ice. Guy had what? 1 goal last year? Was on an all time bad pace for shooting percentage. Toews? No idea but he and Keith's numbers continue to point down...…

The only other star player I recall improving dramatically was Sharp who was hell bent on making Team Canada in 2014 and came out blazing after working his @ss off all summer.....including the shoot out.

hard work pays off...….lets hope 2/7/20/19 are putting it in and not relying on god given skill or else nothing will change.
- SteveRain

You are well entitled to your opinion, but as you state several times in this passage, you have no idea what they are or aren't doing to prepare.

I'm not giving them a pass on their performance (particularly last year), but to imply that they aren't doing anything to improve their games is pure speculation.

Sorry, no excuses here.

He is the captain, being paid $10.5MM a year. If I am signing his paycheck, and I hear three years into a decline that suddenly watching more playoff hockey than usual this offseason was the tipping point to truly motivate and excite you to get back on the horse, and that all along you have taken prior success for granted....I call BS.

And also that “what its all about” is playoff hockey comment?? No. What its all about is winning the Cup. You know - ONE GOAL.

I have a hard time believing the ONE GOAL mantra is to just make the playoffs. And if that is truly the level of expectation being set by your on ice leader.........
- Return of the Roar

Just printing the rest of the interview which you left out for whatever reason.

He said the goal was making the playoffs and “being ready to hit their stride” when they get there which isn’t exactly the same thing as where you left it at.

Same thing with the other quote you offered. You chopped off part of it for effect.

I don’t disagree that JT needs to be offering a lot more than he is at his current Cap Hit...Just pointing out that what you said wasn’t exactly what he said, just a portion and that after not making the playoffs, their goal should probably be making them and going from there.

I think you both have valid here. Remember back in the hay day. Hawks were an offensive machine controlling possession and dictating play, one of the reasons why they were always at the bottom of the league in hits. Also their defensive style based on that was holding their O blue line and and neutral zone and blowing up any counters or controlled break ups (Keith was probably the best in the NHL at that). So rarely at to puck retrieve with the backs away from the play and if so guys were skilled enough to D to D weak side and out with winger coming back. The stretch posed to concerns for the other team: dangerous outlet and the other to keep them honest so the opposing D could not jump and or in pinch in Hawks D zone thus breaking it up.

System or no system coaches and especially players on the ice can and should adapt to forechecking style in both structure and live play ie, stretch pass, blow the zone to create open ice for the center at the vacated boards, winger making an inside cut to get open, etc. Player support here is huge! It goes without saying that you need the players to have the necessary skating and skills to make these plays and also the confidence in himself and probably more importantly Coach Q.
- D2D

Yes sir. Keep your feet moving, find a seam and become a target. Film work (coaches prepare players for the opponent) and hockey IQ should create OPTIONS.

You mention when the Hawks were winning cups the Hawk engine started with the Dmen triggering and as you say hold the blueline. It just seemed that the Hawks often times had 6 skaters on the ice in that there was always support which created flow. The positioning and IQ had a lot to do with that. I'd add the number one element was 23 hungry hungry hockey players who would swarm to win a puck and play hard away from it (support). ........ Seems it's been a long time since night in and night out the Hawks were the hungriest of the 2 teams on the ice.

Solid post sir.

Wonder if Kapanen would be available in Toronto? might fit in the top six in Chicago.

Wonder if Kapanen would be available in Toronto? might fit in the top six in Chicago.
- ikeane

IF IF IF the Hawks deal with TOR at the TDL I wondered if Kapenen would have to be part of a package from the Hawks perspective. +++ speed with good size.

Sorry, no excuses here.

He is the captain, being paid $10.5MM a year. If I am signing his paycheck, and I hear three years into a decline that suddenly watching more playoff hockey than usual this offseason was the tipping point to truly motivate and excite you to get back on the horse, and that all along you have taken prior success for granted....I call BS.

And also that “what its all about” is playoff hockey comment?? No. What its all about is winning the Cup. You know - ONE GOAL.

I have a hard time believing the ONE GOAL mantra is to just make the playoffs. And if that is truly the level of expectation being set by your on ice leader.........
- Return of the Roar

I think you may be taking his statements a bit too literal. He's just answering an interview question, and elaborating on what he saw.

I thought the "what its all about" comment was actually spot on (and MIGHT be influenced by his assessment of the current players under contract).

I just think you may be taking these comments a bit too seriously (especially for mid-July), but what do I know? I'm the same guy who thinks that the best advice I can give my wife is to relax. 10% of the time it works every time.

Red Hawks win in SO

I think you may be taking his statements a bit too literal. He's just answering an interview question, and elaborating on what he saw.

I thought the "what its all about" comment was actually spot on (and MIGHT be influenced by his assessment of the current players under contract).

I just think you may be taking these comments a bit too seriously (especially for mid-July), but what do I know? I'm the same guy who thinks that the best advice I can give my wife is to relax. 10% of the time it works every time.
- Chunk

Pretty much and really don’t give a fig about winning the PR battle. He’s not paid necessarily as a sound bite so if he misspoke or wasn’t fiery enough, I don’t care.

Just want him to show up when it’s time to and do Toews like things again.