How is saying I don' believe they are insiders attacking them? I never even said it to one of the bloggers, I was commenting on these supposed rumors that gets everyone all riled up that likely aren't true. Jesus christ there are a bunch of whiners on here.
- GPHawksfan

Get used to it, and just be glad Eli’s disappeared.

Not encouraging, at least in my opinion

7 months later, not 100%
not only hasn't gotten on ice yet, but he hasn't been deemed ready
- pdx2ord

Seems to equal an LTIR to start the season for CC.

Seems to equal an LTIR to start the season for CC.
- z1990z

You'd think it's likely, since Q won't carry three goalies

From Keith:

"There's still a month, a month and a half until training camp and hopefully he's ready.
"And if he's not ready for training camp, hopefully he's ready for Game 1.
"If he's not ready for Game 1, hopefully he's ready by Christmas or something."
@DuncanKeith on Corey Crawford

Awesome

You'd think it's likely, since Q won't carry three goalies

From Keith:

"There's still a month, a month and a half until training camp and hopefully he's ready.
"And if he's not ready for training camp, hopefully he's ready for Game 1.
"If he's not ready for Game 1, hopefully he's ready by Christmas or something."
@DuncanKeith on Corey Crawford

Awesome
- pdx2ord

I actually thought this was an attempt at sarcasm, but Keith actually said it! Hopefully it was Keith’s attempt at sarcasm, I could see that from Keith.

I actually thought this was an attempt at sarcasm, but Keith actually said it! Hopefully it was Keith’s attempt at sarcasm, I could see that from Keith.
- walleyeb1

Yeah, he does have an incredibly dry, snarky sense of humor

From the Powers writeup:

Crawford also wouldn’t discuss his rehab.

“I’m not going to get into what I’m doing right now,” said Crawford, who appeared to tear up as he spoke. “Treatments are going well, and we’re making small steps. I’m getting a little better. It’s a process. It’s been a process since I left in December. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ll be back.”

Blackhawks goalie coach Jimmy Waite said he isn’t concerned by the fact Crawford has yet to get on the ice.

“Getting back on the ice, that’s not a big deal right now,” Waite said. “We’re six weeks away from camp. If he can get back on the ice a couple weeks before camp, maybe that first week he’s going to feel rusty, but that comes back real quick. He’s working in the gym, off ice. He’ll be ready. I’m not worried about it.”

“He’s a competitor,” Waite said. “He works hard. I think his game is very solid. He’s got that type of game he’s not a goalie that relies only on his reflexes. He’s very strong technically and positionally. All that together, he’s going to get back and be the same goalie he was.”

Waite did say a target of 55 games would be good for Crawford next season.

Waite did say a target of 55 games would be good for Crawford next season.
- pdx2ord

Not sure what to make of Waite's comment about 55 games. When viewing Crawford's career stats, even when healthy he plays between 55-59 games (not counting the lockout year). He's never player 60 or more games in a season. Playing 55 games is Crawford's norm, so Waite is essentially saying it should be business as usual for Crawford this season (at least that's my interpretation).

One factor to consider, though, is that Crawford has had solid backups in years before last year, i.e. Emery (RIP), Raanta, Darling, who could play 25+ games.

Not sure what to make of Waite's comment about 55 games. When viewing Crawford's career stats, even when healthy he plays between 55-59 games (not counting the lockout year). He's never player 60 or more games in a season. Last season could have been the year he put in 60+ as he had played 55 games before going down.
- AEL_Fox

I think he was on pace for about 58-60 games last season (played in 28 of the first 39). I think the Hawks are probably just easing him back because there is no reason to risk a setback at this point. If he is working out off ice, he doesn't need a lot of time to get back into it. I think he plays game 1.

Yeah he’d just be a stop gap without mortgaging the future.
- walleyeb1

I'm just wondering how much he would provide for us. It's signing Sharp all over again. Great player in his prime but no longer able to contribute like years past

Hopefully there is no thought of tanking, at least until they're eliminated from the playoffs (if that should happen) - but there will be some pretty good players at the top of the 2019 draft, probably led by Jack Hughes who would be a pretty nice consolation prize for missing the playoffs. I know it would be long odds but imagine the top-9 in a couple years if the Hawks win the draft lottery next June.

Saad-Toews-Schmaltz
DeBrincat-Hughes-Kane
Soderlund-Wise-Sikura



- EbonyRaptor

Toews isn't even a 1C now(or if he is, he's one of the worst in the league).

You still expect him there in a couple years?

No, my feelings pertaining to you - you are a pathetic troll that has nothing else better to do then to sit behind a keyboard and tear down others that don't share your misguided and erroneous opinions.

You fit the narratives of people like Goalie-33.

If you were to leave this site permanently - you won't be missed.
- dahawks8819

His special you're better off not responding to him. He should just go back to the Preds site where he usually likes to hang out

I'm not sure anyone's feelings are getting hurt.

They do a lot of work behind the scenes to dig up information for you. If you want to disagree with them, that's OK, but whether you agree or disagree, do not attack them personally.

I will say if your opinion of the bloggers on this site who offer up different views and opinions for conversation are so troubling to you, that maybe you would be better off on another site.
- Makita

Back in the day when they where building the new Metchosen firehall I as a logger had no problem with the tree huggers chaining themselves to the trees,people need to be more civil.It has been a awhile since I lived in your neck of the woods but as soon as I saw your location

Watched Crawford's interview and just saw him introduced...……..to me he "just don't look right". Seems a bit off in both his speech and movement to me at least. Seems a bit of a stretch for him to be game ready in less than 3 short months.

Toews isn't even a 1C now(or if he is, he's one of the worst in the league).

You still expect him there in a couple years?
- SimpleJack

3C...at best

Boy Crawford did not look right at the convention, I would be very surprised if he is ready for game 1.

What is concerning with the lack of trade movement is this. Does Stan want to mortgage young talent to land a Patch or Skinner? Just to make the playoffs? Hawks are in a transition period. They need to be smart. We cant toss away young talent to simply try and make the playoffs next year. Way too many questions on the team right now. CC health and the fall off in play with Toews, Keith and Kane. A possible lame duck HC in Q if the team struggles out of the gate.

If Stan and the upper management are not on the same page then that is the first change that is needed. Maybe we go as is and see what shakes out. Then at the deadline see a Keith or Seabs moved to a playoff team. Seabs is a long shot to go anywhere, but Keith could/should bring another first round pick/prospects. Time to start the rebuild.
- z1990z

I'm not ready to call Toews, Keith and especially Kane "has-been's" at this point.. The whole team had a bad season last year, not only that but Toews, Keith and Kane were overworked all season considering half of the team was stacked with rookies, I mean the Hawks played 20 rookies last season, and obviously that's because of cap issues. Bowman had to get the salary cap figured out long-term and he did just that and the Hawks had a terrible season because of it.. I have faith that year (and AHL playoff run) for Hayden, Sikura, Ejdsell etc did them a lot of good. Kids that age can develop tremendously over a summer, so I honestly think the Hawks won't be nearly as bad as they were last season -- especially if Crawford is healthy and ready to go (I have my doubts) however you have to remember that last season when Crawford went down the Hawks were still in a playoff position, and IMO I think Crawford's health will play a large role in where the Hawks end up this upcoming season.

And like I have pointed out previously - every season has pleasant surprises, last season it was DeBrincat and Schmaltz, so who knows who will be the surprises this season.. For all we know Crawford starts the season on LTIR, the Hawks are forced to start Ward, that doesn't work out and the Hawks look to Delia and he turns out to be the future #1 of the Hawks - and that isn't a crazy thought either because that's how things happen in hockey - Darling is a perfect example of that.. For all we know Sikura or Ejdsell (or even Kampf) walks right into that 2nd line left wing hole and plays like a stud.... I mean the fact Bowman is willing to give the kids the opportunity to fill these obvious holes the Hawks have at #2 left wing & top 4 defense show's he has faith in the kids he drafted may be ready to fill those holes.... (That or the ask on allegedly available players is too high or UFA's have no interest signing 1-year deals)... Either way I would approach this upcoming season the same as Bowman... The Hawks have a lot of talent (more and better talent than they get credit for by some) so you don't want to go trading away kids that have first/second pairing potential or top 6 potential for a 1-year patch like Patches (no pun intended
) ......

I know "newer" er younger Hawks fans are frustrated with last season and the Hawks need to make some drastic move, that the #2 and a top 4 role needs to be filled by an established NHL stud, but that's how teams get into trouble - heck that's how the Hawks failed basically from about 1994-2008 - they were always looking for that "legitimate" vet that could fill that role, and they were always past their prime...A good example is when the Hawks signed Doug Gilmour, then decided to trade him a year later with JP Dumont or when the Hawks traded Bryan McCabe for Karpovtsev..

The Hawks have been great for a decade because they developed their kids and made minor moves (at the time) that paid off bigly down the road..

So yes, I agree - trading Schmaltz, top picks, DeBrincat or young studs like Nicolas Beaudin for a quick fix is not the way to fix the Hawks...... As it is the Hawks still have a great team -- younger fans or bandwagon fans can point to last season as evidence that Toews, Kane and Keith are falling off of a cliff but I can point to 7-8 seasons that suggest last season was an anomaly..

Watched Crawford's interview and just saw him introduced...……..to me he "just don't look right". Seems a bit off in both his speech and movement to me at least. Seems a bit of a stretch for him to be game ready in less than 3 short months.
- BobP.

Better or worse or just about the same when compared to his last interview during that PR debacle in AZ?

3C...at best
- DarthKane

Supposed fans of the sport have been saying this crap for the last decade, until Toews hoists the Cup and for a month he's one of the better centers in the game.

It's funny, you can tell a whole lot about a "fans" hockey knowledge based on their opinion of Toews....They're incapable of seeing what makes him an excellent hockey player..... I mean I'll agree and admit he didn't have the best 17-18 season, but even a bad season from Towes would be an excellent season for the average center...

Toews is easily one of the best defensive forwards I've ever witnessed, and I've been a fan for 35 years..... Toews' problem is that at times he can have extremely bad droughts where he couldn't buy a goal with his 10.5 salary - he gets his chances but he either hits the post, the goalie makes a save he had no business making or the puck just stops short of the line.... I suppose my point is for a guy that's known as a "winner" everywhere he played he's had some pretty bad luck to go along with that winning - and every time he doesn't OFFENSIVELY perform to expectations he get's thrown under the bus by those that don't even understand the sport yet pretend they do..... One day Toews is an untouchable hero to some and 6 months later those same "fans" would drive him to the airport for a bag of pucks...

It's pretty hilarious....

Every coach and GM in this league would love to have Toews, even at 30, because hockey is more about "intangibles" than it is scoring 50 goals with a 12.4 shooting percentage..

Supposed fans of the sport have been saying this crap for the last decade, until Toews hoists the Cup and for a month he's one of the better centers in the game.

It's funny, you can tell a whole lot about a "fans" hockey knowledge based on their opinion of Toews....They're incapable of seeing what makes him an excellent hockey player..... I mean I'll agree and admit he didn't have the best 17-18 season, but even a bad season from Towes would be an excellent season for the average center...

Toews is easily one of the best defensive forwards I've ever witnessed, and I've been a fan for 35 years..... Toews' problem is that at times he can have extremely bad droughts where he couldn't buy a goal with his 10.5 salary - he gets his chances but he either hits the post, the goalie makes a save he had no business making or the puck just stops short of the line.... I suppose my point is for a guy that's known as a "winner" everywhere he played he's had some pretty bad luck to go along with that winning - and every time he doesn't OFFENSIVELY perform to expectations he get's thrown under the bus by those that don't even understand the sport yet pretend they do..... One day Toews is an untouchable hero to some and 6 months later those same "fans" would drive him to the airport for a bag of pucks...

It's pretty hilarious....

Every coach and GM in this league would love to have Toews, even at 30, because hockey is more about "intangibles" than it is scoring 50 goals with a 12.4 shooting percentage..
- Savard2Secord

So you’re saying Toews is more of a 4C?

Better or worse or just about the same when compared to his last interview during that PR debacle in AZ?
- pdx2ord

Well, to me he seemed better, but far from what I remember him to be prior to all this non-sense. I also find it a bit alarming that no one is forthcoming with anything resembling details of any kind. And before anyone jumps me about HEPPA laws, yea I get that, but this is pro sports we're talking about. Been watching most of them all my life(67 now) and I've never seen any other sport be so non-transparent about injuries as the NHL is.

Anyway, today's "performance" makes me question several things about Mr. Crawford's' future going forward as it is.


PS. But not a lot better. Even my wife commented in kind. And she's a huge Cory fan.

Boy Crawford did not look right at the convention, I would be very surprised if he is ready for game 1.
- Scott1977

Well, I have a little inside info (lets just say I'm related to someone that works for the organization in a limited capacity of no real importance, but they have eyes and ears) and from what I have heard his "upper body" injury isn't physical at all (it's not a concussion either - which is why I have had my doubts when I post about Crawford...

I don't expect Corey to be back - ever. Although I'm sure the Blackhawks will give him every opportunity, and we may see him at some point this season but 90% chance he won't be the same goalie he was..

People can take that information how they like, I'm just saying don't be shocked to see Ward, Delia,Lankinen & Forsberg competing for starting and backup roles at camp... Heck, don't be shocked if the Hawks come to terms with Ivan Nalimov either ....

Supposed fans of the sport have been saying this crap for the last decade, until Toews hoists the Cup and for a month he's one of the better centers in the game.

It's funny, you can tell a whole lot about a "fans" hockey knowledge based on their opinion of Toews....They're incapable of seeing what makes him an excellent hockey player..... I mean I'll agree and admit he didn't have the best 17-18 season, but even a bad season from Towes would be an excellent season for the average center...

Toews is easily one of the best defensive forwards I've ever witnessed, and I've been a fan for 35 years..... Toews' problem is that at times he can have extremely bad droughts where he couldn't buy a goal with his 10.5 salary - he gets his chances but he either hits the post, the goalie makes a save he had no business making or the puck just stops short of the line.... I suppose my point is for a guy that's known as a "winner" everywhere he played he's had some pretty bad luck to go along with that winning - and every time he doesn't OFFENSIVELY perform to expectations he get's thrown under the bus by those that don't even understand the sport yet pretend they do..... One day Toews is an untouchable hero to some and 6 months later those same "fans" would drive him to the airport for a bag of pucks...

It's pretty hilarious....

Every coach and GM in this league would love to have Toews, even at 30, because hockey is more about "intangibles" than it is scoring 50 goals with a 12.4 shooting percentage..
- Savard2Secord

That’s a whole boatload of trash. Are you Toews’ cousin or agent? Your assessment of Toews on-ice play last season is comical, as is your classification of those who criticize the (formerly) highest paid player in the game as people who lack hockey knowledge. Get off the soap box and try a character limit on your posts. Toews eye test and statistical production pale in comparison to all other players making over $8mil a season.

This isn’t 2013, it’s 2018. Until proven otherwise, those of us without the Rose Colored Glasses and cups full of Blackhawk bandwagon kool aid will continue to criticize #19. Everyone who does criticize Toews WANTS him to be the guy who played like a $10mil 1C, but there’s nothing to suggest he will ever be that guy again given his age, mileage, injury history, and demeanor (based on recent interviews that sound like he’s in retrospection about to retire)

Hawks should start thinking about bringing in manson in on a pto for training camp. Hate to say it but I think crow is done hope i am wrong.

Hawks should start thinking about bringing in manson in on a pto for training camp. Hate to say it but I think crow is done hope i am wrong.
- Scott1977

Would love to have him, but Manson is signed with the Ducks through 2022. Did you mean someone else?

Would love to have him, but Manson is signed with the Ducks through 2022. Did you mean someone else?
- AEL_Fox

I think he may have been referring to Mason. I don't know if he is under contract

Supposed fans of the sport have been saying this crap for the last decade, until Toews hoists the Cup and for a month he's one of the better centers in the game.

It's funny, you can tell a whole lot about a "fans" hockey knowledge based on their opinion of Toews....They're incapable of seeing what makes him an excellent hockey player..... I mean I'll agree and admit he didn't have the best 17-18 season, but even a bad season from Towes would be an excellent season for the average center...

Toews is easily one of the best defensive forwards I've ever witnessed, and I've been a fan for 35 years..... Toews' problem is that at times he can have extremely bad droughts where he couldn't buy a goal with his 10.5 salary - he gets his chances but he either hits the post, the goalie makes a save he had no business making or the puck just stops short of the line.... I suppose my point is for a guy that's known as a "winner" everywhere he played he's had some pretty bad luck to go along with that winning - and every time he doesn't OFFENSIVELY perform to expectations he get's thrown under the bus by those that don't even understand the sport yet pretend they do..... One day Toews is an untouchable hero to some and 6 months later those same "fans" would drive him to the airport for a bag of pucks...

It's pretty hilarious....

Every coach and GM in this league would love to have Toews, even at 30, because hockey is more about "intangibles" than it is scoring 50 goals with a 12.4 shooting percentage..
- Savard2Secord

Not at 10.5 mil, with stone hands and a lazy back check.