Anton Forsberg on waivers.
- Justin Lowe

this should be interesting

Kane gets swallowed up and coughs up the puck like anyone else. Unwilling to take hits spans beyond Schmaltz. Kane does make players around him better, I won't argue that.

How about agree to disagree, you're set on Schmaltz one way and I'm set the other way?
- I Am The Breadman

Schmaltz took some hits to make plays last night. He also made a great defensive play in Columbus and then drove the net and took two guys with him that opened up a lane for Kane and Seabs, resulted in a goal.

It looks like to me he avoids contact often because he knows he is going to lose the strength battle. I think he really needs 10-15lbs of muscle. It took Kane 4-5 years to really put on muscle.

Schmaltz has also looked good on his own away from Kane. He maintains possession very well.

Anton Forsberg on waivers.
- Justin Lowe

anybody need a goalie?

this should be interesting
- glennjpawlak22

Well that could make the Saad Panarin swap look pretty bad.

anybody need a goalie?
- bogiedoc

I was just looking.

Keep in mind, whatever team picks him up, has to keep him on their roster for 30 days.

Teams that may think Forsberg is a better back up than who they currently have:

Washington (Copley)
NYR (Georgiev)
CAL (Rittich)
MIN (Stalock)

Those are the 4 teams that standout to me that may take a chance on Forsberg.

Schmaltz took some hits to make plays last night. He also made a great defensive play in Columbus and then drove the net and took two guys with him that opened up a lane for Kane and Seabs, resulted in a goal.

It looks like to me he avoids contact often because he knows he is going to lose the strength battle. I think he really needs 10-15lbs of muscle. It took Kane 4-5 years to really put on muscle.

Schmaltz has also looked good on his own away from Kane. He maintains possession very well.
- bhawks2241

Thanks for the info on the CBJ game, I couldn't see it. Schmaltz was great with Toews and Panik. He doesn't only need Kane, he makes plays for others, but has to learn the selfish side of the game. I agree with the muscle. Little guys don't do so well in puck scrums.

Well that could make the Saad Panarin swap look pretty bad.
- bhawks2241

based on play it already does. however if Saader turns it around...

I was just looking.

Keep in mind, whatever team picks him up, has to keep him on their roster for 30 days.

Teams that may think Forsberg is a better back up than who they currently have:

Washington (Copley)
NYR (Georgiev)
CAL (Rittich)
MIN (Stalock)

Those are the 4 teams that standout to me that may take a chance on Forsberg.
- Justin Lowe

I'm hoping he squeaks through, don't forget STL.

I'm hoping he squeaks through, don't forget STL.
- I Am The Breadman

Right. They have Chad Johnson though for 1.7M.

Not sure they go with Forsberg over him.

The Tampa blogger said what no Chicago blogger or sports writer would ever say - the truth. Anyone who does not see that piece as a spot on accurate across the board assessment of the Blackhawks is truly in denial.

At best their true NHL level forwards are Toews, Kane, AA (third line), Kruger (fourth line), and to my surprise, ADB and Kahun. On the D side you have Keith, Seabrook and Jokiharju (with upside left to realize).

Schmaltz and Saad are not as advertised (and likely never will be), and as a result Kane is left by himself with guys who can't allow him to play his game.

The rest are has beens or wannabes that never will be, because no top prospect or free agent in their right mind would come here now.

This is all on Bowman and the scouts. They have a vision for the team that appears to specifically omit the quality of toughness as a selection criteria. Even Toews in his post game interview last night commented that many players on the team are not willing to go to the dirty areas, take a hit to make a play, or be willing to pay the price to hold and advance the puck.

Makes me wonder if they do get a lottery pick at the end of this season if we really want Bowman to be the one making that choice.

Right. They have Chad Johnson though for 1.7M.

Not sure they go with Forsberg over him.
- Justin Lowe

I meant Allen, haha. I did forget about Johnson though.
Buffalo could be added to the list. Toronto if they are uneasy about Sparks.

anybody need a goalie?
- bogiedoc

Actually I don’t think so, not sure what teams are left that would see him as an upgrade to their current backup.

Now if he clears waivers, Toronto may be interested in him since they lost two goalies to waivers.

Right. They have Chad Johnson though for 1.7M.

Not sure they go with Forsberg over him.
- Justin Lowe

Don't forget PIT (Murray just got concussed), CBJ (the team that drafted him likely wouldn't mind having him back)

Schmaltz took some hits to make plays last night. He also made a great defensive play in Columbus and then drove the net and took two guys with him that opened up a lane for Kane and Seabs, resulted in a goal.

It looks like to me he avoids contact often because he knows he is going to lose the strength battle. I think he really needs 10-15lbs of muscle. It took Kane 4-5 years to really put on muscle.

Schmaltz has also looked good on his own away from Kane. He maintains possession very well.
- bhawks2241

I don't know what glasses you watch games through, but any push back he gave last night was too little too late and likely after a verbal lashing in the locker room.

What good is dangling a puck around the perimeter in the name of "possession" if nothing ever comes of it? Well, it does make the fancy stats look good.

Cut bait time.

The Tampa blogger said what no Chicago blogger or sports writer would ever say - the truth. Anyone who does not see that piece as a spot on accurate across the board assessment of the Blackhawks is truly in denial.

At best their true NHL level forwards are Toews, Kane, AA (third line), Kruger (fourth line), and to my surprise, ADB and Kahun. On the D side you have Keith, Seabrook and Jokiharju (with upside left to realize).

Schmaltz and Saad are not as advertised (and likely never will be), and as a result Kane is left by himself with guys who can't allow him to play his game.

The rest are has beens or wannabes that never will be, because no top prospect or free agent in their right mind would come here now.

This is all on Bowman and the scouts. They have a vision for the team that appears to specifically omit the quality of toughness as a selection criteria. Even Toews in his post game interview last night commented that many players on the team are not willing to go to the dirty areas, take a hit to make a play, or be willing to pay the price to hold and advance the puck.

Makes me wonder if they do get a lottery pick at the end of this season if we really want Bowman to be the one making that choice.
- Return of the Roar

I agree! I bet if Blowman were to get the first overall he'd go with that pipsqueak Jack Hughes.

Don't forget PIT (Murray just got concussed), CBJ (the team that drafted him likely wouldn't mind having him back)
- ObeseOprah

I didn't know about Murray. Good point on CBJ.

I agree! I bet if Blowman were to get the first overall he'd go with that pipsqueak Jack Hughes.
- paulr

- EnzoD

Goalie destroyer is written all over his face, look at the killer instinct in his eyes.

Goalie destroyer is written all over his face, killer instinct in his eyes.
- I Am The Breadman

He's tiny, doesn't hit and probably can't fight. Blowman would be all over this.

Don't forget PIT (Murray just got concussed), CBJ (the team that drafted him likely wouldn't mind having him back)
- ObeseOprah

Murray is back already. Shutout the Leafs in his return.

Hawks defense is horriible and there has not been any push back on this team since the last cup win. Not sold on forsling being anything more than a depth d man and yes on putting manning and murphy in when he comes back that was embarrassing last night. Hawks need more heart grit urgency and want on there game if they ever want to get back to the promise land. As for smaltz he shows glimpses of being a a really top 6 player and the lazy non interest and afraid of contact play. So i would trade him. For a top 4 d man to a team that needs speed and scoring Edmonton maybe Nurse but as the season goes on i don't know what smaltz will become. If the season goes off the rails and i believe it will then rocky needs to step up and take control and hold someone accountable. Bowman right now should beon the hot seat right now for putting this team together and not having a defined plan. So time will tell what happens this season so hopefully that can rite the ship.

I think one of those blood clots traveled to his brain and changed his playing style.
- I Am The Breadman

I am not a fan of fighting in the game. But I do believe there come a point where a player must stick up for themselves and put some force back. I know it would be a penalty but the second time stamkos took a run at him, schmaltz needed to put the butt end of his stick in stamko’s face. Do that once or twice and people will stop running at you.

I am not a fan of fighting in the game. But I do believe there come a point where a player must stick up for themselves and put some force back. I know it would be a penalty but the second time stamkos took a run at him, schmaltz needed to put the butt end of his stick in stamko’s face. Do that once or twice and people will stop running at you.
- Spec41971

A good donk on the beak.
Yeah, people will leave you alone.
I'm not sure if it was the play you were talking about, but Schmaltz was shaken and had a hard time getting up. Nothing was done about. That's when Manning is useful, plus the fifty free whacks in the blue paint, he'll put an end to that.

I am not a fan of fighting in the game. But I do believe there come a point where a player must stick up for themselves and put some force back. I know it would be a penalty but the second time stamkos took a run at him, schmaltz needed to put the butt end of his stick in stamko’s face. Do that once or twice and people will stop running at you.
- Spec41971

This!

I don't know what glasses you watch games through, but any push back he gave last night was too little too late and likely after a verbal lashing in the locker room.

What good is dangling a puck around the perimeter in the name of "possession" if nothing ever comes of it? Well, it does make the fancy stats look good.

Cut bait time.
- Return of the Roar

Cool. Cut bait with a top 6 talent on a team short on high end talent. Wonder why Q sends him out on the PK if he is just so flipping awful and an ice fairy. We should probably just cut Schmaltz he is the reason this team is bad!!!!