Also how was Gus and Joki as a pairing?

What is hard to give up on are Schmaltz's high end skills. Todays high speed high skill game is what a guy like Schmaltz should excel in but the skill he has in abundance he lacks smarts and competitiveness to go with it. I am sure Hawk management is hoping that he'll learn to think the game better and start getting more involved and not playing on the periphery all the time. If the Hawks can sign him to a bridge deal it will give him more time to "find his game". I'd hate to lose that potential in a young player but he has to round out his game.
- paulr

That's the dilemma I see with Schmaltz, skill vs. will- you can't teach the skills he possesses, but can he be taught to consistently compete? Does he have that in him? As a Hawks' fan I really hope so as the cupboard isn't exactly overflowing with young top 6 talent...

I really wanted to get excited to beat the Blues but I cannot shake the feeling how the game was boring, soccer like.
Then I wondered if the team is just too slow, Blues defensemen were always able to get in the zone and in front. If not for fluke goal of the skates this game goes to overtime and shootout. Anyway, Crawford was outstanding stopping way higher quality chances than what Allen faced, plus goalposts helped a bit, so lets enjoy the win. On the other hand this win puts them further out of race for Hughes, we are not going to give him to the Kinds are we?

Loved the game.

I know some guys thought it was boring, but I think it was the exact game the Hawks needed - good team defense.

We're seeing them get a little better each game.

Also how was Gus and Joki as a pairing?
- SoftServe

Gus and Joki, another great game together. Joki got pp time. Gus is less of a disaster in his own end. I'm like the change and confidence that JC brings.

Forsling was also good in his limited 3rd line minutes with Manning. Forsling was good at breaking up plays and poking pucks away with his stick. He was also active in the o zone.

Micheal Ferland on his linemates:

"I didn't realize how good Turbo (Teuvo Teravainen) was. I knew Sebastian Aho was a good player. I didn't realize how much Turbo goes to the hard areas and he's not afraid to get dirty. He's a feisty, feisty, one. He's feisty for his size."

The Hurricanes outscore their opponents 22-9 with TT on the ice thus far.

Micheal Ferland on his linemates:

"I didn't realize how good Turbo (Teuvo Teravainen) was. I knew Sebastian Aho was a good player. I didn't realize how much Turbo goes to the hard areas and he's not afraid to get dirty. He's a feisty, feisty, one. He's feisty for his size."

The Hurricanes outscore their opponents 22-9 with TT on the ice thus far.
- BINGO!

Speaking of ex Hawks, Darling looks WAY better this year so far. His positioning is still weird, but he's a lot quicker

TVR is probably bound for the press box once Pesce gets back. He's been kind of a mess. Way too soft in his own end.

Loved the game.

I know some guys thought it was boring, but I think it was the exact game the Hawks needed - good team defense.

We're seeing them get a little better each game.
- Hank3Henshaw

I said the same exact thing after each of the 1st and 2nd periods. I really liked it because I saw a team dictate the tempo. They didn't play to the blues level or change the flow and play out of their comfort zone. They hit, they controlled the puck, they passed (sometimes too much), they got a kicked in goal after a great effort by 19 and 88, the d was great, chemistry was/has been building under JC, and Crow was a force to be reckoned with in net. I saw a simple style game played by a simple team. If slow means win, I hope they continue playing at a tortoise's patience.

Speaking of ex Hawks, Darling looks WAY better this year so far. His positioning is still weird, but he's a lot quicker

TVR is probably bound for the press box once Pesce gets back. He's been kind of a mess. Way too soft in his own end.
- BINGO!

TVR is still dealing with shellshock after the Kane stick lift goal.

Micheal Ferland on his linemates:

"I didn't realize how good Turbo (Teuvo Teravainen) was. I knew Sebastian Aho was a good player. I didn't realize how much Turbo goes to the hard areas and he's not afraid to get dirty. He's a feisty, feisty, one. He's feisty for his size."

The Hurricanes outscore their opponents 22-9 with TT on the ice thus far.
- BINGO!

TT is a good fit for the Canes.

He didn't fit on the Hawks for two major reasons (IMO):

1. The Hawks front office/marketing/PR team billed him as the second coming of Kane; impossible for any young player to live up to and when he wasn't Kane, the (idiot) fans didn't understand. Kane is a prodigy, TT, although very good, is not necessarily a prodigy.

2. He only played one way (offensively) in Chicago. He did not bust his hump to get back and play defense. I think Carolina's scheme allows him more freedom to focus on his offense-which works to his strengths.

TVR is still dealing with shellshock after the Kane stick lift goal.
- I Am The Breadman

Heh. Maybe.

I think part of it was playing him on his offside to start the season. He looked uncomfortable. Then they switched him back to his right side for a couple games and he's looked even worse, even with a healthy scratch filtered in there.

Also how was Gus and Joki as a pairing?
- SoftServe

I thought they played well together (for the second game in a row). Gus looks much better away from Seabrook- maybe he's playing more responsibly with a young partner (or just one that stays on his skates ). Whatever the reason, seems to be working pretty well. The more I watch Joki, the more I like his poise, especially for such a young guy.

So, are we still in tank mode? This season is so confusing to me.
Now that JC has a win, can we please go back to losing so we can get the #1 pick, please.

And, if tanking is the "goal" what about this trade with the Blues: Crow and Smaltz for Allen and Bouwmeester.
- powerenforcer

No offense but that’s a horrible trade. J-Bo is ok but Allen sucks (last night notwithstanding) and I think you could get more if you packaged Schmaltz and Crow.

I’m not opposed to trading Schmaltz but you’d better get something decent/comparable for him.

At this point, I might even send him down if that’s an option at all and tell him he needs to work on his compete level and shooting the puck to get back up here...to Chicago not Detroit.

I sense a new structure with JC. Certain players are playing with more confidence off the hop. It worked in Rockford, it may work here. The better the players look, if they are traded, it's better for our return on future assets. In last three years we could not give away pieces without throwing in our youthful low cap players.
- holyJumpin_NL

Still may have to in order to unload a contract like Seabrook. The Hawks are paying the price for having way too many no movement clauses. Yes, the core was incredible, but by giving out so many no movement clauses, this team really is stuck in hell from truly making a rebuild on how it needs to be done.

So, are we still in tank mode? This season is so confusing to me.
Now that JC has a win, can we please go back to losing so we can get the #1 pick, please.

And, if tanking is the "goal" what about this trade with the Blues: Crow and Smaltz for Allen and Bouwmeester.
- powerenforcer

My biggest fear is being stuck in the middle of the pack of lottery teams meaning no playoffs and a first pick with more questions than answers.

My biggest fear is being stuck in the middle of the pack of lottery teams meaning no playoffs and a first pick with more questions than answers.
- 67hawks

I think the lottery makes tanking not as important.

Also. Tanking sucks and should be viewed as embarrassing to an organization.

My biggest fear is being stuck in the middle of the pack of lottery teams meaning no playoffs and a first pick with more questions than answers.
- 67hawks

Just swing for the fences.

I think the lottery makes tanking not as important.

Also. Tanking sucks and should be viewed as embarrassing to an organization.
- Hank3Henshaw

Trying to lose to get a good draft position is deplorable but I don't want the Hawks making a bunch of trades for older players with the only intent being to make the 2019 playoffs.

Still may have to in order to unload a contract like Seabrook. The Hawks are paying the price for having way too many no movement clauses. Yes, the core was incredible, but by giving out so many no movement clauses, this team really is stuck in hell from truly making a rebuild on how it needs to be done.
- ChicagoHope

Don't do it. Just hang on to him until he retires. It's not worth the assets it would require to get rid of him. Just trade what you can for the best picks you can and carry on forward.

The trick is managing to do exactly what Chicago did in the first place, where you have a bunch of good talent all coming up together at about the same time.

Micheal Ferland on his linemates:

"I didn't realize how good Turbo (Teuvo Teravainen) was. I knew Sebastian Aho was a good player. I didn't realize how much Turbo goes to the hard areas and he's not afraid to get dirty. He's a feisty, feisty, one. He's feisty for his size."

The Hurricanes outscore their opponents 22-9 with TT on the ice thus far.
- BINGO!

That’s great but that’s hardly the guy he was here. He wasn’t as afraid to go into the dirty areas necessarily as some people on here made it seem, but he also wasn’t winning a lot of board battles where he couldn’t be effective with his stick.

As an example, he knocked Hayden down the other night in the corner, which wasn’t something he really did in a Hawk uniform.

I’ve seen Schmaltz and Teuvo draw some comparisons on here. While ages and abilities are somewhat similar, one thing was entirely different and that was TT’s willingness to put the puck on net from pretty much anywhere.

No offense but that’s a horrible trade. J-Bo is ok but Allen sucks (last night notwithstanding) and I think you could get more if you packaged Schmaltz and Crow.

I’m not opposed to trading Schmaltz but you’d better get something decent/comparable for him.

At this point, I might even send him down if that’s an option at all and tell him he needs to work on his compete level and shooting the puck to get back up here...to Chicago not Detroit.
- HawkintheD

I do not understand this trade Schmaltz stuff. He is one of the few young forwards with skill that we have left after last year's giveaway of Hartman, Duclair, and Hinostrosa.
A year or two after trading him the same fans would be complaining about Bowman's stupidity for doing so (especially for some of the returns that have been posted here).

Gus and Joki, another great game together. Joki got pp time. Gus is less of a disaster in his own end. I'm like the change and confidence that JC brings.

Forsling was also good in his limited 3rd line minutes with Manning. Forsling was good at breaking up plays and poking pucks away with his stick. He was also active in the o zone.
- I Am The Breadman

And Rutta sat in the press box, where he belongs.

I smell a trade or demotion to Rockford for Rutta. The Bruins are banged up on the right side of their D with 3 guys out and Chara got hurt as well. The Pens D is a mess too.

And Rutta sat in the press box, where he belongs.

I smell a trade or demotion to Rockford for Rutta. The Bruins are banged up on the right side of their D with 3 guys out and Chara got hurt as well. The Pens D is a mess too.
- RickJ

With Gus slowly getting better, I'll take a trade for 44. Picks or whatever.

I do not understand this trade Schmaltz stuff. He is one of the few young forwards with skill that we have left after last year's giveaway of Hartman, Duclair, and Hinostrosa.
A year or two after trading him the same fans would be complaining about Bowman's stupidity for doing so (especially for some of the returns that have been posted here).
- 67hawks

Totally agree and wouldn’t advocate trading him for anyone other than a similary skilled young player with similar upside...but like Paul said, certainly not for vets to possibly just squeak into the playoffs.

The way they signed guys to short term deals this offseason leads me to believe there is more of a plan in place than they let on.

That’s great but that’s hardly the guy he was here. He wasn’t as afraid to go into the dirty areas necessarily as some people on here made it seem, but he also wasn’t winning a lot of board battles where he couldn’t be effective with his stick.

As an example, he knocked Hayden down the other night in the corner, which wasn’t something he really did in a Hawk uniform.

I’ve seen Schmaltz and Teuvo draw some comparisons on here. While ages and abilities are somewhat similar, one thing was entirely different and that was TT’s willingness to put the puck on net from pretty much anywhere.
- HawkintheD

Fair enough, I think it's just a cautionary thing for some who want to give up on Schmaltz for being soft. That can change. Sometimes it takes a wake-up call, or the right environment (Aho's intense competitive nature I think has done wonders for Teravainen) but people grow and change a lot in their early 20s.