I was always confused as to how you could play the aggressive system that Ulf was known for while still playing zone. It would seem that those would be competing philosophies.
- Chunk

Seems that they still play too aggressively with the D men whether man to man or not. On more than one occasion last night Kane was covering for Gus who seems to be more comfortable behind the offensive goal line than at the point.

I'm leaning towards that, too. Gustafsson needs a stay-at-home partner like Manning or Murphy. I think Forsling and Jokiharju could be a really strong pair on both sides of the ice.
- AEL_Fox

Yep...One would imagine that Rutta, Manning or Murphy will be on the trade block once Davidson and Murphy are healthy.....

Here is what I have learned:

1. Crow is unreal
2. The league is in a complete stage of Parody where "any given Sunday" is the most accurate phrase for the NHL
3. I like that JC changes lines on the fly as he sees what is and is not working

I'm leaning towards that, too. Gustafsson needs a stay-at-home partner like Manning or Murphy. I think Forsling and Jokiharju could be a really strong pair on both sides of the ice.
- AEL_Fox

Does anyone know what kind of D system was run at the Worlds where Murphy was so well thought of? I'd be interested to know what similarities there are between that and Colliton's

Seems that they still play too aggressively with the D men whether man to man or not. On more than one occasion last night Kane was covering for Gus who seems to be more comfortable behind the offensive goal line than at the point.
- Return of the Roar

You sure that's not Jus Gus being Gus?

Mannequins are unionized. VR goggles are not. So I guess we're stuck with the mannequins.
- AEL_Fox

And this being Chicago, union laborers are required to move the mannequins on/off the ice.

Here is what I have learned:

1. Crow is unreal
2. The league is in a complete stage of Parody where "any given Sunday" is the most accurate phrase for the NHL
3. I like that JC changes lines on the fly as he sees what is and is not working
- Boisy12

1. Yes.
2. Just don't bet on hockey and you will survive.

Seems that they still play too aggressively with the D men whether man to man or not. On more than one occasion last night Kane was covering for Gus who seems to be more comfortable behind the offensive goal line than at the point.
- Return of the Roar

I agree. Gus needs to be told he is to play on only 160' of rink and is to never go below the top of the offensive face-off circle. Too many times I see him caught in deep and then he's skating like a madman to get back.

Here is what I have learned:

1. Crow is unreal
2. The league is in a complete stage of Parody where "any given Sunday" is the most accurate phrase for the NHL
3. I like that JC changes lines on the fly as he sees what is and is not working
- Boisy12

I hear several skits are in process on SNL....

In case anybody missed it.....Coach Q is a (frank)ing LEGEND.

And this being Chicago, union laborers are required to move the mannequins on/off the ice.
- Rota's Rooter

And this being Chicago, you have to hire 5. 1 to move the mannequins, 4 to stand around and watch while the 1 guy does the work.

And this being Chicago, you have to hire 5. 1 to move the mannequins, 4 to stand around and watch while the 1 guy does the work.
- scottak

You got a problem wit dat

Does anyone know what kind of D system was run at the Worlds where Murphy was so well thought of? I'd be interested to know what similarities there are between that and Colliton's
- Chunk

Good question. Not sure.

A related questions: does the Team USA coaching staff get to use whatever systems they typically use whenever coaching their respective NHL teams or other teams, or are they expected to follow systems that are specific to Team USA?

I agree. Gus needs to be told he is to play on only 160' of rink and is to never go below the top of the offensive face-off circle. Too many times I see him caught in deep and then he's skating like a madman to get back.
- Rota's Rooter

Or not skating hard to get back at all. Why skate back on defense when it ruins his chances to create offense below the circles in the O zone.

He needs a VR helmet that erases everyone out of his view, and it looks like he's on a constant breakaway. Haha
- I Am The Breadman

Then who would he pass too?

Just wanted to add...in the approximately 1 1/2 games since he was taken off that top line Schmaltz has been looking very engaged. He was going to high traffic areas, cutting to the middle and really trying to be a factor. I just didn't like his 3v3 OT vs the Kings where he tried to skate the puck around without doing much of anything.

you are so wrong again. The guy faced forty shots last night. He made 6-10 high quality saves when his mates bailed. There was one play where keith and seabs looked liked they never saw a two man forecheck before and coughed it up and craw had to make 3 saves...

team effort my ass...forsling has helped but craw has saved 98 out of 100 the last 3 games thats an average of 33 sog's against...the team d is marginally better but is still pss poor...

.65 GA and .98 save % just ain't good enough for ya over the last 3 games...HE GOT THIS TEAM 5 OF 6 PTS...while his mates scored 4 goals in regulation...
- bogiedoc

Do you actually watch the games? Also do you actually read what posters write? How many break-aways has Crawford faced recently? How many odd-man breaks? Just because you are a slave to secondary stats doesn’t mean that other people have to be slaves too. There is a huge difference between facing a player coming in on a break-away and facing a shot from the high slot. One requires goalie movement while the other allows the goalie to square up. If every chance was the same Crawford presumably would have made the saves in the shoot-out easily because he is so on his game. However, shot opportunities are not the same.

You must have missed where I posted that Crawford is brilliantly making the saves required. However, I am not going to pretend that he is facing lots of break-aways and odd-man breaks when he is not. I am also not going to pretend that he is facing lots of low down side to side chances when he is not? Parise had one and it went in.

The new Defensive System is working. If you wish to pretend it is just Crawford and that he might as well be out on the ice by himself - and that the new Defensive System is not negating certain types of chances - you’re entitled. You’d still be be wrong though.

Also that a player like Gus still does his best to be out of position doesn’t change the improvement. The new Defensive System emphasizes not getting caught up-ice and protecting the front of the net and is a huge step forward from the chaos Ulf was running.

Also I’ll take Crawford’s opinion over your’s. Crawford acknowledges he is being helped. Right now Crawford is stopping almost all the shots that are being allowed at him and these shots are almost universally ones that Crawford can square to. Not all shots are created equal and that doesn’t change because some Statistician equates or doesn’t equate factors.

I hope the new Defensive System continues to limit certain types of chances with Crawford doing the rest. Gives the Hawks a good opportunity to win.

Then who would he pass too?
- -Doh-

Ummmm.....the net behind the goalie, hopefully haha.

And this being Chicago, you have to hire 5. 1 to move the mannequins, 4 to stand around and watch while the 1 guy does the work.
- scottak

No kidding.

During the great Chicago flood caused by piercing an old tunnel under the river, I worked at a building across from Wolf's Point where the breech occurred.

When our building was evacuated we were river side and watched a barge full of rubble being dumped over the side with a skid steer. One guy in the skid steer, one supervisor and 4 other guys just standing around. We watched as the super got a radio call, looked at the crowds on either bank of the river and then went over to the other 4 guys and must of said something like, "look like you're doing something".

The 4 guys proceeded to pick up one rock at a time and threw it over the side.

I can only guess that some honcho at Streets and San saw the coverage on TV and guessed that the optics of a city crew just standing around doing nothing were not good.

No kidding.

During the great Chicago flood caused by piercing an old tunnel under the river, I worked at a building across from Wolf's Point where the breech occurred.

When our building was evacuated we were river side and watched a barge full of rubble being dumped over the side with a skid steer. One guy in the skid steer, one supervisor and 4 other guys just standing around. We watched as the super got a radio call, looked at the crowds on either bank of the river and then went over to the other 4 guys and must of said something like, "look like you're doing something".

The 4 guys proceeded to pick up one rock at a time and threw it over the side.

I can only guess that some honcho at Streets and San saw the coverage on TV and guessed that the optics of a city crew just standing around doing nothing were not good.
- Rota's Rooter

But do you really think they would care? Doesn't that happen all the time anyway?

I was really glad to see Crawford bail out Joki last night on that one play he goofed behind the net. Chalk it up to a rookie mistake, but that one could have tied it at 2 but Crawford said "Not Today!"

But do you really think they would care? Doesn't that happen all the time anyway?
- powerenforcer

It happened all he time then and probably still does today.

Like I said, just a guess on my part that someone higher up felt that this would put just a little too much scrutiny on his position in what was starting to turn out to be a major FUBAR on the city's part.

Yep...One would imagine that Rutta, Manning or Murphy will be on the trade block once Davidson and Murphy are healthy.....
- EnzoD

Agree on pairing too !
Who would even take Rutta, Manning ? Could we get a 7th rounder??

Welcome back Justin! I hate to burst your bubble but I think you drank 1 to many beers , with your resounding yes.



This team has along way to go . If you look at the overall picture, they can't sustain a offensive attack, the power play Kane can't be on the ice for a full 2 minutes guys need to step up. Schmaltz has 1 point in 9 games? Kunitz , manning , Kruger, Davidson all should be scratchednand traded that is clear when their in the line up their useless.



The bottom 6 guys need to step up immediately . But hey 3 points in 2 games, it's a start.

Secondary scoring will begin to come around. The ideas that Schmaltz will not end up with 50 or 60 points is crazy. Like he forgot how to score or make plays. Its like listening to Chicago fans blame Trubisky for not being 10 and 0 instead of 7 and 3. No proportionality to their level of experience etc....but hey....that is Chi Town!!!

JC's strategy is to go status quo and let guys work themselves out and new ones in. There is no doubt that JC, assistants and SB all know what this roster will look like come Christmas, but you can't make drastic changes, instead you promote guys and let them prove why they will be replaced.

For PP to be effective, Kane has to set up closer to goal line, Watch Kucherov and Tampa PP. Sort of like Caps. There are too many options not to get good looks. It too will come along.

Points in 4 straight, a positive sign. Caps game will be a good test.

In the ultimate irony, Friday at Tampa, in 2010 I went to game in Tampa, sat behind benches and what stood out was how exhausted Lacavelier and other Lightning players were during commercial breaks. Hawks absolutely swarmed them and wore them out. Lightning will look to do the same.

Those pining for big rugged corner guys need to watch Tampa, Point, Johnson, Gourd, Cirelli, Callahan, Paquette, Joseph all win more puck battles then they lose. Winning on the wall is about heart and effort and not necessarily size. Lightning down Vasilevsky for a bit, was without Hedman for 3 weeks, now stralman and palat, imagine the hawks without Seabrook, Keith, Crow and Saad for extended time. Lightning, like all good teams keep winning and getting points.

Friday, Hawks will be looking in the mirror, dated 8 years ago.