I missed the game. Was the second line Strome on wing AA at center and Kane on Wing? or Cat Strome Kane?
- SoftServe

Him and AA interchanged depending on where the puck was. Looked like Strome took most of the draws but didnt verify with box score.

Cat was with 95 Kane aa strome

Pretty surprising and disappointing that none of the 4 on ice officials made a call on that play. It's not like it was behind the play- Pitlik clearly interfered and threw a blatant elbow that presumably broke Murphy's nose. Should have been at least a double minor, no?
- Davewn

yes...int and elbow...i think the dumb drawing blood extra minor is high stick only..

linemans should be able to step in and call that to the refs attention

Strome reminded me of Schmaltz last night when he threw the puck away on his breakaway.
- 67hawks

There is deferring and then there is insane deferring. The Hockey Gods obviously didn’t like Strome’s decision as the puck ended up in the Hawks’ net almost immedietely.

I haven’t followed Ward’s career very much - I know he won a Cup in Raleigh back in the day - but it certainly seems that Bingo (who, BTW, I consider to be a valuable contributor to this community) is basically correct - not very good numbers, not very good results with the Hurricanes.

Does he have the ability to go more than two or three games without blowing up?

Is he going to be part of the Hawks’ future Cup runs?

I don’t think so.

It should be be Delia’s turn at bat...uhhh...in the blue paint.

I also don’t think Bingo said Ward should shut up - more implied that Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook - the presumed (and lettered) team leaders should have been more out front on this.

Let’s stop bashing posters who present opposing views.
- StLBravesFan

i am getting tired of it...and thought about taking a vacation from here...
there are 2-3 posters in here i refuse to engage anymore who just luv to bait and troll

It was nice to see Saad play with some giddy-up early in the game. Liking Murph-Dahl pairing (although it sounds like an AM radio morning drive show from '77).
- ChiTownHawkFan

Saad was fantastic yesterday.

I thought Anisimov had nice "giddy-up" as well.

Saad was fantastic yesterday.

I thought Anisimov had nice "giddy-up" as well.
- Justin Lowe

I said it last night, but Saad's play increases when he is on the pk. He gets better scoring chances and drives harder down a man.

There is deferring and then there is insane deferring. The Hockey Gods obviously didn’t like Strome’s decision as the puck ended up in the Hawks’ net almost immedietely.
- Z3Hawk

Yeah power move to the net with the intent of passing it the whole time right when you have a great chance...

Great win by the Hawks last night. These past two games are the kind of wins that help bring a team together. Whether they can build off of it and continue to play better or not time will tell. It's just good to see the Hawks play with some purpose for a change. The past month was tough to watch. Not as doom and gloom as a lot of people have made it to be because you're seeing that this team DOES have talent. They just need to learn to play together and play their roles.

i am getting tired of it...and thought about taking a vacation from here...
there are 2-3 posters in here i refuse to engage anymore who just luv to bait and troll
- bogiedoc

All of this, same with STL, I'm with you guys.

I know I get off-topic, a lot, everyday, but I never put people down or insult because I don't agree with them. I came here for civil discussions and to joke around, most will, but there is a handful that kills that comradery.

This year has been total poop and the boys played great last night, yet there you are letting us know Ward sucks and he should shut up. No one here said he was the next Patrick Roy, but he played superb goalie last night and thus I take exception to bashing him after he played so well.

Did that other thread where you for no reason brought up Jonathan Toews (in an obvious attempt to bash him) flicker out?

Maybe you should focus on your sad sack franchise, who are a grand total of 3 points ahead of the Hawks.
- kwolf68

....I wasn't saying Ward should shut up, just that it shouldn't be up to him to be the one calling guys out.

And the toews thing was an obvious joke. Don't be so touchy.

If no one else is standing up and getting mad, then I have no problem with a 14 year vet speaking up. I would say it's those outbursts from the quieter players that gets everyone's attention.
- Justin Lowe

That's a fair point. He's a legitimately great person, I just feel a bit bad for him after having to be That Guy in Carolina for so many years that he gets to Chicago and finds himself once again thrust into that spot.

Hopefully some of our posters get off Gustafsson's back for a while now. Even with his recent play some were still wanting to see him traded in the last blog. Like wake up. The guy makes $1.2M through next year so let's just give him away.
- 67hawks

Never understood how anyone could get bent out of shape over this deal. It was a 2 year deal, paying a 3rd pairing dman like a 3rd pairing dman.

Thought he was good all over the ice last night. I wouldn't call him an untouchable, but I also wouldn't just give him away either. Unlike Rutta, Gus has value.

I think he could be a decent 3rd pairing, PP specialist guy here for a few years. The blue line will likely get even more crowded over the next few years, so if someone wants to overpay for him at the TDL I'm ok with that too.

Does anyone know the jist of what Ward said to the team?

Does anyone know the jist of what Ward said to the team?
- BobP.

If I were to guess - get your head out of your arses and play like professionals.

Never understood how anyone could get bent out of shape over this deal. It was a 2 year deal, paying a 3rd pairing dman like a 3rd pairing dman.

Thought he was good all over the ice last night. I wouldn't call him an untouchable, but I also wouldn't just give him away either. Unlike Rutta, Gus has value.

I think he could be a decent 3rd pairing, PP specialist guy here for a few years. The blue line will likely get even more crowded over the next few years, so if someone wants to overpay for him at the TDL I'm ok with that too.
- HawkintheD

I think it had more to do with people wanting to just clear as much cap space as possible not so much how much he was making cuz it's not much more than most ELCs.

I would agree, that if someone wants to overpay for him I'd be willing to listen to make a deal happen. Otherwise, I'm perfectly fine with having him as our 6th/7th D-Man on the 3rd pair working the PP. One thing to keep in mind though, you see him and Kane are starting to build some good chemistry together. Team already traded one of his good buddies in Schmaltz, trading away another one wouldn't be the best thing to do for their star player (same goes for AA as well) especially if the plan is to go after Panarin this offseason. Just some food for thought.

Does anyone know the jist of what Ward said to the team?
- BobP.

"Stop playing like $#!t in front of me! I'm old and I'm sick and tired of getting hit with a puck 40 times a game! Do your damn jobs and play like you deserve to be here you self entitled little $#!ts!!"

Maybe something like that?

I said it last night, but Saad's play increases when he is on the pk. He gets better scoring chances and drives harder down a man.
- I Am The Breadman

100% nice to see some actual aggressiveness from the PK this year. I think the PK is on a path to improve. Saad is a big part.

Strome reminded me of Schmaltz last night when he threw the puck away on his breakaway.
- 67hawks

Maybe in one or 2 instances, but Strome is a more complete hockey player than Schmaltz will ever be. Couldn't stand the too often bail outs by him he should be in the ice capades.

i am getting tired of it...and thought about taking a vacation from here...
there are 2-3 posters in here i refuse to engage anymore who just luv to bait and troll
- bogiedoc

Yes, just don't bite the hook

....I wasn't saying Ward should shut up, just that it shouldn't be up to him to be the one calling guys out.

And the toews thing was an obvious joke. Don't be so touchy.
- BINGO!

Strongly disagree with that attitude. He is a veteran guy on a team and if the guys aren't responding, then that is part of what he is paid for as a guy with experience for years in the NHL. Speak up and help the team. I'm sure they didn't sign him to just be a passenger and sit in the corner. Only a few guys have the C or A on their jersey, doesn't mean leadership stops with them. If guys are not willing to do what it takes to motivate each other and get going, then you have a sad team IMO.

Saad was fantastic yesterday.

I thought Anisimov had nice "giddy-up" as well.
- Justin Lowe

Last night I was starting to wonder if they should have just had AA on wing all along. He didn't have to take any draws so he can just put that out of his mind and focus more on the rest.

Strongly disagree with that attitude. He is a veteran guy on a team and if the guys aren't responding, then that is part of what he is paid for as a guy with experience for years in the NHL. Speak up and help the team. I'm sure they didn't sign him to just be a passenger and sit in the corner. Only a few guys have the C or A on their jersey, doesn't mean leadership stops with them. If guys are not willing to do what it takes to motivate each other and get going, then you have a sad team IMO.
- breadbag

Question is - has leadership STARTED with them.

Just speculatorily questioning - I’m not in the room, so I really don’t know.

I think it had more to do with people wanting to just clear as much cap space as possible not so much how much he was making cuz it's not much more than most ELCs.

I would agree, that if someone wants to overpay for him I'd be willing to listen to make a deal happen. Otherwise, I'm perfectly fine with having him as our 6th/7th D-Man on the 3rd pair working the PP. One thing to keep in mind though, you see him and Kane are starting to build some good chemistry together. Team already traded one of his good buddies in Schmaltz, trading away another one wouldn't be the best thing to do for their star player (same goes for AA as well) especially if the plan is to go after Panarin this offseason. Just some food for thought.
- Savetheembers33

IMO I think you are right about chemistry. I think if you look back to when Gus came up as a call up last year, he showed instant chemistry with Kane. He was finding 88 with a lot of passes on the rush and they were clicking. I think 100% he looks for him on the ice.

I think it had more to do with people wanting to just clear as much cap space as possible not so much how much he was making cuz it's not much more than most ELCs.

I would agree, that if someone wants to overpay for him I'd be willing to listen to make a deal happen. Otherwise, I'm perfectly fine with having him as our 6th/7th D-Man on the 3rd pair working the PP. One thing to keep in mind though, you see him and Kane are starting to build some good chemistry together. Team already traded one of his good buddies in Schmaltz, trading away another one wouldn't be the best thing to do for their star player (same goes for AA as well) especially if the plan is to go after Panarin this offseason. Just some food for thought.
- Savetheembers33

If you are going after a UFA like Panarin, you have to fill out the rest of the lineup with serviceable low and minimum pay contracts like Gustafsson's. Speaking of which, I thought that journeyman Fedun earning minimum salary looked pretty good last night for Dallas.