If they can stop Mackinnon-Rantanen-Landeskog, they have a good chance at winning. Much easier said than done!
- EnzoD

Completely agree, so many teams have tried. If 7 is on the ice then i have a feeling that line scores

Game predictions for tonight? Anyone?
I'll say 6-4 Aves. It will be a good game, but a very tough opponent tonight.
- I Am The Breadman

9-2 Colorado.

Completely agree, so many teams have tried. If 7 is on the ice then i have a feeling that line scores
- BetweenTheDots

Speaking of 7. I will say that I liked that he was throwing his body around in the corners late in the game vs Dallas.. That is what we need to see from him more. About 3 minutes left in a 3-2 game and Seabrook laid the body on Janmark and then Faksa. This was all right before the line change that lead to Murphy getting the hit in the face.

It was. I was at the game.
- Savetheembers33

I thought so, just wasn't positive. Thanks.

If they can stop Mackinnon-Rantanen-Landeskog, they have a good chance at winning. Much easier said than done!
- EnzoD

We've kept McDonut, White Kessel, Skidney Crosby, and Malkin (sorry, no pun) quiet this year. It could happen.......
I don't see a victory tonight, but I'm hoping like any othe fan. Stranger things have happened.

We've kept McDonut, White Kessel, Skidney Crosby, and Malkin (sorry, no pun) quiet this year. It could happen.......
I don't see a victory tonight, but I'm hoping like any othe fan. Stranger things have happened.
- I Am The Breadman

One key to it might be staying out of the box. Colorado is #3 on the PP and MacKinon/Rantanen are each tied for 3rd in PowerPlay points in the league. Colorado is one of the top teams at drawing penalties so it will not be easy.

We've kept McDonut, White Kessel, Skidney Crosby, and Malkin (sorry, no pun) quiet this year. It could happen.......
I don't see a victory tonight, but I'm hoping like any othe fan. Stranger things have happened.
- I Am The Breadman

Joki played great against McDavid, they won't be able to lean on him tonight.

OMG - I am sorry, Neurosurgeon Z3, I thought I was on the Hockey buz blog, I must have clicked on the wrong thread.

Nice straw man you created....that works with mindless lib sheep, but not here. See, follow the logic, I am not on the ice and do not effect the mental and general health of others in the NHL.

When Kruger and CC come to your house for Christmas Dinner, you can let them know how much better you are then many others because, as is the case with hybrid car owners, you CARE more than others...and after all, that is what matters.

Concussions are a occupational hazard for most pro athletes. Just a sad reality. That is why some, at some point, decide not to play on and risk more. There really is no way in legislating it out of sports. Many positive steps have been taken, but the risk will remain. No debate or bit of clever insight will alter this ultimate reality.

I am from an era of men, called cave men by today's emasculated populace, that accepted the risk of injury in sport and occupation and actually wore it like a badge of honor in quiet dignity.

So just to clarify before you attempt another "virtue signaling" post, I prefer to not look like a cat nor read other cat like posts, claiming to know what was in the mind of some guy in some split second moving 20mph on skates in traffic. And then projecting from that a whole lot of touchy feely stuff.
- TrueGrit

z3 is very good at constructing straw men...

Joki played great against McDavid, they won't be able to lean on him tonight.
- tvetter

Damn logic......that's right. Haha, I forgot.

9-2 Colorado.
- DarthKane

aw cmon...why so gloomy...

denver has always been tough for them even when the aves sucked...BTB and travel = not good...

i think it may surprise...hawks 4-3

One key to it might be staying out of the box. Colorado is #3 on the PP and MacKinon/Rantanen are each tied for 3rd in PowerPlay points in the league. Colorado is one of the top teams at drawing penalties so it will not be easy.
- breadbag

That would be helpful, but our pp has to be good, also.

Lmao such a “manly man” that disgregards the sustainability of all life in planet earth. Can we PLEASEE Keep the politics off the board. Politicaly, I’m far left liberal. Sold solar energy and now I work in legal Cannabis sales, and I’m the one calling for more physicality and fighting in the NHL and on the Blackhawks. Guess your stereotyping argument of “libs” as soft only holds up in your head. Give me a break.
- EnzoD

That is good news, as you live in the right place politically. I used to tilt that way myself.

Had Solar on my house, expensive even with Gov subsidies.

Don't be so sensitive as I take each person one at a time.

Can you make Straw men out of Hemp? That is a joke so lighten up Francis

Thanks pal!
- Justin Lowe

Justin any rumors of trades before the trade freeze that involved the hawks or even other teams that you may of heard?

9-2 Colorado.
- DarthKane

Debbie Downer. You're always negative, haha.

I thought so, just wasn't positive. Thanks.
- I Am The Breadman

No problem bro

aw cmon...why so gloomy...

denver has always been tough for them even when the aves sucked...BTB and travel = not good...

i think it may surprise...hawks 4-3
- bogiedoc

I predict 3 goals for the MacKinnon line, and they beat the Hawks 4-3 in OT.

That is good news, as you live in the right place politically. I used to tilt that way myself.

Had Solar on my house, expensive even with Gov subsidies.

Don't be so sensitive as I take each person one at a time.

Can you make Straw men out of Hemp? That is a joke so lighten up Francis
- TrueGrit

I think in this age it is oh so important to identify our political leanings on a hockey blog. Socially I identify with the Green Party and Fiscally pure Communist.

Hemp straw men, huh? How about an edible gummy bear straw man? Enzo could help Z construct it.

I'm going to go Toews with the first tonight...oops, sorry wrong place.

I think in this age it is oh so important to identify our political leanings on a hockey blog. Socially I identify with the Green Party and Fiscally pure Communist.

Hemp straw men, huh? How about an edible gummy bear straw man? Enzo could help Z construct it.

I'm going to go Toews with the first tonight...oops, sorry wrong place.
- HawkintheD

Yeah, quit talking hockey. What do you think this message board is for?

I think in this age it is oh so important to identify our political leanings on a hockey blog. Socially I identify with the Green Party and Fiscally pure Communist.

Hemp straw men, huh? How about an edible gummy bear straw man? Enzo could help Z construct it.

I'm going to go Toews with the first tonight...oops, sorry wrong place.
- HawkintheD

Great points, except nobody is talking about the blatant 2 hander the gummy straw man gave to the green party communist. The hemp straw man just stood there.

For the love of God, where is Looc the Greek Strawman to protect them? Thats right, SB won't go Greek.....

Now if you don't mind, I am off on my date with STRAW berry Short Cake....

On Saad, he has been a force in all zones and in all situations. Arguably the most consistent forward since he was white shirted earlier in the season. What I like about his offensive drives whether at ES or on the PK is that he isn't just relying on unconstested breakaways but is stickhandling and protecting the puck very well against defenders, sometimes dancing around more than one to get to the goalie. Plus he's driving to the net for prime scoring chances and not just ripping a shot from farther out.
- AEL_Fox

I just came back to say Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and so your p[ost and figured I could piggy back through on it.

I think Saad has gone out to try and justify his pay and has tried his best to be all in each shift, as you said.

On Perlini, he is showing marked progress in the past few games especially since his benching. He is using his speed to create chances. Last night he had 5 shots. If he can keep this up and use his big body effectively on the forecheck and back-check, then he will solidify his case to be a part of the Hawks resurgence as a potentially impactful 3rd liner.

Yeah I liked the trade from the standpoint that the Hawks were now a team less likely to need to try and negotiate with Schmaltz's agents because he wasn't going to be the last piece to a Cup challenge, and the fact they hawks are so far away, getting two guys who can be afforded time to play in the highest paced league, and playing right, as they will have the staff work with them on improvement.
Sure, the jury is out on both Strome and Perlini; Strome as a wing near the top of the line-up, only lets him experience how "those guys" play / move and the ice will start to slow down. He is fluid and I think he is got good mobility but I am not gonna be put in the corner that marks his movement as a reason he cannot eventually play in top six (and I don't mean on a weak teams top six.)
I think of Perlini as another kid who just has to start to "get it" understand when to use his nice foot speed, and when start to see the ice slowing down also.


On Seabrook, I liked how physical he was playing in the game particularly in the 3rd period. He was throwing checks and bodying players off the puck. If he can play that way in sheltered minutes, then he will be a valuable defender to anchor the 3rd pair. I really do like Dahlstrom and Murphy on pair #2.

When people on this board were wasting hours this summer ripping Can Ward's signing and calling him washed up, Seabrook was usually some where in the paragraphs too.
Sure StanBo loved Seabs and three Cups blinded Stan's contract zero at dollar and length, but for anyone here to dismiss Seabrook as not a valuable asset on the ice witches kids, well, not true. And I think the Hawks will eventually talk to him and find a playoff contender trade partner and the Hawks will make the deal enticing by the part of his salary they continue to carry.
I hear those Comcast pre, post and between the period reports and interviews and I guess I see things differently then they do about:
1) London's Boqvist being in the NHL next year.
Maybe in the World Juniors in the upcoming weeks Adam Boqvist will look really good in the Under-20's. But, in the east junior league in Canada, he just looks like a really good junior player, not a special one.
2) The idea that Boqvist and Ian Mitchell are gonna be ready and improvements to the backline NEXT YEAR is ambitious, and imo, a marketing ploy.
3) I think that no matter what they do with Manning, Seabrook, Davidson, Gustafsson, Murphy, they are going to decide who stays and stirs the backline until ample top four replacements actually evolve. (I say that b/c many teams in mob opinion do not truly have a bonafide top pair, when the hawks best dee-men are the two oldest tells you the replacement are guys who must improve.)

On Sikura, while he still has another level to reach so he can truly show what he is capable of offensively, one thing I have noticed is that he forechecks like his hair is on fire. He is more often than not the first Hawk (and sometimes the only one) pursuing the puck and will hound the other team as far as he can take it. Sikura is also adept at takeaways and making subtle plays that spring his linemates for scoring chances.

Right now, I kinda think of Kahun and Sikura as similar they both are really skilled quick hands guys who have to be successfully defensively inside their strengths because once they are up against think puck battles, they get "caught in the trash" and can't continue to play the entire ice, and it has caused numbers against into their end.

Don't misunderstand me: I see Kahun as a guy that can stick around at lower CAP hit, and right now, I am ambivalent on how important GM wiz is at signing him.
His age and the way he made his way back over the pond gives him a bit more wiggle on pay.

Sikura probably has asked DeBrincat for an invite with his strength coach and regime. A lot of his "attack enthusiasm" can work against him b/c he needs to a whole lot stronger. The stick, the attitude is there...but the kid isn't close to a finished player you would see making a "better" team until a few more things happen along the way.
again the situation kinda gives him breathing room on the club as it is.

Debbie Downer. You're always negative, haha.
- I Am The Breadman

Sarcastic* lol

Great points, except nobody is talking about the blatant 2 hander the gummy straw man gave to the green party communist. The hemp straw man just stood there.

For the love of God, where is Looc the Greek Strawman to protect them? Thats right, SB won't go Greek.....

Now if you don't mind, I am off on my date with STRAW berry Short Cake....


- TrueGrit

A doll?

Sarcastic* lol
- SoftServe

You are right, haha.

A doll?
- I Am The Breadman

At this point I will take whatever I can get.....

[quote=wiz1901]
really good post wiz...

the points about seab: who he is, what he has done and what he can still do seem spot on to me.

a trade to a contender seems likely with the hawks retaining salary; but i doubt this happens this season...maybe the summer or next year