again since the beginning the year I have called delia the hawks 2020 starter, i pushed that up to sometime in 2019 when craw went went down

he is not not in the mold of the big goalie every team wants but he is technically strong, quick, athletic and tracks the puck really well...

he should get next game vs the aves
- bogiedoc

Very quick starting and stopping going side to side - doesn’t lose his net.

The D ice-time was pretty balanced.

Gus 21 minutes
Murphy 20.5 minutes
Keith 20 minutes
Dahlstrom 20 minutes
Seabrook 18 minutes
Forsling 16 minutes

The improvement has definitely come from the back end. Less mistakes and keeping the chances to the outside a bit more.
- breadbag

I like how JC is using all of them; putting them in positions to succeed. Even pairing Gus with Keith has been working, and probably helping Gus' development.

Very quick starting and stopping going side to side - doesn’t lose his net.
- StLBravesFan

We'll have to see how consistent Delia is but he is in such rhythm and tracks so well he doesn't over play pucks, push too hard and as a result doesn't lose his net and is usually square and in balance....... I do think the book on the kid is gonna be go to the net for rebounds. The only thing I can find wrong is maybe there are some rebounds to be had but when you face the top line on earth in Rado and see 48 pucks tonight there will be rebounds.

He's showing why he lead the AHL in SPG and that it's no fluke. With the D tightening up, Delia excellent in the last two, 4 wins in their last 5 and 5 for the last 14 on the PP the group is gaining confidence. But of course consistency is what matters.

Still can't believe some are still talking about trading Gus. We finally have someone to play the point on the PP, but, no, trade him away. $1.2M on a 2 yr deal but, no, we don't need him.
Not good enough -so you really want Keith back on the PP?

Still can't believe some are still talking about trading Gus. We finally have someone to play the point on the PP, but, no, trade him away. $1.2M on a 2 yr deal but, no, we don't need him.
Not good enough -so you really want Keith back on the PP?
- 67hawks

Yeah, it's been nice not seeing Keith on the PP. Does anybody miss post 2015 Quenville?

Denmark: 2 games, 18 GA, 0 GF
- tvetter

That's cause there's no future Hawks in their lineup

Sooooo...when Joker comes back, who kicks rocks? Dahlstrom's playing really well

Sooooo...when Joker comes back, who kicks rocks? Dahlstrom's playing really well
- Assman22

Jokiharju himself?

Sooooo...when Joker comes back, who kicks rocks? Dahlstrom's playing really well
- Assman22

I would put Joker to the minors if he is allowed to go there or back to Juniors. The Hawks know they have a good one with him. Play Gus, Forsling, and Dahlstrom to see if they are regular every game players going forward.

I would put Joker to the minors if he is allowed to go there or back to Juniors. The Hawks know they have a good one with him. Play Gus, Forsling, and Dahlstrom to see if they are regular every game players going forward.
- HamiltonHawk

Juniors would be a waste at this point. If Colliton is going to minimize his ice time, fine, send him to RFD. With Colliton up, would rather send Dahlstrom back and have him play with the big club.

Juniors would be a waste at this point. If Colliton is going to minimize his ice time, fine, send him to RFD. With Colliton up, would rather send Dahlstrom back and have him play with the big club.
- HawkintheD

Perhaps Forsling get some shopped to gauge his value?
The hawks have a few young defensemen maybe we can get a young middle 6 center in return

Juniors would be a waste at this point. If Colliton is going to minimize his ice time, fine, send him to RFD. With Colliton up, would rather send Dahlstrom back and have him play with the big club.
- HawkintheD

If anything, this newly-found blueline logjam furthers Stan's leverage for trading DK. Better get a king's ransom from TOR.

Perhaps Forsling get some shopped to gauge his value?
The hawks have a few young defensemen maybe we can get a young middle 6 center in return
- Abadseed

This is what I'm thinking.

I think Forsling will be dangled as trade bait. Would be nice to reel in a young forward for him.

He's still very young, but I just don't see him having a top-4 role with the 'Hawks, and we've got plenty of bottom-pairing depth in the system.

Bob Mackenzie has given Entwistle major props the past two games for Team Canada. Entwistle has definitely earned himself a fan.
- DarthKane

Our boy Bob!

This is what I'm thinking.

I think Forsling will be dangled as trade bait. Would be nice to reel in a young forward for him.

He's still very young, but I just don't see him having a top-4 role with the 'Hawks, and we've got plenty of bottom-pairing depth in the system.
- TommyHawk

I kinda agree with you. If you are going to trade one of the current D-Men on the roster to help improve the team now (and going forward) I would think that Forsling makes the most sense as he has the most potential out of the current guys (Gusf, Dahlstrom, Manning) and could get the best return. I definitely wouldn't just give him away in a deal but if the right deal came around that netted us a guy who can step in and help out forward group (maybe even packaged with one of our many forwards) I would be willing to explore that option.

However, we still don't truly know what we have in Forsling or with Dahlstrom, Gusf, Joki, or the prospects we all are hoping can/will make an impact in Boqvist, Beaudin, and Mitchell so I would be a bit leary about making a deal with him just yet. JC will need to find a way to rotate these guys a bit (Keith, Seabrook, and Murphy likely staying all the time) to get the most out of them and see what we have for going forward. Having Manning's contract makes things a bit tricky for us. Perhaps they can work out a 2-1 with Manning and Forsling going to a team otherwise they need to work out a deal to give him a fair shake at playing somewhere else cuz I don't see him getting much time hear being behind those seven guys.

So our friend, Mr. Backes, to have a hearing for an illegal check. Who would have thought?
The Bruins are paying $6M per year for his 3 goals and 10 points.

Pissed i couldn't watch the game last night. Im a big fan of Delia. Was Delia as good as the stat line?

This is what I'm thinking.

I think Forsling will be dangled as trade bait. Would be nice to reel in a young forward for him.

He's still very young, but I just don't see him having a top-4 role with the 'Hawks, and we've got plenty of bottom-pairing depth in the system.
- TommyHawk

If the org believes he can be a top 4 dman he can't be traded, with youth, just because Dahlstrom is doing well now doesn't mean he will do well later. This team can't afford to give up possible top 4 dmen when you have 2 dmen at the twilight of their careers on your roster.

Pissed i couldn't watch the game last night. Im a big fan of Delia. Was Delia as good as the stat line?
- BetweenTheDots

Yes. Despite 48 shots that hit the net the kid was efficient and compact. No real flopping or scrambling. ......... As mentioned we'll have to see how consistent he is, assuming Colliton gives him the net, but the foundation he is showing supports his AHL league leading SPG and his excellent showings vs COL and MN.

Yes. Despite 48 shots that hit the net the kid was efficient and compact. No real flopping or scrambling. ......... As mentioned we'll have to see how consistent he is, assuming Colliton gives him the net, but the foundation he is showing supports his AHL league leading SPG and his excellent showings vs COL and MN.
- Mr Ricochet

Thanks, that's great to hear.

I'm really liking what I'm seeing front he Hawks as of late. It really seems like the players are buying into what JC has been selling to them since taking over and you are seeing it start to show on the ice with the teams overall play and with the results.

I'm not buying into the unrealistic hype that some people I know or have seen that think they can turn it around it still be a Playoff team, but I do like that we're beginning to see guys settle into roles on this and some of the kids from Rockford have come up and made an impact on this team.

Carl Dahlstrom looks to be a legit backend NHL D-Man. I would love for him to be a 3rd Pairing or at the very least 7th D-Man on this team going forward. He's not flashy but he makes smart plays to clear the puck out and is in good position most of the time. He could even develop his game even further and possibly take on a much bigger role with this team. Excited to see where he end sup.

Dylan Sikura has looked good at times and brought some more offensive depth to the team. He hasn't been super flashy but he makes smart plays and provides some offensive threat to the team with sound defense. He's also not afraid of contact which is good for a change.

Colin Delia so far has been the biggest help for this team. I know it's only been two games so far, but this kid has looked great in both starts and looks to have the makings of a legit NHL goalie. He tracks to the puck very well and makes good sound saves. Doesn't really seem to get out of position. He could be playing his way into a starting role on this team if he can keep up this play the rest of the year. This would be HUGE for the Hawks going forward with the uncertainty of Crawford's health and future going into the final year of his deal next year. Still a lot left to be seen from him, but so far he looks like he could at the very least be a very talented backup in the NHL.

Then we're a lot of our prospects in the Junior's World Tourney right now making an impact. Barratt and Kurashev both seem to be making big plays each game for their country and Entwhistle just seems to be doing a lot of the dirty work for Team Canada that goes unnoticed on the stat sheet but not buy those watching the game. On top of that we're seeing three of the "Big Four" (Joki, Boqvist, and Mitchell) get a chance to show what they can do on the backend for their countries as well.

For as much as people want to see doom and gloom this team that Toews is done and overpaid barely a 3C anymore, that Saad isn't a Top 6 forward and isn't worth his contract, Keith doesn't care and is losing a step so we gotta trade him ASAP, or that Seabrook needs to be traded at all costs so we should just blow it all up and start over the team, IMO, looks to be building chemistry together and has a lot of very solid prospects in the Pipeline that could help add more depth to this team (like we used to have around "The Core") and build us back to being a Playoff Contender again.

I hope for the rest of the year we play well enough to be competitive, but can still end up with a Top 5 pick to get that one top end forward prospects. Put them with the improving prospects we have developing and all of the guys we have in the NHL now with our high end D-men guys to go along with the Cap Space we'll have next year this team's future doesn't seem as bleak as many have made it out to be.

Take it from someone who has lived in SW Victoria ... no umbrella, no problem ... but find someplace to pick up a hat at short notice... floppy hats are ok -although if you choose unwisely you can look like Gilligan.
- steve-hist-sdc

Ha. Nice. Noted.

We're up in Whistler now. First time. It's amazing here.

Yes. Despite 48 shots that hit the net the kid was efficient and compact. No real flopping or scrambling. ......... As mentioned we'll have to see how consistent he is, assuming Colliton gives him the net, but the foundation he is showing supports his AHL league leading SPG and his excellent showings vs COL and MN.
- Mr Ricochet

After watching the game, I felt it was a quiet 46 save performance. High volume of shots but it didn't seem to me like he had to stand on his head, just as you said, played an efficient game.

Thanks for all of the mailbag questions. I'm working those into a blog that will be out in the next couple of days.

Nice win last night. Delia was great and Kane was Kane.

Solid performance by some Hawks prospects as well. Mackenzie and Kurashev played big roles in the CAN/SUI game.

Juniors would be a waste at this point. If Colliton is going to minimize his ice time, fine, send him to RFD. With Colliton up, would rather send Dahlstrom back and have him play with the big club.
- HawkintheD

Dahlstrom and Murphy seem to be forming an effective duo, I don't know if Dahlstrom will be the odd man out.

The easy answer would be to send Forsling to Rockford. He's playing the least among the d-men, he's waiver exempt and Manning can sit in the press box without hurting the team's development.

However, based on play Manning should go to Rockford but it would be difficult for JC to find playing time for all 7 remaining d-men. I would certainly keep Jokiharju in Chicago and play him 20 minutes per game. Ride the kid's confidence from the WJC experience.

Keith - Jokiharju
Dahlstrom - Murphy
Gustafsson - Seabrook
Forsling