He doesn't understand what MNC means. Or anything else for that matter. He's a broken record.
- GPHawksfan

as you point out he stays unless he waives his NMC at the TDL; possibly to a playoff team desperate for a back-up. Forsberg stays in RCK unless this happens or an injury to ward or delia.

It's comical to assert Forsberg is the difference between this team having a better record.

I really don’t get why Kunitz is playing.
- walleyeb1

Showcasing. Same reason Anisimov is being piano tethered to Kane. Anisimov can only produce when he's on the ice with Kane. Don't be shocked to see Anisimov on PP1 and Kunitz getting more reps at special teams.

Per Lazerus:

Slater Koekkoek could make his debut tonight. Jeremy Colliton said they were still weighing lineup options. Kunitz and Hayden were on the ice late (usually a sign of a scratch), but Colliton wouldn't commit to that, either. Blackhawks didn't skate lines, either. #subterfuge
- walleyeb1

Oh yippee.

Trouble with Ward is with an over 35 contract and an NMC all they can do with him is healthy scratch him. He cant go to Rockford, and Rockford needs two goalies.
- Return of the Roar

Yes I see wave was a mistake . Just means put more effort into trying to deal him retain salary ,teams are picking up AHL goalies for picks .I would believe someone may take a flyer on a veteran NHL goalie for playoff security . Will Ward wave ,I think a little friendly persuasion could get him to jump

Saad for Nurse
- EnzoD

SAAD was my first thought!!!! we are def not getting $6MM value there!!!

as you point out he stays unless he waives his NMC at the TDL; possibly to a playoff team desperate for a back-up. Forsberg stays in RCK unless this happens or an injury to ward or delia.

It's comical to assert Forsberg is the difference between this team having a better record.
- bogiedoc

I have never said Forsberg would make this team better ,,been saying we should see what he has to offer . Before dumping him for nothing . We are sure of what we have in Ward .

Saad for Nurse
- EnzoD

I was thinking DeBrincat for Lucic... add some snarl to the team.

I was thinking DeBrincat for Lucic... add some snarl to the team.
- DarthKane

Now you're talking!!! Sign me up 2 years ago!

Per Lazerus:

Slater Koekkoek could make his debut tonight. Jeremy Colliton said they were still weighing lineup options. Kunitz and Hayden were on the ice late (usually a sign of a scratch), but Colliton wouldn't commit to that, either. Blackhawks didn't skate lines, either. #subterfuge
- walleyeb1

I figured he would play tonight. It was SCH's line-up.

Cause Perlini sucks?
- Elbows15

He definitely leaves a lot to be desired.

Perlini and Saad for Bear and Klefbom

I was thinking DeBrincat for Lucic... add some snarl to the team.
- DarthKane

for sure...but oil have to eat his entire deal...

Perlini and Saad for Bear and Klefbom
- ikeane

i will take perlini for spare zamboni parts..

Saad for Nurse
- EnzoD

Yes Please.

These D pairs are frustrating. Why have 2 young defenders playing on their opposite side when it makes sense to just swap them on the lineup card. Jokiharju should play RHD with a solid partner in Keith and Gustafsson should play LHD in sheltered ES minutes with Seabrook.
- AEL_Fox

Yes a total headscratcher, makes me wonder what they are
even attempting to accomplish?

I have never said Forsberg would make this team better ,,been saying we should see what he has to offer . Before dumping him for nothing . We are sure of what we have in Ward .
- oldduffman

Why bring up Forsberg? Quenneville ruined him last year and Connor Murphy and they would have won eight cups if Quenneville wasnt around.

I was thinking DeBrincat for Lucic... add some snarl to the team.
- DarthKane

Plus a 3rd....

Just wondering the success both Forsberg and Laakinen might enjoy if recalled.
- jhawk59

I wouldn't call up either. Let Delia ride with Ward and get the experience.

Lankinen needs to get pro experience in the AHL and lock down the starting role there first. He's been playing stronger since Delia got called up.

As for Forsberg, I don't see him with the team after this season. I imagine he may want a change of scenery seeing Delia leapfrog him.

Who knows, Gravel and maybe even Nalimov join the minor league goalie ranks next year which would have Lankinen starting in Rockford with one of Gravel, Nalimov, and Tomkins as backup (the other two as the Indy Fuel tandem). Not sure how much tether Tomkins is going to get; likely a career minor leaguer.

Why bring up Forsberg? Quenneville ruined him last year and Connor Murphy and they would have won eight cups if Quenneville wasnt around.
- GPHawksfan

.Murphy showing you can recuperate from terrible coaching . Don't know about 8 cups ,HAWKS were lucky to get 3 in spite of coach Q insane line-ups .You must really love Q ,to bad coaches are hired to be fired, get over it Jr.

Agree that the TOI allocation could be better, especially for Jokiharju.
- AEL_Fox

Why did he play less than 13 minutes, he looked uncomfortable on his off side a second slower since he had to think about his first move in the D Zone, but of all the D men he gets the least of amount of TOI and Gusto gets 25 minutes? WTF

Its his first year at the NHL level. Of course he is going to have some down periods. Its a process.
- Elbows15

I know. I was just commenting that he hasn't been that solid lately. No problem with the new kid from Tampa getting a look. Not like it is going to change this teams trajectory this year.

I just don't see Dalhstrom as anything more than a solid 3rd pairing guy based on his play so far. His play is pretty average.

Why did he play less than 13 minutes, he looked uncomfortable on his off side a second slower since he had to think about his first move in the D Zone, but of all the D men he gets the least of amount of TOI and Gusto gets 25 minutes? WTF
- BetweenTheDots

I'd thought about this, and had come to the conclusion that Colliton values offensive production -Gustafsson has a fairly decent point streak going. I'm not sure that part of that was luck and or the skill of a guy like Kane converting on some fairly inadvisable passes from poor locations ... like the time my man 56 basically got over the blue line into the O zone ... not terribly far and did one of his trademarked backhand passes to the center of the ice ... not a bad idea with Kane out there and trailing the play ... but the thing is -- anyone else (probably even Kane half the time) doesn't handle the pass cleanly and then go offside ... it did result in a goal though -- and looked pretty slick... I guess that points to where Colliton's priorities are.

And, you know, fair enough - it is also looking at what has resulted in opponents' scoring and pressure -if something unnecessary happened that allowed for these ... and I can't, honestly say that it happens in the same way as the above described play. And it isn't really one guy either.

OK I just don’t understand you all if are goal is a top 5 pick why do you all complain about this guy or that guy sucking??????? I get playing kunitz is pointless and we should be trying other Hogg’s or giving more time to guys already up.

Shouldn’t we want guys playing 30 minutes ?????
Or have we decided we want to try and win more screwing up our draft odds.

We aren’t going anywhere so why not play drake and Perlini more, and dcat less the more he scores this year the more he costs next contract

Saad for Nurse
- EnzoD

I posted that on the Oiler thread a couple of weeks ago and got shot down pretty fast.

I'd thought about this, and had come to the conclusion that Colliton values offensive production -Gustafsson has a fairly decent point streak going. I'm not sure that part of that was luck and or the skill of a guy like Kane converting on some fairly inadvisable passes from poor locations ... like the time my man 56 basically got over the blue line into the O zone ... not terribly far and did one of his trademarked backhand passes to the center of the ice ... not a bad idea with Kane out there and trailing the play ... but the thing is -- anyone else (probably even Kane half the time) doesn't handle the pass cleanly and then go offside ... it did result in a goal though -- and looked pretty slick... I guess that points to where Colliton's priorities are.

And, you know, fair enough - it is also looking at what has resulted in opponents' scoring and pressure -if something unnecessary happened that allowed for these ... and I can't, honestly say that it happens in the same way as the above described play. And it isn't really one guy either.
- steve-hist-sdc

I think that JC feels like #56 makes more positive impact with his play moving the puck than he hurts the team with mistakes. I think he has been pretty clear that he feels Gus can help the team but that they are working on helping him in his own end. The strategy the seem to be using is around giving the #2 / #56 pair the offensive zone starts when they can vs feeding Murphy and Dhalstrom the Dzone duty.

In general, I think the Hawks make some playing decisions based on strategy to manage assets. They very well could be playing Gus with the intention of using him in trade. Show a team that he can play minutes and score like a top 15 dman in the NHL. I believe they've benched guys before just to keep their value low too. It's hard to have great RFA leverage when you are in and out of the lineup.