Rick - The Hawks no this is a wasted season too, nice little run they have been on. The 3rd period showed last night how far they are away, Columbus is fighting like hell to make the postseason and they made the Hawks look like a peewee team in the 3rd last night.
- ChicagoHope

This.

And Rick comment above too about developing players properly. Oh and while we not sure how Gus may (emphasis "may") improve defensively, i would bet he is too valuable NOW but later if SOME kids develop nicely then Gus is traded.

Yes, they are basically the Rockford Blackhawks and the playing for keeps has just started. And thats why there is no need for a 19 year old kid to be over exposed in a tough situation he isn't quite ready for. It certainly hasn't worked with Forsling either. And it won't work with Bovqist, Mitchell and the other kid if they push them onto the NHL roster too soon.
- RickJ

You are so correct and your previous example about Ritsolainen in Buffalo is another prime example. I would add this: players like Perlini and Virtanen (Vancouver) get ruined or derailed by playing NHL ahead of their time. Something to ponder if Bowman plucks a power forward (this is a dream you had, correct "worththeCup blogger").

You are so correct and your previous example about Ritsolainen in Buffalo is a prime example. I would add this: players like Perlini and Virtanen (Vancouver) get ruined or derailed by playing NHL ahead of their time. Something to ponder if Bowman plucks a power forward (this is a dream you had, correct "worththeCup blogger").
- jhawk59

Exception to the rule , the 2 Tkachuk boys, both of Walt’s kids made the jump right away and look like they will both have good careers.
I thought Bowman had a shot at Brady but elected to draft 2 midgets instead. Hope they pan out and prove me wrong. Would love a Brendan Shanahan type forward to fall into Bowman’s lap. I am hoping Perlini gets it also.

IMO, a team with a 30-15-15 record is .500. 30 wins and 30 losses
- EnzoD

Totally agree. If it is not a win, it is a loss. There is only one column in the stat line for Winn but there are two for losses.

There are other variables. What if that team lost 6 of those games in OT and 9 of them in a shootout?
- Hawks_49

They are still losses. You don’t “win” the Stanley cup if your opponent scores in the OT of a game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. You just lost the Stanley Cup because you lost the game.

[quote=SC116]You're mistaken, then -- it is that stupid bonus point for an OTL creating the 3 point games. The league could decide not to get rid of ties entirely -and decided that every game needed a result.

Actually going to OT in the regular season isn't really 'hockey' -anyways ... it has screwed up the points model for the standings.

The "stupid bonus point" is not for an overtime loss but for an overtime win. As you note, regular season OT is not really hockey. Traditionally each team was awarded a point in a regular season tie, and still are (and usually well earned)--but that extra OTW point is what screws everything up.
- stanleyhawk

Not sure how you figure that -as there never had been points awarded for losses when there was a 5 minute Seldom Death OT period prior to this gimmick shootout thing. Not to mention the gimmick 3 on 3 because the 5 on 5 made for too many gimmick shootouts.

2 points for win, and none for a loss.

Exception to the rule , the 2 Tkachuk boys, both of Walt’s kids made the jump right away and look like they will both have good careers.
I thought Bowman had a shot at Brady but elected to draft 2 midgets instead. Hope they pan out and prove me wrong. Would love a Brendan Shanahan type forward to fall into Bowman’s lap. I am hoping Perlini gets it also.
- wonthecup10

Tkachuk was chosen with the 4th overall pick. The Hawks had picks 8 and 27, so not sure where Bowman's shot to get Brady was.

HOLY JUMPING: the blows win 10 in a row.

The “Jokiharju plays scared” narrative is pure fantasy straight from the same place Eklund gets his rumors....his ass. The kid was arguably the best Dman through 30 games, led his junior team to a championship, then given 12 minutes a night by Collition, then scratched, then demoted.

Jokiharju is one of 2 or 3 teenage defenseman that played in the NHL this year and he was very good for most of that time. Give me a break with the “Joki plays scared”’ nonsense.
- EnzoD

Yes, all of this.

*NEW* blog up: https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=97818

Not sure how you figure that -as there never had been points awarded for losses when there was a 5 minute Seldom Death OT period prior to this gimmick shootout thing. Not to mention the gimmick 3 on 3 because the 5 on 5 made for too many gimmick shootouts.

2 points for win, and none for a loss.
- SC116

It's a very easy fix: every game should be worth 3 points. 3 for a regulation win, 2 for OT/ shootout win, 1 for OT/shootout loss, 0 for regulation loss.

NHL hockey is the only sport in which some games are worth more in the standings than others. That said, Bettman likes it this way as it keeps more teams in the mix throughout the season, like the West this year.

Personally, I think three point games could spawn some interesting scenarios late in the season where a chasing team playing a team ahead of them in the standings would go all out to win in regulation.

Tkachuk was chosen with the 4th overall pick. The Hawks had picks 8 and 27, so not sure where Bowman's shot to get Brady was.
- HawkintheD

Don't let facts get into the way of a good Stan-bashing opportunity.