I did not get a chance to watch the game:
How did Duchene, Stone and Dzingel look?

of those I know the least about stone
- kmw4631

Give me Stone all day. That guy is a hell of a hockey player.

They all look solid but hard to tell really in a game like that.

Please do not make the playoffs
- RaleighHawk

It would be terrifying.

Sports Fan Dystopia

In any walk of life, and especially sports, NOTHING ever comes from not playing to win, no matter the circumstances. The fruits are NEVER greater by playing for consolation. That is fantasy land.

IT will come down to Colorado and Chicago for the last spot. Minnesota may be sellers in the next week and regardless they are not trending upward. Vancouver has a bright future, but they lack the experience Chicago has. Phoenix, who knows, love the heart and energy, but somehow, feel like they come up short.

St. Louis is playing the best hockey in the west HANDS DOWN.

In the offseason, after the roster is tweeked and the Hawks improve defensively and on the PK next year, all fans will be happy that many young players were able to get their first taste of the playoffs this year, no matter the outcome. That experience will be invaluable towards getting back to where they want to be. FAR MORE than drafting 5 or 10 spots higher.

What a terribly played game last night by both teams. It was entertaining but wow that was a tirefire all around.

Once again, it highlights that scoring is not an issue for this team. The overall defensive scheme needs to be fixed. I've been calling for the Hawks to add a defensive dman (or two) but it'll take more than one or two players to help this team. There needs to be a renewed commitment and change to the system.

I think Lazarus posted a stat last night that in 60 games this season the Hawks have goven up 6 or more goals 11(!!) times. Woof.
- Justin Lowe

I hear you! Man I miss well played competative hockey. I'd much rather see two teams fight tooth and nail during a 2 - 1 game than watch that mess last night. I hope this proves to people that the Hawks aren't a Dutch, Stone or a Panarin away from being playoff competative, let alone Stanley Cup competative. Other than Keith I'd argue there isn't one defenseman who could have played during the Hawks hayday a few years ago.

On a positive note ADB is proving to be an elite sniper who reads the play so well and is able to almost always find open ice. Kahun makes some nice plays and passes the puck really well. Strome is such a smart player and seems to have the vision to go with it. I'd really like to see him learn to defend better and to use his body to battle for the puck. He's too big to be strictly a stick checker.

Lots of holes on this team, far too many to take a chance trading for or signing a big name player who won't help fix the areas the Hawks most need fixing.

I hear you! Man I miss well played competative hockey. I'd much rather see two teams fight tooth and nail during a 2 - 1 game than watch that mess last night. I hope this proves to people that the Hawks aren't a Dutch, Stone or a Panarin away from being playoff competative, let alone Stanley Cup competative. Other than Keith I'd argue there isn't one defenseman who could have played during the Hawks hayday a few years ago.

On a positive note ADB is proving to be an elite sniper who reads the play so well and is able to almost always find open ice. Kahun makes some nice plays and passes the puck really well. Strome is such a smart player and seems to have the vision to go with it. I'd really like to see him learn to defend better and to use his body to battle for the puck. He's too big to be strictly a stick checker.

Lots of holes on this team, far too many to take a chance trading for or signing a big name player who won't help fix the areas the Hawks most need fixing.
- paulr

This version of Keith would be getting 5/6 Dman minutes on those teams.

It would be terrifying.
- Justin Lowe

As is.
Im all for selling, but.....

If the Hawks add a top 4 D they would be kind of competitive. The Hawks can score and their PP has been fantastic. If Crawford is healthy could be intriguing.

Im all for selling off Keith, Seabrook, AA, Kruger, and maybe Crawford (If anyone would take him) but I think they think they are going to make the playoffs. If they think they are going to make the playoffs then they will buy. Crazy times

I hear you! Man I miss well played competative hockey. I'd much rather see two teams fight tooth and nail during a 2 - 1 game than watch that mess last night. I hope this proves to people that the Hawks aren't a Dutch, Stone or a Panarin away from being playoff competative, let alone Stanley Cup competative. Other than Keith I'd argue there isn't one defenseman who could have played during the Hawks hayday a few years ago.

On a positive note ADB is proving to be an elite sniper who reads the play so well and is able to almost always find open ice. Kahun makes some nice plays and passes the puck really well. Strome is such a smart player and seems to have the vision to go with it. I'd really like to see him learn to defend better and to use his body to battle for the puck. He's too big to be strictly a stick checker.

Lots of holes on this team, far too many to take a chance trading for or signing a big name player who won't help fix the areas the Hawks most need fixing.
- paulr

Disagree on the dmen. I think most of them could have played and been an upgrade on the Hawks 3rd pairing...in 2015 anyway. But I think that’s part of the problem is several being asked to slot up beyond their ability along with no real commitment to team defense.

I suppose you watched or noticed that your Russian pal Artemi posted the big goose egg tonight when it came time for his team to knock heads with a real NHL team. It wasnt anywhere near the fun for him to play against Victor Hedman or Ryan McDonagh as it was Saturday night rolling over the Rockford's finest Dmen. Thats the Artemi I know.
- RickJ

Well said- Talented player that will prove to be a Ghost in the playoffs
I don’t see the Hawks revisiting this file.

Defence, Grit & Penalty killing is lacking in Chicago -
Coaching & management see it nightly.

Well said- Talented player that will prove to be a Ghost in the playoffs
I don’t see the Hawks revisiting this file.

Defence, Grit & Penalty killing is lacking in Chicago -
Coaching & management see it nightly.
- Colbyboy

You can add coaching brains to this list.
While never a fan of Q, I have seen enough of Colliton's work.

There is no way in hell you are going to win anything with a defensive scheme (not just the defensemen but forwards as well) with this setup. To say it's a cluster(frank) is putting it mildly.

Playing another "one of the worst" teams in the league and you put forth that type of effort? Might be mildly entertaining for the "drive-by" fan but for anyone that actually knows anything about the game, it was brutal to sit through.

This club, with this defensive scheme is so far away from winning a CUP that there shouldn't even be a conversation about when they will compete for one. Me thinks that JC's coaching abilities might be OK in the AHL or in Sweden but certainly don't move the needle in the NHL.

Nice try Blowman. Try again.

Might have missed it in the pages on this thread, haven't logged on since yesterday morning, and apparently there was a slow hockey game last night.

Minor trade happened last night, before the game. Any thoughts on it? I don't think it's anything more than AHL swap, given the D we have in the pipeline, I think they wanted some veteran AHL experience. Given that, looks like he was a 1st round pick (15th overall). I sense a theme this offseason, think it will look to continue?

is Holland any worse then Kruger and Kunitz and really hayden? So I wonder if this means we bring in Krys, Mitchell, boquist and beadin next year. I hope so. they would all be exempt from the expansion draft correct? Assuming Seabs would waive and allow himself to be exposed for D we would be in a pretty good spot. if he is not willing to waive, and there are no compliance buyouts. I would probably Buy him out.

All I could keep thinking about watching that game is the silver spoon up Colorado's butt for what they got for Duchene! Ottawa fans have to be going crazy knowing they'll probably be giving up the #1 pick to Colorado. Hope those NHL balls have some crazy bounce in June!

interesting in all the post game interviews including JC, avoided and dodged the obvious defensive issues...JC vaguely addressed it with the usual blather: need to be better at the start, we can play better, need to improve..

but WTF giving 7 at home vs team that even worse than them...

As is.
Im all for selling, but.....

If the Hawks add a top 4 D they would be kind of competitive. The Hawks can score and their PP has been fantastic. If Crawford is healthy could be intriguing.

Im all for selling off Keith, Seabrook, AA, Kruger, and maybe Crawford (If anyone would take him) but I think they think they are going to make the playoffs. If they think they are going to make the playoffs then they will buy. Crazy times
- mrpaulish

Acquiring a top 4 D and then “selling” on Keith is 2 steps forward 1 step back.

I have a hard time envisioning a scenario where trading Keith doesn’t involve creating as many problems as it solves.

Might have missed it in the pages on this thread, haven't logged on since yesterday morning, and apparently there was a slow hockey game last night.

Minor trade happened last night, before the game. Any thoughts on it? I don't think it's anything more than AHL swap, given the D we have in the pipeline, I think they wanted some veteran AHL experience. Given that, looks like he was a 1st round pick (15th overall). I sense a theme this offseason, think it will look to continue?
- HawksHype

There's been at least 4 theories posted here on that Holland - Raddysh trade.

1.Holland is a UFA after this season and won't be re-signed opening up a spot on the 50 man roster. (Raddysh would have still been under contract after this year.)

2. Holland is a center and if Kruger or Anisimov is moved at the TDL he would provide some center depth and could be called up to fill a hole.

3. Stan wanted to add an AHL veteran to the Rockford lineup for their playoff push.

4. Moving Raddysh (and waiving Snuggerood last week) clears up the log jam of defenseman at Rockford and opens spots for other prospects.

I don't think anyone thinks Holland will be a contributor to the Hawks.

Thank the Lord.

Dietz interview:

"I'm interested in doing hockey trades, but I'm not trying to look for a guy that's only got a couple months left (on his contract)," Bowman said.

Instead, Bowman's eye remains on the not-too-distant future.

"We want to be an elite team and we're not in that group right now," he said. "We're going to build to that. So we want to try to make progress for the rest of this year, over the summer and the same thing with next year.

"We're building to be an elite team. We've shown signs that things are trending in the right way. We still have more to go on that journey."

Good read: Dietz


https://www.dailyherald.c...__twitter_impression=true

Thank the Lord.

Dietz interview:

"I'm interested in doing hockey trades, but I'm not trying to look for a guy that's only got a couple months left (on his contract)," Bowman said.

Instead, Bowman's eye remains on the not-too-distant future.

"We want to be an elite team and we're not in that group right now," he said. "We're going to build to that. So we want to try to make progress for the rest of this year, over the summer and the same thing with next year.

"We're building to be an elite team. We've shown signs that things are trending in the right way. We still have more to go on that journey."
- walleyeb1

To me sounds like Stan realizes that this rebuild (or whatever you want to call it) is going to take at least one more year. Hopefully he can pull off a couple of more Strome type trades or make some wise free agent signings to improve the team especially the defense.

Disagree on the dmen. I think most of them could have played and been an upgrade on the Hawks 3rd pairing...in 2015 anyway. But I think that’s part of the problem is several being asked to slot up beyond their ability along with no real commitment to team defense.
- HawkintheD

In 2015 I agree but none of these guys, maybe even the 2019 Keith wouldn't have got much ice time. The Big Three of Seabrook, Keith and Oduya would have still been over played. Can you imagine how Q would have dealt with Gus? I can't see anyone on this current defense getting much, if any, playing time during the 2009-2015 years. They just make too many mistakes and none can really play the position competently at the NHL level.

What a terribly played game last night by both teams. It was entertaining but wow that was a tirefire all around.

Once again, it highlights that scoring is not an issue for this team. The overall defensive scheme needs to be fixed. I've been calling for the Hawks to add a defensive dman (or two) but it'll take more than one or two players to help this team. There needs to be a renewed commitment and change to the system.

I think Lazarus posted a stat last night that in 60 games this season the Hawks have goven up 6 or more goals 11(!!) times. Woof.
- Justin Lowe

Zone Defense ?

You can add coaching brains to this list.
While never a fan of Q, I have seen enough of Colliton's work.

There is no way in hell you are going to win anything with a defensive scheme (not just the defensemen but forwards as well) with this setup. To say it's a cluster(frank) is putting it mildly.

Playing another "one of the worst" teams in the league and you put forth that type of effort? Might be mildly entertaining for the "drive-by" fan but for anyone that actually knows anything about the game, it was brutal to sit through.

This club, with this defensive scheme is so far away from winning a CUP that there shouldn't even be a conversation about when they will compete for one. Me thinks that JC's coaching abilities might be OK in the AHL or in Sweden but certainly don't move the needle in the NHL.

Nice try Blowman. Try again.
- savvyone-1

Like with anything, it's way too early to judge Coliton. Maybe there is a method to his coaching 'madness' and maybe there isn't? Maybe man on man defense is his way of trying to make the players more aggressive defensively? How Coliton coaches tactically or strategically at this point in the team's development is meaningless. What matter most is how is he teaching. Can he get Gus to play something that resembles defense? Can he get Strome to position himself better when he doesn't have the puck? Can he get Saad to battle for loose pucks? Can he get Caggulia to look to shoot instead of always passing? Can he get Pirlini to use his speed both offensively and defensively?

Tactics can be changed and learned relatively quickly. Teaching skills that should have already been learned will take a while longer. This is also why none of those young defensemen should be in the NHL next season, they have allot to learn before they get to the NHL.

2 big games coming up for the Hawks at home this weekend leading up to Monday's TDL.

Friday vs COL and Sunday vs DAL. With a couple of wins, the Hawks will be closer to or maybe even at a wild card spot. A couple of losses will, of course, drop them down in the pack.

Either way, I don't think Stan will make a big trade at this time. He'll go with the same lineup and see where the chips fall with what he has.

2 big games coming up for the Hawks at home this weekend leading up to Monday's TDL.

Friday vs COL and Sunday vs DAL. With a couple of wins, the Hawks will be closer to or maybe even at a wild card spot. A couple of losses will, of course, drop them down in the pack.

Either way, I don't think Stan will make a big trade at this time. He'll go with the same lineup and see where the chips fall with what he has.
- boilermaker100

Read Dietz’s article I posted above.

Like with anything, it's way too early to judge Coliton. Maybe there is a method to his coaching 'madness' and maybe there isn't? Maybe man on man defense is his way of trying to make the players more aggressive defensively? How Coliton coaches tactically or strategically at this point in the team's development is meaningless. What matter most is how is he teaching. Can he get Gus to play something that resembles defense? Can he get Strome to position himself better when he doesn't have the puck? Can he get Saad to battle for loose pucks? Can he get Caggulia to look to shoot instead of always passing? Can he get Pirlini to use his speed both offensively and defensively?

Tactics can be changed and learned relatively quickly. Teaching skills that should have already been learned will take a while longer. This is also why none of those young defensemen should be in the NHL next season, they have allot to learn before they get to the NHL.
- paulr

Yes and no Paul.
Might be too early - but I don't think so.
Colliton is doing the exact reverse of what Trotz did when he landed in NY.
Coming off a horrific D scheme where forwards didn't back-check (and essentially did whatever they wanted), Doug Weight didn't seem to have a clue.

Trotz landed and immediately changed things. Dark horse out east IMO are the Islanders -- no they don't score a ton, but they, as a team, are really defending 200ft. It's that sort of play that can win rounds in the playoffs.

Colliton OTOH, comes in and instead of working to get the forwards and D playing as a unit (instead of running around trying to do everyone else's job), has them playing exactly like the Keystone Cops. Bad habits are hard to unlearn and take time.

Have seen no progress and if anything, regression on the D side of things. I would like to see at least some commitment from all 5 on the ice to defend. Points are open (once again) more often than not and when opposing D cycles down low, then the real comedy begins for this club.

There are enough solid players up-front that at least 1/2 to 2/3 of the time there should be a decent display of knowing what to do to play defense. I'm not seeing it. Instead, am seeing clubs recognize and take advantage of the extremely poor play once the puck exits the opposing team's zone. Zone entries against us are almost a given. I guess the mantra is to give up all 3 zones including our own blue line and attempt to defend (or let whomever is the shooter-tutor for the night) attempt to stop all goal scoring forays.

Cam Ward on Alex Debrincat

"I asked him if that was his first career hat trick, and he looked at me like I was an idiot. Sorry Cat, I wasn't here last year"