A lot of posters wanting to trade for Josh Manson, did he even play last night? Actually this is how he has played all year, the Ducks are very disappointed in his play.
- LAHawk

Irrelevant if he's good, LA, he can hit! Redass is the name of the game to some.

Hawks are 9-4-1 in Feb and people are still crying about the team. This team was a mess early in the year and suffered two long losing streaks which put them deep in a hole. They might not climb out of it, but they are still in striking distance. Even if they don't make it, be happy they still know how to win hockey games.

One other thing that bothers me is when they have a turnover in their own zone like Cat did early in the 3rd period they panic, try to hard, just go back and do your job but instead they start chasing the puck which leads to extended time in the D Zone and great scoring chances.

Like Strome on the Ducks 2nd goal he assumes the forward isn't going to make a play and starts heading up ice, he does ends up in the back of the net.

Hawks are 9-4-1 in Feb and people are still crying about the team. This team was a mess early in the year and suffered two long losing streaks which put them deep in a hole. They might not climb out of it, but they are still in striking distance. Even if they don't make it, be happy they still know how to win hockey games.
- breadbag

I've enjoyed the season's second half, for sure. Was a dead-ass team early, and now the effort is there. But, it doesn't seem they're better at keeping puck out of net. And that's kinda important.

Irrelevant if he's good, LA, he can hit! Redass is the name of the game to some.
- mohel

Ehhhh i wouldn't trade for him, he looked like a pylon last night, lost quite a few boards battles.

Bob Murray is getting a very look at his team...and they are bad. Definately old and slow. Perry back from injury but he looked terrible. The hawks gifted them 3 goals but thats what the hawks do with every game. Defensively they are as much a mess as the hawks.

Hawks have to score 4 or more every game to have a chance.
- bogiedoc

Personally I think Perry is a cheap shot player, just my $0.02. However, i did see him being ultra careful of Crow's head while Crow was freezing the puck and sliding out of the crease. Now if it was the playoffs' Crow would be sitting in the dark room...

If Lindholm is getting over $5 mil per year hate to say it but Gusto will probably see that much

Hawks are 9-4-1 in Feb and people are still crying about the team. This team was a mess early in the year and suffered two long losing streaks which put them deep in a hole. They might not climb out of it, but they are still in striking distance. Even if they don't make it, be happy they still know how to win hockey games.
- breadbag

Yeah, even if they go 3-5 during those two stretches they are fighting for home ice in the first round. Or fighting for a top 3 spot with St Louis if they went 2 and 6.

I'm chalking this up to a "development year" for the younger lads.

Most of the negative attention for the lousy defense is focused on the d-men, which is certainly warranted, but we all know it's more than just the d-men who collectively make the team defense so bad - the forwards are partially to blame too.

Which of the forwards would be considered good defensively? By good defensively I mean they more times then not (1) give a good effort and (2) don't make bad plays. That's not to say that a forward doesn't make a good effort from time to time - but does the player make a good effort most of the time. Likewise, every player makes a bad play now and then - but is it the rare exception rather than too often?

I'm not prepared to judge each player but I know three of the forwards that get the most TOI - Kane, DeBrincat, and Strome - are not good defensively. They either don't give good effort consistently or they make bad plays or both.

Love the optimism, Duff, but one area that hasn't improved is team defense. Crow may help some in that area,, but....
- mohel

I understand it is frustrating to watch the breakdowns .And yes I hope Crow will help ,but that not the answer. I think I have seen some baby steps in the right direction of late ,but there is still a long way to go and a short time to get their

Yeah, even if they go 3-5 during those two stretches they are fighting for home ice in the first round. Or fighting for a top 3 spot with St Louis if they went 2 and 6.

I'm chalking this up to a "development year" for the younger lads.
- MNHawk

what was their jan record? they def are trending upward - heck if that awful PP can be fixed and isles fixed their D from last year - gives me hope that D next year can be at least middle of the pack

Colliton is a rookie too, and seems like a smart guy. Hopefully with 3/4 of a year experience he see's what works in his system and what does not and tweaks it. Lets give him at least a training camp to fully implement what he wants, not on the fly, especially considering the system he is trying to implement seems so diametrically opposed to what the veterans have been playing the last 10 years.

Most of the negative attention for the lousy defense is focused on the d-men, which is certainly warranted, but we all know it's more than just the d-men who collectively make the team defense so bad - the forwards are partially to blame too.

Which of the forwards would be considered good defensively? By good defensively I mean they more times then not (1) give a good effort and (2) don't make bad plays. That's not to say that a forward doesn't make a good effort from time to time - but does the player make a good effort most of the time. Likewise, every player makes a bad play now and then - but is it the rare exception rather than too often?

I'm not prepared to judge each player but I know three of the forwards that get the most TOI - Kane, DeBrincat, and Strome - are not good defensively. They either don't give good effort consistently or they make bad plays or both.
- EbonyRaptor

From my perspective: Toews, Saad, Kruger, Kampf. Perhaps Anisimov.

Caggiula and Kahun don’t make many boneheaded plays to kill you but not sure if they move the needle positively either.

As usual, the numbers tell the story about this team.

Shots on goal against per game - 35.17
Goals against per game - 3.72
Goals for per game - 3.34

For the Hawks to get any better they need to learn to play defense or it's all futile.

Without suppressing any shots against, a goalie would have to have a .942 svpct right now for this team to keep GA at 2 per game. And since Vasilevskiy at the top of the NHL in svpct now has a .930 (which is phenomenal BTW), we know that will never happen.

Time and time again I have said it starts up front, and if your forwards can't keep the puck in the O zone, or win NZ battles, they chase the play all night. When it gets back to the D zone, the stick poke D man to man system is just worthless.

Do they need goons? No. They need balance with the skill. Guys who can start rushes by owning the NZ and keep O zone time alive. They have one guy who consistently does that and its Caggiula. Not enough.

They need D guys who can hold the puck in at the points and clear bodies and pucks from the slot and the crease. They arguably have exactly NONE of those guys.

This team has no business in the playoffs.

I understand it is frustrating to watch the breakdowns .And yes I hope Crow will help ,but that not the answer. I think I have seen some baby steps in the right direction of late ,but there is still a long way to go and a short time to get their
- oldduffman

Yep. For me they have a couple years to get there, although I think it would be great for the kids to get a taste of the playoffs to show them they'd better commit to defense.

I've enjoyed the season's second half, for sure. Was a dead-ass team early, and now the effort is there. But, it doesn't seem they're better at keeping puck out of net. And that's kinda important.
- mohel

I liked see Crawford back in net last night. He just looks so much more cool and composed. Not that Ward and Delia are bad, but Crawford just makes it look so easy.

Most of the negative attention for the lousy defense is focused on the d-men, which is certainly warranted, but we all know it's more than just the d-men who collectively make the team defense so bad - the forwards are partially to blame too.

Which of the forwards would be considered good defensively? By good defensively I mean they more times then not (1) give a good effort and (2) don't make bad plays. That's not to say that a forward doesn't make a good effort from time to time - but does the player make a good effort most of the time. Likewise, every player makes a bad play now and then - but is it the rare exception rather than too often?

I'm not prepared to judge each player but I know three of the forwards that get the most TOI - Kane, DeBrincat, and Strome - are not good defensively. They either don't give good effort consistently or they make bad plays or both.
- EbonyRaptor

Hossa

I liked see Crawford back in net last night. He just looks so much more cool and composed. Not that Ward and Delia are bad, but Crawford just makes it look so easy.
- breadbag

I'm a big Crow guy from way back. It always amazed me the amount of crap he'd get here, especially from JJ.

Hossa
- stan-ley-cups

Pssst, he's not on the team no more.

I liked see Crawford back in net last night. He just looks so much more cool and composed. Not that Ward and Delia are bad, but Crawford just makes it look so easy.
- breadbag

I was three rows away form the Caggiula hit last night. Fortunately, most of the Anaheim fans were smart enough to know that was a brutal hit and they all expected Rackell to get tossed.

Corey looked really strong last night (admittedly with a couple mental gaffes). I still think he can be an asset, but Sikura did not have a good game last night. If Perlini could just take a few pointers from Drake, he would be a much better player. Oh well, on to the next one.

Which of the forwards would be considered good defensively? By good defensively I mean they more times then not (1) give a good effort and (2) don't make bad plays.
- EbonyRaptor

Anyone who won't block a shot, any center who won't help clear the slot or crease, any forward who won't make enough effort to win 50/50 pucks in any zone would be a forward who isn't good defensively.

I'm going to go with precious few guys meet these standards.

I liked see Crawford back in net last night. He just looks so much more cool and composed. Not that Ward and Delia are bad, but Crawford just makes it look so easy.
- breadbag

Ward or Delia in nets last night the Ducks would have scored 5. Yeah, he made 2 mistakes in his first game back, but his angles were good, and he was square to the shooter most times.

Anyone who won't block a shot, any center who won't help clear the slot or crease, any forward who won't make enough effort to win 50/50 pucks in any zone would be a forward who isn't good defensively.

I'm going to go with precious few guys meet these standards.
- Return of the Roar

Yep, it ain't the fault of the few that they give up loads of goals; it's the fault of many.

I'm a big Crow guy from way back. It always amazed me the amount of crap he'd get here, especially from JJ.
- mohel

If JJ gave him crap it was deserved, after all look how many rumours JJ posted that materialized, look at all the players who put on that magic 20 lbs, he was right that Kane would be traded cuz he hurt the brand and ADB does suck!

Pssst, he's not on the team no more.
- mohel