really need caggulia back. If it was you who would you sit? Right now I would do kruger? a week ago it would have been Sikura. But he has looked better. kind of hard for me to decide who out of forsling, Koek, or Dahlstrom.

wish we would have moved hayden at the deadline.

we are really rolling 4 lines. no need to double shift kane at this point. Also how is keith such a bad passer and shooter at this point. it should be his speed and agility and endurance that should be the issue.
- kmw4631

I've been thinking about this too, but I would sit Kunitz. I think that Hayden has likely played his last game for the Hawks.

Sikura - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Perlini
Kahun - Anisimov - Saad
Cagguila - Kampf - Kruger
Kunitz/Hayden

Keith - Gustafsson
Dahsltrom - Muprhy
Koekkoek - Seabrook
Forsling

Probably would dress Sikura and Koek. Kruger needs a breather in the press box.
- gabriel

Because golden boy who cant produce Sikura belongs on the first line with all his 7 points...let not try Kahun there.

It's a joke he is getting all the opportunities in the top 6 when he cant put the puck in the net.

Not sure what Kahun had done poorly to see his ice time go down.

Can't sit Sikura. Hell, JC had to take Kane off JT's wing to give Dylan those top line minutes

So what's the play? We want the Avs to beat Minny tonight and hope the Hawks beat the Avs in back to back games?
- SoftServe

I’m not sure, the Avalanche have a pretty tough schedule, I don’t see them as contenders for the final playoff spot. Just hope it doesn’t turnout to be another three point game.

Mhmm. And in OT it looked like Toews kind of dogged it back. Kane's guy was up high.

Toews was behind his man the entire play and into the net it went. I don't buy the tired excuse. These guys are pro athletes. Took the foot off the gas for a few seconds and that ended it.

The bad turnovers in the Hawk's own zone continue to baffle me. Bad turnovers with little pressure. Teams are taking away the ring around. It leads to so many turnovers. Might be time to start moving the puck up the middle of the ice (something the Hawks used to do very very well).
- bhawks2241

To complicate matters, the Hawks passing game was simply brutal. But, I thought they were under varying degrees of intense pressure the entire night, no? Don't like the tired excuse either. But, to me, both Toews and Kane looked shot. No problem in disagreeing at all, here.

To complicate matters, the Hawks passing game was simply brutal. But, I thought they were under varying degrees of intense pressure the entire night, no? Don't like the tired excuse either. But, to me, both Toews and Kane looked shot. No problem in disagreeing at all, here.
- gabriel

Toews and Kane didnt look shot playing together...but they had to get Sikura more ice time

Now Saad and Toews have to work twice as hard because they have a mite playing on the RW

Because golden boy who cant produce Sikura belongs on the first line with all his 7 points...let not try Kahun there.

It's a joke he is getting all the opportunities in the top 6 when he cant put the puck in the net.

Not sure what Kahun had done poorly to see his ice time go down.

Can't sit Sikura. Hell, JC had to take Kane off JT's wing to give Dylan those top line minutes
- PatShart

Honestly, I think the Hawks were playing the law of averages with Sikura. So was I. To date, it has not worked out at all. I was just thinking more in terms of Kruger needing a brief respite.

If anything, Kahun needs an increase of minutes. Skates like the wind and always hustling.

So what's the play? We want the Avs to beat Minny tonight and hope the Hawks beat the Avs in back to back games?
- SoftServe

ummm...no 3 pt game...


or wild win...hawks not beating aves in BTB games...

hawks look gassed...the scoring was going to regress at some point...

as kwolfe stated getting 3 of 4 points the last two games is a "gift"...they easily could have and maybe deserved to lose both

So what's the play? We want the Avs to beat Minny tonight and hope the Hawks beat the Avs in back to back games?
- SoftServe

You got it.

The Hawks have 10 OTL's (1 shootout loss). They might need to rethink their OT strategy. With Toews, Kane and Crow they have to like their chances in a shootout. I am not saying they should be totally defensive in the 5 minute OT. But if they adopted a slightly more defensive mindset they might lose less games in the OT and win more games in the shootout. The difference between the Hawks and a playoff position would be winning 4 more of the OT/shootout games.

(I know Crow was not available for all of the OT/shootout losses.)

Because golden boy who cant produce Sikura belongs on the first line with all his 7 points...let not try Kahun there.

It's a joke he is getting all the opportunities in the top 6 when he cant put the puck in the net.

Not sure what Kahun had done poorly to see his ice time go down.

Can't sit Sikura. Hell, JC had to take Kane off JT's wing to give Dylan those top line minutes
- PatShart

Have to beat Philly and at WORST take 3 of vs Colorado this weekend.

Pretty pathetic effort for a team back home vs a team behind them and knowing the importance of the 2 points and they didn't show up for well over 2 periods and if it weren't for Crawford they give up 5-6 goals.

This defense sucks. Period. Keith whiffed on at least 2-3 passes that damn near cost them. They have to shop this guy before they paying 13 million in their bottom 3 pair in the next year +.

Sikura…..he gets chances but cant' covert. I think at this point they just can't continue to play him top 6 minutes when he doesn't produce a thing. This team has no margin for error and Sikura may end up being a nice 3rd line depth scorer.

Toews and Kane both staying way too high on that game winner trying to "cheat" and it cost them.

ummm...no 3 pt game...


or wild win...hawks not beating aves in BTB games...

hawks look gassed...the scoring was going to regress at some point...

as kwolfe stated getting 3 of 4 points the last two games is a "gift"...they easily could have and maybe deserved to lose both
- bogiedoc

Exactly and when they can't pot 4-5 a night they have a tough time winning unless Crawford stands on his head. This defense is a joke. Just awful. High quality chance after high quality chance with an AHL caliber defense or old has beens.

So many including those who used to run this blog can rip 56 all day long, but at least he gives you offense. Im looking at 2 and 7 who look like hell and really need to be a 4 at best but most likely a 5 or 6 on a cup contending team playing with somebody who can cover their mistakes.

Keith has some ridiculous double push off going on with 1 leg and looks extremely uncomfortable skating.

The Hawks have 10 OTL's (1 shootout loss). They might need to rethink their OT strategy. With Toews, Kane and Crow they have to like their chances in a shootout. I am not saying they should be totally defensive in the 5 minute OT. But if they adopted a slightly more defensive mindset they might lose less games in the OT and win more games in the shootout. The difference between the Hawks and a playoff position would be winning 4 more of the OT/shootout games.

(I know Crow was not available for all of the OT/shootout losses.)
- -Doh-

If they start out winning the opening draw, they would stand a better chance. There is no such thing as defensive hockey 3 on 3.

The strategy for every team is possess the puck.

I do not think they are gassed. I think playing Kane on the 3rd line and then double shifting him or sliding him onto the Toews line and adjusting the lines midway through the 2nd period hurts the team.

Load up the top two line and leave them like that.
Saad, Toews, Kane
ADB, Strome, Perlini.
Sikura , AA, Kahun
Hayden/Kunitz, Kampf, Kruger/Hayden

If you need to double shift Kane or Toews in the 3rd period out of necessity so be it.

I hope Caggiula comes back soon. He would help a great deal.

If they start out winning the opening draw, they would stand a better chance. There is no such thing as defensive hockey 3 on 3.

The strategy for every team is possess the puck.
- TrueGrit

There is a range of risk taking in 3v3. You can throw caution to the wind, or you can play a tight man on man when you lose possession and capitalize on offensive opportunities.

Last night we lost the draw and then floated. You need a plan that if you lose the draw the center (Toews) takes his opposite, the dman (Gus) takes their other forward and our other forward (Kane) takes there dman. When they lost the draw last night they just looked at each other like there was no plan if they lost the draw and floated all the way to our net.

No better example of how bad defensively Gus is than the play with Tanner Pearson at center ice on the boards that became a 2 on 1. Cro saved Gus's butt and then they tied it up later.

But every NHL team needs 1 or more Dmen who can make the good outlet pass to the forwards and then move up the ice in support on offence. Gone are the Don Cherry days of firing the puck off the glass waist high and hoping a forward can corral it.

So Gus fits and helps until somebody better comes along and is physically ready for the NHL grind. Featherweights coming out of junior hockey at 19 don't help NHL teams win.
- RickJ

One reason the Blackhawks reportedly are willing to trade one of their dman prospects to fill another need. One such need is actually in an exchange for an experienced NHL dman. As Rick mentiined, their dmen prospects graduating from juniir are 19 year old lightweights. They are more of a biys bidy and not the man's body. Furthermore the too dmen prospects talked up on this board are not playi g the style of a bruising ztro g. Ig. Hezt dman. It is not xo that you must have one ir two these type......it is nust that we do not have but .Mur p hy abd the declining slow Seabrook

One reason the Blackhawks reportedly are willing to trade one of their dman prospects to fill another need. One such need is actually in an exchange for an experienced NHL dman. As Rick mentiined, their dmen prospects graduating from juniir are 19 year old lightweights. They are more of a biys bidy and not the man's body. Furthermore the too dmen prospects talked up on this board are not playi g the style of a bruising ztro g. Ig. Hezt dman. It is not xo that you must have one ir two these type......it is nust that we do not have but .Mur p hy abd the declining slow Seabrook
- jhawk59

Wiz? Is that you?

After last night's Ackbar game, the Hawks now must win at least one of their last four games against STL, NSH, DAL and WPG.

Every loss they have before those four games means they need to win another one of those last four. Remember, for the last four games to have no relevance, the Hawks must be holding the final wild card spot plus nine points after game 78.

The math just doesn't look good to make it in. The Hawks must basically win 90+% of the remaining points and the contenders closest to them have to play sub .500 the rest of the way.

Missing the playoffs and picking #15 looking very likely.

No better example of how bad defensively Gus is than the play with Tanner Pearson at center ice on the boards that became a 2 on 1. Cro saved Gus's butt and then they tied it up later.

But every NHL team needs 1 or more Dmen who can make the good outlet pass to the forwards and then move up the ice in support on offence. Gone are the Don Cherry days of firing the puck off the glass waist high and hoping a forward can corral it.

So Gus fits and helps until somebody better comes along and is physically ready for the NHL grind. Featherweights coming out of junior hockey at 19 don't help NHL teams win.
- RickJ

The biggest problem is we know what Gus is. He's an offensive minded D man who is an elite talent. The defensive side no question he is lacking on.

The other side of this coin is the inability of fans, coaches, management to realize that 2 is done. Done as in a top pair defensemen and he's arguably a 2nd pair on a cup contending team.

For all the nitpicking we do about 56, maybe we should start to nitpick 2's game and watch the parade of back door goals, that he gives up, or his lack of size, stick checking that doesn't work in today's game?

The smart move is shopping him this offseason and getting him out of here because nobody is taking 7 with that asinine cap hit.

Otherwise this team is locking up way too many spots for has been/inferior d men and will not take the next step back up any time soon

After last night's Ackbar game, the Hawks now must win at least one of their last four games against STL, NSH, DAL and WPG.

Every loss they have before those four games means they need to win another one of those last four. Remember, for the last four games to have no relevance, the Hawks must be holding the final wild card spot plus nine points after game 78.

The math just doesn't look good to make it in. The Hawks must basically win 90+% of the remaining points and the contenders closest to them have to play sub .500 the rest of the way.

Missing the playoffs and picking #15 looking very likely.
- Return of the Roar

Yep and that's the worst case scenario that is sadly going to pan out. Everyone will think they just need 1-2 guys going into next fall and its far from the truth....

The saving grace is 2 years ago when they better top to bottom they were man handled by a superior Nashville team with size/speed......imagine these pylons back on D facing a relentless forecheck by a Winnipeg, San Jose, or Nashville...….they may give up 24 goals in 4 games.

The biggest problem is we know what Gus is. He's an offensive minded D man who is an elite talent. The defensive side no question he is lacking on.

The other side of this coin is the inability of fans, coaches, management to realize that 2 is done. Done as in a top pair defensemen and he's arguably a 2nd pair on a cup contending team.

For all the nitpicking we do about 56, maybe we should start to nitpick 2's game and watch the parade of back door goals, that he gives up, or his lack of size, stick checking that doesn't work in today's game?

The smart move is shopping him this offseason and getting him out of here because nobody is taking 7 with that asinine cap hit.

Otherwise this team is locking up way too many spots for has been/inferior d men and will not take the next step back up any time soon
- SteveRain

Agreed on all.

Challenge is that if you accept that Keith is at best a second pair guy on the way lower, about the best the Hawks get in return for him are some picks, or another second pair D guy on the way lower for about the same cap hit.

A true top pairing D in today's market is like $7MM+ a year, so if they can find one who wants to come here, that's only a $1.5MM delta to add one if all we get for Keith are picks.

But honestly...if he is worth getting rid of due to his declining performance, what team will see enough value in him to give much at all back in return? Maybe just salary dumping is good enough.

But Keith also has to agree to leave even if they find a dance partner.

Yep and that's the worst case scenario that is sadly going to pan out. Everyone will think they just need 1-2 guys going into next fall and its far from the truth....

The saving grace is 2 years ago when they better top to bottom they were man handled by a superior Nashville team with size/speed......imagine these pylons back on D facing a relentless forecheck by a Winnipeg, San Jose, or Nashville...….they may give up 24 goals in 4 games.
- SteveRain

Yes.

They only have 2.5 NHL D guys and eight NHL forwards today.

They will be crushed by any team with a heavy forecheck.

They have no cap room and no talent to trade without creating another hole to fill.

It is going to be a long road back, and swinging for the fences to get two playoff home games to make McD look good on his claim the Hawks are a playoff team just doesn't outweigh the impact of missing on a higher percentage chance at an NHL ready draft pick.

If they start out winning the opening draw, they would stand a better chance. There is no such thing as defensive hockey 3 on 3.

The strategy for every team is possess the puck.
- TrueGrit

And if you don't win the faceoff or have possession what do you propose the team does?

And if you don't win the faceoff or have possession what do you propose the team does?
- paulr

Immediately steal puck and put in net. Eh?

Exactly and when they can't pot 4-5 a night they have a tough time winning unless Crawford stands on his head. This defense is a joke. Just awful. High quality chance after high quality chance with an AHL caliber defense or old has beens.

So many including those who used to run this blog can rip 56 all day long, but at least he gives you offense. Im looking at 2 and 7 who look like hell and really need to be a 4 at best but most likely a 5 or 6 on a cup contending team playing with somebody who can cover their mistakes.

Keith has some ridiculous double push off going on with 1 leg and looks extremely uncomfortable skating.
- SteveRain

Gustafsson is fine at his current salary for next season. His offensive upside negates his issues in his own end. That all being said, I will take a big pass on resigning him for anything more than $3mil or so on a 2 or 3 year deal and he can prove he can maybe improve a little in his own end. Someone wants to give him $5mil or more..........see ya.

Immediately steal puck and put in net. Eh?
- mohel

Wouldn't stealing the puck be considered playing defensive hockey? There is no room for 3 on 3 hockey to play defense so I'm curious what a team is supposed to do if it doesn't have possession?

I'm not happy aboooot you mocking Canadians.