Perlini can go. JC has been giving him the same message all season. Its not that complicated. Play like you care. If he is brought back, its a 1 year deal for the same money in my world. Guy has a ton of talent that he should be a 20/20 guy easily.
- Elbows15

Okay. 1 year @ $15/hr.

Perlini can go. JC has been giving him the same message all season. Its not that complicated. Play like you care. If he is brought back, its a 1 year deal for the same money in my world. Guy has a ton of talent that he should be a 20/20 guy easily.
- Elbows15

Yes on the one year, same dollars.

He hasn’t proven anything other than he has size, skating ability, and a shot - and can be effective when he plays “correctly”.

Can’t give up on him - he’s only 23 next season - but can’t reward him yet.

Not a step forward? I’d look at these steps:

A new coach who may - or may not be - a quality NHL coach. He’s had them playing hard, competitive hockey for over half of a season - +9 to “Bettman” .500, +5 to “real” .500. May be good going forward.

Resurgence of Toews into a true top-line center (if not still in the picture for best center in the league. No reason he can’t continue going forward - he’s only 31 next season - should be able to have a couple more quality seasons.

Debrincat is for real - we know that now.

Strome is quite possibly (likely?) going to be a quality 2C going forward.

Saad has returned to pre-Panerin play - good as a trade piece to get needed defense help, or staying in the fold.

Sikura, Kampf, Kahun show promise and the potential (with experience and development) to be contributors to a Cup contending team somewhere in the lineup. Perlini? Shows possibilities - who knows.

Kane.

Closer to the net:

Murphy looks like a quality top-4 defenseman, Dahlstrom has potential - still work needed. Goalie seems to be a problem when Crawford stops (or is forced to stop) playing well (and what do they do with him after next season?).

On balance - all of this year’s issues were there last year - but the positive steps (actual and potential) weren’t.

I don’t expect a Cup contender next season - but certainly I expect a playoff team and a competive first round (even if ousted there). Even without considering any summertime moves.

Yeah, steps forward this season.
- StLBravesFan

Always forget about Kahun. Keep forgetting he is a rookie. I think he might be worn out at this point in the season. His play has dipped the last couple of months. NHL season is a tad tougher than 40 game or so Euro league he was in.

I expect him to have a nice year next season after an off-season to fully adjust to NHL hockey.

Perlini can go. JC has been giving him the same message all season. Its not that complicated. Play like you care. If he is brought back, its a 1 year deal for the same money in my world. Guy has a ton of talent that he should be a 20/20 guy easily.
- Elbows15

Strome can stay though right? Borderline NHL guy now?

How do you know if Perlini cares when he plays? Expert at body language?

Hawks need to get to the inside more, as we know, but lately they've been locking down those shots against.

Last 30 days tied for 411 shots again, tied with Tampa and Montreal for 10th fewest. Put up 446 shots for and built up a positive shot differential in that span.

Not a step forward? I’d look at these steps:

A new coach who may - or may not be - a quality NHL coach. He’s had them playing hard, competitive hockey for over half of a season - +9 to “Bettman” .500, +5 to “real” .500. May be good going forward.

Resurgence of Toews into a true top-line center (if not still in the picture for best center in the league. No reason he can’t continue going forward - he’s only 31 next season - should be able to have a couple more quality seasons.

Debrincat is for real - we know that now.

Strome is quite possibly (likely?) going to be a quality 2C going forward.

Saad has returned to pre-Panerin play - good as a trade piece to get needed defense help, or staying in the fold.

Sikura, Kampf, Kahun show promise and the potential (with experience and development) to be contributors to a Cup contending team somewhere in the lineup. Perlini? Shows possibilities - who knows.

Kane.

Closer to the net:

Murphy looks like a quality top-4 defenseman, Dahlstrom has potential - still work needed. Goalie seems to be a problem when Crawford stops (or is forced to stop) playing well (and what do they do with him after next season?).

On balance - all of this year’s issues were there last year - but the positive steps (actual and potential) weren’t.

I don’t expect a Cup contender next season - but certainly I expect a playoff team and a competive first round (even if ousted there). Even without considering any summertime moves.

Yeah, steps forward this season.
- StLBravesFan

Didn't we expect Saad, and Toews to rebound as well as Keith and Seabrook (both to a degree) after last year? I guess I did....

DeBrincat is a star and Strome has a been a steal. No question there.

I like the depth guys you mentioned.

My concern lies squarely on their D. It's a damn dumpster fire.

Did anyone else feel like the Hawks PK was trying to be more mobile last night. It looked like the forwards were much more aggressive and the team looked less passive.

You care far too much about the message.
- Elbows15

Nah, I just care about accountability at the top and an organization sticking by what it's preaching. As every fan should.

Perlini can go. JC has been giving him the same message all season. Its not that complicated. Play like you care. If he is brought back, its a 1 year deal for the same money in my world. Guy has a ton of talent that he should be a 20/20 guy easily.
- Elbows15

He'll be fine. Glue him to a line with Strom and DeBrincat and put Saad up with Toews and Kane.

Kahun Kampf AA is a very formidable 3rd line, and you have Caggiula as a guy who can slide up from a checking role to a top line role.

But yes, lets go out and sign Danault!!!!!!

Yes on the one year, same dollars.

He hasn’t proven anything other than he has size, skating ability, and a shot - and can be effective when he plays “correctly”.

Can’t give up on him - he’s only 23 next season - but can’t reward him yet.
- StLBravesFan

He seems to be being held back by himself. A confidence/mental thing.

Needs to get over that. Guy can play.

In keeping with the BOD mantra, I'd prefer to ignore the second part of the season and focus on the bad part only.
- paulr

Yes, there defense is just fine....Ignore the last 2 seasons and only focus on 25% of the sample size.

Offensively I think they are fine...….defensively they are in GRAVE danger. Is there another kind?

Perlini can go. JC has been giving him the same message all season. Its not that complicated. Play like you care. If he is brought back, its a 1 year deal for the same money in my world. Guy has a ton of talent that he should be a 20/20 guy easily.
- Elbows15

Obviously Perlini has the physical tools to be a good NHL player so the problem to be solved is between his ears. To paraphrase Eddie - a player must accept and execute his role and I think Perlini sometimes tries to be too cute. That kick of the puck last night was a case in point - a simpler play was available but instead of making the right play it seemed like he tried to be a "show off" and make a play that would get oohs and ahs from the fans. He hasn't come to accept his role that he is not a "fancy Dan" type of player and to try to be what he isn't hurts the team and will get him shown the exit from the NHL. Does he have the mental and emotional ability to learn and accept his role? That's the question - isn't it.

Yes, there defense is just fine....Ignore the last 2 seasons and only focus on 25% of the sample size.

Offensively I think they are fine...….defensively they are in GRAVE danger. Is there another kind?
- SteveRain

Huh? What does last season have to do with anything? Or was that necessary to make 40 games a small sample? Who posted that their defense is fine? Really, who?

Huh? What does last season have to do with anything? Or was that necessary to make 40 games a small sample? Who posted that their defense is fine? Really, who?
- mohel

Or that 3/6 guys playing regularly this year are different then last season. Not to mention Murphy missed a good chunk of the first half the season and Dahlstrom didn't start playing until after Q got the ax.

It is still bad but it is better than it was 40 games ago or last season.

Or that 3/6 guys playing regularly this year are different then last season. Not to mention Murphy missed a good chunk of the first half the season and Dahlstrom didn't start playing until after Q got the ax.

It is still bad but it is better than it was 40 games ago or last season.
- bhawks2241

It'd be great to add a 2nd pairing guy. They also need a system that everyone buys into. Including the forwards. A solid 4th line would help a lot, too.

If DeBrincat was 4 inches taller he'd be Brett Hull.

Tyler, if I could hijack the thread to ask a question I'm sure has been asked before.. Who on defense do we target in the offseason? It's clear that scoring is not the problem.

Huh? What does last season have to do with anything? Or was that necessary to make 40 games a small sample? Who posted that their defense is fine? Really, who?
- mohel

People are talking about playoff paces, etc....insert Jim Mora line here.

Until they fix that dumpster fire of A D they are going to be held back. And to ROR earlier post when you start popping in AAVs to 12 and 17 your cap space starts to dwindle down quickly.

See what happens, but my whole point is the overall statistics of this team vs last year isn't much of a difference. Unless they go a monster run to end the season and after LA I don't think you can assume that given their closing schedule.

Strome can stay though right? Borderline NHL guy now?

How do you know if Perlini cares when he plays? Expert at body language?
- bhawks2241

I am expert on his coach benching his ass. Repeatedly. Its cute you recall things a person on a message board said months ago. Disturbing, but cute.

He'll be fine. Glue him to a line with Strom and DeBrincat and put Saad up with Toews and Kane.

Kahun Kampf AA is a very formidable 3rd line, and you have Caggiula as a guy who can slide up from a checking role to a top line role.

But yes, lets go out and sign Danault!!!!!!
- SteveRain

Be fine? His coach keeps benching him for the same issues.

Or that 3/6 guys playing regularly this year are different then last season. Not to mention Murphy missed a good chunk of the first half the season and Dahlstrom didn't start playing until after Q got the ax.

It is still bad but it is better than it was 40 games ago or last season.
- bhawks2241

How so? They are at 276 goals against as of now....last year they were at 256 goals against for the entire year. Their PK was also better last year.

They are fractions of a percentage point from passing the 88-89 lEafs in regards to historically bad PK.....can't just brush that aside.

Huh? What does last season have to do with anything? Or was that necessary to make 40 games a small sample? Who posted that their defense is fine? Really, who?
- mohel

While I don't think any Hawks fan thinks the defense is "fine" on the whole - I do think some of the pieces have improved. Gustafsson will probably never be consistently good as a defender but his offense has improved enough to be an acceptable trade-off. Murphy has improved over last season and I think a fair assessment would find him at least adequate in a top-4 role, which is better then it was last season. Jokiharju showed he can play and without the 40-game constraint he would have played the whole season with the Hawks.

So maybe only baby steps where giant leaps are needed - but this season trended in the right direction.

But that only focuses on the d-corps. The team defense where forwards give consistent defensive efforts is going to be as important to the overall team defense as upgrading the d-corp. Colliton having a training camp to essentially hit the reset button on defensive responsibilities could be the most impactful thing.

Be fine? His coach keeps benching him for the same issues.
- Elbows15

He has physical attributes. He needs to play with confidence and he will blossom.

If DeBrincat was 4 inches taller he'd be Brett Hull.

Tyler, if I could hijack the thread to ask a question I'm sure has been asked before.. Who on defense do we target in the offseason? It's clear that scoring is not the problem.
- Q-stache

Not many sold options. UFA market is not good, and it is unlikely they're going to go the RFA route. I wish they would, but I don't think they will. And Top 4 guys cost a boatload in a trade.

Do you have any targets in mind?

Obviously Perlini has the physical tools to be a good NHL player so the problem to be solved is between his ears. To paraphrase Eddie - a player must accept and execute his role and I think Perlini sometimes tries to be too cute. That kick of the puck last night was a case in point - a simpler play was available but instead of making the right play it seemed like he tried to be a "show off" and make a play that would get oohs and ahs from the fans. He hasn't come to accept his role that he is not a "fancy Dan" type of player and to try to be what he isn't hurts the team and will get him shown the exit from the NHL. Does he have the mental and emotional ability to learn and accept his role? That's the question - isn't it.
- EbonyRaptor

Its pretty telling that his coach keeps sitting him repeatedly for the same issues. The message is pretty clear to me. I don't think they will give up on him but in a contract year he is exhibiting the same issues that appeared to be a problem in Arizona.

It'd be great to add a 2nd pairing guy. They also need a system that everyone buys into. Including the forwards. A solid 4th line would help a lot, too.
- mohel

IMO they need a top pairing guy as you currently don't have one of those. However, I realize it wont' happen with their cap situation....

So can they survive with a legit 2nd pairing guy (acquired via UFA or trade) Murphy and Keith, basically 3, 3/4s, Gus, Seabrook and insert X rookie with CD?

I do agree on the system.....id shop 15 and 20 this offseason and hope you can unload both for cap space and go get a D man or two