Playing the best hockey in 3 years ,that not saying much. I have not like what I am seeing so far . Was always a Schmaltz fan ,though he was given up on to early . Not saying he could fix what is wrong with this team out of the gate ,but right now he would be doing much more then Strome .
- oldduffman

Probably Quennville's fault right?

Well this is good to hear:


Ben Pope‏ @BenPopeCST

Kane, Keith and Shaw — who all missed practice today — are all fine health-wise.


I got really nervous when Kane went Knee to Knee.
- Chunk

Yeah, that was ugly

Thought it was a well balanced game. Flower was great and I bet Lehner wishes he could have that minute back. He played so well and to let in a softy is frustrating.

Lines I would like to see:

Cat, Strome, Kane - Cat needs 88 & 17 to feed him
Saad, Kampf, Kubs - why break this up. Let em play
Dach, Toews, Shaw - solid 3rd line
Cag, Carpenter, Nylander - who the F knows about this. Cag probably deserves better and Nylander needs more ice to be effective.

Had a wild thought last night. Seems everyone, from casual fans to experienced analysts, are scratching heads at the current configuration of the top two lines and why combinations that have worked before and/or best players are not being tried out there. "Doesn't the coaching staff see what we are seeing? Why aren't they doing anything?"

What IF the coaching staff is keeping the proven offensive pairs (12-88 or 12-17) / lines apart until they show that they are committing to the need to play defense to retain the puck, help the overall team D, etc. Give them 2-3 weeks and it should become rote. If those duos are together, they fall automatically into trying to score and not (at least appear not to) concentrate on the other part of the game. Once they show that defensive responsibility, put them back together to start scoring at will again.

One other note re: previous posts:
- DBC and Strome both trained with Kane at Belfry's camp. Wonder if Belfry gave them too much to think about and it has thrown them both off. It's the rare player who can take in that kind of info, apply it immediately, and be successsful (Kane being one).

Let's not get too far out over our skis on Olli Maatta.

From Natural Stat Trick, 5v5:

CF% 44.09
SCF% 43.68
HDCF% 47.22
Offensive Zone Start% 61.29


His numbers aren't that different than Gustafsson's:

CF% 44.08
SCF% 44.34
HDCF% 40.00
Offensive Zone Start% 69.57
- scottak

Perfect example of not using "the watching him play stats". Maata has been extremely solid. He always knows where he should be on the ice, you never see him out of position. He has perfected stick position. I've been a fan of his for a while, he's just a solid defender. I don't care what the corsi is on him, just watch him play.

Reward Nylander but punish Caggiula? For what reason?
- Ogilthorpe2

Um because he's outplayed Drake?

I'll respectfully disagree. It's been Murphy, and it's not even close.

CF 55.25; xGF 59.22; SCF 55.17; HDCF 60.61, OffZStart 37.04
- scottak

Omg with these stats...anyone that actually pays attention to whats going on on the defensive side will tell you that you're just wrong on that it's not even close comment

Playing the best hockey in 3 years ,that not saying much. I have not like what I am seeing so far . Was always a Schmaltz fan ,though he was given up on to early . Not saying he could fix what is wrong with this team out of the gate ,but right now he would be doing much more then Strome .
- oldduffman

Watching Schmautz and Kane play ring around the rosy, no thanks.

In an effort to concentrate more on the good so far:

Ben Pope‏ @BenPopeCST · 11m11 minutes ago

Ryan Carpenter ranks...
- 1st on the Hawks in shorthanded ice time
- 2nd on the Hawks in scoring chances allowed per minute at 5-on-5
- 6th in the NHL in faceoff %

For $1M per year.

Um because he's outplayed Drake?
- rwilliams88

No.

In an effort to concentrate more on the good so far:

Ben Pope‏ @BenPopeCST · 11m11 minutes ago

Ryan Carpenter ranks...
- 1st on the Hawks in shorthanded ice time
- 2nd on the Hawks in scoring chances allowed per minute at 5-on-5
- 6th in the NHL in faceoff %

For $1M per year.
- Chunk

Sneaky good Signing by stan this summer.

Sneaky good Signing by stan this summer.
- SaskHawkFan

Carpenter had a bit of interest this year.

Heard Hawks were able to scoop him up by offering that 3rd year.

He's been a very good signing.

Carpenter had a bit of interest this year.

Heard Hawks were able to scoop him up by offering that 3rd year.

He's been a very good signing.
- Tyler Cameron

I like him so far. Love the smith trade as well, but i'm bias since hes from my home territory!

Somehow I missed this one:

TRADE ALERT: The #Blackhawks  have acquired defenseman Ian McCoshen from the Panthers in exchange for forward Aleksi Saarela.

McCoshen’s two-way deal has an AAV of $700,000 and is signed through the 2019-20 season. He will report to the @goicehogs.

Connor Murphy (groin) has been placed on long-term injured reserve, meaning he will miss a minimum of 10 NHL games and 24 days.

#Blackhawks  have recalled Dennis Gilbert from AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.

Connor Murphy (groin) has been placed on long-term injured reserve, meaning he will miss a minimum of 10 NHL games and 24 days.

#Blackhawks  have recalled Dennis Gilbert from AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.
- walleyeb1

That's not good

No.
- Ogilthorpe2

yep

Wow....hair triggered...

Since you asked, and you may want to read this from your "safe room", I am flattered that you look to me to balance the scales of right and wrong, but I have always looked at my time here as an escape from reality, when time allows. I am not much for score keeping....as it has zero affect on the outcome of anything real.

News flash...everyone here is full of poop. But it is OK. Its supposed to be fun. I like it when it is challenging. I actually work on my writing and reasoning skills. And sure, I get a little annoyed with coming here and finding the same dippoop comments day after day. Its not the comments, but the reflexive obsession to shift focus and blame to some focal point, that seems to serve as a comfort blanket to those either too lazy or incapable of come up with an original thought. (Keep beating that HORSE!!!)

Some act like Uncle Rico or Al Bundy just unable to face the fact that the calendar has turned over many times and some really cool things are in the rear view mirror. I am in this moment, grateful for the past and looking forward to the future. I also realize that my participation as a fan had zero affect on the team winning 3 cups....(as tough as that is to swallow for me)

16 teams make the NHL Playoffs and doing so is no small accomplishment in the most competitive league in sports history. For some fans, I know making the playoffs is not enough, as they have developed a higher expectation and taste for the finer things. But make no mistake about it, while we all wish in some way it was otherwise, nothing said or done or posited by anyone, including myself, has ANY (ZERO) affect on the outcome of any game or season. I accept that, and in doing so, enjoy the board for what it is: ENTERTAINMENT

That is probably a little longer of a dissertation than I even planned....


- TrueGrit

Haha I'm not - colonoscopy tomorrow. Anyway excellent dissertation!

Connor Murphy (groin) has been placed on long-term injured reserve, meaning he will miss a minimum of 10 NHL games and 24 days.

#Blackhawks  have recalled Dennis Gilbert from AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.
- walleyeb1

Play Gilbert and Special K tomorrow, while giving Gus a game to watch. He's struggling with offense which is bad news.

Haha I'm not - colonoscopy tomorrow. Anyway excellent dissertation!
- riozzo

Kudos to you for even reading it

Haha I'm not - colonoscopy tomorrow. Anyway excellent dissertation!
- riozzo

I hope it all comes out okay.

Dach-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Saad
Nylander-Kampf-Kubalik
Shaw-Carpenter-Caggiulla

.
- EnzoD

Dach has to play centre -if he's here, then he might as well start now. Or continue to now.

So with that in mind.

Swap Dach with Cagguila.
Caggiulla - Toews - Kane

Swap Dach with Kampf

Nylander - Dach - Kubalik

Have a 2 C option on 4th line with the ability to plug one in as the situation might require.

Then score more than a goal a game ...

Leave Lehner out there. He's been outstanding.

I'll respectfully disagree. It's been Murphy, and it's not even close.

CF 55.25; xGF 59.22; SCF 55.17; HDCF 60.61, OffZStart 37.04
- scottak

Murphy has been good no doubt. Doesn't matter to me if one is better than the other as long as they're both doing their job and being effective at defending.

I cannot believe the only entry the Hawks have on the power play is to throw the puck back to Kane and let him try to beat a couple of guys and set up the Power Play. Shocking that this is the only thing I ever see the Hawks do, they are a NHL team right? Part of their reason their power play sucks so bad is they are oh so predictable and stationary when they are in the zone. I cannot stand watching their power plays, makes me sick with that kind of talent that looks that bad!!
- ChicagoHope

I know some folks get frustrated with the "push 'em back" entry on the power play, but it seems to work most of the time for getting it into the offensive zone and setting things up. It's after they enter the zone that looks to be the problem with the PP. They either pass it around the perimeter and generate nothing or they fumble it around the blue line and give up odd-man rushes the other way. Long story short, I really don't thing the zone entry is the problem on the man advantage.

Play Gilbert and Special K tomorrow, while giving Gus a game to watch. He's struggling with offense which is bad news.
- mohel

I am not a Kook fan ,but Gus has been terrible . I hope Lehner comments are on the ball ,because I have seen that movie last night a lot in the last 3 years . Keith did have a good game and Lehner was and is carrying the Show in net . He should not be on the bench till he falters, and even then it would have to be more then 1 game. This automatic start the back up in back to back games is way overblown ,maybe in some situations but not automatically ,not working out well for the Leafs right now Think Strome has to be back with DBC for their own good ,maybe Nylander he been working hard or even Perlini see if they can catch fire . I like the idea of Toews between Kublik and Saad . I think Shaw on a line with Kane and Dach could be interesting or not . .