Agreed. He also almost pulled off a backwards between the legs puck drag around their dman. The more confidence he gets the better for us. He will start scoring some big goals.
- just69sayin

”Almost” being the important word.

He “almost” makes a lot of plays - but manages to lose the puck before completing them. He tries to control the puck himself - going through multiple opponents - when he should be making the simple pass to move the puck.

He will be a very good player - some day. That day isn’t now.

He’s not NHL ready today - certainly not top-six ready.

5-1 this team is beyond awful . Stan should be immediately fired for constructing this dumpster fire.

Lehner deserved better. Murphy is awful he fell on his poop .
Toews is washed up , he doesn't deserve the c on his chest .
- Taylorst1

They're not beyond awful. They're an average NHL team. They'll do fine against teams with out a whole lot of overall talent and struggle against teams with speed.

For as much as everyone complained about Keith, he still hid a lot. Where they dropped the ball was individual plays where they lacked the speed or skill to escape the zone, close a gap or make a play. You can female dog about the forwards all you want but it starts on the blue line.

Between Matta, Murphy, de Haan and Seabrook you have 4 guys who can't skate out of trouble and probably aren't going to make the best first pass since they can't use their feet to open up space to make a play. You need guys like this and ideally it would be Murphy and de Haan since they can both defend and move pretty well but the other two are problematic.

Other than Chara and Carlo, the D men on Boston are quite small in stature by the standards here. The Caps have Carlson and Orlov and a bunch of guys under two hundo. The blues are bigger but they pack it in and trap. Carolina is a bit of an outlier since all of those dudes are big but man can they get up and down the ice.

CooCoo (Rundblad 2.0 is an apt description) and Gus are both very bad defenders. Gus is just a stupid hockey player in general. They'll put numbers on a sheet when spotted but are going to get torched going the other way in some pretty horrific ways. Eye test fail real bad.

The blue line was poorly constructed to compete in today's NHL and that is on the GM. Having size is great with the caveat that they can move. Having size that can't move is going to result in a bad time. And Stan did a garbage job constructing this group.

Lest we forget, the coach is a moron for trying to play fast with slow guys. With those plodders you play a trap and pack 5 guys between the circles and let your goaltenders goalie and hope for a Patrick Kane moment or two to win.

Finally, Boqvist not being called up to fill in for Keith is also real dumb and not explainable unless they really care that much about not burning a contract year and they're trying to win the lottery again.

”Almost” being the important word.

He “almost” makes a lot of plays - but manages to lose the puck before completing them. He tries to control the puck himself - going through multiple opponents - when he should be making the simple pass to move the puck.

He will be a very good player - some day. That day isn’t now.

He’s not NHL ready today - certainly not top-six ready.
- StLBravesFan

He is definitely NHL ready. Looked good until Strome got hurt and he got slotted up the line up. Probably not the best situation.

They're not going anywhere until they fix the blue line so may as well let the kid figure it out.

The Hawks players spend more time on their azz than any other team. They are constantly getting knocked down. I don't recall seeing anyone get hit hard and knocked off his skates more than our prized rookie Dach. Maybe it would have been better if he had been sent back to Jrs. He has talent but he needs to get stronger on his skates to compete in the NHL. But it's not just Dach - too many other Hawks players get out-muscled and knocked out of the way like the opponents are swatting flies. It's pathetic.

And, as long as I'm on a rant - does anyone ice the puck more than Seabrook? The answer is no. Maybe all those icings shouldn't be laid solely at Seabrook's skates though because with only a few exceptions, the Hawks don't have players adept at getting their stick on a long pass. It's hilarious to watch the pass go whizzing past them as they're fumbling around trying to figure out how to position their stick so the puck hits it. The Hawks have to have the most uncoordinated bunch of players ever.
- EbonyRaptor

Something I have noticed the past few games too. Be prepared for a parade of concussion protocols as our guys are being knocked around mercilessly. Key players like ADB do not have to fight when they are being abused on teams that are built right.

He is definitely NHL ready. Looked good until Strome got hurt and he got slotted up the line up. Probably not the best situation.

They're not going anywhere until they fix the blue line so may as well let the kid figure it out.
- fattybeef

Means he’s not ready for The Show.

Since there’s no alternative this season, they have to “let the kid figure it out”.

Fire McD (meddles with the team)
Fire Stan (Dale built the championship teams)
Fire JC (fresh out of high school)

Trade Toews (over paid 3C)
Trade Kane (bad for the brand)
Trade Keith (put him out to pasture)
Trade Saad (should have kept Panarin)
Trade DeBrincat (the team doesn’t need an enforcer)
Trade de Haan (6D at best)
Trade Maatta (cost too much, Kahun is better)
Trade Murphy (he’s not Hjalmarsson)
Trade Crawford (not elite)
Trade Nylander (should have kept Jokiharju)
Trade Strome (he can’t play without DeBrincat)
Trade Kubalik (poor effort, poor attitude)
Trade Kampf (JC’s pet)
Trade Dach (can’t skate, should have drafted Turcotte)
Trade Gustafsson (offers no value)
Trade Shaw (he was useless the first time around, he’s been worse since he returned)
Trade Lehner (overhyped)
Trade The Drake (always injured)
Trade Carpenter (who?)

Send Wedin to Rockford (he’s AHL talent)

Waive Koekkoek (nobody wants him)
Waive McCoshen (see above)

Buyout Smith (nobody wants him, should have kept AA)
Buyout Seabrook (locker room cancer with the NHL’s worst contract)

Free Sikura
- DarthKane

Should have traded the Bread for a top pairing Dman but Stan was out to "fix" the Toews line at the time...How that working out sports fans?

Next up -St Louis and Boston.
Let the slaughter continue as we move up the Tank standings.

They're not going anywhere until they fix the blue line so may as well let the kid figure it out.
- fattybeef

I absolutely love Dach, love that he's a Hawk but many will point to Byram and say he plays a more important position and you simply do not trade Joki, you just don't.

I absolutely love Dach, love that he's a Hawk but many will point to Byram and say he plays a more important position and you simply do not trade Joki, you just don't.
- Mr Ricochet

Especially for someone like Nylander. For all the heat that Gus receives, I do not know why this guy gets a free pass. He is totally useless -does not score, does not hit, does not win any board battles -serves no useful purpose no matter which line he plays on.

Especially for someone like Nylander. For all the heat that Gus receives, I do not know why this guy gets a free pass. He is totally useless -does not score, does not hit, does not win any board battles -serves no useful purpose no matter which line he plays on.
- 67hawks

Nylander is getting a pass because he’s 21 and Gus will be 28 in March. Gus is not going to improve, that ship has sailed, Nylander still has an opportunity to improve. Nylander playing top six minutes is not helping him, he should be in Rockford for a couple of months, or at the very least 3rd line for now.

Next up -St Louis and Boston.
Let the slaughter continue as we move up the Tank standings.
- 67hawks

the huricane force windsocking here is impressive...

JC as coach is not the problem....
they went into the offseason to improve the blueline and stability in goal: they did and the because of stellar netiminding they have have improved from 3.5 to 2.75 GA/gm...that is significant the issue is that Goals for has droped the same amount...

this is a team in for a multi year rebuild on the fly...

the only significant improvement is the pk and the goalie play has been light outs or this team might only have 5 or 6 wins at this point..you can not expect lehner/crow to sport 94% save percentage with the amount of scoring chances and high danger chances every game...aves demonstrated what happens with some regression to the mean

on some nights they can play with and beat the better teams but they will have more nights where they just can't hang with any team and a bad period does them in...

they are weak 5v5, weak on the pp, and their defensive team IQ is poor...

since the 4-7-2 start they are 6-4-3...i suspect they are basically a 6-4-3 type of team the rest of the year...a bubble team that could get to 90-92 pts because of goaltending but most likely an 84-86 pt team...

the huricane force windsocking here is impressive...

JC as coach is not the problem....
they went into the offseason to improve the blueline and stability in goal: they did and the because of stellar netiminding they have have improved from 3.5 to 2.75 GA/gm...that is significant the issue is that Goals for has droped the same amount...

this is a team in for a multi year rebuild on the fly...

the only significant improvement is the pk and the goalie play has been light outs or this team might only have 5 or 6 wins at this point..you can not expect lehner/crow to sport 94% save percentage with the amount of scoring chances and high danger chances every game...aves demonstrated what happens with some regression to the mean

on some nights they can play with and beat the better teams but they will have more nights where they just can't hang with any team and a bad period does them in...

they are weak 5v5, weak on the pp, and their defensive team IQ is poor...

since the 4-7-2 start they are 6-4-3...i suspect they are basically a 6-4-3 type of team the rest of the year...a bubble team that could get to 90-92 pts because of goaltending but most likely an 84-86 pt team...
- bogiedoc

Good stuff. All of it.

Best result for the organization is a prolonged losing streak putting the spot light on the flawed personnel

Next 11 games
Blues (4-2 loss)
Bruins (7-1 loss)
Devils (2-1 win)
Arizona (3-2 OT loss)
Vegas (1-0 loss)
Arizona (4-2 loss)
Blues (5-3 loss)
Wild (3-2 SO win)
Avalanche (5-1 loss)
Jets (4-1 win)
Avalanche (3-0 loss)

Ouch
- Colbyboy

Ouch is right.

This team is done.

Seabrook, KooKoo, and Gustaffson are not credible NHL D-men
Murphy is a 4/5
DeHann is a 4
Maata is a 4

This Defense may be the slowest in the NHL. I have not resigned myself that the forwards are bad. I think they are good, though a player or two leave a lot to be desired.

Basically our team is playing way above their pay grade.

The goalies are now breaking down. I think the Hawks have a legit shot at bee-lining to a top 2 or 3 pick. The #1 pick would be outstanding. Multiple trades need to happen. NO defenseman should be considered untouchable (even though I do like CDH and Murphy as middle D options).

This coach is also terrible. This team has been a slop show since last year with only a few moments of sustained quality production.

At some point Rocky and Mcego need to step in and do something fire bowman fire J.C.. Have a private meeting with both and ask how did come to this so quickly and can we salvage the season? Imo its over no way this team as constructed is going make the playoffs. So a question to Tyler and the panel who goes, who should go, and
what should be looking for in trades? Plus Bowman should not be making these trades
example Joker for Nylander not looking good since hawks passed on Byram then they trade a potential top 4 dman confusing. There is blame to all around but Bowman is the architect of this roster which so unbalance its not even funny. Thoughts and opinions welcomed.

At some point Rocky and Mcego need to step in and do something fire bowman fire J.C.. Have a private meeting with both and ask how did come to this so quickly and can we salvage the season? Imo its over no way this team as constructed is going make the playoffs. So a question to Tyler and the panel who goes, who should go, and
what should be looking for in trades? Plus Bowman should not be making these trades
example Joker for Nylander not looking good since hawks passed on Byram then they trade a potential top 4 dman confusing. There is blame to all around but Bowman is the architect of this roster which so unbalance its not even funny. Thoughts and opinions welcomed.
- Scott1977

Fire McD (meddles with the team)
Fire Stan (Dale built the championship teams)
Fire JC (fresh out of high school)

Trade Toews (over paid 3C)
Trade Kane (bad for the brand)
Trade Keith (put him out to pasture)
Trade Saad (should have kept Panarin)
Trade DeBrincat (the team doesn’t need an enforcer)
Trade de Haan (6D at best)
Trade Maatta (cost too much, Kahun is better)
Trade Murphy (he’s not Hjalmarsson)
Trade Crawford (not elite)
Trade Nylander (should have kept Jokiharju)
Trade Strome (he can’t play without DeBrincat)
Trade Kubalik (poor effort, poor attitude)
Trade Kampf (JC’s pet)
Trade Dach (can’t skate, should have drafted Turcotte)
Trade Gustafsson (offers no value)
Trade Shaw (he was useless the first time around, he’s been worse since he returned)
Trade Lehner (overhyped)
Trade The Drake (always injured)
Trade Carpenter (who?)

Send Wedin to Rockford (he’s AHL talent)

Waive Koekkoek (nobody wants him)
Waive McCoshen (see above)

Buyout Smith (nobody wants him, should have kept AA)
Buyout Seabrook (locker room cancer with the NHL’s worst contract)

Free Sikura

At some point Rocky and Mcego need to step in and do something fire bowman fire J.C.. Have a private meeting with both and ask how did come to this so quickly and can we salvage the season? Imo its over no way this team as constructed is going make the playoffs. So a question to Tyler and the panel who goes, who should go, and
what should be looking for in trades? Plus Bowman should not be making these trades
example Joker for Nylander not looking good since hawks passed on Byram then they trade a potential top 4 dman confusing. There is blame to all around but Bowman is the architect of this roster which so unbalance its not even funny. Thoughts and opinions welcomed.
- Scott1977

The Joker trade is turning into a true calamity. What irritates me is the Hawks traded for a guy with KNOWN questions about his heart and desire. YOU NEVER add that to a championship level team. I thought Bowman made some good moves, like Kubi, but that move was a terrible move.

I agree with your point. Chicago has no cap space now or next year to add another high salary. Hall is 28 years old which is a huge risk age and contract wise when Chicago already has Keith, Seabrook, toews who are all washed up and under contract for 4 more years. Also giving up any high draft picks or prospects is ridiculous
- Taylorst1

Does Strome, Gus and a second round pick get it done? Mind you, for a guy that will be UnRestricted at end of year?

Best result for the organization is a prolonged losing streak putting the spot light on the flawed personnel

Next 11 games
Blues
Bruins
Devils
Arizona
Vegas
Arizona
Blues
Wild
Avalanche
Jets
Avalanche

Ouch
- Colbyboy

6 of the next 8 on the road...2x vs blues and yotes...

they never beat the bruins even when they were good...i suspect they will play well vs the blues... consider 8 of the 16 pts a success with the injuries piling up and their erratic defensive play...

Fire McD (meddles with the team)
Fire Stan (Dale built the championship teams)
Fire JC (fresh out of high school)

Trade Toews (over paid 3C)
Trade Kane (bad for the brand)
Trade Keith (put him out to pasture)
Trade Saad (should have kept Panarin)
Trade DeBrincat (the team doesn’t need an enforcer)
Trade de Haan (6D at best)
Trade Maatta (cost too much, Kahun is better)
Trade Murphy (he’s not Hjalmarsson)
Trade Crawford (not elite)
Trade Nylander (should have kept Jokiharju)
Trade Strome (he can’t play without DeBrincat)
Trade Kubalik (poor effort, poor attitude)
Trade Kampf (JC’s pet)
Trade Dach (can’t skate, should have drafted Turcotte)
Trade Gustafsson (offers no value)
Trade Shaw (he was useless the first time around, he’s been worse since he returned)
Trade Lehner (overhyped)
Trade The Drake (always injured)
Trade Carpenter (who?)

Send Wedin to Rockford (he’s AHL talent)

Waive Koekkoek (nobody wants him)
Waive McCoshen (see above)

Buyout Smith (nobody wants him, should have kept AA)
Buyout Seabrook (locker room cancer with the NHL’s worst contract)

Free Sikura
- DarthKane

now there's perspective....

Fire McD (meddles with the team)
Fire Stan (Dale built the championship teams)
Fire JC (fresh out of high school)

Trade Toews (over paid 3C)
Trade Kane (bad for the brand)
Trade Keith (put him out to pasture)
Trade Saad (should have kept Panarin)
Trade DeBrincat (the team doesn’t need an enforcer)
Trade de Haan (6D at best)
Trade Maatta (cost too much, Kahun is better)
Trade Murphy (he’s not Hjalmarsson)
Trade Crawford (not elite)
Trade Nylander (should have kept Jokiharju)
Trade Strome (he can’t play without DeBrincat)
Trade Kubalik (poor effort, poor attitude)
Trade Kampf (JC’s pet)
Trade Dach (can’t skate, should have drafted Turcotte)
Trade Gustafsson (offers no value)
Trade Shaw (he was useless the first time around, he’s been worse since he returned)
Trade Lehner (overhyped)
Trade The Drake (always injured)
Trade Carpenter (who?)

Send Wedin to Rockford (he’s AHL talent)

Waive Koekkoek (nobody wants him)
Waive McCoshen (see above)

Buyout Smith (nobody wants him, should have kept AA)
Buyout Seabrook (locker room cancer with the NHL’s worst contract)

Free Sikura
- DarthKane

I do not “meddle” young man.

LSU’s Joe Burrow is a former OSU back up QB so that would be a wild matchup in the Final 4.


Look for the blonde bearded guy in a Hawks jersey row 4 in the corner of goalies left shoulder where Hawks shoot twice. My GF has big hair and Purple shirt

Kaner show tonight
- EnzoD

Enzo,12 minutes of TOI for MacKinnon last night because the Av's coach chose to ease up on the steamroller job and told him to take the rest of the night off.

After the game you and Ruth Buzzi should have been pounding on Joe Sakic's door demanding a ticket refund because you didn't get full entertainment value. You paid to see the best player in the game and they only let him play a little bit.

Or as compensation you could have demanded Sakic trade a couple of his nobody injury replacement players to the Hawks.

Avs are beautiful to watch, look out NHL when they get real healthy.

Fire McD (meddles with the team)
Fire Stan (Dale built the championship teams)
Fire JC (fresh out of high school)

Trade Toews (over paid 3C)
Trade Kane (bad for the brand)
Trade Keith (put him out to pasture)
Trade Saad (should have kept Panarin)
Trade DeBrincat (the team doesn’t need an enforcer)
Trade de Haan (6D at best)
Trade Maatta (cost too much, Kahun is better)
Trade Murphy (he’s not Hjalmarsson)
Trade Crawford (not elite)
Trade Nylander (should have kept Jokiharju)
Trade Strome (he can’t play without DeBrincat)
Trade Kubalik (poor effort, poor attitude)
Trade Kampf (JC’s pet)
Trade Dach (can’t skate, should have drafted Turcotte)
Trade Gustafsson (offers no value)
Trade Shaw (he was useless the first time around, he’s been worse since he returned)
Trade Lehner (overhyped)
Trade The Drake (always injured)
Trade Carpenter (who?)

Send Wedin to Rockford (he’s AHL talent)

Waive Koekkoek (nobody wants him)
Waive McCoshen (see above)

Buyout Smith (nobody wants him, should have kept AA)
Buyout Seabrook (locker room cancer with the NHL’s worst contract)

Free Sikura
- DarthKane

And Epstein did not suicide himself!

This team is done.

Seabrook, KooKoo, and Gustaffson are not credible NHL D-men
Murphy is a 4/5
DeHann is a 4
Maata is a 4

This Defense may be the slowest in the NHL. I have not resigned myself that the forwards are bad. I think they are good, though a player or two leave a lot to be desired.

Basically our team is playing way above their pay grade.

The goalies are now breaking down. I think the Hawks have a legit shot at bee-lining to a top 2 or 3 pick. The #1 pick would be outstanding. Multiple trades need to happen. NO defenseman should be considered untouchable (even though I do like CDH and Murphy as middle D options).

This coach is also terrible. This team has been a slop show since last year with only a few moments of sustained quality production.
- kwolf68

Murphy and de Haan are solid d-men that I would take on my team any day. I’m not concerned with labelling them as 1st, 2nd or 3rd pairing d-men. Keith and Seabrook can still offer value, they just should play as much as they do. Maatta, I have no issue with him but I’m of the “take him or leave him” state of mind. Gustafsson isn’t as bad as some people make him out to be, but he should have been traded in the summer. Boqvist should be getting Gustafsson’s ice time. Koekkoek may not be a solid NHL level d-man, but there aren’t too many 7Ds that are.

If Keith is expected to miss significant time Boqvist should be playing instead of McCoshen. There’s no doubt about that.

I do not “meddle” young man.
- John McDonough

I am not young, Meddler.