Dennis Gilbert has been fun to watch. Not great by any means but, he at least considers and uses "separate the man from the puck" as part of his defense. It's been nice to see.
- Rota's Rooter

Agreed. Could make for a great 3rd pairing stay at home partner. All the more reason to dump Keith/Seabs/Gus and let the kids play!

They are what they are. A .500 team at best, that is too slow to keep up with the big boys. Look what Colorado and Phoenix did to this team. They skated circles around them and the Hawks were chasing the whole game. Only reason they got a point last night was because Lehner was dynamite. Penalties will continue to be a problem when you have to hold on for dear life or use your stick to slow down faster opponents. Too many holes for this team to go on an extended winning streak in my opinion. Say goodbye to some veterans at the ned of the year and create room for the likes of Boqvist, Mitchell, Kurashvev, and Entswhistle.

Yep! Should have included this in the blog.

I would say sign him to a 5-6 year deal on Jan 1st!
- Tyler Cameron

Jmo, but never been a fan of signing goalies long term, especially ones with mental illness history i.e Darling. All for a 3 year deal though with Lankinen waiting in the wings. Be good to see them trade Delia with Gravel not far away.

First.

Questions;

1. Can you take out a goalie for shoot out?

2. If the answer is yes, and I have to believe it is, then why don't the Hawks?

Don't give me any of that Crow isn't warmed up stuff either. Lehner looks like I would out there. Its amazing to me. Did you see that comment he made about it?

Sign a Walrus
- vabeachbear

Need the W. Bring in Crow to close it out. The team needs the W and Lehner cant get butthurt about JC making such a move to give the team the best chance to win just as he picks the top scorers each night for the shootout. No i in team Lehner lol

They are what they are. A .500 team at best, that is too slow to keep up with the big boys. Look what Colorado and Phoenix did to this team. They skated circles around them and the Hawks were chasing the whole game. Only reason they got a point last night was because Lehner was dynamite. Penalties will continue to be a problem when you have to hold on for dear life or use your stick to slow down faster opponents. Too many holes for this team to go on an extended winning streak in my opinion. Say goodbye to some veterans at the ned of the year and create room for the likes of Boqvist, Mitchell, Kurashvev, and Entswhistle.
- ChicagoHope

Possibly. Worst case scenario, SB has a plethora of trade chips for the deadline to bring in more forward talent/picks. Be nice if Gus could put together a solid couple months to up his value but he’s as good as gone. Smith, Keith, Seabs, and Crow can and should all go if possible.

Boq/Beaudin/Mitchell replace those 3 on defense next season, bring up Lankinen and Wedin so you can see what you’ve got in house for the final couple months prior to heading into the offseason.

It's fun to argue about the last 4/5 guys on the roster, but that's not where the trouble starts. It's the top guys. Kane remains the same. Toews was a top 5 center, now he's not. Keith was a perennial Norris candidate. Now he's not. Hossa was just great. Now he's been gunked. Seabrook made Team Canada. Now he can't. Sharp and Hammer were really damn good. Now they're gone.

The challenge is to find 3-4 great players and several really good ones. Who are they?

"what if" Robin Lehner can make a save in the shootout lol. Nah in all fairness when you're on the PP in OT that SHOULD be a given goal imo.
- MichaeLionheart

ha. He's probably asking himself that as well.

Honestly, I don't like how open he's been about the shootouts. It's ok to say... "I suck and need to get better" but to go into detail of the exact type of moves that he has trouble with is just showing all of your cards.

He's a dedicated dude though, hopefully he figures something out.

I think Smith is playing ok. Any chance that they play him enough to move him at the TDL? (My feeling is no, but we moved Manning, so anything is possible.)
- -Doh-

I don't think moving Smith would be easy. The Hawks would need to take a contract back or sweeten the deal with picks/prospects.

It would be easier to keep him and use him as the 13th forward to send him to Rockford next year.

With all that said, he's been playing his best hockey as of late. That 4th line should have gotten more playing time last night. They were giving the 'Yotes a handful in the O-Zone.

UPDATE: Looks like Andrew Shaw is on the LTIR. Really too bad. Hope he gets well soon!

Highmore and Boqvist have been called up. I like it... an instant infusion of speed into the lineup, which the #Blackhawks desperately need.

Highmore & Boq up. Shaw ltir.

Damn, too slow. Respect, TC.

It's fun to argue about the last 4/5 guys on the roster, but that's not where the trouble starts. It's the top guys. Kane remains the same. Toews was a top 5 center, now he's not. Keith was a perennial Norris candidate. Now he's not. Hossa was just great. Now he's been gunked. Seabrook made Team Canada. Now he can't. Sharp and Hammer were really damn good. Now they're gone.

The challenge is to find 3-4 great players and several really good ones. Who are they?
- mohel

Dach can evolve into something close to "Good Toews". Boqvist can maybe be the "Keith". D-Cat, can maybe become close to a Sharp...so some pieces may already be around. Although maybe 2 years from being ready to be a "Core".

Jmo, but never been a fan of signing goalies long term, especially ones with mental illness history i.e Darling. All for a 3 year deal though with Lankinen waiting in the wings. Be good to see them trade Delia with Gravel not far away.
- Assman22

I hear ya, but we've seen what happens with teams who struggle to find a consistent netminder.

Take Philadelphia for example. Heck, even look at Chicago when Crawford went down the last couple of years, they were a disaster.

Lankinen has yet to play an NHL game, Delia is struggling, Gravel is very young still - all are very uncertain at this point.

Robin Lehner is a sure thing with his track record. I would be ok with 5-6 years.

6 years of Crawford worked out well for CHI and while I respect the other side of the risk, my personal view is you lock Lehner up 1/1/20.

Highmore & Boq up. Shaw ltir.

Damn, too slow. Respect, TC.
- I Am The Breadman

Beat ya!

There are a lot of bodies on the roster right now.

These moves tell me:

* Shaw obviously out as per LTIR
* Caggiula may have suffered a setback
* Keith is not close (Colliton stated he's week-to-week)
* Is there something going on with Maatta? He's been "sick" for a while now
* Has Dennis Gilbert bumped Slater Koekkoek out of the lineup? Also to note, Gilbert and Boqvist have played well together in the past.
* Is there a move on the horizon?

ha. He's probably asking himself that as well.

Honestly, I don't like how open he's been about the shootouts. It's ok to say... "I suck and need to get better" but to go into detail of the exact type of moves that he has trouble with is just showing all of your cards.

He's a dedicated dude though, hopefully he figures something out.
- Tyler Cameron

Wondering. Knowing Lehner's shootout issues. And knowing the dominance you can have on an overtime PP....

I was thinking last night. JC, pull the goalie. Go 5 on 3 on that OT Powerplay. You got the point, not a huge risk. I think I woulda done it is that situation.

Yep! Should have included this in the blog.

I would say sign him to a 5-6 year deal on Jan 1st!
- Tyler Cameron

Let's hope he wants to stay and other teams don't start a bidding war.

It's fun to argue about the last 4/5 guys on the roster, but that's not where the trouble starts. It's the top guys. Kane remains the same. Toews was a top 5 center, now he's not. Keith was a perennial Norris candidate. Now he's not. Hossa was just great. Now he's been gunked. Seabrook made Team Canada. Now he can't. Sharp and Hammer were really damn good. Now they're gone.

The challenge is to find 3-4 great players and several really good ones. Who are they?
- mohel

That sums it up the best!

Agreed. Could make for a great 3rd pairing stay at home partner. All the more reason to dump Keith/Seabs/Gus and let the kids play!
- Assman22

I was against this for awhile, but if you want to the team to really improve for the long term then let the kids play and grow together. I really believe that is part of what made Keith, Seabrook, Hammer play so well and take their game to the next level. They grew together on the ice and built chemistry that took them and the team to the next level.

I love Keith. He's been one of my favorites over this past decade, but it's time to go separate ways for his own career and the long term success of the Hawks it's best for both sides. For what he's done with his career to this point he deserves to be on a 2nd pairing of a Cup Contending team and not be counted on to carry the Defensive unit like he is right now. He can play the role of a Defensive shut down without having to play 20+ a night.

IF he wants to be moved, talk to him and find out where he wants to go and work something out so you can clear some room for the kids to play. Seabrook isn't going anywhere. We're gonna have to ride that one out til the end which kinda works because the kids will need to be paid the year before.

Gus being traded is all gonna depend on where the team is at come February. If they're in it he can be kept to help run the PP1 (but he should be on the 3rd pair playing 10-12 minutes a night). IF they're not close or not sure then get what you can for him and give the kids a chance to play

Need the W. Bring in Crow to close it out. The team needs the W and Lehner cant get butthurt about JC making such a move to give the team the best chance to win just as he picks the top scorers each night for the shootout. No i in team Lehner lol
- Assman22

Agree completely. Frankly, I don't get why there would be an issue with this. Hell, baseball has "closers". Yea, please don't educate me(anyone) on the fact this is hockey. That would be overstating the obvious. Crow typically has been very good at them, so why not take advantage of that? Not much different than the starter getting hurt or pulled. Start stretching at the end of regulation in case you're needed. Problem solved.

Dach can evolve into something close to "Good Toews". Boqvist can maybe be the "Keith". D-Cat, can maybe become close to a Sharp...so some pieces may already be around. Although maybe 2 years from being ready to be a "Core".
- hawk35

That's half the issue. We cannot compare these guys to the Core of those cup years. Those were the golden years of the Hawks and will not be replicated.

I get where you're going with things, but comparing them to what those guys did only sets them up for failure IMO

You know Tyler when you brought up the Blues as a comparable i believe you left out 1 small detail? Blues replaced their coach in November i believe. Been watching JC for a while and i wasn't going to proclaim he was or wasn't a bad coach. Im beginning to lean on the side of not so good.

Until they stop chasing the puck in their own zone we will be an NHL 500 team. The way they play defense is like a dog who follows their master.

It's fun to argue about the last 4/5 guys on the roster, but that's not where the trouble starts. It's the top guys. Kane remains the same. Toews was a top 5 center, now he's not. Keith was a perennial Norris candidate. Now he's not. Hossa was just great. Now he's been gunked. Seabrook made Team Canada. Now he can't. Sharp and Hammer were really damn good. Now they're gone.

The challenge is to find 3-4 great players and several really good ones. Who are they?
- mohel

It actually is trouble when the coach plays the bottom 4/5 guys in top roles they have no business being in

Need the W. Bring in Crow to close it out. The team needs the W and Lehner cant get butthurt about JC making such a move to give the team the best chance to win just as he picks the top scorers each night for the shootout. No i in team Lehner lol
- Assman22

Believe Lehner has already said it wouldn't bother him. Now, whether Crow wants to come in cold with game on line is another question.

You know Tyler when you brought up the Blues as a comparable i believe you left out 1 small detail? Blues replaced their coach in November i believe. Been watching JC for a while and i wasn't going to proclaim he was or wasn't a bad coach. Im beginning to lean on the side of not so good.

Until they stop chasing the puck in their own zone we will be an NHL 500 team. The way they play defense is like a dog who follows their master.
- BetweenTheDots

I did leave that detail out. I feared the entire message board would spiral into a fire Colliton narrative. ha.

Dach can evolve into something close to "Good Toews". Boqvist can maybe be the "Keith". D-Cat, can maybe become close to a Sharp...so some pieces may already be around. Although maybe 2 years from being ready to be a "Core".
- hawk35

I agree, 35. Hossa is hard to replace. I think they'll need a "surprise" or two from rounds 2+, and another high #1 would help. The UFA route isn't where to get those guys, imo.

I did leave that detail out. I feared the entire message board would spiral into a fire Colliton narrative. ha.
- Tyler Cameron

Hahaha wait for me, where did i put that pitchfork