Who is fired first?

Bergevin-Julian or
StanBo, Colliton?
- LAHawk

Umm, going with BJ.

pp is overrated but it would be helpful to be in the upper 50% of the league

yep and yep...

they continue to thread together these 4 for 30 droughts...just unacceptable
- bogiedoc

It's a win when they don't give up a short handed goal.

Totally! Godforbid he doesn't turn into Richard Panik...
- rpeters01

Watching him and you see all the clever plays he makes. Plus a wicked shot. No Panik.

How do you add a picture to a post? thanks

he likes to fight...that's an important skill for winning hockey...
- bogiedoc

Toews AND Kane have said for years now that they want at least one guy with some grit in the lineup. You can lament it all you want, it's not going to change and I for one don't want this team to be Charmin soft (although some of you might as well as watch figure skating for how much you still female dog about fighting being a part of hockey). Gilbert at least plays his role, as opposed to Gus who is a forward parading as a defenseman

How do you add a picture to a post? thanks
- Sn1362

STEM students from CPS at practice today as a math lesson

Boqvist should shoot more

Scott King
@ScottKingMedia

Adam Boqvist out here ripping 98 mph slap shots for the students. #Blackhawks

- Rota's Rooter

Lehner!

You can question his work ethic, his drive whatever, if you go back and read ALL the scouting reports about Nylander, is how good his hockey sense is. Maybe it is drive, maybe it is he is scared, maybe he is thinking too much, but he does not lack hockey sense.

That is what makes him so frustrating. he is a 5 tool player (in baseball terms), who hasn't put it all together. Will he ever, who know, if he doesn't he won't be the first nor the last.
- LAHawk

you have the right call on Nylander. And see also wiz's post about Nylander effort last night

Toews AND Kane have said for years now that they want at least one guy with some grit in the lineup. You can lament it all you want, it's not going to change and I for one don't want this team to be Charmin soft (although some of you might as well as watch figure skating for how much you still female dog about fighting being a part of hockey). Gilbert at least plays his role, as opposed to Gus who is a forward parading as a defenseman
- Murph76

I don't watch figure skating because there is no fighting - but I also don't think there should be fighting in hockey.

But there is. So - OK - I don't like it, but I also don't like goalie excessive equipment making more saves than goalies do. So there.

But - if there is going to be fighting in hockey, fighters should learn how to do it where and when it will least harmfully affect the team. Time and place.

Gilbert hasn't learned that yet - two or three times he's gone into fights where it wound up hurting the team in a game situation. Also, going after hits instead of maintaining his position on defense.

Lehner!
- rpeters01

Well played.

Somewhat good news:


Jimmy Greenfield‏ @jcgreenx · 50m50 minutes ago
Jeremy Colliton said Dylan Strome won't play tomorrow but doesn't sound like his anke injury is long-term though he's unsure of timeline.


Charlie Roumeliotis‏Verified account @CRoumeliotis · 1h1 hour ago
Robin Lehner admitted he thought knee injury could keep him out for a few weeks, but it wasn’t as bad as originally expected. He’s ready to go. #Blackhawks

I'm not one to stomp my feet about lineups, but what the hell. Caggiula being back in is good news overall, but replace him and Kampf with Kane and Nylander respectively and I think you at least have two top lines with complementary parts. I don't have a problem if Gilbert sits for a few games. As others have said, I think that KKKK actually plays a decent defensive game.

#Blackhawks lines and pairings today:
Kubalik-Toews-Caggiula
DeBrincat-Dach-Kampf
Nylander-Carpenter-Kane
Highmore-Smith-Quenneville

Keith-Boqvist
Gustafsson-Murphy
Maatta-Koekkoek

*Sikura and Gilbert rolling with extras. Strome is out with a right ankle injury.

thats been a problem for years: the good ole days with toews, kane, sharp, hossa, keith and seab they had massive droughts...how could a team with all that talent just have such a poor and unreliable pp...

i actually thought their movement was pretty good the other night on the pp and 6v5. but the movement did not generate any quality chances... to heavy of a reliance on the kane halfboard and set up the weak side one timer (how many shanks, broken sticks, missed passes have we seen)....HAS NOT WORKED. I would like to kane and adb work lower behind the goaline get the goalie and defense looking back behind the net and then mix up with movement from the other 3 players playing gaps toward the net...
- bogiedoc

In general at times it seems they rely on Kane too much to carry the offense. That's why I was glad they moved Strome and Cat away from him awhile back because their games were slowing down as it seemed they were always just looking for him instead of making the right play. Same problem with the PP as well. They definitely need to shake up their scheme to find a better way to cycle the puck and get it on net for multiple chances. Scheme is everything. Like you mentioned, they struggled int he past with a host of all star plays, but then you have a team like Vancouver this year that has, some would argue, less top end talent then say the Hawks do but are tied for 1st in the NHL at 29.2% success rate.

If they were able to fix the PK over the summer perhaps they can improve the PP over the summer and in next year the can take a step there which could be the difference in being a playoff team. Especially with healthy players.

Exactly. With Boqvist now "online" and Seabrook still here - that takes two of the three starting RD spots. Murphy is the other RD right now - so how do Boqvist, Mitchell, Murphy and Seabrook fit into 3 RD spots and keep everyone happy?
- EbonyRaptor

Exactly. With Boqvist now "online" and Seabrook still here - that takes two of the three starting RD spots. Murphy is the other RD right now - so how do Boqvist, Mitchell, Murphy and Seabrook fit into 3 RD spots and keep everyone happy?
- EbonyRaptor

Well Seabrook is done for this year for sure, and possible heading into next year as well so if Mitchell does sign at the end of the year or this summer you'd be going in with Boqvist, Murphy, and Mitchell on RHD. IF Seabrook was healthy enough to play at all next year Murphy could be play on his offside. A lot of that depends on the health of de Haan as well. There's no guarantee he comes back at the beginning of the year as well.

If the Hawks were to add a piece before the deadline I think it would be a steady NHL defensemen who's not getting playing time and possibly has either A.) an expiring contract (to not cluster the LTIR situation during the summer and next year) OR B.) is making a low amount of money. Guys like Kevan Miller, or possibly John Moore are guys who could fit the bill for the Hawks.

Hypothetically, would you trade Gus straight up for Puljujarvi? It seems like the Oilers are in the market on their backend while pool party would be a likely trade chip. Just a quick thought after reading the trade chips blog on the Athletic.
- zm333

I would in a heartbeat. Even though Puljujarvi can't play in the NHL this year he's the type of potential high end help that the team could use to help them win now and down the road like Strome and Nylander. Worth a shot to see if he could do anything.

Who is fired first?

Bergevin-Julian or
StanBo, Colliton?
- LAHawk

Based on Bowman's press conference yesterday, it sounds like Colliton is off the hook. Bowman said he's fitting into his role nicely.

I would in a heartbeat. Even though Puljujarvi can't play in the NHL this year he's the type of potential high end help that the team could use to help them win now and down the road like Strome and Nylander. Worth a shot to see if he could do anything.
- Savetheembers33

I get your point, but at some point we need to stop reclaiming other teams' trash. Strome is decent (also a center/centre). Nylander is young but underwhelming at this point. Perlini - crap, Duclair - was crap and I think someone will get fleeced on him at the TDL (I'd be happy to be proven wrong). KKKK is decent at best. What exactly has JP shown that indicates that he should be given a chance?

Somewhat good news:


Jimmy Greenfield‏ @jcgreenx · 50m50 minutes ago
Jeremy Colliton said Dylan Strome won't play tomorrow but doesn't sound like his anke injury is long-term though he's unsure of timeline.


Charlie Roumeliotis‏Verified account @CRoumeliotis · 1h1 hour ago
Robin Lehner admitted he thought knee injury could keep him out for a few weeks, but it wasn’t as bad as originally expected. He’s ready to go. #Blackhawks
- Chunk

Then why the (frank) did he stay in the game?! I like Lehner a lot, and hope he's resigned, but he very well cost the Hawks points by trying to tough it out.

And yes, I understand that we are a bubble team at best, and that losing might be best for the Hawks long term. However, I will always root for the Hawks to win!

Then why the (frank) did he stay in the game?! I like Lehner a lot, and hope he's resigned, but he very well cost the Hawks points by trying to tough it out.

And yes, I understand that we are a bubble team at best, and that losing might be best for the Hawks long term. However, I will always root for the Hawks to win!
- tvetter

Because the true nature of the injury may not be felt till after the player has cooled down. They have a lot of adrenaline in their system and it can mask the seriousness of an injury. Granted some more grotesque injuries will be felt no matter how much adrenaline you have flowing.

Based on Bowman's press conference yesterday, it sounds like Colliton is off the hook. Bowman said he's fitting into his role nicely.
- catrisc

Could have said "he's doing everything the FO asks him to do".

I get your point, but at some point we need to stop reclaiming other teams' trash. Strome is decent (also a center/centre). Nylander is young but underwhelming at this point. Perlini - crap, Duclair - was crap and I think someone will get fleeced on him at the TDL (I'd be happy to be proven wrong). KKKK is decent at best. What exactly has JP shown that indicates that he should be given a chance?
- Chunk

It's a fair point. You're right, he hasn't shown much in the NHL to say he definitely should be given a chance but he's still young and has high end potential. Sometimes guys just need a change of scenery to develop their game to become effective players. Not saying that this will sure happen for him.

If we were talking about trading Saad and Puljujarvi was the "main piece" coming back I would say h#!! no, but we're talking about trading Gus who could maybe net you a 2nd on the high end or a 3rd/4th back and he has no future with the team after this year (in all of our humble opinions). At least with Puljujarvi he could potentially help you out next year and make an impact where as any draft pick you're talking about being a lotto ticket that may help in 3-5 years depending on where they get drafted from

Could have said "he's doing everything the FO asks him to do".
- mohel

Carbon copy of the Halas Hall playbook.

GM and head coach cover for each other's defense of poor choices while the team continues to suck.

It's a fair point. You're right, he hasn't shown much in the NHL to say he definitely should be given a chance but he's still young and has high end potential. Sometimes guys just need a change of scenery to develop their game to become effective players. Not saying that this will sure happen for him.

If we were talking about trading Saad and Puljujarvi was the "main piece" coming back I would say h#!! no, but we're talking about trading Gus who could maybe net you a 2nd on the high end or a 3rd/4th back and he has no future with the team after this year (in all of our humble opinions). At least with Puljujarvi he could potentially help you out next year and make an impact where as any draft pick you're talking about being a lotto ticket that may help in 3-5 years depending on where they get drafted from
- Savetheembers33

My issue with JP is that he has been with Edm with (I believe) three different coaches, and none of them have seen enough to keep him with the team. He's had one good AHL season and not much else.

Toews AND Kane have said for years now that they want at least one guy with some grit in the lineup. You can lament it all you want, it's not going to change and I for one don't want this team to be Charmin soft (although some of you might as well as watch figure skating for how much you still female dog about fighting being a part of hockey). Gilbert at least plays his role, as opposed to Gus who is a forward parading as a defenseman
- Murph76

not lamenting and not comparing to him gus and not female doging. Gilbert brings physical play...thats nice but his defensive metrics are no better and maybe worse than brandon manning when he was here...so if you want to make an argument that gilbert contributes to winning games and with his poor defensive game by pounding his fists into an opponents helmet...please do

and really let go of the old tired false dichotomy or strawman of figure skating vs hockey...

I do have a different POV about "fighting" ..is that OK...do i need your permission to do so..