This should be a fun an interesting February for everyone with a chance in the West.

Just looked up the Nashville schedule between now and when they play the Hawks on Feb. 21. It's not easy. They could spin out of control as easy as any other team.

@WSH
@NJD
VGK
@WPG
@CGY
@EDM
@VAN
NYI
@STL
STL
CAR
- scottak

I watched the Preds/Leafs game last night. The Preds looked awful. Most of the time it looked like they were on the PK when they were even strength. They were playing without Ellis and Sissons.

In Rockford.
- Ogilthorpe2

Caufield skipping NHL going straight to HOF.

I watched the Preds/Leafs game last night. The Preds looked awful. Most of the time it looked like they were on the PK when they were even strength. They were playing without Ellis and Sissons.
- -Doh-

Good chance Hawks look awful first game back...

Good chance Hawks look awful first game back...
- rpeters01

Maybe. But it was the first game back for the Leafs too. (and the Leafs were on the road).

For Elbows, 5 v 5 this season

Jokiharju
CF 50.57
XGf 49.20
SCF 50.60
HDCF 51.50
OffZnSt 46.43

Boqvist
CF 47.08
XGf 46.54
SCF 47.58
HDCF 45.70
OffZnSt 61.90

Boqvist MAY be better down the road. Jokiharju is better today.
- scottak

Would you be able to do another chart, but showing QOC and also with whom they are paired? Boqvist (by the eye test) has looked great when paired with Keith, even though they're playing against the opponents better forwards.

Another stellar article, Tyler! Thank you very much.

Excellent commenting too, everybody!

My eye test tells me the three current 'D' pairings are performing as good as our D has performed in the last couple years. Another thing I'm seeing is d-men sticking with a puck carrier even when the carrier cycles above the circles. That's new in my recollection.

Boquist is playing first pairing against the best players.
- rpeters01

That is exactly why you just can’t use analytical stats in Hockey, too many variables to consider. There’s a reason for advance scouting(eye test), otherwise all the teams would just use analytics only.

That is exactly why you just can’t use analytical stats in Hockey, too many variables to consider. There’s a reason for advance scouting(eye test), otherwise all the teams would just use analytics only.
- Angotti

Just you wait, Henry Higgins, just you wait
You’ll be sorry but your tears will be too late....

Just as sure as commercial messages will be all over uniforms, and robot umps will call balls and strikes, analytics will replace scouts.

Just you wait, Henry Higgins, just you wait
You’ll be sorry but your tears will be too late....

Just as sure as commercial messages will be all over uniforms, and robot umps will call balls and strikes, analytics will replace scouts.
- StLBravesFan

Florida Panthers paved the way with player acquisition by analytics. Among many other players this tool decided James Reimer was a must have goaltender and Gerrard Gallant should be fired because he didn't buy in to all of the numbers. And demoted Dale Tallon got to sit in a small room with a desk and watch how it would work so perfectly.

Would you be able to do another chart, but showing QOC and also with whom they are paired? Boqvist (by the eye test) has looked great when paired with Keith, even though they're playing against the opponents better forwards.
- tvetter

Check out Charting Hockey, they do a lot of stuff with pairs. Last I looked, Murphy Koekkoek was the Hawk’s most effective pair, followed by Keith-Murphy and Keith Boqvist.

Check out Charting Hockey, they do a lot of stuff with pairs. Last I looked, Murphy Koekkoek was the Hawk’s most effective pair, followed by Keith-Murphy and Keith Boqvist.
- scottak

Thanks

I agree. The issue here is no team is going to want to acquire Lehner as a potential UFA unless they know they could sign him to an extension. I think that would be a tricky negotiation on the fly leading up to the trade deadline with a team. So because of that, his value will be slightly muted. And, as others have mentioned, most teams just don't acquire goalies at the deadline. This is because if you don't have goaltending, you most likely aren't in the playoff race to begin with, and if you are, you probably like who you have already.

The Hawks are better off trying to deal Crow and get something like a 2nd/3rd rounder for him to split starts or be a backup on a good contending team.
- Budi1782

Not only do I agree with this, but it has been my hope all along that Lehner stays. There is no sense in retaining the old and not worthy Crawford due to his injury /health history when you have two descent prospects prepping in Rockford.

Similar thinking applies to Gus. Only difference is that there is no a dman prospect ready to replace Gus immediately. Nonetheless Gus has not been such a force on the powerplay as he was last season. I would try very hard to move Gus now

Whatever success the team has the remainder of this season is not likely going to be greatly affected minus both Gus and Crawford. Saad, on the other hand, should be traded while his trade value is higher now because his value won't be the same after the season. You can understand, however, with Saad here the team is better and can play well enough to hang around for a while in playoff contention.

This may trump moving him should Stan want thevteam to appear as if it truly is in a playoff battle. A .500 record does look better than falling behind that mark at least to Stan's own job security. Stan may feel better if he can show McFinough and Rocky that he was able to keep the team hoovering around .500 despite a rebuild on the fly

Should Stan receive a good offer for Saad, perhaps this could away him to make the trade. I do not know if Stan would pull the trigger.

But I do know that I personally would relish having a second #1 2020. I figure we finish out if the lottery drawing. My goal is to gain core pieces which often come from very early round one selections. So yes I would offer both #1 fir an early round one pick. That is his you get something worthwhile by moving Saad. You may even construct a trade using picks from Gus and or Crawford departure.

Rutherford states that he is in win now mode and is looking for a top 6 forward to replace the injured Guentzel.

How does Saad for UFA Golchulnyk, (to make the dollars work for Pittsburgh), Sam Poulin, and the Pens #1 sound?. Or is this too rich for Pittsburgh/

So you are saying because Joki was sent down after Q was fired, and was traded in the off season solely because JC “didn’t like him.” I tend to believe the Hawks front office had more to say where Joki played and made the decision to trade him.

Also, 5 Buffalo defenseman are averaging more minutes than Joki this year, so although taking a regular shift, he is not logging top 4 minutes. I liked Joki. Also, but I don’t think he would of been much of a difference maker this year.
- LAHawk

I wonder if maybe Joki expressed his unhappiness, Buffalo was frustrated with Nylander, offered the trade and the Hawks honestly thought Joki can be a solid dman but Nylander can really become something special.

I kind of see it that way and it probably didn't hurt that Boqvist and Mitchell, who's not going to sign with the Hawks even though he said he will, are in or soon to be in the system.

Not only do I agree with this, but it has been my hope all along that Lehner stays. There is no sense in retaining the old and not worthy Crawford due to his injury /health history when you have two descent prospects prepping in Rockford.

Similar thinking applies to Gus. Only difference is that there is no a dman prospect ready to replace Gus immediately. Nonetheless Gus has not been such a force on the powerplay as he was last season. I would try very hard to move Gus now

Whatever success the team has the remainder of this season is not likely going to be greatly affected minus both Gus and Crawford. Saad, on the other hand, should be traded while his trade value is higher now because his value won't be the same after the season. You can understand, however, with Saad here the team is better and can play well enough to hang around for a while in playoff contention.

This may trump moving him should Stan want thevteam to appear as if it truly is in a playoff battle. A .500 record does look better than falling behind that mark at least to Stan's own job security. Stan may feel better if he can show McFinough and Rocky that he was able to keep the team hoovering around .500 despite a rebuild on the fly

Should Stan receive a good offer for Saad, perhaps this could away him to make the trade. I do not know if Stan would pull the trigger.

But I do know that I personally would relish having a second #1 2020. I figure we finish out if the lottery drawing. My goal is to gain core pieces which often come from very early round one selections. So yes I would offer both #1 fir an early round one pick. That is his you get something worthwhile by moving Saad. You may even construct a trade using picks from Gus and or Crawford departure.
- jhawk59

Crow lovers also keep ignoring he will be 36 next year besides injury history. Nobody knows if either of those guys in Rockford are NHL goalies? Delia was flat out terrible when he was sent back down diving at fake shots. Yes defense was terrible but washed up Cam Ward was better even if the overall numbers didn't show it. Delia's early success skewed his numbers. I also agree Lehner is worth very little this late as a rental. The salary cap is much tighter than in years past when teams picked up a goalie at the TDL and paid more. I expect we sign Lehner or ride him out unless we fall out of playoff contention quickly.

Boquist is playing first pairing against the best players.
- rpeters01

What i enjoy about his game, once he has the puck on his stick in his own end rarely turns it over, makes nice soft passes in the zone if Keith has puck skates to open spot and he also has this wonderful soft pass off the boards to the forward in tight quarters, impossible to defend and he's getting better at it.

Gotta wait till (frank)ing Saturday, this sucks

Rutherford states that he is in win now mode and is looking for a top 6 forward to replace the injured Guentzel.

How does Saad for UFA Golchulnyk, (to make the dollars work for Pittsburgh), Sam Poulin, and the Pens #1 sound?. Or is this too rich for Pittsburgh/
- LAHawk

Heck I would do it but would prefer to omit Golchulnck. Rutherford can give his Russian forward to someone for pennies or a mid round pick if he prefers Saad over him. I do not want anything to do with that former first round fail. I realize that I have not as high an expectation for Saad:s value as compared to what others claim on this board. I also realize that it is practical for Stan to keep Saad in hoping he contributes to the team playing,/ winning more this season.

Heck I would do it but would prefer to omit Golchulnck. Rutherford can give his Russian forward to someone for pennies or a mid round pick if he prefers Saad over him. I do not want anything to do with that former first round fail. I realize that I have not as high an expectation for Saad:s value as compared to what others claim on this board. I also realize that it is practical for Stan to keep Saad in hoping he contributes to the team playing,/ winning more this season.
- jhawk59

GAlchenyuk was born in Milwaukee

Heck I would do it but would prefer to omit Golchulnck. Rutherford can give his Russian forward to someone for pennies or a mid round pick if he prefers Saad over him. I do not want anything to do with that former first round fail. I realize that I have not as high an expectation for Saad:s value as compared to what others claim on this board. I also realize that it is practical for Stan to keep Saad in hoping he contributes to the team playing,/ winning more this season.
- jhawk59

Gachulnyk is a UFA, would only be until the end of the season. Only way a trade like this works, with the Hawks taking back some salary otherwise Pitt. can't afford Saad. This also opens up $6 mil. for next year for the Hawks to sign their RFA's and hopefully Lehner.

Gachulnyk is a UFA, would only be until the end of the season. Only way a trade like this works, with the Hawks taking back some salary otherwise Pitt. can't afford Saad. This also opens up $6 mil. for next year for the Hawks to sign their RFA's and hopefully Lehner.
- LAHawk

If hawks retained say 3million of Saad's contract then yea i think pitt would that deal.

Gachulnyk is a UFA, would only be until the end of the season. Only way a trade like this works, with the Hawks taking back some salary otherwise Pitt. can't afford Saad. This also opens up $6 mil. for next year for the Hawks to sign their RFA's and hopefully Lehner.
- LAHawk[/quo

As they said in old TV game shows, The Price is Right or Let's Make a Deal

If hawks retained say 3million of Saad's contract then yea i think pitt would that deal.
- Scott1977

If Stan retains any money on a Saad deal, he should be fired immediately.

Rutherford states that he is in win now mode and is looking for a top 6 forward to replace the injured Guentzel.

How does Saad for UFA Golchulnyk, (to make the dollars work for Pittsburgh), Sam Poulin, and the Pens #1 sound?. Or is this too rich for Pittsburgh/
- LAHawk

That would be like getting two 1st round picks for Saad. Not going to happen.

If Stan retains any money on a Saad deal, he should be fired immediately.
- Chunk

Hawks are in a position where they can retain money on a contract or take on a bad contract due the 12 million in cap space they have. So its not of the question that team asks the retain money on players contract to make a trade happen but bowman better get a good prospect or a 1st or 2nd for doing it in return otherwise no.