A strong Powerplay is a nice to have, a strong penalty kill and a solid defensive game are must haves. Right now the Hawks are trending the right way. Their penalty kill has improved dramatically and the defensive part of the Hawks’ game is getting better. As frustrating as it is to watch, the powerplay can be addressed once the more important aspects of the game are fixed. That said I find the powerplay is slow and methodical and I think that is how Kane plays. He tends to want to handle the puck allot and when he has it the other four players aren’t moving. I’d like to see a powerplay without him for a bit and I’d like to see more dynamic puck movement to see if that is indeed the problem.

Remember the Hawks won two cups with piss poor powerplays and strong penalty killing and exceptional defense.
- paulr

I’d bench the entire 1st unit. Just not Kane. None of them are generating anything so if you are scratching 88 off pp1 might as well take the other 4 off as well. Hell throw out the checking line. A very simplified approach may reset some things.

PK has been very good.

What must happen is bowman selling high on guys and not day dreaming into thinking he’s got to add to this. No. As is if they squeak in, great. Otherwise add for The future.

Kane - right circle
Dach - left circle (right handed shot)
Toews/Strome - goal line (and not always on Kane's side)
Kubalik - in front of then net
Gus - blue line

Kane is the QB. He has the freedom to roam wherever he sees fit (and he should be mobile).

Toews, Kubalik and Dach are almost interchangeable and should move the puck and then move their feet, occasionally exchanging positions. They each have pretty good intuition and see the ice well.

As much as we all want to trade Gus, (and I do too) he has been better of late on the PP. He is moving and finding shooting lanes. Same as Kane. He should have the freedom to move, but then Dach, Kubalik or Toews need to get to the blueline when he moves down lower in the offensive zone.

On the push em back entry Kane got the puck to Toews 3 straight times. Toews tried to bank a back hand off the boards back to the point every time. The Jets were waiting for it. He needs to mix it up. Sometimes he needs to take it to the corner or behind the net. Other times he needs to take it strong to the net and hope another Hawk drives to the net also.
- -Doh-

It could be Toews or ADB but look how Kane enters the zone, look how Kane handles the puck, most often it is very slow. Slowing the play down forces his teammates to slow down, or worse, stop skating. When Kane does dish off the recipient of the pass has no time and space to do much but rush a pass or shot. Strange as it is, and as much as I detest his game, on the powerplay Gus moves the puck around more quickly allowing his teammates to play more dynamically. I'd like to see Kane become more dynamic and not so stationary. When the team isn't on the powerplay Kane is like a waterbug, scooting back and forth, handling the puck and moving it around quickly. On the powerplay he doesn't seem to skate and moves the puck more methodically.

It could be Toews or ADB but look how Kane enters the zone, look how Kane handles the puck, most often it is very slow. Slowing the play down forces his teammates to slow down, or worse, stop skating. When Kane does dish off the recipient of the pass has no time and space to do much but rush a pass or shot. Strange as it is, and as much as I detest his game, on the powerplay Gus moves the puck around more quickly allowing his teammates to play more dynamically. I'd like to see Kane become more dynamic and not so stationary. When the team isn't on the powerplay Kane is like a waterbug, scooting back and forth, handling the puck and moving it around quickly. On the powerplay he doesn't seem to skate and moves the puck more methodically.
- paulr

AGREED AND GREAT POINT. Although he enters the zone successfully, he gives his teammates limited time upon entry. 90% of his entries are followed by an immediate backhand saucer to Toews who is hugging the boards. He runs out of real estate and coughs up the puck.

Here is another idea for the PP. Just play with your top two lines intact, take away a dman and add an extra forward.

Saad Dach Kane Gus Strome
Kubalik Toews Caggiula Keith ADB

Too much high play on the PP and little down low pressure. Winnipeg took advantage of that last night by placing their guys high. Debrincat cost us the game by playing into their hand. That shorty took away all momentum we had at that point in the game.

AGREED AND GREAT POINT. Although he enters the zone successfully, he gives his teammates limited time upon entry. 90% of his entries are followed by an immediate backhand saucer to Toews who is hugging the boards. He runs out of real estate and coughs up the puck.
- catrisc

Actually Toews often has time and space to take it to the net, skate it down into the corner or behind the net. But he makes the same play every time. He is just too predictable.

DOES JC HAVE ANY INPUT WHO RECEIVES PP TIME?! HE IS THE HEAD COACH.
- catrisc

You would think, but then there was the story about Keith having a clause in his contract that he would always be on the PP. Then, saw another player (cannot remember who) talking about his PP clause. Cannot believe that teams would ever give those out.

You would think, but then there was the story about Keith having a clause in his contract that he would always be on the PP. Then, saw another player (cannot remember who) talking about his PP clause. Cannot believe that teams would ever give those out.
- pdx2ord

fake news

I’d bench the entire 1st unit. Just not Kane. None of them are generating anything so if you are scratching 88 off pp1 might as well take the other 4 off as well. Hell throw out the checking line. A very simplified approach may reset some things.

PK has been very good.

What must happen is bowman selling high on guys and not day dreaming into thinking he’s got to add to this. No. As is if they squeak in, great. Otherwise add for The future.
- SteveRain

I said that last night and you called me insane.

Start with moving 12 off the 1st unit
- TJYTJY

On a positive note, Kubalik for a 5th rd pick was an absolute steal!

fake news
- -Doh-

Out of Keith's own mouth

On a positive note, Kubalik for a 5th rd pick was an absolute steal!
- bikeguy99

Positive notes on this site are not allowed. Find a flaw with Kubalik instead.

Power Play? I've always thought movement and screening were the two must-haves for an effective power play.

That only works in basketball.

Hmmm...

Not a word from anyone about Captain Loser last night.

He gets his pride point to hit 800 in front of the hometown crowd, and then when the game is on the line - you know - a game that if they win they are one point out of the wild card - he takes a cheap penalty that leads to a power play goal, and then another cheap interference penalty, retreating to his whiney and very tired "What the f*** did I do?" shtick.

Leadership - starts with the leaders.

Start with moving 12 off the 1st unit
- TJYTJY

Start with moving 12 off the team.

Wondering what Nylander saw sitting last night that's going to help him? Hopefully he watched the Capitals..

Out of Keith's own mouth
- pdx2ord

Nope. Anyone else ever hear that?

Wondering what Nylander saw sitting last night that's going to help him?
- rpeters01

He should have seen that there is a great opportunity for a right handed shot on the 1st PP unit. (Now if only JC can see that)

He should have seen that there is a great opportunity for a right handed shot on the 1st PP unit. (Now if only JC can see that)
- -Doh-

How is Rockford's PP?

Nope. Anyone else ever hear that?
- -Doh-

Here you go - his Spittin' Chiclets episode where he talks about it being a thing during his contract negotiations back in the day.

https://podcasts.apple.co...112425552?i=1000455213255

Can't be bothered to re-listen to it to tell you the exact minute/second during the interview where he talks about it, but it's a good interview anyway. It's also where he talked about Q letting them "just play" and not-so-subtly digging at JC's overthinking/overdesigning plays for every scenario.

Here you go - his Spittin' Chiclets episode where he talks about it being a thing during his contract negotiations back in the day.

https://podcasts.apple.co...112425552?i=1000455213255

Can't be bothered to re-listen to it to tell you the exact minute/second during the interview where he talks about it, but it's a good interview anyway. It's also where he talked about Q letting them "just play" and not-so-subtly digging at JC's overthinking/overdesigning plays for every scenario.
- pdx2ord

The power play sucked under Q with better players, Hossa and Sharp. At least with those two they weren't giving up goals.

https://twitter.com/NBCSB.../1226700479834591232?s=09

When a player addresses this issue in any way, it's a problem
- BetweenTheDots



Toews' assessment is accurate. A team has to go and win the game. It's that simple.

Completely agree but if it's mentioned it's pretty obvious to the team, reporters and fans. Just saying. For example wasn't it Wheeler who drew the slashing penalty by Murphy and wasn't Wheeler who drew the interference penalty on Toews, both plays he acts like he can't play the rest of the game and the refs buy into both, nice acting job.

I said that last night and you called me insane.
- Ogilthorpe2

I slept on it.

It’s not all on Kane. Kane always slows The play down. Pulling up at blue line. He’s done this forever. Nothing new.

If they are going to make changes then bench everyone associated with it.

I would like to see Strome and Debrincat be separated long term. They need to grow as individuals and learn to play with others.

The only success both have had this year is with each year. That's concerning.
- catrisc

They could be separated like about 3000 miles away trade DeBrincat to Edmonton let him ride on the back of his buddy McDavid, i’ll take about three of their good young players, maybe a young defenseman, RNH, and number 16. Just spit bawling. The kid is too small , I said it and I sound like a broken record he has to skate like Johnny hockey, PATRICK Kane, Theron Fleury, Panerin. Ect.Or work really hard with a skating Trainer this summer and be like a water bug out there.

Start with moving 12 off the team.
- rpeters01

He’s had a bad year. Read the article on athletic. He’s had 34 high chances in the last 30 somebrinb games. He’s still getting chances just not converting. It’s called a regression. He needs to be better. If it continues into next year it’s a problem but I don’t recall anyone launching him last year when he was producing.

Baring a blown away offer he isn’t going anywhere this year. Sorry.