Agreed, the Oilers power play will destroy the Hawks.

Game 1: 3-0 Oilers
Game 2: 5-1 Oilers
Game 3: 7-3 Oilers
- DarthKane

Hahahahahaaaa....Like, we will keep the Oil to 3 goals!!!! They score 5 or more all 3 games.

I didn’t realize Giroux was hurt.

Hey bruceflyers would you care to weigh in on this? I’d really like to hear what you have to say given your track record of thought provoking and intelligent statements on these blogs.
- SimpleJack

I was merely saying if Giroux was injured, his absence is would be a significant blow. He is a clutch performer. He's been there and I fear him more than any other forward on that team particularly if he is on a roll. He has a good shot too btw.

Totally agree. At the end of the day, it's Seabrook's decision. Whatever he decides to do is his business.

It will be an interesting saga to continue viewing as we see if he can get 100% healthy and play a reliable defensive game again.
- AEL_Fox

Dint let me diwn

Good one.

Being a dckhead for some fun...but i’d wash one of rocky wirtz’s rolls every day for the rest of my life for that 2010 Cup!!!
- bruceflyers

Nice. What was your take on Richards and Carter? Did they really need to be moved, or was that just too many egos getting in the way?

Nice article in the Atlantic by Powers regarding new addition Pius Suter.

Obviously not ever player that comes from across the pond is going to be an impact player, but it's pretty remarkable how many hits Stan and Co. have over the last couple of years.

Say what you will about our coaching, compete, results. etc., but from a pure talent standpoint, I could certainly argue that we have more of it now than we did at any point over the last decade.

Nice article in the Atlantic by Powers regarding new addition Pius Suter.

Obviously not ever player that comes from across the pond is going to be an impact player, but it's pretty remarkable how many hits Stan and Co. have over the last couple of years.

Say what you will about our coaching, compete, etc. etc., but from a pure talent standpoint, I could certainly argue that we have more of it now than we did at any point over the last decade.
- TommyHawk

Couple of things to illustrate your point about compete level as far as Suter goes: he goes to the dirty areas, scores in bunches from the slot, plays physical. And all at 5'11" 175 pounds.

If fans liked Kahun, they're going to love Suter even more. He's Kahun with an amped up compete level.

Suter is going to be a fan favorite.

Nice article in the Atlantic by Powers regarding new addition Pius Suter.

Obviously not ever player that comes from across the pond is going to be an impact player, but it's pretty remarkable how many hits Stan and Co. have over the last couple of years.

Say what you will about our coaching, compete, results. etc., but from a pure talent standpoint, I could certainly argue that we have more of it now than we did at any point over the last decade.
- TommyHawk

I agree that their talent level has been going up, but the last ten years includes 3 Cup teams. I don't think they have more talent now than any of those teams.

I saw on hockeyrumors.com that Chiarelli is "connected" with the Yotes. Those poor bastages can't catch a break.

Couple of things to illustrate your point about compete level as far as Suter goes: he goes to the dirty areas, scores in bunches from the slot, plays physical. And all at 5'11" 175 pounds.

If fans liked Kahun, they're going to love Suter even more. He's Kahun with an amped up compete level.

Suter is going to be a fan favorite.
- AEL_Fox

Thanks for the input Theo. Agreed, I'm excited about Suter, especially based on the clips I watched. It seems to me like he'll be a better version of Caggiula, and you can never have enough of those kinds of players.

Looking forward to seeing how things are shaped for next year.

Nice article in the Atlantic by Powers regarding new addition Pius Suter.

Obviously not ever player that comes from across the pond is going to be an impact player, but it's pretty remarkable how many hits Stan and Co. have over the last couple of years.

Say what you will about our coaching, compete, etc. etc., but from a pure talent standpoint, I could certainly argue that we have more of it now than we did at any point over the last decade.
- TommyHawk

Agreed, even with the acknowledgement that I am too easily swept up in the hyperbolic optimism of new shiny prospects. There's a long list of Knotts, Snuggeruds, Dahlstroms, Haydens, etc; etc; etc; who I was all too easy to annoint as an NHL level talent only to replace them in a season or two with the next new shiny prospect to fall under my gaze.

So maybe I'm showing some insanity expecting the same to produce different results ... but I think 'this time' may be different. There are still the Barratts, Soderlunds, Wises, Krys' who probably would be properly placed in the "irrational hope" category - maybe even Beaudin, Kurashev and Mitchell have garnered more hopeful accolades than will be proven out over time - but I still think the Hawks have a better collection of young players than they have had in quite a few years.

I agree that their talent level has been going up, but the last ten years includes 3 Cup teams. I don't think they have more talent now than any of those teams.
- mohel

The difference (to me) is coaching and Marian Hossa. The difference between Q and Colliton is insurmountable. Everyone bought into the system and players understood their roles which obviously isn't the case here.

19 and 88 are still very good players, but Dach, Kubalik, DeBrincat, Strome are a better group of forwards than Sharp, Versteeg, TT, Richards, etc. were.

We don't have Kruger-Desjardins on the fourth line completely shutting down oppositions, but we have some talented bottom-six players that could eventually (hopefully) blossom into being effective in a similar manner.

I think (when healthy) Murphy and de Haan form a very formidable shut down pairing - though nothing will compare to Oduya and Hammer. But KK/Maatta is better than any third pairing we've had during our cup years.

And this isn't including young players that could be very valuable like Nylander, Carlsson, Beaudin, etc.

Agreed, even with the acknowledgement that I am too easily swept up in the hyperbolic optimism of new shiny prospects. There's a long list of Knotts, Snuggeruds, Dahlstroms, Haydens, etc; etc; etc; who I was all too easy to annoint as an NHL level talent only to replace them in a season or two with the next new shiny prospect to fall under my gaze.

So maybe I'm showing some insanity expecting the same to produce different results ... but I think 'this time' may be different. There are still the Barratts, Soderlunds, Wises, Krys' who probably would be properly placed in the "irrational hope" category - maybe even Beaudin, Kurashev and Mitchell have garnered more hopeful accolades than will be proven out over time - but I still think the Hawks have a better collection of young players than they have had in quite a few years.
- EbonyRaptor

Me too. But it's hard not to daydream of all the possibilities, and that doesn't even include a potential #1 or #9/#10 pick either.

This is easily the deepest (from a pure skill standpoint) this team has been in years. Hopefully coaching will be able to harness the talent(s) we have.

Thanks for the input Theo. Agreed, I'm excited about Suter, especially based on the clips I watched. It seems to me like he'll be a better version of Caggiula, and you can never have enough of those kinds of players.

Looking forward to seeing how things are shaped for next year.
- TommyHawk

From everything I've read and seen, I don't think Caggiula is a good comparison for Suter. Caggiula is much more of an agitator, closer to Shaw in that regard. Suter doesn't strike me as an agitator type, but more of a finesse player not afraid to get his nose dirty when necessary. Course - I haven't actually seen him play other than video clips - so as Kramer would say - maybe I'm WAAAAY off.

Can definitely see that the Hawks don't want to risk Seabrook screwing up his recovery. They know they need to get more years out of him. Seabrook didn't want to travel to Edmonton to not play in the top 6. Expect him to be back in the top 6 next season if his recovery is legit.

Crawford should be the guy in net for the Hawks from here on out unless he gets injured. We know his "unfit to play" was covid, which shouldn't slow him down at this point.

Anyone who thinks Edmonton doesn't have good goaltending should think again. While their goaltending at even strength was average their goalies were great on the PK (best in the NHL). The Hawks and Oilers weren't hugely different 5v5 and both teams gave up shots too freely.

The special teams were the big difference between the two and both lean to Edmonton's favor. At 5v5 the top 2 guys on each team were all effective and all among the top 15 in the NHL.

Leon Draisatl - 56 Points
Patrick Kane - 50 Points
Connor McDavid - 50 Points
Jonathan Toews - 41 Points

All of those guys can be major factors in a 3-5 game stretch. I don't know what is going to happen, this is uncharted territory but I find it funny when anyone predicts anything as a "Sure thing" in these qualifiers. Normal NHL playoff series are unpredictable and we usually have a great look at how the teams are playing going in.

This is more like starting a new season and has even more unknown. Rested teams with time to prepare diving into a series. I hope we get some fun hockey.

Edit: I should add, I give the edge to Edmonton. They were the better team and have the younger superstars, but we seem to play them pretty well too.

The difference (to me) is coaching and Marian Hossa. The difference between Q and Colliton is insurmountable. Everyone bought into the system and players understood their roles which obviously isn't the case here.

19 and 88 are still very good players, but Dach, Kubalik, DeBrincat, Strome are a better group of forwards than Sharp, Versteeg, TT, Richards, etc. were.

We don't have Kruger-Desjardins on the fourth line completely shutting down oppositions, but we have some talented bottom-six players that could eventually (hopefully) blossom into being effective in a similar manner.

I think (when healthy) Murphy and de Haan form a very formidable shut down pairing - though nothing will compare to Oduya and Hammer. But KK/Maatta is better than any third pairing we've had during our cup years.

And this isn't including young players that could be very valuable like Nylander, Carlsson, Beaudin, etc.
- TommyHawk

The Top Six of those teams was far better than this Top Six (partly because of age). The Bottom Six of those teams was far better than this Bottom Six. The Top Four defenders of those teams was far better than the Top Four of this team. Goaltending is a wash.

If coaching could take a team from the bottom of the league to a Cup champion, Q's last couple of years would have been a lot better.

how come we have not heard anything about the hawks practicing in Edmonton?

how come we have not heard anything about the hawks practicing in Edmonton?
- kmw4631

They don't need practice.

The difference (to me) is coaching and Marian Hossa. The difference between Q and Colliton is insurmountable. Everyone bought into the system and players understood their roles which obviously isn't the case here.

19 and 88 are still very good players, but Dach, Kubalik, DeBrincat, Strome are a better group of forwards than Sharp, Versteeg, TT, Richards, etc. were.

We don't have Kruger-Desjardins on the fourth line completely shutting down oppositions, but we have some talented bottom-six players that could eventually (hopefully) blossom into being effective in a similar manner.

I think (when healthy) Murphy and de Haan form a very formidable shut down pairing - though nothing will compare to Oduya and Hammer. But KK/Maatta is better than any third pairing we've had during our cup years.

And this isn't including young players that could be very valuable like Nylander, Carlsson, Beaudin, etc.
- TommyHawk

Rozsival/Leddy was a pretty good 3rd pair IMO. Maatta is pretty decent but KK is pretty much filler and wouldn't be in the top 6 on a contender.

They don't need practice.
- mohel

Great to hear from you big Mohel.

Rozsival/Leddy was a pretty good 3rd pair IMO. Maatta is pretty decent but KK is pretty much filler and wouldn't be in the top 6 on a contender.
- breadbag

You want something

how come we have not heard anything about the hawks practicing in Edmonton?
- kmw4631

Bettman already has Chicago getting the 1st pick, so really, why play the games? The series will go 4 games, just to give it an appearance that it wasn't fixed.

how come we have not heard anything about the hawks practicing in Edmonton?
- kmw4631

I think there is a big difference in press coverage of the team's activity now that they are in Edmonton inside the "bubble".

Nice article in the Atlantic by Powers regarding new addition Pius Suter.

Obviously not ever player that comes from across the pond is going to be an impact player, but it's pretty remarkable how many hits Stan and Co. have over the last couple of years.

Say what you will about our coaching, compete, results. etc., but from a pure talent standpoint, I could certainly argue that we have more of it now than we did at any point over the last decade.
- TommyHawk

I'm the boss

I think there is a big difference in press coverage of the team's activity now that they are in Edmonton inside the "bubble".
- breadbag

Great person

I agree that their talent level has been going up, but the last ten years includes 3 Cup teams. I don't think they have more talent now than any of those teams.
- mohel