Always want the Hawks to win ....but I really don't like our chance against Colorado . Have to wonder if it's worth losing out at a chance at first over all. Besides if Pitt or Edmonton win the lottery I think I will throw up.
- HamiltonHawk

Or Toronto.

Always want the Hawks to win ....but I really don't like our chance against Colorado . Have to wonder if it's worth losing out at a chance at first over all. Besides if Pitt or Edmonton win the lottery I think I will throw up.
- HamiltonHawk

How will you react if it's the Leafs picking first?

If the Hawks win this play in and then lose the next round or even win it, does their draft position change?
- GPHawksfan

Yes i believe it does because of reseeding.

Me?

I just want the next game to start.

I really have no idea which Blackhawk team shows up, or what Olilers team shows up.

I know that an early hawk goal puts that elimination idea in the Oiler's heads, but these guys have been playing their entire lives and I really doubt they get shaken until late in the contest.

The one thing watching all these series has showed me, is these hockey boys are pretty cool and the fact that teams are coming back on each other tells me this Hawk-Oiler still is up for grabs.
- wiz1901

I think you are right. This series is really still so far from finished because both teams have the ability to be inexplicably inconsistent. Neither team quits and we get this back and forth.

I also like that this series hasn't had much after the whistle crap, fighting or outright cheap shots. Both teams are more about playing the game. Also it's been good to see the teams getting back on D really well. We haven't seen the 3rd or 4th guy on the attack coming in and making it an odd man rush too much. Forwards are playing somewhat responsible IMO. The Hawks are still not a solid defensive team, but I think they have at least improved from the mess they were in when Jeremy Colliton first became Head Coach. I'd have to look it up exactly, but wasn't it like 9-10 games in a row they played without having a lead? I remember the confused mess of coverage, 2-3 guys covering the same player and leaving people wide open.

I hope we get another exciting game today. I love that roller-coaster of this series so far.

I think you are right. This series is really still so far from finished because both teams have the ability to be inexplicably inconsistent. Neither team quits and we get this back and forth.

I also like that this series hasn't had much after the whistle crap, fighting or outright cheap shots. Both teams are more about playing the game. Also it's been good to see the teams getting back on D really well. We haven't seen the 3rd or 4th guy on the attack coming in and making it an odd man rush too much. Forwards are playing somewhat responsible IMO. The Hawks are still not a solid defensive team, but I think they have at least improved from the mess they were in when Jeremy Colliton first became Head Coach. I'd have to look it up exactly, but wasn't it like 9-10 games in a row they played without having a lead? I remember the confused mess of coverage, 2-3 guys covering the same player and leaving people wide open.

I hope we get another exciting game today. I love that roller-coaster of this series so far.
- breadbag

Agree with this. Both teams are incredibly inconsistent as shown by the first two games of the series. I missed 200 comments or so, so forgive me if I missed it, but the Hawks hit 5 posts in game 3 less they power play. That means the Hawks of Game 1 showed up but they still made blunders typical of a bubble team like Highmore's miffed pass and committing to the corner player rather than staying in position which allowed McDavid to score that late 2nd period goal.

This playoffish experience is great for the kids and by winning 2 games, it has been great. We lose the next two, we still get a top 10 pick, so its win win here especially since I see very if no chance of us or the Oil beating the Avs and Knights in the next 7-game round.

I think you are right. This series is really still so far from finished because both teams have the ability to be inexplicably inconsistent. Neither team quits and we get this back and forth.

I also like that this series hasn't had much after the whistle crap, fighting or outright cheap shots. Both teams are more about playing the game. Also it's been good to see the teams getting back on D really well. We haven't seen the 3rd or 4th guy on the attack coming in and making it an odd man rush too much. Forwards are playing somewhat responsible IMO. The Hawks are still not a solid defensive team, but I think they have at least improved from the mess they were in when Jeremy Colliton first became Head Coach. I'd have to look it up exactly, but wasn't it like 9-10 games in a row they played without having a lead? I remember the confused mess of coverage, 2-3 guys covering the same player and leaving people wide open.

I hope we get another exciting game today. I love that roller-coaster of this series so far.
- breadbag

Not sure how improved they are. Still a lot of running around. The Hawks have just been scoring goals b/c the Oilers really are not that solid of a team especially 5 on 5.

It really is just McDavid. Draisaitl really hasn't impressed me much. I know he scored a ton this year and last (with 20% shooting) but he doesn't bring anything on defense. Doesn't seem to really impact the game a lot for a 1st line player just ends up with points/easy goals somehow (I know that really doesn't make sense b/c he ends up on the score sheet each night). Dude put up 110pts this year and is somehow a -7.

Real test will be against whoever they get in Round 1 (if they make it).

I will be hoping the Hawks win today. But in the long run losing the next two games and winning the lottery for the 1st overall draft pick is the best thing that can happen in our long term interests.

The question I cannot answer is "If you knew the Hawks were not going to win the 1st overall draft pick, would you rather:

A) beat Edmonton slide back a few slots in the draft and then be over matched against Colorado or Vegas (but give the kids a few more games of playoff experience against higher level competition)

OR

B) Lose to Edmonton and draft 10th.

So you are trading a few more games of playoff experience against dropping back in the draft a few slots.

Agree with this. Both teams are incredibly inconsistent as shown by the first two games of the series. I missed 200 comments or so, so forgive me if I missed it, but the Hawks hit 5 posts in game 3 less they power play. That means the Hawks of Game 1 showed up but they still made blunders typical of a bubble team like Highmore's miffed pass and committing to the corner player rather than staying in position which allowed McDavid to score that late 2nd period goal.

This playoffish experience is great for the kids and by winning 2 games, it has been great. We lose the next two, we still get a top 10 pick, so its win win here especially since I see very if no chance of us or the Oil beating the Avs and Knights in the next 7-game round.
- Popsghostly

I'll admit too, if the Hawks win, they go on, but part of me just feels like it isn't right. I mean, we were out of the race, done and didn't really deserve this chance. I think the line was drawn more about the teams at the top and also realizing including markets like Montreal, Chicago, New York would help with the draw of fans. Fair is fair if the Hawks win, but part of me sides with Oilers fans who have been starving for playoff hockey. I want the Hawks to win, but we should be super thankful they even got this chance to keep going.

He is slow.
- GPHawksfan

Don't say that to the "Hossa Light" crowd.

Strome is not 3rd line checking center plus where did we get lafeniere when it will be rigged so Montreal will get the home town boy. At best hawks get 9th overall pick.
- Scott1977

Why does a 3rd line center have to be a checking center? And what is a checking center exactly?

And that Lehner’s play seemed to go downhill after negotiations broke off.
- StLBravesFan

He's played well for Vegas.

I believe since we are playing EDM (who had the most points among qualifying teams) it has us playing the 4th seed in R1.

This leaves us with Stars or Blues.
- RedRevenge

Pretty sure I read they reseed after each round which would match us against whoever the 1 seed is

I think Strome is an interesting case. He is probably a 3C. But what is a 3rd line. It can be an energy line. Strome is too slow. It can be a shut down line. I don't think so. It can have a faceoff specialist or Pk specialist. Nope. The only real value Strome has is that he can slide into the 2C if one of your two top centers are hurt. If I were Bowman I would treat him like a 3C and offer him a 1 year "show me" deal or a two year at a low cap hit.
- -Doh-

I don't think Strome has that much to "show." He is what he is. Could he get faster - no. Could he get stronger and use that to his advantage - maybe? Right now he's NOT a 2C you can win with. So by default he's a 3C or 4C. That's what you pay him. 2@$2.5 is the most I think he will see. Stan can name the price nobody is going to outbid him.

He's played well for Vegas.
- rpeters01

His last 5 games here, he gave up 4+2+4+4+6=20=4 per game. Record of 1-3-1. At a time when the Hawks still had legitimate playoff hopes.

For 3 games in Vegas - he wasn’t pissed at the ownership there.

His last 5 games here, he gave up 4+2+4+4+6=20=4 per game. At a time when the Hawks still had legitimate playoff hopes.

For 3 games in Vegas - he wasn’t pissed at the ownership there.
- StLBravesFan

Agreed.

Why does a 3rd line center have to be a checking center? And what is a checking center exactly?
- PatShart

He doesn’t. If we have the forward depth to have the 4th line be the checking line.

Does Strome have much value if he is playing with bottom 6 talent? I think that answer is no. He isn’t going to make those around him better. He’s at his best when he’s distributing the puck to wingers that can score goals. He also needs wingers to go retrieve pucks, carrier the puck into the ozone for him, and back check b/c he really doesn’t have the speed to do any of that.

He isn’t even on the top PP unit anymore.

*NEW* blog up: https://bit.ly/3klExA3

Some thoughts + something I call Future vs. Swagger

I gonna remember this one...

Someone else's idea of sending Strome in a trade for another unachieving first rounder doesn't account for the fact that after they continue playing, they all reach that time when they are "entitled" to considered for the bigger dollar deals, so even if you find a taker, ala the Coyote-Schmaltz type deal, you still get to that negotiation sooner than that younger player is a lock as a kid who clearly is reaching his upside...
- wiz1901

Well I'm not ready to give up on him yet, and he is better offensively than Brandon Pirri its just he reminds me of him when the Hawks don't have the puck.