Lol ok my Underoos are unwound. My point was simple it's never about age , gender or race but based on skill and whom is the best qualified.

So taking into account a players age based on the life expectancy of his or her career in the hockey world 22 years old in a forward they should be developed to a point you can justify keeping him on your team based on wait for it Skill and ability to perform.
- Taylorst1

Right, and wouldn't this apply to the replay aspect part of the game as well or is that not part of the sport as well

Not a great game last night but kind of expected. Vegas is a much better team than Edm. Crow wasn't great. on to game 2

It’s the right perspective. This team wasn’t going to make the playoffs - and they were sellers at the trade deadline. This new format is a “gift” in terms of player development - and a reinvigoration for some of the vets who have experienced past glory. Let’s also not forget that this is JC’s first HC experience in the playoffs - so hopefully he gains insights from this too.
- Chief4Feathers

And more importantly, Bowman is getting a good insight on what should be the max offers for his RFA's and UFA's. Too bad that Debrincat was still not in this mix as well.
Strome and Crawford are doing a good job in driving down their contract numbers. And maybe Kubalik may not be as valuable as some of us thought if you take away that one game against Edmonton.

It is what it is.

They've gone so far as to penalize teams if they are wrong on the replay that's how much they support it.
- BetweenTheDots

Their will always be mistakes or poor judgment decisions in anything in life or sports. But the rules in itself have to be fair which the owners all agreed to and signed off on.

Replay in itself has gotten better over time. And when it's so close no matter which way they decide people will always argue for or against.


That I think we can both agree on.

Right, and wouldn't this apply to the replay aspect part of the game as well or is that not part of the sport as well
- BetweenTheDots

It applies in anything or should. Hiring decisions should be a time to use to search for the best qualified candidates and then interview them and in that interview process you should be asking critical questions and doing your due diligence.

What I pointed out earlier is it doesn't matter your age it's your skill and qualifications. You mentioned that younger people are better than older people . That was the cliff notes version of your arguement. I just said that's discrimination and not based on facts.

Lol ok my Underoos are unwound. My point was simple it's never about age , gender or race but based on skill and whom is the best qualified.

So taking into account a players age based on the life expectancy of his or her career in the hockey world 22 years old in a forward they should be developed to a point you can justify keeping him on your team based on wait for it Skill and ability to perform.
- Taylorst1

I don't believe this was entirely your original point but yes, to a degree the team should have some idea.

It's possible, but agree to disagree. I think the ingredients are there with a couple of them and I think they still need time is more my point.

This was Nylander's first full season in the NHL. Up til now, his season's have been cut short by injuries so him playing a full season is a win in my book.

Where he develops from here is up to him.

Strome could still be a 2C on this team but as long as the Capt. keeps drinking from the Fountain of Youth and Dach continues on his trajectory, he's a 3C on this team...which may create a square peg round hole scenario.

Is Kurashev or another guy the 3C. No idea as he's even younger but guys like him and Barratt sound a better fir for that role. Theo could answer that question better than I.

Dinky? Probably not a perennial 40 goal guy but 30? Possibly. His salary isn't bad for a scorer but like I said in a Cap decision I'd rather keep Saad.
- HawkintheD

Part of the issue we have in decisively seeing which forwards will pan out is the fact that we don't maintain possession for more than 10 seconds. Dump and chase hockey is boom or bust and with our defense it's more bust than boom. Cycle the puck and wear down their defense/goalie throughout the game. Hawks couldn't get to the middle of the ice, rarely were in front of Lehner when they did have possession or on a power play, too many blueline turnovers in transition, and kudos to Lehner for not giving up hardly any rebounds from pucks on the net.

Game 2 I'd like to see them slow the game down a bit and maintain possession in our end and limit the blueline turnovers. Cheat back and open up the stretch pass so their points stray from the middle of the ice and kick back to the top for a shot on net with two guys ready for any rebound. Not the first time nor the last where we'll see a team try to slow our attack down by limiting our middle ice access. Juggle the lines too please JC. Dach/Kane don't seem to be on the same page. Put Kane/Strome/Cat together and see if they can get Kane/Cat going. Put Kane/Dach together next season. Make the adjustments needed and go win Game 2!

the hawks played defensive pack it game to keep the knights to the outside and limit high quality chances...but could not get anything going on the counter attack...

kanes line got throttled both ways last

vegas is top of league in 5v5 play...and it showed

hawks may have to open it up and try to out score them and win and try to win 4-3 and 5-4 type games...

strom, nylander, and adb have been useless for 5 games...this is where your secondary scoring has to come from and it aint...a team depending on kampf and highmore for secondary scoring ain't going very far...

I know some people use the phrase gaining experience, however everyone should see these players with this opportunity taking strides forward. Dach imo has been the only one to show he is getting better and better . Strome , nylander and cat no excuse whatsoever for their non performance.


Boqvist isn't he supposed to be offensively talented ? I havent seen anything from him to make me believe he has that in his game. I'll give you the defensive arguement side with him learning but his biggest skill that Chicago grabbed him for was his huge offensive side.


At what point can we all agree that if these guys cant get it together in the regular season and now here is a golden opportunity to prove to everyone their good , and yet through 5 games so far it's the same guys we've all been calling out for their M.I.A .

You mentioned strome , cat and nylander ages ? Most players at that age that are forwards have developed and are hitting their stride or prime.

So how do you argue that at ages 22 -23 their still young and learning . When at that point in many good or great players their all producing? Its usually by their late 20's early 30's they start to slow down.


Their is to many players to list but they all hit their stride mostly before or by the age.


My point is these guys have all played the game and played in playoffs at different levels so they should understand how important it is and have their basic skills shooting , defending , passing and faceoff down.
- Taylorst1

Glad you aren't my boss. "I need you to work like you have 5 years experience even though you're new so you better do it."

Not how life works. They are all playing against someone else who is also upping their game for the playoffs. Players with "finals" experience. If anything the gap SHOULD BE getting bigger between them and our guys. People don't progress linearly either. You HOPE one day the light goes on and that's all you can hope for. Bovquist specifically is a boy playing against men. They will take his milk money and laugh. Dach is playing against real men now as well. Nylander is in his first full year in the NHL. Strome is probably not as good as we would like. If he doesn't get stronger I don't see a place for him on a winning team because he's not getting faster. Dinky is the most overated player on the team. That contract could be Stan's downfall.

I don't believe this was entirely your original point but yes, to a degree the team should have some idea.
- HawkintheD

Actually it was 2 different conversations I was talking about but. Also in the sports world of hockey generally at 22 as a forward you should be hitting your stride I. A positive direction. Which goes back to who is the best qualified based on skill , ability to show improvements and also other factors , how does that player get along with other players. Take initiative, integrity ect.

Shuffling chairs on the Titanic.
- DarthKane

What taking carpenter and nylander out and replacing them with sikrua and hagel. In the offseason bowman needs to get some bigger physical players that can play that heavy style in the playoffs.

What taking carpenter and nylander out and replacing them with sikrua and hagel. In the offseason bowman needs to get some bigger physical players that can play that heavy style in the playoffs.
- Scott1977

Nylander and Carpenter are bigger and stronger than Sikura and Hagel...

Glad you aren't my boss. "I need you to work like you have 5 years experience even though you're new so you better do it."

Not how life works. They are all playing against someone else who is also upping their game for the playoffs. Players with "finals" experience. If anything the gap SHOULD BE getting bigger between them and our guys. People don't progress linearly either. You HOPE one day the light goes on and that's all you can hope for. Bovquist specifically is a boy playing against men. They will take his milk money and laugh. Dach is playing against real men now as well. Nylander is in his first full year in the NHL. Strome is probably not as good as we would like. If he doesn't get stronger I don't see a place for him on a winning team because he's not getting faster. Dinky is the most overated player on the team. That contract could be Stan's downfall.
- rpeters01

Maybe it's your lack of as work ethic or ability to show improvement. But expectations in any sport or business doesn't get overlooked just because that individual cant show a just cause for keeping them. The me me me attitude gets old.

Anything in life you always have to work hard , listen , learn , improve and their is always a level of what's to be expected from the person you hire is their experience level dictates a understanding butndoesnt excuse or overlook clear expectations for a plan and stages to hit that level.

the hawks played defensive pack it game to keep the knights to the outside and limit high quality chances...but could not get anything going on the counter attack...

kanes line got throttled both ways last

vegas is top of league in 5v5 play...and it showed

hawks may have to open it up and try to out score them and win and try to win 4-3 and 5-4 type games...

strom, nylander, and adb have been useless for 5 games...this wear your secondary scoring has to come from and it aint...a team depending on kampf and highmore for secondary scoring ain't going very far...
- bogiedoc

Hawks gave up 4 "packing it in." Better make that 9-8 games only Vegas doesn't give up 9 in a whole series.

Maybe it's your lack of as work ethic or ability to show improvement. But expectations in any sport or business doesn't get overlooked just because that individual cant show a just cause for keeping them. The me me me attitude gets old.

Anything in life you always have to work hard , listen , learn , improve and their is always a level of what's to be expected from the person you hire is their experience level dictates a understanding butndoesnt excuse or overlook clear expectations for a plan and stages to hit that level.
- Taylorst1

Right, the guys you are mentioning are all "entry level." Means you as their boss will be working very hard to make up for them.

Right, the guys you are mentioning are all "entry level." Means you as their boss will be working very hard to make up for them.
- rpeters01

Their not all first year players, however even in boqvist case his offensive side which we had all seen before has went missing. Now maybe that lies on the coaching staff holding him back from that side. But strome and cat ? Not sure you can argue their newbies.

Nylander knock on him prior to stan trading for him was his work ethic or lack of.

Actually it was 2 different conversations I was talking about but. Also in the sports world of hockey generally at 22 as a forward you should be hitting your stride I. A positive direction. Which goes back to who is the best qualified based on skill , ability to show improvements and also other factors , how does that player get along with other players. Take initiative, integrity ect.
- Taylorst1

I would say the "stars" are hitting their stride at 22. Not the every day Joe's. By 22 Dach could be very good. I don't see any other potential stars.

the hawks played defensive pack it game to keep the knights to the outside and limit high quality chances...but could not get anything going on the counter attack...

kanes line got throttled both ways last

vegas is top of league in 5v5 play...and it showed

hawks may have to open it up and try to out score them and win and try to win 4-3 and 5-4 type games...

strom, nylander, and adb have been useless for 5 games...this is where your secondary scoring has to come from and it aint...a team depending on kampf and highmore for secondary scoring ain't going very far...
- bogiedoc

Spot on analysis. Also Crawford has to step up his game the 2 goals he allowed that he shouldn't have allowed doesn't help a team that is already struggling to find chemistry, consistency, confidence.

I'm not expecting kampf or the 4th line to score but chipping in here and their is always a good sign.

Without strome , nylander, kane , and cat producing this team isn't going anywhere or gaining anything from being allowed to think it's ok to not step up and contribute.

JC needs to light a fire under this team and we need to see a huge turnaround

Their not all first year players, however even in boqvist case his offensive side which we had all seen before has went missing. Now maybe that lies on the coaching staff holding him back from that side. But strome and cat ? Not sure you can argue their newbies.

Nylander knock on him prior to stan trading for him was his work ethic or lack of.
- Taylorst1

Nobody has knocked Nylander's work ethic here. I already said I don't think much of Cat and Strome. Been saying it about Cat all year. Boqvist is an AHL player trying not to F up.

I would say the "stars" are hitting their stride at 22. Not the every day Joe's. By 22 Dach could be very good. I don't see any other potential stars.
- rpeters01

I agree with your point. That's life some people develop slower or faster some over achieve some simply produce. But as a forward in the nhl at 22 years old your at a point of being avg , excelling or a bust.

Nobody has knocked Nylander's work ethic here. I already said I don't think much of Cat and Strome. Been saying it about Cat all year. Boqvist is an AHL player trying not to F up.
- rpeters01

I know that was the knock on nylander originally, and at the beginning of the season he was benched for what I remember was his lack of work ethic on ice

I know that was the knock on nylander originally, and at the beginning of the season he was benched for what I remember was his lack of work ethic on ice
- Taylorst1

I think that was the "board's" explanation not the team's...

I would give Dach time to adjust and find a different level in game #2. But truly I think it would benefit everyone to move Kane back with Strome and Debrincat and see if they can generate something. Nylander showed more value in the 3rd - put him with Caggiula and Dach. Other than that I would leave the forwards alone. No change there is going to make enough of a difference.

I doubt they are willing to bench Boqvist, but he is the weakest link in what is still a challenged d-corps. But there isn't a right handed defenseman ready to step up and fil that slot anyway - aren't all three depth guys left defensemen? I doubt JC changes anything on the blue line.

We don't have the horses and don't really have the intangibles either. When John Quenneville is next on the depth chart, that sort of says it all. Shaw would help. I don't think Zach Smith can skate with the Knights

I think that was the "board's" explanation not the team's...
- rpeters01

Maybe I cant say for certainty because it was eons ago.but when the trade happened that was why buffalo soured on him was his lack of work ethic because he took the opportunity I remember and participated in training camp and all the little things necessary to improve himself

Nobody has knocked Nylander's work ethic here. I already said I don't think much of Cat and Strome. Been saying it about Cat all year. Boqvist is an AHL player trying not to F up.
- rpeters01

I'll come back to the point that these are bonus games and an opportunity for the young guys to learn and show what they can do. Even if the Hawks get swept this experience is still worth dropping from #10 to #17 in the draft.

The kids will make mistakes, I fully expect Dach and Boqvist to screw up, they're 19 year olds playing a significant role. ADB hasn't been himself, but he's still worth holding on to and I believe he'll come around. Strome is perplexing, he's really hurting himself in the long run.

Stan has said there won't be too much turnover on the roster next season, but there will be some. I expect to see Strome back, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't.