I think if you look at the games realistically, and the level of play in each, the Hawks should probably be 3-6-1 Maybe 3-5-2. If that were the case does anyone think differently of where they are at in relation to the rest of the division/league at this point.

Beating a dead horse, but so much of this points to coaching.
- TheTrob

Coaching certainly factors into on ice performance, but prior to the last game the Hawks were scoring 1.8 goals a game. There is little chance you’re winning scoring so few goals.

Lack of talent has far more to do with where the team is than coaching. And no Dots, I did not say the coaching was good.

maybe now, not in a year or two.
- scottak

I was being facetious.

After the Duncan Keith trade I got linked to these two Edmonton you tube blowhards who called GM Holland an idiot, that Slater Koekoek was enough instead of taking Keith's contract in full and a there set of the considerations.

I do wonder what they think now.
- wiz1901

Tippett has Keith paired with Cody Ceci and he's actually makiing Ceci look like a competent NHL defenceman. And playing #2 18-20 minutes helps also, let Darnell Nurse log the big minutes.

If you enjoy listening to a competent, knowledgeable broadcast of an NHL game on radio, tune in online to 630 CHED in Edmonton.

Tippett has Keith paired with Cody Ceci and he's actually makiing Ceci look like a competent NHL defenceman. And playing #2 18-20 minutes helps also, let Darnell Nurse log the big minutes.

If you enjoy listening to a competent, knowledgeable broadcast of an NHL game on radio, tune in online to 630 CHED in Edmonton.
- RickJ

I suspect when the playoffs come Keith’s minutes will go up.

Tippett has Keith paired with Cody Ceci and he's actually makiing Ceci look like a competent NHL defenceman. And playing #2 18-20 minutes helps also, let Darnell Nurse log the big minutes.

If you enjoy listening to a competent, knowledgeable broadcast of an NHL game on radio, tune in online to 630 CHED in Edmonton.
- RickJ

Keith is also getting the dungeon shifts starting 62% of the time in the D zone. He's looked good in the 2 Oilers games I've watched.

It helps having Nurse who can skate 25 mins a night but Tippet also has them bought in to protecting the front of the net so he isn't skating around like a maniac chasing guys around either.

Borgstrom is on the ice for Blackhawks morning skate. He’s the last guy out of COVID protocol.

Kalynuk is also on the ice.
- Chunk

If you’re a politician how do you know so much about who’s on the ice and who’s not? Did you stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night?

Coaching certainly factors into on ice performance, but prior to the last game the Hawks were scoring 1.8 goals a game. There is little chance you’re winning scoring so few goals.

Lack of talent has far more to do with where the team is than coaching. And no Dots, I did not say the coaching was good.
- paulr

The problem is they don't lack talent. You can say they don't have an actual #2 defender or that Jones is a 2 instead of a 1 but they have 4 proven top 4 NHL calibre players on defense.

They have 2 very good scoring options in Kane and Debrincat with Kubalik as a tweener with that bomb of a shot. Toews, Johnson and Dach should be providing a decent amount of secondary scoring and at least 2 of the younger players OR 1 + Strome should be able to round things out.

The roster certainly isn't going to light anyones pants on fire but they aren't a bottom of the barrel team. They should be slightly above the middle of the pack and able to give anyone a good game if firing on all cylinders with the talent they currently have.

I suspect when the playoffs come Keith’s minutes will go up.
- paulr

They have been going up a bit at a time, if I’m not mistaken he’s been around 20 minutes lately, or just under.

If you’re a politician how do you know so much about who’s on the ice and who’s not? Did you stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night?
- Angotti

That was from Ben Pope on the twitters. Sorry, I didn't provide my source.

And don't you EVER call me a politician. That's worse than calling me a Detroit fan.

That was from Ben Pope on the twitters. Sorry, I didn't provide my source.

And don't you EVER call me a politician. That's worse than calling me a Detroit fan.
- Chunk

More news (with source):


Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
·
3m
Tyler Johnson and Isaak Phillips are now on COVID protocol.

Right after it looked like the Hawks were clear from that.

The problem is they don't lack talent. You can say they don't have an actual #2 defender or that Jones is a 2 instead of a 1 but they have 4 proven top 4 NHL calibre players on defense.

They have 2 very good scoring options in Kane and Debrincat with Kubalik as a tweener with that bomb of a shot. Toews, Johnson and Dach should be providing a decent amount of secondary scoring and at least 2 of the younger players OR 1 + Strome should be able to round things out.

The roster certainly isn't going to light anyones pants on fire but they aren't a bottom of the barrel team. They should be slightly above the middle of the pack and able to give anyone a good game if firing on all cylinders with the talent they currently have.
- fattybeef

How about lack of talent and the guys who have talent have been MIA for periods of time.

Jones has been Ok so far. He’s been very average in his own end and has been pretty good offensively. The rest of the defensemen haven’t looked very good. Gus and De Haan are brutal. McCabe is OK. Murphy would be at his best as a third pairing guy. The rest are green.

Until last game Kane didn’t look at all like himself and still managed to put points up. Toews looks rusty. ADB looks very good and he’s improved the defensive side of his game. Kubalik is a good winger. Hagel is a good hard working winger with some offensive creativity who’s able to play in the middle six. Dach looks pretty good but he struggles to score. Tyler Johnson is what he is, a third line winger on a good team. In that group only ADB, Hagel and possibly Dach have played up to expectations so far. Kurashev, Hardman, Borgstrom, Entwistle are all more or less rookies. After that there’s not much left. So yeah, I stand by my assertion that there’s not much talent so far this season.

Niederreiter still out. Seth Jarvis slots in in his place (Kind of).
- BINGO!

Nobody cares.

If Q was coaching Toronto instead of Florida, would he have had to resign? I am still not understanding how Chevy gets to walk away from this.

Good morning everyone. Fine day out there!

Kyle to sign Flower to a 4 year, $5M AAV deal; the board to beg for the return of Stan.
- mohel

Kyle Dubas or Kyle Davidson?

If Q was coaching Toronto instead of Florida, would he have had to resign? I am still not understanding how Chevy gets to walk away from this.
- powerenforcer

Not a person of interest in the inquiry, because he didn't have any shot calling responsibilities?

If Q was coaching Toronto instead of Florida, would he have had to resign? I am still not understanding how Chevy gets to walk away from this.
- powerenforcer

Probably. Bettman loves Canadian teams, especially Toronto. Bettman hates Americans. Bettman hates America.

Coaching certainly factors into on ice performance, but prior to the last game the Hawks were scoring 1.8 goals a game. There is little chance you’re winning scoring so few goals.

Lack of talent has far more to do with where the team is than coaching. And no Dots, I did not say the coaching was good.
- paulr

Don't think the goal drought is necessarily a lack of talent. I think there are several factors, one of which is also coaching. As a post earlier showed, some bad puck luck and low shooting percentages contribute to the low goal numbers. That will tend to even out over time. One of the reasons for lack of goals is the "system" and players being "out of place" when possession is gained

How about lack of talent and the guys who have talent have been MIA for periods of time.

Jones has been Ok so far. He’s been very average in his own end and has been pretty good offensively. The rest of the defensemen haven’t looked very good. Gus and De Haan are brutal. McCabe is OK. Murphy would be at his best as a third pairing guy. The rest are green.

Until last game Kane didn’t look at all like himself and still managed to put points up. Toews looks rusty. ADB looks very good and he’s improved the defensive side of his game. Kubalik is a good winger. Hagel is a good hard working winger with some offensive creativity who’s able to play in the middle six. Dach looks pretty good but he struggles to score. Tyler Johnson is what he is, a third line winger on a good team. In that group only ADB, Hagel and possibly Dach have played up to expectations so far. Kurashev, Hardman, Borgstrom, Entwistle are all more or less rookies. After that there’s not much left. So yeah, I stand by my assertion that there’s not much talent so far this season.
- paulr

Back end is so routinely brutal, that Gus is beginning to blend in with them. Need a D or two who can actually move.

Nobody cares.
- Ogilthorpe2

yeah

Back end is so routinely brutal, that Gus is beginning to blend in with them. Need a D or two who can actually move.
- gabriel

They do move ..... out of the way

The problem is they don't lack talent. You can say they don't have an actual #2 defender or that Jones is a 2 instead of a 1 but they have 4 proven top 4 NHL calibre players on defense.

They have 2 very good scoring options in Kane and Debrincat with Kubalik as a tweener with that bomb of a shot. Toews, Johnson and Dach should be providing a decent amount of secondary scoring and at least 2 of the younger players OR 1 + Strome should be able to round things out.

The roster certainly isn't going to light anyones pants on fire but they aren't a bottom of the barrel team. They should be slightly above the middle of the pack and able to give anyone a good game if firing on all cylinders with the talent they currently have.
- fattybeef

deHaan has clearly lost at least a step, maybe 2. He looked like a pylon when he got beat wide early in the OTT game. McCabe is coming off injuries, and is probably on the downside of his career too.

The hope is that a couple of the young guys mature quickly and can fill in the 2nd and 3rd pairs. I thought Caleb looked good in the preseason, if he could take over for McCabe or deHaan, it would help immensely.

Niederreiter still out. Seth Jarvis slots in in his place (Kind of).
- BINGO!

Is the rest of the Carolina's lineup similar to what they had the last time we played them?

This could be a big test for the Hawks. I'll be cheering for the Hawks though to be competitive throughout the game (all 60 mins and no major collapses where they give up several goals over a short period of time). Might be dreaming though. Fingers crossed, let's go Hawks!

deHaan has clearly lost at least a step, maybe 2. He looked like a pylon when he got beat wide early in the OTT game. McCabe is coming off injuries, and is probably on the downside of his career too.

The hope is that a couple of the young guys mature quickly and can fill in the 2nd and 3rd pairs. I thought Caleb looked good in the preseason, if he could take over for McCabe or deHaan, it would help immensely.
- scottak

McCabe is 28, he will be fine. He hasn't been good so far this season, but give him the benefit of the doubt coming back from injury. He has 3 years left on a contract after this one, don't think he's going anywhere soon. DeHaan is in the last year of his contract and has not been good, and been injured for a few seasons. Dump him, bury him, pressbox him. Doesn't really matter.

McCabe is 28, he will be fine. He hasn't been good so far this season, but give him the benefit of the doubt coming back from injury. He has 3 years left on a contract after this one, don't think he's going anywhere soon. DeHaan is in the last year of his contract and has not been good, and been injured for a few seasons. Dump him, bury him, pressbox him. Doesn't really matter.
- TheTrob

Yep, they need to replace DeHaan and Gus, if they can upgrade these two defensive spots they will be more competitive. They need one or two more Dmen that can skate and also play defense, unfortunately Gus only has one of these attributes.

That was from Ben Pope on the twitters. Sorry, I didn't provide my source.

And don't you EVER call me a politician. That's worse than calling me a Detroit fan.
- Chunk

I’m sure you’ve been called worse.