Sweet lord. You're like the MexicoHawk of HTML.
- Rota's Rooter

He used to be a professional HTMLer, you know.

I stated right here a year ago that ADB would break camp with the Hawks. Having watched him play in Erie was what I needed. Not unlike me being there for Toews v Pittsburgh and knowing he IS playing well. Sometimes you have to see the player play.

JJ spent a good part of the year posting what I called "cold water" blogs about DB...that is now gone. Alex is in the NHL for good. Case closed. Will he make mistakes? Struggle at times? You bet. You also know the Predators will come out nasty tonight. I expect multiple slew foots from PK Subban and possibly 1 or 2 against the kid. Lets see how 12 handles it.

Another kid I raved about for a while now is John Hayden. The bottom line with him is ONE DAY he will be in the Hawks Top 6. Mark it down now. His skating is noticeably better than 2 years ago and it appears to me it's even better now than 2 months ago. I have no idea how Hayden spends his time, but I suspect he's doing extra skating work away from normal Hawks practices. To have a player with that kind of size, strength and skill on our fourth line is actually indicative of superb depth.

The one area I still don't trust is L3-C. While Hartsy seems to be looking better there, the fact is I still don't believe that is going to work out for the Hawks. HOWEVER, if by some chance Hartman does become a capable center it will prove to be one of Q's better moves. While some pine for Kero on L3-C, the fact is he doesn't have the strength or skill of Hartman. And playing with ADB and Sharp we need a center who can play a heavy game. I think Hartman sees the ice well enough to play center, he's tough enough, he seems to have a feel in setting up his teammates and is a decent defender. Maybe there is something there.

Defense is the other elephant in the room. Yet, I am seeing tremendous improvement there too. Forsling has to be causing great tears from Canucks fans today. This trade may end up being Stan's best trade. Forsling, for all intents and purposes, is now a Top 4 D-man. And he's acquitting himself quite well. Even Connor Murphy, who looked like a joke early, has become a very useful player. I don't project him as a Top 4, but given a Bottom pairing role, bottom pairing minutes against bottom pairing competition it's obvious he can be a solid depth D-man. His errors have been reduced, he seems calmer. He brings a edge to the table and I like the fact he's willing to take a hit to get the puck out.

Still, I'd like to find a way to land a Shae Theodore from the D-rich Knights....22 year old, future / current Top 4 talent D-man. I just don't think the center is out there. I know Pittsburgh is really in the market for a 3rd Line center so the bidding war will boost up the price. I think it may be easier to sneak a D-man to Chicago than a center. It's be nice to get both but I don't see that as a possibility.

He used to be a professional HTMLer, you know.
- JRoenick97

I think coding actually requires text spacing and indentation. I swear that MHawk must have typed his posts in Word with no grammer check then cut and pasted his reply.

Well two weeks ago I thought Q had lost the room ,and felt a move had to be made . Glad to be wrong ,coach has this team clicking right along . Still some ruff spots ,and a huge test tonight .. Bring back Vinny .. GO HAWKS !!!

Kempny isn't as good as 5 of the 6 guys playing ahead of him - that's why he's not playing. I rooted for the guy last year cause he should have played over like Rozsival and such, but I'm kind of glad I don't have to watch him be weirdly bad in the NZ rn.
- L_B_R

Obviously Q agrees but before camp started I thought he would have been given more of a shot, although Fransen wasn't on my radar then. They like Rutta, who I am not all togther sold on and it is also obvious they need what Forsling brings even though he has some warts.

But there is too big of a drop off in experience and ability now throughout the 6. That's what most don't get and that's why Seabrook needs to play a lot of minutes. Maybe not as many as last year but a significant amount .

Bowman will need to get creative once again but they need an Oduya like dman if they are going to be a serious Cup contender. Now the better teams can force the Hawks to play a chip'n chase game which they aren't built for....The speed starts in their own end with very good passing and being able to skate out of trouble. Much of the time this year that's been missing. That's why Forsling is playing a good amount, he has those traits more so than other new guys.

I stated right here a year ago that ADB would break camp with the Hawks. Having watched him play in Erie was what I needed. Not unlike me being there for Toews v Pittsburgh and knowing he IS playing well. Sometimes you have to see the player play.

JJ spent a good part of the year posting what I called "cold water" blogs about DB...that is now gone. Alex is in the NHL for good. Case closed. Will he make mistakes? Struggle at times? You bet. You also know the Predators will come out nasty tonight. I expect multiple slew foots from PK Subban and possibly 1 or 2 against the kid. Lets see how 12 handles it.

Another kid I raved about for a while now is John Hayden. The bottom line with him is ONE DAY he will be in the Hawks Top 6. Mark it down now. His skating is noticeably better than 2 years ago and it appears to me it's even better now than 2 months ago. I have no idea how Hayden spends his time, but I suspect he's doing extra skating work away from normal Hawks practices. To have a player with that kind of size, strength and skill on our fourth line is actually indicative of superb depth.

The one area I still don't trust is L3-C. While Hartsy seems to be looking better there, the fact is I still don't believe that is going to work out for the Hawks. HOWEVER, if by some chance Hartman does become a capable center it will prove to be one of Q's better moves. While some pine for Kero on L3-C, the fact is he doesn't have the strength or skill of Hartman. And playing with ADB and Sharp we need a center who can play a heavy game. I think Hartman sees the ice well enough to play center, he's tough enough, he seems to have a feel in setting up his teammates and is a decent defender. Maybe there is something there.

Defense is the other elephant in the room. Yet, I am seeing tremendous improvement there too. Forsling has to be causing great tears from Canucks fans today. This trade may end up being Stan's best trade. Forsling, for all intents and purposes, is now a Top 4 D-man. And he's acquitting himself quite well. Even Connor Murphy, who looked like a joke early, has become a very useful player. I don't project him as a Top 4, but given a Bottom pairing role, bottom pairing minutes against bottom pairing competition it's obvious he can be a solid depth D-man. His errors have been reduced, he seems calmer. He brings a edge to the table and I like the fact he's willing to take a hit to get the puck out.

Still, I'd like to find a way to land a Shae Theodore from the D-rich Knights....22 year old, future / current Top 4 talent D-man. I just don't think the center is out there. I know Pittsburgh is really in the market for a 3rd Line center so the bidding war will boost up the price. I think it may be easier to sneak a D-man to Chicago than a center. It's be nice to get both but I don't see that as a possibility.
- kwolf68

the one area I still don't trust is L3-C...

It's not good enough and that's why at some point Schmaltz needs to be the 2nd line center. I don't think Bowman is looking for a center before another dman, but as you say they are tough to get. Montreal needs center(s) as well as others...

If Schmaltz can play 2nd line center-AA goes to the third line, then the Hawks can make some noise. Also, I would get Debrincat off the 3rd line as well...Panik fits there more so than Debrincat.

I have said for years and now it has become more common thinking-The best 3rd and 4th lines win the Cup. The Hawks need to tinker with the 3rd line.

the one area I still don't trust is L3-C...

It's not good enough and that's why at some point Schmaltz needs to be the 2nd line center. I don't think Bowman is looking for a center before another dman, but as you say they are tough to get. Montreal needs center(s) as well as others...

If Schmaltz can play 2nd line center-AA goes to the third line, then the Hawks can make some noise. Also, I would get Debrincat off the 3rd line as well...Panik fits there more so than Debrincat.

I have said for years and now it has become more common thinking-The best 3rd and 4th lines win the Cup. The Hawks need to tinker with the 3rd line.
- Al

Schmaltz may have played most of his career at centre but he seems to have really found his groove at LW at the NHL level. Last year he played well as Toews' LW now this year he's found success as the LW for Anisimov and Kane. My guess is that the 3C solution does not include Schmaltz or AA.

the one area I still don't trust is L3-C...

It's not good enough and that's why at some point Schmaltz needs to be the 2nd line center. I don't think Bowman is looking for a center before another dman, but as you say they are tough to get. Montreal needs center(s) as well as others...

If Schmaltz can play 2nd line center-AA goes to the third line, then the Hawks can make some noise. Also, I would get Debrincat off the 3rd line as well...Panik fits there more so than Debrincat.

I have said for years and now it has become more common thinking-The best 3rd and 4th lines win the Cup. The Hawks need to tinker with the 3rd line.
- Al

Eventually Schmaltz projects as a 2C, but he is simply too weak physically to play that role at a high level right now IMO. I think Anisimov has been a beast at 2C with 8+88, but Hartman is better suited on the Wing.

He used to be a professional HTMLer, you know.
- JRoenick97

*Current professional

I think coding actually requires text spacing and indentation. I swear that MHawk must have typed his posts in Word with no grammer check then cut and pasted his reply.
- Rota's Rooter

*My lengthy HTML post was originally drafted to help explain basic html posting to a new poster on here. I figure its not a bad thing to re-post once in a while as a reference for those who are less... indentation, markup and spacing oriented.

the one area I still don't trust is L3-C...

It's not good enough and that's why at some point Schmaltz needs to be the 2nd line center. I don't think Bowman is looking for a center before another dman, but as you say they are tough to get. Montreal needs center(s) as well as others...

If Schmaltz can play 2nd line center-AA goes to the third line, then the Hawks can make some noise. Also, I would get Debrincat off the 3rd line as well...Panik fits there more so than Debrincat.

I have said for years and now it has become more common thinking-The best 3rd and 4th lines win the Cup. The Hawks need to tinker with the 3rd line.
- Al

How about this: Move Schmaltz to 2C, AA to 3C, swap DeBrincat and Panik, and bring up Hinostroza to play 2LW and if he doesn't work out there give Hartman another shot.

Saad-Toews-DeBrincat
Hinostroza/Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane
Sharp-Anisimov-Panik
Bouma-Wingles-Hayden

How about this: Move Schmaltz to 2C, AA to 3C, swap DeBrincat and Panik, and bring up Hinostroza to play 2LW and if he doesn't work out there give Hartman another shot.

Saad-Toews-DeBrincat
Hinostroza/Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane
Sharp-Anisimov-Panik
Bouma-Wingles-Hayden
- SimpleJack

Why do you want to break up the most productive line the Hawks have assembled this year? Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane have been LETHAL, and the 3rd line just scored 4 goals last night.....

How about this: Move Schmaltz to 2C, AA to 3C, swap DeBrincat and Panik, and bring up Hinostroza to play 2LW and if he doesn't work out there give Hartman another shot.

Saad-Toews-DeBrincat
Hinostroza/Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane
Sharp-Anisimov-Panik
Bouma-Wingles-Hayden
- SimpleJack

I think it's rare that a team has all four lines rolling perfectly at the same time. For a while now lines 1, 2 and 4 have been playing well. I would leave them alone, at most Q could allocate the ice time more evenly. Last night the third line seems to click, Hartman may not be a natural centre but he has a solid game. I'd watch a few more games before judging this line, but they may be a solid combo too.

Obviously Q agrees but before camp started I thought he would have been given more of a shot, although Fransen wasn't on my radar then. They like Rutta, who I am not all togther sold on and it is also obvious they need what Forsling brings even though he has some warts.

But there is too big of a drop off in experience and ability now throughout the 6. That's what most don't get and that's why Seabrook needs to play a lot of minutes. Maybe not as many as last year but a significant amount .

Bowman will need to get creative once again but they need an Oduya like dman if they are going to be a serious Cup contender. Now the better teams can force the Hawks to play a chip'n chase game which they aren't built for....The speed starts in their own end with very good passing and being able to skate out of trouble. Much of the time this year that's been missing. That's why Forsling is playing a good amount, he has those traits more so than other new guys.
- Al

and this is why teams like the perds stuff the hawks...they can play chip/chase with a great forecheck and they are quite good in transition plus the structured game they play defensively...

the hawks have been scoring but playing vs teams not playing well or like the up tempo game...

i suspect once again they hit their brick wall known as the perds tonight

and this is why teams like the perds stuff the hawks...they can play chip/chase with a great forecheck and they are quite good in transition plus the structured game they play defensively...

the hawks have been scoring but playing vs teams not playing well or like the up tempo game...

i suspect once again they hit their brick wall know has the perds tonight
- bogiedoc

Again, this has still only been recently. We smoked them regular season last year (4 games to 1). They only found their groove in the playoffs. We actually won in October against them also when we weren't playing that well. I think you might still have PTSD from the playoffs. They aren't that good and are missing a big chunk of their D. Emelin is on the second pair for god's sake.

I'm going to need you to learn how to look up a player's easily accessible game logs before we if we're going to continue this conversation. Cause those are just just incorrect statement atm. Maybe at some point but not currently.

Spoiler for when you go do some research: Seabrook literally played less minutes tonight in a semi-blowout than in the Tampa 'close' game by over two minutes. Seabrook lowest TOI game was the ones in which the Hawks outscored their opponents 6-3. So false that Q plays him more when the Hawks are up several goals. And for late close games, Q does use Forsling-Rutta but also Keith-Seabrook - it's Murphy and Franson that typically (though not always) take a seat. Seabrook's TOI has fluctuated the last 5-8 games (as has Keith's) but the biggest impact usually is how much special teams time there is. Q is indeed smart that he's found how to regulate his current defense's TOI well.
- L_B_R

Here you:

https://www.nhl.com/playe...ogs-r-nhl&season=20172018

Why do you want to break up the most productive line the Hawks have assembled this year? Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane have been LETHAL, and the 3rd line just scored 4 goals last night.....
- EnzoD

Because Hartman isn't a center and we need to improve our center depth, so eventually the lines we used last night against that putrid Ducks lineup won't cut it.

Because Hartman isn't a center and we need to improve our center depth, so eventually the lines we used last night against that putrid Ducks lineup won't cut it.
- SimpleJack

I see your point, but until Bowman acquires a 3C I think that the scoring balance has been there. Plenty of young players have made the switch between W+C and vice versa so why not Hartman? He has the physical tools to play 3C and has shown improvement every game, especially last night. I just wouldn't want to sacrifice a high scoring line 2 to marginally improve line 3.

Again, this has still only been recently. We smoked them regular season last year (4 games to 1). They only found their groove in the playoffs. We actually won in October against them also when we weren't playing that well. I think you might still have PTSD from the playoffs. They aren't that good and are missing a big chunk of their D. Emelin is on the second pair for god's sake.
- JRoenick97

scored 2 goals in regulation in two games so far...6 goals in the last 6 games...

would like to see them break through this drought and beat this team in regulation

scored 2 goals in regulation in two games so far...6 goals in the last 6 games...

would like to see them break through this drought and beat this team in regulation
- bogiedoc

We are rolling right now, but it will be a tough test in a back to back.

How about this: Move Schmaltz to 2C, AA to 3C, swap DeBrincat and Panik, and bring up Hinostroza to play 2LW and if he doesn't work out there give Hartman another shot.

Saad-Toews-DeBrincat
Hinostroza/Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane
Sharp-Anisimov-Panik
Bouma-Wingles-Hayden
- SimpleJack

They already tried Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane and it did not work past a single game. They tried Sharp-AA for many games and it did not work. What is working is Schmaltz-AA-Kane. Debrincat/Panik switch is up for discussion but that's a lot of desired upheaval for a roster that is playing pretty damn well right now.

*Current professional







*My lengthy HTML post was originally drafted to help explain basic html posting to a new poster on here. I figure its not a bad thing to re-post once in a while as a reference for those who are less... indentation, markup and spacing oriented.
- Slofire94

And it is appreciated. Thanks.

Here you:


- walleyeb1

Yeah, I didn't need it myself but thanks lol

Because Hartman isn't a center and we need to improve our center depth, so eventually the lines we used last night against that putrid Ducks lineup won't cut it.
- SimpleJack

I agree Hartman at center is not a good fit. It may be time for the staff to chance reassigning Kero or Oesterle, hope no one puts in a waiver claim and call up someone from Rockford who has been playing center.

How about this: Move Schmaltz to 2C, AA to 3C, swap DeBrincat and Panik, and bring up Hinostroza to play 2LW and if he doesn't work out there give Hartman another shot.

Saad-Toews-DeBrincat
Hinostroza/Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane
Sharp-Anisimov-Panik
Bouma-Wingles-Hayden
- SimpleJack

What you said exactly but not sure about Hinostroza.

What you said exactly but not sure about Hinostroza.
- Al

But they already did that (minus the Panik and ADB swap).