After watching Carbomb's latest video, can't really blame Toews if he is trying to play a style to protect his head.

https://twitter.com/Playe...tatus/1006883890705731584
- pdx2ord

really? if your that worried about concussions he shouldn't have played hockey in the first place. It's a physical game everyone knows the risks. You act like Toews was Bob Probert x10.

HA....that's right. This is the guy that when the Hawks lost all year blamed every loss on Kane. Been awhile since I saw him post. Got it.

yeah, I don't sell on Saad either. IMO, they are so far out of it, that unless Bowman literally blows it up and moves a few guys, throws money around like it's July 1st 2009, I just can't logically say they have a decent shot at a cup last year.

We can debate all day long which of the 2/7/19 will be or has the best chance to regain their form. Point is, they haven't won a series in over 1000 days so if anything their legs should be fresh and the old bumps/bruises shouldn't have healed. Instead, each of those 3 has gotten worse each year....and 50 dealing multiple concussions...….it's just another HUGE question mark lurking.

The thought of playing Forsberg at all makes me sick. I love that he cares and shows a little Eddie the eagle when he gets juked out of his jock but there's not a lot there to be excited about it.

You have Kane......and hopefully DeBrincat not going Hartman and having a sophomore slump. Sikura? did we see anything to get excited about?

The biggest issue is that the Hawks have maybe 3 years left with 2/7/19 to win and they need more then just a Justin Faulk or Skinner to get them back in the conversation. Nashville rolled them 2 years ago......and they have ZERO shot at beating Nashville OR Winnipeg in a 7 game series without a plethora of moves.
- SteveRain

The Hawks need Justin Faulk, Jacob Slavin, and Victor Rask without giving up a roster player to be in the playoffs next year, much less Cup Contention. Sikura showed me some nice hands but he is another sub 170lb finesse forward that Stan Bowman LOVES! Sikura is meh, Ejdsell is meh, Forsling showed flashes and is young, Kampf doesn't hurt you at 4C but doesn't do much to help you, Duclair MEH, Jurco BLAH, Hayden didn't do poop either. They have a bunch of borderline NHLers at depth forward and a bunch of AHLers on defense that just HAD to be resigned in Gustafson and Rutta. I really don't care if Gustafson had some nice offensive plays when the RS games meant nothing. He is small and cannot defend efectively in the NHL. Oesterle, yikes. Rutta has some physical skills but really struggled as well.


Hawks aren't close, I think we can agree on that. Oh ya, and they may not have a starting goalie either.

Great interview with Eddie last week (or the week before) on the Score. Surprisingly, 670 was actually talking about hockey when I skimmed by the channel.

Eddie O talked about concussions and how distinctly remembers getting 4 and playing thorough them. He said there could have been more, but the four stick out.

He talked about how in his day they just chalked it up to "getting your bell rung." And how there was sort of a stigma back then that if you didn't suck it up and play, you were considered soft by your peers, coaching staff, etc. Plus...you feared you'd lose your job to the next guy, etc.

He went on to say that, granted, they didn't know all the long-term implications of concussion damage, but now that we do, it's important for guys to just say right away that they don't feel right or need to sit out. Not worth it to be the "tough" guy any more and play with a head injury.

That being said, I watched an interview with Gretzky where he expressed desire to start a league for kids who just want to play, but not necessarily risk serious injury with checking, etc--noting that a lot of kids are intimidated by other kids who mature faster and how there's an uneven distribution throughout youth hockey. It would be interesting to see if he gets the league started.

I could see the NHL being a much different game 10-20 years from now. I think they'll change the rules to where it's more like mens league: no checking, but you can still push/shove/bump and get a little physical along the boards.
- Hank3Henshaw

That league would suck. Maybe it's because I've been close to death a couple of times [allergic reaction and blood clots] and I've known a handful of people who have died young. But nothing in life is guaranteed life is too short to live it scare. Like was said earlier be aware of concussions but if your going to alter the way you play that much you shouldn't keep playing.

Why did they get Vermette, Oduya, Handzus, etc? They never won anything until they got to the Hawks.
- Chunk

I would answer Oduya long term and a cap fit...the others the luxury of extra Ir Cap space late and the willingness of some of the above to stay in town on the cheap.
Some think Carolina captain IS reasonable but is he gonna say much bigger increase is necessary right after this deal is done?
The thing attractive with Trouba is he is probably going to be reasonable enough ang thriller with the prospect of big minutes w/o fighting Buff & Myers for right side tick.
Trouba is not quite down developing,and the Vegas slip ups not withstanding, he has many more desirable qualities in his own end as well. He is a tank, and has huge upside, as there is significant evidence he can play fast offensively too.

You know, this is a fantastic post.

After taking time off after college, marriage, kids, and skating again....I was amazed at how protective the new equipment is. Guys have no fear slashing you because you're completely covered and you dont' feel a thing. The shoulder pads alone have almost a "bullet proof" vest feel to them. I've been blasted in the arms and chest by slap shots and while I may bruise, I am no where near in as much pain as I would have been years ago. Not to mention the new skates are so much lighter.

You add quickness to everyone's game, and guys dressed in equipment that is literally built for war, and it's amazing more serious head injuries don't happen.
- SteveRain

Brian Mcgratton said the same thing you could go to war with the gear now. He said players also are more likely to use there sticks up high with wearing visors. If players had softer older type gear they wouldn't be as willing to block shots constantly and hit guys as dangerously.

To say the Hawks "are not close"...doesn't really apply, IMO

Theres so much parity in the league, I think the Hawks can make a few moves and get some rebound years an be back in.

Who would ever think Vegas was "close" to anything last June?

I think once they knew Crawford was done and they couldn't put any "run" together, they started playing way more of the younger guys, in and out of the lineup, 8 Dmen, etc...to get long looks and experience for players to evaluate.

Why did they get Vermette, Oduya, Handzus, etc? They never won anything until they got to the Hawks.
- Chunk

I would answer Oduya long term and a cap fit...the others the luxury of extra Ir Cap space late and the willingness of some of the above to stay in town on the cheap.
Some think Carolina captain IS reasonable but is he gonna say much bigger increase is necessary right after this deal is done?
The thing attractive with Trouba is he is probably going to be reasonable enough ang thriller with the prospect of big minutes w/o fighting Buff & Myers for right side tick.
Trouba is not quite down developing,and the Vegas slip ups not withstanding, he has many more desirable qualities in his own end as well. He is a tank, and has huge upside, as there is significant evidence he can play fast offensively too.

I would be forced to openly mock you for paying. I wouldn't want to, but it would be an obligation. I hope you understand

As I'm also tempted to give you grief for still even wearing shoulder pads while playing. 😂
- PatShart

I've screwed up both shoulders before, and I'm playing against guys that could be my kids who don't always follow the rules. Plus, if I jacked up my shoulders again my wife would probably kill me.

Brian Mcgratton said the same thing you could go to war with the gear now. He said players also are more likely to use there sticks up high with wearing visors. If players had softer older type gear they wouldn't be as willing to block shots constantly and hit guys as dangerously.
- vandymeer23

100% agreed. I remember Craig Ludwig on Dallas who literally bent his shin pads so they were flat in front so he could block shots. He was 1 of a small minority who would. NOw, it's expected in today's game.

Agreed on equipment.

I've screwed up both shoulders before, and I'm playing against guys that could be my kids who don't always follow the rules. Plus, if I jacked up my shoulders again my wife would probably kill me.
- SteveRain

Hey...it would be nothing personal. It would be part of my code to make fun. Especially now knowing your wife is making you.

I think you understand 😁

To say the Hawks "are not close"...doesn't really apply, IMO

Theres so much parity in the league, I think the Hawks can make a few moves and get some rebound years an be back in.

Who would ever think Vegas was "close" to anything last June?

I think once they knew Crawford was done and they couldn't put any "run" together, they started playing way more of the younger guys, in and out of the lineup, 8 Dmen, etc...to get long looks and experience for players to evaluate.
- PatShart

I agree on the young players and it's important they get NHL minutes because until they do....you don't know what you have.

Vegas was good and you're right nobody saw it coming,.....but they played a ferocious game with a great system and an all world goalie. They needed a lot to go right and I don't see how they duplicate that again this upcoming year unless they add some legit pieces.

I think the Hawks can make the playoffs, but my expectation of a championship would be pretty low if they just added some Carolina retreads and got bounce back years.

IMO, their biggest X factor right now is 50. IF CC isn't right, this team is in deep crap and unless Bowman can acquire a goalie, they can add whoever and it wont' matter.

I'm a Q fan, but if this team struggles and is not in a good spot come Thanksgiving, you have to fire Q, and if they miss the playoffs again.....you fire Bowman, which leads to Scotty leaving, and McDonough uploading his resume on monster.com

Hey...it would be nothing personal. It would be part of my code to make fun. Especially now knowing your wife is making you.

I think you understand 😁
- PatShart

HA.....I get it in the room for the younger guys already. All good...….

Disagree, Faulk is a possession positive player on a possession poor team: https://www.hockey-refere.../players/f/faulkju01.html

Plus Minus is crap, most people know this. Faulk has been positive in Corsi and Fenwick, which isn't easy on a team that never makes the playoffs. He's also sub 100 PDO, meaning that his puck luck is likely to improve. Before the emergence of Slavin, Pesce, Hanifin, and Fleury, Justin Faulk was looked at as one of the best young defensemen in the league on an outstanding deal.

D-men points are heavily correlated to how much first unit PP time they get. Faulk lost time to the new guys, and his value dropped. He still put up points at Even Strength. The quip about him not playing defense doesn't hold much water, he barely starts more plays in the offensive zone than the defensive zone.

Justin Faulk would be the #2 defenseman on the Hawks, possibly the #1 if he takes Keith's PP spot. I'm a gigantic Keith fan, so saying that he'd ever lose the #1 spot to anyone outside Karlsson is painful. Keith-Faulk top pairing would be scary great.
- ObeseOprah

What was crap was those plagiarized draft reports you put up 6 weeks back.
Faulk solves nothing except the pp gets a little better....and you put up with him attempting to defend.
I can watch and accept Forsling makes defensive mismatches not a guy that people want to call a top four (which is really relative to actually accepting one team top two pairs can be a whole lot less than another’s top four)
Carolina having a young stable is a strength until they start not developing which has already started there with Hayden Fleury AND Noah Hanifin a much better target for obvious reasons.
If Justin Faulk was a cog, he wouldn’t be mentioned especially with TWO years left...that not odd to you?

I would think that any drastic change to the equipment "rules" would require the approval of the PA - and (even considering the potential positive effect on head injuries by making a change) the PA seems to be very reluctant to reduce the size or specs of any of the "protective" equipment.
- StLBravesFan

And then there's this. You make a valid point, Sage. Even for their own well being sometimes some of these cavemen won't go along with changes to protect the players they represent. Nice post.

Interestingly, Merkley excels on the international stage where he has no “attitudinal” problems. The Coach and GM of the Guelph Storm has lead them consistently to poor seasons. I think Merkley doesn’t like losing and tries to do too much. As a “problem child” he won OHL Rookie of the Year as a 16 year-old. Some respected hockey people still have him higher in the First Round - how high would he be without attitudinal problems? I’m blowing by any perceived attitudinal problems and going with his high skill and skating thinking he’s a very young guy.
- Z3Hawk

Merkley in a heart beat at second first

To say the Hawks "are not close"...doesn't really apply, IMO

Theres so much parity in the league, I think the Hawks can make a few moves and get some rebound years an be back in.

Who would ever think Vegas was "close" to anything last June?

I think once they knew Crawford was done and they couldn't put any "run" together, they started playing way more of the younger guys, in and out of the lineup, 8 Dmen, etc...to get long looks and experience for players to evaluate.
- PatShart

Hawks need a Goalie, 2nd line center, top 6 winger, and at least two Top 4 defenseman...agree to disagree on how close they are...

Agree with Crawford and they need another Ray Emery type of revival from the backup

Vegas was getting that too when Fleury was out during the year, which went a long ways to vaulting them (much like Emery did in his role that one season).

I dont know if Forsberg can do that or not. It'll be interesting to see if he's here or moved as well

Then Toews should call it a day and go on LTIR. I say this respectfully. If prior concussions and the chance of further concussions are of such concern that you simply can’t play your game time to leave. I worry about Andrew Shaw too.
- Z3Hawk

Yeah, Shaw reported that he spent at least a month in bed leading up to his wedding last summer with depression and other issues. Scary business.

I agree on the young players and it's important they get NHL minutes because until they do....you don't know what you have.

Vegas was good and you're right nobody saw it coming,.....but they played a ferocious game with a great system and an all world goalie. They needed a lot to go right and I don't see how they duplicate that again this upcoming year unless they add some legit pieces.

I think the Hawks can make the playoffs, but my expectation of a championship would be pretty low if they just added some Carolina retreads and got bounce back years.

IMO, their biggest X factor right now is 50. IF CC isn't right, this team is in deep crap and unless Bowman can acquire a goalie, they can add whoever and it wont' matter.

I'm a Q fan, but if this team struggles and is not in a good spot come Thanksgiving, you have to fire Q, and if they miss the playoffs again.....you fire Bowman, which leads to Scotty leaving, and McDonough uploading his resume on monster.com

- SteveRain

After watching Vegas all year I thought once they got into a series a team could size them up, dial in on them, and beat them. Except I thought LA would. Then the Sharks. Then the Jets. Turns out the Caps smothered them. I was very impressed with Fluery up until the finals, but when the Caps started to set up for a weak side shot all the time Fleury got exposed. He wound up too far out of the net. Oh well, they put on a show all year.

And the thought of Mcd uploading a resume and then going on an interview is (frank)ing hysterical.

Wanted to comment on this earlier but didn't find the time. I think Schmaltz did this quietly under the radar, but his willingness to compete for pucks is underrated. I think he can really become a game changer for the Hawks as he develops more in the next few seasons. I've been a big supporter of his since he showed up in camp 2 years ago and impressed with his puck retrieval in his own end. I'm glad some more of the fanbase are seeing the light. Last off-season many were saying he should be expendable in trade and now the tune has changed.

He played a lot with Kane last year and deployment is a factor in this but....

5v5 GF% Kane and Schmaltz on the ice together 51.56%
Kane GF% without Schmaltz 39.29%

Even better the year before with Toews
Toews/Schmaltz at 5v5 GF 69.23% while both players were around 51-53% apart from each other.

The kid has done well playing with Kane at C or playing on Toews wing, but in a short amount of time he has become an important part of the top 6.
- breadbag

Outstanding point. If I'm not mistaken, Schmaltz led the team in takeaways.

What was crap was those plagiarized draft reports you put up 6 weeks back.
Faulk solves nothing except the pp gets a little better....and you put up with him attempting to defend.
I can watch and accept Forsling makes defensive mismatches not a guy that people want to call a top four (which is really relative to actually accepting one team top two pairs can be a whole lot less than another’s top four)
Carolina having a young stable is a strength until they start not developing which has already started there with Hayden Fleury AND Noah Hanifin a much better target for obvious reasons.
If Justin Faulk was a cog, he wouldn’t be mentioned especially with TWO years left...that not odd to you?
- wiz1901

Man you still think I plagiarized crap when I didn't. I forgot that you're the arbiter of authenticity over here. I forgot not to mention any draft observations without the blessing of the one-great-all knowing-always-pissed-off Wiz. I forgot that it was I who got banned for being a jerk and getting into territory disputes... oh wait, that was you.

News flash, you're still being a jerk wiz. I used to feel bad that you got banned for a bit, but now I kind of wish they hung your old curmudgeon a@@ out to dry longer.

You need a serious attitude adjustment. We are all losers posting on a fringe hockey site's 2005 style message board, if you think you're more than that then you should talk to a therapist.

Brian Mcgratton said the same thing you could go to war with the gear now. He said players also are more likely to use there sticks up high with wearing visors. If players had softer older type gear they wouldn't be as willing to block shots constantly and hit guys as dangerously.
- vandymeer23

That is why I say the downfall of the NHL is when it bacame mandatory to wear helmets.

Hawks need a Goalie, 2nd line center, top 6 winger, and at least two Top 4 defenseman...agree to disagree on how close they are...
- EnzoD

Not even close thats why i have said in previous post hawks need a full rebuild otherwise they will end becoming detroit or the white sox until they decided to rebuild.

2009 Kane, that's a fair assessment. Not any longer though. Kane's defensive game has improved a helluva lot since he entered the league, as he also works on the offensive side.

Can you say the same about Toews? IF so, SHOW us the stats that back it up....instead he's a 2nd line center on a cup winning team, that falls on his @ss when somebody breathes on him, and puts little work in off the ice to improve his game.


You know who else could win a faceoff and kill a penalty? Mike Eagles.
- SteveRain

88 was horrid last year on defense

Got worse once he knew they were mising the Playoffs

Does not play hard every shift or every night

Only when a chance to score points

Luvs the PP & he was a big reason the PP was terrible last year

Classic Cherry Picker who luvs all the attention

He is a great offensive talent no doubt but hardly an all around player
Has he ever blocked a shot?

Panarin made him for 2 years & last year he was right back to his old tricks

Again let him play a full year with Artie & Saad & then come back

You will puke watching him with those 2 for a FULL YEAR

A lot harder to play Center in NHL than Wing
Hence why he never plays Center to weak & only plays rat ice hockey

I would answer Oduya long term and a cap fit...the others the luxury of extra Ir Cap space late and the willingness of some of the above to stay in town on the cheap.
Some think Carolina captain IS reasonable but is he gonna say much bigger increase is necessary right after this deal is done?
The thing attractive with Trouba is he is probably going to be reasonable enough ang thriller with the prospect of big minutes w/o fighting Buff & Myers for right side tick.
Trouba is not quite down developing,and the Vegas slip ups not withstanding, he has many more desirable qualities in his own end as well. He is a tank, and has huge upside, as there is significant evidence he can play fast offensively too.
- wiz1901

Hey, I'm on your side. My comment was in response to someone asking why the Hawks would have interest in anyone from Carolina (since they haven't made the playoffs in a while). All I was saying is that you consider what the player can bring, not necessarily how his current team is doing.