I am hoping that last night's snoozer was just as non-representative of what to expect during the season as the barn-burner against Detroit the other night. The truth about this team is somewhere in the middle (probably left of the middle if the left = not a great team and right = Stanley Cup Contender).

Saad and Sikura looked off for sure. The D looked reasonable (then again this is Ottawa, although they have legitimate offensive players in Duchene, Stone, and Ryan. Only Duchene was noticable.) I also the team looked "off" without Kane out there (and I recognize that the coaches did it to make sure that Sikura and Hayden got time to play--Hayden was better.)

I like what Toews and Debrincat are doing. The Cat's goals will come eventually. I still think Hayden should be on that line, but maybe Kahun really compliments Toews and Debrincat better (I am not really sure.)

Columbus should be more of a test. I would not be surprised if the Sikura-Hayden-Johnson-Kampf discussion (if there still is one after today) will not be settled until Saturday. Why rush when you can have one more data point?

Go Jets!
- tvetter

He has been moved to RW those games also since Kunitz is playing the LW. I saw Saad several times drifting over to the other side either from simple habit or because Kunitz was nowhere to be found. But yes, Saad has not looked good.
- Rota's Rooter

I didn't consider that change of sides for him. I think there will still be some shuffling happening and it wouldn't surprise me if Kahun drops down and Saad slides up to LW next to Toews again. Last night, I thought Kahun was only "okay" but didn't get the puck on his stick enough to make any plays.

Kunitz, while he hasn't done much in the pre-season at least looked like he was moving a bit better last night. The re-direct he got on Keith's shot was very similar to how he has scored a lot of his goals in recent seasons, and I think that is where he started to show some value. I'm just wondering if he has enough in the tank to not drag his linemates down in the process.

Looks like Hayden is making a stronger case to stay with the Hawks than Sikura.
- DarthKane

As much it pains me as I have been touting Sikura all along, I agree 100%. Sikura needs to feast on the Hogs and put up the points and get his confidence back. He will be called up in the near future.

I think Hayden earned a roster spot. Sikura, I'm calling it now, on the slow boat to Rockford in the morning. Johnson not noticeable. Maybe he stays, but will be under the microscope if he does. I want him to stay, but might not.

I know we joked today about waiving Kane, Saad might be playing to get waived. I don't want to put too much credence in preseason, but his nickname is vacuum because he sucks and blows.

Just read your posts Aushawk and DK, great minds think alike.
- I Am The Breadman

100% agreed! I posted on Sikura already but now on Saad. He looks absolutely lost out there. He doesn't know what to do with or without the puck. He is totally lacking confidence. Saad is not showing well not being on the top 6. I really do think he will find/re-discover himself if he ever gets back on the top 6 BUT if has to get better, no doubt.

Oh my! Outplayed by Ottawa - let that sink in.

Apparently Saad left his hands in Columbus.

Paging Dylan Sikura - the bus for Rockford is leaving - please make sure you're on it.

Kunitz - why?

Joki - not seeing it. Hopefully there's more, lots more.

When Manning plays better than the other 5 d-men ... nuff said on that.

Schmaltz - avoiding contact to not make a play - more than once.

Positives - Hayden, Toews, DeBrincat, Martinsen.

By the way - did the Hawks win a faceoff tonight?
- EbonyRaptor

You are spot on! I thought Debrincat was the best Hawk last night and that's not good as he should not be dominant other than putting the puck in the net. He is showing great vision and play-making in the O zone.

Gus has shown a great reliability to alleviate the pressure by opening up weakside through the neutral zone being a nice outlet. However, he needs to have better puck management in the D zone. And we are all aware of his D zone deficiencies.

I was at the game last night. Aside from brief moments in the first period, they looked bad. They looked noticeably bad.

Who looked better: Manning, not hard to improve from 'awful'
Forsberg, he looked solid despite chaos breaking out anytime someone got the puck in the slot
Toews, he still looks better than last year so far
Schmaltz, easily their best player last night. Multiple takeaways and did well driving play towards Ottawa's end.

Who looked worse: Kahun, not every preseason game can be an audition tape. I'm still holding out some hope for him, but likely he is this year's Kampf. I'm really hoping he can be an above average middle 6 guy but until I see him pushing possession towards the opponent end...
Jokiharju, he's young but he definitely looked worse than our first glimpses. Q took him off the toothless powerplay, but at that point it didn't matter because we couldn't even get the puck in the offensive zone.

For a team built around puck possession and play control, they sure did a terrible job of it last night. I could probably count on two hands the number of times they established sustained pressure on Ottawa. This is against Ottawa, the front runner for 'worst team in the league'. There are too many slow players on the team (Anisimov, Seabrook, Rutta, Manning, Kunitz), and too many players who either won't win a one-on-one battle for a puck or come close to maintaining possession through traffic (Debrincat, Sikura, Anisimov, Jokiharju, Manning, Kruger, the entire 4th line). One of the key reasons the Hawks won so many games in the last ten years was because of dominant possession, other teams could get the puck but they'd at best get a crappy dump in and relinquish control soon after. Our players knew where to be in lanes, along the boards, and between the skater and the goalie to disrupt the opposing team as much as possible. You could watch the team perform like a work of art, because nearly every decision made on the ice was 'the right one' so to speak.

This team just isn't nearly as hard to play against as it should be. There's too much 'could be good if everything goes right' talent: Saad, Debrincat, Rutta, Gustafsson, Manning, Kahun, etc.

We need players who drive the game toward the other net, and I don't think we have many players who do that aside from Toews, Kane, Keith, and recently Schmaltz.

A lot of things could still happen, and I love this team either way, but I think it looks like a long season ahead.

Line Up based on Pre-season play thus far:

Kahun / Toews / Debrincat
Schmaltz / Anisimov / Kane
Saad / Kampf / Hayden Ouch! Ouch!
Martinsen / Kruger / Kunitz Ouch!

Rutta / Keith
Seabs / Gus
Jok / Manning

Forsberg

Folks, this is downright ugly. This transition year will be brutal but let the kids play, learn and develop, whether in Rockford / Hawks.

Knew since last year this would be coming, some bad years lay ahead. Still too much cap tied up in few players who are the down side of careers. Al tough we talk our prospects up but by most were considered to be on the low rungs of quality prospects . Hopefully a few high drafts will get us moving in the right direction. Sucks but I will still be cheering but hoping we land Hughes
- HamiltonHawk

The upside is that anyone from here on in will actually have to earn a fat contract and not achieve it on the backsides of others or upon the successes of the team in general.

I like DeBrincat's "IQ", shot and willingness to go to tough spots. However, he's not better than an average skater and would probably not be playing in a Top 6 on a contending team. The fact that's he's on the top line at this stage of his career should tell something about the state of the Hawks.

Unless Kunitz is a GREAT locker room guy, he doesn't belong on the team. I (used to) love his game, but he can't skate and looks like a guy who's 2 steps behind everyone on the ice.

The Kruger/Hayden/Martinsen line won't put up many points, but they're my favorite to watch.

I like DeBrincat's "IQ", shot and willingness to go to tough spots. However, he's not better than an average skater and would probably not be playing in a Top 6 on a contending team. The fact that's he's on the top line at this stage of his career should tell something about the state of the Hawks.

Unless Kunitz is a GREAT locker room guy, he doesn't belong on the team. I (used to) love his game, but he can't skate and looks like a guy who's 2 steps behind everyone on the ice.

The Kruger/Hayden/Martinsen line won't put up many points, but they're my favorite to watch.
- phantasmo

I like that Debrincat hits and takes on people that are 2 of him. I liked last year when he was all over Reaves (when he started in Pitt.)
Martinsen and Hayden were plastering Sens to the boards. It was a welcome sight.

- bogiedoc

And when he isn't making faces at the camera, he's manhandling guys, if you're Minnesota or Nashville, two at a time.

The upside is that anyone from here on in will actually have to earn a fat contract and not achieve it on the backsides of others or upon the successes of the team in general.
- 67hawks

This is a really interesting year for Schmaltz. His offensive talents are immense and willingness to backcheck is near tops for this team, but how effective can he be if he's allergic to contact and overpowered by all other C's in the league? He's somewhat easy to defend as a C, maybe why he's getting sometime at wing.

And when he isn't making faces at the camera, he's manhandling guys, if you're Minnesota or Nashville, two at a time.
- I Am The Breadman

He got his pocket picked pretty badly the other night vs Minnesota about 3 feet in front of his net. I like Buffy, but I think age is gonna start to be a factor in his game.

Not looking good. And WTH is up with Saad? Geezus. We thought last year was bad. This year could be worse. Stan and Q gone by January. You wont have a choice. Stan's off season was brutal this year and Q still wants to run the same system with a team that can't run it. Not his fault, but if he does not change up to make up for this dreadful roster then......


- z1990z

I said at the time he was traded back here that I thought he wasn’t thrilled about it. Still don’t think he’s happy being here, regardless of the face he puts on it.

Re: Saad, expectations of him being a 60+ point player are warranted by his contract but probably not by his abilities or prospective linemates this year. I think his game is suited for disrupting things defensively (which he did several shifts last night). Keep in mind he was paired with a sub-par lineup of smurf Johnson (whose game I like but is slow) and Kunitz....the newest three wheeled shopping cart.

If Q wants to have four lines that can kinda-sorta compete, he has to spread the wealth with his best forwards (Toews, Kane, Saad) and hope someone surprises.

Re: Saad, expectations of him being a 60+ point player are warranted by his contract but probably not by his abilities or prospective linemates this year. I think his game is suited for disrupting things defensively (which he did several shifts last night). Keep in mind he was paired with a sub-par lineup of smurf Johnson (whose game I like but is slow) and Kunitz....the newest three wheeled shopping cart.

If Q wants to have four lines that can kinda-sorta compete, he has to spread the wealth with his best forwards (Toews, Kane, Saad) and hope someone surprises.
- phantasmo

I agree, although I'm not opposed to stacking a line the way that Colorado or Calgary does. This would be either Saad-Schmaltz-Kane or Saad-Toews-Kane. You'd still have Debrincat and either Schmaltz or Toews to hopefully drive another line. This team needs more speed, and Kunitz and Anisimov are going to be victimized all year. I'd trade Anisimov the first chance I get if he'd waive his no-trade.

I agree, although I'm not opposed to stacking a line the way that Colorado or Calgary does. This would be either Saad-Schmaltz-Kane or Saad-Toews-Kane. You'd still have Debrincat and either Schmaltz or Toews to hopefully drive another line. This team needs more speed, and Kunitz and Anisimov are going to be victimized all year. I'd trade Anisimov the first chance I get if he'd waive his no-trade.
- ObeseOprah

Actually he has a Modified NTC: Starting 2018-19, Lists 10 teams that he can traded to.

I said at the time he was traded back here that I thought he wasn’t thrilled about it. Still don’t think he’s happy being here, regardless of the face he puts on it.
- walleyeb1

Exactly my read on it. And, who can blame him if he was told repeatedly upon returning that he was brought back to help Toews?

I agree, although I'm not opposed to stacking a line the way that Colorado or Calgary does. This would be either Saad-Schmaltz-Kane or Saad-Toews-Kane. You'd still have Debrincat and either Schmaltz or Toews to hopefully drive another line. This team needs more speed, and Kunitz and Anisimov are going to be victimized all year. I'd trade Anisimov the first chance I get if he'd waive his no-trade.
- ObeseOprah

Only if Stan has plan to replace Anisimov. The team is already short in their top 9, why make the situation worse?

More speed is good, but Anisimov is still a serviceable forward and will push for 20 goals. I do believe AA will be traded, but not until next summer after his cash bonus is paid and his NTC expires. He would be a perfect fit for Ottawa, especially if they lose Duchene and/or Stone to free agency.

Only if Stan has plan to replace Anisimov. The team is already short in their top 9, why make the situation worse?

More speed is good, but Anisimov is still a serviceable forward and will push for 20 goals. I do believe AA will be traded, but not until next summer after his cash bonus is paid and his NTC expires. He would be a perfect fit for Ottawa, especially if they lose Duchene and/or Stone to free agency.
- DarthKane

He's also one of the few Blackhawks who can effectively go to the net - or will.

*NEW* blog up: https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=94996

We can only hope that these pre-season games are being played exclusively to put the wannabes in the best position to evaluate their talents, while not exposing the core and veteran guys to undue injuries at this time.

That could go a long way to explaining the seemingly universal lethargy out there from some of the NHL ready group.

If Manning brings his game from last night to the regular season every night that is something to be VERY happy about. Just to see a guy make forwards earn their spot in front of the crease was refreshing.

While Toews and ADB seem to have some chemistry, and Toews was "around the net" more, it is still hard to escape the fact that neither of them are board battlers, and as such, the lack of physical play on that line still resulted in short offensive zone time - unless they reverted to the perimeter game. Not having Toews be the unmoveable, low center of gravity, dirty area warrior changes the landscape of that line entirely. If he can;t be that guy then they need someone who can be, which sadly I do not see anywhere on the current roster.

Schmaltz's game has some positives to it (backchecking in particular), but again this theme of not being tough on the body or the puck comes back to haunt his line too. AA, while possessing the grit and willingness to go to the dirty areas, slows 8 and 88 down just enough to mitigate much of the speed advantage they can bring. Was hard to watch Duchene last night and not wish we had a guy with his toolbox to play on that line.

I really liked the Hayden Kruger Martinsen line. Drove possession and were a general PITA for OTT.

Kunitz. Done. Waste of a roster space.

Saad. WTF?

Defense will be Keith, Seabrook, Gustafsson, Manning, Ruuta and Davidson. Maybe Joki is the #7 that gets some spot starts. Just don't see Q loading up too much with rookies on the D.

Forsberg. A quandry I tell ya. Shows flashes of polish to his game and then loses the net and/or sight of the puck way too often. Let's hope that more games bring more improvement.