In addition to Sikura and Delia being sent down to Rockford, the Hogs have made their own moves.

Released from PTOs

Forwards: Shaw Boomhower, Kevin DuFour, Sam Kurker, Mitch Maloney, Luke Sandler, Matt Schmalz, Mathew Thompson

Defensemen: Andrew DeBrincat, Robert Powers, Eric Shurhamer

Goalies: Andy Iles, Jason Pawloski.

Reassigned to Indy

Forwards: Radovan Bondra, Connor Moynihan

Defensemen: Neil Manning

The Jackets roster tonight seemed to be mostly role/fringe players and prospects. No Panarin, Atkinson, Dubois, Jenner, Foligno, or Anderson. Wennberg was the only top 6 player and Nutivaara was the only likely defenseman to be a starter for Columbus. Plus, they played their backups in Korpisalo and Berube.
- AEL_Fox

Bang On! While the Hawks did look good especially up and down quick strike transition game, let's put this in proper perspective. Not being a Debbie Downer but straight facts; along with the above add D core with likes of studs like Jones (IR) and Wrenski and of course Bobro. This Columbus team barely even looked like their AHL affiliate as they could not string 3 passes together. And yes these guys probably have not played together much. But I will take it as the Hawks gain a little confidence.

Even if not against a full "A-Squad" this has been a pretty decent tuneup game. Some of the D had a shaky start in their first pre-season game of the year, but as the rust has come off, they are looking better.

Toews seems to have his two way play going, looks like he might get some PP production and normalize his numbers.

Kane is starting to get into gear and hopefully can get back to elite scoring levels.

Saad/Schmaltz/DeBrincat not quiet clicking yet, but I don't think there is anything to panic about from any of them. Saad/DeBrincat usually score in bunches when they do, some chances are there. Schmaltz I think isn't going 100% full speed yet.

The jury is still out about Kahun being a top 9 guy in the NHL. He has shown flashes and hopefully he can keep getting more comfortable. Honestly, he looks like he pretty much replaces Hinostroza. The one thing I haven't been impressed with is his defensive game, but maybe that will come.

AA is moving better, but might need a bit of support on that 3rd line. Kunitz has been slowly improving, maybe he will go a bit better as the season starts.

The 4th line looks good, something that hasn't been the case for a couple seasons. I know a lot of fans like Wingels/Bouma/Hayden as a line, but there were kinda weak in their end.

From where we started last year, we lost Sharp, Panik, Kero, Bouma, Wingels up front. I don't particularly miss any of them.

On the blueline Kempny and Franson are gone. No big loss with either guy really.

Ward is no allstar and Forsberg is trying to find his way. Crawford being slowly brought closer to returning and that is looking to be sooner rather than later.
- breadbag

With all due respect, and the disclaimer is that that I only watched two games but Kahun has definitely earned a top 9 spot if not on Toews's line. IMHO I think Kahun, Debrincat, and Toews has looked the best and I really like Gus's offensive game especially weak-side release the pressure reads and opening up to be available in the neutral zone. He has telepathy with Kane, much like Panarin as the always looks for each other with a two-man game. HOWEVER, I just wished he engaged a bit more in the D zone...at bare minimum stay goal side and be a nuisance with stick and body. With his chemistry with Kaner, he should run PP unit #1 but either have another D with him or a very responsible forward is going with four F's on PP.

Zadina and Veleno are no longer in Wings camp.
- AEL_Fox

Wow, even on a woeful Wings team and yes they did just spank the Hawks. Zadina could have gone #2 overall!

Hawks had a chance to reinvigorate this team by canning Q last spring.

Instead, it will be ground hog day....every day....until they finally figure that out.

Please save all the player polls on Q's popularity etc...

It is time for a new voice...
- TrueGrit

Q has been coaching the Hawks years longer than any other Coach has been coaching a team. Q took over the Hawks on October 16, 2008. The longest tenured Coach after Q is Cooper with the Lightning, who was hired on March 25, 2013, which was late in that season. His first full season was 2014. So Q 5 or 6 years longer depending on how you look at it. So either ALL of the other teams in the NHL are wrong or the Hawks are wrong re: Coaches’ tenures. ALL other teams recognize the need for a new voice, a new approach.

I look at the make-up of this year’s Hawks. The “New Blood” on the bottom 6 are Kruger and Kunitz. Young forwards that I thought might have real impact, re-making the team are all in Rockford or elsewhere.

Bowman also has a role to play along with Q. An impactful signing is Kunitz? Anisimov is still with team? Q says he wants to play an up-tempo and fast game. Really? You look at the bottom 6. Are any of them going to be able to score? 4th Line may be disrupting but with little scoring. However, what is the 3rd line’s role? I don’t know. On the surface the 3rd line does not scream an up-tempo and fast game.

Hawks have to really hope that the first 2 lines and the PP score - a lot - and that Kahun excells quickly.

I'm not your typical millenial, I'm the one that tries to class up the generation.
Band- Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd (syd barrett or gilmour) I don't care. Mainly Led. I have been in a big Police and U2 mood recently.
Solo artist- Peter Gabriel. He's unmatched solo wise.
TV- Bob Newhart Show. Most recent Westworld. That's because I'm an English/book nerd. They quote Shakespeare like crazy.
Movie- Good Will Hunting. There are a lot of remote droppers, but that is my favorite.
- I Am The Breadman

Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, Dire Straits to name but a few. Gabriel as solo. Sky Blue with The Blind Boys of Alabama is one of the most powerful songs ever. Gabriel began in Genesis - remarkable. Spawned Collins solo and Mike and the Mechanics too. Canadian Artist David Usher fantastic and underappreciated. Crash Test Dummies same.

TV - first True Detective. Sinner. Misfits is fun. Movies - Too many great ones to mention all. Field of Dreams to the Godfathers. Best one lately - Hacksaw Ridge. Fun one lately - Tag (just watched). Love the Big Blockbusters too from Marvel and DC.

Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, Dire Straits to name but a few. Gabriel as solo. Sky Blue with The Blind Boys of Alabama is one of the most powerful songs ever. Gabriel began in Genesis - remarkable. Spawned Collins solo and Mike and the Mechanics too. Canadian Artist David Usher fantastic and underappreciated. Crash Test Dummies same.

TV - first True Detective. Sinner. Misfits is fun. Movies - Too many great ones to mention all. Field of Dreams to the Godfathers. Best one lately - Hacksaw Ridge. Fun one lately - Tag (just watched). Love the Big Blockbusters too from Marvel and DC.
- Z3Hawk

Was wachng some concert footage from the 70's that actually looked pretty good, wasn't super grainy, of Supper's Ready. Collins does the old stuff justice but with Gabriel's voice there is just something more raw and emotive. Steve Hackett is such a great somewhat underrated guitar player.

Sikura just sent down
- glennjpawlak22

The right move, but he'll be back up for good before Christmas.

Was wachng some concert footage from the 70's that actually looked pretty good, wasn't super grainy, of Supper's Ready. Collins does the old stuff justice but with Gabriel's voice there is just something more raw and emotive. Steve Hackett is such a great somewhat underrated guitar player.
- HawkintheD

Steve Hackett has some cool solo stuff too. His guitar solo on Genesis’s Firth of Fifth is one of the best ever. Collins has different more raspy voice, with Gabriel’s voice having a special richness. My son has loved Genesis since he was in single digits.

Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, Dire Straits to name but a few. Gabriel as solo. Sky Blue with The Blind Boys of Alabama is one of the most powerful songs ever. Gabriel began in Genesis - remarkable. Spawned Collins solo and Mike and the Mechanics too. Canadian Artist David Usher fantastic and underappreciated. Crash Test Dummies same.

TV - first True Detective. Sinner. Misfits is fun. Movies - Too many great ones to mention all. Field of Dreams to the Godfathers. Best one lately - Hacksaw Ridge. Fun one lately - Tag (just watched). Love the Big Blockbusters too from Marvel and DC.
- Z3Hawk

So many things. Mike + the mechanics needed Paul Carrack from Ace. Great voice. Amazing documentary on Genesis called sum of the parts. Recommend it to any die hard Genesis fan. D.S. Making Movies and Brother in Arms. Alchemy is one of my favorite live cds, Strangers in the night-UFO wins that honor. Yes is great.

Only liked the first season of T. D. Second one didn't care for. Godfather is an amazing book also. One flew over the Cuckoo's nest great book and movie. Hacksaw ridge was amazing. Field of dreams, are you kidding, total classic!! Superheroes are good.

Some remote droppers for me are Dazed and Confused, Way way back, Kings of Summer, and Mrs. Doubtfire.

With all due respect, and the disclaimer is that that I only watched two games but Kahun has definitely earned a top 9 spot if not on Toews's line. IMHO I think Kahun, Debrincat, and Toews has looked the best and I really like Gus's offensive game especially weak-side release the pressure reads and opening up to be available in the neutral zone. He has telepathy with Kane, much like Panarin as the always looks for each other with a two-man game. HOWEVER, I just wished he engaged a bit more in the D zone...at bare minimum stay goal side and be a nuisance with stick and body. With his chemistry with Kaner, he should run PP unit #1 but either have another D with him or a very responsible forward is going with four F's on PP.
- D2D

I agree with you on everything you're saying. Kahun has earned the spot he has right now. I just am not sold yet that he will stick long term. The last couple games he hasn't gotten the puck on his stick as much and I feel like his game away from the puck needs more work. When he has the puck, he does have skill to make some nice plays.

I might be nit picky but here is an example of where I think he could be better.

First Frame: He was the first forward back with Keith and Joki.


Second Frame: He gets to a spot where I think he needs to hold up and realize that he is the only one near the front of the net.


Third Frame: Joki was cancelled out on a puck he should have had. Keith was on the wrong side of his check (I think he expected the puck to be chipped over his direction along the boards) and Kahun chases Ryan behind the net. Leaves the front of the goal open.


Duchene ends up scoring right in front. Not saying this goal was on Kahun, because Joki messed up, but I think Kahun needs to realize he shouldn't chase behind his own net when both Dmen are already effectively deep or not near the net. I've seen a few times in the last 3 games where I feel like he doesn't know what to do defensively below the dots. Probably still learning the Hawks systems, but to me his game needs to continue to grow to be a long term part of the Hawks top 6 or 9. If he can maintain some of what he did in those first few preseason games, I think he will be decent.

In addition to Sikura and Delia being sent down to Rockford, the Hogs have made their own moves.

Released from PTOs

Forwards: Shaw Boomhower, Kevin DuFour, Sam Kurker, Mitch Maloney, Luke Sandler, Matt Schmalz, Mathew Thompson

Defensemen: Andrew DeBrincat, Robert Powers, Eric Shurhamer

Goalies: Andy Iles, Jason Pawloski.

Reassigned to Indy

Forwards: Radovan Bondra, Connor Moynihan

Defensemen: Neil Manning
- AEL_Fox

Glad they are keeping Moynihan around. The rest, meh.

On another note, I just noticed that Chris Kuc is gone to Washington and is writing for the Caps. I am going to miss him.

So many things. Mike + the mechanics needed Paul Carrack from Ace. Great voice. Amazing documentary on Genesis called sum of the parts. Recommend it to any die hard Genesis fan. D.S. Making Movies and Brother in Arms. Alchemy is one of my favorite live cds, Strangers in the night-UFO wins that honor. Yes is great.

Only liked the first season of T. D. Second one didn't care for. Godfather is an amazing book also. One flew over the Cuckoo's nest great book and movie. Hacksaw ridge was amazing. Field of dreams, are you kidding, total classic!! Superheroes are good.

Some remote droppers for me are Dazed and Confused, Way way back, and Mrs. Doubtfire.
- I Am The Breadman

It was amazing. Great to see the lineup that made them famous all in the same room. Would have been amazing to see that lineup together live. By the time I started going to shows, Gabriel and Hackett were gone, but the other three with Chester Thompson and Daryl Stuermer were still a force live.

They should have called it quits after Abacab or the self titled album after. Sadly, they released Invisible Touch and We Can't Dance but most of the rest of their stuff is solid.

For live albums, it's a tossup between Strangers in the Night and Seconds Out, for me anyway.

I wonder who picked the 3 stars for the game because when I saw Schmaltz sitting on the boards for the announcements, my first reaction was "What?".

That $6M figure being tossed around for him better not happen unless a lot of things change in his game. There are players better than him signing for less than that with other clubs.

4-1 on the pk. Ward seems to have been better this game
- I Am The Breadman

Only facing 17 shots may have helped. Very few quality shots.

Bang On! While the Hawks did look good especially up and down quick strike transition game, let's put this in proper perspective. Not being a Debbie Downer but straight facts; along with the above add D core with likes of studs like Jones (IR) and Wrenski and of course Bobro. This Columbus team barely even looked like their AHL affiliate as they could not string 3 passes together. And yes these guys probably have not played together much. But I will take it as the Hawks gain a little confidence.
- D2D

True. Just like I wouldn't get too up or down in regard to any of the other games as they were all pre-season.

I remember someone on these boards posted a picture of the Hawks 2018 lottery ball about to go into the chute to claim the #1 pick but then another team's ball knocked it away at the last second. Classic bad luck.
- AEL_Fox

That is because it was a Hawks smurf ping pong ball...

Only facing 17 shots may have helped. Very few quality shots.
- walleyeb1

Didn't he give up 4 in 15 his first game? Some were really nice shots. Hopefully he isn't a bust.

It was amazing. Great to see the lineup that made them famous all in the same room. Would have been amazing to see that lineup together live. By the time I started going to shows, Gabriel and Hackett were gone, but the other three with Chester Thompson and Daryl Stuermer were still a force live.

They should have called it quits after Abacab or the self titled album after. Sadly, they released Invisible Touch and We Can't Dance but most of the rest of their stuff is solid.

For live albums, it's a tossup between Strangers in the Night and Seconds Out, for me anyway.
- HawkintheD

I didn't get to grow up in the radio killing days, I wouldn't like as much as I do today. I love Invisible Touch, Domino is the best song on that album.

I think Metallica's performance with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra is up there too. Interesting idea for music. They weren't the first to mix the two, but they do it the best. Deep Purple did a show with an orchestra. Jon Lord put the whole thing together and did all of the music. There's so many great live albums, though. Live you get what you play for REO and Stop Making Sense is a visual masterpiece.

With all due respect, and the disclaimer is that that I only watched two games but Kahun has definitely earned a top 9 spot if not on Toews's line. IMHO I think Kahun, Debrincat, and Toews has looked the best and I really like Gus's offensive game especially weak-side release the pressure reads and opening up to be available in the neutral zone. He has telepathy with Kane, much like Panarin as the always looks for each other with a two-man game. HOWEVER, I just wished he engaged a bit more in the D zone...at bare minimum stay goal side and be a nuisance with stick and body. With his chemistry with Kaner, he should run PP unit #1 but either have another D with him or a very responsible forward is going with four F's on PP.
- D2D

It should be considered to just convert Gustafasson to a winger already given how bad his defense is. He'd be electric with Kane as long as he played LW and they had a responsible center.

Then replace Gustafsson on D with Forsling once he recovers. Dahlstrom in the meantime.

It should be considered to just convert Gustafasson to a winger already given how bad his defense is. He'd be electric with Kane as long as he played LW and they had a responsible center.

Then replace Gustafsson on D with Forsling once he recovers.
- AEL_Fox

I second that notion.

My all time top five favorite Blackhawks, (note not the top five players) just my favorites over the years:

Stan Mikita
Glenn Hall
Duncan Keith
Pierre Pilote
Bobby Hull

Q has been coaching the Hawks years longer than any other Coach has been coaching a team. Q took over the Hawks on October 16, 2008. The longest tenured Coach after Q is Cooper with the Lightning, who was hired on March 25, 2013, which was late in that season. His first full season was 2014. So Q 5 or 6 years longer depending on how you look at it. So either ALL of the other teams in the NHL are wrong or the Hawks are wrong re: Coaches’ tenures. ALL other teams recognize the need for a new voice, a new approach.

I look at the make-up of this year’s Hawks. The “New Blood” on the bottom 6 are Kruger and Kunitz. Young forwards that I thought might have real impact, re-making the team are all in Rockford or elsewhere.

Bowman also has a role to play along with Q. An impactful signing is Kunitz? Anisimov is still with team? Q says he wants to play an up-tempo and fast game. Really? You look at the bottom 6. Are any of them going to be able to score? 4th Line may be disrupting but with little scoring. However, what is the 3rd line’s role? I don’t know. On the surface the 3rd line does not scream an up-tempo and fast game.

Hawks have to really hope that the first 2 lines and the PP score - a lot - and that Kahun excells quickly.
- Z3Hawk

Many make great cases for Q, I respect that. I just look at the Pittsburg model. I know there are no gaurantees that the next coach catches lightning in a bottle, but a fresh face would end the presence of the living in the past elephant in the room.

Its as if Glory days is subliminally being played...For Q's core, nothing really changes. They all have anointed positions...

Side note, Kane has truly proven himself to be a cut above. My appreciation for him grows year after year. A true superstar.

The Flames places Curtis Lazar on waivers. He’d be a reclaimation project but I think he’s worth a shot. I’d rather give Lazar a shot than Martinsen. I wouldn’t expect much from Lazar, maybe a decent 4th liner.

The right move, but he'll be back up for good before Christmas.
- DarthKane

Could it be to replace Kunitz? How long do they keep him in the lineup if he does not contribute?