We need to re-sign Schmaltz. You do not let players like him go. My biggest fear though is that Bowman will over-pay him. If the team is losing, Bowman needs to play hardball with RFA's as I see other teams doing.
- 67hawks

Stan didn't inherit his daddy's nerve or spine. I see an overpayment on the rise.

I felt that the defense got better as the night when on, including Ruuta.

Kane looked like he was dealing with something (maybe coming down with the flu, since it is going around the team?). He just didn't look like his usual self.

Toews had his best game since winning the cup in 2015, I felt. Let his resurgence begin!!

I felt that the defense got better as the night when on, including Ruuta.

Kane looked like he was dealing with something (maybe coming down with the flu, since it is going around the team?). He just didn't look like his usual self.

Toews had his best game since winning the cup in 2015, I felt. Let his resurgence begin!!
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I said it yesterday and will say it again, Toews felt a large amount of weight on his shoulders. One was bearing the C and the other had 21 on it. He can feel the pressure.

Hopefully, Kane just has a bug, nothing more and nothing that carries into the rest of the season.

I said it yesterday and will say it again, Toews felt a large amount of weight on his shoulders. One was bearing the C and the other had 21 on it. He can feel the pressure.

Hopefully, Kane just has a bug, nothing more and nothing that carries into the rest of the season.
- I Am The Breadman

Kane is by FAR least of our worries

A win is great, but we had to come from behind against maybe the worst if not one of the worst teams in the NHL.

Glad I’m not the only one who thought Kane looked disinterested until the third period and OT. Uncharacteristic turnovers. His linemates looked bad. Edzo called out Schmaltz on one of the plays when he held up and lost possession of the puck. Saad still looks like he’s having confidence issues. There were a few times where he should have just shot the puck.

I did like Jokiharju’s play.

Would you guys say not noticing Manning and Davidson is a win for both of those guys?

Smaltz - Great hair though

Anyone criticizing Kane over last night needs a dose of reality.

Kane pretty much single handedly kept Chicago competitive in games the last two seasons among the skaters. Have Kane producing sub 60 points every year and Chicago is easily the worst team in the league. Kane stirs the drink and creates opportunities for others even when he isnt skating.

A win is great, but we had to come from behind against maybe the worst if not one of the worst teams in the NHL.

Glad I’m not the only one who thought Kane looked disinterested until the third period and OT. Uncharacteristic turnovers. His linemates looked bad. Edzo called out Schmaltz on one of the plays when he held up and lost possession of the puck. Saad still looks like he’s having confidence issues. There were a few times where he should have just shot the puck.

I did like Jokiharju’s play.

Would you guys say not noticing Manning and Davidson is a win for both of those guys?
- Popsghostly

Seeing as he wasn't in the lineup, I would hope he would be unnoticeable!

Anyone criticizing Kane over last night needs a dose of reality.

Kane pretty much single handedly kept Chicago competitive in games the last two seasons among the skaters. Have Kane producing sub 60 points every year and Chicago is easily the worst team in the league. Kane stirs the drink and creates opportunities for others even when he isnt skating.
- Stan_Bowman

Last night's game has nothing to do with what Kane did previously.

Kane did not play well last night. He had several brutal turnovers that led to scoring chances the other way. He also made some nice plays in the 3rd period and OT to help turn the tide.

But he is not beyond criticism.

A did not get to see the game ,but was glad HAWKS got the win .Sounds Like Q has not changed the recipe much if at all ,and that is a recipe for disaster IMO .We will no much more after the next two games .. GO HAWKS !!!!!!!!!

Anyone criticizing Kane over last night needs a dose of reality.

Kane pretty much single handedly kept Chicago competitive in games the last two seasons among the skaters. Have Kane producing sub 60 points every year and Chicago is easily the worst team in the league. Kane stirs the drink and creates opportunities for others even when he isnt skating.
- Stan_Bowman

Yes, but he had a really bad night, making a bunch of turnovers, and not covering the pinching D men. I think he was coming down with the bug that has been going around, or at least I hope that is what it was...

Seeing as he wasn't in the lineup, I would hope he would be unnoticeable!


- ToewsdNKanefusd

Ha ha. Definitely makes Davidson not noticeable. I didn't see him all last night. He was really sheltered then. Wonder if he'll get time...

8 is a joke. He might have some skill as a winger, but he has no business at the Center position. And he is comically soft. You can tell he is afraid to go into traffic. We don't need another one of those types. DO NOT resign him. I'm sure he will somehow put up 20 goals and want his new 5x5 contract. No thanks. He needs to go.
- z1990z

Agreed. Get rid of him now while we can. He's way too soft. I was super high on him ever since the WJC tourney he was in...but he refuses to take a hit to make the play. You learn that in peewee. And I've been a broken record with everyone I know about this...kid refuses to shoot the puck. Passes when he should shoot every darn time. I'm over him. Get something while we can or Stan will overpay and we'll be stuck again. He's a great skater but what good is that if you don't go to the net, shoot or go to the dirty areas. Edzo called him out several times.

-Henri and Kahun for their first games were good. Two solid young players
-Ward was good enogh
-Martineson and his 6 minutes are a joke in the regular season. He was losing ice time as the game went on. Provides zero, put Hayden in there.
-Luke Johnson struggled early but played much better as the game went on.
-Passing was comically bad
-Rutta is paid how much
-Toews is back? Seabrook wasn't that bad either, will better teams expose him? I still don't see much quickness, but last night was certainly workable
-This defense is still a dumpster fire I think. Toronto may scored 7 or 8 goals.
-Ottawa is one of the absolute worst teams in hockey. The honeymoon is over this weekend. Go Hawks.

I felt that the defense got better as the night when on, including Ruuta.

Kane looked like he was dealing with something (maybe coming down with the flu, since it is going around the team?). He just didn't look like his usual self.

Toews had his best game since winning the cup in 2015, I felt. Let his resurgence begin!!
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Not only did Toews look faster, but did you notice that he looked stronger too? Several times he physically knocked people off the puck.

Yes, but he had a really bad night, making a bunch of turnovers, and not covering the pinching D men. I think he was coming down with the bug that has been going around, or at least I hope that is what it was...
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Or maybe he is going on year 3 of busting his butt all offseason becoming a better, more dangerous player every year and he's getting sick of a team surrounding him not doing the same? Kane was constantly practicing and playing in pickup leagues every summer, played in worlds this year, first one on, last one off, etc

Toews was clearly not doing the same and he is the "captain" and frankly some of his offseason remarks in recent years are disappointing, so im not lauding his comeback tour after opening night against the easiest team on the schedule.

Yes Kane is prone to bad or disinterested nights, but 85% of the games the last couple of years he looked like the only one trying to win games out there, so he gets a concession for a few games IMO.

Toews doesnt get to wipe a 2-3 year slate clean after one good game against a very bad team. Yea, Toews has been real good at pumping his production back up the last 30-40% of the season when Chicago was basically falling by the wayside in terms of playoff standings, but the hole was already dug at that point

Not only did Toews look faster, but did you notice that he looked stronger too? Several times he physically knocked people off the puck.
- 67hawks

I did notice that, especially against the boards, he was actually protecting the puck and staying on his feet!!

Not only did Toews look faster, but did you notice that he looked stronger too? Several times he physically knocked people off the puck.
- 67hawks

He actually looked like he was trying to separate from defenders finally, something he avoided the last couple years where he would just give up and dump the puck off to the point or shield it on the wall waiting for support instead of keeping his feet moving

Or maybe he is going on year 3 of busting his butt all offseason becoming a better, more dangerous player every year and he's getting sick of a team surrounding him not doing the same? Kane was constantly practicing and playing in pickup leagues every summer, played in worlds this year, first one on, last one off, etc

Toews was clearly not doing the same and he is the "captain" and frankly some of his offseason remarks in recent years are disappointing, so im not lauding his comeback tour after opening night against the easiest team on the schedule.

Yes Kane is prone to bad or disinterested nights, but 85% of the games the last couple of years he looked like the only one trying to win games out there, so he gets a concession for a few games IMO.

Toews doesnt get to wipe a 2-3 year slate clean after one good game against a very bad team. Yea, Toews has been real good at pumping his production back up the last 30-40% of the season when Chicago was basically falling by the wayside in terms of playoff standings, but the hole was already dug at that point
- Stan_Bowman

I get the whole small sample size thing, but the things Toews was doing well were the things last year that everyone was complaining about (speed, strength on the boards and protecting the puck). So that is very promising, even if it is only one game. Speed and strength aren't just suddenly going to go away.

And I am giving Kane the benefit of the doubt with his poor play last night, as I said that it looked like he may be sick or something, as he just looked off, and not completely engaged. He still had a bad game last night regardless. No one is saying he is the worst player on the team and should be jettisoned. In fact, I think everyone would agree that he most likely comes back strong next game, especially if it is just a bug.

I bet when Schmaltz is playing Xbox, he plays a no contact game.

-Henri and Kahun for their first games were good. Two solid young players
-Ward was good enogh
-Martineson and his 6 minutes are a joke in the regular season. He was losing ice time as the game went on. Provides zero, put Hayden in there.
-Luke Johnson struggled early but played much better as the game went on.
-Passing was comically bad
-Rutta is paid how much
-Toews is back? Seabrook wasn't that bad either, will better teams expose him? I still don't see much quickness, but last night was certainly workable
-This defense is still a dumpster fire I think. Toronto may scored 7 or 8 goals.
-Ottawa is one of the absolute worst teams in hockey. The honeymoon is over this weekend. Go Hawks.
- kwolf68

Hayden brings zero also. So it doesn't mater which one ays.

Or maybe he is going on year 3 of busting his butt all offseason becoming a better, more dangerous player every year and he's getting sick of a team surrounding him not doing the same? Kane was constantly practicing and playing in pickup leagues every summer, played in worlds this year, first one on, last one off, etc

Toews was clearly not doing the same and he is the "captain" and frankly some of his offseason remarks in recent years are disappointing, so im not lauding his comeback tour after opening night against the easiest team on the schedule.

Yes Kane is prone to bad or disinterested nights, but 85% of the games the last couple of years he looked like the only one trying to win games out there, so he gets a concession for a few games IMO.

Toews doesnt get to wipe a 2-3 year slate clean after one good game against a very bad team. Yea, Toews has been real good at pumping his production back up the last 30-40% of the season when Chicago was basically falling by the wayside in terms of playoff standings, but the hole was already dug at that point
- Stan_Bowman

You have no idea what Toews or any of these players actually do in the offseason. Maybe Kane was hungover? See how dumb that sounds. Same as you claiming to know what any of these guys do in terms of training.

-Henri and Kahun for their first games were good. Two solid young players
-Ward was good enogh
-Martineson and his 6 minutes are a joke in the regular season. He was losing ice time as the game went on. Provides zero, put Hayden in there.
-Luke Johnson struggled early but played much better as the game went on.
-Passing was comically bad
-Rutta is paid how much
-Toews is back? Seabrook wasn't that bad either, will better teams expose him? I still don't see much quickness, but last night was certainly workable
-This defense is still a dumpster fire I think. Toronto may scored 7 or 8 goals.
-Ottawa is one of the absolute worst teams in hockey. The honeymoon is over this weekend. Go Hawks.
- kwolf68

What would you say if Hayden played 6 minutes and was stapled to the bench (when they were down a goal and double shifting Kane to try and tie it up) in the 3rd. He would be put in the exact same situation as Martinsen. He was on the bubble to make the team out of camp. Can we please stop making him the next Bickell?

Ottawa is not going to lose every game. Yes, they traded away a lot of talent, but the have an above average goalie and some really strong players remaining. There is plenty to be concerned about without extrapolating conclusions from one data point (not to mention it is the first game of the year).

You have no idea what Toews or any of these players actually do in the offseason. Maybe Kane was hungover? See how dumb that sounds. Same as you claiming to know what any of these guys do in terms of training.
- GPHawksfan

Already back to head in the sand you go.

Its pretty well publicly documented how much Kane does in the offseason. Toews also is pretty actively documenting his summer travels with his girlfriend that clearly shows he isnt doing much hockey training in places like Maccu Pichu.

And I get it, players are allowed to have time off and go on vacations, but where does the onus and responsibility fall on the captain to do more when he is the highest paid player in the league coming off bad seasons?

And least Kane shows how hungry he is to get better instead of just sounding off about it. And Toews was the one skipping blackhawks conventions for unknown reasons in recent years, not Kane

Wifey got us tickets to tomorrow night versus the Blues. We are guaranteed at least one beer bath, what wearing 'Hawk regalia (I'm 10 for 10 lifetime in that regard).

I'll be eyeballing Kane to see how he does....if he was under the weather last night, he should hopefully be feeling better by tomorrow. Or is it being paired with Saad and Schmaltz? I was so impressed with Schmaltz's backcheck last year...he must do that continually like a madman AND shoot more to earn his keep in the NHL. And Saad is so past due for his numbers to rebound it's not funny.

Also gonna eyeball Kahun, looks like he's adjusting very quickly to the North American ice surface. Which is a very good thing for us.

And Joki, could his being paired with Keith rejuvenate #2? The better Joki goes, the better the 'Hawks go.