It's the drill Sgt from that Geico commercial that says, "Why don't you chug on over to mamby pamby land, where maybe we can find some self-confidence for you, you jackwagon." Then he throws the tissue box at the guy and calls him a crybaby.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?
- I Am The Breadman

I sort of remember that Geico commercial. When I think of a drill sergeant, I tend to think of the one ordering Forrest Gump around. Or the General cartoon character selling car insurance when watching late night TV.

It's really shocking when looking at that that the Hawks are 2-0-1.
- Justin Lowe

Since their Goal For comparables are 15 in 89 shots = 14.4%, making their PDO 98.6 - 2-0-1 becomes not as shocking.

I sort of remember that Geico commercial. When I think of a drill sergeant, I tend to think of the one ordering Forrest Gump around. Or the General cartoon character selling car insurance when watching late night TV.
- AEL_Fox

Full Metal Jacket’s R. Lee Ermey (RIP)

Ward's save % is awful. But not that many soft goals and against some high powered offenses in STL and TOR.

I still think a lot of the blame for the goal total should go to the forwards or the system. When we are on the offense as soon as the puck comes to the point the opposing forwards are on our Dmen. When we are on defense and the puck goes to their D at the blue line it takes our forwards a long time to get their because they are floating all over the ice. I am not ready to blame Ulfie 100%, but somehow they need to tighten up and stop the forwards from free floating. They need to make team defense a priority.

Keeping 3 goalies until they’re sure Crawford is 100% would make sense, but Powers wrote the Hawks have no intention of keeping 3 goalies and plan to trade Forsberg.

I think a fair return for Forsberg would be Malkin or Duchene.
- DarthKane

Dude that is giving up way too much, it should be for BOTH of them!

Full Metal Jacket’s R. Lee Ermey (RIP)
- scottak

Yes, him.

Jvr out close to 2 months. Oh boy ....

Dude that is giving up way too much, it should be for BOTH of them!
- tyweb69

Manaje trade, I like it.

Yeah, there PP looks as inept as it has the past few years. They are supposedly trying to run a 1-3-1 but that is dependent on getting the puck into the zone and setting up - which they're struggling with. But even when they do get it in and set up - they have Schmaltz in the middle for one-timer and Keith on the point - both of which are not the best configuration. Other than Kane (who needs to be the trigger man on the wing) - who has the best one-timer on the team? The answer is DeBrincat ... but DeBrincat is playing the other wing and basically out of the picture in terms of getting a setup from Kane for a one-timer. Then, there's Keith with his popgun shot that couldn't break a wet paper tower so the defenders basically ignore his shot.

Jokiharju and Gustafsson should be the point men on the two PP units and switch DeBrincat and Schmaltz so DeBrincat can be the one-timer guy in the middle.
- EbonyRaptor

If the Hawks are going to use the diamond (1-3-1), Kane must get the puck along the right boards. Everytime! Need a right hand, heavy, accurate shot at top - must be right-handed for one-timers. Seabrook works. Toews plays down-low right post as outlet for Kane. Can get puck, bust to front of net if open. Or he drifts into slot. Other players Schmaltz, Cat also right-handed for one-timers.

The problem with the diamond is if all the players drift near defenders easy to defend. This is especially so as Hawks have no movement at all. Kane can’t get puck to left side as simply too many defenders. Have to spread out across ice. If you have 2 players nearer blueline opens up ice. Better to play Cat higher.

However, the Hawks can’t even get set up in the O-Zone. The drop-back doesn’t work as teams know about - also the PP loses pace as players don’t come up the ice together and are all stopped, waiting at the blue-line.

Hawks have obvious talent on the PP but may need to add disruptor like Saad moving Schmaltz to 2nd PP.

The Hawks’ PP often looks anemic in comparison to other PPs and there is a reason for this - the Hawks PK kills penalties passively. The Hawks do not pressure the points. Other teams just move the puck to their points as they are open - so other teams always seem to have movement but the Hawks own PK creates it in large part. By playing a tight box the Hawks hope pucks won’t get through but it allows the opposing team to set up plays and move the puck around without pressure sometimes for the entire 2 minutes.

Neither the PP or PK are really working right now and the Hawks are never winning the special teams battle.

How the hell does he get away with the hook on Kane? They hold in the defensive zone and hook in the O zone. Babcock playing the refs tonight!
- powerenforcer

Ridiculous so far this year with Refs. Fair is fair. The Hawks have taken many soft penalties that barely seem penalties. I like letting teams play. At the end of the day the Refs can and will call a game the way they want. However, must be called the same both ways. Schmaltz can’t get a call to save his life. Kane taking penalties not getting penalties - please.

Out of nowhere Saad will go on a hot streak. Because at some point, soon I hope, he will realize that he doesn't want to be finished (yet). Watch for it.

Ward sucks. Winner goes through him.
- scottak

Ward was awful all game so the fact that he gave up the OT winner on a puck travelling at 2 mph should come as no surprise. I don’t even know what I am watching anymore but it is not goaltending by any definition I know.

Ward was awful all game so the fact that he gave up the OT winner on a puck travelling at 2 mph should come as no surprise. I don’t even know what I am watching anymore but it is not goaltending by any definition I know.
- Z3Hawk

Blowtending is more like it

Cam Ward - its official his best days are long gone - I think several of us knew this but wowsa 14 goals in three games...another great move by Stan the Man...3 mil for a placeholder - just brutal. You have to think they could have brought someone else in. Have to wonder how much Q will ride CC when back.

The defense looks bad - horrid turnover by Keith from behind his own net on the first goal for the leafs after the Hawks jumped out 2-0.

Meanwhile Q's PP continues to suck any life out of anything...0-4 last night...

and you have to wonder with the offensive start the Hawks have had - how much would Karlsson have improved the PP - but don't wake Stan up its nap time.

Out of nowhere Saad will go on a hot streak. Because at some point, soon I hope, he will realize that he doesn't want to be finished (yet). Watch for it.
- Savoy

Do we have to deal with this BS all year again?

Cam Ward - its official his best days are long gone - I think several of us knew this but wowsa 14 goals in three games...another great move by Stan the Man...3 mil for a placeholder - just brutal. You have to think they could have brought someone else in. Have to wonder how much Q will ride CC when back.

The defense looks bad - horrid turnover by Keith from behind his own net on the first goal for the leafs after the Hawks jumped out 2-0.

Meanwhile Q's PP continues to suck any life out of anything...0-4 last night...

and you have to wonder with the offensive start the Hawks have had - how much would Karlsson have improved the PP - but don't wake Stan up its nap time.
- DK002

Cam Ward's $3MM contract is meaningless - the money doesn't mean anything since the Hawks are not close to the cap at this point. and it's a one-year deal anyways. Time to stop discussing $$$ when discussing players. His

More important to talk about his NMC, which may hinder moving him at the TDL.

As for Keith's TO on the first goal - yeah, not good - but just as bad was the inability to clear the zone on the PP which led to the 2nd goal (IIRC) - as well as Kane's TO in OT which led to the game winner (can't give up possession 3X3).

Do we have to deal with this BS all year again?
- PatShart

What? Saad's play, critiquing Saad, or hoping for Saad to come alive? All of the above?

As for Keith's TO on the first goal - yeah, not good - but just as bad was the inability to clear the zone on the PP which led to the 2nd goal (IIRC) - as well as Kane's TO in OT which led to the game winner (can't give up possession 3X3).
- StLBravesFan

In general, the inability to clear the zone has been problematic so far this young season as it has in recent years. In last night's game, there were so many instances of the puck landing between anywhere from 2-4 Hawks players with maybe one Leafs player immediately nearby yet they couldn't do a simple clear.

Flip the puck airborne into the neutral zone or bank it off the glass. Instead, weak clears or telegraphed attempts. Fundamentals on defense are still lacking and need a lot of work.

In general, the inability to clear the zone has been problematic so far this young season as it has in recent years. In last night's game, there were so many instances of the puck landing between anywhere from 2-4 Hawks players with maybe one Leafs player immediately nearby yet they couldn't do a simple clear.

Flip the puck airborne into the neutral zone or bank it off the glass. Instead, weak clears or telegraphed attempts. Fundamentals on defense are still lacking and need a lot of work.
- AEL_Fox

You're right on the money, but it seems like a system failure. Be a puck possession team, carry/pass the puck and be on your way from d-zone to o-zone. You want a chip and chase, board battle. Not the hawks. They are having a hard enough time with the former. They need to be less rigid and adapt to the other team. Slow down the play to help themselves. Be smart.

In order not to get frustrated with Ward, all I'm looking for at the end of the game with him...if he gets them a point or not.

So 5pts in 6gms with him is better than I thought.

I'm not looking/trying not to look at his save %.

What? Saad's play, critiquing Saad, or hoping for Saad to come alive? All of the above?
- I Am The Breadman

Crying like a baby about the trade. It's over a year old, get over it already

Glad to see The Captain looks healthy and is getting after it. The record is nice, but there are a lot of red flags. PP still is a joke. The D is still... well not good. 44 needs to go away and Seabs although looks a tad more mobile, it still turning it over way too much. Joki looks like a legit top 4 guy. D should get a boost when Forsling/Murphy come back.

Saad?!?! WTH is wrong with this guy? I don't get it. Is it a Q thing?
Kunitz. He is done. Rather have someone like Fortin or Highmore in there. Youth/speed is heads and tails better then what Kunitz has to offer.
Schmaltz needs to shoot the damn puck. Geezus.
AA. Still shows his value. He is not flashy, but he gets it done.
And Q.. Doesn't seem like much has changed. PP is still a dumpster fire. Playing Ward back to back? He sure looked slow last night. The team is playing with better energy, but how can the PP be that bad?

The 7-6 Leafs game was entertaining, but if the Hawks cant figure out how to tighten up in their zone?

Do we have to deal with this BS all year again?
- PatShart

Yes.....yes you do....

Kane has had a lot of success early, and no mention of Saad. Also, what the hell was Stan doing with Connor Carrick being available? He has been fantastic with Dallas and does all his off season training in Chicago. Sitting on his hands again!

Back to Saad. He needs to be moved in a deal to Toronto for Nylander.

Kane has had a lot of success early, and no mention of Saad. Also, what the hell was Stan doing with Connor Carrick being available? He has been fantastic with Dallas and does all his off season training in Chicago. Sitting on his hands again!

Back to Saad. He needs to be moved in a deal to Toronto for Nylander.