Btw we're you really happy with Saads play early this year?

If you can't see it, i can't help you.

All the opponents see it though that's why he's getting hit so much.
- BetweenTheDots

I wasn't thrilled with Saad's play at the beginning of the year, but I knew he wasn't done or washed up or checked out. Saad is what he is, a very good play driving power winger who earns his keep by forcing the puck to the other end of the ice. His point totals come secondary to his overall play driving. He looked bad at the beginning of this year, but he'd regress to the mean eventually.

Schmaltz hasn't even looked bad and I've seen people calling for his trade, arguing that he can't cut it in this league, etc.

It's sad, too many people on here watch one bad play and cement an evaluation in their mind. Look up some numbers, some stats, some anything to back up your opinion. Saad and Schmaltz are both well above replacement level players.

End rant, sorry.

The core of hockey is changing. Players are smaller and more talented. Banger lines, I think are fading. Kids in the draft, they aren't hulks and they don't become hulks. The teams that have bigger bodies in the lineup, are successful, but not champs.

I like hits, taking hits to make plays, I understand all of that and what you are saying, but hockey is changing quickly.
- I Am The Breadman

Never said he had to be whatever a 'banger line' is. Physicality will always be part of the game. Along with the cowardly players who will want no part of it.

If it turns to no check, then pay Schmaltz 10mil. But it isnt and wont be

Schmaltz hasn't been good at center, it's not easy, give him more time there to prove if he's good there or not. If not, no big deal, more than enough skills to be a great winger.
I'd like to see 12-19-20 and 24-8-88.
- I Am The Breadman

Agreed......you can NOT trade speed nor teach it. If he's a winger, so be it, but this team gets run out of the building against younger /faster teams. (Tampa)

If they could trade for a good NHL 2C somehow, that would be my choice. ...but who is out there ???? And NOT Tomas Placanac. I'd look to deal with Carolina who is loaded with young Center prospects.

And Marcus Kruger doing whatever it is that has given folk hero status on this board. Somewhere Joakim Nordstrom is jealous.
- SteveRain

Hilarious. .....and Correct. My God the love for him on this board is ridiculous.

Never said he had to be whatever a 'banger line' is. Physicality will always be part of the game. Along with the cowardly players who will want no part of it.

If it turns to no check, then pay Schmaltz 10mil. But it isnt and wont be
- PatShart

You speak for people too much. I was first defending Saad because someone came up with a trade scenario and I gave the points against trying to get Duchene, you escalated to more with a generational insult. I don't see your confusion, people ragged on Saad and he has good games, then there is silence about him ... and it moves to Schmaltz.

I never said you said Schmaltz should be on a banger line, I said that line is fading. Hockey is evolving. Hitting will always be there, but it's not all there is to hockey anymore.

I'm not advocating Schmaltz to make Kane or Saad money. I've been saying 4x4 or I'll even go as high as 5.5, but I wouldn't mind him here long term.

Oo's post on top is spot on.

Then you'll always be confused to why they dont win if you dont see the correlation between willing to play physical versus getting points while avoiding contact at all times while never winning anything

Continue to blame Kunitz, Q, Manning or Rutta when the fact is, you cant have someone you want to be a 'core player' who is unwilling to do what it takes to win games, especially in the playoffs when the games are tighter checked and the goals scored arent usually the pretty finesse ones

And as OO claimed, it isnt a one time thing. It's a once a game thing - which is a trend

Then you'll always be confused to why they dont win if you dont see the correlation between willing to play physical versus getting points while avoiding contact at all times while never winning anything

Continue to blame Kunitz, Q, Manning or Rutta when the fact is, you cant have someone you want to be a 'core player' who is unwilling to do what it takes to win games, especially in the playoffs when the games are tighter checked and the goals scored arent usually the pretty finesse ones

And as OO claimed, it isnt a one time thing. It's a once a game thing - which is a trend
- PatShart

I don't blame anyone, win as a team, lose as a team.

Schmaltz needs to add muscle but just like you don’t want Kane or Cat taking hits, you don’t want your speedy skilled 6’1” 170lb stringbean getting smashed in the corner. Cat is 5’7 and almost 170lbs just for comparison.... #8 has top 6 skill and game breaking speed, he’s a useful player. His lack of physicality limits his effectiveness at center, but less so at wing. I like that Q is trying to balance the offense with him on line 3 (especially in a contract year).

Schmaltz needs to add muscle but just like you don’t want Kane or Cat taking hits, you don’t want your speedy skilled 6’1” 170lb stringbean getting smashed in the corner. Cat is 5’7 and almost 170lbs just for comparison.... #8 has top 6 skill and game breaking speed, he’s a useful player. His lack of physicality limits his effectiveness at center, but less so at wing. I like that Q is trying to balance the offense with him on line 3 (especially in a contract year).
- EnzoD

At least there was one light day.

The Athletic has the Blackhawks projected to have a 93 point season after last night, with a 58% chance of making the playoffs, 23% chance of making the second round.

I'd say if Crawford is healthy, shoot for the playoffs, dump any plugs you can for picks (Kunitz, Manning, Ward, Rutta, Martinsen), and keep your First and Second round picks. You never know what can happen in the playoffs, and guys like Schmaltz, Debrincat, Jokiharju could use the experience.
- ObeseOprah

I heartily disagree with your lofty wish. The blielineembers as a group are subpar. Keith is probably not able to step up for a sustained lemgthy playoff push. The powerplay had not improved. There is queetioable depth.

This is readily obvouis in the eye test. I wish I could agree with your sentiment.

And Crawford must stay healthy. I would wager there is better odds he is traded at the trade deadlinr. [/img]

I thought a blockbuster usually included good players? The two listed from the Hawks are poop.
- GPHawksfan

Lol Well I agree with that statement, but clearly Johki is a mainstay in the lineup. Manning I like his game as a 5 thru 7 player, rutta and murphy are both expendable and I see either 1 or both being moved maybe murphy to Toronto and Chicago signs Nylander?

It does seem like many teams do the "push em back" strategy. When the Hawks do it, though, they do it half ass where the puck just sputters behind the passer. The Hawks are essentially beating themselves where the other team doesn't even have to try to steal it as it's just gift wrapped for them. If the Hawks are going to employ that strategy, do it right and do it with authority.

Ideally, just have a strong puck carrier bring the puck up ice to start the rush and enter the zone. Kane and Gustafsson are great at it. And for all the bashing he receives for this or that, Schmaltz is really good at it, too. I actually think he's the best at it.
- AEL_Fox

I would not want a 50/50 scenario with a man advantage with the chip and chase. Besides, the Hawks generally are not a puck retrieval team; their best pursuit/retrieval guy is Toews. So with that said, all the push em back entry does is provide speed through the neutral zone and this is the most important part, for that player to pick one guy waiting at the blue line and isolate him (2v1) using the one without the puck speed to go along with or can use a stationary teammate for a give and go. When done right, it provides possession zone entry. However, the operative word is done RIGHT. The Hawks have to execute this better.

But you can sweep at a puck with your stick while you are moving, so you can still stay with the play.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Say Kane is coming in on you (1v1) with speed through the neutral zone. First thing you are taught is to not look at the puck but rather his chest and hips. This is where the great skating comes in, proper edge work while moving with Kane. Then use your stick but not to sweep because you are more apt to lose your bearings but rather kind of dangle it in front of you without wasted motion. Kane wants to get behind/through you by going trough your triangle (stick and skate up to arm holding stick) so he is baiting you to make a move/mistake ie sweep stick that misses, looking down at the puck, head fake one way and going to the other. By Kane having to dangle in front your stick, make it so the puck hits your stick, again without wasted motion all the while you are still skating backwards and looking at his chest/hips. If the puck hits your stick, you have stopped his momentum. If it doesn't then continue skating and make sure you are still goal side. Then if you get beat, play the body!

And i believe when they scout the opponent they see the same thing i do, so all the players as they hit the ice see #8 and they go after him because he plays scared and they know from time to time he'll give up possession.
- BetweenTheDots

And that can be beat by a simple give and go. Again, please watch how Kane and Schmaltz play together.

Say Kane is coming in on you (1v1) with speed through the neutral zone. First thing you are taught is to not look at the puck but rather his chest and hips. This is where the great skating comes in, proper edge work while moving with Kane. Then use your stick but not to sweep because you are more apt to lose your bearings but rather kind of dangle it in front of you without wasted motion. Kane wants to get behind/through you by going trough your triangle (stick and skate up to arm holding stick) so he is baiting you to make a move/mistake ie sweep stick that misses, looking down at the puck, head fake one way and going to the other. By Kane having to dangle in front your stick, make it so the puck hits your stick, again without wasted motion all the while you are still skating backwards and looking at his chest/hips. If the puck hits your stick, you have stopped his momentum. If it doesn't then continue skating and make sure you are still goal side. Then if you get beat, play the body!
- D2D

I never was and never will be a hockey player, but Edzo has taught me through the tv broadcast, play the man not the puck. Whether it bounces or dangles it, knock the man off the puck.

2-0 IceHogs.

Ejdsell responding nicely after getting healthy scratched last game with a goal and Samuelsson with one as well.

2-0 IceHogs.

Ejdsell responding nicely after getting healthy scratched last game with a goal and Samuelsson with one as well.
- Justin Lowe

Make that 3-0... Ejdsell with another.

Wowza... Hoggers are flying.

Make that 3-0... Ejdsell with another.

Wowza... Hoggers are flying.
- Justin Lowe

Thanks for the update, Justin. Nice to know 2 of our "big guys" are responding well to coach messages.

[quote
=SteveRain]Not sure....but I hope Victor Stalberg is with him....


Sorry to inform you but our friend Stalberg is now back in the Swedish league. He played a couple years in the KHL.. He was our all time champion of breakaways but his hands of steel and his lack of hockey IQ "DID HIM IN ". His skating was top notch , had size and muscles and a pretty face....but had no heart .

Bolts vs Avs should be fun....

Bolts vs Avs should be fun....
- EnzoD

I hope the bolts have 34 sog's in the 2nd period.

Bolts vs Avs should be fun....
- EnzoD

Both are outrageously fast.

And that can be beat by a simple give and go. Again, please watch how Kane and Schmaltz play together.
- D2D

And since game 4 that line really hasn't been effective, why? They give no space to Kane and are physical with Scmaltz, if you're watching.

Q knows this that's why Schmaltz is on the 3rd line for now.

I wasn't thrilled with Saad's play at the beginning of the year, but I knew he wasn't done or washed up or checked out. Saad is what he is, a very good play driving power winger who earns his keep by forcing the puck to the other end of the ice. His point totals come secondary to his overall play driving. He looked bad at the beginning of this year, but he'd regress to the mean eventually.

Schmaltz hasn't even looked bad and I've seen people calling for his trade, arguing that he can't cut it in this league, etc.

It's sad, too many people on here watch one bad play and cement an evaluation in their mind. Look up some numbers, some stats, some anything to back up your opinion. Saad and Schmaltz are both well above replacement level players.

End rant, sorry.
- ObeseOprah

I think Schmaltz has a ton of talent, but Schmaltz has at least one surrender of the puck a game.

There is no way i would give Schmaltz a 5-8 year deal until i saw him play consistently without fear.

Many many many here assume he'll out grow this some how? Maybe but what if he doesn't or worse yet gets paid and gets even more timid.

I truly believe a bridge deal is in the best interest for this Blackhawks organization until he shows the org he can change this behavior.

>>>Corey Crawford – what can you say about this guy? He's in the zone right now which is crazy to say after only playing 3 games in 10 months. His play has me thinking of how he stood on his head 2 years ago which saw the Hawks tops of the Western Conference. I'm not saying that's where they are heading, however, where Crow is in his game right now is extremely encouraging.<<

I don't know if anyone can appreciate what he has accomplished since coming back. No game action for almost 10 months. A painful slow recovery from head trauma...where he probably had many days wondering if he could ever play again let alone at that level. Just a month ago looking gased after taking softies from Waite by himself.

The physical, psychological, and emotional work he put in and then to compete at a top level is amazing and inspirational.