Tyler Cameron: Hawks Win and Lose + Dach's Debut Will the penalty kill continue to haunt CHI this year? Will the Hawks figure out their power play anytime soon?

These are a couple questions that will work themselves out over the next couple of weeks.

I take a look at the Blackhawks games from the weekend.

Nylander Toews Kubalik
ADB Strome Kane
Saad Dach Shaw
Caggiula Carpenter Kampf (Smith/Perlini)

>>>If you went that route, you might as well trying to nuclear option of DeBrcinat-Strome-Kane. If their defensive play suffers, split them up, but I would try it out.<<<

it will...kane strome regularly get ripped in the dzone...

toews off to another meandering start...not getting many chances and really looks lost defensively...

these guys are still trying to figure it out...lotsa new faces

passing and possession has been poor to fair...puck seems to be bouncing all over the place...

Very aggravating game to watch. When your best players aren’t your best players the team’s going to struggle.

Dach was not very noticeable to me, but in a good way. He didn’t do anything to shine, but he didn’t look out of place either.

The two forwards that continue to impress me early on are Kubalik and Caggiula. Ultimately I agree with most that Drake’s probably not an ideal/prototypical 1st line player, but he works his ass off every shift, and just seems to keep finding ways to have a positive impact on games.

Also agree with 17/12 needing to be together.

Caggiula Toews Kane
Dcat Strome Kubalik
Saad Shaw Nylander
Carpenter Kampf Smith

If Saad and Kubalik can play well with Kampf they should be able to play better with Toews. That’s not a slight on Kampf, I just think the teams needs more out of their top 6. I like Nylander on the 3rd line too. He can play a limited offensive role with less pressure.

Dach seemed ok. I’d give him a few more games but the most likely spot for his is back in the W for one more season. Going back to the CHL worked for Saad, it can work for Dach too.

Good morning Tyler and fellow hawks fans. Wow Sunday was just a disaster for both our sports teams bears and hawks.

Special teams , goaltending and the top 6 all need to turn around.

Crawford's play IMO has been up and down 1 game he looks great the following game he doesn't show consistency. Crawford has had 3 games where he gave up a boat load of goals?

I get the whole loyalty idea , but a good coach IMO will go with the hot hand or the goaltender who's numbers are better. Lehner deserves the chance to start more frequently until otherwise .

The top 6 isn't playing with any energy or consistency. Going into yesterday's game I mentioned Chicago numbers

Goals for 15, goals against 15 those numbers won't win you many games .


I thought Gus was this power play specialist ?

If Saad and Kubalik can play well with Kampf they should be able to play better with Toews. That’s not a slight on Kampf, I just think the teams needs more out of their top 6. I like Nylander on the 3rd line too. He can play a limited offensive role with less pressure.

Dach seemed ok. I’d give him a few more games but the most likely spot for his is back in the W for one more season. Going back to the CHL worked for Saad, it can work for Dach too.
- DarthKane

it seems like nobody can produce with toews...or nobody helps toews produce...

here we go again...toews the weak link on this team...

he is injured
its the diet
to much pk time
its the uc ice
its october
he's mad about not being a top 5 center anymore
to much time off
or maybe he just can't play anymore..

>>>If you went that route, you might as well trying to nuclear option of DeBrcinat-Strome-Kane. If their defensive play suffers, split them up, but I would try it out.<<<

it will...kane strome regularly get ripped in the dzone...

toews off to another meandering start...not getting many chances and really looks lost defensively...

these guys are still trying to figure it out...lotsa new faces

passing and possession has been poor to fair...puck seems to be bouncing all over the place...
- bogiedoc

I think ADB, Kane, Strome defensive play will not be good. You just have to hope their offensive contribution is better than what they give up. Also it may draw the other teams best checking line and defenders off of the Toews line. I believe our 3rd lines and 4th lines are very competitive right now.

Good morning Tyler and fellow hawks fans. Wow Sunday was just a disaster for both our sports teams bears and hawks.

Special teams , goaltending and the top 6 all need to turn around.

Crawford's play IMO has been up and down 1 game he looks great the following game he doesn't show consistency. Crawford has had 3 games where he gave up a boat load of goals?

I get the whole loyalty idea , but a good coach IMO will go with the hot hand or the goaltender who's numbers are better. Lehner deserves the chance to start more frequently until otherwise .

The top 6 isn't playing with any energy or consistency. Going into yesterday's game I mentioned Chicago numbers

Goals for 15, goals against 15 those numbers won't win you many games .


I thought Gus was this power play specialist ?
- Taylorst1

crow and lehner once again facing to many damn high quality chances...3 of cap goals were flat out gimmes...not on him

i have said this goalie 1a/b system with these two bears watching...

they both want to play and goalies want to play regularly...every other game is not going to work with these two...

Tyler - What are your thoughts about Gus?

I think Colliton is now using him appropriately. I am ok waiting for him to step up his game. But I also would not mind him sitting and seeing Koekkoek for a couple of games. Nor would I mind him being moved.

crow and lehner once again facing to many damn high quality chances...3 of cap goals were flat out gimmes...not on him

i have said this goalie 1a/b system with these two bears watching...

they both want to play and goalies want to play regularly...every other game is not going to work with these two...
- bogiedoc

Your right they both want to play and this every other game isn't working well.

Goalies need to play to allow them time to hone in their skills and become consistent.

We can disagree or agree ,but right now Chicago can't find it's offense and whomever is in goal will need to be sharp and stand on his head , this team can't seem to buy enough offense.
Lehner in his couple of starts based on his numbers has been the better goalie who has given this team a chance.

Crawford had so far 1 great game , the others he hasn't really stood out when the team needed him to .

Strome's next payday is taking a dive now from the numbers discussed during the off season. Good that we did not extend him during the summer.

I love the analysis Tyler!!!!

I, for one, am not the least bit surprised the 3rd and 4th lines are pacing the Hawks.

I said before the season even began that the 3rd line options of Dach, Saad, Shaw, etc would cause a real matchup problem for other teams. The ?TOP 2? lines consisting of Toews, Kane, B-Cat, and Strome will get the tougher matchups and play the top 4 D-men of other teams.

This leaves a solid 3rd line playing lesser forwards and it's share against the 3rd pairing defense. The Hawks might lack a player or two in its Top 6 compared to Colorado, Toronto and several other teams.....but, they can counter that by the depth they now have when marching out a solid 3rd and 4th lines.

Once the lines shake out, we will have, in my opinion, maybe the best....or at least one of the best 3rd lines in hockey.

I think our defense is much better than last year, and once we have 20-25 games together should be even much better.

Our record is "blah", but I see a lot of positives up front, on the back end...and most definitely in net this year. (Man, Lehner and Crawford could end up being a sensational duo!!!)

I think we get better as the season progresses if these guys can get use to each other and begin playing a system together.

it seems like nobody can produce with toews...or nobody helps toews produce...

here we go again...toews the weak link on this team...

he is injured
its the diet
to much pk time
its the uc ice
its october
he's mad about not being a top 5 center anymore
to much time off
or maybe he just can't play anymore..
- bogiedoc

Toews commonly gets off to a slow start, I’m not too worried about him specifically. Their entire top 6, with the exception of Kane, needs to be better and they will be.

Nylander Toews Kubalik
ADB Strome Kane
Saad Dach Shaw
Caggiula Carpenter Kampf (Smith/Perlini)
- -Doh-

Saad Toews Kubalik
Cat Strome Kane
Nylander Dach Shaw
Smith/Caggiula Carpenter Kampf

Saad Toews Kubalik
Cat Strome Kane
Nylander Dach Shaw
Smith/Caggiula Carpenter Kampf
- SoftServe

Dach and Nylander on the same line might be too much to ask of two rookies this season.

Dach and Nylander on the same line might be too much to ask of two rookies this season.
- DarthKane

That....and, in an ideal world Nylander is NOT the kind of 3rd liner I really like. I like the guys that can hit, grind, score a few, make life hard on the other team.

Saad - Dach- Shaw screams at me as a potentallly fantastic 3rd line.

But, I think we see the "Q" - like blender for the next few weeks yet.

Agree here, except I’d try Dach at 3C with Nylander and Shaw.

Saad - Toews - Kubalik
ADB - Strome - Kane
Shaw - dach - Nylander
Ciggy - Kampf - carpenter/Smith

I think Toews plays better with wingers who are pushing the pace up the ice and driving the net.Simple but effective does Toews best.

Shaw Dach Nylander could be something..

That man to man system is not suitable for a professional sport. With those big lumbering guys they have on the blue line, maybe collapsing to the middle and letting the goalies they have only deal with perimeter shots all day that would be nice.

Putting Debrincat with some kind of play maker is probably a good idea. He is passing way too much. The dude is a stand in circles and rip shots, like a wee and a bit slower Patrick Sharp but with a better release. They're asking him to dig in the corners and chase around and be all passy. Kinda dumb. That "first" line is a disaster.

Pulling a Claude Giroux and having Toews play on the wing with Dach centering and whatever bozo on the other side would be an interesting bum slaying line. El Gato, Dach, Toews could be fun.

Probably should have flipped Gus at the draft. He has been very bad, especially defensively, the whole year. I'd rather watch Seabrook huff and puff.

Dach is a man on the ice and was able to hold off NHL players with his body. Probably should stay here.

also give holtby his props last night...caps got ripped by the hawks on numerous occasions...he made some A+saves..hawks put 41 on him and they were not of the soft perimeter variety..

Agree here, except I’d try Dach at 3C with Nylander and Shaw.

Saad - Toews - Kubalik
ADB - Strome - Kane
Shaw - dach - Nylander
Ciggy - Kampf - carpenter/Smith

I think Toews plays better with wingers who are pushing the pace up the ice and driving the net.Simple but effective does Toews best.

Shaw Dach Nylander could be something..
- Bjm84

Toews was at his best with Kane and Sharp or Buff his first two years when Keith could push the ice and Sharp was one of the faster guys in the league OR with Hossa carrying the puck and wielding the power of Grayskull. Player most impacted by his 'retirement'.

rip hoss:

Your right they both want to play and this every other game isn't working well.

Goalies need to play to allow them time to hone in their skills and become consistent.

We can disagree or agree ,but right now Chicago can't find it's offense and whomever is in goal will need to be sharp and stand on his head , this team can't seem to buy enough offense.
Lehner in his couple of starts based on his numbers has been the better goalie who has given this team a chance.

Crawford had so far 1 great game , the others he hasn't really stood out when the team needed him to .
- Taylorst1

Specifically, which goal(s) do you think he should have stopped?

Strome's next payday is taking a dive now from the numbers discussed during the off season. Good that we did not extend him during the summer.
- 67hawks

He's actually playing pretty well. Good positioning, looks faster, stronger on his skates, seems confident in his decisions pace about 40-45 points this season, which is fine for a No 2 guy they got for free. No complaints there.

That may have been their best game of the season, even better than the one against the Oilers. they went toe to toe against one of the league's best teams. And, according to the graphic on NBC Sports, they were leading the scoring chance battle 19-18 midway through the 3rd period. The Hawks controlled the first 15 minutes of the 2nd period.

Maybe, if the HC could get a handle on some line combinations, and stick with them for more than a period, and if Gus could learn to defend a 2 on 1, they should be fine.

Stan did his job. This team has enough talent to make the playoffs, especially seeing how a couple of Central foes have fallen off a cliff.

If they don't make the playoffs, the target should be squarely on the HC.