The Leafs rank in the bottom third of the league in such important categories as giveaways, power play, penalty kill, and shots allowed.

The game will probably end up up 1-0

I think the man-to-man d-zone dumpster fire affects the rest of their game. When we do finally gain possession in the defensive zone, no one is in position for an effective breakout. That causes confusion through the neutral zone and forces a lot of dump in's that the forwards aren't even in position to effectively chase down. If they would just go to a normal d-zone setup (zone coverage) then the breakouts become more instinctual, and that should continue through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone with carry-in entries as much as possible.
- JPBurke27

This suggestion makes too much sense.....

What is everyone's opinion on Boqvist? He is a riverboat gambler, but I really think he has not been a wreck defensively. I would like to see him stay up, but I feel like when Murphy comes back, he will head back to Rockford. The kid has a lot of confidence in himself, just think he adds a nice dimension to the blueline. What does everybody else think?

Oh...Please, please, please.....don't let the Leafs blow out the hawks. I will be hearing the Leafers crow for days if not weeks. They are not QUITE there yet, but getting almost as insufferable as those freakin' Habbers.

At least, if we gotta lose....make it a nice 6-5 or 5-4 game. Something to keep the buzzards at least a little in check!!!!!


- hawk35

If Hutchinson is in the Leafs net on Sunday even the Ice Hogs would have a chance.

Gus has played much better..he played well in shark farce game...one of the few.

Craw was excellent last night he made 3-4 grade A saves that were going in...he has been very good 5v5...the issue has been the PK with 8 goals against lehner has 2

Toews seems to have said 'enough of this poop' lets get going

if you want to live with high risk and a disaster in the dzone with pontential high reward by all means stay with kane-strome-adb

they are going to get stuck in the dzone regularly and give up goals

If Hutchinson is in the Leafs net on Sunday even the Ice Hogs would have a chance.
- RickJ

This is one of two games I do not want the Hawks to lose. I do not need to hear the glaoting!

The Hawks have played well against PIT in the past, I'm expecting a good game.
- RedRevenge

they have i think 5 of the last are wins...usually close games...

vs leafs = usually track meet

This is one of two games I do not want the Hawks to lose. I do not need to hear the glaoting!
- paulr

Obviously that game will only be about proving we have the superior Nylander.


Actually hope Alex has a nice 5 point game and Willy is a -4 with no points. That would piss off some Leafs fans.

The Hawks have played well against PIT in the past, I'm expecting a good game.
- RedRevenge

Toews (competition with Crosby) and Saad (hometown team), in particular, always come to play.

Gus has played much better..he played well in shark farce game...one of the few.

Craw was excellent last night he made 3-4 grade A saves that were going in...he has been very good 5v5...the issue has been the PK with 8 goals against lehner has 2

Toews seems to have said 'enough of this poop' lets get going

if you want to live with high risk and a disaster in the dzone with pontential high reward by all means stay with kane-strome-adb

they are going to get stuck in the dzone regularly and give up goals
- bogiedoc

My eyes may have been deceiving me, but they saw Crawford give up a lot of potential rebounds.

I also saw the defense doing a pretty good job of clearing those rebound.

What is everyone's opinion on Boqvist? He is a riverboat gambler, but I really think he has not been a wreck defensively. I would like to see him stay up, but I feel like when Murphy comes back, he will head back to Rockford. The kid has a lot of confidence in himself, just think he adds a nice dimension to the blueline. What does everybody else think?
- ChicagoHope

I think Boqvist has looked ok and would like to see more of him (and probably will until Murphy is ready to go.)
A lot of flux in the defense.
When will Murphy be healthy? I think you need to be sure he is 100% before making a significant move.
How well is Gus playing? What can you get for him? Will you get more if he plays another month or two more? Gus has looked a little better recently. I think he will stay in the lineup, if only to raise his trade value.
Koekkoek probably will not make it through waivers. Does he have any trade value? I see him as the 7th dman that will get an occasional start until Murphy comes back.
On his own merit and for his own development I would keep Boqvist with the Hawks. But strategically for roster concerns you may need to send him down until the other D positions shakeout.

What is everyone's opinion on Boqvist? He is a riverboat gambler, but I really think he has not been a wreck defensively. I would like to see him stay up, but I feel like when Murphy comes back, he will head back to Rockford. The kid has a lot of confidence in himself, just think he adds a nice dimension to the blueline. What does everybody else think?
- ChicagoHope

In general, I really like his game. Really good with the puck, and is very fluid on his skates which allows him to make up for some of his mistakes. O-zone he is great. Neutral and D-zones need some work, but not disastrous.

I agree with you in thinking that they will send him down once Murphy is back. I also agree with that decision. He gets a taste of what the NHL is about and then gets to work on all of that in the AHL with more minutes. As much has he didn't agree with it, Jokiharju seems to be even better this year than last. I've seen 5 of the Sabres games and he's handling pressure much better.

In general, I really like his game. Really good with the puck, and is very fluid on his skates which allows him to make up for some of his mistakes. O-zone he is great. Neutral and D-zones need some work, but not disastrous.

I agree with you in thinking that they will send him down once Murphy is back. I also agree with that decision. He gets a taste of what the NHL is about and then gets to work on all of that in the AHL with more minutes. As much has he didn't agree with it, Jokiharju seems to be even better this year than last. I've seen 5 of the Sabres games and he's handling pressure much better.
- Chunk

Another Stan failed trade, apparent win/win for both sides, Stan has to win every trade, or it is a bad deal.

What is everyone's opinion on Boqvist? He is a riverboat gambler, but I really think he has not been a wreck defensively. I would like to see him stay up, but I feel like when Murphy comes back, he will head back to Rockford. The kid has a lot of confidence in himself, just think he adds a nice dimension to the blueline. What does everybody else think?
- ChicagoHope

Boqvist has played 4 games with TOI's of 15:38, 15:44, 15:45, and 12:18. He has gotten PP time in all 4 games. In my opinion, this is an ideal ice time for a rookie d-man breaking into the NHL.

Has he made some mistakes? Yes, but he's also made good plays the the good plays far outnumber the mistakes. He hasn't shied away from engaging physically and has been been at least as good as the Hawks' other d-men in that category.

Bottom line - is there a d-man that isn't playing because Boqvist is playing who would be better than Boqvist? My opinion is no. Now, when Murphy is ready to come back - then maybe it makes sense to send him down - but not now because staying with the Hawks is hurting his development.

The Hawks seemed to abandon the heavy dump and chase strategy last night. Is this something the Crawford has implored Colliton to use?

Colliton didn't use this offensive strategy last year. It is puzzling why he would use it this year.

If it is Colliton's choice then that is alarming. If he has realized his mistake and adjusted back to last years system then that is a good thing. Still zero logic for why anyone on the coaching staff or front office would think deploying a heavy dump and chase style would work with the current roster.

Lot of questions marks about the front office/coaching staff and what their strategy is since someone had to sign off on or know about deploying the dump and chase style of play....but the Hawks looked solid last night.

Toews coming around a bit too.

Boqvist looks like a real keeper. He seems to have matured physically from what I saw last year. Still has a ways to go but he seems to have the hockey IQ to go with the skills. He doesn't have that Nick Leddy vibe to him.
- bhawks2241

Has been my question all year...whose idea WAS this? Gifman (I think) was looking into Crawford's coaching background and said it was a style that he seemed to prefer. Maybe it was his influence, maybe it was the analytics group, maybe it was Colliton's brainchild. How many of the people who decided this was a good idea are familiar with the players and their relative skillsets (outside of our typical highlight reel guys). We'll probably never know unless, for example, Crawford is fired/removed.

The players and the coach seemed happy and relieved during and after the game and JC made a point of stressing that the team wins when they skate and can transition quickly, so made me wonder even more if he had this system foisted on him by the more experienced, sage NHL experts.

Was glad to see that Toews said "F it" and started shooting the puck more.

Random note, but looks like the Hawks are releasing some good-looking, new ball caps that are styled after the last black and white winter classic sweaters. It's the holiday season, so thought I would share the thread:

https://twitter.com/Black.../1192842639965601792?s=20

I think Boqvist has looked ok and would like to see more of him (and probably will until Murphy is ready to go.)
A lot of flux in the defense.
When will Murphy be healthy? I think you need to be sure he is 100% before making a significant move.
How well is Gus playing? What can you get for him? Will you get more if he plays another month or two more? Gus has looked a little better recently. I think he will stay in the lineup, if only to raise his trade value.
Koekkoek probably will not make it through waivers. Does he have any trade value? I see him as the 7th dman that will get an occasional start until Murphy comes back.
On his own merit and for his own development I would keep Boqvist with the Hawks. But strategically for roster concerns you may need to send him down until the other D positions shakeout.
- -Doh-

Game 9 for is vs buffalo on 11/17... that is the window for murph's return..

they are not going with 8 dman with bokie sitting...gus and seabs are not going to be sitting or traded...

odds are bokie goes back after or before the sabre game...

Tyler Cameron: Hawks finally look like a real hockey team
I had to take a time out this week from all things Blackhawks.

After that game on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks, I wasn't sure what to write.

However, they finally looked like a real hockey team last night and I have thoughts.
- Tyler Cameron

This is one of the 1st games ive seen all year where the Hawks made very quick clean passes to get out of the dzone. All year a forward would be in position to disrupt the play and last night was the 1st time, the Hawks consistently were able to make an extra no hesitation quick pass to frustrate the forecheck and bring the puck up ice and I believe that what led to being able to skate into the zone, you didn't have 4 guys tying up the neutral zone.

The opponent has no respect for the Hawks ability to get the puck out of their own end, how many times you see all 3 forwards in the ozone, too many

I think the man-to-man d-zone dumpster fire affects the rest of their game. When we do finally gain possession in the defensive zone, no one is in position for an effective breakout. That causes confusion through the neutral zone and forces a lot of dump in's that the forwards aren't even in position to effectively chase down. If they would just go to a normal d-zone setup (zone coverage) then the breakouts become more instinctual, and that should continue through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone with carry-in entries as much as possible.
- JPBurke27

I was only able to see the 3rd period last night. From my perspective still too many times both D are either on the same side of the ice, along the same board, both behind the net, or 1 of them following the puck carrier up to the blue line.

They did give up 38 shots, which is still about 10 too many. Quick formula I was taught many years ago, if you limit your opponent to 10 shots or less per period, the team is doing well defensively. With a goalie stopping at least 92%, that should equate to 2 goals or less against, which should give you a better than average chance to win.

I've seen a lot of hockey in my 57 years, I've never seen a defensive zone strategy that has those features.

"Sure the Hawks were a little too loose and irresponsible last year, but they were on pace for 100+ points in the 2nd half of the season and they were actually fun to watch."

I read here all of last season plenty of posters saying that half a season is too small a sample size, and that 100 point pace was a mirage. Of course those same posters now think 10 games is a large enough sample to make big pronouncements. Anyway, the team seemed to agree with those on this board and tried to implement a more defensive system. Now, the board Illuminati think the team was stupid to listen to them! I love this place.

The mirage last year was they were terrible, worn out whatever the reason the last 10 games of the season when it counted.

The small sample this season is, forget statistics they have been clearly failing the eye test.

Imo its way to early to celebrate or believe this team has changed .

Now I realize my comments might seem controversial, I'm just pointing out that going back to last year this team has been up and down win 2 games lose 7 .

I'd like to see Chicago make a trade that involves either 1 or 2 core players and a couple of prospects to maybe Montreal for their youth.
- Taylorst1

Stan might like to do that as well takes two to trade.

Of more interest to me, when Murphy comes back, do you send Bovquist down, or do you put KKKK on waivers?
- LAHawk

No , you trade Gus and Beaudin for Poehling and ??? To Montreal, Nothing wrong with Koekkoek, he’s a young kid and was a high pick.Let him develop here. If this is the way the team is going to go young, would like to see a whole stable of these kids. As long as they give an effort and show up and play on a nightly basis. Glad to see they are changing their strategy because they do not have a heavy team to chase down loose pucks in the corner , Skating, and the transition game is there strong point.

Of more interest to me, when Murphy comes back, do you send Bovquist down, or do you put KKKK on waivers?
- LAHawk

Trade Gus...

"Sure the Hawks were a little too loose and irresponsible last year, but they were on pace for 100+ points in the 2nd half of the season and they were actually fun to watch."

I read here all of last season plenty of posters saying that half a season is too small a sample size, and that 100 point pace was a mirage. Of course those same posters now think 10 games is a large enough sample to make big pronouncements. Anyway, the team seemed to agree with those on this board and tried to implement a more defensive system. Now, the board Illuminati think the team was stupid to listen to them! I love this place.

The mirage last year was they were terrible, worn out whatever the reason the last 10 games of the season when it counted.

The small sample this season is, forget statistics they have been clearly failing the eye test.
- rpeters01

Last year - 40-50 games at 100 point pace. BOD sez....forget that noise, small sample, still suck, look what happened at the end when out of the race. Ignore the results, they say.

This year - 10 games is plenty of time to make a determination that the GM and Coach need to go, and that the vets must go.

Last year - 40-50 games at 100 point pace. BOD sez....forget that noise, small sample, still suck, look what happened at the end when out of the race. Ignore the results, they say.

This year - 10 games is plenty of time to make a determination that the GM and Coach need to go, and that the vets must go.
- mohel

We will know what this team including the coach is by December. That said, something needed to change and did for at least one game last night. They were failing miserably ir regardless the current season sample size. I said in my post two days ago, either system, coach or players needed to change. One would think the system when proven players were getting outshot 4 million to 2 which is barely an exaggeration.