Tyler Cameron: The stars are starting to show up for Blackhawks The Hawks built off of their 5-2 win over Vancouver as they took 3 out of 4 points this weekend.

The stars are really picking up their game.

This is a really good thing as early in the season the Hawks were being fuelled by the bottom 6 on most nights which wasn't a good recipe for success.

A win’s a win dammit!

Holding on to Gus while sending Bokie down would send a wrong message, IMHO. The future of the Hawks now belongs to the kids. Let them learn! YES TO YOUTH!!!

Holding on to Gus while sending Bokie down would send a wrong message, IMHO. The future of the Hawks now belongs to the kids. Let them learn! YES TO YOUTH!!!
- gabriel

If they can find a trade partner for Gus or Maata when Murphy comes back...sure. Keep 4K as your seventh.

From John Dietz:

The Blackhawks have allowed 45 or more shots on goal 9 times since Jeremy Colliton took over. And three times in the last 7 games.

From 2013-18 - a span of 492 games - that happened just five times.

Then, done! Hope Stan can find some takers, for some quality in return.

From John Dietz:

The Blackhawks have allowed 45 or more shots on goal 9 times since Jeremy Colliton took over. And three times in the last 7 games.

From 2013-18 - a span of 492 games - that happened just five times.
- scottak

Is the coach part to blame? Sure, but it’s also not like the team resembles anything close to what it did for at least three of those years.

These next 2 games are HUGE. Getting very close to that 20 game mark.

Vegas and Nashville 2 very solid opponents, both on the road.

If we continue to improve and win these games, or at least win one and play well in both, I will like our chances moving forward at getting into the playoff picture(especially with a lot of home games coming up).

But if we regress again and the Knights and Preds skate circles around us....then that’s a wrap. Time to clean house and start tanking. At least in my opinion.

So it’s now or never, what’s it gonna be? Will we continue the positive trends...or go back to giving up unfathomable amounts of high danger chances while looking inept offensively?

If they can find a trade partner for Gus or Maata when Murphy comes back...sure. Keep 4K as your seventh.
- HawkintheD

4K as your 7th, and occasionally to provide regularly scheduled rest, isn't that bad of an option.

Is the coach part to blame? Sure, but it’s also not like the team resembles anything close to what it did for at least three of those years.
- HawkintheD

Or the coach, who was a forward, doesn’t know anything about defense? His Rockford & Mora teams were in the bottom half of the league rankings in GAA.

You bet they better show up. $10M each is quite a considerable cap hit. How are Seabrook and Keith (one of my favourite players) doing? Have you guys liked Määttä so far? I didn’t want to lose him but it was inevitable.

Next three are big, because if they lose all three, then the writing is on the wall.

While we're on the subject, have the Hawks decided to not give Holm a look? Anyone have any updated info on his play at Rockford? Must have some glaring deficiencies that I wasn't aware of, for him not to be under consideration.

You bet they better show up. $10M each is quite a considerable cap hit. How are Seabrook and Keith (one of my favourite players) doing? Have you guys liked Määttä so far? I didn’t want to lose him but it was inevitable.
- Barnaby36

Very good for us thus far, and a good team guy from everything I'm able to read.

As long as Murphy and Boqvist replace Gus and Koekkoek in the lineup, I think the Defense will be ok. Not great, but ok. Koekkoek is the reason for the collapse in Pittsburgh, (I was there) and he played really well except his mistakes were BRUTAL. Same with how Gus plays, he can be just fine but then BRUTAL in his own end. Their mistakes have been killer lately. You cant have that crap.

Fire both into the sun.

A win’s a win dammit!
- HawkintheD

That's what Nagy said!

1. Beat the Leafs!!! That is main thing, not a single text or Facebook message from my Leaf buddies. THAT is worth so, so much....

2. 2 points. Take them, and on to the next game. We need the points if we are going to even challenge for a WC spot.

3. As Justin pointed out, Top guys really picking up play. Toews was solid. Really engaged. Kane-Strome-DCat line was outstanding. If that line can at least play semi-decent defense, the skill should be able to make this a hard line for other teams to match.

4. Overall this year, the defense seems much better than last year. But, that said...57 shots is crazy bad and won't lead to success going forward. If we can get it down to 12 or 13 shots a period...35-40 a game...and keep the high quality chances limited I think our goaltending is good enough, and our offense solid enough that we can be a playoff team.

Take the 2 points. Consider ourselves lucky. And onto Vegas.

Go Hawks!

Or the coach, who was a forward, doesn’t know anything about defense? His Rockford & Mora teams were in the bottom half of the league rankings in GAA.
- scottak

Yeah, I recall reading that somewhere before.

As long as Murphy and Boqvist replace Gus and Koekkoek in the lineup, I think the Defense will be ok. Not great, but ok. Koekkoek is the reason for the collapse in Pittsburgh, (I was there) and he played really well except his mistakes were BRUTAL. Same with how Gus plays, he can be just fine but then BRUTAL in his own end. Their mistakes have been killer lately. You cant have that crap.

Fire both into the sun.
- Poultryman

Ya. Gus on the Leafs 2nd goal. Brutal. No less than 3-4 chances to clear the zone and eventually turned over and in the back of our net. Without that kinda gaff, we probably cruise to an easy win. But, that one 30 second blunder gave the Leafs a goal and re-newed hope. Gus can do so much, can skate, can shoot...but dammit, he is brain-dead and soft in our end!!!

Ya. Gus on the Leafs 2nd goal. Brutal. No less than 3-4 chances to clear the zone and eventually turned over and in the back of our net. Without that kinda gaff, we probably cruise to an easy win. But, that one 30 second blunder gave the Leafs a goal and re-newed hope. Gus can do so much, can skate, can shoot...but dammit, he is brain-dead and soft in our end!!!
- hawk35

With a 3 goal lead entering the 3rd, Gus should've had 2 minutes of ice time.

That indecision by 4k hurt us for sure, but I've seen that happen to quality D-men over the years. A mini-second to choose that could go either way. I just have difficulty launching him into the sun right now, because the guy shows some compete. It's not for a lack of trying.

A solo flight to the sun. For now. Ha!

Lots of ragging on the defensemen, but D is a team thing.

On 1 shift in the 3rd,Dcat had the puck on his stick twice, but couldn’t exit the zone. Kane took a bad route on the 1st goal, and skated right by the goal scorer. Just before the 5th goal, Saad made a horrible turn over in the D zone and RL bailed him out.

Defense takes a village.

Yeah, I recall reading that somewhere before.
- mohel

I did the research.

With a 3 goal lead entering the 3rd, Gus should've had 2 minutes of ice time.
- mohel

Gus is our offensive stud, Mo. JC must think he's worth it because he was right back out there the next shift. Don't understand JC's thinking on this. The Leafs were swarming like gnats, and after that play, Gus is STILL on the ice. No excuse for that!

Lots of ragging on the defensemen, but D is a team thing.

On 1 shift in the 3rd,Dcat had the puck on his stick twice, but couldn’t exit the zone. Kane took a bad route on the 1st goal, and skated right by the goal scorer. Just before the 5th goal, Saad made a horrible turn over in the D zone and RL bailed him out.

Defense takes a village.
- scottak

Agreed. And/or a defensive coordinator that is up to speed? This should not be recurring every single game, should it?