Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Corey Crawford's save percentage in Montreal in his career entering tonight: .971

Tonight: .970

damn that crawford he is slipping
- bogiedoc

Career save % .917 - Last 2 years .908
Career GAA 2.45 - Last 2 years 2.96

So, unless you’ve mastered the ability to turn back time, or figured out how he can play 50+ games a year in The Bell Centre, peak Crawford is in the rear view mirror. Plus, he’s being outplayed by his co-goalie.

Western Conference Standings based on points per games played (PPGP).

Central PPGP
1 Blues 1.417
2 Stars 1.261
3 COL 1.217

Pacific
1 Yotes 1.163
2 Canucks 1.149
3 Oilers 1.146 (actually tied with Flames)

Wild Card
Jets 1.149
Flames1.146 (actually tied with Oilers)

Outside looking in
Knights 1.102
Preds 1.089
Hawks 1.042
Wild 1.000
Sharks 0.958
Kings 0.854
Ducks 0.848
- -Doh-

I predict Knights and Preds play their way in. Canucks and either the Flames or Oilers play their way out. Sorry Hawk fans.

With Strome and Saad knocking at the door, who else wants to see:

Kubalik - Toews - Kane
Debrincat - Strome - Dach
Caggiula - Carpenter - Saad
Highmore - Kampf - Smith/Nylander
- catrisc

The Kane, Kubalik, Toews looks better than it performs. I would leave Caligula with Toews and Kubalik.

Put Saad with Kane and Kampf. Carpenter doesn't work with Kane. May as well try Kampf.

Enjoy it while you can. The Preds next 3 games are at home against the Ducks, Sabres and Leafs.
- -Doh-

What am I missing? I only see 1 win?

Could the Blackhawks REALLY be talking to Vegas about Gus, and asking for an "already drafted prospect of high prominence"...

Peyton Krebs?

Dont hang me out on this one, but just heard it and it rings true in my mind that Gus would fit, but they also have their firsts and five 2nds in the next two drafts....
- wiz1901

I would drive Gus to the airport myself for that deal.

NHL Public Relations
✔
@PR_NHL
Zach Smith's 11 shorthanded goals since 2015-16 are tied for the most among all skaters through that span.
- LAHawk

His value will never be higher. Trade him RFN

As weird as it sounds, I thought Dach played his best hockey paired with Smith and Carpenter. Take your pick as to who actually centers that line.

I would like Saad with ADB and Strome, but not sure who would actually play right wing.

I think Kampf Highmore Caggiula would be a hell of a line as well.

So basically, I'm just throwing crap at the wall and hoping something sticks...
- Chunk

Not weird, but don’t forget that got him a lot of shifts against the other team’s 4th line, which gave him a major skill advantage.

I Dach, but he’ll develop faster playing against better players.

His value will never be higher. Trade him RFN
- Elbows15

Is RFN a forward, or a defenseman?

Career save % .917 - Last 2 years .908
Career GAA 2.45 - Last 2 years 2.96

So, unless you’ve mastered the ability to turn back time, or figured out how he can play 50+ games a year in The Bell Centre, peak Crawford is in the rear view mirror. Plus, he’s being outplayed by his co-goalie.
- scottak

Statistically the difference between .917 and .908 is a little more than one goal per every 4th game. Can some of that be attributed to the defense in front of him? I think so. Can some of that be attributed to injuries or irregular play. Maybe. I am not suggesting Crow will ever be the 2015 Crow. But there have been a lot of goalies that came back from a couple of down years to have very solid years after they turned 35, especially if the team in front of them improved.

What am I missing? I only see 1 win?
- scottak

Hold that thought and let's check back on the morning of Tuesday January 28th.

Not only that but when you watch that video, he's not just yelling, he's yelling instruction. Making adjustments as the game goes on, and... you know... coaching. How often do you see Coliton do that?
- Jance

JC is good at covering his mouth and whispering.

Saw a funny post on another website recently.

Q after a big win: ‘F’ing awesome, just f’ing awesome’

JC after a big win: ‘We’ll ... I thought our start was good. We did some good things out there. I hope we can keep doing good things’.

Is RFN a forward, or a defenseman?
- mohel

yes

The guy that should sit for a game or two is Dach. He seems to be pressing a bit. Probably do him good to see the game from a different perspective for a night or two.

Statistically the difference between .917 and .908 is a little more than one goal per every 4th game. Can some of that be attributed to the defense in front of him? I think so. Can some of that be attributed to injuries or irregular play. Maybe. I am not suggesting Crow will ever be the 2015 Crow. But there have been a lot of goalies that came back from a couple of down years to have very solid years after they turned 35, especially if the team in front of them improved.
- -Doh-

Is he one of the best 31 goalies in the NHL, yes. He should be starting somewhere next year. I’d be fine with him staying and starting here. Heck, I’d like to see the Hawks move RL for assets this season.

But CC isn’t even the best goalie on his own team, at this point in his career.

Could the Blackhawks REALLY be talking to Vegas about Gus, and asking for an "already drafted prospect of high prominence"...

Peyton Krebs?

Dont hang me out on this one, but just heard it and it rings true in my mind that Gus would fit, but they also have their firsts and five 2nds in the next two drafts....
- wiz1901

Was Krebs the guy that got injured toward the end of last season where it may have caused him to fall a bit in the draft?

Tyler in your opinion does saad crawford and gust get traded at the TDL? if so to what teams make the most sense for each of these players and what would be the return? Maybe this could be a future blog you write.

The guy that should sit for a game or two is Dach. He seems to be pressing a bit. Probably do him good to see the game from a different perspective for a night or two.
- Elbows15

Might not be a bad idea, but the problem is that they don't have anyone else who can draw in.

And so help me God if anyone says "you can just put Gus at wing"...

Was Krebs the guy that got injured toward the end of last season where it may have caused him to fall a bit in the draft?
- EbonyRaptor

Yep, Krebs was that prospect who dropped from upper top 10 to the teens. Taken 17th but was as high as 4th or 5th on some draft board predictions.

If the trade is Gustafsson for Krebs straight up, then you say yes as fast as possible and don't wait for the ink to dry.

But if there's a Gustafsson+ then it depends on what the + is.

Krebs plays center as his primary position but can also play LW. After 3 years with Kootenay, he's now on Winnipeg with Teply so the Hawks have plenty of opportunity to see Krebs in action while observing one of their own.

Might not be a bad idea, but the problem is that they don't have anyone else who can draw in.

And so help me God if anyone says "you can just put Gus at wing"...
- Chunk

It was on the premise of Saad and Strome being back in the line-up. I wouldn't do it before then.

Is RFN a forward, or a defenseman?
- mohel

Ryan Nugent Hopkins' second cousin Ryan Fugent Nopkins. RFN also doubles as a Hobbit.

Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 3, Episode 10 – Tyler Cameron of HockeyBuzz

https://www.the-rink.com/...cast-season-3-episode-10/

It was on the premise of Saad and Strome being back in the line-up. I wouldn't do it before then.
- Elbows15

Well, one of them is not going to happen...

Blackhawks recall Brandon Hagel, put Dylan Strome on IR.

Well, one of them is not going to happen...

Blackhawks recall Brandon Hagel, put Dylan Strome on IR.
- Chunk

Good decision by the Blackhawks on Hagel as the call-up. With Kurashev out injured and who would have been my top choice otherwise, Hagel has been the Hogs most consistent forward who is noticeable every shift. Plays like his hair is on fire, almost a kamikaze style if he's not careful. Solid 200-foot game, fast as heck, and offensive skills to boot.

I was fearing it would have been Nilsson. While a good leader for the Hogs, he would be nothing but a placeholder or warm body on the Hawks.

Hagel has potential to be an impact player in the bottom 6 in the future. Great to get a cup of coffee, even if to just practice with the big club and be a healthy scratch for games. Get a taste of the NHL lifestyle so he knows what to work on even more once returned to Rockford.

Is he one of the best 31 goalies in the NHL, yes. He should be starting somewhere next year. I’d be fine with him staying and starting here. Heck, I’d like to see the Hawks move RL for assets this season.

But CC isn’t even the best goalie on his own team, at this point in his career.
- scottak

Again not saying Crow is his 2015 self. But reading too much into the numbers with the team that has played in front of him is a stretch. Lehner's numbers are better and even in the eye test he has been better this year. But Crow has started 23 only games and Lehner only 25. That is a very small sample size.

Last year Crow's goals against was the best on the team by far (Crow 2.93GAA, Delia 3.61, Ward 3.67), again with a horrible defense in front of him.

Crow may be finished. But maybe not.

Good decision by the Blackhawks on Hagel as the call-up. With Kurashev out injured and who would have been my top choice otherwise, Hagel has been the Hogs most consistent forward who is noticeable every shift. Plays like his hair is on fire, almost a kamikaze style if he's not careful. Solid 200-foot game, fast as heck, and offensive skills to boot.

I was fearing it would have been Nilsson. While a good leader for the Hogs, he would be nothing but a placeholder or warm body on the Hawks.

Hagel has potential to be an impact player in the bottom 6 in the future. Great to get a cup of coffee, even if to just practice with the big club and be a healthy scratch for games. Get a taste of the NHL lifestyle so he knows what to work on even more once returned to Rockford.
- AEL_Fox

AEL, how would a fourth line of Highmore, Hagel, Caggiula look?