There better be more information coming on this.......Or What?

As a fan you are not promised, guaranteed, or entitled to any information. The fact that we live in an era when information like that is even available does not mean you are then privy to info as to why/who/etc.

The fact is Chicago is a very popular place for scouts, and there are a number of them in attendance at every game. It's a central location, with several minor league teams in close proximity and many teams moving guys around because of the upcoming break.

The power of the internet has so changed how fans consume their sports. The abundance of information readily available is both a blessing and a curse for some. No longer can you just study the agate in the newspaper and/or pick up the specialty publications like Hockey News, Baseball America, Sporting News, etc.

Internet sites and social media means instant gratification/speculation as soon as someone posts a pic of a press box list of scouts in attendance, or a pic of a GM or scout they may have seen in the stands.
- TheTrob

Agreed and you have advanced scouts getting information for an upcoming game, etc. Guys could be scouting for a possible UFA this summer, etc. Nobody knows and it's never transparent...so to expect something tipping their hand isn't going to happen.

Im happy they are playing well. Have they, as a team, finally gotten "it"? No idea but its better then watching them get waxed and look embarrassing more often then good.

If Keith or Murphy miss any time "oy vey!"
- rpeters01

Agree. I do not think the Hawks have anyone that can come up from Rockford at D or forward and contribute positively. The lone exceptions could be Lankinen or Delia, but I doubt they out perform Lehner or Crow. If they came up they would only be used on a very limited basis (unless the Hawks fell out of contention).

Yeah, I think the system started to be implemented more than a year ago, it was tweaked, and it is NEW,not a copy, a hybrid and they players needed time to feel it as opposed to thinking it.

When I watch now, I see a poke check every 4 seconds...the personnel seems tailored to guys strong in that area.
- wiz1901

yeah...that has been very noticable...the active sticks on shots and passes and skate in entries; vs the leafs and jets it was there as you describe "every 4 seconds"

What do you think the chances are that they keep both goalies? Sign Lehner to a 4 X 6M. Crow takes a very team friendly 1 or 2 year deal just because he wants to stay/finish here? Anyone think this could happen?
- BobP.

I highly doubt it Both guys don't want to be in a platoon after this year and both want to be THE guy. Seems they both get along with each other so you don't have to worry about an Ed Beflour-Jeff Hackett jealousy rage.

75-80 at 37 years old would be impressive.
- rpeters01

Could be some 100 point years and then some 80 point years and then some 60 point years.

Last I read Shaw has made 0 improvement.
- rpeters01

i don't know about zero...not sure if anyone has the inside scoop on that...

his wife just gave birth to their 2nd child...lets hope he is getting better for he and his family sake

I think he'll get it done. He has continued to get better as he's gotten older, he'll plateau but I don't see any slow down in his game.....yet.
- SteveRain

I agree, I think he gets there. He is a rink rat who loves nothing more than to play.
I think while many lose the pure joy of playing the game and it becomes a job, I don't see that happening with Kane. He has remained remarkably healthy in his career give or take a fluke injury here and there (clavicle, ankle, ?), and while he may lose a step or so over time, it's his hands and vision that make him special. Keep him surrounded with kids he can mentor and keep him engaged and he will get there.

Hopefully he remains a Hawk for life.

yeah...that has been very noticable...the active sticks on shots and passes and skate in entries; vs the leafs and jets it was there as you describe "every 4 seconds"
- bogiedoc

Wait.......Isn't "active sticks" a foundation of Q's defense?

Funny how a couple of weeks change this board from blow it up trade everyone including the Zamboni driver to Stan better not give up anything that is an asset?

To me the most interesting is what Stan does about the Lehrer/Crow situation. Any other moves are going to be predicated off of who gets signed, term and amount.

I don't have any insight in the increase in scouts. Put out some feelers to my contacts but nothing yet.
- Tyler Cameron

The extra scouts are here for the specials at Binny's.

Wait.......Isn't "active sticks" a foundation of Q's defense?
- TheTrob

Yes. And every other good defense.

I don't have any insight in the increase in scouts. Put out some feelers to my contacts but nothing yet.
- Tyler Cameron

C’mon man. You gotta do better than that...or else!

Wait.......Isn't "active sticks" a foundation of Q's defense?
- TheTrob

it could be but i have not seen this high degrees of "active sticks" as has been over the last 4-5 games. They are challenging with their sticks all over the ice.

Its been the key to their pk as well as great net minding...

lehner is sporting a 94% save on the pk...

Funny how a couple of weeks change this board from blow it up trade everyone including the Zamboni driver to Stan better not give up anything that is an asset?

To me the most interesting is what Stan does about the Lehrer/Crow situation. Any other moves are going to be predicated off of who gets signed, term and amount.
- LAHawk

this big one to see what happens over the next month

it could be but i have not seen this high degrees of "active sticks" as has been over the last 4-5 games. They are challenging with their sticks all over the ice.

Its been the key to their pk as well as great net minding...

lehner is sporting a 94% save on the pk...
- bogiedoc

Biggest changes to the defense over the last 10 games or so....

- No Seabrook or Gilbert - they are a little quicker and able to get to more pucks
- Continued improvement of Boqvist in his own end. - he is playing more defensively aware and is quick enough to recover from his mistakes.
- Better balance and matchups of the pairings. - Murphy has been playing strong enough to cover for Gus's continued allergies in the D-zone, Maata and KK match up well as a 3rd pairing. Keith and Boqvist paired well and Boqvist starting to show a little more creativity.
- most of all, the forwards are making a better concerted effort to help clear pucks and come back to help.

Very demanding.
- Ogilthorpe2

C’mon man. You gotta do better than that...or else!
- Ogilthorpe2

Personally, I think this win streak has put JC and StanBo in a better position.

JC having his players buy in and poke check every enemy play that gets close to loose pucks or are in possession of them dampens as many entires into the Hawk territory.

Here is the thing about the mix of bodies:

Of Course you must have high end superior offensive creators and a team w/o a Kane, is less likely to create looks.

We have to give the entire forward contingent on how well they press, use their sticks, and delight in attacking around the high end skilled players.
Everyone even the dee-men seem to be delighting in the attacks and presses.

Have no idea if the early season pitfalls were eating at the group, but certainly they SEEM to be enjoying the game now, and that is certainly a part of winning, and confidence and the like.

I don't think the streak affects their trade deadline thinking...if it is there, they deal off Gus or a forward...

If they cant get the adds(eg. draft picks, young promising fits)
they want, they simply stay the course...because they are still on the outside looking in, and a string of tough losses will complicate playoff fanatsies.

Would they help some team wanting to make a 3rd team deal by taking an ending contract, maybe, but only because they want picks for the re-tool...but not necessarily as players they would have the va

They want the seats sold, they want a season ticket waiting list, they want lemonade sales, so they will sell new beginnings but won't go crazy to sell off or buy over this string of successes....
- wiz1901

Wiz...seems to me also, that the forward group as a whole are doing a much better job of chasing and putting pressure on teams as they enter our zone. This seems to have reduced the time and space the defense has to contend with from some creative players. I noticed this particularly when they played the Leafs on Saturday. Guys like Matthews would not have much time to dangle and deceive our D-men, as pressure was quickly coming at him from behind. I think this type of "Team" defensive pressure is beginning to gel. Or at least I hope so. Because I like the way the defense has improved. Keeping the high flying Leafs and the Jets to 2 goals each. Impressive. Hope they keep it up.

Wiz....have you noticed the difference in the forwards involvement applying pressure? Or just me, and wishful thinking???

Was good news to hear that Seabs came in for Kane's 1000th celebration in the locker room. I know Kane looks up to him a great deal, and I take it to mean that Seabs' early surgeries were successful.
- pdx2ord

Good to hear thx

i don't know about zero...not sure if anyone has the inside scoop on that...

his wife just gave birth to their 2nd child...lets hope he is getting better for he and his family sake
- bogiedoc

I don't see how he is going to be able to continue if he refuses to avoid physical contact. He knew he started getting concussions and yet he still played extremely physical. That's his M.O. of course but he won't last doing it anymore. Not sure what he thought was going to happen this year but it obviously didnt work. Hopefully he can alter his game to be effective without crashing and banging anymore because he won't last.

Adam Lowry out 4 weeks.

I don't see how he is going to be able to continue if he refuses to avoid physical contact. He knew he started getting concussions and yet he still played extremely physical. That's his M.O. of course but he won't last doing it anymore. Not sure what he thought was going to happen this year but it obviously didnt work. Hopefully he can alter his game to be effective without crashing and banging anymore because he won't last.
- just69sayin

If he comes back, he will need to be a lot more selective in the physical part of his game. Avoiding some checks and pulling up on some checks. He has enough other skills and he has a high motor. Shaw could still be effective in a less physical role bottom six role. Other players have done it. Mikita averaged over 105 minutes of PIM his first 5 years in the league. Of course Shaw does not have Mikita like skills and I am NOT comparing Shaw to Mikita. Shaw should look at Mikita's quality of life the last few years of his life. Something for Shaw to think about.

From previous blog:

3 things:

1) which system have they bought into?

2) 24 scouts at the game, there better be more information coming on this.

3) no one get their hopes up to much, we have one of the easier schedules this half of the season.
- gifman

There better be?!? Are you going to demand a refund?

C’mon man. You gotta do better than that...or else!
- Ogilthorpe2

If he can’t, I’m sure Bob can.

If he comes back, he will need to be a lot more selective in the physical part of his game. Avoiding some checks and pulling up on some checks. He has enough other skills and he has a high motor. Shaw could still be effective in a less physical role bottom six role. Other players have done it. Mikita averaged over 105 minutes of PIM his first 5 years in the league. Of course Shaw does not have Mikita like skills and I am NOT comparing Shaw to Mikita. Shaw should look at Mikita's quality of life the last few years of his life. Something for Shaw to think about.
- -Doh-

So not only is Kubalik Hossa lite, now Shaw is Mikita lite? Just kidding, I like reading your posts.