Actually, if we have to give Zach Smith with retained salary, and Crow for a prospect, and a third I would have to sleep on it.

I think Stan is aiming higher (with 3 weeks left to go in the TDL) To me, if Stan does not trade either Lehner or Crow at the TDL is ok by me. we gave up a whole $5 mil. in salary for Lehner (but of course Stan haters will say it was a fail, should of signed him long term for that amount of money)

Campbell had a good season last year behind Quick. Not so much this year, he has been struggling. .90 save percentage is not that good.

Toronto gets a back up goalie, the team lost complete confidence in Hutchison, they needed someone back there with a different name on the back of the jersey. They get the tough guy that Babcock always wanted Dubas to get (Clifford). They gave up a California kid that was never going to be more than an energy player for the Leafs.

This is more a trade of desperation by Toronto. There hope is that Anderson gets better, and Campbell does nothing more than wear a baseball cap the rest of the year.

Can't wait for the knives to come out when Toronto misses the playoffs.

I bet Lehner gets moved for a 1st and conditional 3rd and then resigns with the Hawks
- RedRevenge

An allstar GM would make this move. As I've said already, if you're not competing for a cup, there's no need to have two A+ goalies.

An allstar GM would recognize that and get something back for one of these goalies.

I bet Lehner gets moved for a 1st and conditional 3rd and then resigns with the Hawks
- RedRevenge

I bet neither gets moved at the TDL. Lehner signs elsewhere this summer. Crows signs on for another year, maybe two.

Another possibility is that Lehner has already agreed to a longer term deal the with the Hawks, but as a courtesy to Crow, and to keep things cool in the locker room, they will not announce it until after the season is over.

I bet neither gets moved at the TDL. Lehner signs elsewhere this summer. Crows signs on for another year, maybe two.

Another possibility is that Lehner has already agreed to a longer term deal the with the Hawks, but as a courtesy to Crow, and to keep things cool in the locker room, they will not announce it until after the season is over.
- -Doh-

This whole goalie situation is odd. Based on their commitment to goalies this year, I would expect them to sign the better goalie next year. Which would be Lehner at whatever his massive deal will be.

To lock up 11mil this year in goaltending and then to sign Crow at 3-4mil next year (or whatever it will be) is inconsistent with this years philosophy.

Unless, this year was a goalie tryout for the future.

An allstar GM would make this move. As I've said already, if you're not competing for a cup, there's no need to have two A+ goalies.

An allstar GM would recognize that and get something back for one of these goalies.
- catrisc

Stan is never going to get this offer, unless you consider it coming from fantasy hockey GM's. What GM is going to give up a #1 for Lehner, unless they want to sign him long term. Think Mark Stone/Evander kane deadline deals here.

This whole goalie situation is odd. Based on their commitment to goalies this year, I would expect them to sign the better goalie next year. Which would be Lehner at whatever his massive deal will be.

To lock up 11mil this year in goaltending and then to sign Crow at 3-4mil next year (or whatever it will be) is inconsistent with this years philosophy.

Unless, this year was a goalie tryout for the future.
- catrisc

I think the plan was Lehner was an insurance policy if Crow was not healthy, and to evaluate the situation come TDL, which is what they are doing. they didn't want to have the dumpster fire they had last year when Crow went down I find nothing odd about this whatsoever.

This is the most realistic TDL scenario I see out there regarding the Hawks

From not moving to tradeable – Chicago Blackhawks
Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus: The Chicago Blackhawks have three weeks before they need to decide if they are buyers or sellers. Teams will be calling GM Stan Bowman to see who he’s will to move.

The untouchables – Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Alex DeBrincat, Kirby Dach, Adam Boqvist, Dominik Kubalik and Ryan Carpenter.

The unmoveables – Brent Seabrook, Calvin de Haan, Andrew Shaw, Zack Smith, and Olli Maatta.

Not going anywhere – Connor Murphy, Alex Nylander, David Kampf, Dennis Gilbert, Slater Koekkoek, Matthew Highmore, and Nick Seeler.

Could be moved only if things go south in a hurry – Duncan Keith, Brandon Saad, Drake Caggiula, and Dylan Strome.

Could be moved if Blackhawks go big-game hunting – Dylan Sikura, Nicolas Beaudin, and a 2020 first-round pick.

Most likely to be on the block – Erik Gustafsson, Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner.

Lost in the Maatta ghost hand pass is the fact Smith took a bonehead penalty in a 1-1 game with just over 2 mins left. Ridiculous. The hit meant more than the puck for that mental midget and put his team in a horrendous situation. JC must sit him a game for this.

JC also had no reaction to the Maatta hand pass call. Looked like a vintage Lovie Smith with the Bears during a replay challenge. Facepalm.

Lost in the Maatta ghost hand pass is the fact Smith took a bonehead penalty in a 1-1 game with just over 2 mins left. Ridiculous. The hit meant more than the puck for that mental midget and put his team in a horrendous situation. JC must sit him a game for this.

JC also had no reaction to the Maatta hand pass call. Looked like a vintage Lovie Smith with the Bears during a replay challenge. Facepalm.
- Assman22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekE91S7S3Hc

Lost in the Maatta ghost hand pass is the fact Smith took a bonehead penalty in a 1-1 game with just over 2 mins left. Ridiculous. The hit meant more than the puck for that mental midget and put his team in a horrendous situation. JC must sit him a game for this.

JC also had no reaction to the Maatta hand pass call. Looked like a vintage Lovie Smith with the Bears during a replay challenge. Facepalm.
- Assman22

Yes on the Smith penalty - you have to know where you are in the game.

Also - they had a PP for 30 seconds at the end of the third, and for a minute into the OT - nothing happened.

JC's reaction - there was nothing he could do, ref's admitted the mistake - better to call them out in an explosion like Torts did and hope to intimidate them into not doing it again?

The problem was that - unlike after Hjalmarsson's no-goal in game 7 in 2013 - they didn't "suck it up" and make sure they won the game - they had no on-ice pushback on the PP or after in the OT.

Lost in the Maatta ghost hand pass is the fact Smith took a bonehead penalty in a 1-1 game with just over 2 mins left. Ridiculous. The hit meant more than the puck for that mental midget and put his team in a horrendous situation. JC must sit him a game for this.

JC also had no reaction to the Maatta hand pass call. Looked like a vintage Lovie Smith with the Bears during a replay challenge. Facepalm.
- Assman22

This is why Stanbo hired him. He wanted a submissive HC that wouldn't fight back.

The things that pisses me off about the blown call was they just put a rule in before the season for this specific thing. Hand passes can now be reviewed. So if the official isn't 100% sure, he should know he has replay to bail him out if it was indeed a hand pass. Also, if you watch the play, the linesman is giving the safe signal to indicate the play is good. He has the best view, he is directly in front of the play looking right at it.

Either way, they held there own against one of the top teams in the league, got 2 out of 4 points which is what I expected (just not the way I expected). These next 5 games are going to tell us a lot about where this team is at.

This is why Stanbo hired him. He wanted a submissive HC that wouldn't fight back.
- catrisc

JC is their Dale Sveum. He’s not long term. He’s a placeholder during a rebuild but the issue is this wasn’t a full fledge rebuild hence the player pushback. Is Laviolette their Maddon?

Lost in the Maatta ghost hand pass is the fact Smith took a bonehead penalty in a 1-1 game with just over 2 mins left. Ridiculous. The hit meant more than the puck for that mental midget and put his team in a horrendous situation. JC must sit him a game for this.

JC also had no reaction to the Maatta hand pass call. Looked like a vintage Lovie Smith with the Bears during a replay challenge. Facepalm.
- Assman22

He was just finishing his check. It just so happened that his shoulder caught the guy right on the chin. 95 times out of a 100 it is just another check. If the guy does not drop like a sack of potatoes maybe there is no call.

I think it's time to swap Highmore and Smith. Highmore brings too much energy to sit him. Other than his role on the PP, Smith has been very average. I'd argue you don't have much to lose by swapping the two.

from the video..I can't hear the whistle on the matta play...the bruins players seemed to pull-up before 91 shot. The ref in the video has his arm up and waves off the goal immediately...

i thought alleged hand passes are now reviewable if they lead to goals

Yes on the Smith penalty - you have to know where you are in the game.

Also - they had a PP for 30 seconds at the end of the third, and for a minute into the OT - nothing happened.

JC's reaction - there was nothing he could do, ref's admitted the mistake - better to call them out in an explosion like Torts did and hope to intimidate them into not doing it again?

The problem was that - unlike after Hjalmarsson's no-goal in game 7 in 2013 - they didn't "suck it up" and make sure they won the game - they had no on-ice pushback on the PP or after in the OT.
- StLBravesFan

same old problem...losing faceoffs, can't gain the zone and can't get meaningful pressure and shots on net...i read they are last in the league in shots on net during the pp

The things that pisses me off about the blown call was they just put a rule in before the season for this specific thing. Hand passes can now be reviewed. So if the official isn't 100% sure, he should know he has replay to bail him out if it was indeed a hand pass. Also, if you watch the play, the linesman is giving the safe signal to indicate the play is good. He has the best view, he is directly in front of the play looking right at it.

Either way, they held there own against one of the top teams in the league, got 2 out of 4 points which is what I expected (just not the way I expected). These next 5 games are going to tell us a lot about where this team is at.
- spudrock512

This. the Bruins are a top team playing well. Quote from Cassidy last night:

would say the last six, seven games we’ve been the better team most nights," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Our analytics back that up. I think just the eye test backs that up. The score backs it up."

from the video..I can't hear the whistle on the matta play...the bruins players seemed to pull-up before 91 shot. The ref in the video has his arm up and waves off the goal immediately...

i thought alleged hand passes are now reviewable if they lead to goals
- bogiedoc

I thought so too Bogie, reason i brought up last night the Karllsson hand pass goal against St. Louis in the semi's. I thought they changed the rule. BUT if the ref said he blew the whistle, doesn't matter hand pass or not, play is dead.

as the hawks improve their play...i think it's now better than 50/50 stanbow elects to keep lehner/crow; neither gets moved and possibly neither gets signed

He is going to roll the dice into the offseason. Are they having conversations..sure. He most likely has plans a, b, and c depending on where the team is at in 2 weeks.

He was just finishing his check. It just so happened that his shoulder caught the guy right on the chin. 95 times out of a 100 it is just another check. If the guy does not drop like a sack of potatoes maybe there is no call.
- -Doh-

Point is Smith has a history of this and it reared it’s ugly head again last night putting his team in a tough spot. I get what you’re saying and perhaps at that point of the game it should’ve been a no-call. I agree. Also at that point in the game, Smith should be going for the puck and not the hit. Finishing a check that late in the game is irrelevant. “Active sticks get possession” - something my coach use to yell when on defense late in games

I think it's time to swap Highmore and Smith. Highmore brings too much energy to sit him. Other than his role on the PP, Smith has been very average. I'd argue you don't have much to lose by swapping the two.
- catrisc

You don't have much more to gain either.

Aren't some of you guys Keenan fans? Apparently, he has a new podcast:

https://twitter.com/TheHo.../1225449121802223626?s=20

Point is Smith has a history of this and it reared it’s ugly head again last night putting his team in a tough spot. I get what you’re saying and perhaps at that point of the game it should’ve been a no-call. I agree. Also at that point in the game, Smith should be going for the puck and not the hit. Finishing a check that late in the game is irrelevant. “Active sticks get possession” - something my coach use to yell when on defense late in games
- Assman22

I disagree. If you finish a check on a defensemen at the point and your team gets possession of the puck there is a decent chance you get a 2 on 1 going the other way. It happens against the Hawks all of the time.

Crawford and Lehner for a 2nd...