Theo Fox: Game 2: Hawks 2, Bolts 5
The Blackhawks lost the opening series against the Lightning. Philipp Kurashev made his NHL debut while Collin Delia was the starting goalie du jour.

First...again. Great job Theo.

Baby steps...

Didn't see much of the game but flipped it on when it was 3-2, but the Lightning pretty quickly scored a pair of goals and that was that.

Good to see Kurashev make his debut and hopefully a few more of the kids filter in and out of the lineup this season.

First...again. Great job Theo.
- devilhawk

Hawks... Suck D

Hawks... Suck D
- Tweaterben

Not true. Pretty sure I'd know if that had happened.

Hawks... Suck D
- Tweaterben

Thanks for the enlightening content.
Now go back to the "wild" side, And continue being irrelevant for another decade!

Strome is performing, for a #3 center.

Re: our defensemen

If Boqvist continues with the issues Theo describes through game #10 and does not display improvement in said areas of the game, then fir his and the team's best interest Boqvist should spend at least 15- 20 gp in Rockford. He needs to work on some things and perhaps most of the regular season he should need all those games in the AHL. I would choose to recall and play him the last five or so NHL games.

That Boqvist survived as seen in the NHL is a credit to him. But if you believe he is capable of much better performance defensively, then the demotion is going to help in his development. I remain fixed on Boqvist becoming the future offensive producer on a second pair in Chicago. Hoping that could work out next season.

Other bloggers could step up as to a review of Boquist skating - backwards just backwards. Perhaps he should extend his summer gym weights work out to the ice for instruction and practice in backwards skating.

To LA HAWK
You are correct saying Kane should not be moved to center. I do remain in favor of trading just one dman prospect if this can be done ONLY for a true center or it could be for a true wing but the caveat is that whomever we get, has to be a comparable in terms of talent ceiling young player. Whom would play the game along the boards.

We do not have top six prospects whom play that way.Well a couple collegiate do but when they turn pro, are they projected as opposed six talent. You can only draft so many type of this player in round one, maybe round two.

And if we are governed by the best player available, then the team's odds to improve much is held in check by a lack of boards cycle type players. We may have some AHLprospects willing and able to play this way but they project as bottom line players. I would like to see more of what we have Barrett than just his Rockford review. And actually I have been guessing for a while that he could be Strome's replacement.

Strome is not all bad but s not the answer as a center on this team

Theo Fox: Game 2: Hawks 2, Bolts 5
The Blackhawks lost the opening series against the Lightning. Philipp Kurashev made his NHL debut while Collin Delia was the starting goalie du jour.
- Theo Fox

Still find it wild we only play our division all season. 2 games vs coach Q and company now.

Don't know how goal 3 wasn't interference. What's up with Boqvist skating? I thought he was way more fluid on his skates last year.

Kanes got to play defense such a poor attempt especially when you are down 1 goal, unless he wants to play in front of the net.

I thought Corey was an adventure handling the puck, way to easy for the opponent because they aren't on the same page.

I was quite pleased by the improvement from G1 to G2. Some of it was the roster and line changes. Eliminate a couple goalie gaffes, and it was a pretty even game.

Natural Stat Trick had the 5 v 5 this way:

Scoring Chances 29-29
High Danger SC 11-9 in favor of TB
ExGF 2.40-2.18 in favor of TB

I was quite pleased by the improvement from G1 to G2. Some of it was the roster and line changes. Eliminate a couple goalie gaffes, and it was a pretty even game.

Natural Stat Trick had the 5 v 5 this way:

Scoring Chances 29-29
High Danger SC 11-9 in favor of TB
ExGF 2.40-2.18 in favor of TB
- scottak

Good info, thanks. Glad to see the improvement. Question, though....what is the ex-girlfriend stat?

For comparison, these are the 5v5 from G1:

Scoring chances 24-19 TB
High danger 7-2 TB
XGF 1.79-1.07 TB

XGF is Expected Goals For.

Not true. Pretty sure I'd know if that had happened.
- HawkintheD

I think the Hawks are close to being a contender again. All they need to do is improve they offense, defense, goaltending, power play, penalty kill, 5 on 5 play, and coaching then they’ll be right there with the Lightning.

For comparison, these are the 5v5 from G1:

Scoring chances 24-19 TB
High danger 7-2 TB
XGF 1.79-1.07 TB

Natural Stat Trick doesn’t publish the players dating history.
- scottak

Looks like a more even game than the 1st game. I wouldn't have thought that from some of last night's comments (not directed at you).

I think the Hawks are close to being a contender again. All they need to do is improve they offense, defense, goaltending, power play, penalty kill, 5 on 5 play, and coaching then they’ll be right there with the Lightning.
- DarthKane

No - then they’d still need to get a much better Anthem singer.

Not true. Pretty sure I'd know if that had happened.
- HawkintheD

Well played, Chief!

Looks like a more even game than the 1st game. I wouldn't have thought that from some of last night's comments (not directed at you).
- mohel

Sorry, didn’t understand the question, xGF is expected goals for.

I think the Hawks are close to being a contender again. All they need to do is improve they offense, defense, goaltending, power play, penalty kill, 5 on 5 play, and coaching then they’ll be right there with the Lightning.
- DarthKane

Crawford’s available. And If Hossa’s skin condition has cleared up, they can now fit him in under the CAP.

Both would be the best player at their position.

I think the Hawks are close to being a contender again. All they need to do is improve they offense, defense, goaltending, power play, penalty kill, 5 on 5 play, and coaching then they’ll be right there with the Lightning.
- DarthKane

You think their JC is better than our JC?

You think their JC is better than our JC?
- scottak

Most definitely. But at the same time, their JC wouldn't make this roster a winner.

Not true. Pretty sure I'd know if that had happened.
- HawkintheD

This is a family site! You’re disgusting!

Most definitely. But at the same time, their JC wouldn't make this roster a winner.
- mohel

No, he wouldn't. Cooper is a decent coach, but he was gifted a roster with multiple elite players and at least one "generational" player (Hedman). You could grab a random hobo out of the bus station parking lot and he could make a contender from Tampa's roster.

I like your JC - he's not another stuffy old fossil trying to force an outdated style on a modern team (ala Babcock types). The guy just has his work cut out for him - unproven goalies, elite players on the wrong end of the aging curve, and a defense with holes in it.

Has anyone looked at Big Buff again? Is he done for good?

I thought the team was much better last night .Zadorov hit on Coleman was great Coleman was running our goalie and that 3rd goal was interference . I like to see Hagel get a shot not sure who comes out for that .Boqvist has been rushed and maybe could use a break give Beaudin a shot . If the HAWKS continue to improve at this rate the playoffs are a cinch

No, he wouldn't. Cooper is a decent coach, but he was gifted a roster with multiple elite players and at least one "generational" player (Hedman). You could grab a random hobo out of the bus station parking lot and he could make a contender from Tampa's roster.

I like your JC - he's not another stuffy old fossil trying to force an outdated style on a modern team (ala Babcock types). The guy just has his work cut out for him - unproven goalies, elite players on the wrong end of the aging curve, and a defense with holes in it.

Has anyone looked at Big Buff again? Is he done for good?
- GalacticStone

Buff is done and that would be going in the wrong direction .TB benefits from tax breaks for the players to continue to stay under the Cap .

Th Hawks have placed Seeler on unconditional waivers.