Where Are We My Good Friends, Standing At The Quarter Pole
by SamFels on Nov 21, 2011 2:39 PM CST
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After the weekend designed by Beezlebub in Alberta, the Hawks passed the quarter pole of the season. While it's easy to let the past two games color everything we think about the Men of Four Feathers, that's not the best way to go about it. Two games do not render everything that happened in the previous 19 meaningless, just as when a team is winning six or seven in a row is not indicative of a historical powerhouse. Let's hand out some quarter pole awards, and then take the overall outlook.
MVP: Patrick Kane - While Marian Hossa will merit some consideration, and Jonathan Toews certainly has to be part of the discussion, neither of those are adjusting to a new position and flourishing while there. Kaner is. We all kind of guffawed when it was brought up that the Hawks were going to try Humpty Hump in the middle, but none of us are doing so now. Kane's even been diligent in his own end, and though he's hardly Datsyuk over there his scoring at the other end cancels out whatever deficiencies he may have in that aspect. There's a reason that Kane is in the top 25 in Behind The Net Rating, and would probably be higher if not for the puke-session in Alberta. There have been games that Kane has simply dominated on every shift, and we hardly saw that last year. There have been nights when every other line has been wonky, and Kane and Hossa carried the team through those.
Runner up: Marian Hossa
Biggest Surprise: Marcus Kruger - You could easily put Nick Leddy here, and I wouldn't have much of an argument against. But Leddy showed flashes last year of being a fine player. We openly scoffed at Kruger and "The Plan All Along" tag he unfortunately had to carry from Stan Bowman. Kruger had an awful camp, and started the season in Rockford. Since his call up, he's gotten better every game. While his numbers don't tell much of a story, and he still can be physically dong-whipped along the boards, he hasn't shown a fear of going to the net, been solid in his own end as well, and seems to get better every game. He still sucks at faceoffs, but like Kane has Sharp on his wing to make up for that, Dream Warrior has Jamal Mayers with him to mitigate that.
Runner up: Nick Leddy
Biggest Disappointment: Bryan Bickell - I'm sure there are plenty of options in people's minds here. In no particular order would be Steve Montador, Andrew Brunette, Michael Frolik, possibly even Joel Quenneville. However, each has had a few games of at least competence. But it's the same refrain with Bickell. After finally showing a willingness to play to his size during last year's playoffs, Bicks had to be called out during camp for not doing so. He started the season ok, and then completely fell back into the abyss of last year's disappointing form. He's been a healthy scratch once, is probably headed there again. He's not providing what the Hawks lack, and that's a hint of a power forward. You'd think he learned the lessons of last year, but hasn't. Bicks may spend a lot of time watching Optimus Grind taking his time.
Runner Up: Niklas Hjalmarsson
Outlook: While it may be a struggle to try and be positive after our eyeballs bleeding through the weekend, in the end it's two games. Or it has the possibility of just being two games depending on the response. It's not the Capitals 3-7 rot at the moment, it's not the Bruins losing six in a row earlier in the year, or anything like that. The Hawks still hover around the top of the Conference even with the warts we knew were there, and that are eminently fixable. Sure, the schedule hasn't been as hard as it will be, but the Hawks racked up the number of points you'd want when the schedule is offering them for discount prices. While everyone is bemoaning the apparent lack of depth that Brent Seabrook's injury has apparently exposed, I don't think that's what it is. Montador and Lepisto are fine when skating a third pairing role. Not so much when asked to do more. That's still an improvement on last season when Nick Boynton and whatever other joker couldn't even take the 3rd pairing role. The bottom six have some issues at the moment, but most of those will be fixed when Dave Bolland is healthy and interested again, whenever that may be.
While I along with you await the response this week from the weekend, looking it overall Hawks fans probably have more to be happy about then angry about, all the while cautious and patient about how the holes (that aren't gaping) get fixed either internally or externally. I get the feeling the Sharks very well may rue how bad the Hawks were in Alberta, because I think they're the ones who are going to pay for it.
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I hope so
I think they’re (Sharks) the ones who are going to pay for it.
Thank you, sir! May I have another?
Personally,
my biggest disappointment of the first quarter of the season was having to tote my wife, sister and niece out to Forks, WA from Seattle this past weekend so they could creep various locations of significance from the Twilight books/movies while I sat in the car and dreamed up a thousand different ways to kill myself.
by ben9599 on Nov 21, 2011 3:06 PM CST reply actions 6 recs
shit, that is a terrible way to spend your weekend
"I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me." - Harry Potter
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. - Douglas Adams
by justforkicks on Nov 21, 2011 3:10 PM CST up reply actions
May have been better
though, than watch the play in Alberta…
by ToewsFatherInLaw on Nov 21, 2011 3:11 PM CST up reply actions
well at least you can turn the tv off?
"I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me." - Harry Potter
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. - Douglas Adams
by justforkicks on Nov 21, 2011 3:25 PM CST up reply actions
That's very true...
and may have been a better alternative.
My daughter was in So Cal for a softball tournament, so not only did I have to watch, but had to update her on the games…painful!
by ToewsFatherInLaw on Nov 21, 2011 3:34 PM CST up reply actions
How supportive, lol
UMD Bulldogs: 2011 NCAA Hockey Nat'l Champions; 2009 & 2011 NCAA DII Football Nat'l Champions
"Terry's down, oh my! Van Persie all by himself now, around Cech, and that'll do it!"
You should get some kind of award for that.
"Showin' her my Toews-face!"
Weeping... that is hilarious
My brother had to see every movie at midnight with his girlfriend.
my wife read em all
but know better than to try and drag me to that crap
Our trade off is the hawks and AVs games in Vancouver and since we both passionately hate the nux its all good
by Canuckslicknutsak on Nov 21, 2011 6:12 PM CST up reply actions
I just read this article before making my way here
Afroman likes tall cans... of Daisy Cutter Pale Ale
Did pretty much everything listed in that article -
The Bella burger, the hospital, the police station, the Cullen House, Bella’s house, the beach…. and on and on and on.
this is on its way to you...
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 4:31 PM CST up reply actions
You have found the antivenin to the reverse DLR. Thank you!
Your story will soothe thousands of lemmings in the following months.
Pardon me I'm only bleeding But you cut me To the bone And tonight You're probably feeling Like a Human Cannonball
I have one kid into that stuff
and we let her see the midnight showing. I felt that was doing more than I should for that movie but you sir, well, you are truly a martyr; for what cause I know not.
Thank you, sir! May I have another?
/Sympathy Greened
Furious George! What happened to your beautiful face?!?
by AirTrafficAJ on Nov 21, 2011 4:22 PM CST up reply actions
too bad you couldn't have dumped them there
and driven farther down the road into Olympic National Park – quite a few awesome trails there, unless it’s raining down buckets, of course.
May I ask Hammer has done to merit a runner up in disappointment?
Serious question. I don’t have the eye that some people do, but I got the impression he was pretty solid in the back end, I know he’s not very offensive but has he ever been? And wasn’t he like second in the league in blocked shots or something to that effect? I’m curious as to what people are expecting from him.
"Showin' her my Toews-face!"
My biggest complaint about Hammer
is that he seems afraid of having the puck on his stick. It’s like he has a bomb that’s about to explode and he can’t get rid of it fast enough. Someone pointed out that he’s not a puck moving D man. Granted, but my perception is he gets all itchy when he’s expected to skate with the puck.
Thank you, sir! May I have another?
I remember one of his shifts
in Edmonton (I think in the 3rd or late 2nd) and he had the puck down in the corner and it literally looked like he was about to shit himself before he cleared it up the boards.
No worries, this was the plan all along!
i was going to say...
that I’m glad Sam listed Hjams as a runner up to biggest disappointment. It’s a gutsy move when you consider the likes of Olesz, Brunette and Bickell making life difficult for me.
Hjams is just not the player many of us thought he’d become two years ago. He plays small for his size (he’s 6’ 2"! I swear!), his offensive game is completely lacking for the reasons Badgerdano touches upon in his post, and he doesn’t make anyone he’s partnered better. You’d think in watching him and Leddy play together that Leddy was the stay at home guy. Truth is, Leddy was the puck mover and the better defender the past few games. That’s just silly in my book. No way a 20 year old offensive minded d-kid should be making you look bad, but that’s been the case.
Not going to comment on the Edmonton game, since I lost interest, but Hjams looked completely lost on a multiple occasions against Calgary. He has too get a lot better.
Haven't you heard? Its Post-Suspension Syndrome.
Little Nicky didn’t like getting yelled out and he has never fully recovered.
Cheertheanthem.com
Agreed.
I’d in matter of fact put Hjammer up as the biggest disappointment for me. Only times I’ve noticed him is in replays of goals against searching for a guy to cover, or being stuck between covering two guys resulting in him actually covering nobody.
Bickell has been a huge bust, yeah, but my expectations for Hjammer are way higher than my expectations for Bickell.
Damn it! I need another beer!
by HumanAfterAll on Nov 21, 2011 9:09 PM CST up reply actions
Hjammer was supposed to turn into one of the best 2nd pair Dmen in the NHL.
He hasn’t, and frustration has built. I’m a big Hjammer fan (see my name), but I too am disappointed in the regression he has had between the time he lifted the Stanley Cup and now.
Another note on Hjammer : I’m suck and fucking tired of this suspension bullshit. It’s not a legitamte excuse for his troubles. Even if it were true, it wouldn’t be a good excuse. GET THE FUCK OVER IT.
Cheertheanthem.com
by HjammerTime on Nov 21, 2011 11:09 PM CST up reply actions
"The Plan All Along" tag he unfortunately had to carry from Stan Bowman
Seriously? Stan Bowman put that tag on him? It didn’t come from you? Pretty funny.
We helped
That’s what Stan said when he signed last year, which was horribly unfair on Kruger. We used it as a tag to make fun of Stan.
www.secondcityhockey.com
www.anfieldasylum.com
isnt it what he said when he brought him up for the playoffs
by putmeinthemadhouse on Nov 21, 2011 4:26 PM CST up reply actions
No
The original question was did the Hawks plan on Signing Kruger before Bolland got hurt. The answer was yes. “The Plan all along” came from a reporter’s tweet of that press conference.
Biggest disappointment.............Michael Frolik.
What?
My serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations.
LET’S GO YOU WHITE SOX!!!!!
he's been up and down...
but I agree. He’s been a bit above my expectations on many a night.
I think we have him sold on this checking line thing
I can deal with him not being a 20 goal scorer on this team.
From this moment forward, the People’s Champion, The Shelby Sensation, The Reverse Apache Master, The Man with the Golden d*ck, Doctor Cock and Balls, that Kenny Powers is now dead...
by Brady Haupt on Nov 21, 2011 10:35 PM CST up reply actions
I agree
but there’ve been a few games now where that checking line hasn’t been checking. There’s the injury thing, of course, but if Frolik is only going to pot 5 or 6 goals then he better be lights-out defensively for that contract. I’ll give Bolland a pass for now, offensively, cause he’s on pace for a career year goal-wise (although a career-worst in assists).
www.mjt.org
ah....
good sense and reason prevail at SCH..
though I must say I thought Carcillo would at least have gotten a mention among the “Biggest Surprise” also-rans..
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 4:22 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
tru, dat..
but still.. the offensive upside/good hands/not being an asshat that we have seen thus far have, for me, been a pleasant surprise..
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 4:33 PM CST up reply actions
I'm just happy he's not running out of position...
that’s all I could have truly asked for. Well, that and him not being a total douchefuck, which he hasn’t been.
This past weekend would have been a lot worse
Had the Hawks not jimmy-kicked the Nucks a few days before. A solid win against the Shorks, and all will be forgotten.
Furious George! What happened to your beautiful face?!?
Bickell's sucked, but I didn't expect a whole lot out of him
He is what he’s always been. If expected more out of him based on his play over a 6-game sample size, you probably shouldn’t have.
My vote for biggest disappointment goes to Mr. Andrew Brunette. He hasn’t been completely worthless, but I think the general expectation was for him to come and be a legitimate top-6 forward with some scoring punch. Unfortunately, as we all know, that just hasn’t worked out since he just can’t keep up our top lines. He’s not a checking-line guy as his offensive skills would be wasted there, so at the end of the day, we’re paying $2 million for a 4th-liner. He simply doesn’t fit on this team, and Stan should be looking to move him if the right offer comes up.
Pat Riley is the devil.
I knew Brunette was slow prior to him coming to the Hawks
but I had no idea how slow until I saw him share the ice with Kane, Toews & Co. I think the intent with Bruno was to have him set up in front of the net, screen the goalie and get the occasional garbage goal. But his teammates can’t sit their cycling the puck for three minutes waiting for him to get there. It’s basically 4 on 5 when he’s on the ice.
See if you can guess what I am now.
by IndianHeadCrest on Nov 21, 2011 4:44 PM CST up reply actions
2 million for a PP specialist really
all of his goals have come from special teams havent they?
maybe one hasnt
by putmeinthemadhouse on Nov 21, 2011 5:30 PM CST up reply actions
Bickell is too often a passenger - eventually, need to bring up a "non-passenger" type.
"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger"
Gotta disagree with Sam on this
While everyone is bemoaning the apparent lack of depth that Brent Seabrook’s injury has apparently exposed, I don’t think that’s what it is.
I do not think it lack of Depth with Biscuit, but Biscuit or D2K
Compare the following
I think this is pretty telling of how much not one but both mean to the team. I am sure other things factor in, but I think does point to importance and need for the team to function.
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Nov 21, 2011 4:45 PM CST reply actions
W/L WO 7 & 2 should be this (formula missed a SOW without Duncs)
W = 2
L = 4
Win % = 0.333
Loss % = 0.667
Diff W = -0.333
Diff L = 0.333
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Nov 21, 2011 5:08 PM CST up reply actions
Mine
MVP: Hossa
The argument for Kane is very good and I don’t disagree but Hossa’s turned whatever line he’s on into an elite line. Neither Kane/Sharp nor Toews/Sharp is anywhere near as effective.
Runner up: Kane, as explained above
Honorable mention: Toews, for obvious reasons
Biggest surprise: Leddy
I’m frankly not surprised that Kruger could anchor a fourth line. I am surprised, though, that Leddy already has more than half as many points (15) as Campbell did in 65 games last year (27). So are you. Be honest.
Runner up: Carcillo, for obvious reasons
Honorable mention: Stalberg, for being an adequate first line fill-in
Biggest Disappointment: Bickell
Yeah, no way around it.
Runner up: Olesz, who I didn’t expect much from, but I thought he might at least crack the lineup
Honorable mention: Crawford, whose started out well but has been very average overall
Author of The Cubs Transaction Report
by Brian C on Nov 21, 2011 4:55 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Pretty much in line with my thoughts
Based on Sam’s reasoning on Leddy not getting the biggest surprise award, not sure how Bickell could be the biggest disappointment though, since we already knew he completely sucked, amirite? (okay, sarcasm out the way now) He was my preseason pick to under-perform though, but I was hoping Olesz would surprise and therefore bump Bickell down to the 4th line.
Aside from flipping Kane and Hossa (very close) and flipping Bickell and Crawford, my list would be identical to yours.
Crow’s extremely close to Huet’s 2010 numbers and the ‘softies" are starting to pile up. Remove the first 5 games of the season, and Crow’s Sv% (.887) is only above Steve Mason for worst in the league among starters. Bickell also looked very good for about 5 games this year after having an excellent rookie campaign and like Crawford has faded since, but the fate of the team hardly rests on Bickell’s shoulders, now does it?
Crow had 4 Quality Starts in his first 5 games. Since then, he has only had 3 QS in his last 12 games. Even if I include his first 5 games, 7 QS in 17 games (41%) would have ranked him 27th of the 29 goalies last season with at least 41 starts.
Teams typically win 75% of games where the goalie records a QS and lose 75% when he does not, so the Hawks offense has been bailing him out and masking the growing issue. If the offense hit a dry spell and Corey doesn’t right the ship, the ledge-jumping will surely reach epic proportions.
I commented over at Fifth Feather earlier that I hope this is just ebb and flow, and I personally believe Corey’s numbers will improve, but currently he’s close to “dogshit” level and it’s hard to deny.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Nov 21, 2011 9:25 PM CST up reply actions
Salak
That is why I thought they were going to give Salak a real chance and also why they gave Salak a one way contract. Crawford exceeded expectations last year and somehow got treated like a sure thing this year. At least by the fans…
I believe we have completely opposite arguments for the exact same reason...
Having kept Emery makes even more sense to me now after Crow’s slow start. When you have a team that is a potential contender, you really can’t trust the fate of that team to two goalies with a total of one year’s NHL experience between them.
Emery gives them a veteran who has had success and who showed last season that he still might be able to carry a team if necessary. Except for Edmonton, he had been fairly solid (.905 Sv%). And although AHL Sv% doesn’t always translate well (since they are typically worse, correct?), Salak is 1-5-0 with a 3.39 GAA, and a .887 Sv% down there. He’s not really making a case that the Hawks made the wrong decision, IMO.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Nov 21, 2011 10:29 PM CST up reply actions
600K guys
John I’d rather give a 600K prospect 35 starts than a 600K veteran. Just to see what you got. If you were “going for it” this year then there were probably better veteran options available. I know of a 1.5M guy I wouldn’t have minded having on the Hawks.
And yeah, AHL goalie stats are not very translatable to the NHL. Especially that teams.
But there wasn’t a better legit back-up available, was there? I mean, sure, Vokoun would have been nice, but he wouldn’t have signed anywhere to be a back-up. We sign him to start and relegate Crawford to back-up?
Also, I would have been crazy nervous relying on Salak for 35 starts … I think Emery is in a way better position to succeed with those, let alone better able to assume the starter’s position if Crawford were to go down. If Crawford gets hurt and we don’t have Emery, then we’d be playing Salak and relying on Richards for those 35 starts.
www.mjt.org
Yeah, that's how I feel too
No reason to pass on Emery for the price vs potential. Plus, waiting until the deadline to see if you have something with Salak would cost prospects. And if Crawford went down, now you’re not “testing” Salak anymore, he needs to be the real deal.
Ultimately, Emery may or may not be the answer either, but there’s at least an emergency switch to pull.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Nov 22, 2011 8:14 AM CST up reply actions
Salak is at the age
Where he has to play in the NHL this year or next. Looking at their Cup chances, are the Hawks going to be in a better or worse position to win a Cup this year or next? Your argument exists next year and the year after that. With your argument, how does Salak or any goalie ever get the chance to move up from the A?
To me the Hawks Cup chances improve next year over this one since some of their kids will be older. So finding out about Salak this year makes sense. At least to me. GM’s are responsible for winning this year and developing players for the future. This year does NOT come across as a “win at all costs” type of year. So, you bring Salak up and see if he can take Crawfords job. And finding out this year is preferable in my mind than finding out next year…
Well, next year Stan will have been able to "kick the tires" on Crawford
to know if they can afford to also test Salak. (one year in the NHL does not a career make, especially with goalies). But we can go in circles on this…
Ultimately, my feeling is this: 3 is better than 2. With 3 goalies with potential in the organization, you have a 50% greater chance that one is going to hit the jackpot, and a 100% greater chance that you have a decent backup if one of them goes down to injury.
“Why build one, when you can have two for twice the price?”
by ChicagoNativeSon on Nov 22, 2011 12:32 PM CST up reply actions
Completely agree,
There may be differing opinions on who should be at 1, 2, and 3, but it is great to have a third leg to stand on. God forbid one of them goes down for the season, that third goalie can make or break the teams year.
There is a problem with outliving your enemies, it usually means that you have outlived your friends as well...
Honnor thy father - D. Vader (Robert Asprin, Myth series)
by burpchelischili on Nov 22, 2011 1:09 PM CST up reply actions
I'm convinced
re: Crow. Consider my earlier post amended.
Author of The Cubs Transaction Report
I'm going to chime in here, even though I shouldn't,
and have said I wouldn’t, but…
The Clusterfuck that has been Alberta the last 2 games has once again been Duncan “I don’t really give a shit anymore” Keith.
We saw it last year before he came out and said it.
We were all really hoping he put it behind him late last year with some inspired play late and in the first round.
But we have seen it a several times this year already and it was on full display these last 2 games in Alberta.
I know everyone has bad games and as the #1 dman his brain farts are always on full display.
But my vote for Biggest Disappointment is 2. Not because he sucks and I want to trade him, but because too often he doesn’t care and I never saw that from Campbell even though the latter has been making $7 mil.+ for a few more years than Keith.
Flame away.
whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender
I'm with you.
He’s a disappointment because he’s shown the ability to absolutely dominate any game he wishes, but very rarely seems to give enough of a fuck to do so.
Great potential is a huge burden, and Keith is not living up to his.
Blackhawks bleed Red & White.
We are all Canucks...including Toews, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, ...need I go on?
How do you know he doesn't care?
This is a pretty subjective statement.
by Katherine215 on Nov 21, 2011 5:33 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Because when you have that much obvious skill and talent.
The only thing holding you back is a lack of ‘give a fuck’.
Blackhawks bleed Red & White.
We are all Canucks...including Toews, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, ...need I go on?
can't agree there..
at that sort of elite level there are so many intangibles that influence form.. everyone has peaks and troughs and I think Keith is just having a (hopefully brief) struggle with his game at the moment.
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 5:37 PM CST up reply actions
Maybe that's what's wrong with all stars when they aren't doing well.
Ovie must be pretty ho-hum about playing at the moment. Stamkos appears a bit apathetic compared to last year. Did you know Getzlaf cares more about playing and winning than Datsyuk?
Pardon me I'm only bleeding But you cut me To the bone And tonight You're probably feeling Like a Human Cannonball
Exactly!
I think too many people, after the Norris, figured we had a Lidstrom on our hands. We don’t. He’s an extremely good defenseman who will have shitty games, especially given the game he is expected to play night in and night out. He’s expected to play against the best forwards in the league at close to the max TOI load of anyone in the league; he’s supposed to shut down the best forecheckers, and he’s supposed to finish the season among the top 20 in plus/minus, and he’s supposed to be one of the best rushing d-men every game he plays. He’s going to have off nights, a number of them. When Seabrook is in and we have a healthy d, that happens less. When he’s taking on a ton, it happens more.
It infuriates me when people say he doesn’t care enough. Ask his fucking dentist how much he cares, ask his teammates.
www.mjt.org
Hey everybody... get off Keith's back...
Over 30 minutes TOI vs Vancouver and no one saw this (TURD) coming? Come on…
Gotta keep him under 25 minutes, or the genie pops out of the bottle.
"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger"
And the root cause of this
is the massive failure of the John Scott Experiment. Please Q, stop playing him, for the sake of the children.
It's on, bitches.
Tweeping as @ehirtens
by hawkeytalk on Nov 21, 2011 8:26 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Even playing 30 minutes he had almost two days off
In between games. I can’t expect that to be his reason for faltering. Then again, reading the 5th feather article someone posted this weekend it seemed like Keith was only to blame for 1 GA in Edmonton. He was blown out several times in Calgary. John Scott does need to go bye-bye though.
by BodomSlayer on Nov 21, 2011 11:01 PM CST up reply actions
he's a human
Based on my observations, humans tend to experience bad days and/or weeks, particularly if they are fatigued. You puny humans seem to lack perfection in your neurological and anatomical structures, and are therefore subject to the mistakes a superior being would not commit.
I am a meat popsicle
Negligent caretaker of SCH for Dummies
SCH's resident 8 year old
by LanceFister3 on Nov 21, 2011 5:50 PM CST up reply actions
That is unpossible.
Failures happen only when we do not care enough. Gretzky cared more than anyone else about scoring and that’s why he’s on your Wheaties.
Pardon me I'm only bleeding But you cut me To the bone And tonight You're probably feeling Like a Human Cannonball
I cannot agree with this statement
Keith is again being ridden too hard in terms of TOI, and while we can expect him to suffer the occasional lapse in judgement, the team is better with him in the lineup than not. I love Seabs, but this team truly falls or rises with Keith, and that proves how valuable he really is.
The first part of this statement re TOI
Is a resounding YES.
It's on, bitches.
Tweeping as @ehirtens
Keith's TOI is down over 1:30 per game from last season
just sayin’
by ChicagoNativeSon on Nov 21, 2011 9:32 PM CST up reply actions
Aside from the 30 minute game recently
Yeah I’d say this wasn’t a problem this year. And I think Keith’s been fighting it a little. I don’t think he’s been bad, but you can bet he sure wishes he could regain a little more form.
From my point of view, Keith's problems seem to originate from his positioning
without the puck. He’s leaving himself in a position of needing to recover nearly every shift lately. As one of the best “recovery” defenders in the league, you’d think this isn’t a big issue but if he’s gifting so much space to opponents even he will be caught in between proper defensive coverage. No man’s land so to speak. Chasing or recovering every shift is also very taxing, and disproportionately wears on you more than time on ice. Good positioning can give a defenseman tons of easy minutes out there.
For my money, Keith is not a rushing or skate and create defender. I see Leddy more in that light. Leddy appears as though he will be able to generate offence from nothing throughout his career (I know, I know… he’s young so he doesn’t do it flawlessly all the time but that’s the way his game looks). Keith on the other hand is at his best when he positions himself to retrieve the puck and then counter quickly with a pass or a couple quick strides before a pass. To me, his offence has always come from joining the play afterwards, not being the driver of the play. With proper defensive positioning and his amazing ability to recover he has shown to be one of the best one-on-one defenders in the league regardless of who he’s covering (powerforward, speed guy, hands guy, a park in front of the net guy etc.). When you’re caught between coverage, it’s pretty damned hard to be in a one-on-one position to defend (no longer playing the game to his strengths).
I think his game is a relatively quick fix. He needs to only think of his defensive positioning. Once the puck is turned over his offensive supporting instincts will kick in and he’s fine. When he’s trying to position himself for offensive success before defensive he’s leaving holes all over the ice. It’s like he’s got something in his mind saying, “I have to generate offence for this team. I have to live up to Norris Trophy winner point totals.” I don’t think he has to, and when he stops trying – I think that offence will “magically” return to him (not to mention not getting fried out there on D…)
You are next.
by M7 on Nov 22, 2011 11:19 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Keith
So you have Keith more as a passer and less of a puck mover? Which negates why he should be played with Seabrook and suggests he is better playing with Leddy. Is that correct?
No, no..
He’s still a puck mover but he’s not really in the realm of a Leddy or Campbell who will just grab the puck and say, “fuck it, I’m moving this puck up ice by myself”. Keith doesn’t/can’t/won’t do it. He’s kind of an in-betweener IMO. He’s a puck mover but he really only moves the puck far enough to get out of imminent trouble before passing it on. Or, he moves it (holds it) long enough to draw defenders out of position before passing.
The reason I’m not a fan of a Keith/Leddy pairing is that neither is of the physical stature to move guys if things get hairy. Keith can recover and has a great stick but when there’s a goal-mouth scrambled that calls on both defenders to converge on their goalie and muscle someone – the two of them together isn’t the answer. I would also add that because both of them like to have the puck on their stick, it usually leaves the one without the puck wanting to get into a position to have more of the puck, thereby drawing themselves out of good defensive positioning.
You are next.
I get the size issue.
But not the one about Keith getting out of position because he wants the puck. I get that he is not really a traditional puck mover or stay at home defender. Which has been my point on that issue. It’s just that if Keith plays better without the puck he should play better with Leddy than Seabrook. And I agree with you, btw, since I think Q saw that and was why he paired Leddy and Keith in the first place. So, I think playing with Leddy actually helped in exactly what you were talking about.
Ok, I see what you're saying.
I guess it’s hard to say entirely. Speaking of Keith’s positioning, I’m not only referring to play in his own end. He’s drifting (read: looking for offence) all over the ice. In many instances, at the wrong time which is leaving holes for the opposition to move through if the Hawks turn the puck over.
Speaking of the puck mover/passer/stay-at-home/rushing defenseman dichotomy though, I’ve had some interesting discussions with people over which natural instincts put a player into which category. For example, some of the guys who grab the puck in their own zone and truly rush with it (meaning that the likelihood of them passing is almost nil until the puck is deep in the offensive zone) are really more defensively minded. Sounds abstract, but their instincts tell those players that if they’re going to take the puck, they better commit 100% to getting it in and deep (as far from their own net as possible – can’t score from behind the goal line). Those players are also usually the first to double back to the blueline after getting the puck beneath the goal line or on net – recognition of their defensive responsibility). There are many ways of looking at it, but I think defensive pairings need just as much thought as forward pairings and they usually aren’t given that much consideration. I say this because natural instinct needs to be replaced or conditioned with the thought responsibility much more on the defensive end which means coaches need to understand their d-men very well. This leaves me wondering what Q is doing with Scott. Is it a pissing contest or does he really see something that I haven’t picked up on yet?
You are next.
Hmm, I really love all this insight you're bringing
What about Hjammer? I feel like Nik is, whether by ability or by choice, defensively-minded at this point, but he doesn’t seem to be 100% committed to having the puck (more like repels it). And it seems like when he does actually pass (rather than dump it up the boards), it’s almost like he’s trying to create offense, rather than anything about getting it deep.
Hjammer's an interesting case.
As you mention, he really does have a case of hot-potato-itis. It’s frustrating to see him shovel the puck up the boards when there are open passes to be made. Particularly because puck-possession is so critical to the game (and the Hawks specifically). While clearing the zone by any means is still of paramount defensive importance, he really is taking our forwards out of the game by doing that.
This tells me he has confidence issues. Either in his skating or his puck handling skills (or likely both). Generally when a player is clearing the zone it means they are not seeing the ice well because they are not confident enough to hold onto the puck long enough to see space opening up. You always hear players mention that as you step of from college/junior to the AHL and then to the NHL that the single biggest adjustment is speed of the game. IMO, a poor way of adjusting to that speed is reacting instantly to it, all the time (read: high and hard off the glass as your first option). In my days coaching (keep in mind, I coached younger players wherein my primary job description was developing their talent – winning was secondary) we would work with the players skating first. That’s something easy to work on. If your hands aren’t there by age 15 (or by the time you reach the NHL) they’re not really ever going to improve substantially). By all accounts it sounds as though Hjammer is one of the fittest Hawks, so you should be able to put him through the ringer of all workouts to improve his foot speed (guys can still be fit with heavy feet and I think that describes him to a tee). This alone would give him the confidence in his ability to skate out of perceived trouble, thereby allowing him to hold onto the puck a fraction longer.
Another tool we would use is to put a player like Hjammer into powerplay situations. Technically, a PP is at full game speed, but you’re placing him in a position where he has more time to make decisions by default (5 on 4 means it takes longer for a defender to get to you). Essentially you’re building puck-possession confidence by placebo effect… defenders simply have to back off of the puck career unless they are sure they can force a turnover. Starting a PP from your own end, you are usually void of a high-pressure forecheck, which buys your d-men more time to make better decisions with the puck. The idea being that the more reps that player has in a position to succeed, the more likelihood that player will carry the newfound confidence into all situations. Having said this, maybe you don’t go straight to throwing out there on unit #2, but there would be no harm in practicing with him on the PP and seeing if that breeds some confidence into his possession of the puck.
You are next.
i dunno
my eye test says Hammer has been much more composed in his own end this year compared to last year- clearly, others are seeing things differently. I don’t recall any DOGs this year, or any blind icings, both of which plagued him last year.
And even if he is a bit yippy in his own end, I don’t see how the Hawks can sacrifice their fragile power play to the Hammer Redevelopment Plan.
We like our people!
He may be better this year
but I think he’s still firing the puck blindly far too often. As for the PP. Yeah, given its fragile state, placing him on it may not fit the “team” recipe for development. However, I did qualify this by saying that’s how I worked with developing players that were of the development age and that even Hjammer could be developed along in practice when it really doesn’t hurt the team any (other than giving him 5 minutes of practice time on the PP and taking it from someone else – or by extending PP practice by 5 minutes which may not be a bad option either).
You are next.
by M7 on Nov 23, 2011 1:29 PM CST up reply actions
is that a distinction without a difference?
not trying to be argumentative, but what is that, a shift and a half less than last season? Still seems like way too many minutes to me.
Well, it is by far the biggest decrease in his career
But let’s look at the opposite: Therefore is there any difference in raising his TOI by 1:30 per game? If not, why is anybody mentioning it?
I think it gets to the point where the straw breaks the camel’s back, and any relief – even if it is only 2 shifts per game, has the ability to reap greater rewards.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Nov 22, 2011 12:47 PM CST up reply actions
Correct me if I'm wrong
but isn’t 1:30 a lot? Over the course of a season it means you’re pretty consistently taking more time, and if you’re occasionally getting less in some games, it means you’re really loading up a lot in others.
I think 1:30
at the NHL level is a lot (especially when you get to the threshold that D2K is at). You then need to consider what kind of talent that 1:30 is being played against. In Dunc’s case, it’s usually against other team’s top lines + penalty killing.
if i may offer an analogy
1:30 on top of 25-26 minutes already is like the ten pitches a pitcher makes between 120-130.
Keith himself was interviewed between periods a few games back and said he has to marshal his own resources when he creeps above 25 minutes a night. I am the Unofficial Duncan Keith apologist, but I wonder if some of his uncharacteristic play, particularly early in the game against Calgary when he has dumping pucks out of his own zone rather than finding a teammate and maybe taking a hit, were part of this marshaling.
We like our people!
God, I hope you're right.
Because given how the Sharks have been playing, if the Hawks go into San Jose with anything less than their best, Thornton and company are going to eat them alive (no pun intended).
I would like Norris Trophy Keith back please. :(
Blackhawks bleed Red & White.
We are all Canucks...including Toews, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, ...need I go on?
I know it's wrong..
but I read the comments on a Puck Diddy article and this little gem caught my eye…
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 5:43 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
The Hell you say Coach
I was not aware of this! BTW that reminds me, have you checked in with your neurologist Coach about your 15 brain scrams you got? I think you need to do that sooner then later!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Nov 21, 2011 5:46 PM CST up reply actions
....
I am a meat popsicle
Negligent caretaker of SCH for Dummies
SCH's resident 8 year old
by LanceFister3 on Nov 21, 2011 5:52 PM CST up reply actions
Relax. You've been Pudged...
“If you throw at someone’s head, it’s very dangerous, because in the head is the brain.”
— Pudge Rodriguez to AM 1270 WXYT in Detroit.
Pardon me I'm only bleeding But you cut me To the bone And tonight You're probably feeling Like a Human Cannonball
baseball thing?
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 6:19 PM CST up reply actions
I hope you had to look that up.
Pardon me I'm only bleeding But you cut me To the bone And tonight You're probably feeling Like a Human Cannonball
so you’re saying it’s bad if I got the reference?
I am a meat popsicle
Negligent caretaker of SCH for Dummies
SCH's resident 8 year old
by LanceFister3 on Nov 21, 2011 6:38 PM CST up reply actions
there are so many things
flying over my head right now I’m thinking of changing my name to ‘Heathrow’..
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 6:40 PM CST up reply actions
oh yeah
I knew I recognized “in the head is the brain” but I couldn’t remember what it was from.
Let's go Hawks! Detroit sucks!
Bear down, Chicago Bears!
that comment had 4 thumbs up and 3 thumbs down...
not sure what that says about the human race.
swimming in the Caribeean?
/blacked
Pardon me I'm only bleeding But you cut me To the bone And tonight You're probably feeling Like a Human Cannonball
Standing at the Quarter Pole?
More like Standing at the Gallows Pole:
Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while,
Think I see my friends coming, Riding a many mile.
Friends, did you get some silver?
Did you get a little gold?
What did you bring me, my dear friends, To keep me from the Gallows Pole?
What did you bring me to keep me from the Gallows Pole?
Hurry back, Seabs.
by Waylon on Nov 21, 2011 5:44 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Is there any possibility for Sharp to move back to center
and stick Kane back on Toews wing with Hossa on Sharp’s line? Given how Hossa has played (I think he should have been MVP with Kane as runner-up so far in the season), I feel like he could light it up with Sharp, and everyone knows how Kane and Toews do together. That way, it’ll help Kane defensively, and the lines may get more balanced production.
As far as D goes, I can’t wait for Seabs to get back and Keith won’t have to be run down to the ground before the playoffs are even in sight. Once he gets a bit more of a break, I think he’ll start looking much better like the Norris trophy winner back in 2010.
Hossa/Sharp
It’s not a crazy suggestion given what Hossa has meant to his linemates this season, but he and Sharp haven’t had tons of chemistry in the past. If things continue to stall, who knows, might be worth a try … but I’d like to see how we fare once the three d-pairings are up and healthy again.
www.mjt.org
On the D-front
I agree before they juggle the forward lines, it’d be nicer to see some shuffling on the d-line. I would like to see more of Keith/Seabs and see how that changes things up. I don’t really like Leddy and Keith together because their play is too similar, but they have worked well together for the most part; I just want to see how things change by reuniting Keith/Seabs.
Just as I mentioned Keith's TOI/game is down pretty substantially this year (-1:30)
his TOI with Seabs out of the lineup has actually been slightly down, especially in the past 2 games (25mins/games).
by ChicagoNativeSon on Nov 21, 2011 9:39 PM CST up reply actions
Doesn't that have something to do with
the games being over early though? I thought Q was rolling all the lines and d-pairings more evenly when the game was out of hand. I think Keith would have played more if they were protecting a lead or only down 1 or 2.
by Katherine215 on Nov 22, 2011 10:00 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah probably (probably, as in definitely)
But Leddy was the one Q was double-shifting early in the Edmonton game (I didn’t look at the shift charts for Calgary).
by ChicagoNativeSon on Nov 22, 2011 12:50 PM CST up reply actions
I wouldn't of guessed he's playing haha
I mean i’m surprised they are showing the game and the camera isn’t just on him for 60 mins. ANyways i’m glad he’s back and kind of expected this. I think eh will have a good game tonight but will slump in about 3 games in
Why Q, why?!
"Watching a shootout is like admitting you watch Survivor or search the internet for porn."
Looks like Crosby spent lots of time on the bike
while he couldn’t skate…if anything, he looks even faster today
by Gate3anuhHalf on Nov 21, 2011 6:20 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Damn that Crosby kid is good. He might win the Calder this year
But does anyone have a link? Mine is in French :(
thank you very much
and from the one semester of High School French I took, I believe so
and then crosby with the dive
The minute I start liking him, he does something like that
I wonder if Shanahan is watching this game
with his hammer in one hand and the phone in the other
by Gate3anuhHalf on Nov 21, 2011 6:29 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Holy shit. The Sid show is back in town.
Feel sorry for that poor Isles goalie. Not a pretty way to get his first start.
"...but the devil lives inside this kid, I swear it. It rises out of him in a mist, this baby-faced defiant wrathful version of Pat Kane, escapes his bodily confines to perform satanic miracles all over the offensive zone. The only thing more fearsome than that assist was the keep-in preceding it. The only thing more unholy than his face is his black magic." ~gmh
by Steeg of their own on Nov 21, 2011 6:39 PM CST reply actions
I have to say I'm glad Sid has points so they have an actual excuse to talk about him
I could have done without the OMG that shift was too long! Sid can’t do that!
My biggest dissapointment?
My first post here, but just wanted to add in that I live in Calgary. Alberta and had been awiting 4 months for this past weekend (as I made the trip to Edmonton as well)
You lucky devils didn’t have to see that dreck live, or the Flames 7-2 rape on us last year. Oh well, I can wait another 4 months to have a third crack at watching a fun hockey game. I’ll try not to get my hopes up this time…
by Jamie T Bone Cochrane on Nov 21, 2011 6:51 PM CST reply actions
Please don't use rape so casually as something that is not rape
by girlphoenix on Nov 21, 2011 6:52 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
and lest you think girlphoenix is being oversensitive
Rape comments are not acceptable at SCH. There are other words you can use to express your disdain; please keep that in mind in your future comments.
I do hope your third attempt at a live game has a better result than this weekend.
SCH Narc - check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.
Welcome to Nerdville,
The Hockey related version of Big Bang Theory…
There is a problem with outliving your enemies, it usually means that you have outlived your friends as well...
Honnor thy father - D. Vader (Robert Asprin, Myth series)
by burpchelischili on Nov 22, 2011 2:14 AM CST up reply actions
Slow? Really?
While watching the last two games Alberta, one live, I was surprized how slow the team looked? Earlyier this year they were flying. Is it a coaching stlye? god forbid ! PK looks pathetic, the ref’s put more presure on the apposing point men! Where did the For Check with speed go? Stand in a box on a PK and watch the goals go in. During our P.P Calgary pressured our points and forced the play, we should take notes EH Q.
it's like Beat Poetry...
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 6:59 PM CST up reply actions
It's like groovy man
once you decipher it
See if you can guess what I am now.
by IndianHeadCrest on Nov 21, 2011 7:09 PM CST up reply actions
I'd take Hossa over Kaner as of today
I mean, it’s really really close between him and Kane, but Hossa’s experience in my mind has led to more goals being produced than Kaner. He’s only got one less assist than Kane, and one less goal than the Toews right now, where half of his goals have just come from the prior week alone. Hammer leads the team in points, and I put him on top for that reason, more contribution overall. As for the biggest surprise, I’ll agree with Kruger, because I think we all expected Leddy to be starting and improving over the course of the season anyways, we didn’t really expect anything out of Kruger really, so it merits. I’ll also agree with the disappointment as well, even though I could make a case for Keith at times, but Bickell has just been brutal all year. As our overall outlook, I think it looks good, we still look a bit sketchy at times, but we’re sketchy, and still top of the West, the only way to go is up and up from here, and it looks like we’ll have a pretty decent season.
UMD Bulldogs: 2011 NCAA Hockey Nat'l Champions; 2009 & 2011 NCAA DII Football Nat'l Champions
"Terry's down, oh my! Van Persie all by himself now, around Cech, and that'll do it!"
the crosby fellating is reaching epic levels
flip to NHLN: “crosby, crosby, crosby, so good, oh my god, crosby crosby crosby”
intermission on VS: “what isn’t crosby doing well? crosby crosby crosby..blah blah blah slobber slobber”
blogs: “crosby crosby crosby, slobber blargh omg crosby scored on his first shot slobber”
by putmeinthemadhouse on Nov 21, 2011 7:52 PM CST reply actions
I had to stop watching... I'm glad he's back, but...
I’ll be sick of him in no time. Congrats Pens – Congrats Sid.
Look at us whine about being Seabrook-less, and this guy’s been gone a year?
"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger"
I hear ya
I had to turn it off. I’m happy he’s back but there is only so much i can take. Also he will slump, I just think he was pumped about being back in front of the home crowd
Why Q, why?!
"Watching a shootout is like admitting you watch Survivor or search the internet for porn."
Trade him!!!
To Us!!!
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 8:02 PM CST up reply actions
little buggers just
scored again.. and it was kinda awesome too..
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 8:04 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, that was pretty hot.
"...but the devil lives inside this kid, I swear it. It rises out of him in a mist, this baby-faced defiant wrathful version of Pat Kane, escapes his bodily confines to perform satanic miracles all over the offensive zone. The only thing more fearsome than that assist was the keep-in preceding it. The only thing more unholy than his face is his black magic." ~gmh
by Steeg of their own on Nov 21, 2011 8:05 PM CST up reply actions
the hattie is inevitable now, isn't it?
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 8:08 PM CST up reply actions
sorry,
the NHL Scriptwriting Team is on the case…
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 8:11 PM CST up reply actions
suppose they had it in the script to face the hapless islanders
and their goalie who hasnt seen 60 minutes of NHL ice too.
by putmeinthemadhouse on Nov 21, 2011 8:12 PM CST up reply actions
I feel so bad for the kid.
This is the ugliest way to get your NHL start ever.
"...but the devil lives inside this kid, I swear it. It rises out of him in a mist, this baby-faced defiant wrathful version of Pat Kane, escapes his bodily confines to perform satanic miracles all over the offensive zone. The only thing more fearsome than that assist was the keep-in preceding it. The only thing more unholy than his face is his black magic." ~gmh
by Steeg of their own on Nov 21, 2011 8:13 PM CST up reply actions
I dunno..
he’s guaranteed immortality. Admittedly it’ll be “Anders Nilsson? Isn’t he that guy that got slaughtered on Crosby’s comeback?” sort of thing but still… :p
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 8:17 PM CST up reply actions
Cry havoc and let loose the puns of war
"...but the devil lives inside this kid, I swear it. It rises out of him in a mist, this baby-faced defiant wrathful version of Pat Kane, escapes his bodily confines to perform satanic miracles all over the offensive zone. The only thing more fearsome than that assist was the keep-in preceding it. The only thing more unholy than his face is his black magic." ~gmh
by Steeg of their own on Nov 21, 2011 8:12 PM CST up reply actions
don't look now, but columbus is winning again
by putmeinthemadhouse on Nov 21, 2011 8:19 PM CST reply actions
and it looks like
AWT Nash has wrapped it up for the Beej…
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 8:29 PM CST up reply actions
stars are pounding the oilers physically
really beating the shit out of them
by putmeinthemadhouse on Nov 21, 2011 8:46 PM CST reply actions
and
Blackhawks South just had a hell of a comeback, didn’t they?
enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!
by mightymike D on Nov 21, 2011 9:08 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks, as always, Sam
for being the serious voice of reason, criticism, and intelligent outlook – unlike most of the Hawk press that want to doom and gloom over two bad games. And I’m pretty fucking tired of those “big Chicago media outlets” taking the peaks and valleys of a season – minimizing the peaks and crying the Hawks are in “big trouble” during the valleys.
Since the SCH creation, I’ve been a happy son of a bitch that intelligent, reasonable Hawks coverage exists here (and through SCH, have learned of other solid sources, i.e. Fifth Feather)
I really hope your prognostication of Wednesday night is correct…I’d LOVE an ‘09 repeat performance (a 7-2 Hawks whipping, Hossa’s 1st game, in case anyone forgot – which I doubt) of this game in the Shark Tank this year.
"What the hell, let's review it." - Dale Tallon
"They are!" - Pat Foley
"What a farce." - Dale Tallon
by HawkVision on Nov 21, 2011 8:51 PM CST via mobile reply actions
oh that glorious "Hossa's first game as a Hawk"
3 shorties…2 goals by Hossa, one being 2nd SHG, then Sharpie getting a SHG on the same PK…ahh the memories.
I would like a repeat too, plz.
SCH Narc - check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.
the Hoss double fist pump
who could forget? The beer seemed to taste s little better that night, thinking, “this man is a Hawk now.”
"What the hell, let's review it." - Dale Tallon
"They are!" - Pat Foley
"What a farce." - Dale Tallon
by HawkVision on Nov 21, 2011 11:32 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Or that 5 goal(if i remember correctly) 2nd period last year
when the Sharks were supposedly the hottest team in the league. Sharpie had like 4 assists in the same period I believe.
Clean up duty
After games like the past two, I look back to the days when such great players as Reto Von Arx and Josef Marha threw the Indian head on game after game… We are certainly a far cry from those days boys and girls. The way I see it, as a relatively young Hawks fan, growing up watching in the late 90’s and pre lock out 2000’s, the fact that we are a talented team capable of making a run is enough to satisfy me. The chalice was freaking phenomenal, and I do believe with this core we have as good a chance as any to win 1 or 2 more. Those teams were absofreakinglutely brutal. All I’m trying to convey here, is that we of all fan bases should know that it can get much worse than it is.
From this moment forward, the People’s Champion, The Shelby Sensation, The Reverse Apache Master, The Man with the Golden d*ck, Doctor Cock and Balls, that Kenny Powers is now dead...
Just to make last weekend feel even worse...
The Flames and Oilers got beat soundly by the Stars and Blue Jackets tonight. 4-1 in each. Yeeeesh. I for one certainly hope it was a function of “shirts off limo riding in Vancouver” because I can’t reconcile the delta between the two teams we have seen in the last week.
the stars pummeled the oilers into submission. note to hawks: these kids are not physical.
and they were due for a win anyways.
by putmeinthemadhouse on Nov 22, 2011 12:35 AM CST up reply actions
two instances of tmesis in the last four comments!
my sister-in-law the english teacher would be proud.
If graffiti changed anything it would be illegal
ri-fucking-diculous?
From this moment forward, the People’s Champion, The Shelby Sensation, The Reverse Apache Master, The Man with the Golden d*ck, Doctor Cock and Balls, that Kenny Powers is now dead...
by Brady Haupt on Nov 21, 2011 11:37 PM CST up reply actions
Ssssssseriously, what I learned today
….is that some of us expected more from Hammer or from Keith, or that Bickell would take at least a few steps forward, and some of us didn’t think the Kane-at-center move would work so well or that it would be Kruger to advance as he has. But everyone and I mean everyone had a direct and true bead on what John Scott would bring to the ice this year. After all the disquisitions, sermons and rants of the last few weeks, how much mention did he get today?
Props to SCH Nation?
If graffiti changed anything it would be illegal
I'd go hossa for MVP.
Hossa was dominant early on helping kane basically give this team wins as other lines (particularly the toews line) couldn’t get it going. After that hossa goes to toews’ line and gets him going and then kane struggles a bit to create offense and needs a few empty netters to help his point totals.
I just think hossa has been the consistent force on the team though I do appreciate that kane has had to switch positions and done a nice job doing that.
I don’t even think toews is in the running by the way. He is playing great lately but you have to at least be solid defensively in the first 10 games to be considered.
Kruger and leddy for biggest surprises?
As he said we saw flashes of brilliance last year with leddy (thought this was a big step forward) and I think seeing kruger play decent in 4 tough, playoff like games while getting settled in a new country and getting used to a totally different ice surface and a pretty different game made me expect what I’, seeing.
My biggest positive surprise is probably patrick kane given the way he has switched to the middle. Him or michael frolik who has just been solid to me. Not very strong on the puck or really all that gifted offensively (though he created a ton of chances in the first 6 or 7 games) but his play defensively impresses me yet again.
And what about carcillo?
There wasn’t a hawks fan in the world who wasn’t shaking their head when they signed him. He hasn’t been too undisciplined and has already passed his point total from last year.
Me too!
I LOVED him and didn’t make ANY photoshops implying that he was a meathead.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Nov 22, 2011 8:15 AM CST up reply actions
Steve montador is my biggest disappointment.
I knew he was a bottom pair d man but I thought he could kill penalties and be physical. Just an awful signing.
Whatever line Hossa has been on has been great.......
The other top line with out Hosaa…not so much.
The third line is M.I.A.
The fourth energy line is flat.
MVPs-Hossa-Leddy-Toews- Kane-Seabs and Hossa again
Biggest Disappointment-Bickell-Brunette—
Pleasant Surprises-Carcillo-Mayer-Montador-Stals-Kruger-
Hmmmmm-Keith-Hammer-Crow-Frolic-Bolland-Sharp-Scott
A team that is great on paper but inconsistent on ice=No heart??(Orval Tessier) Commit to the Indian??( Dennis Savard)
H'8ter Proof™
Stars 4, Oilers 1.
My serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations.
LET’S GO YOU WHITE SOX!!!!!
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