I think you meant 47.
- EbonyRaptor

AK-47 or AK-74 (smaller caliber carbine version).

As I watched the second period unfold, I determined that Crawford, Keith, Seabrook and Toews (probably in that order) would be the folks you would least want to lose for a significant portion of the playoffs.
- phantasmo

All those guys extremely valuable. Toews more important than Seabrook. You also have to have Kane. He is the piece that makes this team tick. Him being on the ice sets all the matchups in the Hawks favor.

All those guys extremely valuable. Toews more important than Seabrook. You also have to have Kane. He is the piece that makes this team tick. Him being on the ice sets all the matchups in the Hawks favor.
- TheTrob

Agreed that they are all valuable. I would hate to lose anyone of the big 3 on defense.

The Hawks right now.

Kinda what I was thinking last night. Stanley went out and got 3 forwards (including two left wings), one defenseman. Would I have liked to see one more reasonable quality NHL blue liner, absolutely.

But I have really felt, and still feel, the problem with this team's defense may have been its offense. i.e., keeping the other team more on its heels and stuck in its own end. Wiese, Ladd, Meat Man (the first two especially) all guys who can help do that.

They looked good last night, and really the last 5 periods against two good teams. Get a healthy rested Hoss sand Kruger back. Everyone else stays healthy, look out.
- John Jaeckel

I am absolutely itching to see what this team looks like with Weise added.

I think there is so much sandpaper and talent in this lineup its scary to think what it could be.

Kane, Panarin, Hossa, Fleischman, TT, Toews all providing the skill

Lunchpail guys like Kruger, AA, Desjardins doing all the work down low and on the boards

Sandpaper bangers like Weise, Shaw, Ladd throwing the weight around and getting in the goalies kitchen every shift

And don't forget....we had Brent Sopel

- philco28

Sopel skated that puck in the offensive zone while a couple of guys changed lines and held onto it for seems like 10 seconds, gave it up and had the primary assist on Hossa's Game 5 OT winner vs Nashville. Not many people remember that!

FWIW, I thought Ehrhoff looked pretty damn good last night.

Seems to fit the hawks game like a glove and made some very good defensive plays and was calm under fire.

Sucks that puck was a bouncing grenade on his stick, because he absolutely fooled Mrazek

Good showing for a guy who is just learning a new system completely different from what he was in just a few days ago

I'm grateful Dezi wasn't hurt last night, that was a nasty dangerous hit last night

I'm grateful Dezi wasn't hurt last night, that was a nasty dangerous hit last night
- BetweenTheDots

Yup.

Hit was clean. Location was not. Should have been a boarding call.

I'm grateful Dezi wasn't hurt last night, that was a nasty dangerous hit last night
- BetweenTheDots

Agreed. That blindside shoulder hit along the boards is becoming more popular with crackdown on the blatant hits from behind.

update on Panarin's bonuses:

he has already reached his games played and Schedule A bonuses which will kick in $1,075M of extra cap.

as per GeneralFanager, the following are the Schedule B bonuses:
$1,725,000 for any of the following achievements - top 10 forward in the league in goals/assists/points/points per game (min 42GP), top 5 in league in Hart/Selke/Richard voting, NHL First or Second team all star, Conn Smythe.

of the schedule B he currently ranks, as of 3/3/2016:
Goals scored amongst forwards: tied for 14th with many players around him having games in hand
Assists scored amongst forwards: tied for 14th with many players around him having games in hand
Points scored amongst forwards: tied for 10th with Ovechkin who has games in hand on Panarin
Points/game scored amongst forwards: 12th but would fall to 13th when McDavid reaches 42 games played.

my guess is he is maybe 50/50 to hit the top 10 in any of these categories.

as for the trophies involved, requiring top 5 in voting:
Hart - league MVP - that will be Kane or Ovechkin it would seem but is top 5 possible?
Selke - too many top defensive forwards for him to get into the top 5
Richard - goes to the top goal scorer in the league. is he not in the top 10 from above, he couldn't be in the top 5 for this one either.

Could he be named as a 1st or 2nd team All-Star. again possible, but highly unlikely.

and last but not least the Conn Smythe. cannot possibly call that one at this time as we'll need to see the entire playoffs played out 1st.

so while a few weeks back it seemed certain he'd be hitting the schedule B's, now I am not so certain of it. while we'd all love to see him continue to put up pts with Kaner, the Hawks would be better served if the scoring were to now be spread out amongst all 4 lines which would then aide the Hawks in the cap overage on Panarin as well.

regardless, his season has been incredible to date, and I will just be happy to see him sign an extension in July.

Sopel skated that puck in the offensive zone while a couple of guys changed lines and held onto it for seems like 10 seconds, gave it up and had the primary assist on Hossa's Game 5 OT winner vs Nashville. Not many people remember that!
- stan-ley-cups

He blocked a lot of shots too, unless my memory sucks. Gave what he could.

Sopel skated that puck in the offensive zone while a couple of guys changed lines and held onto it for seems like 10 seconds, gave it up and had the primary assist on Hossa's Game 5 OT winner vs Nashville. Not many people remember that!
- stan-ley-cups

I will go out on a limb here...this was probably a top three playoff game win; it set the table for that cup run and future seasons cup runs. Down 4-3 about to go down 3-2; hossa takes a 5 min boarding major with 2 min left against guess who, hamheus; kane scores the shorty to get it OT; they kill the penalty and hossa exits the box to get the tap in winner...holy poop that was 6 years ago...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC8-PTTee0

He blocked a lot of shots too, unless my memory sucks. Gave what he could.
- howiehandles

Also groomed Hammer into what he is today

and to get those juices flowing even more...

every OT playoff winning goal since 2009...starting with havlat vs the flames...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD-L8uaUe3k

I would love drawing the Avs in round 1. We'd manhandle them.
- SimpleJack

I think we would win too. But, don't take them lightly. Although we have won the last 3 against them....we lost the previous 4 and lost 7 of 9 total prior to that. Between their speed, and the fact Varlamov is one of those streaky "stand on your head" kinda guy.....they scare me more than Minny does....

One of the things I really liked last night was the way Erhoff skates. I can't really explain it. I don't mean his top end speed, cuz I am sure he has lost a fair bit of speed since his younger days. But just the path he took on a couple guys, the smoothness of his turning to keep with a winger....the little quickness and certainty in his strides....he seemed eons ahead of the other 6-7 level guys we have tried back there. Almost like the pace of the game was just what he wanted. Anyway, maybe what I am saying is hard to put in words. But, he looked comfortable out there. And IF he continues to play like that he MAY be the BEST move Stan made at the deadline!!!

Sopel skated that puck in the offensive zone while a couple of guys changed lines and held onto it for seems like 10 seconds, gave it up and had the primary assist on Hossa's Game 5 OT winner vs Nashville. Not many people remember that!
- stan-ley-cups

Funny I just watched that and your right I had forgot about that . That was an awesome play. I remember how good he played that playoffs

FWIW, I thought Ehrhoff looked pretty damn good last night.

Seems to fit the hawks game like a glove and made some very good defensive plays and was calm under fire.

Sucks that puck was a bouncing grenade on his stick, because he absolutely fooled Mrazek

Good showing for a guy who is just learning a new system completely different from what he was in just a few days ago
- hawkeytalkman

Thought the same

The more I think about it, the more I think Stan addressed the D with Erhoff.
After seeing him in action I'm fully confident in our d corps.

1- Our forwards have actually played defense in the D zone the last two games- its no accident that both were held to low goal totals (2nd wing goal was bs and the refs gifted the caps some BS PPs)

2- With Erhoff logging 17+ last night we have three D men capable of handling 18 minutes a night. TVR, ROZY, ERHOFF.

3-Will they each get 18 a night, not likely. But its there and Q/Kitch can mix and match. 4/55 32/2 7/57 4/57 etc. Be interesting to see if 32/55 platoon or if Goose sits out tonight/ more frequently.

4- Our 5-7 D is WAY BETTER than last year. Looks like we'll be able to make up for losing Johnny D. Hoff has experience, TVR has heart, we all know Rozy.

5- I'm not sure I like the prospect of a 32/55 line just yet, but 7/55 could be nice.

6-Goose needs to get better every game, not try to be perfect. He looked good on the assist to Seabs. If he plays a simpler D end game it will go a long way. He always looks solid to good with the puck and in the O zone.

Can't wait to see Weise tonight.

Christian Ehrhoff ‏@TheRealHoff10 1h1 hour ago
What an honor to wear that @NHLBlackhawks sweater for the first time tonight and join a great group of guys! Exciting times ahead #OneGoal



- TommyHawk

Right back at CE...a guy who's had a good NHL career, and deserves a Cup. He played well last night in 17+ minutes, and is going to do everything he can for this team to win another Cup. Great move by Bowman. Q wanted to take a chance on Scudsy and Bowman turns that into Erhoff and more money saved. Literally the actions of a great GM. With Weise returning tonight, what a DEEP set of forwards, and back to rolling 4 lines.

One of the things I really liked last night was the way Erhoff skates. I can't really explain it. I don't mean his top end speed, cuz I am sure he has lost a fair bit of speed since his younger days. But just the path he took on a couple guys, the smoothness of his turning to keep with a winger....the little quickness and certainty in his strides....he seemed eons ahead of the other 6-7 level guys we have tried back there. Almost like the pace of the game was just what he wanted. Anyway, maybe what I am saying is hard to put in words. But, he looked comfortable out there. And IF he continues to play like that he MAY be the BEST move Stan made at the deadline!!!


- hawk35

Hoff handled Larkin multiple times last night. Loved it! And he cross checks like a mother when there's someone near the crease. Great to see him battling for Crawf the first game in

I thought for sure there would be some posts about Rodney on the Canadian Team!

Don't know if it's been said but, this team is better than last years team and the ducks, kings and caps don't scare me anymore. Here's to everyone staying healthy. Party at Kaners!!!! (Sorry, got a head of myself.)

GO HOCKS!!!!!!!!

Also, Ladd is fitting nicely with Toews very quickly. Already the Hawks have 2 scoring lines, and Shaw is now on the RW. Had that puck not rolled off CE's stick, the 1st line gets 2 goals last night.

Rasmussen and Panik both played very good games last night, and Fleisch, with his size, speed and intelligence, is a machine out there...what a great pick up by SB because Fleisch looks ready to win a Cup...and Weise hasn't even dressed yet.

As for Panarin? What can you say, JJ and I took a lot of looks this summer at his game highlights on Youtube and you could see that he was going to have success (that's why I guaranteed it), he's not only fast with a great shot, he's super smart, has great vision and is STRONG on the puck. What a find by Bowman...if he were a 1st round pick, Panarin would amount to one of the best in a long, long time.

Oh, and Anisimov quietly going about his business last night, fighting for pucks and creating lots of space for both Kaner and Panarin...another great find.