What gives? The Hawks have now won 6 games in a row. The extra point they gave to Vancouver (a team directly ahead of them in the standings) didn’t help those hoping for a playoff entry but another win means only 2 points out of the last Wild Card spot.
Look at how fun they’ve been lately scoring goals at will at even strength and on the PP.
(Courtesy of CSN Chicago)
Listen, I usually like wins as I will always like to see this team do well. The reality, however, is, while this is a fun team to watch, this is not a team built for the playoffs.
I know it’s been a while, so let’s recap what playoff hockey actually looks like:
(Courtesy of Sportsnet)
The days of the Hawks employing guys like Byfuglien, Ladd, Brouwer, Bickell, Shaw, Bolland, Eager, Burish, Desjardins, Rozsival, etc. who could be a real physical presence during a postseason run are over. Because those guys were not just players skating around with the ability to lay a thunderous or timely bodycheck, but they were heart and soul players that could change the dynamic of an entire series.
Let me pause to look at the Hawks rosters of 2018-19. I will say the “hits” category isn’t the sole indicator of playoff warriors, we know that, but being physical DOES matter in the playoffs – bodychecks and just flat out a pain in the ass to play against.
The Blackhawks top 4 forwards for hits are Martinsen (in Rockford and was in-and-out of the lineup), Hayden (in-and-out of the lineup), Kunitz (same) and Marcus friggen Kruger(!). Right now, the toughest guy up front on this team looks like Drake Caggiula and he clocks in at 175 lbs.
So, no, I don’t think they are tough enough to win a playoff series. Sorry if that ruins anyone’s Friday but that’s just ONE area where the Hawks would fall short in a playoff series. What are the others?
* give up too many shots and a high % in the high danger variety
* currently don’t have a #1 starting goalie
* showing signs of strong offensive dominance on shifts but most of that is perimeter play (guys like Caggiula and Strome helping but not enough)
* PK is horrendous
… so this team is built for fun by scoring a lot of goals and having a scorching hot PP but not for the playoffs, even if by some miracle they get in, they will be swept very hard (a la Nashville last time they were in the postseason).
I’m not here to be a ‘Negative Nelly’, I do think this team is making some solid progress and I’ve really liked what Stan and Jeremy have been able to do this season.
My fear is that word comes down from John McDonough that the Hawks are now “buyers” or stick with the current roster to make a playoff push that will end up coming just short or finish very quickly in Round #1.
Not moving guys like Anisimov, Hayden and even Keith (if the deals were right and the players were aligned) would be a travesty to the immediate future for this team.
I’m hoping that Stan and Co. continue to build towards this the foundation of a “tougher” team to play against. He does have a way to go but acquiring guys like Caggiula, Strome, Perlini, Koekkoek are heading in the right direction in my eyes.
So, even with this winning streak, I will continue to look ahead to better days ahead and evaluate what needs to be done not to just go on the odd winning streak, but rather how to get back to an annual contender.
From here until October 2019, I really hope for a few things:
* Goaltending figured out (which might just come with patience with the Crawford)
* A legit top 4 defensive defenceman added (while not rushing a guy like Adam Boqvist who isn’t a defensive defenceman anyway)
* More depth up front and not just offensive depth, but strong 2-way players or a defensively minded 3C to help turn the PK around
* Overall improvement of physicality, this can be found from any of the above additions or promoted from the farm or just an overall mindset/commitment shift (ie. Perlini man… you’re 6’3 / 215 lbs… you’re telling me you don’t know how to hit?)
Seems simple, right? Maybe some of this can be achieved from now until the deadline. I’m just crossing my fingers that Bowman doesn’t have his hands forced to make a move of trading a pick or prospect for a rental. I honestly don’t think it will but I guess you never know when a guy like John McDonough has a say in hockey operations.
I’ll end with this fun note for a Friday; in the last couple of months, the Blackhawks actually look like they’re having fun again out there and are actually building some of the best chemistry I’ve seen in years… maybe since the Sharp/Burish bromance and those Championship teams.
I loved the McDavid quote about Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome:
(Courtesy of Chris Wescott, Chicago Blackhawks)
I’ve also heard Erik Gustafsson is really well-liked and fits in with the current group. So for those who want to dump him, sometimes “fit” and chemistry comes into play when a GM/Coach considers moving a guy.
The Hawks take on Detroit in Sunday afternoon and there will be other games to watch as well if you have your eye on the teams around the Hawks. St. Louis and Nashville go back-to-back this weekend so if Nashville takes them down, that likely knock the Blues back out of the last Wild Card.
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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