Did Truegrit just agree with what many of us have been arguing with him about the last few weeks???
- paulr

You miss the point, many of you are like a heard of women all sitting at lunch in envy of everyone else around you, ignoring the implications of getting and obtaining eveything you want.

Will I waste an hour with a buddy talking about what we would do if someone gave us a million bucks? Or will we deal in reality?

That is my argument, not many respond to the reality of trading stalberg as a UFA without a contract as having no value as a rental. STill its thrown about 20 times a day.

Can a blockbuster be done. Sure, but not likely. Some of you should read your posts, the tone is as if every team exists to give the hawks every player we want and that SB has his phone on silent and keeps missing the calls.

Tell them all good luck. All those teams and every team tries to do what you suggest. Just isn't always successful. The Ducks scrambled around half the game and came up big in the end. I tip my cap.

I really can't do this whole debate again today.
- TrueGrit

My point was, is and always will be you cannot be hit continually with no pushback of your own. Eventually the hitting wears you down. The Ducks can play without any concern while the Hawks know they will be hit at every turn. In a playoff series with the Ducks I honestly cannot see the Hawks, as currently contructed, prevailing.

So Tired today.
I Was so pissed. Thoughts were Bolland Sucks as a 2nd line C, Seabrook looks bad and flat footed. Trade Bolland to MTL for Eller + .
sorry but I think hes the one that we can lose , 3rd line looks great and honestly i cant see Bolland on the 4th line. what happens now.
- Dojodan

I'd agree. Bolland has done nothing for me this season. Kane is essentially the center on that line, other than taking faceoffs. He needs a finisher on that line, hopefully someone who can throw the body too, or a center who can win at the dot.

Double Post RickJ they call him

Carcillo goes from healthy scratch to dressing but not playing. It's not so much concern as it is just strange. Why dress him and not play him? Why not call up Smith or Morin?

I'm betting maybe they didn't want to ship a Hog all the way out to the Left Coast for one game. Maybe they'll make a roster move now that they're home.
- Ogilthorpe2

2 knee injuries in a year probably has something to do with it, I'm betting he's hurt more than anyone in the organization will say. 2 minutes of ice is ridiculous agreed, even John Scott did more. But at the end of the day Carcillo isn't a difference maker.

And AGAIN The Ducks were without Perry , it was a wash.
- mrpaulish

And AGAIN, how is being 2 top-6 forwards down being a wash with being one top-6 forward down, especially when one of yours is a better player than theirs?

I'd agree. Bolland has done nothing for me this season. Kane is essentially the center on that line, other than taking faceoffs. He needs a finisher on that line, hopefully someone who can throw the body too, or a center who can win at the dot.
- howiehandles

Agree with you here - sad to see Bolland faltering when given his shot at the second line.

I'll be shocked if he's jettisoned this year - he's invaluable in the playoffs - but given what we've heard about Stalberg and Bickell being re-signed, I think it's a fairly safe assumption that he's the odd man out this summer.

I have to disagree. You cannot overlook the absences of Sharp and Hossa. But I thought last night's loss was less about Anaheim's physical presence and more about the Hawks sloppy 3rd period play. Bad passes, turnovers in their own end. They better clean that up now. Anaheim is not going away.
- 12yearlagavulin

You don't see the relationship between the two?

Here's my mantra today: go back and watch the Phoenix series. Or Game 1 vs. Vancouver in 2011. Repeat as necessary.

That is all.

And AGAIN, how is being 2 top-6 forwards down being a wash with being one top-6 forward down, especially when one of yours is a better player than theirs?
- StLBravesFan

Corey Perry>>> Patrick Sharp. And there is some debate re: Perry and Hossa.

Don't blame you, history sure ain't on your side in this argument.
- paulr

The history that says that the team is 24-3-3 this year and has only been out of 1 game the whole year?

But go ahead and point to playoffs last year and all sorts of histrionics of teams with different players.

I wonder how frustrating it is for so many fans who must go nuts with all the winning. Hawks lose...YEAH! You can see the jubilee in being right like a stopped clock 2 times a day or once or twice in 30 games (24 hours).

You are right, my facts would never hold up in court.

Saad wasn't out worked. He was trying to hit Kane with a backhand pass in the middle of the ice. The pass was weak and behind Kane - Ducks go the other way. If Saad goes up the ice near the boards he probably finds Toews and the goal doesn't happen.

Crawford stood on his head in the first, Hawks owned the second - where Toews and Kane respectively missed two open nets. It's not as though Hiller played like a chump either. The saves he made on Saad in tight were huge - not to mention the shoulder save that created the rebound Kane couldn't put home.

Why the tone JJ?
- nathanjf

No tone, all good.

This This and This. I thought it was a very entertaining game. And one the Hawks probably could have and should have won. But there sure as hell wasn't anything eye-opening about it.

To me the biggest concern is figuring out why Seabrook is stuck in second gear.

Q did lean on some lines a little too much. He got burned. If he learns from it and goes back to rolling lines then there's really no harm.

Ducks broadcasters are a sominex tablet.
- yahoodi

I heared couple of weeks ago that Seabrook has a drinking problem......... anyone knows if this is true?

Worked really well for Blues, Kings, Sharks versus Hawks. Hawks 7 and 0 in those games, but I am sure that and the other 24 wins were all luck.

To think that all of a sudden the Hawks are 2 or 3 rungs behind the Ducks is a bit of an exaggeration. And to think that they got blown out last night is another.

In the end they lost, I get it, but to think that they wilted and were outmatched all game is not accurate in my view.

Still looking for that website or source to explain what a good loss looks like. You know, the right way to lose a game. I just think it happens.
- TrueGrit

Wilted when it mattered. Outmatched most of the game, and when it mattered.

Tell them all good luck. All those teams and every team tries to do what you suggest. Just isn't always successful. The Ducks scrambled around half the game and came up big in the end. I tip my cap.

I really can't do this whole debate again today.
- TrueGrit

1/3

I heared couple of weeks ago that Seabrook has a drinking problem......... anyone knows if this is true?
- Hawkswin

I have not heard that. And that can be said of a LOT of NHL players and guys on the Hawks. There was another defenseman on the Hawks at that time, drafted the year after, also drafted high who that has been rumored of quite a bit. Maybe there was some confusion.

Corey Perry>>> Patrick Sharp. And there is some debate re: Perry and Hossa.
- John Jaeckel

Of course Perry is better than Sharp - if Perry is better than Hossa (which I doubt), it's not by much - still, Hawks had two lines screwed up vs. one for the Ducks.

EDIT:

All of the "not physical enough" arguments may be correct - we'll see in about two months +.

But - this is the team we're likely to have, plus (maybe) a 4th line FO / PK / physical presence guy - but probably only one. Won't change the general tenor (sp?) of this team, won't make them into a consistently more physical team - maybe on PK, maybe help on FO - and who do they give up (if from the NHL roster).

IMO, again, if this team (THIS team, which is what we'll probably have) is to go deep, it will be with five skaters focusing on defense, protecting a quality goalie who makes the saves he needs to make.

If that's not good enough, major changes will be needed - not the kind that are likely to happen before the TDL.

I have not heard that. And that can be said of a LOT of NHL players and guys on the Hawks. There was another defenseman on the Hawks at that time, drafted the year after, also drafted high who that has been rumored of quite a bit. Maybe there was some confusion.
- John Jaeckel

I think one could argue that nearly 100% of all professional athletes have "a drinking problem..."

My point was, is and always will be you cannot be hit continually with no pushback of your own. Eventually the hitting wears you down. The Ducks can play without any concern while the Hawks know they will be hit at every turn. In a playoff series with the Ducks I honestly cannot see the Hawks, as currently contructed, prevailing.
- paulr

And that is a fair point and assessment. And that is why they play the games. I do not disagree with the idea of hits wearing things down. I also know there was a stretch during second and third period, where we did a better job of controlling the puck and somehow the Ducks were unable to hit, rather they were chasing around. Both of these teams and a few others are too good not to impose their will for periods of time. Just like our 4th line does a great job of hemming in the opponent, same with third line. Just not gonna happen every shift and every game.

My point was, is and always will be you cannot be hit continually with no pushback of your own. Eventually the hitting wears you down. The Ducks can play without any concern while the Hawks know they will be hit at every turn. In a playoff series with the Ducks I honestly cannot see the Hawks, as currently contructed, prevailing.
- paulr

The psychological effect is huge. I give the Hawks credit for fighting through it in the middle of the game, but the Ducks kpet at it and dialed it back up at the end.

I have not heard that. And that can be said of a LOT of NHL players and guys on the Hawks. There was another defenseman on the Hawks at that time, drafted the year after, also drafted high who that has been rumored of quite a bit. Maybe there was some confusion.
- John Jaeckel

I was told that the Team is trying to help Seabs as it might have gone "too far over the summer".

My point was, is and always will be you cannot be hit continually with no pushback of your own. Eventually the hitting wears you down. The Ducks can play without any concern while the Hawks know they will be hit at every turn. In a playoff series with the Ducks I honestly cannot see the Hawks, as currently contructed, prevailing.
- paulr

Generally I'm in agreement with you, simple facts borne out over decades of the NHL game. The thing with the Ducks is that they can play both types of games - the skill game and the physical one too. To me, they are much superior to the Kings and would beat them in a playoff series as well, handily.

Scotty Bowman has been public about the fact the Hawks need to burn teams with their PP because if they don't the tougher clubs will continue the pounding without fear of consequences. He knows the team needs some physicality added, just can't say too much.

However, there is time to make some adjustments or roster additions if they need a certain type of player(s). The cost is expensive but when a team is close you have to spend to get what is needed.

My point was, is and always will be you cannot be hit continually with no pushback of your own. Eventually the hitting wears you down. The Ducks can play without any concern while the Hawks know they will be hit at every turn. In a playoff series with the Ducks I honestly cannot see the Hawks, as currently contructed, prevailing.
- paulr

Generally I'm in agreement with you, simple facts borne out over decades of the NHL game. The thing with the Ducks is that they can play both types of games - the skill game and the physical one too. To me, they are much superior to the Kings and would beat them in a playoff series as well, handily.

Scotty Bowman has been public about the fact the Hawks need to burn teams with their PP because if they don't the tougher clubs will continue the pounding without fear of consequences. He knows the team needs some physicality added, just can't say too much.

However, there is time to make some adjustments or roster additions if they need a certain type of player(s). The cost is expensive but when a team is close you have to spend to get what is needed.

The history that says that the team is 24-3-3 this year and has only been out of 1 game the whole year?

But go ahead and point to playoffs last year and all sorts of histrionics of teams with different players.

I wonder how frustrating it is for so many fans who must go nuts with all the winning. Hawks lose...YEAH! You can see the jubilee in being right like a stopped clock 2 times a day or once or twice in 30 games (24 hours).

You are right, my facts would never hold up in court.
- TrueGrit

Talk about hyperbole!

What has historically won in the playoffs, skill alone or Skill and physicality? As it stands now the Hawks have basically no physical presence. That is not to suggest they are afraid, as you like to twist what I say. It means that other teams can go and do what they want on the ice with impunity. It means that in games where the Hawks speed has been limited or removed they have no other options, no other way to compete.

Of course Perry is better than Sharp - if Perry is better than Hossa (which I doubt), it's not by much - still, Hawks had two lines screwed up vs. one for the Ducks.

EDIT:

All of the "not physical enough" arguments may be correct - we'll see in about two months +.

But - this is the team we're likely to have, plus (maybe) a 4th line FO / PK / physical presence guy - but probably only one. Won't change the general tenor (sp?) of this team, won't make them into a consistently more physical team - maybe on PK, maybe help on FO - and who do they give up (if from the NHL roster).

IMO, again, if this team (THIS team, which is what we'll probably have) is to go deep, it will be with five skaters focusing on defense, protecting a quality goalie who makes the saves he needs to make.

If that's not good enough, major changes will be needed - not the kind that are likely to happen before the TDL.
- StLBravesFan

I'd rather not wait and see. I think the wise move would be to add some physicality now and render the point moot.

I'm glad I fell asleep last night after the 2nd period. Had a gut feeling I'd wake up this morning they'd blow the 2-1 lead because you could see they were getting tired out there. I will say that the 3rd and 4th line seem to be getting better and better with each game they play. Hopefully Q will keep those lines together. Bababooey....

And that is a fair point and assessment. And that is why they play the games. I do not disagree with the idea of hits wearing things down. I also know there was a stretch during second and third period, where we did a better job of controlling the puck and somehow the Ducks were unable to hit, rather they were chasing around. Both of these teams and a few others are too good not to impose their will for periods of time. Just like our 4th line does a great job of hemming in the opponent, same with third line. Just not gonna happen every shift and every game.
- TrueGrit

But we're the Blackhawks!!!