He wouldn't be playing with a concussion, they just wouldn't do it. Sure he could be dinged up, but he's had tons of chances, just needs to score. I don't really subscribe to him being hurt. If you're hurt you don't play, if you play you're not hurt
- rollpards19

Toews was 2/2 last year against the Yotes and 1/3 with a -4 the year before against the Nucks. Dont know what up with him. He looked good to end the season this year. Obviously the word is out on how to defend us since Kane and Toews are both not producing. Sharp gets crap, but hes been the most consistent guy. And Sharp has been pretty physical to go along with his scoring. The lack of a legit #2 C is evident. If I was coach thats where Sharp would be. The #2 C spot. We need to dump/chase since we cant razzle dazzle across the blue line anymore. Gotta come out hard tonight and win. If we allow the Wings to win it we will be in some schit here. I will stick my earlier prediction.. Hawks-5 Wings-2.

He wouldn't be playing with a concussion, they just wouldn't do it. Sure he could be dinged up, but he's had tons of chances, just needs to score. I don't really subscribe to him being hurt. If you're hurt you don't play, if you play you're not hurt
- rollpards19

Not so fast. What is a concussion? Some lingering symptoms is a concussion to some, But not others. LOTS of guys play with some concussion symptoms. Doesn't mean they should or they haven't semi-b.s.'ed their way back, but it does happen.

War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
- Beaver-Warrior

Stan knows best

Toews was 2/2 last year against the Yotes and 1/3 with a -4 the year before against the Nucks. Dont know what up with him. He looked good to end the season this year. Obviously the word is out on how to defend us since Kane and Toews are both not producing. Sharp gets crap, but hes been the most consistent guy. And Sharp has been pretty physical to go along with his scoring. The lack of a legit #2 C is evident. If I was coach thats where Sharp would be. The #2 C spot. We need to dump/chase since we cant razzle dazzle across the blue line anymore. Gotta come out hard tonight and win. If we allow the Wings to win it we will be in some schit here.
- z1990z

One thing to remember, in 2010, Toews was playing with Byfuglien. He has no road grader to create space for him.

Dunno if it's being reported elsewhere, but I heard earlier today Stalberg is definitely IN the lineup tonight
- John Jaeckel

Can't find it now, but I could have swore I read somewhere that Handzus was out tonight, and Carcillo was on the 4th. Scratch that, he didn't skate this morning, but Q said he's dressing tonight.

Toews was 2/2 last year against the Yotes and 1/3 with a -4 the year before against the Nucks. Dont know what up with him. He looked good to end the season this year. Obviously the word is out on how to defend us since Kane and Toews are both not producing. Sharp gets crap, but hes been the most consistent guy. And Sharp has been pretty physical to go along with his scoring. The lack of a legit #2 C is evident. If I was coach thats where Sharp would be. The #2 C spot. We need to dump/chase since we cant razzle dazzle across the blue line anymore. Gotta come out hard tonight and win. If we allow the Wings to win it we will be in some schit here.
- z1990z

Can't underestimate the value of role players on the top lines. A lot of times this team likes to look at production of the role players. I prefer to look at the production of my stars. The guys who skated with Kane/Toews/Hossa/Sharp had a lot to do with their success the year we won the Cup. Who skates besides them need to fill a role to put them in the best possible situation to score and succeed. IMO that had a lot to do with the last 2 years. This year remains to be seen.

Stan knows best
- Return of the Roar

Sure Stanley works in the Ministry of Truth as does Q.

Toews was 2/2 last year against the Yotes and 1/3 with a -4 the year before against the Nucks. Dont know what up with him. He looked good to end the season this year. Obviously the word is out on how to defend us since Kane and Toews are both not producing. Sharp gets crap, but hes been the most consistent guy. And Sharp has been pretty physical to go along with his scoring. The lack of a legit #2 C is evident. If I was coach thats where Sharp would be. The #2 C spot. We need to dump/chase since we cant razzle dazzle across the blue line anymore. Gotta come out hard tonight and win. If we allow the Wings to win it we will be in some schit here.
- z1990z

I think I disagree with this. The rest I pretty much agree with, but Toews and Kane have had plenty of chances in this playoffs (can't remember too many specifics about previous series i.e. scoring chances). Toews really should have scored on that pass from Bolland last game, Saad should have scored that wide open net game 1 from Toews, Toews should have tapped in that goal on the PP against the Wild from Kane. I think it more comes down to execution. All three of those are plays that just have to be goals, and if that happens the production from 19 is fine. As always, it comes down to execution, and right now Toews isn't executing at a high enough level. But I don't think they've been "figured out". Kane is at a PPG, thats what you expect

One thing to remember, in 2010, Toews was playing with Byfuglien. He has no road grader to create space for him.
- John Jaeckel

We seem to be in synch...

Byfuglien - Ladd/Brouwer

Stalberg - Bickel
Brunette - Kruger/Saad/Stalberg
Bolland - Saad


I am not so sure the bottom guys fill the same role as the top guys.

Sure Stanley works in the Ministry of Truth as does Q.
- Beaver-Warrior

Weakness equals strength
Perimeter play equals goals
Sticks check better than bodies

Let's just hope the boys strapped their sacks on tonight.

One thing to remember, in 2010, Toews was playing with Byfuglien. He has no road grader to create space for him.
- John Jaeckel

thats why they should try Stalberg on top line tonight. No hes not #33 however if there was one game I would put him there its tonight. His speed and potential physicallty can open it up for that line and put a much needed pressure on a fairly inexperienced D Shake it up Q!

Not so fast. What is a concussion? Some lingering symptoms is a concussion to some, But not others. LOTS of guys play with some concussion symptoms. Doesn't mean they should or they haven't semi-b.s.'ed their way back, but it does happen.
- John Jaeckel

You're correct of course, but I didn't really mean it to go over as if he doesn't have possible effects, just that he is playing so it doesn't matter that much to me. He's not playing poorly (most of his peripheral numbers are fantastic) , but he is producing poorly, and that has to change for the best player on the team.

thats why they should try Stalberg on top line tonight. No hes not #33 however if there was one game I would put him there its tonight. His speed and potential physicallty can open it up for that line and put a much needed pressure on a fairly inexperienced D Shake it up Q!
- Ruboy88

What potential physicality? Stalberg is as physical as Kane, he shouldn't be but is.

You're correct of course, but I didn't really mean it to go over as if he doesn't have possible effects, just that he is playing so it doesn't matter that much to me. He's not playing poorly (most of his peripheral numbers are fantastic) , but he is producing poorly, and that has to change for the best player on the team.
- rollpards19

The guy is the muscle on that line on the boards. He cannot win the board battles and score at the same time.

Weakness equals strength
Perimeter play equals goals
Sticks check better than bodies

Let's just hope the boys strapped their sacks on tonight.
- Return of the Roar

Double plus good! If they don't bring it tonight, when will they?

thats why they should try Stalberg on top line tonight. No hes not #33 however if there was one game I would put him there its tonight. His speed and potential physicallty can open it up for that line and put a much needed pressure on a fairly inexperienced D Shake it up Q!
- Ruboy88

I've been wanting that for a while. However, with the Toews line out Babcock or any coach for that matter will obviously always put his top pairing out there.

That's why Stalberg has been on that 3rd line so that he gets matched up with the 3rd pairing to blow past them.

What potential physicality? Stalberg is as physical as Kane, he shouldn't be but is.
- droe411

I think we see a different Stalberg tonight this guy has the potential to ignite some energy into the whole team with one burst of speed leading to a huge hit. If he doesnt well then we will see him wearing his figure skates with another team next year.....and rightfully so.

Not so fast. What is a concussion? Some lingering symptoms is a concussion to some, But not others. LOTS of guys play with some concussion symptoms. Doesn't mean they should or they haven't semi-b.s.'ed their way back, but it does happen.
- John Jaeckel

furthermore, Toews already admitted this year that he was still not "fully recovered" last year during the PHX series - he was dealing with concussion issues at the time.

I think we see a different Stalberg tonight this guy has the potential to ignite some energy into the whole team with one burst of speed leading to a huge hit. If he doesnt well then we will see him wearing his figure skates with another team next year.....and rightfully so.
- Ruboy88

He will be with another team no matter what.

I think we see a different Stalberg tonight this guy has the potential to ignite some energy into the whole team with one burst of speed leading to a huge hit. If he doesnt well then we will see him wearing his figure skates with another team next year.....and rightfully so.
- Ruboy88

I don't think there will be any huge hit from Stalberg........ Now his speed is something different. Can he create some quality chances, heck yes. Hopefully one goes in, or it leads to a quality chance for his line mates.

How bad were Seabrook and Leddy last game? Why did Rosival and Oduya play against 40 and not those two?

One last chime before rewatching the last Memorial Cup game:

I continue to wonder that if by some incredible stroke of fate, a strong physical skating wing had been playing with Toews for the last couple of years, if Toews woulld have a whole lot more room.
It's not like the Hawks had room to trade and groom someone, or acquire some guy with hopes that he clicked.
Maybe Tallon hoped that somehow Beach was goona skate better and be that guy...a dream from the start.

So we don't have that or any of the other player archtypes the mob here desires...that just means Toews better dig deeper the next couple.

If there is a re-occuring heath issue, I think you have to move ahead to ensure it isn't something that continues to roadblock future runs.

>Missed Game 2 -- daughter's college graduation trip
>I would say the most important thing the Hawks need to do is clear their heads and focus on 1 thing: SHIFT INTENSITY
>In general, today's NHL is tremendously overcoached -- not saying Q does this, but players can be feed way too much stuff to ponder
>One thing Q can do is keep the shifts very short
>Sometimes the Hawks focus too much on puck possession and shift intensity suffers
>Hawks are the better team, but need to find and sustain their top gear -- it's a gear the Wings don't have

>Missed Game 2 -- daughter's college graduation trip
>I would say the most important thing the Hawks need to do is clear their heads and focus on 1 thing: SHIFT INTENSITY
>In general, today's NHL is tremendously overcoached -- not saying Q does this, but players can be feed way too much stuff to ponder
>One thing Q can do is keep the shifts very short
>Sometimes the Hawks focus too much on puck possession and shift intensity suffers
>Hawks are the better team, but need to find and sustain their top gear -- it's a gear the Wings don't have
- SnapitUpstairs

This. Hampers the creativity, when a coach over-coaches he can take away from his team's skill advantage, but under coaching can also have bad results (see Boudreau, Bruce)

I don't want to see or hear any more of this out of this guy. Nominated for the Messier Leadership Award . . . if those voters get wind of this, not so much.
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(credit for the image to the Chicago Tribune)