Probably why he got hammered into the bench there in G7.
Funny, what he does in that regard just doesn't seem anywhere near as obvious as what #36 would do, yet he's clearly getting under his opponents' skin!

Where I think he is head-and-shoulders above Bolland: faceoffs. Has done a great job of working with Perrault on this and has markedly improved.
- savvyone-1

Oh, Perry and Kesler both lost their sh-- on him. I can also see him out against Fillipula/Stamkos a lot.

This is what worries me most about Tampa. The Hawk defense loves to pinch in. With a very fast and talented offense, the Hawks better be VERY careful not to give up odd man rushes. And if Timonen finds himself on the ice at all, he should not be allowed any deeper than the blue line. I'd hate to see a game blown over odd man chances bad hooking penalties. I'm sure Tampa is looking at that as an area to exploit.
- Hossa18

This is a great point. Hawks will need forward rotation on those pinches, which is what their system calls for. Timonen's one egregious pinch early in the Anaheim series was on a forward change. Bad timing, bad result.

I still say keeping TB bottled up and defending is the way to beat them. And maintaining o-zone pressure through the cycle and smart pinches and keep-ins is how the Hawks will do it.

Well, if you're tendering the offer sheet to hurt the Hawks by forcing them to match, then the only gamble is that the Hawks will retaliate by tendering your RFA's. The Hawks are leveraged to the beak for the better part of a decade, so not much risk there.

And if the Hawks let Saad walk, then you just got yourself a 22 y/o good size, elite skating, highly skilled stud who has been gulping winning mojo right from the Cup, and is already Tanner-proof clutch (more gwg this season than Kane, 1 less than Toews). $5-6 mill is the going rate for talented 3rd/4th option scorers. So I predict multiple offer sheets being mailed to Chicago (and St Louis) zipcodes this summer.

If I were Ken Holland, sitting on plenty of cap space and compensatory draft picks, I would already have a $5.5 offer filled out, to pay back signing Hossa away if nothing else. Pencil Saad in on Datsyuk's wing, and wave him right in Babcock's face.
- meta_puck_luck

Problem there is the Hawks have a strategy to prevent his. More to come in a few weeks.

Historically players whose main job is to shadow drive the opposition crazy. Bolland had/has a nasty side I don't think Kruger does. And yes while Kruger is better at draws Bolland was better at scoring some huge goals and being more physical. Remember those devastating hits on Hamhuis and in 2013 on Richards?
- paulr

I think Kruger has a better wrist shot but doesn't shoot nearly often enough. But Bolland did come up big with goals AND hits. Those were game changers. Unfortunate that Bolland could never stay healthy, once he had the back surgery I knew he would never be the same.

id say the bolts match up better to the west than any of the other east teams. and we had i think the best record against the west of any of the eastern teams? both teams play a similar style and our top four of hedman stralman garrison and coburn arent exactly a pushover and are all well over 6'. we have the biggest d in the league. just going to have to use their size in this series. but i think our 3rd line of callahan boyle brown is going to be the difference maker. i think the top two lines are a wash. maybe slight edge to the bolts but not much. but i would give goaltending to bolts.

offense wash
defense chicago
goaltending tampa

thats why i think it goes at least 6 or 7. i think the series is split 2-2 going into game 5. whoever wins game 5 wins the series.
- boltsfan48

Lets go with the assumption that you are correct (but you are not) and the top 2 lines are a wash or slightly in Tampas favor (still not buying it). You do realize that there are 4 lines of offense and the bottom 6 for TB (or 5) don't even come close to Chicago. SO.....the offense is not a "wash", it would be advantage Chicago. And speaking of goal tending, didn't Bishop give up 5 goals in games 3, 4 & 6?

thats why i think it goes at least 6 or 7. i think the series is split 2-2 going into game 5. whoever wins game 5 wins the series.
- boltsfan48

If it is tied 2-2, Hawks win series.

AT NO POINT since 2009 have the Hawks lost a series when they've gotten to 2 before the opponent gets to 3.

The Hawks get better as the series goes along. The ONLY way TB wins this series is a quick strike, build a series lead and hang on.

Hawks lost 4-1 in 2009 (Det) and 2012 (Phoenix)...Chicago lost 4-3 to Vancouver in 2011 after falling behind 3-0, and lost last year after falling behind 3-1 to LA.

If Chicago is "in it" come game 5, your chances are slim

Coming home from work today Elliotte Friedman was on TSN radio talking about the Hawks. He said that last time there was a firesale for Hawk cap casualties in 2010 only one team was ready. This time he believes a number of teams have interest in Hawk players due in part to the value of the player and the fact the these players are coming from a great club where winning is paramount. He is hearing all the names we talk about here but he also thinks there may be huge interest in Crawford if he is moved. He believes this time the Hawks won't take such massive hits and may get better quality back due to multiple teams being involved. He also went on to say that all the college and KHL signings will offset the loss of draft picks this year but that the Hawks will be trying to get some picks back before or during the draft.

In addition, Marcus Kruger seemed to really annoy a number of the Ducks. I expect him to do the same to Tyler Johnson.
- RickJ

Agreed.

Saw a little rat in him during games 5-7.

I would agree with you on Sharp. That 3rd line has been dangerous with Vermette and Tervavien. Gives the Hawks a 3rd option for scoring. My only concern is IF Bickell is hurting that bad, then move him off the 2nd line with Richards and Hossa. I'd put Shaw up there, and put Bickell down with Kruger and Desjardin.

Keith's to lose unless kane or Toews catch fire in this series, or Keith's play drops a bit.
- SteveRain

You would the Hawks' worst defensive forward with your best defensive center? I wouldn't. If bickell is dinged up and can't go, the solution is simple. Put Versteeg in for him.

I think Kruger has a better wrist shot but doesn't shoot nearly often enough. But Bolland did come up big with goals AND hits. Those were game changers. Unfortunate that Bolland could never stay healthy, once he had the back surgery I knew he would never be the same.
- savvyone-1

I was sad to see Bolland go but he is way overpaid for the role he commanded and the fact he is so injury prone. I'll gladly take Kruger and his salary on the Hawks.

Lets go with the assumption that you are correct (but you are not) and the top 2 lines are a wash or slightly in Tampas favor (still not buying it). You do realize that there are 4 lines of offense and the bottom 6 for TB (or 5) don't even come close to Chicago. SO.....the offense is not a "wash", it would be advantage Chicago. And speaking of goal tending, didn't Bishop give up 5 goals in games 3, 4 & 6?
- TheTrob

It's a joke how little respect Crawford gets. Bishop is better? How and why? Because he had a 22 save shutout against NY who was putting Bantam B level shots on him?

Crow has a Cup and single-handedly took Hawks to WCF last year with amazing effort versus Minny (after a great series v StL). He got off to a slow start v Nashville, but has been rock solid since then.

Let me add, you may have a point, But so far you have backed nothing up except with vague generalities about how you think Crawford played, and Tampa having better depth.

Prove it. I've given you proof to the contrary.
- John Jaeckel

John I have no dog in this fight but one thing that gets annoying with you and this blog is the fact you give no credence that Tampa could play well and beat Chicago without it requiring Bishop going 86 Roy. No one is denying Chicago his more experience, has a deeper roster, a better defense, and that Toews is probably the best player once the playoffs hits bar none.

But it is certainly a possibility that Stamkos elevates his game on the stage and that some of the youth for Tampa keeps doing what they have been to pull an upset. Most would agree Tampa is probably a year or two early to be in the Cup which is why I have Chicago in 5 mayyybee 6 if Bishop steals one. But to just say they basically have no chance when this is young roster that has a lot of high end talent (not as much CHI yet) is pretty arrogant and pompous.

Coming home from work today Elliotte Friedman was on TSN radio talking about the Hawks. He said that last time there was a firesale for Hawk cap casualties in 2010 only one team was ready. This time he believes a number of teams have interest in Hawk players due in part to the value of the player and the fact the these players are coming from a great club where winning is paramount. He is hearing all the names we talk about here but he also thinks there may be huge interest in Crawford if he is moved. He believes this time the Hawks won't take such massive hits and may get better quality back due to multiple teams being involved. He also went on to say that all the college and KHL signings will offset the loss of draft picks this year but that the Hawks will be trying to get some picks back before or during the draft.
- paulr

Thanks for that insight.........I wish I got TSN radio, or TSN.......instead I'm stuck with ESPN and countless hours of.............LeBron James, NY Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New England patriots, A-rod, Tiger Woods, and more Lebron.

John I have no dog in this fight but one thing that gets annoying with you and this blog is the fact you give no credence that Tampa could play well and beat Chicago without it requiring Bishop going 86 Roy. No one is denying Chicago his more experienced, has a deeper roster, a better defense, and that Toews is probably the best player once the playoffs hits bar none.

But it is certainly a possibility that Stamkos elevates his game on the stage and that some of the youth for Tampa keeps doing what they have been. Most would agree Tampa is probably a year or two early to be in the Cup which is why I have Chicago in 5 mayyybee 6 if Bishop steals one. But to just say they basically have no chance when this is young roster that has a lot of high end talent (not as much CHI yet) is pretty arrogant and pompous.
- cmsabres48

Besides being a Hawk blogger and fan, you hit the nail on the head as to why many experts, not just Hawk fans, believe the Hawks will win .... EXPERIENCE.

Thanks for that insight.........I wish I got TSN radio, or TSN.......instead I'm stuck with ESPN and countless hours of.............LeBron James, NY Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New England patriots, A-rod, Tiger Woods, and more Lebron.


- SteveRain

Listen to them online

Listen to them online
- paulr

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/toronto-1050

http://www.sportsnet.ca/590/

I was sad to see Bolland go but he is way overpaid for the role he commanded and the fact he is so injury prone. I'll gladly take Kruger and his salary on the Hawks.
- paulr

Curious to see where Kruger slides in come $$ time.

Saad is somewhere between 4-5 million. Hawks try to go low on this kid, and he will get an offer sheet like Hammer did in 2010. Hopefully Stanley has learned his lesson on that negotiating tactic.

However, Kruger is an interesting case. Not a top 6 in regards to talent. Never has shown that consistent offensive game that says he COULD be a top 6, like Bolland showed when paired with Havlat and Ladd, and then quickly proved was a fluke when continued to fail over and over again.

Also, you don't see Kruger adding much in the playoffs on the offensive side.

My point is, I think the Hawks really have the leverage here. if Kruger wants to stay at this price, fine........but if he's asking for more on a team where every penny may count..........something to keep an eye on.

John I have no dog in this fight but one thing that gets annoying with you and this blog is the fact you give no credence that Tampa could play well and beat Chicago without it requiring Bishop going 86 Roy. No one is denying Chicago his more experience, has a deeper roster, a better defense, and that Toews is probably the best player once the playoffs hits bar none.

But it is certainly a possibility that Stamkos elevates his game on the stage and that some of the youth for Tampa keeps doing what they have been to pull an upset. Most would agree Tampa is probably a year or two early to be in the Cup which is why I have Chicago in 5 mayyybee 6 if Bishop steals one. But to just say they basically have no chance when this is young roster that has a lot of high end talent (not as much CHI yet) is pretty arrogant and pompous.
- cmsabres48

Where did I say they have no chance? I see hawks in 6 is pompous and arrogant? Well, you have a lot of people to call pompous and arrogant. Start with the Vegas books. Melrose. I'm sure many,many more by this time Wednesday. I didn't predict a sweep.

You know what, go back and read what I actually wrote. If Bishop plays lights out, if they open it up and get some bounces. Because they're not that far off.

No, if they go mano a mano, all else being equal, the matchups favor the Hawks and their ability to bottle up teams that play Tampa's style, maybe heavily.

But sure, they have to play the games and anything, conceivably, can happen.

You go back and read my blogs on ALL the playoff series. Pompous and arrogant, or mostly right? You tell me.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/toronto-1050
- paulr

Thanks.

Listen to them online
- paulr

Still not sold on trading Crawford, but Bowman will do what's best for the team.

Thanks.
- SteveRain

TSN has an iPhone app where you can stream ALL the TSN radio stations in the big Canadian markets: Montreal, Ottawa, TO, WPG, EDM, VAN.

Still not sold on trading Crawford, but Bowman will do what's best for the team.
- biegs

They may have no choice. They're also very high on Darling.

John I have no dog in this fight but one thing that gets annoying with you and this blog is the fact you give no credence that Tampa could play well and beat Chicago without it requiring Bishop going 86 Roy. No one is denying Chicago his more experience, has a deeper roster, a better defense, and that Toews is probably the best player once the playoffs hits bar none.

But it is certainly a possibility that Stamkos elevates his game on the stage and that some of the youth for Tampa keeps doing what they have been to pull an upset. Most would agree Tampa is probably a year or two early to be in the Cup which is why I have Chicago in 5 mayyybee 6 if Bishop steals one. But to just say they basically have no chance when this is young roster that has a lot of high end talent (not as much CHI yet) is pretty arrogant and pompous.
- cmsabres48

I don't think that JJ is saying Tampa has no chance. That's a stretch and an over-generalization on your part, IMO.

How are things back in Rochester? (I grew up in Wayne county until I moved to DC for work)

Where did I say they have no chance?

You know what, go back and read what I actually write. if Bishop plays lights out, if they open it up and get some bounces. Because they're not that far off.

No, if they go mano a mano, all else being equal, the matchups favor the Hawks and their ability to bottle up teams that play Tampa's style, maybe heavily.

But sure, they have to play the games and anything, conceivably, can happen.

You go back and read my blogs on ALL the playoff series. Pompous and arrogant, or mostly right? You tell me.
- John Jaeckel

If you are mostly right........you can be pompous and arrogant

Not sure what people expect? I don't think anyone ever says "Team X cannot win". Predictions are given based on educated analysis of the teams, players, coaches, history, etc. You can choose to believe that or not, predicting a team to win in 6 games is not dismissing the opponent.

Still not sold on trading Crawford, but Bowman will do what's best for the team.
- biegs

I'm not sold on the idea either but we've been hearing about it here and now the media is running with it.