I know we are all speculating on Drouin but I just noticed he was sent down today. Maybe they are done with him.
- golfbard

Scenery change in order......

I know we are all speculating on Drouin but I just noticed he was sent down today. Maybe they are done with him.
- golfbard

its basically a conditioning stint. He has missed a lot of time with injuries this season. He is waiver exempt so there really is no need to call it a conditioning stint. Nothing more, nothing less.


FTR. any mention of what size Kane was or wasn't his rookie year is kind of irrelevant. He put up 72 points. Whatever size he played at he was pretty damn good.

More stats

Past 15 games
5 on 5 hockey
Line 1 6 goals
Line 2 8 goals
Lines 3 and 4, 8 goals

Things look to be balancing out sure line 2 carried us in the beginning of the season but some interesting stats since December 1st

TT was #18 - so not really at the bottom of the first round, but after a few years it doen't really matter because they both have more potential than actual results at this point. I would say TT is the better player and if anyone is going to add it should be TB in a TT for Drouin. They're both on the 2nd year of their ELC so contract wise it's a wash. I don't know how dedicated Drouin is to playing defense which would be a must for Q to play him.
- EbonyRaptor

No way would I trade TT this year. He is playing great on the third line....and that line is producing. Get a left winger on Toews line atTDL. Send Polka, Hartman and a fourth pick for a quality rental. Doesn't kill the future by trading away TT or Dano.

some interesting games tonight

1. stars once again come from behind 2 goals to get a win or in this case a point vs those devils

2. blues crumble vs leafs 4-1

3. wild loses to bolts 3-2

4. panthers keep rolling over the isles 3-0

drouin sent down...

hawks should pass...don't need a former top pick head case...

very tough month coming for the hawks...

14 gmes in 25 days
3 BTBs with 5 of the six on the road
3 sets of 3 gmes in 4 nights
mid month begin a stretch 9 of 11 on the road

darling might get 4-5 starts during Jan into feb..

pivotal month??? can they stay above ice level??

Svedberg just scored an empty-netter, for the other team into the IceHogs net. Not good.

some interesting games tonight

1. stars once again come from behind 2 goals to get a win or in this case a point vs those devils

2. blues crumble vs leafs 4-1

3. wild loses to bolts 3-2

4. panthers keep rolling over the isles 3-0
- bogiedoc

isle lost a doubleheader? panthers beats the rags. isle took a beating from the pens.

very tough month coming for the hawks...

14 gmes in 25 days
3 BTBs with 5 of the six on the road
3 sets of 3 gmes in 4 nights
mid month begin a stretch 9 of 11 on the road

darling might get 4-5 starts during Jan into feb..

pivotal month??? can they stay above ice level??
- bogiedoc

why can't they?

isle lost a doubleheader? panthers beats the rags. isle took a beating from the pens.
- TTtime

aahhh... got my New York's

why can't they?
- TTtime

they can...but that's a tough sched for any team...i would think some of these trends that we have beaten into the ground here need to reverse if they are going come out the other end with say 9-4-1 record...

home and home vs pens: pens typically play them tough
habs 2x
leafs in toronto is usually a tough game for them
panthers/bolts btb: panthers playing much better
and get a visit from varlomov again
2 vs the preds
and the blues

they can...but that's a tough sched for any team...i would think some of these trends that we have beaten into the ground here need to reverse if they are going come out the other end with say 9-4-1 record...

home and home vs pens: pens typically play them tough
habs 2x
leafs in toronto is usually a tough game for them
panthers/bolts btb: panthers playing much better
and get a visit from varlomov again
2 vs the preds
and the blues
- bogiedoc

Trends? please. I don't buy into all the negative thinking. Here is the trend I see. Only 4 teams in the league have more points then they do. And they will play their best hockey in the 2nd half. They have been sorting out the roster in the 1st.

pens are meh. Habs with no price and yesterday notwithstanding have been struggling to score. The preds and blues are clearly beatable.

Every team in the league has a pretty much the same type of schedule.

Trends? please. I don't buy into all the negative thinking. Here is the trend I see. Only 4 teams in the league have more points then they do. And they will play their best hockey in the 2nd half. They have been sorting out the roster in the 1st.

pens are meh. Habs with no price and yesterday notwithstanding have been struggling to score. The preds and blues are clearly beatable.

Every team in the league has a pretty much the same type of schedule.
- TTtime

wow...silly me...negative thinking???

your right they all play 82 games...and good or bad stretches have no impact over the course of the year.....glad we got that settled

wow...silly me...negative thinking???

your right they all play 82 games...and good or bad stretches have no impact over the course of the year.....glad we got that settled
- bogiedoc

8-4 in the last 12. horrible. just horrible.

Trends? please. I don't buy into all the negative thinking. Here is the trend I see. Only 4 teams in the league have more points then they do. And they will play their best hockey in the 2nd half. They have been sorting out the roster in the 1st.

pens are meh. Habs with no price and yesterday notwithstanding have been struggling to score. The preds and blues are clearly beatable.

Every team in the league has a pretty much the same type of schedule.
- TTtime

Yep ..!! As the Great Satchel Paige said " Don't look back . Something might be gaining on you" .

very tough month coming for the hawks...

14 gmes in 25 days
3 BTBs with 5 of the six on the road
3 sets of 3 gmes in 4 nights
mid month begin a stretch 9 of 11 on the road

darling might get 4-5 starts during Jan into feb..

pivotal month??? can they stay above ice level??
- bogiedoc

Tough schedule Bogie, no doubt. No reason to condense games when there are no Olympics or other considerations. Three games in four nights is unfair to players, when overtired and with heavy legs, in my opinion leaves them susceptible to injury. And the fans who pay the big bucks and pay the freight? Don't think they're getting their money's worth either.

I am really really busy, but very glad I stopped by to read your blog JJ.

I just can't believe who you have gotten to the heart of the matter.

I don't think I had spent the time in my little brain to connect the issues changes and stats in the eloquent way you did.

I learned a lot...mostly because I never thought about it in depth.

Well, I certainly think that elusive left winger is interesting, if his current team is truly uninterested in re-signing him. And I guess they have to fall pretty far out of contention before they start doing us favors...

Is it a bonus that "he" can play power play point, or shift to the of-wing on the right when his team mixes things up when they are down in the final period?

drouin sent down...

hawks should pass...don't need a former top pick head case...
- bogiedoc

He is NOT going to be traded...it is all about understanding and proceeding to play prepare and execute with in a team system, and he will play more and be re-educated in Syracuse.

they can...but that's a tough sched for any team...i would think some of these trends that we have beaten into the ground here need to reverse if they are going come out the other end with say 9-4-1 record...

home and home vs pens: pens typically play them tough
habs 2x
leafs in toronto is usually a tough game for them
panthers/bolts btb: panthers playing much better
and get a visit from varlomov again
2 vs the preds
and the blues
- bogiedoc

December, on the other hand was slanted in the Hawks favor.

and finally,

if the hawks will probably attempt to address LW, it will be with that first rounder, one of the two AHL defenders Sveddy / Pokka time, and one of there Rockford forwards.

it is pretty clear to most that the hawks have a few guys down there that are close...and the past has shown plenty of forwards from the Hawk's farm being serviceable NHL players.

So...if the Hawks can get a youngster veteran left winger and pay those three chips I mentioned, they may have to make sure the "kid" is amicable about staying on without a king's ransom.

one more- last one:

I am happy for each and everyone of the Dallas fans.

It IS a good team great mix upfront, etc.

But you know what?... when the playoffs start they better be really prepared to defend the house because Niemi is still an open-ass up high.

.. any mention of what size Kane was or wasn't his rookie year is kind of irrelevant. He put up 72 points. Whatever size he played at he was pretty damn good.
- TTtime

There were concerns and rightly so about Kane's size and more his physical strength.

He is stronger but more importantly he is more confident. I bet Drouin is starting to doubt himself, doubt the way he is being used (or not used) but it isabout getting him more confident in his carries at the AHL to build him back so he doesn't lose pucks in the bigs.

It is not like he is an anomaly as a early chosen youngster who really was mostly asked to go out and carry the load at the attacking end without using linemates or having to bother about the opposition having close to equal skills to counteract his...there's Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Bennett, Reinhart, etc. Until they get figured out and it balances their skills with trying NOT to being a one man taking on the weight of the world...remember it was all so easy back there in junior, and now well it's not really as easy to do.
Reps that get positive results help that confidence come back and once the puzzle fits those skilled kids CAN start showing off that domination at the highest level.

I always thought Kane (and Toews) got plenty of tutelage from Sharpy early on.
If someone isn't talking you up it gets in your head and pulls you down. I believe Drouin is in that rut.

More stats

Past 15 games
5 on 5 hockey
Line 1 6 goals
Line 2 8 goals
Lines 3 and 4, 8 goals

Things look to be balancing out sure line 2 carried us in the beginning of the season but some interesting stats since December 1st
- BetweenTheDots

The problem is that's only 22 goals in 15 games, not good.

The problem is that's only 22 goals in 15 games, not good.
- walleyeb1

No that's only 22 goals at even strength
I posted earlier December, 15 games
5 on 5
22 gf, 24 ga