Panik has stone hands (relative to most NHL forwards) but he is Professor Chaos on the forecheck, along the boards, and in the crease. As long as he keeps it simple, lays the body, puts pucks on net, and gets the puck to 88+19 ASAP...I think that line has a nice complement of skill sets. Q played 72-15-81 a few games last year and it was very effective, IIRC.
- EnzoD

Haha, nice post. I liked my skate real fast and crash into things but Professor Chaos is far superior.

the Hawks going against the back up goalie and should really win this game easily tonight

WRONG

What we will witness is the new true to fashion Blackhawks. They will play down to there competition, keep it close and maybe squeeze out a victory.

Sorry guys for being all negative nelly, but a year and change later, still waiting to see this hockey team put a full 60 minutes of hard work in to one regular season hockey game. And yes I'm talking about the core.

And let's see how many shifts Schmaltz coasts on defense, I know TT wasn't tough in the corners but at least he played defense
- BetweenTheDots

Nailed it about the full 60 minutes thing. I don't recall seeing this team put forth a complete game's worth of effort since the first half of last season. It was such a bad trend towards the end of last season it became incredibly predictable. And the worst part is when they turn it up and play catch up in the third they always looked like world beaters but it would be too little too late. This team needs some fire again, get on a roll and get come confidence and mojo flowing. PLEASE skate hard for a full game for a change

I think Panik will be fine as long as he can somewhat hold onto the puck occasionally. His skate real fast and crash into things should actually help open up some ice. He just needs to keep it simple.
- bhawks2241

Yes he does have a difficult time handling the puck in traffic or at high speeds, but when he is standing relatively still his release is great, just needs to find an open spot and wait for Kaner to hit him with a pass and we should see this result in some goals. Or he can just crash the net looking for the garbage and let Toews and Kane put on a show

Haha, nice post. I liked my skate real fast and crash into things but Professor Chaos is far superior.
- bhawks2241

Panik Attack^^

Not sure if Schmaltz is best suited to anchor a solid checking line, but like Bolland before, if he can take the puck and skate with it, that'd be great.

Moose has been more valuable than I gave him credit for. He has some real grit.

Now if Desi can come back and we can staple Tootoo to the bench, that would help too.

Does anyone know the PK units today?

Panik Attack^^
- EnzoD

Its his first game of the year lets see what Kinky can do. It will be interesting to see Lappin tonight also, I thought he was pretty strong in pre-season and played a role in the A Devils 5-0 start.

Go Devils.
- TRDevil

Agreed, but I have not faith in KK since he melted down last year and really lost his game.

Eric Lear ‏@BHTVeric 26s27 seconds ago
#Blackhawks lines: Panik-Toews-Kane, Panarin-Anisimov-Hossa, Motte-Kruger-Hartman, Rasmussen-Schmaltz-Tootoo.

Panik has stone hands (relative to most NHL forwards) but he is Professor Chaos on the forecheck, along the boards, and in the crease. As long as he keeps it simple, lays the body, puts pucks on net, and gets the puck to 88+19 ASAP...I think that line has a nice complement of skill sets. Q played 72-15-81 a few games last year and it was very effective, IIRC.
- EnzoD

Eh, he skates around like a dervish and has banged in some sitters but otherwise, there isn't a lot to like about his game. You can see how he drove Babcock crazy.

Not sure if Schmaltz is best suited to anchor a solid checking line, but like Bolland before, if he can take the puck and skate with it, that'd be great.

Moose has been more valuable than I gave him credit for. He has some real grit.

Now if Desi can come back and we can staple Tootoo to the bench, that would help too.

Does anyone know the PK units today?
- busmaster

Hate to say this buddy, but Q will have 1less not ready yet rookie in the line up onceDesi comes back, TooToo is going no where. Don't be surprised if Bowmandoesnt take a flyer on Greening either, if he can getToronto to take back some bucks and possibly McNeill. Q wants some more size up front, and as much as I get onBowman, I have tosay that most of his little under the radar stuff like Panik seems to work out, Greening could fit that bill also. It's just the big stuff that Bowman is weak at, good lead off hitter but no powerforclean up, in base ball terms! Go Cubbies!

TooToo is going no where.
- wonthecup10

Probably not. However, I don't see Tootoo starting 82 games this season.

Watching some of the teams playing that I've seen lately, I am feeling like the Hawks could really use a focus on a bit more dogged back pressure from the forwards. The Hawks D haven't been great in transition back and the forwards (to my eye) have been coasting back a little too much. Some guys are always going to back-check hard, but as a group they could put more pressure on and maybe force some turnovers the other way.

I could be imagining things, but I'd like it to be more difficult for the opposing teams to get through the middle of the ice.

Panik Attack^^
- EnzoD

Classic!

Rosi is in? Did they tweet the defensive pairs?
- 93Joe

Q said Forsling is out and as far as I know TvR isn't back from injury so it's my assumption Rozi is in.

Q said Forsling is out and as far as I know TvR isn't back from injury so it's my assumption Rozi is in.
- EbonyRaptor

Isn't TvR going to be out for a while?

Isn't TvR going to be out for a while?
- EKB13

Yes, that's what I recall too.

Isn't TvR going to be out for a while?
- EKB13

Looked like shoulder or collarbone. Has there been a timetable announced for TVR's injury?

Anyone have an insight on Forsling?

When he got hit last game, he just slumped over and scrapped himself up to just make it to the bench.

It looked weird.

what happened to kempny?

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 7m7 minutes ago
Asked which rookies have earned his trust, Quenneville started with Forsling, then mentioned Motte. #Blackhawks

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 7m7 minutes ago
Asked which rookies have earned his trust, Quenneville started with Forsling, then mentioned Motte. #Blackhawks
- DarthKane

Motte has been fantastic in my opinion. The guy is everywhere on the ice and he puts himself in positions to break up plays/passes.

I really like his game.

Motte has been fantastic in my opinion. The guy is everywhere on the ice and he puts himself in positions to break up plays/passes.

I really like his game.
- Hank3Henshaw

Agreed. It also looks like Hartman has made that next step in his devlopment. Was looking solid until the injury. He plays a simple get after it style and will lower the shoulder.

Much better lines.

And I'll disagree with you on Motte. I saw him in person against CLG. He was not good. Bad in the defensive zone, he kept getting in Toews way in the O zone, like he had no idea where to go. Plus a terrible turn over and 2 stupid penalties, one a double minor.

Small sample size, but he looked, to me, like he needs 82 games in the AHL.
- scottak

Glad you are nowhere NEAR any decisions on this team and are comfortably confined to the interwebs where you can do no harm.

Motte, like just about everyone on this team, is still transitioning, but has proven he belongs in the NHL. A turnover? A couple penalties? That's your argument? And offensive zone play takes time to develop chemistry. The fact he was "in the way" is NOT indicative of his hockey talent. And bad in the D zone? You mean like the other 20 guys on the team? Q seems to think he's good enough to work some PK time...in fact, I've seen him play the PK before and I think in time he's going to be a staple on our PK...

Q has even come out and said he's very pleased with Motte...sure, there are some things he needs to work on, but it's clearly intelligent to help him develop as he will BE A KEY cog on this team this year...I think I'll trust Q on this one.

Agreed. It also looks like Hartman has made that next step in his devlopment. Was looking solid until the injury. He plays a simple get after it style and will lower the shoulder.
- z1990z

yep. Big Hartman fan here.