I really don’t get why we’re starting Glass???
- walleyeb1

Because he played well last game and Forsberg poop the bed.

Forsberg has noticeably improved, but he's young and inexperienced so he can lay an egg every so often. Glass is a lot like Quick with his awkward style but very acrobatic. I like Glass as a backup, but I like Fors as an eventual starter.
- JRoenick97

30 and 31 both lose their net. A lot. Primarily due to the speed of the game versus that found in the lower leagues. Also because of the clown shoes in front of them that force any Hawk goalie to save35-40+ shots a game and 10-15 grade A chances in the slot.

Not enough book on either of these guys to know if either of them can ever take a #1 role going forward. HUGE drop off in talent from 50 to both of them.

I would argue that 50's health and longevity are compromised with the style of play in front of him as well as the sheer number of games they ask him to play.

Like I said on the last blog, if I were 50, I see the writing on the wall and would beg to get moved to a contender to end my career with.

Because he played well last game and Forsberg poop the bed.
- JRoenick97

Forsberg has been by far the better goalie. While Glass has made some good save he's also been out of position several times. Forsberg may be less flashy but he is the better goalie now and for the future.

Forsberg has been by far the better goalie. While Glass has made some good save he's also been out of position several times. Forsberg may be less flashy but he is the better goalie now and for the future.
- DarthKane

I agree, as per my comment on them both above, but just recently, last game Glass played well and the game before Forsberg did not play well, hence Glass gets the start.

30 and 31 both lose their net. A lot. Primarily due to the speed of the game versus that found in the lower leagues. Also because of the clown shoes in front of them that force any Hawk goalie to save35-40+ shots a game and 10-15 grade A chances in the slot.

Not enough book on either of these guys to know if either of them can ever take a #1 role going forward. HUGE drop off in talent from 50 to both of them.

I would argue that 50's health and longevity are compromised with the style of play in front of him as well as the sheer number of games they ask him to play.

Like I said on the last blog, if I were 50, I see the writing on the wall and would beg to get moved to a contender to end my career with.
- Return of the Roar

Crawford has never really been asked to play a crazy amount of games. He has never played 60 games in a season in his whole career, which is something a lot of other starters have to do. The Hawks generally have elite backup goaltending, so Crawford has had the luxury of getting a lot of rest during the regular seasons.

Crawford has never really been asked to play a crazy amount of games. He has never played 60 games in a season in his whole career, which is something a lot of other starters have to do. The Hawks generally have elite backup goaltending, so Crawford has had the luxury of getting a lot of rest during the regular seasons.
- Hawks_49

This season he was for sure on pace to play more than 60 regular season starts. I should have clarified that to what was happening this year.

28 games through 12-23-2017

Toews not an Elite player
Seabrook not anything more than a 3rd pair Dman (at best)
Gustafson/Oesterle/Rutta/Kempny all should be in the AHL or Europe
Murphy a 3rd pair Dman
Saad on a 30something point 82 game pace for $6mil and now on the 4th line
Jeff Glass belongs in the AHL
Anton Forsberg should be an NHL backup or AHLer
Duncan Keith now is an ideal #2 dman at 34 years old
Artem Anisimov a non-factor most of the year
Ryan Hartman regressing from 19 goals as a rookie to healthy scratch/4th liner often

Where would this team be without Schmaltz, Debrincat, Kane and Crawford early in the year? They are SO FAR from being competitive for a Cup they really need to sell anything and everything. Seabrook and Toews should just retire bc their legacies will be tarnished if they play out their contracts at the level of declining performance we're seeing now. Toews may go down as one of the most overrated and overpaid players of the Salary Cap era if he continues to be a 40 something point center that isn't even that strong on the puck anymore. Really, really sad how far and how fast this team has fallen. BLOW IT UP (Bowman and Q included).
- EnzoD

Even in the seasons when Torts demoted Saad to the 4th line, he ended up with 53 points. Is this what he is now, or do you think he can get back to that level of production?

You've mentioned a couple times that Toews, skating looks weak. As I have never had the ability to skate, does it look to you that this is Saad's problem as well or something else?

Hartman reminds me of young Frolik. Has some offensive ability, but needs to get the defensive side figured out.

30 and 31 both lose their net. A lot. Primarily due to the speed of the game versus that found in the lower leagues. Also because of the clown shoes in front of them that force any Hawk goalie to save35-40+ shots a game and 10-15 grade A chances in the slot.

Not enough book on either of these guys to know if either of them can ever take a #1 role going forward. HUGE drop off in talent from 50 to both of them.

I would argue that 50's health and longevity are compromised with the style of play in front of him as well as the sheer number of games they ask him to play.

Like I said on the last blog, if I were 50, I see the writing on the wall and would beg to get moved to a contender to end my career with.
- Return of the Roar

And if I was in his spot I’d be extremely careful about not letting the team push him back into playing before he’s sure he’s 100%.

Even in the seasons when Torts demoted Saad to the 4th line, he ended up with 53 points. Is this what he is now, or do you think he can get back to that level of production?

You've mentioned a couple times that Toews, skating looks weak. As I have never had the ability to skate, does it look to you that this is Saad's problem as well or something else?

Hartman reminds me of young Frolik. Has some offensive ability, but needs to get the defensive side figured out.
- Chunk

Saad has been doing almost everything right except scoring. I think he'll bounce back, he just needs confidence. He's top 10 in the league in possession, hes shot percentage is just way low. Something has to give.

And if I was in his spot I’d be extremely careful about not letting the team push him back into playing before he’s sure he’s 100%.
- walleyeb1

Exactly.

In the current environment where others of the core have either decided they no longer need to give the effort, or no longer can give the effort and/or style of play that led to winning hockey anymore, it is entirely reasonable for 50 to start looking at things more from his perspective.

I really don’t get why we’re starting Glass???
- walleyeb1

With ya pal... I literally just tweeted:

@JustinLoweHB

Glass starts tomorrow. Why? Sure, he played well but still confused why the Hawks aren't riding Forsberg every game they can.

Unless the see "a future" with Glass, play the kid... it goes beyond this season.

With ya pal... I literally just tweeted:

@JustinLoweHB

Glass starts tomorrow. Why? Sure, he played well but still confused why the Hawks aren't riding Forsberg every game they can.

Unless the see "a future" with Glass, play the kid... it goes beyond this season.

- Justin Lowe

For them, it probably doesn't yet. They are clawing for a playoff spot and want to ride the hot hand. I'm sure if they were mathematically out, Glass would be back down.

Forsberg has been by far the better goalie. While Glass has made some good save he's also been out of position several times. Forsberg may be less flashy but he is the better goalie now and for the future.
- DarthKane

With the positioning of Glass, along with the way he gives up rebounds, he is due to have a 5-7 goals against game.

The answer to the trivia question of last home playoff goal- Marian Hossa 4/23/16. Game 6 in a series Hocks would ultimately lose to the Blues in 7.

We all remember Pekka's 2 glorious shutouts in Game 1-2 as the 8th seeded Preds embarrassed the Hocks in a sweep.

When will Chicago next get a home playoff goal? -my guess is 2020. Can anyone see it happening sooner??
- VopatsRash

You dumba$$,,,

Would you be willing to pay the price to move Seabrook? If Bickell cost the team Teravainen what do you think it will cost to move Seabrook? I would think we're looking at DeBrincat, Jokiharju, or a 1st if we're a non-playoff team....maybe more.
- DarthKane

Jeeezz I hope not . That TT trade may have been Bowman's worse. Getting rid of 2 lone RW to save a one year cap hit of 4 . Should have just bought Bickell out. Saving Seabs money would be good but no rush needed Hawks are a long long way from a competitive Stanley Cup team

Forsberg has been by far the better goalie. While Glass has made some good save he's also been out of position several times. Forsberg may be less flashy but he is the better goalie now and for the future.
- DarthKane

I agree. Hawks should ride Forsberg the rest of the way and only use Glass to spell Forsberg once in a while.

They missed the best window to trade AA last summer or the summer before. His value was never higher after Panarin and Kane made him look good on paper. His defensive game has been very over-rated and his play terribly inconsistent. I don't know if it still due to injury, but he still isn't a 2C on a cup winning team.

Basically all of the vets are lacking this season. People are playing favorites when they point the finger at one guy and not the others. The only 2 million dollars plus players who haven't been letting the team down are Murphy and Crawford.

Toews, Kane, Saad, AA, Keith, Seabrook. You can poke holes in all of their performance this season. We've got a top line that is offensively inconsistent and slumps for stretch. A 2nd line that lacks majorly in defensive awareness and effort. A 3rd line that is decent but inexperienced. Then the 4th line is just whomever is in the doghouse or lacks in talent.

The top dogs on D have been bad on the PP and generally meh offensively. The young guys who can provide some offense on the blueline are making mistakes defensively. Not a lot of guys on this roster that are having a great season in all 3 zones.

With ya pal... I literally just tweeted:

@JustinLoweHB

Glass starts tomorrow. Why? Sure, he played well but still confused why the Hawks aren't riding Forsberg every game they can.

Unless the see "a future" with Glass, play the kid... it goes beyond this season.

- Justin Lowe

Another log in the see you later Q fire come April.

@MarkLazerus

In his latest desperate toss at the dartboard, Joel Quenneville puts struggling Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp and Ryan Hartman together.

On the fourth line.

I'm just going to go nuts and go get Tavares

I'm just going to go nuts and go get Tavares


- Stan_Bowman

It's gonna cost Kane. Might be worth it too, if he guaranteed a re-sign.

Seabrook for Domi...MAKE IT HAPPEN STAN!!!!

Coyotes' GM not actively shopping Domi, but will 'listen on anything' https://t.co/tcaFo4TXgK pic.twitter.com/igwC8PJ8R9

— theScore NHL (@theScoreNHL) February 5, 2018

Seabrook for Domi...MAKE IT HAPPEN STAN!!!!

Coyotes' GM not actively shopping Domi, but will 'listen on anything' https://t.co/tcaFo4TXgK pic.twitter.com/igwC8PJ8R9

— theScore NHL (@theScoreNHL) February 5, 2018

- DarthKane

Might as well get Hammer back too.

Even in the seasons when Torts demoted Saad to the 4th line, he ended up with 53 points. Is this what he is now, or do you think he can get back to that level of production?

You've mentioned a couple times that Toews, skating looks weak. As I have never had the ability to skate, does it look to you that this is Saad's problem as well or something else?

Hartman reminds me of young Frolik. Has some offensive ability, but needs to get the defensive side figured out.
- Chunk

Saad looks to have zero confidence taking on defenders with the puck, and even less shooting the puck. This is hopefully as bad as he can be, he is only 25. Toews lacks explosion in his skating. There is no burst, no ability to beat defenders off the rush with speed, and combine that with his diminished strength down low and his puck handling/dekes going to crap.....he just isn't getting it done anywhere near the level the Hawks need him to.

Seabrook for Domi...MAKE IT HAPPEN STAN!!!!

Coyotes' GM not actively shopping Domi, but will 'listen on anything' https://t.co/tcaFo4TXgK pic.twitter.com/igwC8PJ8R9

— theScore NHL (@theScoreNHL) February 5, 2018

- DarthKane

Yeah right, they tried that and Q is benching literally everyone who has any of that supposed "grit." Until Q + Stanbo get the ax, this team will be forever soft as baby poop.