Tonights goal scoers: Duclair, Schmaltz and Sharp.
- z1990z

I'll say ADB over Sharp.

I'll say ADB over Sharp.
- JRoenick97

ADB is something else huh? Kid is fearless and has one helluva shot. Great draft pick by Stan.

ADB is something else huh? Kid is fearless and has one helluva shot. Great draft pick by Stan.
- z1990z

He makes some rookie mistakes carrying the puck and on passes, which is to be expected, but he's got a shot and can lay the body for a little guy.

http://www.chicagotribune...ering-20180207-story.html

"Numbers not adding up for Blackhawks' leaders"

Where did Nashville suddenly get all this cap space? Carrie Underwood's bank account?
- hpk90

CapFriendly......is your friend.

http://www.chicagotribune...ering-20180207-story.html

"Numbers not adding up for Blackhawks' leaders"
- EnzoD

Yep - definitely not untrue, but another one in what I'm viewing as a mini PR push to see what the reactions are to idea of trading popular core players. Seeing so many articles and talking points (announcers), all with the same general theme and at the same time, is a bit suspicious.

Yep - definitely not untrue, but another one in what I'm viewing as a mini PR push to see what the reactions are to idea of trading popular core players. Seeing so many articles and talking points (announcers), all with the same general theme and at the same time, is a bit suspicious.
- pdx2ord

Well, it's getting to the point where even the casual fan can see that 19, 7 + 2 are not the same players they were, not producing enough, and are a key reason this team is sitting last in the division. Foley and the beat reporters can only insult the hockey IQ of the fans for so long before finally providing MINIMAL criticism of the "Core".

breadbag - DeBrincat may get 25+ goals in the NHL as a very young Rookie and you want him at Rockford? He may actually end up leading the Hawks in goals. For me he is untouchable. Duclair on the other hand seems to have a number of nice attributes but still unsure if he can put them together. That has always been his problem. Often there is lots of motion but little accomplished. EnzoD let’s not trade DeBrincat period.
- Z3Hawk

I'm not saying he is having a bad rookie season (or a bad season in general), but having a guy in the AHL allows him to learn the game better before making the jump. I do still think the ideal situation for him would have been to spend a year in the AHL learning before being in the NHL. He is scoring goals, but some of the rookie mistakes could have been ironed out. The Hawks success has them lacking depth, so they need him playing in the NHL, but in an ideal world, they would have let him develop and get some pro experience first.

Again, I'm not complaining that he can score goals, but he isn't a complete 200 foot player yet. A big issue with the Hawks right now is lacking guys up front and on the blueline that are solid in all 3 zones and have NHL experience.

I'm not saying he is having a bad rookie season (or a bad season in general), but having a guy in the AHL allows him to learn the game better before making the jump. I do still think the ideal situation for him would have been to spend a year in the AHL learning before being in the NHL. He is scoring goals, but some of the rookie mistakes could have been ironed out. The Hawks success has them lacking depth, so they need him playing in the NHL, but in an ideal world, they would have let him develop and get some pro experience first.

Again, I'm not complaining that he can score goals, but he isn't a complete 200 foot player yet. A big issue with the Hawks right now is lacking guys up front and on the blueline that are solid in all 3 zones and have NHL experience.
- breadbag

You don't need everybody to be a 200 foot player

The great Marcus Kruger cut. Somewhere JJ is beside himself. I don't see the Hawks claiming him. And I certainly don't see the Hawks trading Saad. No way.
- onehundredlevel

Kruger is about done. He really offers very little and Carolina saw that are rightfully cut bait. He failed terribly when given a larger offensive role. He's a niche' player, can kill some penalties and plays hard, but is fringe NHL at this point.

Yep - definitely not untrue, but another one in what I'm viewing as a mini PR push to see what the reactions are to idea of trading popular core players. Seeing so many articles and talking points (announcers), all with the same general theme and at the same time, is a bit suspicious.
- pdx2ord

And sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Not every article by a beat reporter should be assumed to have been initiated, or approved, by the suits in the hockey front office.

All with the same theme and at the same time? After the last three games, I don't think anyone - fan, skater, coach, suit, or reporter - has any realistic hope that the Blackhawks will be in the post-season tournament.

Yeah, the beat reporters are general too accepting of what the team spokespeople tell them, probably for all of the reasons that have been brought out, but the failure of the season is so obvious now circumstances are forcing them to do some independent analysis.

2nd on the team in scoring with 19 goals and you wish he was in the AHL?? Come on man! He's a 5'6"
Sniper that plays with heart and isn't afraid to get knocked on his ass going into corners for the puck. Every player has flaws and he's never going to be a 200ft Selke winner. He's a scorer, and that Hawks don't have enough of it. If you want to trade him for Hanafin, I'm on board, otherwise he's a keeper IMO. He's 19....
- EnzoD

I wish that the Hawks had the luxury of keeping him in the AHL to learn for a year. Nothing against him, but it is a very difficult jump from Jr to the NHL. Kudos to him on how well he has played, but in an ideal world, they don't have to rush guys into the NHL. He has room to grow as a player and if they didn't need him right now, he could have been even more NHL ready when he made the jump.

Kruger is about done. He really offers very little and Carolina saw that are rightfully cut bait. He failed terribly when given a larger offensive role. He's a niche' player, can kill some penalties and plays hard, but is fringe NHL at this point.
- kwolf68

Yeah the idea was to use him to do the heavy defensive lifting so that J.Staal could focus on a larger offensive role.

unfortunately after Kruger got hurt earlier in the year he hasn't been even close to able to take on that role since.

Bottom line, the 'Hawks have played to an improved draft position this year. But will they be able to draft a guy that can help immediately next fall? That, plus the young'uns getting the minutes this year are going to need to be better players next year.
I do not think they are that far from being a damn good team.
And they are now due again for better fortune on the injury front. Losing Hossa, Crow, Anisimov hurts big time. And I'm not convinced guys like Hartman have been super healthy this year, thanks to Corey Perry's effing stick in last year's reg season finale.
As a lifelong fan, I'll of course be watching!

I wish that the Hawks had the luxury of keeping him in the AHL to learn for a year. Nothing against him, but it is a very difficult jump from Jr to the NHL. Kudos to him on how well he has played, but in an ideal world, they don't have to rush guys into the NHL. He has room to grow as a player and if they didn't need him right now, he could have been even more NHL ready when he made the jump.
- breadbag

I hear you, but look no further than Forsling, Gustafson, and Oesterle as additional guys who probably belong in the AHL but due to the Salary Cap structure Bowman has created, they are in the NHL out of necessity. I think the Hawks and Q have handled Debrincat, and Schmaltz very well this year and there has been far more good than bad from both those guys. Forsling had more bad than good and is now in the AHL. IMO, if you aren't failing more than you're succeeding, the best place to develop and grow as a player is in the NHL.

EDIT: he is 2nd in NHL rookie scoring league wide, and 2nd in the Hawks scoring with 19 goals and 1/3 of a season left. Really hard for me to get on board with the needs AHL time. The best place for him to work on those perceived problem areas is against the best players in the world.

You don't need everybody to be a 200 foot player
- PepinoPamplemousse

That is exactly the wrong way to look at it. I know not everyone on the roster has to do everything, but you want players (especially in the top 6) to develop their tool set, before the jump to the NHL if you can. Is it so wrong to have a guy play a year and learn the pro game? The Hawks needed him to play, because they don't have enough scoring depth this season, but they would never set the expectation that he doesn't need to play in all 3 zones.

This isn't a knock on what he has done scoring goals. In an ideal world, they could have let him develop rather than bring him up. Again, he isn't bad, but someone would have to be blind to not see that he has room to improve some areas of his game. He is smart hockey player, but he came into the NHL with zero pro experience. Some experience in the AHL wouldn't have hurt.

I hear you, but look no further than Forsling, Gustafson, and Oesterle as additional guys who probably belong in the AHL but due to the Salary Cap structure Bowman has created, they are in the NHL out of necessity. I think the Hawks and Q have handled Debrincat, and Schmaltz very well this year and there has been far more good than bad from both those guys. Forsling had more bad than good and is now in the AHL. IMO, if you aren't failing more than you're succeeding, the best place to develop and grow as a player is in the NHL.
- EnzoD

Gustafsson has taken his licks in the AHL since 2015. He's actually been pretty reliable since he's been up and has made improvement to his game since being called up. H'es got confidence with the puck, unlike he had back in 2015

That is exactly the wrong way to look at it. I know not everyone on the roster has to do everything, but you want players (especially in the top 6) to develop their tool set, before the jump to the NHL if you can. Is it so wrong to have a guy play a year and learn the pro game? The Hawks needed him to play, because they don't have enough scoring depth this season, but they would never set the expectation that he doesn't need to play in all 3 zones.

This isn't a knock on what he has done scoring goals. In an ideal world, they could have let him develop rather than bring him up. Again, he isn't bad, but someone would have to be blind to not see that he has room to improve some areas of his game. He is smart hockey player, but he came into the NHL with zero pro experience. Some experience in the AHL wouldn't have hurt.
- breadbag

Sure but he can improve those areas at the NHL level too.

It's the same dumb argument about moving guys who play C to the wing for the first little while at the NHL level.

You don't learn to play C by playing LW, and you don't learn to play at the NHL level by playing in the AHL.

If they can play in the NHL then let them, because keeping your talented players in the AHL while scrubs play in the big leagues is bad for everyone.

I hear you, but look no further than Forsling, Gustafson, and Oesterle as additional guys who probably belong in the AHL but due to the Salary Cap structure Bowman has created, they are in the NHL out of necessity. I think the Hawks and Q have handled Debrincat, and Schmaltz very well this year and there has been far more good than bad from both those guys. Forsling had more bad than good and is now in the AHL. IMO, if you aren't failing more than you're succeeding, the best place to develop and grow as a player is in the NHL.

EDIT: he is 2nd in NHL rookie scoring league wide, and 2nd in the Hawks scoring with 19 goals and 1/3 of a season left. Really hard for me to get on board with the needs AHL time. The best place for him to work on those perceived problem areas is against the best players in the world.
- EnzoD

I honestly cannot believe how much you and I are agreeing on things right now.

RE: Ek's post on Saad:

I would be surprised to see Saad shipped out of Chicago.

The majority of the team has had a rough year, and in Saad's case, it's been a combination of bad puck luck and lack of ability to finish at times.

He's advanced stats have been great, however, the results have not.

The only way I see the Hawks moving on from him would be for a young(er), mobile top 4 defenceman (or a defender with top 4 potential) in return.
- Justin Lowe

Saad for Juulsen and a pick would be the most likely move, contingent upon Mon getting prospects/picks elsewhere for one of their current forwards.

Sure but he can improve those areas at the NHL level too.

It's the same dumb argument about moving guys who play C to the wing for the first little while at the NHL level.

You don't learn to play C by playing LW, and you don't learn to play at the NHL level by playing in the AHL.

If they can play in the NHL then let them, because keeping your talented players in the AHL while scrubs play in the big leagues is bad for everyone.
- PepinoPamplemousse

The AHL is used as a transition to the pace and size of the NHL from juniors. ADB has clearly not been majorly impacted by those things, so the AHL isn't going to do much for him.

First big Q mistake of the season. Murphy should have been in the line up the whole time. Let him get acclimated to his new team and the system. Nope. The typical Q yo-yo that does nothing but destroy confidence. If they roll with Q next year, you will get the same thing. THIS! Yes its more then Q, but he has no idea how to X/O this roster and change up the D to maximize what he has.

Tonight wont be pretty. 6-1 Dallas.
- z1990z

To elaborate....Murphy will score the Hawks only goal, have a positive Corsi, be on the ice for 0 goals against and it will still be a healthy scratch next game.

Gustafsson has taken his licks in the AHL since 2015. He's actually been pretty reliable since he's been up and has made improvement to his game since being called up. H'es got confidence with the puck, unlike he had back in 2015
- JRoenick97

Agreed, i viewed (and kind of still do) this guy as an afterthought when he was brought in, then he actually played for a bit and was meh on him.

Then he got sent down and i thought that would be the end of him, but he definitely is a more well rounded D man now than last time. Fine for a bottom pair i guess. I don't see him getting much better though. Ill be glad to admit I'm wrong if it happens, but i don't think so.

Sure but he can improve those areas at the NHL level too.

It's the same dumb argument about moving guys who play C to the wing for the first little while at the NHL level.

You don't learn to play C by playing LW, and you don't learn to play at the NHL level by playing in the AHL.

If they can play in the NHL then let them, because keeping your talented players in the AHL while scrubs play in the big leagues is bad for everyone.
- PepinoPamplemousse

To elaborate....Murphy will score the Hawks only goal, have a positive Corsi, be on the ice for 0 goals against and it will still be a healthy scratch next game.
- DarthKane

Murph could score a hattrick, but if he has a bad turnover he'd have a seat in the doghouse