tougher to play against can be accomplished other ways than hits...hawks have never been and never will be a "hit" team...they had a huge 7 year run being out hit.

they did block over 25 shots last night...shot blocking has not been strong this year
- bogiedoc

Loss of 4 period.

Trades!!!!!

Anisimov and Rutta aren’t on the ice for the Blackhawks practice. Crawford isn’t practicing with the team yet either.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 7, 2018

- DarthKane

Doubtful, but the season is basically in the tank, so maybe?

Trades!!!!!

Anisimov and Rutta aren’t on the ice for the Blackhawks practice. Crawford isn’t practicing with the team yet either.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 7, 2018

- DarthKane

To Ottawa for Dzingel?

To Ottawa for Dzingel?
- z1990z

If Stan trades AA AND Rutta for Dzingel, i'd be pissed.

If Stan trades AA AND Rutta for Dzingel, i'd be pissed.
- BlazinMike

Just threw that out there due to some story I saw earlier in the season that the Hawks had interest in Dzingel at one time. If AA and Rutta really are being moved, I hope it's for D or solid D prospects.

Just curious to those out there, what teams in the NHL this year do you think have a legitimate chance at winning the cup?
I would think these would be on my list:
East: Wash, Pit, Tampa, Boston, Toronto
West: Nash, Veg, Winn (maybe)

Out of those teams (and the others in the playoff) The Hawks need to look at their rosters and figure out what needs those teams have, and how the Hawks can match up with them.

For example, the Pens are looking for a center - AA fits what they are looking for. The Leafs needs defense help, maybe Seabrook for a team desperate for a cup (wishful thinking I know), and so on. I don't care if the Hawks trade within their conference at this point. They should have this on their mind, how can they get younger, faster, and cheaper? They need to get rid of the past, and focus on obtaining as many feature assets as possible, whether that be young players in another team's system, or draft picks.
- spudrock512

Your list is good. I would strike out Toronto and based on past history Caps in the east.
In the West add Stars (if Bishop is not injured) and definitely Ducks (do not underestimate their potential as they have been injured a lot this season) and take down Peg - they are not in the same league come playoffs..

To the main blog though - we should more focus on Dahlin lottery chances, before the last game some site pegged Hawks chances at 2%. Maybe it will grow now.

Just threw that out there due to some story I saw earlier in the season that the Hawks had interest in Dzingel at one time. If AA and Rutta really are being moved, I hope it's for D or solid D prospects.
- z1990z

AA might get a prospect, Rutta will just get a late round pick. He's UFA.

AA might get a prospect, Rutta will just get a late round pick. He's UFA.
- JRoenick97

I think AA can be very effective as he is one of the few that goes to the net on this team. And he also has a hard time staying healthy it seems. Guess he is one of the few who can be moved with his reasonable contract.

I think AA can be very effective as he is one of the few that goes to the net on this team. And he also has a hard time staying healthy it seems. Guess he is one of the few who can be moved with his reasonable contract.
- z1990z

I agree. I think he's a good player to keep around, but he can also fetch something from a playoff team.

Trades!!!!!

Anisimov and Rutta aren’t on the ice for the Blackhawks practice. Crawford isn’t practicing with the team yet either.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 7, 2018

- DarthKane

Sikura was a nice 6th round find by the scout team. I am optimistic about Dalhstrom (D) as well. Hopefully, Colliton can have an impact in Rockford.

The main question about this team is "who is going to step up?" The Hawks almost have the opposite problem that they had a few years ago when Kevin Hayes walked. Now, there are open spots on the NHL roster for someone who has the talent. I just do not think the organization has any high-powered prospects who will regularly move the needle at the next level.

I could see the management team on Madison sending some of these near-NHL prospects for better picks. They need to improve the quality in Rockford, not necessarily the quantity. Unfortunately, that strategy will probably mean a two-year hiatus from the playoffs.
- TexasHawk

I think we have a good pipeline of talent to fill roles on the team whether now or soon (i.e. Kampf, Highmore, Hayden, Forsling, Sikura) or down the line in a few years (i.e. Jokiharju, Carlsson, Soderlund, Mitchell, Krys). The issue is filling the right holes where there is currently desperate needs: center depth and top-4 blueline spots.

While Sikura can play center, my guess is he'll get the Schmaltz development plan by playing wing first and see if he can eventually move to center. Outside of him, there is no other top-6 talent who can play center. Bottom-6 center depth is better in comparison with Kampf, Highmore, Johnson, and even Kero.

As for defense, none of the D prospects scream top pair. Maybe some of them will grow to be candidates to play 2nd pair with talent to play special teams.

Outhit 32-7 last night at home in a 4 pt. game against one of the teams they're chasing...I thought this year's Hawks were supposed to be tougher to play against

- Davewn

They were charmin soft last night.

Taking away the BANGER line has really been noticeable of late. I like the upgrade in speed, but wow, they had 0 (sorry 7) pushback last night.

I think we have a good pipeline of talent to fill roles on the team whether now or soon (i.e. Kampf, Highmore, Hayden, Forsling, Sikura) or down the line in a few years (i.e. Jokiharju, Carlsson, Soderlund, Mitchell, Krys). The issue is filling the right holes where there is currently desperate needs: center depth and top-4 blueline spots.

While Sikura can play center, my guess is he'll get the Schmaltz development plan by playing wing first and see if he can eventually move to center. Outside of him, there is no other top-6 talent who can play center. Bottom-6 center depth is better in comparison with Kampf, Highmore, Johnson, and even Kero.

As for defense, none of the D prospects scream top pair. Maybe some of them will grow to be candidates to play 2nd pair with talent to play special teams.
- AEL_Fox

Center depth isn't really a desperate need. We have Toews, AA, Schmaltz, Kampf, and Wingels who can all play C. Hartman can too. Top 4 D is definitely desperate.

The hartman, Saad, Sharp line had outrageous possession of the puck last night, but Q only played them like 8 minutes. I get sending a message, but when that's your most effective line at getting the puck to the net in a one goal game, you gotta put 'em out there. Plus, what's the point of a message if you don't let the guys redeem themselves? Seabs and Gus good again. Kempny-Rutta was good too. Keith-Oesterle out against both 5v5 goals and had garbage possession.

Some doggone BS on those two calls in my opinion.

Never want to use officiating as an excuse for a lose, but that was brutal. Even "Johnny Hockey" knew that was a high stick.

Also...can the league define what goalie interference is?

Vets bouncing back? Really?

Lol

I’ve got news for ya....as bad as Toews, Seabs, and Keith have become they are ONLY going to get worse. Next season they’ll all be older and slower. And Kane will also begin to regress. Nobody is gonna get any cheaper any time soon either. Good look moving these albatrosses. We’re (frank)ed.

Trades!!!!!

Anisimov and Rutta aren’t on the ice for the Blackhawks practice. Crawford isn’t practicing with the team yet either.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 7, 2018

- DarthKane

Didn’t Anisimov miss yesterday’s practice too?

Lingering injury that may be affecting his play?

Didn’t Anisimov miss yesterday’s practice too?

Lingering injury that may be affecting his play?
- StLBravesFan

He took a maintenance day 2 days ago, was on the ice yesterday for morning skate.

WOW, that 10/20 combo was invisible last night. i jumped into the game end of period 1 and around the middle of period 2 i was asking myself, when was the last game Sharp played and is 20 sitting tonight - completely invisible

To Ottawa for Dzingel?
- z1990z

No, to Ottawa for Ryan.

Now that the season is pretty much over, all I really look forward to is what moves Bowman can make at the deadline to improve his team for 2018-19.....we have 19 days and so far I see nothing reported on the hawks shopping anyone, which is disappointing.

insanity is staying with this crew and thinking it will change next year. It won't. As many have mentioned your core is older, slower, and worse off.....and you have a major issue in that room because for all the talk by this supposed leadership core, 1 has been scratched, 2 have been bad way more often then good, and most alarming the team isn't following the leaders or getting the message.

This won't be a quick fix.

Center depth isn't really a desperate need. We have Toews, AA, Schmaltz, Kampf, and Wingels who can all play C. Hartman can too. Top 4 D is definitely desperate.
- JRoenick97

Agree given the current center depth. My fault for not clarifying in my previous post but I was thinking about center depth after this season if the likes of Anismov and Wingels are viewed as trade chips and possibly no longer Hawks by spring. Building center depth around Toews, Schmaltz, and Kampf is a good foundation, though.

I hope they don't get rid of Kampf. The more I see of him the more I like him

Doubtful, but the season is basically in the tank, so maybe?
- JRoenick97

I'm open to some trades for sure, man.

Bring on the hate...but, I'd like to get Gudbranson from VAN. I know everyone thinks he sucks, but it'd be nice to have a bigger, stay-at-home guy that plays physical to balance out all the smallish/puck-moving Defensemen we have.

WOW, that 10/20 combo was invisible last night. i jumped into the game end of period 1 and around the middle of period 2 i was asking myself, when was the last game Sharp played and is 20 sitting tonight - completely invisible
- glennjpawlak22

They were invisible because they got 7 minutes of ice time. They were on the ice for the most scoring chances than any other line. Q bungled that one up by not playing them more.