There could be some help coming our way tonight:

Florida at Vancouver (3 point game please)
Montreal at Colorado (Montreal win would be nice)

Savvy. I’ve stated before that Q’s preferential versus punishment treatment of different players has always drove me crazy. You actually saw it last night. Hartman is totally paranoid about playing his game - if he makes a mistake or takes a penalty he will benched and then sat out the next game. If Hartman took the ridiculous, unnecessary penalty that Wingels took with seconds left in the 2nd period he would have been punished royally. This is especially true as the Knights scored on the PP to tie the game and kill any momentum the fragile Hawks may have had. There was no chance for a win after that goal. The “punishment” for Wingels - more ice-time. I have thought that Kempny has been treated terribly since he arrived. I think he actually looks like a D-Man with a clue when he plays.

Please exclude me from your "everyone". It was a mistake from day 1.
- 67hawks

Excluded.

I went back through JJ's blog from that period for snicks and grins. An overwhelming level of support followed by 100's of comments on getting the cap positon right with trades, some trade Sharpe, Tallon is the real demigod, and Leddy needs to prove stuff... And a bunch just not commenting on the topic either way.

Excluded.

I went back through JJ's blog from that period for snicks and grins. An overwhelming level of support followed by 100's of comments on getting the cap positon right with trades, some trade Sharpe, Tallon is the real demigod, and Leddy needs to prove stuff... And a bunch just not commenting on the topic either way.
- riozzo

How do you find those old blogs? Can you post a link?

Give it a rest already, Everyone on this board were jumping for joy when the contracts were signed.
- riozzo

I wasn’t jumping for joy. The Kane - Toews contracts were ridiculous. I didn’t jump for joy when Seabrook was signed either. Has nothing to do with me being a fan of these players - the financial reality screamed that these would be albatross contracts. Bowman handled these contracts poorly. The players should have been told - if you want to be in Chicago here is what we can do for you - instead Bowman gave fantasy contracts.

This is one of the dumbest things I've ever read on hockeybuzz

This is one of the dumbest things I've ever read on hockeybuzz
- GPHawksfan

In all 20 days as a member? Wait, it gets better....

How do you find those old blogs? Can you post a link?
- kwolf68

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...rchive.php?blogger_id=128

Guess three cups and being #2 coach all-time in wins means he doesn't know how to coach...


- Hank3Henshaw

I’ve explained the coaching stats before. True Grit has a cool description - Q coached Olympic teams to Stanley Cups with the Hawks. Q #2 all-time because he has always coached great teams. When he has to actually coach he struggles.

While we all talk about "Goalie Wins", last night is the definition of a Goalie Loss.

All 4 of the goals scored last night on Glass should have been stopped, 3 of them for sure, excepting the Smith snipe.

While the offense is not producing like it should or needs to, it's tough to play a decent game and watch it blow up on soft goals against.
- TheTrob

I totally agree. When the Hawks were flying high I would estimate they still lost 25% of the games where the goalie let in a soft goal and won 75% of the games where the opponent's goal left in a soft goal. That was particularly true is the soft goal was the first goal in the game or in the 3rd period of a tight game. In the last 3 weeks it seems like there is a soft goal(s) in every game. No one will be a consistent winner with that kind of goaltending.

To point 2 Justin about Center market. Ottawa just made an interesting trade last night. Thoughts on a guy like Brassard to come in and be the 2C. This moves AA to be the 3rd line Center and Schmaltz to the wing where he doesnt have to play as much defense. He isnt the 2C of the future if he isnt going to get stronger. he is too easy to knock off the puck and is liability in his own end. He is solid on the back check but that is not going to get it done.

Not good either. Osterle is AHL fodder, Seabrook is washed up, Rutta and Kempny are average at best, Keith is 34, his time is winding down as a top pairing guy.

This group would be among the 10 worst D rosters in the NHL next year, maybe 5 worst.

The team is bereft of talent (especially defensive and center), just moving guys around into new spots isn't changing that fact.
- kwolf68

Maybe you are right. But adding a top pairing defender would make a huge change when the other defenders are slotted down in the line up. Also they did not look terrible the 1st part of this season when Crawford was in net. In fact most comments about Rutta, Kempny, Forsling and Murphy were positive. I believe they can get better with experience. Forsling 79 games in NHL, Rutta 41 games, Kempny 79 games.

Things are going well. We continue to lose and improve our draft positioning.

Wingels improves his deadline value.

As the cap goes up, Kane's contract will look better as the cap goes up and other whopper contracts get handed out. Maybe Saad and a couple others won't look so bad either.

This year needed to happen, we can't get by with a Penguins committee defense. We'll get more promising with better prospects, and most likely a new coach or assistant coach.

Goaltending is a major problem. But IF Crow comes back healthy next year that gets a lot better. I still like Forsberg's form/style. His confidence is shaken. I would send him down to the Rock and let him start almost every game. Bring up Berube. When Crow is healthy Glass goes down (and never comes back).

They need a 1st pairing Dman to play with Keith. Oesterle is too similar to Keith. Left hander, good skater, good puck mover, fairly small by today's standards, not physical and not a shot blocker. Playing together means Keith needs to be the stay at home defender. Something he has never been and a mismatch for his skill set. Put him with a Hammer type or Seabs type (a younger Seabs) and Keith will be ok.

next year defense
1st pairing - ?????? & Keith
2nd pairing - Rutta and Kempny
3rd pairing - Seabs - Oesterle
Subs - Murphy/Forsling
Not terrible.

I think Sharp, Hartman, Wingels, and Kempny should be in the lineup just about every night.

I would give Bowman & Q another season to right the ship.
- -Doh-

I would be shocked if Kempny resigns

I would be shocked if Kempny resigns
- tvetter

I would be too. But I really like his grit and skill set better than the other left handed left side defenders.

If Toews is hurt or sick or whatever then sit now. You're doing us no good. Haven't done us any good all year. From some squawks of lil birds....he has put zero extra effort in this year as far as gym time and extra skating. He kinda already mentioned he was "changing his workout routine" before the season started. Didn't think that would include not working out. He's an "elite" athlete, act like and "elite athlete". It's really disappointing.

Maybe you are right. But adding a top pairing defender would make a huge change when the other defenders are slotted down in the line up. Also they did not look terrible the 1st part of this season when Crawford was in net. In fact most comments about Rutta, Kempny, Forsling and Murphy were positive. I believe they can get better with experience. Forsling 79 games in NHL, Rutta 41 games, Kempny 79 games.
- -Doh-

This is what EVERY team says....at least EVERY team not expected to compete for the Cup. They looked good for this period of time, they can get better. Teams with legit chances KNOW what they got. The Hawks are probably headed South for a rebuild. The top end talent simply isn't there anymore. Other than Kane, the Hawks are now loaded with middle tier (at best) players.

They have some promising players like ADB, Hayden, even Forsling still, but that's just not enough to overcome a 48 point first line center, and a rapidly aging defensive top pair group.

But I am sure the problems with this team will be explained away by blaming the coach (who may need to go as part of a rebuild) or the goalie was injured. Hell, even Crow's play over the last two years is not sustainable. The guy virtually single-handedly got them a #1 seed last year. It was probably the worst #1 seed ever and godbless Crow for making it work, but you have to have better people in front of him (or the backup), or it ends like it did last year, OR worse.

Would there be a possibility that Toews moves to a wing in the near future?

Would there be a possibility that Toews moves to a wing in the near future?
- stan-ley-cups

LOL what? He's still a great 2nd or 3rd line center.

Would there be a possibility that Toews moves to a wing in the near future?
- stan-ley-cups

Edzo suggested that last night on the broadcast as a possible solution to increasing his career longevity, a la what the Flyers have done with Giroux.

LOL what? He's still a great 2nd or 3rd line center.
- kwolf68

I don't think Toews is twice the 3rd line grinder that Bolland was, even though he is more than twice 36's cost at his highest salary. At least 36 could really get under opponent's skin and was a borderline cheap-shot guy at times.

Instead, we have crybaby Captain (who on 2 goals was seen floating).

I have an idea for some end-of-this-horrible season's NBCSN pre-game and between-period shows. I can only hope that some of the broadcast wonks (or their minions) stop by to hear this idea.

Watched the other night where Jamal donned Spiderman tights and raced an Olympic speed skater (he won both short races, can still skate well).

How about this:
A weightlifting "contest" with the wonder twins?
Toews and Kane --
who can bench the most
who can deadlift the most
who can leg press the most
even do some vertical leap stuff

Who do you think would win?

If Toews is hurt or sick or whatever then sit now. You're doing us no good. Haven't done us any good all year. From some squawks of lil birds....he has put zero extra effort in this year as far as gym time and extra skating. He kinda already mentioned he was "changing his workout routine" before the season started. Didn't think that would include not working out. He's an "elite" athlete, act like and "elite athlete". It's really disappointing.
- thepld

Maybe you can be much more specific with this info. Otherwise it is waste paper basket material.

Edzo suggested that last night on the broadcast as a possible solution to increasing his career longevity, a la what the Flyers have done with Giroux.
- pdx2ord

At this point a supremely horrible idea. For all his issues putting the puck in the net, he's still technically a brilliant center in terms of 200 foot play, D-zone awareness, vision, faceoffs. I just think he needs to be deployed differently, and ideally the Hawks could find another center capable of replacing him in certain tough situations. His attitude of late has not been very good either. That needs to change.

I'm all for the Blackhawks rotating some Rockford guys up and getting a look at them. They need to know what kind of players they have.

What a sucky season!

Remember 10-1 over the Pens in the season opener? What a misrepresentation of what was ahead for this team.

Edzo suggested that last night on the broadcast as a possible solution to increasing his career longevity, a la what the Flyers have done with Giroux.
- pdx2ord

I think the team should be open to anything, but our lack of depth at center makes this one a stretch--especially if AA is on the block as some have suggested.