Justin Lowe: So I Was Wrong I will always admit when I'm wrong. If you ask my wife, that's a lot of the time.

I thought a young, promising Swedish goalie was a sneaky good pickup by Stan Bowman when Anton Forsberg was acquired as a minor piece in a larger trade with Columbus.

I might have been wrong in thinking that.

First!

Thanks for the great work JL!

While being concerned about his numbers, I'm more concerned about the type and timing of a lot of the goals that Forsberg (AND Berube AND Glass) give up.

The late third period game-tying goal; the first period goal shortly after his team scores a goal that gives the Hawks the lead or gets them back in the game; the goals allowed in quick succession - one/two/three in a short period of time....

And the softness of so many of the goals.

The "not Crawfords" that have been in net for Chicago this year seem all to have the ability to scramble to make excellent save on difficult shots, and can play excellently for reasonably long periods of a game.

But at some point they give up a bad goal or two (or three) that turns a game around, that just sucks the life out of the Indianheads in front of him.

Quality NHL goalies don't do much of the above.

So out of Murphy, Gus, Oesterle, Ruuta, which two are worth keeping? They cannot get rid of four, but hopefully at least two of these names are not on the starting roster next year. Is Gus worth keeping as a #6 due his his ability to help the powerplay?

i'm don't have a strong feel for which goalie will wind up sticking like I did with Crawford (when all my friends were calling him Crapford). But the one thing the hawks have going for them now that they didn't have back then is Jimmy Waite. He ought to be the one who makes that decision.

forsberg has some significant positioning and technical issues...this could and should get fixed with coaching, practice and playing time. However would have expected the improvement to come as he got more of the net.

berube has shown more consistency and was quite good in relief although the jets had it on cruise control the last 2 periods...

the first goal he gave up was deflected off of murphys stick...those are tough for goalies...

the 2nd goal was a defensive clown show resulting in another tap in open net...

but the team in front of them has really played poorly in front of them..

berube should get the majority of games...

forsberg should end up rock vegas or another jersey come camp next year...

Justin Lowe: So I Was Wrong
I will always admit when I'm wrong. If you ask my wife, that's a lot of the time.

I thought a young, promising Swedish goalie was a sneaky good pickup by Stan Bowman when Anton Forsberg was acquired as a minor piece in a larger trade with Columbus.

I might have been wrong in thinking that.
- Justin Lowe

It appears that the Forsberg/Motte part of the deal didn't work out for either side. I'd like to see Stan upgrade the back-up goalie next season, especially if the defense will remain mostly the same. There's not a lot in the UFA market that would be a slam dunk improvement. Maybe Khudobin or Hutchinson could be good options. Raanta and Hutton will likely like for more money and starts than Chicago can offer. Bernier's had a good season but might cost too much.

So out of Murphy, Gus, Oesterle, Ruuta, which two are worth keeping? They cannot get rid of four, but hopefully at least two of these names are not on the starting roster next year. Is Gus worth keeping as a #6 due his his ability to help the powerplay?
- RaleighHawk

Sadly it appears the Hawks will keep all 4. I'd keep Murphy, I think he's got the highest potential of all of them. At best I'd keep one other as the 7D.

Quotes aren't working


In response to (RaleighHawk) - I would keep Murphy and Gus out of the four you suggest. I think Gus would be a good third pair with a stay at home defenseman as his partner. He has a booming shot that he gets on the net more times than not and his pinches have cost us, but with a good stay at home defenseman he could put up 40-50 points a year as long as he gets PP time.

It appears that the Forsberg/Motte part of the deal didn't work out for either side. I'd like to see Stan upgrade the back-up goalie next season, especially if the defense will remain mostly the same. There's not a lot in the UFA market that would be a slam dunk improvement. Maybe Khudobin or Hutchinson could be good options. Raanta and Hutton will likely like for more money and starts than Chicago can offer. Bernier's had a good season but might cost too much.
- DarthKane

The Swedish Sieve belongs in the minors or the SEL or KHL. He has been given ample opportunity this season and for every good outing there has been 3 or 4 bad ones. He can argue that the team plays poorly in front of him but the reality of the situation is that the team knows they can't and won't win most nights with him between the pipes.

Rutta at over 2 million is stupid money.

Same for Gus at 1.2 or whatever that is. They could have easily qualified him for less and its not like he was going to go anywhere else.

That 2.5 million there could really biff them unless one or both of those guys are throw ins for summer deals.

The Swedish Sieve belongs in the minors or the SEL or KHL. He has been given ample opportunity this season and for every good outing there has been 3 or 4 bad ones. He can argue that the team plays poorly in front of him but the reality of the situation is that the team knows they can't and won't win most nights with him between the pipes.
- RickJ

I agree

Rutta at over 2 million is stupid money.

Same for Gus at 1.2 or whatever that is. They could have easily qualified him for less and its not like he was going to go anywhere else.

That 2.5 million there could really biff them unless one or both of those guys are throw ins for summer deals.
- fattybeef

I think the Rutta will be part of a deal this summer.

Forsberg would be much better if he had a defense that was actually NHL worthy. I think he would be a fine backup if the Hawks defense was even remotely like it has been for the last 10 years. Does he give up some bad goals? Yes, but I do not think he is NHL starter worthy, but I do know one thiong the Hawks did win a Stanley Cup with Niemi in 2010. Unfortunately, Forsberg joined the Hawks as their decline was clarly evident, so I do think it is unfair to label him as not good, when the team in front of is not good either.

Forsberg would be much better if he had a defense that was actually NHL worthy. I think he would be a fine backup if the Hawks defense was even remotely like it has been for the last 10 years. Does he give up some bad goals? Yes, but I do not think he is NHL starter worthy, but I do know one thiong the Hawks did win a Stanley Cup with Niemi in 2010. Unfortunately, Forsberg joined the Hawks as their decline was clarly evident, so I do think it is unfair to label him as not good, when the team in front of is not good either.
- ChicagoHope

To a certain extent yes...but, Forsberg has had too many goals like the first one last night. Niemi played pretty well especially in the regular season and Shark series in 2010 and he relived a guy who was also letting in some crazy stinkers (Huet).

While the defense hasn't been good, Forsberg's been worse and is just proving the point that Crow was the team's MVP before going down.

Howard 50% retained for a 2nd.

Howard 50% retained for a 2nd.
- Feds91Stammer

Howard 50% retained for Rutta

Howard 50% retained for Rutta
- DarthKane

Hard pass on the 28 year old okayish D man.

Rutta at over 2 million is stupid money.

Same for Gus at 1.2 or whatever that is. They could have easily qualified him for less and its not like he was going to go anywhere else.

That 2.5 million there could really biff them unless one or both of those guys are throw ins for summer deals.
- fattybeef

StanBo inexplicably gave Rutta $2.25M to re-sign. For that kind of money shouldn’t he be showing he is an effective NHL D-Man? This contract just seems to have no basis.

Hard pass on the 28 year old okayish D man.
- Feds91Stammer

You're being generous.

To a certain extent yes...but, Forsberg has had too many goals like the first one last night. Niemi played pretty well especially in the regular season and Shark series in 2010 and he relived a guy who was also letting in some crazy stinkers (Huet).

While the defense hasn't been good, Forsberg's been worse and is just proving the point that Crow was the team's MVP before going down.
- HawkintheD

You can’t blame the D for a goalie allowing in cheap goals. Cheap goals destroy a team and can destroy or swing momentum.

You're being generous.
- DarthKane

Didn't want to be the guy that calls everybody on other teams a bum

3 or more goals against in 24/36 games since craw went down..
5 or more in 9 games...
7-10-2 vs central teams with 7 remaining

Sadly it appears the Hawks will keep all 4. I'd keep Murphy, I think he's got the highest potential of all of them. At best I'd keep one other as the 7D.
- DarthKane

Sounds reasonable but if they keep all four look for another high draft pick next year because they might be in the bottom 5.

3 or more goals against in 24/36 games since craw went down..
5 or more in 9 games...
7-10-2 vs central teams with 7 remaining
- bogiedoc

So that's 16 standings points out of a possible 38. Nobody ever makes the playoffs in the Central with that record. Gonna take a couple of years.