Justin Lowe: What's Missing?
The Hawks finish up the weekend with a 0-1-1 record after a 7-3 thump to St. Louis on Saturday and a 2-1 OT loss to the McDavids.

The Blue loss was just bad. This was mostly highlighted by bad coverage in the defensive zone. This is a team that the Hawks had already beat twice, however, they just happened to run into a Blues team that was fighting for their (coach's) life.

First

panarin

Keep us updated on the Highmore injury--that would be a tough one for him.

Justin Lowe: What's Missing?

The Hawks finish up the weekend with a 0-1-1 record after a 7-3 thump to St. Louis on Saturday and a 2-1 OT loss to the McDavids.

The Blue loss was just bad. This was mostly highlighted by bad coverage in the defensive zone. This is a team that the Hawks had already beat twice, however, they just happened to run into a Blues team that was fighting for their (coach's) life.
- Justin Lowe

We read here last nite that Boqvist was out with his 4th concussions:

True?

Anybody hear the coaches post game comments when asked about Brandon Manning and Brandon Davidson together as a pair? He said “he liked it , I’m thinking probably because they will lead the body if need be on opposing forwards. Hopefully he sticks with that pairing for a while and have Samuelson work with them.
Once Forsling and Murphy return, hopefully it forces Stan Bowman to correct a $3 million mistake he made by signing Ruutta And Brent Gusteffsson to those extensions in the first place.

Yea this. Why is Saad getting blown up here?
- kwolf68


Saad is getting blown up because he did absolutely nothing on that play. I am a Saad fan but in OT if you find your path to the net is taken away and you can’t get a good shot to potentially win the game you must back off, keep clear possession and re-start. Looked initially like there might be something - there wasn’t - in OT re-start. Also in OT you have to really keep track of who is on the ice and where they are. Kane had drifted down backing Saad but he needed a change. Forget involving Kane at all - keep the puck or get it back to Gus.

Speaking of Gus he has no idea how to play defence. Draisatl had done nothing all game - pressure him. Gus had to do something - backing in and making a late slide that totally took him AWAY from the puck is nothing. Same as if no D-Man at all. At some point Gus is going to be in the cross-hairs. He needs to be able to play both ends of the ice and he simply doesn’t seem to be able to.

Kane, AdB and Toews have 61% ofvthe Hawks’ goals.

Another “stat” in that direction: only thrice this season have players other than those three scored more than one goal in a game - once was the three scored in the TB disaster.

With Toews and AdB in scoring slumps, that puts too much of a load on a Kane - if he doesn’t score multiple goals, the Hawks can’t score enough to win most nights.

The offense is a pretty obvious need at this point. 88, 12, and 19 lead the team in goal scoring. After that, no one has more than 2. So, Kane is well on his way to maybe a 50 goal season. DBC and Toews in the 30s or even 40. After that, no one else projects to hit 20. You need a couple big snipers and several guys that can get close to 25.

I'd like to see some of that defense depth traded after Murphy comes back to get some top 6 firepower.

Anybody hear the coaches post game comments when asked about Brandon Manning and Brandon Davidson together as a pair? He said “he liked it , I’m thinking probably because they will lead the body if need be on opposing forwards. Hopefully he sticks with that pairing for a while and have Samuelson work with them.
Once Forsling and Murphy return, hopefully it forces Stan Bowman to correct a $3 million mistake he made by signing Ruutta And Brent Gusteffsson to those extensions in the first place.
- wonthecup10

You keep harping on this thing that Gus isn’t an NHL dman. Why?

He definitely has some O to his game and has been better defensively so far. He’s more of a 4/5, where Davidson and Manning seem to be more of a 6/7.

Thought Davidson was ok last night though.

You keep harping in this thing that Gus isn’t an NHL dman. Why?
- HawkintheD

Cuz!

Justin Lowe: What's Missing?

The Hawks finish up the weekend with a 0-1-1 record after a 7-3 thump to St. Louis on Saturday and a 2-1 OT loss to the McDavids.

The Blue loss was just bad. This was mostly highlighted by bad coverage in the defensive zone. This is a team that the Hawks had already beat twice, however, they just happened to run into a Blues team that was fighting for their (coach's) life.
- Justin Lowe

Plenty of injuries around the league to defenceman like Edler, Hedman and a few others. I don't know what Stanbo was thinking when he accumulated enough Dmen to stock 6 franchises but maybe he can unload a couple the Hawks don't need or want. Getting back a forward that could actually do something on the PP wouldn't be all bad, I don't care if he couldn't check his suitcase playing 5 on 5.

Justin Lowe: What's Missing?

The Hawks finish up the weekend with a 0-1-1 record after a 7-3 thump to St. Louis on Saturday and a 2-1 OT loss to the McDavids.

The Blue loss was just bad. This was mostly highlighted by bad coverage in the defensive zone. This is a team that the Hawks had already beat twice, however, they just happened to run into a Blues team that was fighting for their (coach's) life.
- Justin Lowe

Please, keep us updated, Justin, on the injuries.
The top 6 is slowly making me worry. Toews and Debrincat are what's making the top line. Kahun is good, but I don't think top 6. Kane and Arty have had chemistry for a while now, but Saad isn't playing consistently for a top 6 role. Move Schmaltz to the first line, I think. He's doing well on the third line, might do good on the top, I don't know. Bottom 6, I'm not sure. A lot is missing. D, I'm looking forward to a trade. I like Ward, I'm liking him a little more. Last night wasn't the usual 4 goal game. He's solid and can make key saves. I like him as the back-up.

Cuz!
- paulr

Cuz he’s not LOOCH or Andre the Giant?

Cuz he’s not LOOCH or Andre the Giant?
- HawkintheD

Did you see him hit anybody or fight? Nuff said!

Question I posted last blog, right when the new one went up, what is the date that Nylander becomes ineligible for the year, and is a ufa?

Justin, don't know if you saw on the last blog, I shot you a pm.

Question I posted last blog, right when the new one went up, what is the date that Nylander becomes ineligible for the year, and is a ufa?
- I Am The Breadman

December 1. RFA and belongs to the Leafs.

And forget about him as a Blackhawk. He is not what they need.

Question I posted last blog, right when the new one went up, what is the date that Nylander becomes ineligible for the year, and is a ufa?
- I Am The Breadman

He'a an RFA, not sure about the eligibikity date? The Leafs hold all the cards. So long as the Leafs are winning without him, Nylander has no leverage. I'd rather not see him on the Hawks because of the absurd salary demand and the Hawks would have to give up far too much to get him.

panarin
- redsfanhere

He'd be nice right now.

Keep us updated on the Highmore injury--that would be a tough one for him.
- RaleighHawk

Will do.

I think they will know more in the next day or so.

Big fan of Highmore's game and think he will be helpful to the Hawks at some point.

We read here last nite that Boqvist was out with his 4th concussions:

True?
- StLBravesFan

Hey Stl - I didn't put anything in there because I'm not sure yet.

I don't know if it was confirmed but he did hit his head on the glass this weekend.

They are being very cautious, as they should be, with him as he gets up to speed in the OHL.

Yea this. Why is Saad getting blown up here?
- kwolf68


Saad is getting blown up because he did absolutely nothing on that play. I am a Saad fan but in OT if you find your path to the net is taken away and you can’t get a good shot to potentially win the game you must back off, keep clear possession and re-start. Looked initially like there might be something - there wasn’t - in OT re-start. Also in OT you have to really keep track of who is on the ice and where they are. Kane had drifted down backing Saad but he needed a change. Forget involving Kane at all - keep the puck or get it back to Gus.

Speaking of Gus he has no idea how to play defence. Draisatl had done nothing all game - pressure him. Gus had to do something - backing in and making a late slide that totally took him AWAY from the puck is nothing. Same as if no D-Man at all. At some point Gus is going to be in the cross-hairs. He needs to be able to play both ends of the ice and he simply doesn’t seem to be able to.
- Z3Hawk

I'm not going to judge Gustafsson on that play in OT. It was about a 95% chance a 2-1 involving Draisatl and McJesus was going to score.

You keep harping on this thing that Gus isn’t an NHL dman. Why?

He definitely has some O to his game and has been better defensively so far. He’s more of a 4/5, where Davidson and Manning seem to be more of a 6/7.

Thought Davidson was ok last night though.
- HawkintheD

Well the problem with Gus is he would like to just stay in the O-Zone. Wait for the puck to come back. Unfortunately for him the most important role of a D-Man occurs in the D-Zone and Gus has no idea what to do in the D-Zone. Eventually Seabrook will lose it from babysitting Gus and will just lay down on the ice.

Like the analysis, JL.

The defense seems to be sorting it self out and I think will look better with Gus and Murph, making one of Rudy, Manning and Davidson your #7.

Wouldn’t mind seeing them trade for a top 6 scorer, depending on what they’d have to give up.