Gotta remember it’s very early in his young NHL career. I’m fine sticking with him and getting a proven finisher like Sikura on that line. Kampf has faded IMO and I do like him when he’s on his game. Kahun has center experience IIRC and his game has been more impressive lately to me. More speed and confidence with the puck to carry and create for Kahun.
- EnzoD

Kahun wins puck battles and can maintain possession. That creates space. Kampf does nothing for me. He reminds me of Dennis Rasmussen just a bit quicker. He’s a borderline 4th line guy. You want scoring from the lower lines get him out of the lineup.

Gotta remember it’s very early in his young NHL career. I’m fine sticking with him and getting a proven finisher like Sikura on that line. Kampf has faded IMO and I do like him when he’s on his game. Kahun has center experience IIRC and his game has been more impressive lately to me. More speed and confidence with the puck to carry and create for Kahun.
- EnzoD

I'd like to see what Kahun can do at center.

Gotta remember it’s very early in his young NHL career. I’m fine sticking with him and getting a proven finisher like Sikura on that line. Kampf has faded IMO and I do like him when he’s on his game. Kahun has center experience IIRC and his game has been more impressive lately to me. More speed and confidence with the puck to carry and create for Kahun.
- EnzoD

Sharp and Vrbata seemed the same way earlier on while on those pre-playoff Hawks.

Hey crew - was flying back yesterday and missed the game. A nice win though. I will check it out later on.

In the meantime, I should have a blog up before noon to catch up with all of you.

this team is looking better;specifically defensively...
forsling has meant less manning and davidson is on IR...
craw has allowed only 2 goals in regulation the last 3 games but hey craw bashers will say he should have had shutouts in all 3...
the # and quality of shots against has gone down but they still have problems when teams play low and hawks lose awareness of the front of their net...
the real saad as returned...
last 4 games been low scoring 1 goal games

yet..
secondary scoring is still a big issue...
pp is as stale as two week old bread

Hey crew - was flying back yesterday and missed the game. A nice win though. I will check it out later on.

In the meantime, I should have a blog up before noon to catch up with all of you.
- Justin Lowe

Great JL, hope you had a great time away. Good to have you back though.

Kahun wins puck battles and can maintain possession. That creates space. Kampf does nothing for me. He reminds me of Dennis Rasmussen just a bit quicker. He’s a borderline 4th line guy. You want scoring from the lower lines get him out of the lineup.
- bhawks2241

If we could do something with that 2nd? 3rd? line, we would look not too bad up front. Other than Fortin's speed nothing else stands out as a threat on either side of the puck for that line.

3-2-1 would be much more accurate and entertaining. Maybe when the game was tied with 3 minutes left the teams would still try to win the game.
- matt_ahrens

A few years ago someone posted and article in which they went back and re-calculated the past few seasons using the 3-2-1 points system, and in resulted in very few changes in the standings at the end of the year. Some of that may be do to teams laying back at a certain point to maintain the point.

I am OK with eliminating the shootout and just going back to ties or going to the 3-2-1

From John Dietz - pretty cool for the fans who've been witness to his run so far:

It's @88PKane's 30th birthday today.
Here is where he ranks in 4 different categories with other #Blackhawks at the time of their 30th birthday:

GAMES PLAYED
1. Patrick Kane 842
2. Jonathan Toews 791
3. Bobby Hull 779
4. Stan Mikita 773
5. Denis Savard 736

GOALS
1. Bobby Hull 439
2. Denis Savard 351
3. Steve Larmer 342
4. Patrick Kane 324
4. Stan Mikita 324

ASSISTS
1. Denis Savard 662
2. Stan Mikita 530
3. Patrick Kane 529
4. S. Larmer 437
5. D. Wilson 404

POINTS
1. Savard 1,013
2. Mikita 854
3. Kane 853
4. Hull 842
5. Larmer 779

I'd like to see what Kahun can do at center.
- matt_ahrens

I think he would look good between Hayden and Martinsen in Kruger's place. That line Kahun is on (save for Fortin) needs to be scrapped completely.

A few years ago someone posted and article in which they went back and re-calculated the past few seasons using the 3-2-1 points system, and in resulted in very few changes in the standings at the end of the year. Some of that may be do to teams laying back at a certain point to maintain the point.

I am OK with eliminating the shootout and just going back to ties or going to the 3-2-1
- TheTrob

Have always thought that the NHL did a lot of over-thinking with respect to OT. As tied games wind down both teams try to be careful to maintain the TIE to guarantee at least one point. A tie game in regulation did not stop being a TIE. Each team earned their point. Instead of being positive and calling it a TIE earned by the team that eventually loses, in the OT or the SO, the NHL calls it an Overtime Loss - OTL - as if such team earned nothing. The very short 5 minute, sudden-death OTs are often a dog’s breakfast, decided by a bad change or lucky bounce, with SOs being even more unpredictable. The “meat and potatoes” of the game is the first 60 minutes where the teams tied. The NHL could have just left it as W-L-T.

Good to see the Hawks get the W against a good Minnesota team last night. Lots of work still to be done with this team, but you can see that they're starting to really buy into JC's system and they're playing more comfortably. It'll be interesting to see how this team plays over the next month and half here going into the Winter Classic. I hope that by then they have a good grasp on the system and what is to be expected of them. Not to mention some somewhat set lineups night in and night out.

I'd like to see what Kahun can do at center.
- matt_ahrens

I've been calling for this for awhile if they want to continue to play Schmaltz at the wing. We need a third line guy to emerge at some point here so we can be solid up the middle.

From John Dietz - pretty cool for the fans who've been witness to his run so far:

It's @88PKane's 30th birthday today.
Here is where he ranks in 4 different categories with other #Blackhawks at the time of their 30th birthday:

GAMES PLAYED
1. Patrick Kane 842
2. Jonathan Toews 791
3. Bobby Hull 779
4. Stan Mikita 773
5. Denis Savard 736

GOALS
1. Bobby Hull 439
2. Denis Savard 351
3. Steve Larmer 342
4. Patrick Kane 324
4. Stan Mikita 324

ASSISTS
1. Denis Savard 662
2. Stan Mikita 530
3. Patrick Kane 529
4. S. Larmer 437
5. D. Wilson 404

POINTS
1. Savard 1,013
2. Mikita 854
3. Kane 853
4. Hull 842
5. Larmer 779
- pdx2ord

When all is said and done, if Kaner continues to play at a high level for the next say 4-5 years does he go down as the greatest Blackhawk player ever? I mean if he can stay healthy and does play at a high level, he could very well be at the top of every single one of those categories when he hangs up his skates with 3 Cup rings as well.

Food for thought until the new blog is up lol

When all is said and done, if Kaner continues to play at a high level for the next say 4-5 years does he go down as the greatest Blackhawk player ever? I mean if he can stay healthy and does play at a high level, he could very well be at the top of every single one of those categories when he hangs up his skates with 3 Cup rings as well.

Food for thought until the new blog is up lol
- Savetheembers33

Not until he registers a Gordie Howe Hat trick.

From John Dietz - pretty cool for the fans who've been witness to his run so far:

It's @88PKane's 30th birthday today.
Here is where he ranks in 4 different categories with other #Blackhawks at the time of their 30th birthday:

GAMES PLAYED
1. Patrick Kane 842
2. Jonathan Toews 791
3. Bobby Hull 779
4. Stan Mikita 773
5. Denis Savard 736

GOALS
1. Bobby Hull 439
2. Denis Savard 351
3. Steve Larmer 342
4. Patrick Kane 324
4. Stan Mikita 324

ASSISTS
1. Denis Savard 662
2. Stan Mikita 530
3. Patrick Kane 529
4. S. Larmer 437
5. D. Wilson 404

POINTS
1. Savard 1,013
2. Mikita 854
3. Kane 853
4. Hull 842
5. Larmer 779
- pdx2ord

Awesome piece of info, thanks for posting.
I hope I'm that incredible when I'm 30. Haha.

I agree with STE33, he can make the tops of those lists because he has many years of good hockey in him.

Happy Birthday, Patrick (88) Kane!

Good to see the Hawks get the W against a good Minnesota team last night. Lots of work still to be done with this team, but you can see that they're starting to really buy into JC's system and they're playing more comfortably. It'll be interesting to see how this team plays over the next month and half here going into the Winter Classic. I hope that by then they have a good grasp on the system and what is to be expected of them. Not to mention some somewhat set lineups night in and night out.



I've been calling for this for awhile if they want to continue to play Schmaltz at the wing. We need a third line guy to emerge at some point here so we can be solid up the middle.
- Savetheembers33

So we're like 6 or 7 games in under JC. Q has won 3 Cups and might be the greatest coach of the hawks ever. So what is/was the problem: was his system old and other teams knew how to defend? Is it the guys needed a major shake-up to get the message to play better? Is it really JC and the guys like him and know how to play for him? They got off to a shakey start, but things have been clicking. Secondary scoring still is an issue ... big time. Said Peter Gabriel.

From John Dietz - pretty cool for the fans who've been witness to his run so far:

It's @88PKane's 30th birthday today.
Here is where he ranks in 4 different categories with other #Blackhawks at the time of their 30th birthday:

GAMES PLAYED
1. Patrick Kane 842
2. Jonathan Toews 791
3. Bobby Hull 779
4. Stan Mikita 773
5. Denis Savard 736

GOALS
1. Bobby Hull 439
2. Denis Savard 351
3. Steve Larmer 342
4. Patrick Kane 324
4. Stan Mikita 324

ASSISTS
1. Denis Savard 662
2. Stan Mikita 530
3. Patrick Kane 529
4. S. Larmer 437
5. D. Wilson 404

POINTS
1. Savard 1,013
2. Mikita 854
3. Kane 853
4. Hull 842
5. Larmer 779
- pdx2ord

This is pretty crazy (in a really good way).

Have always thought that the NHL did a lot of over-thinking with respect to OT. As tied games wind down both teams try to be careful to maintain the TIE to guarantee at least one point. A tie game in regulation did not stop being a TIE. Each team earned their point. Instead of being positive and calling it a TIE earned by the team that eventually loses, in the OT or the SO, the NHL calls it an Overtime Loss - OTL - as if such team earned nothing. The very short 5 minute, sudden-death OTs are often a dog’s breakfast, decided by a bad change or lucky bounce, with SOs being even more unpredictable. The “meat and potatoes” of the game is the first 60 minutes where the teams tied. The NHL could have just left it as W-L-T.
- Z3Hawk

I still do not understand why they league doesn't further break down ties to what they really are, 1 team loses a point, and 1 team earns a point. Think abut it, a team that is winning has the potential to earn 2 points, and the team losing 0 points. When a game ends in a tie, one of those teams loses 1 point, and 1 team gains 1 point. It is so obvious. Tie breakers (for standings and playoffs) can then be the team that earned the most tie breaker points.

I still do not understand why they league doesn't further break down ties to what they really are, 1 team loses a point, and 1 team earns a point. Think abut it, a team that is winning has the potential to earn 2 points, and the team losing 0 points. When a game ends in a tie, one of those teams loses 1 point, and 1 team gains 1 point. It is so obvious. Tie breakers (for standings and playoffs) can then be the team that earned the most tie breaker points.
- powerenforcer

Especially with OT being 3 on 3 where you can lose at the drop of a hat. That makes the players push harder late in the game to try and win in regulation.

Great Post!

Not until he registers a Gordie Howe Hat trick.
- riozzo

Haha one day ya gotta hope and pray he just says frank it and goes for it

So we're like 6 or 7 games in under JC. Q has won 3 Cups and might be the greatest coach of the hawks ever. So what is/was the problem: was his system old and other teams knew how to defend? Is it the guys needed a major shake-up to get the message to play better? Is it really JC and the guys like him and know how to play for him? They got off to a shakey start, but things have been clicking. Secondary scoring still is an issue ... big time. Said Peter Gabriel.
- I Am The Breadman

To answer your question short. Yes.

Lol for real though, I think the problem was that after listening to his message for ten years it grew kinda old for some guys. Q's stubbornness in not developing young guys lead to our short comings as well and stunted the growth of some players. Not to mention they've pretty much tried using the same system the entire time and teams knew what to expect from the Hawks. Now that the team lost its depth, it's much easier to focus on 2-3 guys to shut them down versus when they had 3-4 good lines you had to try stop every night.

Sometimes all a team needs is a fresh voice and a new set of eyes to make ya look at things differently and spark the team. Not saying that this team is destined for greatness with JC in charge now, but you can see that there is a system in place and guys know where to be and what to do for the most part and they've looked better because of it. The hope is with the new coach, system, and some continued development from the kids up here now and yet to come that we could get back to being a legit Playoff team again in the near future.

Miss me?

*NEW* blog up: https://www.hockeybuzz.co...What-Did-I-Miss/253/96041

The good lately, is the Hawks are not giving up goals... 2 goals against in the last 3 games. The bad part of that...it is pretty much just because of goaltending. There have been lots of good chances against and lots of shots, but the Hawks are getting the best sv% in the league at 98% over the last 3 games and they also have the best high danger sv% in their last 3 games.

In that span (and the score will be a factor here) but the Hawks bottom 5 in terms of shots for and shots against. Mostly it is that they aren't generating enough offensively at the moment, but their goalie is holding them in it. It is still early in terms of the new coach, but I hopefully they can start to build a little momentum here and play a better 60 minutes, because Crawford won't stop all these pucks forever.