What is that, 27 points in 31 games for Strome?
- tvetter

He's showing signs of why he went 3rd. He has a really long road to go as he's still young, but I love watching him on the ice, especially when he's with Little Lion Man. That no-look pass. Insane!

$15 mil. Tied up in Corey Perry and Ryan Kessler, enuf said
- LAHawk

make it 23 mil with getzlaf..

If you were the Columbus GM given the situation with Panarin - which maybe is blown out of proportion - would you offer him to Bowman for our #1 2019. They could try to snag (draft) one of the top two dmen.

Those top two look really good, particularly read the scouting report on wiz draftsite.com for the i think #8 rated player aforementioned dman hails from Sweden

Bowman should not accept unless he had someone who will take Seabrook and he unloads AA. Then i might entertain the trade. My concern: too much salary tied up in top four players plus Crawford is an issue. Oh btw if Panarin then no power forward...

...still. But hey does someone want Panarin back? Maybe not so much Bowman but McDonough?

Stan’s getting Strome and Caggiula have really been a big factor in the recent success.

Perhaps a small sample size, but those two have let Colliton ice two effective top-6 lines, a good third with Saad and Kahun, and a top-notch first PP unit.
- StLBravesFan

Kahun has been playing with Dinky and Strome. Saad has been with Kruger and Kampf the last few game. Which makes Saad's recent point surge even more impressive.

Kahun has been playing with Dinky and Strome. Saad has been with Kruger and Kampf the last few game. Which makes Saad's recent point surge even more impressive.
- Elbows15

Saad is doing a nice job right now. Sitting 25th in scoring for players listed as LW. That is good for a guy who has bounced up and down the lineup and doesn't get prime PP time. Also, DeBrincat listed as 8th in scoring for LW.

Kane is #2 on RW but the Hawks don't have anyone else high on the list, but Kahun is listed as C. His 24 points would put him at 44th for RW, which is decent.

Saad is doing a nice job right now. Sitting 25th in scoring for players listed as LW. That is good for a guy who has bounced up and down the lineup and doesn't get prime PP time. Also, DeBrincat listed as 8th in scoring for LW.

Kane is #2 on RW but the Hawks don't have anyone else high on the list, but Kahun is listed as C. His 24 points would put him at 44th for RW, which is decent.
- breadbag

Kahun probably could have more points if he wasn't so bent on looking for or feeding especially Kane earlier this season. Kahun should be able to reach 60 + points/season

Saad is doing a nice job right now. Sitting 25th in scoring for players listed as LW. That is good for a guy who has bounced up and down the lineup and doesn't get prime PP time. Also, DeBrincat listed as 8th in scoring for LW.

Kane is #2 on RW but the Hawks don't have anyone else high on the list, but Kahun is listed as C. His 24 points would put him at 44th for RW, which is decent.
- breadbag

He had a lot of crappy luck earlier in the season. Along with some middling play from him. I would say he has been pretty consistent the last couple of months. The last ten games he seems to have elevated his game a notch. He was a beast tonight. Need more of that from him. They had a hard time handling him physically.

Who knows. Maybe putting him a in situation where he has to drive the line is bringing out the best in him.

Kahun probably could have more points if he wasn't so bent on looking for or feeding especially Kane earlier this season. Kahun should be able to reach 60 + points/season
- jhawk59

Kahun is a rookie. Don't lose sight of that. The NHL is a big step from the league he was playing in last season. Its natural for there to be an adjustment. The positive thing is he is progressing. He is better now than he was earlier in the season.

At times tonight they looked almost as bad in the d-zone as they did a couple months ago. They gave up a ton of shots and even though Delia gave up a cheapie to Leivo, he saved the Hawks bacon tonight and should have been one of the game stars.

Having Perlini play in Rockford sounds like a pretty good move. He's got jets and it would be a shame to squander his career because he just can't figure out the game at the NHL level. Play him with Fortin and if nothing else their speed will give opposing teams fits.

Wait.....are we good???

Kahun probably could have more points if he wasn't so bent on looking for or feeding especially Kane earlier this season. Kahun should be able to reach 60 + points/season
- jhawk59

I've loved Kahun's game all season. I liked him when he was with Toews and Debrincat, he just wasn't consistent as a top line guy. Totally understandable as a rookie. He did have great chemistry with 12 though. This second line now of 12-17-24 is a really good line following a great 1st line, and it leaves other teams' defenders questioning who to completely shutdown. Third line can be good, just needs to show up more. They make up most if the 2nd unit pp, that's where they are getting dangerous. 4th line is good to, checking and spotty scoring.

Wait.....are we good???
- SimpleJack

I don't think we're the team that had 2 8-game losing streaks. A 6-game win streak is good. Still some deficiencies here and there. Good, I don't know. Pleasant surprise/fun to watch, definitely.

I don't think we're the team that had 2 8-game losing streaks. A 6-game win streak is good. Still some deficiencies here and there. Good, I don't know. Pleasant surprise/fun to watch, definitely.
- I Am The Breadman

Always more fun to watch when they're winning. Still a bubble team IMO. Aside from that 2 to 3 week span when they fell behind 3-0 early in almost every game, they have played many close games. Murphy coming back has made a difference. Still need improvement on D though.

This board gives Stan so much crap, but he's done a pretty good job this year.

- Trade a useless UFA defender for Caggiula and cap space.
- Trade a RFA Schmaltz for Strome (love this trade).
- It's looking like the Murphy trade is actually paying off. I remember this board going up in blames when Hammer was traded.

The team has been fun to watch these last few games.
- RedRevenge

Give it time. When the Hawks lose 5 in a row and Kane, Toews, ADB go scoreless the BOD will be calling for everyone's head.

Skating, strength, stickhanding...just a complete rebirth from 19 who is on a career best scoring pace
- EnzoD

I can't wait to read your posts when he goes scoreless in 5 games.

JC is getting the max out of Murphy. Furthermore those fresh eyes patience and attitude has increased the stockofjust about every Hawk. it is no coincidence that in the past few years, most every player we traded for left with less value than they came with. I like the intangibles that this new coach is bringing. worth saying too, heis maximizing Kane. Toews and Saad. and tapping into potential of Cat and Stroke and Gus. and Calligua, slip of tongue

Kahun has been playing with Dinky and Strome. Saad has been with Kruger and Kampf the last few game. Which makes Saad's recent point surge even more impressive.
- Elbows15

Don’t know why I put Kahun on the third line - my error.

Is it a coincidence that the team is playing better since Barry Smith left the bench and Brookbank came up from Rockford as an asst coach. Maybe some of the team was tuning out old Barry?

rebirth for Seabs next season?
- powerenforcer

Not impossible, but unlikely. Expecting him to play like he did when he was 27 years old is asking too much. But he certainly could play better. He was never fast. If he just picks up his game a little, he could be a solid 2nd pairing dman for another couple of years. There are 23 dmen 33 or older in the NHL right now.

Nope, just clairvoyant. It's Breadman, not Bettman. Close though.
- I Am The Breadman

I bow to The Breadman. Called it 100% right, even to the OT winner. And I am sure he wooda picked Toews as the man to deliver, if asked. Breadman is GOD!!!

Toews points over the last 4 years:

2015-16 58 points in 80 games
2016-17 58 points in 72 games
2017-18 52 points in 74 games
2018-19 53 points in 54 games


- RedRevenge

For $10.5 million he should already be at 80 point by now.

I bow to The Breadman. Called to right to the OT winner. And I am sure he wooda picked Toews as the man to deliver, if asked. Breadman is GOD!!!

- hawk35

Always more fun to watch when they're winning. Still a bubble team IMO. Aside from that 2 to 3 week span when they fell behind 3-0 early in almost every game, they have played many close games. Murphy coming back has made a difference. Still need improvement on D though.
- boilermaker100

You picked the right blog to highlight Murphy, seeing as he was the main focus of this one. Agree with everything thing you said.

Wait.....are we good???
- SimpleJack

Define good? Are there signs, yes? But the team was pretty sloppy for long stretches of the game last night and once again gave up 40+ SOGs. I still see the deficiency in the defense, especially in our own zone. Keith and Seabs were rough last night, Forsling was delivering pizzas, Gus was back to parking the bus when in his own zone. I liked Murphy's game (is he the ONLY ONE on D who checks?) and shockingly enough CooCoo had another respectable game. I'd like Dahlstrom back in there Sunday. I don't care who you bench, so long as it's not Murphy.

Outside of Murphy, Dahlstrom and maybe CooCoo on Defense, most of the promise is at forward:

-Toews is back
-Kane wears an S on his jersey
-Strome is a LEGIT 2nd line center. Amazing instincts and feel. Tanner was right, the kid just needed to be left alone to play hockey
-Cat may score 40 goals this year. Amazing
-(not the singer) Drake. Can't help but love this kid. Can't believe Boman got him for a plug
-Kahun. I really like him.
-Hayden, two very good games in a row despite limited minutes
-Kruger even has perked up lately
-SaadFather appears to be playing back to form as well
-Goalie doesn't appear to be a problem even though Crow is in the nest.

Honestly, I don't see a lot of total slugs on offense. And the offense would be better if we had a stable competent backend to support it.

Is it a coincidence that the team is playing better since Barry Smith left the bench and Brookbank came up from Rockford as an asst coach. Maybe some of the team was tuning out old Barry?
- boilermaker100

Does Brookbank do pp? What was he doing in Rockford with JC?

Sidenote, we are almost at 1000 posts for this blog.