do you get tired of being wrong? The Hawks are in the top 10 in the league in scoring both 5v5 and PP
- TheTrob

TBF, he could be referring to SCA and HDCA at 5 on 5. He would be right there. The Hawks are pretty bad in those two areas.

I volunteered with no response.

Probably burned that bridge about a decade ago when I got that year long ban.
- BINGO!

Maybe they need a contest or something. You would be sure to win.

TBF, he could be referring to SCA and HDCA at 5 on 5. He would be right there. The Hawks are pretty bad in those two areas.
- Elbows15

It could always be worse....you could be a Bulls fan and deal with that colossal dumpster fire. They have been rebuilding since 1998-99 and still have no clue what they are doing.

Apparently making a GW shot in the 93 finals got Paxon a job for life in the Reinsdorf world....something the Hawk also knows a lot about.

Some folks still didn't get the point of the comment. No player taken first overall since Kane in 2007 has won a cup. Up until last season, only Kane and Crosby, MAF were on that list for players drafted recently. Kane won because honestly the Hawks were stacked with depth all over the ice. Crosby has some really elite support. Ovie finally won after what 14 years since he was drafted?

Odds are, picking 1st overall doesn't mean you are winning a cup anytime soon. If the Hawks want to go that route and gut the team, they would need multiple high picks over the next few years and maybe in 2025 we'll see them win a cup. If they want to win while Kane/Toews are still here, tanking isn't the solution.
- breadbag

I was going to say the same thing, glad I waited until I caught up... You build around a 1st overall pick, because even if they are NHL ready doesn't mean they will be contributing at an elite level right away.

do you get tired of being wrong? The Hawks are in the top 10 in the league in scoring both 5v5 and PP
- TheTrob

The power play goes away in the playoffs means the refs swallow their whistles and call fewer penalties.

The Hawks are:
11th in the league GF @ 5v5. (Tied for 10)
30th in GA 5v5.
21st high danger chances for
31st in high danger chances against. Closest team is Anaheim and theyre 25 away. Lol awful.

They are a dumpster fire 5v5. They suck at defending. Bad at creating chances and their recent success is an aberration. This is a bad team by every measurable statistic except the power play and goaltending.
.

Wait.....

Didin't Pittsburg just win a Cup????

Wasnt Crosby a First overall???

Didn't Pittsburg draft him.....????

What am I missing, please elaborate.....
- hawk35

Yes you are missing something. Crosby was draft before Kane. So that would make Kane the most recent #1 to win a cup.

The Hawks will be great in 2-3 years. The Hawks have everything they need to contend in the system already and it would be a step in the wrong direction to be buyers at this TDL.. It's been really fun to see these guys finally click and have it pay off but at the same time the Hawks could use another top 10 or 5 pick -- then again the Hawks do have one of the best scouting staffs in the league and somehow manage to find outstanding talent and pure gems outside of the first round, but still - I hope the Hawks will land Jack Hughes somehow... That would be flipping nuts - that would be like having (2) Patrick Kane(s) on the same team.........And to be honest I think Hughes has potential to be even better than Kane, but I suppose I'm merely dreaming here, but one can dream.

....

Anyway, that's the projection I see this team on.. Of course I'm not going to be 100% correct and not all the kids will reach maximum potential and become superstars BUT many will and this team certainly will be a contender once again very soon (1-3 years) of course if you're 15 and reading this then that is forever for you but I suppose that's your problem, lol..
- Savard2Secord

Thank you...been thinking similarly for some time now, but could not put it in words like you did...

It could always be worse....you could be a Bulls fan and deal with that colossal dumpster fire. They have been rebuilding since 1998-99 and still have no clue what they are doing.

Apparently making a GW shot in the 93 finals got Paxon a job for life in the Reinsdorf world....something the Hawk also knows a lot about.
- SteveRain

The whole NBA is a bobo league these days. There may be 3 competent GMs in the whole league.

Thank you...been thinking similarly for some time now, but could not put it in words like you did...


- ToewsdNKanefusd

All 1500 on them.

The power play goes away in the playoffs means the refs swallow their whistles and call fewer penalties.

The Hawks are:
11th in the league GF @ 5v5. (Tied for 10)
30th in GA 5v5.
21st high danger chances for
31st in high danger chances against. Closest team is Anaheim and theyre 25 away. Lol awful.

They are a dumpster fire 5v5. They suck at defending. Bad at creating chances and their recent success is an aberration. This is a bad team by every measurable statistic except the power play and goaltending.
.
- fattybeef

But these stats go all the way back to the beginning of the season, and the Hawks team currently is way different than the team that started the season...Does someone have these stats for the last 20 games?

All 1500 on them.
- Elbows15

Exactly why I didn't even want to try

But these stats go all the way back to the beginning of the season, and the Hawks team currently is way different than the team that started the season...Does someone have these stats for the last 20 games?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Bad lol.

Since December 8th. (25 games approx)

5v5 gdf is -1 so not bad there
High danger for 5v5 25th
High danger against 31st
92.16 save % is solid.
CF as a % they're 24th. 46ish percent woof.

They're not good except Patrick Kane and ADB are blowing up along with the PP and both goalies have stopped a lot of shots.

Sure they could do a Phoenix and goalie themselves through a round or two but i would think the Jets or Preds run the Hawks out of the first round in an embarrassing fashion.

Bad lol.

Since December 8th. (25 games approx)

5v5 gdf is -1 so not bad there
High danger for 5v5 25th
High danger against 31st
92.16 save % is solid.
CF as a % they're 24th. 46ish percent woof.

They're not good except Patrick Kane and ADB are blowing up along with the PP and both goalies have stopped a lot of shots.

Sure they could do a Phoenix and goalie themselves through a round or two but i would think the Jets or Preds run the Hawks out of the first round in an embarrassing fashion.
- fattybeef

I think Calgary chokes in Round 1

I think Calgary chokes in Round 1
- EnzoD

Depends on goaltending.

The power play goes away in the playoffs means the refs swallow their whistles and call fewer penalties.

The Hawks are:
11th in the league GF @ 5v5. (Tied for 10)
30th in GA 5v5.
21st high danger chances for
31st in high danger chances against. Closest team is Anaheim and theyre 25 away. Lol awful.

They are a dumpster fire 5v5. They suck at defending. Bad at creating chances and their recent success is an aberration. This is a bad team by every measurable statistic except the power play and goaltending.
.
- fattybeef

If they are so bad and make you so miserable why do you watch?

I think most here are in agreement that this team is not good defensively and inconsistent in goal. There are pieces missing in order for them to be considered contenders, but they also still have a number of vets such as Kane, Toews, Saad and young players with more upside such as ADB, Strome, Cagguila, Joki, Murphy and some upcoming young D-talent that may make it possible for a quick turnaround.

Does getting the top pick, or even a top-5 pick put you any closer to contention? Do Huges, Kakko, Dach, Podkolzin or Cozens all of a sudden make you a contender? Is any D-man you draft, even at the top of the draft, going to be ready sooner or be better than the 4-6 prospects you already have in the pipeline.

Since the early season disasters and losing streaks, the Hawks have looked better. Kane , Toews, ADB and even the much maligned Saad are having good if not great seasons. Strome and Caggiula are contributing, Kampf and Kahun show they can play in the NHL.

Sorry, at this point, Tanking is just not a thing in the NHL. Please name a team that has done it successfully.

Some folks still didn't get the point of the comment. No player taken first overall since Kane in 2007 has won a cup. Up until last season, only Kane and Crosby, MAF were on that list for players drafted recently. Kane won because honestly the Hawks were stacked with depth all over the ice. Crosby has some really elite support. Ovie finally won after what 14 years since he was drafted?

Odds are, picking 1st overall doesn't mean you are winning a cup anytime soon. If the Hawks want to go that route and gut the team, they would need multiple high picks over the next few years and maybe in 2025 we'll see them win a cup. If they want to win while Kane/Toews are still here, tanking isn't the solution.
- breadbag

And, since Kane, Oshie, and Crosby were all number 1s, seven of the last ten Cup winners had a #1 on their roster. The Kings won two of those other three and they had a #2 in Doughty. The remaining Cup went to Boston, who technically had a #3 on their roster in Nathan Horton and a #2 in Tyler Seguin, who scored 22 points as a rookie that year.

Which is to say, yes, getting a high pick doesn't mean you're going to win a Cup, but, if you want to win a Cup, it's a good idea to have some #1, #2, and #3 picks on your roster.

Edit: talking about overall picks 1, 2, or 3

Bad lol.

Since December 8th. (25 games approx)

5v5 gdf is -1 so not bad there
High danger for 5v5 25th
High danger against 31st
92.16 save % is solid.
CF as a % they're 24th. 46ish percent woof.

They're not good except Patrick Kane and ADB are blowing up along with the PP and both goalies have stopped a lot of shots.

Sure they could do a Phoenix and goalie themselves through a round or two but i would think the Jets or Preds run the Hawks out of the first round in an embarrassing fashion.
- fattybeef

Jets maybe, because of their size and offense the Hawks struggle to keep the puck out of the net against them. They are 1-1-1 against the Preds who struggle offensively sometimes, that would be a decent series depending on which Pekka shows up.

David Poile has been a GM in the NHL for like 37 years and his SC record is 0 for 37. So now he's going for it again by acquiring Cody McLeod and Bryan Boyle. That should shore up their offence for sure.

Whats going to happen when the Preds take their annual dump in the playoffs this year - Poile will get frustrated and fire Laviolette, then immediately hire Q as the final piece of the puzzle. Q will insist on getting rid of PK and Pekka and demand Poile acquire Duncan Keith and Hammer.

And if the Preds then win the Cup, Oldduffman and True Grit will commit suicide on Eklund's podcast.
- RickJ

The question I have is, will they get another 'Best of the West in the Regular Season' participation banner again?

Lots of predicting of they are good, they aren't good.

Time will tell, be patient and watch.

I for one, am enjoying the games now, more so than the first half of the year.

I will say this, they are playing better and seem to have a certain something going on. Don't know that it will last, but just know that its better to watch.

Strome trade really, really good move for now and the future. Stan bashers even have to love that move.

Reminds me of the Sharp trade a bit.

Depends on goaltending.
- fattybeef

Agreed, Calgary has a good team but their goaltending is suspect.

Calgary is a good example of how a team can turn things around. The finished 20th last year, now they are 2nd. The Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm trade and Neal signing (to a lesser extent) had such a huge impact.

Nice blog, J.

I actually think the Hawks can be a playoff team because I believe the cliché that if you can get into the playoffs, anything can happen. I'm reminded of the Kings a few years back.

I (like a lot of guys) would like to see a couple heavier dudes on the roster come playoff time, but who knows.

Obviously , from our division, the Jets and Preds (gross) are built for deep runs. But again...anything can happen if you get in.

I am really surprised how many people are so eager to get rid of Duncan Keith, like it is some kind of easy decision for this organization. He is still a very good defenseman on a great contract. If we move him, our blue line gets a lot worse regardless of the return. I would be very surprised to see him moved, the fact that people are saying “let’s look to move AA, Hayden, Keith,...” like Keith is somehow on the same plane as these guys seems absurd to me. I think if we move Keith, any chance to make a cup run over the next 3 years is toast. I would absolutely not do that.

Also, from doing a bit of research, I don’t believe the narrative that there are fewer penalties in the post season, I think that’s an old wives tale. From the articles I have seen, teams actually get more PP opportunity in the playoffs, so I don’t think we can just discount the PP as a playoff weapon.

And, since Kane, Oshie, and Crosby were all number 1s, seven of the last ten Cup winners had a #1 on their roster. The Kings won two of those other three and they had a #2 in Doughty. The remaining Cup went to Boston, who technically had a #3 on their roster in Nathan Horton and a #2 in Tyler Seguin, who scored 22 points as a rookie that year.

Which is to say, yes, getting a high pick doesn't mean you're going to win a Cup, but, if you want to win a Cup, it's a good idea to have some #1, #2, and #3 picks on your roster.
- matt_ahrens

That's a most misleading stat. The last 10 cup winners include The Penguins and Hawks with 3 apiece and the Kings with 2. Thats 8 of those Cups. These teams and the Caps were also bad enough at the time that they had multiple top draft picks over a few years. Toews/Kane, Crosby/Malkin, Ovechkin/Backstrom.

Taking only those 10 years is cherry picking. Spread it out longer and see what you get. How about include all the teams that have had multiple #1-5 picks and haven't won anything.

Sure getting a high pick or a "generational talent" is important, but it takes a whole lot more than that to be a contender or win a cup.

And, since Kane, Oshie, and Crosby were all number 1s, seven of the last ten Cup winners had a #1 on their roster. The Kings won two of those other three and they had a #2 in Doughty. The remaining Cup went to Boston, who technically had a #3 on their roster in Nathan Horton and a #2 in Tyler Seguin, who scored 22 points as a rookie that year.

Which is to say, yes, getting a high pick doesn't mean you're going to win a Cup, but, if you want to win a Cup, it's a good idea to have some #1, #2, and #3 picks on your roster.
- matt_ahrens

I would guess that just about every roster has some 1,2, and 3s on it, no?

I would guess that just about every roster has some 1,2, and 3s on it, no?
- LaheysBRandy

And if your EDM you have 6 first round picks on the roster and still stink.

Edited...