Not as long as the top of the central is still in play or 2/3 are within a few points. Jets/Blues/preds all could be battling for top spot and then home ice in 1st round vs 3 seed. hard to see them trotting out an AHL lineup late in the year.
- SteveRain

I didn't mean they'd be trotting out an AHL lineup, but many solid teams are not pushing for their playoff lives like others are at the moment. Teams near the top tend to hit lulls and take opponents lower in the standings lightly at times. That is what I mean. It used to be that teams would show up with their best versus the Hawks as a measuring stick but that time has passed.

To me, that part in the neutral zone is on the forwards to apply pressure and give support so that the D can be more aggressive. I know last year the Hawks were bad at defending their own blue line and I don't think it has improved really.
- breadbag

Seems simple enough. Defend in waves: forwards aggressively pursue in the neutral zone, then the defenders protect their zone and collapse to the crease if the attack reaches that area.

Maybe a 2-1-2 with 2 forwards from blueline to blueline, 3rd forward at the defensive blueline, and both defenders back (possibly staggered with one high and one low but both mobile enough to collapse down to the crease).

Or a 1-2-2 with one forward attacking in their offensive zone and retreating to the neutral zone as puck moves up, 2 other forwards from blueline to blueline, and both defenders staggered back.

Regardless of scheme, key is relentless hounding of the puck carrier and shrinking the ice by giving the opponent as little real estate to work with which forces ill-advised passes and creates turnovers.

UGh is the west bad.....so bad it's allowed the Hawks to hang around long enough that a run has given fans a sense of playoff hockey.

I always chuckle when I see people rip Gus since he's "so bad" at defense and yet claim Murphy is fine. Or Forsling is fine. Or Dahlbeck is fine. Fact is this unit as a whole is a damn dumpster fire and if the Hawks aren't potting 4+ goals a night they are in deep trouble. The over by the way, has been a nice way to make money for you betters.

Stan should stand pat. There is no sense to mortgage the future here unless you are selling on something you know you may send packing in June before the draft and UFA (see veteran d man or veteran c) and can get back somebody who can help in the long term.

The playoffs will help give experience to the new wave of support players for the core and see what the hawks have there.

Just comical that they can be in the wild card spot tomorrow, yet right now are in last place in the central...... :?
- SteveRain

the bettman world of nhl parity (mediocrity)...how about thos ducks gone 5-16-4 since 12/18 but only 3 ptsw back with a goal differential plus -50

Which team let in the most goals in the 2017/18 season?
Answer Islanders. Defensive TOI leaders Puloch, Leddy, Boychuck, Mayfield, Pelech, Hickey. Goalies Halak and Greiss.
7th place in their division.

Which team has let in the fewest goals this season?
Answer Islanders. Defensive TOI leaders Puloch, Leddy, Boychuck, Mayfield, Pelech, Hickey. Goalies Lehner and Greiss.
This year lead their division.

Of course the major difference is the coach and commitment to defense. I am not saying the Hawks can make such a turnaround. But when you think of best defensive corps and goalies in the NHL the Islanders do not spring to mind right away. When you look at the players the names are not that impressive.

We are anxious to say the Hawks defensemen and goalies are crap. I am sure a lot of Islanders fans were saying the same thing last year. I would used caution in moving Dmen at the TDL. I would like to see how they play the rest of the year. I would like to see a new defensive scheme developed over the summer, with maybe a new assistant that handles the D. Then let them have a training camp together. During that training camp everyone would need to buy into playing a more 200' game. If Crow and Delia are there for a full year the goalkeeping should be ok.
- -Doh-

Of that Isles blueline, Hickey is their best defender. IIRC, he was a UFA last summer and a player I was hoping Stan pursued. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. Actually would have preferred Hickey over de Haan as a free agent pickup from NYI.

Do the ISLE somewhat prove that a solid system and coach can turn a #31 D team to a top 5 D team - maybe there is something to be said about the Coaching
- glennjpawlak22

Coaching is huge. Islanders also getting better goaltending and you can't discount the defensive contributions of the forwards.

Lots of people just look at the D when a team is giving up goals, but it is a 5 man unit on the ice (plus a goalie) that all need to do their part and a weak link in the chain screws it up.

i.e. if a Dman is under pressure the winger isn't in position to help break out, then maybe he makes an ill advised play and turns it over. Or if the opposition is making the D run around down low, the Center needs to do their part to help cover or support the play.

One thing that I think we've all seen...the Hawks as a unit tend to chase around and nobody takes the guy who gets the open ice right in front of the net. Often the forwards or second dman are too slow to realize and get back into position.

Do the ISLE somewhat prove that a solid system and coach can turn a #31 D team to a top 5 D team - maybe there is something to be said about the Coaching
- glennjpawlak22

Well.....that's a great question. Q got bashed on here for not adjusting to what he had......JC is playing some man defense and his team is giving up so many grade A chances it's like watching a mens league game. Seriously. Entertaining as hell with all the offense, but they will get waxed come playoff time. We thought a few years ago vs Nashville was bad? Just wait......They top echelon teams will exploit this team and I have a feeling everyone on this board will want EVERY defensemen gone come mid April......

I didn't mean they'd be trotting out an AHL lineup, but many solid teams are not pushing for their playoff lives like others are at the moment. Teams near the top tend to hit lulls and take opponents lower in the standings lightly at times. That is what I mean. It used to be that teams would show up with their best versus the Hawks as a measuring stick but that time has passed.
- breadbag

I understand and a team Like Tampa will surely downshift here a bit once they get everything locked up. Still 1/4 of the season left, injuries, etc all can affect this so we can revisit as the schedule winds down.

As of now I just see a very contested race not only at the bottom, but the top of the central.....IF Nashville adds Duchene and doesn't give up the farm they should pull away IMO

Do the ISLE somewhat prove that a solid system and coach can turn a #31 D team to a top 5 D team - maybe there is something to be said about the Coaching
- glennjpawlak22

Don't forget the Isle's have a new general manager (Lamarello) who is famous for building strong defensive teams (New Jersey), and after Tavares left he signed Kühnhackl, Komarov, Martin and Filppula, all solid defensively responsible forwards

Seems simple enough. Defend in waves: forwards aggressively pursue in the neutral zone, then the defenders protect their zone and collapse to the crease if the attack reaches that area.

Maybe a 2-1-2 with 2 forwards from blueline to blueline, 3rd forward at the defensive blueline, and both defenders back (possibly staggered with one high and one low but both mobile enough to collapse down to the crease).

Or a 1-2-2 with one forward attacking in their offensive zone and retreating to the neutral zone as puck moves up, 2 other forwards from blueline to blueline, and both defenders staggered back.

Regardless of scheme, key is relentless hounding of the puck carrier and shrinking the ice by giving the opponent as little real estate to work with which forces ill-advised passes and creates turnovers.
- AEL_Fox

You may be right about that and I wish the Hawks figure it out. I feel like at times the Hawks don't pressure as hard because they are afraid of taking a stick infraction and they don't have the elite speed they used to compared to some other teams. I wish there was an easy answer, but I won't complain as long as they are outscoring their opponents.

the bettman world of nhl parity (mediocrity)...how about thos ducks gone 5-16-4 since 12/18 but only 3 ptsw back with a goal differential plus -50
- bogiedoc

I know but what's crazy is the Hawks O has saved them. 223 GA and only Ottawa 219 (1 fewer game played) is close to the Hawks.

Nobody in the west is over 200.....so while other blogs, bloggers, media want to pick on 56, and he's not good on defense, it's a helluva lot more deeper then just 1 guy. That whole unit is garbage, but at least 56 has offensive talent far and away better then anyone else on this team currently.....That includes 2 and his pea shooter.

On a side note Sikura has been very unimpressive thus far. Very easy to knock around, doesn't seem he fits at the NHL level. He may be a piece to sell high on as I don't know if he will ever be an effective top 6 player, and maybe not a top 9 player on a TRUE cup contender.

WOW Torts lit into Duclair yesterday, I can see the Swiss league for him next year
- LAHawk

He didn't just rip into him, Torts humiliated him talking to the press in Duclair's hometown. Excellent management skills Torts. Apparently Torts forgot his own job title is "coach".

Coaching is huge. Islanders also getting better goaltending and you can't discount the defensive contributions of the forwards.

Lots of people just look at the D when a team is giving up goals, but it is a 5 man unit on the ice (plus a goalie) that all need to do their part and a weak link in the chain screws it up.

i.e. if a Dman is under pressure the winger isn't in position to help break out, then maybe he makes an ill advised play and turns it over. Or if the opposition is making the D run around down low, the Center needs to do their part to help cover or support the play.

One thing that I think we've all seen...the Hawks as a unit tend to chase around and nobody takes the guy who gets the open ice right in front of the net. Often the forwards or second dman are too slow to realize and get back into position.
- breadbag

Same can be said about St.Louis. 2 months ago Yeo made Bouwmeester a healthy scratch and kept trotting out the industrial league goaltender Jake Allen who let in a couple of bad ones every night. Berube makes some adjustments, Binnington gives them some goaltending and the team takes off.

No matter what bloggers say, there is some value in these old warhorse Dmen who know how to play the game like Hainsey, Bouwmeeester, Girardi, Keith etc. if they get some support with the other 4 skaters playing the correct way.

On a side note Sikura has been very unimpressive thus far. Very easy to knock around, doesn't seem he fits at the NHL level. He may be a piece to sell high on as I don't know if he will ever be an effective top 6 player, and maybe not a top 9 player on a TRUE cup contender.
- SteveRain

I agree. I'm not sure what skill set he's supposed to bring but, I've seen nothing that stands out. Maybe, right now, he's playing not to let the opposition have a chance. I don't know but, he hasn't shown much.

Same can be said about St.Louis. 2 months ago Yeo made Bouwmeester a healthy scratch and kept trotting out the industrial league goaltender Jake Allen who let in a couple of bad ones every night. Berube makes some adjustments, Binnington gives them some goaltending and the team takes off.

No matter what bloggers say, there is some value in these old warhorse Dmen who know how to play the game like Hainsey, Bouwmeeester, Girardi, Keith etc. if they get some support with the other 4 skaters playing the correct way.
- RickJ

I don't disagree but the system the Hawks are running isn't allowing the Hawks slow footed, D men that luxury. Matching up vs a speedy forward with not a lot of help leads to so many grade A chances it's comical.

It's wide open hockey...fun, but not sustainable to win with. Guys are open in the slot constantly. Ward and Delia have been holding fort so far, and there was a chance Monday where a Senator just missed and it went out of the zone and you could Ward shaking his head because the guy was WIDE open......

I agree. I'm not sure what skill set he's supposed to bring but, I've seen nothing that stands out. Maybe, right now, he's playing not to let the opposition have a chance. I don't know but, he hasn't shown much.
- Rota's Rooter

Im not sure either, but if they went to move a guy or some for picks or whatever else.....he seems like the guy to me. Not much to see there....Plays very tentative. Probably needs to pack on some LBs, but even outside the dots he doesn't have the 1 on 1 skill consistently to get his shot off or create.

Maybe JC just figures they aren't going to fix this defense until training camp next season and decided to just outscore everyone. Genius if you ask me.

Maybe JC just figures they aren't going to fix this defense until training camp next season and decided to just outscore everyone. Genius if you ask me.
- Elbows15

Until they run into the upper echelon teams that can clamp down 91-19-88 and strome's line.

Fun to watch......and after that...……….

He didn't just rip into him, Torts humiliated him talking to the press in Duclair's hometown. Excellent management skills Torts. Apparently Torts forgot his own job title is "coach".
- Rota's Rooter

Maybe he tried everything else and Duclair is on his last leg anyway, so he figured if this doesn't work, nothing will.

Until they run into the upper echelon teams that can clamp down 91-19-88 and strome's line.

Fun to watch......and after that...……….
- SteveRain

Meh. Its suppose to be entertainment. They haven't quit. No one expected them to even be sniffing a playoff spot the way the season started. As a fan, there is value in that to me.

Meh. Its suppose to be entertainment. They haven't quit. No one expected them to even be sniffing a playoff spot the way the season started. As a fan, there is value in that to me.
- Elbows15

Bettter for attracting FA’s if the team seems to be headed the right way too.

The Blackhawks are in control of their own destiny.

22 games left.

Critical games:
3 games against Stars
3 games against Avs
1 game against Yotes
1 game against Nucks

The last 4 games are against, Jets, Blues, Stars, Preds. I bet 3/4 of these teams will field weaker rosters (giving their players rest days).

We might actually sneak in....
- RedRevenge

We don't want a team that wins, we want a team that drafts high.

We don't want a team that wins, we want a team that drafts high.
- DarthKane

And wins the cap space cup.

We don't want a team that wins, we want a team that drafts high.
- DarthKane

It's to late for that. We've won to much and will miss out on a top 5 pick this year... Mind as well get the experience for Cat, Strome, etc.

Bettter for attracting FA’s if the team seems to be headed the right way too.
- Ogilthorpe2

Are they though?

Valid question....upfront they have loads of NHL talent. On the backend we are teased by prospects and hoping they pan out......and in goal we have a prone concussed goalie and a solid young back up who may need to take the #1 step much sooner then expected in Delia.