I hope that the Hawks go after Dzingel, and Wennberg.
- Tatoo

And Malkin

I agree. Caggiula isn't filling the net but he's playing his role and if it ain't broke - don't fix it.

Speaking of the Hawks scoring so well this season - scoring is up across the league and I'm wondering what the reason for it is. There are currently 34 guys averaging 1 point per game of better and although maybe some of them tail off before the end of the season - that is a whole lot more players than in the past bunch of season. Looking at the scoring leaders and figuring anything 82 points and above for the entire season would be the cutoff for ppg scorers. Look at the past few seasons:

2018/19 - 34 players averaging 1+ ppg
2017/18 - 20 players with 82+ points
2016/17 - 7 players with 82+ points
2015/16 - 5 players with 82+ points
2014/15 - 3 players with 82+ points

Was there a change in goalie pads or something?
- EbonyRaptor

two significant changes I can think of:

1. changes to goalies equipment and they aren't happy about it.

http://www.espn.com/nhl/s...tectors-leading-more-pain

https://www.pensburgh.com...r-game-2018-sidney-crosby

2. smaller net size: definately see more wrap around attempts and scoring and the fancy reverse passes

https://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-new-nets/

Now - no

Summer - yes
- DarthKane

Meh. He isn't going to be worth his contract. Plus he is another guy who bleeds shots against. Hawks don't need anymore of those. They have that area covered.

Jury is definitely still out on Colliton, particularly re: his D scheme, but for now, I'll go with what our best player and arguably biggest student of the game, said in his most recent interview:



I'll also give credit for things that have improved since the coaching swap, roster warts and all:
- our PP was brought back from the dead (it had a years-long slumber) and is consistently producing results
- the players are making a more noticeable effort every night
- the players seem to understand and accept their respective roles and the roster decisions made each game
- the players seem to want to win for each other and truly enjoy playing together
- the players continue fighting to the end of the game, regardless of score or place in the standings
- a team that fell to dead last is all of a sudden in playoff hunt and, most importantly, isn't giving up (like last year)

Now, some of those things don't automatically translate to the scoresheet or wins, BUT without them, I can promise the organization would be struggling even more. It's true in sports and in every other business.
- pdx2ord

What would you like Kane to say? It is easy to analyze his comments. In hindsight he mentions there was skeptisism. Note that this skepticism was not mentioned at all when the change first happened by any player. However, it is very easy to surmise that this skepticism still exists. How could it not? Colliton is clearly in over his head and the players knew it and know it. What are they supposed to do? Of course they try to make the best of it. It seems nice that Colliton inquires about Kane’s day. Like to see Keith’s reaction when this happens.

No.
- Z3Hawk

Jesus christ. You're back? It was so nice when you were locked up in the looney bin again.

I think Hawk fans have to tamper down their expectations on the free agent market this summer. Even if we unload Anisimov I think we may have 11 million cap space which is good. We then have to find a center to replace him and within a year or two we have to resign Kahun, Strome, , Cat ect
How much do you think Cat will be asking ? Strome if keeps improving? It seems bridge deals are no longer something the really good players will do.
I think Stan will sign a couple of younger vets on short term contracts

One thing you notice at times about Delia is he doesn't make himself look big in the crease. I have no real problem with him, but he is goaltender that needs far more reps at the AHL level if he is going to be a #1. NHL shooters don't take long to exploit weaknesses. And that can destroy confidence, e.g. Anton Forsberg
- RickJ

I completely agree with this, as far as confidence goes i think you have players who believe in themselves and ones that don't. I do believe in development of players which wouldn't hurt half this team right now especially on defense including the goalie.

I hope that the Hawks go after Dzingel, and Wennberg.
- Tatoo

Need to look after contracts for Strome and ADB before committing big money to a winger and a center that hasn't scored a goal all season and was healthy scratched last night.

I would prefer to take a low cost stab somehow on a guy Tortorella dislikes - Sonny Milano. Or Jeremy Bracco from the Marlies who is stuck in the Leaf's system.

ROSTER MOVE: The #Blackhawks⁠ ⁠ have re-assigned defenseman Henri Jokiharju to the Rockford IceHogs.
- mrpaulish

Wonderful as it was clearly his fault last night. Heaven help the Hawks with the elite D that are coming.

Friedman

Hearing increased traction on Ryan Dzingel today...teams think OTT is getting closer to making a decision. We will see where it goes.

Jesus christ. You're back? It was so nice when you were locked up in the looney bin again.
- GPHawksfan

So your Boss lets you post during your McDonald’s shift?

Wonderful as it was clearly his fault last night. Heaven help the Hawks with the elite D that are coming.
- Z3Hawk

Dahlstrom took 2 Advil and was fine this morning. As soon as JC heard that, Joki was on the Greyhound to Rockford.

Friedman

Hearing increased traction on Ryan Dzingel today...teams think OTT is getting closer to making a decision. We will see where it goes.
- mrpaulish

Gut says Stan tries to do something trade wise. Ownership would really like to see them in the playoffs. Lets hope its not some stupid overpay.

I agree with STM33 that Caggiula is not a top 6 forward, IMHO, in the sense that he really isn't capable of putting up top 6 stats if he played away from Toews and Kane. He complements them by providing space and havoc for them.

That skill set is also a hallmark of a bottom 6 player as well. The lack of offensive output with this skill set alludes to the ability to play any line whenever needed and be effective on that line today and just as effective on another line tomorrow. Much like Shaw.

Not a bad thing at all to keep Caggiula playing 1st line for now but if the Hawks can find at least one new top 6 winger, then that would slot players appropriately. Then if there's an injury in the top 6, slotting Caggiula as a sub for X amount of games isn't going to kill the team because he has proven he can keep up and contribute.

Getting a new 1st line winger would allow for Caggiula to play bottom 6 and either Saad or Kahun to play up:

Saad/New Guy - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Kahun/New Guy

This is where solidifying the 3rd line could be the pivotal factor. Do you build around Saad on the 3rd line? Upgrade from Anisimov as 3C? Retain both and get them an experienced winger?
- AEL_Fox

Way back in the day Buff played with Kane and Toews. The reason this worked was Buff brought a physical presence AND he was productive offensively. Both things were needed. Cagguila with Kane and Toews was an experiment to see if he could provide both elements. He clearly can’t. I want Saad on the ice more. This is accomplished with top line minutes.

So your Boss lets you post during your McDonald’s shift?
- Z3Hawk

The dumbest come back I’ve heard. Who cares if he works at McDonalds? Better than being an unemployed welfare sponge.

Someone piss in your cherios this morning? JC is a bum coach and Gus shouldn’t be playing in a beer league? Hawks lost a tough game bc two bad goals allowed by Delia and the Avs goalie coming up huge.

You watch games? Gus and JC are the 2 reasons why the hawks PP works now.

Way back in the day Buff played with Kane and Toews. The reason this worked was Buff brought a physical presence AND he was productive offensively. Both things were needed. Cagguila with Kane and Toews was an experiment to see if he could provide both elements. He clearly can’t. I want Saad on the ice more. This is accomplished with top line minutes.
- Z3Hawk

Cagguila has been good and he opens up ice for Toews and Kane. Those two don’t need another all star caliber wing. Saad is producing on line 3. Why would you move him? So he can sit on line 1 and defer to Toews and kane? Cagguila is better suited as a 3rd line guy but he’s been good on line 1. Kane and Toews both having career years.

Take your negativity to some other board.

I hope that the Hawks go after Dzingel, and Wennberg.
- Tatoo

I don’t know if Wennberg is worth it. At his current play he’s not. If he can improve his play then maybe. Is he really worth $4.9 million?

Help me reconcile this....

last 30 games (17-9-4=38)

Are there other lost little boys? Or does that only apply to original 6 teams?

Q did not have a run like that for last year and a half coaching. Oh the irony...and the stubborn facts...
- TrueGrit

Under objective measures, the Hawks are worse under JC than under Q. And remember, Q did not have Murphy, Dahlstrom or Strome on his roster.

% of points earned DOWN from .500 to .489
Goals per game UP from 3.07 to 3.43 (JC’s one success)
Goal against per game EVEN AT 3.73 per game
5v5 Corsi for DOWN 51.5% to 47.8%

Those are the stubborn facts.

So even though Q ‘lost the room’ & ‘played favorites’, he did more, with a poorer roster, than JC.

Under JC, they are playing an unsustainable game, which will lead to long winning and losing streaks. It might be fun to watch, but it’s going to get you didly squatif they do get into the playoffs.

And playing Patrick Kane 25 minutes a night during the regular season is not a strategy. It what a coach who is panicked does.

Dahlstrom took 2 Advil and was fine this morning. As soon as JC heard that, Joki was on the Greyhound to Rockford.
- RickJ

Joki had 9 points in 9 games at Rockford. This after winning the World Juniors. This after initially being paired with Keith. This after being Hawks First Rounder and having great final season in the WHL. So Hawks say: come on Joki you gotta show us at least something. Ludicrous.

I don’t know if Wennberg is worth it. At his current play he’s not. If he can improve his play then maybe. Is he really worth $4.9 million?
- DarthKane

Maybe only if it was in trade for AA. Hasn't scored a goal all year. As soon as Duchene trade was finalized, Wennberg sat in the press box to watch.

Well it is easy for Colliton to make the grade if you have no expectations for him. He has made terrible decision after terrible decision. Colliton actually said earlier in the year that he could live with Gus giving up a goal a game (at least). Well I can’t - that is ridiculous. Gus is still a D-Man. He is 27, he is not going to learn anything AND he doesn’t want to learn anything. He is caught up-ice constantly. I don’t care at all about his offence/PP. A D-Man who can’t and/or refuses to play D is useless.

Starting Delia, who is presently shell-shocked, in the biggest game that the Hawks have played in two seasons was ludicrous. Of course he was awful.

It goes on and on. Kampf hadn’t scored in 100 games but the only way he was going to be removed from the line-up was injury. Dahlstrom gives no indication that he has any idea where to position himself on the ice. Also like Gus he is simply allergic to physical contact. However, they play and play because they are “Colliton Boys”.

There is no evidence whatsoever thst any other team rated Colliton HC material. We fired the longest tenured HC in the NHL and hired a Coach who just a short time previous was being paid in Swedish Beer Coupons.
- Z3Hawk

Randy Carlisle is available, ken Hitchcock will be available after the stellar job he did turning the oil aroud this year, Bruce Boudreau should be available after this year. Which would you prefer? They seem to all meet your criteria as to who coaches this team? Or a blast from the past Darryl Suttervalrhough the way the team is built and the league is going his style doesn’t t work in today s game.

Maybe only if it was in trade for AA. Hasn't scored a goal all year. As soon as Duchene trade was finalized, Wennberg sat in the press box to watch.
- RickJ

Is he much better than Anisimov?

I’m not saying it’s a bad idea, I’m just not sold on him.

CR -

Corey Crawford is practicing with #Blackhawks⁠ ⁠, but he won’t play tomorrow vs. Dallas.

He’ll take his concussion test next week and go on three-game road trip, where he will likely make his return.

See the natives are getting restless throughout the comment section.. lol

Damn, a win yesterday would have went a long way.

Here is a fun comparable

Anze Kopitar GP 59 - 17G 27A 44 Points
Dylan Strome GP 58 - 16G 27A 43 Points

One of them makes 10 million per year...

Strome being on an ELC is a real boost to the Hawks. Building the roster is going to be tougher once they have to pay Strome, DeBrincat, etc..

No, I'm not saying Strome will get 10 million AAV, but after next season, things will get tougher. I have to wonder if Stan might sign more short term guys on 1 year deals this summer, just to see what noise they can make next season before they have to cut back.
- breadbag

To make the point even more - the 43 points in 58 games includes the point totals from Arizona where he had only 6 points in 20 games - his scoring with Chicago are a whole lot better than Kopitar.