Before 2009 one could tell how much respect the opposition had for the hawks by watching how many teams started the spare goaltender or some rookie just brought up. It was more times than not. Should be interesting to see going forward.
- 6628

So little respect that the teams might start their version of “One more shift” goalies.

E Kane out tonight. I wonder if San Jose was worried that someone would take a run at him.
- tvetter

They’re playing the Hawks. The answer is a big “No”.

Do you still think I am offbase now?
- powerenforcer

I am not a Gary Bettman fan. Just listening to him makes me ill. However, as bad as I think he is for the game, I recognize he doesn’t run the league. He is the number 1 employee of the owners, and he is only doing what they direct. Having said that, I don’t believe there is enough stupid in the league management — including the board of governors — to not recognize that the league benefits when he original six and other large market teams do well.

Never was a fan of the New York yankees, but it was always a big event when they came into town. Can’t help but feel having a world-class hawks, bruins, canadiens or leafs team coming into town to play, among a few others, would be a win — dollar wise— for every team in the league.

True, but concussions are also a “scout’s honor” type of thing. I’m not saying this is the case with Crawford, but if the Doctor asks,”have you experienced headaches, dizziness or blurred vision?”, Crow(or any athlete) can lie bc they want to play.

This article is from 2012 and the NFL, but shows the difficulty in diagnosing concussions and recovery.

“NFL Concussion Poll: 56% of Players Would Hide Symptoms to Stay On Field”

http://www.sportingnews.c...rting-news-midseason-poll


I personally think Crawford’s poor play is due to age, and missing A LOT of time over the last 15 months.... not that he isn’t fully recovered from his concussion. But only Crow knows for sure is my point.
- EnzoD

Agree with all you wrote. Despite an imperfect system, I still suspect it is more effective than the layman eye test through the TV.

I assume that the Hawks medical team and Crow himself have a better handle on whether he's okay than we do.
- mohel

The hawk’s medical team is just that — the hawk’s. Team doctors do not have a history of making the correct medical decisions for the players, they are making marginal decisions to benefit the team.

A player making his own decisions about his fitness to play is often as dumb as a lawyer deciding to defend himself in court. There’s no doubt Corey wants to play and feels he’s up to it, but that doesn’t make it a sound decision.

True, but concussions are also a “scout’s honor” type of thing. I’m not saying this is the case with Crawford, but if the Doctor asks,”have you experienced headaches, dizziness or blurred vision?”, Crow(or any athlete) can lie bc they want to play.

This article is from 2012 and the NFL, but shows the difficulty in diagnosing concussions and recovery.

“NFL Concussion Poll: 56% of Players Would Hide Symptoms to Stay On Field”

http://www.sportingnews.c...rting-news-midseason-poll


I personally think Crawford’s poor play is due to age, and missing A LOT of time over the last 15 months.... not that he isn’t fully recovered from his concussion. But only Crow knows for sure is my point.
- EnzoD

I agree..missing almost a seasons worth a games with two concussions...there is simply know way he is game ready...and its very unfair by anybody including himself to expect him to step in and start tossing aside 35-40 shots a game at the level he played at pre concussion 1. esp with this mess of team in front of him

Forget the damn playoffs that's over lets see if craws game can come back over the rest of the season and this team can begin to show any resemblance of nhl defense.

I look for the sharks to put up at least 4...but it could get real ugly...

Columbus down 1-0 early at home vs Winnipeg. They are currently sitting outside of the playoff line after mortgaging the future for Duchene, Dzingel, Panarin, and Bobrovsky....yikes.

Columbus down 1-0 early at home vs Winnipeg. They are currently sitting outside of the playoff line after mortgaging the future for Duchene, Dzingel, Panarin, and Bobrovsky....yikes.
- EnzoD

they have a tough march: BTB with the pens this week, 2x isles, flames and preds on the road; habs and bruins...

yep they went all in this year...and if they end up out...my guess torts will soon follow

they have a tough march: BTB with the pens this week, 2x isles, flames and preds on the road; habs and bruins...

yep they went all in this year...and if they end up out...my guess torts will soon follow
- bogiedoc

I would add Kekalainen with Torts.

The hawk’s medical team is just that — the hawk’s. Team doctors do not have a history of making the correct medical decisions for the players, they are making marginal decisions to benefit the team.

A player making his own decisions about his fitness to play is often as dumb as a lawyer deciding to defend himself in court. There’s no doubt Corey wants to play and feels he’s up to it, but that doesn’t make it a sound decision.
- Spec41971

Are you saying viewers on tv are in a better position to evaluate Crow's medical condition, than team doctors, his doctors, and Crow himself?

I'll be in attendance at tonight's game. Last time I saw a Blackhawks game out here it was Hossa's debut game in 2009 and I remember him scoring a goal. The Hawks were cycling the puck in the Sharks' zone for what seemed like minutes at a time and blew them out 7 - 2. I'm not expecting anything near that performance tonight, but just hoping to see a little magic from Kane and the Cat, and maybe some good team speed and effort.

Best time of the sports year is upon us! Final 5 weeks of the NHL season and 16 team playoffs is by far the most entertaining sporting tournament IMO. Add in MLB, NBA Playoffs....

Some excellent games on with WPGvCBJ & Trashville in Minnesota. I wonder if the Hawks show up to play tonight??

Anybody see a projected Hawks lineup?

No, he’d probably have they playing so well that Restore would be paying him to put it back in.
- Spec41971

Hahaha hahaha, nicely played

I'll be in attendance at tonight's game. Last time I saw a Blackhawks game out here it was Hossa's debut game in 2009 and I remember him scoring a goal. The Hawks were cycling the puck in the Sharks' zone for what seemed like minutes at a time and blew them out 7 - 2. I'm not expecting anything near that performance tonight, but just hoping to see a little magic from Kane and the Cat, and maybe some good team speed and effort.
- Dieselhead

Enjoy the game, Headley. If they lose, you're to blame. Jk!

I'll be in attendance at tonight's game. Last time I saw a Blackhawks game out here it was Hossa's debut game in 2009 and I remember him scoring a goal. The Hawks were cycling the puck in the Sharks' zone for what seemed like minutes at a time and blew them out 7 - 2. I'm not expecting anything near that performance tonight, but just hoping to see a little magic from Kane and the Cat, and maybe some good team speed and effort.
- Dieselhead

i remember that game very well...that is when i suspected this team was on the verge of good things ahead. they never won in the shark tank and they played great that night and we all know what happened after that...

the hawks could have the following:

a 50 goal and 100 pt guy: kane
a 45 goal and 90 pt guy: cat
a 35 goal 80 pt guy: toews
a 25 goal 50 pt guy: saad
a 20 goal 45 pt guy: strome
a 15 goal 35 pt guy: arte

and still end up a bottom 4-8 team in the league; thats what happens when you allow almost 4 goals/game...

Could the make the OT 3x3 any more boring?
- StLBravesFan

When the offense has the puck, when they bring it back out of the zone, there should be a whistle and faceoff... a la over and back in basketball. This will keep the intent of the OT with pressure and mistakes.

the hawks could have the following:

a 50 goal and 100 pt guy: kane
a 45 goal and 90 pt guy: cat
a 35 goal 80 pt guy: toews
a 25 goal 50 pt guy: saad
a 20 goal 45 pt guy: strome
a 15 goal 35 pt guy: arte

and still end up a bottom 4-8 team in the league; thats what happens when you allow almost 4 goals/game...
- bogiedoc

The numbers for the opponent probably higher than our own guys.

i remember that game very well...that is when i suspected this team was on the verge of good things ahead. they never won in the shark tank and they played great that night and we all know what happened after that...
- bogiedoc

Looking up the box for that game - because I thought he’d had two goals - I found him scoring a 2nd period short-handed goal (one of 3 for the Hawks that nite) to make in 2-0, then a third period EV to make it 6-0, on the way to 7-0 in a final 7-2 victory.

When the offense has the puck, when they bring it back out of the zone, there should be a whistle and faceoff... a la over and back in basketball. This will keep the intent of the OT with pressure and mistakes.
- RedFeather

Yes.

the hawks could have the following:

a 50 goal and 100 pt guy: kane
a 45 goal and 90 pt guy: cat
a 35 goal 80 pt guy: toews
a 25 goal 50 pt guy: saad
a 20 goal 45 pt guy: strome
a 15 goal 35 pt guy: arte

and still end up a bottom 4-8 team in the league; thats what happens when you allow almost 4 goals/game...
- bogiedoc

I agree..missing almost a seasons worth a games with two concussions...there is simply know way he is game ready...and its very unfair by anybody including himself to expect him to step in and start tossing aside 35-40 shots a game at the level he played at pre concussion 1. esp with this mess of team in front of him

Forget the damn playoffs that's over lets see if craws game can come back over the rest of the season and this team can begin to show any resemblance of nhl defense.

I look for the sharks to put up at least 4...but it could get real ugly...
- bogiedoc

Addendum: Crawford would not want nor should he go to Rockford on a conditioning stint. I don't know if this qualifies as being stuck between a rock and a hard place

I do not see how going there helps him too much. Getting games more than here is difficult to imagine. The Icehogs do, indeed, have a three headed goalie mess as it stands now. Crawford is going to probably play worse at least for a while than the AHL netminders.

No player should want to loose......it leads to going through the motions ......but the teammates probably can see Crawford is not in game shape.

However if Crawford plays NHL we are more likely to loose which is a gain in the tank a thon for draft position.

I assume that the Hawks medical team and Crow himself have a better handle on whether he's okay than we do.
- mohel

Present performance compared to past performance indicates that something is amiss. That is all I am saying -that and he loses his net way more than I ever remember him doing in the past.

I wouldn't actually make that assumption based upon some concussion protocols in professional sports. I'm just saying that in the past in some situations, it hasn't always worked that way ( like in some instances in the NRL).

Looks like the Jets will take that one 5 - 2 --- not a really great place to be if you are Columbus (standings-wise).

For all of the Duchene-Dzingel talk on here several weeks back, frankly I don't know that those guys were ever actually game-changers - but rather more over-hyped blog-talker fodder for the rumours' blogs.

I think that it takes a system, and you can't just patch it together and call it good - like a baseball team adding a home-run slugger ... it is way more nuanced and integrated.

But I guess the Jackets though that they could dominate some headlines -and call it good. Doesn't appear to be working yet. My guess is that it is too late.

Blue jackets go all in at the deadline & since can’t win a game