It is nice to see Perlini scoring goals we know he can do that he had what 17 last year in AZ. What I really like was what I saw saw in the Dallas game when he came back and stole the puck it reminded me of a former Hawk player.
As for Boquist he is only 18 years old i have seen him and he will be a very good player. Beaudin also has nice vision but he really needs to get stronger to play in the NHL.
Not next year but the year after Joki and Boquist are playing with the big club.

I will say this. If the Hawks get in the playoffs, it means they are likely to be the hottest team in the league not named Tampa. With a Western Conference that has been very up and down, I wouldnt be surprised to see the Hawks play a team to 6 games in the first round. They play a very fast game, and if this defensive tweak is sustainable, look out because this team can f***ing score!

I checked all the major sporting sites with NHL standings none give a %win. Therefore it is a meaningless stat.

Officially as I under stand it %win = %points = total points / total possible points

OTL = OT loss is not a tie.

30-30-9: 69 games played = 138 possible pts; hawks have 69 pts

hawks %pts = 69/138 = .500...so yes they are .500 team

now lets consider the aves: 30-28-12; 70 games played = 140 possible pts; aves % pts = 72/140 = .514

yes defining OTL + RL = total loss says the hawks are 30-39 a win% = .434
but that is not how the nhl defines it

according to nhl scoring the hawks are a .500 team and foley is correct...
- bogiedoc

Get what you are saying, but a team that goes 0-0-82 is not a .500 team either.

Columbus Blue Jackets scoring sure has dried up after loading up at the TDL. Got shut out last night.
The Flyers are now gaining on those wild card spots to add even more pressure on their playoff hopes. What has gone wrong here and how much more does this motivate Panarin to leave July 1?
- 67hawks

Maybe he should consider scoring a goal or 2 right about now for the BJ's - such a beloved superstar around here you know. But its getting around seasons end so he's probably looking to go on vacation or to the World Championships to play against Latvia and Kasakhstan.

Who knows if Perlin is the real deal. I don't. But IF he is (and that is a big bold if) that could change what Stan does in the offseason.

Saad - Toews - Kane
ADB - Strome - Perlini
AA - ??????? - Kahun
Caggiula - Kampf - ????

Kruger as the 13th forward on cheap 1 year make good deal. Good veteran depth player, smart, still only 29 next season, can play either wing or center, win faceoffs, play 200', kill penalties.

Sure AA could be moved and that would give Stan even more cap space. I think AA has looked pretty good as a 3LW. He can also move to center and kill penalties. Everyone wants to dump him. I would be ok either way.

AA and Kruger for one more year would give the young forwards time to develop.

But IF Perlini is the real deal a 3C and 4RW is going to be a lot cheaper than a top 6 forward (and you would not need to give them a long term or NMC/NTC clauses).

That would give Stan a lot of cap flexibility in reworking the D.

Columbus Blue Jackets scoring sure has dried up after loading up at the TDL. Got shut out last night.
The Flyers are now gaining on those wild card spots to add even more pressure on their playoff hopes. What has gone wrong here and how much more does this motivate Panarin to leave July 1?
- 67hawks

Team full of UFA's that didn't intend on signing there anyway.

They're not a contender even at full speed, and the players all know it. Imagine being a depth guy on the team knowing that the top tier guys you have don't want to be there and won't be there next year.

Gonna be pretty tough to give yourself that extra push you need.

- Ogilthorpe2[/URL]

This is the only Leaves sweater I would ever consider owning...maybe Stumpy Thomas.

Didn't know a ton about him other than he was the other guy in the trade that brought the Hawks Rick Vaive and Bob McGill. Knew he was supposed to be a bit of a pain to play against and had a big shot. Ended up liking Thomas a lot and was one of my favorite Hawks at the time.

Get what you are saying, but a team that goes 0-0-82 is not a .500 team either.
- Spec41971

What do you mean? They would be undefeated in regulation, could be undefeated in overtime and have 82 shootout losses. lol

Columbus Blue Jackets scoring sure has dried up after loading up at the TDL. Got shut out last night.
The Flyers are now gaining on those wild card spots to add even more pressure on their playoff hopes. What has gone wrong here and how much more does this motivate Panarin to leave July 1?
- 67hawks

If it ain't broke, don't fix it...seems like they were doing just fine (actually, better) till they acquired the players at TDL.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it...seems like they were doing just fine (actually, better) till they acquired the players at TDL.
- conwell

Didn't the Sens season plummet after getting Duchene last year? Hmmmmmmmm......

Didn't know a ton about him other than he was the other guy in the trade that brought the Hawks Rick Vaive and Bob McGill. Knew he was supposed to be a bit of a pain to play against and had a big shot. Ended up liking Thomas a lot and was one of my favorite Hawks at the time.
- HawkintheD

Liked Thomas a lot too, but he just had a really hard time staying healthy in his Hawks career. If I remember correctly, I think he only played 75 games with the Hawks in first 2 years after the trade. His only full season with Chicago, he scored 40 goals. He and Adam Creighton were dealt to the Islanders for Brent Sutter and Brad Lauer. He had an absolute cannon of a shot, and he was a damn good fighter too for not being overly big. Man, was he strong though!!

Didn't the Sens season plummet after getting Duchene last year? Hmmmmmmmm......
- nickmo2699

I don't think it's a Duchene problem.

And no, the Sens were never very good.

Get what you are saying, but a team that goes 0-0-82 is not a .500 team either.
- Spec41971

How about a team that goes 82-0-0, and 82-0 in shootouts?

Maybe he should consider scoring a goal or 2 right about now for the BJ's - such a beloved superstar around here you know. But its getting around seasons end so he's probably looking to go on vacation or to the World Championships to play against Latvia and Kasakhstan.
- RickJ

The Hawks don't need Panarin, they need defense!!

How about a team that goes 82-0-0, and 82-0 in shootouts?
- mohel

They would have scored 0 goals as a team.......makes sense.

Edit. My bad.....I was thinking to deep on this one. NEVERMIND

Liked Thomas a lot too, but he just had a really hard time staying healthy in his Hawks career. If I remember correctly, I think he only played 75 games with the Hawks in first 2 years after the trade. His only full season with Chicago, he scored 40 goals. He and Adam Creighton were dealt to the Islanders for Brent Sutter and Brad Lauer. He had an absolute cannon of a shot, and he was a damn good fighter too for not being overly big. Man, was he strong though!!
- ChicagoHope

Thomas also had a bit part in the bad hockey movie Youngblood.

Who knows if Perlin is the real deal. I don't. But IF he is (and that is a big bold if) that could change what Stan does in the offseason.

Saad - Toews - Kane
ADB - Strome - Perlini
AA - ??????? - Kahun
Caggiula - Kampf - ????

Kruger as the 13th forward on cheap 1 year make good deal. Good veteran depth player, smart, still only 29 next season, can play either wing or center, win faceoffs, play 200', kill penalties.

Sure AA could be moved and that would give Stan even more cap space. I think AA has looked pretty good as a 3LW. He can also move to center and kill penalties. Everyone wants to dump him. I would be ok either way.

AA and Kruger for one more year would give the young forwards time to develop.

But IF Perlini is the real deal a 3C and 4RW is going to be a lot cheaper than a top 6 forward (and you would not need to give them a long term or NMC/NTC clauses).

That would give Stan a lot of cap flexibility in reworking the D.
- -Doh-

Or Kahun can play 3rd line center also. Wonder if Kubalik can make the jump like Kahun did.

One Leaf I am really liking is Marner. This guy makes the Leaves go. Last playoff Boston keyed on him and I noticed last night Tampa had him in check the whole game. He has a chance to be very similar to Kane but with a much better two way game. But that said no Leaves jersey will desecrate my home.
- paulr

Don't lie. You have #13 Mats Sundin in both home and away sweaters.

Don't lie. You have #13 Mats Sundin in both home and away sweaters.
- Beaver-Warrior

Shush!

Who knows if Perlin is the real deal. I don't. But IF he is (and that is a big bold if) that could change what Stan does in the offseason.

Saad - Toews - Kane
ADB - Strome - Perlini
AA - ??????? - Kahun
Caggiula - Kampf - ????

Kruger as the 13th forward on cheap 1 year make good deal. Good veteran depth player, smart, still only 29 next season, can play either wing or center, win faceoffs, play 200', kill penalties.

Sure AA could be moved and that would give Stan even more cap space. I think AA has looked pretty good as a 3LW. He can also move to center and kill penalties. Everyone wants to dump him. I would be ok either way.

AA and Kruger for one more year would give the young forwards time to develop.

But IF Perlini is the real deal a 3C and 4RW is going to be a lot cheaper than a top 6 forward (and you would not need to give them a long term or NMC/NTC clauses).

That would give Stan a lot of cap flexibility in reworking the D.
- -Doh-

Yep - things look a lot better IF Perlini can consistently be the player he's been the last 4-5 games. The good news if there are still 13 games left in the season to get a bigger sample size. I've been advocating for Stan to somehow acquire Kapanen to fill the missing top-6 winger role but if Perlini proves to be the player we've seen lately - he essentially is our version of Kapanen and he'll be much cheaper to re-sign than Kapanen will be.

I don't think Saad plays a game best suited to be the "other" winger with Kane. Kane thrives in the east/west game when his line mates can play that style and Saad is a north/south guy. I think Kahun can be that guy. He has looked pretty good these last few games playing with Kane. I'd like to see how Kahun-Toews-Kane would work.

Team full of UFA's that didn't intend on signing there anyway.

They're not a contender even at full speed, and the players all know it. Imagine being a depth guy on the team knowing that the top tier guys you have don't want to be there and won't be there next year.

Gonna be pretty tough to give yourself that extra push you need.
- BINGO!

Fine tune that a bit, please? What is it about Columbus, that top tier guys don't want to play there? The city itself, the GM, Torts, or what?

Fine tune that a bit, please? What is it about Columbus, that top tier guys don't want to play there? The city itself, the GM, Torts, or what?
- gabriel

Isn't Columbus more of a college town? Could that be it?

Fine tune that a bit, please? What is it about Columbus, that top tier guys don't want to play there? The city itself, the GM, Torts, or what?
- gabriel

Combination of things, I think. Torts has a reputation for sure, but consider...

You're in a city about the size of Calgary, but without the overly passionate fanbase. You have most of the things you're really looking for in a city, but none of the extra flavour you get from living next to the mountains, or the ocean, or anything.

There's no notoriety to the franchise. There's no real notoriety to the city. It's white bread.

Virtually all of the star (or borderline star) players the team has are pending UFA's, so it's unlikely they'll be overly competitive going forward, and you don't want to be the one guy left tying yourself to a franchise that's going to tread water for the next 5+ years.

Isn't Columbus more of a college town? Could that be it?
- powerenforcer

It is also the state capital

Who knows if Perlin is the real deal. I don't. But IF he is (and that is a big bold if) that could change what Stan does in the offseason.

Saad - Toews - Kane
ADB - Strome - Perlini
AA - ??????? - Kahun
Caggiula - Kampf - ????

Kruger as the 13th forward on cheap 1 year make good deal. Good veteran depth player, smart, still only 29 next season, can play either wing or center, win faceoffs, play 200', kill penalties.

Sure AA could be moved and that would give Stan even more cap space. I think AA has looked pretty good as a 3LW. He can also move to center and kill penalties. Everyone wants to dump him. I would be ok either way.

AA and Kruger for one more year would give the young forwards time to develop.

But IF Perlini is the real deal a 3C and 4RW is going to be a lot cheaper than a top 6 forward (and you would not need to give them a long term or NMC/NTC clauses).

That would give Stan a lot of cap flexibility in reworking the D.
- -Doh-

I was brainstorming around this as well if Perlini has turned the corner and showing what he is truly capable of assuming he can do this over a full season. He won't score at DeBrincat's clip but could still contribute as at least a 25-goal scorer and 50 points.

Based on your projected lineup, I would keep Saad away from Toews and Kane to spread out the offense across 3 lines. As much as Caggiula isn't a true top 6 forward, he does complement Toews and Kane well by making smart plays, playing aggressive, and opening up space for his mates.

Caggiula - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Perlini
Saad - Anisimov - Kahun
LW - Kampf - RW

Like you, I don't mind if Anisimov stays and assuming he does, the leaves the bottom 6 open for 2 spots.

If Caggiula is moved down to bottom 6, then that would mean a top 6 forward and a bottom 6 forward unless Saad or even Anisimov plays on the 1st line which would result in needing 2 bottom 6 forwards.

I'm in the minority that is patient with Sikura and see talent as a top 9 forward so I see him in the mix.