.

meh so he is having a career year. He couldn't crack our top 9 now anyway.
- LAHawk

He has as many goals this season as Kruger has combined since 2014.

Last night there was a discussion of Perlini possibly becoming another Frolik, I think Kahun is a better comparison to Frolik.
- LAHawk

Not really, just going the same route as Frolik, top draft pick, traded, started playing 3rd and 4th line minutes, concentrating more on defense than offense

Good on the Canes. I like Martinook and how he plays the game. Would be a solid bottom sixer on any team.
- AEL_Fox

For sure. Dude's a character and busts his tail every shift. Ideally he's still on your 3rd or 4th line, but he plays HARD.

So glad we got Martinook for Kruger. What a steal.
- BINGO!

That trade was with Arizona. The hawks got Kreuger as part of the Hossa salary dump.

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

My point was a team going 0-0-82 would have never won a game but still be consider by some as a .500 team. This from the same organization that won’t address concussions.

Leblanc was sooooo slow though, if it were up to me i would give Sikura more time, at least he can skate
- BetweenTheDots

Exactly! Sikura has some skill and he came onto the team midseason. Let's see what he's like with a summer program to follow, some coaching ideas he can apply and with a full training camp. The Hawks are not in a position to start casting aside talent after seeing the guy play 30 games.

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

I say their winning percentage is 1.000 for their 164 points. But on a “points” percentage they are only at .667 because the 82 teams they beat got a combined total of 82 points, or 82 out of the 246 available on overtime and shootout games.

Good point about the 13 games left in the season. I meant to include that in my post.

I think just about anyone can play LW with Kane. Saad? Caggiula? ADB? AA? If Martinsen or Hayden played LW with Kane they would score 20 goals. lol Kane would find them.

I think Kahun has almost exclusively been used on the RW. He is a natural center, but I do not see him on LW. Hawks have more quality LW's than C's or RW's.
- -Doh-

I think he's played on the left side these last few games with Anisimov-Kane.

My point was a team going 0-0-82 would have never won a game but still be consider by some as a .500 team. This from the same organization that won’t address concussions.
- Spec41971

And my point is if they get 82 out of a possible 164 points that is a .500 team.

Personally I would go 2 points for a win. 1 point for a tie in regulation or OT. No points for a shootout win. Do the shootout for the fan's enjoyment. Use shoot out wins as one of the tie breaking factors for draft slots, playoff rankings, etc...

With 13 games remaining, and based on the last 5 games, Perlini should score 15 -16 more goals.

That trade was with Arizona. The hawks got Kreuger as part of the Hossa salary dump.
- LAHawk

Yes, I know.

You bring up a very good point. Kahun and Sikura are about the same age, height, weight and size. But Kahun goes into the tough areas and I never feel he is avoiding contact or pulling up. He will take the man. That would be a big sign of progress if Sikura was as tough or physical as Kahun. Not a very high bar, one that is reachable. Posters might warm up to Sikura if he just showed a little more toughness. He needs to take that next step.
- -Doh-

While I don't think either Kahun or Sikura is devoid of physical engagement, I think Sikura actually does engage physically more than what he gets credit for (or no credit for). He fore checks, battles along the boards, and takes a hit to make a play.

An example from last night's game where he wasn't shy to play the body was at the end of the game with about 5-6 minutes left. Sikura and Ekman-Larsson both pursued the puck in the Hawks O zone. Sikura checked him along the boards to separate himself enough to be closest to the puck. Even though Sikura didn't necessarily win the puck back, he at least rubbed off who he was battling against so at least was a wash rather than a loss.

With 13 games remaining, and based on the last 5 games, Perlini should score 15 -16 more goals.
- StutzBlackhawk

Hahaha, hopefully he isn't like Stalberg (Blue Jackets) and scores a lot on the Yotes only

Leblanc was sooooo slow though, if it were up to me i would give Sikura more time, at least he can skate
- BetweenTheDots

So could Viktor Stalberg

So could Viktor Stalberg
- riozzo

Exactly and he was a productive Hawk, that Stalberg, Shaw, Bickell line was a pain in the ass to play against

Throw Bolland in there when he ws healthy for Shaw

I agree we need 2 solid defenseman, to me the sticking point is term (and of course NMC, NTC's), because you gotta believe (hope) that within the next 2-3 years Joki and Bovquist are fixtures, and you are still going to have Keith and Seabrook, let alone if 1 or 2 more of the D prospects make it. (That's assuming you trade Murphy).
- LAHawk

The way I look at it, is those young defenseman that we have now our assets and prospects, can they be part of our future yes, but I think everything is on the table as far as availability except number 19 and 88. I do not think they’re going to trade Connor Murphy unless there is something good coming in return as part of a bigger package. What I do consider is The logical thinking about missing and getting a higher draft choice. But we have to remember there is probably about a combined 20 Stanley cups of pedigree in their room. Let everybody write this team off but if we win the next two games, and get some help and all of a sudden they are one or two points behind with about a dozen games to go and starting to hit stride once again. Anything can happen. Can we advance past the first round? Probably not, but it will be damn good experience for some of these kids to experience the atmosphere.
Back to all these projected defense prospects and when they are going to See Chicago? Just have to wait and see what everybody comes up with. They could be used as a piece in a package this summer.

That's kind of what I'm getting at, I guess. It's a perfectly fine city, but if you're a pro athlete there isn't much there to make you go "Hey, this is cool. I should stay here."
- BINGO!

I don't know how much star players make through endorsements. But if endorsements are a factor, then cities where hockey is not big would not be attractive to players like Panarin. In Chicago he was a popular and recognized athlete in a city that recognizes its NHL team.

It is also the state capital
- LAHawk

I live in Columbus, grew up in Chicagoland. Not a whole lot to do in Columbus and the town is SMALL. While Chicago may be exciting and has things to do, places to go, it's $$$$ to live there. As I always tell my friends, Chicago is a great place to visit, not live and Columbus is a good place to raise kids.

Before everyone gets too far out over their skis over this 'defensive resurgence', lets not forget that ARI ranks 28th and DAL ranks 29th this season in Total Goals Scored.

- Yes, the defense has looked better, the last 2 games
- Yes, the forwards seem more engaged, the last 2 games
- Yes, the goaltending has been better, the last 2 games

A better yardstick will be TOR, who ranks 3rd this season in goals scored.

I imagine the over/under for tomorrow's game will be 6.5

I'll be hammering the over

Leblanc was sooooo slow though, if it were up to me i would give Sikura more time, at least he can skate
- BetweenTheDots

Sikura has skill set skates fine ia smart makes good decisions. No reason to give up on him. Let us see if he gets stronger

And Kurashev is in the fold according to Tracey Myers:

#Blackhawks agree to terms on a three-year contract with forward Philipp Kurashev ($925K/AAV). Kurashev shall remain with the Quebec Remparts (QMJHL).

0 replies 1 retweet 1 like

With 13 games remaining, and based on the last 5 games, Perlini should score 15 -16 more goals.
- StutzBlackhawk

I don't care if he scores only 2 more goals the rest of the season so long as he plays with the speed and purpose he has shown the last 4-5 games. I saw JC had him out on the PK last night so if he proves he can play that well - all the better.

While I don't think either Kahun or Sikura is devoid of physical engagement, I think Sikura actually does engage physically more than what he gets credit for (or no credit for). He fore checks, battles along the boards, and takes a hit to make a play.

An example from last night's game where he wasn't shy to play the body was at the end of the game with about 5-6 minutes left. Sikura and Ekman-Larsson both pursued the puck in the Hawks O zone. Sikura checked him along the boards to separate himself enough to be closest to the puck. Even though Sikura didn't necessarily win the puck back, he at least rubbed off who he was battling against so at least was a wash rather than a loss.
- AEL_Fox

I agree with this. Whether or not Sikura makes it as an NHL player - it won't be because he's afraid to engage physically. What some people may see as being afraid to physically engage is a small player knowing his limitations and skill to go after the puck without trying to nail the opposing player to the boards. Sikura hunts the puck very well and sometimes it's with a physical engagement and other times it's when he tries to use his hands/stick to steal it away.

I don't care if he scores only 2 more goals the rest of the season so long as he plays with the speed and purpose he has shown the last 4-5 games. I saw JC had him out on the PK last night so if he proves he can play that well - all the better.
- EbonyRaptor

I wish more posters thought this way. I want to see effort and playing the right way rather than judging a player purely on production. I found it sad that a number of Hawk fans judged Toews solely on goals and assists and not on his full game. I want to see Perlini score but I really want to see him doing all the right things with and without the puck and trying new challenges like penalty killing. If he plays right and plays hard his points will come.