Kasperi Kapanen is concussed and will not play tonight. His speed would've caused fits for the Hawks dmen.

I find it very bizarre that everyone on the live broadcast clearly heard Morgan Reilly yell, "(frank)ing F*gott!. Yet, after a "investigation", nobody on the ice heard a thing.
- EnzoD

Cover up. Just like concussions. The league makes itself look bad if they do the right thing; this is anathema to their thinking.

Let’s address the last point first. You make somewhat of a strawman argument suggesting the Hawks will again be a destination team for free agents. When weren’t they? When was the last time Chicago had the cap room to even try to sign a free agent? And what free agent didn’t sign with Chicago because of the team philosophy?

What do free agents look for? You say team philosophy. I say money and if it is a winning team, in that order. Chicago will be a destination for free agents if they have cap room and if the team is winning, not because of philosophy or who coaches the team. Again can you point to an article or a link that says a player didn’t sign due to the team philosophy?

Hopefully when the Hawks dip into free agency it will only be done to fill holes in the lineup, like they did with Hossa. And this summer isn’t the time to sign a big name free agent who is likely to be almost as old as Kane and Toews and command a similar contract. If you look past the last two games, the Hawks do have glaring holes in the lineup. The defense is brutal. Their best defensemen are still Duncan Keith and Seabrook and neither are close to what they were 4 years ago. Gus is great offensively but he isn’t good in his own end. Murphy is OK and beyond that there is nothing in the current lineup. Yes they do have some good looking prospects on the way.

Now look at the forwards. Kane, Toews, ADB, Strome and Saad are a solid group. Kahun, Caggulia look pretty good, and Perlini is playing better the last four or five games. So let’s assume Perlini’s play of late isn’t an anomaly, the Hawks have 8 forwards.

So right now the Hawks need to find 4 forwards, at least 3 defensemen and a secondary goalie to backup and become Crawford’s replacement. They are not ready to open the vault and sign a 27 plus year old to a huge contract.
- paulr

Absolutely....unless you get someone who (1) has had a long and financially successful career and (2)who is on the downside of their career but still with skills valuable to a team for a year or two. Brad Richards comes to mind. No way they would have offered him a 5 or 6 year deal, but he fit a specific need and ended up getting the cup he wanted.

WTF. is it dissertation day and no one told me?
- Elbows15

Didn’t you read the 12-page pamphlet emailed to all hockeybuzz users today?

The NHL is saying that their investigation showed that Reilly didn't make the comment - not that the comment wan't made. It seems that someone probably made the comment, but they can't figure out who.
- StLBravesFan

Maybe one of the leafs opponents that night was a ventriloquist and was trying to get Reilly suspended. Should have said something derogatory about bettman; then he could have gotten him suspended.

Didn’t you read the 12-page pamphlet emailed to all hockeybuzz users today?
- Spec41971

Page 3 Spec, keep pushing. You almost made it.

Caved to sensationalism.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yeah, those color pictures of the downed aircraft are really sensationalism. Better to just suck it up and keep them flying in these absence of any hard data.

Dinky wants 10M and its time to move him.
- Elbows15

When they work through the next CBA, really think the owners should consider a luxury tax setup to allow teams to keep their best "homegrown" talent.

Page 3 Spec, keep pushing. You almost made it.
- I Am The Breadman

Been working on a problem all day since 7:00 a.m. needed a break and just might catch up.

I will fall behind tonight though because I rarely watch the game live; usually follow it starting with a 1 hour delay.

When they work through the next CBA, really think the owners should consider a luxury tax setup to allow teams to keep their best "homegrown" talent.
- pdx2ord

I like that idea. Would also like to see something worked out that would let one team buy unused cap space from another team.

After intensive study and analysis, the Trump administration has announced that the US was groudning the 7l7 Max - ending our status as the world's only outlier.

"The safety of the American people, of all people, is our paramount concern," Mr. Trump said.

Uh-huh....
- StLBravesFan

JC said they decided to give him the last 10 min off since he had come into the game a bit banged up. Once the game was obviously in hand, he was allowed to head to the room.

Hey bread....made it to the end as it exists at 15:14.

Been working on a problem all day since 7:00 a.m. needed a break and just might catch up.

I will fall behind tonight though because I rarely watch the game live; usually follow it starting with a 1 hour delay.
- Spec41971

One of those unsolvable math problems? I have faith that you'll catch up, you usually do. Just saw that you did. Haha. Liking the military time.

Don't feel bad, I won't see the game tonight.

JC said they decided to give him the last 10 min off since he had come into the game a bit banged up. Once the game was obviously in hand, he was allowed to head to the room.
- pdx2ord

The one thing we need is a left handed monkey wrench?

When they work through the next CBA, really think the owners should consider a luxury tax setup to allow teams to keep their best "homegrown" talent.
- pdx2ord

I would be happy if there is some homegrown stipulations. The cap punishes teams that draft and develop well. Maybe a max of 3 players.

One of those unsolvable math problems? I have faith that you'll catch up, you usually do. Just saw that you did. Haha. Liking the military time.

Don't feel bad, I won't see the game tonight.
- I Am The Breadman

There are no unsolvable math problems, Yeaster. Only those where the solution hasn't been found yet. There is a solution, tho.

When they work through the next CBA, really think the owners should consider a luxury tax setup to allow teams to keep their best "homegrown" talent.
- pdx2ord

I find it hard to believe Cat is gunna sign for any less than $7 mil.

I would be happy if there is some homegrown stipulations. The cap punishes teams that draft and develop well. Maybe a max of 3 players.
- Elbows15

The problem with all of these suggestions is that there is a hard split of HRR of 50/50 - half to the owners, half to the players.

To get to a luxury tax or to homegrown exceptions, they would probably need to cut into the owners' share somewhat, meaning the players would be getting more than the 50%.

I wouldn't think either side would be willing to give up any of their percentage.

Q: Have the Hawks figured it out?
Short Answer: No
Long Answer: Hell no

In the previous 26 games (arbitrarily going back to 1/1/2019), they have let in an average of 4 goals per game. In the previous ten games, they let in an average of 4.5 goals per game. The last time that they finished a game with only letting one goal in was on 12/21/2018 (I was at that game and it was great fun!). Their last shutout was on 11/14/2018. This defense on this team is terrible and all should be held accountable, especially Bowman and his pet, Colliton.

Before folks begin to get excited about this team and where they may be headed, I ask this very simple question:

Could this team beat any of the top six teams in the West in a seven-game series?

Here is the answer: Hell no

The last time they beat one of the top six in the West was 12/18/2018 and the only team that they have had success against that is currently in the top six is St. Louis when they accumulated three wins prior to Thanksgiving. The only other team in the top six in the West that they have a win against is Nashville when they won on 12/18/2018. Do not kid yourself, this is a bad hockey team that is piling up points against other bad hockey teams. Pointing to success against Dallas or Minnesota or Arizona is a fool's errand. It is like being the tallest midget. The wild card teams from the West will be golfing after the first week of the playoffs.

Do I want to see this team win? Yes, and I will continue to cheer for them. However, I am a realist and see through the smokescreen that this team is putting up. Their offense is masking a huge problem that Bowman created. I applaud the Stromme and Caggiula deals but, Bowman should not be allowed anywhere near contract negotiations as he has completely hamstrung his ability to remake this team.

This team needs a massive overhaul on defense (preaching to the choir) and the bottom six is pretty terrible as well. Dylan Sikura is not an NHL player, let's get that straight and is nowhere near the type of player anyone expected. He looks lost and quite honestly, in over his head. At best he may be an AHL lifer. I want to see more out of Perlini and like Kampe, but the rest (looking at you Saad) need to step up their game or find new homes if this team is going to be a contender in the West.
- MileHighHawks

So would you characterize yourself as a glass half full kinda guy or gal?

There are no unsolvable math problems, Yeaster. Only those where the solution hasn't been found yet. There is a solution, tho.
- Elbows15

I've seen the movie "Gifted" so I know there are unsolvable math problems. They fall under 6 or 7 different categories.

Didn't they say (someone on the broadcast or postgame) that AA missed the last ten minutes of the game?

Or am I thinking of someone else?

Or some other game?

Or some other sport?

Or some other...?
- StLBravesFan

From the Herald the other day...

Anisimov banged up:

Artem Anisimov played just over 12 minutes against the Coyotes and did not return after going to the locker room in the third period. Jeremy Colliton said the center has been nursing an injury, but he does not believe it's serious.

"We just thought we'd give him the last 10 (minutes) off to make sure he's ready for the trip (to Toronto and Montreal)," Colliton said.

I've seen the movie "Gifted" so I know there are unsolvable math problems. They fall under 6 or 7 different categories.
- I Am The Breadman

Well, if it was in a movie, it has to be true.

I find it hard to believe Cat is gunna sign for any less than $7 mil.
- EnzoD

Enzo be careful out there with that crazy weather!

Well, if it was in a movie, it has to be true.
- Elbows15

That is my point exactly! Hahaha!

I think Johnny B from the radio quite awhile ago talked with some math nerd, and he talked about equations from movies or something like that. She said that all of the problems shown in Good Will Hunting (my all-time favorite movie) were horrendously wrong.

There are no unsolvable math problems, Yeaster. Only those where the solution hasn't been found yet. There is a solution, tho.
- Elbows15

So goes the theory, eh?

JLO,

Couple of comments on a well written piece.

1. Stan 180 - His moves are now clearly in sync with his coach. Which is further evidence of the chasm in philosophy with Q. Watched a bit of Caps game last night and just kills me to see Kempny, their #2 guy skating with Carlson. And that guy could not get on the ice here and all we got was a third round pick.

2. Regarding assessment of being a few players away vs deeper concerns, I believe Hawk fans have been spoiled and have a finer taste than others. What I mean is that most have a standard, which is unlikely to every be experienced again regarding depth of talent etc. So compared to that, yes we see, or believe we see, greater holes in roster. I would posit that should one do a similar examination of other/all teams, they would find, outside of Tampa, same or similar holes. When you do that, you see that even on paper, the Hawks are not as lacking as is generally accepted.

I am going to go out on a limb and state that there will be some splash made with a big free agent in the off season and that is primarily due to the change in style and philosophy of how this team plays. That is what will make the team a destination again for free agents. It clearly had fallen out of favor over the last 3 or 4 years. yes some of that was cap stuff, but most of it was team philosophy.
- TrueGrit

Great response TG.

My thoughts:

1 - bang on. It was no secret that Stan and Q didn't have identical philosophies in the way they wanted to play and the players that should be on the roster. That's a tough spot for both and to be honest a relationship that is overlooked in it's complexity around the league.

I will say this, it JC aligned with Stan, or is he simply a "Yes" man based on this amazing opportunity he's been given? I don't have the answer, but wanted to pose the question. One thing I know is that JC is more open-minded and flexible so maybe he's just better at working with what he's been dealt.

2 - Fair point. I think you could be right about those thoughts around offseason additions.

The Hawks will add better pieces this offseason based on having more flexibility with their cap space but also with a clearly long-term plan in place. The last few seasons there was a feeling that they were just waiting for this team to finally fall off a cliff.

It will be fun to watch over these next 6 months or so. Currently, I do feel better about the depth on this team now than I did at the start of the year and that is in due part to the new additions, but I also believe that the growth of the team with a new coach has been a nice evolution.