DK won't instigate but will retaliate Dr. Jekyll (not jackell) style when he feels someone viciously or dangerously wanted to hurt him, like a slew-foot, hit to the head or trying to take out his knees. Then he goes ape poop on the guy and gets punished for it.
- stan-ley-cups

The examples of Keith retaliating viciously that readily come to mind are the ones against one of the Sedins, Jeff Carter, and Miikka Salomaki. But this incident with Matt Cooke is what always jumps in my head first. Cooke blindsides Keith with a hit first, then Keith returns the favor 200 feet away.

https://www.youtube.com/w...2rDdCuddPCzzucCwP8CGZMWEL

I'm still waiting to see what a "tank plan" consists of. Being facetious to prove my point - should the Hawks bench Toews, Kane and Keith and replace them with 3 guys from Rockford?
- EbonyRaptor

Call up Noel, Fortin, and Tuulola. That should do it.

Call up Noel, Fortin, and Tuulola. That should do it.
- AEL_Fox

\And Graham Knott

The examples of Keith retaliating viciously that readily come to mind are the ones against one of the Sedins, Jeff Carter, and Miikka Salomaki. But this incident with Matt Cooke is what always jumps in my head first. Cooke blindsides Keith with a hit first, then Keith returns the favor 200 feet away.

https://www.youtube.com/w...2rDdCuddPCzzucCwP8CGZMWEL
- AEL_Fox

Totally agree, and I may add - A 4th line C replacement in Kampf, Kahun getting more comfortable as the season goes along and a definite top 9 forward, and the best group of prospects in the system since the beginning of the cup runs. AND CAP SPACE.
- LAHawk

I know many will disagree, but if Jokiharju can make the jump 1 year after being drafted 30th overall, I think Boquist will be tough to cut next fall. Excited to see if Entwhistle can emerge as a 3rd liner too.

The examples of Keith retaliating viciously that readily come to mind are the ones against one of the Sedins, Jeff Carter, and Miikka Salomaki. But this incident with Matt Cooke is what always jumps in my head first. Cooke blindsides Keith with a hit first, then Keith returns the favor 200 feet away.

https://www.youtube.com/w...2rDdCuddPCzzucCwP8CGZMWEL
- AEL_Fox

I know we're supposed to not want head shots in the NHL but it's hard to have a bleeding heart when it happens to a repeat predator like Matt Cooke.

The examples of Keith retaliating viciously that readily come to mind are the ones against one of the Sedins, Jeff Carter, and Miikka Salomaki. But this incident with Matt Cooke is what always jumps in my head first. Cooke blindsides Keith with a hit first, then Keith returns the favor 200 feet away.

https://www.youtube.com/w...2rDdCuddPCzzucCwP8CGZMWEL
- AEL_Fox

Love it .We need more not less .

I know many will disagree, but if Jokiharju can make the jump 1 year after being drafted 30th overall, I think Boquist will be tough to cut next fall. Excited to see if Entwhistle can emerge as a 3rd liner too.
- EnzoD

I think Joki may have been ahead of Boqvist on the defensive side coming out of his last season in the WHL than Boqvist is right now in the OHL. Plus Joki is a little sturdier than Boqvist to better withstand the physical play in the NHL.

I know we're supposed to not want head shots in the NHL but it's hard to have a bleeding heart when it happens to a repeat predator like Matt Cooke.
- EbonyRaptor

Keith: Oops, sorry, didnt see ya

Sikura not being able to buy a goal isn't for lack of effort or skill. He gets his shots off quickly and is willing to shoot from anywhere including from in close which shows his willingness to drive the net and not stay on the perimeter.
- AEL_Fox

Well said!

-Emergence of a 40 goal scorer in 20 year old Debrincat
-Emergence of a 70 point 2nd line Center in 21 yr old Strome
-Rebirth of Toews as a PPG #1 C
-Patrick Kane MVP candidate with 100+ points
-Murphy improving and showing he can be a 4D
-Saad getting back to being a 25 goal 200ft forward
-Caggiulla as the new Shaw type
-Jokiharju with Top Pair potential as soon as next season
-Crawford returning healthy and back to top form the last 2 weeks
-Eric Gustafson emerging as a Top notch offensive dman



Tell me how the Hawks being Ottawa bad is "better for their long term interests"??? Being #1 Lottery Odds bad means you have literally NOBODY good, no core, no starting point...complete trash.


The Hawks have a nice mix of young emerging high end talent, Elite Vets in Toews and Kane, and some nice depth/role players in Murphy/Saad/Gustafson who are still in their prime playing years. They are in a much better position for long term success than Ottawa, Detroit, or New Jersey....especially in a draft year when there is no McDavid or Matthews type of player.
- EnzoD

The bright spots you mention are the 50% of the roster worth keeping.

Trouble is two of them - ADB and Strome - will cost them most of their "cap space" just to retain them, which means the team cannot ADD talent to fill the holes because of their cap predicament, and the trajectory and timing of their recently selected prospects to emerge as true NHL players or not is still largely unknown.

Contract anchors like Seabrook and Keith aren't going to be moved, leaving dealable players for other NHL players strictly in the realm of the guys they want to keep.

Sign a guy like Kakko - three year ELC and he plays on day one. Fills a hole for cheap and costs no cap or player to get. Pick #10 or below - more unknown and more time to see what they have.

We can cheer all we want about guys like Murphy playing up to #4D, but they have NO 1-3 D that consistently play in that role now.

Whether you finish last or just miss the last spot, when you are out, you are out. Best to play the percentages and get your talent from the highest possible draft pick.

How do they tank - easy - play more Rockford guys, keep the vet minutes under 25, and let Ward, Delia and Forsberg play the net more. Can all be couched in "seeing what the young guys have". Can't tell me the vets on the bench and the decent young guys don't already know they don't have enough horses. I would think a commitment to get more would actually signal to the team that the FO knows what it is doing, other than enabling McD to make good on his proclamation that this is a playoff team.

Keith: Oops, sorry, didnt see ya
- glennjpawlak22

Cooke standing on the bench yelling "I'll F'n kill you"

Sikura is Viktor Stalberg 2.0
- scottak

The examples of Keith retaliating viciously that readily come to mind are the ones against one of the Sedins, Jeff Carter, and Miikka Salomaki. But this incident with Matt Cooke is what always jumps in my head first. Cooke blindsides Keith with a hit first, then Keith returns the favor 200 feet away.

https://www.youtube.com/w...2rDdCuddPCzzucCwP8CGZMWEL
- AEL_Fox

That's priceless... That SOB finally got some of his own medicine!

I know many will disagree, but if Jokiharju can make the jump 1 year after being drafted 30th overall, I think Boquist will be tough to cut next fall. Excited to see if Entwhistle can emerge as a 3rd liner too.
- EnzoD

I too am excited about the quality & quantity of freshmen D coming up, but also know that there will be a lot of growing pains so they need another Vet to hold down the fort.

That's priceless... That SOB finally got some of his own medicine!
- BGKarras

This is a nice edit of the Crap Cooke delivered and the payback...

https://www.youtube.com/w...PCzzucCwP8CGZMWEL&index=8

Whether Keith or anyone else, these are the type of (legal) hits that I would like to see during this stretch run for a playoff berth and in the playoffs if they earn one.

This hit by Keith on Arvidsson was awesome but should have been dished out in Game 1 to help set an early tone and alter the makeup of that entire series. Game 4 was way too late. Sadly, don't think it would have made a difference in the Predators advancing but it would have sent a message and may have extended the series beyond a sweep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xao59U3DAk4

How do they tank - easy - play more Rockford guys, keep the vet minutes under 25, and let Ward, Delia and Forsberg play the net more. Can all be couched in "seeing what the young guys have". Can't tell me the vets on the bench and the decent young guys don't already know they don't have enough horses. I would think a commitment to get more would actually signal to the team that the FO knows what it is doing, other than enabling McD to make good on his proclamation that this is a playoff team.
- Return of the Roar

I think the "tank plan" you suggest would not sit as well with the players as you think it would, especially the veteran players. These guys are wired to play to win and any move to intentionally lose, no matter how nuanced it may be, will be seen for what it is by the players and it will leave a foul taste in their mouths going forward. They may know they don't have the horses to win the Cup but they want the best chance to see how far they can go - and that's exactly the attitude we fans should want from the players on our team.

I fail to see what is sunny from the team's long term perspective in playing themselves out of a high percentage draft pick, and either (a) making the playoffs just to get blown out - which they will, or (b) missing the playoffs AND blowing a good draft pick.

Not one scenario other than tanking for a high pick is in the long term best interests of the team's rebuild.

The pursuit of making the playoffs this season is an exercise in futility, serving only those whose public proclamations that they are who they aren't are seen through.

I understand the perspective of those who differ in their outlook, but a team with only 50% of the roster being actual NHL proven commodities SHOULDN'T be in the playoffs. It is a disservice to its fans and denies/rewards mediocrity and the work that needs to be done to change course.
- Return of the Roar

I've noticed that.

-Emergence of a 40 goal scorer in 20 year old Debrincat
-Emergence of a 70 point 2nd line Center in 21 yr old Strome
-Rebirth of Toews as a PPG #1 C
-Patrick Kane MVP candidate with 100+ points
-Murphy improving and showing he can be a 4D
-Saad getting back to being a 25 goal 200ft forward
-Caggiulla as the new Shaw type
-Jokiharju with Top Pair potential as soon as next season
-Crawford returning healthy and back to top form the last 2 weeks
-Eric Gustafson emerging as a Top notch offensive dman



Tell me how the Hawks being Ottawa bad is "better for their long term interests"??? Being #1 Lottery Odds bad means you have literally NOBODY good, no core, no starting point...complete trash.


The Hawks have a nice mix of young emerging high end talent, Elite Vets in Toews and Kane, and some nice depth/role players in Murphy/Saad/Gustafson who are still in their prime playing years. They are in a much better position for long term success than Ottawa, Detroit, or New Jersey....especially in a draft year when there is no McDavid or Matthews type of player.
- EnzoD

Well done.

I think the "tank plan" you suggest would not sit as well with the players as you think it would, especially the veteran players. These guys are wired to play to win and any move to intentionally lose, no matter how nuanced it may be, will be seen for what it is by the players and it will leave a foul taste in their mouths going forward. They may know they don't have the horses to win the Cup but they want the best chance to see how far they can go - and that's exactly the attitude we fans should want from the players on our team.
- EbonyRaptor

Plus, any level of experience and success in the 2019 playoffs (or at least a chase for a playoff berth) sets the team up for greater success next year -- not necessarily a Cup victory in 2020 but a marked improvement.

Think of the 2009 playoffs when the Hawks were eliminated by the Wings. That experience set them up for the championship in 2010.

The youth would benefit the most with this type of experience while the veterans regain that hunger again. This is where having other veterans with rings like Kunitz and Ward can pay dividends in the locker room along with the core.

Pretty amazing that a guy who doesn't score, really isn't a passer really isn't a top line players is lauded while the kid who makes quality plays on both ends is poop on, huh?

That is not to take anything away from what theDrake has contributed.

Course, for some, if its mentioned you like a player it means you have them ticketed for the HoF
- Elbows15

Except for the previous paragraph.

I don't believe Sikura has stone hands ,he just needs to get one and he will get going . He not going to be a sniper like DBC ,but a decent top 9 player .
- oldduffman

Sikura has 9.71 SOG per 60 minutes - second on the team to Kane's 11.16.

While that doesn't say anything about quality of shots - and his shot % is 0% - I think it does indicate he doesn't exactly have "stone hands".

He's getting shots up - and getting them to the net - one would hope that his numbers correct to some kind of mean.

This is a nice edit of the Crap Cooke delivered and the payback...

https://www.youtube.com/w...PCzzucCwP8CGZMWEL&index=8
- riozzo

I'm glad that douchbag got what he deserved!!!

Jimmy Howard re-upped for another year, $4 mil.