This team looks gassed, especially Toews and Kane. Biggest thing going for them momentum wise is that they have really clamped down on D. Still need to work on shot suppression, but overall they have come a long way this year. Next year might not be much better but help is on the way.. Boqvist, Beaudin, Kurashev, Entwhistle. Perhaps Shalunov. Biggest summer job is to find another legit top 4 D who knows how to protect the net. We have enough puck movers. We need some anchor back there. Let the season end and go rest. Then Stan is REALLY on the clock now to make something happen to help this team.

A synonym for an initiator would be commonly referred to as a "North/South" player, his first reaction is to use his speed and power when carrying the puck (not that they do not have a hockey IQ, but their first reaction is to go forward as fast as they can) than "see the whole rink"

Mikita - reader, Bobby Hull - initiator
Gretzky - reader, Messier - initiator
- LAHawk

Using that definition, I would think Saad and Perlini fit this description. Hayden to a degree (or at least he should) but only when he applies himself to that simple game play and does it consistently.

A synonym for an initiator would be commonly referred to as a "North/South" player, his first reaction is to use his speed and power when carrying the puck (not that they do not have a hockey IQ, but their first reaction is to go forward as fast as they can) than "see the whole rink"

Mikita - reader, Bobby Hull - initiator
Gretzky - reader, Messier - initiator
- LAHawk

Ok got it, thanks for the response.

Agree with you. I think the whole Boqvist at forward thing is overblown. He is what he is, an offensive minded dman who has the nose to roam down and score goals. Nothing wrong with it. Brian Campbell was much the same in terms of how much time he spent sneaking down low or carrying the puck in deep.
- breadbag

Whether Gustafsson or now possibly Boqvist, I don't mind the ability to carry the puck deep and jump in on plays. What I want both of them to work on is getting back to their D post and not linger more than they should in the O zone.

And at least for Gustafsson, he really needs to stop being the 2nd or 3rd man in the O zone (if he's not the puck carrier) and wait for something to happen. He's a defenseman and needs to play back and let the forwards do their job, then sneak down or pinch at opportune times.

My take is he does it the other way around, i.e. he likes to hang low and stay there waiting for an opportunity that may never present itself which if he's not careful ends up in an odd-man rush the other direction because he's not at his defensive post.

Using that definition, I would think Saad and Perlini fit this description. Hayden to a degree (or at least he should) but only when he applies himself to that simple game play and does it consistently.
- AEL_Fox

Hayden can play C, I want to see Kruger be a scratch. I like Kruger, what he brings, his board battles ... but he's been making a lot of mistakes and they aren't being addressed. Hayden is competing for a spot next year, not Kruger. Resigning Kruger isn't the direction this team should go in. Play Hayden.

Hayden can play C, I want to see Kruger be a scratch. I like Kruger, what he brings, his board battles ... but he's been making a lot of mistakes and they aren't being addressed. Hayden is competing for a spot next year, not Kruger. Resigning Kruger isn't the direction this team should go in. Play Hayden.
- I Am The Breadman

I've been a Hayden fan for a while, but I think his ship has sailed. He will likely get back into some games now that they are eliminated, but he hasn't ever been able to carve out a role on this team. He is Bryan Bickell without the scoring (by that I mean inconsistent during the regular season). When you see him in the d-zone, he is one of those guys that just chases the entire time instead of just taking his responsibility.

Most of our fourth line will not be on this team next year (or at least shouldn't). I get that JC likes Kampf, but he needs to keep him in a defensive role and let him just irritate opposing players. He is good at what he does, don't make him play over his head.

Hawks re-up Dahlstrom for 2 years, 850K AAV per capfriendly.
- boilermaker100

Fair deal, he can be buried in Rockford if/when the D is upgraded or can be the #7.

I thought that of Koekkoek, Forsling and Dahlstrom that Dahlstrom would be the last one re-signed.

Fair deal, he can be buried in Rockford if/when the D is upgraded or can be the #7.

I thought that of Koekkoek, Forsling and Dahlstrom that Dahlstrom would be the last one re-signed.
- DarthKane

Have a feeling that Forsling will be part of a trade package in the summer.

Whether Gustafsson or now possibly Boqvist, I don't mind the ability to carry the puck deep and jump in on plays. What I want both of them to work on is getting back to their D post and not linger more than they should in the O zone.

And at least for Gustafsson, he really needs to stop being the 2nd or 3rd man in the O zone (if he's not the puck carrier) and wait for something to happen. He's a defenseman and needs to play back and let the forwards do their job, then sneak down or pinch at opportune times.

My take is he does it the other way around, i.e. he likes to hang low and stay there waiting for an opportunity that may never present itself which if he's not careful ends up in an odd-man rush the other direction because he's not at his defensive post.
- AEL_Fox

1. Without Gus, they have close to zero goals the last half dozen games.

2. Gus does not "hang low" he, like all d men jumping in, never stop moving.

Have a feeling that Forsling will be part of a trade package in the summer.
- z1990z

Me too.
We have too many Forsling types in the pipeline. I am not surprised to see Dahlstrom reupped simply because he is one of the few D with size that we have. Bowman probably saw enough to warrant another look at him. I believe that part of our PK and goals against problem is not enough ownership of our blue paint area.

Whether Gustafsson or now possibly Boqvist, I don't mind the ability to carry the puck deep and jump in on plays. What I want both of them to work on is getting back to their D post and not linger more than they should in the O zone.

And at least for Gustafsson, he really needs to stop being the 2nd or 3rd man in the O zone (if he's not the puck carrier) and wait for something to happen. He's a defenseman and needs to play back and let the forwards do their job, then sneak down or pinch at opportune times.

My take is he does it the other way around, i.e. he likes to hang low and stay there waiting for an opportunity that may never present itself which if he's not careful ends up in an odd-man rush the other direction because he's not at his defensive post.
- AEL_Fox

RIP Delores O'Riordan

Andrew Ladd has really fallen off the cliff since signing that new deal with the Islanders. Now he is out with an ACL. You could see that he was trending that way when we got him in that TDL deal. The Isles are stuck with this contract for several more years.

Me too.
We have too many Forsling types in the pipeline. I am not surprised to see Dahlstrom reupped simply because he is one of the few D with size that we have. Bowman probably saw enough to warrant another look at him. I believe that part of our PK and goals against problem is not enough ownership of our blue paint area.
- 67hawks

For quite awhile Dahlstrom and Murphy were the shutdown pair, so it is not as if he is playing sheltered minutes.

Fair deal, he can be buried in Rockford if/when the D is upgraded or can be the #7.

I thought that of Koekkoek, Forsling and Dahlstrom that Dahlstrom would be the last one re-signed.
- DarthKane

Nah. Special K can be launched. He has a lot of rover in him. One of those is enough.

Andrew Ladd has really fallen off the cliff since signing that new deal with the Islanders. Now he is out with an ACL. You could see that he was trending that way when we got him in that TDL deal. The Isles are stuck with this contract for several more years.
- 67hawks

he is to the isles what kessler is to the ducks; players who get paid big money long term and then a few years into that deal they is DONE!

sound familiar...most teams have a player or 2 like that...

For quite awhile Dahlstrom and Murphy were the shutdown pair, so it is not as if he is playing sheltered minutes.
- LAHawk

No problems at all with the signing. Guy was playing his first full season in the NHL. Personally thought he has shown enough to warrant a further look. He moves well. Has a good stick. Needs to build up some strength but so do most of the Hawks. In fact, I would get rid of the strength coach cause I think there is some room for improvement in that department pretty much across the whole roster.

he is to the isles what kessler is to the ducks; players who get paid big money long term and then a few years into that deal they is DONE!

sound familiar...most teams have a player or 2 like that...
- bogiedoc

Few years? He has pretty much stunk since he inked that deal.

Few years? He has pretty much stunk since he inked that deal.
- Elbows15

ok...i will grant that...

was speaking more generally about these 7-8 year deals given to guys when they turn are 30 or older...

he is to the isles what kessler is to the ducks; players who get paid big money long term and then a few years into that deal they is DONE!

sound familiar...most teams have a player or 2 like that...
- bogiedoc

Yet many here are eager for Stan to jump into the UFA pool and overpay for an old guy about to break down.

Yet many here are eager for Stan to jump into the UFA pool and overpay for an old guy about to break down.
- mohel

Only if they aren't lavender sniffers though.

Paging Patrick Kane, Alex Debrincat, and Dylan Strome!?!?! Hawks had a damn good chance to be in the playoffs and 3 of their 4 top scorers all dried up like the Sahara Desert in the most important 2 weeks of the season. Kane looks way off, he's about to get passed by Draisaitl in the scoring race, and might not even pass his career best total from the Hart Trophy year.

Perlini has shown enough? I would take Saad over Perlini every day of the week even with the salary difference.
- Elbows15

That what I was getting at saad if traded who replaces him perlini no he is a 3rd line player and I agree I would take saad over Perlini.

Fair deal, he can be buried in Rockford if/when the D is upgraded or can be the #7.

I thought that of Koekkoek, Forsling and Dahlstrom that Dahlstrom would be the last one re-signed.
- DarthKane

Out of those 3 who were battling for a spot, I wanted Fors and Dahl resigned. 1 down, 1 to go. I like K to the 4th power, but he can walk. He doesn't do much for me.

Paging Patrick Kane, Alex Debrincat, and Dylan Strome!?!?! Hawks had a damn good chance to be in the playoffs and 3 of their 4 top scorers all dried up like the Sahara Desert in the most important 2 weeks of the season. Kane looks way off, he's about to get passed by Draisaitl in the scoring race, and might not even pass his career best total from the Hart Trophy year.
- EnzoD

The problem is 5 or 6 players cannot carry a team, they did a pretty good job the last few months but their efforts and production were unsustainable. Defense and additional depth ie: secondary scoring are needed for the team take the net step.

As for Kane's scoring totals, who cares? Being 2nd or 5th in scoring on a non playoff team for a player who isn't playing for a contract is irrelevant.

I've been a Hayden fan for a while, but I think his ship has sailed. He will likely get back into some games now that they are eliminated, but he hasn't ever been able to carve out a role on this team. He is Bryan Bickell without the scoring (by that I mean inconsistent during the regular season). When you see him in the d-zone, he is one of those guys that just chases the entire time instead of just taking his responsibility.

Most of our fourth line will not be on this team next year (or at least shouldn't). I get that JC likes Kampf, but he needs to keep him in a defensive role and let him just irritate opposing players. He is good at what he does, don't make him play over his head.
- Chunk

I like Hayden too. I'd hate for him to go when he was playing consistently. I really like Kampf's game and agree with you. If he chips in offensively, added bonus.