It was nice to see D.Sikura pot a couple last night and Hagel with a nice play to give Martinsen a tap in. But, Delia didn't look good on the (3) GAs.

Looking forward to seeing Gilbert. Hopefully Seabrook is eating peanuts in the press box.

Need Kane to get 2 more points, Gustafsson 1 more point and Strome 1 more goal.

Now that they have been eliminated do we see Ward between the pipes? Or does Crawford just play out the rest of the season.

Would love to put an end to the Blues hopes of catching the Jets with a win tonight. Always feels good to beat the Blues.

I hope STl, DAl, and Nash all beat them so they can improve their draft spot.

I had to laugh out loud that a poster said this team, THIS team, was a top 10 team and Sikura got regular shifts for 30+ games. Dear lord. Make it stop. PLEASE.

No this, team....is going to finish last in its division for the 2nd consecutive year and as I posted yesterday......they got the best out of the core by a long shot and it still wasn't good enough. Mathematically they were eliminated officially last night, but realistically they were eliminated months ago.

This team dug themselves a huge hole, had a nice stretch like 70% of all teams do, but....wait for it.....the consistency to get valuable points in close games, negate prolonged losing streaks, is why this team is again going to sit home and still hasn't won a playoff game since game 6 vs STL in the spring of 2016.

I know...board of doom......but even if CC is healthy for 55+ games playing behind that/this defense....he has no chance.

Bowman's largest battle yet.....fix this defense, and depth scoring knowing that you are going to be locking up 2 guys for close to 14 million when the dust settles (ADB, Strome) and dealing with an aging 7 and 2.

May be time for Bowman to get bold and trade a true core piece this offseason.

Would love to put an end to the Blues hopes of catching the Jets with a win tonight. Always feels good to beat the Blues.
- Ogilthorpe2

Who cares about beating the blues? That's like screaming Detroit sucks when the Hawks sucked and the building was half full, and the Hawks would get massacred.

No, we want the blues to win in regulation. This team needs as many future building blocks as it can get its hands on, and its going to need to come from the draft until Bowman can find a taker for one of his aging d men.

Now that they have been eliminated do we see Ward between the pipes? Or does Crawford just play out the rest of the season.
- TheTrob

For his health, I would shut him down....but I bet he plays both games at home to appease the fans who show up. I get that part of it, but if he gets run or concussed......lots of tough questions need to be asked.

Hawks know what they have in CC. Shut him down. Today.

For his health, I would shut him down....but I bet he plays both games at home to appease the fans who show up. I get that part of it, but if he gets run or concussed......lots of tough questions need to be asked.

Hawks know what they have in CC. Shut him down. Today.
- SteveRain

For his health?

I hope STl, DAl, and Nash all beat them so they can improve their draft spot.

I had to laugh out loud that a poster said this team, THIS team, was a top 10 team and Sikura got regular shifts for 30+ games. Dear lord. Make it stop. PLEASE.

No this, team....is going to finish last in its division for the 2nd consecutive year and as I posted yesterday......they got the best out of the core by a long shot and it still wasn't good enough. Mathematically they were eliminated officially last night, but realistically they were eliminated months ago.

This team dug themselves a huge hole, had a nice stretch like 70% of all teams do, but....wait for it.....the consistency to get valuable points in close games, negate prolonged losing streaks, is why this team is again going to sit home and still hasn't won a playoff game since game 6 vs STL in the spring of 2016.

I know...board of doom......but even if CC is healthy for 55+ games playing behind that/this defense....he has no chance.

Bowman's largest battle yet.....fix this defense, and depth scoring knowing that you are going to be locking up 2 guys for close to 14 million when the dust settles (ADB, Strome) and dealing with an aging 7 and 2.

May be time for Bowman to get bold and trade a true core piece this offseason.
- SteveRain

I’m pretty sure they meant that during the span of Sikura playing 30 straight games, the Hawks had one of the top 10 records in the league.

And yes, I always want to beat the Blues. Always.

For his health?
- mohel

Seeing that he has a history of concussions, and has missed a ton of time the last 2 years....yes....for his health. These last 3 games don't mean a thing.

Do we need him getting steam rolled by Ryan O'Reilly or Jamie Benn or Wayne Simmonds who are battling for playoff seeding still?

I don't think we do. Not to mention with our cup cake defense he's got zero protection out there.

Let him rest up, and get ready for next fall.

I’m pretty sure they meant that during the span of Sikura playing 30 straight games, the Hawks had one of the top 10 records in the league.

And yes, I always want to beat the Blues. Always.
- Ogilthorpe2

If you don't win the game, at least make StL pay for a victory. Finish checks on Vlad, maybe you hit him off-balance and he tears up his knee. Now that is a victory in itself.

For his health, I would shut him down....but I bet he plays both games at home to appease the fans who show up. I get that part of it, but if he gets run or concussed......lots of tough questions need to be asked.

Hawks know what they have in CC. Shut him down. Today.
- SteveRain

You buy two tickets for say $500, parking is $20, $50 for beer and another $40 for munchies .... do you want to see someone other than CC?

I’m pretty sure they meant that during the span of Sikura playing 30 straight games, the Hawks had one of the top 10 records in the league.

And yes, I always want to beat the Blues. Always.
- Ogilthorpe2

HA....you could point to any team and pick out a random sample size and claim they are right there....but the fact is they aren't. That's what separates the playoff teams from the non playoff teams. Finding ways to win when you aren't at your best, or getting contributions from across your roster when your top guys get shut down, because they will.

I know you know this.....and I get the hatred for the Blues but I hope they kick the Hawks @sses tonight and this season ends right at that same point total they have currently.

If you don't win the game, at least make StL pay for a victory. Finish checks on Vlad, maybe you hit him off-balance and he tears up his knee. Now that is a victory in itself.
- powerenforcer

Do you attend anger management classes?

You buy two tickets for say $500, parking is $20, $50 for beer and another $40 for munchies .... do you want to see someone other than CC?
- paulr

Up until last year....I did all those things for a long period of time.

To answer your question....yes I would.

Lose the battle (these last 3 games) win the war (healthy CC heading into next year)

The risk of him playing doesn't outweigh him getting injured. When they were still mathematically alive, sure....avoid the white sox white flag ordeal, but not now.

Can you imagine this board if CC gets concussed and is out half the year next year because he played in meaningless games?

Toews showing he still is a top 10 center.


Strome and Dcat. Those two could really extend the careers of Toews and Kane. If Strome can take another step forward in his game that takes pressure of Toews have to do all the heavy lifting as the 1C.

Another 1-2 punch takes scoring pressure of Toews and Kane as well. For too long opposing coaches have just thrown their top shut down pair out against Kane and not had much else to worry about.

Strome reaches his potential which I think is around an 80pt center and Dcat continues to pot 40 you can't just automatically through out your best shutdown pair against the Kane line.

If you don't win the game, at least make StL pay for a victory. Finish checks on Vlad, maybe you hit him off-balance and he tears up his knee. Now that is a victory in itself.
- powerenforcer

What? Why? Because he is a Blues player?

For his health, I would shut him down....but I bet he plays both games at home to appease the fans who show up. I get that part of it, but if he gets run or concussed......lots of tough questions need to be asked.

Hawks know what they have in CC. Shut him down. Today.
- SteveRain

I would agree with you. Nothing to see/learn. I'm not big on holding someone out for "injury avoidance" or whatever you want to call it, every player in every game has a chance at injury/concussion, regardless of whether they are still in the race or not.

In regards to Crow and the team in general, you make some good points above. IMO a healthy Crow for the whole season would have been the difference in this team making the playoffs. It would not have made their Defense better, nor added secondary scoring, but he would definitely have masked some of the glaring defensive flaws and been good for a few more wins.

I think the Ward signing was also a mistake, and while Delia is a fine backup at $1mil, he is possibly another Darling in the making as a goalie who cannot be a full-time starter in the NHL. As opposed to Ward, whose numbers over the past 5 or more seasons showed he was not capable of standing up to the onslauight brought on by a poor defense, the Hawks would have been better served by a whole bunch of other Veteran scrapheap guys at a lower cost or going with a newcomer who may surprise (Stl, CLG, etc)

Bottom line, the defense was/is bad, and the alternatives to Crawford, while at times had spectacular saves or even full games, were never good enough to make up for the bad d.

Up until last year....I did all those things for a long period of time.

To answer your question....yes I would.

Lose the battle (these last 3 games) win the war (healthy CC heading into next year)

The risk of him playing doesn't outweigh him getting injured. When they were still mathematically alive, sure....avoid the white sox white flag ordeal, but not now.

Can you imagine this board if CC gets concussed and is out half the year next year because he played in meaningless games?
- SteveRain

I didn't mean you per se. The average fan wants to see the core team members especially after dropping the bucks. I know what you're saying and I don't disagree with your point but the business side has to be factored in to that decision.

HA....you could point to any team and pick out a random sample size and claim they are right there....but the fact is they aren't. That's what separates the playoff teams from the non playoff teams. Finding ways to win when you aren't at your best, or getting contributions from across your roster when your top guys get shut down, because they will.

I know you know this.....and I get the hatred for the Blues but I hope they kick the Hawks @sses tonight and this season ends right at that same point total they have currently.
- SteveRain

It’s a bit different than a random sample size though. If the roster was more or less the same now as it was for game #1, I’d agree, but since the 2 trades, this team IS a much better team. Obviously still a long way to go to be a contender, but if they had played this whole season with the team as currently constructed, I’d have no doubt theyd be playing in game #83.

I would agree with you. Nothing to see/learn. I'm not big on holding someone out for "injury avoidance" or whatever you want to call it, every player in every game has a chance at injury/concussion, regardless of whether they are still in the race or not.

In regards to Crow and the team in general, you make some good points above. IMO a healthy Crow for the whole season would have been the difference in this team making the playoffs. It would not have made their Defense better, nor added secondary scoring, but he would definitely have masked some of the glaring defensive flaws and been good for a few more wins.

I think the Ward signing was also a mistake, and while Delia is a fine backup at $1mil, he is possibly another Darling in the making as a goalie who cannot be a full-time starter in the NHL. As opposed to Ward, whose numbers over the past 5 or more seasons showed he was not capable of standing up to the onslauight brought on by a poor defense, the Hawks would have been better served by a whole bunch of other Veteran scrapheap guys at a lower cost or going with a newcomer who may surprise (Stl, CLG, etc)

Bottom line, the defense was/is bad, and the alternatives to Crawford, while at times had spectacular saves or even full games, were never good enough to make up for the bad d.
- TheTrob

Well said.

And watching some games when CC was back in form, the prime chances were still there and CC was bailing out this team. So to say in general, not you, but I saw some media guys spouting off about how the system is picking up......nah. It was just CC being that much better then old man Ward or Delia.

Agreed on Ward. he was obviously their MAIN UFA target as they knew CC wasn't going to be ready and couldn't rely on Forsberg, etc.

Ward, Kunitz, and Manning all bombed. I know they turned Manning into Cagulia but I wonder if PC did that as a big fu to the Edmonton brass as I believe he was fired right after that.

No none of those 3 were slotted to be difference makers from the onset, but just a colossal waste of money.

If you don't win the game, at least make StL pay for a victory. Finish checks on Vlad, maybe you hit him off-balance and he tears up his knee. Now that is a victory in itself.
- powerenforcer

This is easily one of the stupidest takes I have ever read on this forum.

For your own sake, I hope you are kidding.

It’s a bit different than a random sample size though. If the roster was more or less the same now as it was for game #1, I’d agree, but since the 2 trades, this team IS a much better team. Obviously still a long way to go to be a contender, but if they had played this whole season with the team as currently constructed, I’d have no doubt theyd be playing in game #83.
- Ogilthorpe2

They are 19-13-6 since 1/1 (game 42 and on)….so yeah Id agree with you.

Im just hesitant to say if they make minor tweaks next year the playoffs are a lock. Does 1 great bounce back year from 19 erase the previous few he was a shell of himself? No clue....but again, I just look back at the blue line.....7 is toast. 2 is more close to 7 then he is to being a top pair d man.....I have never seen DK been walked, out skated as often this year vs all seasons combined previously.

That's my concern. I agree 19/88 and 17/12 you build off those 4 upfront and pray to god 20 finds consistency.

I like kahun. I like Sikura battling but at some point in 33 games playing with 19/88 and all the chances he gets he has to score. Period. Snake bitten is one thing, but maybe his shot needs a lot of work because the 1st goal he scored last night in the slot probably doesn't get through 90% of NHL goaltenders, or is blocked by a D man. I didn't see his 2nd goal.

Im not saying they are completely screwed, but I just curb my excitement until they can fix that D. Its fun to watch back and forth hockey, but you can just feel goals coming against them when its a fire drill in their own end.

It’s a bit different than a random sample size though. If the roster was more or less the same now as it was for game #1, I’d agree, but since the 2 trades, this team IS a much better team. Obviously still a long way to go to be a contender, but if they had played this whole season with the team as currently constructed, I’d have no doubt theyd be playing in game #83.
- Ogilthorpe2

You are right man. They are playing better and the results and stats do show it. It was a very obvious corner they turned mid-season. Anyone who doesn't believe me, go watch the games from November and Early December again and you'll be reminded of just how bad they were defending at the time. It isn't just CC is back or just one tweak here or there, but a number of things that helped them make some progress. The back half of this season is night and day better than last year.

Definitely more interested in this season than what transpired last. I also think there aren't near as many questions going into the offseason.

That's not to say there isn't still work to do, but I think with a couple smart FA acquisitions, they can be playoff team next year...still beside myself that McDonough lied to us.

I'm interested to see if Kubalik's skillset translates to the NHL and other than Jokiharju being a full timer next season, I'm hoping the other three big D prospects another year to marinate wherever they may be.

Also, hoping the ball drops favorably fo the Hawks in the lottery. Would be great to get a top 3, but if not, I think the Hawks will still end up with a decent player.
- HawkintheD

If the Blackhawks end up picking where we’re at now Stan won’t be able to resist picking Cole Caufield.

This is easily one of the stupidest takes I have ever read on this forum.

For your own sake, I hope you are kidding.
- TommyHawk

yeah...I agree. This isn't 1985 and Basil MacCrae is playing tonight. Or Garth Butcher.