Josh Morrissey has been a huge loss for them. Big Buff has been out for almost all of the 2nd half, and Laine has not been the same player this year. I still like Winnipeg to beat St Louis in a hard fought series.


Gotta think the team who comes out of the Atlantic Division is the Cup Favorite....really a toss up for me if Boston + Tampa matchup in Round 2.
- EnzoD

Liked this perspective from Colliton


- pdx2ord

very true...these metrics can be overused and analyzed...who decides what high danger chance...is it like declaring a hit which tend to skewed in the home arena...

but here are the numbers for the hawks defensively and they arn't pretty

This season, they have the worst rate for scoring chances against and high-danger chances against.

In high-danger chances against per 60 minutes, Dahlstrom has the worst on-ice rate in the league. Seabrook is third, Gustafsson is fifth, Forsling is sixth, Connor Murphy is eighth and Keith is ninth. By the way, Michal Kempny is seventh

6 hawk dmen are in the top ten on this stat...

(frank)...unless this changes...kane could put up Gretsky numbers and this team is still going nowhere...

On paper, the Bolts appear to be close to a lock to take it all. But, as you know, funny things can happen along the way. I hope you are right on your Jets observation. It would be a miserable day for me, if the Blues were able to ambush them.

Josh Morrissey has been a huge loss for them. Big Buff has been out for almost all of the 2nd half, and Laine has not been the same player this year. I still like Winnipeg to beat St Louis in a hard fought series.


Gotta think the team who comes out of the Atlantic Division is the Cup Favorite....really a toss up for me if Boston + Tampa matchup in Round 2.
- EnzoD

Enzo, clearly Boston and Tampa would be one helluva series. Do you have a dog in that fight? I have no personal animus towards Tampa and/or their coach. But, man, it would be remarkable to see Boston win with their experience. Tampa may beat them, but they sure won't get rattled. I hope this happens for all us fans.

Definitely not the outcome that I was looking for in that game, especially against a team that I can't stand!

I look forward to what Bowman will do over the summer as he has a lot of team holes to deal with. I expect the hawks will be in playoff contention next season. There were a lot of positives in this season, it wasn't all bad.

I'm going on a very long break. I have a lot of school left to finish, and getting ready to student teach. Coming into this season as the new guy on the board ... I didn't know what to expect. I won't lie, I was nervous. You guys and girls made me feel welcome. Thanks for that! I enjoyed all of the conversations here and the talks through the games. Be safe and enjoy your summers. Slainte!

This is to looking forward to us being back on top again, someday somehow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adw772km7PQ
- I Am The Breadman

Good luck in school and with student teaching! Happy to have you on these boards and part of the community.

Another stellar performance last night by the defense allowing 50 shots to close it out.

The same question remains from last offseason - Can Bowman fix the defense?

We've debated at length...again who can you sign and you can you move. The UFAs don't look all that hot and you'll overpay for sure. Or are you going to move Saad plus in hopes of securing a steady defender? Meantime you're still not able to move 2 and 7 thanks to those NMCs and Seabrook's cost. Meanwhile who goes - Gus - not with those 16 goals - sure he can't defend to save his life, but he's your PP QB. Murphy?

So do they add more offense and hope a couple of the young defensemen are ready to take a step at some point next season? The offense seemed to carry this team at times, but when it was needed the most here down the stretch it dried up. I would think Panarin is off to NYC after the Jackets lose to the Bolts. But there's Dzingal and others out there.

Cam Ward is your MVP this season. With CC's recent history and Delia who at times has looked great and others (like the Cubs bullpen) - you'd have to wonder if they'd bring Ward back on a one year team friendly deal?

Should be an interesting offseason.

Hello?

Another stellar performance last night by the defense allowing 50 shots to close it out.

The same question remains from last offseason - Can Bowman fix the defense?

We've debated at length...again who can you sign and you can you move. The UFAs don't look all that hot and you'll overpay for sure. Or are you going to move Saad plus in hopes of securing a steady defender? Meantime you're still not able to move 2 and 7 thanks to those NMCs and Seabrook's cost. Meanwhile who goes - Gus - not with those 16 goals - sure he can't defend to save his life, but he's your PP QB. Murphy?

So do they add more offense and hope a couple of the young defensemen are ready to take a step at some point next season? The offense seemed to carry this team at times, but when it was needed the most here down the stretch it dried up. I would think Panarin is off to NYC after the Jackets lose to the Bolts. But there's Dzingal and others out there.

Cam Ward is your MVP this season. With CC's recent history and Delia who at times has looked great and others (like the Cubs bullpen) - you'd have to wonder if they'd bring Ward back on a one year team friendly deal?

Should be an interesting offseason.
- DK002

Murphy plays decent D, Gus does not. If either of those two go, seems to me it would make much more sense to trade Gus. Sell high. Chances are high that this was his career year.

Murphy plays decent D, Gus does not. If either of those two go, seems to me it would make much more sense to trade Gus. Sell high. Chances are high that this was his career year.
- Ogilthorpe2

I only expect DK and Sebs back, the rest are meat that's is available on the open market.

I only expect DK and Sebs back, the rest are meat that's is available on the open market.
- Beaver-Warrior

Don't forget to sign up. League name is Amazing Run.

https://bracketchallenge....l.com/leagues/amazing-run

Murphy plays decent D, Gus does not. If either of those two go, seems to me it would make much more sense to trade Gus. Sell high. Chances are high that this was his career year.
- Ogilthorpe2

And should Gus have another big scoring season he becomes a guy who commands a first pairing defenseman contract who isn't capable of playing second pairing defense, let alone first pairing. Then cap hell begins all over again and he becomes the team whipping boy. If he signs for less than $2M, maybe, because he could still be moved. I'd prefer the Hawk unload him at the draft so they don't get tempted to offer him a contract that hurts the team down the road.

- Ogilthorpe2

Captain with the first!!!

Captain with the first!!!
- dpard

The game would be over 11 seconds in.

And should Gus have another big scoring season he becomes a guy who commands a first pairing defenseman contract who isn't capable of playing second pairing defense, let alone first pairing. Then cap hell begins all over again and he becomes the team whipping boy. If he signes for less than $2M, maybe, because he could still be moved. I'd prefer the Hawk unload him at the draft so they don't get tempted to offer him a contract that hurts the team down the road.
- paulr

I think he is by far Stan’s best trading chip. He’s still cheap for another year and could really help a team that has an established group of defensively responsible blue liners. If the Hawks stay in that middle third of the first round range, then Gus + 12th overall could be a decent package to get some immediate help on D. Trading anyone else from the big club creates as many holes as it might plug.

The game would be over 11 seconds in.
- paulr

11?

11?
- Ogilthorpe2

OK the puck wouldn't have to drop

I think he is by far Stan’s best trading chip. He’s still cheap for another year and could really help a team that has an established group of defensively responsible blue liners. If the Hawks stay in that middle third of the first round range, then Gus + 12th overall could be a decent package to get some immediate help on D. Trading anyone else from the big club creates as many holes as it might plug.
- Ogilthorpe2

As much as I hate moving draft picks, it may be a good move providing the return.

Don't forget to sign up. League name is Amazing Run.

https://bracketchallenge....l.com/leagues/amazing-run
- Beaver-Warrior

Done

Interesting tid bit.

The Hawks led the NHL allowing 18 empty net goals. They scored 5. For your front line guys, that is -13. This is one of the examples of what makes + - a deceptive stat.

Gus finished -6 for the season.

Add back 10 for empty netters against. Statistically not the black hole he is portrayed.

Also speaks to how solid Murphy and Keith played 5 on 5.

Interesting tid bit.

The Hawks led the NHL allowing 18 empty net goals. They scored 5. For your front line guys, that is -13. This is one of the examples of what makes + - a deceptive stat.

Gus finished -6 for the season.

Add back 10 for empty netters against. Statistically not the black hole he is portrayed.

Also speaks to how solid Murphy and Keith played 5 on 5.
- TrueGrit

We saw last night why it's imperative the Hawks strenghthen their "D". Against a good possession team that exerts pressure the Hawks just can't get the puck and defuse the pressure. And the defensemen are half the problem, the team defense ie: support from the forwards is pretty poor as well. There are only one or two forwards who are capable of winning puck battles.

We saw last night why it's imperative the Hawks strenghthen their "D". Against a good possession team that exerts pressure the Hawks just can't get the puck and defuse the pressure. And the defensemen are half the problem, the team defense ie: support from the forwards is pretty poor as well. There are only one or two forwards who are capable of winning puck battles.
- paulr

Pirouettes at the blueline doesn't cut it?

We saw last night why it's imperative the Hawks strenghthen their "D". Against a good possession team that exerts pressure the Hawks just can't get the puck and defuse the pressure. And the defensemen are half the problem, the team defense ie: support from the forwards is pretty poor as well. There are only one or two forwards who are capable of winning puck battles.
- paulr

One of them is the smallest guy on the team and spent the last week of the season in Rockford.

We saw last night why it's imperative the Hawks strenghthen their "D". Against a good possession team that exerts pressure the Hawks just can't get the puck and defuse the pressure. And the defensemen are half the problem, the team defense ie: support from the forwards is pretty poor as well. There are only one or two forwards who are capable of winning puck battles.
- paulr

Agree that that is at least half the problem and if they can find a defensive minded forward or two in FA, that maybe the defense doesn't look as bad as they did this year.

I recognize it was one game but would like to see Gilbert get a shot at some point next season. He made a nice play the other night to lay a hit on a DAL fwd. It separated the Star player from the puck, the Hawks grabbed it and were off the other way.