I think that’s a great idea, anything that makes players more accountable for hurting each other. If they implemented a rule like that, coaches would definitely be more mindful of these types of plays and reckless players would be forced to be more careful.

I really just can’t stand these dangerous hits knowing that there are serious long term effects. I absolutely love the game, but this is something that has to be dealt with, and I don’t think it is all that hard to do.
- LaheysBRandy

I love football as well, but in foootball I honestly don’t know how they can get rid of hits to the head. It is just inherent to the sport. Hockey isn’t the same, hits to the head could be outlawed with automatic suspensions and the game wouldn’t be changed whatsoever.

Kind of strange how conversations morph here (almost always negative........)

I think the main point was that Stan signed Lehner to:


A.) let him and Crow split games this year, (which is a positive)

B.) to cut down on the workload for Crow after he had missed so many games last two years (which is a positive)

C.) to protect the record if Crow goes down again, which you at least have to admit is more likely than not, considering the past couple years (which is a positive)

D.) to put the team in a good position for the future at G, as Crow will be what 36 going into next year (which is a positive)


Only here could that turn in to a ugly, negative, donnybrook.
- vabeachbear

I agree.
I know I held back after I saw the disrespect for Crows play to to Cups (and a lot of work in 2009-10 drink the season behind Huet pre-Niemi.

I always have been bother by the Crawford and Elliot are similar "level" goaltenders, or this idea he didn't have a pivotal part in hisses made to win 2 Cups...or that Holty was his equal even...

Think Stamkos bearing down on a breakaway and Crow getting flat to the ice to be ready and stopping him.
and anyone who thinks Crawford when healthy is not one of THE best goalies in the hoemplate area, well, you aren't watching.

But let's pick the guy apart, before we see what he has left in the tank, right?

I love football as well, but in foootball I honestly don’t know how they can get rid of hits to the head. It is just inherent to the sport. Hockey isn’t the same, hits to the head could be outlawed with automatic suspensions and the game wouldn’t be changed whatsoever.
- LaheysBRandy

Some of the old NHL owners still think people only watch hockey for fighting and hitting. It will change only when like football they are staring at the wrong side of CTE evidence in court.

No one is dumping on Crow. He was an elite goalie during the cup run after 2010. He probably has some elite play left in him but he hasn't been able to stay healthy.

When you miss half a season or more two years in a row I am not sure you can qualify as an elite goalie. Elite talent yes. Crow probably has lost a little bit but if its crunch time in the playoffs I bet Crow still has it.

His weakness was high glove hand. I remember the Bruins just peppering it. Crow worked on that and in '15 I don't recall that really being an issue at all. He won Cups while getting better.
- bhawks2241

it's not just Crawford. Keith, Seabrook and Toews have all been whipping bows at some point. Until he was traded even Hjalmarsson was included in this group, Sharp too.

I agree.
I know I held back after I saw the disrespect for Crows play to to Cups (and a lot of work in 2009-10 drink the season behind Huet pre-Niemi.

I always have been bother by the Crawford and Elliot are similar "level" goaltenders, or this idea he didn't have a pivotal part in hisses made to win 2 Cups...or that Holty was his equal even...

Think Stamkos bearing down on a breakaway and Crow getting flat to the ice to be ready and stopping him.
and anyone who thinks Crawford when healthy is not one of THE best goalies in the hoemplate area, well, you aren't watching.

But let's pick the guy apart, before we see what he has left in the tank, right?
- wiz1901

Nothing to pick apart. The guy has 2 cups and played lights out for the most part to earn both. He's had head injuries. Nothing you can do about that. His only real weakness was high glove. He clearly worked on that and took it away as the go to option against him.

it's not just Crawford. Keith, Seabrook and Toews have all been whipping bows at some point. Until he was traded even Hjalmarsson was included in this group, Sharp too.
- DarthKane

I know... ripping on Seabs is kind of pointless at this point. He is what he is and Bowman made a big mistake with that contract.

Keith if fine. The dude is getting old. At some point that funky ass skating stride was going to slow down a bit.

Toews deserved some criticism for his sub standard play a few years ago (by Toews standards). Obviously, there was too much of it. Dude was never close to a 3rd line center!!! Last year Toews figured it out on the ice and with the right off ice training. I'm not worried about him or Kane. They both have at least 2-3 years of elite play in them.

I know... ripping on Seabs is kind of pointless at this point. He is what he is and Bowman made a big mistake with that contract.

Keith if fine. The dude is getting old. At some point that funky ass skating stride was going to slow down a bit.

Toews deserved some criticism for his sub standard play a few years ago (by Toews standards). Obviously, there was too much of it. Dude was never close to a 3rd line center!!! Last year Toews figured it out on the ice and with the right off ice training. I'm not worried about him or Kane. They both have at least 2-3 years of elite play in them.
- bhawks2241

It's not Seabs it's the contract. Keith has had a bad knee for three years nobody talks about, still logs huge minutes. I'm more worried about which Saad shows up and why he seems to have regressed in his prime than Toews. Captain serious has been through more wars the last 10 years than any other center in the league he deserves some slack. Kane doesn't matter he's going to the Yotes...

I completely agree that the league absolutely needs to address the problem of goalies getting run over. It’s one of the things that legitimately pisses me off about the NHL. They need to absolutely outlaw guys running into the goalie even if it is accidental and part of a hard play to the net. If a player is putting himself in a position such that he could lose control and run over a goalie, they need to be penalized and suspended.

The NHL is such an f’ing joke when it comes to player safety and discipline. I think they need to start adopting legitimate 0 tolerance policies on hits to goalies and hits to the head. Give out real suspensions so that players stop injuring each other. Start suspending guys for 10-20 games for these types of dangerous plays even if they aren’t intentional. It won’t take away from the game. Maybe some old timers will complain but it would reduce injuries and make the game more enjoyable to watch. It makes me sick when one of these guys gets a terrible hit to the head knowing the effects it can have on them down the line.

Hockey isn’t football. Hits to the head are not an inherent part of the game, they could be removed and outlawed if the league starting seriously disciplining offenders. The worst part is that the NHLPA would put up a stink if the league started suspending players for significant portions of the season.

Outlaw charges to the crease, outlaw hits to the head, start making these suspensions sting. The game can still be played hard without hits to the head, I’m just so sick of seeing players get brain damage and the guy who causes it gets suspended for 1 game. It’s a f’ing joke and needs to be stopped.
- LaheysBRandy

In the vast majority of cases, the guys blasting goalies have "help" from defensemen who are worried about getting beaten on hard plays to the net. It doesn't take much when guys are going full speed...

I agree.
I know I held back after I saw the disrespect for Crows play to to Cups (and a lot of work in 2009-10 drink the season behind Huet pre-Niemi.

I always have been bother by the Crawford and Elliot are similar "level" goaltenders, or this idea he didn't have a pivotal part in hisses made to win 2 Cups...or that Holty was his equal even...

Think Stamkos bearing down on a breakaway and Crow getting flat to the ice to be ready and stopping him.
and anyone who thinks Crawford when healthy is not one of THE best goalies in the hoemplate area, well, you aren't watching.

But let's pick the guy apart, before we see what he has left in the tank, right?
- wiz1901

Crow in Montreal last season looked pretty elite to me

In the vast majority of cases, the guys blasting goalies have "help" from defensemen who are worried about getting beaten on hard plays to the net. It doesn't take much when guys are going full speed...
- Davewn

I agree, I just think it should be the responsibility of the player attacking the net not to put the goalie in a dangerous position even if they were to be pushed from behind. I think it should be an illegal play to skate full steam ahead straight at the goalie. I feel it would be worth it to eliminate those plays to protect goalies. Maybe make it so a player is never allowed inside the crease, no matter the circumstances, or it is a penalty? I’m not sure, such changes might be slightly drastic but my personal feeling is that some drastic measures should be taken in attempt to remove damaging blows to the head from the game. Not everyone would agree.

no question his glove is the weakest part of his game...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3TAZ1afSFw

Wasn't Crawford basically the only reason we were in most of the games before he got injured. If anything he's getting better... when he's healthy. And yes, in honor of August 1st, the dog days of NHL summer, I will bring bring it up...Crawford is elite ( when healthy). Sorry to everyone who finds that argument as annoying as I do however in honor of his accomplishments and what I remember I had to say it
- just69sayin

Since the 2015 Stanley Cup, CC had actually out performed his career average each year, until he got hurt:

2016 .924
2017 .918
2018 .929
career average .918
2019 .908

Only my opinion, but if he's healthy this year and plays respectably, I'd like to see him come back as the backup, playing 20-25 games a year. Maybe around $2-3M per for 2 years. I tend to prefer veteran backups, especially behind young starters.

I agree, I just think it should be the responsibility of the player attacking the net not to put the goalie in a dangerous position even if they were to be pushed from behind. I think it should be an illegal play to skate full steam ahead straight at the goalie. I feel it would be worth it to eliminate those plays to protect goalies. Maybe make it so a player is never allowed inside the crease, no matter the circumstances, or it is a penalty? I’m not sure, such changes might be slightly drastic but my personal feeling is that some drastic measures should be taken in attempt to remove damaging blows to the head from the game. Not everyone would agree.
- LaheysBRandy

Eh Crow is a lavender sniffer, he should take care of his own business

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0dUCpZOy5Y

I hate the narrative that because you think the Hawks would be better with someone else, you must hate the first guy, and think he's always been a bum.
I love Crow. I think he was definitely elite. I don't think they win in 2013 without him. I think he could be elite again. However, I worry about his longterm health. I think if the Hawks get a good year from Lehner, and they could sign him for 3 to 5 years at a reasonable AAV, they should thank Crow for his service, and move on.

I hate the narrative that because you think the Hawks would be better with someone else, you must hate the first guy, and think he's always been a bum.
I love Crow. I think he was definitely elite. I don't think they win in 2013 without him. I think he could be elite again. However, I worry about his longterm health. I think if the Hawks get a good year from Lehner, and they could sign him for 3 to 5 years at a reasonable AAV, they should thank Crow for his service, and move on.
- tvetter

"Reasonable for elite" is now in the $10M/yr. range.

I hate the narrative that because you think the Hawks would be better with someone else, you must hate the first guy, and think he's always been a bum.
I love Crow. I think he was definitely elite. I don't think they win in 2013 without him. I think he could be elite again. However, I worry about his longterm health. I think if the Hawks get a good year from Lehner, and they could sign him for 3 to 5 years at a reasonable AAV, they should thank Crow for his service, and move on.
- tvetter

The best solution would be to have Lehner and Crawford for this season plus 1-2 more. However, unless #50 is willing to take a significant pay cut I don't see that happening. Who knows, maybe Stan works his magic and figures something out. But, I have to admit that I'm not ready to see Crawford wear another team's jersey yet.

"Reasonable for elite" is now in the $10M/yr. range.
- rpeters01

The problem is that unless Stan is crazy busy again next summer, they really can't have more than about $8M tied up in goal. ADB and Strome are going to use up most of the space they have. We will be lucky to get ADB and Strome for $12M. If we can sign Lehner for 7, and have Delia or Lankinen as his backup, that would be $20M for 4 players. According to Capfriendly, that would put us at $82M with 17 players signed. Plus, we may have carryover bonuses, since Stan is getting close to the cap this year.

I don't want to go on a rant here, but:

I am sick of the CC bashing.

The guy was a workhorse for this team and instrumental in two of the three cups.

To argue is his talent was never elite is to deny the facts.

His level of play began to rise even higher as the crap show defensive play in front of him still saw him give up on average less than two goals a game seeing 35-40 SOG almost nightly.

In fact, that play in front of him these past two years is IMHO
directly responsible for his exposure to concussion injury.

The guy came back when in all likelihood he should have either hung them up or at least given himself more time to recover. More than I can say for many of his Charmin soft teammates who lacked the stones to stand up for him time after time.

Look - I think he will play about half of the games this year barring injury, and at his age after earning over $40MM in the Indianhead, he will likely retire back to life with his hottie wife and cute kid.

But to dump on him as if he was never an elite talent or a truly Committed Indian is shameful.
- Return of the Roar

I agree. Except the only time he had a GAA under 2 was 12-13.


I believe this will be his last year as a Hawk, and I thank him for everything he has done for the Organization

It's not Seabs it's the contract. Keith has had a bad knee for three years nobody talks about, still logs huge minutes. I'm more worried about which Saad shows up and why he seems to have regressed in his prime than Toews. Captain serious has been through more wars the last 10 years than any other center in the league he deserves some slack. Kane doesn't matter he's going to the Yotes...
- rpeters01

Sidney Crosby And Eveni Malkin would strongly disagree and they haven't missed the playoffs

Sidney Crosby And Eveni Malkin would strongly disagree
- SaadBeast

So would Patrice Bergeron.

So would Patrice Bergeron.
- mohel

Actually, I'm ok with having missed the playoffs in a couple of seasons, and being a dud for a couple more before that -it has meant shedding some of the bandwagoners.

If for some reason it were to happen again - well, hey, it is still hockey, still the greatest sport on the planet, and it hoses down some of the soap opera-esque treatment that Chicago media gives to any team that wins anything (or even comes close to winning).

I mean this seriously - they do, in fact, try to overly personalise things with teams (the Chicago media, I mean) - and you have to be in that bubble for an extended period of time to fully see it all in play).

That being said, I don't actually think it will work that way this season ... I think it is going to be team oriented, and basically blue-collar lunch pale stuff; but if it all goes pear shaped, then it isn't going to be the worst thing in the world, either.

Ok - maybe I was testing my new av on a post too ... can't wait to talk about some tangible stuff. This off-season is too slow right now. lol, #poorme.

Mind you ... if they sell those 3rd's again from last season ... I'm going to try to get one with 72 and my name on it ... (I was too thrifty last season -so it never happened). When they fix the collar (not the one I see they got in mind this season either) - I might get an NHL weight real one again ...

Sidney Crosby And Eveni Malkin would strongly disagree and they haven't missed the playoffs
- SaadBeast

Since 2009 when the Hawks started making their run Boston and Pittsburgh have both had missed playoff years. Only Toews has been through the finals three times, maybe Crosby has, the third time being the year Hossa was there 2009? I'm not sure?

The problem is that unless Stan is crazy busy again next summer, they really can't have more than about $8M tied up in goal. ADB and Strome are going to use up most of the space they have. We will be lucky to get ADB and Strome for $12M. If we can sign Lehner for 7, and have Delia or Lankinen as his backup, that would be $20M for 4 players. According to Capfriendly, that would put us at $82M with 17 players signed. Plus, we may have carryover bonuses, since Stan is getting close to the cap this year.
- tvetter

Somebody else may have to go Tampa has the same cap and a better team. Not sure how they are going to do it either?