The Blackhawks start the season with a coach not names Joel Quenneville for the first time in eleven years and come out flat. Where is the intensity?

The best center is still Toews
The best winger is still Kane
The best defenseman is still Keith
The starting goaltender is still Crawford (might be the best)

I hope this team takes a step forward this year and some other guys step up.

The Blackhawks start the season with a coach not names Joel Quenneville for the first time in eleven years and come out flat. Where is the intensity?

The best center is still Toews
The best winger is still Kane
The best defenseman is still Keith
The starting goaltender is still Crawford (might be the best)

I hope this team takes a step forward this year and some other guys step up.
- matt_ahrens

Not trying to argue here, but I think Maatta (at least in this game) was the best D on the Hawks. Played the most fundamental D and even generated a decent amount of offense.

Not trying to argue here, but I think Maatta (at least in this game) was the best D on the Hawks. Played the most fundamental D and even generated a decent amount of offense.
- Chunk

Agreed. Love Keith but he was horrible in game 1.

Not trying to argue here, but I think Maatta (at least in this game) was the best D on the Hawks. Played the most fundamental D and even generated a decent amount of offense.
- Chunk

The guy came prepared to play some defense on opening night. I agree with your observation. Hope he ends up being a solid acquisition.

The Blackhawks start the season with a coach not names Joel Quenneville for the first time in eleven years and come out flat. Where is the intensity?

The best center is still Toews
The best winger is still Kane
The best defenseman is still Keith
The starting goaltender is still Crawford (might be the best)

I hope this team takes a step forward this year and some other guys step up.
- matt_ahrens

Nothing inherently wrong with starting the season playing a semi-clunker. Hope it has little or nothing to do with the coaching staff. They played with zero intensity during the exhibition schedule, and it continued tonite.

I thought Shaw looked good in his first game back. His skating looked improved. Not sure of the system as a fan so i can't imagine what the players are thinking. Kaner looks good damn that guy can throw a pass!

Starting lineup for the Hogs:

Saarela - Kurashev - D Sikura
Entwistle - T Sikura - Highmore
Versteeg - Nilsson - Hagel
Johnson - Hakkarainen - Fortin

Tuulola - Carlsson
Holm - Boqvist
Krys - Beaudin

Lankinen

Some observations from the Hogs season opener:

Entwistle simply owns the boards. Tough to beat him.

Saarela has a heavy shot and is volume shooter.

Hagel works his tail off with hustle. Feisty, too. Not shy to get into it with the opponent.

Kurashev and Sikura were not noticeable in the 1st period but got better as the game progressed. Both solid in all zones. Budding chemistry together.

I really love how Kurashev persists and pushes through the tight checking and physicality of the pro level in order to make plays.

Although you can definitely tell they're very green, I did like how Krys and Beaudin battle in their own end.

Carlsson and Tuulola are battlers. too. Very physical.

Despite the loss, Lankinen was actually pretty solid in net. Sharp and poised. Made some tough saves.

Rockford lost tonight as well. 3-2 was the final.vs. Iowa.

JT Brown scored with 15 seconds left in the 3rd.

Highmore and D. Silura with the goals.
- Tyler Cameron

Entwistle made it all happen on Highmore's tip-in SH goal stealing the puck in his zone and showing good patience to take time off the clock before hammering a shot from the boards.

Kurashev's feed from the boards to a streaking Sikura cutting from circle to circle came after two Iowa players shut him down once in the neutral zone but couldn't contain him as he quickly got the puck back beating them to gain the zone.

Lol...everyone blaming Keith for Crawford giving up 2 horrible goals on those shots

The whole teams facial expressions look like Trubisky....lost. The Hawks are just out for a skate

JCs big move is to take Nylander off the top line. And he was skating well. That'll help his confidence
- PatShart

Only one game, but the Hawks looked very unprepared especially after a full camp with JC. Lots of home games where the Hawks need to make hay coming up to start the schedule...but whether they make the playoffs is a coin flip...Hawks were chasing a lot today and looked particularly bad in the 2nd frame.

Trubisky is a complete and utter bust. Sadly the Bears will waste a top notch defense this season because Pace couldn't take either Mahomes or Watson, but for a Mr Ohio QB who was told by OSU he could play for them if he was willing to play safety.

Some observations from the Hogs season opener:

Entwistle simply owns the boards. Tough to beat him.

Saarela has a heavy shot and is volume shooter.

Hagel works his tail off with hustle. Feisty, too. Not shy to get into it with the opponent.

Kurashev and Sikura were not noticeable in the 1st period but got better as the game progressed. Both solid in all zones. Budding chemistry together.

I really love how Kurashev persists and pushes through the tight checking and physicality of the pro level in order to make plays.

Although you can definitely tell they're very green, I did like how Krys and Beaudin battle in their own end.

Carlsson and Tuulola are battlers. too. Very physical.

Despite the loss, Lankinen was actually pretty solid in net. Sharp and poised. Made some tough saves.
- AEL_Fox

Good stuff thanks. Looking forward to the day when some of the place holders in Chicago are replaced by Entwhistle, Saarela, Kurashev and mayyyybe Hagel. 2010 team is and always will be my favorite. 2020-21 team will be similar I think.

Only one game, but the Hawks looked very unprepared especially after a full camp with JC. Lots of home games where the Hawks need to make hay coming up to start the schedule...but whether they make the playoffs is a coin flip...Hawks were chasing a lot today and looked particularly bad in the 2nd frame.
- DK002

Remember when we used to be a possession team? So much so it would agitate the opponent so much they’d take stoopid penalties and force us to the PP and we’d cycle the puck the entire 2 min grinding their PK into dust. Won Cups and were perennial contenders then.
Defense wins Cups and I hope ours gets in line at some point in the 1st half but I’m realllllly not a fan of the mixed zone approach. Stan immensely upgraded the d-men and goalie yet they still should’ve given up 7-8 goals yesterday.
I can’t see them winning with JC at the helm. Crawford maybe, but def not JC. JC is the Hawks version of Trestman/Jauron.

Some observations from the Hogs season opener:

Entwistle simply owns the boards. Tough to beat him.

Saarela has a heavy shot and is volume shooter.

Hagel works his tail off with hustle. Feisty, too. Not shy to get into it with the opponent.

Kurashev and Sikura were not noticeable in the 1st period but got better as the game progressed. Both solid in all zones. Budding chemistry together.

I really love how Kurashev persists and pushes through the tight checking and physicality of the pro level in order to make plays.

Although you can definitely tell they're very green, I did like how Krys and Beaudin battle in their own end.

Carlsson and Tuulola are battlers. too. Very physical.

Despite the loss, Lankinen was actually pretty solid in net. Sharp and poised. Made some tough saves.
- AEL_Fox

Thanks for the breakdown AEL.

Nice to have you keeping a close eye on Rockford for us!

Yesterday's non showing by Chicago from the 2nd period on is a bit alarming.

Maatta was probably Chicago's best defenseman, I'd also say him and Seabrook paired up is a positive for Seabrook.

Keith and Gus simply do not work , Keith got burned and Gus can't defend or pass to save his life.

JC did not utilize all this down time before the game to establish lines that have .


David kampf should not be the 3rd line center , he does not to complimentmor help drive that line.
Kubalick and saad mia

Kane was bounced around
Strome and cat seemed quiet for a majority of the game

Nylander I believe will be good he was able to score the 1st goal , just needs time and a coaching staff that reinforces a belief in him

Kubalick should be moved up to stromes line
Shaw should play with toews and Kane

Kampf can ride the bench
saad Dach Nylander would be a good line because that would allow Nylander to carry the puck with no pressure of playing alongside toews and Kane

Gilbert I like his game and he did make 1 error that ended up costing Chicago a goal but again Crawford should have had that goal.
Not a stellar performance

Yesterday's non showing by Chicago from the 2nd period on is a bit alarming.

Maatta was probably Chicago's best defenseman, I'd also say him and Seabrook paired up is a positive for Seabrook.

Keith and Gus simply do not work , Keith got burned and Gus can't defend or pass to save his life.

JC did not utilize all this down time before the game to establish lines that have .


David kampf should not be the 3rd line center , he does not to complimentmor help drive that line.
Kubalick and saad mia

Kane was bounced around
Strome and cat seemed quiet for a majority of the game

Nylander I believe will be good he was able to score the 1st goal , just needs time and a coaching staff that reinforces a belief in him

Kubalick should be moved up to stromes line
Shaw should play with toews and Kane

Kampf can ride the bench
saad Dach Nylander would be a good line because that would allow Nylander to carry the puck with no pressure of playing alongside toews and Kane

Gilbert I like his game and he did make 1 error that ended up costing Chicago a goal but again Crawford should have had that goal.
Not a stellar performance
- Taylorst1

There's still time to change your prediction of a division title!

Yesterday's non showing by Chicago from the 2nd period on is a bit alarming.

Maatta was probably Chicago's best defenseman, I'd also say him and Seabrook paired up is a positive for Seabrook.

Keith and Gus simply do not work , Keith got burned and Gus can't defend or pass to save his life.

JC did not utilize all this down time before the game to establish lines that have .


David kampf should not be the 3rd line center , he does not to complimentmor help drive that line.
Kubalick and saad mia

Kane was bounced around
Strome and cat seemed quiet for a majority of the game

Nylander I believe will be good he was able to score the 1st goal , just needs time and a coaching staff that reinforces a belief in him

Kubalick should be moved up to stromes line
Shaw should play with toews and Kane

Kampf can ride the bench
saad Dach Nylander would be a good line because that would allow Nylander to carry the puck with no pressure of playing alongside toews and Kane

Gilbert I like his game and he did make 1 error that ended up costing Chicago a goal but again Crawford should have had that goal.
Not a stellar performance
- Taylorst1[/quot

Not maintaining puck control through the neutral zone is what did them in. Crawford made some outstanding saves in net to keep them in the hunt. Yes, he let in two softies. But tagging him with the loss seems a bit unfair to me. The ice was tilted in favor of Philly due to their hard work. It's only one game, but we've all seen this movie before. "Groundhog Day." What is so difficult to accept as a simple fan, is the inability to conceptualize how to fix it with our assembled talent. It's gonna be tough.

There's still time to change your prediction of a division title!
- mohel

Good morning, Mo! See you're up and running with a caustic quip. Did you not appreciate Groundhog Day yesterday? Lol.

I’d argue that the talent is there, and there are some guys in Rockford that can help later this season (Entwistle).
- scottak

We saw how Rockford guys play today, 3 of them on defense.

Me thinks we all thought Maata and Seabrook looked like the best pair...did the bad ice mentioned by a poster here while viewing the game commented on?

I think Dcah's ability to play defensively might be too alluring to not take advantage of after seeing the way the Flyers worked pucks back...

There's still time to change your prediction of a division title!
- mohel

The only thing that caught me by surprise was the overreaction to Crow's performance in Game One. What was everyone expecting? Besides, Rogatien Vachon in his prime couldn't have stolen a point, yesterday.

Good stuff thanks. Looking forward to the day when some of the place holders in Chicago are replaced by Entwhistle, Saarela, Kurashev and mayyyybe Hagel. 2010 team is and always will be my favorite. 2020-21 team will be similar I think.
- Assman22

Yeah cause those guys looked great against Boston. Don't fall into the fan's trap of minor league players saving a major league team.

Me thinks we all thought Maata and Seabrook looked like the best pair...did the bad ice mentioned by a poster here while viewing the game commented on?

I think Dcah's ability to play defensively might be too alluring to not take advantage of after seeing the way the Flyers worked pucks back...
- wiz1901

Two old school guys who now allow me some inner peace. Only proves in spades that I know nothing about pro hockey.

Isn't Delia with big club in Prague?

I can understand a word but this guy is awful
- Elbows15

Elbows, sorry for the late reply to this. Didn't see this post from yesterday.

Delia is with the Hawks in Europe. Guess they didn't want to trust a Czech accountant as an emergency goalie.

Tomkins backed up Lankinen last night.

Some observations from the Hogs season opener:

Entwistle simply owns the boards. Tough to beat him.

Saarela has a heavy shot and is volume shooter.

Hagel works his tail off with hustle. Feisty, too. Not shy to get into it with the opponent.

Kurashev and Sikura were not noticeable in the 1st period but got better as the game progressed. Both solid in all zones. Budding chemistry together.

I really love how Kurashev persists and pushes through the tight checking and physicality of the pro level in order to make plays.

Although you can definitely tell they're very green, I did like how Krys and Beaudin battle in their own end.

Carlsson and Tuulola are battlers. too. Very physical.

Despite the loss, Lankinen was actually pretty solid in net. Sharp and poised. Made some tough saves.
- AEL_Fox

Entwistle is exactly the type of forward this team is short on. He can’t get up soon enough. Give him half a season in the A, then reaccess.

Yeah cause those guys looked great against Boston. Don't fall into the fan's trap of minor league players saving a major league team.
- rpeters01

Fair point and well received, here. My question to you is who is the minor leaguer at this point. Koekkoek or Gilbert? How would you proceed with them?