OMG the sky is falling .The HAWKS have played 1 game oversees (gimmick Game ) against a decent Flyers team and they lost by 1 goal ,Fire the coach . Oh I forgot they did not look good in the all important pre season ,fire the GM !! .
Am I not at all lol
- oldduffman

They don't call it the Board of Doom for nuthin'.

OMG the sky is falling .The HAWKS have played 1 game oversees (gimmick Game ) against a decent Flyers team and they lost by 1 goal ,Fire the coach . Oh I forgot they did not look good in the all important pre season ,fire the GM !! .
Am I not at all lol
- oldduffman

Obviously you don’t remember last year when the Hawks won the first game of the season? Or how about the year before when the beat the Two-time Defending Cup Champions 10-1 on opening night? Clearly opening night is a bellwether moment accurately predicting the tone for the season. We’ve seen all we need to see...no point in even playing out the string.

Gotta admit, it was hard to get passed that statement. I respect the passion, but.....

Edit - or "past", if English is important to you! Gotta call myself out.....
- mohel

I just can't wrap my head around the idea you can win games with half of your starting line up being AHL caliber defenseman. The last 3 years this has been the case.

I just can't wrap my head around the idea you can win games with half of your starting line up being AHL caliber defenseman. The last 3 years this has been the case.
- BetweenTheDots

Many are so eager to prove themselves correct that JC stinks, that they say strange things like that. They could be right, but saying that they aren't any better with two solid NHL defensemen than they are with their AHL stand-ins makes me discount their stuff.

If there was a system where you didn't need NHL dmen you wouldn't see defenseman salaries be as high as they are, ask the Jets if dmen matter 10 goals in 2 games

If there was a system where you didn't need NHL dmen you wouldn't see defenseman salaries be as high as they are, ask the Jets if dmen matter 10 goals in 2 games
- BetweenTheDots[/quote

When Carl Dahlstrom gets up to speed with the Jets there will be no more of that loose defence.

[quote=BetweenTheDots]If there was a system where you didn't need NHL dmen you wouldn't see defenseman salaries be as high as they are, ask the Jets if dmen matter 10 goals in 2 games
- RickJ[/quote

When Carl Dahlstrom gets up to speed with the Jets there will be no more of that loose defence.

After watching the Leaves tonight, they should have claimed him.

It's only fair; I got drunk watching last night....

I'm in the 20-30 game club, too.
- mohel

Wasn't the game on at 1PM?

Don't give up yet, there's plenty of season left. Nothing wrong with optimism.
- mohel

It’s like having an intern do a complicated heart surgery. He’s not ready. And he’s not supposed to be learning in the NHL.

After watching the Leaves tonight, they should have claimed him.
- mohel

Leafs

Just messing with you, Mo.

After watching the Leaves tonight, they should have claimed him.
- mohel

Their forwards are so good, Pens were able to at least have capable NHL dmen on their roster, don't know how the Leaf's will pull it off come playoff time. Even the greatest so called coach Babcock system sucked with AHL players on the roster

It’s like having an intern do a complicated heart surgery. He’s not ready. And he’s not supposed to be learning in the NHL.
- scottak

I'm not 100% sold on JC, but after the way they turned their (they're, there) season around in the second half of last year, I'm willing to give him 20 to 30 games to see if the team can gel. We still haven't seen a game with a real defense. I hope that when Murphy and DeHaan get in the lineup, Gus' minutes will be cut, and he'll be separated from Keith. Keith, DeHaan, Maata, Murphy, arabs and Gus (in that order) is a lot better than any D combination we've had since 2015.

I'm not 100% sold on JC, but after the way they turned their (they're, there) season around in the second half of last year, I'm willing to give him 20 to 30 games to see if the team can gel. We still haven't seen a game with a real defense. I hope that when Murphy and DeHaan get in the lineup, Gus' minutes will be cut, and he'll be separated from Keith. Keith, DeHaan, Maata, Murphy, arabs and Gus (in that order) is a lot better than any D combination we've had since 2015.
- tvetter

Too much mansaf & hummus for Seabs, it's slowing him down.

It all depends on the term and cap hit. It also depends on what Stan thinks about the D prospects. I would guess he’s high on a couple of them since he traded Jokiharju, but who really knows.
- DarthKane

Nobody really knows Stan's next move. And again, respect your opinions and wasn't giving you a difficult time. Just think that another team interested in Gus would be a difficult sell due to his consistent gaffs on D.

Nobody really knows Stan's next move. And again, respect your opinions and wasn't giving you a difficult time. Just think that another team interested in Gus would be a difficult sell due to his consistent gaffs on D.
- gabriel

I saw your post earlier from today, I did some back reading. I knew you were just trying to be funny. It's all good. You're (your) a good guy with a respectable view of the team. I'm just sarcastic a lot of the time. I'm an optimist though, through & through.

After watching the Leaves tonight, they should have claimed him.
- mohel

its a good thing they got 40 million invested in 4 forwards; those guys are going to need to earn their salary to help this team score 4 or more with regularity to have a chance...

(frank) the leafs and babcock and shanahan

I saw your post earlier from today, I did some back reading. I knew you were just trying to be funny. It's all good. You're (your) a good guy with a respectable view of the team. I'm just sarcastic a lot of the time. I'm an optimist though, through & through.
- I Am The Breadman

Thanks for taking the time to respond, Bread. Would never purposefully be a jerk to anybody on this board. Great place to hang around with pals who share the same interest. Cannot even begin to tell you how much I've learned here.

whoa...nifty play from kurashov to sikura for the finish...

https://twitter.com/goice...tatus/1180302927451377664

I would advocate moving Shaw to 3C with Saad and put Nylander/Perlini(ugh) on the other wing. Shaw is probably the 2nd best defensive center on the team. Shaw is better on the wing for sure but he isn't bad at center.

Put Kubalik with Dinky and Strome, as others have mentioned. Kubalik needs a playmaker and that line needs some heft.

See if Caligula, Toews and Kane can find their mojo from last season cause Caligula with Smith and Carpenter makes him useless.

Put Kampf at 4C and punt Carpenter/Smith into the sun. Get Highmore/Wedin/Nilsson or any other two Hogs up here that puck hunt to play with Kampf.
- Elbows15

Even though I felt the bottom 6 played fine in the first game, it could definitely be better and a far cry from contention caliber. I could get behind the moves you suggested for the top 9:

Caggiula - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Kubalik
Saad - Shaw - Nylander
Carpenter - Kampf - Smith

That 4th line and few other forward spots could be serviceable until the youth have time to develop:

Nylander - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Kubalik
Saad - Dach - Shaw
Caggiula - Kampf - Highmore

If Dach isn't ready, I would consider Sikura with Saad and Shaw to get them a playmaker. Or even see if Kurashev is ready to have a go.

Not sure you noticed, my friend, but the Hawks are already in last (frank)ing place! Only took one stinking game to hit the basement, Jack.
- mohel

We already have a better record than both Dallas and Minnesota. Things are looking up! Slap up a win and we'll be battling for the division lead.

whoa...nifty play from kurashov to sikura for the finish...

https://twitter.com/goice...tatus/1180302927451377664
- bogiedoc

Yeah, that was a nice play by both players. Kurashev to not be denied the puck in the neutral zone by multiple Flyers (not in that clip) then get it deep before dishing a perfect pass to Sikura who cut through the middle to a dangerous shooting area.

That line of Kurashev centering Sikura and Saarela could be something. They were quiet in the opening period but heated up in the 2nd and 3rd.

Kurashev and Sikura both have great vision, hockey sense, and playmaking ability yet are still defensively responsible. Pretty consistent compete level, too.

While not great without the puck, Saarela can be lethal with it so he gives Kurashev and Sikura a capable triggerman.

Too much mansaf & hummus for Seabs, it's slowing him down.
- I Am The Breadman

It’s all dat key-bap my frent.

It’s all dat key-bap my frent.
- HawkintheD

Hahaha!!! I guess some of that as well.

I'm not 100% sold on JC, but after the way they turned their (they're, there) season around in the second half of last year, I'm willing to give him 20 to 30 games to see if the team can gel. We still haven't seen a game with a real defense. I hope that when Murphy and DeHaan get in the lineup, Gus' minutes will be cut, and he'll be separated from Keith. Keith, DeHaan, Maata, Murphy, arabs and Gus (in that order) is a lot better than any D combination we've had since 2015.
- tvetter

JC seems confident of sticking here for a while - he and his family just bought a $1.63MM house in Lakeview (Chicago Tribune).