Last year was Cam Ward, i would guess this year would be Shaw? Murphy?
- LAHawk

He said someone who is normally quiet.

So, to summarize, these are the HB excuses for the Hawk's 1st game performance:

.perennial all-stars deHaan & Murphy are out of the lineup due to injuries
.the ice was way too slow in Prague
.training camp was too short to fully implement the systems
.the team has too may new faces to be able to implement the systems
.long flight to Europe for the first game
.jet lag from the difficult travel
.Keith is too old
.the defensive parings are wrong
.Perlini is not focused/committed enough
.Kampf sucks
.Dach is out with injury
.bad puck luck

SJ is coming in with an 0-3 record, and a -9 goal differential. The Hawks should be able to win the home opener. Unless:

.the stress of the home opener gets to the team
.all the new faces are intimidated by Cornelison's anthem singing
.jet-lagged from the return trip
.SJ tries real hard to turn their poor start around
- scottak

None of the above. They just suck and won't improve soon.

#BOD.

Ackbar game written all over it.
- Return of the Roar

E. Kane and Karlsson will be back Thursday

Was going to say the same thing that it was Ward last year that ripped the team a new one for playing like sh!t. This year I would agree Shaw could be one and I am guessing Smith as the other.
- AEL_Fox

What little monies I have, will be bet on Robin Lehner.

He said someone who is normally quiet.
- tvetter

Kampf? Or how about Maatta? Would like to see both of them blow a gasket in the locker room.

Honestly, it could actually be Lehner. He's very vocal whether in a game, on the bench, or in practice. He's a humble guy given his demons but also holds up his teammates so one would think he expects a lot from them.

What little monies I have, will be bet on Robin Lehner.
- gabriel

Right on about Lehner. Posted that just now, too.

Also this from Powers:

Blackhawks announce de Haan will not practice today due to groin treatment.
- Chunk

Also this from Powers:

Blackhawks announce de Haan will not practice today due to groin treatment.
- Chunk

No further details?
Inquiring minds want to know how he's handling his groin.

No further details?
Inquiring minds want to know how he's handling his groin.
- scottak

Colliton said the plan is to give de Haan a couple days off and see how he responds. Colliton said he's close.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) October 7, 2019

Colliton said the plan is to give de Haan a couple days off and see how he responds. Colliton said he's close.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) October 7, 2019

- DarthKane

He’s been close for three weeks.

It’s like a parabola - gets closer and closer, but never quite hits the axis.

JC was like a blender during the game mixing up lines like a mad man at times .

So what does he do when the team resumes practice after playing flat for most of the game, he stays with the same lines.

I thought Dach traveled with the team? If he did was it more for bonding then anything else as to why they brought the kid along.
- Taylorst1

Well, we all whined when guys weren't allowed to stick together to build some chemistry. This sounds like a classic having your cake and eating it too situation.

We all know the Hawks were bad on opening night. Despite a previous poster's list of "excuses", I think they just stunk. That happens sometimes. Teams have bad games. Sometimes it's not reacting well to what the other team is doing, sometimes everyone is just out of sync. Sometimes the goalies have an off night.

I'm still not going to get overly concerned about the team (...or the system, or the lines, or the pairings) until they play about 20 games. I'm going to trust the guys that actually see what is going on during practice, and have been in communication with the players over the offseason, because - by default - they have much more knowledge on the matter that I do.

As far as Dach is concerned, I would guess there are two factors at play here. First, he was recovering from a concussion. Regardless of the fact that he is practicing, they may be taking an overly cautious approach to inserting him in the line-up. Second, they've play one (bad) game. I would think they would try to get the team that was on the ice to start the year rolling a little before inserting a rookie who has never played a minute against grown-ups.

He’s been close for three weeks.

It’s like a parabola - gets closer and closer, but never quite hits the axis.
- StLBravesFan

Probably why Stan wasn't sweating getting him and Maatta, and having all of the extra defensive depth (if you want to call it that) this year.

For sure.
- mohel

Quoting yourself now will one of the mohel's please show himself out. Or both ... preferably.

No further details?
Inquiring minds want to know how he's handling his groin.
- scottak

Vigorously

He’s been close for three weeks.

It’s like a parabola - gets closer and closer, but never quite hits the axis.
- StLBravesFan

Meh. Its game 2. He will be back soon enough and join the hit parade when he (frank)s up.

Vigorously
- Elbows15

"You might be a cunning linguist, but I'm a master debater."

The Vegas blueline is comprised of 2nd and 3rd pair players. Theodore is the closest to a 1st pair, iMO. I could be wrong, though, as I don't follow them that closely.
- AEL_Fox

Theodore or Schmidt would be our #1 D.

So the teams needs other leaders now? Neither Smith or Lehner have the credentials at this point to be getting in anyone's ear. Smith sucks and Lehner needs to worry about his own job cause he didn't look too great in the preseason either.

If Dach is healthy, he needs to be playing back with his junior team. Practicing with this bunch ain't gonna help.

To my point earlier, per Powers:

Colliton also said he wants to get Dach into some full practices before determining when he plays. The Blackhawks didn't have a lot of regular practices in Europe.

He also says Murphy isn't a sure thing to go. He is "hopeful" to play.

Quoting yourself now will one of the mohel's please show himself out. Or both ... preferably.
- I Am The Breadman

Just responding to internal stimuli....

Theodore or Schmidt would be our #1 D.
- ItHossaGood

I can agree to that. Would they be top pair on other teams? Possibly some teams but not all.

Keith in his prime was by far the #1 blueliner on the Hawks and would have been on virtually every other team in the league. Now, he's a defaulted #1 for the Hawks and likely many other teams as well.

(frank) you
- Ogilthorpe2

wow


WOW

Just responding to internal stimuli....
- mohel

some would call that dementia.

To my point earlier, per Powers:

Colliton also said he wants to get Dach into some full practices before determining when he plays. The Blackhawks didn't have a lot of regular practices in Europe.

He also says Murphy isn't a sure thing to go. He is "hopeful" to play.
- Chunk

Hopefully that was related to the travel schedule and letting the players enjoy Europe, too, and not a regular habit of optional practices and off days like Q used to have. This team needs to learn systems and each other so hopefully there's a strong dose of practices, days in the gym, and sessions watching game tape.