If gus is top 2 in D minutes on your team....you're not making the playoffs

When Keith is paired with him, he essentially is on the ice with 4 other forwards

If I'm on the other team playing the Hawks, everytime 2 and 56 are on the ice, I am attacking Keith/his side every-single-time

I'm carrying the puck at him, I'm dumping the puck to his side...I'm putting every bit of pressure on him because he doesnt have support and 2 doesnt have a reliable D partner outlet. Eventually, it will wear him down and force turnovers- which is exactly what has happened to him since JC labeled Gus a top minute "defenceman"
- PatShart

Unfortunately (at least in my mind), that is the nature of today's game......a dman who scores is more important than a dman who eliminates scoring chances against.

If only Leadpipe were still around. What amazing pairing him and Gus would be.
- Beaver-Warrior

Well that right there is a terrifying thought. Leadpipe and Mouthbreather.

If gus is top 2 in D minutes on your team....you're not making the playoffs

When Keith is paired with him, he essentially is on the ice with 4 other forwards

If I'm on the other team playing the Hawks, everytime 2 and 56 are on the ice, I am attacking Keith/his side every-single-time

I'm carrying the puck at him, I'm dumping the puck to his side...I'm putting every bit of pressure on him because he doesnt have support and 2 doesnt have a reliable D partner outlet. Eventually, it will wear him down and force turnovers- which is exactly what has happened to him since JC labeled Gus a top minute "defenceman"
- PatShart

I wouldn't blame Keith's struggles on Gus. Keith has been on the slow decline since after the 2016 season. He just doesn't have the same foot speed he once had and it keeps him from covering up some of his positioning mistakes and overly aggressive play.

Keith in his prime could jump passing lanes at the blue line/center ice and still recover if he missed. Same with high risk stick checks high up in the zone.

You see him try those now and he simply cannot get back if he misses. Father time always wins.

Keith can still be a really good D-man but he needs to play a more low risk style.

I wouldn't blame Keith's struggles on Gus. Keith has been on the slow decline since after the 2016 season. He just doesn't have the same foot speed he once had and it keeps him from covering up some of his positioning mistakes and overly aggressive play.

Keith in his prime could jump passing lanes at the blue line/center ice and still recover if he missed. Same with high risk stick checks high up in the zone.

You see him try those now and he simply cannot get back if he misses. Father time always wins.

Keith can still be a really good D-man but he needs to play a more low risk style.
- bhawks2241

I think our overall D would be much better if everyone played like Seabs-Maatta. They keep it really simply, clean and quick. Obviously, speed and pressure can and will get the best of them from time to time, but they seem like the mose secure pairing right now.

The funny thing is, in the preseason and in game 1, Maatta had a number of trips deep in the O-zone and even behind the opposing net. I think he just knows when to take his chances better than a lot of other guys.

Tyler love the way you just cut right through things and jumped right in. Glad murphy is back in the lineup . Any word on Calvin return date or Dach timeline to play ?

Keith and Gus have been struggling together for quite some time and IMO neither of these 2 guys should be paired together .

Hows the snow up there Enzo? horrible here in the Springs and 25 closed N of Mon Hill....
- glennjpawlak22

@Chunk...My Boss has those season tickets (and club level access) so I get a handful of games (and every one the Hawks are in town) in those seats for free.


@glenn Lots of snow this morning but roads are already clear in DTC from my office view.

I just bought a Cabin in Park Country so I'll be watching weekend games from 10,000 feet elevation once the ViaSat guy installs internet tomorrow.

Why is it that the Sharks being 0-4 is viewed as an aberration, and the Hawks being 0-1 means they suck?
- mohel

Are you new here?

@Chunk...My Boss has those season tickets (and club level access) so I get a handful of games (and every one the Hawks are in town) in those seats for free.


@glenn Lots of snow this morning but roads are already clear in DTC from my office view.

I just bought a Cabin in Park Country so I'll be watching weekend games from 10,000 feet elevation once the ViaSat guy installs internet tomorrow.
- EnzoD

aves/bruins...sure..but you will posting here at some point during the hawk debacle...oops meant home debut...or did I...

Are you new here?
- DarthKane

he must be...

its the den of hawk doom here...we have been well conditioned the last 2 years...

Kimbrel is toast, Stan told Theo to sign him. Another wasted $15 m on the store bought pitching staff. Theo the genius...
- rpeters01

Kimbrel will be fine. The starting pitching is pedestrian
Hendricks, Darvish if he is healthy are keepers. The Cubs have quantity but not enough quality in projected starters. Wondering what Lester can do to rebound.

Strop will go. He probably is ok but he did loose a tad.off fb. He is getting older and his salary can go toward the hefty Bryant contract. There is no small ball ability or willingness but that probably changes. Too many sluggers who sttike out too much.

I would move Schwarber, move a lefty in Quintana, and there are too many utility like Bote and a couple trade acqusition here after late season deals. Either Almora or Heyward. Would love to get rid of Heyward big contract.

It is a mistake to trade a young star player. If they did, get as many quality blue chip pitching prospects in return. I vote in favor of retaining Caratini but can he play 3b occassionally with Bryant in OF? Because Contreras still behind plate most of the time and Rizzo dorsn't get rested much. The main things though just 1) try to upgrade starting pitching and or starters in farm system; 2) small ball has to be done as appropiate/situational and unload a couple veterans - Schwarber for sure. We need a lead off hitter who can run and bat .290 plus. If it means miving Almora i am ok with that..

he must be...

its the den of hawk doom here...we have been well conditioned the last 2 years...

- bogiedoc

2 years? Been that way here since at least 2013.

Why is it that the Sharks being 0-4 is viewed as an aberration, and the Hawks being 0-1 means they suck?
- mohel

Are you new here?
- DarthKane

Analyse this ... No typos, let alone massed typos (side note ... people need to stop posting on phones ...) - check (must be new)

No mention of a whipping boy - check (must be new)

No mention of any prospect being the guy to turn the team around (qualifier - this guy has to be down at Rockford or below and played at most a handful of games in the NHL at most - and by handful it can also mean never having scored a goal in the NHL.). - check (must be new).

I think it seems statistically conclusive ... must be new.

AEL_FOX,

Could you enlighten regsrding Reece Johnson. I understsnd hevis a tough hard nosed centet who can provise some offense but primarily is a very good two way effort guy. Is he someone who will natyle along boards in a scrum? How good at the dot? He is going to stick up for teammates! Not projected as perhaps ideal bottom line scorer; instead has the talent to produce some points but is more concerned with playing solid defense. Which leads me to suggest he would outplay the opponents #4 center and can hold his own even shut down an opposing top line center, for ecample, in road games. Sound about right?

I strongly believe a strength of this team in two years is thevabilty to roll four lines with hungry young and improving third and fourth line skaters out-performing their opponent. You will have a nice blend of speed, toughness even a yapper with good skill if Barrett imoroves his skating. And so R Johnson projects as a member of the bottom two lines. I ser him teplacing Kampf.

2 years? Been that way here since at least 2013.
- mohel

2013? Hasn't it always been that way?

2013? Hasn't it always been that way?
- DarthKane

Yes, sir.

2 years? Been that way here since at least 2013.
- mohel

kinda when you showed...

2013? Hasn't it always been that way?
- DarthKane

Going back to the Sassoon - Daily Herald days.

Kimbrel will be fine. The starting pitching is pedestrian
Hendricks, Darvish if he is healthy are keepers. The Cubs have quantity but not enough quality in projected starters. Wondering what Lester can do to rebound.

Strop will go. He probably is ok but he did loose a tad.off fb. He is getting older and his salary can go toward the hefty Bryant contract. There is no small ball ability or willingness but that probably changes. Too many sluggers who sttike out too much.

I would move Schwarber, move a lefty in Quintana, and there are too many utility like Bote and a couple trade acqusition here after late season deals. Either Almora or Heyward. Would love to get rid of Heyward big contract.

It is a mistake to trade a young star player. If they did, get as many quality blue chip pitching prospects in return. I vote in favor of retaining Caratini but can he play 3b occassionally with Bryant in OF? Because Contreras still behind plate most of the time and Rizzo dorsn't get rested much. The main things though just 1) try to upgrade starting pitching and or starters in farm system; 2) small ball has to be done as appropiate/situational and unload a couple veterans - Schwarber for sure. We need a lead off hitter who can run and bat .290 plus. If it means miving Almora i am ok with that..
- jhawk59

Scwarber out hits Bryant for half the price. Only guy who hit in September and batted clean up most of it. Raised his average almost 20 pts one month. Move Baez to third, Hoerner to SS, move Bryant.

Predictions for tonight:

3-1 Sharks. Thornton, Meier and Vlasic for San Jose. Shaw for Chicago (who scores within the first 2 minutes of the game).

Predictions for tonight:

3-1 Sharks. Thornton, Meier and Vlasic for San Jose. Shaw for Chicago (who scores within the first 2 minutes of the game).
- DarthKane

I think Saad scores first and a Hawks win 5-2

AEL_FOX,

Could you enlighten regsrding Reece Johnson. I understsnd hevis a tough hard nosed centet who can provise some offense but primarily is a very good two way effort guy. Is he someone who will natyle along boards in a scrum? How good at the dot? He is going to stick up for teammates! Not projected as perhaps ideal bottom line scorer; instead has the talent to produce some points but is more concerned with playing solid defense. Which leads me to suggest he would outplay the opponents #4 center and can hold his own even shut down an opposing top line center, for ecample, in road games. Sound about right?

I strongly believe a strength of this team in two years is thevabilty to roll four lines with hungry young and improving third and fourth line skaters out-performing their opponent. You will have a nice blend of speed, toughness even a yapper with good skill if Barrett imoroves his skating. And so R Johnson projects as a member of the bottom two lines. I ser him teplacing Kampf.
- jhawk59

If Johnson ever makes it to the NHL, it would be as a 4th liner and possibly as 4C. Pretty good on draws in the brief sample size he's had so far in the AHL stemming from the end of last season.

Johnson doesn't cheat offensively so he can support the D-men which is a plus. Engages along the boards, plays physical, sticks up for mates.

Offensively, he was less than a PPG player in juniors so I wouldn't expect much from him in the AHL or NHL besides chipping in opportune garbage goals here and there. Think offensive stats like Kruger or Kampf.

AEL_FOX,

Could you enlighten regsrding Reece Johnson. I understsnd hevis a tough hard nosed centet who can provise some offense but primarily is a very good two way effort guy. Is he someone who will natyle along boards in a scrum? How good at the dot? He is going to stick up for teammates! Not projected as perhaps ideal bottom line scorer; instead has the talent to produce some points but is more concerned with playing solid defense. Which leads me to suggest he would outplay the opponents #4 center and can hold his own even shut down an opposing top line center, for ecample, in road games. Sound about right?

I strongly believe a strength of this team in two years is thevabilty to roll four lines with hungry young and improving third and fourth line skaters out-performing their opponent. You will have a nice blend of speed, toughness even a yapper with good skill if Barrett imoroves his skating. And so R Johnson projects as a member of the bottom two lines. I ser him teplacing Kampf.
- jhawk59

The Hawks do have a glut of bottom 6 prospects, especially 4th liners, so it will eventually be a numbers game of who makes it and who moves on to new franchises or plies their trade overseas.

Most likely bottom 6:
Entwistle, Hakkarainen, Highmore, Johnson, Quenneville, Slavin, Saarela (the younger brother in Finland), Soderlund, Wedin

Capacity to be middle 6:
Barratt, Hagel, Kurashev, Saarela (the older brother in Rockford), Sikura, Teply, Wise

Another season, another Leafs team with an explosive offense but absolutely awful in terms of giving up far too many GA.

And that arrogant fan base still considers themselves Cup contenders.

They wouldn’t beat a team like Boston in a playoff series in a million years.

No Dehaan tonight

Rather have Gilbert with Murphy instead of Koekkoek

That's a great word, Burish, if you want to win in this league you need sandpaper in your lineup