Mc David and Drisaitill 1,2 in scoring. James Neal 7 goals in 5 games, they are giving up an average of .5 goals against so far this year.
- LAHawk

Can't wait to see how many goals that swine Neal has at season's end. He's probably already scored enough to make the trade a win.

It's not just the number of SOG - it's the "relativity".

Through a "small sample size" 3 games, 5X5 (naturalstattrick):

CF% - 42.9%
SF% - 46.9%
SC% - 39.7% - tells me that more of Chicago's SOGs are from the perimeter
HDCF% - 38.9%
SV% - 92.9% - good for 8th in the league - goalies are keeping them in games
SH% - 6.7% - bad for 24th in the league - again, perimeter shooting, too many shots not in prime scoring areas.
- StLBravesFan

Even so they have given up at least one special team goal in the last 3 games.

91 given up last year
4 given up in 3 games on pace to give up 109 short handed goals, they got 1 back by scoring a shorty but i don't care what team you are if you can't stop a power play you're drafting somewhere in the top 10.

Can't wait to see how many goals that swine Neal has at season's end. He's probably already scored enough to make the trade a win.
- mohel

Only if they make the playoffs, we'll see

Dach centering a line with Saarela and Quenneville today. That should be interesting to watch.

Even so they have given up at least one special team goal in the last 3 games.

91 given up last year
4 given up in 3 games on pace to give up 109 short handed goals, they got 1 back by scoring a shorty but i don't care what team you are if you can't stop a power play you're drafting somewhere in the top 10.
- BetweenTheDots

It was bad last season, but not quite that bad:

PPGA = 1 (3x4) + 5 (3x5) + 56 (4x5) + 1 (4x6) = 63.

Setting aside goaltending, which is always of paramount importance for team success - the next biggest requirement for success this season, IMO, is the play of Toews. If Toews doesn't play as well as he did last season - the Hawks will not have a successful season. Toews doesn't have to be a top-10 center in the league but he can't regress to his 2017/18 level of play if the Hawks are going to make the playoffs. There is no one else on the team who can fill that #1 center role - Strome may prove to be a good #2 center but he is not a #1C - Dach may be an NHL #1C at some point - but he isn't that now.

Toews looked like he was skating very well in preseason but he hasn't looked good in the first 3 games. That needs to change or pretty much every other discussion is moot.

It was bad last season, but not quite that bad:

PPGA = 1 (3x4) + 5 (3x5) + 56 (4x5) + 1 (4x6) = 63.
- StLBravesFan

Im also including 5×6=9, 4 on 6=1

I guess i shouldn't include the 15 they gave up 6 on 5, i also included the 3 shorties they gave up

Can't wait to see how many goals that swine Neal has at season's end. He's probably already scored enough to make the trade a win.
- mohel

Hate him as a player. But he would've been nice to have on the Hawks a few years ago. Dirty goal scorer.

Hawks still have no top 6 PF that makes life difficult for opposing teams.

Apparently the Icehogs are running the same defensive scheme as the parent club. At the end of 2 periods, SOG are Laval 30, Rockford 17, with 10 of the Hog shots coming from d-men.

After last year's debacle with Calgary, he's made a comeback? Good on him personally. (Yes, now I recall that 4 goal game). Hope Neal chills out for our game against him. We don't need any of his heroics. Always a streaky type goal scorer, and in his younger days, more than a tad dirty. Maybe we'll get lucky and catch him in the start of a deep freeze. Always have admired Tippett.

- gabriel

He was hurt last year in Calgary, but did nothing in the playoffs..

I'm looking forward to JC putting Kampf against McDavids line lol

Toews should be matched up all game versus McDavid. But by putting Debrincat on Toews LW would negate that - since he struggles at getting the puck out of his own zone.

Why not go Caggulia-Toews-Shaw and at least make McDavids line work/have a physical group against him...especially since Hawks get last change at home?

EDM may get 7 themselves, with the over/under being 6.5.....hammer the over

Setting aside goaltending, which is always of paramount importance for team success - the next biggest requirement for success this season, IMO, is the play of Toews. If Toews doesn't play as well as he did last season - the Hawks will not have a successful season. Toews doesn't have to be a top-10 center in the league but he can't regress to his 2017/18 level of play if the Hawks are going to make the playoffs. There is no one else on the team who can fill that #1 center role - Strome may prove to be a good #2 center but he is not a #1C - Dach may be an NHL #1C at some point - but he isn't that now.

Toews looked like he was skating very well in preseason but he hasn't looked good in the first 3 games. That needs to change or pretty much every other discussion is moot.
- EbonyRaptor

Ebonyraptor very well and thought out assesment. Fans need to be reminded that once toews inked that sweetheart of a contract 5 years ago his play and numbers haven't reflected the expectations nor any resemblance to his past play, with the exception being Last year.

Chicago truly misses hossa or a player who can in some way be the leader mentor that hossa was.

Toews being the captain needs to step up personally with his play , number and voice.

Imo it takes a strong minded coach to motivate , hold players accountable , motivate and develop players and a team.

I'm sorry but Chicago is a much better team talent wise this year and their is no reason for the breakdown in defense or lack of energy or the team not coming out prepared or hungry.

Look back to Chic ago when savard was head coach , great player but a weak coach. Once Chic ago fired him and promoted quenville the team changed .

That's what the differences between settling and winning

If this means we are to assume many '#1 picks are playing BETTER this season, i doubt that is why they are off to a great start. Has D Nurse been much improved? Doubtful. Has McDavid and Draisalti been that much better. Probably not

I bet you made an assumption and cannot support it. I do not know what the explanation is for the great start. I might look at the Edm blog later today. I will peruse this blog and maybe you or someone else can provide an explanation for their strong start. One part of the answer might be coaching change; another is Klefbom playing extremely well?

ALSO: Raanta returned from over one year injury time off in his start Saturday. Always have rooted for him. Q never gave him much time in net. Speaking about Q, he has a strong line up maybe not good enough on defense. I want to zee uf Florida finishes much above .500. They have a good goaltender so let us see what Q and Tallon can do to bring them even to a playoff berth.

Follow Icehogs by checking AHL site this afternoon. See what Dach and Boqvist do. Beaudin
was '#1 star in lloss Saturday
- jhawk59

Wow dude way to over analyze a joke. But you keep doing you.

Ebonyraptor very well and thought out assesment. Fans need to be reminded that once toews inked that sweetheart of a contract 5 years ago his play and numbers haven't reflected the expectations nor any resemblance to his past play, with the exception being Last year.

Chicago truly misses hossa or a player who can in some way be the leader mentor that hossa was.

Toews being the captain needs to step up personally with his play , number and voice.

Imo it takes a strong minded coach to motivate , hold players accountable , motivate and develop players and a team.

I'm sorry but Chicago is a much better team talent wise this year and their is no reason for the breakdown in defense or lack of energy or the team not coming out prepared or hungry.

Look back to Chic ago when savard was head coach , great player but a weak coach. Once Chic ago fired him and promoted quenville the team changed .

That's what the differences between settling and winning
- Taylorst1

To be fair to Colliton, I don't think the core would be as motivated with any new head coach, just as I don't think the Cub core will be as motivated with whoever takes over from Madden. That is why I think Theo is going to trade 1 or 2 of the core, knowing the clubhouse has to be shaken from its complacency.

It has been pointed out by others on this blog, the Hawks used to be able to play a 30 minute game and still win. I still remember Ray Emery's (may he RIP) game where he single handidly beat Calgary. I think the core still believes that they still can play a partial game and still win.

Does that matter for the Hawks?
- fattybeef

They play in the same confernece and both might be battling for a Wild Card spot so I think it matters, ya.

Jammer out 3 months with a broken fibula blocking a shot.
- LAHawk

Sucks for him. Hope he's back blocking shots again soon.

IceHogs lose again. They are0-3 to begin the year.

They lost 3-1 today. Philip Holm scored the lone goal.

Kirby Dach played and didn't register a point.

IceHogs lose again. They are0-3 to begin the year.

They lost 3-1 today. Philip Holm scored the lone goal.

Kirby Dach played and didn't register a point.
- Tyler Cameron

Mitchell named NCHC player of the week.

Looks like the defensive system doesn't work in the AHL either. At what level does it work?

Why put Nylander on the 4th line? I suppose it is one thing to give a guy sheltered minutes, but I don't think his play style is going to work with those linemates ... as in, ever.

I'd like to think I'd be wrong about that - but I can't see how.

And of course I'd put Crawford back out there - because, well I don't know. Did Lehner hurt some feelings or something?

Man - I'd love to see how Mike Keenan would have handled this bunch of 'the core' ... probably try to trade half of them for Eric Lindros or something close to that...

Mitchell named NCHC player of the week.
- DarthKane

Can he play for the Hawks.. like soon? Ha

IceHogs lose again. They are0-3 to begin the year.

They lost 3-1 today. Philip Holm scored the lone goal.

Kirby Dach played and didn't register a point.
- Tyler Cameron

Smelling like a bust.

Custer felt good about the battle beforehand, too.
- mohel

I actually don't think that's true

New lines in practice this morning:

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

Keith - Murphy
Maatta - Seabrook
de Haan - Gustafsson
- DarthKane

Poor De Haan...............