Off topic question--

I want to bring my wife and daughter to a Blue's game. We're from the Chicago area--Blackhawk fans--but we want to see good hockey.
Will the Blue's fans give us a problem if we wear our Blackhawk gear? Good natured ribbing is fine. But will we be abused?

We went to a Flyers game a couple years ago and were lucky to leave with our lives. Same with going to Fenway and wearing Cubs hat. I don't want to subject my wife and daughter to that again.

thanks.

I didn't include it, but this Nylander saga should be interesting all season.

Two games in and he's headed to scratch-ville.

Meanwhile, over in Buffalo, Jokiharju is 7th on the team with a 57.0 CF%.

Sorry... a comment like that will incite a riot on here. Let's not think about that Jokiharju for Nylander trade ever again.
- Tyler Cameron

Nylander had the puck twice in the slot and wiffed both times and had a couple bad give aways

Eric Lear
@BHTVeric
·
49s
Calvin de Haan and Robin Lehner wil make their #Blackhawks debuts tonight vs. Winnipeg. Perlini draws in. Nylander comes out.

OK, let's see what ya' got, boys!
- pdx2ord

Although not stated in the tweet, I assume with de Haan drawing in means Koekkoek draws out.

To me there is 2 number 19's, i really like the one that is willing to keep the puck on his stick and drive possession, i really don't like the one who wants the puck off his blade as soon as he has it on it, this player loves to pass into covered guys and right before he enters the offensive zone to a covered wing, which ends up being a 50 50 puck and that line isn't very good at 50 50 pucks unless Caggiula or probably Shaw are on it.
- BetweenTheDots

The last part about a linemate who can win 50/50 pucks is a critical one. Agree that the top 2 lines need a winger that can do that. Shaw and Caggiula are good candidates.

It would be nice if Perlini could do that consistently. Heck, all 165 pounds of Sikura is willing to engage along the boards and does a decent job coming away with the puck.

Saad and Kubalik on the 3rd line can do that on their own.

And although I still want Kampf to ultimately be the team's 4C, I will give credit where it's due and say that Kampf's first two games have shown he can be a 50/50 battler and create space for his linemates to maneuver.

This is not a defense of Colliton. I have my own issues with a number of his decisions. Joki was starting to regress a bit under Q. Colliton is not the end all-be all on roster decisions. They saw that he needed some time in the AHL developing and sent him there. They have a glut of defensemen and traded one of them to get an offensive asset. We can argue the return all day, but it is what it is.
- Chunk

There was also the rumor that Jokiharju (and/or his dad) was okay with the demotion to Rockford but was stubborn about being coached up on his defensive play thinking that he was fine in that area. That soured Hawks management and may have shot him straight to the top of the "Big 4 on D" trade list.

Foxy, do you think Sikura, Highmore and/or Wedin would help the Hawks PK? That problem remains on the to-do list, imo.
- mohel

Those guys would have lost to Boston playing 5 on 4 the whole night. Minor Leaguers are not the answer. Better NHL players are the answer.

We obviously don't know how much is said behind closed doors, but it is nice to read things like this.


Jimmy Greenfield‏ @jcgreenx

Most goalies don't talk before games. Lehner does:

"We definitely have to tighten it up. Again, it's time to stop making excuses. We've got to do our assignments, we've got to take care of the puck. ... We've got to start boxing out and playing a little bit more of a team game."

I am on a rant this morning, as the Hawks have frustrated me majorly to start this season. I really hope Boqvist tears it up in Rockford because I would much rather watch a 19 year old make mistakes knowing that he will only get better than a 27 year old in Gustaffson. I want Boqvist sooner than later because Gus makes me puke watching him attempt to play defense. Any combination of Highmore, Wedin and Entswhistle can arrive soon too. Those kids had better camps than some of the slugs we have, at least kids will play hungry and not disinterested!! Shake it up baby!!
- ChicagoHope

Boqvist was pretty quiet in his first AHL game but he wasn't bad either. If there is a Hogs player capable of dominating and playing like gang busters, it's him.

Kurashev, too, but his dominance is more subtle than the flashy Boqvist.

Their next game is tonight so I'll do an ISO on Boqvist in particular.

JJ would be proud of you! Wonderful bit of click bait.
- Beaver-Warrior

Ha. I'll slip the odd one in there Stevie!

We obviously don't know how much is said behind closed doors, but it is nice to read things like this.


Jimmy Greenfield‏ @jcgreenx

Most goalies don't talk before games. Lehner does:

"We definitely have to tighten it up. Again, it's time to stop making excuses. We've got to do our assignments, we've got to take care of the puck. ... We've got to start boxing out and playing a little bit more of a team game."
- Chunk

Great quote.

Is this the first game at the start of the Robin Lehner era in Chicago?

Love Corey and will be sad to see him go but from all I have heard, Bowman and Co. would love nothing more than Lehner taking over the net by the end of the year.

Stan Bowman should be on “playoffs or find a new job” orders from McDonagh. 3 playoff game wins since June 2015.
- EnzoD

Absolutely agree. AND, this attitude of "give it time" is plain BS. The leaders on this team (that's you 19 and 88) have to insist on urgency on every shift. Aren't we all sick and tired of hearing " we need to play 60 minutes" ???

This has been their narrative for 3 years now and it's OLD. If they're tired, then they're not in shape. They sure play tired way too often IMO.
It's up to the players to break a sweat once in a while and show some urgency, both offensivelyand defensively. More than 30 shots allowed is a disgrace and it seems to be the ongoing issue once again.

If Stan's team falls flat on their face again tonight, the whistlers will be out, and we can start the countdown to JC's removal 1st....then SB at year's end because there's no way this team should miss the playoffs again.

GET MOVING BOYS !!

The last part about a linemate who can win 50/50 pucks is a critical one. Agree that the top 2 lines need a winger that can do that. Shaw and Caggiula are good candidates.

It would be nice if Perlini could do that consistently. Heck, all 165 pounds of Sikura is willing to engage along the boards and does a decent job coming away with the puck.

Saad and Kubalik on the 3rd line can do that on their own.

And although I still want Kampf to ultimately be the team's 4C, I will give credit where it's due and say that Kampf's first two games have shown he can be a 50/50 battler and create space for his linemates to maneuver.
- AEL_Fox

Come on Theo, you know better. The Sikura doing anything “decent” is nothing more than a board myth espoused by Kool-aid drinkers.

All you need to know about him is the height and weight posted in his player bio to know he’s no gouda...same with Kampf. (RF)

I don’t mean to pile on Colliton here - even after half of last season and into this one, a small sample size with a much-turned-over squad with an aging core - but I also haven’t seen much that shows me that he’s the solution behind the bench. Maybe he’d serve the organization better (at this point in HIS development) as the development coach at Rockford (where a development coach is dramatically needed).

But I will criticize his line change against SJ - moving Kubalik to be with Toews-Kane after a very good first period with Saad and Kampf.

But I will also criticize Kane and Toews for not being able to get that top line going as a line over two games (altho certainly Kane was very productive in other situations) - two HOFers should be able to drive play no matter who the third skater is.

Time for Toews in particular to begin skating like he did last season (and like he was skating in his preseason games just a couple of weeks ago).
- StLBravesFan

Great post SBF

Hawks win this one 4-1. Saad, Perlini, Maatta and DeBrincat.

Although not stated in the tweet, I assume with de Haan drawing in means Koekkoek draws out.
- AEL_Fox

That was confirmed, yes

Absolutely agree. AND, this attitude of "give it time" is plain BS. The leaders on this team (that's you 19 and 88) have to insist on urgency on every shift. Aren't we all sick and tired of hearing " we need to play 60 minutes" ???

This has been their narrative for 3 years now and it's OLD. If they're tired, then they're not in shape. They sure play tired way too often IMO.
It's up to the players to break a sweat once in a while and show some urgency, both offensivelyand defensively. More than 30 shots allowed is a disgrace and it seems to be the ongoing issue once again.

If Stan's team falls flat on their face again tonight, the whistlers will be out, and we can start the countdown to JC's removal 1st....then SB at year's end because there's no way this team should miss the playoffs again.

GET MOVING BOYS !!
- Hawkytalk

There have been several comments by the Core vets about being tired this year of the "not an excuse, but..." type. Wondering if they are missing the micro-practices Q held and this is their passive aggressive way of saying so. JC definitely has the team in the room and on the ice more than they have been used to for 10+ years.

Hawks win this one 4-1. Saad, Perlini, Maatta and DeBrincat.
- DarthKane

Great quote.

Is this the first game at the start of the Robin Lehner era in Chicago?

Love Corey and will be sad to see him go but from all I have heard, Bowman and Co. would love nothing more than Lehner taking over the net by the end of the year.
- Tyler Cameron

Though I want Lehner starting tonight I am not ready to toss Craw out to pasture.

Dach activated off IR and sent to Rockford for conditioning

Dach activated off IR and sent to Rockford for conditioning
- DarthKane

Is he going to play for Rockford? How is that possible, given the juniors / pro leagues agreement?

Seems like an exploitable loophole to me.

Off topic question--

I want to bring my wife and daughter to a Blue's game. We're from the Chicago area--Blackhawk fans--but we want to see good hockey.
Will the Blue's fans give us a problem if we wear our Blackhawk gear? Good natured ribbing is fine. But will we be abused?

We went to a Flyers game a couple years ago and were lucky to leave with our lives. Same with going to Fenway and wearing Cubs hat. I don't want to subject my wife and daughter to that again.

thanks.
- tompo1015

I’ve been to numerous games in STL and never had a problem. However, I always get lower bowl/more expensive tickets when I go to an away arena - so you tend to get a less rambunctious crowd in those sections. General rule of thumb is that I don’t “fly the colors” (i.e. wear my team’s jersey, hat, etc.) when I’m with my wife at an opposing arena - if I’m with a group of my friends/brother - different story.

The one exception was in ‘13 when the wife and I went to Vancouver for a game - we both wore jerseys - got a lot of stink-eye looks - but no fist-to-cuffs broke out.

Carolina 5-0 and playing the best hockey I’ve seen in the league this season. Of course, it’s easy to look terrific on a 5 game winning streak.

But they’re playing the way the game should be played - suffocating defense that doesn’t allow much, forecheck and possession game....

Protecting a lead tonite, they allowed only 2 SOG in the 3rd (altho they did give up 2 PP goals earlier).

Teuvo - points in all 5 games.

Exciting team, exciting atmosphere - jealous of the way they play.
- StLBravesFan

As I said on a previous post there are some up and coming teams , Hawks may be left behind for now. Pretty soon we`ll all be saying it's only 5, 10, 15, games . Hope something can happen .

Come on Theo, you know better. The Sikura doing anything “decent” is nothing more than a board myth espoused by Kool-aid drinkers.

All you need to know about him is the height and weight posted in his player bio to know he’s no gouda...same with Kampf. (RF)
- HawkintheD

Can you email me the matrix that shows height, weight, can do, can’t do? I lost mine. Thanks!

That was confirmed, yes
- pdx2ord

Thanks, pdx!

Is he going to play for Rockford? How is that possible, given the juniors / pro leagues agreement?

Seems like an exploitable loophole to me.
- StLBravesFan

According to a report, Dach can stay up to 14 days in the AHL for conditioning which for the Hogs includes 5 games in that span.