The last 2 games reminded me of Desjardins when we picked him up for the 2015 cup run (not the one that turned back into Andrew Desjardins in 2016.)
- LAHawk

Really good point. You'd think a slower player like Smith would struggle in a wide open scheme but he seems to be coming around.

I don't think that's the case and CapFriendly supports that by having that blue arrow icon which indicates slide candidate. An ELC can slide 2 years as long as NHL games remain less than 10.
- EbonyRaptor

I though that only impacted players going back to jr's

The good news is that means Murphy is ready to comeback.

I think Boqvist will be back this year.

Let's hope Gus has a 10 to 15 game run of good offensive numbers and so so defensive play (which would be good for him) increasing his trade value. Maybe someone else's PP QB getting hurt would help his value also. It would be nice for some team to overpay for him.
- -Doh-

with no other dman injuries, KK needs to clear waivers, seabs is not sitting..bokie to rck was the expected outcome with murphy coming back...

it appears murphy is the straw that stirs the defensive drink...whouda thunk it

[quote=LAHawk]Shaw — Kampf — Kubalik

Carpenter — Dach — Smith (Cagiulla)

Stan has transformed the bottom 6 as maybe not the biggest in size, but darn are they tough to play against. Also improved PK (now 21st in the league) helps playing more aggressive, as you can still play aggressive, and if a penalty is as a result, you can rely that your PK will kill it off.

Also with the 13 forwards they have they can keep the bottom six fresh by rotating them to the press box every once in a while. And it keeps them competing for playing time.

The fact that they have multiple guys that can play on the PK has been important too. (Toews, Saad, Kampf, Carpenter, Caggiula, Shaw, Smith)

Boqvist assigned to Rockford.

[quote=LAHawk]Shaw — Kampf — Kubalik

Carpenter — Dach — Smith (Cagiulla)

Stan has transformed the bottom 6 as maybe not the biggest in size, but darn are they tough to play against. Also improved PK (now 21st in the league) helps playing more aggressive, as you can still play aggressive, and if a penalty is as a result, you can rely that your PK will kill it off.

Also with the 13 forwards they have they can keep the bottom six fresh by rotating them to the press box every once in a while. And it keeps them competing for playing time.

The fact that they have multiple guys that can play on the PK has been important too. (Toews, Saad, Kampf, Carpenter, Caggiula, Shaw, Smith)
- -Doh-

That’s a pretty big bottom 6. Shaw plays a lot bigger than his size too.

Boqvist assigned to Rockford.
- DarthKane

This really SUCKS!! Frankly, it is the only move the Hawks can make at the present time. Boqvist has really helped this team with his speed and passing. The Hawks transition game has really improved since the recall of Boqvist. I get it, he cannot be this team's 7th defenseman, as he needs to play. However, I think he belongs in the Top 6 right now. Hopefully, he is back sooner than later. The kid has come so far in one year.

Slow afoot does not mean play hockey slow and vets like Smith understand the difference. And you rightly note that TOR and LVG have lotsa speed.

Smith can be a bigger part of Hawk success than many realize. Been a solid player for yrs, is not without bottom 6 skill, always had a bit of an edge and is willing to play heavy.

Given a consistent role and slotted properly he can help IMO.
- Mr Ricochet

He should be the 13th forward at most. Borderline useless.

This really SUCKS!! Frankly, it is the only move the Hawks can make at the present time. Boqvist has really helped this team with his speed and passing. The Hawks transition game has really improved since the recall of Boqvist. I get it, he cannot be this team's 7th defenseman, as he needs to play. However, I think he belongs in the Top 6 right now. Hopefully, he is back sooner than later. The kid has come so far in one year.
- ChicagoHope

Like you, I see both sides. I am curious to see how he and Dach develop.

The Islanders have placed Ladd on waivers. GET HIM STAN!!!!

He should be the 13th forward at most. Borderline useless.
- Ogilthorpe2

i would disagree with you on this. he isn't a top line guy but brings good qualities to the hawks that have been missing for the last few years. he can kill penalties, HIT and is defensively responsible.

He should be the 13th forward at most. Borderline useless.
- Ogilthorpe2

I generally agree. He did play pretty well last night, so I'll give him credit for that.

The Islanders have placed Ladd on waivers. GET HIM STAN!!!!
- DarthKane

Holy wth happened there? has his play really fallen off that much?

Crosby out at least six weeks. Ouch babe.

Even Gus showed a passion I haven't seen from him before. He was all fired up about his goal, but even more so about the penalty shot call against Crow. Showed he cared about the team, not just his points.

If Bovquist was just sent down, looks like they made the decision to keep Gus all year. If he plays with the passion he did last night, I am ok with that.
- LAHawk

Gus will be traded, and Bovquist will then come back up.

Gus will be traded, and Bovquist will then come back up.
- Angotti

I think there's a good chance this happens.

Boqvist assigned to Rockford.
- DarthKane

Bust!

Really good point. You'd think a slower player like Smith would struggle in a wide open scheme but he seems to be coming around.
- Mr Ricochet

I can't remember if it was the Athletic or Suntimes, but someone interviewed him and he said it took a while to see exactly where his game fit into this team. He also (like everyone else on the team) had to figure out how to play in the new system. I know his cap hit is high, but I don't have any problem with Smith in the line-up.

Bust!
- HawkintheD

They're mishandling this kid. Dach, too.

#hottakes.

They're mishandling this kid. Dach, too.

#hottakes.
- mohel

Seriously, he takes one 3rd period penalty and he gets sent down? Ridiculous!!!

Care to explain why Moon was found in Moorings??
- paulr

I thought mooning was the soup du jour in Moorings

No way JC makes it to Thanksgiving. Stan, too.
- mohel

We'd be undefeated if Sikura was on the team.

Boqvist to Rockford is not a surprise. I think this cup-of-coffee was good for Boqvist's development - he did well and that should be a nice confidence booster to build upon in Rockford.

I wasn't able to watch the game last night but, I just saw a replay of Dach's goal. Very sweet move to give himself a wide open net to shoot at.

I initially thought it was the wrong move to keep Dach on the team when it was scuffling but as long as they're competitive and staying in games it looks like Dach is building off that. I hope it continues.

Seabs will help convert them.
- boilermaker100

He's NMC can't be drafted.