He is such a defensive liability that his offense would have to be elite to offset the liability. It doesn't. I am fine if they move him.
- Elbows15

Or if you had a coach who played match ups and had a sense of situational line deployments they could do a better job hiding things.

Strome also saw an awful lot of Leon last night and that is a tough match up for any center in the league. FWIW he held him to 0 shots 5v5. He's not that terrible in his own zone. The Ennis goal was 92 pissing the pick away at center ice so not sure how much of that is on him.

I’m a huge Saad fan and based on his on-ice performance I think he should stick around for a while. But because of the flat salary cap I expect he’ll be gone, either traded or allowed to walk as a UFA.
- DarthKane

Would have to eat $ to move Dinky. Saad you could move if you take $6 back.

He is such a defensive liability that his offense would have to be elite to offset the liability. It doesn't. I am fine if they move him.
- Elbows15

I definitely think Kirby Dach could make Strome available as a trade chip. Especially if the Hawks feel they have someone else ready to play C at the NHL level coming up in the system. We've already seen Dach displace Strome on the first PP unit.

Let's not lose sight of the fact this is a learning experience for the young players on the team.

Even with how poorly they played, the Hawks were one decent PP from changing the tone of the game. Fought back to tie the game before Dach took a lazy penalty to allow the ping pong goal to give the Oilers the lead again.

Dressing Quenneville was a mistake.

Best of 3 now
- Elbows15

Going into this series, almost everyone would have been happy with a split of the first 2 games.

I definitely think Kirby Dach could make Strome available as a trade chip. Especially if the Hawks feel they have someone else ready to play C at the NHL level coming up in the system. We've already seen Dach displace Strome on the first PP unit.
- breadbag

What would Strome bring back in a deal? Probably not too much. I’m thinking he’ll get a 1 year show-me deal and that’s the best for both sides.

You mean Q never double shifted Kane in a playoff game? It was done regularly, especially if behind. If Cagiulla was in the line up, Kane would still have been double shifted.
- LAHawk

Actually I disagree with your premise that if drake was in the lineup kane would still get double shifted. In years past Chicago always had 4 lines to roll out when. Kane was double shifted it never affected the end result Stanley cup


Yesterday callingnup quenville was the wrong decision, sikura. Hagel or kurshaev where the better players.
6 minutes of ice time for quenville shows just how awful JC decision was.

I'd also point out that when Chicago finally tied the game at 3 then Crawford allowed that awful goal JC should have pulled crawford it was clear watching the game crow was struggling.


Coaches decide who plays and when , matchups timeouts goalie changes . That's what makes the difference between a bad , good and great coach.
If chicagos arguement is toews , saad , kane keith and Crawford all have experience that can lead this team and help settle down and not panic. Yesterday the urgency wasn't their.

Or if you had a coach who played match ups and had a sense of situational line deployments they could do a better job hiding things.

Strome also saw an awful lot of Leon last night and that is a tough match up for any center in the league. FWIW he held him to 0 shots 5v5. He's not that terrible in his own zone. The Ennis goal was 92 pissing the pick away at center ice so not sure how much of that is on him.
- fattybeef

Strome barely played after the first so held is a stretch. The play dies on his stick constantly cause he can't get moving before someone pressures him.

He was one of the 5 worst defensive forwards in the league by metrics. He doesn't bring enough offensively to offset that.

Plus, he is slow AF in a league getting faster every season. The other coach will play match-up too. As evidenced by the fact that McDavid was getting out there most times Special K and Maatta were on the ice.

What would Strome bring back in a deal? Probably not too much. I’m thinking he’ll get a 1 year show-me deal and that’s the best for both sides.
- DarthKane

That may be. I'm not making a prediction, just saying it wouldn't surprise me if they moved him. He won't get a big return, but the Hawks might not even want to pay him that "show me" amount because of the cap restraints.

I could see the Hawks getting a couple draft picks. I mean, we've seen Andrew Shaw get traded for two 2nd round picks and then traded for a 2nd, 3rd, and 7th. They aren't the same players, but I could see Strome get the Hawks draft choices or other young prospects if they feel he is expendable.

Or if you had a coach who played match ups and had a sense of situational line deployments they could do a better job hiding things.

Strome also saw an awful lot of Leon last night and that is a tough match up for any center in the league. FWIW he held him to 0 shots 5v5. He's not that terrible in his own zone. The Ennis goal was 92 pissing the pick away at center ice so not sure how much of that is on him.
- fattybeef

I think your both correct in your different points. Strome hasn't taken that next step that by now he should have.

JC was out coached and that seems to be the running joke in Chicago.

Calling up and playing quenville for 6 minutes wrong personnel choice
Not calling a timeout when Chicago had a 2 man advantage
Crawford giving up a weak 4th goal and not pulling him

And not adjusting the lines or d pairings during the game .

That's all on the coach

Would have to eat $ to move Dinky. Saad you could move if you take $6 back.
- rpeters01

Not necessarily, Montreal has the room and a boatload of picks in the draft. They need offensive minded players.

Going into this series, almost everyone would have been happy with a split of the first 2 games.
- DarthKane

Very true it was nice to see them win game 1. All the so called experts had them being swept.

Very true it was nice to see them win game 1. All the so called experts had them being swept.
- BGKarras

Knew they would get spanked . Go with Subban , Crawford is shot.

Actually I disagree with your premise that if drake was in the lineup kane would still get double shifted. In years past Chicago always had 4 lines to roll out when. Kane was double shifted it never affected the end result Stanley cup


Yesterday callingnup quenville was the wrong decision, sikura. Hagel or kurshaev where the better players.
6 minutes of ice time for quenville shows just how awful JC decision was.

I'd also point out that when Chicago finally tied the game at 3 then Crawford allowed that awful goal JC should have pulled crawford it was clear watching the game crow was struggling.

Coaches decide who plays and when , matchups timeouts goalie changes . That's what makes the difference between a bad , good and great coach.
If chicagos arguement is toews , saad , kane keith and Crawford all have experience that can lead this team and help settle down and not panic. Yesterday the urgency wasn't their.
- Taylorst1

In the Stanley Cup years, the Hawks 4 line rotation was better than anyone else in the league, so it was easier tho just role 4 cause your players were better than the opponents, but if are going to tell me that when Q was chasing the game that Kane wasn't put up with Toews, and then played with his own line, while Hossa slipped back to the third, then I must get different hockey games out here in California.

The Hawks were chasing the game after the first 3 minutes, whether Quenville, Sikura, Kurachev or anyone was dressed, they would of seen 6 minutes of ice time.

I don't know of any coach that is going to pull his clear #1 goalie when he gives up his first bad goal of the game and the game is tied.

I agree a time out should of been called when the hawks got the second PP to get the first PP unit a breather and bring them back out, Pivotal point in the game.

Tippet got last change so he should of gotten more favorable match-ups. Lets see what happens when the Hawks are "home team".

I think your both correct in your different points. Strome hasn't taken that next step that by now he should have.

JC was out coached and that seems to be the running joke in Chicago.

Calling up and playing quenville for 6 minutes wrong personnel choice
Not calling a timeout when Chicago had a 2 man advantage
Crawford giving up a weak 4th goal and not pulling him

And not adjusting the lines or d pairings during the game .

That's all on the coach
- Taylorst1

A double deflection that goes between the goalies legs is a weak goal?

Knew they would get spanked . Go with Subban , Crawford is shot.
- GlennL

I'm not sure if I would do that Crow usually bounces back from a bad game. Let's be honest the defense and forwards playing in the defensive zone didn't help him out much.

That may be. I'm not making a prediction, just saying it wouldn't surprise me if they moved him. He won't get a big return, but the Hawks might not even want to pay him that "show me" amount because of the cap restraints.

I could see the Hawks getting a couple draft picks. I mean, we've seen Andrew Shaw get traded for two 2nd round picks and then traded for a 2nd, 3rd, and 7th. They aren't the same players, but I could see Strome get the Hawks draft choices or other young prospects if they feel he is expendable.
- breadbag

Fair enough, and it’s quite possible that Strome is moved. I’m think the club would be comfortable with Dach at 2C and maybe giving a rookie a shot at 3C (i.e. Kurashev or Entwistle).

Knew they would get spanked . Go with Subban , Crawford is shot.
- GlennL

Shot? Start a guy that is nothing more than a backup goalie in Subban, no thanks. Crawford gives the Hawks the best chance to win regardless of what happened last night.

Fair enough, and it’s quite possible that Strome is moved. I’m think the club would be comfortable with Dach at 2C and maybe giving a rookie a shot at 3C (i.e. Kurashev or Entwistle).
- DarthKane

Biggest issue if Strome is at 3C is that he needs wingers that can score. Otherwise, he isn’t going to do much as a 3C. It could work if the Hawks roll 3 scoring lines and the 4th line is a shutdown line but the Hawks don’t have that kind of forward depth right now.

You could go Dach Kane and Strome Dcat but you need someone to play with Dach and Kane. Idk who that would be based on the current roster and prospects.

Biggest issue if Strome is at 3C is that he needs wingers that can score. Otherwise, he isn’t going to do much as a 3C. It could work if the Hawks roll 3 scoring lines and the 4th line is a shutdown line but the Hawks don’t have that kind of forward depth right now.

You could go Dach Kane and Strome Dcat but you need someone to play with Dach and Kane. Idk who that would be based on the current roster and prospects.
- bhawks2241

Shaw if healthy. Big if however.

Strome barely played after the first so held is a stretch. The play dies on his stick constantly cause he can't get moving before someone pressures him.

He was one of the 5 worst defensive forwards in the league by metrics. He doesn't bring enough offensively to offset that.

Plus, he is slow AF in a league getting faster every season. The other coach will play match-up too. As evidenced by the fact that McDavid was getting out there most times Special K and Maatta were on the ice.
- Elbows15

By which metrics? Combining last season and this season he's not in the bottom 25 of on ice CF%, FF%, Shots%, xGF%. That's for players with a minimum of 700 minutes ice time. Same for isolating the 19-20 season for 300 minutes.

He's not even the worst forward on his team especially when you start looking at relative numbers.

He had even shot shares in GM1 and was underwater in GM2 like the rest of the team.

James Neal is 6'2" 220lbs. Boqvist is maybe 6' 180lbs. He needs to add strength and I think he will.

As for McDavid.... 2nd goal was a fluke. If you actually watch the replay the puck goes on edge right when he shoots backhand. Allows him to roof it over Crows shoulder. Otherwise, I don't think he scores there. 3rd goal was a double deflection.

I don't understand the ragging on Nylander. Kane threw him a grenade at center ice. Nylander Strome Kane is a terrible line. Not sure Nylander should be skating with Kane.

Strome was horrible and did nothing. He did not do much in Game 1, except the early goal.

I'd flip Dach and Strome. Let Strome and Dcat get there mojo going together and Dach and Kane look dangerous together. Dach can go get pucks and maintain possession for Kane.

Problem is Nylander Strome Dcat line terrifies me.


Lets see what Colliton can do with last change.

I hate James Neal.
- bhawks2241

Not a chance. That corner is open all night and the best snipers can hit it and do. Kane has scored goals just like that. Great shot, not a fluke.

Double shifting Kane is a good idea if you do it with purpose. Skating one less forward and having an extra situational defender on the bench is not the worst idea.

Strome is a smart, heady player with nice hands who generally makes good decisions with the puck. Not a "2 way" center but not incompetent either. He should be seeing more O Zone draws then D Zone ones but it is tough to see the logic behind the roster and deployment decisions with this coach.

Lets be honest - Strome is what he is - a 50ish point player who is OK at most things but not the lights out dominant physical beast that he was billed at as a 17 year old. Those guys play a part in winning cups though and he's had success when put in the right position. He's also improved since he's been here and upward trends are good things.

The Toews line got beat up last night as well so there are plenty of players who were outstanding in G1 but not so much in G2. Kubalik disappeared at evens and only had 1 shot 5v5.

Tough to female dog about a guy getting torched by McDavid or Leon. Those two are going to smoke most of the players they go up against. Tippet probably told McDavid to "take over" and he did just that.

Nylander is a bad player and that isn't anything new there. I will complain about that feller till the cows come home lol.
- fattybeef

I agree completely with your assessment. However crawford let's face it he has given up 10 goals in 2 games and last night he gave up 3 soft goals. I know people will make the excuse about the defense , but crawfords game has been soft this year , even lehner outplayed crawford. Crawfords going to have to play lights out , anything less and this team won't advance.

A double deflection that goes between the goalies legs is a weak goal?
- LAHawk

Yes , remember back in 2016 against st Louis that soft goal he gave up from center ice. Or the fumbling around behind the net coughing up that easy goal or not tracking that goal during the scramble.

10 goals allowed in 2 games is awful especially for a guy who has proven he can play 100 times better . I won't excuse the defense but even lehner outplayed crawford this year. Crawford needs to play lights out

In the Stanley Cup years, the Hawks 4 line rotation was better than anyone else in the league, so it was easier tho just role 4 cause your players were better than the opponents, but if are going to tell me that when Q was chasing the game that Kane wasn't put up with Toews, and then played with his own line, while Hossa slipped back to the third, then I must get different hockey games out here in California.

The Hawks were chasing the game after the first 3 minutes, whether Quenville, Sikura, Kurachev or anyone was dressed, they would of seen 6 minutes of ice time.

I don't know of any coach that is going to pull his clear #1 goalie when he gives up his first bad goal of the game and the game is tied.

I agree a time out should of been called when the hawks got the second PP to get the first PP unit a breather and bring them back out, Pivotal point in the game.

Tippet got last change so he should of gotten more favorable match-ups. Lets see what happens when the Hawks are "home team".
- LAHawk

It's one thing to double shift kane and move a player upmor down the lineup as long as that player is still contributing.

Slotting quenville in for 6 minutes knowing his record this year was awful over hagel ,sikura or kurshaev, whom anyone of those 3s numbers deserved a chance to play. I'm not a sikura fan but he is still alot better and plays a decent defense sive game.

That's the point. Jc and his personnel choices and or line pairings , are all on him

Boqvist and keith should be split up
Maatta takes to many penalties
Nylander is useless

Shot? Start a guy that is nothing more than a backup goalie in Subban, no thanks. Crawford gives the Hawks the best chance to win regardless of what happened last night.
- ChicagoHope

Crow gives us the best chance to win but I would not be surprised at switch if he lets in a softy or we need to change momentum.