Game of adjustments

NYI down 2'0
Now lead 4-2 against Wash Caps in third.period

Anyone care to predict who wins the Carolina - Boston series

Anyone think Toronto tries to trade a top forwsrd but forces a dman too for two dmen? Because honestly how good a dman do you get if you trade Kapanen straight up.

Isn't the Maple Leafs problem also that they concentrate or look to win with offense at the expense of better team defense. Maybe Paul or Rick bloggers have better insight here. Just trying to make sense what direction Dubas should go.

Yotes outshot 13-3 in the first period but the game is scoreless.
- LAHawk

Phoenix has no chance defeating Colorado.in a long series. Would guess five games at most. Keumper cannot save them

Yup. I said that last night after the game...page 21 or 22 on the last blog

Today @ 1:11 AM ET
Caggulia-Toews-Kubalik
Saad-Dach-Kane
Debrincat-Strome-Highmore
Carpenter-Kampf-Nylander

Apparently TC does not like my amazing posts and Slobbo had to steal my stuff
- PatShart

Dang I missed this, Pat! Sorry. I would have given you the credit.

Dang I missed this, Pat! Sorry. I would have given you the credit.
- Tyler Cameron

Dont you backpedal now you SOB...you know what you did!!

AND....I may or may not have had a bit of a buzz going when that lineup was posted.

So who knows who "really" came up with it

Meaning everyone talks horribly about him and he still gets a ton of opportunity?
- Chunk

Sikura has had his opportunities... I rest my case.

Only this board could criticize the team for playing too much defense. It's Cub Scouts against Explorer Scouts get over it.

Only this board could criticize the team for playing too much defense. It's Cub Scouts against Explorer Scouts get over it.
- rpeters01

Try the Yotes board. Even worse, but there are a lot more personal attacks.

Sikura has had his opportunities... I rest my case.
- rpeters01

I wasn't stating otherwise. I just thought it was funny that there seemed to be a lot more pining for Sikura (myself included at the end of last season), but Nylander was almost immediately panned. It's interesting how that works.

Yup. I said that last night after the game...page 21 or 22 on the last blog
Today @ 1:11 AM ET
Caggulia-Toews-Kubalik
Saad-Dach-Kane
Debrincat-Strome-Highmore
Carpenter-Kampf-Nylander

Apparently TC does not like my amazing posts and Slobbo had to steal my stuff
- PatShart

I remember this, good call. I actually wouldn't be surprised if writers and others access this blog for ideas for their tweets/articles. I certainly come here 1st before even wandering to other sites.

So you're from Vegas? What are the local sportswriters saying about the Hawks? Do they dismiss us to the tune of a sweep? Or do they have any concerns relating to what the Hawks might bring??

I wasn't stating otherwise. I just thought it was funny that there seemed to be a lot more pining for Sikura (myself included at the end of last season), but Nylander was almost immediately panned. It's interesting how that works.
- Chunk

Nylander's rep from Buffalo preceded him. Regarding Sikura love, everybody myself excluded loves a cute little underdog.

Game of adjustments

NYI down 2'0
Now lead 4-2 against Wash Caps in third.period

Anyone care to predict who wins the Carolina - Boston series

Anyone think Toronto tries to trade a top forwsrd but forces a dman too for two dmen? Because honestly how good a dman do you get if you trade Kapanen straight up.

Isn't the Maple Leafs problem also that they concentrate or look to win with offense at the expense of better team defense. Maybe Paul or Rick bloggers have better insight here. Just trying to make sense what direction Dubas should go.
- jhawk59

I'll take Carolina

AND....I may or may not have had a bit of a buzz going when that lineup was posted.

So who knows who "really" came up with it
- PatShart

If you didn't pipe up, I was totally going to take credit for it if I hadn't given you credit in the first place.

Nylander's rep from Buffalo preceded him. Regarding Sikura love, everybody myself excluded loves a cute little underdog.
- rpeters01

6th rounder...at one point the guy tabbed as the Hawks best prospect. That ship has blasted off but I think he might still be able to find himself a place in the NHL...maybe not with our super deep team but somewhere else.

6th rounder...at one point the guy tabbed as the Hawks best prospect. That ship has blasted off but I think he might still be able to find himself a place in the NHL...maybe not with our super deep team but somewhere else.
- HawkintheD

Sikura could be top 6 in Colorado, Vegas, Tampa and Boston.

Maybe put Nylander, Strome, Kane together like they had in camo. Strome, ADB, and either Highmore or Cagiulla. Maybe ADB should be playing 10 minutes a game based on his play. Then you can trade him to Montreal for Max Domi, who is seeing 4th line minutes for Montreal.
- LAHawk

I really think the Hawks biggest issue last night was pick retrieval. The knights will clog up the neutral zone which has always been the Hawks crypto nite.

I think JC needs to find a lineup that has a better mix of puck retrieves and puck handlers. The Blackhawks desperately need to be able to gain possession of the puck in the ozone through forechecking. This is where a few of the lines have been lacking.

Particularly, I think Kane needs to be with two puck retrievers. I would love to see:

Kane, Toews, Saad or Kane, Dach, Saad

Then another line based on kubalik Toews or kubalik Dach, with another skill player, so maybe

Kubalik Toews Nylander

Then try DeBrincat and Strome together with cags, and leave the 4th line.

I think top priority for next game is getting good for checking players on each line to try to get the puck in the o zone, once they have the puck they aren’t bad.

Strome hit the post after Lard Ass lost his blade.
- Elbows15

That was the 1st time, while 5v5. They got no SOG the 2nd time while on the PP. passed it around the outside, someone lost the puck and VGK dumped it out.

Sikura could be top 6 in Colorado, Vegas, Tampa and Boston.
- DarthKane

Thank you Darth!

I agree Carlsson should be in the line-up. Not for Boqvist, tho. Maatta and Special K are terrible. Maatta will be there but Carlsson can't be worse than Special K. There were at least 3 D-men last night worse than Boqvist. de Haan was borderline. Why does de Haan look so slow?

So replace Nylander, you mean the only one on that line that was remotely dangerous? Strome and Caggs have been useless all 5 games. Remember when people thought Strome was good on FOs? That was fun.

Kane needs to get going. Dach and Dinky won't work rn. Dach is still trying too much 1 on 1 and Dinky benefits from someone setting him up after he finds his spot.

Keith was just plain poop last night. Him I expect to bounce back. Special K and Maatta are both too slow retrieving pucks. Especially Maatta.
- Elbows15

Strome and DCat have a familiarity and demonstrable chemistry. In his infinite wisdom, JC keeps separating them. Let them play together. I works every time they are paired.

#CollitonStillSucks

Has Special K ever won a board battle? Might help he got his stick on the ice to at least attempt to play the puck before he gets bounced out of the way.
- Elbows15

No, he has not.

(frank) it. Get Kurashev in there. He can at least keep up with the play. It hurts to watch Strome try to skate. Strome is vg with puck on his stick. Only problem is the puck is rarely on his stick.
- Elbows15

If hawks lose tomorrow then i would put in carlson sikrua and kurashev and sit strome boqvist and nylander.

Hagel in. Strome out
Carlsson, Boqvist out

Whom do you belive hurts us more in lineup right now, Boqvist or Special K. It's like if you had to choose to vote when you like neither. I say Special K is better right now. But you have a personal hatred of him more than anyone else. Seems that way.

If Nylander shows lack of defensive effort, substitute Sikura. But honestly ADB just doesn't have his game & i would put Sikura in for him. Let Nylander stay in. Whole lot better compete lineup. We give Vegas more than they think we can produce with the changes
- jhawk59

Boqvist because he is only playing 12 14 minutes a game which means matta and koko are playing more.

Are these playoff games really about getting the young players experience or do we have delusional thoughts the Hawks maybe somehow could win the Cup? The correct answer is (A) getting the young players playoff experience, however, the presumption is positive experience - not negative experience. I'm not sure where the line between positive and negative is but that should be the determining factor on whether or not to play Boqvist or any of the other young players. The correct move is to do what's best for them at this stage of their career. Screw the outcome of the games - the Hawks aren't going to win the Cup this season, but maybe if the young players get positive experience the Hawks will be closer to winning the Cup sooner than later.

Well, we could always be the Yotes.

3-0 Avs,

40-14 shot advantage for COL.

Are these playoff games really about getting the young players experience or do we have delusional thoughts the Hawks maybe somehow could win the Cup? The correct answer is (A) getting the young players playoff experience, however, the presumption is positive experience - not negative experience. I'm not sure where the line between positive and negative is but that should be the determining factor on whether or not to play Boqvist or any of the other young players. The correct move is to do what's best for them at this stage of their career. Screw the outcome of the games - the Hawks aren't going to win the Cup this season, but maybe if the young players get positive experience the Hawks will be closer to winning the Cup sooner than later.
- EbonyRaptor

I've got a different take on it. In all likelihood, Boqvist is starting for them next year. He needs to know what the environment is like and what kind of commitment needs to taken in order to get himself ready for that.

From the Hawks perspective, I don't think you can look at this like it's some kind of development camp. The vets especially are going to do everything that they can to win by any means possible. What sucks for them is that the FO wasn't in position to help them out at the TDL (although many may say that trading Gus is addition by subtraction). They are in the playoffs. Regardless of the odds, you have to do everything that you can to win as many games as possible. Winning will be the positive experience. Losing provides the drive to improve so that you don't have that feeling anymore.