Theo Fox: Game 49: Hawks 4, Bolts 7 A recap of the Blackhawks loss that was ugly not only on the scoreboard but also in the hard hitting by the Lightning leading to head jolts and a broken wrist.

Great blog Theo... first!

Well that was ugly. After the first 4 games of the year, two in Tampa and two in Florida, maybe we were expecting every game to be like the one last night. Luckily the Hawks far surpassed our expectations this season.

I am sure we will see posts on how valuable Zadorov is. Ugh. Having him on the roster did not stop Tampa from playing physical. Instead of having a big guy that will drop the mitts once in a while, I would rather see a big guy that can play defense once in a while. Every player needs to step up their physicality, ala the way the hated Preds did the 3 games before this.

Per webmd.com broken wrists can take from 8 weeks to 6 months depending on the severity of the break. That is really too bad, because it will mean Boqvist will miss out on some of the upper body strength training and skill development in the offseason.

Strome looked a little better. Maybe the Hawks need to sign UFA Granlund or UFA Danault (at reasonable rate and term) and bench Strome and Nylander on a regular basis to get their attention.

The full tank is on. I am ok with that. Bring on Delia, Krys, Hakkarainen, Entwistle, Soderlund, Quennville, Altybarmayken, I can see us getting a pick in the top 10. Go Yotes, Flames and Blues!!!

We haven't heard from Vandy in awhile but I'll say it. Neither Z or Murphy can fight.

Glad I had class last night, because that was tough. Shame to hear about Boq. Kid gets going then is forced to stop.

Good thing we got all those physical fighters to come in after the fact. Really stopped those dirty hits, right?

Nice to see another rookie come in. I hope that happens a few more times next season. Let more play on the pp, I mean, what more can it hurt?

I wonder if Lank's confidence is shaken, because he made some uncharacteristicly bad plays with the puck? He's our future number one, but has hit a slump his past few games. Team in front doesn't help too much either letting players go to the blue all alone.

Well that was ugly. After the first 4 games of the year, two in Tampa and two in Florida, maybe we were expecting every game to be like the one last night. Luckily the Hawks far surpassed our expectations this season.

I am sure we will see posts on how valuable Zadorov is. Ugh. Having him on the roster did not stop Tampa from playing physical. Instead of having a big guy that will drop the mitts once in a while, I would rather see a big guy that can play defense once in a while. Every player needs to step up their physicality, ala the way the hated Preds did the 3 games before this.

Per webmd.com broken wrists can take from 8 weeks to 6 months depending on the severity of the break. That is really too bad, because it will mean Boqvist will miss out on some of the upper body strength training and skill development in the offseason.

Strome looked a little better. Maybe the Hawks need to sign UFA Granlund or UFA Danault (at reasonable rate and term) and bench Strome and Nylander on a regular basis to get their attention.

The full tank is on. I am ok with that. Bring on Delia, Krys, Hakkarainen, Entwistle, Soderlund, Quennville, Altybarmayken, I can see us getting a pick in the top 10. Go Yotes, Flames and Blues!!!
- -Doh-

Doesn't matter where ARI finishes in the standings. They had their 1st and 2nd round picks forfeited. VAN has several games in hand. Maybe they can get hot and surpass the Hawks point total.

Well that was ugly. After the first 4 games of the year, two in Tampa and two in Florida, maybe we were expecting every game to be like the one last night. Luckily the Hawks far surpassed our expectations this season.

I am sure we will see posts on how valuable Zadorov is. Ugh. Having him on the roster did not stop Tampa from playing physical. Instead of having a big guy that will drop the mitts once in a while, I would rather see a big guy that can play defense once in a while. Every player needs to step up their physicality, ala the way the hated Preds did the 3 games before this.

Per webmd.com broken wrists can take from 8 weeks to 6 months depending on the severity of the break. That is really too bad, because it will mean Boqvist will miss out on some of the upper body strength training and skill development in the offseason.

Strome looked a little better. Maybe the Hawks need to sign UFA Granlund or UFA Danault (at reasonable rate and term) and bench Strome and Nylander on a regular basis to get their attention.

The full tank is on. I am ok with that. Bring on Delia, Krys, Hakkarainen, Entwistle, Soderlund, Quennville, Altybarmayken, I can see us getting a pick in the top 10. Go Yotes, Flames and Blues!!!
- -Doh-

Yep. Neither the fight nor his formidable, imposing presence seemed to deter them. Think it was Cernak he went to lay a hit on in retaliation to something and he just sort of bounced off.

I'm hoping Stan just cuts his losses on Z from the Saad trade and gets another pick in the draft.

There was some discussion at the end of the last blog about Boqvist's continuing health problems. His concussion history is a concern, but there is the broken wrist now, and I believe he had a shoulder injury last year causing him to miss some games. Yes, it's a physical game and injuries happen, but it seems like, as someone wrote last night, he is "made of glass" and is the type of player who is injury prone and won't go through a season without missing numerous games.

Is it time to count him out as the star defenseman of the future?

I wonder if Lank's confidence is shaken, because he made some uncharacteristicly bad plays with the puck? He's our future number one, but has hit a slump his past few games. Team in front doesn't help too much either letting players go to the blue all alone.

I just think like all the excitement in Colin Delia's first few games, he is reverting to what he is. An average NHL goalie. Nothing wrong with that, especially at his salary, but look at the Predators games. Hawks lost a few of those because they were outgoaltended plain and simple.

Vaselevsky had probably one of his worst games of the year. But how many breakaways did he stop? Kane had at least 3 grade A opportunities that he stopped.

Goaltending is 50 percent of the game — unless it’s bad goaltending. Then it’s 100 percent.

It doesn’t matter how much talent you think you have up and down your roster, if you don’t get the goaltending, nothing else matters.

There was some discussion at the end of the last blog about Boqvist's continuing health problems. His concussion history is a concern, but there is the broken wrist now, and I believe he had a shoulder injury last year causing him to miss some games. Yes, it's a physical game and injuries happen, but it seems like, as someone wrote last night, he is "made of glass" and is the type of player who is injury prone and won't go through a season without missing numerous games.

Is it time to count him out as the star defenseman of the future?
- boilermaker100

Then we should also count Dach out as the Hawks center of the future. He had a concussion before even playing his first game, and had a broken wrist that he missed almost 50 games before the season this year.

BTW, did Dach play last night? Sure was not noticeable. Been that way since he came back for the most part. Maybe the Hawks should sit him a few games. Strome was way more effective last night.

I wonder if Lank's confidence is shaken, because he made some uncharacteristicly bad plays with the puck? He's our future number one, but has hit a slump his past few games. Team in front doesn't help too much either letting players go to the blue all alone.

I just think like all the excitement in Colin Delia's first few games, he is reverting to what he is. An average NHL goalie. Nothing wrong with that, especially at his salary, but look at the Predators games. Hawks lost a few of those because they were outgoaltended plain and simple.

Vaselevsky had probably one of his worst games of the year. But how many breakaways did he stop? Kane had at least 3 grade A opportunities that he stopped.

Goaltending is 50 percent of the game — unless it’s bad goaltending. Then it’s 100 percent.

It doesn’t matter how much talent you think you have up and down your roster, if you don’t get the goaltending, nothing else matters.
- LAHawk

So is Lankinen just going through a slump, or was his stellar play at the beginning of the season the outlier? Or he is just shell shocked lately due to the overall poor defense the team is playing? Who knows. Time will tell.

Hawks give up the 2nd worst average amount of shots on goal at 33 per game. I'm sure they're up there in the High Danger shots against, too. That's bound to wear on the goalies. It would definitely help if the overall team defense improves.

Then we should also count Dach out as the Hawks center of the future. He had a concussion before even playing his first game, and had a broken wrist that he missed almost 50 games before the season this year.

BTW, did Dach play last night? Sure was not noticeable. Been that way since he came back for the most part. Maybe the Hawks should sit him a few games. Strome was way more effective last night.
- LAHawk

My biggest concern with Boqvist is his seeming inability to avoid huge hits. And in many cases he isn’t set for the hit, it’s almost like he isn’t seeing the hit coming. Maybe he should play lacrosse this summer to learn how to roll off a hit? If he continues to take huge hits I’m afraid he will be flirting with his career.

Dach? Dach who? Never heard of him

Reiterate what I ended the Boqvist commentary with: this is something for Stan to think about

I realize trading up for a real early pick- top five - is difficult to accomplish

THE BEARS GM IS IN A QUANDARY TO TRADE UP. HE HAS TO GET A GOOD YOUNG QB OR HE MAY NIT BE AROUND MUCH LONGER IF HE DOESN'T. That is what today's Chicago Sun Times suggests

Bowman is Rocky's guy. Colliton is Bowman's guy. Maybe not Colliton long tern once the talent improves and we see how well we like his coaching. That is going off in a tangent, so back to Boqvist. Is he our offensive guy. Exactly what dmen in this draft would you even want to trade up for. Other than the top guy. Well if it has to be a great offensive ceiling or is just a great high ceiling not so much great high offensively though.

I don't have the answer. I do strongly suggest we can improve our fiestiness with more players whom would fight or lay someone out with a big hit. We find those players filtering up through Rockford next couple of years.

But not only Boqvist, but top two lines help wanted: need and want to play cycle game. At least one player two preferably. A skill player who can put up points, too. Because after DeBrincat, the guys we have are more L2 or L3 not top line. Kubalik may suffice but Hagel and Suter are nice players but not L1

I am guessing that eventually Barret, Slavin, Slaggert push Kurashev and Suter for a job. Entwhistle is more aligned for L4 and or L3.

We need top line guys and what about Boqvist.

Bowman will keep bringing in players and some will make it while others don't.

On defense as for the toughness checking issue -
Next season Stillman and maybe Bowman plucks a veteran who plays a physical brand. Because Phillips and Vlasic might try to fill that role but not as early as next season. Not much else makes sense. Maybe Regula will step up but as a third pair will be physical enough.

Then we should also count Dach out as the Hawks center of the future. He had a concussion before even playing his first game, and had a broken wrist that he missed almost 50 games before the season this year.

BTW, did Dach play last night? Sure was not noticeable. Been that way since he came back for the most part. Maybe the Hawks should sit him a few games. Strome was way more effective last night.
- LAHawk

I think Dach has a long way to go before he is annointed the 1C of the future. Yes he seems tentative out there. Maybe he is afraid of being injured again.

IMO, a bright spot, if you could call it that, is that after their ELC's expire at the end of next season and based on their play to date, both Dach and Boqvist will be extended to reasonable bridge contracts. I'm not talking about Toews/Kane like 6M per year bridge deals, but something in the 3 x $2-2.5M range.

I wonder if Lank's confidence is shaken, because he made some uncharacteristicly bad plays with the puck? He's our future number one, but has hit a slump his past few games. Team in front doesn't help too much either letting players go to the blue all alone.

I just think like all the excitement in Colin Delia's first few games, he is reverting to what he is. An average NHL goalie. Nothing wrong with that, especially at his salary, but look at the Predators games. Hawks lost a few of those because they were outgoaltended plain and simple.

Vaselevsky had probably one of his worst games of the year. But how many breakaways did he stop? Kane had at least 3 grade A opportunities that he stopped.

Goaltending is 50 percent of the game — unless it’s bad goaltending. Then it’s 100 percent.

It doesn’t matter how much talent you think you have up and down your roster, if you don’t get the goaltending, nothing else matters.
- LAHawk

How many tough saves - as opposed to good positioning saves - did he have to make? How many screened shots did he see, how much did the Hawks make him move? On those breakaways and Kane's chances: they were all shot right into him.

The first Hawk goal was a flukey double deflection off of two Bolts; Kalynuk's goal was a pretty good shot, not right into him; Keith's goal was one that Vasilevdsky saw and should have had; Kubalik's PP goal was one of the few times all night that the Hawks made the Russian move.

I know your post was more about Chicago goalie problems - I just changed the topic a little bit.

So is Lankinen just going through a slump, or was his stellar play at the beginning of the season the outlier? Or he is just shell shocked lately due to the overall poor defense the team is playing? Who knows. Time will tell.

Hawks give up the 2nd worst average amount of shots on goal at 33 per game. I'm sure they're up there in the High Danger shots against, too. That's bound to wear on the goalies. It would definitely help if the overall team defense improves.
- boilermaker100

Lankenin's save percentage is the same as it was his 2 years in Rockford .910. As I said he is reverting to his mean, his play prior was unsustainable, just as the Hawks power play was unsustainable. League average save % is .908, I said Lankenin is an average goaltender.

Yes the Hawks defense needs significant improvement, the goaltending masked how bad it was early in the season. If you have an average goaltender, you need a better than average defense to be a playoff team. I still think Lankinen is the Hawks #1 for the next 3 years at least. I hope we never see Colin Delia again except maybe a few games now since we are out of it. I just don't expect him to be the next Frankie Brimsak, nor do I expect him to be the next Warren Skorodenski.

Lankenin's save percentage is the same as it was his 2 years in Rockford .910. As I said he is reverting to his mean, his play prior was unsustainable, just as the Hawks power play was unsustainable. League average save % is .908, I said Lankenin is an average goaltender.

Yes the Hawks defense needs significant improvement, the goaltending masked how bad it was early in the season. If you have an average goaltender, you need a better than average defense to be a playoff team. I still think Lankinen is the Hawks #1 for the next 3 years at least. I hope we never see Colin Delia again except maybe a few games now since we are out of it. I just don't expect him to be the next Frankie Brimsak, nor do I expect him to be the next Warren Skorodenski.
- LAHawk

This. Just like the past couple of years when Cro and Lehner played well and stole wins in games the Hawks had no business winning. And Niemi was not a top goalie in 2010 but the team defense was great.

Lankenin's save percentage is the same as it was his 2 years in Rockford .910. As I said he is reverting to his mean, his play prior was unsustainable, just as the Hawks power play was unsustainable. League average save % is .908, I said Lankenin is an average goaltender.

Yes the Hawks defense needs significant improvement, the goaltending masked how bad it was early in the season. If you have an average goaltender, you need a better than average defense to be a playoff team. I still think Lankinen is the Hawks #1 for the next 3 years at least. I hope we never see Colin Delia again except maybe a few games now since we are out of it. I just don't expect him to be the next Frankie Brimsak, nor do I expect him to be the next Warren Skorodenski.
- LAHawk

I don’t think Lankinen gives up many “soft goals” - last night was an exception. He is usually very good on positioning, excellent on covering the short-side post.

His “leakyness” comes from troubles with his glove-side, and his rebound control. Hopefully (and we keep saying this about a lot of Blackhawk problems) a full summer working with Jimmy Waite will help.

There was some discussion at the end of the last blog about Boqvist's continuing health problems. His concussion history is a concern, but there is the broken wrist now, and I believe he had a shoulder injury last year causing him to miss some games. Yes, it's a physical game and injuries happen, but it seems like, as someone wrote last night, he is "made of glass" and is the type of player who is injury prone and won't go through a season without missing numerous games.

Is it time to count him out as the star defenseman of the future?
- boilermaker100

Maybe not quite count him “out” (as he often is), but they best not be counting on him to be “the man”, and his frequent injuries have to factor in to contract considerations, no matter how good he is when healthy.

I don’t think Lankinen gives up many “soft goals” - last night was an exception. He is usually very good on positioning, excellent on covering the short-side post.

His “leakyness” comes from troubles with his glove-side, and his rebound control. Hopefully (and we keep saying this about a lot of Blackhawk problems) a full summer working with Jimmy Waite will help.
- StLBravesFan

I haven't said anything about soft goals, all goalies give up soft goals. What you want your goaltender to do is give you the chance to win. Lankenin (and Subban) have done that. Do I think Lankenin will become an all star goalie worth $10 mil. a year? no. Do I think he could be better than Freddy Anderson because I think Lankinen has the mental ability and makeup to play well in big games? yes. Do I see 1/2 the NHL teams RIGHT NOW with a better goaltender as #1? yes. Does that mean the Hawks will only be an average team with average goaltending? No.

Lankenin will be 27 next year. Goalies supposedly reach their ceiling by 27-28. Hopefully next year, the Hawks will have a better TEAM defense, and Lankinen can take the step and be an elite goaltender. But my grade after this year is he is NHL average.

This. Just like the past couple of years when Cro and Lehner played well and stole wins in games the Hawks had no business winning. And Niemi was not a top goalie in 2010 but the team defense was great.
- boilermaker100

Just want to highlight this point you've made twice this morning. Team defense. Especially without Toews, the top forward lines play poor defense. They are light on real 200' forwards.

Time to get Delia in a game or 2, just to see what he has vs. Lank vs. Subban. Playoffs are not an option anymore.

Time to get Delia in a game or 2, just to see what he has vs. Lank vs. Subban. Playoffs are not an option anymore.
- powerenforcer

Decent chance two of those guys are gone next year. They seem to be unimpressed by Delia. And one of Lanky and Subban might be in Seattle.

Just want to highlight this point you've made twice this morning. Team defense. Especially without Toews, the top forward lines play poor defense. They are light on real 200' forwards.
- mohel