You must be a real treat to sit beside at a game lol
- pri$ey

anyone have any thoughts on how the kids look on defense? Olsen, Hayes, Shaw... etc...

They don't seem to have embarrassed themselves, at least no more than the vets did.

No excuse for Kane to not hustle back and make a better effort to tie up the trailer. He stopped skating and then made a weak attempt to lift the guys stick and ended up clipping him. He cost the team a point, if not two, tonight with his laziness. I know some guys will say he's been much better a helping defensively this year, and I admit that he has, but just because he's been better at it in previous games doesn't make it okay for him to not give a better effort on that play. Even if the Hawks lost it in overtime or in a shootout, that would have been a huge point to take out of that game. If it wasn't Kane, but instead someone like Bickell, Brunette or Frolik who made a dumb play like that to cost them a point, they'd be getting roasted on this board.
- RetiredGoalie

Agreed. it was a lazy, stupid penalty.

Glad he scored....need him to get hot, and get that swagger back.

Believe it was the 2nd GA but without replays up at the moment, not sure. Cripes, you make it sound like he airmailed a pass up the middle right onto the tape of a Philly player and it ended up in our net. You can make him the scapegoat for that goal but there were 4 other guys asleep at the wheel on that goal. No question he blew the clearing pass -- and it WAS a backhand, btw.
- savvyone-1

Savvy..sorry dude....he fanned on the forehand first...then he might have flubbed the backhand...he's a decent young player and i share your high hopes for him....but he's got to get that puck out.

Boston over the Flames 9-0. Holy crap! That team is scary good right now.

Didn't the hawks lose in Philly a few years ago like this in the closing seconds?

It's still January, but with a lot of home games...they need to stockpile the points, and fast. As we all saw tonight, winning on the road is extremely difficult...

The good news is that this team isn't playing their best hockey yet. Haven't seen that string of complete games with limited mistakes and a full effort for 60 minutes.
- SteveRain

That's just it: when they play well, they're as good as any team in the league.

When they don't, they give up goals in bunches - like tonite and against Edmonton.

Game was lost in 5 minutes in the 2nd period - 3 goals.

And, of course, my favorite: 2 goals at the very ends of periods.

First of all, Shaw is the Burish replacement that i have wanted and he looks to have more skill than Burr. Second, the stand their and wait for the player to move crap on the PK is horrible and that game winning goal is what happens when you play that way.
This is not just from this game but all year long, what is with the whole get hit ANYWHERE on the upperbody and throw you head back like you got hit in the face for a for sure penalty. Its garbage and shame on the refs for calling highsticking penalties when they never really saw a stick hit their face.

Excited for Shaw and Hayes showing promise.
- HawksGuySince85

First Shaw is 5 times the overall player burish is.

Boston over the Flames 9-0. Holy crap! That team is scary good right now.
- RetiredGoalie

And if I recall, Boston actually body checks people don't they???

You must be a real treat to sit beside at a game lol
- pri$ey

Serious question..

Is Bolland untouchable for you? Or where does he rank in terms of NOT getting traded out Sharp, Kane, Toews, Hossa, Seabrook, Keith, Leddy, Hammer, Crawford.

IF the goal is to win the cup, and you go all in...and get a top lw in return and he's the center piece of deal....would you do it.

god knows, you know my answer.

Meantime, the Juniors: great goalie play on both sides.

That 14-0-2 record when scoring first is a distant memory. Two straight games scoring first - 0-2!

Didn't the hawks lose in Philly a few years ago like this in the closing seconds?
- golfbard

Yep...it was OT...A backdoor play to Pronger where Seabrook fell asleep. I believe it was a Saturday or sunday afternoon game. It also was Kim Johnnson's last game as a Hawk.

anyone have any thoughts on how the kids look on defense? Olsen, Hayes, Shaw... etc...

They don't seem to have embarrassed themselves, at least no more than the vets did.
- busmaster

All suitable replacements for OD/Bickell. Should be every day guys from what I saw tonight.

anyone have any thoughts on how the kids look on defense? Olsen, Hayes, Shaw... etc...

They don't seem to have embarrassed themselves, at least no more than the vets did.
- busmaster

Olsen made news by not messing up...Olsen was even on the night and had 3 shots on goal..but was fairly invisible in a good way....Hayes is really growing on me...great size, scored early, crashed the net a few times looking for rebounds...but he needs to get meaner in tight. As for Shaw...A STAR IS BORN. This kid is the real deal...i've seen him play live many times up here in the Toronto area and i was thrilled to see us take a chance on him in the 5th round....and he hasn't disappointed. I was curious to see how his skating measured up at this level...but he covers a ton of ground and is a very good skater. We've got a gem in ANDREW SHAW.

Yep...it was OT...A backdoor play to Pronger where Seabrook fell asleep. I believe it was a Saturday or sunday afternoon game. It also was Kim Johnnson's last game as a Hawk.
- SteveRain

You're right Steve...it was an NBC matinee...and it hurt almost as much as this one.

anyone have any thoughts on how the kids look on defense? Olsen, Hayes, Shaw... etc...

They don't seem to have embarrassed themselves, at least no more than the vets did.
- busmaster

Shaw looked fine tonight all over the ice. Hard to tell with Hayes since his line was always in the Philly end and as I said earlier, Olsen's only problem was O'Donnell.

Now that all the hysterical ladies have spoken and vented, lets point out the most important thing that we learned tonight. Contrary to the demand to get big players etc, what is needed is simple (big) effort and commitment. Without it the frontrunning YO YO play will continue.

Shaw the size of a small high school player buzzed around, finished checks and competed every second he was on the ice. What kills me is how for the first 2 periods, we did not win any...any 50 50 battles on the boards and could never clear the puck. That is not skill that is grit and desire.

Love what the Hawks are doing in promoting young guys who are playing well. That is critical for a healthy organization. Olsen looked great while he was out there. Jumped into the play nicely.

I thought Olsen did some decent things. I didn't see him do too much to hurt them so I guess that good. I like shaw a lot just not on the first line. If he can play on the fourth line like burish he'd be good there. Eventually I'd like Hayes on the third line with bolland.

Serious question..

Is Bolland untouchable for you? Or where does he rank in terms of NOT getting traded out Sharp, Kane, Toews, Hossa, Seabrook, Keith, Leddy, Hammer, Crawford.

IF the goal is to win the cup, and you go all in...and get a top lw in return and he's the center piece of deal....would you do it.

god knows, you know my answer.
- SteveRain

He's got no value right now with a bum back and a bum foot - neither of which are fully healed yet.

Serious question..

Is Bolland untouchable for you? Or where does he rank in terms of NOT getting traded out Sharp, Kane, Toews, Hossa, Seabrook, Keith, Leddy, Hammer, Crawford.

IF the goal is to win the cup, and you go all in...and get a top lw in return and he's the center piece of deal....would you do it.

god knows, you know my answer.
- SteveRain

He's not untouchable to me.

I rank all of those guys you just listed over him.

The problem is, we're already thin at center so trading him for a LW would only create another hole IMO.

If Kruger is out long-term, that leaves Toews and Mayers at center and Mayers isn't a center..

Yep...it was OT...A backdoor play to Pronger where Seabrook fell asleep. I believe it was a Saturday or sunday afternoon game. It also was Kim Johnnson's last game as a Hawk.
- SteveRain

The one I remember, Hawks had a one goal lead, and Flyers tied it with a minute left.

Then with 10 seconds left in the third, a Flyer took the puck from behind his goal all the way into the Hawks zone and scored with 2 seconds left.

I think that was in the SC season, but may have been the year before.

I remember it being a Sunday afternoon national TV game.

Olsen made news by not messing up...Olsen was even on the night and had 3 shots on goal..but was fairly invisible in a good way....Hayes is really growing on me...great size, scored early, crashed the net a few times looking for rebounds...but he needs to get meaner in tight. As for Shaw...A STAR IS BORN. This kid is the real deal...i've seen him play live many times up here in the Toronto area and i was thrilled to see us take a chance on him in the 5th round....and he hasn't disappointed. I was curious to see how his skating measured up at this level...but he covers a ton of ground and is a very good skater. We've got a gem in ANDREW SHAW.
- philco28

agreed. Hayes reminds me of a raw Brouwer. Made some very nice power moves and has some legit skill.

Shaw had a helluva game. He has some moves, skates well, and has fire.

Like you said, didn't notice Olsen which was good. Would love to see him paired with somebody besides O'Donnel who needs to retire.

Agreed. it was a lazy, stupid penalty.

Glad he scored....need him to get hot, and get that swagger back.
- SteveRain

And get back to wing.

He's not untouchable to me.

I rank all of those guys you just listed over him.

The problem is, we're already thin at center so trading him for a LW would only create another hole IMO.

If Kruger is out long-term, that leaves Toews and Mayers at center and Mayers isn't a center..
- pri$ey

Agreed. They really need a 2nd line center badly...With the cap room they have, no excuses for Bowman.

I hope Bowman's potential inability to acquire one doesn't lead to them rushing Kruger back. Kid took a ridiculous amount of head shots vs Columbus. He's getting better with each game he plays.