They are a team that has it all right now. They could use some more depth on D but who doesn't?

Lundqvist is one of my favorite goalies too.

I'll be on their bandwagon once/if the Hawks bow out.
- pri$ey

They also could you a big top six forward. A Smyth or Doan since their power play stinks and their offense can go silent for stretches. Good thing is their excellent defensively and in goal and can win a lot of 1-0, 2-1 games which is key in the post season.

I watched the Rangers v. Flyers last week and I couldn't shake the feeling that sitting down to watch the Hawks play either of those teams right now would be like watching your kid leave for school when you know he's going to get beat up and robbed of his lunch money and there's nothing you can do about it. Wonder if the Hawks players feel a little of that.

Without Campbell are Hawks stuck in the past?


Coach Q. Transition game style=Lovie Smith Running team mantra??


On My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/yW6MDI

Focus will shift soon to team like Buffalo that may need to shuffle the deck.

Also trade chatter will take aim on Selanne and Doan.
- Al

>Agreed
>Though many would say we don't need him, I think Selanne would be a great pick-up for the Hawks
>A HOF finisher, who is still great on the Power Play
>It will be interesting to see if the Hawks Power Play can be fixed
>Currently, every element of it is broken: entry, O-zone possession, getting shots on goal from the point, net presence, rebound retrievals, winning puck battles, puck movement, player movement -- yikes!

Monty on IR Olsen called up...

Monty to IR.. Olsen recalled.

I watched the Rangers v. Flyers last week and I couldn't shake the feeling that sitting down to watch the Hawks play either of those teams right now would be like watching your kid leave for school when you know he's going to get beat up and robbed of his lunch money and there's nothing you can do about it. Wonder if the Hawks players feel a little of that.
- Hal9000y2k

this is brilliant and so true. watching 24/7 gave me the same impression. i can see the coaches talking about hitting the hawks nonstop because nobody is going to do anything. brutal.

Anyone else besides me notice Shaw has toned down since that fight? Would have liked to see him add some agitation during this 6 game slide. I know he has drawn some penalties. But he hasnt been the same to me as what I have seen of him previously. Maybe Q is in his ear too..

Anyone else besides me notice Shaw has toned down since that fight? Would have liked to see him add some agitation during this 6 game slide. I know he has drawn some penalties. But he hasnt been the same to me as what I have seen of him previously. Maybe Q is in his ear too..
- ilinkhawk

Q: "What are you doing?"
Shaw: "I am trying hit people. Bring some energy. You know, make us harder to play against"
Q: "We don't do that here, son. Now go out there waive your stick like Harry Potter and get with the program".

Q: "What are you doing?"
Shaw: "I am trying hit people. Bring some energy. You know, make us harder to play against"
Q: "We don't do that here, son. Now go out there waive your stick like Harry Potter and get with the program".
- furso27

LMFAO!!!

I will be on XM with Jamie Shalley at 12:05 CST..


Talking about unused cap space and Q. being stuck in the past?

I like Brassard................Would not bet against that happening.

He was a low pick, in Toews draft, who hasn't worked out the way they wanted...A change could do him good and if not probably can fit in as an effective bottom six player.


The Hawks need Dallas to turn seller soon...

Grossman..Souray..Burish...
- Al

Souray was ok, he keeps it simple and keeps the play in front of him, rarely gets very far up ice. His lack of mobility I think could be an issue for the Hawks

Q: "What are you doing?"
Shaw: "I am trying hit people. Bring some energy. You know, make us harder to play against"
Q: "We don't do that here, son. Now go out there waive your stick like Harry Potter and get with the program".
- furso27

Very funny. Maybe very true as well. Got to let this kid play his game. Isn't Q the one who said we need to be tougher to play against??

>Agreed
>Though many would say we don't need him, I think Selanne would be a great pick-up for the Hawks
>A HOF finisher, who is still great on the Power Play
>It will be interesting to see if the Hawks Power Play can be fixed
>Currently, every element of it is broken: entry, O-zone possession, getting shots on goal from the point, net presence, rebound retrievals, winning puck battles, puck movement, player movement -- yikes!
- SnapitUpstairs

I would also be very much in favor of Selanne. Still has it. Tough along the boards and behind the net.

Without Campbell are Hawks stuck in the past?


Coach Q. Transition game style=Lovie Smith Running team mantra??


On My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/yW6MDI
- Al

Great article. It kills me that SB didn't sign a quality 2C or 4D man in the off season.

The Winter Classic is becoming a huge event. The NHL has found an event that promotes the game to the non traditonal market. Although there are many great hockey markets that could support the Classic, some don't provide the appeal that the big market teams do.
- hawksbuzz

for 2014.....hawks vs. blues in busch stadium in st.louie! all you guys with clout e-mail mcdonough, the blues owners & bettman!!!!!!!!!!make it happen!
i'm a diehard hawk fan but kudo's to the blues for bringing in hitch and putting a hard nosed team on the ice ! want to see the hawks /blues nasty rivalry re energize again!

Great article. It kills me that SB didn't sign a quality 2C or 4D man in the off season.
- Lido_Shuffle

It's killing the Hawks.

The "plan" was to use that cap money now. One of either two things happened. Bowman and the "Management team" failed to see that the impending labor issue would create a seller's market, or the "management team" changed course and decided to cut cost going into next year. Or both.

Either way, it speaks to a lack of a plan and not enough of a pure hockey focus.

Monty on IR Olsen called up...
- Al

Somewhere Lepisto is sulking. Guy can't catch a break with Q. It's shocking how someone with his kind of NHL experience hasn't been used in a stretch of games to find his game. Instead a 20-something Olsen with 2-3 games under his belt is called up.

Not saying Sami's the answer by any means, but they don't even know what they have in him.

Anyone else besides me notice Shaw has toned down since that fight? Would have liked to see him add some agitation during this 6 game slide. I know he has drawn some penalties. But he hasnt been the same to me as what I have seen of him previously. Maybe Q is in his ear too..
- ilinkhawk

Yes, and I thought the 1st couple of games after that fight he had to cool it for fear of reopening that pretty nasty cut. But now? Not sure if the bigger and stronger NHL players have him thinking twice because he sure wasn't shy about dropping them before he got here. I'm really starting to think that Q, realizing the Hawks don't do well if a game gets physical, preaches a "don't start any trouble and maybe there won't be any trouble" approach. Or maybe he puts a high priority on getting to the playoffs as healthy as possible and actually wants guys to turn away from a guy who just passed the puck instead of take him out thinking that takes it's toll on your own guys over the course of the season. If either of these were true it would make me sick. That's not hockey.

Anyone else besides me notice Shaw has toned down since that fight? Would have liked to see him add some agitation during this 6 game slide. I know he has drawn some penalties. But he hasnt been the same to me as what I have seen of him previously. Maybe Q is in his ear too..
- ilinkhawk

Not to be critical, but Shaw's only fight was in his first game he was called up. So I am not sure what you reaching for.

Somewhere Lepisto is sulking. Guy can't catch a break with Q. It's shocking how someone with his kind of NHL experience hasn't been used in a stretch of games to find his game. Instead a 20-something Olsen with 2-3 games under his belt is called up.

Not saying Sami's the answer by any means, but they don't even know what they have in him.
- TyCamScore

Could it be that they know what they have in him and that is why they don't play him?

The guy is a turnover machine and can't handle a pass when in the lineup. Can't exactly let him work it out at this point.

Could it be that they know what they have in him and that is why they don't play him?

The guy is a turnover machine and can't handle a pass when in the lineup. Can't exactly let him work it out at this point.
- HawkFan27

Then set him free. If they know they have a dud in Sami, waive/trade him. I mean Brain Conolly brought Morisson back so can't say there's not a trade route with Lepisto.

Then set him free. If they know they have a dud in Sami, waive/trade him. I mean Brain Conolly brought Morisson back so can't say there's not a trade route with Lepisto.
- TyCamScore

How do you know they haven't tried to trade him? That's the thing, no one here really knows. They could have easily tried but gotten nothing.

At this point the Blackhawks are probably just keeping him as an insurance policy...and I don't see an issue with that at the moment. If a trade comes up, maybe they'll spring on it.

I like Brassard................Would not bet against that happening.

He was a low pick, in Toews draft, who hasn't worked out the way they wanted...A change could do him good and if not probably can fit in as an effective bottom six player.


The Hawks need Dallas to turn seller soon...

Grossman..Souray..Burish...
- Al

Wouldn't trading for Brassard cost you Bolland (or minimum Kruger++). Brassard makes a little more than Bolland, but is more of a true 2nd line center than Bolland. You then slot Kruger into 3rd line center (where he will likely be when Bolland's contract is up anyway). I like Bolland, but this may be a good move given how many third line projected centers coming up.

I watched Columbus and Dallas in person last night. Always different when you see teams in person than on tv.

The three players (obtainable) I would want from Columbus: Methot, Boll and Brassard. Both Methot and Boll were hurt last night (Boll sacrificing his body to block shots— for a last place club—kid has a fan in me now), both likely for the rest of the season or close to it, so cross them off.

I liked Brassard's intensity and he made some things happen. He could be a second line C on the Hawks but they would have to give up a lot.

For Dallas, Grossman was invisible. I don't think Burish dressed. Jamie Benn, in addition to being physical and a scorer, can really pass the puck as well.
- John Jaeckel

FWIW, I was at the Caps-Jets game last night. The Jets were outplayed all night by the Caps, and after the two very quick (one shot each) power play goals by the Caps in the 3rd it looked like it was all over...until Big Buff decided to crash the net rather than shoot bombs from the point. It only took about 55 minutes of game time for that to happen. Once he did, though, things happened. The Jets drew two penalties with about 4 minutes left to play. Buff drew the second one by trying to shoot the puck through a Brooks Laich's stick. Laich tried to play the puck and got called for playing with a broken stick. Next sequence, Buff goes to the net with Evander Kane and picks up the assist on Kane's goal (6 on 3 since the Jets pulled their goalie).

After the face off, Buff took a pass from Andrew Ladd, and on an innocent looking dump-in shot the puck bounces off of John Carlson's stick and into the net past Vokoun. 2-2 with about 2 to play. Buff also took a dumb penalty at the end of OT, but the Caps could not convert.

General Observations:
1. Caps are scary good especially now that they are playing defense, and the Hawks will have their hands full when they play them in March. They should study the power play of Ovechkin, Semin, and Wideman. Those guys hooked up for both Caps goals. Both power plays lasted about 30 seconds with two passes on each.

2. Battle of the ex-Hawks. Buff and Ladd on the scoresheet, not Brouwer. However, Brouwer was wearing the A last night for the Caps. Not sure if this is a recent development with Mike Green out, but I have not seen Brouwer with the A before. I guess they value his leadership. Ladd was everywhere last night. He is a lot bigger than I had realized. He was probably their best player last night, even though Buff and Pavelec stole the headlines.

3. Caps Trade bait:
- John Erskine was a healthy scratch for the Caps.
- John Schultz played, but was pretty much a non-factor in just under 12 minutes of ice time. Big guy, looks slow, but covers a lot of ice. Hit a few players occasionally. Also, he did get pushed around on a play or two.
- Jeff Halperin looked good, and probably could help the Hawks with some grit, although he is far from the grittiest 3rd or 4th line player the Caps have.

4. Jets trade bait not named Byfulglien.
- Mark Stuart was definitely noticeable last night. Tough guy. He also got burned badly by Alexander Semin on the Caps second PP goal.
- Tobias Enstrom: Plays with Buff. Buff looks like a monster next to him, but Enstrom is fast and can rush the puck up ice.
- Oduya did play last night. That's about all I can say.

5. Other thoughts. If the Hawks are looking for a goalie, Ondrej Pavelec is worth a look. He kept the Jets in the game despite all the good looks the Caps had. He made some spectacular saves last night. Too bad they probably cannot afford him. The Jets had some other interesting players: Nik Antropov (big forward who through the body around a little); Blake Wheeler had a nice game also. I doubt either Antropov or Wheeler would be available.

Disclaimer: I am just a displaced Hawks fan in DC with only a little hockey sense