good poll on bhawks.com

Who is the Blackhawks' better shutdown forward?

Marion Hossa

Johnathan Toews

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

Gotta call BS on this one.

Gotta call BS on this one.
- Ogilthorpe2

On which one?

The guy can't handle the puck and turns it over constantly.

Why continue to put him in if he does this? If you are going to call BS, atleast back it up.

Just watched the video of Sharp on ESPN.com saying all the "right things" and was reminded of Christopher Walken in True Romance......." A man has 17 pantomimes that tell you he's lying. A woman has 20, but a man has 17.........

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
- John Jaeckel

Should help PP

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.
- John Jaeckel

Or the Hawks trade bait is not enough to get the job done....And the job keeps geeting bigger.

Or the Hawks trade bait is not enough to get the job done....And the job keeps geeting bigger.
- Al

Right or wrong, my bet is that the Hawks will put this season on ice before they overpay for anything. Bowman won't give up much and as a result he won't get much.

On which one?

The guy can't handle the puck and turns it over constantly.

Why continue to put him in if he does this? If you are going to call BS, atleast back it up.
- HawkFan27

I feel like a broken record on this, but here goes one more time....

First of all, this year, in very limited action, he's +4. Good for 4th best among Blackhawk D-men.

Secondly, I'm too lazy to look up the exact numbers again, but over the last two seasons he payed roughly 70 games in each year and was a combined +20 something playing for bad teams.

Yeah when he plays he looks rusty, who wouldn't when playing once a month. How good does any player look the first game of the season? Well, that's what it's like for Lepisto every time Q has blessed him with the good fortune to dress. He's never had a 6 or 7 game stretch to get into any kind of groove.

Finally this year he's played in half as many games as Scott! In those 11 games he has accumulated almost as much total TOI as Scott has in 22 games. To me, that says that on the rare occasion that he as played, The coaching staff has more confidence in him than they do in Scott....so why the F is he only playing in half as many games?

I said it before, I'll say it again. He may not be the answer, but the fact that we don't know for sure is inexcusable.

Edit: FWIW in regards to turnovers, Lepisto has more takeaways (6) than giveaways (5). Keith is the only other Hawk D-man with more takeaways than giveaways.

Right or wrong, my bet is that the Hawks will put this season on ice before they overpay for anything. Bowman won't give up much and as a result he won't get much.
- RickJ

Unless Bowman is willing to take a player or two that has a contract with another year to go it might not matter.

Even concerning upcoming UFA's everyone is after the same handful of players and Bowman's trade bait might not match up anyway.

Moen-Gaustad

Doan-Selanne

Grossman-Souray and the big older guys..

He would need to be agressive and take a swing at Brassard or someone that is going to be part of the team next year.

As I said in today's blog the Campbell trade provided cap space and flexibilty but $16 mill in pro rated cap space can't be kept in a drawer for next year.

I feel like a broken record on this, but here goes one more time....

First of all, this year, in very limited action, he's +4. Good for 4th best among Blackhawk D-men.

Secondly, I'm too lazy to look up the exact numbers again, but over the last two seasons he payed roughly 70 games in each year and was a combined +20 something playing for bad teams.

Yeah when he plays he looks rusty, who wouldn't when playing once a month. How good does any player look the first game of the season? Well, that's what it's like for Lepisto every time Q has blessed him with the good fortune to dress. He's never had a 6 or 7 game stretch to get into any kind of groove.

Finally this year he's played in half as many games as Scott! In those 11 games he has accumulated almost as much total TOI as Scott has in 22 games. To me, that says that on the rare occasion that he as played, The coaching staff has more confidence in him than they do in Scott....so why the F is he only playing in half as many games?

I said it before, I'll say it again. He may not be the answer, but the fact that we don't know for sure is inexcusable.
- Ogilthorpe2

Your points are valid but the bigger issue is....

Lepisto should have never have been signed if he was going to play below John Scott...Period.

Unless Bowman is willing to take a player or two that has a contract with another year to go it might not matter.

Even concerning upcoming UFA's everyone is after the same handful of players and Bowman's trade bait might not match up anyway.

Moen-Gaustad

Doan-Selanne

Grossman-Souray and the big older guys..

He would need to be agressive and take a swing at Brassard or someone that is going to be part of the team next year.

As I said in today's blog the Campbell trade provided cap space and flexibilty but $16 mill in pro rated cap space can't be kept in a drawer for next year.
- Al

Yep, cap space has never had a jersey number.

At the same time, I can see where the teams that are still contenders don't even want to trade and if their minds are changed it will only be because a team is willing to grossly overpay.

Your points are valid but the bigger issue is....

Lepisto should have never have been signed if he was going to play below John Scott...Period.
- Al

I agree. But since he's here...it's inexcusable that he's not playing signiicantly more than Scott.

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.
- Wareagle1996

I have seen Shaw play quite bit. His style IMO has been toned way down since his fight. Not sure why. That's all.

I agree. But since he's here...it's inexcusable that he's not playing signiicantly more than Scott.
- Ogilthorpe2

There is obviously more to this than we know. Don't you think?

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.
- Hal9000y2k

That was a serious gash.

I have seen Shaw play quite bit. His style IMO has been toned way down since his fight. Not sure why. That's all.
- ilinkhawk

For the most part he is doing fine although he flops easily at times....


But since his goal scoring surge other teams look to pound Shaw every chance they get...Hopefully he can hold up but he was caught on the wrong side of the puck the other night in Colorado too.

Yep, cap space has never had a jersey number.

At the same time, I can see where the teams that are still contenders don't even want to trade and if their minds are changed it will only be because a team is willing to grossly overpay.
- RickJ

Strong chatter Moen could be headed back to SJ...It will be interesting to see what price he fetches.