Justin Lowe: This Team is Built for Fun, Not the Playoffs What gives? The Hawks have now won 6 games in a row. The extra point they gave to Vancouver (a team directly ahead of them in the standings) didn’t help those hoping for a playoff entry but another win means only 2 points out of the last Wild Card spot.

Listen, I usually like wins as I will always like to see this team do well. The reality, however, is, while this is a fun team to watch, this is not a team built for the playoffs.

First

So then the question is... Do Debrincat and Strome (frank)?

just saw Panarin parted ways with his agent

AMEN to the Top 4 D-man, that's the primary need of this team, period.

rest of the blog was equally great and had nice perspective to not get too big eyed over the current winning streak.

So then the question is... Do Debrincat and Strome (frank)?
- BINGO!

Only if TT sticks it in the Aho(le)

Only if TT sticks it in the Aho(le)
- I Am The Breadman

They might. That's fine.

just saw Panarin parted ways with his agent
- MichaeLionheart

What!??!?!?!

Sheeesh!

A lot of parallels to the 2015-2016 Penguins.

- They started off the season near the bottom of the league.
- They fired their coach.
- Fleury got hurt and was replaced by a rookie goaltender who played out of his mind. (Crow got hurt. Replaced by Delia).
- Their defense was weak and they had to rely on their superstar talent to pull in wins (Malkin, Crosby, Kessel vs Kane, Toews)
- The arrival of another young, star forward (Guentzal vs Strome & Debrincat).

At game 55. They were W28 L19 OL8 vs our record of W22 L24 OL9.

Unfortunately, we had one extra bad losing streak than them which caused us to be ~10 points behind in the standing.

* give up too many shots and a high % in the high danger variety
* currently don’t have a starting goalie
* showing signs of strong offensive dominance on shifts but most of that is perimeter play (guys like Caggiula and Strome helping but not enough)
* PK is horrendous

What are you talking about? They start a goalie every night.

Justin Lowe: This Team is Built for Fun, Not the Playoffs
What gives? The Hawks have now won 6 games in a row. The extra point they gave to Vancouver (a team directly ahead of them in the standings) didn’t help those hoping for a playoff entry but another win means only 2 points out of the last Wild Card spot.

Listen, I usually like wins as I will always like to see this team do well. The reality, however, is, while this is a fun team to watch, this is not a team built for the playoffs.
- Justin Lowe

Good write-up, TC.

You aren't negative, most of us think they are a bubble team or on the cusp, but not meant to last. Leapfrogging a lot of teams may not even happen.

I'm just enjoying the wins, looking for Bowman to be smart at the tdl, and the deficiencies slowly get fixed. There are a lot at the moment.

What do you get for reaching 1000 posts? A sump pump?

They might. That's fine.
- BINGO!

Hahahaha!!

Yes Justin. You are right. An entertaining team as they are constructed now, but not a Cup threat.
Still, I am beginning to like the structure of the team, the forwards are coming into shape. One guy like Stone mixed in and the maybe one upgrade bottom 6 guy and the forwards are solid.
The Defense needs a little more work, and not sure it can be done too quickly. We need at least two upgrades IMO. a Top pair guy and another shutdown guy. May have to wait until somebody develops, or Stan does a major steal of a young stud. Not really sure where we get the help we need there....maybe Stan does...lol.

One funny thing hit me last night. I had to watch the Nuck feed. Hawks go on the PP, and announcers say"Vancouver hurting themselves having to face THIS RED-HOT HAWK PP AGAIN. I couldn't help but smile.....been several years since I heard of the Hawk PP as RED-HOT.!!!!!

Yes Justin. You are right. An entertaining team as they are constructed now, but not a Cup threat.
Still, I am beginning to like the structure of the team, the forwards are coming into shape. One guy like Stone mixed in and the maybe one upgrade bottom 6 guy and the forwards are solid.
The Defense needs a little more work, and not sure it can be done too quickly. We need at least two upgrades IMO. a Top pair guy and another shutdown guy. May have to wait until somebody develops, or Stan does a major steal of a young stud. Not really sure where we get the help we need there....maybe Stan does...lol.

One funny thing hit me last night. I had to watch the Nuck feed. Hawks go on the PP, and announcers say"Vancouver hurting themselves having to face THIS RED-HOT HAWK PP AGAIN. I couldn't help but smile.....been several years since I heard of the Hawk PP as RED-HOT.!!!!!

- hawk35

Where did we rank on the PP in 15-16?

Is he hiring Kane?

The 2015 cup win proved a team doesn't need to be physical but have to be able to play in a physical environment that "no human could endure". That 2015 was tough but not in the sense most view the word. This current team is not tough, too many guys won't take a hit to make a play and would rather give up the puck to avoid a hit.

I like how this team is competing and playing right now but they have too many holes everywhere to do much in the post season.

Justin Lowe: This Team is Built for Fun, Not the Playoffs
What gives? The Hawks have now won 6 games in a row. The extra point they gave to Vancouver (a team directly ahead of them in the standings) didn’t help those hoping for a playoff entry but another win means only 2 points out of the last Wild Card spot.

Listen, I usually like wins as I will always like to see this team do well. The reality, however, is, while this is a fun team to watch, this is not a team built for the playoffs.
- Justin Lowe

Im with you Justin. For now they are beating teams that are in their same talent level which is progress. If they can trade for a young top 4 dman im fine with that but hell no on any rental players, but i think Bowman has a pretty good idea what he's got as a team.

The probability of the Hawks making the playoffs improved from 15% to 17% after last night. (Per The Athletic).

Spot on analysis. At best this team, this year, is a .500 bubble team. The drop off in talent from the glory years is dramatic.

Hopefully, last year was the bottom. This year looks to be trending up. 2019-20, maybe a playoff team with a couple of key additions. Then look to be contending again as early as 2020-21.

Where did we rank on the PP in 15-16?
- nickmo2699

I dunno, but 15-16 is several years ago!!!

Aaron Portzline
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Just received confirmation from a prominent #NHL agent that Panarin has fired his representation, Daniel Milstein. The two parted ways earlier this week, he said. #CBJ

8:38 AM - 8 Feb 2019

Aaron Portzline
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Just received confirmation from a prominent #NHL agent that Panarin has fired his representation, Daniel Milstein. The two parted ways earlier this week, he said. #CBJ

8:38 AM - 8 Feb 2019
- MNHawk

He's signed on with Bobrovsky's agent instead.

Which is... yikes.

And the probability of the Hawks winning the Stanley Cup this year is 0.2%.

So yes, there is a chance (cue meme).

Where are all the Pro-Tankers today?

Stan trades CC to AZ so they can put him on IR.

Panarin and Bob have same agent, so they will sign same deals (theres our new Toews/Kane tandem)

It's aaaaallllllll... part of the plan.

Where are all the Pro-Tankers today?
- Brownie's_Purse

I am here for one...