Justin Lowe: This Team Feels… Different Let's put the terrible powerplay and penalty kill aside, and let's not dwell too much on the roller coaster of losing leads and sloppy defensive play through 5 games.

What I would like to focus on is the overall "feel" of this team.

This is a look at the Hawks early season success.

I’d really like to see what Davidson can do. I’m not a fan of Manning. Seems like he makes some big plays, but then his mistakes are always big ones. Kind of like a goalie who makes all the flashy saves but then let’s in a lot of stinkers.

I’d really like to see what Davidson can do. I’m not a fan of Manning. Seems like he makes some big plays, but then his mistakes are always big ones. Kind of like a goalie who makes all the flashy saves but then let’s in a lot of stinkers.
- Ogilthorpe2

Speaking of...if Crow comes back this week, will be interesting to see what they do with Forsberg.

I'm kind of surprised Q hasn't played Davidson yet. Didn't see a lot of preseason games but by most reports he looked pretty good.

Any rumblings about possibly bringing in another top 6 forward and who that might be?

Only 2 teams in the NHL are undefeated in regulation.

For Sure...Different is a positive way!

I think the players as a proud and competitive group would like to prove the naysayers wrong and/or that last year was an anomaly, especially for Toews who has been punched in the gut by all, even NHL network stating he was like the 15th best center when not too long along he and Crosby were 1A and 1B. Don't get me wrong about giving Toews a free pass as his numbers performance and numbers were very un-Toews like. I will say it again, it wasn't the skills and/or mileage but I believe he is injury free (back, concussion, shoulder, etc).

Could last year's abysmal performance be called the CRAWFORD FACTOR? Still too early to tell but so far it has been sure entertaining!

Correction needed! We haven't played 10 games... I think you meant 8 points out of possible 10 points

Great blog, Justin.

I wonder how much of the locker room vibes now can be attributed to the three or so sour people who didn't like Q being gone? Or if it has something to do with the young guys having great seasons last year, and the older guys wanting to keep up to pace with the younger guys. The roles have really switched from last year to this year with all of the resurgence. The resurgence will be complete if Crow can come back and play out of his mind. I'm excited for this season, but if the pieces keep falling in all of the right places, there is no reason to not consider this a playoff team and from there, who knows …..

- Ogilthorpe2

I liked your Lard Ass picture at the tail end of the last blog. That movie is a remote dropper in my book.

Speaking of...if Crow comes back this week, will be interesting to see what they do with Forsberg.

I'm kind of surprised Q hasn't played Davidson yet. Didn't see a lot of preseason games but by most reports he looked pretty good.
- HawkintheD

I guess the hawks want how good Berg can be to be their little secret. If the cat (not Adb) is let out of the bag, then we're screwed and lose him through waiver wires.

JL, Great insight in the the leadership of the team.

Near miss on the optimism IMO. It could all go sideways, but have to aim higher than a chance to be a bubble team. I don't think that is the ceiling if this team can gel a bit, get Crawford back and tighten up the special teams. Nothing is guaranteed, but they should be in the playoff race with the team as constructed.

I liked your Lard Ass picture at the tail end of the last blog. That movie is a remote dropper in my book.
- I Am The Breadman

I was just sitting back and enjoying.

I was just sitting back and enjoying.
- Ogilthorpe2

Watching the mayhem of a puked on audience or the mayhem from bloggers coming back to roost? Haha

I guess the hawks want how good Berg can be to be their little secret. If the cat (not Adb) is let out of the bag, then we're screwed and lose him through waiver wires.
- I Am The Breadman

Ideally they wouldn’t lose him, but if they did, it’s not the end of the world. There are others in the pipeline.

Watching the mayhem of a puked on audience or the mayhem from bloggers coming back to roost? Haha
- I Am The Breadman

Both.

But it’s a new day, and time to move on.

Definitely more of a glass half full than glass half empty vibe so far. It probably would be a different feel if the Hawks were 0-5 which they could have been playing 3-on-3 sudden death all 5 games, but I think it would still be a good vibe even if they had lost all 5 games mainly because of Toews resurgence and the play of others Justin mentioned, at least for me. Getting the old core close to what they used to be coupled with young players emerging is the objective this season, getting points in the standings at the same time is just gravy.

Ideally they wouldn’t lose him, but if they did, it’s not the end of the world. There are others in the pipeline.
- Ogilthorpe2

Maybe more stable-minded ones.

I’m happy with the start so far. I like the compete level that we have seen. They don’t get rattled if they are down a goal or two and have shown that they are able to come from behind to win. Toews looks better than he has in the last couple of seasons. Many reasons for optimism with Crawford coming back and the play of Jokariau and for once they have some cap space to work with. Now if they can get some scoring from the bottom six they may have a better season then we expected.

Definitely more of a glass half full than glass half empty vibe so far. It probably would be a different feel if the Hawks were 0-5 which they could have been playing 3-on-3 sudden death all 5 games, but I think it would still be a good vibe even if they had lost all 5 games mainly because of Toews resurgence and the play of others Justin mentioned, at least for me. Getting the old core close to what they used to be coupled with young players emerging is the objective this season, getting points in the standings at the same time is just gravy.
- EbonyRaptor

Ditto. While some of Stan's moves can be questioned, despised, whatever, to me, this whole thing going off the rails was more a product of Toews not looking like Toews the last few seasons.

I always found it hard to believe that he was essentially done or now merely a decent player where he was great before...and he was great. Never bought the idea that he was merely a prodcut or beneficiary of being Hossa's center. I mean sure he was to some extent but that went the other way too and why they were so great together.

I hope Thursday is a good game, even though ARI only has 1 win. Hawks have a history of playing to the level of the team. Good teams they have compete against, bottom-dwelling teams they have next to no compete.

Ditto. While some of Stan's moves can be questioned, despised, whatever, to me, this whole thing going off the rails was more a product of Toews not looking like Toews the last few seasons.

I always found it hard to believe that he was essentially done or now merely a decent player where he was great before...and he was great. Never bought the idea that he was merely a prodcut or beneficiary of being Hossa's center. I mean sure he was to some extent but that went the other way too and why they were so great together.
- HawkintheD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DolhjpUPga4

I hope Thursday is a good game, even though ARI only has 1 win. Hawks have a history of playing to the level of the team. Good teams they have compete against, bottom-dwelling teams they have next to no compete.
- I Am The Breadman

That would be somewhat telltale no? Last year they had an issue after the first couple games of being prepared from the start of the game.

Haven't seen it so far but again, just five games in.

That would be somewhat telltale no? Last year they had an issue after the first couple games of being prepared from the start of the game.

Haven't seen it so far but again, just five games in.
- HawkintheD

They have had their collapses, but the starts have been good. This is their first bottom-dweller team is all I'm saying. I want to see a whole 60 minute effort, which they haven't accomplished yet, but I don't want to see a bad start to a bad finish against the yotes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DolhjpUPga4
- I Am The Breadman

Think that was the first "R" rated movie I went to. Love Heddy...I mean Headley Lamar.