Justin Lowe: 5 Thoughts on a Blackhawks Weekend
It was a sloppy 7-3 win but a win nonetheless.

Patrick Kane came up huge with 4 points which was nice as I believe I was sitting amongst some of his family members.


I wanted to pop in 5 thoughts I'm thinking after watching the Hawks live in Buffalo and before their game in Minnesota tonight

First

Justin Lowe: 5 Thoughts on a Blackhawks Weekend

It was a sloppy 7-3 win but a win nonetheless.

Patrick Kane came up huge with 4 points which was nice as I believe I was sitting amongst some of his family members.


I wanted to pop in 5 thoughts I'm thinking after watching the Hawks live in Buffalo and before their game in Minnesota tonight
- Justin Lowe

Great piece, TC, glad you enjoyed the game with the family.

I agree, and Edzo said the same thing, he's glad the hawks are defending each other, Kane especially. There were a lot of bitter feelings that game.

I don't want to see Saad go and DC has been a great addition. Maybe not 1st line material, but he plays by putting it all out there. I'd like to see him in the Indian head again.

Gus can stay this year, that pp is helping Kane's points. Kucherov just needs to cool it.

Duncan Keith’s response says it all. No wonder they are struggling so much this year. It should matter to him and it should matter a lot. Interesting, since he’s been the Worst Blackhawk on the ice. Yes, even worse that Seabs lately. As he said, this isn’t a delevopmental league. Well it’s also not a league where u can use the excuse he just gave. If u could, Q would still b around and the UC would still b full. Trade him while opposing GMs may still b under the impression that he’s got a lot of value.

"What's a rebuild, or a retool?" he said. "Who knows what that is? I don't know what that is. New Jersey was good last year and now they're not good this year. So what happened? I don't know. They beat us 8-5. They're out of the playoffs. I don't really know. The league's different now. One year, you're good. The next year, you're not. I don't really think too much about it. Just play my game and (not) worry about all that other stuff. (It's) for you guys to write about. Makes no difference to me." (source: The Athletic)

luv this quote by duncs: he's right and "its for all you guys to write (and yap) about...and that they do...

I just wish this team could block some shots, they are awful at it, 40+ shots on goal almost every night. They looked good last night getting out of their own zone until the 3rd period.

This was one of the few games i saw where the opponent was just as bad as covering the middle of the ice defensively as the Blackhawks.

Duncan Keith’s response says it all. No wonder they are struggling so much this year. It should matter to him and it should matter a lot. Interesting, since he’s been the Worst Blackhawk on the ice. Yes, even worse that Seabs lately. As he said, this isn’t a delevopmental league. Well it’s also not a league where u can use the excuse he just gave. If u could, Q would still b around and the UC would still b full. Trade him while opposing GMs may still b under the impression that he’s got a lot of value.
- Nmbr1

what should matter to him: what management does, what the writers or you and i puke out; he focuses on his game and not all that other noise...

and he has not been the worse blackhawk on ice...there are afew other candidates for that...

trade him? he has control over that not stanbow...

Glad you referenced that article from The Athletic. There is really no reason to read any other media outlet i.e ESPN/TSN, etc. Always a great read with realistic insight. Good they pointed out a reason as to why we aren't hearing much chatter on AA moving at the deadline, but instead will likely get moved over the summer. Will be interesting to see what happens with Keith over the next 3-4 weeks. While Hayden may very well be dealt it sounds like, I don't feel like they ever gave him a role to chew on. Always up and down the lineup or scratched. Either play him and others in his situation for top mins in Rockford or put him in a role he can develop at the NHL level. These healthy scratches for young guys are ridiculous. I, for one, would like to see him on the Toews line and keep Drake on the checking line or energy line.

I was just happy to see this team come out ready to play with some energy and grabbing an early lead. This team usually is lifeless after an extended time off.

I just wish this team could block some shots, they are awful at it, 40+ shots on goal almost every night. They looked good last night getting out of their own zone until the 3rd period.
- BetweenTheDots

I saw a lot of blocked shots, and helicopter-stick blocking, Seabs and Fors were the latter. Sadly, stats like those only show up if the player uses his body. As much as they block, I think the shots against are double.

Justin (and he’ll always be Justin to me) said: They need defence and after watching it live last night, they need to go back to zone defence. I've watched a lot live (Blackhawks and other teams) of the man-to-man defensive scheme and I am not a fan.

I say: Yes.

It’s easier to play man-to-man in basketball or football, where the defender can match cuts and moves by his opponent.

On ice - stopping, starting, cutting in response to the skater being guarded is much more difficult (based on my limited pond-hockey experiences in my distant youth, as well as many years of observation).

Add in substitutions on the fly and it seems to me to be a recipe for lost and confused defenses.

I just wish this team could block some shots, they are awful at it, 40+ shots on goal almost every night. They looked good last night getting out of their own zone until the 3rd period.
- BetweenTheDots

I just wish they could defend well enough that there isn’t even a shot attempt to be blocked. That’s the root of the problem and to Ty’s point it isn’t likely to get fixed easily or soon.

I would hate to see Keith go. Would love to have him around to help raise up the next wave of Chicago Dmen. If you read The Athletic piece (another of Mark Lazerus’s meaty Wraparound pieces - BTW loving Laz with more space to write in) it gives some great context for that Keith quote, including how much he has supported and helped Jokiharju over the course of the season. Keith talked a lot with Jokiharju during the WJC tournament and said he was going to reach out this weekend. He also said how much being in the A had helped his game.

I’m like many of you - happy with a win, but also know that this team needs a top pick in the draft. So if they miss the playoffs (and I’d rather they miss than get swept in 4 games again) I’d rather they miss big.

Right now they are 5 games out of the wildcard and 4 games out of last place in the NHL.

Does anyone have the official numbers for high danger scoring chances for each team? It seemed to me that Buffalo had several, but a lot of them were on rebounds.

I just wish they could defend well enough that there isn’t even a shot attempt to be blocked. That’s the root of the problem and to Ty’s point it isn’t likely to get fixed easily or soon.

I would hate to see Keith go. Would love to have him around to help raise up the next wave of Chicago Dmen. If you read The Athletic piece (another of Mark Lazerus’s meaty Wraparound pieces - BTW loving Laz with more space to write in) it gives some great context for that Keith quote, including how much he has supported and helped Jokiharju over the course of the season. Keith talked a lot with Jokiharju during the WJC tournament and said he was going to reach out this weekend. He also said how much being in the A had helped his game.

I’m like many of you - happy with a win, but also know that this team needs a top pick in the draft. So if they miss the playoffs (and I’d rather they miss than get swept in 4 games again) I’d rather they miss big.

Right now they are 5 games out of the wildcard and 4 games out of last place in the NHL.
- Marlowe

I hope they win a lot (starting after the TDL so Bowman doesn't buying), but barely miss the playoffs, and then luck into a top 3 pick.

As for the future, where (and when) does Evan Barratt fit in? He's having a great year at Penn State, does he sign this spring? I think it would be better for him to go back to school for one more year, but what if he wants to sign this year and the Hawks want him to wait another year? Does he decide to stay in college until his senior year and test free agency?

D Keith surely has an attitude problem and that may be why Bownan entertains the trade him now disposition. Keith can still skate well so really another GM is betting on how much how often Keith goes all out. The beauty of the playoffs is that this is the time you go all out.

The biggest obstruction to completion of trade, however, may not be Keith's attitude but more so a team whom wants him as much as he would want to play for them. Frankly it is difficult to see him finding a situation outside of Chicago. But we are looking from the outside and Stan is on the inside. You know that old phrase about waiting until next year.....in this brouhaha (is it really a brouhaha) we indeed wait to next year to see how different the team will look. With or without Keith.

As for the future, where (and when) does Evan Barratt fit in? He's having a great year at Penn State, does he sign this spring? I think it would be better for him to go back to school for one more year, but what if he wants to sign this year and the Hawks want him to wait another year? Does he decide to stay in college until his senior year and test free agency?
- tvetter

Speculation on this board has him playing one season AHL. I feel he is overated as a scorer but is a slightly better than average skill guy who can really get under your skin. Ok skater i think anyone see enough of him to say strongly how you feel about his NHL ceiling? Better than Burrrish.

D Keith surely has an attitude problem and that may be why Bownan entertains the trade him now disposition. Keith can still skate well so really another GM is betting on how much how often Keith goes all out. The beauty of the playoffs is that this is the time you go all out.

The biggest obstruction to completion of trade, however, may not be Keith's attitude but more so a team whom wants him as much as he would want to play for them. Frankly it is difficult to see him finding a situation outside of Chicago. But we are looking from the outside and Stan is on the inside. You know that old phrase about waiting until next year.....in this brouhaha (is it really a brouhaha) we indeed wait to next year to see how different the team will look. With or without Keith.
- jhawk59

Yep. He will have legit value to Cup hunting teams at the deadline. Team needs a re-build.

"But he's 35"

"But he's 35"
- RedRevenge

Who DK? So what... He clearly needs a change of scenery.

Who DK? So what... He clearly needs a change of scenery.
- z1990z

I don't think so, i believe he's a wonderful asset to have around for the young dmen coming up and the ones currently on the team.

Love Keith pretty much female dog slapping the whiners....and they dont even know it just happened

I don't think so, i believe he's a wonderful asset to have around for the young dmen coming up and the ones currently on the team.
- BetweenTheDots

I wont be surprised to see him moved at the deadline.

I don't think we will get full value for trading him and I wouldn't move him to a contender for just a second. I want at least a 1st and if teams aren't going to pay that, then he's better off mentoring the our future top defensemen (Joki, Boq, etc).