Maybe they look to slow things down and embrace a more cerebral approach. Hedman for Seabrook!
- HawkintheD

Not to mention more of an Eddie Munster look.

That FO probably regretting the contract extension they gave Cooper.

They might just blow it up. Maybe Yzerman saw this coming
- BetweenTheDots

They are going to have to make some changes due to the cap in any event. I hope they over-react and make a bunch of dumb trades chasing "grit"


Which brings me to something that Bowman rarely gets credit for. Remember everyone clamoring for huge changes after the loss to the Yotes in 12? Bowman had the balls to stay the course and it resulted in two more Cups and were an OT loss for a possible 3-peat.

I think Maguire has a woodie
- paulr

Maguire is a woodie.

I may have missed this if it was brought up earlier, but Kucherov with a complete disappearance in the series after smoking the league during the regular season and being close to a PPG player in the PO’s for his career.
- Chunk

He misses the mother country and wants to go back and play for team Russia.

Edit - referring to the upcoming World Championships

Tampa not going down without a fight.
- walleyeb1

19 goals against in 4 games (yeah lost of empty-netters ) all b/c the Blue Jackets flew at the at the start of the games, not necessarily attacking each time just making the bolts play on their heels, and then kept applying the close pressure + adding the opportune goals and they never got in a flow for long, and it was all down hill.

Sure, the big over-rated defenseman has a concussion, and they thought, as a team that they were above being "handled" BUT IT JUST ALL got squirted together like puss and the wound got bigger bigger

Not just for you to answer but open to anyone: are the Hawks capable of getting under the skin of an opponent especially in the playoffs?

Not saying this is a requisite for winning in the playoffs, as they have proven in past championship run seasons that they can beat the other team in other ways, but it can help.

Just don’t agitate and hit to the detriment of team defense.
- AEL_Fox

I believe the regular season is to practice team defense, when Q coached the Hawks that's what they did, I'm seeing the same thing with the Islanders, they are so methodical shift after shift after shift which is leading to the Pens frustration. Pens have had some chances but just missing open nets

The way the Hawks play defense, not a chance

I hope bowman and company are paying attention forechecking forwards with size and physical play size speed and going to front of the net is whats working and what works in the playoffs. Just observation
- Scott1977

Hey Scott. About 1/3 of the team and the front office know what it takes to win in the playoffs. It’s not necessarily size and speed. It is playing aggressively as a team, knowing when to cover and when to jump in, and when you need to just bear down on D. Not trying to be patronizing, I just don’t think you necessarily need players of X Size and speed to win.

Well, there's an image I could have done without.

I know people have been comparing it to the Hawks vs NSH series but to me it's more like the Hawks vs Pens in the '92 Cup. Hawks went out to a 4-1 lead in game 1, and ended up losing 5-4.

Pens never looked back after that.
- HawkintheD

I've never forgiven mullet head for that.

Bye bye Penguins

Damn... two big sweeps in the first round.

Bye bye Penguins
- BetweenTheDots

and the barest prospects pipeline of any team

I take back everything I said earlier about Stamkos, I just got back to my room from dinner and see he scored the first goal of the game

Yzerman was a genius.

I said earlier I didn't think once the playoffs came I didn't think Tampa was better than Washington or Toronto, I took some poop for that, and it turns out I was wrong, I didn't include Columbus.

I don't want to hear anyone sing the praises of Tampa's front office and how much smarter they are than the Hawks for at least 6 more months.

What a joke

and the barest prospects pipeline of any team
- wiz1901

Another guy labelled as genius as he traded away all his first rounders.

At least they have some cups to show for it.

Going to take a long time to build that back up though.

Can't have everyone get old at the same time.

The playoffs are a reminder of how important defense and defensive intensity is.

I laugh watching Lehner, half the time he doesn't know where the puck is and his body language says whatever, it'll find me eventually

That series was closer than 4-0, though. (frank)ing Belfour sucked the life right out of that team. He is revered by Hawk fans and he gave up more soft goals in one playoff game than Crawford has in his whole career. Not to mention the hold Jagr got away with on the winning goal in Game 1.

Belfour was so bad they went to Hasek.
- Elbows15

I know...and sadly traded him for Christian Ruuttu and Eric Daze.

I hope bowman and company are paying attention forechecking forwards with size and physical play size speed and going to front of the net is whats working and what works in the playoffs. Just observation
- Scott1977

It’s not the size so much as it’s the attitude, their forwards have totally bought into defense first, back checking, fore checking, constantly in their face.

Bye bye Penguins
- BetweenTheDots

Is this great or what! The Pens and Bolts sent to the showers 0-4. Yeah baby!

Now hopefully the Peg takes care of the Blues and Dallas takes care of the hillrods and all will be good in my hockey world ... well, except for the Hawks not being in the playoffs ... but you get what I mean.

Lil Arty with the EN dagger.
- HawkintheD

He’s unbelievable in the offensive zone. I'd take him back in a heartbeat. Trade Saad and his 6mil and Anisimov and his 4.5 and there's your cap money for Panarin. Pipedream though because that would be an admission of a horrific mistake by Hawks Management.....and that never happens.

Will CBJ be able to slow down the Leafs?

Not to be overlooked, London was up 3-0 in their series against Guelph them the Storm stormed back to take the series 4-3.

If figures, Stan drafts the complete choker Boqvist. If he’s the d-man of the future how can he left the Storm come back. Pathetic. He should be traded now.

They are going to have to make some changes due to the cap in any event. I hope they over-react and make a bunch of dumb trades chasing "grit"


Which brings me to something that Bowman rarely gets credit for. Remember everyone clamoring for huge changes after the loss to the Yotes in 12? Bowman had the balls to stay the course and it resulted in two more Cups and were an OT loss for a possible 3-peat.
- Elbows15

I've brought that up on more than one occasion here. I was one of the goofs clamoring for changes.

I know Stan gets no credit for drafting the Core but I've said before he should get some credit for identifying which players to hitch his wagon to and not sending them packing at the behest of a bunch of internet GM's.

Heart, skill, speed, physicality and size .... in that order.
- paulr

Agree and want who willing to sacrifice more to win who wants it more = HEART GRIT AND CHARACTER= WINNER!!!

He’s unbelievable in the offensive zone. I'd take him back in a heartbeat. Trade Saad and his 6mil and Anisimov and his 4.5 and there's your cap money for Panarin. Pipedream though because that would be an admission of a horrific mistake by Hawks Management.....and that never happens.
- Hawkytalk

They've traded for several players they previously traded...so that actually has happened.

Hey Scott. About 1/3 of the team and the front office know what it takes to win in the playoffs. It’s not necessarily size and speed. It is playing aggressively as a team, knowing when to cover and when to jump in, and when you need to just bear down on D. Not trying to be patronizing, I just don’t think you necessarily need players of X Size and speed to win.
- Chunk

YOUR right size and speed help also but are not the sole reason.