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Forums :: Blog World :: Justin Lowe: Playoffs… I'm Talking Playoffs
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Elbows15
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: I was going to do the math on this but I don't think it will help., IL
Joined: 08.04.2013

Apr 25 @ 1:56 AM ET
https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/why-the-golden-knights-will-be-back-with-a-vengeance-next-season

The Hockey News' take on what the Golden Knights may do to manage their salary cap, particularly with blueline personnel. At least on these boards, Miller and McNabb have been favored as targets to nab for the Hawks back end. THN projects those two to remain in Vegas with Holden and Merrill on the move instead.

"The good news, however, is that Vegas will be able to pare down the collective cap hit of its roster without suffering many – or any – significant losses, and stuffing David Clarkson back on the long-term injured reserve already takes $5.25-million off the books gets the Golden Knights back under the spending limit with relative ease. That said, it would be no surprise if blueliners Nick Holden and Jon Merrill, who carry respective $2.2-million and $1.38-million cap hits are sent packing. That’s particularly so given it would allow the Golden Knights to keep their top four of Nate Schmidt, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb and Colin Miller intact with a cheaper bottom pairing rounding out the roster."

No mention of Eakin's future with the team.

- AEL_Fox


He don't math so good. No one is taking Merrill or Holden without something else coming with them and even then, who wants either of those guys? He seems to missing the part where the Knights have to be cap compliant on day 1 of the season. Or that Karlsson is still going to cost them about what Clarkson cap hit is. Or the UFA they let walk need to be replaced.
jhawk59
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 02.15.2013

Apr 25 @ 4:09 AM ET
Beautiful win by the Canes, and THEY deserved it, They were the better team in game 7.

Slavin and Pesce are pure super stars. Reminds me a little of Keith/Seabs in their heydey.

- kwolf68


Whenev er their run ends, a very nice touch would be play a certain song as players shake hands with their opponent. Play "sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond
Last year Diamond announced that he would no longer be performing - he has Alzheimer's. Noticed he was MIA last holiday season. Most everyone loves his classic all time songs.
Scott1977
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Yorkville, IL
Joined: 08.30.2012

Apr 25 @ 5:48 AM ET
Hey Scott. I’ve seen you calling for more NA players recently. I’m a bit more of a purist in that I don’t care where they come from as long as they can play hockey. We have a few guys in the pipeline that have shown that they can play an aggressive style in Entwhistle, Kurashev, and Barrat.

With Hayden, he’s actually been given a number of chances and hasn’t really done enough with them. He gets out of position a lot and while I like the fact that he willingly goes to the corners and has the ability to dig the puck out, he doesn’t do it often enough. In my opinion he is likely gone, but only a couple people know for sure. If he was going to have any success I think it would be under Colliton. He coached him before and he seemed to get good results in Rockford. It just never really translated in Chicago.

- Chunk

good points
RaleighHawk
Joined: 03.29.2016

Apr 25 @ 7:44 AM ET
Thank you, friends.

You too, elbows.

- BINGO!

Bingo- Are you here in Raleigh?
bogiedoc
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: VA
Joined: 09.27.2011

Apr 25 @ 8:51 AM ET
Thank you, friends.

You too, elbows.

- BINGO!


BINGO!
Carolina Hurricanes
Location: I'll always remember the last words my grandfather ever told me. He said, "A Truck!", SK
Joined: 09.21.2009

Apr 25 @ 8:57 AM ET
Bingo- Are you here in Raleigh?
- RaleighHawk


Nah. I'm in Saskatchewan.
paulr
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: YYZ
Joined: 06.26.2011

Apr 25 @ 9:03 AM ET
Nah. I'm in Saskatchewan.
- BINGO!

I'm sorry to hear that.
boilermaker100
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.23.2015

Apr 25 @ 9:03 AM ET
I'm going to respectfully disagree on the goalie situation. If Crawford is 100% healthy, I'd have no problem with giving him another contract. Watching these games with these goalies makes me appreciate Cro even more. He's a winner and not too many, if any, better than him in crunch time. GET HEALTHY CRO !!
- Hawkytalk


There are a lot of ifs surrounding Cro's situation. It would be great if plays 55-60 games next season and plays his usual stellar game. On the other hand, heaven forbid, he may get reconcussed and miss a good part of the year.

Either way hopefully he and Stan are already talking about his future. If he is still capable and wants to play, I have no problem with signing him for a couple of years at 5-6M. If he plans to retire after his contract is up, Stan needs a plan in place for a #1 goalie. Maybe he's in the organization, maybe not. That's up to the Hawk talent evaluators to decide.

FWIW, here's a link to the 2020 goalie UFA's. Lots of guys at Corey's age and comparable salaries. If given the choice, I would stick with Cro if he wants to continue his career.

https://www.spotrac.com/n...ents/2020/goaltender/ufa/

Edit - Forgot that Strome, Cat, Kahun are RFA's the same time as Crawford's contract up for renewal. May not afford be able to afford him at 5-6M depending what the RFA's sign for. 3-4M maybe?
Assman22
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: San Francisco, CA
Joined: 04.13.2012

Apr 25 @ 9:19 AM ET
So man to man defense can work in the playoffs
- BetweenTheDots

Still on the fence myself. Hoping the Bowmans pressure Colliton back to zone
HawkintheD
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Sick Bay, MI
Joined: 02.22.2012

Apr 25 @ 9:28 AM ET
I'm sorry to hear that.
- paulr


At least he doesn’t have to hide in the lavatory when the Leafs win...which won’t happen anymore til the Fall, so you’re spared for a bit.

What’s your favorite excuse heard so far?
HawkintheD
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Sick Bay, MI
Joined: 02.22.2012

Apr 25 @ 9:31 AM ET
There are a lot of ifs surrounding Cro's situation. It would be great if plays 55-60 games next season and plays his usual stellar game. On the other hand, heaven forbid, he may get reconcussed and miss a good part of the year.

Either way hopefully he and Stan are already talking about his future. If he is still capable and wants to play, I have no problem with signing him for a couple of years at 5-6M. If he plans to retire after his contract is up, Stan needs a plan in place for a #1 goalie. Maybe he's in the organization, maybe not. That's up to the Hawk talent evaluators to decide.

FWIW, here's a link to the 2020 goalie UFA's. Lots of guys at Corey's age and comparable salaries. If given the choice, I would stick with Cro if he wants to continue his career.

https://www.spotrac.com/n...ents/2020/goaltender/ufa/

- boilermaker100


As long as Cro is healthy, I still think he’s top 5 in the league. Cracks me up when they do those goalie polls and guys like Rinne and Rask are ahead of him...and I mean even before the injuries began piling up,
paulr
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: YYZ
Joined: 06.26.2011

Apr 25 @ 9:31 AM ET
Still on the fence myself. Hoping the Bowmans pressure Colliton back to zone
- Assman22

I would think Man to man would be susceptible to offensive pick plays and you just know coaches will devise all kinds of offensive movement and stationary picks to make the defenders stop dead in their tracks allowing the offense to create odd man advantges. I could understand calling man to man in certain situations to try to stop an offensive that is applying all kinds of pressure but I'm not really sure how man to man can work as the sole means of defensive coverage?
paulr
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: YYZ
Joined: 06.26.2011

Apr 25 @ 9:34 AM ET
At least he doesn’t have to hide in the lavatory when the Leafs win...which won’t happen anymore til the Fall, so you’re spared for a bit.

What’s your favorite excuse heard so far?

- HawkintheD

I was giving him the gears, Parts of saskatchewan are very nice. Qu'Appelle Valley is gorgeous and I've heard that there are people running back to Saskatoon so it must be nice.

The best excuse so far .... right out of Powerenforcer's handbook ..... "Bettman and the NHL hate the Leafs and the refs are instructed to call games against them"
mohel
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 02.08.2013

Apr 25 @ 9:36 AM ET
I would think Man to man would be susceptible to offensive pick plays and you just know coaches will devise all kinds of offensive movement and stationary picks to make the defenders stop dead in their tracks allowing the offense to create odd man advantges. I could understand calling man to man in certain situations to try to stop an offensive that is applying all kinds of pressure but I'm not really sure how man to man can work as the sole means of defensive coverage?
- paulr


Defense is passe, Pallie.
SC116
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 08.29.2015

Apr 25 @ 9:40 AM ET
Vegas got robbed? Not sure how, in the sense of how does a team give up that many PP goals on a major? Personally speaking they robbed themselves... and then couldn't deal with adversity -- that generally ends up equaling a tee-time.
paulr
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: YYZ
Joined: 06.26.2011

Apr 25 @ 9:43 AM ET
Defense is passe, Pallie.
- mohel

I keep forgetting. I know TG has told me for about 5 years that Modern hockey no longer includes defense and that defense is a relic from the WW2 era but I'm slow on the uptake.
Chunk
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Why did I move back here again?, IL
Joined: 11.06.2015

Apr 25 @ 9:43 AM ET
I have similar thoughts on Hayden. If he applied himself and played physical every shift, then he'd be a keeper and a reliable contributor game in and game out. The fact is that he isn't. I wouldn't be upset if he was traded but he has a similar fate as Perlini if on next year's roster: play consistent and apply your talents or else take a seat.

While smaller, Sikura engages more consistently than Hayden and Perlini and has shown he can contribute in ways that don't involve goals and assists. Yes, he needs to get stronger but at least his compete level is high and can be relied on to do the little things to help the team win as his scoring waits to catch up.

As for more North American players than Europeans, I'm with you that each player's style of play and the skill set matters more than nationality. Plenty of examples of physical, gritty, and tough as nails Europeans, i.e. Landeskog, Radulov, Malkin, Hedman, Tarasenko, Kopitar, Voracek, etc.

- AEL_Fox


Not to man crush on Drake too much, but if Hayden could get his game where Caggiula's is he would be a great asset. Caggiula not only can dig pucks out of the corners and off the walls, but he knows how and when to set up in front of the net. He obviously has his moments, but Hayden seems to be more reactionary in that he waits until he sees the puck near the net and then skates to the area.

If his comments are to be believed (that he knows where his deficiencies are and that he is 100% committed to improving on them) then I think Sikura could be the "most improved" Blackhawk next year. How many times was he the first guy in the zone and often beating the defenseman to the puck. He plays with a lot of determination. He just needs to the body to go with it.
StLBravesFan
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 07.03.2011

Apr 25 @ 9:44 AM ET
Still on the fence myself. Hoping the Bowmans pressure Colliton back to zone
- Assman22

Seems to me that any system can work IF:

The players completely buy into it
They know how to get into the defense in transition
They are hockey-smart enough to know when to adjust and make switches
The have the quickness and skill to make the switches - and the switches back

Of course, the coaches need to accurately assess which defensive schemes their on-ice talent are suited for.

Let's see what Colliton and whoever he has assisting him can come up with over the summer and with a full training camp.
Chunk
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Why did I move back here again?, IL
Joined: 11.06.2015

Apr 25 @ 9:45 AM ET
I guess it could be a little from Column A and a little from Column B: define your team's style of play then either coach strategies that implement that style no matter who is on the roster and/or draft and acquire players who already play that style so it's natural for them to acclimate to the way the team expects you to play.
- AEL_Fox


Yeah, I was rambling yesterday being stuck in an airport after two cancelled flights. Not sure I made a coherent point there, but thanks for digging a useful conclusion out of it.
Assman22
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: San Francisco, CA
Joined: 04.13.2012

Apr 25 @ 9:48 AM ET
I would think Man to man would be susceptible to offensive pick plays and you just know coaches will devise all kinds of offensive movement and stationary picks to make the defenders stop dead in their tracks allowing the offense to create odd man advantges. I could understand calling man to man in certain situations to try to stop an offensive that is applying all kinds of pressure but I'm not really sure how man to man can work as the sole means of defensive coverage?
- paulr

Agreed. Makes less sense in this era than in the previous era with how fast the game is now. Doesn't matter how great your offense is if your defense cant keep the puck out of the net. Team was 8th in scoring but gave up the 2nd most goals.

But the real question is, who are we going to take at #3?!
Chunk
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Why did I move back here again?, IL
Joined: 11.06.2015

Apr 25 @ 9:50 AM ET
Seems to me that any system can work IF:

The players completely buy into it
They know how to get into the defense in transition
They are hockey-smart enough to know when to adjust and make switches
The have the quickness and skill to make the switches - and the switches back

Of course, the coaches need to accurately assess which defensive schemes their on-ice talent are suited for.

Let's see what Colliton and whoever he has assisting him can come up with over the summer and with a full training camp.

- StLBravesFan


The Hawks site has clips of Colliton's end of season Q&A (Stan's too). They both address the man-to-man question. According to them, there are times when they use it, but it is not an overarching concept. They explain it much better than I can.
Chunk
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Why did I move back here again?, IL
Joined: 11.06.2015

Apr 25 @ 9:52 AM ET
Agreed. Makes less sense in this era than in the previous era with how fast the game is now. Doesn't matter how great your offense is if your defense cant keep the puck out of the net. Team was 8th in scoring but gave up the 2nd most goals.

But the real question is, who are we going to take at #3?!

- Assman22


Logic would dictate Cole Caufield, to make sure that we can score more goals than we let in.
HawkintheD
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Sick Bay, MI
Joined: 02.22.2012

Apr 25 @ 9:54 AM ET
I was giving him the gears, Parts of saskatchewan are very nice. Qu'Appelle Valley is gorgeous and I've heard that there are people running back to Saskatoon so it must be nice.

The best excuse so far .... right out of Powerenforcer's handbook ..... "Bettman and the NHL hate the Leafs and the refs are instructed to call games against them"

- paulr


Grinding his gears, huh Paul? Never crossed my mind.
mohel
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 02.08.2013

Apr 25 @ 9:56 AM ET
I keep forgetting. I know TG has told me for about 5 years that Modern hockey no longer includes defense and that defense is a relic from the WW2 era but I'm slow on the uptake.
- paulr


Is TG on the golf course with the Bolts?
HawkintheD
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Sick Bay, MI
Joined: 02.22.2012

Apr 25 @ 9:59 AM ET
Is TG on the golf course with the Bolts?
- mohel


As head of their PR department, I think he’s addressing a lot of angry letters from season ticket holders.

Do season ticket holders pen angry letters anymore or do they just go ballistic on Twitter?
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