Big win last night. Still a big mountain to climb for playoffs land.

I'm very interested to see what happens with Lehner. There's a lot of whispers going on right now.

There aren't a lot of teams that will he in the market for a starting goalie... CAR and COL would be a couple that come to mind as options, but the stars would have to align for Stan to make a move involving him by the TDL.

If the Hawks keep Lehner past the deadline and turns out he doesn't want to resign in CHI, the Hawks can always trade his rights prior to July 1st - to let's say CAR - for a pick/prospect.

For the record, my vote would be to sign Lehner and trade Crawford but we'll see how it all plays out.

"Dylan Strome has a tall, solid frame at 6-3, 200 pounds, but he doesn’t use it much.

Part of that is because his skills make him a playmaker, not a grinder, and that’s perfectly fine with the Blackhawks. But part of that is because Strome has a tendency to be passive without the puck, and he and the Hawks hope to change that habit.

'
- pdx2ord[I have to] be relentless, try to be all over the puck,' Strome said Saturday. 'I have a tendency to sit back and wait for the turnover, but in this league, you’ve got to go after it.'

....

He also knew while sitting in the Edmonton press box that the ankle wasn’t why he was there — it was because Colliton was unhappy with his play.

'I was obviously frustrated and a little bit pissed off, but that’s the point of it,' he said.

Instead of preparing for the game that day as he otherwise would have been, he had an individual film-review session with the coaching staff. The main takeaway — be more aggressive."

https://chicago.suntimes....-colliton-healthy-scratch

Despite his learning on the job how to handle in-game decisions and other noticeable issues, JC does seem to live up to his rep on developing young players.

They should have just left JC in Rockford for a few more seasons after Q was fired He had that team playing better and seemed to be helping the players down there. Let him gain more experience and then maybe give him a shot.

Friedman said they were interested in Crawford for the rest of the year last night on HNIC
- GPHawksfan

Edzo would be very excited.

Lehner was eligible for an extension six weeks ago. Why no deal yet? He'll be gone by the TDL if he doesn't sign (unless there is no solid trade market for him).
- mohel

to many unknowns...and could be lehner's price is to high for the hawks long term...

either way a trade of either goalie is unlikely...

Edzo would be very excited.
- mohel

The only thing that seemed to get that guy excited was telling other male posters to blow him

to many unknowns...and could be lehner's price is to high for the hawks long term...

either way a trade of either goalie is unlikely...
- bogiedoc

Losing a UFA for no return is malpractice. If he's not signing here they have to trade him for whatever the market brings.

24 games = 48 pts left

hawks have to pass 4 teams with 6pts separating

only 5 games left with those 4 teams: 2x wild, 1x jets, 2x preds

need to get 34 of the next 48 and hope a few of those stub their skates

34 pts = something like 15-4-4...good luck with the schedule they have left: stars 2x, blues 2x, pens, caps

Losing a UFA for no return is malpractice. If he's not signing here they have to trade him for whatever the market brings.
- mohel

it doesn't follow that because he is not signed now, he should be traded...hawks could still sign him before the season ends or he hits the UFA market...

my point is the unknowns with the hawks and the rest of league parity may not be conducive to a hawks finding a partner...its also possible that stanbow has communicated with lehner and his rep that no agreement yet but we are still interested...

signing him or trading him is a false dichotomy...there are other options

Lehner was eligible for an extension six weeks ago. Why no deal yet? He'll be gone by the TDL if he doesn't sign (unless there is no solid trade market for him).
- mohel

Which is quite possible. He's a rental, a team has to fit his cap number, and they may not want to risk screwing up chemistry in their locker room.

Which is quite possible. He's a rental, a team has to fit his cap number, and they may not want to risk screwing up chemistry in their locker room.
- rpeters01

All true. The Hawks can, and would, retain half his salary. They can also take back an expiring contract.

Q&A with StanBo mid-game last night:

https://theathletic.com/1...y-collitons-job-security/

Some excerpts:

Q: I talked to Duncan Keith yesterday, I talked to Corey Crawford today, I’ve been talking to the other veterans over the last little while. They want to win now so badly. They’re tired of waiting. Corey said it today: We want to win now while we still have some of the top players in the league at the top of their game. How do you balance that desire to feed your veterans what they need and what they’ve earned with the long game? That’s a fine line to walk.

A: It is. I don’t know if there’s a perfect answer for that. I wish there was, because we would just go down that road. It’s a balancing act. Certainly, you want to give your team a boost whenever you can. But like we talked about a minute ago, you do pay a price when you do that year after year after year.

Q: I know you never talk about individuals, but a lot of your guys have no-movement clauses, partial no-trade clauses. Are you obligated to check with them and see if they would consider it? Or does something have to be on the table for you to do that?

A: Yeah, I don’t think you would just go to them on a whim when you’re not even considering a trade for them. The way I would approach it is if you’ve got a deal that’s ready to be made, then you would go approach the player and say, ‘What are your thoughts?’

Q; How confident are you in Jeremy (Colliton) and how secure is he right now?

A: we’re playing a lot more on instinct. And I think it’s because we’ve developed different habits. Last year, we had to try and break a lot of habits. These players who had been here for a while could play with their eyes closed. Now we’re changing a few things and all of a sudden, they’re doing a lot of thinking. Now I think we’ve passed all that and you can see it.

"Now I think we've passed all that and you can see it".

Well, let's look. ONE win against Calgary, and 5 losses in a row in the previous 5 games. That 'instinct' is not looking too good.

24 games = 48 pts left

hawks have to pass 4 teams with 6pts separating

only 5 games left with those 4 teams: 2x wild, 1x jets, 2x preds

need to get 34 of the next 48 and hope a few of those stub their skates

34 pts = something like 15-4-4...good luck with the schedule they have left: stars 2x, blues 2x, pens, caps
- bogiedoc

Hawks won’t be +10 over 24 games - they haven’t shown anywhere near that kind of consistent good play.

But it won’t take 94 points to get in - +12 - at this point, +6 is in a WC spot - and none of the Hawks’ competition has shown the ability to double that over the coming last part of the season. These are all basically .500 teams, most of whom are struggling now (Cal, AZ, Win).

I would say 90 to get in - +8 - meaning the Hawks would need to go +6 to get there -
Say, 15-9.

Doable - certainly still not likely.

Hawks won’t be +10 over 24 games - they haven’t shown anywhere near that kind of consistent good play.

But it won’t take 94 points to get in - +12 - at this point, +6 is in a WC spot - and none of the Hawks’ competition has shown the ability to double that over the coming last part of the season. These are all basically .500 teams, most of whom are struggling now (Cal, AZ, Win).

I would say 90 to get in - +8 - meaning the Hawks would need to go +6 to get there -
Say, 15-9.

Doable - certainly still not likely.
- StLBravesFan

I think the only way this happens (+6 or more) is if the strong goalie play continues (resumes?), and Strome and Dinky both significantly step up their offensive production without anyone else dropping off.

Big win last night. Still a big mountain to climb for playoffs land.

I'm very interested to see what happens with Lehner. There's a lot of whispers going on right now.

There aren't a lot of teams that will he in the market for a starting goalie... CAR and COL would be a couple that come to mind as options, but the stars would have to align for Stan to make a move involving him by the TDL.

If the Hawks keep Lehner past the deadline and turns out he doesn't want to resign in CHI, the Hawks can always trade his rights prior to July 1st - to let's say CAR - for a pick/prospect.

For the record, my vote would be to sign Lehner and trade Crawford but we'll see how it all plays out.
- Tyler Cameron

less than 20% likely

1. Craw NMC
2. Public comments indicate he wants to stay
3. Organizational loyalty

Signing lehner before TDL is getting less and less likley. I think he wants to stay and the hawks want him to stay...may have to hash this out after the season.

Hawks won’t be +10 over 24 games - they haven’t shown anywhere near that kind of consistent good play.

But it won’t take 94 points to get in - +12 - at this point, +6 is in a WC spot - and none of the Hawks’ competition has shown the ability to double that over the coming last part of the season. These are all basically .500 teams, most of whom are struggling now (Cal, AZ, Win).

I would say 90 to get in - +8 - meaning the Hawks would need to go +6 to get there -
Say, 15-9.

Doable - certainly still not likely.
- StLBravesFan

sure with whole alot of fail from the teams in front of them...

Which is quite possible. He's a rental, a team has to fit his cap number, and they may not want to risk screwing up chemistry in their locker room.
- rpeters01

Him running his yap after a game should go over well in the locker room.

sure with whole alot of fail from the teams in front of them...
- bogiedoc

The teams in front of them have proven to be susceptible to a whole lot of fail - only two (Preds and Wild) at .500 or better their most recent 10 games.

I think the only way this happens (+6 or more) is if the strong goalie play continues (resumes?), and Strome and Dinky both significantly step up their offensive production without anyone else dropping off.
- Ogilthorpe2

Start with baby steps. Strome and Dinky need to show they can handle the (frank)ing puck without fumbling it. They combined for a goal last night after Dach did all the work. Other than that play, it was painful to watch either of them be near the puck.

Dach was centering a helicopter line to quote a former coach.

Holy poop just saw that TB is 22-2-1 in their last 25 games.

my bet for the last few weeks continues to be neither goalies moved...both because of where the hawks stand and the current standings indicate alot teams are inbetween selling and buying, also who needs a goalie that would fit with the hawks in a trade..
- bogiedoc

You could be right about not moving either goalie, but that would be a mistake, if we can’t sign Lehner for a reasonable term, he needs to be moved by 2/24.

Start with baby steps. Strome and Dinky need to show they can handle the (frank)ing puck without fumbling it. They combined for a goal last night after Dach did all the work. Other than that play, it was painful to watch either of them be near the puck.

Dach was centering a helicopter line to quote a former coach.
- Elbows15

I didn’t get to watch any of it, which is probably why they won, but I’ll take your word for it.

Holy poop just saw that TB is 22-2-1 in their last 25 games.
- SimpleJack

yeah and the hawks get to be hosted by them in 10 days games with the stars and blues on the road...good times

You could be right about not moving either goalie, but that would be a mistake, if we can’t sign Lehner for a reasonable term, he needs to be moved by 2/24.
- Angotti

why do you and others insist its a mistake...

you know nothing of the current market
you know nothing about the internal dynamics or talks with the lehner or crow
you know nothing about what talks have been going on

maybe there just is not a deal to made by the TDL

why do you and others insist its a mistake...

you know nothing of the current market
you know nothing about the internal dynamics or talks with the lehner or crow
you know nothing about what talks have been going on

maybe there just is not a deal to made by the TDL
- bogiedoc

It's not hard. If they can't sign him by the TDL, they will get nothing for him when he signs with another team. To avoid this they should get something for him at the TDL.