Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks Thread!!!!!!

[sneakypower]

can someone give me a scouting report on jack skille. if steeger isn't going to be a blackhawk next year, sounds like he'll get a chance to play with the big club, but i know next to nothing about him.

 

would have been nice to have kopitar, but would the balance be there if we had taken him?

HF did a retrospective of the 05 draft and said about Skille

Jack Skille, RW, US National U-18 - 1st round, 7th overall

Status: NHL prospect

NHL games played: 30

 

The Blackhawks entered the draft in need of offense and turned to the Madison native Jack Skille, then playing with the US U-18 team. A strong season prior to the draft had him vaulting up draft boards but Chicago's selection was still seen as a reach by many. ISS, for instance, had Skille ranked 13th overall heading into the draft and he was outside Central Scouting's top 10 North American skaters.

 

One of the knocks against the winger going into the draft was inconsistency from shift to shift, a problem that has also been evident during his professional career. A deep forward corps the past two seasons in Chicago and a moderate cap number kept Skille from holding onto a roster spot with the 'Hawks. Still, the 23-year-old has worked himself into position to finally stick with Chicago for the 2010-11 season. Following two seasons at Wisconsin, including a National Championship in 2006, Skille has spent the last three years playing primarily with Rockford in the AHL. He improved both his point and goal production each year with the 'Hogs, culminating in 23 goals and 26 assists in 63 games this season.

 

To his credit, Skille has kept himself focused on getting better rather than bemoaning his minor-league role. Though his lack of NHL success so far makes some label the pick a bust, Skille has worked his way to the doorstep of the NHL and a strong season will quiet the critics of his long road to the NHL.

also

 

Talent Analysis

Opinions diverge fairly widely on Skille as a prospect. Some see him as a scoring power forward, others as at best a checking line player.

 

Without question, he possesses exceptional speed and a blistering shot that he can get off very quickly. He is a rock solid 205 pounds and quite strong, especially for his relatively young age. Against college and international competition, he showed an appetite for contact and could at times be physically dominating, whether in the corners or establishing position in front of the net.

 

Some question whether he will have enough size and strength to succeed playing that style at the professional level. Other questions about Skille include a reputation for lingering at center ice, waiting for outlet passes and ignoring defensive responsibilities, as well as an overall lack of hockey sense.

 

One advantage Skille should have at the pro level is his sheer speed and an underrated one-on-one game. He has an almost predatory ability to find a weak or tentative defender, who he will then exploit to generate breakaway opportunities. If Skille plays with superior passers and playmakers, he should be able to score consistently in the NHL.

 

Future

Despite concerns about his two-way play, Skille is talented enough offensively to be a top-six forward. As long as he is matched with the right linemates, he has the ability to succeed.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

WGN Radio still doesn't have the highlights up :(

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Philly's defensemen, especially Pronger, were absolutely gassed in the third period. And that's after a few days off. We are going every other night through game 5, so that advantage could grow for the Hawks.

[kujay]

So here's what I took out of the game last night.

 

1) Niemi wasn't as bad as he looked out there. There were some bad bounces, and bad D in front of him. He's gonna get beat high if they're able to go there....that's definitely a weakness for him. I think you just have to accept that though.

 

2) The bounces went Philly's way tonight.

 

3) Turnovers...ugh...that really hurt us tonight.

 

4) I don't see the Hawks playing worse than this in the series.

 

5) The Toews line was useless tonight. I'm sure that says a lot about the line playing against them, but nonetheless...that can't continue.

 

Is it weird to say that I'm more confident after this game? The Hawks got better as they went, and if they just play like they did in the 3rd period the rest of the series, we're gonna win this thing.

 

I completely agree with this analysis. Niemi didn't play all that badly. He took a bad angle on the Betts goal. I think that was the only really bad one. And he made some great saves when needed. I don't think the glove save with 2:00 left was that great, it was pretty much shot into his glove. But he was solid. I don't think he'll have a worse game in the series though.

 

And I have no doubt Q will have the defense absolutely clamped down tomorrow night. I think they can afford to lay back a little, play very conservatively in the defensive zone and still put up 3-4 goals on this team.

 

As for who to leave out if Ladd is ready to come back, clearly it has to be Eager or Burish, especially if they are going to take dumbassed penalties. Honestly, the only time I even noticed Philly's 4th line being on the ice was when Betts scored. Philly wants to play a fast game, so fine. One of those two is expendable right now. For me, Burish sits.

 

The top line was not good in any area of the ice, but Toews put in some huge effort in the faceoff dot and in those last 20 seconds, keeping the puck pinned up against the boards. At least with Toews, I never question his effort. Obviously can't say the same for Buff or Kane.

[bcl412]

They made it sound like, during the press conferences last night, that Philly isn't going to try to go back and forth with the Hawks again. They made it sound like they want to slow it down tighten their defense. I don't know if that's true or not and I'm trying to figure out if that would give us an advantage or not.

 

I think the Flyers aggressiveness might of caught us off guard last night, thus all the turnovers and struggles to move the puck out of our own zone last night. On the flip side they can't really skate with our players and the Hawks are usually fine with a back and forth game and aren't as poorly defensively as last night.

 

On the other hand, if Philly slows the game down and is less aggressive, they seem to have players who are smart with the puck and that could give the Hawks a tough time. Then again that could play to the Hawks strategy of playing defense by having the puck on the other side of the ice as much as possible.

 

Than again I could just be over thinking everything.

[UMFan83]

I feel like Philly needs to clog the neutral zone and force the Hawks to dump the puck in to have any chance of slowing the Hawks offense down. It would limit the odd man chances and fast breaks. It's still dangerous because once the Hawks do gain control in the Flyers zone they are extremely dangerous with their ability to cycle the puck and their shooters, but nothing is going to completely stop the Hawks offense.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm not sure how much slower the Flyers can play. They looked pretty darn slow.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I started to yell at Kopecky for holding the puck instead of shooting when he was wide open on the game-winner where Boucher overcommitted.

[UMFan83]

I started to yell at Kopecky for holding the puck instead of shooting when he was wide open on the game-winner where Boucher overcommitted.

 

Me too...it was brilliant though. I think in his postgame quotes he said he saw Boucher come out of the net and he knew his best chance was to slip it behind him.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I wonder if you try mixing up the lines a little after Toews/Kane/Byfuglien did so little. I know you don't want to break up the line that was working, but maybe swap Hossa for Kane and put Kaner on the Brouwer/Sharp line.

[UMFan83]

Flyers coach said Leighton is starting game 2. In other news, we're up 2-0!

[Banedon]

I wonder if you try mixing up the lines a little after Toews/Kane/Byfuglien did so little. I know you don't want to break up the line that was working, but maybe swap Hossa for Kane and put Kaner on the Brouwer/Sharp line.

 

That seems like a pretty big overreaction to a bad game.

[Banedon]

Game 1 was the was the highest rated Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final since Sabres/Stars Game 1 on FOX in ‘99.

 

It was up 12% over last year's game 1.

[UMFan83]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5234751

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon received an assist from the Chicago Blackhawks for a hockey theme road trip.

 

Several times each season the Rays hit the road with a different team dress plan, and Maddon decided that wearing hockey sweaters was the perfect idea for the flight to Toronto on Sunday.

 

When the Stanley Cup finalist Blackhawks heard about Maddon's plan, they offered free red home jerseys for the entire team, which most accepted.

 

Maddon got a special uniform, a replica of one worn by Chicago forward John Madden. He called the Blackhawks' participation "cool" and that the whole matter is "all in fun."

 

The Rays posed for several photos, including a group shot and one just of the players wearing the Blackhawks' uniform at Tropicana Field before departing.

 

A fan of the St. Louis Blues growing up, Maddon is now pulling for the Blackhawks to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers and win their first Stanley Cup title since 1961.

 

[rawaction]

Game 1 was the was the highest rated Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final since Sabres/Stars Game 1 on FOX in ‘99.

 

It was up 12% over last year's game 1.

 

But there was no Crosby or Ovechkin, how could this be?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I wonder if you try mixing up the lines a little after Toews/Kane/Byfuglien did so little. I know you don't want to break up the line that was working, but maybe swap Hossa for Kane and put Kaner on the Brouwer/Sharp line.

 

That seems like a pretty big overreaction to a bad game.

 

It's a minor line juggle, and you are free to change it back at any point in the game if you don't like how it's looking. I don't think it'd be a pretty big anything.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

McCreary has refereed three Blackhawks playoff games in the last few rounds. In those games, the Blackhawks have been penalized 13 times, and their opponents 1 time.

 

I don't know how the league lets this ish slide.

[RedFlash]

McCreary has refereed three Blackhawks playoff games in the last few rounds. In those games, the Blackhawks have been penalized 13 times, and their opponents 1 time.

 

I don't know how the league lets this ish slide.

 

I always nicknamed McCreary as McCurseWord. There is a working theory among one Hawks site is that McCreary has a grudge against the Hawks. Considering how crappy he calls games against the Hawks, I definately could buy into it.

[Banedon]

I wonder if you try mixing up the lines a little after Toews/Kane/Byfuglien did so little. I know you don't want to break up the line that was working, but maybe swap Hossa for Kane and put Kaner on the Brouwer/Sharp line.

 

That seems like a pretty big overreaction to a bad game.

 

It's a minor line juggle, and you are free to change it back at any point in the game if you don't like how it's looking. I don't think it'd be a pretty big anything.

 

It's still a single game. That line has worked fantastically together since they moved Buff into that line...and now they have a rough outing (that the Hawks still won) and you want to make a change? I just think it's unnecessary. If they have another bad outing, then maybe I'd agree...I just hate making a change to something that's worked more often than not.

[Guest]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=530503

 

says pain begins at 125 decibals, and the UC was at 115-121 during the national anthem.

 

That's rather impressive considering the UC doesn't maximize sound like the old Chicago Stadium.

[gflore34]

McCreary has refereed three Blackhawks playoff games in the last few rounds. In those games, the Blackhawks have been penalized 13 times, and their opponents 1 time.

 

I don't know how the league lets this ish slide.

 

 

Given the Hawks skating ability that's an amazing coincidence, it's hard to believe he's been objective in any way shape or form.

Edited May 31, 2010 by gflore34

[kujay]

^Is there any sort of breakdown of which ref called those 13 penalties on the Hawks?

 

Of course that doesn't hit on the real issue, which is the one PP. The Sharks game I could honestly say I didn't remember them missing any obvious calls against SJ. Saturday night was shameful.

[Magnetic Curses]

can someone give me a scouting report on jack skille. if steeger isn't going to be a blackhawk next year, sounds like he'll get a chance to play with the big club, but i know next to nothing about him.

 

would have been nice to have kopitar, but would the balance be there if we had taken him?

HF did a retrospective of the 05 draft and said about Skille

Jack Skille, RW, US National U-18 - 1st round, 7th overall

Status: NHL prospect

NHL games played: 30

 

The Blackhawks entered the draft in need of offense and turned to the Madison native Jack Skille, then playing with the US U-18 team. A strong season prior to the draft had him vaulting up draft boards but Chicago's selection was still seen as a reach by many. ISS, for instance, had Skille ranked 13th overall heading into the draft and he was outside Central Scouting's top 10 North American skaters.

 

One of the knocks against the winger going into the draft was inconsistency from shift to shift, a problem that has also been evident during his professional career. A deep forward corps the past two seasons in Chicago and a moderate cap number kept Skille from holding onto a roster spot with the 'Hawks. Still, the 23-year-old has worked himself into position to finally stick with Chicago for the 2010-11 season. Following two seasons at Wisconsin, including a National Championship in 2006, Skille has spent the last three years playing primarily with Rockford in the AHL. He improved both his point and goal production each year with the 'Hogs, culminating in 23 goals and 26 assists in 63 games this season.

 

To his credit, Skille has kept himself focused on getting better rather than bemoaning his minor-league role. Though his lack of NHL success so far makes some label the pick a bust, Skille has worked his way to the doorstep of the NHL and a strong season will quiet the critics of his long road to the NHL.

also

 

Talent Analysis

Opinions diverge fairly widely on Skille as a prospect. Some see him as a scoring power forward, others as at best a checking line player.

 

Without question, he possesses exceptional speed and a blistering shot that he can get off very quickly. He is a rock solid 205 pounds and quite strong, especially for his relatively young age. Against college and international competition, he showed an appetite for contact and could at times be physically dominating, whether in the corners or establishing position in front of the net.

 

Some question whether he will have enough size and strength to succeed playing that style at the professional level. Other questions about Skille include a reputation for lingering at center ice, waiting for outlet passes and ignoring defensive responsibilities, as well as an overall lack of hockey sense.

 

One advantage Skille should have at the pro level is his sheer speed and an underrated one-on-one game. He has an almost predatory ability to find a weak or tentative defender, who he will then exploit to generate breakaway opportunities. If Skille plays with superior passers and playmakers, he should be able to score consistently in the NHL.

 

Future

Despite concerns about his two-way play, Skille is talented enough offensively to be a top-six forward. As long as he is matched with the right linemates, he has the ability to succeed.

 

thanks

[Careless]

Game 1 was the was the highest rated Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final since Sabres/Stars Game 1 on FOX in ‘99.

 

It was up 12% over last year's game 1.

Clearly the effect of the loss of glowy-puck.

[gflore34]

It's so refreshing to see the results of truly professional team such as the Blackhawks. Who would have thought one day the Blackhawks would be the best team - and it's not even close - in Chicago. They're the polar opposite of the Cubs, Bears, Bulls and White Sox as far as how to run a sports team.