Blackhawks 2010-2011 season

[biittner77]

I didn't get to see the game. A couple questions. How did Leddy look? Why is Stalberg playing on the 4th line?

[brinoch]

I think many people here are underestimated how much losing Brian Campbell hurt this team at the beginning of the year. Likewise, the challenge has been that the Hawks have had a lot of injuries to their key players rather than to "just" players -- Campbell, Hossa, Kane, Toews.

 

I've watched just about every game this season and here are the reasons why this team has struggled:

 

1. Keith has been drastically underperforming.

2. Bolland has been a disappointment.

3. The Boynton/Cullimore 3rd pairing was a disaster.

4. The PK. I don't know why it's abysmal, but it is.

5. Sharp, Kane, Keith and Seabrook are all a minus.

[bcl412]

They are getting hot again. Stay healthy this time everyone.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Yeah this is a quality showing so far tonight. Don't blow it. Keep it rolling.

[17 Seconds]

duncan keith is going to get hurt any second

[squally1313]

I think many people here are underestimated how much losing Brian Campbell hurt this team at the beginning of the year. Likewise, the challenge has been that the Hawks have had a lot of injuries to their key players rather than to "just" players -- Campbell, Hossa, Kane, Toews.

 

I've watched just about every game this season and here are the reasons why this team has struggled:

 

1. Keith has been drastically underperforming.

2. Bolland has been a disappointment.

3. The Boynton/Cullimore 3rd pairing was a disaster.

4. The PK. I don't know why it's abysmal, but it is.

5. Sharp, Kane, Keith and Seabrook are all a minus.

 

For the PK, the main thing I've seen is just a lack of shot blocking. Seems like the only guy I consistently see do it is Hammer. Most of the goals given up on the PK have been shots from the defensemen that get on Corey, and then there's a scramble that eventually gets stuffed in. Either step up and block the shot, or stay back and clear the rebounds.

 

Keith has been finally starting to pick it up. Not last year version of him, but even 80% of that is a bonafide first pairing defenseman. He just needs to slow down, and stop shooting everything into the other team's shinpads and he'll be fine. I think you can put a lot of Seabrook's +/- is on him, since everything I've seen from Seabs has been pretty good.

 

Bolland....agreed. That's why I'm hoping we stick with these lines, and just have him focus on negating the top line of the other team. When they get a couple points like tonight, all the better.

 

Agreed again on Boynton/Cullimore. Cullimore was more than we expected, but god Boynton was awful. We'll see what happens with Leddy after this game, but I've liked what I've seen.

 

 

Another good win tonight...Crawford sneaking up the goalie leaderboards in save percentage/GAA. We'll need it until the defense gets figured out.

[brinoch]

Great night tonight. Keith and Seabrook were very good -- I think +4 each for the night. Bolland looked great, Pat and Steve both commented that he looked perhaps the best he's looked all season. And let me tell you, that pass to Pisani was really, really great.

 

Point by point from my previous list, they showed me that:

1. Keith is still going to do dumb things occasionally, but has looked a lot better of late.

2. Bolland really looked great tonight. 4 shots and I bet when CORSI is available, that line dominated.

3. Leddy is already better than Boynton and Cullimore. He will make mistakes -- I saw two pretty big ones -- but I'd rather see that from a rookie than a has-been (and I hate watching the once-a-game bad judgment Boynton pinch that leads to a 2-1).

4. They looked like last year's PK. 'Nuff said.

5. +/- is overrated as a stat since you can get a +/- for doing nothing and it affects your stats. But it is a decent tool.

 

Squally makes a good point on the PK shot blocking. Sopel was a shot-blocking demon last year.

[Flames24Rulz]

That was a fun game last night. Hopefully this team is finally starting to turn it around. I know it looked like that a few weeks ago too, then we lost the next three.

 

A home and home against Nashville this weekend and then nearly a full week off before another tough back to back against Detroit and Philadelphia. At least the games played are going to start to even out before the All-Star break.

[jersey cubs fan]

That was a fun game last night. Hopefully this team is finally starting to turn it around. I know it looked like that a few weeks ago too, then we lost the next three.

 

A home and home against Nashville this weekend and then nearly a full week off before another tough back to back against Detroit and Philadelphia. At least the games played are going to start to even out before the All-Star break.

 

That was fun to watch.

 

 

But is anybody getting a little weirded out by their insistence on showing that same father/son? duo on CSN every single goal?

[Flames24Rulz]

That was a fun game last night. Hopefully this team is finally starting to turn it around. I know it looked like that a few weeks ago too, then we lost the next three.

 

A home and home against Nashville this weekend and then nearly a full week off before another tough back to back against Detroit and Philadelphia. At least the games played are going to start to even out before the All-Star break.

 

That was fun to watch.

 

 

But is anybody getting a little weirded out by their insistence on showing that same father/son? duo on CSN every single goal?

 

Glad I wasn't the only one to notice that. Strange to say the least.

[bukie]

Over his last 18 starts, Crawford is 14-3-1 with a .925 save percentage and a 1.94 GAA.

[UMFan83]

Over his last 18 starts, Crawford is 14-3-1 with a .925 save percentage and a 1.94 GAA.

 

That's awesome.

 

Meanwhile, for the season Niemi is 9-13-2 with a .907 save percentage and a 2.85 GAA.

 

It looks like all that minor league seasoning helped Crawford prepare for this opportunity.

 

Meanwhile Turco is playing the Huet role perfectly at 9-10-2 with a .899 save percentage and 3.02 GAA.

[UMFan83]

PS its awesome to see Anaheim a point above us in the standings and actually revel in the fact that WE have one game in hand on THEM. :)

 

In terms of projected standings based on PPG, this is what we'd have

 

Vancouver 121

Detroit 113

Dallas 106

Nashville 102

Phoenix 97

Chicago 93

Colorado 93

Anaheim 93

---------------

Los Angeles 92

Minnesota 90

St. Louis 90

San Jose 88

Columbus 82

Calgary 78

Edmonton 66 (4 of them received in Chicago :( )

[jersey cubs fan]

Watchful eyes

According to the Hawks, 23 scouts requested seats in the press box Wednesday, including four from Atlanta. There has been talk the Hawks might be interested in re-aquiring Thrashers winger Ben Eager.

[UMFan83]

lol Ben Eager for John Scott straight up.

[Soul]

Look at San Jose. Wow.

[squally1313]

http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2011/1/13/1933768/the-balcony-is-open

 

Real good article about (among other things), the pros and cons of Bolland possibly being shipped, which was something I mentioned a couple pages ago. Apparently there were a bunch of scouts at the game last night, and Bolland was the name that kept getting thrown around. If that's the case, they picked a good game to go to, as it was probably his best of the year.

 

Originally, I was for trading him, not because he isn't a valuable player, but because he's getting paid too much to be a third line center. This article goes the other way though...focusing mainly on his skillset which is typically very important in the playoffs, and the lack of available players out there currently that would suit our needs.

 

Personally, I'd leave the offense alone, and if you're going to trade him, look for an established defensive D-man so that between him and Hammer, we wouldn't have to worry about the third pairing nearly as much as we do now. Being able to roll out all three pairings without worry would keep us all from closing our eyes during Boynton/Cullimore/Leddy/Hendry time, and it would relieve the pressure on 72, who I think are being way overworked anyways.

[jersey cubs fan]

Originally, I was for trading him, not because he isn't a valuable player, but because he's getting paid too much to be a third line center. This article goes the other way though...focusing mainly on his skillset which is typically very important in the playoffs, and the lack of available players out there currently that would suit our needs.

 

That is the most important thing to me. He's a much better option than Sharp to be the 2nd center in a playoff series, matching up against opposing top line guys. Sharp is an offense only guy in my opinion, and this team doesn't really lack the ability to score. Bolland is also much younger and locked up at an affordable rate. Sharp is more expensive and if they have any intention of keeping him beyond next year will be an overpaid 30 something. If they don't intend on keeping him longterm then they should trade him.

[Soul]

Originally, I was for trading him, not because he isn't a valuable player, but because he's getting paid too much to be a third line center. This article goes the other way though...focusing mainly on his skillset which is typically very important in the playoffs, and the lack of available players out there currently that would suit our needs.

 

That is the most important thing to me. He's a much better option than Sharp to be the 2nd center in a playoff series, matching up against opposing top line guys. Sharp is an offense only guy in my opinion, and this team doesn't really lack the ability to score. Bolland is also much younger and locked up at an affordable rate. Sharp is more expensive and if they have any intention of keeping him beyond next year will be an overpaid 30 something. If they don't intend on keeping him longterm then they should trade him.

 

I thought what we did in the offseason would get us through this season. Do we have to trade someone? Because if not, then I'd say let these guys play the season and then get what you can after the year is over.

[jersey cubs fan]

Originally, I was for trading him, not because he isn't a valuable player, but because he's getting paid too much to be a third line center. This article goes the other way though...focusing mainly on his skillset which is typically very important in the playoffs, and the lack of available players out there currently that would suit our needs.

 

That is the most important thing to me. He's a much better option than Sharp to be the 2nd center in a playoff series, matching up against opposing top line guys. Sharp is an offense only guy in my opinion, and this team doesn't really lack the ability to score. Bolland is also much younger and locked up at an affordable rate. Sharp is more expensive and if they have any intention of keeping him beyond next year will be an overpaid 30 something. If they don't intend on keeping him longterm then they should trade him.

 

I thought what we did in the offseason would get us through this season. Do we have to trade someone? Because if not, then I'd say let these guys play the season and then get what you can after the year is over.

 

Fine with me. But I'd still like to see what the league would be offering up for 1.5 years of Sharp at a fixed salary. I believe when he hits free agency somebody will be more than happy to have him and his cup winning history/scoring ability be their featured signing.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2011/1/14/1935236/shane-obrien-suspended-2-games-for-stick-foul-vs-florida

[NewUserName]

I think Bolland and his contract are in the same boat as Campbell and his contract. It is not that they are awful players who do not make important contributions to the team, it is that they are overpaid for the contributions they make (Of course I would say the same about Kane also). I think like all trades, if the Hawks could unload Bollands contract and not make the team worse, they should do it. If they are just unloading his salary to unload it, probably not the best move for the team at this point.

[Butterscup1679666578]

horrible loss

[17 Seconds]

ehhh, it's a tough loss but not a horrible loss. a point on the road against a good team is always ok. it just hurts more because they should have won.

 

win tomorrow at home and it's 3 out of 4 points over the weekend, which would be great.

[Soul]

It's disturbing that they gave up another lead in the 3rd period.

 

I guess I'm just numb to it at this point. If they have a lead in the 3rd period, the other team is going to close the gap, or come back completely. Just count on it, and hope they can do enough to overcome it.

 

Anyway, as dex said they got a point on the road so it wasn't all bad.

 

The Preds goalie looks really good to me.