Chicago Blackhawks 2012 Playoffs

[17 Seconds]

well i understand why they were doing it and it wasn't a bad thing to look for in general, but it was like all their moves were based on that and nothing else. "well these guys are pretty mediocre, but they're TOUGH". there's a reason all those though guys (other than montador) signed 1 year deals despite bringing toughness. they aren't really good.

 

i don't think it's the team being soft, i think it's more of a lack of effort and motivation. they still don't seen engaged. i know that's comething that's often a cliche for struggling teams, but this has been going on for a year and a half now. duncan keith is like the poster boy for it.

 

i mean, what was the difference between our cup team and the 2 teams we've had since then? ladd, versteeg, sopel, madden weren't tough guys. you could put byfuglien, eager, and burish in that category, but those guy can play. we had actual depth up and down every line on both sides of the puck. we lost all that and now we tried to mimic it by signing a bunch of tough guys to one-years deals and calling it "depth".

Edited February 3, 2012 by 17 Seconds

[UMFan83]

Sorry for going WSR here but I hope the management is prepared to make some tough decisions in the offseason. I know I'm overreacting to a bad stretch but like has been pointed out repeatedly, the Hawks do not appear to have improved much over last year and some of the things we chalked up to cup hangover and lack of depth has hung around after we supposedly are beyond those excuses.

 

Duncan Keith's Norris year now appears to be more of a career year then a player who is peaking. I no longer think he should be the number one defenseman. Screw getting a playmaking 2 way Center, we should be looking to acquire the best blue liner available before anything else.

[biittner77]

Anyone know the nature and severity of Brunette's "Upper body" injury? I'd like to see Hayes back up as he is a better fit for the 3rd line than most of the other options. I'd like to see Shaw on the 4th line for a while with Mayers and Morrison and Kruger back between Sharp and Hossa. It wouldn't be such a bad idea to put Hayes with Toews and Kane with the idea of using him the way they did Byfuglien 2 years ago- taking up space in front of the net and opening up the rest of the offensive zone. This would put Stalberg on Bolland's line with Frolik who at least plays defense even if he doesn't score ever.

 

The biggest difference is not so much that the defensemen are bad -in general, not talking about last night's debacle- but that the forwards aren't as effective controlling the puck or backchecking.

[Old Style]

WTF happened last night? Holy [expletive].

[NewUserName]

Anyone know the nature and severity of Brunette's "Upper body" injury? I'd like to see Hayes back up as he is a better fit for the 3rd line than most of the other options. I'd like to see Shaw on the 4th line for a while with Mayers and Morrison and Kruger back between Sharp and Hossa. It wouldn't be such a bad idea to put Hayes with Toews and Kane with the idea of using him the way they did Byfuglien 2 years ago- taking up space in front of the net and opening up the rest of the offensive zone. This would put Stalberg on Bolland's line with Frolik who at least plays defense even if he doesn't score ever.

 

The biggest difference is not so much that the defensemen are bad -in general, not talking about last night's debacle- but that the forwards aren't as effective controlling the puck or backchecking.

 

I think you are right, but Keith and Hjalmarsson have regressed

[Sammy Sofa]

http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/movie-assholes3/sidney-j-mussburger.jpg

[jersey cubs fan]

wow that was a depressing show

[Exile on Waveland]

It's strange to say because this year's team has been better, but this year is more depressing/harder to watch than last year. I just can't understand Keith's regression; I'm no hockey expert but even I can plainly tell.

[biittner77]

It's strange to say because this year's team has been better, but this year is more depressing/harder to watch than last year. I just can't understand Keith's regression; I'm no hockey expert but even I can plainly tell.

 

I'm not so sure it's a regression as much as a lack of adjustment. Keith has always made so me risky plays that a youth player would know better than to make. These risky plays used to pay off with the offense moving quickly into attack. There have been times this year where Keith has looked really good. However, more often this year it seems like Keith is misreading where his teammates are and this leads to horrific turnovers.

[gflore34]

It's strange to say because this year's team has been better, but this year is more depressing/harder to watch than last year. I just can't understand Keith's regression; I'm no hockey expert but even I can plainly tell.

 

He's a hockey example of an average player who played out his mind for one season ala Tony Womack or other such Cardinal over the last 8 or so seasons.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's strange to say because this year's team has been better, but this year is more depressing/harder to watch than last year. I just can't understand Keith's regression; I'm no hockey expert but even I can plainly tell.

 

He's a hockey example of an average player who played out his mind for one season ala Tony Womack or other such Cardinal over the last 8 or so seasons.

 

Oh come on, Keith wasn't Tony Womack.

[gflore34]

It's strange to say because this year's team has been better, but this year is more depressing/harder to watch than last year. I just can't understand Keith's regression; I'm no hockey expert but even I can plainly tell.

 

He's a hockey example of an average player who played out his mind for one season ala Tony Womack or other such Cardinal over the last 8 or so seasons.

 

Oh come on, Keith wasn't Tony Womack.

 

I think you're right about that, Womack wouldn't even have qualified as an average player.

[Prizefight]

It's strange to say because this year's team has been better, but this year is more depressing/harder to watch than last year. I just can't understand Keith's regression; I'm no hockey expert but even I can plainly tell.

 

He's a hockey example of an average player who played out his mind for one season ala Tony Womack or other such Cardinal over the last 8 or so seasons.

 

A bit (large) overstatement. He still shows flashes of the Norris winning player. For long stretches this year.

 

 

 

It really is this simple. Stan didn't think the Hawks could win the cup this year. Look at the amount of aging veterans he signed to 1 year deals. He signed a lot of fillers until the kids in Rockford are ready to come here and contribute.

 

After this season, Brunette, Morrison, Carcillo, Mayers, O'Donnell, Lepisto, Scott and Emery are ALL off the books. Much of those guys are going to be filled by the Hayes', Morins etc of the world. He thought they were a year or two away from being a legitimate cup contender, and he's obviously right.

 

The Hawks racked up a ton of points on a very easy early season schedule and will be falling back as this season continues. This is still a playoff team, and a potentially dangerous one. Any team with Toews, Hossa, Kane, Sharp is one you don't want to take lightly. However, the holes defensively and offensively (even more so I would argue) are apparent.

 

It's important to remember that things aren't as bad as they looked last night just as they aren't as good as they looked when they routed Vancouver in Vancouver earlier this year.

[jersey cubs fan]

It really is this simple. Stan didn't think the Hawks could win the cup this year. Look at the amount of aging veterans he signed to 1 year deals. He signed a lot of fillers until the kids in Rockford are ready to come here and contribute.

 

After this season, Brunette, Morrison, Carcillo, Mayers, O'Donnell, Lepisto, Scott and Emery are ALL off the books. Much of those guys are going to be filled by the Hayes', Morins etc of the world. He thought they were a year or two away from being a legitimate cup contender, and he's obviously right.

 

This is where my concern comes from. This team should be a cup contender again by now. They have their "core" all in their primes and half of that core is disappointing. You have Hossa playing probably better than expected but for who knows how much longer. And you have a few other guys signed to deals for a couple more years who you'd probably want to be rid of by then, if not now. It's great that they were able to lock up their core longterm, but if you are only a potentially dangerous bottom 4 seed during that time it's a little disheartening.

[Prizefight]

They are a cup contender. There hasn't been one team in the West who I don't think they could beat in a 7 games series. Well, maybe Edmonton #-o

 

I think in 10 years, people will look back and the cup winning team will go down as one of, if not the best, teams in this new salary cap era. Absolutely ridiculous depth and forwards who played tenacious defense with goal scoring capabilities.

[jersey cubs fan]

They are a cup contender. There hasn't been one team in the West who I don't think they could beat in a 7 games series. Well, maybe Edmonton #-o

 

I think in 10 years, people will look back and the cup winning team will go down as one of, if not the best, teams in this new salary cap era. Absolutely ridiculous depth and forwards who played tenacious defense with goal scoring capabilities.

 

Yes, and probably 8 of the best players on that team are still here.

[Prizefight]

They are a cup contender. There hasn't been one team in the West who I don't think they could beat in a 7 games series. Well, maybe Edmonton #-o

 

I think in 10 years, people will look back and the cup winning team will go down as one of, if not the best, teams in this new salary cap era. Absolutely ridiculous depth and forwards who played tenacious defense with goal scoring capabilities.

 

Yes, and probably 8 of the best players on that team are still here.

 

 

Right, but every good team has a solid core like the Hawks have. It's not unique to have two stacked forward lines and a top flight D pairing. And the Hawks STILL don't have a 2nd line center.

 

What made that cup team special is they had a future captain in Ladd playing 3rd and 4th line minutes. Versteeg skated with the third most of the year. Both of those guys are very effective defensive forwards. When Buff actually tried, he was fantastic. Brian Campbell continues to be under appreciated for what he brought to this team. Madden was the vet grinder type that helped so much. Hell, even Burrish and especially Eager weren't quite appreciate enough. Guys who had a bit of a nasty streak, but especially w/ Eager, actually have a bit of hockey talent

 

The guys they've tried to plug into these holes the past couple years haven't even come close. Frolik I'm done with. Same with Bickell. Mayers is just a guy, but would probably be fine playing a 4th line wing. John Scott is an empty uniform.

 

Thankfully, there's a LOT of talent in the pipeline and some salary cap room to work with.

[Flames24Rulz]

They are a cup contender. There hasn't been one team in the West who I don't think they could beat in a 7 games series. Well, maybe Edmonton #-o

 

I don't think this team (as currently constructed) can beat Detroit or Vancouver in a seven game series.

[NewUserName]

I watched some of last nights game this afternoon on comcast. Eddie O basically did the Hawkaroo silence treatment after the 8th goal and Edmonton put Gagner back on the ice

[seanimal]

WHAT?!?

 

ben eager is [expletive] terrible. he's almost unspeakably bad. he's averaging like 8 minutes a game on a terrible team and has a total of 7 points this season. [expletive] jammer has more points than him

[seanimal]

i mean seriously, how could you possibly call what ben eager does on the ice as anything other than awful with a side of two penalty minutes a game?

[17 Seconds]

as a 4th line guy eager was pretty decent with the hawks

[Flames24Rulz]

Pretty bad goal given up by Emery. The weaknesses on this team are so glaring right now.

[17 Seconds]

im looking forward to our 7 seed

[UMFan83]

Didn't even realize the Hawks were playing today. For some reason I thought the game was tomorrow. Looks like all I've missed so far is more of the same.