Chicago Blackhawks 2012 Playoffs

[Soul]

That Torres for Hossa trade-off sure worked well for PHX...

 

Of course, and that's why you get Torres. To trade him for a better player when it counts.

[UMFan83]

Bulls lose big game, Hawks lose a humongous game, Cubs lose like usual in the same day. Not a great day for Chicago sports.

[kujay]

This team would get destroyed by Nashville in the second round anyway.

 

Can't fault effort too much tonight, though they generally weren't physical enough. Defense just isn't good enough on the puck.

[Soul]

Bulls lose big game, Hawks lose a humongous game, Cubs lose like usual in the same day. Not a great day for Chicago sports.

 

The Ups & Downs of being a fan. I could use a few more ups.

[UMFan83]

It infuriates me because Phoenix is not that much better than us if at all. The Hawks played really well tonight for a lot of the game, but couldn't finish when it counted. It's been a problem all season for them. I know they were near the top of the league in goals scored, but they were also probably in the top 10 of losing games where you largely outshoot your opponent too.

 

On the radio today they made a good point, the Hawks all want to be the playmaker and make that pass that leads to the goal, but there isn't enough finishing going on. 10 goals in 4 games isnt going to cut it and it didn't.

 

I still think the Hawks can win this series just because all 4 games have been so close, but obviously their chances are on life support at best.

[Sosa21MVP]

This team would get destroyed by Nashville in the second round anyway.

 

Can't fault effort too much tonight, though they generally weren't physical enough. Defense just isn't good enough on the puck.

 

That is the thing, they just weren't going anywhere anyways. I still hate how they are losing this series but...it isn't like we are seeing a Cup caliber team getting run too soon.

[Captain Serious]

Stellar Crawf once again. :banghead:

[UMFan83]

So Bowman took over right before the Cup winning season and oversaw Tallon's team winning the Cup. Don't forget his big acquisition that season was trading Barker for Mr. Concussion himself Kim Johnsson. But the Hawks won it all despite no mid-season help from their GM.

 

Bowman had an admittedly tough task of fitting the Hawks core under the cap, but not many people expected the Hawks to need a miracle in Minnesota to even make the playoffs the next season. The moves he made at the deadline did not work out and their big defensive acquisition turned over the puck which immediately led to the goal that ended the Hawks season. I'm not going to go over every move he made in the offseason, but basically he had a couple of hits I guess (Stalberg for Versteeg was pretty good, at least this year) and more misses. The idea was to get picks and prospects and a few pieces that could help us. The Hawks prospects are known for have a lot of potentially good players in the pipeline but no stars. Overall Hockeysfuture.com has the Hawks around 10th in the league. So ok thats...ok. But I would have expected more for dismantling most of a cup winning team.

 

Then this season he made the decision to trade Campbells contract, and didn't do a very good job of replacing him at all. So the Hawks spend all season near the top of the league in goals allowed and the defense is getting burned constantly (and bad goal tending). What does Bowman do? Decide to get "tougher". Not improve our skill (other than Brunette which was a poor fit from the start), not improve our declining offense, he decides to sign a bunch of 4th liners who can get suspensions for illegal hits or something. And the results? The Hawks are still one of the least physical teams in hockey and are constantly pushed around and consistently have less hits than their opponents every game.

 

Meanwhile the deadline approaches and the Hawks all but announce that they aren't going to mortgage their future to fix their assets. This means 2 things, 1) the Hawks have too many holes to be fixed without multiple moves. This is hard to do in season without completely changing the team. And 2) the Hawks arent putting much emphasis on winning this season. Sure they want to win but they arent willing to make moves to win now. Whatever your views about that, its pretty distressing to see the Hawks in this situation just 1.5 years after winning it all. There were going to be holes created because of what Tallon left him, but who expected the Hawks to be one of the worst defensive teams in the league after being so damn good in 2010?

 

But Bowman does throw the fans a bone and picks up a much needed defenseman. And that defenseman is a turnover machine, fitting right in with the rest of their turnover loving defense. He doesn't provide much help and the Hawks defensive problems continue to this day. At least the Hawks make the playoffs semi-comfortably, but went from the top of the conference to 6th after a horrific 9 game losing streak in the middle of the season highlighted by humiliating defensive lapses, bad goaltending, and lack of adjustments by the coaching staff. The Hawks played better after that but no one really expected much from them in the playoffs.

 

Now they are one loss away from being knocked out of the postseason in the 1st round for the 2nd consecutive season. We should be patient, seeing as how we won the Cup 2 years ago, but it hurts to see such a dominating and entertaining team fall so far so quickly and see every move made by our GM turn to crap. I am not sure we are any better off than we were a year ago at this time, and that falls directly on Bowman's shoulders.

[Theo]

It's really time for Stan Bowman to step down as GM, maybe can move into a cap specialist role like Cliff Stein of the Bears? He isn't the guy that's going to rebuild this team back into a cup contender.

[Captain Serious]

where is Sharp & Kane? out played by Mikkel Boedker of all people?

[cubbyvirus00]

Well at least the bulls and hawks are similar. Both teams are offensively challenged. The hawks just don't have it this year. Getting owned in the neutral zone and by the forecheck.

[hawkeyecub]

[expletive] Crawford.

 

Soft goal yes, but I'm much more pissed at Leddy being an idiot leading to the breakaway.

[UMFan83]

[expletive] Crawford.

 

Soft goal yes, but I'm much more pissed at Leddy being an idiot leading to the breakaway.

 

I have to admit ive been holding back on this because I like Leddy and want him to succeed, but he's been unbelievably pathetic this series. Seriously every minute he's on the ice he [expletive] up somehow. The guys on the score yesterday were ripping him so badly for his play so far that they went so far as to suggest he should be benched despite not really having another option.

 

The team is just a mess right now. The only players that are in the core and aren't disappointing are Toews, Kane and Hossa. Even Sharp has been disappointing to me. Everyone else, Keith, Seabs, Bolland are too inconsistent.

[Flames24Rulz]

Corey Schneider should be priority number one in the offseason. I think it's apparent that last year was a fluke for Crawford.

[biittner77]

So Bowman took over right before the Cup winning season and oversaw Tallon's team winning the Cup. Don't forget his big acquisition that season was trading Barker for Mr. Concussion himself Kim Johnsson. But the Hawks won it all despite no mid-season help from their GM.

 

I thought he traded Barker for Nick Leddy. Last night's game aside, Leddy has been an asset with a bright future.

 

Bowman had an admittedly tough task of fitting the Hawks core under the cap, but not many people expected the Hawks to need a miracle in Minnesota to even make the playoffs the next season. The moves he made at the deadline did not work out and their big defensive acquisition turned over the puck which immediately led to the goal that ended the Hawks season. I'm not going to go over every move he made in the offseason, but basically he had a couple of hits I guess (Stalberg for Versteeg was pretty good, at least this year) and more misses. The idea was to get picks and prospects and a few pieces that could help us. The Hawks prospects are known for have a lot of potentially good players in the pipeline but no stars. Overall Hockeysfuture.com has the Hawks around 10th in the league. So ok thats...ok. But I would have expected more for dismantling most of a cup winning team.

 

Everyone knew the Hawks had to hatchet their roster in order to get under the cap. Don't you think that may have hurt Bowman's leverage in negotiations?

 

Then this season he made the decision to trade Campbells contract, and didn't do a very good job of replacing him at all. So the Hawks spend all season near the top of the league in goals allowed and the defense is getting burned constantly (and bad goal tending). What does Bowman do? Decide to get "tougher". Not improve our skill (other than Brunette which was a poor fit from the start), not improve our declining offense, he decides to sign a bunch of 4th liners who can get suspensions for illegal hits or something. And the results? The Hawks are still one of the least physical teams in hockey and are constantly pushed around and consistently have less hits than their opponents every game.

 

Less hits also means having the puck more. I'd bet the Hawks got out hit most of the time during their cup run.

 

Meanwhile the deadline approaches and the Hawks all but announce that they aren't going to mortgage their future to fix their assets. This means 2 things, 1) the Hawks have too many holes to be fixed without multiple moves. This is hard to do in season without completely changing the team. And 2) the Hawks arent putting much emphasis on winning this season. Sure they want to win but they arent willing to make moves to win now. Whatever your views about that, its pretty distressing to see the Hawks in this situation just 1.5 years after winning it all. There were going to be holes created because of what Tallon left him, but who expected the Hawks to be one of the worst defensive teams in the league after being so damn good in 2010?

 

Everyone that traded for a defenseman- the Hawks biggest need- overpaid and by a lot.

 

But Bowman does throw the fans a bone and picks up a much needed defenseman. And that defenseman is a turnover machine, fitting right in with the rest of their turnover loving defense. He doesn't provide much help and the Hawks defensive problems continue to this day.

 

Oduya hasn't been very good in the playoffs but he was hardly a turnover machine down the stretch.

 

At least the Hawks make the playoffs semi-comfortably, but went from the top of the conference to 6th after a horrific 9 game losing streak in the middle of the season highlighted by humiliating defensive lapses, bad goaltending, and lack of adjustments by the coaching staff. The Hawks played better after that but no one really expected much from them in the playoffs.

 

Barry Melrose picked the Hawks to win the Stanley Cup. He was wrong but he's hardly a nobody

 

Now they are one loss away from being knocked out of the postseason in the 1st round for the 2nd consecutive season. We should be patient, seeing as how we won the Cup 2 years ago, but it hurts to see such a dominating and entertaining team fall so far so quickly and see every move made by our GM turn to crap. I am not sure we are any better off than we were a year ago at this time, and that falls directly on Bowman's shoulders.

 

If the Hawks were an old team with the window closing, I'd be a lot more worried. This past season was skewed by the uncertain future regarding the CBA. Once the dust settles on the labor front, we'll see what Bowman does then. I don't mean to sound like a Bowman apologist but I'm not sure all the blame can be laid at his feet. At least not yet.

[Old Style]

Another brutal finish last night. DRose better get healthy quick and lead the Bulls deep into the playoffs or this is going to be a very long summer.

[Soul]

I know, that's what I've been saying all year long. We need D Rose on the ice somehow someway.

[kujay]

Corey Schneider should be priority number one in the offseason. I think it's apparent that last year was a fluke for Crawford.

 

Schneider is a restricted free agent after July 1. Will be very interesting to see what Vancouver does with their goaltending situation. I think they'll be able to find a taker for Luongo, despite that contract. Maybe back to Florida. Tallon has shown a willingness to pay huge contracts to questionable goaltenders. And there may be other teams (Toronto?) that would be interested.

 

So a lot of things have to happen for Schneider to even become available.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd rather this team do something about everybody else on the ice rather than spend huge on a goaltender.

[biittner77]

Corey Schneider should be priority number one in the offseason. I think it's apparent that last year was a fluke for Crawford.

 

Schneider is a restricted free agent after July 1. Will be very interesting to see what Vancouver does with their goaltending situation. I think they'll be able to find a taker for Luongo, despite that contract. Maybe back to Florida. Tallon has shown a willingness to pay huge contracts to questionable goaltenders. And there may be other teams (Toronto?) that would be interested.

 

So a lot of things have to happen for Schneider to even become available.

 

I'm not so sure about Florida. After taking on Campbell's contract, can they afford Luongo's salary/ cap hit.

 

Given a choice, wouldn't every team rather have scheinder than Luongo? There could be a "conspiracy" of non interest in Luongo to enable making a run at offering Schneider. Or once they see no willing to take Luongo maybe they try to trade schneider before July 1st.

[kujay]

Corey Schneider should be priority number one in the offseason. I think it's apparent that last year was a fluke for Crawford.

 

Schneider is a restricted free agent after July 1. Will be very interesting to see what Vancouver does with their goaltending situation. I think they'll be able to find a taker for Luongo, despite that contract. Maybe back to Florida. Tallon has shown a willingness to pay huge contracts to questionable goaltenders. And there may be other teams (Toronto?) that would be interested.

 

So a lot of things have to happen for Schneider to even become available.

 

I'm not so sure about Florida. After taking on Campbell's contract, can they afford Luongo's salary/ cap hit.

 

Given a choice, wouldn't every team rather have scheinder than Luongo? There could be a "conspiracy" of non interest in Luongo to enable making a run at offering Schneider. Or once they see no willing to take Luongo maybe they try to trade schneider before July 1st.

 

They could trade the rights to negotiate with him, I guess, for a few days, but I don't know how much that is worth since other teams can blow you out of the water with a crazy offer sheet.

 

Thinking more about Toronto and Bobby, maybe sending such a weak-willed guy to that pressure cooker isn't such a good idea. I'm sure Burke knows that.

 

And without analyzing what Florida has coming off, who they need to resign, etc., they have over $11M in cap space right now. Aside from Campbell's contract they actually don't have any bad numbers on their books.

[bcl412]

With all the chances they had last night, makes me wonder what would have happened if they had Hossa in there....

 

I liked what I saw from Saad though.

[kujay]

With all the chances they had last night, makes me wonder what would have happened if they had Hossa in there....

 

I liked what I saw from Saad though.

 

Yeah he didn't get too many chances with the puck on his stick but he certainly didn't look out of place. He was good on the defensive side too.

 

Gotta think his OHL days are over.

[Old Style]

I know, that's what I've been saying all year long. We need D Rose on the ice somehow someway.

You missed my point completely. The Blackhawks are finished. If DRose doesn't take the Bulls deep into the playoffs, this summer will be filled with nothing more than a ton of Cubs losses.

[bcl412]

I know, that's what I've been saying all year long. We need D Rose on the ice somehow someway.

You missed my point completely. The Blackhawks are finished. If DRose doesn't take the Bulls deep into the playoffs, this summer will be filled with nothing more than a ton of Cubs losses.

 

The Hawks nearly came back from a 3-0 deficit last year against a better team. I'm not giving up yet, especially when every game has gone to OT.