Chicago Blackhawks 2012 Playoffs

[gflore34]

And by the way, how useless was Dave Bolland? With Shaw around, that guy can go play in traffic.

 

 

What evidence is there that he's good enough to play in Traffic?

[17 Seconds]

@espnchijon: Quenneville choking up a bit as he talks about Hossa. "He hasn't felt very well at all."

[scarey]

Yup I said it before the series started. Mike Smith >>>> Crawford.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anXKnXVm-Kc

[Flames24Rulz]

Bolland's the definition of a guy. It's unfortunate that we didn't trade him when his value was as high as it was.

[UMFan83]

Classy Coyotes fans (yes for real) on Twitter:

 

Anyone asked what's #Hossa handicap yet? I'm talking about #Golf people. . . #TooSoon

 

Torres deserves his suspension but at least Hossa isn't gonna miss any more playoff games!" BAHAHAH TOO SOON CJ!

 

God all these dramatic Chicago-ens. Go cry on Hossa's deathbed you morons.

[17 Seconds]

whatever, let them enjoy their series win and magic production from huet while they can. they'll realize after they lose to nashville how short lived and irrelevant their success against the blackhawks was.

[RynoRules]

And by the way, how useless was Dave Bolland? With Shaw around, that guy can go play in traffic.

 

He's a 3rd line C making 2nd line money. We need a second line C, power wing or two, help on the 3rd pairing and a goalie. That's a big shopping list.

[biittner77]

remember a couple months ago when someone asked if we should trade kane for a good goalie? let's revisit that,

 

and boy did we miss brian campbell this season

 

Yes, because monumentally terrible ideas should never be forgotten. Trading Kane for a goalie is right up there with Custer saying "Let's leave the gatling guns back at the fort, I doubt we'll see an Indians"

[biittner77]

I said it last year this time and I'll say it again. Stalberg can go.

 

Brunette obviously too. Oduya if anyone will take him. I'd think someone would with just one more year on his deal. Let Hammer and Leddy improve. Need more size from the 5/6 defensive pair and gotta get some more size at forward. Guys like Bickell except who actually bring it more often.

 

Stalberg had a very good season but a bad series. He's not someone that is untouchable but he got a lot better this year- rather keep him.

 

Oduya is a UFA. The Hawks don't have to worry about getting rid of him if they decide that they don't want him. He probably cost himself a couple million dollars with his bad series.

 

I wish they had sent Hayes back to the Rock so he could have played more.

[hawkeyecub]

remember a couple months ago when someone asked if we should trade kane for a good goalie? let's revisit that,

 

No [expletive] way.

[17 Seconds]

i said for a really good goalie.

 

as crazy as it sounds, we'd have been way better off this season at least. when kane isn't involved in scores, he's close to worthless, and his point rate has dropped each of the last 2 seasons.

 

i'm just saying, this year was basically punted because we didn't have a goalie. look at the western conference right now. are we the favorites if we had a good goalie and no kane? crawford didn't give us a chance, and i'd rather get a proven great goalie for kane than give up smaller parts and trade for a guy who might suck and kill another season for us.

 

if somebody offered something like tuuka rask (i know the bruins wouldn't do that, just an example), you wouldn't at least consider it?

[kujay]

I said it last year this time and I'll say it again. Stalberg can go.

 

Brunette obviously too. Oduya if anyone will take him. I'd think someone would with just one more year on his deal. Let Hammer and Leddy improve. Need more size from the 5/6 defensive pair and gotta get some more size at forward. Guys like Bickell except who actually bring it more often.

 

Stalberg had a very good season but a bad series. He's not someone that is untouchable but he got a lot better this year- rather keep him.

 

Oduya is a UFA. The Hawks don't have to worry about getting rid of him if they decide that they don't want him. He probably cost himself a couple million dollars with his bad series.

 

I wish they had sent Hayes back to the Rock so he could have played more.

 

Yeah never mind on Oduya. I was sure he had one more year, but thankfully he doesn't.

 

As to Stalberg, you need guys who can show up in the regular season, but this is two years in a row the guy completely disappears in the playoffs.

[biittner77]

I look at this Hawks roster and see that the talent is there. Certainly some tweaking is necessary- better goal tending for example. The Brunette experiment was a low risk gamble that never really paid off. Father Time needs to be put out to pasture. Lepisto- who would be decent depth on any other team- has to go since Q steadfastly refuses to play him.

 

But really the biggest problem as I see it with this team is special teams. They were both ineplicably awful. The talent is there but the scheme/ strategy / execution whatever you want to call it is a coaching issue and must be addressed.

[Smack]

I look at this Hawks roster and see that the talent is there. Certainly some tweaking is necessary- better goal tending for example. The Brunette experiment was a low risk gamble that never really paid off. Father Time needs to be put out to pasture. Lepisto- who would be decent depth on any other team- has to go since Q steadfastly refuses to play him.

 

But really the biggest problem as I see it with this team is special teams. They were both ineplicably awful. The talent is there but the scheme/ strategy / execution whatever you want to call it is a coaching issue and must be addressed.

 

Seriously, what can be done about the PP? Toews, Kane, Sharp, and Hossa and the PP sucks? It's got to be coaching and scheme, no? Dead last in the playoffs (granted missing Hossa for most of the series) and 26th in the regular season?

[RynoRules]

I said it last year this time and I'll say it again. Stalberg can go.

 

Brunette obviously too. Oduya if anyone will take him. I'd think someone would with just one more year on his deal. Let Hammer and Leddy improve. Need more size from the 5/6 defensive pair and gotta get some more size at forward. Guys like Bickell except who actually bring it more often.

 

Stalberg had a very good season but a bad series. He's not someone that is untouchable but he got a lot better this year- rather keep him.

 

Oduya is a UFA. The Hawks don't have to worry about getting rid of him if they decide that they don't want him. He probably cost himself a couple million dollars with his bad series.

 

I wish they had sent Hayes back to the Rock so he could have played more.

 

Yeah never mind on Oduya. I was sure he had one more year, but thankfully he doesn't.

 

As to Stalberg, you need guys who can show up in the regular season, but this is two years in a row the guy completely disappears in the playoffs.

 

Stalberg makes sense as a third line wing. He will still be cheap next year as I believe he is a RFA, so we can control him via tender.

 

Oduya was disappointing. He's a UFA, so he's gone any way.

 

Looking at the lines, we are pretty good on the first (Carcillo-Toews-Kane), but we need a center for the second (Hossa (if he is able to skate by then) - [ ] -Sharpe). We have plenty of in-house options for the third and fourth lines (Bolland, Frolik (RFA?), Bickell, Hayes, Shaw, Stalberg, Saad, etc.), but I wonder whether we need to add a genuine, veteran scorer to the third to go with Bolland and Stalberg. Then you can mix and match on the 4th line as needed.

 

First pair is set on D (Keith-Seabrook), but I'm not sure I trust Leddy to be part of the second pair with Hammer. I'd rather find a veteran who can move the puck and put it on the net....like Brain Campbell. Leddy can be part of the third pair with Montador.

 

And of course we need to address goaltending. Carwford wasn't good in the playoffs, and we was - at best - inconsistent during the season. Of all the needs, this might be the hardest to address. Not even sure where we start.

[Flames24Rulz]

I look at this Hawks roster and see that the talent is there. Certainly some tweaking is necessary- better goal tending for example. The Brunette experiment was a low risk gamble that never really paid off. Father Time needs to be put out to pasture. Lepisto- who would be decent depth on any other team- has to go since Q steadfastly refuses to play him.

 

But really the biggest problem as I see it with this team is special teams. They were both ineplicably awful. The talent is there but the scheme/ strategy / execution whatever you want to call it is a coaching issue and must be addressed.

 

Seriously, what can be done about the PP? Toews, Kane, Sharp, and Hossa and the PP sucks? It's got to be coaching and scheme, no? Dead last in the playoffs (granted missing Hossa for most of the series) and 26th in the regular season?

 

Having a point man to run the PP is pretty important. The Hawks missed that all season long. Atrocious entries and bad puck movement will result in a really bad power play.

[kujay]

I look at this Hawks roster and see that the talent is there. Certainly some tweaking is necessary- better goal tending for example. The Brunette experiment was a low risk gamble that never really paid off. Father Time needs to be put out to pasture. Lepisto- who would be decent depth on any other team- has to go since Q steadfastly refuses to play him.

 

But really the biggest problem as I see it with this team is special teams. They were both ineplicably awful. The talent is there but the scheme/ strategy / execution whatever you want to call it is a coaching issue and must be addressed.

 

Seriously, what can be done about the PP? Toews, Kane, Sharp, and Hossa and the PP sucks? It's got to be coaching and scheme, no? Dead last in the playoffs (granted missing Hossa for most of the series) and 26th in the regular season?

 

Having a point man to run the PP is pretty important. The Hawks missed that all season long. Atrocious entries and bad puck movement will result in a really bad power play.

 

A few good signings would be nice, but they need to replace Mike Kitchen too.

[biittner77]

I look at this Hawks roster and see that the talent is there. Certainly some tweaking is necessary- better goal tending for example. The Brunette experiment was a low risk gamble that never really paid off. Father Time needs to be put out to pasture. Lepisto- who would be decent depth on any other team- has to go since Q steadfastly refuses to play him.

 

But really the biggest problem as I see it with this team is special teams. They were both ineplicably awful. The talent is there but the scheme/ strategy / execution whatever you want to call it is a coaching issue and must be addressed.

 

Seriously, what can be done about the PP? Toews, Kane, Sharp, and Hossa and the PP sucks? It's got to be coaching and scheme, no? Dead last in the playoffs (granted missing Hossa for most of the series) and 26th in the regular season?

 

Having a point man to run the PP is pretty important. The Hawks missed that all season long. Atrocious entries and bad puck movement will result in a really bad power play.

 

A few good signings would be nice, but they need to replace Mike Kitchen too.

 

I was watching the Caps Bruins series the other day and noticed that they use Ovechkin on the point as a passer/ playmaker. That's supposed to be what Bolland was doing with Toews in front of the net. If they insist on keeping a forward on the point, I'd try moving Toews or Kane to the point and put Hayes in front of the net. Hayes has a big body and good hands- no reason why he couldn't do what Byfuglien did when he was a Hawk.

[kujay]

Was just looking at the Hawks' cap situation:

 

http://capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=11

 

I don't know how they manage to have almost $4M/year tied up in these shitty goaltenders. I have no problem at all with Emery as the backup, but when you look at Crawford's contract, can we reasonably expect the Hawks to dump him and sign someone else? I doubt it.

 

Also looking at free agent lists:

 

http://www.sportscity.com/nhl/2012-nhl-free-agents-unrestricted-listed-by-position/#Centers

 

The list of UFA goalies is limited. I don't know -- Clemmensen anyone?

 

Go get Gaustad if the money is right. And Hal Gill. Basically what they should have done at the deadline.

[Theo]

Does anyone expect Bowman to make the right moves this offseason? This is the same guy that got rid of Campbell(who we cleary miss) then blew a majority of that space on useless pieces like Brunnette and Montador.

[UMFan83]

I honestly think that the Hawks will not address goaltending this offseason unless its someone to replace Emery with upside in case Crawford fails again.

 

I think the Hawks will bank on Crawford bounching back to how he was last year and will want to address goalie at the deadline if Craw sucks again.

[Flames24Rulz]

Does anyone expect Bowman to make the right moves this offseason? This is the same guy that got rid of Campbell(who we cleary miss) then blew a majority of that space on useless pieces like Brunnette and Montador.

 

I have no confidence in him and he doesn't deserve any confidence in anybody until he has a productive offseason. I'm getting the feeling that it'll be more of the same in the offseason, as they'll re-tool the 3rd and 4th lines with a bunch of old guys.

 

If Vancouver keeps Schneider, I'd seriously try to get Luongo. They can't go into next season with the same bums in goal. Is Corey Crawford a Stanley Cup winning goaltender? If you're saying yes, you're not telling the truth.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

Does anyone expect Bowman to make the right moves this offseason? This is the same guy that got rid of Campbell(who we cleary miss) then blew a majority of that space on useless pieces like Brunnette and Montador.

 

I have no confidence in him and he doesn't deserve any confidence in anybody until he has a productive offseason. I'm getting the feeling that it'll be more of the same in the offseason, as they'll re-tool the 3rd and 4th lines with a bunch of old guys.

 

If Vancouver keeps Schneider, I'd seriously try to get Luongo. They can't go into next season with the same bums in goal. Is Corey Crawford a Stanley Cup winning goaltender? If you're saying yes, you're not telling the truth.

Is Luongo? I'd say that's a resounding no.

[SouthSideRyan]

Luongo would be a mess here, IMO

[UMFan83]

I dunno, I remember that as late as March of the season the Hawks won the Cup people were railing on Bowman for not getting a goalie at the deadline. It was seen as the one major flaw the Hawks had. Niemi was a huge question mark, and ended up have a pretty good postseason.

 

His numbers that season (.914 SV%, 2.25 GAA) are pretty similar to Crawford's last season (.917 SV%, 2.30 GAA). Obviously Crawford was terrible this year for the most of the season, but I don't think the Hawks are ready to decide that this year's performance is more legit than last year's, especially because they just signed him to an extension last summer.

 

The more I think about it the more I am convinced that the Hawks won't address goaltending unless its brining in a backup with high upside or something. I feel that its pretty likely Crawford will be between the pipes to start next year.