Chicago Blackhawks 2013 Season

[brinoch]

Kane has been amazing while Sharp has been snakebitten a bit. The only frustrating thing about that line is Bolland's poor faceoff win percentage. Otherwise...

[Guest]

So...22 of 24 points against arguably the hardest schedule so far in the NHL (considering time on the road).

 

That's...pretty good.

 

it's not just time on the road either. 8 of 12 have also been against western conference playoff teams from last year.

 

they've already beaten every western playoff team from last year except vancouver (lost in shootout)

[UMFan83]

How are they so good?

 

Every question going into the season has been a yes

 

Can Crawford play like he did 2 years ago? yes

Can Hjammer and Oduya hold up as the 2nd pairing? yes

Is Nick Leddy going to take the next step? yes

Are Toews and Hossa fully recovered? yes

 

While some people say Kane has been pretty lucky so far, Sharp has been very unlucky hitting the post seemingly once a game.

 

Don't forget "Can the special teams not suck this year?" The PP has faded a bit and the sample size is still small but we've gone from 25th in PP and 26th in PK to 16th and 1st

[Old Style]

10-0-2 (8-0-2 on the road)

 

Just an unbelievable start.

[biittner77]

How are they so good?

 

Every question going into the season has been a yes

 

Can Crawford play like he did 2 years ago? yes

Can Hjammer and Oduya hold up as the 2nd pairing? yes

Is Nick Leddy going to take the next step? yes

Are Toews and Hossa fully recovered? yes

 

While some people say Kane has been pretty lucky so far, Sharp has been very unlucky hitting the post seemingly once a game.

 

Don't forget "Can the special teams not suck this year?" The PP has faded a bit and the sample size is still small but we've gone from 25th in PP and 26th in PK to 16th and 1st

 

Good point. Kruger and Frloik have been great on the kill.

 

I'd like to see Bickell replace Shaw as the net presence guy. I'd also prefer to see someone other than Stahlberg in that same role on the other unit. Maybe Saad.

 

Another complaint last year is the coach Q random line generator. So far he's let things gel and it's worked. Though I wonder how many more Patrick Sharp hits the posts we are away from him being flipped with Saad. In the long run that move probably makes more sense though I'd rather flip Kane and Hossa. A Saad-Toews-Kane Line would be fun to watch and would free up the Sharp-Bolland-Hossa line from having to face the opposing team's checking line.

[UMFan83]

http://i.imgur.com/ZbmDh6w.jpg

[UMFan83]

Based on last year's WC 8th place team (Kings with 1.158 points per game), the 8th place team in the West would have approximately 56 points this year. The Blackhawks already have 22 after 12 games. If they went .500 the rest of the year, they would take an additional 36 points, putting them at 58 for the season. That's pretty awesome to be at a point where they only need to take half their remaining points to make the playoffs with 75% of the season remaining. I'm going to expect much better though

[Banedon]

Based on last year's WC 8th place team (Kings with 1.158 points per game), the 8th place team in the West would have approximately 56 points this year. The Blackhawks already have 22 after 12 games. If they went .500 the rest of the year, they would take an additional 36 points, putting them at 58 for the season. That's pretty awesome to be at a point where they only need to take half their remaining points to make the playoffs with 75% of the season remaining. I'm going to expect much better though

 

I'll accept nothing less than a regulation loss free season.

[bukie]

Yeah, if the Hawks can't match their point total from last season, it'll be a disappointment.

[kujay]

Anaheim definitely needs to be taken down a notch. Overachievers, for sure. Should be a great home crowd tomorrow night.

[Flames24Rulz]

I can't believe how good Crawford has been this year. I know it's early, but that's been the biggest surprise of the year so far. I think a lot of us said it last year. As long as the Hawks had an average to above average goalie in net, they'd be pretty damn good. Crawford's played really well so far this year and they already have 22 points out of a possible 24.

[Pushfrog98]

A bunch of friends of mine from college ended up in Nashville after graduation. They've all since become Preds fans and were pissed off by all the "Skankhawk" (clever name, right?) fans at the game. They were very upset that these fans would yell and hollar during the National Anthem.

[biittner77]

A bunch of friends of mine from college ended up in Nashville after graduation. They've all since become Preds fans and were pissed off by all the "Skankhawk" (clever name, right?) fans at the game. They were very upset that these fans would yell and hollar during the National Anthem.

 

You could always refer to them as the Child Predators or the pred-o-philes. That is, if you wanted to stoop to their level.

[Pushfrog98]

A bunch of friends of mine from college ended up in Nashville after graduation. They've all since become Preds fans and were pissed off by all the "Skankhawk" (clever name, right?) fans at the game. They were very upset that these fans would yell and hollar during the National Anthem.

 

You could always refer to them as the Child Predators or the pred-o-philes. That is, if you wanted to stoop to their level.

I'm always game for stooping to their level.

[seanimal]

the blackhawks are seriously the best thing on earth

 

the crazy thing about kane being the best player in the league right now is that i think it's real. yeah, his shot% is unsustainable, but i think people will be surprised at the end of the season when it hasn't regressed as much as most might assume it will. he's clearly stronger than in years past, and as long as he's getting the puck (BOLLAND), he's going to have his best year in terms of p/g (so long as sharpie pulls his head out of his shorts, which i'm pretty sure he will)

 

and crawford playing better doesn't seem to be a mirage. he'll never be a puck whisperer like patrick roy, always in the perfect position and on the perfect angle, but he's seeing pucks further out and getting in better preventative position more often than not

 

sometimes i wonder how much playing on a team with so many elite wingers probably crowds stalberg out of chances, but then i remember a) bowman is basically a genius for getting value out of trades everyone knew he had to make and thus b) paying stalberg like $8 an for what he puts up is better than whatever verbeauty would be doing on this team for much more

[kujay]

Yeah I agree on Stalberg he is playing so much more consistently than he has in the past. Showing up every game.

[biittner77]

So when Carcillo comes back, what happens? I like Saad staying on one of the top 2 lines. The most obvious answer would be that he replaces Mayers on the 4th line but that means Carcillo would be splitting time with Bollig too whenever Q gets the wild hair to play him.

 

With a points cushion, would Q healthy scratch some of the stars periodically given the shortened season? I can't imagine ever willingly taking Kane or Toews out of the line up but Sharp and Hossa.

[kujay]

Yeah Montador and Carcillo skated before practice today. I'm not sure what to say about Carcillo. I don't think we've really had an opportunity to see what he can provide, other than stupid penalties, over an extended stretch. The easy answer right now is it ain't broke, so if anything use him as you said, subbing in and out with Bollig and Mayers. Or if Bollig can be sent back to Rockford, do that.

 

As for Montador, if he comes back healthy it's just an embarrassment of riches for us on the blue line. I think he's a clear step above both Rozsival and Brookbank. Best case I suppose he comes back, looks good and then one of them can be moved before the trade deadline, which I think is in the first few days of April. Of course that assumes everyone stays healthy as they have so far.

[Banedon]

Duckscolorman: Best guess on #NHLDucks' lines at start tonight: Palmieri-Getzlaf-Perry, Etem-Ryan-Selanne, Cogliano-Koivu-Winnik, Beleskey-Bonino-Staubitz.

[brinoch]

So when Carcillo comes back, what happens? I like Saad staying on one of the top 2 lines. The most obvious answer would be that he replaces Mayers on the 4th line but that means Carcillo would be splitting time with Bollig too whenever Q gets the wild hair to play him.

 

With a points cushion, would Q healthy scratch some of the stars periodically given the shortened season? I can't imagine ever willingly taking Kane or Toews out of the line up but Sharp and Hossa.

 

Leave Saad on the top line -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I've never been sold on Carcillo on the top line with Toews and Hossa. Saad's speed is deadly -- he's drawing an average of two penalties a game, second only to Sharp.

[squally1313]

So when Carcillo comes back, what happens? I like Saad staying on one of the top 2 lines. The most obvious answer would be that he replaces Mayers on the 4th line but that means Carcillo would be splitting time with Bollig too whenever Q gets the wild hair to play him.

 

With a points cushion, would Q healthy scratch some of the stars periodically given the shortened season? I can't imagine ever willingly taking Kane or Toews out of the line up but Sharp and Hossa.

 

Leave Saad on the top line -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I've never been sold on Carcillo on the top line with Toews and Hossa. Saad's speed is deadly -- he's drawing an average of two penalties a game, second only to Sharp.

 

Slight nitpick, but just to make sure no one gets confused....Saad isn't drawing 2 penalties per game, he's drawing 2 penalties per 60 minutes of ice time. Given his roughly 15 minutes of ice game per game, it's one every two games. Still really good, as you can tell by the fact that he's second on the team (and would be second on the Ducks too), but 2 per game would be other-worldly.

 

As for Carcillo....basically a combination of what was said above. Put him in Mayers slot, send Bollig down and try to teach him how to play hockey, and use the depth to give the stars a break if we start running away with this thing. Plus, this is hockey....I'm sure someone else is going to end up getting hurt sooner rather than later.

[brinoch]

So when Carcillo comes back, what happens? I like Saad staying on one of the top 2 lines. The most obvious answer would be that he replaces Mayers on the 4th line but that means Carcillo would be splitting time with Bollig too whenever Q gets the wild hair to play him.

 

With a points cushion, would Q healthy scratch some of the stars periodically given the shortened season? I can't imagine ever willingly taking Kane or Toews out of the line up but Sharp and Hossa.

 

Leave Saad on the top line -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I've never been sold on Carcillo on the top line with Toews and Hossa. Saad's speed is deadly -- he's drawing an average of two penalties a game, second only to Sharp.

 

Slight nitpick, but just to make sure no one gets confused....Saad isn't drawing 2 penalties per game, he's drawing 2 penalties per 60 minutes of ice time. Given his roughly 15 minutes of ice game per game, it's one every two games. Still really good, as you can tell by the fact that he's second on the team (and would be second on the Ducks too), but 2 per game would be other-worldly.

 

As for Carcillo....basically a combination of what was said above. Put him in Mayers slot, send Bollig down and try to teach him how to play hockey, and use the depth to give the stars a break if we start running away with this thing. Plus, this is hockey....I'm sure someone else is going to end up getting hurt sooner rather than later.

 

You are right, squally -- thanks for clarifying.

[cubbyvirus00]

Ok I caved in and got NHL Center Ice. Lets see what this hype is all about.

[kujay]

Got a new modem and a bump in Internet to 30 Mbps. Gamecenter suddenly looks perfect.

[kujay]

Holy Crow! Wow.