2014 Defending SC Champion Blackhawks playoff thread

[Guest]

If his knee was causing his issues, and frankly his biggest issue was being slower than Handzus, he could have to value to the team.

 

And he better since I doubt anyone is going to take that contract.

 

who are you talking about?

 

Versteeg

 

i thought his cap hit was around $3m for some reason.

 

Yeah it's around there. So who wants to pay that due $3M after the performance he just gave?

 

for only one year and limited risk, i'd think plenty of teams would take him after free agency dies down. a 40ish point guy for 3 million is nice depth.

[kujay]

for only one year and limited risk, i'd think plenty of teams would take him after free agency dies down. a 40ish point guy for 3 million is nice depth.

 

I'll eat my shoe if he bags 40 points next year. But I hope you're right. Gotta believe Stan would flip him for a late-round pick in a heartbeat.

[jersey cubs fan]

for only one year and limited risk, i'd think plenty of teams would take him after free agency dies down. a 40ish point guy for 3 million is nice depth.

 

I'll eat my shoe if he bags 40 points next year. But I hope you're right. Gotta believe Stan would flip him for a late-round pick in a heartbeat.

 

 

he's the one I don't mind people saying I hate and want gone.

[brinoch]

And maybe I'm selling Tivo or whatever short. HF ranks him No. 13 overall and talks about him as a No. 2 center prospect. It's just hard for me to see Q letting him take over that role when defense is a liability. He's like Patrick Kane at C instead of wing, and there's no way our coaching staff puts up with that from a center.

 

That's not totally true. Teuvo is very defensively responsible, and in his short time with the Hawks, he demonstrated that. Still, if you think he's too small or light, put him with defensively responsible wingers, then -- like Hossa, who is among the best defensive wingers in the NHL. Alternatively, if you think Teuvo needs a year of seasoning in the AHL, get someone on an expiring contract. Or sign someone and trade them away after a season. It is true that in some respects, Kane acts like a C on offense when he carries the puck -- but he really doesn't on defense. Kane needs a good C with him, as we saw this year.

 

Saad-Toews-Kane

Sharp-Teuvo-Hossa

Bickell-Kruger-Shaw

Morin-Regin-Smith

 

Done and done. Notice who is gone? Handzus, Versteeg, and Bollig. All are totally unnecessary for this team.

 

Crawford is fine. I like him and think he's worth the money. He wasn't the problem against LA. The problem was that we didn't/couldn't roll four lines and LA is a great team. And that's deficit is directly attributable to the above three, and Q's weirdness regarding Morin/Regin and some younger players. Structuring the team so that there are 4 strong lines is absolutely necessary -- both years we won the Cup, that's what set the Hawks apart. Likewise, pairing puck-moving defensemen with stay-at-home defensemen is also crucial.

[brinoch]

 

for only one year and limited risk, i'd think plenty of teams would take him after free agency dies down. a 40ish point guy for 3 million is nice depth.

 

Versteeg's hit is $4.4M split 50/50 between the Panthers and Hawks. So, the Hawks are on the hook for a $2.2M cap hit each of the next two years.

[biittner77]

It's weird because HockeysFuture ranked them No. 4 overall recently, but it's just a ton of depth guys who could be 2nd or 3rd liners elsewhere but may not make the team here.

I guess that's still useful for trades.

 

It's more useful for what they really need which is cheap players to add depth. Teuvo, who is in no way a defenive liability to anyone that has seen him play more than twice, lacks size and experience on NA ice. I wouldn't rule out his making the team and skipping the AHL completely.

 

Denault is basically a replacement for Kruger. He's a defensive minded center that can kill penalties. He didn't have a great season but he could be ready for a 4th line role which would free Kruger up to center the 3rd line with more offensively minded forwards.

 

Johns is sort of the heir apparent to Seabrook. At ND he became known for big, crushing hits- many of which you can see on youtube. I don't believe we'll see him in Chicago for at least 1 year as defensemen are sort of like catchers in baseball in that they tend to take longer to develop.

 

McNeil is sort of a poor man's Bickell. He didn't have a great season either but he brings a little more size than some of the other depth wings (like Nordstrom).

 

One guy not on this list that could be a factor is Mashinter. The Hawks got him from the Rangers for somebody. Mashinter is basically Bollig but with enough ability to kill penalties as well as earn some time on the PP. He's also willing to punch faces when necessary. He could be considered an upgrade over Bollig if they have radically changed their minds about him after giving him that baffling 3 year contract.

[biittner77]

And maybe I'm selling Tivo or whatever short. HF ranks him No. 13 overall and talks about him as a No. 2 center prospect. It's just hard for me to see Q letting him take over that role when defense is a liability. He's like Patrick Kane at C instead of wing, and there's no way our coaching staff puts up with that from a center.

 

That's not totally true. Teuvo is very defensively responsible, and in his short time with the Hawks, he demonstrated that. Still, if you think he's too small or light, put him with defensively responsible wingers, then -- like Hossa, who is among the best defensive wingers in the NHL. Alternatively, if you think Teuvo needs a year of seasoning in the AHL, get someone on an expiring contract. Or sign someone and trade them away after a season. It is true that in some respects, Kane acts like a C on offense when he carries the puck -- but he really doesn't on defense. Kane needs a good C with him, as we saw this year.

 

Saad-Toews-Kane

Sharp-Teuvo-Hossa

Bickell-Kruger-Shaw

Morin-Regin-Smith

 

Done and done. Notice who is gone? Handzus, Versteeg, and Bollig. All are totally unnecessary for this team.

 

Crawford is fine. I like him and think he's worth the money. He wasn't the problem against LA. The problem was that we didn't/couldn't roll four lines and LA is a great team. And that's deficit is directly attributable to the above three, and Q's weirdness regarding Morin/Regin and some younger players. Structuring the team so that there are 4 strong lines is absolutely necessary -- both years we won the Cup, that's what set the Hawks apart. Likewise, pairing puck-moving defensemen with stay-at-home defensemen is also crucial.

 

I like those lines and if everything goes right that would be the way it looks going into the playoffs next year. However, I think, at least to start the season, we'll see Teuvo centering a bumslaying/ energy line.

Sharp Toews Hossa aka the Red Wedding line

Saad Shaw Kane - The KiSS Army

Bickell Tuevo Morin/ Versteeg

Bollig/ Nordstrom/ Regin Kruger Smith

 

I dislike Bollig as much as anyone but I still think he'll play during the regular season. Though I believe Bollig can and likely will play himself out of more TOI as the season prgresses. It seems as though Bollig, who did work hard to get better, became complacent after signing the contract extension. I admit I might be projecting that but it seemed like he wasn't as bad earlier in the season.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/teuvo_teravainen/

 

His defensive zone play is not especially strong and, at 5'11 and 165 pounds, he will need to continue adding strength before transitioning across the pond.

 

I don't claim to be a hockey expert, but I watch the games and read the reports and didn't exactly make it up out of thin air.

[biittner77]

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/teuvo_teravainen/

 

His defensive zone play is not especially strong and, at 5'11 and 165 pounds, he will need to continue adding strength before transitioning across the pond.

 

I don't claim to be a hockey expert, but I watch the games and read the reports and didn't exactly make it up out of thin air.

 

I'm not saying you made it up but this scouting report contradicts everything else people have been saying about him since the Hawks drafted him. It's my understanding that the Finnish League he played in is considered stronger competition than the AHL and that he held his own defensively in that league. In the World juniors he was a force on both ends of the ice. Neither of those ncessarily translate exactly to what he would do in the NHL. It's his size that might limit him defensively not his willingness. He's 20 and can grow. He'll probably need to or he'll probably be moved to a wing.

[biittner77]

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/teuvo_teravainen/

 

His defensive zone play is not especially strong and, at 5'11 and 165 pounds, he will need to continue adding strength before transitioning across the pond.

 

I don't claim to be a hockey expert, but I watch the games and read the reports and didn't exactly make it up out of thin air.

 

BTW, that blurb is a year old. This year, further down on that same page, they listed him as their prospect of the year.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That's all fine, but every time I've heard him talked about, it's been that his defense (partially because of his size) may prevent him from being a successful center in the NHL.

[biittner77]

That's all fine, but every time I've heard him talked about, it's been that his defense (partially because of his size) may prevent him from being a successful center in the NHL.

 

Sure but that's also because there are basically no questions about his offense. It's like a scouting report on Baez where they worry about him striking out. He may not stick at center but he probably can if he's flanked by strong defensive wings.

[sneakypower]

he's a fringe-average defender

[Hairyducked Idiot]

he's a fringe-average defender

 

What does that even mean? I don't think that's a thing.

[Soul]

he's a fringe-average defender

 

What does that even mean? I don't think that's a thing.

 

It means he's average, but only when he's on the fringe.

[ConstableRabbit]

he's a fringe-average defender

 

What does that even mean? I don't think that's a thing.

 

It means he's average, but only when he's on the fringe.

Always on the outer fringes of average -- sometimes slightly above averages, sometimes slightly below average -- but not in equal proportions such that his net ability is not simply average.

[brinoch]

That's all fine, but every time I've heard him talked about, it's been that his defense (partially because of his size) may prevent him from being a successful center in the NHL.

 

Teuvo is positionally sound, and correctly creates outlets and openings when the puck has been won by the D or wingers. His problem defensively is his strength -- can he win puck battles, check in the slot, lift sticks, and battles below the line?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That's all fine, but every time I've heard him talked about, it's been that his defense (partially because of his size) may prevent him from being a successful center in the NHL.

 

Teuvo is positionally sound, and correctly creates outlets and openings when the puck has been won by the D or wingers. His problem defensively is his strength -- can he win puck battles, check in the slot, lift sticks, and battles below the line?

 

That's a pretty darn big part of being a center defensively. Ability to do that stuff is pretty much what makes the difference between a C and a W.

 

I'm not saying he's going to suck. I'm just saying that I've seen a lot of guys get hyped in the offseason and then have a lot of trouble breaking into Q's lineup on a regular basis, and it wouldn't shock me if this guy had the same problem next year.

[brinoch]

That's all fine, but every time I've heard him talked about, it's been that his defense (partially because of his size) may prevent him from being a successful center in the NHL.

 

Teuvo is positionally sound, and correctly creates outlets and openings when the puck has been won by the D or wingers. His problem defensively is his strength -- can he win puck battles, check in the slot, lift sticks, and battles below the line?

 

That's a pretty darn big part of being a center defensively. Ability to do that stuff is pretty much what makes the difference between a C and a W.

 

I'm not saying he's going to suck. I'm just saying that I've seen a lot of guys get hyped in the offseason and then have a lot of trouble breaking into Q's lineup on a regular basis, and it wouldn't shock me if this guy had the same problem next year.

 

He did all those things well for Jokerit, it's just getting stronger for the NHL. Look at Kruger -- he had much the same trajectory.

[RynoRules]

There seems to be a lot of "Q doesn't let the young guys play" stuff going on in this thread. I don't think that's true. Leddy, Shaw, Crawford, Versteeg, Krueger and Bollig all arrived from the minors / Europe on Q's watch and have played significant roles. Niemi as well. EDIT - I forgot Hammer and Bickell in 2010.

[jersey cubs fan]

There seems to be a lot of "Q doesn't let the young guys play" stuff going on in this thread. I don't think that's true. Leddy, Shaw, Crawford, Versteeg, Krueger and Bollig all arrived from the minors / Europe on Q's watch and have played significant roles. Niemi as well. EDIT - I forgot Hammer and Bickell in 2010.

 

Wasn't Crawford like 26 when he started? Same with Niemi, while Huet was getting most of the time.

 

Anyway, I have no idea who should or should not get more chances, I only interpret what the beats writers say about who is in Q's doghouse and who is in his good graces.

[RynoRules]

There seems to be a lot of "Q doesn't let the young guys play" stuff going on in this thread. I don't think that's true. Leddy, Shaw, Crawford, Versteeg, Krueger and Bollig all arrived from the minors / Europe on Q's watch and have played significant roles. Niemi as well. EDIT - I forgot Hammer and Bickell in 2010.

 

Wasn't Crawford like 26 when he started? Same with Niemi, while Huet was getting most of the time.

 

Anyway, I have no idea who should or should not get more chances, I only interpret what the beats writers say about who is in Q's doghouse and who is in his good graces.

 

Craw had been up and down with the team and was untested. Same with Niemi. That is fairly common where goalies are concerned.

 

To me it feels more like he isn't going to risk losing games in the playoffs just to get Joakim Nordstrom more experience.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I honestly don't remember for sure, but how many of those guys came up and played immediately without interruption?

 

Seems like there's a pattern of guys getting call-ups and send-downs for awhile before sticking.

[minnesotacubsfan]

The Blackhawks are a homegrown team. The kids get worked into the lineup one way or the others. Maybe the beat writers don't speak French

[jersey cubs fan]

The Blackhawks are a homegrown team. The kids get worked into the lineup one way or the others. Maybe the beat writers don't speak French

 

The homegrown core all predates Q.