Blackhawks playoffs 2016: The games finally mean something

[Flames24Rulz]

Never thought I'd see the Hawks morph into the Blues, but here we are.

 

Shaw's a punk, but I think all of us have known that since day 1. I know he's probably been the most productive forward this series (which is more of an indictment on how bad the stars have been), but I really can't wait until he's gone.

[Brian707]

Yep [expletive] ignored at the deadline defense allows another inexplicable goal

 

 

I don't have a problem with the moves the made. Plus the price was not right for the defensive depth. Id mortgage the future each and every year Toews and Kane are at their peak.

 

St Louis is playing better, their goalie has above a 95% save percentage. All Hawks playoff series losses since 2009 have been because of one of two reasons.

 

1. Goalie posts a save percentage of >95%

 

2. Opposing team has puck possession of >55%

 

I still hold out hope they will win this series, but if they don't tip your cap to them and move on. They might not be as talented next year but an early playoff exit might be a blessing in regards to a long summer of rest

[UMFan83]

Yep [expletive] ignored at the deadline defense allows another inexplicable goal

 

 

I don't have a problem with the moves the made. Plus the price was not right for the defensive depth. Id mortgage the future each and every year Toews and Kane are at their peak.

 

St Louis is playing better, their goalie has above a 95% save percentage. All Hawks playoff series losses since 2009 have been because of one of two reasons.

 

1. Goalie posts a save percentage of >95%

 

2. Opposing team has puck possession of >55%

 

I still hold out hope they will win this series, but if they don't tip your cap to them and move on. They might not be as talented next year but an early playoff exit might be a blessing in regards to a long summer of rest

 

See I still don't buy it. If you don't believe the defensive depth was their biggest problem then fine. But I believe it was and if you are going to "mortgage the future" it should have been in that area. And to me the defense has been a major problem. Doesn't really help with save % but certainly does with % puck possession.

 

I don't mind the Ladd trade (even though according to Twitter he's been terrible this series), but giving up Denault for a third liner and a healthy scratch in the playoffs (I realize that wasn't his intended role but Stan keeps getting guys that Q benches, they should be better synced at this point) is a terrible trade in retrospect (and at the time given we didn't address defense)

[Brian707]

Someone smarter than me give me an explanation as to why this wouldn't be a giant pie in Stan's face if the Hawks lose on Thursday?

 

Emphasized trading young assets in order to upgrade the lines instead of getting blue line depth. Those new guys have 0 total points this series yet the leaky Hawks D has led to at least 3 inexcusable goals. Now because of the Panarin bonus, not only will they not be able to add via FA, but they will have to lose someone like Shaw and have to replace him and 3 other guys. We still have young talent in the system but it's definitely been stripped down a bit going for it this year.

 

And I don't blame him for going for it this year. I just don't buy it when people say that there was no one there to trade for on the blue line. To me it seemed like the D was a bigger issue than scoring depth and I think if Stan prioritized defense he would have gotten someone.

 

And while I am not anti-Stan and think he has done a very good job, he's also made some moves over the last year that haven't worked out. The whole Daley to Scuderi to Ehrhoff series of transactions looks even worse knowing that Daley has been a solid contributor in Pittsburgh. And for the second year in a row he got a big name at the deadline that Q gives healthy scratches to in the playoffs.

 

Look I can't be mad about the Hawks. While this is a long rant and probably one that can be refuted, I'm not too mad if we can't come back and win the series. But I do think that next year we will have the weakest team that we've had in the Q era and it will take some shrewd acquisitions and/or player development for the Hawks to get back to the level they've been at the last several years.

 

 

Stan really didnt give up big assets, none of the players or picks likely would have been a big piece to any future Stanley Cup. Losing Shaw is not that big of a deal, Kruger was the better choice of whom to keep. Shaw while a fan favorite and I love him most of the time, is easily replaceable. The Hawks next year are nowhere near as weak as the 2011 team. Like this year they will be the deepest down the middle they have been in this era. Yes, their defense will be older and weaker, maybe Stan can find a way to shore the D up, but they will be a contender next year and for at least the next 5 years or so.

[Brian707]

Yep [expletive] ignored at the deadline defense allows another inexplicable goal

 

 

I don't have a problem with the moves the made. Plus the price was not right for the defensive depth. Id mortgage the future each and every year Toews and Kane are at their peak.

 

St Louis is playing better, their goalie has above a 95% save percentage. All Hawks playoff series losses since 2009 have been because of one of two reasons.

 

1. Goalie posts a save percentage of >95%

 

2. Opposing team has puck possession of >55%

 

I still hold out hope they will win this series, but if they don't tip your cap to them and move on. They might not be as talented next year but an early playoff exit might be a blessing in regards to a long summer of rest

 

See I still don't buy it. If you don't believe the defensive depth was their biggest problem then fine. But I believe it was and if you are going to "mortgage the future" it should have been in that area. And to me the defense has been a major problem. Doesn't really help with save % but certainly does with % puck possession.

 

I don't mind the Ladd trade (even though according to Twitter he's been terrible this series), but giving up Denault for a third liner and a healthy scratch in the playoffs (I realize that wasn't his intended role but Stan keeps getting guys that Q benches, they should be better synced at this point) is a terrible trade in retrospect (and at the time given we didn't address defense)

 

They had two holes, forward depth and their D. Yes D was a bigger need, but the deals were not there so Stan went the way he did. He can't hit on deadline deals all the time.

[UMFan83]

What deals weren't there? I keep hearing people say this but there were names out there being shopped the Hawks just didn't offer enough to make the deal

[apete6]

What deals weren't there? I keep hearing people say this but there were names out there being shopped the Hawks just didn't offer enough to make the deal

 

I refuse to believe we couldn't have gotten Dan Hamhuis for 2/3rds or less than what was given up for Ladd.

[Flames24Rulz]

Shaw officially suspended for tomorrow.

[Brian707]

Shaw officially suspended for tomorrow.

 

 

So yesterday might have been his last game in a Hawks uniform.

 

Time for the big guns to step up, take game 5 and bring it back to the UC for a game 6. I still believe the Blues will do what they always do and choke under pressure, nothing like sending this thing to a game 7 after Saturday night

[minnesotacubsfan]

What's the consensus on Gustafson and TVR continuing to develop into good D-men?

[biittner77]

What's the consensus on Gustafson and TVR continuing to develop into good D-men?

 

Gustafson has a higher ceiling. He can be a puck mover and at times has been effective. He's a little bit like Leddy in the sense that he gets out battled on the boards and makes some poor decisions. It takes time for a guy like him to develop. I think he'll only get better.

 

TVR I supposed to be smart and poised. His problem is that he needs to be paired with someone that can allow him to get caught up the ice without it resulting in a prime scoring chance going in the opposite direction. He's been much better when paired with Hammer. He just never seems to have gelled with Seabrook. TVR can become a better positional defender but it seems unlikely that he'll ever be anything more than a 5th defenseman/ 3rd pairing guy.

 

The silver lining in all of this is that these guys have had to play. Next year we likely will see Pokka get a shot provided he doesn't get traded as a piece added to get rid of someone else's salary.

[UMFan83]

Gotta say, I am not seeing the energy and focus from the Hawks so far tonight.

[kujay]

Not that I have a right to question Q, but splitting up 88 and 72 seems dumb.

[UMFan83]

Seriously tho the Hawks look horsefeathering awful. I think they are checked out besides a handful of guys like Crawford

[Butterscup]

yeah i just dont have any confidence that the blackhawks can score at all. offense is slow, blues are plugging up the lanes and elliott is on fire this series.

[Butterscup]

hossa god damn

[UMFan83]

HOSS! Ok maybe they won't go quietly into the night

[Butterscup]

of horsefeathering course that happens

[UMFan83]

Oops I forgot the Hawks have a horrible PK

 

Although I'm not sure there was much you can do there

[minnesotacubsfan]

Someone tell them Arrieta just no-no'd

[minnesotacubsfan]

Boys, get off your asses because the Cubs are in town

[UMFan83]

Keep it coming guys

[Butterscup]

horsefeathering HUGE

[UMFan83]

[expletive] HUGE

 

I was so scared that came after the buzzer. I wasn't paying attention to the time.

 

Oh man all the pressure is on the blues if they lose this one.

[17 Seconds]

damnit, i'm invested again