Blackhawks 2016-17 regular season

[Brian707]

Oh horsefeathers...Brian Bickell diagnosed with MS....

 

http://deadspin.com/bryan-bickell-diagnosed-with-multiple-sclerosis-1788877316

 

 

Damn, sucks to hear that

[Guest]

Oh horsefeathers...Brian Bickell diagnosed with MS....

 

http://deadspin.com/bryan-bickell-diagnosed-with-multiple-sclerosis-1788877316

 

 

Damn, sucks to hear that

 

really sucks. big, strong professional athlete like that....

[minnesotacubsfan]

Yuk

[BigbadB]

Whoops. I just posted it in the NHL thread. Sad.

[BigbadB]

I haven't read the article. Is it now assumed that Brian's struggles all along were because of MS, or has he only recently acquired it? I remember his dizzy spells were originally considered vertigo.

[biittner77]

I haven't read the article. Is it now assumed that Brian's struggles all along were because of MS, or has he only recently acquired it? I remember his dizzy spells were originally considered vertigo.

 

It seems like the symptoms overlap which made the diagnosis more difficult. I guess at least knowing what he's up against is better than not knowing and people doubting his commitment or work ethic.

[apete6]

The Blackhawks are good at the hockey. #HotTake

[UMFan83]

The Blackhawks are good at the hockey. #HotTake

 

I need some hockey minds that have been following more closely to confirm. Obviously they are playing like a beast right now and that's super encouraging but I do remember reading that they were winning despite poor CORSI/possession numbers which screams a bit of regression is due. I'm still wary of their overall depth with so many rookies and that this will eventually hurt them as the season goes on (not to the point of missing the playoffs or anything, just to the point where they aren't taking points in every single game).

[apete6]

The Blackhawks are good at the hockey. #HotTake

 

I need some hockey minds that have been following more closely to confirm. Obviously they are playing like a beast right now and that's super encouraging but I do remember reading that they were winning despite poor CORSI/possession numbers which screams a bit of regression is due. I'm still wary of their overall depth with so many rookies and that this will eventually hurt them as the season goes on (not to the point of missing the playoffs or anything, just to the point where they aren't taking points in every single game).

 

Your suspicions are correct. Crawford on pace to have a 5 on 5 save percentage that is among the all-time best seasons ever. But, over the past 3 games or so, their possession numbers have increased.

[biittner77]

The Blackhawks are good at the hockey. #HotTake

 

I need some hockey minds that have been following more closely to confirm. Obviously they are playing like a beast right now and that's super encouraging but I do remember reading that they were winning despite poor CORSI/possession numbers which screams a bit of regression is due. I'm still wary of their overall depth with so many rookies and that this will eventually hurt them as the season goes on (not to the point of missing the playoffs or anything, just to the point where they aren't taking points in every single game).

 

Part of the problem is Toews getting off to his typical Sanbergian slow start. This has a ripple effect with regards to how his line is deployed. Toews is still mostly going against the other team's best center, even more so since he has Kane on his wing instead of Hossa. The Hawks need to figure out who can be a good 2 way player to put on the first line to take a little of the defensive pressure off of Toews. Kane is a better defender than he was but he's no Hossa as far as 2 way play goes.

 

I think that when Motte comes back he'll be able to step into that role if Schmaltz hasn't already claimed it. Also, the circus trip is typically where the Hawks team comes together and shows who they're going to be. Toews will be matched up against Schieffle, McJesus and Kopitar. How those games play out will give us a good idea of where the Hawks are and whether they'll need to attempt to bring in another forward for the first line.

[17 Seconds]

hossa is [expletive] amazing. that game was awesome.

[biittner77]

I saw a report that Toews' injury is his back though it's not supposed to be serious.

 

http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2016/11/29/13786138/jonathan-toews-back-injury-update-blackhawks-2016

Edited November 30, 2016 by biittner77

[UMFan83]

I saw a report that Toews' injury is his back though it's not supposed to be serious.

 

saw that too. I know the report went out of its way to say its not serious but whenever i hear 'professional athlete' and 'back injury' i cant help but be concerned.

[UMFan83]

 

Well that sucks. Will probably out a few weeks.

 

Hawks signed some dude that played goalie for the Temple club team as emergency backup for today.

[Brian707]

Scott Darling's Winter Classic vs St Louis goalie mask

 

[UMFan83]

Well this is fantastic news:

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[17 Seconds]

wow, i was getting increasingly pessimistic. this is massive.

[17 Seconds]

apparently it's only a 2 year deal with a 6 mil AAV. not as exciting as a long-term deal, but it makes sense. he'll be a UFA at the end, but even if he leaves, the 2 additional years are worth more to the hawks right now than the picks or trade package he'd get in the offseason. plus they''ll have some expirings around the time the new deal is up (kruger/hjalmarsson will be up, and crawford should be very tradeable with 1 year left on his deal), so keeping him past then is still a big possibility.

[Wilson A2000]

56* and a steady rain on Monday. Perfect hockey weather for the Winter Classic.

[Derwood]

56* and a steady rain on Monday. Perfect hockey weather for the Winter Classic.

 

It's time to retire these outdoor games for awhile

[UMFan83]

What do the advanced stats say about Hawks now? I know their goal differential is pretty mediocre for their spot in the standings and every time I watch them they look like they are being outplayed. Don't pass the eye test to me.

[biittner77]

What do the advanced stats say about Hawks now? I know their goal differential is pretty mediocre for their spot in the standings and every time I watch them they look like they are being outplayed. Don't pass the eye test to me.

 

Here are the trouble spots from what I've seen or read.

They really miss Kruger as his absence sends a ripple through the rest of the team. Toews has to match up against the other team's best line which has made his possession numbers look bad- they are bad but he doesn't have the same caliber of line mates that he's had in the past. It also means that Kero and Hinostroza have been playing in roles that they really shouldn't.

 

On the defensive side of things, Keith looks a lot like "We won the cup last year so wake me when the games mean something" version. How does TVR play ahead of Kempny ever? They can't protect TVR in the expansion draft so hopefully they can trade him before the deadline. Campbell and Seabrook have been good but periodically show their age.

 

The team has lived and died with excellent goal tending which props up their possession numbers which still aren't great.

[UMFan83]

Hawks broke a streak of 83 straight regular season games where they got at least a point when leading after 2 periods (78-0-5). The steak started in the 2013-2014 season.

 

Overall, I just don't see the Hawks being a true contender. Their possession numbers are frequently average or below average. They have been excellent at clamping down with the lead and winning an unrealistically high number of 1 goal games, but struggle to consistently put shots on net with any line other than the Kane/Panarin line.

 

I guess its fine if they aren't an elite contender every season but you are starting to get to that point where Kane and Toews are at the midpoints of their careers, Seabs/Keith are on the back half. If this is still the core, you would hope to see at least 1-2 more dominant teams. I'm definitely feeling the 1st world problems of having a winning team as the team has been good but I just haven't been as excited or invested as I have in previous seasons. I know I will come around in the playoffs like fans of the Wings used to do during their run.

[biittner77]

Here's what's working in the Hawks favor. First, there's the idea that they are saving themselves for the playoffs. It's an endless debate whether they can actually do this but the veterans on this team clearly have run out of GAS at this stage of the season. Second, great goal tending can carry a team through the playoffs. Third, there really aren't any great teams in the West. The Oil are too young, The Sha arks and Kings are too old. The Ducks always find a way to lose. That leaves the Wild. I'm not losing any sleep about them.

[UMFan83]

Here's what's working in the Hawks favor. First, there's the idea that they are saving themselves for the playoffs. It's an endless debate whether they can actually do this but the veterans on this team clearly have run out of GAS at this stage of the season. Second, great goal tending can carry a team through the playoffs. Third, there really aren't any great teams in the West. The Oil are too young, The Sha arks and Kings are too old. The Ducks always find a way to lose. That leaves the Wild. I'm not losing any sleep about them.

 

Yeah and honestly the way they played down the stretch in 2015, I thought there was absolutely no chance that they would even make it to the SC Final, much less win it. They do have another gear and there is likely going to be some additions coming.