2018/19 Blackhawks march to the lottery

[biittner77]

It will be interesting to see what happens with Crawford. Do the Hawks even want him back? Things have been going better without him. Should they allow him to decide when he's ready? The guy just spent basically a year recovering from one concussion and then got another. He knows what he's risking by coming back. That he still wants to come back speaks to his determination and courage but maybe isn't the smartest thing to do. What obligation, if any, do the Hawks (or any sports team for that matter) have to protect a player's long term health?

[UMFan83]

It will be interesting to see what happens with Crawford. Do the Hawks even want him back? Things have been going better without him. Should they allow him to decide when he's ready? The guy just spent basically a year recovering from one concussion and then got another. He knows what he's risking by coming back. That he still wants to come back speaks to his determination and courage but maybe isn't the smartest thing to do. What obligation, if any, do the Hawks (or any sports team for that matter) have to protect a player's long term health?

 

I think no matter what the Crawford era is done. Either he doesn't come back from this latest concussion or the Hawks find a way to unload him and save some salary. More likely the former than the latter.

[squally1313]

It will be interesting to see what happens with Crawford. Do the Hawks even want him back? Things have been going better without him. Should they allow him to decide when he's ready? The guy just spent basically a year recovering from one concussion and then got another. He knows what he's risking by coming back. That he still wants to come back speaks to his determination and courage but maybe isn't the smartest thing to do. What obligation, if any, do the Hawks (or any sports team for that matter) have to protect a player's long term health?

 

I think no matter what the Crawford era is done. Either he doesn't come back from this latest concussion or the Hawks find a way to unload him and save some salary. More likely the former than the latter.

 

If he's not healthy, or he's not comfortable coming back, or whatever else related to his head, then thank him for his service, and wish him well. If he comes back this season or next and wants to give it a go, why not. He's got one year left on his deal at a fairly reasonable price, and I don't think anyone is sold on Delia unless he drags this team to the playoffs (which is far from likely). As long as Toews/Kane/Keith are around, this team has to go into the season trying to win now, and a healthy Crawford gives you the best chance going into next year.

[UMFan83]

It will be interesting to see what happens with Crawford. Do the Hawks even want him back? Things have been going better without him. Should they allow him to decide when he's ready? The guy just spent basically a year recovering from one concussion and then got another. He knows what he's risking by coming back. That he still wants to come back speaks to his determination and courage but maybe isn't the smartest thing to do. What obligation, if any, do the Hawks (or any sports team for that matter) have to protect a player's long term health?

 

I think no matter what the Crawford era is done. Either he doesn't come back from this latest concussion or the Hawks find a way to unload him and save some salary. More likely the former than the latter.

 

If he's not healthy, or he's not comfortable coming back, or whatever else related to his head, then thank him for his service, and wish him well. If he comes back this season or next and wants to give it a go, why not. He's got one year left on his deal at a fairly reasonable price, and I don't think anyone is sold on Delia unless he drags this team to the playoffs (which is far from likely). As long as Toews/Kane/Keith are around, this team has to go into the season trying to win now, and a healthy Crawford gives you the best chance going into next year.

 

i think it makes sense to start your transition to the next goalie now rather than later regardless of whether they are trying to win or not. If we can save $2-3m by trading Crawford for a smaller contract, that is pretty valuable for the Hawks in improving the team for next season. I guess my thoughts are based on an optimistic outlook for Delia. I guess he does need more time before we can anoint him as starting goalie of the future.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

I think no matter what the Crawford era is done. Either he doesn't come back from this latest concussion or the Hawks find a way to unload him and save some salary. More likely the former than the latter.

 

If he's not healthy, or he's not comfortable coming back, or whatever else related to his head, then thank him for his service, and wish him well. If he comes back this season or next and wants to give it a go, why not. He's got one year left on his deal at a fairly reasonable price, and I don't think anyone is sold on Delia unless he drags this team to the playoffs (which is far from likely). As long as Toews/Kane/Keith are around, this team has to go into the season trying to win now, and a healthy Crawford gives you the best chance going into next year.

 

i think it makes sense to start your transition to the next goalie now rather than later regardless of whether they are trying to win or not. If we can save $2-3m by trading Crawford for a smaller contract, that is pretty valuable for the Hawks in improving the team for next season. I guess my thoughts are based on an optimistic outlook for Delia. I guess he does need more time before we can anoint him as starting goalie of the future.

 

I can't imagine the situation where they can trade Crawford for a similar contract and save $2-3m at the same time.

[UMFan83]

 

If he's not healthy, or he's not comfortable coming back, or whatever else related to his head, then thank him for his service, and wish him well. If he comes back this season or next and wants to give it a go, why not. He's got one year left on his deal at a fairly reasonable price, and I don't think anyone is sold on Delia unless he drags this team to the playoffs (which is far from likely). As long as Toews/Kane/Keith are around, this team has to go into the season trying to win now, and a healthy Crawford gives you the best chance going into next year.

 

i think it makes sense to start your transition to the next goalie now rather than later regardless of whether they are trying to win or not. If we can save $2-3m by trading Crawford for a smaller contract, that is pretty valuable for the Hawks in improving the team for next season. I guess my thoughts are based on an optimistic outlook for Delia. I guess he does need more time before we can anoint him as starting goalie of the future.

 

I can't imagine the situation where they can trade Crawford for a similar contract and save $2-3m at the same time.

 

How about a $3m contract for 2 more years vs. Crawford's $5m for 1? I guess though in that case you can argue whether its worth it. I dunno, I'm just ready to start anew at goalie and I'm all about looking at ways the Hawks can clear cap space via trade.

[jersey cubs fan]

How about a $3m contract for 2 more years vs. Crawford's $5m for 1? I guess though in that case you can argue whether its worth it. I dunno, I'm just ready to start anew at goalie and I'm all about looking at ways the Hawks can clear cap space via trade.

I think it might be time to stop offering to pay for today's hamburger on Tuesday.

[biittner77]

Crawford has a limited NTC where he has to submit a list of 10 teams that the Hawks can contact regarding a trade. That in addition to the question marks regarding his health make an actual hockey trade unlikely.

 

I think it might be time to stop offering to pay for today's hamburger on Tuesday.

 

I agree though hockey GMs do so really dumb things that make no sense so it would really depend on who they were getting back. Bowman got Caggiula for a POS defenseman who's only really known for his self proclaimed cheap shot on McDavid.

[squally1313]

If Crawford wants to come back next week and throw up three shutouts before March 1 while some top team's goalie blows an ACL, then sure, grab a first round pick for him and let him get back to the playoffs. Other than that, he's the best goalie we're going to have next year (and this year if we make the playoffs), and we're going to need a good goalie, not just a passable one, behind this defense.

[biittner77]

If Crawford wants to come back next week and throw up three shutouts before March 1 while some top team's goalie blows an ACL, then sure, grab a first round pick for him and let him get back to the playoffs. Other than that, he's the best goalie we're going to have next year (and this year if we make the playoffs), and we're going to need a good goalie, not just a passable one, behind this defense.

 

This Hawks team gives up 45 shots a night. No goalie can stand up to that for very long. The playoffs, if they somehow got there, don't really matter.

 

Nobody is giving up a 1st for Crawford. With everything that he's gone through, I'm not sure he's still the same player he was and I'm not sure he's any better than what they have now. It's much more likely that a team may want Ward as insurance/ a better back up than what they have. As for next season, I'd be surprised if Crawford is the number 1 goalie for the Hawks. Either Delia will have laid claim to that job or played himself into a backup role, in which case they will sign someone else or make a trade for another goalie. I'm a big Crawford fan and I hope he either proves me wrong and is fine or that he retires and lives a happy life with better health.

[squally1313]

If Crawford wants to come back next week and throw up three shutouts before March 1 while some top team's goalie blows an ACL, then sure, grab a first round pick for him and let him get back to the playoffs. Other than that, he's the best goalie we're going to have next year (and this year if we make the playoffs), and we're going to need a good goalie, not just a passable one, behind this defense.

 

This Hawks team gives up 45 shots a night. No goalie can stand up to that for very long. The playoffs, if they somehow got there, don't really matter.

 

Nobody is giving up a 1st for Crawford. With everything that he's gone through, I'm not sure he's still the same player he was and I'm not sure he's any better than what they have now. It's much more likely that a team may want Ward as insurance/ a better back up than what they have. As for next season, I'd be surprised if Crawford is the number 1 goalie for the Hawks. Either Delia will have laid claim to that job or played himself into a backup role, in which case they will sign someone else or make a trade for another goalie. I'm a big Crawford fan and I hope he either proves me wrong and is fine or that he retires and lives a happy life with better health.

 

To your last point, I want Crawford to live a long and healthy life and his struggles with head injuries are incredibly concerning. I'm not a doctor, and he said this week he's given no thoughts of retirement. So based on the assumption that he's healthy, and freely wants to play, we either hope some team gives us a dumb offer for a multiple Stanley Cup winning goalie, or he's our starter for next year. Delia isn't going to prove anything this year based on his skill set/track record and your first point...this defense is miserable, he's not going to be throwing shut outs regardless. You've got one more year of Crawford at $6m, which is 8th in the league for goalies this year. Delia has 70 games of professional experience, Crawford had 255 games in the AHL before he got the starting job. He's our starter next year assuming he's on the roster, and if he's not I'm hoping it's because someone gave up too much for him, because he's better than Delia and whoever else we would trade for given our cap situation and other needs.

[jersey cubs fan]

Resume march

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Resume march

 

http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/sporting_news/cb/59/sammy-watkins-fail-102614-twitter-ftr_wa6r5rcp0531bk7yo5k0f0wj.jpg

[Hairyducked Idiot]

8 combined goals 15 minutes in. High scoring NHL eras are the best

[17 Seconds]

debrincat and strome are stars

[17 Seconds]

cat trick

[Hairyducked Idiot]

One point out of a playoff spot

[jersey cubs fan]

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Up 3-1 in Detroit. A win temporarily puts them in a playoff spot, although I haven't checked out who else is playing in the Western Conference and it's a giant pile-up right around them. They'll leapfrog four teams.

 

I'm shamelessly watching whole games instead of just highlights now that they're making a run.

[UMFan83]

Up 3-1 in Detroit. A win temporarily puts them in a playoff spot, although I haven't checked out who else is playing in the Western Conference and it's a giant pile-up right around them. They'll leapfrog four teams.

 

I'm shamelessly watching whole games instead of just highlights now that they're making a run.

 

Colorado is playing tonight. They need to lose in regulation (coupled with a hawks win) for the hawks to end the night in a playoff spot. If Colorado gets 1 point they are tied but COL has a game in hand.

 

It’s still crazy to me that I’m talking about Blackhawks and playoffs.

[17 Seconds]

the offense is just unreal. forget panarin. they should focus on extending debrincat/strome and then go all out for defense in free agency/trades

[UMFan83]

Blowing a 3 goal 3rd period lead is not exactly a great way to announce to the world that you are playoff caliber

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Blowing a 3 goal 3rd period lead is not exactly a great way to announce to the world that you are playoff caliber

 

All wins are good wins.

 

They still aren’t a great team, but the middle and bottom of the west is awful

[bukie]

Two of Dallas/Chicago/Colorado/Minnesota/LA/Vancouver/Edmonton/Arizona/Anaheim are going to make the playoffs, and at this point, who's to say who the best two teams of that lot are?

[UMFan83]

Two of Dallas/Chicago/Colorado/Minnesota/LA/Vancouver/Edmonton/Arizona/Anaheim are going to make the playoffs, and at this point, who's to say who the best two teams of that lot are?

 

I think I read that the 2nd wild card is on pace for 82 points which would be 5 points less than the next worst playoff team since they changed the standings to the W-L-OTL format after the lost lockout season. Only 2 playoff teams have finished with less than 90 points (one of them was the Flyers team that lost to the hawks in the SCF)