Posted by andru2797 on 12/7/2010 8:31:00 AM (view original):
Ok..but will you still gloat if we finish 7th and make it to the Conference Finals or, God forbid, the Stanley Cup Final?

juskay, you are entitled to your predictions and opinions, but cmon...you're smart enough to know that 25-30 games into the season, nothing is decided. Now I'm not saying the Hawks are playing like a top team right now because they aren't, but anyone who tells me that any team, let alone the Hawks, have already clinched a playoff berth or are eliminated from contention in early December is either trying to instigate people or is just plain dumb.

I guess calling people retards is not trying to instigate something?

Posted by mudbone1969 on 12/7/2010 7:00:00 PM (view original):
Jesus....3 weeks (at least) without Kane.  This is not what we needed, especially with Hossa still out.  I'm not a happy camper today.

Go Toews !!! I'm an optimist , muddy.

moy, depth is important, but any team that loses 2 of it's top 4 forwards will be affected. Versteeg, Byfuglien and Ladd are not replacements for Hossa and Kane, so the point is moot.

as for calling people retards, I never called anyone anything. I merely implied that it would dumb to rule out any team climbing up or falling down the standings when we're in early december.

Posted by andru2797 on 12/8/2010 9:51:00 AM (view original):
moy, depth is important, but any team that loses 2 of it's top 4 forwards will be affected. Versteeg, Byfuglien and Ladd are not replacements for Hossa and Kane, so the point is moot.

as for calling people retards, I never called anyone anything. I merely implied that it would dumb to rule out any team climbing up or falling down the standings when we're in early december.

eh - sounds like rationalization and/or excuses for a struggling hawks team ;)

the flyers' (my fave team) 3rd liners could be first line forwards on most teams. Giroux, Zherdev, JVR... not the case for the hawks this season. It did, however, used to be.... as evidenced by the success of Ladd, Buff, Versteeg on other teams this season. They don't have to be replacements - they have to be good enough to compete against their opponents top lines and top D until guys like Kaner and Hossa return. Thats how a team lessens the affect of losing 2 of its top 4 forwards. Its not like the hawks were injury free last season... they got 112 points because others could step up.

It will be interesting to see how the hawks play during this 3 week stretch. Maybe they surprise me.

Well, although I will say the Flyers have a ton more depth at forward this season than the Hawks (and probably any other team) do, I can't agree that Zherdev and JVR would be first liners elsewhere. Zherdev has been underwhelming to say the least (and is costing me valuable pool points to boot!) and JVR isn't ready to assume a top line role yet. Giroux has been dynamite though...that's one guy I would take on any team.

I guess we'll just have to see, as I said, if guys like Brouwer, Skille and Stalberg can continue to progress the way they have the last 2 seasons and  step up. The injuries may be a blessing in disguise as it will give the organization a good look at what they've got with enough time to address any needs the team may have for a playoff push.

As for me making excuses for the team, I'll be the first to say they are struggling, and injuries are not an excuse because they've played most of the season so far with everyone healthy. I think a bigger reason for their struggles is the amount of new faces, much like the problem Montreal faced last season.

I was mostly just messing with ya andru ;)


Personally I think with the injuries to the hawks ..... their 2nd line is looking more like many teams' 3rd line and the hawks 3rd line has been more of a typical nhl 4th line (pretty much since the season started). They have such a drop off in talent after the core players this year imo that even with strong team chemistry I don't think they pull off anything spectacular. I predicted a 6th seed or lower at the beginning of the season <pat on back> .... I still think they eke in the playoffs - but its gonna take a lot of effort on their part with the injuries. Once the talent they got in the offseason start getting good at the NHL level then the hawks will be back strong... but thats not happening this season. I liked the Morin pick-up.... haven't seen how he is doing in the AHL though.

Morin has so much skill and nasty that he just needs seasoning to succeed.  I think they should not worry about losing a cap-friendly year and keep him up to play with the big boys.  We need the help ans skill and he needs the experience.

When healthy, this is what the forward lines look like (mostly):

Stalberg-Toews-Kane
Kopecky-Sharp-Hossa
Skille-Bolland-Brouwer
Bickell-Dowell-Pisani

Now I don't know about anyone else, but I don't think a trio comprised of Kopecky, Sharp and Hossa looks like ANY team's 3rd lin. If anythingm they could be a top line on some teams. Dave Bolland and Troy Brouwer are better than typical nhl 4th liners as well and wouldn't be out of place on anyone's 3rd line.

Morin with his first NHL goal tonight!! 

Posted by andru2797 on 12/8/2010 9:08:00 PM (view original):
When healthy, this is what the forward lines look like (mostly):

Stalberg-Toews-Kane
Kopecky-Sharp-Hossa
Skille-Bolland-Brouwer
Bickell-Dowell-Pisani

Now I don't know about anyone else, but I don't think a trio comprised of Kopecky, Sharp and Hossa looks like ANY team's 3rd lin. If anythingm they could be a top line on some teams. Dave Bolland and Troy Brouwer are better than typical nhl 4th liners as well and wouldn't be out of place on anyone's 3rd line.

I was referring to the unhealthy line up when I said the second line is looking more like a third line.....

I think at least 29 out of 30 teams would have an 'unhealthy' lineup that looked like that.
You may be the only fans (Philly) that could get away with something better right now.
(notice the completely unsubtle shot aimed directly at Canucklehead nation)

Posted by holer on 12/8/2010 10:42:00 PM (view original):
I think at least 29 out of 30 teams would have an 'unhealthy' lineup that looked like that.
You may be the only fans (Philly) that could get away with something better right now.
(notice the completely unsubtle shot aimed directly at Canucklehead nation)

Exactly the point I was trying to make when I said that a team doesn't lose a Kane and a Hossa from their lineup without some sort of decline. It's also what I was talking about when I was saying that, even though the Hawks lost some good pieces in the off-season, they're just as good as anyone because they were so much deeper than most teams. It's a case of them coming back to the pack rather than anyone catching up to them.

Scary game last night. Too many times this team has made games closer than they need to be. We really should have buried the Stars in the first 40 minutes. That being said, I'll admit though it was a bad non-call on Seabs throwing the stick. Should have been a penalty shot.

I am impressed that their offense looked good last night with such a depleted group. I'm thinking if they can manage by some miracle to play above .500 in the 3-4 weeks without Hossa and Kane, they'll be in great shape after the holiday break. This is definitely an encouraging start.

Crawford has been the most impressive hawk lately... imo. He's making some spectacular saves despite the hawks lackluster d in front of him.