Hey guys...sorry for the long space between replies. I just started a family and started a new business so I have been too busy to follow all the sites I used to, lol. I most often post on hockeybuzz now, mostly cause I get a wider view from around the league than most other places. Still, I thought I'd pop in now that I'm awake this late, or early :-P

Boy, this a real tough stretch we're going through. Nothing, NOTHING has gone right for the Hawks since the all-star break.

A LOT went right before then - I've even admitted I did not expect the Hawks to come out the gates that solid (unbeknownst to me was their ridiculously easy schedule) but they won the games they were supposed to win (damn near all of them).   BUT... Easy schedule +100% healthy (rare) = Hawks being able to cover up gaping holes (that were evident during, yes i'll say it, that worthless time called pre-season).  Lack of depth on Offense and Defense, Poor STs, Poor to Avg Goaltending.  LACK OF PHYSICALITY.  With 24 of the next 27 games going up against teams ww/in 2 points of a playoff spot - and most on the road - don't expect things to get easier.  I said it back then and I'll say it again... coming back against Vancouver in the playoffs last season was the WORST thing for the Hawks.  Instead of making real changes to an 8th seeded team it encouraged management to feel small 'tweaks' would get them back on top.  Wrong - they were an EIGHTH seed, Management must have forgotten ;)

Crawford and Emery have fallen apart, the defense may be playing their worst hockey in 3+ seasons right now and even the scoring has dried up.

I feel bad for Craw - I do like him as a kid - and still think he is the sole reason that team last season did as well as they did.  He stole a lot of games.  He's typically composed and tries his best - what more can one ask.  His problem is he is too inexperienced and unathletic to have to play behind such a crappy defense on a team thats forwards are always looking up ice to score.  Hawks are also on the PK much more this season, as expected when management brings in more 'grit and character'.  Hawks are ****** between the pipes.  I'm not so sure Tim Thomas could do much better with how bad that Defense is.

Frolik and Bickell's days as Hawks are numbered (I'll give you Frolik moy...you were right about the guy. tries hard, but maybe will never be a top 6 forward).

Honestly - I had no idea Frolik was THIS bad.  wow.  He hustles but at $2+ mil more than just hustle is expected.  Bickell to me looks like he 'can' be good... but he seems SOOOO lost out there.  I wonder if its confidence, poor player development (i.e. coaching), or just that he really is this bad.  Scary thing is I think he could be a decent bottom 6 guy on a physical team.  Still a stretch though with how bad he's been.  

Most of Bowman's moves haven't worked out well, mostly cause I think they've been placed in the wrong roles. Montador is not a top 4 dman, but would look ok as a 5th or 6th. The problem is he's getting paid as a 4. Leddy, although dynamic with the puck in the offensive zone, looks lost in his own end sometimes, but it is somewhat excusable from a kid still learning. The upside is still there for him in spades.

THIS!!!! HAWKS MANAGEMENT HAS MISMANAGED THIS TEAM.  PERIOD. I think fans and management need to stop thinking about 'paying a guy to be a 4'.  Its about the collective unit.  Key word is PAY.  Hawks dumped an all-star in campbell and PAID for no one in return.  On Defense - Flyers play a $6.3 million contract at 3 (Kimmo), and a $4 million contract at 5 (Mez)... of course this is when pronger is healthy.  Injuries happen all the time and you can't expect a $2.75 mil vet to be a #1-3 defender when mr murphy rears his ugly head.  Remember when I said 'you get what you pay for' - you got that in Carcillo, SOD, Brunette and Monty.  There is nothing wrong with monty being paid $2.75 as a 5-6 guy.  Whats wrong is there are not 4 better defenders in front of him.  The one thing I like more and more about Tallon is, like Homer, he will pay players for a shot at the cup NOW.  The rest can be sorted out  later - (on waivers, put in the AHL, sold to europe (huet), on LTIR, traded, etc).  I could reallly go on and on about management but they (SB and Q) have made all the wrong moves.  I blame them. 

Toews has been clearly injured on this trip. That's the only explanation for his **** poor faceoff %. One thing no one deny is the guy has ALWAYS been a top performer consistently at the dot. He just doesn't look right. Same with Sharp and shooting the puck. Maybe both came back too early? If they stay hurt the rest of the year, I don't like our chances.

The problem with all your 'physical' players on the bottom two lines is they can't protect your stars.  It was evident last night against SJ.  Mayers plays on the Toews line and all of a sudden Toews isn't getting cheap-shotted.  The catch is Mayers (although, he was a nice addition in the offseason) is a 4th liner and not a 1st liner.  Look at the Flyers, again, and you'll see hartnell and simmonds on the top lines.. players that stick up and hit for their guys.  on the bottom lines you got the goons like sestito, shelley, and rinaldo.  Hawks only have the goons on the bottom lines right now.  I expected injuries to the core - let's face it - a lot of pressure (and money) is on 6 guys to carry this team, and without physicality to protect them other teams will intentionally 'wear' them out.  Sometimes to the point of injuries.  Toews did get up slowly quite a bit last night.  I'm starting to question his leadership.... he seems to be trying to do everything himself.  Its like he's losing his teammates support... and that was evident when not one hawk was even aware that Toews was getting decked in the face last night.  Finally SOD came to the rescue - but not until a second shark charged Toews after the first one was pulled away by the refs.  that's not a good sign when guys don't fight for their captain imo.   

Kane...well he's not scoring. And when Pat Kane is not scoring, he becomes an ordinary player. Not much else to say there.

Kane is a one-dimensional punk.  Should have dealt him in the offseason for the exact type of return the flyers got for Richie and Carts - Gritty NHL READY players with some success, entry level contracts, and high potential.  Now it's too late.  The hawks would be better off with Sharp-Toews-Voracek, Frolik-Couturier-Hossa... than they are now imo, and it saves them $3 million in cap.  Hopefully Kane catches fire and they can get that same value to unload him in the offseason that they would have had last year.  Kane does not have the heart to help dig the hawks out of this rut :(

I still think there's a good team in here somewhere though. Maybe not good enough to win it all, but good enough to give some of the top teams hell in the playoffs if they're healthy.

Its time for Q to go.  Thats not saying Q is a bad coach - he won a stanley cup - but he has run his course in chicago.  Most coaches have a 3-4 year run on any single team, including stanley cup winning coaches.  Qs line juggling tactics only work with deep teams and SB is too cheap to give Q that.  I'm not shocked that hawks management still hasn't had the balls to fire him and kitch... again poor management.  Look at the Blues and Ducks this season after coaching changes... or the Flyers in 09-10 to see what effect a simple coaching change can have on a team.  Easier to replace a coach that gut and replace a team.  Flyers would have fired Q by now had he been their coach.  I'd be ****** if I was a Hawks fan.  jmo.  



The bright spots so far this season:

Viktor Stalberg. He's having a breakout season and although he's still looking for consistency, he's using his speed and size more this year and he's producing more because of it. He's still only scratching the surface of what he can do and I hope the trend continues with him.

AGREE!  You guys almost lost him in RFA last year.  One of the few bright spots is Stalberg.  Size, Speed, Skill.  Scary combo... now if only he can play like he does against Columbus all the time, right?

Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes. Whether they continued their torrid start is irrelevant. They both showed enough bite, desire and decent enough offensive ability to prove that they have a future as good bottom 6 NHL forwards. Whether that's now or in a year is up for debate, but I like their chances of filling 2 of the bottom 6 spots very well and both have the ability to occasionally play in the top 6 if needed, especially Hayes who has better hands. I really like Shaw though. When he learns a little more and grows up, the kid is gonna be a fierce competitor and a pitbull out there on a 3rd or 4th line. Perfect role player.

I still am reserving judgement on those 2.  I like Hayes more than Shaw for what he can bring.  Shaw started out with a bang - but has been -6 since then.  He could turn into that fiesty burish, carcillo type in the future.  On the 4th line he might pan out.  Rookies are hard to gage.  I'm still not sure if Matt Read is the real deal - he might win the calder yet I don't think he has more than 5 NHL seasons in him.  Its just my gut feeling... although he really has impressed this season. 

Niklas Hjalmarsson. Not flashy. Not "special". But he does the thankless jobs like blocking shots and sacrificing his body as well as anyone. He's an underrated defender who is one of the few on the blueline of this team that have actually "defended" this season.

You guys need more players like him.  He's always hustling and he takes a beating from the puck and the boards, yet always gets up for more.  A lot of hawks fans are down on him.  I'd take him on the flyers any day.... but not before I took Buff ;)    

Jamal Mayers. Again, nothing special, but couldn't have asked or expected any more from a 4th line C. He's been tough, always brings maximum effort and has even scored a few. One of Mr. Bowman's "hits".

Best pick up in the off-season... a 4th liner... says a lot about management, or lack thereof.  Mayers was a nice surprise.  He's truely the only enforcer the Hawks have and he does it well, as well as putting up career high numbers, at 38 years old. 

Marian Hossa. Like the rest of the team he's struggled so far on this road trip, but until then he was having a Hart Trophy worthy season if not for a guy named Malkin. The Hawks most consistent and best player all year.

That contract is going to be a *****, worse than Prongers on the flyers ;)  Hossa, when healthy, is a beast.  Have you noticed he, in particular, is pulling up short with the puck when a hit is coming?   I've seen it more and more.  He turns the puck over to avoid a hit.  Not good..

I think that's pretty much it, other than to say as a side note that moy, I'm really liking Sean Couturier. That kid is gonna be a special player. He's got a very mature game for his age and I for one can't wait to see what the future holds. Steal of a trade that one, even if Couturier was all the Flyers would have gotten. Still not sold on Brayden Schenn in terms of living up to the hype though. I find there are still lots of holes in his game which makes me wonder if a 3rd line checking role with some offense, a la Dave Bolland, might be his peak.

Cooter is awesome.  He really has that 'hockey sense'.  unlike Read - I think Couturier is the real deal.  19 years old and he plays like he's 29... with big PK minutes as well.  I was hoping for more production from him point-wise - but that will come.  Schenn was a let down earlier in the season ---- but after a broken foot and a concussion this season he has rebounded nicely.  He's on a scoring streak and chalks up about 5 hits a game.  He's hitting his stride and I see him getting better than Couturier, at a faster pace as well.  Schenn will be a stud.  Watch.  I had doubts but he's putting them to rest lately ;)

Anyway, I do miss being on here talking hockey. Sorry again, not too much time these days. Take care everyone. I'll try and be back soon.