Indeed, they no longer have a luxury to ignore regular season games and preserve themselves for playoffs (this is not even mentioning obligation to fans who pay significant amount to watch regular season games that were for last 3 years boring slugfest and driven to playoffs by 2 goalies).
Thinking Stars and Predators if healthy are a lock and Blues, Wild and Hawks will compete for 3-5 spots in the division if Jets do not compete again. From the West Oilers Flames and Ducks are initial lock ins with the rest competing for wild card with central 3 teams.
- vshun

Hawks will be just fine....they will make playoffs.....
Why the rush to Armageddon by many?

I'd like to think this is Bowman accepting the fact that Bouma was a bust in the preseason. I don't imagine Bouma + Martinsen ever dressing in the same game.
- EnzoD

Good point and thank God for that.
Seeing Hayden and Martinsen on line 4 might be interesting. I just hope that Q rolls 4 lines and they can have a positive impact. Still wonder if this trade signals another one upcoming ? ie.... Hartman moved and Hayden moved up ??

Pure awesomeness!

This news requires... THIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfnZ06f6CgA
- TyCamScore

Great, classy move by the Hawks!!! And the 17 second video, etched in every Hawks fans minds forever. The eyes....I will always remember Bick's eyes after he scored! Just fantastic. I'd like to point out someone who didn't get an assist, but made one helluva play. Kane. I'm not talking about the rush that everyone remembers. It's that deft little bounce pass, off the board around the defender right to Keith that started the tic-tac-toe goal. It doesn't look like much, but if that pass is blocked, who knows what happens. Thanks for the video Ty!!!

Mason having a rough start in his Winnipeg debut. Something tells me the Jets might be looking for goaltending again in the near future...

Mason having a rough start in his Winnipeg debut. Something tells me the Jets might be looking for goaltending again in the near future...
- breadbag

Mason is a really inconsistent goalie. He'll look like a Vezina winner for like 10 games and then like he should be in the ECHL the next 10. Team in front of him hasn't helped much though. Good offensive push, letting anyone walk up to their goalie in the dz.

Mason having a rough start in his Winnipeg debut. Something tells me the Jets might be looking for goaltending again in the near future...
- breadbag

Could have been 3-0 Jets early but Anderson great in net for Leafs. And as soon as Jets take one penalty the puck's in their net.

Doesn't take much for the Jets to start running around in their own end, very undisciplined team. Buff is one of the biggest offenders.

Komorov got a penalty for equipment infraction. His visor is up too high.

Komorov got a penalty for equipment infraction. His visor is up too high.
- L_B_R

Will Kronwall be called for this?

So why does Bergevin want Baun. Baun renaissance - if you can think of last season performance this way - was perhaps he could be an energy line player. His scoring picked up last year

So the new guy is a better skater, fighter, body checker? Harder to play against? Well we now have a pugilist. I would love to see him drop that jerk Reeves
- jhawk59

There ya go buddy! ,this is stil the NHL and if you polled 95% of those guys , the term, " let em go" or " ya wanna go" is fine by them, they still deep inside love a good ole fashion hockey scrap!

There ya go buddy! ,this is stil the NHL and if you polled 95% of those guys , the term, " let em go" or " ya wanna go" is fine by them, they still deep inside love a good ole fashion hockey scrap!
- wonthecup10

Staged fights are a joke, but a passionate round in the middle of play is no problem. And if a line brawl happens to break out, oh well.

Will Kronwall be called for this?
- powerenforcer

Teams were given memos and a few players were warned in the pre-season, but who knows.

Jets sign Ehlers to 7 year extension at $6M per.

Ducks sign Manson to 4 year extension at $4.1M per.

Golden Knights sign Pirri to 2-way deal.

Staged fights are a joke, but a passionate round in the middle of play is no problem. And if a line brawl happens to break out, oh well.
- 6628

Jets sign Ehlers to 7 year extension at $6M per.

Ducks sign Manson to 4 year extension at $4.1M per.

Golden Knights sign Pirri to 2-way deal.
- AEL_Fox

Good deal for the Jets, Ehlers will be a star.

Komorov got a penalty for equipment infraction. His visor is up too high.
- L_B_R

Who knows how much he'll develop and if he'll make it to the NHL, buy Krys is a prospect who tends to have his visor up high. Not a big deal in the NCAA since all players have to wear full face shields, but Krys may want to break out of that habit sooner rather than later.

Speaking of head gear, I remember last year many people noticed Hayden readjusting his helmet constantly in games. Seems like he has a permanent fix to that issue which is good for him not only for comfort but also for protection especially given he already has suffered a concussion within his first dozen NHL games.

I don't see Martinsen in the lineup for the Hawks unless the injuries pile up. He throws a lot of body checks, but isn't a great player. Hawks traded one AHL player for another.
- breadbag

Yeah, seems like AHL depth and a non-factor for impacting the Hawks lineup. A tough customer with some experience who can hit and fight for the Hogs may be needed now with the departures of the likes of Dowell, Mashinter, Labrie, and Latta (someone else mentioned this in an earlier blog). Martinsen may be a good complement to young power players like Knott, Iacopelli, and Press.

http://www.nhltraderumors...hes-alex-pietrangelo.html

Foul, disgusting, typical Crosby play. Wish he'd get suspended and majorly fined. He IS a repeat offender after all... but the NHL won't punish him because he's Bettmans b3tc#

I hands-down support McDavid as the #1 hockey player in the NHL. I hope Crosby's (forced) "legacy" is forever in the shadow of McDavids accomplishments, class and character.

http://www.nhltraderumors.me/2017/10/sidney-crosby-slashes-alex-pietrangelo.html

Foul, disgusting, typical Crosby play. Wish he'd get suspended and majorly fined. He IS a repeat offender after all... but the NHL won't punish him because he's Bettmans b3tc#

I hands-down support McDavid as the #1 hockey player in the NHL. I hope Crosby's (forced) "legacy" is forever in the shadow of McDavids accomplishments, class and character.
- Slofire94

Given your anguish I was expecting a much more egregious play, but it was really a harmless slash. It's clear your hatred of Crosby leads this post (what the hell is forced legacy? I think he has the accomplishments that are well earned) Yea penalty should be called there, but nothing that should warrant such a response. The St Louis guy dove anyway. Few of these guys are choir boys on the ice...we got a guy on our team (keith) who has done some stupid poop on the ice, but I love the fact he's on my team. I'd think the same way if Crosby was on my team.

McDavid with an opening night hat trick in 3-0 win vs. Flames. Simmonds also with a hat trick vs. Sharks.

Looking over the quality and number of defensemen possibly available, I noticed T Hamonic had been shopped. He made it known western Canada was his preference. It is now a moot point if Chicago would have been far enough west, since playing on a quality team seems inevitable a choice in Chicago given our record close to ten years flown by.

The acquisition of a #1 in a Hamonic type trade just resurrects the argument of whether the help that year is an opportunity cost gone down the drain to select a blue chip first round talent. As the core gets older, the diminishing returns means that there are a less players aboard whom could possibly be a part of new core.

The teams whom might very well be in contention with us for a last playoff spot have not exactly hit a home run at the draft table. Let's look at the defense and goal tending then compare to our own. Dallas, San Jose, Winnipeg and Calgary are those other teams

What order would you put them and us in, insofar as last playoff entrant.

And ....regarding some of our more recent #1 picks, Bowman found talent but we would have been so much better off if players like TT and Schmautz possessed a greater degree of moxie or combativeness.

Looking over the quality and number of defensemen possibly available, I noticed T Hamonic had been shopped. He made it known western Canada was his preference. It is now a moot point if Chicago would have been far enough west, since playing on a quality team seems inevitable a choice in Chicago given our record close to ten years flown by.

The acquisition of a #1 in a Hamonic type trade just resurrects the argument of whether the help that year is an opportunity cost gone down the drain to select a blue chip first round talent. As the core gets older, the diminishing returns means that there are a less players aboard whom could possibly be a part of new core.

The teams whom might very well be in contention with us for a last playoff spot have not exactly hit a home run at the draft table. Let's look at the defense and goal tending then compare to our own. Dallas, San Jose, Winnipeg and Calgary are those other teams

What order would you put them and us in, insofar as last playoff entrant.

And ....regarding some of our more recent #1 picks, Bowman found talent but we would have been so much better off if players like TT and Schmautz possessed a greater degree of moxie or combativeness.
- jhawk59

True #1 defenceman are really only available thru the draft or infrequently via free agency.

And Hamonic is miles away from being a #1 Dman in this league, he's more like a #4. Nice player but .....

On NHL Now, E.J. Hradek just suggested Joel Quenneville may be fired if the Hawks don't do well early this season. He also mentioned the friction between Q and Bowman. Thoughts?

I think that Q needs to not always be so stubborn with his guys and not his guys. somebody like TVR was given a pass on poor play, Roz, Mash, Tootoo, ETC but then daley, Weiss, ETC were given very little chance. he seems a little better this year other then Bouma should be on the bench and Wingels should be in. I also not sure I like the fact that he moved a RW Hartman to 2nd line LW, and moved LW debrinct to 3rd line RW. Why he puts young players on a wing they are not used to is beyond me. Debrinct should either be 2 or 3 LW and they should move sharp up instead.

Also Martinez is bigger then bouma who in the last 2 years has 105 games and 5 goals 9 A, Martinez has 119 games and has 7 goals and 11A. Basically the same player. Wingels in 141 games has 14 goals and 16A. and has 2 years of 15+ goals just before that. and both those years he was only 1% higher in shooting % Bouma had one good year out his shooting % was double his Career avg. plus bouma does not even AVG a shoot on Goal per game. Wingels is about 1.5 per game last 2 years. I also would have kept Kempny and rutta together since its his 1st game on Small ice let him play with someone that he knows better. IE set the young guys up to succeed.

Given your anguish I was expecting a much more egregious play, but it was really a harmless slash. It's clear your hatred of Crosby leads this post (what the hell is forced legacy? I think he has the accomplishments that are well earned) Yea penalty should be called there, but nothing that should warrant such a response. The St Louis guy dove anyway. Few of these guys are choir boys on the ice...we got a guy on our team (keith) who has done some stupid poop on the ice, but I love the fact he's on my team. I'd think the same way if Crosby was on my team.
- kwolf68

Forced legacy: Crosbys first Conne Smythe in 2016, pretty undeserved compared to Kessel who really should've won. And an argument for a couple other Penguins but because it's "Sidney" they gave him the award.

Yeah, in a vacuum it's not the worst foul play in the world, but coupled with all of the other dirty poop he gets away with apart from the play (Methots finger and others last year) that's where it drives me nuts.
Crosby seems to be unscathed and protected by the NHL so he takes major advantage by whining about every little push from a defenseman and turns around and does blatant stupid slashes away from the play, and gets away with it all Scott free. Because he's "a star."

I'm a hawks fan too, slash St Louis all you want... but at least get thrown in the box for it.

McDavid with an opening night hat trick in 3-0 win vs. Flames. Simmonds also with a hat trick vs. Sharks.
- AEL_Fox

McDavid looked insanely dangerous from start to finish in that game. 30 seconds in, he blew by the Calgary D and gets a partial breakaway. Scored goal 1 while roaming around slipping coverage and gets to the right spot to capture a rebound. Then he got a couple more breakaway/partial breakaway and scores with outside speed cutting in behind the D with a nice move. The Flames just had no answer for this kid and he got 7 shots and most of them dangerous. Fun to watch this guy.

True #1 defenceman are really only available thru the draft or infrequently via free agency.

And Hamonic is miles away from being a #1 Dman in this league, he's more like a #4. Nice player but .....
- RickJ

Very much true. May be one reason it took such a long time to settle on value for Hamonic. In the end it seems like Snow was resigned to trade him. The other point you could have added, is that there too often is a proliferation to rush defensemen whom were high early selections. They need to receive proper coaching, support from a veteran partner is also huge. Confidence is the name of the game for them. Usually it takes repetition and even years of practicing how quickly and where to move a puck when it is dumped in. The dmnen who are proficient sooner than others at this truly stand out.

Look at Murphy as an example per the discussion above.
I had pegged Hamonic as better than you mentioned. How ironic the team that traded him, had invested many, many #1 on defensemen. Or even traded for one [Hickey].

Go ahead, review their roster. Leddy, deHahn, Hickey, Pullock. They moved Reinhart. Boychuck was a #2 round I think.