I think I saw Reeve ask Hayden if he wanted to go and Hayden said, "no way, man." Smart kid. No reason to fight with a huge lead.
- Kentxo

And Reaves would have done the same if the score was reversed.

If he's going to stir the pot the way he likes to he better be able to handle what comes of it. I can't stand a spot picking chickenpoop. Just sayin, the way he plays he's going to have to dance once in a while. And can he play? You and I could score 20 playing with Kane. But he certainly shows upside. I love when local kids make the show. Like Saad for you.
- 6628

But he scored 20 last year without Kane. But yea your point is well taken, Kane makes his teammates better for sure. I didn't see Hartman do anything egregious last night and yes I am sure he will drop the gloves if needed, but no point in fighting a good/enforcer whose only role IS to fight. Then you may be looking for another leftwing for line 2. I didn't want Hayden fighting last night...he was the main bright spot on that line. If Bouma wants to fight so guys like Vandy can get their jollies fine by me...stage up a fight and move on, but i have NO interest in these other guys fighting, because they are very important to the Hawks chances of winning a Cup.

If he's going to stir the pot the way he likes to he better be able to handle what comes of it. I can't stand a spot picking chickenpoop. Just sayin, the way he plays he's going to have to dance once in a while. And can he play? You and I could score 20 playing with Kane. But he certainly shows upside. I love when local kids make the show. Like Saad for you.
- 6628

He scored 19 last year not playing with Kane, or Toews for that matter.

Schmaltz is already practicing. Kero is not.
- JRoenick97

Probably means fourth line is Hayden/Wingels/Bouma tomorrow. I am fine with that. Wingels has speed and his faceoff game can't be any worse than Kero.

Had to drop Victor Rask and scoop up Hartman on my Fantasy team after last night's performance.

Let's hope we see him light it up all year with Kane. My guess is he will

What a wild game though, 10 even strength goals. Thats impressive!

Panik is one very strong MFer. He threw a few of the Pens around, and won a nice wrestling match in front of the Pens net on Saad's 2nd goal.

Saad's 3 goals traveled a total of 10 feet. JT is going to love those 2 going to the net.

No better way to break in a 'kid' defenceman than to play him and then the next day review what the good things were and what mistakes he made. That's what Samuelsson is going to do with all of these guys.

If they can get 40-45 good games out of Forsling, that would be great. I think Oesterle will alternate somewhat with Forsling.

And Franson looks to be the 8th defenceman until he proves to be better.
- RickJ

So you are implying that sometimes a player needs to take that next step in development and he improves when he is up against top competition, not AHL. The things that Forsling does well or is up to par matters too. If he was deficient in too many parts of the game, then he would be in Rockford

Wow they looked good last night- fast, crisp passing and physical.

3 lines that can score, seems like we are back in 2015 again.

Really like the nastiness Murphy brings to the blue line. It's been while since we have had a hard hitter back there.

Hopefully Schmaltz, Hartman, Kero will be 2017's version of Saad, Shaw and Kruger from 2013, sophomores that propelled the Hawks to the Cup!!!

Let's not forget how good Kempny looked carrying the puck last night.

Not as concerned about having to play the dump and chase. You now have Panik, Saad, Toews, and Hartman that can go dig out pucks with speed. Probably throw Schmaltz on that list too.

Schmaltz is already practicing. Kero is not.
- JRoenick97

Fantastic news. I traded Hartman and Murphy for Bobrovsky in my fantasy hockey league last week. If I knew Hartman would be on Kane's LW, there is no way I make that trade.

JJ, good to hear from you and we may have to eliminate the Game Day Blog now with yesterday's results LOL.

Penguins clearly had no legs and once they got down early, they pretty much threw in the towel and the Hawks kept coming. With that being said, Crosby/Malkin/Kessell were not dangerous and that is a result of Toews/Anisimov and our defense pairs being very aggressive and hard on the puck. Panik, Hayden, Murphy, Rutta, Saad, Kempny, Hartman, Bouma, Seabrook and Kempny are all large men that are not afrad of contact, strong the puck, and physical at the point of attack while attacking the blue paint. Again, temper your expections as it was one game with a tired team feeling the Stanley Cup Hangover, but the style of play and overall physicality/speed of the Hawks was VERY impressive and something that you haven't really seen since the 2010 team.

Panik is one very strong MFer. He threw a few of the Pens around, and won a nice wrestling match in front of the Pens net on Saad's 2nd goal.

Saad's 3 goals traveled a total of 10 feet. JT is going to love those 2 going to the net.
- scottak

gotta give props to Bowman today as well...I have been a very critical of Stan at times, but I gotta give him props...

Switching out Panarin for Saad (and getting a backup goalie as good as Forsberg) is gonna go down as one of Stan's better moves. For all intents and purposes, this team I THINK has been beautifully constructed by Stan. Still early, but it's CLEARLY his team now...only FIVE guys (Crow, Kane, Toews, Seabs, Keith) don't have his fingerprints on it...even Sharp, though here before Stan was GM is now Stan's guy because he went out and reacquired him.

Stan has also learned I think. Poor trades like Leddy where he waited too long he now is moving quicker...moved Saad quick, moved Panarin quick, move Hammer quick.

Defensive depth in the system is poor, so he goes the Euro route and has landed what appear to be two solid keepers.

He raped Toronto for Panik, went out and reacquired Saad to rebuild Line 1. The main player acquired FOR Saad originally now slides down to center Line 3, because his draft pick of Schmatlz allows it.

He moves Panarin out, getting Saad back for Line 1, then his draft pick of Ryan Hartman slides into Line 2 in place and he scores 5 his first game out.

He goes out and gets Sharp in F/A to play with his center he got a few years ago and adds his 2nd round draft pick to that line. Fourth line is all players Stan drafted or got as F/A.

The defense is STILL the question and losing Hammer may be tough, but Hammer is not a multidimensional D, has played a VERY heavy game, he has a lot of miles on the tread, and was never a good puck mover. While moving him for what we got may be a question I do NOT fault the timing of the move. If somehow, somewhat Murphy can develop that's another sparkling move...but right now it's very much TBD...

Stan has also learned about the cap and try to be a bit more conservative in handing out huge deals...and now he has +3 million in cap space to work with, having done numerous things before the season began just to get compliant until Hossa went on LTIR.

So far, job well done by Stan.

They kind of have a glut of forwards right now. I mean, Hinostroza is sitting in Rockford and plays a very similar game to him.
- JRoenick97

Sorry but Hinestroza is not in the same area code as Andreas Athanasiou...... and I really like Vinnie.

Sorry but Hinestroza is not in the same area code as Andreas Athanasiou...... and I really like Vinnie.
- Hawkytalk

Plus Athanasiou is 6'2, 23 years old, and a CENTER !!
He would be a great addition to play against McDavid's speed in the conference final..... if by chance it would come to that. I'd rather have Toews playing offensive 1st line vs having to chase McDavid all over the ice. Just thinking outside the box a little.

Sorry but Hinestroza is not in the same area code as Andreas Athanasiou...... and I really like Vinnie.
- Hawkytalk

I said similar game, not same player. Vinnie has a bit of development to do still. He can handle the puck better at speed that Andreas can. Doesn't have his size though, and isn't a center

Panik is one very strong MFer. He threw a few of the Pens around, and won a nice wrestling match in front of the Pens net on Saad's 2nd goal.

Saad's 3 goals traveled a total of 10 feet. JT is going to love those 2 going to the net.
- scottak

I think it was one of Saad's goals where he quite literally bulldozed Letang off the puck. Panik is listed at 6'1 207 but thats got to be all muscle. The guy has good core control and explosive power.

I think it was one of Saad's goals where he quite literally bulldozed Letang off the puck. Panik is listed at 6'1 207 but thats got to be all muscle. The guy has good core control and explosive power.
- Bjm84

He apparently ranked #1 in the fitness tests this year, followed by Sharpy at #2 (for forwards).

JJ vegas looking to make trade any rumblings that hawks might want trade with them and for what?

I said similar game, not same player. Vinnie has a bit of development to do still. He's a year younger though, and he can handle the puck better at speed that Andreas can. Doesn't have his size though.
- JRoenick97

Not sure I agree with you but think of it this way...........
Would Detroit even consider trading Athinasiou to us for Hinestroza ???
Ahhhh ... I'm thinking not a chance.

He apparently ranked #1 in the fitness tests this year, followed by Sharpy at #2 (for forwards).
- pdx2ord

Well I am sure there is another Slovakian who probably let him in on a few training secrets.

Not sure I agree with you but think of it this way...........
Would Detroit even consider trading Athinasiou to us for Hinestroza ???
Ahhhh ... I'm thinking not a chance.
- Hawkytalk

Vinnie + top prospect or maybe Vinnie + #1? Where the hell would he play though? Fourth line center? LOL...if we got Athinasiou while NOT giving up anyone on the current roster the rest of the NHL would probably forfeit.

Not sure I agree with you but think of it this way...........
Would Detroit even consider trading Athinasiou to us for Hinestroza ???
Ahhhh ... I'm thinking not a chance.
- Hawkytalk

No, no they wouldn't. I was just saying the hawks have a few forwards they sent down that could be on the team, so another speed guy isn't really something worth throwing more money at. I'd rather see Dauphin or Kampf make a splash.

Let's not forget how good Kempny looked carrying the puck last night.

Not as concerned about having to play the dump and chase. You now have Panik, Saad, Toews, and Hartman that can go dig out pucks with speed. Probably throw Schmaltz on that list too.
- bhawks2241

It will be interesting to see how the Hawks fare against a team that mucks up the neutral zone to try and force dump and chase.

Pens didn't even bother to show up at the rink yesterday, but it was still fun to watch the Hawks take it to them.

Well I am sure there is another Slovakian who probably let him in on a few training secrets.
- bhawks2241

Maybe that other Slovakian could dabble in some European scouting. Isn't he the one who said Panik had this in him and to give him a chance?

Maybe that other Slovakian could dabble in some European scouting. Isn't he the one who said Panik had this in him and to give him a chance?
- pdx2ord

He did look pretty good in that suit last night.

Anyone have a clip of the Kero injury? Was it a cheap shot by Crosby?
- nickmo2699

No clip, but it was knee on knee contact on the side of the Pens net. He went over to talk to the ref after the whistle.