Same negativity about Schmaltz bc he blew a few coverages.... see veterans doing the same thing. Our 1C took two bad penalties.

What I’m most concerned about is all the odd man rushes. Hawks trying to pressure in the ozone and everyone gets caught too low. Teams overall positioning and structure was still pretty meh despite the outcome.
- bhawks2241

Reminder that we just beat a team employing much youth on their Blue line. They were minus a spoke in their wheel, no Gostisphere (sic).

Why is it that positioning and structure is a continuing problem? Different linemates cause confusion? How much do they need a week of intense course work of coverage 10 1?

And won't someone ask Q and or Bowman, how can you year after year not do something about the PP.. And if players will not do as instructed

Crawford with yet another great performance.

Crawford with yet another great performance.
- HawkintheD

heard one of the studio guys on NHL network talk about how craw has been the hawks MVP for the last 5 years...the guy is a winner, battler and never quits...yeah he has bad days/nights....so does everyone else. Top 3 at least...you can keep your bobros, holtbys and prices of the nhl world...

one blogger has him as the best goalie in the WC over the last five years...no question..and it ain't close

the blues who ever they got: no
preds: rinne been excellent for about a season plus
aves: forget about it
stars: ugh
jets: umm no
wild: sorry
kings: quick at one time was great
edm: who dat
sharks: no way
flames: seriously?
ducks: gibson been good but not for 5 years
az: lol
canucks: what a joke

Philly had like 4 D-men out and a center and could have easily won game. It's a win, but not an overly impressive one, unless you count #50.

Schmaltz, who is an elite talent, was a sparkling 1-10 in faceoffs. Laughingly I thought Franson and Murphy played pretty good games as did Anisimov, Saad, Panik and Toews, the two PIMs notwithstanding.

And why the hell does Murphy have to have a fight after a tough clean, hit. WTF?

Murphy looks better than he did early in the season...keep running him out there and let the kid learn.

heard one of the studio guys on NHL network talk about how craw has been the hawks MVP for the last 5 years...the guy is a winner, battler and never quits...yeah he has bad days/nights....so does everyone else. Top 3 at least...you can keep your bobros, holtbys and prices of the nhl world...

one blogger has him as the best goalie in the WC over the last five years...no question..and it ain't close

the blues who ever they got: no
preds: rinne been excellent for about a season plus
aves: forget about it
stars: ugh
jets: umm no
wild: sorry
kings: quick at one time was great
edm: who dat
sharks: no way
flames: seriously?
ducks: gibson been good but not for 5 years
az: lol
canucks: what a joke
- bogiedoc

Before the last couple early playoff exits there was a point where I asked myself who i would take over him and about the only guy I could come up with was Price.

Anyone who still wants to complain about Crawford's contract and doesn't have him in their top 5...not sure what to tell ya.

Philly had like 4 D-men out and a center and could have easily won game. It's a win, but not an overly impressive one, unless you count #50.

Schmaltz, who is an elite talent, was a sparkling 1-10 in faceoffs. Laughingly I thought Franson and Murphy played pretty good games as did Anisimov, Saad, Panik and Toews, the two PIMs notwithstanding.

And why the hell does Murphy have to have a fight after a tough clean, hit. WTF?

Murphy looks better than he did early in the season...keep running him out there and let the kid learn.
- kwolf68

Noticed that too. I'd say he couldn't get any worse but he could have gone 0 fer. Other than that I thought he played ok, but the forwards oerall need to tighten it up.

Philly was getting behind defenseman last night but there were no forwards getting back either.

Thought Murph looked pretty good too.

Even though you are a Hawks blogger and the play offs were annoying with you, I have read all of your blogs. You are a good writer.
Best of luck.

Noticed that too. I'd say he couldn't get any worse but he could have gone 0 fer. Other than that I thought he played ok, but the forwards oerall need to tighten it up.

Philly was getting behind defenseman last night but there were no forwards getting back either.

Thought Murph looked pretty good too.
- HawkintheD

Yea, his faceoff struggles aside, I thought he played well and I do believe his future in the NHL IS at center. He just needs to find a way to win a few more draws. But you can see his speed creates space. We also saw how the Hawks scored on the PP, Anisimov at the net, I think Hayden needs to get time on the PP as well as he's the other one who creates a great net presence.

Oh yea, the Keith/Franson pairing was excellent.

That may be an ok switch
Or leave him on a top two scoring line, but switch him to the third line if you want to give second line a different look some moments in any particular game

One concern if in Rockford: growing his game is better for his development when playing with better players, faster pace in NHL
- jhawk59

Well, I wonder about that. Sometimes the best way to be successful in 8th grade is to go through 7th grade, rather than jump there straight from 6th. Eventually the former 6th grader might figure out 8th grade but taking the next step might be better than skipping ahead.

big game by #50...he earned that shutout...

to many orange white jerseys behind the red and white all night...

hawks got to figure a way to tighten up the team defense...

flyers missed alot of quality and hawks got alot of bounces
- bogiedoc

I put a 30 game buffer on my expectations for a defense that has been largely re-tooled before the season started. I have to keep reminding myself of that self imposed limit, though. Tough to watch sometimes.

Yea, his faceoff struggles aside, I thought he played well and I do believe his future in the NHL IS at center. He just needs to find a way to win a few more draws. But you can see his speed creates space. We also saw how the Hawks scored on the PP, Anisimov at the net, I think Hayden needs to get time on the PP as well as he's the other one who creates a great net presence.

Oh yea, the Keith/Franson pairing was excellent.
- kwolf68

I have no idea why they haven't thrown Hayden out on the PP1 yet. they did it with Bickell and Buff, why not Hayden?

I don't know if any of the stats-hogs are on, but I'm curious to know just how many of those grade-A chances were against the second pairing.
- kinigitt

Keith and Franson had a Corsi in the mid 60s. Seabs and Rutta had one in the upper 30s. Kempny and Murphy in the upper 20s. Yikes. I'd like to see Seabs-kempny and Murphy-Rutta next game.

New blog form the new guy. It's only on the HB main page though.

Thanks for your tireless work filling us in with the latest Hawks news JJ. It's been great to read your thoughts for the last 8+ years, while us Hawks fans have been living the dream! Good luck on your future indevers....

Last?

Last?
- Ogilthorpe2

you deserve this.

oh wait. i messed that up.

do it again.

- TTtime

Jerk

- Nucker101

- TTtime

This is the kinda thing attorneys call "really stupid poop." Well mine did anyway. See ya around, Ace.

This is the kinda thing attorneys call "really stupid poop." Well mine did anyway. See ya around, Ace.
- John Jaeckel

To Colorado - Vladislav Kamenev, Samuel Girard, Shane Bowers, Ottawa's 2018 1st, Nashville's 2nd and the Sens 3rd round pick...looks like a pretty good haul for the aves...