What do Hawks need?
There's a reason why we haven't been hearing the Hawks mentioned in trade rumors with the March 4 deadline fast approaching.
It's because GM Dale Tallon and his staff still aren't sure they want to mess with the special chemistry in the dressing room, and can you blame them?
The Hawks might be good enough as is to get out of the Western Conference, and anyone that thinks I've been drinking too much Canadian beer isn't paying attention to what's happening.
The Hawks have great goaltending with Nikolai Khabibulin already owning a Stanley Cup.
They have a mobile and deep defense that gets the puck out of trouble quicker than any team in the league.
They have three lines that can score and a fourth line that is as good or better than any fourth line in the NHL.
Size? There's enough.
If the Hawks need anything, it's an experienced center who can win faceoffs. Will they go after one? Probably, but it will be on Tallon's terms.
I still maintain Keith Tkachuk would be an ideal fit. The Blues likely will trade Tkachuk, who will be an unrestricted free agent, but would they trade him to Chicago for a draft pick? Tkachuk also has a no-trade clause that comes into play.
A scout told me the other night he thought Doug Weight would be an ideal guy for the Hawks because of the style they play. I don't know how much Weight has left, but he certainly wouldn't cost much to get from the Islanders.
Boy, Tim, a little success and you're ready to crown them Western Conference champs. You'll believe / write anything Tallon feeds you, huh?
The only reason they may stand pat is it's apparent they'll achieve their stated goal for the year, make the playoffs. Now it's down to what makes sense. Is it as Sassone writes, they truly are capable of making a run at the Cup this year? Doubtful it they have the go through Detroit or San Jose to get there. Detroit's proven they can win a Cup, and San Jose is built for a Cup run. San Jose was burned by Campbell in last year's playoffs, and made the smart move by getting Boyle and Blake instead, while the Hawks made the more splashy, McDonough type move in signing Campbell. Enough size? Not sure how you can say that, when in playoff type games like the Detroit ones this season there wasn't a lot of room for the Hawks' skill guys to operate while they were getting pounded.
They may stand pat if they can't get anything of value that will help down the road for Khabibulin or Havlat. Might as well ride those contracts out and take the valuable cap space next year to fill that huge hole at center and bring in the physical scoring forward they lack. I find it hard to believe Bowman believes they are a contender as presently constructed, but with McDonough calling the shots and based on his Cubs tenure decisions are made for the short term and based on maximizing profits. I guess we'll find out.
Might as well sit back, enjoy the entertaining brand of hockey they're playing, and see what happens.
The Hawks will never get anymore out this guy than what we have seen this season who somehow thinks he is a skill guy. I am not sure why Quenn cannot sit down with this guy and tell him to bang and make a mess in the slot. For christ sake they have him on the point with Toews clogging up the middle. That make no sense to me.
Send this guy to Rockford and bring up someone who is going to appreciate their time up in the big's and will make the most of it. I would even take Kyle Beach over Bustlien right now.
brindamour would be a good fit if he wasnt so old and hurt. i wanted tkachuck since he was a jet and rod when he was a flyer. not anymore though. chris neal of ottawa is a huge upgrade in all departments over burish/brouwer. antropov is upgrade over fraser. these two guys would help in the playoffs with size,leadership,toughness. although it doesnt fix everything that everyones concerned about.[2nd line center,scoring winger,}
amazing how campbell has turned into an outcast in less then a year considering the excitment last summer as free agent.
skille is no bust. many pro scouts are really high on him and expect him to be an impact player this year/next year. hes been dominating in ahl whenever i watch him. shouldnt call him a bust just yet.
trade buff or put him back on defense. if he could score he would have 5 goals on this trip already due to the kane setups in the slot. he never deserved a 3 million contract, those moves should be left to the nba.
Tkachuk's useful ness at this point is a big question mark. Tallon and Dudley should take a long look at what ATL got out of him, before he turned tail and ran back to STL. He might be the guy who can help with some playoff type grittyness around the net, but you cant give up anything for him. Unless it's like Sopel, a draft pick 3rd rd. or lower or
some career Icehog. I still like the idea of getting a faceoff guy, in the next week it will start to become more clear who the sellers are.
If we somehow get Tkachuk here, he would definitely help. Please someone ask Tallon if he likes Avery coming here on the cheap, as a make good until a Beach is deemed ready. Don't think Avery coming here would be unanimous decison on Blackhawk advisory panel to Tallon. I as well as most post people probably would veto an Avery re-locate to Chicago if we were in Tallon's shoes. Not sure I trust Tallon's judgment.
Yeah, Tim, me and others probably have too much Indian head kool-aid, but it's not unreasonable to believe the Hawks could come out of the West. Detroit would be tough, no doubt, but it's not unthinkable. San Jose has been bounced in the second round for three years in a row, and the Hawks have shown they could beat everyone else in the conference.
Tampa Bay won it all after missing the playoffs 9 of the previous 11 years, 6 of the previous 7 years, and they only won one round in the year prior to winning it all.
The Hurricanes didn't even make the playoffs both years prior to winning the Cup. Yes, they were in the finals three years prior to that, but much of the team had changed and that "experience" had little or no relevance to winning it all.
The Blackhawks have issues or weaknesses to overcome in match ups against San Jose and Detroit. Dallas, too, particularly if they get Morrow and Zubov back (although their blueline crew, overall, is not as strong as Sharks & Red Wings). The greatest advantage they have is that they have proven stars, veterans, and know what it takes to win in the playofffs. And as for the Flames, it is a tall order beating a Keenan team in the playoffs after they were shutout against us this season. Calgary has (will finish with) more points than us. There's a reason for that. They are a better team. Don't know if they will get Warrinar back for playoffs. The Blackhawks haven't steamrolled past everyone. We could have lost many of the games. Playoff hockey always is an altogether different brand of hockey. It is asking a lot for a young team that hasn't been there, done that, to advance past the first round. We cannot survive a major injury as well as the other teams -- we've seen our performance when a Toews and a Keith were missing. To be fair, Calgary also would not likely survive if one of their top players went down. You've looked at the circumstances the years before and after with the teams you mention, but I suspect a closer examination might reveal why those teams reached their pinnacle of success, while Chicago is not yet able to reach that height. I would get into a detailed analysis, but a long discourse isn't necessary. I believe I've said enough to convince why we aren't going far into the playoffs this year. As a realist it is difficult to believe we can achieve so much in the playoffs. I do enjoy your posts and lots of good comments, but I disagree here.
It is not the same Sharks or Red Wings team, but on paper a better team this year than last season.
The Sharks have reinforced their blueline and the coach is probably better for their match ups than Wilson in the playoffs. Now have experienced leaders in Blake, Boyle and team has more confidance because of them. Team was outworked by Dallas last year, but if they loose this year, it won't be due to being outworked. Very deep roster, Cheecho, Clowe, Pavelski etc al are not top line guys. Marleau is having a great year, and Setoguchi is a scoring threat. T Mitchell, Roenick as reserves -- even C Lemieux (perhaps). Red Wings are not dead wings even when a star player goes down. Franzen hurt? So they carry on ... Hossa at 29 goals presently & on a second line. A Cleary and Hudler, even Samuealson can come up big. Have to wonder if aging Draper, Maltby can be affordable next season. But if Holmstrom doesn't return, that would hurt them somewhat. The Red Wings need to improve their goaltending. And Chellios shouldn't be in lineup if everyone is healthy. Probably a very good team could go out in the first round of playoffs...will it be a Dallas, Calgary? Maybe Chicago? But Chicago isn't a very good team when compared to the seeded teams ahead of them. Up and coming is a better definition.
1. Put the Sharp-Toews-Kane line back together. They had a great run last year.
2. Just call the Havlat-Bolland-Ladd line the second line. They are always at worst our 2nd best line. They can continue to match up against the other teams best line if Q wants.
3. Check the price for Radek Bonk. Can't find the stat but I he has always been a good faceoff guy. Plus he will be UFA so should be cheap to acquire and no long term commitment.
4. Trade Havlat and Khabibulin. Unless no team is offering anything for him they have to be traded. We aren't going to win the Cup this year and we aren't going to resign them after this year. We need to make sure we keep the strength of the franchise in mind. Can't let them walk for free at years end.
Above that it sure would be nice to add Tkachuk, Pronger, Spezza, or whatever big name is out there but that is very unlikely. Also it would be nice to take Campbell or Huet out but their contracts make that impossible. Let's not put the cart in front of the horse. We should get into the playoffs and that hasn't been the case in a long time. Let's not get carried away and make bad decisions made in haste. Guys like Byfuglein, Barker, Versteeg, Bolland are all developing. Don't make a hasty decision on them based before they have a chance to show what they will be. Not prospect turns into Phaneuf or Tkachuk in their first two years in the league. If you trade them fine, don't make it for a band-aid though. You think that Atlanta regrets the band-aid trades they made with Philly (Zhitnik-Coburn) and St. Louis?
This team needs a centerman like Keith Tkachuk even if it is for the 2009 playoffs only.
They also need to unload Huet and that bad contract. He is no Khabibulin, and his rebound control and inability to see the puck on the penalty kill makes him a far second best in the tandem. A centerman like Savard in Boston would be the ideal for the long term as a replacement in trade for Huet. Also bring up either Corey Crawford or the other goalie in Rockford as Khabibulin's backup for the next 2-3 years or until Habby retires.
And I agree with Dooowap below. Buflegein is a lazy butt. Can you tell he got a contract he's satisfied with? He's useless now! The other guy I'd like to see moved down so a upgrade could be made is Troy Brouwer. He puts out a strong effort most nights but it just seems like we could stand a upgrade over Brouwer.
In past years the top West teams with shots at a cup, Red Wings, Stars, Avalanche, Sharks pick-up a veteran who wants to compete. I have wanted to see Tkachuk on this team since he was in Phoenix. He would be a great addition to the locker room and winning key face off in and out of our zone.
If there is a chance to get a 20-30 goal or 60 point + scorer w. speed would be helpful as well. I am still pissed at Bygflin though, this guy is a waste of money and i would send him down immediately and see what we could get out of a Jack Skille. What do you have to lose.
Byfuglien's weak effort against Vancouver was obvious. BUT . . . everyone needs to realize something: Skille is a bust.
Byfuglien on a bad night is twice the player Skille is. Skille can skate, that's it. So could Jeff Shantz, JY Leroux and Steve Dubinsky.
Skille is NOT the answer.
Skille does not appear to be a top six forward. He is not going to score a lot without a top center, that's for sure. I doubt he is terrible, that he can't finish whatsoever -- images of Paul Woods comes to mind. Skille is a useful player, better in the NHL perhaps than in the AHL. He is a bust if you mean that he is not going to project as the highly rated scorer taken 7th overall. He may prove to be similair to R Bourque -- good third line player, able to move up occasionally to a top line. His speed will always serve him well on a third line. Can you imagine his speed with a Sweat some day on the third line? Skille may help a third line produce some points if he has the proper linemattes...time will tell....but to say Skille is a bust seems like it is too strong a term. I'll tell you who I'm keeping an eye on as for your other team that cover (Nashville): R Jones. Saw him part of a tic-tac-toe passing play as he was on the top line and picked up an assist vs Dallas last night. Wonder how he would do on the second line with C Wilson, maybe next year. That line could give Pred's their much needed scoring boost. Meanwhile, wonder if Legwand might have a career year once a couple more top forwards are added to roster. Sullivan is a top player/usage upon his return but not the answer for their secondary scoring. Their team defense, especially that t he third pair is not bad -- Zanon can play and I like his size and overall ability. That is what keeps them close in most games. The Pred's take advantage of mistakes and hope they can get enough scoring from their top line. Rhinne is showing signs of taking over as the #1 goaltender. TheBlackhawks could use exactly what a Bonk and Arnott bring to a team. Any response, Jacukel? These are just my thoughts upon occasionally watching them/I trust your view/we play them soon...but I don't totally agree about Skille/maybe you have some comments that convince me otherwise on Skille.
i agree - Byf is a waste. The man is not strong on his skates and plays like a big baby out there. He should be more like Lucic from Boston out there. He is too inconsistent. Byf has many chances to score (setup by Kane or Havlat), but doesn't capitalize. Why? Is he not a finisher? Is he not expecting the puck? Bad hand - eye coordination? doesn't practice enough around the net? The man has so much potential, hate to see it go to waste. I wonder if Byf thinks he is playing good right now.
I want to see these Rockford goalies get some action in the nhl. I also want to see Skille and Kontiola and Pelletier up. Sit Byf. Can any one of those Rockford guys when face-offs?
If the Hawks bring in Tkachuk and/or another defensemen, who is out? That would be interesting. You can't sit Burish. For the llimited ice team the man gets, he seems to produce and skates hard. Frazier is in for his face off victories and i think marginal penalty kill. Brouwer, Eager, ?? Wiz or Barker on defense?
Kontiola is the only center you mentioned. Don't know if he is good on face ofs, doubt any more than avg. He won't be recalled since he hasn't been yet this season.
The goaltenders: It would be undue pressure on a rookie to be in net in a playoff race when you have two experienced NHL goalies already, although some knock Huet's style, nonetheless, he usually gets the job done well enough. Crawford has some NHL experience and makes more sense to recall because of that. Niemi is the best talent at Rockford -- him and Hjalmarsson. Both should keep playing a lot at Rockford. Unfortunately, we can't play both goalies there at the same time.
Pelletier is most likely a 3rd line NHL player at best. Is a 5th yr pro very little NHL gp -- what does that tell you? Consider that Boston thought little of keeping him -- was traded for St Pierre. St Pierre is a marginal NHL player. If St Pierre (might as well say Pelletier as well) scores plenty in AHL, why does no one want him in NHL? I think the answer with Skille is that he isn't the top great talent hoped for as #7 overall choice, but could be a descent NHL player. There is doubt whether he can contribute right now more than whom is up in Chicago. The idea for Skille was to work on some aspects of his game this year at Rockford. He had some slefish ways and a big head previously. He's not as good as Sharp, and management wants him to develop in an offensive role ..to see if he could later fit that role in the NHL. Skille is not wanted as a third line guy right now in Chicago. Skille has been primarily on line with Kontiola, who is not exactly encouraging a call up himself. Skille looks like an offensive player when I see him play, but apparently Tallon and co. don't see him as a serious scoring threat, else he would be up here. The forward with most skill is probably Kontiola, but bad work habits (?) off ice (?) and not good enough to beat out anyone for #2 center in Chicago. Kontiola is excellent passer, good wrist shot doesn't shoot enough/what's with his poor skating/supposed to be a fairly good skater/out of shape (still ? ).
1. Is Player X a plus-defenseman, or a center/wing who wins draws? (if "yes," go to Question 2. If "no," PASS)
2. Does Player X improve the team this year? (if "yes," go to Question 3. If "no," PASS)
3. Does Player X remain with team next year? (If "no," PASS)
It's about hoisting the Cup ASAP. But barring a series of miracles, that will NOT be this year. Any move that is made strictly for this season—ie, rent-a-player— is STUPID.
Any such move would also seriously undermine the credibiity of this organization. How soon fans forget that the Dollar Bill of the mid-1990's was more than glad to make that kind of move if it meant a few more home playoff games.
If a move meets the above criteria, then by all means do it at the right price, because those are needs not just this year, but next year as well.
only bonk makes sense; the others are rentawrecks. we need faceoff wins!
Without going over possible players made available, Bonk is the only pick up I like. Weight maybe if we get him very cheap. Tkachuk can play center, but I don't think St Louis trades him if they aren't assured he goes to Chicago in a three way deal. St Louis conceivably challenges for a playoff spot next year, and wouldn't want Tkachuk opposite in Chicago. He may have one more good year left. Maybe if he gets a rest now and then.
meant to say if St louis is not assured he doesn't then get traded to Chicago
Quite a variety pack of guys that might or will definitely be available in another week or two. The chemistry equation on the Hawks is a tough one to figure out. The boys are playing well as a team at the moment and typically teams despise making moves when all is well, but it is a reach to believe the Hawks can beat Detroit or San Jose in the playoffs without adding a veteran center or a rugged defensemen...or perhaps both.
So the question Bowman/Tallon need to answer is do we go for it this year or do we ride the tide, see what happens in the playoffs, and build for the next couple of years. Other than Bulin there is nearly zero playoff experience in the locker room at the moment. When is the last time somebody won the Holy Grail after heading into the playoffs with such a green team, especially one that is so green at the key spots of the front six forwards??
I don't think I want to know the answer to that question........
but he's not a natural center, tho does take & win a lot of draws and adds some physical size & toughness up front. he'd be a pure rental since he's already shown a penchant for playing in st. louis, returning there after he was dealt to atlanta. plus you certainly wouldn't want to overpay a division rival (which already has a lot of good young players coming up in addition to several key players lost to injury). if the hawks could snag him for a 3rd round pick or less, i'd make that deal.
i've been suggesting weight for a while now, he's not as good as tkachuk on faceoffs, but is a center, has a cup ring to his credit and has been producing on a bad islander team this year. he'd be a good 2nd line center for the pp.
as for the hawks being good enough as is to get out of the West, that is still very much a longshot imo. they certainly have made the case that they will be a team to be reckoned with in a year or two, but to somehow believe that a team that hasn't made the playoffs for 9 of the past 10 years is now suddenly going to beat out anaheim, calgary, san jose & detroit (experienced playoff teams that have been building towards winning the cup for years) and then beat boston or washington to win the cup is probably drinking too much Canadian Club ;-)
as hp points out, defense wins championships and while the hawks are certainly improved with campbell, keith and seabrook, they are prone to unforced errors and turnovers, especially walker, barker & wiz. add a strong physical forecheck to that mix, and hawk forwards who aren't exactly zetterburg & datsyuk when it comes to backchecking, and the hawks often find themselves playing a"rope-a-dope" style of defence that too often relies on great goaltending to bail them out, imo. if the hawks can somehow also add pronger, then i would have to re-evaluate, but as it stands, i think they have a decent shot at 4th place/home ice which gives them a reasonable chance of getting to the 2nd round where sj or detroit will take them out.
thinking that one or both of them get upset before you have to play them is not realistic & certainly not how a GM should be basing his decisions on.
if the hawks sit pat it's a huge mistake. The recent pentaly killing collapse can be contributed to a lack of ability to win a key faceoff. THey give the opposition possesion right off the bat and then rely on a shot block, save, or turnover to clear the zone. It's really getting old.
I agree on Weight. What about Dominic Moore from Toronto? They need a center and one badly. I know they are trying out Versteeg to see if he can hold his own, so that Tallon can keep his beloved prospects that he refuses to trade. However, they need to get a veteran and get one soon. I can;t handle much more of this domination in this department.
I have said it before, you have to approach each year as your best chance. You dont' know if you are getting career years out of guys, or injuries. Again, just look at Pittsburgh. They are in a free fall.
Can somebody find Patrick Sharp and let him know that top 6 forwards dont' disappear for 20 game stretches. Where the hell is this guy? It would be one thing if he were visible but lately I don't remember him standing out and blending in isn't good enough. Time to light a fire under this guy.
Don't think anyone at Rockford is going to be recalled and make a contribution. Remebering Bickel had played a physical brand at times when recalled, maybe he can do such as a fill in on fourth line. Right now, though, the steady Cr Adams has been sitting.
Adding a "Bitz" to the lineup. Don't know anything about this little used Bruins forward, exceptI see he came up from Providence (AHL) in January. The Bruins have a player down there named Wacey Rabbit. Seriously, they do...but not a serious prospect...can you just hear the play-by-play "Wacey Rabbit moving up ice with the puck" maybe you'd think that they meant M Savard or Kessel or some speedy player.
Kind of reminds me of all time sports names, like Rollie Fingers, Bill (you're in good) Hands.
We have seen our defense be largely responsible for a good transition game. Next point: hockey is a game of limiting mistakes and of confidance. In the playoffs the teams's defense has to be good in transition as well as all other time during the game. Minimize lazy and stupid penalties (Kane too often), as well as failure to communicate or cover for the rover (Campbell). Using Detroit as a comparison of the deepest, best blueline group, in no way does Chicago match them. It is all about defense first in the playoffs. A faulty defense, i.e., with leaks, and we're doomed. The last line of defense is the goaltender, but the defensemen cannot put undue pressure on their netminder.
So this question is posed: How good is Chicago's defense going to be in the playoffs? As far as depth on defense, TheREALWiz points out A Johnson has balance on his skates as a concern/Johnson is a J Hendry reserve calibre d-man. As it stands, any reserves need some ice time as the regular season grinds down. We already wonder how good a Barker will be, how reliable Seabrook and Campbell will be, if Wiznewski can play up to his level of descent defenseman. What was with all the defensemen switching sides against Calgary? An undisclosed play with injury to a d-man? Strategy/matchup? I wouldn't count on Hjalmarsson to be solid being thrust into a playoff role (not that he doesn't have the ability, though).
Does the salary cap also apply during the playoffs? I would wager that a Sopel has the character and size to plant himself in front of the net on PP? In fact, maybe they should try him at that in practice. I think he has descent hands/he does have smarts.
Posted by hockeypuck on Sat, 02/07/20
He left the team thurs to return home due to an injury. The team's broadcasters fear it is a setback from coming back too soon this season from a knee (some leg, I think knee) injury. Brind"Amour had not been playing well, particularly offensively he was nothing, and it is due to playing with the injury still bothering him, the broadcasters added. So I doubt this warrior is an add for us. Too bad, they have the young Sutter and R Francis has joined their on ice coaching staff. Weight, indeed, would help. After the Islanders' recent lengthy loosing streak, he may not be averse to coming here if it was understood he could somehow go back to the Islanders after the season ends. He is happy w/Guerin his buddy and they like the Island, just not the loosing. I had suggested Kontiola for Witt; do we "surrender" Kontiola for a rental player? The Islanders are desperate for youth installed in their pipeline; they purposely traded down their 2008 #1 entry selection in order to acquire more picks.
I believe this team can win two rounds in the playoffs. The chemistry is excellent and thats very impotant. The scoring depth is great but yea....we need a faceoff center. Someone like Doug Weight is ideal. Very experienced to share his knowledge and very inexpensive. He has already played most of his 1.75 million contract this year and he's a UFA next year.
All the teams try to win the Stanley Cup but let's face it, Chicago has little to no experience. Say this though, let these kids see how far they can go. They earned it.
Then, starting this summer is when we should start thinking aboot putting the proper pieces in place for hockey's holy grail. I don't mean just spending on UFA's either. We have too many young guys that'll be needing raises. No, instead, look for trading in the summer. Especially at the draft.
I know that he's approaching 40, but to me, he seems an ideal fit. Sure he may not have much left offensively and is having a terrible +/- year, but his leadership skills and face-off prowess still remains, and he can add those two elements to the club. I wonder if he has a no-trade clause...