Canucks a bad matchup?
After what happened Sunday night at the United Center, you've got to wonder if it would be better for the Hawks to face Calgary in the first round of the playoffs than Vancouver.
The Canucks can be a physical, nasty team with a more complete defense than Calgary, a more intimidating goalie in Roberto Luongo and a more dangerous top line with the Sedins and Alex Burrows.
The Hawks failed to show up Sunday in their 4-0 loss in what was supposed to be a big game for them. That was a pathetic 5-on-3 in the first period when they could have tied the game, and there was more sloppy defensive play from Campbell, Keith and Seabrook on Vancouver's first two goals.
As for the fight in the third period? A stupid goalie interference penalty by Byfuglien started it all and Burish didn't help matters by trying to take on every Canuck on the ice. Thanks to them, the Hawks were short-handed for six minutes with 14 still to play in a 3-0 game that wasn't over until then.
Maybe referees Paul Devorski and Mike Hassenfratz didn't do the greatest job sorting things out - they missed Keith getting his hair pulled by Burrows - but the Hawks made their own bed in this one.
Every year teams look like juggernauts offensively and then suddenly the closer checking and tough play that blossoms in the playoffs (with the refs helping a bit) seems to stall teams that don't have that big sized presence + skill up front.
aWe have Toews.
I have to agree that the PP is what will carry them and how well the offense clicks and then is able to return and play dee in transition will be how they live or die.
Deadboyblows, btw.
Get over it WIZ. Right now Im living in your head rent free.
Your sitting in front of a computer posting comments about someone who hasnt even posted today. GET A LIFE, and stop thinking about me... its creepy
I am hoping last nights game goes a long way in helping the Hawks prepare for the playoffs. It certainly shows some weaknesses.... but at the same time they need to figure out how to play an 'effective' edgey game for the playoffs. The keypoint being 'effective' here. Last night was not effective.
Not sure why we have to wait to late in the 3rd period to get frustrated and mean????
It seems like they decide to get nasty once they get to a certain level of embarrassment and then loose their minds. This seems like a 'young' team trait. Guys like 'Mitchell' from the Canucks was probably laughing in the locker room after the game .... those silly young kids!
Who is the veteran leader on this team to help them focus on timing of aggression, nastiness, and patience??????????????????
There's just to many nights here lately where this team simply does not show up to play. This team recently had some solid efforts against playoff bound teams, great. Then comes arguably the biggest game of the year. I'm excited! can't wait for the game to start!! and then the haaaaaaawks puf puf puf...puuuuuffffft, come up with this crap called a hockey game. And man did it stink. It's been happening way to often. I'm not buying this garbage it's because their young, their learning, and by golly some day...OHHHHHH some day boy you just wait, their gonna be great...it's a friggen cop out, and this team falls back on it all the time. Are these "young" guys still learning how to spend their huge friggen pay checks too?? I doubt it.
People should demand a refund from yesterdays game.
I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of excuses. Play the damn game. Show up. Or those huge crowds will dwindle. And You'll just be another forgotten hawks team. On a franchise with a long list of miserable seasons or playoff disasters.
Reading some of the comments, thinking about this team, it suddenly came to me. Like an epiphany. It's not that this team doesn't have enough skill, they do. Teams out there would love to have guys like Sharpy, Kaner, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Versteeg, Havlat, Bolland, Bulin......hell you can go right down the list. You know what this team lacks? .......a chip on it's shoulder. Thats right. Sure they want to win, they like winning, but they don't wanna win at all cost. Their to comfortable with losing, losing big games like the one last night. I was listening to Sharp on the post game show last night. He was talking about the game like it was just a walk in the park, no big deal, didn't appear upset the team just lost a HUGE friggen game. And thats the prevailing attitude this team has. Great teams, teams that win consistently hate the thought of losing, it's poison to their system. Great teams will do what ever it takes in a game to make sure that doesn't happen. These hawks are no where near that frame of mind. In no way, shape or form, have that attitude. It's about being a winner. I'm out.
Part of the solution would be adding the sandpaper and grit players, like Beach. Dropping Bufuglien, insisting Ladd finish his checks would also help. Hungry players like Skille, too. Would love to find room somehow for the power forward Aliu and the skill & speed of Sweat on a third line when they are ready, not as early birds for an audition -- so called cup of coffee. But you're dead on right, we need another Johny B Goode (aka Toewes). Toewes is a tad young to be running roughshod and maybe a veteran would be a good add. The "right" veteran, that is. Whom makes the other team pay the price for a vicious hit against one of our players. Who is a heart and soul guy, but please, can't be a dearth of talent, like Burrish.
Whom that might be, I would research it sometime ...but look at the f/a list and maybe consider trade or f/a sign before the official f/a period opens July 1. Of course, whom do you lopp off the roster due to salary cap restrictions? It's a tricky situation to navigate for Tallon and cohorts, if that includes the Bowman's and Dudley (even McDonough?). I know St Bowman has been the team's salary guru the past three years. I think Stan B may have some ideas about what could be done...there's this 5%% of players contract thing that has yet to be used by NHL teams...I'm unclear exactly what this is about, is it something to do with escalating contracts, or some other thing..I'll find out and report back, but whatever it is, this isn't much of a factor in manipulating the salary cap.
Unfortunately there is no time to correct the problems of a poor power play and offensive players not playing defense. We just need to suck it up as fans and realize they have taken a huge step, a learning step. While I would love to the see the Hawks win the first round I think a 4-0 defeat would force management to make some tough roster decisions.
This team will look very different next year.
I still stand by my comment that Hawks will exit the first round 4 games to 1 and on the golf course the next day, if it doesn't snow anymore!
That is not to say this season has been successful in some areas - they are entertaining to watch on some nights. There have been competitive (on the whole) and the crowds are back. It's a young team who will improve in the years to come.
But I've been pretty clear: this team isn't going past the first round. Unless they get Calgary, where I totally agree with Tim. But then they get crushed in the second round. They can't get past Vancouver or Detroit.
Huge improvement this season, but the focus has to be on future seasons. And that concerns me, because it seems like not just the majority of fans, but the Hawks' management has lost sight of that.
I hate to admit this, but I've done some marketing work with the Detroit Red Wings and there is no question who is calling the shots in that organization— and that is Ken Holland and the hockey people. Not the marketing people.
As for the Hawks, last night also made me realize they need to get Niemi signed this off-season. Although he's RFA, someone could take a run at him. There's no way of knowing whether he'll become a Luongo/Brodeur type goalie, but there are some who feel he at least has the potential to be a special netminder. Great goaltending makes a huge difference at this time of year. Khabibulin is above average and he's gone anyway. And I think we all know Huet is not elite either.
Good points, jacukel. Like you said, too much short-sightedness by the management and the majority of fans (just look at some of the posts on these blogs). It's been pointed out Campbell and Huet were the best available FAs at their positions this past off-season, therefore commanding big money because of that fact. Now, a good GM looks at those two and says do we really need to pay a PP / offensive specialist with defensive liabilities and a goalie who's had a few good years those salaries in this age of the salary cap. Those GMs said no way, with the cap you can't pay those salaries to guys over-priced because of that off-season's limited talent market. Maybe wait and see what else could be available (San Jose dealing for Boyle), but don't do anything stupid that may torpedo your chances when you really are a Cup contender. However, a GM fighting for his job backed by a marketing guy trying to build on momentum created after years of apathy takes the short-term approach and decides these guys will help us make the playoffs this season, and we'll figure out the rest later. Since the majority of fans also only worry about the current season, everyone's happy, games are sold out and there's a buzz around the team that was missing for years.
The problem with that is if this team does get bounced out in the first or even the second round of the playoffs, what about next year, when everyone expects them to take the next step? Can they fix the cap problem they may face, which will allow them to sign their own RFAs (Bolland, Versteeg, Brouwer, Niemi) next year and work on signing extensions for the UFAs in the next couple of seasons, along with filling the holes they have (#2 center, physical scoring forward, nasty d-man, another goalie if Huet is what he appears to be and Crawford/Niemi aren't the answer)? That doesn't even factor in whether Havlat gets re-signed.
That short-sighted approach gets you nowhere. It may get you to the playoffs and sell some hope, but it doesn't end with a championship. Want an example close to home? The good old lovable Cubbies. During the end of McDonough's tenure there, they sign big-money FAs and extensions that were back-loaded, trying to win a World Series before the team is sold and everyone trying to potentially salvage a job with the new regime. Then they wet the bed two years in a row in the playoffs, and gulp, if they don't win it this year, and all those back-loaded contracts kick in with the economy in the toilet and new ownership taking over, what happens next?
Hey, we'll see playoff hockey in this town this year, which is great, no doubt. But they're not winning a Cup this year. So if not this year, when? Are people just happy to see their team make the playoffs, win a round or two, and be entertained? There's a lot of those types of fans. But if you want to see a Cup raised here and not have to wait another 40+ years, you have to be worried about the approach that was taken this past off-season.
I have mentioned this predicament with Huet, and it applies to Campbell as well -- unless someone can be put with Campbell and this pair is able to overcome Campbell's shortcoming. There is no reason why Campbell can't sometimes skate all over the place, but he needs to be aware when is the correct time, and his partner on defense as well as one forward has to be responsible to cover if Campbell goes deep into the offensive zone. Sort of like how players cover for each other in some other system's, maybe the LW lock is an example of coverage when players rotate?
Anyway, we really need to sign Niemi and Markov and to draft well. I'm so glad you also feel we need a #2 center. Bolland is fine as a #3 center, but how good is he as a #2 without Havlat? In fact, if you kep Pahlsson, how does Bolland figure in? Do you win with Bolland as your #2 center? Make no mistake, I like Bolland a lot. Maybe not a shut down, but a pesky #3 center who can provide some scoring and can help his linemattes score, too. It is going to be interesting if McDonough has any influence in the off season moves. Someone is going to have to point out the position we are in with some salaries (we know what players contracts are burdensome -- Huet, Sopel). Bufuglien must be given much attention as a third line forward, or dealt.
Lastly, McDonough was all about filling the seats in Wrigley and all the better if the team advanced in the playoffs. McDonough has maybe different priorities than others -- dare I say Tallon, the fans? But whom bends Rocky's ear the most? The Blackhawks cannot go out and sign big free agent players NOW like the Cubs did near the end of McDonough stay on the north side. The Jacukel post also raised some good points.
hockeypuck, I agree that Bolland is a solid #3 on a Cup contender. He's perfect for that role. He is a restricted free agent, and I'm sure his agent is waving the Byfuglien contract in Tallon's face when they've talked extension. That's going to be a problem. Speaking of Byfuglien, can you pay a now 4th line and what appears to be at best a 3rd line guy that salary? Maybe they can find a team that was as enamored with his potential as Tallon was to unload him on. Unfortunately, with his play this year, unless you can work a deal with idiot management like the goofs down in Tampa, everyone sees what Byfuglien is.
McDonough's not a hockey guy, just like he wasn't a baseball guy. He's a marketing guy, and a brilliant one at that. He was hired to make money for Rocky, nothing more. If a Cup is won here, great, but if not as long as the place is packed and the majority of fans are happy, he's done his job. If Bettman was smart, he'd snatch him from the Hawks and put him in charge of marketing for the league. The way the league is marketed now is similar to the backwards thinking ways of the old Hawks regime. If he could convince millions of people that next year is the year for the Cubs and get them to pour their money into a franchise that incredibly hasn't won a championship in 101 years, imagine what he could do with a league that is a distant fourth now in terms of popularity.
If it is a bad match-up it will be due to Luongo. When healthy and on his game he has proven to be one tough hombre to beat. But so have a few of the other goaltenders in the Western Conference, including Bulin, so who knows for sure.To me the first playoff series will be completely unpredictable no matter who the Hawks play. The Hawks have been a bit streaky this year (no surprise with such a young team) and have shown that when they're going good they can beat anyone and when they're going bad they can lose to anyone. Which team will show up on April 14th or 15th is what I can't wait to see.
For sheer entertainment value I've wanted to see a Hawks/Blues first round match-up for a while. Two young teams with a nice long term rivalry in place always makes things interesting. But I don't see that happening based on current points and remaining schedule. The main thing for the Hawks is not to drop into seventh because then they're liable to see Detroit in round one. That is not a first round match-up that I want to see.
In any case, barring injuries Buff and Burish won't be seeing too much ice time in the playoffs so it isn't likely that we'll see their penalty act from last night repeated.
Calgary's team GF & GA is relatively close to Vancouver's, although with the late season acquisition of Jokinen Calgary's offense is especially potent. Kiprusoff is a prime candidate to wear down after playing the marathon role during the regular season, but he may be fresh enough still for the first round. What remains fresh in the mind of master motivator, Mike Keenan, and his players is that we swept their team this year. They will be on a mission to get ahead in the series. How well does this young Chicago team fight back against a Calgary team with difference makers like Inginla and Phaneuf? Still, overall I fear Luongo and the team defense of Vancouver more than Calgary's team.
Looking ahead to the playoffs can de dangerous if we take the regular season games too lightly. Each game remaining needs to be played as if it were a playoff tilt, meaning a strong effort the entire game. We cannot let up against anyone just because we are ahead of them in the standings, or if they may rest some star players (Detroit).
Don't discard the Blues as a team we can beat in crunch time! I am fearful that the Blues defense is less turnover prone, and, overall, can be more steady than the Blackhawks blueline crew. To suit up Walker plus Campbell is begging for defensive breakdowns to occur. Lately we have seen A.Johnson make some nice plays each game; however, I don't believe his plus/minus rating is truly an accurate reflection of how good a player he has been this season. Nonetheless, A Johnson needs to be in the lineup because he is a good player, just not a top pair guy. The best lineup for winning would be Johnson over Walker since you minimize mistakes/turnovers. We loose some toughness/fighting but I can live with that in a playoff battle. Ideally the powerplay would make the Blues pay if St Louis actually did receive additional time in the sin bin for rough-house play. In short, the Blues team is a tough opponent this week as well as for anyone else should St Louis be a playoff seed.
I am quite frankly scared of the Hawks having to face Luongo in the first round. I am ashamed to admit it, but I actually was hoping that he would be carted off to the dressing room after Bufyglien punched him in the head. Not sure why Buf made that move, because he was looking up and away and I truly don't believe he intended to punch Roberto.
Good point about Burish though, Tim. I just wish they would let the guy actually fight someone once in a blue moon, the refs seem to make it a priority to grab him and pull him away from any potential altercation long before he annoys the opposition enough to get one of them to drop the gloves. If he is going to start that stuff he better intend to finish it. But again, the refs are prohibiting him from fighting. Wierd, but it happens every time.
>Havlat had just come on the ice during the second half of the 5 on 4 PP in period one when game was 1-0
>Havlat drew the penalty to create the 5 on 3 -- and -- the Coaches bench him -- even though Havlat was only on the ice a few seconds -- putting out the other unit who hadn't done anything for the first 1:20 of the 5 on 4 and didn't do squat during the 5 on 3 -- same coaches had Havlat on the bench during an empty-net 6 on 3 PP a week or so ago
>Time to look at everything about the Power Play -- cause it's not working -- including the coaching, player combinations, and philosophy
>Might wind up being a loss that much good can come from -- young Hawks learn now --before the playoffs -- how to correct poor team play
>This team goes as far as its Power Play takes it