Toews, Seabrook not at practice

Cullimore? Did I miss something?

Probably not that brutal, actually.

And, for the record, Niemi is far from brutal.

Buff-Bolland-Kane
Sharp-Ebbett-Versteeg
Ladd-Madden-Brouwer
Kopecky-Fraser-Skille (or Bickell)

Keith-Hammer
Campbell-Barker
Sopel-Hendry

That's what I'd go with. Ranks are getting thin, so it'd be good if these guys came back soon.

Let's say Seabrooke or D Keith is out for ten or more games. If I'm Bowman I begin to wonder about sneaking into the playoffs. Bowman is not fooled by the immaturity/need for some players to develop ...as in consistent performance. Bolland has a bad back, his foolish penalties and questionable #2 status/reliability to produce, and Hossa isn't due back for at least one month (meaning Bolland and other lines are not going to be as good as they can be). I know teams have to weather the storms, but if I was in Bowman's shoes I'd want to solidify the second and third defense pairing and find a reliable goaltender. I would explore NOW the market value for Sharp and Versteeg. Not that I want to trade them, but whom instead do you trade -- Buff or a Ladd? Barker isn't going to bring us what we need, unless he is part of a package deal. Barker staying does mean he can contribute on the PP. Speaking of the PP, why is it each year our PP is horrible for such long stretches? Now we have players with net presence, so we need smart play from everyone on the PP unit. I suggest sitting players out on PP and even game -to -game if they aren't playing how Quenneville wants. Time to be tough, no more babysitting -- team must grow up/mature. Bowman and Quenneville must be firm and together to implement this. Too many kids on roster need to take the next step, and tough love is what will get them going in the correct direction.

Last year at this time, what a difference. We were debating Ladd, Buff, Brouwer's value and their consistent performance in the physicality department. Now I'd rather keep them because they will check, hit, and park in front of the net. We must have that to compete. Without that, it is a big blow to someone like Kane being able to post good numbers. In fact, Kane has to show more -- he has shown somewhat more in competing (not sure if much more defensive effort this year). It all adds up to this: If you think you can compete in the playoffs, you need to address your achilees heel -- and that is a solid, deep defense and a goaltender who will not let in weak (soft) goals. If you think Quenneville will have to challenge players to play as they should and all will be fine by playoff time, then, hopefully, we haven't squandered too many points BUT our achilees heel problem is still present . We don't have enough depth to withstand an injury on defense and the goaltending won't be good enough. Huet will not suffice similiar to Osgood for Detroit last year.

I suggest the Cullimore, Ebbet moves is insurance for injury and back ups should Bowman move a top player like a Sharp, Versteeg or for salary cap reasons, Sopel out, Cullimore in. And if Toewes doesn't come back 100%, making the playoffs is a challenge.

Did anyone really buy into the Hawk's "prognosis" from the Thursday med announcement? With the league mandated concussion protocol, we'll never know the medical truth about their time off until they suit up. How long has Eager been sidelined with no target return date? I love the way he plays and I feel for the guy, but man if he's scrambled again how many more can he get before he has to retire?

Can you imagine how brutal this team will be with the likes of Sopel, Hendry and Barker playing 20 minutes a game to fill in for the loss of Seabrook over any extended period of time? Our goaltending is brutal enough facing only 20 shots a game. Without Seabrook and his 25+ minutes of consistent end to end play this will mean more shots allowed for the other team.