Hossa way down list of center options
If Andrew Ebbett can’t cut it at center on a consistent basis in the absence of the injured Dave Bolland, there’s always Marian Hossa, right?
Well, sort of.
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has tinkered with the idea using Hossa at center, although the plan right now it so play Hossa at his customary right wing when he returns from shoulder surgery within the next two weeks.
“We want him playing first and let him get comfortable with his game,” Quenneville said Friday morning. “We’ll see if that’s even an option. On a need basis, maybe that’s something you entertain later on, but that’s not in the foreseeable suture.”
Quenneville has a lot of options before using Hossa at center in Ebbett, Kris Versteeg, Patrick Sharp and Tomas Kopecky.
Ebbett is getting his big chance, centering the second line for Versteeg and Patrick Kane. He might not have too much longer to prove he deserves to stay in the lineup with Hossa’s return on the horizon. Ebbett had 1 goal and no assists in 11 games going into Friday night’s clash with the Maple Leafs.
Quenneville was asked what he needed to see from Ebbett to keep that job on the second line.
“I don’t want to say necessarily production,” Quenneville said. “I just think being consistent and filling that spot. It’s a great opportunity there to play with those guys. We’ll see how he handles it, but there’s a lot of options to go in there if things are just OK.”
Here were the forward lines from Friday’s morning skate:
Sharp – Toews – Byfuglien
Versteeg – Ebbett – Kane
Ladd – Madden – Brouwer
Eager – Fraser – Kopecky
Friday’s game sets up well for the Hawks to make it six wins in a row at the United Center.
Toronto will start Vesa Toskala in goal instead of Jonas Gustavsson and be without physical defenseman Mike Komisarek (torn quad).
Toskala is 0-2-2 with a 5.13 goals-against average and .836 save percentage.
The Hawks don't need to make a move to get a center. They have options and will be even better once Bolland, Hossa and Burish can get playing. That might not be until the end of the year, but that's when it matters.
No matter how one slices and dices it, Hossa and Kane have got to be on a line together in some way, shape or form.
and Hossa does move well from the other side, but I think in 5 on 5, they present more problems one shift after another if they are separated.
Both are best at RW. Kane's gonna generate offense no matter who he's with. So will Hossa. The only times they should be together is on the PP. then absolutely.
I know video games and fantasy sports have a big effect on everyone's mentality, but in my experience if a team is playing well you don't eff with it. Unlike three years ago, we can get away with Kopecky, Fraser, and Ebbett's play because they aren't liabilities. Let's not forget, we have the top penalty-kill, second best on faceoffs, 8th in fewest times shorthanded (only 8 more times than the #2 team) . . . meaning, we play a great team game. Making roster moves just to make them is not very bright.
The way this team moves in transition and is winning big face-offs, it doesn't look like centre ice is panic button need .
Certainly that might changes as they get on the road.
The thought of one less skilled wing to get a centre does not float for me either, until the deadline.
Steve from Chicago's proposed Stajan for Sharp trade in yesterday's addition:
There career points are even. The 'hawks save 1.9 on salary. Stajan is two years younger. Sharp has 23 more goals career wise.
But Stajan certainly hasn't shown enough to distinguish himself and frankly, to me, he looks slow to react and a step behind.
Sharp may not be scoring in bunches but looks like he is playing at the speed of the attack, and not generally out of it.
I think the need is a quality defender, but I just don't see them trading out of there present position of parent team roster strength to give another NHL a gift of a young promising offenseman or wing if the return player is NOT o high quality defensive abilities AND offensive acumen, and if the other team's player IS THIS, why are they trading him now?
Why the heck is a Sharp trade even up for discussion. What's wrong with Sharp? He's fast, he can shoot, he's a decent passer, and he's smart. If this is a salary cap thing, please forget about it and come up with something else.
I doubt there's any serious discussion to trade Sharp, except among us armchair GMs.
It's always good to remember that no NHL team is paying us for our hockey acumen. There's a reason for that.
I liked 82 much better with Versteeg and Kane last night, and Ebbett on the fourth line. But I think they could use another legit centreman.
>Also think Buff needs to play with Ladd who literally can show him how to play the game
(like last year)
>The game is usually controlled by the center (if they are good)
>Would Ottawa swap one $7 million dollar contract for another? (Spezza for Campbell)
>Ottawa is already at $56 million so if we added another player someone else would have to come back to the Hawks (Volchenkov for Versteeg or Bolland)
Sorry Jeb Jeb, i did not really finish what I was saying about Bolland. This year Ebbett has been better but of course Bolland was playing injured. But honestly Ebbett has not been that bad at all, the kid is flying, winning draws and yes coming back to the defensive zone to help out.
Not sure if any of you have noticed but coach Q has his forwards coming back to help way more then last year. Hence the limited shots on goal allowed. And Ebbett has been doing very well at that. This is why Q has put him up on the second line. You guys are way to harsh on him, his salary cap is very limited and cheaper the Skille's. We do not need a winger at the time we need a playmaking Centerman.
I've been pleasantly surprised with Ebbett, too. He plays way bigger than he is, and seems to be kind of a sparkplug out there. Like his willingness to get run over to make a play, unless some guys on this team.
Yes Bolland was pretty brutal this year due to injury, but still managed to put up some points.
Some guys just find the net and I don't think Ebbett is one of those guys. I hope I'm wrong as it would be great to find another 50 point player to replace Bolland w/o making a trade.
He's fitting in and doing his job with this team. I think he has two goals and although they were garbage he was in the right place at the right time. Give the guy a chance hes always skating hard
Not sure why you guys are so big on this guy Kopecky. You guys are ripping Ebbett. He is fairly new to the team, sure he is playing with good skaters but the fact is the Hawks have not been able to score up to late. Any of them! The effort is there and the finish is not for Ebbett, but the same goes for everyone on this team! Ebbett's work ethic is great and he is a better 2nd line Center then Bolland.
Hawks are doing just fine right now with a great defensive game. Sure everyone wants to see the team get better and they will.
Kopecky with Hossa because they are buddys? Not such a great reason to put them together. Quite a lame reason actually. If they are supposed to have such great chemistry why was he not playing on the same line with Detroit permanently last year?
If there has been anyone that is not impressive well it is Kopecky, he has moved all the way down to the 4th line now. He is not good on the PP, even strength he is average and he has no hands. Anyways just my opinion. Have a good one gents.
"Ebbett's work ethic is great and he is a better 2nd line Center then Bolland."
???????????????????
My thoughts exactly.
so who's playing well at center in Rockford that might be of assistance?
.....can be of much help. Sort of. Dowell runs around and hits, is aggressive, playing like he did on recall THIS year. He may or may not be an upgrade over Fraser. Some post people like certain aspects of Fraser's game; I would opt for dOWELL. tHE OTHER center to consider is Brophey. A high point man in junior, he has size, good skater, aggressive enough and Quenneville liked his skating and wanted to take a longer look at him in this year's camp. But he was inj and didn't play much in camp. Brophey has ben used also as a defensive center, and the organization would like to see him produce more points. Hard to do so when there isn't much talent -- not very deep -- among forwards in Rockford. Aliu is not a center, and he needs to be consistent even during each game. You know the line on Skille. Bois could come up and hit people. Klinkhammer is too slow and missed his chance a couple decades ago to be in Hogan's Heroes. Davis has scored some, but he has far to go. Has the scorer's mentality, not sure if he will produce over a full AHL campaign -- must stay inj free. The only bluechip prospects are Aliu, Markov, Beech, Lalonde (far off) and a host of good selections from the '09 draft. This Kruger has been great in Sweden, Olsen will be a good one (IMO) and others '09 draftees are progresing. Apparently Fallon has ben very good at Rockford lately, so maybe he doesn't switch with Richards in league they play (AHL to ECHL). I will be at the sat Icehogs game. Oh, Denis-Pepin rotates as defensceman sit out, but has (reportedly) played well. I liked what I saw of Carslsson, but he is behind on the depth chart due to a young defense at Rockford. Connelly looks good offensively, plays a lot, is a D Keith size and has obstacle to overcome to make NHL
if Dowell or ANYONE in Rockford was a smarter and better NHL alternative to Fraser, THEY WOULD BE HERE.
For all the faults we can heap on Fraser, he has overcome the odds, and progressed into the role of a 4th line NHL centre and his past experience (in junior, AHL and NHL play-offs) have only made him better.
You can chip at guys.
You can look for guys.
But when you actually find one that gets it, no matter his faults, you go with that guy....
and they have.
But he's not ready
(AKA, no one)
I thought I had heard at one point that Kopecky could play some center. If that's so, why are we wasting time with Ebbett who hasn't shown us anything yet. Ebbett is getting to play regularly with guys who are talented and are offensively skilled and yet his only goal was a fluke that nearly went in off of his head. Kopecky has some offensive upside and yet he's on the 4th line with a bunch of grinders night in and night out.
Also, what is Fraser providing that someone from Rockford couldn't provide. He can't fight, doesn't show alot of offensive upside, and is slow. Boy is this team missing Burish...
Doesn't make sense to me...
Haven't seen enough of #15? Slow, small, not physical, not a playmaker, etc. I would much rather see Skille or Bickle who at least have some opportunity as a future full timer.
Does Ebbett have pictures on Bowman or something? Is Bowman afraid to admit he made a mistake? Drop him and use some of our draft choices.
The simplest explanation is probably Ebbett's cap number. Any of the other options people are mentioning make more money, other than Dowell if the site I saw cap numbers on is correct.
As frustrating as it might be for fans when it comes to how to replace Bolland, remember it all comes back to the cap problem they have. That's why Bolland and Burish aren't on the long term IR (which would provide some cap relief), because the Hawks think they're coming back this year. If that's the case, any move they would make because of the cap room they'd free up by making them long term IR would be gone when they come back, and then they really could have a problem on their hands.
These cap issues don't just impact next year trying to sign Toews, Kane, and Keith. It hurts them this year while the try to make a cup run and deal with injuries or inconsistent play..
Q may say differently in public but the fact is that Ebbett has to produce some offense to justify being the center on the second line. No production - no second line.
Sharp was more than fine at center last year....actually the Hawks played some of their best regular season hockey with him at center. I'm already on record in multiple places that if I were Q you'd see a lot of Versteeg at center though. I have this feeling that if the coaching staff got committed to leaving him there no matter what like they did with Buff at wing last year that Versteeg might go nuts with some experience. His upside is unknown but it could be very high centering for Kane or a healthy Hossa the rest of the way.
But in the meantime we'll root for Ebbett and see what happens. Perhaps he'll prove his worth with a bit more time.
Haven't we seen enough of Ebbett? He is Colin Fraser without any physical upside. For the amount of ice time he is getting and the talent he has been paired with the production is brutal. I'd give Madden a shot but his line has been solid of late.
Do we have any cap relief for guys on the IR?
This guy scored some points when he was consistently playing with good linemates.
He's sort of bounced around from 4th line to 2nd and so on. Maybe he can get going if he gets a chance to stay with Kane and Versteeg for a bit. That being said, that line worries me a bit if they're out there against another team's top line. The Hawks 3 smallest forwards on one line.
Oh well I hope it works.
What about putting Kopecky at center on a line with Hossa when he comes back. They played together in Detroit so they are familiar with each others game.
I agree with you.. A lot was said about Kopecky being signed because he's Hossa' best friend.. They might have mad chemistry together.
I do not think Ebbett has it.
He could be a good 3rd or 4th liner where talent is sparse, but the Hawks are pretty deep.
If he dosn't jive on the 2nd line, he could be gone because he has already been on the 4th line and 3rd line.