Strong words from Keith
It was a bad night for the Blackhawks on Monday - maybe the low point of the season.
In a game the 11th-place Hawks themselves knew was critical, only a few of them came to play in a 3-1 loss to the Flames.
Frustrations are boiling over everywhere. Fed up fans lit up the chat rooms and Twitter with trade suggestions for general manager Stan Bowman, but the loudest voice came from Calgary where Hawks all-star defenseman Duncan Keith let it rip following the loss when asked by ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers about the power play going 0-for-4.
"(Bleep) the power play," Keith told ESPN. "Nobody goes to the net to score goals. That's why we don't win. The other team had power plays too. They didn't score."
Wow.
Keith could be talking about any of his teammates who play forward, with the exception of Jonathan Toews. There are plenty of candidates.
This from Keith goes back to the point many of us have been making all season: The Hawks are too soft and don't have enough players who play with an edge. The sandpaper guys who played with jam a year ago are all gone, and they haven't been replaced.
Tomas Kopecky, Jack Skille, Viktor Stalberg, Jake Dowell, Fernando Pisani and even Bryan Bickell have been given chance after chance and haven't been physical enough or consistent enough with their offensive contributions.
The trade deadline is three weeks from Monday, but Bowman might need to do something sooner than later to shake up his roster.
We’re not talking about a blockbuster, because that’s simply not going to happen. But adding the right one or two pieces could be the jolt this reeling team needs, whether it’s a depth defenseman or a top-nine veteran forward who plays with some jam.
Bowman is on the clock because time is slipping away.
If who gets the best player means you won the trade, the hawks came out on top with Frolik, who still can be a big center and that may be the guy who gives them vesatility to move Sharpie around also.
Now Kaner must find a new late night pal.
I guess the rumors JJ heard about Skille being called out by 28 were completely true.
This and Steve from Chicagos Turco signing a week before it was announced make two that were sprung here first.
Frolik will have very chance to play with quicker skilled guys around him. Dave Pacan is a very nice long term forward prospect back to Dale, and a young goaler comes our way too? Salak, 24, currently leads all netminders in the Swedish Elite League with a .925 save percentage and six shutouts, and ranks sixth with a 2.04 GAA in 41 tilts with Farjestad and tallon has no room for both Salak and his Swedish goalie of the future, Jacob Markstrom
Nice.
I am sure they would like a 3rd pair defender who is a combo of bite and skill with low Cap hits but they aren't in available quanities.
Frolik is only 22 years old makes 1.3 mil and is gonna be given every opportunity to be a top six guy at centre and his 29 points may underwhelm you all, but he wasn't playing with the talent he just joined. He is an RFA after this seaosn so a lot rides on his fit. If he does, they can contorl his cap hit.
If Frolik can't be ignited with fellow Czech-Slovaks Kopecky and Hossa to light his fire, just how much did the hawks give to find out? Jack Skille who Tallon picked over Anze Kopitar.
So for this to be a move to HELP Tallon get in the playoff, it is by adding Jack Skille and Huge Specimen form Rockford? Or is Pacan being elevated from the OHA and the trio is gonna lead them to the playoff.
It looks like Tallon is trying to move backward to ensure he get one of that first tier of 2011 of four
prospects (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins,Gabriel Landeskog,Adam Larsson,Sean Couturier),not a playoff spot.
I got carried away with the "so it begins" comment. Was just happy that something was done and it doesn't appear to be any sort of "panic" trade. I agree with all you have to say above. Im just glad something was done to shake things up. Breaking the trade down - its seems to fit nicely. Hossa and Kopecky need something to get them going. This can't hurt. Reading "so it begins" over again, makes it sound like its time to blow this thing up. That's the last thing that needs to be done in my opinion. I think this team can find a groove and make things happen.
BTW - how refreshing is it to see the Kane-Toews-Sharp line cycling and keeping it in the zone for almost a minute at a time last night. It's still there, just needs to be let out.
Heard on versus - hawks trade skille to Florida
so it begins...
YES! 'Hasno' is gone!
What kills us this year is that we have no real 4th line and the 3rd line isn't much either. Wouldn't Colin Fraser look good about now put him together with Jake Dowell and move Kopecky back where he belongs and you have a checking line that could score on occasion. The 3rd line is also sad Bolland has been inconsistant and Bickell is such a huge disappointment. I continue to hear rumors about moving Brent Seabrook but he is are only defenseman that throws a check. If we could move a defenseman it should be Campbell and that albatros of a contract that he has, I know he has been playing well but we have offensive guys at Rockford (Lalonde and Connelly). One other thing I would like to see is an interview with Stan Bowman at the beginning of the season he was all over the TV but since then poor Q has been left to handle all the PR with this squad. My last point is we need Hossa to score not be a defensive forward!!
the biggest issue I have with the 4th line is that none of them can/or are relied on to kill penalties. Dowell can do it, but would prefer one of the other two knuckleheads to be capable of it. Skille is no gone, traded as of 10 minutes ago. Last year, basically everyone but eager could take some PK minutes. Those are the guys we want diving in front of pucks, not toews and hossa. Tires out the skill forwards too. Not to mention the 3rd D pairing not helping in that regard either...
Anyone who follows the prospects a little bit realizes the anti Beach rhetoric. I just say this: have you seen him play the past 20 or so games? Is he worse than the current 4th line guys? Beach has skill, is smart, and will compete. You are carried away at his lack of maturity/unchecked anger management which has been a sore mark on his dossier. Yes, yes, Hodgson,Boychuk, Myers all playing NHL presently were taken near the Beach pick. But my gosh if you saw him play, you'd exclaim, "we need someone like this!"
Brad post: Dowell was shifted to RW often at Rockford last season. His energy and character would be a good fit for 4th line RW. I would suggest we sit Bickel out, in order to motivate him. What should happen is: Q wants/demands out of him to stay in the lineup.
I am in the camp of consideration to move one of the supposed core players. I want hungry, young players who can be molded. A hungry team competes better. AND, some teams have players out with inj (example penguins: Crosby, Malkin) while we have players who are playing hurt and playing like crap (Hossa). Another skater playing like crap is Keith; is he so worn out,or is there some other things we don't know?. Is worn out, as in mentally? If that is the prognosis, can he be rested? Listen, B Hull had his off ice life but he managed to be a force on ice despite off ice life. I have to wonder if the off ice life of a Keith, Kane is taking a toll insofar as on ice performance? Someone knows what is going on with Keith, yet apparently you still go with him.....because what alternative is better?
Morin has "an upper body inj" according to the Icehogs, and no further information available. He had a bum shoulder and I think a minor concussion during the World Juniors, then played only a few games back at Rockford. He hasn't played in at least 2-3 weeks.
Kane is a major headache. We just have to get more out of the former #1 overall choice. I don't see it happening soon. Maybe next season, when healthy, if he is challenged repeatedly by Q. But Q cannot worry about McDonough's concern over usage of one of his golden boys in the marketing scheme. Personally I would love to see a Morin develop. We cannot depend upon Kane to lift us like a Stamkos in Tampa! Anyone want to ask Kane, why can't you produce like Stamkos?
Beach is much worse (Yes, even worse than Stalberg).
He's talented, but he's not smart: he's dumb, dumb, dumb.
And selfish.
And can't skate.
He's fine in Rockford until he can get his footwork up to speed and his head on straight.
I'm more interested--and concerned--about Morin. He's a gamer that will be ready to make an impact next year.
Kane and Stamkos are opposite kinds of players so they will never produce the same things. Stamkos has about the quickest release I have ever seen and is a pure goal scorer, while Kane has almost Mikita like vision and playmaking ability. If they ever played together it wouldn't be fair for the rest of the league.
If you watch Rockford, how are Olimb and Beach getting along? If I was Olimb, Beach would have to sleep with his eyes open after last prospects camp.
I'd move Kane if they got the right offer. The long and the short of it is that one of the six million dollar men have to go because of the cap. I would think they would be able to get 2 or 3 players back who could contribute. Think about this Kane's salary is just about equal to the combined salaries of Buff-Ladd and Sopel. Would you make that trade if you could and more to the point maybe Bowman should have considered keeping those three and moving Kane instead whose trade value was probably higher after coming of the Cup run than it will be now. i wouldn't move Toews,Keith and Sharp and Hossa and Campbells contracts are almost untradeable. That leaves Kane and if they don't move one of the guys making 6mil+ how will they ever get the cap back in line?
Wouldn't it be nice right about to have a hard nosed Rt Winger, about now.............yeah I'm talking about Rene Bourque.............even Savvy said at one point.........."this kid is going to be special".................He can skate, he can be physical, he's got size and he can shoot ...........whats not to love..............oh yeah; he was traded too.
His last years here in Chicago, he was injured a majority of that time. I could see him at rt wing with Toews and Kane............anything at this point would be an improvement over Brauer..........
Keith is right though players need to go the net and looking for some lucky bounce like Buff did last year, Brouwer is doing that now but Hawks need to gang up infront of the net more.
Any chance of Hossa ending up in a King's jersey soon? They wanted Kovalchuck, why not Hossa? He's a great player, but the cap flexibility he brings might be useful.
One big problem that has set this team back is lack of productivity from the blueline. It seems that Q has them sitting back and not pinching as much as the past couple of years. Everyone's numbers are way down. Yes, I know Campbell is having a career +/- year, but let's face it the Hawks are paying him to at least contribute 10 or more goals and a whole lot of assists.
What is Mike Kitchen's role anyway ? Let's face it, the coaching staff needs to take a little accountability also for this year.
I agree with you, but I almost think it's less about how often they pinch and more about actually getting shots through and on goal. So many blocked shots, shots wide, etc...
Take into account that the Hawks aren't on the attack as often, so the forwards aren't able to send the pass "low - high" for a shot as often. Just seems like they aren't finding a lane to put the puck on net before they shoot. When was the last time a D man actually moved latterally along the blueline before they shot?
More offense from the D would go a long way.
i agree, i see that too. The defense doesn't pinch as much and always seem to back peddle. Is this because of the depth up front or tired d-men? or Because we don't have that solid #5dman.
Coaching has something to do with it.
Also, how good are the core guys and how good was this team last year? I thought the 2008-09 was better. the Hawks did get lucky as they played Vancouver and SJ in the playoffs. They are good teams, but the Hawks matchup well against them. Then they draw the #8 seed Flyers in the cup. Hawks got lucky they didn't have to face the wings. It would have been interesting.
They aren't pinching as much because they are wiped out. Keith is toast. Campbell has been playing great, but you can't have the top 4 D men playing 26-30 minutes a game and trying to pinch all season. When they do pinch, it seems that they ALWAYS get caught and the puck ends up behind Turco or CC. Other than the 3rd line, why pinch? They dump it in and the other team gets it. Who's going hard into the corners? Kane? Hah! Hossa? Sharp? Kopecky tries but that doesn't usually work. Brouwer - more often lately, but definitely not for the first 45 games. The hawks played a much better puck possession game last year and in 2009. This year, they just look lost most of the time and uninterested. I don't think that the Hawks should go crazy and start selling just because of 1 season, but they do need to look in the mirror and decide who really wants to play next year. It may be better in the long run to shop a few "core" guys like Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Seabrook, Hjammer. The Cap is killing this team. Hossa is probably untouchable because of the cap as is Campbell, but I think Campbell has been one of the best hawks out there.
When the guy wearing Keith's jersey gives it back to the real Duncan Keith then I will take him at his word. Keith has been AWFUL all season. Too bad that his give aways for goals this season don't count as assists, he would lead the team in points. Better hockey starts with him. Hey Dunc, while you are pointing fingers maybe you should try not to give up those shin padk break aways off your shot from the point. How about working on your game, this year there is enough to keep you busy.
YOu wonder if Keith thinks he is playing well or not?
I acknowledge there are legitimate reasons for the Hawks not to be what we all wish they were this season. But I can not understand why the management or owners are willing to put the original six team in the same category as Carolina Hurricanes, team not making the playoffs after winning the Cup.
My pride as a Blackhawks fan would be tarnished forever. Hawks should not mortgage the future just to make the post season but in my humble opinion not making it would be the lowest of the low for Stanley Cup Champions.
The Blues, Sharks, and Bluejackets all won tonight! Only 2 points seperate the Hawks, Blues, Bluejackets and Aves. Niemi with back to back shutouts.
The Hawks better get the train back on the tracks...QUICKLY!! A bad end to this road trip and they may find themselves at the bottom ahead of the Oilers...essentially DONE. And then look out...all hell might brake loose with this team.
All the wheels of the bus haven't flown off yet but #2 voicing massive frustration has to be wheel one.
Many of us felt this would be a transitional year on the ice and that has turned out to be the case. And with most of the core never being involved in so much losing there are going to be challenges in simply staying positive. Keith hates losing so much he wants to hurt somebody at this point. Toews may shish-ka-bob someone before this season ends. At the last home game I saw up close that Kane knew it was a huge game and did what he could to win it. These guys demand better. But......
Eventually talent creeps into results. And right now there is just too much drop off in talent from the top 5-6 guys to the next 5-6. From there the drop is even steeper.
This team may still make the playoffs but they are a long way from challenging for the Cup. Even with the losing all is not lost however as we have learned some stuff that could be important in future years. For example, it appears that Crawford can play in this league. We have found out that Leddy has some skill and that Bickell has a pretty good offensive upside once he figures one or two things out (and gets off the checking line). Jake Dowell is also a far more interesting player than what anyone thought coming in. None of these guys play with an edge that this team is missing, but that is fine as long as Junior eventually fills those holes from the outside.
A little short term and long term gain? I think so. Let's just hope that Toews doesn't get arrested for manslaughter before the train gets back on the track. Man, does he despise losing. And there's not a damn thing wrong with that.
Let's not blame the second tier guys, the fact is none of the Hawks top stars have played consistently all year. Toews, Kane, Hossa and Keith et al are paid good money not to just play hard but to produce.
Furthermore, the true test of a team's character is how it responds when it isn't scoring, and the Hawks just don't have the heart to play 60 minutes of defense this year.
Unfortunately, I don't know that the future looks quite as bright as you make it out to be.
To contend in the NHL ,you have to have 12 forwards, 6 d-men and 2 goalies that can compete in the NHL night after night.
That means when some guys are not producing the others pick them up.
That was the case with the Blackhawks of 2008-09 and 2009-10.
When the top guys were not putting the puck in the net, lines 3 and 4 did. When the top d-men were having tough nights, d-men 5 and 6 stepped up their game.
This year it is a TOTALLY different story as with the excpetion of Dave Bolland, there is NOBODY on lines 3 and 4 to pick up the scoring when the top guys are not scoring.
Not to mention, Pisani is the only one of these guys that can kill a penalty (the others sit on the bench), and he is not that good at it. (Do not the Hawks rank 25th in PK this year?)
There is also no #5 d-man that can contribute to the PK to give the top 4 d-men a rest once in a while.
If you think that 7 forwards, 4 d-men, and only one goalie can carry the load over 82 games, you do not know the NHL game.
Word on the street the Blackhawks are going to reissue the Stanley Cup DVD (with never before seen video of management flipping coins to decide players for the 2010-11 team). Additionally, a 3rd printing of the Stanley Cup book is underway. On sale now ads will begin playing after every period for the remainder of the season. Act now and get a free 1985 Bears DVD of the Super Bowl Shuffle.
One third lack of talent + One third lack of heart + One third lack of management commitment to improve the product = 100% disappointment.
....Salary Cap Hell, courtesy the NHL and its support of ridiculous over-expansion of teams.
There's been no lack of management commitment to improve the product. Get serious please. The Hawks were stripped of critical players and are handcuffed in what they can do to fix current crisis points because of Gary Bettman's bloody damned salary cap that makes sure hockey can be "viable" in friggin God forsaken non-hockey places like Atlanta and Phoenix.
You're spot on...and it's a DAMN TRAGEDY that last year's team wasn't allowed to stay together for another 2-4 years...WHO KNOWS how many Cups they would have won...and obviously, WE NEVER WILL. FOOK U BUTTMAN.
Remember, Bill Wirtz was a big factor and proponent of the current cap rules currently in place, so the Hawks are still not rid of his ridiculous legacy.
the Kopecky/Hossa connection. Why they have to be on the same line together I don't get. I have yet to see any chemistry or magic with them. I agree you don't want to make the mistake of giving Kopecky a UFA raise. He is a descent player...3rd line wing at best who has no finesse or feel for the puck in close. I can count at least 4-5 golden chances he has had in close and got nothing!!
Hossa has one of the quickest shots in the league but it is always low...another 1-2 feet of elevation and he may have pocketed 4-6 more goals.
Once the Hawks get past this year they should compete and win more cups. Detroit should begin falling off as will the Sharks. Luongo is having a career year but the Hawks play this team well. Nobody else in the west looks to be a budding dynamo. The Preds will get 95 plus a year but not enough talent or offense to get it done in the playoffs.
At the beginning of the year I predicted this would be a 90 point team...that now looks to be optimistic!!
Could it be that he is still hurting (a given, I think) and can't lift the puck? If it's his shoulder still, maybe he can't throw his arms up to get air under the puck.
Great post about the mystery marriage between Hoss and Kopy. They signed together, were intro'd together, always seem to play together? I know they're countrymen but WTF? Good point too about Kopy's inefficiency in tight...the chances he gets are QUALITY, QUALITY chances and yet he has very little to show...
BUT...
Kopy is the ONE FRIGGIN' GUY on this team that plays with HEART AND BALLS EVERY NIGHT. He takes the odd DUMB penalty overreacting to stuff..but at least he stands up for himself. I wish we could clone those qualities for every mummy on this team.
I like Bickell and believe in him but he plays like a BLOCKHEAD. No physicality, no urgency to use his BIG TIME SHOT....he's got an A + wrister and an A slapper (does anyone remember the goal he scored in Edmonton?).
The 5th and 6th D spots have been a nightmare all year...Cullimore, Leddy, Hendry, Boynton....all the personification of inconsistency but i know Leddy is a rook so i'll cut him some slack. It doesn't help when you're top pair 2 and 7 have often been a MESS too. I expected A LOT MORE OF THEM. DAMN.
It's highly unlikely Beach is ready and don't count on him to win fights...he's not a good fighter. At best, he'd be a 4th line energy guy but he doesn't look hungry enough to me...based on what i saw in the pre-season and in limited games down on the Rock.
Crap times for the Tomahawk.
Good luck.
Hossa - will we get saddled with Hossa's contract like we did Huets? Or is this just an Hossa playing at 60% and will he regain his form? and when will he regain his form. What is funny, Havlat got blasted for being injured all the time and playing for contract. Does this look familiar. I am not complaining about Hossa, but i am ripping into the bloggers that constantly complained about Havlat. During the 2008-2009 season, Havlat was awesome and was a joy to watch.
But about the future, It all depends on how SB handles the contracts, the prospects and the core players. Right now, i have no faith in him. Which doesn't look good for the Hawks future.
An observation, you are not going to win a SC with too many rookies on the team, you need a good blend.
Another observation, you can't have too many high priced players. Thus not enough money for the 3 and 4 th line guys.
Another observation, you need 5 solid defensemen.
Another observation, you need some centers to win face-offs.
But you're right about Havlat. There were a few bloggers that defended Havlat at the time and continue to do so.
We know from recent memory Havlat has no problem picking a corner. He had great chemistry with Bolland as well.
Oh, well. What can you do?
At the time, Hossa looked like the better player for around the same money.
Hossa has to be hurt, but he can't be hurt forever, right?
I'm hoping there's some story left to be written on Hoss. The guy we saw during the first few games of the season should return at some point; hopefully, sooner than later.
If you are limited, or flat out suck, at hockey...why don't you just go to the front of the net? Thats where something good will happen. I just don't get it. Try and give the puck to someone who can actually handle it, make a cut to the net, and stand there. Don't pass through the crease. Freaking STAND THERE. Not off to the side. Right in front. Skille, Bickel, Stahlberg, someone please! Kopecky thinks he knows how to do it, but he sucks at it. Too often he is off to the side. Who cares if the shot hits you in front, since Barker left last year, how many "rockets" from the point have found the back of the net without a TON of traffic in front. ummmm...yeah
Bickel needs to quit with the drag moves and crap. He needs to put his shoulder down and drive to the net once in a while if he wants to get some room to release that rocket. Obviously Brouwer got the message when he replaced Hossa on the 1st PP unit. All he did was stand in front which I loved. However, they failed to really control the puck and get any shots off to see if it would work.
Hossa needs a new stick, he must have a right handed curve on it or something because his shot blows.
It is 1000 times easier said than done to set up in front of the net. The scrum in front of the net is very physical...and intimidating. The best net presence guys are the quick slashers built like linebackers....Big Buff was classic example once he knew what he was doing and it dawned on him that he could make a solid living being the net presence guy.
You want to sit in front of the net? Then be willing and able to withstand the Chris Prongers of the world putting a stick under the chin and using 230 pounds of hockey might to knock you on your keester. Plus the physical minded goalies around the league strike fear as well. Patrick Roy was the best all time in this regard. You plop yourself in front of the crease on Roy and he was going to surgically take off your head with his stick with nary a referee blowing a whistle.
This all said, net presence is huge. When Toews and Kopecky are the only two willing to do this work consistently then you know you have a problem. Toews should by no means be the guy doing this type of dirty work. Kopecky is willing, but nothing to write home about in this regard.
Al Smith (wasn't that his name) of the old Islanders was the best at that - just swinging his stick at anyone with an opposition jersey on who came within 10 feet of the crease.
Ron Hextall was a terror, and ol' Eddie the Eagle could make a guy pay as well.
Anyone notice how everytime the puck is along the boards, Hawk players continuously reach for it with one hand just trying to "poke" it along. WTF is that? Skate to it, take some contact, and come out with the puck. Poking at it tips it to nobody in particular and takes you out of the play as you have lost all momentum and are in no position to do anything. Most of these "sissy" plays by the way occur in the offensive zone which is maddening. Weak Sauce.
Remember Hull and Mikita talking about their cup win , they thought it would happen every year , but never did again .. One of the big reasons was that bad trade of Phil Esposito etc. I dont think we want to get into that type of thing just to make the playoffs
Oops. The Hawks didn't trade Esposito until the summer of 1967, and he wasn't even on the '61 Cup winning team. The team had the talent to win it all in most any of the years between those, but just wasn't consistent enough.
Getting to the Stanley Cup championship round is enormously hard to do under the best of circumstances. It's the most difficult achievement of any of the professional sport championships in fact. Not only do you need to be talented, but you need to play with an intensity and have lady luck by your side to achieve what the Hawks achieved last year. Now with the ungodly salary cap in place, the achievement is that much more difficult.
What the Hawks need to do is look at this thing objectively. My belief is that Bowman Jr and Sr, McDonough, Rocky and Q knew this was going to be a challenging season. And that the probable best to hope for was squeaking into the playoffs, but more importantly have focus over a longer term horizon. In regard to this later point, there is no denying the Hawks are positively poised for long term success. Bowman has done a nice job of stocking the system with promising developmental projects. Now the hard work really begins in terms of making personnel decisions with the head versus the heart.
Make no mistake...there is definite limit to what Seabrook should be offered by the Hawks. Given that, I think the odds of him leaving via free agency are strong. A bitter pill to swallow, but probably the right pill nonetheless in the sake of future playoff viability. Also, Patrick Sharp might want to rent as opposed to buy because I am of the opinion he definitely gets shopped next offseason. Blame Hossa for that nasty result more than anything, because Hossa and Sharp don't pair well. Hossa is immovable, period.
we got pit martin and gilles marotte and a goalie name jack norris , to the bruins kenny hodge, freddy stanfield, esposito all became stars for the bruins ,has to be the worst trade ever in any sport, i know you guys will mention lou brock but it ain't so.
Not only that, they decided to let Glenn Hall go in the expansion draft (and keep Denis DeJordy), and not to protect tough, solid defenseman Ed Van Impe. Could have used him knocking the Canadiens around in the 1971 series in place of a couple of the others that they iced.
Not that this year is over ( or is It ?) but the Hawks do not need to go for broke right now . No , we probably wont make the playoffs ,sad as it is . But in 2-3 years maybe we can do it all again . We do not really want to `just make the playoffs ` , we want to do damage when we are ready to win .. And , not only do we have our # 1 ,probably top 10 pick , we have Atlanta`s probably top 10 pick also . So that is 2 in the top 10 , not bad if junior can select talent on his own w/o Tallon
have Atlantas first round pick.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/news/story?id=5320715
Atlantas 2nd pick in the first round of last years draft which was the 24th overall which the blackhawks used to take Kevin Hayes. Then the Blackhawks trade their first round pick 30th overall to the Islanders for 2 second round picks.
for clearing that up for me. I've been getting my hopes up watching Atlanta fall apart, but now I hope they sneak into the playoffs. Seems like a quality organization that deserves to get in.