Cheer the Anthem - Latest Comments

Re: No Hockey League

Nichole — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:12:35 -0000

I'm shocked that you're not taking a side. Sure, we're all sad and disappointed, but I was ready to read about your take on which side needs to give in here so the fans don't have to suffer.

Re: No Hockey League

KRE1 — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:07:57 -0000

While the focus was on the re-alignment debale, Tim C. nailed it with his many insights back on January 7th. His post was a harbinger of the sh*t show we face today.

Re: Blackhawks Add 8 During Eventful NHL Entry Draft

Timothy — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 13:10:05 -0000

I see your point. It's just very different for these talented European kids. No doubt Yaroslavl will dangle a juicy contract in front of him, more than he can make in the NHL his first 3 years. He may come to Prospect Camp, get his ass handed to him by one of our big defensemen, and then decide the KHL doesn't sound so bad. Over there he'll be a big fish; here, for now, he's just a minnow. It just depends on how motivated he is to play in the NHL.

That having been said, you're right about his size. If it turns out in Sept. 2013 he's 6' and 195, but has retained his mobility and skill, then we have a whole different ball ga-- err, puck... it's... Aww, screw it.

Re: Blackhawks Add 8 During Eventful NHL Entry Draft

Ammbc25 — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 12:47:39 -0000

Wouldn't*

Re: Blackhawks Add 8 During Eventful NHL Entry Draft

Ammbc25 — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 12:45:18 -0000

I hear you on Gaunce but you can't pass on a 17 year old that is that talented. He is still growing. He was 5'10 six months ago and was 5'11 at the combine. If he gets to 6'0 and can add 25 pounds Gaunce is not going to look so great. I'm not so sure we would have by-passed Gaunce for Matt Finn. We had a shot at Frk who is about even with Gaunce in skill/size and went with a D-man instead.

Re: Shooting Skeet While Blindfolded: Who Will Blackhawks Pick First?

Jackweiland — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 07:40:49 -0000

Seabs is not a tiny tot. But yes, I agree. Hammer certainly has value, and that's why we're seeing stories that interest in him is ramping up.

Re: Shooting Skeet While Blindfolded: Who Will Blackhawks Pick First?

DMD — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:41:01 -0000

What the heck are you talking about? Hjammer has the third highest Corsi Rel. QoC on the defense (after Seabs and Keith), he is our secondary shutdown defenseman! Want a reference point on Hjammer's worth? Barrett Jackman just signed a deal for 3.16mil/year for Christ's sake! Monty is not much of a player in his own zone (plus he faces low Qual Comp and gets padded o-zone starts), not to mention who knows how healthy Monty will be in October! Also without Hjammer we have a defense full of Tiny Tots!

Is amazing how much the meatball contingent of our fanbase undervalues Hjammer, if Stan did actually dangle him in a trade, our return would be a whole lot more than sliding up 6 spots in a not-very-stacked draft!

Re: Shooting Skeet While Blindfolded: Who Will Blackhawks Pick First?

Timothy — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:30:51 -0000

Frk is a right wing, and we're deep there. Great report on him, looks like somebody who grabs him under the radar has a keeper. I didn't consider top-10 centers, though I would love Galechenyuk. But I don't think he'll go lower than #5.

Re: Shooting Skeet While Blindfolded: Who Will Blackhawks Pick First?

daniel — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:00:03 -0000

Hammer is almost worthless in a trade at this point and we don't need him if we have Montador and Oduya.

Re: Shooting Skeet While Blindfolded: Who Will Blackhawks Pick First?

Ammbc25 — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:58:01 -0000

Great article. A lot of people are saying Galechenyuk is Hossa part two and it's pretty clear this is due to his skating posture and production but Faksa is the Dark Horse. If he works out he will be a force to recon with. I think he is smarter then Gaunce but quieter about it. He doesn't make mistakes. Either would be a great pick up. You Forgot Frk though. He is projected right at our draft position.

Re: Shooting Skeet While Blindfolded: Who Will Blackhawks Pick First?

DMD — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:57:45 -0000

You would offer Niklas Hjalmarrsson as an "additional consideration" to move 5 slots up the draft board? Thank God you aren't the GM.

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Patrick Kane, Part II — Now Let’s Talk Hockey

Aaron — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 03:19:02 -0000

Its not the right side where the Hawks have issues, its the left. As Sharp actually spent a lot of time this season playing the right wing (even though he is more naturally a left wing)

Also Shaw saw tough quality of competition, playing with Bolland (and who cares if he is a "natural" center, it's way easier to make the move from center to wing than vice versa)

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Patrick Kane, Part II — Now Let’s Talk Hockey

Ammbc25 — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:05:35 -0000

Kane played his whole life as a center and made the switch just before he entered the NHL. Problem with this move is that the next best RW capable player after Hoss is Shaw who also a natural Center. Shaw may be a amazing or he may have had the Rookie bump because he wasn't considered a priority by the opposing team.

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Patrick Kane, Part II — Now Let’s Talk Hockey

Aaron — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:00:53 -0000

Last one. I keep thinking of things after I hit the post button.

The absolute futility of the Power Play (a unit, on which Kane often played wing) was absolutely brutal.

It, at least in part, contributed to Kane's poor over all numbers (fewest PP goals and points yet in his career). Conversely Kane shares culpability for the poorness of the PP.

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Patrick Kane, Part II — Now Let’s Talk Hockey

Aaron — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:46:56 -0000

In addition to that, I'll just say that:

there are quite a lot of stats to suggest that Kane is capable of being (or even should be) a successful second line center on the Blackhawks.

The defensive shortcomings are what they are, but Kane is utilized in such a fashion (most of his non-neutral ice starts are O-zone starts, very rarely does he take a draw in the defensive zone) that is meant to maximize his offensive prowess (If he could win or draw, or even learn to win a draw, then there would be a strong argument to be made that then Kane should be a center).

When Kane is on the ice the Hawks generally dictate puck possession, the only Hawks with Better Corsi Rel. in 2011-2012 were Jonathan Toews, Viktor Stalberg (oddly enough), and Patrick Sharp, who faced considerably weaker competition, Sharp's 2011-2012 Corsi Rel. QoC was suprisingly low, despite his reputation as a penalty killer and two-way player).

So, since Kane often controls the puck in the offensive zone, his successes in puck possession show that he ought to succeed at scoring as well, even at the center possession. His likely hood of success only goes up, also, with a healthy Jonathan Toews, who crushes competition despite difficult matchups, and would drive down Kanes' CORSI Rel. QoC, which, one would think, would lead to more scoring opportunities, a better +/-, etc., etc., etc.

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Patrick Kane, Part II — Now Let’s Talk Hockey

Aaron — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:32:01 -0000

While the move to center is certainly a difficult adjustment, especially for a player who cut his teeth in the NHL at the wing position, I would not go so far as to say that Kane was put in a position to fail. Rather, exactly the opposite, Kane was given every opportunity to succeed in his new role. In fact, the only Blackhawk who received a higher percentage of his zone starts in the offensive zone was Brandon Bollig, easily the most sheltered of the Hawks players. Meanwhile, players who we would think of as being considerably more sheltered than Kane (or perhaps as players who should be more sheltered than Kane) like Marcus Kruger, Andrew Shaw, Michael Frolik, and Brian Bickell all had considerably tougher sledding (as Kruger took on the secondary shutdown role after Bolland, and Bickell, Frolik, and Shaw all took on tough checking line assignments). Also, Toews faced considerably tougher competition, when he was heatlhy. Meaning, that, when Toews was healthy, Kane was getting lots of O-zone starts against opponents secondary skaters. That seems like it should be a recipe for success for a guy with Kane's offensive talents, doesn't it? Regardless of whether he was a center or a wing. Actually Kane's late season points surge came when Toews was hurt, and could no longer shoulder the minutes against tougher checking opponents, which raises big questions about earlier in the season.

Was it an adjustment to playing center? Maybe.

Was it just plain bad luck? Also, maybe, Kane was still one of the Hawks best CORSI Relative players (although Viktor Stalberg was better CORSI relative despite facing slightly tougher opposition)

Does this suggest Kane needs to stay on the right wing. Probably

But, does this excuse Kane from any blame for what was, easily, his most disappointing season to date in his (still very young!) Blackhawks career? HELL NO.

Now, that doesn't mean he should be traded, or that he's lazy, or doesn't care, blah, blah, blah. I don't buy any of that stuff. What it does mean, is that he hasn't done much in 2011-2012 to ingratiate himself with the coaches, the front office, or his teammates and had better correct that in 2012-2013.

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Patrick Kane, Part I — Booze & Barter

mightymikeD — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:15:46 -0000

Jesus Wept... Tim, this is pure nonsense. He went out and got pissed.. as a young man (yes, earning silly money) in the Off-Season... which is important. Your graphs of earnings, etc makes zero sense when applied to a Professional Sportsperson.. they can ONLY go out and let their hair (mullet) down in the downtime when they are not doing their job 24/7.. and in the case of a Hockey player that's a long damn time. He's allowed to be a 23-year-old when he's not going to be pulling on a Hawks jersey for anything more than a photo-shoot in the next few months. He got lots of coverage because he's Patrick Kane.
This whole post sounds (and apologies to anyone in recovery) like that AA questionnaire that basically means you're an alcoholic if you like to drink..

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Patrick Kane, Part I — Booze & Barter

KG — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:39:41 -0000

This is some insane overanalysis. However, it was an interesting thought that an opposing GM wouldn't want Kane because he has issues, instead of a GM having to give up less because Kane's trade value is down.

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Patrick Kane, Part I — Booze & Barter

HossasPierogi — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:38:58 -0000

Bowman's comment was likely off the cuff -- you're reading too much into it. Regardless, I agree with your conclusion that Kane isn't likely to go anywhere

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Patrick Kane, Part I — Booze & Barter

Guest — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:06:28 -0000

It seemed to me that Kane had a chaperone in the form of one of his parents, mainly his father, for most of the season.

Re: End Of Season Reviews: Patrick Kane, Part I — Booze & Barter

Strider987 — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:58:36 -0000

Had to laugh at the $1000 a week when you're 55!

Re: End of Season Reviews: Jimmy Hayes

Aaron Hyams — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:04:53 -0000

Say what you like about Q and how he mishandled a number of players on the roster this season, Jimmy wasn't one of them. If anything Shaw was handled worse than Hayes, as Q gained a quick and inexplicable love for Andrew Shaw and threw the kid to the sharks in some situations in which it may have been better to coddle him (thus leading to Shaw's reassignment before being recalled after the Toews injury).

His inconsistencies stemmed not from getting jerked around the roster but from other sources: primarily poor skating ability (Conversely, Andrew Shaw, who was much smaller, but a much stronger skater, saw a lot more minutes). Also he is big, but not necessarily all that strong, yet. Finally Jimmy is incompetent in his own end, which is made worse by his lack of ability to skate and make up for positional mistakes. I think he will improve but he is still down the road a bit, and its not all going to magically come together for him solely by virtue of more playing time. If anything, I wouldn't mind it at all if the Hawks were deep enough next season to give Jimmy some time to work on his skating, strength, and defensive IQ at the Rock, at least to start the season. Even though the clock is ticking on his EL deal, I don't think Hayes is going to get good enough fast enough to command much more salary in addition to a standard Qualifying Offer in two years. Don't get me wrong, I think he will get good, but I also think his arch of progression will be similar to other big guys who need more work.

Re: End of Season Reviews: Dan Carcillo

Daniel Beckman — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:08:07 -0000

Ouch but well justified. We need a good for-checker not a cross-checker.

Re: End of Season Reviews: Dan Carcillo

mightymikeD — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:34:09 -0000

I'm hoping (really, really hoping) that the Re-Up came after some long, hard conversations between Carcillo and Hawks management about his future conduct. I am hoping (really) that the words "Matt" and "Cooke" came up frequently. Carcillo showed, for a brief period, the sort of player he could be (particularly on the KaHossBomb line) if he just cut down the asshattery. I felt mostly sadness when he tried to kill Gilbert because there seemed to have been a civilising influence on him from playing on the Hawks top-6. it seemed there was a shot at redemption for him. Then he lost his mind and his ACL all in one go.
So, hopefully, we will see the high-energy, combative Carcillo next year and not the mindless cretin.
This is more in hope than in any real confidence though.

Re: End of Season Reviews: Dan Carcillo

Mark Eulo — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:10:58 -0000

I like CarBomb - I think he can have a positive impact next year. He has heart, and that goes a long way - especially in the playoffs.