2019 IGT Game 4: Oilers @ Blackhawks (We got a point edition!)

[Chief Walking Stick]

There you go Grimson. Time to stop being a shitty troll. If thats your thing its about time you stopped being so pathetic at it. Its sad to watch. This is better.

Welcome them in the door. Make some tea. Get them settled, make them feel comfortable. Share some personal info, go through ups and downs with the team...then...just when they rely on you a bit you turn up the weird and gaslight the **** out of their reality.

Lots of blueprints, but the point is if you assault them at the door its no fun for anybody and shows the severe limits of your stratagem and capacity.

I have been nice to all of them except the prick that showed up and started complaining immediately.

 

[MassHavoc]

I have been nice to all of them except the prick that showed up and started complaining immediately.

Yeah, how dare he try to take your job. You should build a firewall.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Yeah, how dare he try to take your job. You should build a firewall.

I HAVENT COMPLAINED ABOUT TOEWS ONCE THIS SEASON

 

[MassHavoc]

I HAVENT COMPLAINED ABOUT TOEWS ONCE THIS SEASON

I think you're slow rolling it so that all the new guys settle in and then you destroy them all at once. Or your just tired of that one and waiting to see who their fan favorite is before picking your new target. I have a feeling I'm going to be telling a lot of people about the ignore feature that they will be refusing to use.

 

[LordKOTL]

He started his own game-day thread cuz no one wants to play with you. ...face it...

Addendum: I would also like an IHN sub-forum

I agree with this.

Same here, although if memory serves, he's started off hot to begin a season before, only to cool down. He said before the year started that he sees himself as a top-six player, so he's definitely playing with a chip on his shoulder. Either way, I feel like both he and Shaw have been our best Hawks to start the year. Kubalik and Kampf have exceeded my expectations, at least so far.

Toews hasn't looked good to me. It's early, but he looks like he did during his most recent down year: slow as hell and nowhere near Toews-strong on the boards.

I agree with this, but If memory serves Toews over his career has been a slow-starter more often than not. If he was actively hurting the team I'd be riding him more like Keith & Crawford up until last game, but he's just kinda snakebit and invisible.

 

[Raskolnikov]

I agree with this.

I agree with this, but If memory serves Toews over his career has been a slow-starter more often than not. If he was actively hurting the team I'd be riding him more like Keith & Crawford up until last game, but he's just kinda snakebit and invisible.

And was saddled with Nylander before dealing with Jets centers and McDavid. and Philly faceoffs.

Small sample size against 3 strange opponents of the 4.

Give him an engine and a skill player. I prefer when Toews "engine" is bigger than him and fights well on the boards.

 

[Raskolnikov]

What should be the extent of remaining position battles.

Cat-Strome-Kane
(Saad/Kubalik)-Toews-(Kubalik/Jewels)
(Dach/Nylander/Perlini/Smith/Kubalik)-Kampf-Shaw
(Dach/Jewels/Perlini)-(Carp/Dach)-(Smith/Carp)

Keith-(DeHaan/Murphy)
Maata-(Seabs/Murphy)
(Murphy/DeHaan/Seabs)-Boqvist/Gus


I realize Shaw and Jewels can play top 6, I just feel that solution is settling and has limitations. When they are making the bottom lines dangerous the Hawks seem to roll and have 4 line integrity.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I think you're slow rolling it so that all the new guys settle in and then you destroy them all at once. Or your just tired of that one and waiting to see who their fan favorite is before picking your new target. I have a feeling I'm going to be telling a lot of people about the ignore feature that they will be refusing to use.

Yes, because I totally knew the Blackhawks forums were going to be shut down and we'd be getting a ton of new posters. You caught me, its a long con of not complaining about Toews forged by my ability to see the future.

Or maybe he finally got his head out of his ass and is playing well?

 

[LordKOTL]

And was saddled with Nylander before dealing with Jets centers and McDavid. and Philly faceoffs.

Small sample size against 3 strange opponents of the 4.

Give him an engine and a skill player. I prefer when Toews "engine" is bigger than him and fights well on the boards.

...except Nylander is scoring goals when he wants to play, so he not completely worthless.

Again, emphasis--I'm not bagging on Toews. He's known for starting slow more often than not--that's fine. I'm just hoping he gets going soon.

And besides, IMHO giving Toews the players you want him to might break up the 3rd line--which is the dominant line right now--so we shouldn't touch it.

 

[Raskolnikov]

...except Nylander is scoring goals when he wants to play, so he not completely worthless.

Again, emphasis--I'm not bagging on Toews. He's known for starting slow more often than not--that's fine. I'm just hoping he gets going soon.

And besides, IMHO giving Toews the players you want him to might break up the 3rd line--which is the dominant line right now--so we shouldn't touch it.

Saad-Toews-Kubalik could be even better.

But if you can get Toews-Jewels/Shaw going with any other player than Kane I am all for it.

 

[anotheridiot]

...except Nylander is scoring goals when he wants to play, so he not completely worthless.

Again, emphasis--I'm not bagging on Toews. He's known for starting slow more often than not--that's fine. I'm just hoping he gets going soon.

And besides, IMHO giving Toews the players you want him to might break up the 3rd line--which is the dominant line right now--so we shouldn't touch it.

I was listening to the Prague game on the radio at work, wasn't his first goal a breakaway as well?

He seems fast, he seems like he knows what he should be doing, just does not seem to be doing it all the time.

I think we all feel this Nylander / Perlini spot is the open spot for Dach when he catches up anyway.

 

[Granada]

I was listening to the Prague game on the radio at work, wasn't his first goal a breakaway as well?

He seems fast, he seems like he knows what he should be doing, just does not seem to be doing it all the time.

I think we all feel this Nylander / Perlini spot is the open spot for Dach when he catches up anyway.

Nylander/Perlini are definitely on the bubble if Dach is ready. I thought Kubalik would be, but he's been solid, along with that entire third line.

Before Nylander scored, he looked like shit more or less in that game. Plus, Smith got caught between playing the puck and staying home. It was nice Nylander was able to take advantage, but still.

 

[LordKOTL]

Saad-Toews-Kubalik could be even better.

But if you can get Toews-Jewels/Shaw going with any other player than Kane I am all for it.

Could is the operative word. Saad/Toews/Kubalik could be better, but the 3rd line is great...right now...and producing. As long as it is firing on all cylinders there's no reason to subject it to the Q-O-Matic '76 line blender.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Could is the operative word. Saad/Toews/Kubalik could be better, but the 3rd line is great...right now...and producing. As long as it is firing on all cylinders there's no reason to subject it to the Q-O-Matic '76 line blender.

So we are cool with 2 lines being stagnant as long as the third line is firing? Job done?

 

[LordKOTL]

I was listening to the Prague game on the radio at work, wasn't his first goal a breakaway as well?

He seems fast, he seems like he knows what he should be doing, just does not seem to be doing it all the time.

I think we all feel this Nylander / Perlini spot is the open spot for Dach when he catches up anyway.

That's why I added, "when he wants to play". When he doesn't, he's decidedly Meh. Either way I don't think Nylander is a black hole to the effect that he sucks the life out of the line he's playing on. After all he was scratched a game and it didn't effect much, if anything.

I do agree though that unless he starts playing with purpose he'll lose his spot. But, I also thing Stan will be telling JC to give him every shot to succeed so he looks good in the Joker trade.

So we are cool with 2 lines being stagnant as long as the third line is firing? Job done?

For one, less than 2 lines are stagnant. Kane is once again leading scoring on his own--so you have at least 2 working lines by proxy--i.e. 2 scoring threats. *edit* especially since Kane is above a PPG so far.

For the other, breaking up a working line to jumpstart 2 stagnant lines gives about a 50% chance of having 3 non-working lines--especially if the working line is playing above the sum of it's constituent players. Thus it falls in the "if it ain't broke" category. Leave the 3rd line alone as long as it's working. The rest of the lines can get the Q treatment.

 

[Raskolnikov]

That's why I added, "when he wants to play". When he doesn't, he's decidedly Meh. Either way I don't think Nylander is a black hole to the effect that he sucks the life out of the line he's playing on. After all he was scratched a game and it didn't effect much, if anything.

I do agree though that unless he starts playing with purpose he'll lose his spot. But, I also thing Stan will be telling JC to give him every shot to succeed so he looks good in the Joker trade.

For one, less than 2 lines are stagnant. Kane is once again leading scoring on his own--so you have at least 2 working lines by proxy--i.e. 2 scoring threats. *edit* especially since Kane is above a PPG so far.

For the other, breaking up a working line to jumpstart 2 stagnant lines gives about a 50% chance of having 3 non-working lines--especially if the working line is playing above the sum of it's constituent players. Thus it falls in the "if it ain't broke" category. Leave the 3rd line alone as long as it's working. The rest of the lines can get the Q treatment.

Hey, I love the Kubalik-Kampf-Saad thing, and think Kampf-Kubalik is a natural language fit, they have chemistry and at least for now its probably best.

Its always about trying to get Toews going?

Can we make it the second line?

Cat-Strome-Kane
Saad-Kampf-Kubalik
Jewels-Toews-Shaw
Dach/Nylander/Perlini-Carp-Smith


You can see the problem with the first two lines on this team...it doesn't leave skilled scoring for Toews line. The 3 guys are all too similar to each other...its those three guys that need to be spread out. But I'd be happy to watch that for a game and see.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Maybe we could reward Saad for his play? Get Toews going and still have a wicked third line? I would like to see

Saad-Toews-Jewels
Cat-Strome-88
Shaw/Dach/Perlini-Kampf-Kubalik


The fact is Saad is playing really well and has always been borderline top 6. Kampf is one of the best athletes. And Kubalik is just really good with good size, good speed and great skill. Its no surprise to me they are thriving, but we need Cat-Strome-Kane-Toews to thrive the most. If those 4 aren't all happy then we are broken before we begin, and I'm not sure we can do it without splitting up the third.

 

[hawkinmontreal]

Could is the operative word. Saad/Toews/Kubalik could be better, but the 3rd line is great...right now...and producing. As long as it is firing on all cylinders there's no reason to subject it to the Q-O-Matic '76 line blender.

Instead of changing the lines, maybe our captain can get his ass moving. Yes he known for starting slow, but now would be a great time to stop dreaming about his long summer vacation.

 

[hawkinmontreal]

Maybe we could reward Saad for his play? Get Toews going and still have a wicked third line? I would like to see

Saad-Toews-Jewels
Cat-Strome-88
Shaw/Dach/Perlini-Kampf-Kubalik


The fact is Saad is playing really well and has always been borderline top 6. Kampf is one of the best athletes. And Kubalik is just really good with good size, good speed and great skill. Its no surprise to me they are thriving, but we need Cat-Strome-Kane-Toews to thrive the most. If those 4 aren't all happy then we are broken before we begin, and I'm not sure we can do it without splitting up the third.

Kampf is one of the best athletes, according to who?

 

[Raskolnikov]

Kampf is one of the best athletes, according to who?

Kampf has some speed and him and Murphy were 2,3 in off-season fitness testing.