Blackhawks to rely on Kane to be #2 Center

[Uman85]

Your logical conclusion wouldn't work out well. You'd really be spreading the talent pool of the entire team thin considering the amount of talent their line-mates have. You can't really do that in this day of parity because of the cap. Also, you would be diminishing ice time of one elite forward who you want to be a "game breaker." Instead of two lines with serious potential to score, you'd end up with 3 lines that wouldn't score much at all. For example, is Frolik actually going to be able to snipe with Kane setting him up? Not likely. Out of the group you mentioned, Toews is probably the only one who you could move around like mad because of the game he plays (grinds in the corners so well, goes to the net) to such a high level that he'd elevate the play of whomever his line-mates are.

The reason why teams such as the Coyotes have success is because of the discipline of the defensive system that their entire team plays. They were able to keep a much more skilled Hawks team on the perimeter, where they are far less dangerous. They were willing to pay whatever prices (for example, the tons of blocked shots they accrued) in order to win and this is one example of how "will" beats "skill."

Fair enough. I didn't think there would be enough talent to surround those 3 guys with, just wanted to throw it out as a suggestion and see what a more knowledgeable hockey guy would think.

How about if the Hawks split the top two lines into Kane/Sharp and Toews/Hossa or some combo of the like?

 

[Captain Iago]

Fair enough. I didn't think there would be enough talent to surround those 3 guys with, just wanted to throw it out as a suggestion and see what a more knowledgeable hockey guy would think.

How about if the Hawks split the top two lines into Kane/Sharp and Toews/Hossa or some combo of the like?

That's the million dollar question that even Q hasn't perfectly answered.

It's been tried off and on and, I assume, will continue to be. Coaches jumble up the lines all the time when things aren't going well trying to find the right chemistry for the night.

 

[Uman85]

That's the million dollar question that even Q hasn't perfectly answered.

It's been tried off and on and, I assume, will continue to be. Coaches jumble up the lines all the time when things aren't going well trying to find the right chemistry for the night.

It seemed like there was always a new face on the ice and a different line whenever I watched them during the season and in the playoffs as well. I know it's worked in the past. Q just never seemed to get the right combo this year. Definitely frustrating as fans.

 

[Captain Iago]

Aye. To some, the line juggling is a major point of criticism. I think I'd rather have a coach willing to change things up when things aren't going well or when the game takes on a different shape. Sticking to poor lines play when things aren't going well simply adds a level of dumb, in my opinion. Others will disagree; it's not a science.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Your logical conclusion wouldn't work out well. You'd really be spreading the talent pool of the entire team thin considering the amount of talent their line-mates have. You can't really do that in this day of parity because of the cap. Also, you would be diminishing ice time of one elite forward who you want to be a "game breaker." Instead of two lines with serious potential to score, you'd end up with 3 lines that wouldn't score much at all. For example, is Frolik actually going to be able to snipe with Kane setting him up? Not likely. Out of the group you mentioned, Toews is probably the only one who you could move around like mad because of the game he plays (grinds in the corners so well, goes to the net) to such a high level that he'd elevate the play of whomever his line-mates are.

The reason why teams such as the Coyotes have success is because of the discipline of the defensive system that their entire team plays. They were able to keep a much more skilled Hawks team on the perimeter, where they are far less dangerous. They were willing to pay whatever prices (for example, the tons of blocked shots they accrued) in order to win and this is one example of how "will" beats "skill."

It'd help if Kane would stop thinking he's Pavel Datsyuk by trying to dangle through 4 guys.

 

[Capt. Serious]

since the Cup winner, Kane has scored one goal in his last 13 playoff games.

 

[Captain Iago]

It'd help if Kane would stop thinking he's Pavel Datsyuk by trying to dangle through 4 guys.

Yeah, that idiot needs to dump and chase. He'd be so much better banging and crashing, winning board battles against opposing D who are 3+ inches taller and 30+ pounds heavier than he.

 

[LonghornBob]

This whole discussion reminds me that we could have had Plekanec for Hjalmarsson. Ugh.

Olesz. Jesus. We could have cut him the day we traded for him, taken a 400k hit and gone and gotten someone.

Brunette. Once outskated by my Grandma.

Morrison. Learning to slate and chew gum at the same time.

Man we've made some bad personnel moves. Oduya was a win for his first ten games them he went in the crapper and started giving the puck away like it had AIDS.

Pretty much Bowman has done nothing worth a crap that I can recall since he took over. It appears to me that the further removed from Tallon we are the worse we get.

If we go into next season with Huet's real non-cap cash back, and bucks under the cap available, and we have Crawford, Emery and Hutton in net, Kane at the 2nd line center spot, and haven't gotten someone other than Seabs who understands that it's probably not a good idea to let the other team camp in front of our goal, I'm giving up hockey.

 

[tbo41fan]

This whole discussion reminds me that we could have had Plekanec for Hjalmarsson. Ugh.

Olesz. Jesus. We could have cut him the day we traded for him, taken a 400k hit and gone and gotten someone.

Brunette. Once outskated by my Grandma.

Morrison. Learning to slate and chew gum at the same time.

Man we've made some bad personnel moves. Oduya was a win for his first ten games them he went in the crapper and started giving the puck away like it had AIDS.

Pretty much Bowman has done nothing worth a crap that I can recall since he took over. It appears to me that the further removed from Tallon we are the worse we get.

If we go into next season with Huet's real non-cap cash back, and bucks under the cap available, and we have Crawford, Emery and Hutton in net, Kane at the 2nd line center spot, and haven't gotten someone other than Seabs who understands that it's probably not a good idea to let the other team camp in front of our goal, I'm giving up hockey.

Olesz was buried in Rockford, his cap hit was off the books. We still could have gotten something else

 

[nwfisch]

since the Cup winner, Kane has scored one goal in his last 13 playoff games.

Clearly a bum

 

[icehogfan08]

Olesz was buried in Rockford, his cap hit was off the books. We still could have gotten something else

True, so we technically saved that 400k cap hit.

 

[LonghornBob]

We should have traded him for a ham sandwich.

My problem with this whole "Kane is our 2 line center" crap, aside from the huge number of draws we'll lose, is that we're starting to sound like Baghdad Bob. "Pay no attention to the American tanks at the gates! We're winning this war and the pigs are about to surrender!!"

I'd appreciate it if our bigwigs had a little understanding of the fact that our power play sucks, it takes half the power play to set up after we lose the faceoff, our PK isn't great, we have a sieve in net, we aren't physical defensively, we let people set up shop in front of our pipes, and we have no snipers. Just like for someone in the organization to cop to that.

 

[DMelt36]

We should have traded him for a ham sandwich.

My problem with this whole "Kane is our 2 line center" crap, aside from the huge number of draws we'll lose, is that we're starting to sound like Baghdad Bob. "Pay no attention to the American tanks at the gates! We're winning this war and the pigs are about to surrender!!"

I'd appreciate it if our bigwigs had a little understanding of the fact that our power play sucks, it takes half the power play to set up after we lose the faceoff, our PK isn't great, we have a sieve in net, we aren't physical defensively, we let people set up shop in front of our pipes, and we have no snipers. Just like for someone in the organization to cop to that.

Come down off that ledge Bob, it's going to be okay.

You've got a fair share of valid arguments, though.

 

[tbo41fan]

True, so we technically saved that 400k cap hit.

and thats the problem....they didnt do anything with the cap room. lol

 

[DewsSox79]

size is also an issue as they stated on CTL. He will lose a lot of draws. Sure he played well in his stint, but thats a sample size as well. He needs to be on the RW all day everyday and we need to get an established 2nd line center, but I dont have faith in that.

 

[icehogfan08]

Olli jokinen is a free agent. He would take care of the #2 center slot and add size and net presence

 

[DewsSox79]

Olli jokinen is a free agent. He would take care of the #2 center slot and add size and net presence

agreed.

 

[DewsSox79]

skilled physical player(s) is what we need. We dont need anymore 1 dimensional physical guys without skill.

 

[Captain Iago]

Olli jokinen is a free agent. He would take care of the #2 center slot and add size and net presence

Don't think he leaves Calgary. From what I've read, he absolutely loves it there no matter what kind of team they ice.

 

[Captain Iago]

size is also an issue as they stated on CTL. He will lose a lot of draws. Sure he played well in his stint, but thats a sample size as well. He needs to be on the RW all day everyday and we need to get an established 2nd line center, but I dont have faith in that.

Would makes sense to have a winger on his line for defensive draws.