IGT: 01/22/2013 St. Louis Blues @ Chicago Blackhawks

[DewsSox79]

Correct, they were better last night but overall I see it being a problem. The PP goal against had to do with Kruger losing a faceoff. We saw Kane (had to step in) lose a face off and that resulted in a goal against Phoenix. I fully expect Bolland, Shaw, and Kruger to be under 50% for the season. Blackhawks need a Center who can take faceoffs and give Toews a rest.

when it breaks than you fix the problem. they are firing on all cylinders. you dont change something that is working due to a hunch, especially a fans hunch. bolland for the time being needs to stay on the 2c. the top 6 is fine where its at. saad needs seasoning and why not do it in the NHL where it isnt hurting the team.

 

[HawkWriter]

when it breaks than you fix the problem. they are firing on all cylinders. you dont change something that is working due to a hunch, especially a fans hunch. bolland for the time being needs to stay on the 2c. the top 6 is fine where its at. saad needs seasoning and why not do it in the NHL where it isnt hurting the team.

It is broken. The Blackhawks have given up two goals (atleast) already because of lost faceoffs. Toews is an absolute stud at the dot, but when the 3 other guys regularly go below 50% then it is an issue. As I've said, faceoffs are more important than ever with the PK starting in the defensive zone every time and the PP starting in the offensive. Want to lose a good 20 seconds right off the bat off your PP? Lose the face off. Want to gain a good 20 seconds right off the bat on the PK? Win the faceoff. After Toews, chances of that happening aren't good and it has cost the Blackhawks in terms of goals and will cost them in terms of wins if it continues.

I'm sure Q isn't going to change it because of a fans hunch...but this is a message board and I'm giving my opinion on what I think they should do. Exactly what this board is meant for I believe.

 

[Jntg4]

It is broken. The Blackhawks have given up two goals (atleast) already because of lost faceoffs. Toews is an absolute stud at the dot, but when the 3 other guys regularly go below 50% then it is an issue. As I've said, faceoffs are more important than ever with the PK starting in the defensive zone every time and the PP starting in the offensive. Want to lose a good 20 seconds right off the bat off your PP? Lose the face off. Want to gain a good 20 seconds right off the bat on the PK? Win the faceoff. After Toews, chances of that happening aren't good and it has cost the Blackhawks in terms of goals and will cost them in terms of wins if it continues.

I'm sure Q isn't going to change it because of a fans hunch...but this is a message board and I'm giving my opinion on what I think they should do. Exactly what this board is meant for I believe.

Ya our offense is SO broken right now, funny you ***** about this after a mostly good game in that category and focus in on two plays as the end all. But ya, lets change shit up on an offense with 14 goals in three games just because we only won the face offs by 8 last night. :smh:

 

[HawkWriter]

Ya our offense is SO broken right now, funny you ***** about this after a mostly good game in that category and focus in on two plays as the end all. But ya, lets change shit up on an offense with 14 goals in three games just because we only won the face offs by 8 last night. :smh:

I never said the offense was broken. I was talking about the faceoffs...the whole entire post you just quoted was about faceoffs. The offense is firing on all cylinders. The faceoffs are an issue.

 

[nwfisch]

To be fair, how many "faceoff winners" are available at a decent price for the Blackhawks?

 

[DewsSox79]

Again, I do NOT want to start shifting the lines because of a small margain of faceoff % differential. This team looks really really good and being 3 games in they are playing above expectations. They havent started the season against shit teams either. They are scoring goals, the top 6 is so tight. the bottom 6 is avg and thats all they need to be. I just dont see the problem so far.

 

[HawkWriter]

To be fair, how many "faceoff winners" are available at a decent price for the Blackhawks?

Jamal Mayers is sitting on the bench and would be fine on the 4th line. Can also help out big time on Faceoffs where he was at 56% last year. So there is one at no price.

There are a couple free agents out there but I don't know if any of them fit what the Blackhawks are looking for overall. Arnott is out there but he doesn't have the speed the Blackhawks would need for a 3c. D. Moore, but I believe he will sit out the whole season. There are guys out there via trade that can be targeted.

Bolland is looking better than I expected so far, hopefully he keeps it up and turns into a solid 2c option. That leaves the 3c spot open and there are options out there. From what I have seen, Shaw plays a better game at wing and can play more of his game there...he hasn't been very good at center so far.

I just can't stress enough how important faceoffs are. A very underrated stat for a center and team. There is a reason that it is probably one of the most worked on areas in practice.

 

[Jntg4]

I never said the offense was broken. I was talking about the faceoffs...the whole entire post you just quoted was about faceoffs. The offense is firing on all cylinders. The faceoffs are an issue.

And when you start switching up the lines, what do you think you are messing with? Oh yeah... The offense.

 

[HawkWriter]

And when you start switching up the lines, what do you think you are messing with? Oh yeah... The offense.

You can pretty much stick anyone with Hossa/Toews and they will still be fine (ask Carcillo). Shaw is struggling at center.

Being proactive here.

 

[Jntg4]

You can pretty much stick anyone with Hossa/Toews and they will still be fine (ask Carcillo). Shaw is struggling at center.

Being proactive here.

 

[ClydeLee]

Yeah but you aren't sticking Mayers with Toews/Hossa so replacing Saad off for Mayers means you are messing with the lines that are producing successfully.

It's also a small sample size to determine Shaw's only struggling because he is at center. He is struggling while holding the role but it's not definitive that he wouldn't be struggling on the wing. You are talking about a young 2nd year player who was streaky as is last year when called up and down.

 

[HawkWriter]

Yeah but you aren't sticking Mayers with Toews/Hossa so replacing Saad off for Mayers means you are messing with the lines that are producing successfully.

It's also a small sample size to determine Shaw's only struggling because he is at center. He is struggling while holding the role but it's not definitive that he wouldn't be struggling on the wing. You are talking about a young 2nd year player who was streaky as is last year when called up and down.

Correct, however Saad has been on/off the first line since he was put there (just 2 games in). The first game he was only there for about half of the game and the last game he was there for about 75% of the game. What I'm saying is that it won't change much to get a guy in there who can successfully take faceoffs and help shoulder the load. I don't see Shaw being a center in the NHL and was surprised by the move when it happened, just my opinion. He needs to play his type of game to be successful in the NHL and I don't see him being able to play that game while being responsible defensively when he is a center.

 

[HawkWriter]

I see your point. Valid argument Dews jr.

 

[Jntg4]

I see your point. Valid argument Dews jr.

 

[nwfisch]

Fair question, what about using Patrick Sharp in the dot? Or is that gone by the wayside?

 

[dabynsky]

Fair question, what about using Patrick Sharp in the dot? Or is that gone by the wayside?

Yeah that is out apparently. I think the situation remains that Sharp is just so much better on the wing that you don't want to mess with that. I mean Bolland with the Patricks has been such a stud line that you obviously don't want to mess with that.

Finally finished last night's game, and the Hawks looked so awesome in the first 43 minutes of the game. But that last 17 minutes of the game was pretty scary. Crawford was actually was really good last night, which is a huge relief. Hard to nitpick with taking the maximum and not yielding anything to the in conference opponents.

 

[Gunzaan]

I'm with you, HawksWriter... Third and fourth line center (besides goaltending in the playoffs) is what I see as the biggest weakness on this team. People are getting all over you because they are 3-0, but the regular season doesn't mean shit. This team, how it is built, is just like the Capitals: regular season studs. Come playoff time, it will be a different story and with how the rules are and where faceoffs are with PPs/PKs, faceoffs are going to be huge. Toews can only do so much and be out there for so long. I'd love to see Mayers on the third or fourth line at center.

 

[DewsSox79]

So let me get this straight from some of you...you want to change the lines and move players around now? before any type of slump?

some (a couple) are bitching about jamal mayers and him playing? is that really what we are complaining about? If the 4th line center is our biggest problem im (most fans should be) ok with that. I mean pick your complaints.

leave the team as is until a struggle.

and lol....no we arent built like the caps.

 

[Gunzaan]

First of all, I'm not bitching... I love the start for the Hawks.. but its a lockout season and shit is going to be crazy for a few weeks... I guarantee that having a "hot" start will mean absolutely nothing come playoff time. If you want to bask in the glory of a hot start in January during a lock out season, go ahead and bask in the glory. I'm looking at the playoffs and analyzing the Hawks obvious weaknesses. Sorry if that disrupts the Stanley Cup parade you already have going through your head.

 

[Jntg4]

So let me get this straight from some of you...you want to change the lines and move players around now? before any type of slump?

some (a couple) are bitching about jamal mayers and him playing? is that really what we are complaining about? If the 4th line center is our biggest problem im (most fans should be) ok with that. I mean pick your complaints.

leave the team as is until a struggle.

and lol....no we arent built like the caps.

Exactly, fucking with shit now would do more damage than good right now, in a shorter season on hot streak can be the difference, so why blow one right out of the gate?

And lol @ regular season meaning nothing when a) you need to get in still, albeit over half do, and b) regular season finish determines your playoff matchup. Just because the Kings were an eighth seed does not mean that you should just not care about the regular season as long as you get in. The goal should always be to win as many as possible and get a better seed/matchup.