Kane at Center?

[Variable]

I think they have more than enough of a balance to give him a real chance. You aren't really going to know by small stints here and there. It's not as if he would be asked to anchor a line, he'd be centering for players like Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Brunette. Just by being average he lets Sharp excel at what he likes to do best and you keep Kane at what he does best, one of the best in the league at, never mind all the other flexibility it would give the team. A ton more potential upside than potential downside to giving him a real chance.

 

[nana]

Kane may do. Him playing with Hossa, when Hossa premadonna is playing where he must, might just get both guys more points. The only reason Kane is playing Center is that Hossa wanted to play with him and was not willing to switch to the left side, nor play Center. So they accomodated Hossa. It is what it is.

Am I the only one who wanted to hear more about this if possible?

Interesting, RK...

 

[LordKOTL]

I've seen Hossa try to play the left side...it wasn't pretty.



Something else that just hit me: Kane's done an acceptable if not good job at C, right? If Sharp and Kane are playing on the same line, why couldn't Kane take C duties in the attacking zone where his freewheeling and passing would be more apt, and Sharp take C duties in the defending zone where his two-way play would be better utilized there?



Assuming they could pull it off, it could make Q looking like Rembrandt.

 

[winos5]

1G 4A +2 through 3 games.

 

[the canadian dream]

As well as Kane has played at center I am ready to drop it if it means Q getting some proper line combos during games.



Not seeing anything Kane has done at center that he couldn't do back on the wing (besides beating Bolland in face off percentages). Kane has been brilliant...but he can be just as brilliant on the wing. And probably more so when he isn't centering Stalberg and Carcillo at the same time.



Let's get a real top line together again.



just my opinion.

 

[roshinaya]

Last game was the first time Kane ended up being under 50% in faceoffs LIES. And it was the first time he faced a quality team. I say continue to the experiment and see how he manages against quality teams and make sure he has some talent to play with.

 

[R K]

Right now he's the best player on the ice, no matter where he's playing. No question.

 

[CLWolf81]

I dont know how many faceoffs he won tonight, but the fact he beat out Seguin on one of em is pretty darn good.

 

[R K]

8-9 for 47%.



Bolland was 12-17 41%.



The 2nd and 3rd line are carrying the Hawks right now. Top line has been pretty much invisible up to this point. That won't last IMO.

 

[the canadian dream]

Top line will come together. I don't think Toews is comfy with Brunette yet though.



Sharp's not in game shape yet which doesn't help.



It will come together. Still don't think Kane needs to play center in my opinion. It's not the position that's making him look great it's him making the position look great. He can do everything he has been doing on the wing...cough cough cough..that's me wanting some Kane and Toews action.



Most entertaining player in the league so far this season. Hands down. Some of the things he has been doing on the ice have been jaw dropping. What's an Ovechkin?

 

[LordKOTL]

Well, right now there are 2 decent lines: Carbomb/Kane/Hossa and Bickell/Bolland/Frolik. Assuming the whole fucking team doesn't mail in the 3rd again (in which there is nothing to be done but take the loss and have a Herb Brooks-esque practice that night), You keep those lines together because they are producing.



I would say based on the overall play and whatnot, I wouldn't mind a feww shifts seeing Meyers on the wing wth Toews and Sharp.

 

[R K]

Kaner is a rare breed. 90% or more of hockey players skate better without the puck than they do with. Pat skates better with the puck than without. So the move to Center has allowed him to flow up the ice with the puck. Where as at Wing he's usually somewhat stationary when he recieves the puck.

 

[the canadian dream]

Yah thats a good point rk. But what happens when the other team starts shadowing and sending 2 guys on him as has been happening in 3rd periods and mid second periods. Hes getting no offensive help from his line mates. Carcillo at least has been helping create ice..not so much stalberg. Kane needs a linemate with hands if he is going to fenter or at least someone who can dish him the puck. Kanes being doing all the work...the formula is eventually going to fail when he gets shadowed more and more. Im simply not comfortable with the lines. Hossa hurting in my opinion also gets the finger errected at him as far as him demanding anything. Guys not putting in full seasons so **** his wants. Hossa is starting to remind me of jagr late in his career...starting to coach the team. Players will turn on that. Again just my opinion. Kane is amazing..even more amazing with at least one linemate with hands who can also play game in and game out. Not even sure why i care as the team continues to grab points. The real foncern right now is defense...teams allowing way too many shots and duncs looks uninterested again. I would actually like to see seabs wake him up again.

 

[R K]

when they do that Hossa or Sharp, or whom ever is with Kane Burns their ass.



Need Q to pair #2 #7 back. if he doesn't he's a fucking idiot.

 

[the canadian dream]

when they do that Hossa or Sharp, or whom ever is with Kane Burns their ass.



Need Q to pair #2 #7 back. if he doesn't he's a fucking idiot.

Preach it brother!!!



The one thing about that is they still have to allow Seabs to pinch in and play the offensive mode which he has increasingly been getting stronger and stronger at. Think that's the reason why Q has had them split up? Seabs been given more offensive responsibilities than in the past (and he has been carrying it well). Keith can't back up Seabs when Brent is pinching in, Keiths defensive game just isn't as good as Seabs. So might have to get Seabs back to covering Keith? Not sure. But I do think the 2 need to be reunited again.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

when they do that Hossa or Sharp, or whom ever is with Kane Burns their ass.



Need Q to pair #2 #7 back. if he doesn't he's a fucking idiot.

Agreed Keith is still pointless, yet he's been playing 27 minutes a night still. Even saw opposing fans criticizing the splitting up of #2 and #7. Also most importantly he's on my fantasy team and slotted as my number one D man, 0 points is not very cool for the long week one.

 

[LordKOTL]

Right now, I agree...get 2 and 7 back together and try and limit their time to less than 25 a night. Hammer has been solid enough defensively that he's only noticeable when limping back to the bench after a wicked shot block, and Leddy has been looking poised and confident. Both of them should start taking more minutes a night if for no other reason to give Keith and Seabs a little more breathing time.



I seriously think with the D-corps we have, there's no reason to work Keith with the hours he has been getting. Montador, O'donnell, and Lepistopheles all have looked comported enough on the back end that they won't need bailing out (unless the whole bloody team mails in the 3rd period). No reaon to limit them to 5 minutes/night.



RK does make one hell of a point. If Kane is paired with someone who can make something happen (much like Toews), good things will happen. I think that's why Hossa has looked so good when on the ice. If one is shadowed heavlily, it opens up room for the other. Carbomb is just the icing on the cake for making even more room.



As such, I hope whatever is ailing Hossa is over soon.

 

[tvltre]

when they do that Hossa or Sharp, or whom ever is with Kane Burns their ass.



Need Q to pair #2 #7 back. if he doesn't he's a fucking idiot.

I also agree that Keith and Biscuit should be paired again. Don't like those two apart at all.



As for Kaner...I actually like seeing him center with Hossa and Carcillo. Again, that line looked good and dictated the play on the ice when they were together. The Hawks needed a #2 center. Since there wasn't one available for the price, they put their talented winger with Hoss. Seems to be working. Hossa has 4 points in 4 games. Kaner has 6 points and is tied for the lead in helpers on the team. Carcillo is making the room needed. He has tied the team lead in hits with 15 and 2 fewer games than Bickell who also has 15.



Right now, i just want Toews, Sharp, and Brunette to get on the same page. I see all three crashing the net and still no one is able to pick up the rebound. Toews I see is trying to still do to much and is forcing the issue. Brunette is doing his job going to the net. Sharpie...playing point, going in behind the goal, or losing the puck along the boards is not helping. But they are getting their chances. Sharp has 20 shots on goal while Toews is behind him with 12 and Brunette right behind them with 7. Stop looking for the pretty play and just bury it!

 

[winos5]

GP8, 2G, 6A +4

 

[Variable]

Face off percentage is at 56%. Still early, but that's Toews-like numbers. He's at 58 or 59% right now I think.