Kruger coming?

[Ton]

Hawks have been labeled as "fucked" all year by people writing them off as early as November. Yet here they are, right in the hunt with alot of other teams for home ice advantage. At game 72 last year, they had 236 goals for...at 234 this year. Seems to me the offensive depth is still there - with this team having quite a bit more injuries and with this "lack of depth" perception.



This team all year has fought throught the adversity and will again here. I'm excited to see this Kruger kid and hopefully can fill the center void thats been needed. Alot to ask of a 21 year old - but Scotty has always liked him.



Just time, once again, for others to step up and I'm confident they will.

I don't think people realize but our "depth" last year barely produced at the end of the year and heading into the playoffs. The only guy who really turned it up was Buff. Otherwise guys like Ladd, Madden, Versteeg, etc.. etc.. didn't really contribute much offensively. Ladd had something like 6 points in the entire playoffs. The core really carried this team on their backs and elevated their production, especially Toews.



I think it has more to do with our "depth" not playing physical enough to wear teams down by the third period. Evidence could be the fact that we have lost so many one goal games and haven't been nearly as dominant in the third period. Lately our bottom line players have done well enough in this aspect IMO, but still not as much as I'd like to see.



Who knows, this isn't a bad team... they've gone through their share of bumps and bruises. If Bolland, Campbell, and Sharp can be healthy by round one we can have another deep run this year. Without them I'm not so sure, it would be like Detroit losing Zetterberg, Filppula, and Rafalski.

 

[PatrickShart]

Look...I like Sharp...alot. But he's extremely streaky. When hot - he lites it up. Always has been like that. But I dont think he's what Zetteberg (their #2 forward) is to DET. Not with Toews, Kane and Hossa.





Sharp's more replaceable at Wing than if he was at Center. Bringing in Kruger will probably move Frolik back to a wing.



Here's to Mr.Kruger

 

[nana]

I gave you that +1, just because you are awesome.



Nah, I just agreed with you, his passes at camp were great, he really had some great offensive instincts. I think he would fit well, too bad he only has 10 games to hop on and make an impact. We'll see what happens.

OMG you too!

 

[Tater]

Look...I like Sharp...alot. But he's extremely streaky. When hot - he lites it up. Always has been like that. But I dont think he's what Zetteberg (their #2 forward) is to DET. Not with Toews, Kane and Hossa.





Sharp's more replaceable at Wing than if he was at Center. Bringing in Kruger will probably move Frolik back to a wing.



Here's to Mr.Kruger

Nice find! (the picture)

 

[Shredder]

I've seen Krüger live twice this season and he reminds me a bit of Bolland. Not super fast, but very responsible and a bit of a schemer. Struggles with faceoffs at times, but he did increase his winning percentage from about 39.8% last year to 45.7% this year. He's a bit less feisty than Bolland, but probably has a slightly more advanced hockey sense.



Also, I'm pretty sure he weighs more than 170 lbs now, because he's pretty solid along the boards. He's been listed at 170 for what seems like 2-3 years now.

 

[R K]

I've seen Krüger live twice this season and he reminds me a bit of Bolland. Not super fast, but very responsible and a bit of a schemer. Struggles with faceoffs at times, but he did increase his winning percentage from about 39.8% last year to 45.7% this year. He's a bit less feisty than Bolland, but probably has a slightly more advanced hockey sense.



Also, I'm pretty sure he weighs more than 170 lbs now, because he's pretty solid along the boards. He's been listed at 170 for what seems like 2-3 years now.

How do you think the immediate transition to the NHL game will effect him?

 

[Shredder]

Bolland circa 2007-08 probably isn't a bad comparison. It'll obviously depend on who he gets to play with, but I think he'll be fine. The speed of the game might take some adjustment, but I think he's clever enough to figure it out quickly.

 

[Pez68]

Excited, but jesus, another center with issues winning faceoffs? Can't Lord Toews bless the guys we have in the system to be good in the circle?

 

[Pez68]

By the way, I see this more as a Bolland related move, than Sharp, to be perfectly honest. Sounds like things aren't going well with his concussion...

 

[R K]

By the way, I see this more as a Bolland related move, than Sharp, to be perfectly honest. Sounds like things aren't going well with his concussion...

Considering three people have already said that, I agree. LOL!!!

 

[PatrickShart]

Well, he's already missed a good chunk of the season the way Bolland seems to, and has the shitty faceoff numbers as well....so may be a good clone

A left handed center for Hossa and hopefully a good setup guy....can be a good jump for the team and even better if/when Sharp and Bolland come back

 

[PatrickShart]

RK, is this more of a move for Bolland?

 

[genefoley]

By the way, I see this more as a Bolland related move, than Sharp, to be perfectly honest. Sounds like things aren't going well with his concussion...

I read somewhere that it is indeed a Bolland move. The article that I will try to find said that the move was in the works before Sharp went down.

 

[PatrickShart]

I think it'll be a great step for the kid too, playing in these types of games/then the playoffs.



Any success will be huge going into next year (and finally give the Hawks some depth at center if he's any good)

 

[Pez68]

Trial by fire is sometimes a good thing.

 

[R K]

I read somewhere that it is indeed a Bolland move. The article that I will try to find said that the move was in the works before Sharp went down.

I think both Sassone and Jahns said that this morning. That once they feared Bollands concussion was that serious they attempted to acquire Kruger.



I have been looking where I saw bolland was skating, but Bucky was right, he's not.

 

[Pez68]

I don't do the whole twitter thing, so I didn't see that.

 

[genefoley]

The deal to bring Kruger to Chicago was in motion prior to the loss of Patrick Sharp, who is sidelined indefinitely with a left knee injury suffered during the Hawks' 2-1 victory over the Coyotes on Sunday night. Kruger was contacted following the injury to Bolland, who is showing little progress in his recovery from a concussion suffered March 9.





http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/03/blackhawks-bring-in-center-kruger.html

"The deal to bring Kruger to Chicago was in motion prior to the loss of Patrick Sharp, who is sidelined indefinitely with a left knee injury suffered during the Hawks' 2-1 victory over the Coyotes on Sunday night. Kruger was contacted following the injury to Bolland, who is showing little progress in his recovery from a concussion suffered March 9."

 

[nana]

Reading between the lines, it sounds like this is a Bolland thing??

 

[Tater]

Reading between the lines, it sounds like this is a Bolland thing??

I'm not so sure about that.

I think it more closely relates to Bolland.