Marcus Kruger to play 2C ... for now.

[KBIB]

I'm getting this feeling, too. Think he's going to be trade bait in the offseason.

I don't think he even makes it to the off season. There is going to be some slow vet who hasn't won the Cup on the block that Bowman will get come deadline who will rise during the playoffs. I am thinking Cammalleri for some strange reason.

I see a very real possibility that Teravainen is playing 2C for the Hawks in the postseason. I think they may be bringing him across the ocean as soon as his season ends in Finland.

Just like Kruger. I think this was the plan the entire year.

And you can hold off on the hype train all you want, Capt. Serious, but I'm yet to come across someone who's watched Teuvo play and wasn't blown away by his skills. That includes a multitude of people who were raving about him during the recent World Juniors.

TT is the real deal. I cant wait until he gets here. But honestly, the hype is getting a bit high.

DMelt, what is your opinion on McNeil? Stop gap worthy?


13-3!!!

 

[DMelt36]

I don't think he even makes it to the off season. There is going to be some slow vet who hasn't won the Cup on the block that Bowman will get come deadline who will rise during the playoffs. I am thinking Cammalleri for some strange reason.

Just like Kruger. I think this was the plan the entire year.

TT is the real deal. I cant wait until he gets here. But honestly, the hype is getting a bit high.

DMelt, what is your opinion on McNeil? Stop gap worthy?


13-3!!!

The last time I saw McNeill play hockey as at the WJC last year. I liked what I saw there, but I couldn't really tell you much else because I haven't seen him play in Rockford at all. I'm encouraged by things I've read on him from Chris Block, though.

I think TT is going to have a real chance to shine, though, because he's likely to end up on the 2nd scoring line for the Hawks. Most of the attention will probably go to the top scoring line of 10/19/81 (assuming it stays together), so he's going to have some pretty favorable matchups.

 

[KBIB]

The last time I saw McNeill play hockey as at the WJC last year. I liked what I saw there, but I couldn't really tell you much else because I haven't seen him play in Rockford at all. I'm encouraged by things I've read on him from Chris Block, though.

Fair enough. From what I have seen from watching crappy feeds is a bigger Peca type with a bit more sand paper. Peca was one of my favorite players back in the day, so I might have a little tunnel vision. What I don't see, is speed or skating. Not Bickell in braces bad, but not Nick Leddy at all. Do you think, from your limited viewing, that he has the skating ability to keep up with Kane? Wait....didn't they try Saad at center? Problem solved.

I think TT is going to have a real chance to shine, though, because he's likely to end up on the 2nd scoring line for the Hawks. Most of the attention will probably go to the top scoring line of 10/19/81 (assuming it stays together), so he's going to have some pretty favorable matchups.

Kane and TT on the same line?



13-3!!!

 

[DMelt36]

Fair enough. From what I have seen from watching crappy feeds is a bigger Peca type with a bit more sand paper. Peca was one of my favorite players back in the day, so I might have a little tunnel vision. What I don't see, is speed or skating. Not Bickell in braces bad, but not Nick Leddy at all. Do you think, from your limited viewing, that he has the skating ability to keep up with Kane? Wait....didn't they try Saad at center? Problem solved.

Kane and TT on the same line?



13-3!!!

Assuming you bring TT over, here's how I'd line it up at forward

10-19-81
20-TT-88
29-65-23
16-26-28

Put Saad with the other two speedsters so that they have someone who can get the puck away from the opposition and get it into the hands of those two magicians. Saad also has the ability to finish if TT/88 set him up.

Personally, I'd like to see Shaw on a wing and bump Kruger up to that third line, but it seems like Q has him locked into that 3C role.

 

[Raskolnikov]

But Pirri was having a problem scoring while playing with Kane. That's the rub. Q expects either other world offensive production or slow footed mediocrity as the caveat to center Kane. I don't get it, but taking Kruger out of a spot where he actually excels to compensate Zeus and weaken a decent fourth line doesn't seem like a bright idea.
Agreed. This kid is gonna have the weight of the world on his shoulders soon enough.


13-3!!!

That is why I suggested putting Kane on the first line where he belongs.

Toews-Kane-Hossa always makes me blush and is a smart enough group to limit the defensive problems. That allows for

Sharp-Pirri-Saad which should have enough fireworks, and maybe

Bickell-Shaw-Kruger…

The problem is any combination involving Kane-Pirri is not going to have enough defensive IQ to limit the speed liability of Keith-Seabrook

 

[DMelt36]

That is why I suggested putting Kane on the first line where he belongs.

Toews-Kane-Hossa always makes me blush and is a smart enough group to limit the defensive problems. That allows for

Sharp-Pirri-Saad which should have enough fireworks, and maybe

Bickell-Shaw-Kruger…

The problem is any combination involving Kane-Pirri is not going to have enough defensive IQ to limit the speed liability of Keith-Seabrook

Kane and Hossa each play on the right side, though.

 

[KBIB]

That is why I suggested putting Kane on the first line where he belongs.

Agreed

Toews-Kane-Hossa always makes me blush and is a smart enough group to limit the defensive problems.

Agre...er, no. Hoss and Kaner both play RW. IDK if Hoss would be comfortable on the left outside of a shift or two.

That allows for Sharp-Pirri-Saad which should have enough fireworks, and maybe

I wouldn't be that comfortable with that line. Personally, I like having Saad on the third line. Its too much a mismatch not to exploit. I also think Sharp and Hoss need to stick together.

Bickell-Shaw-Kruger…

Which would leave Steeger on the fourth line?

I just don't understand putting a guy like Kruger into a situation that doesn't take advantage of his skill set. The guy is the perfect fourth line center, imo, I would keep him there.

The problem is any combination involving Kane-Pirri is not going to have enough defensive IQ to limit the speed liability of Keith-Seabrook

Wait, when did Duncan friggin Keith suddenly become a speed liability?


13-3!!!

 

[Captain Iago]

I'm getting this feeling, too. Think he's going to be trade bait in the offseason.

I see a very real possibility that Teravainen is playing 2C for the Hawks in the postseason. I think they may be bringing him across the ocean as soon as his season ends in Finland.

And you can hold off on the hype train all you want, Capt. Serious, but I'm yet to come across someone who's watched Teuvo play and wasn't blown away by his skills. That includes a multitude of people who were raving about him during the recent World Juniors.

I am not as optimistic as you. Q certainly has plenty of leeway in terms of job security, but TT as 2C in the playoffs with so few games played (at that point)? I don't see Q playing such a fresh kid there on the biggest stage. I think that totally goes against his trends; he prefers vets.

 

[Icculus]

So put Kane back on the first line with Toews and in my opinion, Pirri and Hossa would be a good match with Bickell while Toews/Kane/Saad is nasty

I'm all for putting Kane back on the top line, but you can't put Sharp on the second or third one, especially with the season he's having. This would be the top three line pairings if Q would stop playing favorites with Bollig and Zus.

Sharp-Toews-Kane
Saad-Pirri-Hossa
Bickell-Kruger-Versteeg

or

Sharp-Toews-Kane
Bickell-Pirrir-Hossa
Saad-Kruger-Versteeg

You have a good mixture of defensive and offensive guys with either lineup

 

[DMelt36]

I am not as optimistic as you. Q certainly has plenty of leeway in terms of job security, but TT as 2C in the playoffs with so few games played (at that point)? I don't see Q playing such a fresh kid there on the biggest stage. I think that totally goes against his trends; he prefers vets.

I don't necessarily think Teuvo would shrine in that role. That's a tough leap for anyone to make. But you can put him in a real, real good situation if you put him on the Hawks 2nd scoring line. He would see favorable matchups that way.

And I definitely agree with you on the assertion that Q prefers vets over rookies. See Morin, Jeremy and Pirri, Brandon.

But they also brought Kruger straight from Europe and into the NHL playoffs a few years back. It was tough sledding early, but Kruger has turned out to be a pretty good player.

The biggest question for Teuvo is how well he handles defensive responsibilities. That's what is keeping Pirri out of the lineup. The fact that Finland had Teuvo playing on the PK during the World Juniors suggests that he has, at least, a decent handle on defensive responsibilities.

 

[DMelt36]

I'm all for putting Kane back on the top line, but you can't put Sharp on the second or third one, especially with the season he's having. This would be the top three line pairings if Q would stop playing favorites with Bollig and Zus.

Sharp-Toews-Kane
Saad-Pirri-Hossa
Bickell-Kruger-Versteeg

or

Sharp-Toews-Kane
Bickell-Pirrir-Hossa
Saad-Kruger-Versteeg

You have a good mixture of defensive and offensive guys with either lineup

As long as Sharp stayed in the Top 6, I think that'd be fine.

I've seen this mentioned by many other people in the Hawks' blogosphere: if you're so worried about Pirri's defensive game, why not put him between some real good two players like Sharp, Saad, and/or Hossa to help him out?

 

[KBIB]

The biggest question for Teuvo is how well he handles defensive responsibilities. That's what is keeping Pirri out of the lineup. The fact that Finland had Teuvo playing on the PK during the World Juniors suggests that he has, at least, a decent handle on defensive responsibilities.

TT is actually respectable in his own zone. Yes, limited viewing on crappy streams I have playing on my tab, but from what I have seen hasn't been this black hole in his own zone.

Better then Pirri, not as good as Toews...nah, nowhere near Toews, who am I kidding. But TT isn't gonna lose you a game in his own zone, either. Quick, quick hands.


13-3!!!

 

[DMelt36]

TT is actually respectable in his own zone. Yes, limited viewing on crappy streams I have playing on my tab, but from what I have seen hasn't been this black hole in his own zone.

Better then Pirri, not as good as Toews...nah, nowhere near Toews, who am I kidding. But TT isn't gonna lose you a game in his own zone, either. Quick, quick hands.


13-3!!!

There was one play that stood out from the WJC, in my mind, reflective of that. It was such a small thing, too. He had the puck behind the net on the PK and with a quickness I don't have the words to accurately describe he moved the puck from his backhand, to his forehand, and made a perfect saucer pass to a defenseman who was then able to clear the zone.

Again, a small play. But indicative of his overall talent.

 

[icehogfan08]

I wouldn't be surprised if we get another "rental" center.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

And now for something entirely different, the lines at practice today:

Sharp-Toews-Hossa
Bickell-Kruger-Kane
Saad-Handzus-Versteeg
Bollig-Shaw-Smith

 

[DMelt36]

I wouldn't be surprised if we get another "rental" center.

That, too.

 

[DMelt36]

And now for something entirely different, the lines at practice today:

Sharp-Toews-Hossa
Bickell-Kruger-Kane
Saad-Handzus-Versteeg
Bollig-Shaw-Smith

Psst ... http://www.chicitysports.com/forum/showthread.php/45013-Big-shakeup-among-forward-combinations

:smoke:

 

[Diehardfan]

All this talk about defensive responsibility is fine, unfortunately not a whole lot of players on this team are being particularly responsible. I don't have the exact numbers but the Hawks have given up 25 or 30 more goals in roughly the same amount of games as last year. That's just under a goal a game difference. Some of that falls on the goalies, Crawford in particular, but a lot of it is poor coverage...not clearing the rebounds...forwards not coming all the way back, give aways and just general failures in team defense. If you use that for criteria of why Pirri is being held back, then he should be joined down in Rockford by a few others as well.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Thanks for the lesson guys. I am a long time Chicago sports fan and knowingly out of my area with hockey, been rooting for the Blackhawks since I was a little boy but realize I never understood it. Been learning a lot here and watching much more the last few years since we have been in playoffs consistently. I know that irks some "true" fans, which I get as a true Bears fan that never misses a game.

But we all know the difficulties of getting hockey coverage in america and I have lived more often out of chicago than in. Problems are not always as simple as who watches every game. I would love to if I had the time and the coverage.

 

[KBIB]

Thanks for the lesson guys. I am a long time Chicago sports fan and knowingly out of my area with hockey, been rooting for the Blackhawks since I was a little boy but realize I never understood it. Been learning a lot here and watching much more the last few years since we have been in playoffs consistently. I know that irks some "true" fans, which I get as a true Bears fan that never misses a game.

But we all know the difficulties of getting hockey coverage in america and I have lived more often out of chicago than in. Problems are not always as simple as who watches every game. I would love to if I had the time and the coverage.

Dude, you know an awful lot. Don't make yourself out as unknowledgeable when you know much more then some knobs here who recycle shit Eddie O says on the telecasts. **** the haters.

But....Duncan Keith is one of the fastest guys in the NHL. Since he is my favorite player, that is unforgivable.


13-3!!!