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They tried hard to lose after going up 3-0, but somehow they won.
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Entwhistle just put the bubble on notice.
Can War Orca do that?
Can War Orca do that?
Granada
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I really hope last night wasn't a precursor of what this team will be this year. We had the majority of our starting lineup in, yet our defense and penalty kill looked as atrocious as ever; and last night's game was too reminiscent of the Hawks of last year -- jumping off to a lead, yet squandering it and folding at the drop of a hat.
I wanted to strangle De Haan on a couple of Detroit's goals, particularly the 3rd goal if I remember right -- but then I realized: this is what you are going to get with this shitty new rule of zero tolerance cross-checking. De Haan really had no other option but to try to tie the guy's stick up, because he certainly wasn't going to try to cross-check him to the ice. D-men covering in front of the net are going to have an extremely hard time without being able to cross-check. I find it ridiculous that the NHL is so focused on "More Goals!" to appeal to average fans. You're certainly going to get more goals, but you're going to lose all those epic battles in front of the net that true fans always appreciated -- like the ones between Adam Foote and Keith Tkachuk, who would essentially murder each other in front of the net. Utterly sad, but hey, we get more goals now for the random poser fans who know shit about the sport, so all's good I guess. Okay, rant over.
Lastly, Foley mentioned that the hawks are going to have tryouts throughout the season with new play-by-play announcers filling in for him. He said that the fans can go to the Hawks' social media and let them know their favorites. I don't have social media of course, but I hope for those that do, you'll spam them with the obvious choice that Foley confirmed will be auditioning for the job: John Wiedeman. If Wiedeman doesn't get the job, I'll flip my shit.
I wanted to strangle De Haan on a couple of Detroit's goals, particularly the 3rd goal if I remember right -- but then I realized: this is what you are going to get with this shitty new rule of zero tolerance cross-checking. De Haan really had no other option but to try to tie the guy's stick up, because he certainly wasn't going to try to cross-check him to the ice. D-men covering in front of the net are going to have an extremely hard time without being able to cross-check. I find it ridiculous that the NHL is so focused on "More Goals!" to appeal to average fans. You're certainly going to get more goals, but you're going to lose all those epic battles in front of the net that true fans always appreciated -- like the ones between Adam Foote and Keith Tkachuk, who would essentially murder each other in front of the net. Utterly sad, but hey, we get more goals now for the random poser fans who know shit about the sport, so all's good I guess. Okay, rant over.
Lastly, Foley mentioned that the hawks are going to have tryouts throughout the season with new play-by-play announcers filling in for him. He said that the fans can go to the Hawks' social media and let them know their favorites. I don't have social media of course, but I hope for those that do, you'll spam them with the obvious choice that Foley confirmed will be auditioning for the job: John Wiedeman. If Wiedeman doesn't get the job, I'll flip my shit.
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Seems like Nylander is way down the chart (yay)
LordKOTL
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20% on the PK on the night. I think the PK'ers and the PK coaches need to take a cattle prod to the prostate for that performance...even if it's preseason. That's just bad.
We can only hope, but I still think he gets every chance to fail.
LordKOTL
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Good catch for the cross-checking angle. I spaced that cross-checking is now the worst thing player can do in hockey for this season.
I think now the onus on the d-men have to be to try to tie up the opposition and move them from the goalie's line-of-sight all while trying not to screen their own netminder. Plus I think here will need to be better communication between goalies and defenders. Maybe some goalies would prefer just dealing with an opposition screen as opposed to the clash of the titans tight in front of them.
But I do have to say that while DeHaan was frustrating, he's looked a bit better this preseason (at least in games where I've been able to watch) than he has in the past. He's still got a ways to go before he's a 4.5M D-man, but it's a step in the right direction.
Granada
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Snipped to address specific point: I don't disagree, but this is going to be all but impossible for any D-man to move a player from a stand-still. The new rule is really tying the d-mens' hands behind their backs. Without any momentum, they can't eliminate an opposing player in front of the net without the cross-check, so their only option is to tie up the stick. This new rule essentially allows offenses to simply post-up in front of the net at all times now with zero consequences. Even if a D-man tries to shoulder an offensive player away from the net, it won't be hard for the offensive player to simply spin off and regain his ground.
I understand your point about some goalies wanting to deal with the opposition themselves as opposed to being screened by their own defender, but to me, that's not a viable option. Leaving a man completely uncovered near the crease is just not an option; you're going to need a defender on him in some way, shape, or form.
True, De Haan's looked better than last year, if that's saying much. Did he say he played the majority of last year with a broken leg? That's impossible. It probably wasn't as serious as that. Anyways, I've really liked McCabe so far, he hasn't been perfect, but he's been the best D-man in the preseason so far in my view.
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I hope the Hawks forwards have been ordered to take advantage of this new rule and camp in front of the net more often. I haven't seen enough of that yet this pre-season.
I don't like the rule at all, but other teams will be taking advantage of it and the Hawks better do the same.
Andrew Shaw was ahead of his time, he'd thrive in this environment.
I don't like the rule at all, but other teams will be taking advantage of it and the Hawks better do the same.
Andrew Shaw was ahead of his time, he'd thrive in this environment.
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The defense wasn't great, but really it came down to just the atrocious PK. If that was even halfway worth a shit last night it ends 5-2 and we're probably not as grouchy. I think no matter how many starters were in last night it's still preseason, AND many of them haven't played with each other so their is no chemistry yet. I think ones the lineup is changed it's still going to take a bit of time to gel, hopefully though the offense can hang on long enough to not put them in too big a hole to start the season that they can't dig out.
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I know this is from last weekend, but this is going to be the interesting storyline for me this season. He's done this enough that I'm find for practice, but I'm curious if he will have longer "medical maintenance" periods, or even take games off.
www.nhl.com
MEDICAL UPDATE: Toews Out for Maintenance Day Saturday | Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks captain will not practice on Saturday, Oct. 2
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RELEASE: Blackhawks Announce Broadcast and Content Team for 2021-22 | Chicago Blackhawks
Full roster of play-by-play broadcasters and personalities announced for upcoming season
Granada
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Foley actually said that he prefers a particular person to fill his spot. He might have said Alan Fuerhing -- I can't remember the exact name he said now, but I found it curious, considering he just mentioned Wiedeman would be one filling in and he wasn't the one Foley wanted to fill his shoes. I love Foley, but it pissed me off that he'd say anyone else but John. Wiedeman would be perfect and the guy's paid his dues on radio all these years -- it's an absolute no-brainer, and if the Hawks do hire anyone else, it would be an even worse move than Chelios Heritage Night.RELEASE: Blackhawks Announce Broadcast and Content Team for 2021-22 | Chicago Blackhawks
Full roster of play-by-play broadcasters and personalities announced for upcoming seasonwww.nhl.com
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Can you put your stick in one hand and forearm shiver a guy out of crease?
I always thought the cross checking was a bit extreme in goal mouth, like giants beating on Vancouvers teenage Petterson with a stick blindsided, is over the top, but some guys like Cat and Petterson and Jack Hughes are going to destroy everyone if they can more freely skate now.
Kane for that matter, should consider what this means for his style of play.
I always thought the cross checking was a bit extreme in goal mouth, like giants beating on Vancouvers teenage Petterson with a stick blindsided, is over the top, but some guys like Cat and Petterson and Jack Hughes are going to destroy everyone if they can more freely skate now.
Kane for that matter, should consider what this means for his style of play.
RacerX
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Just picked up tickets for #88's 1,000th game on 10/21, stoked to fly into Chi for my first home game in 7 years! Also, I hope to NOT see Nolander on the ice btw.
Granada
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Technically yes, as long as you stay away from the head area -- but good luck trying to do that from essentially a stand-still against a 180-200 pound forward who is strong as hell on his skates.
Even with this change, you will not see Kane or Debrincat post-up in front of the net now. It will benefit a guy like Toews and guys who already provide screens, but it's not going to magically turn skill-guys into net-front-presence guys.
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I consider El Gato and Big Johnson net front presence guys despite their size...they love to poach and have the fastest stick in the west when there is a loose puck.
I'm sure avoiding the damage of 65 games of cross checking your spine will absolutely mean more fly bys and post-ups and goals across the league.
Granada
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Johnson, yeah. Cat, no.
I always laugh when people just assume anyone can be a successful net-front presence guy. It doesn't work like that. Ask John Scott, who actually was huge, but still sucked at it; hence why that experiment was short-lived. It's a skill. It will benefit the guys already doing it and it will greatly hinder d-men, but it won't magically make everyone a crease guy.
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Well I think it helps Cat as much as anyone in the league, because he likes to go there, has a quick draw, has Kane on his other wing, and will no longer be as discouraged from going there. He's squatty and while you can still push him, I'm not sure you can really hurt the guy as much without the stick.
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I suspect like most NHL player protection, they will enforce early, slowly let it go, and come playoffs allow on ice killings once again.