Sharp's injury/Ben Smith recalled

[BlackHawkPaul]

It amazes me how different players are judged by different criteria. People are always quick to criticize Kaner when he isn't playing at the level they think he should. But other players get cut all kinds of slack like Hossa and Johnny. There are never any implications of substance abuse or mental issues or late nights when they are crapping it up big time and not producing. It's always "they are just going through a slump and will come out of it." Most of the time those two look good because Kaner's play makes it possible for them to score. I just think he gets judged way too harshly as do some of the other players. I could understand why he might be depressed the way he gets moved around like a ping pong ball. Personally, I would pick Kaner to be on my team over the other two any day of the week.

Well, that's you--and you're welcome to your opinion.

We all know each of them are their own respective piece of the puzzle.

Now, go get Getzlaf.

 

[PatrickShart]

Bri....I agree with you.



Toews and Kane are 1a and 1b (in either order) over anyone else and won't be going anywhere.

 

[bri]

Well, that's you--and you're welcome to your opinion.

We all know each of them are their own respective piece of the puzzle.

Now, go get Getzlaf.

No, apparently I'm not. Isn't that the point you are trying to make.

 

[the canadian dream]

Not slamming Kane at all. I think we all have seen a different Kane these last few weeks than the Kane we saw to start the season. It's worth bringing up questions of injury or frustration that may be effecting Kanes game. Slumps don't feel like what Kane is going through right now. His skating is different if you ask me..that power stride isn't there right now. Too me that screams a player being bothered by a discomfort of some sorts. He has also been having issues with some sharp turns the last few games. I may be 100% incorrect who knows. But that "feel" right now isn't there and it hasn't been there for a while now. Q's bouncing ball game hasn't helped either.



Anyways back to Sharp. This injury sounds sucky. Really gives me added LW concerns as i am sure it does everyone else. I'm shitting my pants just a little bit over the news.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Out 3-4 weeks... OUCH and it's a wrist injury, not too sure how easy that is come back from.

 

[howcho]

I finally had to put your sig on ignore TCD

I am not beating on Kane, I am just wondering aloud what might have him off his game. I agree with TCD that he just does not seem the same, (although the shoot out goal was nice)



His entire game is just off a bit, skating passing and scoring.

 

[howcho]

Gonna be tough sledding without Sharp.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Time to go get Bobby Ryan!!!!!

 

[the canadian dream]

Should have traded Kane for Turris when we could have.

 

[Tater]

Should have traded Kane for Turris when we could have.

Yeah, at least he fights (Briere).

 

[sth]

Should have traded Kane for Turris when we could have.

Too bad Turris sucks. Kane still owns that bum no matter what.

 

[PatrickShart]

Kane needs to go back to rehab like when he was there this summer

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

Looking at their schedule, I think they have many winnable games. I think they will show case some more youth and go from there. But I do think this injury to Sharp may put their foot on the trade peddle. I see us losing only two other games this month to be ok finishing Jan. Getzlalf would be great, but don't think Murry is not going to want a star player not just Frolik and no show Bicks, hell even if you do throw in prospects. Sorry it just ain'y happing. Best possible move I see is Gleason and some one else like Ruutu.

 

[roshinaya]

That's too bad about Sharp. He was having a good year and was probably going to beat last seasons points. This just means that the rest of the team needs to step up, something they have not been able to do this month or pretty much the whole season, despite their record. This will be a true test of character, can they do it?

 

[the canadian dream]

Looking at their schedule, I think they have many winnable games. I think they will show case some more youth and go from there. But I do think this injury to Sharp may put their foot on the trade peddle. I see us losing only two other games this month to be ok finishing Jan. Getzlalf would be great, but don't think Murry is not going to want a star player not just Frolik and no show Bicks, hell even if you do throw in prospects. Sorry it just ain'y happing. Best possible move I see is Gleason and some one else like Ruutu.

I think I see a tougher schedule than you. Esp now with this added injury.



Wings

Sharks

Preds two times

Canucks



That's 5 hard games right there.



The panthers game is going to be tough.



Wild aren't push overs even though they have fallen down to earth a little



Sabres? Depends what Sabres team shows up



And the BlueJackets...honestly this is the only real "easy" team. And with the new coach there who knows how they play tomorrow.



Right now I would be thrilled coming out of the rest of the month at .500. I think that could be difficult the way things are going.

 

[roshinaya]

My initial feeling of January being a long month might come true. With the recent struggles an injury to Sharp is not what this team needed.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

My initial feeling of January being a long month might come true. With the recent struggles an injury to Sharp is not what this team needed.

-Character is built under pressure- and thats not from a fortune cookie.

 

[Ton]

Coach Joel Quenneville, among other players, won't dwell on the fact that Patrick Sharp is out for 3-4 weeks with an upper-body injury.



In fact, he feels as if it will force the team to tighten things up, fix some areas of their game and welcomes the adversity. The challenge isn't new for Joel Quenneville, who coached the Blackhawks to their four Stanley Cup in 2010 and saw Adam Burish (64 MGL), Dave Bolland (43), Marian Hossa, (25), Brian Campbell (14) all miss significant time among others.



"(Sharp's) certainly had a good first half for us, but I just think we need to pay better attention to detail, play tighter and we might get more offense," Quenneville said. "When we think we've got to outscore teams and everybody's got to manufacture offense is when we expose ourselves."



Corey Crawford welcomed the challenge as well and plans on getting on the right track moving forward.



"Our scoring's so spread out that, obviously we'll miss him, but we've got a lot of other guys who can do the job, too," Crawford said. "It's the second half of the season (now). The first half we had 52 points, so we've just got to focus on this next half and keep playing our game. It's hard to stay in first place all year long. There's not too many teams that do that. When (you drop), it just makes you play harder to get back up there."



The rookies get a longer look at an opportunity to stay in the NHL, the type of challenge that rookie Andrew Shaw relishes. Shaw, drafted last year in the 5th round of the 2011 draft, scored his first NHL goal on his first official shot against the Flyers on January 5th. The energy he has provided has proven to be a comparable replacement for Dan Carcillo and should continue to get an opportunity to prove himself.



"Anyone's misfortune is somebody else's opportunity to prove themselves that they can also be in this League," said Shaw, "It's an opportunity for us to prove ourselves. It's a misfortune for (Sharp), but if we go out there and keep working, good things will happen."



With Sharp unavailable, this may pave the way for Marcus Kruger to return to the line-up sooner rather than later. The young center skated in an optional practice with the team on 1/8/12 but is not-likely to return against the Jackets on Tuesday with Ben Smith getting the call-up.



Smith, 23, already appeared in 7 games for the Blackhawks this season, scoring 1 goal and no assists coupled with a minus-6 rating. Most of his ice-time this season has come with Michael Frolik and Dave Bolland.



Click here to view the article

 

[jakobeast]

We need a LW now?



Bickell for Ruutu.

 

[xatruio]

hell fucking yes, i still like Bickell despite his pretty poor sophomore season, but for Ruutu i'd give up on him in a heartbeat.



Frolik (plus a pick?) for Ruutu is more realistic in my opinon, though.