TGDT: 10/29 Oilers @ Blackhawks 7:30PM CSN

[roshinaya]

I really hope it's not Bolland's back, I don't want it to be another Daze-esque chapter. If he's injured then that could explain his lackluster performance so far. Who would be called up if he's out for some time? Hawks seriously lack center depth and the big team is already full with guys that are questionable contributors.

 

[R K]

I hope it's not Bollands back too. Daze being the prime example. Not to mention Bollands Salary and like you said, absolutely no depth at C. Probably our weakest position going into this season.

 

[the canadian dream]

Shutters in fear.



Would explain why Bolland doesn't look like Bolland out there. At least when he wasn't scoring last year or the years before he would at least be playing a pest roll here and there. Just haven't seen it.



I love Bolly but yah he just hasn't been the Bolly I love.

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

Did I mention Kane was high sticked in the face causing blood and a few stitches to his nose and there was no DOUBLE MINOR? Oh yea I think I did.



Could their be a worse pair of officials working the same game than Auger, the one players call out as calling games bias, and McCreary? Could there be? That first period they were brutal.

These 2 are at the top of my "worst in the league list" ! The officiating is'nt why we lost this game, but in my opinion the officiating in the NHL is the worst in all of professional sports, we aren't the only team getting HorseShit calls. Are all of the missed/bad calls explained by the speed of the game, maybe but I've never heard it mentioned before if the NHL has a grading system for the officiating crews, ( IT AINT WORKING ). From the inconsistency of the leagues bias in handing out fines and suspensions, to the inept officiating it needs to be fixed. Does'nt it start with Colon (intentional misspell) Campbell, him and his staff need to go and be replaced with some new blood, Something Count Chocula will never do.

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

Its still early with a lot of hockey to go, our core group of players meshing with the new guys is going to take time. Last night I thought Stalberg had some great shifts cycling the puck around while playing on the Toews line. As far as the players up from Rockford, Skille is my biggest disappointment. It still might be to early to tell but I think we've seen his game and thats all we'll ever see from him. He skates around and gets in good position at times and makes a decent play now and then, but as far as him specifically showing any offensive skills (where are they) I don't know how much longer you wait. If he does'nt show more offence in the next 10 games or so it may be ByBy Jack time. Considering some of the young talent still in Rockford who in my opinion have much more upside than he does. He's been waiting for his chance in the big show, nows the time for him to prove he belongs!!

 

[Kerfuffle]

Watching last night's debacle I got the uneasy feeling this could be a very loooong season. This team does not look good at all. Our biggest difference from last year is puck possession - it just seems we never control the puck anymore and still have trouble clearing it out of our end. Don't know what the solution is but this clearly isn't the right mix of guys.

 

[FlaHawkFan]

Shutters in fear.



Would explain why Bolland doesn't look like Bolland out there. At least when he wasn't scoring last year or the years before he would at least be playing a pest roll here and there. Just haven't seen it.



I love Bolly but yah he just hasn't been the Bolly I love.

C'mon, TCD, the answer is obvious -- it's the hair!



Really, though, Bolland is playing the way he did at the beginning of last season when his back was ailing. He's invisible, he's terrible at face-offs. That's not Bolland, at least not good Bolland. I hope I'm wrong and that it's something else but it's got me a bit worried.



As for last night's game, and the season in general . . . I'll parrot RK. I simply cannot get too upset. Those guys last year gave "me" (yeah, right, but you know what I mean) a championship I thought I might never see. That was an utterly magical team, so tight, all on the same page. They won it for each other. You can't hope to replicate that when you lose half your team and the greatness of the team was based so much on its chemistry. So I expected a very slow start. I'm not sure the bottom of the current d-corp will ever be enough, but I see some promise in guys like Stalberg and Skille (who is absolutely working his ASS off this season and is making me appreciate him more than I ever thought I would). I think they'll eventually get it together this season, albeit nowhere close to last season. And in the next couple of seasons (after they get Ladd back, LOL) I see them making some more serious Cup runs.



So sure, I want them to win, but expecting them to do as well as last year is probably unrealistic. But they did give us last year,

 

[Sathington Willoby]

This is one of those games that I just take a deep breath and file it under "shit happens." Even with all the crap plays, crap officiating, and crap luck, I still felt like we had a shot to come back and win it. Luckily, they get right back on the horse to play tonight.

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

C'mon, TCD, the answer is obvious -- it's the hair!



Really, though, Bolland is playing the way he did at the beginning of last season when his back was ailing. He's invisible, he's terrible at face-offs. That's not Bolland, at least not good Bolland. I hope I'm wrong and that it's something else but it's got me a bit worried.



As for last night's game, and the season in general . . . I'll parrot RK. I simply cannot get too upset. Those guys last year gave "me" (yeah, right, but you know what I mean) a championship I thought I might never see. That was an utterly magical team, so tight, all on the same page. They won it for each other. You can't hope to replicate that when you lose half your team and the greatness of the team was based so much on its chemistry. So I expected a very slow start. I'm not sure the bottom of the current d-corp will ever be enough, but I see some promise in guys like Stalberg and Skille (who is absolutely working his ASS off this season and is making me appreciate him more than I ever thought I would). I think they'll eventually get it together this season, albeit nowhere close to last season. And in the next couple of seasons (after they get Ladd back, LOL) I see them making some more serious Cup runs.



So sure, I want them to win, but expecting them to do as well as last year is probably unrealistic. But they did give us last year,

I agree Skille is working very hard and I like that part of his game. So far he has'nt contributed much on the offensive end. He has 0 goals and 2 assists Maybe he's still getting a feel for the NHL, but even as a 4th line guy you'd expect a little more scoring. If he does'nt do something in the next 10 games he's wasting a roster spot.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

Guys and gals, I for one would be the first one to throw the Hawks under the bus after losses, not because I hate them but because I hate to see them lose. After a loss like yesterday against the Oilers, I realized how hard it is filling someone elses skates. you are telling me that you all expected them to be much better then this coming into the season. I think that great start raised some eyebrows and we all thought that this team never lost a touch, games like this are going to happen every now and then, and its going to happen again. I have taken this year as a tryout year for next year. We make playoffs this year then great. The single most important element this team doesn't have that last years did is puck possession, this is brought up in previous posts. The cycling around the net, that usally lead to a tired D and we would get awarded a powerplay, not there. I think this hawks team is reverted back to three years ago, the team that bearly missed the playoffs. So thats why I think in the heart of hearts, Q knows this is a try out season for the stanley cup push next year. Now I could be wrong and they start winning like crazy after Soups and Hoss come back. We shall see, And oh yes it is still way to early to tell. Go hawks!

 

[Kerfuffle]

Guys and gals, I for one would be the first one to throw the Hawks under the bus after losses, not because I hate them but because I hate to see them lose. After a loss like yesterday against the Oilers, I realized how hard it is filling someone elses skates. you are telling me that you all expected them to be much better then this coming into the season. I think that great start raised some eyebrows and we all thought that this team never lost a touch, games like this are going to happen every now and then, and its going to happen again. I have taken this year as a tryout year for next year. We make playoffs this year then great. The single most important element this team doesn't have that last years did is puck possession, this is brought up in previous posts. The cycling around the net, that usally lead to a tired D and we would get awarded a powerplay, not there. I think this hawks team is reverted back to three years ago, the team that bearly missed the playoffs. So thats why I think in the heart of hearts, Q knows this is a try out season for the stanley cup push next year. Now I could be wrong and they start winning like crazy after Soups and Hoss come back. We shall see, And oh yes it is still way to early to tell. Go hawks!

Totally agree - well said. It will be a long season and we will be battling just to get in the playoffs. This is not the right mix. Next year we will have several million more in cap room to maneuver with since the bonus penalties will be off the books. And you are right this is the 07-08 team all over again.

 

[R K]

Guys and gals, I for one would be the first one to throw the Hawks under the bus after losses, not because I hate them but because I hate to see them lose. After a loss like yesterday against the Oilers, I realized how hard it is filling someone elses skates. you are telling me that you all expected them to be much better then this coming into the season. I think that great start raised some eyebrows and we all thought that this team never lost a touch, games like this are going to happen every now and then, and its going to happen again. I have taken this year as a tryout year for next year. We make playoffs this year then great. The single most important element this team doesn't have that last years did is puck possession, this is brought up in previous posts. The cycling around the net, that usally lead to a tired D and we would get awarded a powerplay, not there. I think this hawks team is reverted back to three years ago, the team that bearly missed the playoffs. So thats why I think in the heart of hearts, Q knows this is a try out season for the stanley cup push next year. Now I could be wrong and they start winning like crazy after Soups and Hoss come back. We shall see, And oh yes it is still way to early to tell. Go hawks!

I disagree. I think this team is missing it's top scorer, their #1 puck possession D man, and their 3rd line Center. You add that to what already left Cap Wise, and the new faces just now starting to Gel some, IE Stalberg, Dowell, and you have what we saw last night.



Anyone think with Hossa and Campbell and even a healthy Boland we get behind the 8 ball like we did last night? I don't think so.



This team is what it is. A bunch of guys, missing TOP players, trying to find an identity. The biggest factor all along that was lost was Chemistry. Most of us said it as the SC players were flying off the Roster during the Cap. What you see right now, other than bodies missing due to injury, is chemistry. Primarily on the lower 1/2 D.



I would say you also miss the physicality although Seabrook did have 8 hits last night, he can't do it alone. Buff and Ladd added 4-5 hits per night themselves. You need the physicality to maintain possession.

 

[puckjim]

Assuming that Bolland is out for a long period of time, what happens then?



Do we stare up at the Stanley Cup banner and hope that Kopecky is the answer?



It's only the regular season, which is nothing but a long training camp. But I wonder what would the plan be to fill skates.



I guess that answer would depend on how long he is out, je suppose.

 

[R K]

Assuming that Bolland is out for a long period of time, what happens then?



Do we stare up at the Stanley Cup banner and hope that Kopecky is the answer?



It's only the regular season, which is nothing but a long training camp. But I wonder what would the plan be to fill skates.



I guess that answer would depend on how long he is out, je suppose.

The only route they would have would be to LTIR Bolland and try and find a center through trade. There is no Cap space for anything else as long as Bolland is on the Roster. We have no depth at C.



Very good point Whaler brought up with Reasoner. Who they had no choice but to trade, as he'd have never cleared waivers and they'd have lost him for nothing.



Appears Wilson did **** the team with that offer to Hjarlmarsson. That extra mil could have afforded keeping Reasoner.

 

[Drdudz]

Yah they do. Lots of energy on that young team too. Very fun team to watch right now and yes a few players and years away they could make some noise.



So Hossa's shoulder isn't exactly "repaired" is it?



And why is Khabi not happy? Fraser I can see but Khabi is 2 years ago. He hasn't got over it has he?

Watching Hossa play prior to this injury clearly shows his shoulder WAS repaired with last year's surgery. This hit/fall on same shoulder is coincidental and the projected 2 weeks off is the best news of a bad situation IMO.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Being occupied with other things, I didn't have 100% focus on the game... what did I miss with Bolland?

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

These 2 are at the top of my "worst in the league list" ! The officiating is'nt why we lost this game, but in my opinion the officiating in the NHL is the worst in all of professional sports, we aren't the only team getting HorseShit calls. Are all of the missed/bad calls explained by the speed of the game, maybe but I've never heard it mentioned before if the NHL has a grading system for the officiating crews, ( IT AINT WORKING ). From the inconsistency of the leagues bias in handing out fines and suspensions, to the inept officiating it needs to be fixed. Does'nt it start with Colon (intentional misspell) Campbell, him and his staff need to go and be replaced with some new blood, Something Count Chocula will never do.

NBA officials are WAYYYYYY worse.



Just one example I can give is the Bulls vs the Thunder the other night.



HOME TEAM OKC: 47 Free Throws

AWAY TEAM CHI: 22 Free Throws



It happens like that (maybe not as extreme) almost every time for the Home team.

 

[Drdudz]

Over the summer, a lot of guys were traded and perhaps not enough. I just think the bottom half of the roster lacks talent and falls short of what a good team needs depth wise, especially when most of the stars and veterans are (right now) a shadow of their previous selves. Next year, we get that 4 mill cap bonus back, and perhaps the cap goes up a mill, but my thinking is that the Hawks really need to dump about $7.14 in cap space to address the depth issues. You cant win the Cup with a roster that is 50% AHL players or NHL rejects. As far as the other half, something is needed to wake them up big time. It will happen, i just have no idea when.



-5Minutes

[/quote]



Spot on with the "Soupy 7" veiled cap hit reference! That's a ton of roster value tied up in a long-term, over-valued player (he's tolerable under $4.5M, maybe). I don't argue his talents but the cap hit is suffocating the ability to improve the team with one or two NHL-proven additions sorely needed. Does anyone wanna keep BC at $7.14M for 5+ more years??? You can't keep him AND expect to improve the roster. We see that now even considering injuries. I like BC's game, but gotta go at that price if takers.



It's all about the Indianhead, not the redhead.

 

[PatrickShart]

It would be nice to see Hjarllmarsson play like a 3.5mil dollar defenceman....not just some guy that "cashed" in. For Cullimore and Boynton getting ripped as much as they are (making 500K and playing a bigger role than expected).....Hjarlmarsson is a -8. Hawks completely outplayed them - the goaltending really was bad (happens). When the Hawks were "coming back"....Crawford comes in and gives up a very weak goal to Jones.



Bolland and his back? If there were concerns, they should have moved him in the off-season when he was "healthy". I missed the 3rd - was he benched or did he leave the bench hurt? I never was his biggest fan....but thats just me.



I still dont think its the new guys that are to blame Skille's been hitting everything, playing balls out...Stalberg's getting better as he's playing more. Dowell's playing his role fine. Wasnt Brouwer torn up his first year where he only had 10g ...and people whined he's too slow, etc.? There's been improvements in their games and they'll have highs and lows. The only new guy that I think has been regressing has been Bickell. Someone said he's looked drunk out there...and watching him closely - I agree. He's be the one guy I'd like to see sit and Makarov replace. (Well.....Bolland actually, be he's a center).



3 things that I think have been missing - the puck possesion, DZone....and the biggest thing is the puck support has not been there. A couple things can/will solve this. Practice and game play. 10 games in the first 17 days - I gurantee, there wasnt much practice time. Pregame skates and actual practices are 2 different things and with this many new guys, some practice time and teaching - or the lack of time - doesnt help.



I think its funny....how people would just tear into Campbell for his own zone play....and now being "begged" to come back to shore it up. This was Toews' best game I thought.



Anyway...rant over....

 

[LordKOTL]

...and, to add one that Tazer himself used...This team just doesn't hate to lose enough. Personally, i think it's not just all the players, but the coaches as well.



Though, I will say this, Out off Scott/Boynton/Culli/Hendry, at least it looks like Hendry and Culli are *trying* to do some good despite the lack of skill. Let's not forget Hendry drew 2 penalties.



Right now for our bottom paring, it's obvious that it's going to be more of a filler line than what it was last year...so give it to the guys that are actually trying to do something. Slack off, you're in the press box.



Also, I wish Q would grow a pair and if someone plays outright horrendously, do what he did to Kane and Buff when they were playing bad. Bench him.