TGDT: 10/30 Hawks @ Wild 7:00PM WGN

[Ton]

Exactly. And knowing he's been playing questionable since about oh, game one, that's yet another issue the team has incurred, but the same issue they incurred around this exact time last year.



If Campbell returns healthy some time this week, by the look of their record, I'd say they over came the injury. Struggled at times no doubt, but still did not flop points wise.



I am confident they'll over come them all.

Could of been worse, I suppose. I don't even want to get into the issues on the back-end... all I will say is I'm glad Keith/Seabrook have played much better lately.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Very good team defense game last night. Good to see that and hopefully the team can build in it. Smith and Potulny looked none to shabby either.



A very decent number of 'Hawks fans at the game. Had some good wild fans around us, and an usher that was rapid at not allowing people to their seats during play. I commended him on it and asked if he would be willing to move to Chicago and work the UC in our section. LOL.

 

[Shoots_he_scores]

Why is everyone complaining? Were in first place in our division and have not put our best team on the ice yet, Turco has been a stud behind a depleted defensive core, our leading scorer is out, Kane Toews Keith and Seabrook haven't played their best hockey yet but regardless were still atop our division. Maybe I'm just a glass half full kind of guy but all things considered we should only get better as the year moves along, people need to step back from the ledge a bit.

 

[TJD]

Shit, Arkhipov and Hamilton must have been top 6 forwards too then!



I agree with Ton on this, I'm less impressed almost losing to a team who will be selecting in the top 3 in June. I agree a win is a win but by god is this team sloppy.



Campbell coming back will definitely help our breakout, but to expect our defense to all of a sudden start letting up less goals and shots is a bit asinine. Campbell, after watching him for a few seasons now, is not a great defensive defense men. If I even remember correctly, some of the "wait for Campbell" posters were some who used to complain about his d ability in years past.



At this point, you might as well bring up Morin and have him play on the top two lines and bump Kopecky down to the third line with Bolland and either Skille or Stahlberg. Get Pisani off the 3rd line, he's a one man chemistry destroyer. It's great that he can play the PK, but if our 3rd line is being used for a two way game, put someone on their that can play an actual two way game instead of pure defense. Then again, Bolland would probably be off that line as well, but I'm not going to open that can of worms.

 

[R K]

Shit, Arkhipov and Hamilton must have been top 6 forwards too then!



I agree with Ton on this, I'm less impressed almost losing to a team who will be selecting in the top 3 in June. I agree a win is a win but by god is this team sloppy.



Campbell coming back will definitely help our breakout, but to expect our defense to all of a sudden start letting up less goals and shots is a bit asinine. Campbell, after watching him for a few seasons now, is not a great defensive defense men. If I even remember correctly, some of the "wait for Campbell" posters were some who used to complain about his d ability in years past.



At this point, you might as well bring up Morin and have him play on the top two lines and bump Kopecky down to the third line with Bolland and either Skille or Stahlberg. Get Pisani off the 3rd line, he's a one man chemistry destroyer. It's great that he can play the PK, but if our 3rd line is being used for a two way game, put someone on their that can play an actual two way game instead of pure defense. Then again, Bolland would probably be off that line as well, but I'm not going to open that can of worms.

I suppose you could bring up Morin if he was healthy enough to hit the ice.

As for the bolded really? You serious? Campbell back will allow Hjarmarsson to get some consistency, Seabrook and Keith less ice time and most importantly help the Hawks puck possession game.



Not sure what could possibly make you think that won't help the other defenders that I specifically mentioned in a serious way.



That statement is a bit assinine LOL!

 

[TJD]

I suppose you could bring up Morin if he was healthy enough to hit the ice.

As for the bolded really? You serious? Campbell back will allow Hjarmarsson to get some consistency, Seabrook and Keith less ice time and most importantly help the Hawks puck possession game.



Not sure what could possibly make you think that won't help the other defenders that I specifically mentioned in a serious way.



That statement is a bit assinine LOL!

No, with Campbell coming back, Hammer will have to play even better defense as he's going to get caught on odd man rushes more.



Did realize Morin was hurt. Either way when healthy bring his ass up.



I agree on the puck possession, but Campbell again is not the answer to the defense. He'll help them out, but they need to start playing better as an entire unit.

 

[R K]

No, with Campbell coming back, Hammer will have to play even better defense as he's going to get caught on odd man rushes more.



Did realize Morin was hurt. Either way when healthy bring his ass up.



I agree on the puck possession, but Campbell again is not the answer to the defense. He'll help them out, but they need to start playing better as an entire unit.

I disagree 100%. He'll bring stability to the D and ALLOW them to improve their game. Especially Hjarlmarsson and Keith.

 

[TJD]

I disagree 100%. He'll bring stability to the D and ALLOW them to improve their game. Especially Hjarlmarsson and Keith.

I guess the only way to tell is when he comes back and we see those results.

 

[TJD]

I disagree 100%. He'll bring stability to the D and ALLOW them to improve their game. Especially Hjarlmarsson and Keith.

I also want to bring up the fact though, that Keith needs to quit coughing up the puck. I'd like him to lead a category in the NHL, but Give Aways (20 in 13 games) is not that category.



Hammer being a -8? Campbell is not going to improve Hammer's defensive play. While Hammer might have a weaker partner with him on the ice, his play has been unspectacular so far.



Again, I realize it's early, but here are two things the coaching staff obviously know and hopefully are working on improvement wise.

 

[R K]

I also want to bring up the fact though, that Keith needs to quit coughing up the puck. I'd like him to lead a category in the NHL, but Give Aways (20 in 13 games) is not that category.



Hammer being a -8? Campbell is not going to improve Hammer's defensive play. While Hammer might have a weaker partner with him on the ice, his play has been unspectacular so far.



Again, I realize it's early, but here are two things the coaching staff obviously know and hopefully are working on improvement wise.

Bullshit Campbell is not going to let Hjarlmarsson relax. Instead of his partner who now flubs the puck, Campbell will have 5 times the puck possession time. Hjralmarsson will touch the puck MUCH LESS than he does now.



You can't be serious.

 

[R K]

I guess the only way to tell is when he comes back and we see those results.

Yup. Or go off how they played ALL LAST YEAR as a reference.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Anyways the game of epic proportions GDT is up.

 

[Ton]

Hammer has been awful, so bad that Boynton has been our #3 defenseman so far this year.

 

[Variable]

It still kills me Skille is stuck on the 4th line. Yeah it's good having a productive 4th line, but how about seeing what he can do with some more time on the ice and with some more skilled players? I'd love to see what he can do with Sharp or Kane. With Hossa out it can't possibly hurt to see what he can do. I thought the whole point of him being up here in the first place was that he wouldn't be a fourth liner. That it wouldn't be fully utilizing his potential. Well, what are they waiting for?



I mean, people are talking about that third player on Toews/Kane or Sharp/Hossa is there for how hard he works and the effort he gives, you can argue Skille is more worthy of that than anyone else. Every time he's on the ice, you can tell, he's trying to do everything he can.

 

[TJD]

Bullshit Campbell is not going to let Hjarlmarsson relax. Instead of his partner who now flubs the puck, Campbell will have 5 times the puck possession time. Hjralmarsson will touch the puck MUCH LESS than he does now.



You can't be serious.

I couldn't careless if Hammer touches the puck. Keeping the puck out of the net and playing solid defense is his job. He hasn't been able to do that yet this season. Having Campbell back is not going to boost Hammer individual play. As you said it will mean we have more possession of the puck but it won't make Hammer play better. That's his problem he needs to fix on his own.

 

[LordKOTL]

I think what RK was getting at is that Hammer plays more of a support role rather than the go-to guy role. With Campbell our he's been forced to play the go-to guy role which is not his game, and as such his play has suffered.



With Campbell back, he should be able to focus more on his game.

 

[winos5]

Lots of posters whining about the depth of the club. Keep in mind that last season we had the same concerns early (one injury at center or defense away from despair) and some how morphed into the deepest team in the NHL when they were hoisting Lord Stanley's cup. I think this team remains very deep in talent though there is no doubt Buff and Ladd would look good in the Indainhead right about now.

 

[R K]

I think what RK was getting at is that Hammer plays more of a support role rather than the go-to guy role. With Campbell our he's been forced to play the go-to guy role which is not his game, and as such his play has suffered.



With Campbell back, he should be able to focus more on his game.

Exactly. Less touches. With Campbell in the line up there is less pressure on Hjarlmarsson.





Sure he needs to pay attention to Campbells defensive lapses but that's A LOT less when 80% of the time they are on the ice Campbell has the puck and is NOT turning it over.



Why was Hjarmarsson so good last year? Because when Campbell get the puck 90% of the time he KEEPS IT! Probably in the top three puck moving POSSESSION defensemen in the league. Keith could get there some day. Leddy will, but right now it's Campbell.





Have BC back, and maybe not tonight because it's his first game, but over all, will 100% effect Hjarlmarsson game in a good way Trev. It's idiotic to think he won't.

 

[Shredder]

Lots of posters whining about the depth of the club. Keep in mind that last season we had the same concerns early (one injury at center or defense away from despair) and some how morphed into the deepest team in the NHL when they were hoisting Lord Stanley's cup. I think this team remains very deep in talent though there is no doubt Buff and Ladd would look good in the Indainhead right about now.

Maybe some had concerns and -- as others have brought up -- maybe the results weren't quite there at the start of last season, but very early on it was blindingly obvious that last season's team was going to be dominant. We ended October averaging 33.4 shots on goal and 22.7 shots allowed -- a gigantic gulf. From November 9th onwards, the team proceeded to go on a 23-5-1 run.



It had little to do with defense and a lot to do with puck possession. Those bits where the Hawks hogged the puck for 10-15 minute chunks at a time aren't there this year, at least not so far. With a full lineup, I think we could possibly get close, but we'll have to wait and see.

 

[maryo]

It still kills me Skille is stuck on the 4th line. Yeah it's good having a productive 4th line, but how about seeing what he can do with some more time on the ice and with some more skilled players?

He has. Here is Skille's game: enter zone too fast, try to pull a fancy move and/or draw a penalty by splitting the D, fall down, lose puck. Rinse, repeat.