This may be a little thing, but...

[LonghornBob]

does it bother anyone else that, even going back to last season, we just don't seem to put the biscuit in the basket in shootouts?

Toews, Sharp, Kane, et al, and this season we're 0 for 6 in the shootout.

The other thing that's bothering me is that we had guys like Ladd, Byflugien, Brouwer, and even Eager, who could score, some as many as 20+ a season, and we gave them up for grit guys like Carcillo and Montador, and we're getting outhit in every game.

Now we don't have the scorers and we don't seem to be hitting anyone. Mayers has been a pleasant surprise and I think Brunette was a solid pickup, but if we don't get some offensive production out of the rest of the signees I at least want to see them whack the crap out of Raffi Torres as promised.


Maybe I'm just rambling. That game really was a stake in my heart.

 

[nwfisch]

Yeah I agree, I'd like to see the Blackhawks win in the shootout, thankfully the playoffs don't have the shootout

 

[Uman85]

It's bothersome, that's for sure. Half the time they look as though they don't even try. They just take a quick wrist shot, no dekes or anything. Very frustrating.

 

[southern_cross_116]

Hang on ...

guys like Ladd, Byflugien, Brouwer, and even Eager, who could score, some as many as 20+ a season..

The only guy on that list that ever scored 20 or more in a Blackhawks uniform is Brouwer- and he did it what- once, twice (and barely at that).... Ladd, I assume, did it last season.

Claiming that those guys were "scorers" when on the Hawks, is not supported by their stats, even by your own standards.


And -technically, the shootout sucks. It's invented for the indoor soccer crowd -and isn't hockey -full stop.

Do shoot out wins count in tie breakers this season? If so -it isn't that big of a deal (assuming you get the points) - just don't lose the thing in the 5 minute seldom death, bunged on 4 on 4 (for slightly more action) thing -which is sort of a half assed attempt to get a result... and was invented to appeal to the baseball/basketball crowd... again... it ain't hockey.

Or let me put it this way, Eddie Shore, Gordie Howe, and Dit Clapper didn't need some fake "oooh gosh but we gotta get a result or some idiot journo who knows jack all about hockey, will have his/her undies in a twist.

If a tie was good enough for those guys -frankly it is good enough for me.

Old Time Hockey. Live it.

 

[LonghornBob]

Okay, well both Byflugien and Ladd scored 17 in the regular season, which is what Brouwer had last year. That's pretty well 20, especially when you consider that Ladd put up something like 30+ assists.

My point, irrespective of a few goal difference, is that those guys scored, or were at least a THREAT to score, and these new guys seem to not have that kind of punch. If they aren't going to get that done I'd at least like to outhit someone...

And to the other point, why the hell does everyone going against us in a shootout look like they have at least one Datsyuk, and we get stoned every try?

 

[icehogfan08]

I don't see the argument, our lines 1-3 are all very solid and could all easily be #1 or #2 lines on other teams. Our 4th line is above average with speed grit and size. Is this team as talented as the cup winning year, probably not. Lets stop living in that season and move on.

 

[LonghornBob]

The Cup season? Hell, I'll do you one better: I still miss the Havlat, Bolland, Ladd line ;-)

 

[icehogfan08]

Well here are some stats for you.

Brunette(18) Toews(32) Sharp(34)
Carcillo(4) Kane(27) Hossa(25)
Bickell(17) Bolland(15) Frolik(11)

Those are goals they scored last year. All of them have to potential to post 20 goals with exception of Carcillo when they are all healthy. Frolik had a down year last year, but once he got comfortable he really elevated into a good player for the Hawks. Bolland missed a bit of games last season and still managed 15 goals.

Idk why goal scoring is being brought up, but if you could put out 3 lines like that with two 20 goal scorers on each i'll take that all day long. So to say we dont have the scorers has me completely stumped.

 

[LonghornBob]

We have plenty scorers IF you give Frolik a pass on 11 goals and IF you think Carcillo will get anything done. Kane isn't going to score as much now that he's distributing the puck from the center spot. The defensemen we signed (specifically Montador and O'Donnell) are not distributors or scorers.

I'm not saying we lack ANY scoring, I'm saying I don't think we have the depth of scoring that we used to have.

AND, I'm okay with that, I'd just like to see the Carcillo, Montador, O'Donnell, Mayers "grit" guys who were supposed to come in and lay some shoulders into people, live up to that billing. I don't mind giving up a Soupy for a defensive defenseman, but I want to see some hitting out of the deal. Ben Smith got his ass cranked and I didn't see anyone head hunt in retaliation. I heard Carcillo talk a ton of smack before he played Torres and you'd have thought it was a non-contact practice between the two of them.

Lastly, we have scorers but do we really have any elite scorers? Our best goal scorer last year had 34 and we had a 32. Anaheim had 3 guys over 30 and Vancouver had two over 40.

I'm not bitching about the scoring. Really. I'm bitching about the fact that we've gone to a more checking team lineup to get some moxey on the ice, and I haven't seen any of it. All I've seen of Montador is him getting used and being out of position. If you're gonna suck at least crack someone...

 

[derosabomb]

We have plenty scorers IF you give Frolik a pass on 11 goals and IF you think Carcillo will get anything done. Kane isn't going to score as much now that he's distributing the puck from the center spot. The defensemen we signed (specifically Montador and O'Donnell) are not distributors or scorers.

I'm not saying we lack ANY scoring, I'm saying I don't think we have the depth of scoring that we used to have.

AND, I'm okay with that, I'd just like to see the Carcillo, Montador, O'Donnell, Mayers "grit" guys who were supposed to come in and lay some shoulders into people, live up to that billing. I don't mind giving up a Soupy for a defensive defenseman, but I want to see some hitting out of the deal. Ben Smith got his ass cranked and I didn't see anyone head hunt in retaliation. I heard Carcillo talk a ton of smack before he played Torres and you'd have thought it was a non-contact practice between the two of them.

Lastly, we have scorers but do we really have any elite scorers? Our best goal scorer last year had 34 and we had a 32. Anaheim had 3 guys over 30 and Vancouver had two over 40.

I'm not bitching about the scoring. Really. I'm bitching about the fact that we've gone to a more checking team lineup to get some moxey on the ice, and I haven't seen any of it. All I've seen of Montador is him getting used and being out of position. If you're gonna suck at least crack someone...

are you in anyway related to joecawks?

 

[icehogfan08]

Idk what your expectations where of carcillo montador and o'donnell. None of them in my eyes are considered hitters. Sure they will lay the body but nothing to extreme. The reason they were brought in was because those guys are not scared to step in and drop the gloves. With most guys always turning away Scott the hawks needed guys to help provide that type of role to the team.

 

[LonghornBob]

Not of which I'm aware, but Wheeler is a pretty common last name so if that's his then maybe... ;-)

Is he related to anyone in East Texas? ;-)

 

[RPrevidi]

Does it bother me that we totally suck at SO's... yes it bugs the shit out of me... especially when we lose a game like we did against the AV's at home...

We practically gave them their last goal with two minutes left after the entire team had a hockey basics meltdown... And then we open OT with a PP and **** that up...

And don't get me started about the actually SO shots... a couple were OK and due to decent play by the goalies but the rest were just shitty shots that a scrub could of prevented...

In regards to the physical aspect of the game, I've noticed it too but I've just been attributing it to early season hockey... which is probably me just making an excuse for my team...

I've watched every game of the season so far except for the away win against the Av's and I think Carcillo has actually played well. I know he doesn't have any goals and only two assists but he has made some key plays and his +/- is actually the best on the team...

 

[HawkWriter]

Geez, two shootouts in and we are complaining already? Toews has one of the best shootout percentages of all time and I'm sure he will get back to his regular ways. And if he doesn't...it is the fricken shootout.

One lost game in regulation through 7 games and we are complaining already? Just doesn't make sense.

 

[tbo41fan]

Geez, two shootouts in and we are complaining already? Toews has one of the best shootout percentages of all time and I'm sure he will get back to his regular ways. And if he doesn't...it is the fricken shootout.

One lost game in regulation through 7 games and we are complaining already? Just doesn't make sense.

Thank You

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Geez, two shootouts in and we are complaining already? Toews has one of the best shootout percentages of all time and I'm sure he will get back to his regular ways. And if he doesn't...it is the fricken shootout.

One lost game in regulation through 7 games and we are complaining already? Just doesn't make sense.

True.

But there is no excuse for this team to be losing shootouts. Crawford is fantastic against breakaways (he waits shooters out as well as anyone) and there is a ton of forward talent available. Potting a shootout goal is not some special ability- any hockey player can do it (although apparently Sharp can not).

They weren't strong in the shootout last year and they're off to a poor start this year. Points are at a premium- they need to get it together.

I THINK that's all longhorn meant originally, though the thread kinda went down hill.

 

[Captain Iago]

One observation I will agree about our shootouts is that I see other teams utilizing speed in them while our guys do not. This excludes Toews because his bread and butter doesn't require much speed and he has a damn good percentage. I would like to see that change.

Boy did Crow get clowned in that final shot.

 

[HawkWriter]

True.

But there is no excuse for this team to be losing shootouts. Crawford is fantastic against breakaways (he waits shooters out as well as anyone) and there is a ton of forward talent available. Potting a shootout goal is not some special ability- any hockey player can do it (although apparently Sharp can not).

They weren't strong in the shootout last year and they're off to a poor start this year. Points are at a premium- they need to get it together.

I THINK that's all longhorn meant originally, though the thread kinda went down hill.

Blackhawks were 6 - 5 last year in shootouts. Honestly, I don't think it is that big of a deal. Certain players just have it when it comes to one on one with the goalie and others don't.

Look at last years records, really on 3 teams really thrived in the shootout (LA, Pitts, NYR) and just about everyone else was pretty much around .500 for the most part (though some teams sucked).

Really not a big deal. Of course you would like to have the extra points, and a point in October is worth as much as a point in April, but I really wouldn't worry about it too much. Shootouts seem to work themselves out.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Yeah, it's not a huge deal (thanks for the stats too) and really the topic only comes up after a disappointing loss.

This group of guys should be better at it though, especially seeing as how Crawford gives them a chance every time he's in the net for a shootout.

 

[LonghornBob]

It's going to be a huge deal if the season comes down like it did last year. If with Hossa, Toews, Sharp, Bolland, Kaner and Brunette we can't win 70% of our shootouts, I'm gonna be disappointed. 5-5 in shootouts versus 7-3 means two points, and two points that one other team doesn't have or a point each that two teams don't have, and that could matter when seeding comes around.

Points are going to be at a premium and I want every one I can get. We wouldn't have been cursing Havlat for not playing that last game, begging for the Wild to get past the Stars, if we'd had two extra points from shootout wins.