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Blackhawks ranked #4 in western conference by the Hockey News
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Better than I expected :clap:
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My favorite teams
How? Not many teams improved enough to pass us, and Detroit and Nashville got worse.
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Still not comfortable with our goalie situation :shrug: at least Detroit and Nashville have Howard and Rinne
HawkWriter
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Yea...that is probably the only area that those two teams have over the Blackhawks.
Nashville is going to have a tough time scoring goals and their defense took a hit. Detroit...well, their defense is looking real rough right now.
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My favorite teams
Our goalkeeping was just as bad last year as it looks to be coming into this year... fail to see your point.
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Last year we were 6th in the West an with no major improvements we are now 4th according to Hockey News thats why I feel we were rated higher than we deserve
HawkWriter
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Well, that's because while the Blackhawks might not have gotten leaps and bounds better...the Red Wings and Predators definitely got worse (at this point). So it makes sense.
Red Wings fans are seriously concerned about making the playoffs this year and most I have spoken to seem to think the best they can do is 6th - 8th place this year.
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Yeah you guys are right, i guess im just now used to the terms Red Wings and worse/bad in the same sentence yet :lol:
DMelt36
Bolland > You
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If the Hawks get the majority of their players to reach their full potential, then they'll be contenders in the West. You could probably say that about 10 teams in the entire league, however.
Every team is going to have holes, but you just have to count on the proven commodities on your team to mask those holes. A great start for the Hawks would be improved special teams play.
Every team is going to have holes, but you just have to count on the proven commodities on your team to mask those holes. A great start for the Hawks would be improved special teams play.
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well said.
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We'll finish 2nd in the West this coming season. I have a feeling this year will be our year to really compete for that Stanley Cup Final. Last year, there were so many issues... I think if we can either make a early or mid season trade for a worthwhile Goalie, we'll be fine.
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2009-10 was our year :shrug:
DMelt36
Bolland > You
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You can have more than one year, ya know.
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Ya, the way it was said those, the phrasing, made it sound more like a Cubs-type scenario where we haven't won in forever
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sure. but you have to be realistic at the same time when you look at the roster. defense is ehh, offense is an unknown with players like hossa in question(will kane bounce back, no 2nd line center, and no upgrade to the PP) and of course the goalie tandem is disgusting at best.
DMelt36
Bolland > You
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Ahhh, gotcha.
I don't disagree with any of this. Lotta questions with this group.
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I'm not sure why I don't post more in the Blackhawks forum... I guess it's because I'm dedicated to a different hockey forum.... while I consider myself knowledgeable in baseball (White Sox) and football (Packers), I know more about hockey then every other sport. It may be time to remedy my hockey "cred" this upcoming year on this forum... we'll see.
Regardless, I have a decent resume (played from age 4 to junior year of high school and ref'd for 4 years after that).
IMO, I don't have an opinion yet. That's a complete cop-out, I know. It's REALLY tough to tell right now until it's 20-30 games into the season. Most of the teams above the Hawks, from last year, didn't do much to improve their team. A familiar theme considering the Hawks didn't do shit in the offseason either. I respect the rankings and can see how the Hawks moved up with no improvements from key competition (Nashville/Detroit), but I really have no confidence in moving the Hawks up either. The reason? Goaltending.
Yes, the Hawks can/will improve their PP/PK this year. Yes, I really like their "core" offense (really, really like them considering they will all only improve with age). I agree with the assessment that their first 2 lines of D are pretty good, not great, but good. They could use more size, but they are handcuffed with the contracts they have agreed to. I could nit-pick a few people but I like some of the young energy they've put in. That isn't the problem. The problem is goaltending and while I could see the Hawks skating to #2-4 in the conference for the regular season, playoff hockey is different. The ice shrinks and goaltending becomes even more of a focus. Corey Crawford won't be winning a Cup. He just won't. Yes, he will might improve with age, but look at the final four from last year. All "great" goalies. Hell, look at the 16 teams that made the playoffs last year and if you solely focused on goaltending, I'd rank the Hawks 14, 15, or 16 in goaltending out of the teams that made it. That won't cut it.
An argument against that: They won the Cup with Niemi.
Answer: A lot of variables involved. They had the best defense (shots allowed per game) in the league and Niemi got REALLY, REALLY hot during the playoff stretch.
I really don't think their defense is capable of being top 5 in the league, as far as shots go, and I have no faith that Crawford can get that hot at any point, regular season or playoffs. Sure, he is young and maybe he can prove me wrong, but I've seen enough to have enough faith to not believe in him.
So are the Hawks a good team? Yup, they will provide plenty of excitement for the UC and fans this regular season and skate to a solid record. Are the Hawks going to win the Cup? Nope. Playoff goaltending is by far the most important aspect of a team and the Hawks have a major weakness there. If you want to make a comparison, you can look at the NFL/QB position or the MLB/Starting pitching (not 1 but 3-4 solid starters).... Playoff goaltending is the same thing and Crawford is a giant weakness, especially when you compare them to the rest of top tier teams.
Regardless, I have a decent resume (played from age 4 to junior year of high school and ref'd for 4 years after that).
IMO, I don't have an opinion yet. That's a complete cop-out, I know. It's REALLY tough to tell right now until it's 20-30 games into the season. Most of the teams above the Hawks, from last year, didn't do much to improve their team. A familiar theme considering the Hawks didn't do shit in the offseason either. I respect the rankings and can see how the Hawks moved up with no improvements from key competition (Nashville/Detroit), but I really have no confidence in moving the Hawks up either. The reason? Goaltending.
Yes, the Hawks can/will improve their PP/PK this year. Yes, I really like their "core" offense (really, really like them considering they will all only improve with age). I agree with the assessment that their first 2 lines of D are pretty good, not great, but good. They could use more size, but they are handcuffed with the contracts they have agreed to. I could nit-pick a few people but I like some of the young energy they've put in. That isn't the problem. The problem is goaltending and while I could see the Hawks skating to #2-4 in the conference for the regular season, playoff hockey is different. The ice shrinks and goaltending becomes even more of a focus. Corey Crawford won't be winning a Cup. He just won't. Yes, he will might improve with age, but look at the final four from last year. All "great" goalies. Hell, look at the 16 teams that made the playoffs last year and if you solely focused on goaltending, I'd rank the Hawks 14, 15, or 16 in goaltending out of the teams that made it. That won't cut it.
An argument against that: They won the Cup with Niemi.
Answer: A lot of variables involved. They had the best defense (shots allowed per game) in the league and Niemi got REALLY, REALLY hot during the playoff stretch.
I really don't think their defense is capable of being top 5 in the league, as far as shots go, and I have no faith that Crawford can get that hot at any point, regular season or playoffs. Sure, he is young and maybe he can prove me wrong, but I've seen enough to have enough faith to not believe in him.
So are the Hawks a good team? Yup, they will provide plenty of excitement for the UC and fans this regular season and skate to a solid record. Are the Hawks going to win the Cup? Nope. Playoff goaltending is by far the most important aspect of a team and the Hawks have a major weakness there. If you want to make a comparison, you can look at the NFL/QB position or the MLB/Starting pitching (not 1 but 3-4 solid starters).... Playoff goaltending is the same thing and Crawford is a giant weakness, especially when you compare them to the rest of top tier teams.
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I honestly thought LA would run away with the West in the regular season last year and have no idea what the hell happened to them before the playoffs.
Once again, I think they take the West, with Vancouver second, and us third.
St. Louis was fraudulent, Phoenix is in turmoil and can't score, and Detroit and Nashville have taken a step back.
Sign me up like this:
L.A.
Vancouver
Chicago
Detroit
Nashville - St. Louis - Phoenix - San Jose jostling for 4-8 (assuming Thornton doesn't go to Switzerland)
Crap shoot after that.
Once again, I think they take the West, with Vancouver second, and us third.
St. Louis was fraudulent, Phoenix is in turmoil and can't score, and Detroit and Nashville have taken a step back.
Sign me up like this:
L.A.
Vancouver
Chicago
Detroit
Nashville - St. Louis - Phoenix - San Jose jostling for 4-8 (assuming Thornton doesn't go to Switzerland)
Crap shoot after that.
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I thin Minnesota and Edmonton (finally) can be thrown in that 4-8 group as well...
Minnesota may not be a top seed in the West, but they will be dangerous...
Edmonton has to break out with all of this talent soon.......right?
Minnesota may not be a top seed in the West, but they will be dangerous...
Edmonton has to break out with all of this talent soon.......right?