What Do The Hawks Need To Do To Get More Physical?

[Chief Walking Stick]

It's fun when it's fun!

How is it going over on the O-Boards?

 

[The Hawk]

Idk why you'd come into this thread just to troll me, but yes the Blackhawks won the game. I'm talking bigger picture here. If they are getting physically dominated game in and game out, I'm concerned about their abitility to sustain their success as the battles rage on into the playoffs.

I'm not worried. I don't see them getting mauled or anything like that, Yeah they are getting hit but that's hockey and they happen to be able to really make the other team pay for penalties or getting caught out of position. I would like one big guy to add in front of the net and to do the dirty work, though.

 

[The Hawk]

Kane takes care of himself just fine. It really is fun watching him tease the guy trying to check him. He doesn't have to mix it up with anyone. Why in the world would he do that anyway/ The other team doesn't take runs at him as far as I see. Back years ago, it would have been different but the way they referee the games now is totally different. BEfore you had to have enforcers looking out for your smaller skill guys when they made runs at them. Not now.

BTW, I think that Kane does pretty well in his checking of the other line. It doesn't get shown much but he is a pest who they have to account for there also because of his ability to get ahold of the puck and start a break the other way.

 

[MassHavoc]

If it makes you feel any better they have about 250 more hits at home than on the road, so they like to put on a show for the home peasants.

 

[The Hawk]

Yes, that's exactly what your posts were....:lol:

How do I seriously respond to someone that thinks Kane needs to be "fucking up people's faces" or "sneakily beating someone with his stick"? If it was a serious question about the actual physical aspect of hockey, sure.

All I can say to you, HeHateMe, is hockey isn't about fighting or kicking people's asses. Like, at all. It is a very small, very situational part of the game. It's certainly not something you want the majority of the players on the Hawks doing. Ever.

I went to an Ontario Reign game(Kings club) on Tuesday night. They have a 34 year old Russian guy named Jablonsky on the team. He is their enforcer. Last year at one of their games, he and this other team's player were standing across from one another by themselves when the anthem played. Literally at the 2nd the song ended, both of these guys dropped their gloves and started pounding at each other. One of the funniest things I ever witnessed in any sport.

Well, Tuesday, I'm talking to this couple in front of me about him and I found out that this guy is a mixed martial arts fighter also out here. Now I don't know how the rules get applied but I would guess that an opposing team looking to test the huevoes of its warrior class would use this guy as a measuring stick

 

[The Hawk]

I miss my buff!

 

[winos5]

Apparently call up Hartman

 

[biscuit_in_the_basket]

How is it going over on the O-Boards?

Oh, oh, oh

 

[LordKOTL]

What do the 'hawks need to do to get more physical? Probably madate that Olivia Newton John is played in their headphones during the game.

 

[biscuit_in_the_basket]

What do the 'hawks need to do to get more physical? Probably madate that Olivia Newton John is played in their headphones during the game.

Timely

You know who will help the 'Hawks get more physical.....Olivia Newton John.

 

[puckjim]

They could turn it down when they don't need to get their hits on?

Maybe they could use those small Bluetooth clip-on headphones.

And why does it have to be hard rock music?

I know for a fact that Hjalmalsson is huge fan of Tuvan throat singing.

His dad was a virtuoso and used to take Nik on tour with him between hockey leagues.

[h=1][/h]

 

[ClydeLee]

I remember seeing a BHTV bit with them listening to like midi or something skewed musical versions of songs, and Hjalmalsson recognized Abba right away. Maybe he dancing with Fernando

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Watched a documentary last night called The Last Gladiators. Focused primarily on Chris Nilan, but dealt with other enforcers like McSorley, Twist, and Probert.

Willing to bet some of you have already seen it, but if you haven't it's a good watch.

 

[LordKOTL]

Timely

Can't believe I forgot about that...

But...headphones.

 

[biscuit_in_the_basket]

can't believe i forgot about that...

But...headphones.

lol!

 

[Popinski Soda]

Watched a documentary last night called The Last Gladiators. Focused primarily on Chris Nilan, but dealt with other enforcers like McSorley, Twist, and Probert.

Willing to bet some of you have already seen it, but if you haven't it's a good watch.

I saw that on Netflix the other day but decided to go with porn instead. Plan on watching it tonight though after a victorious edition of Blackhawks PGL.

 

[Raskolnikov]

I agree with HeHateMe which is exactly why Bickell is underapreciated here come playoff hockey, or even the last 6 weeks of the season as teams fighting for playoffs up the intensity and the top teams jockey for home ice.

If Bickell turns up another level for a third year in a row, I want everyone to shut their damn mouths about him. Its a team decision to keep him fresh for when it counts, and when we need a power enforcer who can lead the league in hits every playoffs.

Bickell is such a good fighter that nobody wants to fight him either, he is way more important than he gets credit for precisely because Toews is an undersized hero, Kane is an undersized hero, while Sharp-Saad-Versteeg-Richards-Tuevo are all stick skill and skate based hockey players. Hossa is well rounded but too old to be a true enforcer, and too risky to ask him to. He does what he can in his area.

But HeHateme, this team does have Bickell and he is every bit as physical as we need him come the stretch run and playoffs. They are saving him, imo, I believe it to be a team and doctor decision to control his style of play for 4 months each season after the injury issues of 2-3 years ago. He is a beast, but they know he can't be a beast for 6 months and play his best hockey when it counts. Thats physics and biology.

A guy like Carcillo takes the brunt of alot of opposing team heat and may not even be in rotation come playoffs barring injury, but he is doing his role beautifully of agitating and taking shots that might otherwise go at others.

I would also like to point out this teams toughness comes from their defenders. The Swedish block machine might be the toughest guy in NHL. Keith, Seabrooke, both tenacious physical players. They do what needs to be done and do it forcefully when necessary.

I played on an excessivly smallish rugby team, and size doesn't always look tough, but to get up after a bigger man hits you the way these little forwards do makes me believe the Hawks are the mentally toughest team in the NHL.

The Bruins are brutes, the Blues are Brutes, etc......the Hawks are tough. And they have to be to endure the brutes. But as long as Bickell is around, and those top 3 defenders plus Shaw, Kruger, Smith, Carcillo we won't be lacking in physical play. We aren't. god speed.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Omg

 

[ClydeLee]

Omg

I didn't read the whole long thing, but if he seems wacko or high in any point of it; it's because he is... But that's a common posting state of his here. It's Rasks MO but I'm not sure he has been relevant on here too often since the IHN merger for you to grasp that.

 

[HeHateMe]

I didn't read the whole long thing, but if he seems wacko or high in any point of it; it's because he is... But that's a common posting state of his here. It's Rasks MO but I'm not sure he has been relevant on here too often since the IHN merger for you to grasp that.

I think it was an incredibly lucid and insightful post. :shrug: