The Hawks absolutely have a player in Erik Gustafsson. Only 23 and gives the Hawks 5 reliable D-men to work with.

He looks better than TVR. Wouldn't be surprised if he passes him on the depth chart if he hasn't already. Biggest thing the Hawks needed on the backend is a guy who can really skate. He brings that element and poise. Q has already trusted him and Danault massively.

And there goes any Cup chances with it. All for some cap room.

You think? It will be tough to build a Cup team with the team as currently constructed.

You think? It will be tough to build a Cup team with the team as currently constructed.

I'd consider a team second in its division with much playoff experience to be Cup contenders.

You think? It will be tough to build a Cup team with the team as currently constructed.

 

I am OK with giving the benefit of the doubt to the guy who has rebuilt not once, but twice, from salary cap related purges. I still think the 2010 one was bigger than the 2015 one. One the cap starts moving again, all will be fine.

I'd consider a team second in its division with much playoff experience to be Cup contenders.

They absolutely are.

Are we really discussing this? ARe we at the point that a team that hasn't clicked on all cylinders yet, but is still in second place in the Central and 2nd overall in the West has significant holes?

 

Look, as LDF said, once you get to the playoffs, anything can happen. And the hawks are still built for playoff hockey BECAUSE of Toews, Kane, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Shaw, etc. Toews earned every bit of that contract. Is he playing up to it right now? No. But as another poster said, it's 40 games into year 1.

 

This team has looked much better in recent weeks. They are starting to score more 5 v 5, they're 3rd line is starting to look good. Sure, I want Mashinter and Bickell gone, but that's just not going to happen. Well, maybe Mashinter with the Panik for Morin trade. But Bickell is here for now, so let's not worry about it.

 

No other team has sustained success this decade like the Blackhawks. You can argue the Kings, but they missed the playoffs last year.

 

Toews line has absolutely underachieved on the scoreboard, but watching this current line of Shaw, Toews, Hossa is fun to watch cycling and backchecking. Goals aren't going in, yet, but they will. If Panik can have some net front presence (assuming they slot him in there), watch the goals start coming.

So we plan on playing Panik in the NHL? ^

So we plan on playing Panik in the NHL? ^

 

Coach Q mentioned it.

One guy is discussing it. Everyone else is kind of chuckling at the notion.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 15m15 minutes ago

 

Looks like Scuderi and Bickell in, Rozsival and Mashinter out.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 26m26 minutes ago

No exact timetable for Richard Panik, who is waiting on his visa. Remember, it took Marcus Kruger a while in September. #Blackhawks

 

Q said Panik will be given an opportunity "in a pretty good spot," so I'm assuming he gets a crack at starting off with Toews and Hossa.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 26m26 minutes ago

No exact timetable for Richard Panik, who is waiting on his visa. Remember, it took Marcus Kruger a while in September. #Blackhawks

 

Q said Panik will be given an opportunity "in a pretty good spot," so I'm assuming he gets a crack at starting off with Toews and Hossa.

Jeez...

I love the 3 on 3 overtime. Just end to end action. It is the closest thing to Olympic hockey you see in the NHL. Nice win for the Hawks.

It's a total gimmick, but SO much better than a SO. It's really fun to watch, I've got 0 problem with it.

 

Total gimmick, but a killer one. It really let's these guys show off their skills much more in the spirit of the game than a SO does.

Total gimmick, but a killer one. It really let's these guys show off their skills much more in the spirit of the game than a SO does.

It helps the Hawks are amazing at it.

It helps the Hawks are amazing at it.

Yup, if we didn't have Toews/Kane/Panarin/Teravainen and other skill players who exceed in open-ice situations, we wouldn't like it as much

A read on some of the Hawks top prospects.

 

http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2016/1/6/1...hampionship-wjc

A read on some of the Hawks top prospects.

 

http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2016/1/6/1...hampionship-wjc

 

Pretty good prospect list. 4 of the top 5 should be on the team within the next couple years, Forsling is the exception.

 

I'm excited for all of these guys to contribute, especially Dano, Pokka, Schmaltz and Hartman.

NHL released its all star roster. Toews is in with Kane.

 

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=796221&...id=nhl:topheads

 

Some well deserving names are in and some... maybe based on name recognition are in. Sad to see Crawford snubbed. He deserves to be there much more than Toews. Crosby not making it is probably the biggest shock right now though considering he's one of, if not the face of the league even in a bad year.

Edited January 6, 201610 yr by SoxAce

NHL released its all star roster. Toews is in with Kane.

 

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=796221&...id=nhl:topheads

 

Some well deserving names are in and some... maybe based on name recognition are in. Sad to see Crawford snubbed. He deserves to be there much more than Toews. Crosby not making it is probably the biggest shock right now though considering he's one of, if not the face of the league even in a bad year.

 

Not sure why Rinne made it over Crawford, Corey has been way better and there already were a couple Predators on the roster. Whatever.

 

Toews deserves the nod because of his 3-on-3 domination and the game is now a 3-on-3 exhibition.

NHL released its all star roster. Toews is in with Kane.

 

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=796221&...id=nhl:topheads

 

Some well deserving names are in and some... maybe based on name recognition are in. Sad to see Crawford snubbed. He deserves to be there much more than Toews. Crosby not making it is probably the biggest shock right now though considering he's one of, if not the face of the league even in a bad year.

 

Crawford has been a beast this year.

NHL released its all star roster. Toews is in with Kane.

 

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=796221&...id=nhl:topheads

 

Some well deserving names are in and some... maybe based on name recognition are in. Sad to see Crawford snubbed. He deserves to be there much more than Toews. Crosby not making it is probably the biggest shock right now though considering he's one of, if not the face of the league even in a bad year.

 

i agree with you, i think craw and no one has mention keith. but i really think him and kane and craw are the more deserving ones to be there.

 

there is a reason the hawks righted itself and there is not strange coincidence it happen when keith came back.

 

a strong argument can be made for anisimov and panarin.... but oh well, can't get too greedy.

i agree with you, i think craw and no one has mention keith. but i really think him and kane and craw are the more deserving ones to be there.

 

there is a reason the hawks righted itself and there is not strange coincidence it happen when keith came back.

a strong argument can be made for anisimov and panarin.... but oh well, can't get too greedy.

If it weren't by division, you would be right. The issue is, if you're comparing the Central, you're comparing Anisimov and Panarin to the last deserving forward, which is probably Toews. Neither Anisimov nor Panarin deserve to be in over Toews.

If it weren't by division, you would be right. The issue is, if you're comparing the Central, you're comparing Anisimov and Panarin to the last deserving forward, which is probably Toews. Neither Anisimov nor Panarin deserve to be in over Toews.

 

and you may have made a excellent point, but i am looking at the performance of this yr....

 

but also, we are talking of only 2 players making it, craw does deserve that spot as well.

 

nice post.

Wow, a blockbuster!

• https://twitter.com/BlueJacketsNHL/status/684879663836073984

 

ok, i am at a lost..... so for anyone.

 

who won in this trade????