Everything Else

So That Happened

By Sam Fels 1534 0

On Sunday, when the news first broke that Jarome Iginla was definitely, for the first time and a good year or two after he probably should have been, on the block and the Hawks were on a shortlist, I think a lot of us got a bit carried away. I know I did. It seemed like the Hawks had a real shot at making a big splash, which they haven’t been able to do in a few years due to cap constraints or not having the assets to pull it off.

In the end, we all knew that Iginla was a much wonkier fit here than he was in Pittsburgh or Boston. Those teams have openings on the right wing in the top six. Here, either Kane or Iggy would have had to shift to the left side (though I think it would have worked fine for Iginla, as he’s a right handed shot which would have made him more open to shooting opportunities that Kane or Toews would have fed him by the bathtub-full). Sharp would have had to move to center, and we all know that will never, ever happen (not until the playoffs, which it has the past three seasons). The Hawks are more interested in a center.

Everything Else

Angry At Numbers

By Sam Fels 1628 0

That time again, let’s geek out a bit.

-2.29

This is something we’ve harped on all year, but it’s worth revisiting because it’s so ridiculous. This is Patrick Kane’s CORSI/60. Both his normal linemates at the moment, Jimmy Hayes and Dave Bolland, are below -10. Sharp’s around where Kane is. So even though that line wasn’t good in terms of possession when Sharp was around, it was better than it is now. And yet Kane is in the top five in scoring in the NHL.

How? Well, Kane is shooting 8 points above his career average in shooting percentage, so that helps. But it’s not just goals for Kane, obviously, as he he would be on pace for a career high in assists too. Basically, Kane is getting hits while down 0-2 in the count pretty much every at bat. He doesn’t get a lot of looks in the o-zone as you’d like, and yet he’s making something happen in almost all of them. Kane starts 54% of his shifts in the offensive zone. Only 48% finish there. What if that were higher? Well, Sidney Crosby wouldn’t be running away with the Hart race, I think.

Everything Else

Clockers: Flames 0 – Hawks 2

By Sam Fels 1246 0

When this season-in-a-can started, we heard a lot of who the one plus of it was that every game would mean something, and the players were looking forward to the intensity of each and every game.

Yeah, about that….

This one had the feel of a mid-January or February trudge in a normal season. After the Holiday excitement, with the playoffs too far away, you know how it goes. Just a run of the mill regular season game that both teams looked like the best reason they were there was because they had to be. After all was said and done, the Hawks ended up with a 2-0 win not akin to when your boss comes in and says you did a good job on a project you have no recollection of working on. At least I assume that happens. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never worked in an office.

Everything Else

It’s The Royal We Want: Kings at Hawks Preview/Pregame Thread/Dead Sea Scrolls Interpretation

By Sam Fels 1238 0

vs.

FACEOFF: 7pm Central

TV/RADIO: NBCSN, WGN Radio 720

WHY DID I MOVE TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?: The Royal Half, Surly and Scribe, Jewels From The Crown

After two weeks, four games, and maybe slightly more teeth-gnashing than there should have been, the Hawks return home to start the sprint to the finish of the season. It begins with the third home back-to-back of the year, kicking off with a visit from the champs, the Los Angeles Kings.

Everything Else

Some Kind Of Vengeance: Hawks 5 – Avs 2

By Sam Fels 1123 0

The easy storyline to this one tonight is that the Hawks were pissed off about having their streak to end all streaks snapped at this place and wanted to make up for it. That’s lazy. To me, all we saw tonight was the road team simply outclassing the home team, and doing what it does to a defensive unit that is in now way equipped to handle them. Oh, and apparently someone decided to remind Jonathan Toews that Erik Johnson was drafted ahead of him, and he proceeded to make EJ’s mom embarrassed she gave birth to such a clod. Jordan Staal better thank his lucky stars that Toews won’t get to him next year, I guess.

And in the end, it runs out a routine victory. While it’s over the last place team in the conference, you can’t help but be utterly delighted by the effort, the movement, and the creativity at times. It’s a comparison I’ve drawn before, but there were moments where the Hawks were so far ahead and away from the Avs tonight it looked like USSR ’78 out there. Or what I assume that would have looked like. Just cycles, passes, and chances created that Colorado was helpless to do anything about.

Everything Else

The Ivy Drip – Sam’s New Cubs Digital Weekly

By Sam Fels 1441 0

If you’ll allow me to sidetrack for a moment (if that can be used as a verb). With Opening Day two weeks away, today I’d like to announce a new venture I’m undertaking. It’s called “The Ivy Drip”, and it’s my new Cubs Digital Weekly.

I know you Sox fans out there, or you baseball agnostics, are rolling your eyes. That’s totally fair. I usually mourn my Cubs fandom as much as a cherish it. I’m told that’s what it’s like to be Catholic. But anyway, for those that are still reading, let me go on.