vs 
Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN+ (ch 285 HD), no radio
Big Money Rustlas: WIIM, A2Y
If the lines around the block from the United Center of weirdos and the unemployable yesterday afternoon and evening for a scrimmage weren’t indication enough, hockey is back. At least it kind of is as the slate of pre-season dry humps kicks off tonight against the visiting Wings.
It’s been clear to just about everyone who watches the Hawks that the team goes as Duncan Keith goes. He was the league’s best d-man in ’09-’10, and the Hawks won the Cup. He admittedly didn’t care all that much the following season, and the Hawks were much worse off. He struggled to regain that form the following season and the Hawks again went out in the first round. He’s been superlative the past two years, and the Hawks have played until June.
However, last year saw something of a change in role for Keith, who no longer took the top defensive assignments, which went to Ebenholts och Elfenben. That left Keith to beat up on lesser opponents, all the while dragging around Seabrook’s dead ass.
With it now established that everyone has reported to camp in the best shape of their respective lives and that everyone has great chemistry, with no transaction yet to free up cap space, there was very little substance coming out of South Bend. But when has there ever been anything of worth coming out of South Bend?
You all have been asking, and I can finally provide you an answer. The doors are open for digital subscriptions to The Committed Indian game program today! Huzzah! Peas and carrots peas and carrots!
For those who might be new to our little game here, The CI is not just this blog full of drunken dick jokes and references to Replacements-influenced bands. No sir, we do a publication full of them too! We write one for every Hawks home game, and sell it outside the UC.
“But Sam,” you say, “I don’t go to that many games and I would really like to regularly read you cram yet another outdated Skid Row reference in about hockey!” Well, you can do that mon ami! Because you can get it online, PDF style. That’s where these subscriptions come in! Every afternoon before a Hawks home game you’ll get a download code for that night’s Indian. It’s a beautiful thing, I’m told.
And now the apology. Due to the changing structure of the business, and how season ticket holders attendance actually varies due to selling their seats, I have had to raise the price of this year’s subscription. It’s not about wanting to drink Old Overholt instead of well whiskey, but about survival. So this season’s cost is a cool, even $100. Again, sorry. I didn’t want to do this.
But enough apologies. Dive in, the water’s… not all that fetid. We’ll clean it after Killion gets out of the pool. Promise. Hit this button!
Today’s question comes from ExOnMS.
How long until we see Stephen John’s in the lineup, and what should we expect from him straight away?
Johns has somewhat gotten lost in all the Teuvo hysteria, but we shouldn’t think the Hawks are any less excited about the Golden Domer. The Hawks tried to pry Johns out of South Bend for at least the past two years, disappointed when Johns chose to finish out his entire college career. But they have him now, and he’s clearly the best prospect the Hawks have on the blue line.
Today’s line of discussion comes from SuperHawk27:
The Hawks addressed what many said was their biggest weakness by signing Brad Richards for the 2nd line center spot, so ….What is the Hawks biggest weakness now if Richards pans out? Which team(s) in the west is the best equipped to take advantage of this weakness?
This is a tough one, because looking over the roster there certainly aren’t any glaring holes. And while I’m heavily tempted to say the head coach is the biggest weakness because I’m a giant smartass, that almost certainly isn’t true and even if Q has faults (at times crippling ones) the things he does well help make this team the force that it is.
So, where should we look?
