Continuing our spin around the Central, and today we’ll look at the Minnesota Wild who became a far more annoying playoff opponent than anyone thought they would. People forget just how good Crawford had to be in Games 5 and 6 to keep the Wild at bay (in those games where Peter Regin was among the best Hawks forwards and then was never heard from again). It could work out that way again.
Recent Posts
-
Once More Unto The Breach – The Committed Indian's Season Preview: So Now You Know Who Gets Mystified
Continuing our spin around the Central, and today we’ll look at the Minnesota Wild who became a far more annoying playoff opponent than anyone thought they would. People forget just how good Crawford had to be in Games 5 and 6 to keep the Wild at bay (in those games where Peter Regin was among the best Hawks forwards and then was never heard from again). It could work out that way again.
-
Live From The Five Hole – Season Preview with Sean Gentille and Steve Lepore
With the season beginning in earnest tomorrow and the Hawks fandom consumed by Carcillo and Leddy mania, it seemed like a good idea to get some outside perspective on the goings on elsewhere in the league. And with that we’re pleased to have had both Sean Gentille of the Sporting News and Steve Lepore of Awful Announcing join us for another edition of Live From The Five Hole. Enjoy.
-
Morning Links 10/7/14
Passing on meat and potatoes for some Gorilla Salad: ESPN Chicago
20-65-88: CSN
Dot will head to Rockvegas: Trib
“How many abo-digitals do you see modeling”: Blackhawks
I expect more points, and minuses: NHL
LTIR around the league: PHT
-
The Fallout
Well now that it’s done, it’s probably time to figure out where the Hawks go from here.
But before I head any further, this seems like a good time for a disclaimer or at least a warning. Every judgement we make on the Hawks on this site is viewed through the prism that they demand you view them through, which is anything short of a parade in June is failure. This is the standard they’ve set and the one they’ve asked to be held to. So while issues on the third pairing being the biggest problem is a biggest problem a lot of teams would like to have, that’s not how most teams are judged. I realize the Hawks are very good, will finish north of 100 points and very well might finish north of 110. Believe me, we get it. That’s not really the point. Keep that in mind all season before you threaten to shit in my mouth, which I have to say is a first.
-
Morning Links 10/6/14
Good-Bye Sweet Prince: Chicago Tribune
Salad is bad: ESPN
The Dragon has been caged: CT
Yet this pisses me off the most: PHT
Just wait: The Score
-
Bed A Little Lumpy, Stan?
Because you’re lying in it now, aren’t you?
At the top of this, let’s lay out a positive scenario that’s more than possible. The Hawks are able to get another brilliant season out of both Hjalmarsson and Oduya, allowing Keith and Seabrook to take on easier assignments. After a couple rocky weeks or even months, the third pairing evens out through some combination of Klas Dahlbeck, Rozsival, TVR, Clendening, Rundblad, or even Johns with the easy zone starts and softball competition. Brad Richards goes back to playing the point on the second unit, something he’s done his whole career, and a reinvigorated Kris Versteeg is able to knock out some of the loss of Nick Leddy on that unit. Notice I didn’t write Kyle Cumiskey’s name, because he’s fucking terrible and an utter disaster waiting to happen. And you thought Leddy’s defensive work was bad. All of this could easily happen, and the trade of Nick Leddy today will become something of an afterthought, especially if Johns is able to nail down a spot on the second pairing next season.
-
So That Happened – Hawks 2, Rangers 2 (Rangers Win Dr. Mario)
This was the last pre-season game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the the New York Rangers.
-
Once More Unto The Breach – The Committed Indian’s Season Preview: Seeing It From A DC 9 At Night
Moving along in our look around the Central, it’s time we get to everyone’s new favorite darling (mine as well. I think it’s the jerseys), the Dallas Stars. They’ve gotten so much attention that now everyone hates them, so think of them as last year’s Avalanche. Except they’ll probably be a better possession team than last year’s, or this year’s, Avs, though probably won’t come close to that point total.
Forwards: Clearly, this is where the big splash came for the Stars, trading Alex Chiasson for Jason Spezza (essentially) while signing Ales Hemsky,. While everyone focuses the 1-2 of Seguin-Spezza, to me the real story is that it slots The Ginger Ninja Cody Eakin, who I just love to an irrational degree, onto the 3rd line which is what he really is. A checking line of Roussel-Eakin-Garbutt/Sceviour is going to be one of the most annoying around. If Peverley can return, and that’s obviously a huge if, it gets better. The Stars are one move away from having just about as good of a top 9 as there is in this division. And that one move could be as simple as calling up Brett Ritchie at some point.
-
Once More Unto The Breach – The Committed Indian's Season Preview: Seeing It From A DC 9 At Night
Moving along in our look around the Central, it’s time we get to everyone’s new favorite darling (mine as well. I think it’s the jerseys), the Dallas Stars. They’ve gotten so much attention that now everyone hates them, so think of them as last year’s Avalanche. Except they’ll probably be a better possession team than last year’s, or this year’s, Avs, though probably won’t come close to that point total.
Forwards: Clearly, this is where the big splash came for the Stars, trading Alex Chiasson for Jason Spezza (essentially) while signing Ales Hemsky,. While everyone focuses the 1-2 of Seguin-Spezza, to me the real story is that it slots The Ginger Ninja Cody Eakin, who I just love to an irrational degree, onto the 3rd line which is what he really is. A checking line of Roussel-Eakin-Garbutt/Sceviour is going to be one of the most annoying around. If Peverley can return, and that’s obviously a huge if, it gets better. The Stars are one move away from having just about as good of a top 9 as there is in this division. And that one move could be as simple as calling up Brett Ritchie at some point.