Moving on from the spotty goaltending, we now meander into the real minefield, the Blackhawks’ special teams. Feel free to interpret the word “special” however you deem fit. In a shortened season with minimal lead in time, special teams figure to loom large over every team’s proceedings, and the Hawks will be no exception. So shield your eyes, and let us gaze at the macabre.
Moving on from the spotty goaltending, we now meander into the real minefield, the Blackhawks’ special teams. Feel free to interpret the word “special” however you deem fit. In a shortened season with minimal lead in time, special teams figure to loom large over every team’s proceedings, and the Hawks will be no exception. So shield your eyes, and let us gaze at the macabre.
Saving the best for last, eh? Obviously, nothing is going to get the stomach acids and tension headaches going more for Hawks fans than thinking about the goaltending situation. It was the biggest question heading out of last season and it still is heading into this one (and make no mistake, Martin Fucking Brodeur would have solved exactly nothing about it). A lot of you have already chalked this one as the Hawks downfall this season. I won’t say you’re wrong. But I’m not sure I’m there yet.
Ok, put your waders on. This is not going to be clean.
Saving the best for last, eh? Obviously, nothing is going to get the stomach acids and tension headaches going more for Hawks fans than thinking about the goaltending situation. It was the biggest question heading out of last season and it still is heading into this one (and make no mistake, Martin Fucking Brodeur would have solved exactly nothing about it). A lot of you have already chalked this one as the Hawks downfall this season. I won’t say you’re wrong. But I’m not sure I’m there yet.
Ok, put your waders on. This is not going to be clean.
Monty not even close: (Chicago Tribune)
All about routine: (Chicago Suntimes)
Oduya happy to be back: (Daily Herald)
A look inside with Capt. Mustache: (Comcast Chicago)
The Art of Compromise: (Fox 32)
A fine-tuned PowerPlay: (ESPN Chicago)
Of course NJ is the first team to test the new CBA Rules: (Puck Daddy)
Missed opportunity to fix a flaw: (Ottawa Citizen)
Ok, let’s keep going.
2011-2012: 81g – 3G – 15A – 18P – -6 – 3.3 SH% – -0.22 Behind The Net Rating
Oduya quickly became the apple of Quenneville’s eye, which led to its share of problems. Oduya showed up proclaiming that he wasn’t a power play player, and yet after one goal against the Rangers he found himself QB-ing the second unit. He got a lot of minutes. It seemed like he was expected to carry the mail at times more than Leddy was.
And then it all crumbled against Phoenix where he got his head kicked in.
Ok, let’s keep going.
2011-2012: 81g – 3G – 15A – 18P – -6 – 3.3 SH% – -0.22 Behind The Net Rating
Oduya quickly became the apple of Quenneville’s eye, which led to its share of problems. Oduya showed up proclaiming that he wasn’t a power play player, and yet after one goal against the Rangers he found himself QB-ing the second unit. He got a lot of minutes. It seemed like he was expected to carry the mail at times more than Leddy was.
And then it all crumbled against Phoenix where he got his head kicked in.
We’re starting to run a little short on time here, so I’m just going to wrap up the rest of the blue line in a two-part post here. Another reason to do that, based on what we’ve heard have been the pairs in this “training camp”, is it’s hard to discern which is the second and which is the third. It might just be that the Hawks have their top pair, and then two others that are going to split the rest of the time evenly. This one we’ll just have to see play out.
We’re starting to run a little short on time here, so I’m just going to wrap up the rest of the blue line in a two-part post here. Another reason to do that, based on what we’ve heard have been the pairs in this “training camp”, is it’s hard to discern which is the second and which is the third. It might just be that the Hawks have their top pair, and then two others that are going to split the rest of the time evenly. This one we’ll just have to see play out.
