Three years ago today I was in Vegas wanting Stan to sign this guy: SunTimes
Well they did for a perfect stopgap: Chicago Tribune
The Dane returns! ESPN
Big D could once again be a big problem: DMN
My contract sucks: TSN
No Paul, anywhere else….Sportsnet.ca
The beats will all have columns when the Hawks play the Panthers: MH
Well that escalated quickly: Suntimes
I know several great Czech places: Sportsnet.Ca
I would like to see more friendly conversations like this: PD
Now that’s a cap friendly deal: CBS
I like players that frustrate the status quo…ESPN
Can Hank do it again? CBC
2C: Globe and Mail
The Summer wind: Hockeenight
Seabass said that? PuckDaddy
You’re Welcome: Chicago Tribune
Welcome Dr. Rasmussen: Chicago Tribune
He won’t dress: Chicago SunTimes
We all do it: Daily Herald
Let the rumors begin: NESN
Holy crap they hired outside of the Organ-I-zation: TSN
Help! 538
It’s time for a season review, and as we have a lot of time to kill between now and the draft, we might as well comb the whole roster. Normally, we would do this one player at a time and we will, but it’s easier to knock out the goalies together. So let’s get to it, shall we?
Regular Season Stats – 32-16-10, 2.26 GAA, .917 SV%
Playoffs – 11-8, 2.53 GAA, .912 SV%
What We Liked: Basically, everything that happened in 2014. Once Crow came back from his groin injury on January 2nd, he was exemplary. From that date until the end of the regular season, Crow’s numbers were a 2.06 GAA and a .920 SV% in 32 games. And while Toews and Kane got more of the spotlight for OT or game-winning goals, the Hawks do not get out of either the first or second round without Crow. His performances in wins in Games 3, 5, and 6 against St. Louis and Games 5 and 6 against Minnesota were just about as good as anything he put up in 2013 if not better. And at least there wasn’t as much talk about his fucking glove-hand this time around. Anyone who truly complains about Crawford has basically marked themselves out as a moron.
Such Great Heights: NHL
Hockey players hide injuries? TSN
Fancystats Revolution: Globe and Mail
2-0 Kings: Chicago Tribune
Times were tough: SunTimes
The future is bright: NHL
The ultimate goal: Cheer the Anthem
Choose your narrative: Hockee Night
Its Sucks: CBS
So what went wrong: Suntimes
I’ll let all of you comment on this: TSN
It doesn’t look any better in the light of day I guess. While losing to the best team out there shouldn’t carry too much shame, you still feel the Hawks had a hand in their own destruction. We’ve been here for four exits, they’ve all been different. 2009 was simply not being ready and being outclassed, and that was the beginning. 2011 hurt because it was Vancouver and the Hawks were so close to pulling off that upset, but they really had no business even getting to a Game 7 and needed the Canucks to turn off for two games to do so. The Hawks wouldn’t have gone much farther that year anyway.
It’s a little similar to 2012, where you definitely felt the Hawks left something out there. That was also self-inflicted, or partly, due to Crawford’s bad OT goals, a roster with holes again, and a great performance from Mike Smith.
But we have to sort out the rubble, so let’s do so.
I suppose it would be a cop-out for me to say, “What can I say?” But yet I’m left with nothing else. Before this series started, a lot of us thought it was basically a coin flip. It would be decided on such small margins and plays that it would be folly to try and handicap how it would go. And that’s what it did come down to. A Game 7 overtime, ended on a flipped shot that hits Leddy and floats into the net. Not some great play. Not some massive breakdown. Just a bounce. Didn’t go the Hawks way. Season over.
It would hurt more if I could sit here and say that the Kings aren’t worthy Western Conference champs (and soon to be Stanley Cup champs). But no one around here is going to say that. Because they are. So would the Hawks have been. Just didn’t go their way. A classic series, one neither side will ever forget. Would be better if the Hawks won. But here we are.
We could nitpick about this or that. There’s plenty of time for that tomorrow and the rest of the summer. I sit here and all I can think is that with all the Hawks had put in their way, especially recently but all season (mostly from within), this was as worthy a defense as they could put forth. This is going out on their shields. They made the next champs push to a level that no Kings fan thought they had within them. It’s not enough for now, but it’s hardly worth apologizing for.
Let’s do it one more time, shall we?
@ 
Game Time: 7:00PM CDT
TV/Radio: NBCSN, CBC, RDS/WGN720
You Bet That I’ve Got Something Personal Against You: The Royal Half, Jewels From The Crown, Battle of California
After two pretty thrilling games, things now end up on back on Madison for one final showdown as the Hawks were able to upset the Kings in LA on Friday. The big question is simply – how much do the Hawks have left in the tank?
As Fels stated after Wednesday’s game, the Hawks were running in the red for just about the whole game. And of course they did with with largely only 9 forwards. Things were more of the same Friday night. Bollig played only 6:46, Handzus only 9:25. Patrick Kane meanwhile played 20:40, more than any other forward and more than even Seabrook. It certainly didn’t hurt his game in the third though.