Injuries + youth + goalie past his prime = inconsistent

The veteran players brought in to hedge the rookie ups and downs ( Jason Williams, Sopel, Kevyn Adams and Zyuzin) have either been injured or are injured. Plus, "The Bulin Wall" has been up and down all year, and now he's out for a couple of weeks. Toews is really showing that he should be the Rookie of the Year. The team just looks different when he's out there, and he's out there in all situations. Why they are waiting to patch the "C" on his jersey is just crazy.

So many things to look forward to with the Hawks. It's kinda like when you go to a movie in the theaters and you see a totally awesome preview. This year is just a tease for the upcoming years. Hopefully Crawford gets some time in the nets now.

Also, for the first time, the Hawks will be having a Hawks Convention in July. The Bears, Cubs and Sox do this every offseason and it's a great chance to hang out with players and coaches and talk about teams in the offseasons. Great chance to get some autographs. I'm so going to be there!

barker looks like he's finally starting to 'get it' now, whats the word on him dave?

He looks good in the offensive zone and on the PP. He starting to learn you don't always have to get the buck into the back of the net. Just making sure the puck gets past defenders is the main goal. He used to take his sweet ass time getting a shot off trying to be hard and perfect, but now he's putting it either at a teammate in front of the net, or giving rebound chances. Funny thing is though, now they start going in for him more. I think Sopel has been a huge help for the young d-men. Defense wise, he's prob 4th best behind Keith, Seabrook and Wisneiwski.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&a...rticleid=353815

With their new goalie M Broduer now with the Hawks I think they should be a whole lot better team. Just seeing that name between the pipes in practice should raise the teams confidence 110%!

Crawford is the goalie of the future, and they want him to get playing time so Broduer is just up to sit on the bench and be a backup. He'll probably be sent down as soon as the game is over.

The Hawks seem to be a totally different team with Toews healthy. Only 6 points out of the playoffs with that win.

Davey I was joking about his name.

I was just trying to provide some hometown insight into the goalie prospects. I caught on to the joking part.


Moving on...

Yes the Hawks are playing much better and with more confidence. Is Toews the difference? Maybe, or maybe they are more relaxed. At this point the season is a success no matter what. Yesterday was the fifth sellout this year (shut up, that's a great sign for the Hawks). They are fun to watch again, and they have players that you can allow yourself to root for because they are good guys and should be around for a few years. Playoffs would be awesome this year, but not at the price of trading young talent.

If the Hawks don't make the playoffs I hope they end up with another very high pick since I'd like them to be one of the top teams in the future after putting up with Dollar Bill.

Whenever I see Toews the player he most reminds me of in what he brings to his team is Steve Yzerman with size.

Nice to see.

Disclaimer:

Toews is a Big M in the AHL...

Davey...what do we think about the trade between our respective GM's?

I think you got a good one in Ladd, but I like the risk/reward of T.Ruutu.

I'm pretty happy with the move, but then again, always been a fan of Ruutu, and Ladd only recently has started to come into his own.

Very curious to see what happens with these guys over the next few years.

I liked Ruutu. He was our best young player for the past few years. He always had a problem putting in goals though. He plays hard, and dishes out a lot of hits. His goal totals should have gone up this year while all the skill players who came in, but instead he was in a 32 goal-less streak. I like the move by both teams. Sometimes you just need a change, and I wish Ruutu all the best as a Hurricane. The Hawks did an ok job of shedding some salary.

Lalime Shuts Out Coyotes And Havlat Injured
February 28, 2008, 12:14 AM ET [16 Comments]
Lalime sparkled and the Hawks held off the Coyotes for a 1-0 win. In the beginning of the 2nd Period Havlat went down in front of the Coyote net and skated off with an apparent right shoulder injury. No further details are available now and Havlat will not make the trip to Dallas. Marty will be examined tomorrow and a specific diagnosis should follow.


-------------------------------------

Lol

His days are numbered in Chicago anyways. They probably weren't getting offered what they wanted in a trade, so maybe over the summer he'll be gone. There are too many good forwards in their system, and he's just taking up cap space. The Hawks aren't in a "need to win now" mentality. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy, but his salary combined with his injuries just piss me off something fierce.

I'm surprised they didn't let someone take Havlat off of their hands for nothing.

I can't see how they don't get offered something good in the summer for Havlat.

The guy is made of glass -- and is due 6 mill!

You can't give Havlat away for nothing, he's not totally useless. The off season is their best chance to get good value for him. Maybe wait until after the FAs are signed and there might be one or two teams that missed out that will want a potentially very dangerous scorer. He's worth the risk if you have the cap room.

Toews' fat lip, courtesy of Matt Pettinger. I am really beginning to dislike the Canucks. Toews interview

At least Pettinger fought.

The Hawks dominated every aspect of that game.

Nice, 3 in a row against the Canucks, Wild and Ducks. 4 points in back of Nashville. They are looking really good. Moving Buff to forward is turning out to be a great switch.

I forgot to mention Crawford got his first win and first shutout tonight.

The Hawks played very well tonight. Ducks couldn't get anything going and pretty much played their worst 1st period of the season.

I thought the Ducks were going to pick it up after they killed off that 5-3, then the 4 minute PP.

Pronger should have sat out another game. Red Rising is on the rush for the playoffs. Bring on the Wings... we have their number.

Great game btw, good physical and energetic team we saw. Lets do it again Fri. and lets hope for 2 teams to lose today

Hockey history would've been a lot differen had Chicago not traded the guy second from the right.

left to right: Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Phil Esposito, Chico Maki

All the more impressive, Hull rarely skated even strength with Mikita.

That's a cool picture, Chicago should recreate it with Kane, Toews, Sharp and Byfuglien.

That is a nice picture.

6 games left, and the Hawks are only 4 points out of a playoff spot. Here's a quick breakdown for the Hawks.

Hawks- 80 pts, 2 vs. bluejackets, 2 vs wings, 1 vs blues, 1 vs preds.

Oilers- 81 pts, 2 vs wild, 2 vs flames, 1 vs avs, 1 vs canucks

Predators- 82 pts, 2 vs bluejackets, 2 vs blues, 1 vs wings, 1 vs hawks

Avs- 84 8th spot, 2 vs wild, 2 vs canucks, 1 vs oilers, 1 vs flames

Canucks- 86 7th spot, 3 vs flames, 2 vs avs, 1 vs wild, 1 vs oliers



This should be a very exciting race to wire for these teams.

Barring a miracle, no playoffs for the Hawks. Some long awaited news came out yesterday, Blackhawks to televise all games next year!




P.S. Screw you St. Louis for blowing a 3 goal lead against the Preds. Your city is close to overtaking Detroit as #2 on my s-hit list.

Rocky Wirtz is certainly doing a helluva job.

QFT.





Just heard on the radio that the Hawks will be playing the Red Wings at Wrigley in January. The place will be rocking.

Rocking in your seats because you will get embarrassed? /start of trash talk early

Considering the Hawks played the Wings better than anyone else last year, you're trash talk is just weak.



McDonough is behind the marketing of the Hawks and was a big part in getting the outdoor game. Rocky is doing what his father didn't do, he surrounding himself with smart business men who understand the fans and the team.

FYP


...and I am there and you are not.

Considering that you are all golfing and not even close to smelling playoffs, again, and we have a 2-1 lead in the Finals, your argument is a tad weaker.

it'll be interesting to see how your attitude about the hawks changes over the next few years. kane/tazer > dats/zett

contraversial, do you mean better in a few years or better at the respective peaks of their careers?

the latter. but who really knows, I guess?

yeh i guess its a moot point as we're gonna have to wait 15/20 years to find out the answer. that said, the two youngsters are gonna have to be pretty special to get to the level zetts and datsyuk are at. imo datsyuk really came into his own as a top 10 player overall in the game this year. zetterberg has sick talent but his injury worries might stop him from ever reaching that level though.

I know the Hawks are going to be a good team and I am excited about that because it used to be one of my favorite Detroit rivalries. But right now I don't care if the Hawks beat us a few times this year, we are in the Finals and they are not and that is what the current discussion is. LOG OFF THE COMPUTER AND EAT A JELLY DONUT IN YOUR KEITH TKACHUCK JERSEY!

You changed the discussion from the Red Wings vs. the Hawks to the Red Wings in the finals. You should be proud that the Wings are in the finals, they have had a great season. I figured you would say something along the lines of "we're in the finals and you didn't make the playoffs" after my last post. I'm sure when the Hawks were taking 5 of 8 against you weren't worried about the years to come. I wanted the Hawks to make the playoffs, but if they didn't I wasn't going to be upset. They had one of the most successful seasons of any team out there in terms of progress and fan support gained. Your argument about the finals will only last until next season when we starting beating up on your Chicken Wings all over again.

BTW, nice Tigers logo in your avatar. They suck, lol.

don't have one. kinda wish the blues hadn't re-signed him at all.

We all know that Kaner is ROY, and both he and Tazer were named to the all rookie team, but yesterday us hawks fans got some great news.

Foley's back!

Most Hawks fans love this guy, including myself. It's great to see McDonough in tune with what the fans want.

it seems like every post in this thread is good news. feels strange when associated with the Black Hawks of this century.

what a great time to be a Hawks fan. Great youth, good team, and the management is making all the right moves, on and off the ice.

enjoy it Dave, you have been through enough of the garbage I would guess.

Thanks buddy, it is a good time to be a Hawks fan. I've been talking up the Hawks for a couple years now, when players like Seabrook and Keith began playing. I knew all it would take is the old man to leave, one way or another, but I didn't think the turn-around would be so quick. Chicago used to be a hockey town, and it will be again. McDonough deserves a raise already.