Oil Country Proves Lucrative.
It may have taken 4 breakaways to put one in, and it may have taken 6 powerplays to convert on, but the Hawks were still victorious in oil country. A win is a win, especially with the standings the way they are, and though it may have not been a game without mistakes; it is still nice to see the Hawks grab a win. We would have been in bad shape if the Hawks hadn’t.
It was nice to see Bickell score on a sweet move, it was also nice to see Sharp score again, it was great to see Kane get on the board, and unfortunate that Crawford could not grab a shutout.
Lines were juggled, players were traded and things were said. The administration is not happy, Q is not happy, and the players are not exactly happy with their play. Surprised we are not, because we all have said numerous times that this Hawks team is much better than what they have accomplished this season. There have been some ups, and many downs. Inconsistency is a word heard all too often. In fact, the only thing that has mained consistent, and consistently great is our good old (I mean young) Captain Serious. Even after line juggling, trades, harsh words, and whole bunch of other stuff, Jonathan Toews continues to be a great foundation and drive for this squad. He was a huge part in 2 of the Hawk’s goals.
And thank god Hendry was in the line-up. What took so long?
Someone who has not delivered anywhere near wat he should be producing is Hossa. He came out of the gate looking to prove something last night. Getting involved in most of the play during his shifts, getting a shot or 2 off on net, and setting his linemates up. Unfortunately, after missing on a breakaway, Hossa just kind of dropped out of my sight. I am really beginning to wonder if he can lift the puck off the ice. I have seen him bat the puck out of mid-air, but it has been a really long time since I have seen him shelf it. What is it going to take for this guy?
Honestly, for a while I was a tad worried about the game. Only up 2-0 when the Hawks were pretty much dominating and a few PPs under the belt was not extremely promising. Crawford had to make a few big saves, so it could have easily been 2-1 or 2-2. The Hawks continue to struggle in taking advantage of their chances. If they started converting on a few more here and there it would make all of the difference in where they sit.
Going 0 for 5 on the first 5 powerplays is absolutely unnacceptable. That brought the total to 15 or something PPs without a goal. Let us hope that the 6th powerplay that rendered a goal has broken up that slump.
Lastly, before I get back to work, lets talk trade. Skille has left, with a few other names, and what looks like a decent pick-up will join the line-up shortly. I am sort of impressed that the Hawks were able to pick up a name that might add what they need in the roster. I thought trading Skille would only bring a less talented player. Frolik has lots of promise, especially given his size and maybe, just maybe, he can get Hossa to wake up.
Hostile Hawk
Deuces Wild
Duncan McLOUD
vegashawksfan
Well, I hate to sound critical, but I’m happier about the points we got then the way the team actually won the game. The discipline was there, overall the energy was there, but I just kept feeling like the game was closer then the score reflected. With new line combinations though, I’m hoping it’s just a short adjustment phase. And then there’s Skille. Is it coaching, is it him or is it just a matter of having always tried to crack the roster on a team that had some really good top six forwards?
I like that Bowman made this trade. I don’t dislike Skille, but he seems like he wants to be a scorer and does not seem cut out for more defensive minded roles on the third and fourth line. As for Frolik, on paper I like this trade. I have some reservations that have a lot less to do with Frolik, but I have to give Stan credit here for trying to find a legit second line center. Kopecky would seem to be the likely choice to fall down the lines while Brouwer stays up.
I agree on everything you just said.
Much needed 2 pts. and good points, Vegas. I wish Skille all the best and for what I read of Frolik, will probably be a positive fit for the Hawks.
Picking up Salak in this deal also seems very highly rewarding in the very near future.
Perhaps this team can overcome the inconsistency of not winning and playing with much more desire and grit. Hossa…..I don’t really foresee much change or improvement with his game but what does management do with him?
Great to see Bickell score that pretty goal and bring about more confidence into his play and proud of the demonstrated leadership that Toews brings to the table each and every outing.
Go Hawks Go!!!
Couple points from south Willamette valley. First off we are all amiss with not giving some love for the hammer. Where would the Hawks be without their #2 D-man in waiting? Yes he stunk it up early in the season, but now? He’s gone from a (-8) to a (+5). I bet he has a bruise the size of Asia from all the block shots. The other point, Guess who’s listed again as “day-to-day”?
Yeppers! #81
BW
Figures. I wonder if he was every healthy, and if he wasn’t then why play him?
Totally agree on the Hjammer statement. I have meant to say something about his amazing play for a while now, but never seemed to fit it in. Yes, the Hawks would be in a ridiculously horrible situation without him. He gives every shift his all, and is the Toews of the back end.
He had a giant game against the Flames. I have often said the only reason Campbell looks so good right now is because of Hjammer.
I had similar thought as some here. At one point early in the 2nd before Bickell scored, Eddie O was lauding Chicago’s dominant play as if they were assured a win. Meanwhile all I could think of was that they were only one sloppy play away from being tied and losing all their momentum. I thought the Hawks made the Oilers look like a minor-league team at times last night, but once again couldn’t get the puck in the net on some great chances.
I like this trade. For all Skille’s potential, he was struggling to fit in on this Chicago team. Meanwhile Frolik had two 20+ goal seasons with a less-than-stellar cast down in Florida… so his potential could go way up here.
Good point Vegas makes about Skille wanting to be a scorer. He basically said it himself in his interview: “I don’t personally feel like I’m a fourth-line guy…” Interesting words from someone with 12 goals in 79 career games.
It’s not exactly a turning point game to beat the worst team in the league, but as was pointed out, there was a big shift in many other ways yesterday. I was thrilled to see Q finally take some action. We’re all sick of reading the players’ comments about not being happy with their own games… only to see them come out and play the same way night-after-night. It was about time the coaching staff switched gears and got a little more demanding.
Does anyone think a Hossa trade would be possible or a good move to consider? Not many teams could afford him, and his trade-value is probably pretty low right now with him numbers and penchant for injuries. But really, what is he doing for this team right now other than eating up a huge chunk of the cap?
I thought choosing him over Havlat was a bad move in the first place. We would have extra cash and more goals scored if we had stayed with him (Plus, Havlat was a favorite among the players). As a result of not liking the initial deal, I have almost always sanctioned a trade. Not that I do not value his contributions in every area of play, but he just feels like a weight on this team from my perspective.
Though, not at the beginning of the season.
I highly doubt it would be easy to move him.
HH, I wasn’t a fan of it either. I think Marty’s camp tried to overvalue him. He ended up settling for less in Minnie.
Let’s not forget he played three years in Chicago. The first two years he played a total of 91 games. Then, in his contract year, after surgery he played 81. He wasn’t the most durable specimen either. He was the one who made us so excited about Bolland’s potential. There was good chemistry there and Bolland hasn’t been the same since Marty left. Marty also scored some key goals.
Hossa, was a marketing signing I thinkâpowered by Bowman Senior. Hossa has immense talent and, IMO, is the strongest (on the puck) forward I have ever seen. He scored some big goals last year too. I don’t like the length of his deal but he won’t be around to see the end of it anyway.
As a Hossa apologist, his strength on the puck has always impressed me and was something I hoped would rub off on Kane and others on the team. To some degree, I think it has. Even though he was not a powerhouse scorer, I still thought that once he joined the team last year, things started to happen. That he has been more injured now really sucks. Looking at his last three seasons, he’s been to the cup finals three times, played in the olympics, finally won the cup and then got married. I don’t say that as an excuse because I agree entirely with everyone that his lack of production is currently hurting the team. But, I look at what he has been through and I can’t help but wonder if the guy is just plain spent right now.
At his age, his best years are not ahead of him. He needs to score, this goes without saying. But even with agreeing with the criticism, I still have a bigger picture view of what Hossa needs to do to be helpful to this team and it’s future. He and Toews, to me, are the only two players who really exhibit, night after night, the principle of two way play. What I had really hoped for was that guys like him along with Madden last year, would really instill hard working, two way play mentalities that would stay as a foundation for the team. This didn’t happen. I still believe that if Stan and Q are really trying to build a team that plays strong on both sides of the puck, a guy like Hossa can be a big part of that. Having said that, he has got to come back healthy and recharged. Just my .02 anyway.
Well said Vegas. Worth far more than .02! One forgets about his defensive play and it is a fact he does not dog it on the ice. Great point about the amount of hockey he has played in the last three years too.
I was a huge Havlat fan when he was with the Hawks. Watching him play live was a special treat – he had that rare, innate ability to somehow make one move and have the ice just open up in front of him. Although Marty was a favorite, I wasn’t unhappy with the exchange for Hossa. As djd pointed out, every time Havlat took a hit, I winced and feared a season-ending re-injury to that shoulder. I figured with Hossa we had a proven sniper, a stronger two-way player, and a more durable athlete. Not to mention, we took a 40-goal scorer off the Detroit roster. Well… I guess it’s just another signing that didn’t work out as well as we hoped (but at least it wasn’t as bad as the Huet deal). I still think Hossa’s an awesome player, and would be torn if he was traded. He’s so close to being the best player on the team… but yet he never seems to quite get there. Maybe Vegas is right – he’s just physically and emotionally spent right now. Classic line too, Vegas: “a Hossa apologist…” Gotta love it!
Rather uninspiring start for Skille as a Panther tonight. 0 points and -1. I guess he got a bunch of hits though, which after reading the Florida articles is apparently the big reason they signed him. Again, so much for him wanting to fit into that goal-scorer role…
My sentiments exactly, Guitar, it was by no means in-the-bag at 2 or 3-0. The ‘hawks looked bagged during the last half of that game. Q must have skated them pretty hard.
In any event, I don’t think that was a good effort at all last night. Looked more like pond hockey. Theo Peckham was the only guy who was interested in a physical game. The ‘hawks certainly didn’t want any part of one.
The ‘hawks won because they were playing the Oilers, and they were the beneficiaries of six consecutive penalties, and managed to score on the sixth one. They’ll need much more against Dallas and Phoenix.
The trade, well, I’m happy to Skille go. Getting a center back was a coup for Bowman. I think that will solidify the top six. I just hope Frolik can deliver. Jack should be ok in Florida. He’ll get more ice and probably a better slot in the line-up. He will likely produce more as a result.
As Darren Pang might say, “Holy jumpin’!”
Hello, Patrick Kane! Where have you been all season? It’s only one period into the Dallas game, but I haven’t seen #88 move like he has tonight or show this kind of intensity all season a long. What a difference when he plays with passion.
Great start – let’s hope they can keep their foot on the gas.
Well what a surprise… their foot came completely off the gas in the second.