As a kid I was taught to lower the shoulder and drive it into the chest of the opposition.
- paulr

Not sure that anyone taught me that one (I wasn't usually on teams with coaches, or when I was they weren't checking leagues anyways - but we got to practice hitting in practices) - and that's how I remember doing it. Catch some hot dog with their head down -and in the words of Big Jim McBob - they blowed up real good. Usually in the sweaters' crests which were convenient targets ...

I saw the clip of Bert's play --- ok, maybe we can stop playing soccer now, as it is getting embarrassing some of those 'calls'.

Not sure that anyone taught me that one (I wasn't usually on teams with coaches, or when I was they weren't checking leagues anyways - but we got to practice hitting in practices) - and that's how I remember doing it. Catch some hot dog with their head down -and in the words of Big Jim McBob - they blowed up real good. Usually in the sweaters' crests which were convenient targets ...

I saw the clip of Bert's play --- ok, maybe we can stop playing soccer now, as it is getting embarrassing some of those 'calls'.
- SC116

I was always more of a Billy Sol Hurok guy. 😉

I actually always thought it was Billy Joe Sauerchuck but have been re-educated. Along those lines always liked Gil Fisher The Fishin Musician too.

New line mates for Nazar:



Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis
#Blackhawks lineup ahead of Winter Classic:
Hall-Bedard-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Richardinson-Donato
Teravainen-Nazar-Mikheyev
Maroon-Reichel-Smith

Allan/Vlasic-Jones
Brodie-Kaiser
Martinez-Crevier

Mrazek
Söderblom

Extras: Anderson, Kurashev
*Murphy was on ice for team pic but he’s gone?
- Chunk

TT should always be with either Bedard or Nazar, no questions asked. I’m thinking that Murphy had a maintenance day?

He did and in fairness to him he almost always picked his spot so he didn’t get out of position. And of course, despite how dirty a hit it was, we remember Seabrook hitting Backes that way.
- paulr

That one was clean. Backes was braindead before that hit.

I kid. SOB of a player but he was a doglover and did some good rescue work IIRC.

That one was clean. Backes was braindead before that hit.

I kid. SOB of a player but he was a doglover and did some good rescue work IIRC.
- HawkintheD

Had it coming

TT should always be with either Bedard or Nazar, no questions asked. I’m thinking that Murphy had a maintenance day?
- Angotti

The 3rd line is the fastest line we ice.

Jonathan Toews Explains Absence, Doesn’t Rule Out NHL Return - From PHR

Odds are against a return, however if healthy, I’d give him a two year deal. They gave Foligno a two year deal, and there’s no comparison between these two.

The 3rd line is the fastest line we ice.
- rpeters01

I get it, however TT is a legitimate NHL forward, and the Hawks lack those types. He needs to play with their prized young forwards, either #98 or #91.

I was always more of a Billy Sol Hurok guy. 😉

I actually always thought it was Billy Joe Sauerchuck but have been re-educated. Along those lines always liked Gil Fisher The Fishin Musician too.
- HawkintheD

True enough -- I wasn't up to spelling that one though :D

Another outdoor game day. When will they stop embarrassing us and keep us out of those? We have like the crappiest record for those games, but they still keep marching us out there. I'm guessing we still have a good draw, but wow, enough is enough. It should have been us and S.J. instead of the blows. Last 2 #1's.... Anyway, here's to actually winning one of these...odds are on our side.

Jonathan Toews Explains Absence, Doesn’t Rule Out NHL Return - From PHR

Odds are against a return, however if healthy, I’d give him a two year deal. They gave Foligno a two year deal, and there’s no comparison between these two.
- Angotti

Would love to see him play again but it's gonna be really long odds for him to come back and be effective. Best Captain of his generation in the NHL and a heck of a player when healthy.

It would have been nice to see both him and Kane stay in Chicago and play out their days in one jersey together. This might just be me, but I think if Toews was healthy enough to keep going, Kane would have stayed. I think Toews having to leave again was a big reason for 88 to go.

New line mates for Nazar:

*Murphy was on ice for team pic but he’s gone?
- Chunk

Trade?!?!?!?!?!

I get it, however TT is a legitimate NHL forward, and the Hawks lack those types. He needs to play with their prized young forwards, either #98 or #91.
- Angotti

Or even both. I know the criticism might be "the line needs someone to win puck battles" but honestly I think they might just need to start moving more of the speed and skill up the lineup to play with the other skilled players. We aren't making the playoffs, let some guys like Nazar and Reichel get some more reps with Bedard.

Would love to see him play again but it's gonna be really long odds for him to come back and be effective. Best Captain of his generation in the NHL and a heck of a player when healthy.

It would have been nice to see both him and Kane stay in Chicago and play out their days in one jersey together. This might just be me, but I think if Toews was healthy enough to keep going, Kane would have stayed. I think Toews having to leave again was a big reason for 88 to go.
- breadbag

** kleft because KD didn't want him around. He said he wanted to "clear the deck" for the next generation of Blackhawks leaders

And KD made clear that Toews wasn't getting an extension.

That next generation is currently Foligno, (also asst. GM), Jones and Murphy.

Trade?!?!?!?!?!
- Assman22

Maintenance Day

The board here is still up but I wonder if it will continue into the new year. If it does go down for good, look for me at Second City Hockey, same name and same blurry Seattle Totems avatar. Someone drop by and let me know where everyone is going. Hope it won't come to that and we can continue here.

Early Happy New Year

** kleft because KD didn't want him around. He said he wanted to "clear the deck" for the next generation of Blackhawks leaders

And KD made clear that Toews wasn't getting an extension.

That next generation is currently Foligno, (also asst. GM), Jones and Murphy.
- LAHawk

Oh I know what KD said at the end of the day, but it was clear during the season that the fate was not yet sealed. It would have come down to where Kane/Toews wanted to play and for how much $$$. If they were both healthy and wanted to stay for a reasonable AAV, then you can bet the narrative would have changed. With Toews struggling with his health, and Kane facing potentially career ending hip resurfacing, they picked a path and the right one, but it would have been nice to see them remain in the Hawks jersey for their career.

Mrazek getting the start today. Let's hope he can have a good start/game. We haven't seen him play a good game since Nov 27th vs Dallas. It's been pretty mediocre since before he got injured.

One of the biggest question marks of the rebuild is still who will be the goalie for the Hawks down the road.

Mrazek getting the start today. Let's hope he can have a good start/game. We haven't seen him play a good game since Nov 27th vs Dallas. It's been pretty mediocre since before he got injured.

One of the biggest question marks of the rebuild is still who will be the goalie for the Hawks down the road.
- breadbag

I've thought Mrazak was the best Hawk since the day he signed. Last season was bad but would have been worse without Mrazak playing elite hockey and right now he's in his worst stretch since he's been a Hawk.

And with Soderblom coming back to earth from his .920ish SPG the hawks have allowed 6, 4, 6 and 5 goals the last 4, all losses.

A concern some had, myself included, was when Sorensen came on board with the intention to open it up for offense was it would expose a youngish and bad D group needing the goaltending to be as good as it's been with Mrazak.

Allowing 4-5 goals under Sorensen may become the norm.

I've thought Mrazak was the best Hawk since the day he signed. Last season was bad but would have been worse without Mrazak playing elite hockey and right now he's in his worst stretch since he's been a Hawk.

And with Soderblom coming back to earth from his .920ish SPG the hawks have allowed 6, 4, 6 and 5 goals the last 4, all losses.

A concern some had, myself included, was when Sorensen came on board with the intention to open it up for offense was it would expose a youngish and bad D group needing the goaltending to be as good as it's been with Mrazak.

Allowing 4-5 goals under Sorensen may become the norm.
- Mr Ricochet

There’s a reason that Richardson used his defensive game plan, he knew what he was doing. He understood that was the only way to stay in games due to their lack of talent and they most certainly did. Richardson’s system really helped Murphy, who was arguably having his best season since he joined the Hawks. While Sorensen’s game plan is more fun to watch, they just don’t have the talent to spend a lot of time in the offensive zone. With this more open style, you have guys like Brodie being exposed.

There’s a reason that Richardson used his defensive game plan, he knew what he was doing. He understood that was the only way to stay in games due to their lack of talent and they most certainly did. Richardson’s system really helped Murphy, who was arguably having his best season since he joined the Hawks. While Sorensen’s game plan is more fun to watch, they just don’t have the talent to spend a lot of time in the offensive zone. With this more open style, you have guys like Brodie being exposed.
- Angotti

Great summation!!! bottom line is they do not have the talent to play either style. that will come though - I HOPE

The board here is still up but I wonder if it will continue into the new year. If it does go down for good, look for me at Second City Hockey, same name and same blurry Seattle Totems avatar. Someone drop by and let me know where everyone is going. Hope it won't come to that and we can continue here.

Early Happy New Year
- totem

I paid for a server for 15 yrs and IIRC you have to pay by the yr for a platform. Then you pay Go Daddy for the domain name and one other thing, I forget. But the server is a real cost, at least 500+ for a server to handle the traffic they get here. Maybe, probably, much more.

My guess is HB is good for at least a yr but from what I've seen around the internets I'll sign up to Hockey's Future if this joint goes down again. And I always go by Mr Ricochet but I'll hunt down your thoughts a Second City, totem.

Huge tilt tonight, USA v Canada at 7:00.

There’s a reason that Richardson used his defensive game plan, he knew what he was doing. He understood that was the only way to stay in games due to their lack of talent and they most certainly did. Richardson’s system really helped Murphy, who was arguably having his best season since he joined the Hawks. While Sorensen’s game plan is more fun to watch, they just don’t have the talent to spend a lot of time in the offensive zone. With this more open style, you have guys like Brodie being exposed.
- Angotti

Yep. What was the stat? Hawks were within 1 goal, tied or up a goal going into the 3rd 24 outa 26 games? You could argue yea, but what chance did they have in most of those other than it's a 1 shot game but they were for the most part structured and looked like an NHL team.

That's what I liked about the adds this summer. Legit experienced NHLers that understand structure....

6th-7th Dmen don't bother me like others pretty much all the time so I understood Brodie but for sure, he's even looked really bad to me in his zone but better in the Ozone and off the rush.

And yea man, this group has been fun to watch under Sorensen for the most part, especially getting Bedard going, but small sample size and as someone pointed out it wasn't like Sorensen was exactly winning as an AHL coach. ....... But I'm ok with Sorensen as the interim as he plays a more attacking style and knows the kids cuz he's coached em down on the farm.

Good post, Lou.

Edit: It is imperative the Hawks get good/great goaltending playing Sorensen's attacking style. If they don't it could be kinda ugly.

Allan-Jones
Vlasic-Crevier
Brodie-Murphy

Defensive pairings for the game.

Allan-Jones
Vlasic-Crevier
Brodie-Murphy

Defensive pairings for the game.
- Angotti

2nd game since Kaiser was recalled, but Brodie still dresses, snd Kaiser sits.