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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
 Posted - 02/08/2012 : 21:37:52
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The Blackhawks are suddenly struggling, having lost 6 straight (only 1 in a shootout or OT). 5 of the 6 have been road games but the road ahead doesn't appear to get any easier. Their next 5 are also on the road as they continue on a massive 9 game, 3 week long road trip. Maybe someone can confirm, but isn't there a circus or something like that that takes over their building each year around now?
Anyway, questions are now coming forth as to what is wrong with this team. The following is a very interesting article putting most of the blame on Bowman for the team he's assembled and they make a great reference to the Chicago cup winning squad that had such an effective 3rd line, something this current team seems to struggle with.
I can only assume they'll be buyers at the deadline and look to add somewhere. Question is, where? Crawford was so good in the playoffs last year, albeit only one round but is he the real deal? He and Emery seem to be sharing the net a lot and i wonder if the Hawks may go out and try to find an upgrade in net? Or, is there a chance they may stand pat and pull out of this slump on their own? They're too good of a team still to just continue on like this!
Thoughts?
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Guest7116
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Posted - 02/09/2012 : 11:20:22
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| anyone know what kind of cap space they have? I can't see it being very much but |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2012 : 15:39:35
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they are missing defense.
If you think about that cup team, they had a truly amazing defensive group:
- Keith
- Seabrook
- Byfuglien
- Campbell
- Sopel
- Hjalmarsson
- Boynton
In hindsight, that top-4 alone was awesome - 2 dmen capable of 30 minutes each per night, Campbell providing speed and defensive prowess, and a young Byfuglien. Depth dmen of Sopel, a young Hjalmarsson, and Boynton just adds to that.
I'm looking at their d now:
- Keith
- Seabrook
- Hjalmarsson
- Leddy
- Montador
- Scott
After Keith and Seabrook, nothing really stands out. Hjalmarsson is doing OK, Leddy is up and coming but not yet prime time. Mondator is steady. Scott is brutal though, he takes the "defense" out of "defenseman". That group is unlikely to take you far in the playoffs, especially if you run into a team that can effectively play Keith and Seabrook. |
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Guest7116
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Posted - 02/09/2012 : 16:11:39
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| maybe a hall gill or a spacek could and some depth back there |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2012 : 16:14:43
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nuxfan....wasn't Byfuglien playing forward back then? I was thinking it was when he moved to Atl that he shifted back D where he'd played before? I can't recall for sure but thought in the Chi cup days, he was a fwd?
Either way, you make a good point. Their D isn't quite as good and i think they were getting better goaltending back then than they currently are. Niemi was playing better then than Crawford is today. |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2012 : 19:42:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
nuxfan....wasn't Byfuglien playing forward back then?
He was primarily a forward during the regular season, but played some defense in the playoffs. Even without him, that was a great top-6 grouping. |
Edited by - nuxfan on 02/09/2012 19:46:41 |
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Chicago's needs? 
