Blackhawks' slide continues

Typical Hawk season, lots of promises, false hopes...."We're going to the playoffs, etc.". Great PR, lousy on the delivery. Now we are all waiting for Towes and Williams...then we will be ready to move...Are you kidding? Sharp didn't know what happened out there...Was he watching the same mistake prone Hawks that were playing junior hockey instead of pro hockey, giving up easy goals, allowing opponents to stand on the crease, refusing to clear pucks....What part of the game wasn't Sharp watching? This is the same effort I have seen from the Hawks over the last five years. I wonder if our coach is capable of winning hockey games. He admits it's bad puck control, etc. If he knows it, he certainly isn't correcting it, which is the role of a coach isn't it? As usual, Wirtz,Tallon, Savard and the Hawks are grossly overmatched at the pro level. If we are going to watch semi-pro hockey maybe you should charge semi-pro prices for the games. The fans deserve a break.

At least this pathetic team scored a goal...massive improvements on the Blackhwaks? Now that's a laugher...Blackhawks fans should just be happy they scored a goal...what a joke of a team, franchise...

Dan Shut up. You are a clown. The Hawks are a team that is coming up. They will use this year to gain experience and be very good for years to come. You obviously haven't been watching this year. I guess I should expect comments like yours from someone who doesn't even know how to spell one of the Hawks best players name. It's TOEWS you doofus. Give the kids a chance and fair weather fans like you will come out in droves over the next couple of years.

Looks like they spent too much time in the sun while they were in SanJose.Did they practice at all?

Maybe the Hawks "prospects" just aren't that good. At one point late in the game the Hawks had a 6 on 3 PP and still couldn't score.Whats even more disheartening is that the vets like Havlat and Lang have dissapeared...Eddie O. was really on Buffuglien for lack of agression, not giving the hit when it's there to take. Buff can be a monster player if he WANTS to be like a Dion Pheneuf of Calgary...Couldn't believe Barker on that Moreau goal in front of the net. He didn't lay a glove on him...

I think you hit it on the head, with you comment on shots. Good things happen when you put the puck to the net. Havlat had many chances to shot into a crowd.

I'm with you Go Hawks! Ignore the know nothung critics. They would not know a hockey stick from their d****. We will get another top pick(possibly # 1 Steven Stamkos)this year. Barring injuries, look for big jump next season. GO HAWKS!

Not giving up on them either, but last night was a disaster. Not only did the Buf not hit, but took a facefull of glove in the beginning of the game. Barker got shoved out of the way and then lost position and got scored on. He looked like a woose. These guys need to learn that this is a contact sport....Wiznewski was invisible and pulled up on the hit at the blue line. He could have knocked the Edmonton player into next week with that hit. Edmonton was hitting everyone and everything and owned our crease area...no one on the Hawks wants to be in front and get dirty...Buf came on in the late stages of the period standing in front...and Kane..avoids the boards and corners. Last night they embarassed themselves..c'mon guys, pick it up! We have no heavyweights with Koci down in Rockford so the teams can hit without any fear...LaPointe shows up, but he is not a heavyweight. Seems like other teams run at our better players all the time and we never touch theirs...honestly I do not have the answers I only know what I would like to see.

Outside of the fact that Koci can't skate i don't know why the hell he was sent down...Like it or not you need the enforcer presence in your lineup to keep the other teams honest.

Could someone tell me why Cam Barker has a job in the NHL? Got to question the Sopel extension and the VanDermeer trade. Wisniewski has looked terrible since coming back. Keith and Seabrook the only dependable defensemen. Havlat apparently still hurting, only a shadow of his former self. Savard juggling the lines so much in desparation; no continuity, no offensive chemistry, no scoring. And Paul, I haven't seen any reluctance on Kane's part to mix it up in the corners and along the boards , as often as not he comes up with puck. One of the few consistently bright spots on the team this year. I think some credit can go to Rutuu as well.Despite being relegated to the 3rd line and mired in a scoring slump, he has kept his head up, playing good 2-way hockey, forechecking great, and cutting way back on his penalties.

There is no such thing as "semi pro" hockey! After high school (or some kids in high school) the system jumps to what is called Junior Hockey. After that there is college hockey. After that there are the professional minor leagues. Then the NHL. Guys who do not become professional players and who want to continue to play, play in bar leagues, pickup hockey nights, old timers leagues, etc. You show your ignorance talking about "semi pro" hockey, which does not exist. Players pay to play if they do not become professionals. Learn the hockey world!

Will wrote:

Could someone tell me why Cam Barker has a job in the NHL? Got to question the Sopel extension and the VanDermeer trade. Wisniewski has looked terrible since coming back. Keith and Seabrook the only dependable defensemen. Havlat apparently still hurting, only a shadow of his former self. Savard juggling the lines so much in desparation; no continuity, no offensive chemistry, no scoring. And Paul, I haven't seen any reluctance on Kane's part to mix it up in the corners and along the boards , as often as not he comes up with puck. One of the few consistently bright spots on the team this year. I think some credit can go to Rutuu as well.Despite being relegated to the 3rd line and mired in a scoring slump, he has kept his head up, playing good 2-way hockey, forechecking great, and cutting way back on his penalties.

Have to respectfully disagree about Kane...he is tenative out there. Looks fragile. Totally agree about Ruutu..if everyone hit like him it would be a totally different team. You can not expect Burish to be the enforcer either. I love Keith's talent but watch him out there, he bounces off his checks when he hits behind the nets and along the boards. He must be light, but I like his speed. The Hawks don't use him right.

The game of hockey is, as in all sports, about confidence, momemtum, continuity, practice, chemistry,etc. In my opinion, this team has "lost its way" and is trying to find it again. It is a learning year. Injuries have obviously upset the continuity and chemistry. Hockey is much tougher than many imagine! Denis Savard is a good coach who is learning himself. He does know the game, believe me. What makes this situation different than in recent years is that the kids are learning to cope with adversity and will be back next season. A tough, but learning year. One has to look at the big picture and that is encouraging! To be honest, I'm looking to the draft lottery now. Our day is coming! Alot of great intelligent analysis of last night's game. Stupid criticism doesn't do any good!

Kane's not a "mucker" he's a goal scorer.You can't expect to have him dig pucks out of the corners. Of course his play has leveled off with teams keying on him. There's no physical presence on his line to give him any room...Ruutu's the only guy that other than maybe Burish to hit and take the body on a regular basis...I agree on the Barker comments the dude should be back in Rockford to learn that hockey is a contact sport...

Chico wrote: "To be honest,I'm looking forward to the draft lottery"

Does this mean we can throw in the towel? I think i mentioned the lottery last month...

Tony hit the nail on the head about Patrick Kane! Considered to have possibly the best hands in the NHL (Saw some incredible hand/eye, practice ball/stick demonstrations on a training tape at a coaches clinic that blew everybody away), he is the new NHL little scoring machine type. He truly is a magician with his stick and has incredible passing and scoring skills. Tony is right: that kid is not supposed to be digging in the corners! We cannot forget thathat this TEAM OVERALL IS YOUNG! Imade the mistake of thinking that they could just waltz in and be a winner right away. Man, was I wrong! The kid Blackhawks are taking their lumps and learning every day.

Tony: I weill admit that I have given up on this season as far as making the playoffs. I still love them and still enjoy the games because I have finally accepted their fate. I am a fan. I sure hope the team hasn't thrown in the towel. I predict one thing: They will begin to win big time by early March.

C'mon Hawks! I'm not a Hawks fan but if there is any team I'd like to see get back in the mix of things again (outside of my Leafs) it would be you guys.

Hey dmc is Sundin/Kaberle going anywhere?

Tony wrote:

Hey dmc is Sundin/Kaberle going anywhere?

I don't think so about Kaberle. I've been really surprised about his year as well (in a negative way). There is a lot of speculation that Sundin will be traded but he continues to say that he wants to continue playing in Toronto. Both players were signed to no-trade clauses so it's at their discretion if they want to be moved or not. I really hope Sundin waves his no trade clause, they could get A LOT in return for him. Just look what Forseberg fetched for Philly last year and he's not even as good a pickup as Sundin is due to his injury woes. Mats has been one of the few bright spots on the team this year and he deserves better then this. I'd like to see him win a cup as he winds down his career.

Another BS season,even with all the recruiting being done by the BH org.like bringing the old timers like Hull,Mikita, Esposito an others,along with big mouth Mike North and The Score,they are still the shysters they were the good old Wirtz;s.Com e back and fill the seats fools.