SB Nation User Blog: SamFels

Finally: Bolland Having Back Surgery Today

SamFels — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:03:49 -0000

As most of you know, I have an unhealthy and disproportionate love of Fabulous Weapon, and maybe I've overstated his value on this team. It was unclear before the season that Bolland could be the #2 center on a Cup-winning team, or it was a flatly stated "no". In my mind, Bolland is a lightning-fast, high hockey IQ, two-way puck distributor. Remember, Havlat's season last year didn't take off until landing on Bolland's wing, a center who knew how to get him the puck. I'm sure Bolly could have done the same for Hossa, and he still may get the chance. Either way, it was obvious that Weapon was hurting, and now that's going to be corrected.

I've seen some vitriol directed at Andrew Ebbett, but let's be honest here, Ebbett is just "a guy". "A guy" who was picked off waivers, so what are the expectations here? Sadly, the Hawks don't have a center down at Rockford who can come fill in for a long stretch, unless you really want to see Jake Dowell as your #2 center. Bumping up John Madden isn't a solution either, as he's best suited to be your checking center (notice having Kopitar in his pocket all night last night).

Is Ebbett a solution for the time-being? I don't know. If surrounded with talent on both wings I doubt he hurts you too much. Versteeg at center isn't an answer, and Q figured that out one period in last night. I'm still not sure why Sharp hasn't been suggested as a name who can fill in there. We know he hates it, but he was the Hawks #2 center when they rolled 9 straight last December, and put up 20 goals from there before getting hurt and the acquisition of Sammi Pahlsson.

If Bolland is out three months, and that would be the longest estimate, he's still back in February, where'd he get another two weeks to rest up due to the Olympics. The Hawks will need Bolland to blossom into a + NHL center, and now they've given him every opportunity to do that, by giving him every opportunity to get healhty.

Rest up, Fabulous Weapon, we'll need you.

UPDATE: The Hawks announced it will be 12-16 weeks, so three to four months. Should be back before the playoffs, though.

Sunday Notes

SamFels — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:04:23 -0000

Obviously, not much up today.

-Bolland sat out practice, and probably won't play tomorrow, or at all this week would be this observer's guess. Versteeg skated at center at practice, and I'm willing to give it a second look after his more than satisfactory turn there on Friday.

The Hawks, as we've said, need to figure out Bolland's health, and right now. Trying to nurse him through the year isn't going to work, there's only so many cortisone shots one can take before Satan comes to collect his due. Either surgery or rest, but get it done.

-Apparently the Hawks have seen enough of The Ebbett-at-center experiment, he was back on the 4th line with Eager and Fraser, which probably means Kopecky is getting bumped up to the checking line. Willing to see that as well.

-Toews was between Buff and Sharp, leaving the question of who's going to pass the puck on that line, but we'll give it a game before complaining. Then we'll do so vehemently, cuz that's what we do here.

-Forget the Hawks going out and getting another center. There's no cap room, and with Sharp, Versteeg, and even Kopecky there are stop-gap measures.

-Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead, and the power play still sucks.

That is all.

Go Home, Dad: Hawks 3 - Avs 3 (Lanche win free-throw contest 2-1 in 67 rounds)

SamFels — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:08:55 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Well, he got the first save, but...

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Hmm, seemed like a good idea at the time, we'll have to rethink the Dad's Trip next season based on results, though.

I'm going to take a page from Sassone and blame Patrick Kane. Feels good. Anyway, on to the madness. It started so well. The Hawks really took it to Colorado in the first 15, winning every battle, getting to every loose puck, and creating chance after chance. They were rewarded with a 2-0 lead, and one of them was a power-play goal! Can you imagine? Buff was able to blast one by Anderson with a good screen from Kopecky, even though Buff was doing just about everything wrong on that shot. They got a second on nifty work from Kane and Versteeg resulting in Keith burying one top shelf while he was going backwards. Maybe they should have tried that more often.

But the foot came off the gas at the end of the first, and after Kane and Keith got a little goofy clearing the zone Seabrook was forced to ice the puck. The ensuing action saw Niemi give up a too-juicy rebound that Cal O'Reilly eventually poked home.

It got no better to start the second. The power play pulled out a new trick, trying its damndest to give up two shorties in one go, but came up a second short. I don't know why Q is trying to prove himself a genius by putting a forward on the point, but it bit him on the ass. At least Sharp and Bolland can at least, y'know, move. Buff can't, and David Jones blew right by him. Niemi thought he'd add to the stupidity by going to a knee when Jones was at the redline, and he easily put it over him. (Sidenote here: Not only was Buff on the point, but he was back there with Barker, who serves the same purpose! They're both triggermen. At least put Buff with Keith or Campbell so there's some distribution and mobility back there. But maybe I'm overdosing on logic here.) At the end of said power play, O'Reilly got so loose behind the Hawks defense he must think he has Herpes, and he was able to score off his own rebound. Woof.

After a timeout though, the Hawks once again turned the ice and were able to equalize when Ladd was right where he should be to pounce on a Sharp rebound. You should look for rebounds from Sharp, god knows he aint' putting anything in these days.

The 3rd was just a mess, and the officials decided to take it off too. I understand letting the players decide the game, but Hejduk got away with interference that led directly to a scoring chance, and board that could've injured a player. Sharp was hauled down on his breakaway, and Campbell hooked a Colorado player trying to start a counter. That's just too much. Anyway, at least Niemi didn't get his head down after some bad goals and made some big saves.

OT and the shootout are self explanatory. Just a flip of the coin, although can someone name the last time Sharp scored on a breakaway, penalty shot, or shootout?

I'm sure some people are going to go all Chicken Little, and 1 point out of 4 on this trip is not acceptable. But, three of our top 6 are out, as well as 2/3rds of one of the league's best 4th lines. Maybe when spring rolls around Phoenix and Colorado will be in lottery territory, but right now they are two of the hottest teams in the league. Sadly, a team that's even hotter comes into town on Monday, the Kings. But Captain Marvel will be back for that, and Hossa on the trip that follows. It's the first week of November, let's try and keep our heads.

Notes:

-Kopecky has had two solid games in a row, and is slowly working his way out of our doghouse.

-Ebbet also had his best game as a Hawk. I know Hawks fans are getting annoyed with him, but he's just "a guy".

-Colin Fraser went 9 for 10 on draws tonight. That's impressive.

-The Hawks need to figure out Bolland's back, and right now. They can't nurse him through the season, having him miss a practice here and there and have him perform at 60%. If he needs a month, then he should get one now. If it needs surgery, well, that probably ends his season, but this isn't working, is it? He hasn't been near full strength all year, and I don't think it's a coincidence that the two games he's missed came in close proximity to long flights (the one home from Finland and out to Phoenix). It's obviously a bigger problem than they are letting on, and needs to be sorted.

Big homestand next up, and with these poor results, the Hawks really need to take all 8 points. It's doable.

Player of The Game

With two assists and more solid play, it's gotta be...

Le Sigh

SamFels — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:54:04 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

Patrick Kane after yet another lackluster performance, apparently.

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You may not remember, but there was a time when Tim Sassone didn't wear a tin foil hat, and was actually a pretty damn good hockey writer. But it is not this day.

Of particular humor is the calling out of Patrick Kane. What more, pray tell, can Patrick Kane do? We've seen him dominate almost every shift. How many passes have gone bouncing off the petrified rock that is Dustin Byfuglien? How many chances as a half-injured Dave Bolland just not been able to get to? For fuck's sake, Kane created a short-handed goal last night.

Secondly, the Hawks are missing what will be two of their top three scorers. How many teams could weather that and still pump the net silly like Jay Cutler out on the town? The Wings are missing two of arguably their top-4 in Franzen and Filpulla, how's that working out? Boston has no Savard and Lucic, where are they? Take Nash of Columbus, they might not ever score again.

Yes, the Hawks weren't very good last night. But it's one night. Not a call to arms or anything. Christ. Someone bring back our Tim Sassone.

Will There Be More People At Whirlaway Than In The Stands?: Hawks at Yotes Preview and Thread

SamFels — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:51:16 -0000

vs.

GAMETIME: 8pm Central

TV/Radio: CSN, WGN 720

OPPONENT BLOG: Five For Howling

WHERE YOU ARE WATCHING: At The Whirlaway with us, silly

This'll be an eerie flashback for Hawks fans. The Men of Four Feathers playing in front of barely 4,000 fans in an absolutely dead building. Except this time, the Hawks will be wearing white and not red, and it won't be the UC. We've come so far.

The Hawks absolutely fustigated the Yotes last season, winning all four games by a combined score of 20-4. The high point clearly was one of former coach Wayne Gretzky's vagina bleeding everywhere, culminating in him sending his goons after known-thug Cristobal Huet. Or maybe it was Matt Walker dropping longtime overrated guy Ed Jovanovski like a bag of hammers. Whatever, these games were a walk.

It won't be tonight. The Yotes are off to a flyer this season, and unlike their opponent last night -- the Lanche, the Lanche -- the numbers suggest this isn't a fluke. They've been getting incredible goaltending from both Ilya Bryzgalov (I didn't even have to look up the spelling of that!) and Jason Labarbera (owner of maybe the best mask in the league. Hetfield, Vedder, and The Ultimate Warrior? This dude clearly passed out in my dorm room at some point). Bryz got the start last night in Denver, so we wouldn't be shocked to see ol' Barby in net tonight. This team sure don't score much though. Scottie Upshall is their leading forward with four goals. That's Scottie Upshall. Their d-corps still contains Adrian Aucoin and James Vandermeer (or as he used to be known, the Wisniewski Prequel), which means it just can't be all that good.

Hey, remember when the Hawks played a game? Cuz I don't! Seems like forever since our beloved were on the ice in anger. Toews won't play tonight, per Kuc, which is fine. Get him completely healthy, it's a long season. Eager also won't suit up. Toews might make tomorrow's game in Colorado, and if not you can be sure he'll be ready for the homestand that follows.

This one has the makings of another one of those nights where the Hawks fire a lot of rubber and have a goalie stand on his head to keep it close. The Yotes are much better drilled under Dave Tippet than they were under Gretz, but this is still a team the Hawks skated circles around last year, and there hasn't been that much change. It'll take a period to shake off the rust, and hopefully it's all clear from there.

Remember, we'll be at Whirlaway tonight for a blog-watch. Fullerton just west of Kedzie. Be there or be stupid. McClure will be both.

And The Winds Begin To Howl...

SamFels — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:22:18 -0000

More photos » by David Banks - AP

I guess Plekanec loves Madden more than we do.

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So, saw this both on Hockey Buzz z (many grains of salt needed) and Kuc picked up today too.

It's obviously something we'll be hearing and dealing with all year. We all know the Hawks have to shed salary at some point and doing it as early as possible is a good idea when you're not so desperate. However, either Whitney or Brind'amour make no sense. We have too many forwards as it is, and Stan must know that. Plus, John Madden would be the better, not-completely-finished-as-a-player version of Brind'Amour.

Kaberle is interesting. He is what we would like Barker to be, but he makes $1 million more than Cameron and has one year left on his deal after this one, so he doesn't really clear up any salary. Unless he would be moved again this summer, which is possible. Joe Corvo is a wife-beating schmuck who's clueless in his own zone and does not belong here in anyway.

I'm tremble at the idea of moving Campbell. The Hawks don't have anyone else who can do what he can, and since being paired with Hammer his play has really been beyond reproach. Don't confuse Keith's speed with a similar skill-set as Campbell, and Duncs doesn't have near the hands or vision that 51 Phantom does. Barker can go depending on what returns I suppose, along with the development of Shawn Lalonde. But Lalonde is probably not going to be ready next year, so there'd be a gap.

As for who would go, I've made no secret that Buff would be my first choice, as I won't let one superb playoff series performance cloud my vision. I was ready to ship VERSTEEG! off before this year, but if this level of play continues, he is the Hawks second best playmaker and they don't have another one. This town would flood with tears if Sharp were to go, but we've been discussing his usefulness for days, and I really wonder if a lot of guys wouldn't flourish on Kane's wing.

Bowman needs to see what this team looks like when Hossa comes back (other than totally awesome). We also need to see what Toews and Bolland's long-term health outlook will be. We need to see if Sharp's floating act continues for a while or is just and early-season blip. It's too early to make a move, and I hope Stan knows that.

Oh, also, Captain Marvel was back on the ice today. Good news. Might play tomorrow then.

Fear And Loathing In St. Louis- A Savage Journey To The Heart Of The American Dream

SamFels — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:01:27 -0000

Everyone knows Southern Illinois is Bat Country!!

Right, so we've made noise about this for a couple weeks now, and tried to plan it, and now it's officially unveiled. The triangle of stupid that is this blog want to take you to St. Louis on Feb. 6th! We have reserved 30 tickets for that night's game at the DrinkScotch Center or whatever it's called now. So let's make this the dumbest event ever.

Our system for this is a little convoluted, but that's how we like to do things around here. If you want to to go, email Matt at herecomethehawks@gmail.com, and in your email give your name and how many tickets you'd like. You will then receive a paypal invoice, and you can pay that route. The tickets will be somewhere between $39-$42, we're not sure yet on what the Paypal fees will be (apologies but Blues tickets are fucking expensive. Nothing we can do about that). If you don't want to use paypal -- even though it makes everyone's life a bit easier -- Matt or I will work out something with you. We'll do this first-come, first serve.

..and...here...we....go!

One Month In, What Do We Know?

SamFels — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:01:17 -0000

More photos » by David Banks - AP

Hey look! Patrick Sharp!

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Well, nothing really. You can't figure out all that much from just October. But there are some trends started.

-We worried that the Hawks wouldn't be as lucky this season with injuries as they were last year. We got slapped right across the face with that fish. 2/3rds of the top line and 2/3rds for the 4th line have all missed significant time, along with Seabrook. Luckily, the only one that seems to be long term now is Burish, as the Hossa clock is winding down as well. If Toews didn't worsen his concussion with that suit on Friday, he's probably gonna go on Thursday. Eager is skating again, so he's not that far away. Hopefully, the worst is over, but you never know.

-The Amazing Cristobal can be very good, and he can be very bad. As long as he settles closer to the former than the latter, things will be fine.

-As Matt said, Kris Versteeg is making the three of us look like morons (yes it's not all that hard to do. Just put something shiny in front of us or in front of an attractive girl, we'll do the rest). I know he was top of my list for first forward to go in The Great Salary Cull that is coming, because of his seemingly low hockey IQ and possible peaking. Yeah, well, whoops. He's been the Hawks second best forward, everywhere, and playing smart too. He's even been a weapon on the PK, creating shorthanded chances that has to keep the opponent on their heels. He's really the only other playmaking forward the Hawks have other than Kane. Finding a spot for him when Hossa gets back will be tough, but doable, and it may be on his wing. The answers aren't so clear for...

-Patrick Sharp. I don't care what his numbers say, or about his game winning goal on Friday. Since the Edmonton game, Shooter has been next to invisible. He's reverted to the floating we saw last year, waiting for Kane to hit his tape. Sadly, he hasn't played with Kane all season. His performance on Friday started off shambolic, with turnovers and apparent shying from contact. I'm almost disappointed he got rewarded by -- wait for it -- Kane finding his tape. You can't argue with Sharp, you can get real rich waiting for #88 to do that. But I'm wondering if Shooter hasn't become our own Cammalleri or Jason Blake. Whatever it is, I want to see a big jump in play from Sharp, and quite sharpish, if you'll allow me an awful pun.

-Tomas Kopecky doesn't do anything. I mean at all.

-Fingers crossed John Madden has enough gas in the tank to play like this through June. I already am wondering how Thornton or Zetterberg or Jokinen or Sedin will react to having this wolverine in their grill for an entire series.

-Duncan Keith is having a weird year. As we pointed out in the Indian, his Corsi rating for the year is one of the worst on the team. But his +/- and Behind The Net Rating are both positive, and he's obviously having his best offensive start. The only thing I can glean from this is that the shots taken against the Hawks when Keith is on the ice aren't going in -- though there are way more of them -- and the ones takes by the Hawks when Keith is on the ice are going in at a much higher rate. It's early, these numbers could be skewed by one or two bad games, and Seabrook's aren't as bad. But it was a category Keith was very positive in last year, and isn't now.

-Thanks to Huet's bad start, people have forgotten they're supposed to hate Brian Campbell. Which is fine, because he's been excellent.

-The power play is still quite the mess, and sadly the changes the coaches made resulted in a goal on Friday, even though they made NO SENSE. Versteeg and Kane on the same unit, even though they do the same thing, followed by Keith and Campbell on the points on one unit and Buff and Barker on another, meaning both pairings were comprised of players who do the same thing. This is topped by a Kopecky being involved at all. With a week of practice and Toews back, they should sort this out.

-Finally, I'm really tempted to cancel free speech when it comes to Patrick Kane. I just can't fathom how anyone can't be blown away by this kid's play this year, and what you could possibly complain about. He's backchecking, fighting through checks to make plays, creating chances off a forecheck, and absolutely dominating shifts, periods, and games when he gets time. But go ahead and do it anyway, it's hilarious for the rest of us.

Quick, Someone Stab Me To See If I Still Feel: Hawks 0-Preds 2

SamFels — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:32:34 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

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Well that was awful. A bad effort against a bad team in a bad hockey market on a bad ice surface. It's three hours you won't be getting back.

The Hawks have not shaken their incredibly annoying habit of playing to their competition. On a night where we all knew the Preds were going to do their utmost to keep things tight, the Hawks insisted on trying to beat 11 guys at the line on what was probably a warm slurpee of an ice surface. When the Hawks did manage to figure out to get it in deep, they didn't seem all that interested in outworking the Preds. Thankfully, Huet kept them around the whole game where they still should have gotten something out of it.

Obviously, this game was lost on the power play, and hopefully the abortion of a performance will cause the changes that seem so necessary. First off, get Bolland or Sharp off the point. Neither has a skill set that would suggest they can do a job back there. If you're looking for a booming shot, put Buff back there. If you need a handler or distributor, as weird as it sounds, Kris Versteeg would actually be your best bet right now. But neither of those is necessary. Keith, Seabrook, Barker, and Campbell should provided everything the power play needs from the points. Now, why it Tomas Kopecky on with the man-advantage? Why is he on the ice at all? If anyone can explain what he does well, I'll buy you a coke. Oh, and the one guy who's scored a power play goal recently, Troy Brouwer, didn't get any time. Awesome.

Aside from the 3rd against the Wild, and maybe a period against the Preds at home, when was the last time this team looked really good? It's hard to complain about 7-4-1, especially when you're two best all-around forwards have missed time. But there have definitely been some points gone to waste, and you never know when that might come back to haunt you. Luckily, the Habs might be just what the doctor ordered.

Player Of The Game

Look in a mirror. It's you, for surviving watching that drech. Night.

Just Go Away Already: Hawks At Preds Preview and Thread

SamFels — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:21:34 -0000

TIME: 7pm

TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN 720

OPPOSITION BLOG: The excellent On The Forcheck.

Don't forget your SPG picks (you can if you want, I don't care)

Well, I set a new standard when my last entry ended with pictures of retarded kids in the comments. Awfully high bar for me to keep reaching all year, but I'll do my damndest. Anyway, good afternoon, I am here -- after stupid celebrations of Killion's birthday last night -- to do the preview and open up your official game thread for tonight's encounter against the Preds. Cue Thor calling someone a moron.

I certainly don't mind the two points Nashville are intent on giving us constantly, but I really have no urge to watch them play hockey ever again. At least a couple years ago they were somewhat entertaining. Now that they've been racked by injuries and exits, coach Koopa Trotz is basically playing a trap and sucking the life out of all of us. He has no choice, this team can't score more than twice in a game.

Interesting choice to go with Huet tonight with a better Canadiens team waiting tomorrow. Anyone could get a win against the Preds, and if Niemi doesn't play tonight than he'll have at least a 2.5 week break between starts, which isn't a good idea. But with 19 back-to-backs this season, Huet was going to to have to do one of them on his own at some point, so I guess I won't get my shorts in a bunch.

Seabrook will play, and Toews won't. Hendry may be punted up to forward on the 4th line, ruining whatever momentum they got going by their first decent performance on Monday. Get Dowell back up here, and let him stay. But the season won't hinge on that, I hope.

You know the rest, have at it.