|
Last night's Blackhawk OT win versus Minnesota, not to mention the comments of the talking heads on NBCSN, were revealing in several ways.
Make no mistake, the Hawks won their biggest game of the year thus far, on the road against a very good team—but for one reason—an absolutely unreal performance in the last 30-40 minutes of the game by their goaltender.
Corey Crawford started strong, then gave up a soft goal before settling in and carrying his team, which was outshot 32-27, with a long series of brilliant saves late in the third period and in 3-on-3.
Crawford has become that kind of goalie, and now has the ability to turn it on when his team needs him. That's huge for the playoff hopes of a team that is otherwise glaringly imperfect.
A few other Hawks had big games last night: Jonathan Toews, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Nick Schmaltz and Patrick Kane gave huge effort up and down the ice. Schmaltz? This is a guy who I've been hard on, and maybe he deserved it early on. But I was highly impressed with his sheer competitiveness and growing confidence last night.
Ryan Hartman and a few others had games that were more up than down last night too.
But the game seemed to come down to this: the Wild knifed through the Hawk defense, or caught them way too far up the ice, also keeping the Hawks pinned in their end the way the Hawks used to do to other teams, all night long, and Crawford delivered.
2 points and something to build on. and anyone who wants to spend a lot of time on the officiating, the bad calls cut both ways last night. The most egregious part is that the bonehead NHL needed 12 minutes to make what was clearly the wrong call. That's not just bad officiating, but bad entertainment. And it's nothing new.
As for the talking heads:
There is growing chatter around a rumor first reported on my message board thread a week or so ago, and in my blog five days ago. The Hawks are deep in discussion this year, yet again, with the Arizona Coyotes. Two years ago (as first reported here) it was around Antoine Vermette, last year (ditto) it was a deal that was never consummated for Mikkel Boedker.
This year, it appears the Hawks are zeroing in on, at least, pending UFA C/W Martin Hanzal. I have been told there have also been discussions around depth defensemen Kevin Connauton and Luke Schenn. While it's been reported elsewhere, my sources have not said anything about Michael Stone. In fact, one went as far a saying they believed the Stone rumor to be a deliberate diversion to mask the Hawks' real target(s).
The player in this I would watch is Hanzal, who potentially checks a lot of boxes for Chicago. He's skilled, he's big, and is approaching 56% in the dot this year. And even if the Hawks only see him as a center, it gives them the flexibility of moving another center out to left wing.
Which leads back to the talking heads. It was confirmed last night on NBCSN that Arizona GM John Chayka is scouting the Hawks. This was also reported earlier yesterday on ESPN and conformed separately by one of my sources. However, in the broadcast, one studio analyst (Bob Mckenzie) said there is no way that Stan Bowman is dealing one of his "prized rookies," while another (Mike Milbury) said he may have to.
Well, as much as we like to pile on Milbury, he's right—he may have to. Along with a roster player like, say, Marcus Kruger.
The Hawks won a big road game last night, but they did it through opportunistic scoring and goaltending—when they were otherwise pretty much outplayed by a very deep, fast, talented team—the kind they are going to see round after round in the playoffs, if they even get out of the first round.
I also can't fault the effort of any Hawk player last night. They laid it out on the ice—but still someone had a horseshoe in his pants—and definitely their goalie did.
So "standing pat" at the deadline, as Milbury adroitly pointed out through his thick Boston accent, is really not a choice for Bowman. Milbury has been in Bowman's shoes as an NHL GM—albeit not a great one. But he gets it.
Fact: the Hawk core, salary structure and (do not discount this last part) balance sheet are built for long playoff runs.
The Hawks as constructed, especially with a lack of experience upfront, are going to struggle big-time versus legitimate playoff teams (like the Wild) in 7-game series.
So sure, Bowman might end up accomplishing nothing or very little at the deadline, but it won't be for a lack of effort. And that's not just opinion, it's what I'm hearing from more than one good source.
Conversely, as we have seen the last two deadlines, any meaningful deal Bowman makes is going to have the feel of an "overpay." Because that's the position he's in.
And I will remind all readers that the 2015 Vermette trade and the Andrew Ladd trade last year were widely panned as "overpayment."
Yet, who really misses Klas Dahlbeck or Marko Dano right now? Right.
I'll have a Winnipeg preview tomorrow and any rumor news before then.
Today at 3:15 pm by Rocky
» utube MM&C 10/17/24 MM&C News Reporting - Iraq Dinar Updates 10/16/2024
Today at 8:13 am by Rocky
» Aides CUT OFF Interview as Kamala Harris BOMBS on Fox News
Today at 6:59 am by Rocky
» Trump's women's voters town hall oct 16-24
Today at 6:59 am by Rocky
» MM&C 10/16/24 Iraq Increases Reserves at IMF by 50%
Today at 6:58 am by Rocky
» MM&C 10/15/24 US Senate enters the line of pressure on the Central Bank of Iraq
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 10/15/24 Attention to Valuation-Revaluation of Currency-IMF-WB-Viewpoints
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Trade Bank of Iraq announces the imminent opening of Al-Saydiyah and Al-Samawah branches
Today at 6:53 am by Rocky
» Finance launches third issue of government bonds “Enjaz” for public subscription
Today at 6:52 am by Rocky
» Washington: We support Iraq’s economic reform agenda, updating the budget and enhancing transparency
Today at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Muqtada al-Sadr: German Foreign Minister must retract her statements supporting the killing of civil
Today at 6:44 am by Rocky
» About $270 million in sales from the Central Bank of Iraq at today's auction
Today at 6:42 am by Rocky
» Oil Ministry: Iraq is one of the worst violators of gas flaring rules
Today at 6:41 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani chairs a meeting to follow up on efforts to develop the work of the government banking sec
Today at 6:39 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani stresses the importance of banking reform in enhancing citizen confidence and cooperation
Today at 6:36 am by Rocky
» BRICS currency.. Government advisor: A global monetary and financial system is about to be born
Today at 5:56 am by Bama Diva
» Iraq imports 17% of Jordanian food industry products
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» MP: 3 Iraqi messages at the International Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in Geneva
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Oil dismisses the Director General of the North Oil Company from his position
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Nechirvan Barzani calls on Baghdad not to be afraid of arming the Peshmerga: They are defending Iraq
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Two waste sites identified for use in energy generation in Baghdad
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» EU seeks to build economic corridor with Gulf states
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Industry announces obligating brick factories to switch to gas instead of black oil
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Iraq ranks third in real estate purchases in Türkiye during the month
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic discusses the investment situation in the country
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Iraq reconstruction projects before Arab ministers
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The government has regained the confidence of citizens
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Major government campaign to combat environmental pollution
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» The food basket and care increased the citizen’s share of the GDP.
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Economic Contradictions: Argentina as a Model
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Malians: No significant impact of dollar's rise in markets
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Calls to speed up the establishment of the {Bank of the Poor}
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Today.. The Kurdistan government announces a list of September salaries
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani pledges to adopt a 5-dimensional "integrated strategy" to support Diyala
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Barzani and Erdogan discuss the development road project
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» The Presidency of the Republic calls for submitting applications regarding death sentences that do n
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Iraq is heading to import gas from deep in Asia
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» They brought in about 4 billion dollars.. Iran receives more than 4 million tourists, led by Iraq, i
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Will "Turkmen gas" change the reality of electricity in Iraq?
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Politician: US Ambassador Failed to Create Western Veto on Parliament Laws
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» White House adopts hotline with Baghdad in preparation for indirect negotiations with Tehran
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Deputy Minister of Oil publishes phrases for unknown reasons on his Facebook account
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» He inaugurated and announced strategic projects and issued 3 important decisions.. Dimensions of Al-
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» The trial period for raising the prices of improved gasoline has ended, and the amount of revenues i
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the fourth in the world in violating “Internet freedom” during 2024
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Parliament Speaker Crisis Looms.. Coordination Framework Agrees to Support Al-Mashhadani
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani Party: Parliament fully supports the Prime Minister
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Finance Deposits More Than 77 Billion in Non-Oil Revenues into Baghdad Treasury
Today at 4:17 am by Rocky
» Causing environmental pollution.. Closure of 30 metal smelting sites east of Baghdad
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Traffic announces the imminent start of issuing license plates for taxis, trucks and bicycles
Today at 4:14 am by Rocky
» A huge fire devours a hypermarket in Baghdad
Today at 4:13 am by Rocky
» Planning: The general census will collect accurate information on employees in the public and privat
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» The Commission announces its full readiness to hold the Kurdistan Regional Parliament elections
Today at 4:11 am by Rocky
» The Coordination Framework agrees to support Al-Mashhadani for the presidency of Parliament
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» Sunni political meeting to discuss general amnesty and the issue of the position of the Speaker of P
Today at 4:09 am by Rocky
» Petroleum Products: The percentage of imports of derivatives decreased to 50 percent
Today at 4:08 am by Rocky
» "Medicines in Iraq" .. Talk about smuggled treatments and the absence of a pharmaceutical policy
Today at 4:05 am by Rocky
» Dollar exchange rate drops on Thursday morning
Today at 4:03 am by Rocky
» "Suspicion" in Karbala Refinery: Failure to train Iraqi cadres.. Korean will renew the operating con
Today at 4:02 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Committee Talks About Economic Reform Law: It Reached Parliament Months Ago
Today at 4:00 am by Rocky
» New Study Talks About an American Crime: Uranium Fingerprint in the Blood of Iraqis
Today at 3:59 am by Rocky
» Electoral silence in Kurdistan before stormy vote
Today at 3:58 am by Rocky
» Special voting for Kurdistan elections starts tomorrow and the commission announces its readiness
Today at 3:57 am by Rocky
» Iraq's 2025 budget returns to the forefront, so what are the demands?
Today at 3:55 am by Rocky
» great interview President Trump's Interview with Bloomberg at The Economic Club of Chicago
Yesterday at 7:03 am by Rocky
» Foreign remittance sales increase by 97% at Central Bank auction
Yesterday at 6:44 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki invites international companies to invest in agriculture in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» MP urges Sunni forces to decide on Parliament Speakership
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani is upset with the procrastination and threatens to withdraw the Australian hospital projec
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» The Coordination Framework agrees to support Al-Mashhadani for the presidency of Parliament and pass
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Finance Minister and US Ambassador Discuss Government Efforts to Achieve Economic Reforms
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Services: Nearly 80% of waste landfill sites do not have environmental approvals
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» "The rise of the dollar is not the reason".. An expert reveals the reasons for the rise in meat pric
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani lists the implementation of 99 schools in Diyala with funding from this party
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Furatain Bloc: Al-Sudani's government is working to complete all service projects on time
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» The Central Bank reveals the percentage of gold in Iraq's foreign currency reserves
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Rusafa is cleaner than Karkh.. Analysis of the air pollution index in Baghdad
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Medical complex for the treatment of psychological disorders and drug addiction
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Toxic waste
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: We have started to address environmental pollution
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Opening of Bastora Dam in Erbil
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» A move to build hospitals to treat mental disorders
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Al-Naili to {Sabah}: Starting to establish the Martyrs Fund
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» National Lending Strategy
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Exporting aviation fuel... a new step towards diversifying revenues
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Oil falls, OPEC cuts growth forecast
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Foreign Minister leaves Baghdad on a European tour that begins with a visit to Ireland and ends in F
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Launching of the activities of the international scientific conference under the slogan "Development
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary recommendations to update the proposed law on the organization of trade unions for wor
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Minister of Finance stresses the importance of partnership with the United States to achieve sustain
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Minister of Transport supervises the submersion of concrete pieces of the submerged tunnel in the Gr
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» The Parliamentary Oil Committee meets with the Minister of Electricity to explain the mechanisms for
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky
» MP calls for electing a chairman for the Nineveh Investment Commission
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers decides to appoint 7 general managers in various ministries
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Transport issues clarification regarding a photo of its Minister with the Minister of Oil: Private v
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Barzani heads to Ankara tomorrow carrying 6 files
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani puts major countries before their responsibilities
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Iraqi oil suffers heavy losses in third session of the week
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Hakim calls for greater attention to food security and agricultural production
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky