It was painful to watch that 3rd. Like a fool, I actually thought they had a chance going into the 3rd up one.
You weren't the only one. I haven't seen a collapse like that since Tacoma Narrows, 1940.
They played 2 great periods, they played hard, they played with urgency, and the lines were more balanced.
Until Crow returns, I might even suggest playing both Forsberg and Glass for only half of games, so teams don't get a beed on how they operate.
Glass is very weak adjusting side to side. For two periods Vegas came straight at us as they do, and Glass shows potential there. Once they make him track left to right its over. Forsberg is just raw. I might throw that change up at teams as a last resort and switch goalies mid game each game.
Q is making desperate attempts...just does not have a top 6 that can provide muscle to both Kane and Toews. Smatlz and Saad are good(Idk wtf is wrong with Saad) but there isn't a "right fit" to complete either of those lines.
I feel strongly...been chewing on this, but I would just go ahead and put Saad with Smaltz and Kane and call that one.
Toews-Wingels-Hino might be worth trying for the other...or Toews-Wingels-Debricat... could be a little balance.
but its time for Saad-Smaltz-Kane or Smaltz-Toews-Kane....
We gotta go down with one very strong line, make other teams defense predicatable as they will focus on that, and make our last stand.
They played "playoff" hockey last night. Their goalie just got shredded in the 3rd.
they already tried Saad Schmaltz Kane, did not work. They put vinnie on the PP with Kane and he hits most of the one timers or at least it gets his stick on them. But now it seems they are moving Wingells around to showcase him for a trade, playing sharp and Bouma for the same reason.
Glass cleared waivers and went to rockford. The guy can play so well for stretches then just lose it. For a minute there I thought we found another Darling.
No, this team is a mess and it just seems like Q is not getting thru to them. They are not this bad and it almost seems like the players are just looking for a new coach at times. I wish it was clear that was the problem, seems like either Bowman or Q has to go now.
They actually are this bad. if they weren't we wouldn't be the bottom of the central. Losing Crawford just exposed the team like a man getting a prostate exam.
Forsberg, Glass, and Berube may not necessarily be any good, but it Took Crawford playing at a Vezina-calibre level to keep the team just above the playoff line. That's significant because if it takes Crawford playing lights-out to be in the playoffs by the margin of a red cunt hair, then it's proof that the team is just that bad.
Maybe on paper they should be better, but they're not in actuality. Seabs has not been able to be good soaking up minutes, and is old and slow. Keith has been a liability defensively, and I think is the only D-man the 'hawks have has since 2001 to play in more than 51 game and not score a single goal. Further, while it's possible he could be better with less time (and not be on the powerplay where he's as worthless as fake tits on a zombie), he's not getting reduced icetime.
Saad has been a bust, Toews has continues his downslide, Kane, while packing in good numbers has been hot/cold this year, and Debrincat has been the only bright spot. The best we could have hoped for was a repeat of 2016--where Crawford, Kane, and Debrincat (as an ersatz-Panarin) drag the rest of the team's carcasses kicking and screaming into the playoffs. With Crawford down that's not happening--even though logic would suggest that the unassailable core of our team should have been able to step it up.
Now, that;s not absolving the coaching or brass of their buffoonery, either. The team is indeed a mess but I wonder exactly how much can be done.
IMHO right now they gotta be stockpiling picks and prospects--not trading them away for some last-ditch hail-Mary attempt. Groom guys now that will hit their stride sometime around 2023 when Toews, Keith, and Kane are coming off their contracts; groom the next gen in situ.
