After 13 games and a month of work as Hawks GM, Pointman conducted a press conference about all the stuff happened in Chicago this month.
"Well, let’s go straight to business — Hawks are not looking for any trades right now. I finally got a line-up I want and found myself with plenty of line combos available. It took me just a minute to make-up 3 decent versions, each of which I would like to try. In last week we brought in 8 forwards (with only 2 out) to answer lack of scoring. However, Bulis have yet to gain game condition and McDonald, who proved to be great fit, is already injured. There’s no whining as injuries happen to every team, but we just have yet to see, how all those new guys will fit in.”
On the paper, Hawks had improved dramatically in this month, with five 70+ players in and only one out.
In: Bulis, Sami Salo, Salei, Brent Johnson, Sauer, Andy McDonald, Yachmenev (70 OV), Wilson, Ovechkin and some weaker yet rather useful players like Knutsen, Bartecko, Walz etc.
Guys, who can be counted as rather big losses, are powerplay quaterback Quint (72 OV) and rookie of the week 2 Nikita Alexeev (66 OV). Other guys who left were AHLers and two back-ups Prusek and Sanford.
However it's no news that the team is not clicking yet to put it lightly. After solid 2-2-3 start with 26-22 goals, Hawks spiraled into 0-6(1)-0 streak with 8-30 goals. From an awful team, who are holding .500 mark due to great chemistry and relentless work-ethic, Hawks came into a hugely underachieving squad with decent line-up for lower third team, but virtually no teamwork to speak of.
“I don’t think fans are worried about it at all. This season was counted off long ago. There’s no new Hawks will dominate CPHL since 2006 and then. I’m not even sure, Hawks need any GM at all. If franchise will freeze current roster for a couple of years, it might be better idea than to have any GM running the club. Hawks course is set in stone.”
Biggest surprise:
Espen Knutsen
Acquired in the first career trade for new GM, norwegian skater, who was named “top-six forward” by tsn.ca, is having terrific start of the season. Playmaking center leads Hawks in points (11 in13 games), goals (5, tied with Rasmussen, who played 6 games fewer) and +/- (+4, tied with Jeff Jillson). Knutsen is the only Hawk who didn’t slow down in this terrible cold streak. Rasmussen and Audette can tell a lot about Knutsen’s ability to make his wingers look better than they really are.
Biggest disappointment:
Martin Erat
GM’s favorite player and the only 70 OV forward in former line-up is having an awful season. He’s the worst in team in +/- (-9), has only 2 goals and 5 assist. Despite his terrible displays and plenty of offers, GM Pointman is proving to be unprofessional by playing his favorite on top line and yelling, that he’s unavailable. Inability to find a good fit for the best overall forward was named as one of Pointman’s biggest flaws this far. On the other hand, Hawks can improve big time if Bulis-Erat combo will click as expected.
|
