WC Playoffs Round 1: St. Louis Blues vs Chicago Blackhawks (Blackhawks win 4-2).

[vennegoor of hesselink]

[blender]

I agree with the comments above stating St. Louis' need for a game-breaker, but I think the turning point in the series was the Seabrook hit on Backes. Basically Seabrook destroys their captain and the Blues have no response. From there on Chicago (and more importantly, St. Louis) knew they owned them.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Ludicrous statement. Bouwmeester was one of the best trade line pickups in years for any team. What exactly did they lose in that deal that would have made a difference today to make that a step backwards? Not a single roster player and a 1st round pick that's not going to be part of their future for years.

Bouwmeester has been good for them and defense is far from an issue in fact they are amongst the deepest in the league. They just need a game breaker or two on offence.

excuse me but I guess that it a bit much to expect your highest paid player to actually dominate and control a game. Try and find an example where Bouwmeester is a difference maker in an important game........ in a positive way

[Derek Sutton]

The collapse down the stretch really sealed their fate, could Hitchcock's job Be in jeopardy?

[blender]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

The collapse down the stretch really sealed their fate, could Hitchcock's job Be in jeopardy?

Agreed. If they were playing Minny, I would argue that they are waiting for a second round opponent right now (which would be Chicago, making it a moot point over the longer term, but still).

Can't see it being Hitchcock's fault, though. I didn't see him getting out-coached.

[Husky]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Berglund isn't but Oshie is. Malkin is obviously way better but I think Oshie would help Pittsburgh a ton.

Oshie..a guy who finally hit 60 points this year. Before that one 54 point season and the rest are typ[ically between 30-40s range.

No at this point his offense does not put him as a first line player.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yep. Just goes to show how critical misses can be when you are picking top 5. The Blues played a big role in the Hawks recent success.

Had they taken Toews in 06, than Couture in 07 instead of trading back to 13 to take Eller that team could be a real beast today.

Really the miss was with the top pick, yeah they still got a usefull player...but they let someone else have the superstar who could have taken them to the promised land.

Even a tem like the Blues who did well drafting missed that little extra that championship teams didn't.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Ludicrous statement. Bouwmeester was one of the best trade line pickups in years for any team. What exactly did they lose in that deal that would have made a difference today to make that a step backwards? Not a single roster player and a 1st round pick that's not going to be part of their future for years.

Bouwmeester has been good for them and defense is far from an issue in fact they are amongst the deepest in the league. They just need a game breaker or two on offence.

Really, you think the Blues went after Bouwmeester and his $6.75M contract, gave up their 1st round pick for 1 point and -1 in the Playoffs.

I highly doubt it. As per usual, he does nothing when it counts and his defenders come in and say "well he's not a bad player". No #### he's not "Bad", but he's not good and he's not a difference maker. You don't give up your 1st round pick for "depth" on the blue line. He's underdelivered as a Blue just as he did here, only in St.Louis the team is good enough to make it to the dance with him being blaze. But they aren't good enough to win around with one of their top defenders not being the difference maker he's paid to be.

Bow's comparables in this series are Keith and Seabrook end of story. And they kicked the #### out of him. Do the Blues lose this series if their top 2 d-men were putting up the same numbers as the Hawks top 2? Not a chance. Bouw failed to do what he's paid and expected to do.

[4oh3]

Chi takes next series in 5

[4oh3]

I think we could have a SCF rematch this year I think Chicago will win the west and whoever wins Montreal and Boston series will win the east

[an hero]

Originally Posted by hwy19man

That is why I am glad I watched the game on NBC instead. Dean Brown puts viewers to sleep.

I have no idea how people stand the American broadcasts.

It's like they can't differentiate the NFL or MLB from the NHL. In the other leagues, they've been accustomed to this Madden-esque style of play-by-play and colour commentary where they just ramble on and on during gameplay, and I don't blame them with how much of the broadcast is spent with the ball not in play in those leagues. I don't see how this translates to entertainment for hockey fans with how often the puck is in play. This is how I see the American NHL broadcasts:

Doc Emrick: Toews with a drive! Boy he sure can shot blah blah blah blah blah

*30 seconds later with puck still in play*

Ed Olczyk: Oh I agree, Doc, Toews is such a blah blah blah blah

*30 seconds later with puck still in play*

Doc: I remember something a wise person once said about 530 years ag--- SCORE!

It's like they've got better things to do than to relay what's going on, on the ice below, and save their side-commentary for intermissions and stoppages.

While I do see this on Canadian broadcasts, it's hardly ever, in comparison.

I'd rather hear the dull voice of Jim Hughson, or slightly less dull voice of Sens' play by play Dean Brown, than be annoyed at the US broadcasts. (I tried muting their broadcasts but I can't just mute hockey games)

[Henry Fool]

This year I haven't paid enough attention to the casters to judge but in previous years I've really liked the NBC playoff broadcasts. In fact I've probably preferred NBC to the other channels.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Chicago, though they've had a ton of flops in the past 10 years, has just had a lot of luck(?) at the draft, right players at the right time in the case of Kane and Toews. They've also made the right deals at the right time, not being afraid to move key players or assets. Letting Havlat go and signing Hossa, trading Barker for Leddy, signing Campbell, dumping Campbell, picking up Sharp for spare parts. Byfuglien and Bolland were tough calls but apparently the right guys to trade away. They have gotten a lot of luck along the way and really developed their players to; Saad, Shaw, Bickell, Crawford, Hjalmarson, Kruger.

Luck in winning lottery, grabbing Kane. Absolutely.
Otherwise can't see luck playing a big part in any of their success.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I would take Toews over Crosby on a talented team. I simply think he's more clutch and a better leader. IMO he's the best captain the NHL has seen since Mark Messier. Since winning the cup last Crosby hasn't really taken over any series or been clutch for the Penguins when their back is against the wall.

On a lesser talented team I would take Crosby to make up for talent deficiency. He's going to get more individual points and make some average line mates look better.

The Hawks are proof that Toews on a talent deep team trumps Crosby and a handful of talented players as they have won 2 cups to the Penguins 1.

Toews has a way better supporting crew, especially in defense and goal.

Since 2009 Crosby has 16 goals and 31 assists in 47 playoff games.
Since 2009 Toews has 9 goals and 20 assists in 42 playoff games.

They're not even close.

Thing with Crosby, if he's on a point-per-game pace, like in the current series against CBJ, that's considered a low bar for him.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Itse

Toews has a way better supporting crew, especially in defense and goal.

Since 2009 Crosby has 16 goals and 31 assists in 47 playoff games.
Since 2009 Toews has 9 goals and 20 assists in 42 playoff games.

They're not even close.

Thing with Crosby, if he's on a point-per-game pace, like in the current series against CBJ, that's considered a low bar for him.

Your numbers are wrong, but the point isn't. Crosby is amazing. He will always outpoint Toews, but there is more to it than that (though Oiler fan wouldn't agree).
Some players just win, and Crosby is one. And Toews is one who is even better at it.

[strombad]

Toews is a better player and captain than Crosby is. That said, would the same be known if Crosby hadn't missed so much time due to concussions? Probably not.

There's a reason Crosby asked Toews if he was alright with him being captain of Team Canada, and it wasn't just "You have one more Stanley Cup than me."

Regardless, it's splitting hairs. Two exceptional players that dominate in different ways.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Really, you think the Blues went after Bouwmeester and his $6.75M contract, gave up their 1st round pick for 1 point and -1 in the Playoffs.

I highly doubt it. As per usual, he does nothing when it counts and his defenders come in and say "well he's not a bad player". No #### he's not "Bad", but he's not good and he's not a difference maker. You don't give up your 1st round pick for "depth" on the blue line. He's underdelivered as a Blue just as he did here, only in St.Louis the team is good enough to make it to the dance with him being blaze. But they aren't good enough to win around with one of their top defenders not being the difference maker he's paid to be.

Bow's comparables in this series are Keith and Seabrook end of story. And they kicked the #### out of him. Do the Blues lose this series if their top 2 d-men were putting up the same numbers as the Hawks top 2? Not a chance. Bouw failed to do what he's paid and expected to do.

Great well written post.

I had trouble with "blaze" and finally came up with Blasé.

Definition :

1. indifferent to or bored with life, as or as if from an excess of worldly pleasures; jaded.
2. not excited about something; unmoved.


the synonyms: blasé
nonchalant, cool, bored, distant, regardless, detached, weary, indifferent, careless, lukewarm, glutted, jaded, unmoved, unconcerned, impervious, uncaring, uninterested, apathetic, offhand, world-weary, heedless, satiated, unexcited, surfeited

the antonyms:

interested, caring, affected, excited, stimulated, enthusiastic, responsive

what sealed the deal was a picture of Bouwmeeester under the examples of Blasé play in hockey.

Jay Blasé Bouwmeester

[strombad]

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Luck in winning lottery, grabbing Kane. Absolutely.
Otherwise can't see luck playing a big part in any of their success.

They have gotten a lot out of some of their mid- later round picks and these guys have really shaped themselves into an excellent supporting cast. Kruger, Shaw, Smith, Hjalmarson, are all late picks that have turned into players for them. I would say there is some luck involved, as there first round selections in these same drafts were the likes of Kyle Beach, Jack Skille and Dylan Olsen.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by strombad

???

Chicago isn't Gritty?

The low grit players on Chicago according to the RGI are Kane Rosinval, leddy and Versteeg. Versteeg was the lowest ice time forward and Leddy the #7 in Ice time D-man.

Since you seem to have studied the RGI so much I would have thought that you might understand that a Successful team can not have more than 3-4 non-gritty players. If a team has more than 4 non-gritty players they will not be successful.

Having 2-3 guys that are incredibly gritty does not make up for having 5 soft players.

If there is a series that messes with the RGI it is the Montreal series where Montreal had 6 soft players .... Tampa however had 9 players in that series with a low RGI.


The value of the RGI identifies that a team like the Flames will not be successful with Baertschi, Hudler, Cammalleri, Granlund, Billings and Gaudreau.