How about another NHL All-Star break?
The Blackhawks say yes.
At least, that’s what their game against the Sharks said in a 3-1 loss on Tuesday.
Here’s the bad stuff, in no particular order:
- The Blackhawks have been outscored 9-0 in their last three third periods
- The Hawks had one shot in the last 11 minutes
- A line of kids gave up the winner with a couple minutes left
- San Jose’s big names scored, while Dennis Rasmussen had the Hawks’ goal
- Not only did coach Joel Quenneville break up the Jonathan Toews line on which Nick Schmaltz wasn’t the answer on left wing, but he also broke up the Patrick Kane line on which Artemi Panarin didn’t get a shot on goal
- The Sharks swamped the Hawks with a 55.67 Corsi For percentage overall when skating five-on-five, according to NaturalStatTrick.com, and an even more dominating 60-40 percentage in the third period when the game was decided
- The Sharks, who came into the game with one point fewer than the Hawks, dominated in high-danger Corsi For scoring chances 14-8 when skating five-on-five
I’m glad this isn’t April and I don’t have to predict a first-round exit. As presently constructed and with the way it has played all season, this Hawks roster will go only as far as goalie Corey Crawford has miracles.
The Hawks’ Corsi percentage hasn’t been as bad all season as it was in San Jose, but it has been bad, believe me, when compared to their puck-possession numbers to their Stanley Cup seasons.
When they won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years in 2009-10, the Hawks’ Corsi For percentage at five-on-five was a league-best 56.55, according to the Corsica.hockey website.
In ‘12-13 when they won their second Cup, they finished with a 54.14 Corsi For percentage.
In ’14-15 when they last won the Cup, they owned a 53.59 Corsi For.
This season, they’re at 50.41.
The metric shows that the Hawks’ puck possession has fallen each of their Cup years and has dropped to a coin flip this season.
Photos from the game on Jan. 31, 2017, in San Jose, Calif.
In seasons in which they won the Cup, the Hawks never ranked lower than fourth in the league in Corsi For at five-on-five. This season, they sit 15th out of 30 teams, according to Corsica.hockey.
The story without decimal points is this: They’re chasing instead of dictating.
Paging Stan Bowman.
Everybody thinks the Hawks need a left wing for the Toews line, but given how Marian Hossa has been moved from the first line to the third at times and can be a force no matter what, even going back to last year’s playoffs, Bowman could trade for a right wing to improve the Toews line and theoretically give the Hawks three dangerous lines, which is at least one more and maybe two more than they currently have.
That’s why the rumor about Colorado right wing Jarome Iginla surfaced along with talk of Toronto left wing James van Riemsdyk, the older brother of struggling Hawks defenseman Trevor.
Iginla has only six goals on an Avalanche team that is the worst in the NHL by a lot this season, while van Riemsdyk has 17 for a better Maple Leafs bunch.
Both players have better individual Corsi For percentages than their team’s percentage, according to Corsica.hockey, which is a positive sign if the Hawks indeed bring in either player.
There’s also an argument to be made for acquiring a defenseman who can make breakout passes reliably to create clean zone exits and generate scoring chances.
Whatever, something need to change. This needs to get better.
After being paged, however, Bowman indicated he’s not trading for anyone, or at least he’s not anticipating trading a first-round draft choice the way he did the last two years.
Maybe Bowman is lying. It’s what GMs are supposed to do. Or maybe he doesn’t have anything now but suddenly produces new faces at the last minute the way he has before.
Bowman should’ve had enough of the Hawks’ not having the puck enough. It used to be surprising, but now it’s the norm. Maybe it’s me, but that’s a good indicator that the Hawks need to make a deal.
The trade deadline is March 1. The offseason could begin just six weeks later.
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