Falling Stars in the Madhouse
Posted 1:44 AM ET | Comments 1
Tonight's 4-0 victory for the Hawks over the Stars is nice momentum to ride for a somewhat new look team as they gear up for the season opener against the Rangers next Wednesday.
To start things off, I just want to say that John Klingberg is a very good Defenseman and I can see why Dallas locked him up with a 7-year extension. This is a young guy that looks like he'll only get better. He is defensively sound, works the PP and can lead a rush quite well. I can see him becoming a big/important piece for the Stars, especially at a time when they seem to be in need of blue line help. He started the game's early seconds out with a great lead pass, hitting Sharp in the neutral zone for a 2-on-1, which Sharp was (thankfully) unsuccessful at capitalizing on. He had a solid game. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a guy they build around--he just has that presence.
Now on to one of two hot topics of the night. Bickell clearing waivers and playing in tonight's game raised a couple questions in my mind: if this was the Hawks way of sending him a wake up call (that even Bickell confirmed in an interview), then why did it take this long for them to do so? And if that's the case...how severe has his knee and vertigo issues been? His playing time the past couple seasons has been odd. He plays some nights, then has stretches of not being in the lineup. It's never really clear the extent of his injuries, but if you're injured and aren't helping the team on the nights you're in, why aren't you just out until you recover? Something has always seemed weird to me about it and the reason I ask is because it would seem strange for an organization to send a "wake up call" to a guy who is hurt. Seems more like something you'd do to a guy who became too comfortable, complacent or someone who lost their game. He came out hot his first couple shifts--some hits and a shot or two on net that had that old Bickell quick snap to it, but he seemed to fade as the game went on. I'm not sure what's going on.
Tonight's second hot topic: Panarin. Man, that guy has some hands and good awareness on the ice. He made some moves tonight that were pretty incredible. One came in the first period when he got kind of hung up in the neutral zone and was almost stripped of the puck but he somehow managed to dance through guys and make a pass to spring Kane into the Dallas zone. I don't know how he wasn't completely gassed with all the stop-and-go he did. It's like in men's league when an A leaguer fills in for someone on a C team and he makes a slight mishandle and in order to save face for himself, he flashes some ridiculous hands and makes the other guys look like cones to weave in and out of. Panarin also had some nice passing, speed and almost buried a one-timer, which, by the way, was a great save by Niemi, we're lucky that big papa Hoss was crashing the net to get the rebound. I'm not building him up as a superstar, it's only been a preseason game, but I think we'll continue to be impressed by Panarin as the Hawks help him adjusts to the North American game.
Some other quick observations from tonight's tilt...
Regarding the play of of Artem Anisimov; I know there are those who are not too high on him, but I feel his game is similar to that of Vermettes when he was with the Hawks. He does a lot of little things that don't show up on a score sheet, but are very valuable to a teams success. When you watch closely, you'll see him lift a defender's stick here or there in order for a pass to get through to a teammate, or he'll take a hit or get a stick on the puck and keep the play alive. He does subtle things that make other guys jobs easier and add to their success. That's a great thing to have.
I feel Baun is one penalty away from really getting into the dog house with Q. I like him and want to see him succeed, but he'll have to get those penalties under control if he's to do so. Can't be putting the boys shorthanded multiple times a night.
Kruger and Desi are something else. Penalty kill assassins. These two guys bring their work boots and lunch pales to the rink. I love watching them play. Tonight they put Dallas on their heels a few times while killing Baun's penalties. They have an inept ability to clear the puck and/or pressure the PP team's Defensemen into turning over the puck in their own zone, resulting in valuable time being ticked off the clock by the time they regroup for another rush. Desi also had some nice rushes, carrying the puck deep over the blue line and helping establish the Hawks in the Dallas zone. These dudes are great!
Lastly, I was impressed by Dallas' ability to attack the Hawks zone head on. There were a number of times the Stars charged through the middle of the neutral zone, causing some disorientation on the Hawks end upon entrance. They had success with speed of guys like Tyler Seguin (Jamie Benn surprisingly quite tonight) coming straight on creating space in the middle for some good scoring opportunities; good thing Crow and Darling were better though--Darling especially down low, where he made a number of key saves throwing out the big left leg pad. Big Svedberg looked more confident on the blue line and defending his zone tonight. That reach he has a a rarity and has certainly helped make life difficult for opposing players trying to get around him.
In all, I'm looking forward to Wednesdays opener against the Rangers...You should be too!
PS
I almost forgot to talk about some old friends. I thought Sharp looked good tonight. He had some speed and a couple of nice opportunities. Oduya was a little more under the radar--perhaps he's still adjusting to the new squad. It was odd seeing them in white and green though...
To start things off, I just want to say that John Klingberg is a very good Defenseman and I can see why Dallas locked him up with a 7-year extension. This is a young guy that looks like he'll only get better. He is defensively sound, works the PP and can lead a rush quite well. I can see him becoming a big/important piece for the Stars, especially at a time when they seem to be in need of blue line help. He started the game's early seconds out with a great lead pass, hitting Sharp in the neutral zone for a 2-on-1, which Sharp was (thankfully) unsuccessful at capitalizing on. He had a solid game. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a guy they build around--he just has that presence.
Now on to one of two hot topics of the night. Bickell clearing waivers and playing in tonight's game raised a couple questions in my mind: if this was the Hawks way of sending him a wake up call (that even Bickell confirmed in an interview), then why did it take this long for them to do so? And if that's the case...how severe has his knee and vertigo issues been? His playing time the past couple seasons has been odd. He plays some nights, then has stretches of not being in the lineup. It's never really clear the extent of his injuries, but if you're injured and aren't helping the team on the nights you're in, why aren't you just out until you recover? Something has always seemed weird to me about it and the reason I ask is because it would seem strange for an organization to send a "wake up call" to a guy who is hurt. Seems more like something you'd do to a guy who became too comfortable, complacent or someone who lost their game. He came out hot his first couple shifts--some hits and a shot or two on net that had that old Bickell quick snap to it, but he seemed to fade as the game went on. I'm not sure what's going on.
Tonight's second hot topic: Panarin. Man, that guy has some hands and good awareness on the ice. He made some moves tonight that were pretty incredible. One came in the first period when he got kind of hung up in the neutral zone and was almost stripped of the puck but he somehow managed to dance through guys and make a pass to spring Kane into the Dallas zone. I don't know how he wasn't completely gassed with all the stop-and-go he did. It's like in men's league when an A leaguer fills in for someone on a C team and he makes a slight mishandle and in order to save face for himself, he flashes some ridiculous hands and makes the other guys look like cones to weave in and out of. Panarin also had some nice passing, speed and almost buried a one-timer, which, by the way, was a great save by Niemi, we're lucky that big papa Hoss was crashing the net to get the rebound. I'm not building him up as a superstar, it's only been a preseason game, but I think we'll continue to be impressed by Panarin as the Hawks help him adjusts to the North American game.
Some other quick observations from tonight's tilt...
Regarding the play of of Artem Anisimov; I know there are those who are not too high on him, but I feel his game is similar to that of Vermettes when he was with the Hawks. He does a lot of little things that don't show up on a score sheet, but are very valuable to a teams success. When you watch closely, you'll see him lift a defender's stick here or there in order for a pass to get through to a teammate, or he'll take a hit or get a stick on the puck and keep the play alive. He does subtle things that make other guys jobs easier and add to their success. That's a great thing to have.
I feel Baun is one penalty away from really getting into the dog house with Q. I like him and want to see him succeed, but he'll have to get those penalties under control if he's to do so. Can't be putting the boys shorthanded multiple times a night.
Kruger and Desi are something else. Penalty kill assassins. These two guys bring their work boots and lunch pales to the rink. I love watching them play. Tonight they put Dallas on their heels a few times while killing Baun's penalties. They have an inept ability to clear the puck and/or pressure the PP team's Defensemen into turning over the puck in their own zone, resulting in valuable time being ticked off the clock by the time they regroup for another rush. Desi also had some nice rushes, carrying the puck deep over the blue line and helping establish the Hawks in the Dallas zone. These dudes are great!
Lastly, I was impressed by Dallas' ability to attack the Hawks zone head on. There were a number of times the Stars charged through the middle of the neutral zone, causing some disorientation on the Hawks end upon entrance. They had success with speed of guys like Tyler Seguin (Jamie Benn surprisingly quite tonight) coming straight on creating space in the middle for some good scoring opportunities; good thing Crow and Darling were better though--Darling especially down low, where he made a number of key saves throwing out the big left leg pad. Big Svedberg looked more confident on the blue line and defending his zone tonight. That reach he has a a rarity and has certainly helped make life difficult for opposing players trying to get around him.
In all, I'm looking forward to Wednesdays opener against the Rangers...You should be too!
PS
I almost forgot to talk about some old friends. I thought Sharp looked good tonight. He had some speed and a couple of nice opportunities. Oduya was a little more under the radar--perhaps he's still adjusting to the new squad. It was odd seeing them in white and green though...
I like the you explain the situation