Speculation: Don't look now, Hawks 2 points from the 5th place in the lottery

[piteus]

Sure and the Avs have a game in hand which is what I said. So they have the better pt %

Yes ...

The tankathon is a great way to see our position throughout the entire league. You have to account for just Western Conference teams though. Currently, the Avs, Wild, and Dallas are barely ahead of us. However, the Hawks are right there.

Tankathon | 2019 NHL Draft Order & Lottery Simulator

 

[HawkNut]

This team has overachieved. There's so much to be desired with defense and goaltending.

It's just that Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome are so unreal they've somehow dragged a team that was in the basement into a wild card spot in about a month's span.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

Yes ...

The tankathon is a great way to see our position throughout the entire league. You have to account for just Western Conference teams though. Currently, the Avs, Wild, and Dallas are barely ahead of us. However, the Hawks are right there.

Tankathon | 2019 NHL Draft Order & Lottery Simulator

Let the tankathon go and use the standings lol.

 

[HawkNut]

Why tank now? Do not mortgage the future for rentals this year, but do go for it now that you're in a playoff spot.

 

[Idionym]

Why tank now? Do not mortgage the future for rentals this year, but do go for it now that you're in a playoff spot.

Because we're just gonna lose in the first round and miss out on a potential franchise cornerstone.

 

[piteus]

Because we're just gonna lose in the first round and miss out on a potential franchise cornerstone.

If you haven't noticed, Toews and Kane pretty much told all of us to shut the hell up with the tankathon talk.

 

[Idionym]

If you haven't noticed, Toews and Kane pretty much told all of us to shut the hell up with the tankathon talk.

Well ya, they wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't want to win.

Bowman wouldn't be doing his job if he wasn't trying to create a sustainable, long-term elite team. Getting demolished in the POs this year is not that way to do that.

 

[piteus]

Well ya, they wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't want to win.

Bowman wouldn't be doing his job if he wasn't trying to create a sustainable, long-term elite team. Getting demolished in the POs this year is not that way to do that.

Well, Bowman screwed that up when he traded Manning for Drake ... and Schmaltz for Strome.

 

[Malagahawks]

As of now does anybody know who they could face in a hypothetical round 1 matchup with the WC1 ranking?

 

[TheSting]

It'll be nice for them to make the playoffs only for the virgins to get their feet wet in the playoffs. I am particularly interested to see if Cat can step up his game when the opponents are allowed that extra check or 2 without the referee whistle.

 

[migi]

We need Crow to be back, our PP to be as elite as it's now and everybody to stick for the defensive system if we want to upset some team in first round. Don't add if it's not a hockey trade which'll benefit us in long-term.

 

[Malagahawks]

We need Crow to be back, our PP to be as elite as it's now and everybody to stick for the defensive system if we want to upset some team in first round. Don't add if it's not a hockey trade which'll benefit us in long-term.

Migi, would you roll with Crow/Ward or Crow/Delia in any potential playoff series?

 

[migi]

Migi, would you roll with Crow/Ward or Crow/Delia in any potential playoff series?

If Rockford is in playoffs, most definitely I’d put Delia there. If Crow is healthy, Delia wouldn’t start a single game in NHL playoffs. AHL playoffs are good games for rising young goalie to get mentally ready.

If IceHogs aren’t in playoffs, obviously I’d like Delia to get the feeling of playoff atmosphere.

 

[Cowch]

As of now does anybody know who they could face in a hypothetical round 1 matchup with the WC1 ranking?

The west is anything but predictable right now, but if the season ended today, the WC1 would play the jets and go through the central division.

 

[chrispw1]

Considering that if I remember right at Christmas their playoff odds were I believe about 1.5 percent, quite amazing.

 

[ChiHawk21]

This team has overachieved. There's so much to be desired with defense and goaltending.

It's just that Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome are so unreal they've somehow dragged a team that was in the basement into a wild card spot in about a month's span.

i agree...at this point just dont mortgage the future at all and see if they continue to drag these guys into the playoffs.

 

[BobbyJet]

Avs looked pretty solid against a slumping Jets team last night. It's going take a better Hawks team that we have witnessed lately to beat them.

 

[HawkNut]

Because we're just gonna lose in the first round and miss out on a potential franchise cornerstone.

Hughes or Kakko would be nice to have, but what's the biggest hole on this team? Defense.

There's no guarantee they'd even be in a position to draft either one. If you get either one, and even if they lived up to their hype, it doesn't solve the defenseman problem.

Now, if Dahlin was available this year instead of last year, then there'd be more of a dilemma in my view on whether to tank or go for the playoffs.

As far as I'm concerned, they've made so much headway and have had such an incredible turnaround that I think they should keep working towards the playoffs.

 

[Salvaged Ship]

Having one of top two picks is now a pipe dream, they would have to go on a monumental losing streak. They might as well go for the playoffs.

 

[Kaners Bald Spot]

Having one of top two picks is now a pipe dream, they would have to go on a monumental losing streak. They might as well go for the playoffs.

Yeah, the difference between 12 and 16 isn't that much.

 

[AmericanDream]

we can always trade up at the draft as well...we did it to get Schmaltz, we could do it again - if we pick 14th and want to jump into the top 10, we have some assets to move that could get us there.

 

[Blue Liner]

we can always trade up at the draft as well...we did it to get Schmaltz, we could do it again - if we pick 14th and want to jump into the top 10, we have some assets to move that could get us there.

Kind of my thinking, as well.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Even if we bottom out and end up last overall, we'd still have a mere 20% chance at first overall and only half a shot at top three.

When we stunk more, I got it, whatever. Now? Ultimately our odds will be bad regardless where we stand as a lottery team, so let's try to actually do something this year and build off from that next year.

And who knows? Ultimate Trollhawks would be the last team in and going on a run or finishing 15th overall and then win a lottery.

 

[coolhand]

Well ya, they wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't want to win.

Bowman wouldn't be doing his job if he wasn't trying to create a sustainable, long-term elite team. Getting demolished in the POs this year is not that way to do that.

Making it and losing in the playoffs is a FAR better way to end the season than to lose on purpose to get a better draft pick.

 

[coolhand]

Why not try to make a deal for Bobrovsky? The Hawks can score. They need a stud in goal and on the blue line.