Toews: B

He started off looking like the same old, great Toews but his play began to dip as of late. Looks soft on the puck, not winning boards battles as much as he usually does. He's a streaky offensive player though and known for being a slow starter, he'll be fine. Lackadaisical play though on defense at times as well although the last couple of games he's been great on defense again.

Sharp: A

He's been great this season, just can't bury the puck, which is kind of his thing. He always brings a great effort and rarely takes a shift off. Just wonderful hockey from him so far.

Hossa: A-

He's been great but not the same Hossa we're use to. Loses the puck easier than we've grown accustomed to. I'm nitpicking but when I'm use to seeing him be perfect, I really can't help it.

Kane: A+

This isn't a hot streak, this is the best athlete in Chicago sports dominating the league. He does something special every night and he's matured defensively as well. Will he break 100 points? I don't see why not. It's going to be a three way race between him, Crosby and Ovechkin for the Hart.

Saad: A

He's just straight up awesome. A+ if he could just finish his chances. He's a beast on both ends of the rink and has all the makings of becoming the next Hossa. If he ever learns how to score consistently, he'll be a star in this league.

Handzus: C+

Started out bad, has looked better the last few games. Still slow and old but he's a really smart player with and without the puck. Helps the PK too. For some reason Q doesn't use him in shootouts even though he's scored close to 50% of his chances in them on other teams.

Versteeg: C+

Did pretty much nothing his first couple weeks here but he's starting to look like he fits in. Still hockey stupid though, that's for sure.

Shaw: B

He's huge on the PP because of how good he is at screening the goalie. Plays well on defensively but for the love of god, stop it with the stupid fuckin penalties already.

Bickell: C-

Did nothing, scored 5 goals in 5 games, did nothing, got hurt and now is back. Let's see if he can give a shit.

Smith: B+

He's pretty fuckin good for a 4th liner. He just knows what to do with the puck, I love how he drives to the net with it. Very responsible defensively too but still has room to improve.

Kruger: B+

He's the perfect 4th line center. Smart with the puck in both zones and has some skill. Under-appreciated by Hawks fans.

Bollig: F-

Kill yourself.

Keith: A+

Not only is he playing at his Norris 2010 level again but you can argue that he's been even better. He should be the favorite for the Norris right now but he's not because he doesn't have enough goals. It's a bullshit award, oh well.

Seabrook: A+

Night and day from last season. Maybe he wasn't healthy last year or was having personal problems or something but like Keith, he's playing arguably the best hockey of his career this season.

Oduya: C-

He's been average to bad more than he's been good. Not his season so far.

Hjalmarsson: A-

He's been great but just a step back from where he was last year. Not making those key shot blocks he did last year but hey, it's the regular season and nothing is on the line.

Leddy: C+

We're seeing even more improvements to his offensive game but defensively he's just total ass. There's just no way I can see him ever being a middle d pairing type of guy unless on a bad team. Couldn't take a half decent player off the puck if his life depended on it. Should be the PP QB of this team though.

Crawford: D

He's been ass. No vision, no reflexes, no athleticism, no glove hand, no nothing. Let's hope he turns it around when he's back.

Raanta: B+

Small goalie but athletic and great reflexes. Positioning gets better with each game. Tracking the puck better with each game too. I've felt more comfortable with him in net than I have with Crawford this year.

Khabibulin: F

Hopefully he's done.

Rozsival: D+

Old, slow, bad. He was great during the regular season last year but then once the playoffs came he consistently got worse with each series and has carried over the bad play to this season.

Brookbank: C+

He did as good at forward as he possibly could have. At D he's been okay and has been the best option on the defensive side of the puck between Rozy, Kostka and himself.

Kostka: D

Has an alright offensive game but Leddy and him together at D is just horrid in their own zone. The best option on the offensive side of the puck between Rozy, Brookbank and himself.

I was in agreement pretty much until I got to Bollig and the goaltenders.

F- for Bollig? He's a LITTLE better than he was last year (at least has 8 points vs. zero), has been part of a relatvely productive fourth line, hasn't been completely hockey stupid, and the bad penalties he take are down a bit from last season. Seems to be getting some time on the PK; maybe he can develop into um, something, there. D+.

I would give Crawford a C. Hasn't been that bad, but nowhere near his best of last year. GAA up a bit, save % down. Average so far this season.

Raanta is an I. Has had a nice little run, but he's still very green. Has let in some awfully soft goals in, and seems to only thrive when the D is doing well in front of him - I can't point to any time (albeit a short sample size), when he's really kept his team in the game. And that shootout performance against the Ducks was horrifyingky bad. Has potential, but needs work.

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Not a mult.

Toews has been hurt. It's a wrist/finger/something along those lines. Not taking as many draws, especially in big spots. Not the least bit worried about him.


Bollig, grading strictly on what his role is (should be) is a solid C/C+. He's drastically improved last year. Can't fault him for Q not using him properly ie. no PK time ever.

I've liked Oduya's play more than you have as well. Him and #4 have faced the opponents top line all year since Seabrook has been a trainwreck defensively until the past couple weeks.

Handzus can go away forever. Imagine if 88 had a real center.

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Team Cutler.

^this.

Love what I have seen from Raanta so far. I think he is going to be a real nice goalie for the next few years.

I don't see how you can give Crawford a D. He is the #1 goaltender on one of the best teams in the league.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Crawford out how many weeks and still in top 3 of goalie wins in the NHL.

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Elections have consequences.

Crawford has been a huge liability. Yea, he's the #1 goalie and I expect him to turn it around at some point during the season but that doesn't change the fact that's he's been just awful this season so far.

I'm fully aware that the F- for Bollig is unfair but I don't care. Fuck him.

This year, Crawford has banked wins in the sense that Jon Garland banked wins. Playing to the score. He needs to be our best penalty killer and, well um, HEY WHAT'S THAT OVER THERE.

I agree with most of your assessments, but I'd go ahead and give Hjalmarsson an A straight-up. He hasn't been quite the shot-blocker he was last year, but he's more than made up for that with terrific work with the hardest defensive assignments and the pace for a career year in scoring. In turn, I'd bump Oduya up to a B. Sure, he'll frustrate you now and then, but again, he and Hjalmarsson are getting the lion's share of defensive zone starts, and if they're doing their job, you don't notice the good so much as you notice the absence of bad.

I have reservations about a B+ for Kruger. He probably is a perfect 4th line center, but in being that, he's bumped up against a much lower ceiling than we had expected for him. I just don't know if I should hold that against him.

Good old Saad. The crazy thing is that maybe he's not scoring consistently, but he's getting so many chances to do so and still has 12 and 14! That's kind of a lot!

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I get what you guys are sayin about Oduya. It's probably the only grade I've made that I don't care for now. He just makes me rage so bad.