Last year, they had no problem putting Khabibulin on it. We’ll just have to wait and see, I suppose.

Dave, couldn’t agree with you more on your previous post. The regular season is now merely an appetizer to the main course wheras it used to be the dessert to the regular season’s main course. Just make it to the end with your key guys healthy and let the chips fall.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=334963

“The Hawks will continue to monitor Bolland’s back while deciding if the best thing would be to shut down the center for a while.

“Bolland has been taking cortisone shots for the pain in order to play, but that can’t keep happening. The club has discussed surgery for Bolland, which could knock the No. 2 center out of the lineup for as long as two months should the Hawks decide to go that route.

“Bolland missed Friday’s game at Colorado – the second time he has sat out because of his back after being idle for much of training camp.

“‘Bolly’s been hurt most of the year, so hopefully he can get a little rest here,’ Keith said.

“Bolland hasn’t been himself skating-wise even when he has been able to play, with just 2 goals and 4 assists in 13 games.

“Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Friday the team would see how Bolland’s back responds over the next few days when asked if the center could make it through the season with his back in the condition it is now.”

—

Andrew Ebbett may become more valuable than we expected.

And why was Buff paired with Barker? The guys have similar skill sets, big, fairly slow, good shot from the point. If you’re that hurting for guys to play D on PP, wouldn’t you put those two on seperate units?

I agree on Aliu I think consistency is more important for him than anything but wanted to throw that out there.

I dp think our shorter term center depth problem is an issue as our kids develop over the net few years.

It’s going to be a tough road from now to Christmas.

On the plus side, the team is MUCH better defensively than they were last year, and they’re managing to hang in, every game.

Three of their losses have been by a goal, the other two by two. So they’ve got a chance to win most nights.

IMHO what we saw in the last half of the Colorado game (giving up two quick goals, but coming back against the league’s hottest goalie), should be encouraging.

Let’s hope Toews is 100% when he comes back.

All I care about right now is the Hawks staying in the mix, and holding their own for the next five months.

Forget all the BS predictions and ‘expectations’.

Get to the playoffs again, with as good a seed as they can, and roll from there.

Anyways, I agree with Dave. Given the multiple setbacks with injuries we’ve had this year, I’m more than content with our record up to this point. There are some things, like the power play situation described above, that I really question. But there’s not a whole lot else I can complain about.

Just counting down the days until Hossa jumps onto the ice once Kane comes off.

I don’t know how much his stats had to do with playing on a line with Teemu Selanne last year.

What I do know is that he will probably be the first guy to get an extended look as the Hawks 2nd line center should Bolland be out for any length of time.

As for Aliu, I don’t think he’s going to get jerked around like some of his teammates. The Hawks would be prudent to simply let him play on one team the whole year rather than bounce him up and down for silly reasons.

Today’s scuttle is Sharp to Atl. Yesterday it was Forsberg in the mix.

Different topic, do we bring Aliu up for a game in the near future to see where he development is at????

The Blackhawks may also need to do some shopping.