Blackhawks at 2018 World Championships (Kane MVP)

[AmericanDream]

welp, that time of year when we shit the bed and miss the playoffs - now we can see what Hawk players will be representing their countries this year in Europe.

obviously a lot of US players here, have to imagine some will go - interesting tweet:

Saad isn’t the only Blackhawks player deciding whether to play at Worlds. Patrick Kane has also reportedly expressed interest in playing, and Craig Custance of The Athletic notes that if Kane decides to play that it would lead to his Chicago teammates, including forwards Saad, Alex DeBrincat, Vinnie Hinostroza, Nick Schmaltz and defenseman Connor Murphy also wanting too.
“If he’s in, everyone is in,” one NHL source told Custance.

I find it funny that if Kane goes the rest will go....well f***ING GO KANE! Play golf and hit up casinos next month, end your year on a positive note by leading team USA to its first ever Gold!

So far team USA has Chris Kreider, Dylan Larkin, Clayton Keller, and Casey Mittelstadt - Kane, Cat, and Schmaltz would make that group even better...

who else goes and for what countries???

Click to read more...

 

[CallMeShaft]

I'd be pretty okay with some of those younger guys and Kane going. I'm a bit more iffy on Saad. Think he could use some shooting practice, and while he's fast already, he could still work on getting faster. He just wasn't good enough this year.

Any guy who has had a down year and is older should stay back and work on themselves (in a physical sense). They don't need the extra experience.

 

[ClydeLee]

Saad is still 25, hes not gotten to be a pro level team USA player yet. He was on team north America being 23 still in the world cup and oddly left off the Olympic team. He could want the role

 

[CallMeShaft]

Saad is still 25, hes not gotten to be a pro level team USA player yet. He was on team north America being 23 still in the world cup and oddly left off the Olympic team. He could want the role

I really only want guys to play for the experience. Saad has a decent amount of experience I would say.

Kane gets a pass because he's Kane. When he's producing under 70, then he can keep his ass in a gym for the summer. Until then, just keep it legal Kaner.

 

[clydesdale line]

Would give me even more of a reason to watch. I hope he and the rest go. No doubt he'll be captain on that team.

 

[hawksfan50]

They were speculating lady night on whether Keith would go if asked...He needs a WC gold to complete the triple of Stanley Cup Olympic and World holds...has only the Cups and Olympic Gold so he needs the WC gold to join the exclusive triple club for these 3 events..

But I ask..why would Canada even want him at his age when he fell off the cliff so badly thus season...-29 is disgraceful and clearly his offensive skills have declined too...as well Ivam sure Hawks wNt him fully rested through a lot ng summer for next season..so I doubt he goes if asked.

I know Kane wants to serve USA of asked. .but again Hawks brass probably does not wantt to risk injury on one of its few remaining ingredients stars so I doubt they let him go .

I do not know if Sikura will be asked by Canada..but the WC is a good training ground for newbie NHL talent..so if Canada asks I think Hawks brass would want him to go and gain more experience against pros. But Canada spurned Sikura for the Olympic team so maybe he would decline out of spite?

If USA asks Schmaltz ,Hino and D-Cat we could see them on the team.Though the way they treated D-CAt for World Juniors I can understand if he spurned them.

 

[DPHawk]

Hino is an RFA, will he really go if he doesn't have a contract?

 

[BK]

Playing at the world’s could go a long way for Cat, Schmaltz, and Saad. If they go and I am the Hawks I make sure Kane is in his ear telling him to shoot shoot shoot. Bowman should also work to make sure they are on the same line. Saad just needs to start getting his confidence back and Murphy needs to play with a smaller PMD.

 

[BobbyJet]

I'd be perfectly satisfied if no Hawks go.

 

[piteus]

I'd be perfectly satisfied if no Hawks go.

I hope no one goes. It's time for Hockey to showcase themselves with a real World Cup of hockey every 4 years (not the exhibition we had). The NHL should sponsor it. Cut 15 games out of the NHL schedule for it ... and keep the profits with a bit going to the KHL. Quebec should be considered a separate country (since they want to be anyways) from Canada to make if fair.

It should happen at the beginning of the season.

 

[AmericanDream]

Hino is an RFA, will he really go if he doesn't have a contract?

depends on the player- Larkin is going for team USA and he is a RFA- he is getting insurance in case of injury which USA Hockey is working on with him...Hino would be in the same boat as Larkin and Hanifin as RFA players who could play...

 

[DPHawk]

Saad confirmed out for the USA, Jurco will play for Slovakia.

 

[ChiHawks10]

Saad, of all the players on this team, should be the one going. He needs to get some confidence back, and get his game back to how it was prior to this past season.

 

[AmericanDream]

Saad, of all the players on this team, should be the one going. He needs to get some confidence back, and get his game back to how it was prior to this past season.

exactly, the experience these guys get can turn around careers - Hellebuyck and Howard bothn went last year because they had a rough year, and then look at both now as Howard took back that #1 spot, and Helly- well - we know.
Larkin went last year and Schmaltz and both improved a lot as players..Saad needed to go and get back on track, damn shame he isn't going to go, must have better things to do in 3 weeks like water skiing or golfing..total joke.

 

[Teemu]

DeBrincat in for the US

 

[AmericanDream]

DeBrincat will be playing according to Powers- so that is good

 

[migi]

Kane and Murphy too.

Cat - Schmaltz - Kane

We want it.

Blashill coach though...

 

[AmericanDream]

Kane is playing for team USA!!! WOW, that is massive!!

Just hand him the "C" right now!!

I have to imagine Schmaltz will come as well, and Saad can go get married and drop his game some more!

 

[BK]

Schmaltz said his focus this offseason is face-offs. Good.

 

[ChiHawks10]

Kane is playing for team USA!!! WOW, that is massive!!

Just hand him the "C" right now!!

I have to imagine Schmaltz will come as well, and Saad can go get married and drop his game some more!

Is Saad getting married at that time? I mean... if he's getting married when it's going on, then I can see why he wouldn't go

Weddings are expensive. Really expensive. And most stuff, if real close, you can't get refunds. I can only imagine with him being a highly-paid sports star that it's expensive even beyond typical expensive...
Pissed off wives are also bad news.

"Honey, can I go play in the World Cup of Hockey instead of us having our wedding that we've been planning for 2 years?"

You don't dig out of that hole. Might as well call off the wedding at that point. Haha.

 

[AmericanDream]

Is Saad getting married at that time? I mean... if he's getting married when it's going on, then I can see why he wouldn't go

Weddings are expensive. Really expensive. And most stuff, if real close, you can't get refunds. I can only imagine with him being a highly-paid sports star that it's expensive even beyond typical expensive...
Pissed off wives are also bad news.

"Honey, can I go play in the World Cup of Hockey instead of us having our wedding that we've been planning for 2 years?"

You don't dig out of that hole. Might as well call off the wedding at that point. Haha.

well I think the point some of us have made is that weddings take at least 6 months to a year of planning especially for these "rich" people...if he had this setup the entire time, tells you exactly why he played shitty all year as the playoffs would have been going on as well..lol....sorry hun, can't make the ceremony tonight- gotta go to work and play the Jets!! I don't get why on Earth he would have a wedding scheduled here as he would be in the playoffs or the chance of a long run to a Cup...f***ing no reason!

 

[ChiHawks10]

well I think the point some of us have made is that weddings take at least 6 months to a year of planning especially for these "rich" people...if he had this setup the entire time, tells you exactly why he played ****ty all year as the playoffs would have been going on as well..lol....sorry hun, can't make the ceremony tonight- gotta go to work and play the Jets!! I don't get why on Earth he would have a wedding scheduled here as he would be in the playoffs or the chance of a long run to a Cup...****ing no reason!

Rich people can put together a better wedding in two weeks than my fiance and I could put together in 2 years. Money talks. If he's having one during the WC, it's very possible that they decided on the date once it was determined they wouldn't be in the playoffs.

 

[AmericanDream]

Rich people can put together a better wedding in two weeks than my fiance and I could put together in 2 years. Money talks. If he's having one during the WC, it's very possible that they decided on the date once it was determined they wouldn't be in the playoffs.

just saying, looks a bit odd - no idea about the details or how long it has been planned, just know the halls/venues are booked from the year prior, unless it is a "get away" wedding, you can't plan this as of last month....

 

[ChiHawks10]

just saying, looks a bit odd - no idea about the details or how long it has been planned, just know the halls/venues are booked from the year prior, unless it is a "get away" wedding, you can't plan this as of last month....

Again, money talks.

You think they can't find an expensive venue that had a date open? I could probably go find one of the most expensive places in Chicago right now and book a wedding for a month from now, honestly. Especially if it's a non-traditional wedding venue.

 

[BK]

Honestly, why is Saad skipping the WC for his own wedding a big deal? Dude is 25 and getting married, this is far more important than playing in WC.