Jimmy Hayes Call Up A Perfect Fit For Entire Roster

Mar 16, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing

(25) shoots the puck on the Dallas Stars goal during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Blackhawks defeated the Stars 8-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Bryan Bickell on the second line experiment  lasted two regulation losses and two games.  I called for Jeremy Morin to replace Patrick Sharp, Stan Bowman only read part of my post and called up Jimmy Hayes to replace Patrick Sharp. The two games that Bickell played with Patrick Kane and Dave Bolland not only did Bickell seem lost but all the lines were shuffled and all nine in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lines seemed out of sorts which is why something needed to happen. The secret of the Blackhawks success (movie not starring Michael J Fox) is that each player has a role and goes out and works their butts off in that role, and Coach Joel Quenneville has played all four lines at any time in any circumstance.

To say the call up of Jimmy Hayes has been a perfect fit is almost an understatement. Yes when the team puts up 13 goals in 2 games its easy and fun to make stats work for you, but the stat I want to pull out for you is the 3rd line.  This line was the real reason for the Hayes call up because it broke up one of the most effective lines the Hawks have with people on Twitter saying that they are better than a lot of teams 2nd lines. In the last two games Viktor Stalberg and Bryan Bickell have paired up on four assists on the same goals.  Andrew Shaw wasn’t left out of the party collecting a goal (the 2nd of the game) after Bickell absorbed a check that broke out Stalberg who fed Shaw for the goal.  This is the kind of play that doesn’t happen if the lines were jumbled and Shaw and Stalberg are playing with say Michael Frolik.  Yes things are going well when the third line being in tact create points and chances. Last two games

Andrew Shaw- 1 Goal

Bryan Bickell- 4 assists

Viktor Stalberg-4 assists

The second line also has benefited from Hayes be inserted into the lineup with a young kid that can skate and knows where to go for goals and that is the front of the net and stay out of Kane’s way.  Kane is a master with the puck so Hayes was right where he was suppose to be for the opening goal in Colorado and that is right in front of the net to deposit a backhander into the net.

The Hawks with some rest and a perfect match are rolling again which is just another feather in Stan Bowman’s cap. Bowman little subtle moves instead of a big flashy splash has kept the core together and keeps adding pieces which is Bowman’s goal to build a lasting Championship organization and not a team to make one run at the Cup.

What do you think? Could the Hayes move worked any better?

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