Love following the Hawks on Twitter. Some notes I picked up

-Dauphin to Wingels for a nice goal
-Pokka from AA for a nice goal
-Saad/Toews/Panik looking great
-Kempny blast followed up by the Captain for a goal
-Connor Murphy seems like a cool guy

And last but not least

Quenneville on John Hayden: "I thought he might have been the most noticeable guy out there." #Blackhawks
- kwolf68

There are a lot of good story-lines and we'll see how things work out. The nice thing is having all the guys there and not at the WC, including Q. This is better for Toews (who I think will have a much better start to the year) and for the young guys to play with the big boys.

4LW, 3LW, if he earns it, amen and hallelujah. Hell, maybe he's another road grader for Kane at LW, if he's the best guy.
- John Jaeckel

His skating looked cleaner in his goal highlight.

It makes sense. Especially because there is very little saying that AA should be playing with Kane now that Panarin is gone. AA is probably better suited on the 3rd line.
- breadbag

You are right in that AA is more of a third line center, and has a track record on other teams of being just that. HOWEVER ..... he has decent hands around the net, and some chemistry with Kane and something that benefits the play of that line .... SIZE. He is a big body that goes to the net .... something needed on that line.
AA is fine as second or third line center

Oh sure, but one thing that will happen this year that didn't last year. No one will be handed a job because of 18 goals in the AHL or college credentials.

Conversely, no veteran in the bottom 6 can be complacent either.

The bottom 6 will be the six best guys suited to those roles, night in and night out. That alone could improve the club versus last year.
- John Jaeckel

I like that there is a lot of competition for only a few roles. At the end of the day I just want to best players to emerge and take their spots. If that's Bouma, great. If that's Hayden, wonderful. But I'm sure we can all agree that we just want the best Blackhawks roster.

4LW, 3LW, if he earns it, amen and hallelujah. Hell, maybe he's another road grader for Kane at LW, if he's the best guy.
- John Jaeckel

Yes I think it's a bit of a long shot for JH to break as L2-LW, but there IS a spot there my view. I'd much rather have Sharpie on Line 3, talk about some nice balance. I agree with you, Hayden will have to earn what he gets, but early returns are glowing. Can't wait to see the boys play.

I am now officially excited for Blackhawks hockey.

Just a guess, but this is a guy by end of year, a lot of Hawk fans are going to like for what he does up and down the ice.
- John Jaeckel

My guess is that Kero could be Dauphin's biggest competition. There are a handful of guys that may not make the team but could be an early call-up if somebody gets injured or plays terrible (cough, cough, JURCO, cough, cough).

Oh sure, but one thing that will happen this year that didn't last year. No one will be handed a job because of 18 goals in the AHL or college credentials.

Conversely, no veteran in the bottom 6 can be complacent either.

The bottom 6 will be the six best guys suited to those roles, night in and night out. That alone could improve the club versus last year.
- John Jaeckel

Agree. That is what will make this camp so interesting. They will need to take a roster the olde fashioned way, "They earn it".

Of course Q/Bowman may have favorites (like Jurco) or they identify certain needs in certain areas (PK, speed/energy, physicality, faceoffs, shutdown) and keep player "X" on the roster that they see filling that need.

The line that stands the best chance to remain intact for a long time is Saad/Toews/Panik, but even that's not guaranteed.
- DarthKane

If by "a long time" you mean the 6 minute mark of game one....you COULD be right!!!
Remember, Q is the "Blender chef".

Just a guess, but this is a guy by end of year, a lot of Hawk fans are going to like for what he does up and down the ice.
- John Jaeckel

I liked Dauphin in the WJs. Hard to get off the puck and has a bit of a scoring flair. Relentless motor.

If by "a long time" you mean the 6 minute mark of game one....you COULD be right!!!
Remember, Q is the "Blender chef".
- hawk35

By "long time" I was referring to 2 shifts.

[quote=DarthKane]My guess is that Kero could be Dauphin's biggest competition. There are a handful of guys that may not make the team but could be an early call-up if somebody gets injured on plays terrible (cough, cough, JURCO, cough, cough).

Looks like Jurco is the early favorite to be this sites Lead Whipping Boy this year. But it is still early. Others still have a chance. If he sticks with the big club and has a decent year than we have to admit "nobody knows nothing" on this site.

Look like Jurco is the early favorite to be this sites Lead Whipping Boy this year. But it is still early. Others still have a chance. If he sticks with the big club and has a decent year than we have to admit "nobody knows nothing" on this site.
- -Doh-

I feel like Jurco's issue is mostly mental. He had a good rookie year and looked like a rising star, then Babcock left and he went to poop under Blashil.

you don't want other teams to claim we circumventing the cap and its possible Roz and Bow had to a deal that he would not have to play in the rock. For how little we hear from agents in regard to all our important players but we do hear from Roz's 3 weeks before training camp? Did we hear from Teows, Kane, keith, sharp, craw, Saad etc's agent this off season? The hawks keep all injuries totally under wraps but they make it public about hossa and Roz? Just my opinion. They could have just said roz was out today with a upper body injury. that is what they normally do. Why do they have the agent bring it up and then have Q confirm.
- kmw4631

Other teams are not going to care about $650k and they can't claim circumventing if the league signs off on it. The fans have absolutely nothing to do with the process so there's no reason to care that his agent mentioned it. Bickell's agent mentioned his aliments the summer of his final year right before training camp too, and several reports like that come from other teams too about their players.

And again, it wasn't talked about 3 weeks ago - Power's interview with Rozsival's agent ran Sept 6th, which was last week when players were coming back into Chicago. And the reason the team announced it today was because he didn't pass his physical. Other teams have announced the same thing (MacArthur for the Sens, Lupal on the Leafs, etc). So no, it is not "what they normally do" when a player is out during training camp when they fail a physical. You're thinking about in-season reporting on injuries and/or you must not pay attention to any other teams during training camp time.

I feel like Jurco's issue is mostly mental. He had a good rookie year and looked like a rising star, then Babcock left and he went to poop under Blashil.
- JRoenick97

I think it's part mental and part effort. He has tremendous hockey skill, Top 6 ability in my view, but effort is ? at times. And he hasn't done jack squat in several years. The talent is for sure there, but he's close to bust at this point and he will have to show something to break camp as a Blackhawk....because other kids are coming up who have more desire than he apparently has.

I think it's part mental and part effort. He has tremendous hockey skill, Top 6 ability in my view, but effort is ? at times. And he hasn't done jack squat in several years. The talent is for sure there, but he's close to bust at this point and he will have to show something to break camp as a Blackhawk....because other kids are coming up who have more desire than he apparently has.
- kwolf68

I guess it worked for Panik. I hope it works for him because he definitely has talent.

Wiz, you have no right to post private information like this.
- tredbrta

Wiz was who I told and I think he already knew.

I meant well. While possibly inappropriate to post, it is newsworthy because we all miss him around the team as he turned out at the Stadium every now and then. I probably did not have to say the detail I added. You know what, though, there are many each year sick or not doing well. Bryan Murray recently and others have to battle their health too. No more names. Sorry to have annoyed you.

Q on John Hayden, who had a solid first day:
"He showed today how bad he wants to be here."#Blackhawks

— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) September 15, 2017

I guess it worked for Panik. I hope it works for him because he definitely has talent.
- JRoenick97

He could try being a Hossa light version. It would endear him to the coaches. Perhaps his ability comes to the forefront if he feels comfortable with a regular shift.

Q on John Hayden, who had a solid first day:
"He showed today how bad he wants to be here."#Blackhawks

— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) September 15, 2017

- DarthKane

Do NOT forget Hayden shined at camp 2 years ago, but stayed at Yale, got his degree and came back. No question he is a big boy and people concerned the Hawks play like it's no check league, well that won't be a problem with Hayden patrolling the ice.

You are right in that AA is more of a third line center, and has a track record on other teams of being just that. HOWEVER ..... he has decent hands around the net, and some chemistry with Kane and something that benefits the play of that line .... SIZE. He is a big body that goes to the net .... something needed on that line.
AA is fine as second or third line center
- chuckdahammer

I think the argument can be made that Kane can produce without AA. Kane scored just fine before AA (point per game or better 5 of 6 seasons before AA came to Chicago) and the 2nd line did pretty well when AA was on the shelf for the better part of 14 games last season. Kane had 16 points, Breadman had 13 and Schmaltz who was the C most of that time had 9. Kane's possession numbers go up when away from AA and AA's numbers dropped when he wasn't playing with either Kane or Panarin. (some of that is situational and deployment)

The Hawks are in greater need of filling some defensive holes at forward, so why not use AA more in that role and keep Kane where he belongs on the offensive side of the ice. Plus without Panarin, we don't know what the dynamic of that 2nd line would be like.

Plus guys like Toews and Kane like Tootoo on the team. Keith and Seabrook endorse Tootoo as well being summer workout buddies or something like that.

(This isn't directed at you Darth) Maybe there are advanced stats that show Tootoo is worthless, but he was the least of the Hawks problems last year, IMHO. I also don't buy the argument that nobody is afraid of him. Tootoo is pound for pound tough as nails regardless of whether or not he wins fights. Tootoo shouldn't be a regular, but he does bring some sort of value that his teammates and coaches appreciate.

And I think Predators d-man Bitteto wouldn't say Tootoo is washed up. In the 1st or 2nd game of the regular season last year, Bitteto got a blow to the ear by Tootoo which put him on the DL for quite a while.
- AEL_Fox

I was at that game, as well as the game he scored against them. I like to see Tootoo in the line-up for energy, but only every 4 or 5 games. After Hossa goes on LTIR, we should be able to have three guys in the press box, so I wouldn't mind if he was one of them.

OK, armchair coaches of HB, here is your chance:

Chicago Blackhawks‏ @NHLBlackhawks
Alright armchair coaches... It's your time to shine.
Tell us your pick for the starting lineup for tomorrow's scrimmage with #TCF2017!

[quote=DarthKane]My guess is that Kero could be Dauphin's biggest competition. There are a handful of guys that may not make the team but could be an early call-up if somebody gets injured on plays terrible (cough, cough, JURCO, cough, cough).


- glennjpawlak22

Vince Vaughn has not aged well. LOL

Think these guys are worried about their jobs and that they know one is likely to go b/c of the other? Little bit of tension in the body language.

https://www.nhl.com/black...-1/t-277437096/c-52674703