Ok I am sold. I like Rutta a lot.

Vinnie skating circles around the Jackets tonight.

only a preseason game but the hawks are skating and working hard.

1) I like the way the D is shaping up.
2) Nick Schmaltz is looking more solid. I can see why Q said he looked bigger and faster. The kid is looking like a legit top 6 playmaker.
3) The difference in goaltending tonight seems huge. Good show for the new guy.
- breadbag

Hopefully Forsberg can keep it up. He's facing a lot of prospects and AHL guys, which he's always been good at - it's the NHL players he had some trouble with last season.

There really is no purpose for Bouma. Dauphin can be the PKer and Hayden the big body checker.
- L_B_R

There really is, first of all this is a good house league game tonite, and I am a Hayden fan, but there are 1,000,000 purposes for Bouma, his guaranteed NHL 1way deal.

There really is, first of all this is a good house league game tonite, and I am a Hayden fan, but there are 1,000,000 purposes for Bouma, his guaranteed NHL 1way deal.
- wonthecup10

Dumb reason for a guy to make the team or not...numerous guys...Hayden, Vinnie...hell even Highmore and Knott have been far better tonight. Which isn't saying much Bouma has done ZILCH.

Hopefully Forsberg can keep it up. He's facing a lot of prospects and AHL guys, which he's always been good at - it's the NHL players he had some trouble with last season.
- L_B_R

If he turns into the real deal as a solid backup or maybe future replacement for CC, then I think the Hawks robbed CBJ in that trade. A big "if" at this point but this seems like a real chance for Bowman to silence his critics a bit, if guys like Dauphin and Forsberg reach some of that potential.

Dumb reason for a guy to make the team or not...numerous guys...Hayden, Vinnie...hell even Highmore and Knott have been far better tonight. Which isn't saying much Bouma has done ZILCH.
- kwolf68

It is good to know that the Hawks can bury the whole contract with the limit for 2017/18.

There really is, first of all this is a good house league game tonite, and I am a Hayden fan, but there are 1,000,000 purposes for Bouma, his guaranteed NHL 1way deal.
- wonthecup10

Name any reason for Bouma. Is he good on the PK? Nope, historically one of the worst in the league over the last few years. Is he good at 5v5? Nope, has had a negative impact on pretty much every player on the ice except one year where his shooting % was 3 times is normal one (and he's played with mid-6 quality teammates). Has he been good as a checking line forward? Nope again, he's got terrible transition and possession numbers, even relative to a bad team.

The only think Bouma has going for him is that he's fast and physical and blocks shots, but they have other fast guys who can PK (Dauphin, for one), they don't need dumb physical guys when they could have smart ones that have good shots like Hayden, and he only blocks so much because he doesn't have the puck much.

I get Bouma will probably be on the team, but I'm hoping he's a Mashinter and gets waived because he got outplayed by younger players, as he is right now. It's one game against AHLers and prospects, but it's not like this is all that different from his play over the years. And playing low quality opponents should be all the more reason NHL guys should be cursing.

Edit to add: If he does make the team, I hope Bouma plays the greatest hockey he's ever played. I want him to succeed if only because he's on the team I root for, but I'm not holding my breath either.

Name any reason for Bouma. Is he good on the PK? Nope, historically one of the worst in the league over the last few years. Is he good at 5v5? Nope, has had a negative impact on pretty much every player on the ice except one year where his shooting % was 3 times is normal one (and he's played with mid-6 quality teammates). Has he been good as a checking line forward? Nope again, he's got terrible transition and possession numbers, even relative to a bad team.

The only think Bouma has going for him is that he's fast and physical, but they have other fast guys who can PK (Dauphin, for one) and they don't need dumb physical guys when they could have smart ones that have good shots like Hayden.

I get Bouma will probably be on the team, but I'm hoping he's a Mashinter and gets waived because he got outplayed by younger players, as he is right now.
- L_B_R

Maybe he will be good for that extra forward spot, so that a kid can get more minutes in the AHL until the playoffs.

Maybe he will be good for that extra forward spot, so that a kid can get more minutes in the AHL until the playoffs.
- breadbag

Yeah, maybe. And tbh if any coach can make an ineffective player who has some basic skill level at certain things like Bouma into a key piece in a system, it's Q or Babcock. Q made Bollig useful once upon a time.

Yeah, maybe. And tbh if any coach can make an ineffective player who has some basic skill level at certain things like Bouma into a key piece in a system, it's Q or Babcock. Q made Bollig useful once upon a time. I'm interested to see how Ulf changes the PK system and Bouma could be someone to watch there.
- L_B_R

Good point. I like what the Hawks did with Frolik and how they also reigned in some guys like Carcillo.

Good point. I like what the Hawks did with Frolik and how they also reigned in some guys like Carcillo.
- breadbag

Yep, Q has definitely turned some guys into specific cogs in a system and it's worked. Bouma could be that, who knows. I'll be ecstatic if he is because as I said as long as he plays for the team I root for, I'm hoping he does well.

Plus, it's not like I'm saying just any prospects/young player should play over Bouma either - just like what I've seen of Hayden and Dauphin more and they happen to tick off similar boxes that Bouma was brought in for. I will say, I am interested to see how Ulf changes the PK system and Bouma could be someone to watch there. So far this game he's been moving out of formation too much on the PK and it's forcing others with him to adjust and it's not been good. Structure could do wonders for him.

I think JJ said it a few times, Forsberg coming in with Saad tilts the trade to the Hawks. Motte's OK, but the Hawks have many pieces who can do what he does and better.

One really strong period from some of the young players, though the star was Forsberg with 38 stops. Expectations in check cause like I mentioned before, the Avs went undefeated in the pre-season last year and we know how their season went. Hope to see more vets next game.

Yep, Q has definitely turned some guys into specific cogs in a system and it's worked. Bouma could be that, who knows. I'll be ecstatic if he is because as I said as long as he plays for the team I root for, I'm hoping he does well.

Plus, it's not like I'm saying just any prospects/young player should play over Bouma either - just like what I've seen of Hayden and Dauphin more and they happen to tick off similar boxes that Bouma was brought in for. I will say, I am interested to see how Ulf changes the PK system and Bouma could be someone to watch there. So far this game he's been moving out of formation too much on the PK and it's forcing others with him to adjust and it's not been good. Structure could do wonders for him.
- L_B_R

I didn't watch but sounded very encouraging.

So if you had to cut 6 guys from the roster tonite who would they be?

Not a lot of sure things from the first game of preseason but got the W, and more importantly HOCKEY'S BACK!

One really strong period from some of the young players, though the star was Forsberg with 38 stops. Expectations in check cause like I mentioned before, the Avs went undefeated in the pre-season last year and we know how their season went. Hope to see more vets next game.
- L_B_R

I don't think anyone is predicting anything here, but to see young players really assert themselves is promising.

Vinnie looks better than last year and he made the team last year
Hayden looks better, dominating puck possessor, physical, net presence
Jurco looks better, winning battles, using his skating and skill to setup two goals
Schmaltz looks better, and looks like a legit top 6 player now
Daulphin looks good and like he can take over the Kruger role

I thought players like Highmore, Kampf (early), Knott also showed some flashes.

On D, Jan Rutta and Mike Kempy I thought were very impressive. For his first real game on N/A ice, Rutta may have been the Defensive star. I can't recall a single mistake he made. Solid as a damn rock there. I want to see him a bit more, but damn the early returns on him blew me away tonight.

On edit:
Rutta tonight. 1 goal, 2 shots, +1, 2 blocks, 1 hit, 0 giveaways, 2 takeaways...

FIRST GAME ever on N/A ice. looked like he belongs. He is actually 27 so that probably plays into how poised he looked tonight.

I didn't watch but sounded very encouraging.

So if you had to cut 6 guys from the roster tonite who would they be?
- RickJ

Hmm it's somewhat difficult since the young guys played so much better than many of the older vets. And not counting the backup goalies since they didn't play.

Stuart because he mostly did an impression of a rock most of the game. Mitchell and Miller were nonexistent. Baun is irrelevant at this point. Jokiharju because he's so young and green (though it's obvious why the Hawks picked him in the 1st round, good potential). Number 6 is hard. Because Bouma has a contract, he needs to play more, see if he can be worked into the system, but he really was one of the least good Hawks tonight. Forsling had a good 2nd, but some really serious yips in the 3rd and a couple of dumb penalties but he too needs to play more. I guess I'd go with Knott, who had flashes but was just alright and the least noticeable of the young guys.

So yeah: Stuart, Mitchell, Miller, Baun, Jokiharju, and Knott.

5-0!!!!
- EnzoD

with that line up? good night for the "bartenders"

Hmm it's somewhat difficult since the young guys played so much better than many of the older vets. And not counting the backup goalies since they didn't play.

Stuart because he mostly did an impression of a rock most of the game. Mitchell and Miller were nonexistent. Baun is irrelevant at this point. Jokiharju because he's so young and green (though it's obvious why the Hawks picked him in the 1st round, good potential). Number 6 is hard. Because Bouma has a contract, he needs to play more, see if he can be worked into the system, but he really was one of the least good Hawks tonight. Forsling had a good 2nd, but some really serious yips in the 3rd and a couple of dumb penalties but he too needs to play more. I guess I'd go with Knott, who had flashes but was just alright and the least noticeable of the young guys.

So yeah: Stuart, Mitchell, Miller, Baun, Jokiharju, and Knott.
- L_B_R

I'd have 5 of your 6 on my list too. I don't know what 6 cuts would reduce the roster to, but when they get to 30 remaining in camp thats when it will get very interesting. Could be some minor trades upcoming to move guys might catch on elsewhere.

Hmm it's somewhat difficult since the young guys played so much better than many of the older vets. And not counting the backup goalies since they didn't play.

Stuart because he mostly did an impression of a rock most of the game. Mitchell and Miller were nonexistent. Baun is irrelevant at this point. Jokiharju because he's so young and green (though it's obvious why the Hawks picked him in the 1st round, good potential). Number 6 is hard. Because Bouma has a contract, he needs to play more, see if he can be worked into the system, but he really was one of the least good Hawks tonight. Forsling had a good 2nd, but some really serious yips in the 3rd and a couple of dumb penalties but he too needs to play more. I guess I'd go with Knott, who had flashes but was just alright and the least noticeable of the young guys.

So yeah: Stuart, Mitchell, Miller, Baun, Jokiharju, and Knott.
- L_B_R

Agree with this. Stuart is done. He should be released from his PTO tomorrow. Joki is being sent down, no shock, good looking prospect though. Baun does try hard, but just doesn't make much of an impact.

Missed the game! How were we at the dot? Dauphin and Schmaltz winning any draws?

Missed the game! How were we at the dot? Dauphin and Schmaltz winning any draws?
- Bjm84

Very good. Though Schmaltz was low 40%. Other than that he was awesome. Dauphins percentage was bad, but small sample size.

Highmore was 100% but only 3 draws.
Knott was 8 out of 12. So very good.
Kampf was + 50
Mitchell was 5 for 6 in the circles.

So no real help here unless Mitchell, Highmore, Kampf compete for a roster spot (maybe they will). Our two primary players Schmaltz and Dauphin didn't fare well in the dot. Perhaps LD can move to wing and get someone centering that line who can win faceoffs.

Missed the game! How were we at the dot? Dauphin and Schmaltz winning any draws?
- Bjm84

Dauphin didn't play center, but he was 1-for-3 when thrown into the circle. Schmaltz was 5-for-12.

Kampf 10-for-19
Knott was 8-for-12
Mitchell 5-for-6
Hinostroza 3-for-4 (but played wing)
Highmore 3-for-3 (but played wing)

The new uni collars. AWEFUL.

Tonite's performance hopefully begins to take the idea of trading for Duchene off the table. It's a start.