@ChrisBlock

Luke Johnson played pretty well over the weekend in Tucson. Played center & was double-shifted a lot on Saturday when the #IceHogs went with 7-D as Highmore sat out with minor injury he's been playing with and Victor Ejdsell being scratched in Rockford's 6th game of the season.
- walleyeb1

Edjsell was very noticeable in the first 2 games of the new year but fell off the map quickly. Not surprised he was scratched.

Edjsell was very noticeable in the first 2 games of the new year but fell off the map quickly. Not surprised he was scratched.
- AEL_Fox

Heard they have been disapointed with his play overall. They were hoping skating and decision making would be better.

Let's see if this lights a fire in his belly.

Heard they have been disapointed with his play overall. They were hoping skating and decision making would be better.

Let's see if this lights a fire in his belly.
- Justin Lowe

Seems like an awful lot of that going on all through the organ-i-zation.

Is it just me, or does it seem weird that there are many young guys that only a few games into the season they have to keep finding ways to motivate guys to work and play hard.

Just sounds crazy to me at this point in time they are having to punish guys to motivate them.

"Freakin millennial players"- he says in his best Chili Davis voice

Seems like an awful lot of that going on all through the organ-i-zation.

Is it just me, or does it seem weird that there are many young guys that only a few games into the season they have to keep finding ways to motivate guys to work and play hard.

Just sounds crazy to me at this point in time they are having to punish guys to motivate them.

"Freakin millennial players"- he says in his best Chili Davis voice
- vabeachbear

Yeah, nothing like stereotyping an entire generation. Especially when a 37yr old is a millennial...

Heard they have been disapointed with his play overall. They were hoping skating and decision making would be better.

Let's see if this lights a fire in his belly.
- Justin Lowe

I know they're unrelated incidences but the healthy scratching of Ejdsell and recent signing of Entwistle to an ELC makes you glad that even if one large forward may not work out, there could be another one coming up. Would be nice to have both yet that's how prospect pools work: not all of them will pan out but that's why you have depth so as to not put all your eggs in one basket.

Case in point: the young blueline depth. Let's say Boqvist doesn't work out for some reason, Beaudin and Mitchell are great prospects themselves and by no means consolation prizes.

Seems like an awful lot of that going on all through the organ-i-zation.

Is it just me, or does it seem weird that there are many young guys that only a few games into the season they have to keep finding ways to motivate guys to work and play hard.

Just sounds crazy to me at this point in time they are having to punish guys to motivate them.

"Freakin millennial players"- he says in his best Chili Davis voice
- vabeachbear

FWIW, a good first guess could usually be they guy in question is trying to play through an injury that hinders his play that they have refused to disclose to coaching/training staff. Hockey players are some serious tough guys, IMHO.

I know they're unrelated incidences but the healthy scratching of Ejdsell and recent signing of Entwistle to an ELC makes you glad that even if one large forward may not work out, there could be another one coming up. Would be nice to have both yet that's how prospect pools work: not all of them will pan out but that's why you have depth so as to not put all your eggs in one basket.

Case in point: the young blueline depth. Let's say Boqvist doesn't work out for some reason, Beaudin and Mitchell are great prospects themselves and by no means consolation prizes.
- AEL_Fox

A serious question...who has the last "larger" forward the Hawks successfully brought through the system (a guy who has been successful)?

Buff was pretty good with us at forward. Bickell decent while healthy. Brouwer nearly as big and was pretty good. I'm trying to think of anyone we drafted. Kevin Hayes is a big guy, but didn't sign with us. I know some folks don't like the Hawks drafting some smaller guys lately, but it really has been some time since I think we had a big guy find success. Hayden is the closest I can think of up front and he has not been doing that well.

A serious question...who has the last "larger" forward the Hawks successfully brought through the system (a guy who has been successful)?

Buff was pretty good with us at forward. Bickell decent while healthy. Brouwer nearly as big and was pretty good. I'm trying to think of anyone we drafted. Kevin Hayes is a big guy, but didn't sign with us. I know some folks don't like the Hawks drafting some smaller guys lately, but it really has been some time since I think we had a big guy find success. Hayden is the closest I can think of up front and he has not been doing that well.
- breadbag

The Killer B's you named are pretty much it.

Bondra, Starrett, and Radke are big guys but are likely career minor leaguers or European leaguers. Radke is not even Hawks property anymore.

Another big forward prospect who could make it is Shalunov. He needs to cross the pond first but he at least seems to have the desire to be here. At least two years away? There's also Olofsson at Omaha Nebraska and John Dahlstrom.

I personally have high hopes for Entwistle and Slavin. Knott to a lesser degree but he has potential. Was never that high on Ejdsell. Still hope he figures things out, of course.

Yea but Keith played with courage, we have not seen that from Schmaltz yet. This whole thing about settling for a player is disturbing as well.
- BetweenTheDots

Look I get it...you have a beef with Schmaltz and that's OK as you are entitled. Conversely, I am entitled to maybe give you a different perspective.

Yes, Schmaltz does shy away from contact but possess all these other skills, frankly you cannot teach, namely skating, speed, and skill which leads him to make plays. Again ask Kane and go back and look at those plays.

And if you want to nitpit, I can say why can't Keith get pucks through from the point because I won't knowing how valuable he is to the team in other aspects of his game.

Look I get it...you have a beef with Schmaltz and that's OK as you are entitled. Conversely, I am entitled to maybe give you a different perspective.

Yes, Schmaltz does shy away from contact but possess all these other skills, frankly you cannot teach, namely skating, speed, and skill which leads him to make plays. Again ask Kane and go back and look at those plays.

And if you want to nitpit, I can say why can't Keith get pucks through from the point because I won't knowing how valuable he is to the team in other aspects of his game.
- D2D

I tend to agree. Save for the elite players who essentially have no flaws to their game or maybe even the players who are average at everything but not elite in anything, most players I would venture to say are going to be great at some things but not so in others.

With that in mind, IMHO, one strategy for building a lineup is surrounding each player with linemates or a D partner who can complement them so collectively their strengths outshine their weaknesses. So if Schmaltz is bad at faceoffs and is contact averse, match him with linemates who can win draws and bring a physical element. He's a playmaker, too, who is pass first so make sure he has a triggerman.

Heard they have been disapointed with his play overall. They were hoping skating and decision making would be better.

Let's see if this lights a fire in his belly.
- Justin Lowe

He needs jets on his skates more than fire in his belly.

The Hawks pregame show just said Johnson may play instead of Kampf tonight - not confirmed.

Edit: Lazerus is confirming.

DeBrincat-Toews-Kahun
Saad-Anisimov-Kane
Fortin-Johnson-Schmaltz
Kunitz-Kruger-Hayden

Keith-Jokiharju
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Manning-Rutta

Crawford

Thought he looked good on Team USA as well. That was on the larger ice surface, you would think that would be a bigger problem for him
- vabeachbear

Ya but he was playing against guys whose second job is bagging groceries.

Sounds like somebody knows how to run the power play. The IceHogs scored five power-play goals during their two-game series with the Roadrunners and have now scored at least one PPG in each of their last five games (Oct. 6 at CLE)...Rockford currently shares fourth among all AHL teams with eight total power-play goals this year.

https://twitter.com/goice.../1053879548427698176?s=21
- walleyeb1

The beats seem to view Dineen as the heir apparent. If the FO doesn’t go to Colliton, they’re fools.

Johnson centers 3rd line, Kampf out. Ebony Raptor beat me to it.

The Hawks pregame show just said Johnson may play instead of Kampf tonight - not confirmed.

Edit: Lazerus is confirming.

DeBrincat-Toews-Kahun
Saad-Anisimov-Kane
Fortin-Johnson-Schmaltz
Kunitz-Kruger-Hayden

Keith-Jokiharju
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Manning-Rutta

Crawford
- EbonyRaptor

Lot of speed on the 3rd line. I am interested in seeing how they make out tonight.

Balls, Konroyd and Foley. If the Hawks lose miserably, those two will add insult to earjury.

The guy next to cornilson looks like little scotty bowman

Duck shots in second period tonight? Going with 17

Schmaltz working early, good chance in blue paint with Johnson. Draws penalty. Going to be a good line.

Duck shots in second period tonight? Going with 17
- TrueGrit

1. 15 irons.

Back on pp, Ducks dog penalty.

SAAD!!!! 1-0

Back on pp, Ducks dog penalty.
- I Am The Breadman

Q working his pp magic. This team is ready...

20