He has no future with the Blackhawks.
- DarthKane

Haha, do not start that again.

Sorry, it's hard to tell after seeing so many crazy takes on here. I'll be in the corner with my pointy hat.
- ObeseOprah

I'm also sorry, I worded that like a dink and didn't intend on that. I get it that some of the bs on here is hard to filter through.

Haha, do not start that again.
- I Am The Breadman

LOL Darth can't help himself

Don't know one way or the other about Bolland? Be good for him if he's trying to work his way into hockey at a coaching or management level.

I have been watching the Knights (Boqvist) and Bulldogs (Entwhistle) on Centre Ice and they both look good.

Boqvist is like Karlsson, Leddy, Gardner in that he's an offense first "rover" rather than a traditional defenseman, at least so far. He jumps into the offense as quickly as possible and is quick, fast and very dynamic with exceptional passing skills. The Hunter brothers run the best junior team in North America and teach smart two way hockey, professionalism but they don't coach the creativeness out. I expect by season's end Boqvist will pick his spots offensively and be better without the puck.

Entwhistle will drive some hawk fans crazy. He's a big guy with a big man skating stride, meaning he'll be criticized for being slow, lazy, disinterested when in fact he's got decent speed and can keep up with the play.. He's strong down low, along the boards and in front of the net. He has a nice shot and seems to pass well. Not sure about how he'll pan out because he seems to be the traditional North south winger and not a creative pure talent like Boqvist.
- paulr

How do you get junior hockey on Centre Ice? I have it and can't watch junior games.

And eliminating bad turnovers and bad pinches (like the one he made on the only ANA goal).
- scottak

I know a few here thought it was a bad pinch by Gus that led to the Ducks tying goal that made the game closer than it should have been.

Here is my take on it: I believe the fault falls largely on Toews. Let reset the situation, it was 4v4, which made absolute sense to have Gus out there with more open ice. Toews had the puck on the top of circle on the left wall with man on him; Gus is at the blue line diagonally from him, maybe around 10-15 ft from Toews. Gus steps down to create and opens up ice for Toews, as in Toews right said along the blue line where Gus just vacated, much like the D's do with Kane, also to create havoc and mis-matches. However, their bad communication led to Toews passing the puck with a stick in the lane albeit, good play by Rykell batting it out of mid air, leading to the breakaway goal. Toews should not have passed the puck to Gus even if Gus was stationary (last man at blue line) he could not have done much with it as Rykell was on him.. So the options for Toews should have been to keep the puck and skate it and use that open ice along the blue line and in or if in doubt cycle it down low, playing it safe but why give away the puck uncessarily on a 4 on 4 or finally skate with the puck of of the zone and do a neutral zone re group.

I saw (on TV) Entwistle play a couple times for Canada this summer in the JR tourney in a bottom-6 role and his line was probably the best line for Canada, especially in their win against the Swedes. His play really made me sit up and notice. Like you say, he's a north/south player with probably not much in the way of puck handling skills - but he's fast enough, big enough and has a good shot so he has a chance to be an NHL player.

I'll tell you who is playing very well to start the season that is a guy to keep an eye on is Philipp Kurashev playing for QMJHL/Quebec. He's leading his team in scoring with 17 points in 14 games. I don't know if he's playing center or wing though - hopefully center.
- EbonyRaptor

Maybe the Hawks scouting department knows what they are doing.

I really liked what I saw out of this guy in the rookie tourney and training camp.

He's been playing centre primarily for his team in the Q. Potentially a nice addition to the C depth.

I'm hoping for back-to-back games of "Lights Out, Chicago." -UFO (live)

Maybe the Hawks scouting department knows what they are doing.

I really liked what I saw out of this guy in the rookie tourney and training camp.

He's been playing centre primarily for his team in the Q. Potentially a nice addition to the C depth.
- Justin Lowe

While we are on the topic of prospects, I saw Jack Hughes take on the much older and bigger boys from Harvard and Dartmouth. You noticed I didn't say BETTER because Hughes looked awesome. Not only can he skate but has the skills and hockey smarts to supplement his skating. He was most dangerous when coming down the right boards and moving laterally to his left for Grade A chances on goal. Reminds me a bit of Kucherov. We have talked about how his older brother Quin can skate but I believe Jack is faster. His passing was lights out as well.

Now the relevance to the Hawks. Going into the season, there was much banter about "tanking" the season for the greater possibility of landing Jack Hughes but thus far the Hawks has proven many of us wrong in their competitiveness and therefore results. Now their probability of landing him is greatly reduced % wise.
This is your veritable double-edge sword; damned if you do, damned if you don't!

Oh hell no. Hi Paul.
Watched #2 last night.
Looks to me like he's lost all confidence over the last year.
My observation in general, most of the Isles are struggling with Trotz's system thus far, in particular the forwards aren't being defensively responsible carrying over previous bad habits.

Presuming he's not traded, I expect he will settle in and regain some level of confidence. He's still getting top pair minutes and still getting lots of D zone starts so clearly Trotz expects much. And still has a ability to skate the puck out of trouble and generate, his PP carry up the ice nicely set up the PP goal they scored.

We'll see. Lots of talent there. Has he reached his ceiling and on the way down? TWT. I happen to think if he stays Barry will be good for him.
- savvyone-1

Savvy, Paul is holding back on the key issue with Leddy. It isn't about confidence or Trotz's system. Uncle Lou Lamorello doesn't permit facial hair by any player and Nicky don't like shaving. So Lou wants him gone. Maybe he can find a job in San Jose and grow his beard out like Bent Burns and Joe Thornton.

While we are on the topic of prospects, I saw Jack Hughes take on the much older and bigger boys from Harvard and Dartmouth. You noticed I didn't say BETTER because Hughes looked awesome. Not only can he skate but has the skills and hockey smarts to supplement his skating. He was most dangerous when coming down the right boards and moving laterally to his left for Grade A chances on goal. Reminds me a bit of Kucherov. We have talked about how his older brother Quin can skate but I believe Jack is faster. His passing was lights out as well.

Now the relevance to the Hawks. Going into the season, there was much banter about "tanking" the season for the greater possibility of landing Jack Hughes but thus far the Hawks has proven many of us wrong in their competitiveness and therefore results. Now their probability of landing him is greatly reduced % wise.
This is your veritable double-edge sword; damned if you do, damned if you don't!
- D2D

Great synopsis on him, thanks. Sounds like quite a game changer for anyone that gets him. I don't know who are the bottom-feeders in the league right now, I know there are some surprises at the top though. I would hate for him to end up on Col because Ott could possibly end up first overall, and some have said today how good Col already is. Our division could just keep getting tougher and tougher to play against

Great post. The bolded part is very frustrating as a fan. I remember in the Blackhawks website video of Dylan Sikura's path from the NCAA to the NHL, there was a clip of the Northeastern coaches reviewing strategy for the game. On the whiteboard was the term "shrink the ice" which is something that Hawks have been terrible at doing. All 5 skaters play a role so the question is can they execute on a regular basis.

The incessant passing in the D zone before skating up ice is frustrating as well. It makes it easier for the other team to defend as it gives them time to read the play and react plus pounce on bad passes especially while still in that zone.

Make one quick pass out and start the rush from the neutral zone where you at least clear the D zone. Game 1 last year vs the Penguins showcased this quick first pass but then within a few games the Hawks reverted back to this merry-go-round passing in the D zone.

What you suggested as solutions sound good to me. Again, though, can the Hawks execute? Similarly, can the coaches integrate that into the X's and O's? It may be all on the players and not the coaches but my gut is it's a little bit of both.
- AEL_Fox

Great points and very valid as well!

One of the reasons why they were so good of shrinking the ice was because of the O zone extended time, leading to a tired and more dysfunctional counter/transition when the other team finally possessed the puck. Also like you stated better forward back checkers but more importantly better D that knew how to "blow up" the play before it even gets started, namely in the neutral zone.

While the passing incessantly D2D (sounds familiar) drives you and others batty, they do it for a couple of reasons so there might be method to their madness: firstly, they are re grouping so all 5 Hawks can go up ice with better structure together much like PP (minus the push em back), secondly looking for the home run stretch seam pass like Rutta to Fortin the other night (Keith is great at this), and finally the forwards are going off on a change.
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Now the relevance to the Hawks. Going into the season, there was much banter about "tanking" the season for the greater possibility of landing Jack Hughes but thus far the Hawks has proven many of us wrong in their competitiveness and therefore results. Now their probability of landing him is greatly reduced % wise.
This is your veritable double-edge sword; damned if you do, damned if you don't!
- D

I highly dsagree that ths team is as competitive as you suggest. Not enough book on them yet. They win a game and lose a game. Up for a game and down for a game.

Tonight has Ackbar all over it again. Low scoring team that is rebuilding. And Q going with seven D tonight......My bet is they underestimate the Rangers tonight and at very least play from behind.

Honestly, given the opportunity, Stan even picking Hughes is not a done deal.

Id rather see them tank and get a lottery pick.

While we are on the topic of prospects, I saw Jack Hughes take on the much older and bigger boys from Harvard and Dartmouth. You noticed I didn't say BETTER because Hughes looked awesome. Not only can he skate but has the skills and hockey smarts to supplement his skating. He was most dangerous when coming down the right boards and moving laterally to his left for Grade A chances on goal. Reminds me a bit of Kucherov. We have talked about how his older brother Quin can skate but I believe Jack is faster. His passing was lights out as well.

Now the relevance to the Hawks. Going into the season, there was much banter about "tanking" the season for the greater possibility of landing Jack Hughes but thus far the Hawks has proven many of us wrong in their competitiveness and therefore results. Now their probability of landing him is greatly reduced % wise.
This is your veritable double-edge sword; damned if you do, damned if you don't!
- D2D

I'm not sure if Hughes will play center in the NHL - he probably weighs less than DCat and Sikura. But, he would thrive playing wing - like a Kane clone.

Near misses for hawks. Top 2 lines good, taking great shots on turnovers. I thought Gus had a goal.

Your captain after 2 rangers collide. 1-0. Assisted by Keith and Crow.

Near misses for hawks. Top 2 lines good, taking great shots on turnovers. I thought Gus had a goal.
- I Am The Breadman

Heck of a play Saad made on that one.

Tied 1-1. Couldn't get the puck out of the d zone.

Manning.

Our new whipping boy.

Go hocks

Forsling can’t get recalled soon enough. Good thing Manning is signed for 2 years! Bender.

Heck of a play Saad made on that one.
- breadbag

That steal ... I know.

Forsling can’t get recalled soon enough. Good thing Manning is signed for 2 years! Bender.
- EnzoD

That was a baaad turnover.

Manning was handling the puck like I was last week at MB ice arena after 4 after work whiskey rocks

Forsling can’t get recalled soon enough. Good thing Manning is signed for 2 years! Bender.
- EnzoD

Yeah, I think he will be the 7th man soon.

Nice sweep by Saad!!