Any word how long Hillman out for?

Any Icehog dmen playing better since x-mas? Guessing maybe Gilbert. And is not Lakkinen ( Rockford rookie from Sweden) a descent NHL prospect?
- jhawk59

Not sure about Hillman's status whether he's injured or just a healthy scratch. If injured, probably not that serious as he's been out on the ice during pre-game warmups.

Gilbert has actually looked good. Very physical and a decent skater. He's also improved when he jumps into the rush. Early in the season he would do it way too much so nice to see him play back and be a defensive defenseman especially as he's be paired with Jokiharju.

Lankinen is Finnish. His numbers are good for his first season in North America. He was up and down a bit with Indy but is platooning now with Forsberg as Delia remains with the Hawks.

Samuelsson was recently loaned to Idaho in the ECHL. He's a career minor leaguer so no loss there.

i noticed something i hadnt seen since a playoff run during i think the 2nd period Sunday against DET.

A Hawk player (not sure who) dove head long to push the puck out of their own zone. Plays like that you normally do not see in the Reg Season - and i thought, wow, this is a team that is playing for each other - its been a while to see that

anyone else notice that?

Unfortunately it's up to CC, not the Hawks, if he passes all the concussion protocols then he's saying he's fine to play. I agree with you guys but it's out of the teams control
- BetweenTheDots

Not sure why it is unfortunate. He's been cleared to play, why shouldn't he be able to decide for himself if he wants to play?

He just got a warning.
- GPHawksfan

Because the name on the back of his Jersey says "MALKIN" he will probably get only 2 games (maybe less), anyone else would get a minimum of 5.

Because the name on the back of his Jersey says "MALKIN" he will probably get only 2 games (maybe less), anyone else would get a minimum of 5.
- TheTrob

Exactly, how many games did Keith get for doing exactly the same thing against a King I believe.

Exactly, how many games did Keith get for doing exactly the same thing against a King I believe.
- LAHawk

He got 6 games for his Coyle hit, I can't remember how many he got for the Carter play.

He got 6 games for his Coyle hit, I can't remember how many he got for the Carter play.
- powerenforcer

Carter was the Playoff game? didnt Brookbank step in and played outstanding with #2 out 1 game?

Carter was the Playoff game? didnt Brookbank step in and played outstanding with #2 out 1 game?
- glennjpawlak22

That's it, and one game in the playoffs is at least 5 in the regular season.

i noticed something i hadnt seen since a playoff run during i think the 2nd period Sunday against DET.

A Hawk player (not sure who) dove head long to push the puck out of their own zone. Plays like that you normally do not see in the Reg Season - and i thought, wow, this is a team that is playing for each other - its been a while to see that

anyone else notice that?
- glennjpawlak22

Iirc, it was Murphy. I know what you're talking about and have been saying the same thing. It's a confident bunch (of late) are gelling on the ice and probably off the ice, but are playing for each other. So important! That's what I read on an article awhile back about the 2010 hawks. Good signs for the future.

The Blackhawks aren’t going to make any moves between now and the TDL.
- walleyeb1

Many people don't want to hear this. It seems some posters would prefer the Hawks had 47 trades then winning the cup.

Just read from the Ottawa Sun that Dzingel will ask for $5.5mil. in free agency. Nice player, but not worth that much.

Many people don't want to hear this. It seems some posters would prefer the Hawks had 47 trades then winning the cup.
- paulr

they don'have much to trade. possibilities forsling and hayden for not very much. Kruger would make sense but he is a dine a Dozen. Kunitz and Ward have NMC and are not really of much value. AA won't have value till he is under paid and that won't be till July 1st. Keith has a NMC and hawks do not seem likely to push it.

Just read from the Ottawa Sun that Dzingel will ask for $5.5mil. in free agency. Nice player, but not worth that much.
- LAHawk

He'll be an overpaid contract for years to come.

1. Jack Hughes, C, U.S. National U18 (NTDP)
Height: 5-foot-10 | Weight: 168 pounds
Everything I've seen from Hughes over the past two years suggests he can be a franchise-altering player. It starts with his high-end skating and ability to make plays at high speeds. His style is one of constant motion, which means he almost always is around the puck; and when he's not, the puck seems to find him. His speed is not so much explosive as it is deceptive, with edge work that might be as close to Connor McDavid's as we've seen. Hughes processes the game while in fifth gear, be it spotting his wingers for a quick pass or making a defender miss with a clever move. Yes, his size often comes up, but his frame is similar to that of Patrick Kane when Kane went first overall, and the size never became an issue for Kane. It shouldn't for Hughes, either.

2. Kaapo Kakko, RW/LW, TPS (Liiga)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 194
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If you're trying to look for a weakness in Kakko's game, you're probably going to be searching for a long time. Only Mikael Granlund and Aleksander Barkov had better per-game scoring rates in Finland's top pro league than Kakko has enjoyed this season. It helps that he has a bigger frame and is more physically filled out than many of his peers, but Kakko's ability to process the game at pro speeds at 17 years old is why he continues to excel in a league that certainly doesn't make it easy on younger players. He also played a starring role for Finland as it won gold at the U18 World Championship in 2018, and everyone saw the maturity in his game while skating for the golden Finnish team at the World Juniors.

3. Vasili Podkolzin, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 190

Podkolzin is in SKA St. Petersburg's system, so it might be a while before he is in an NHL uniform. But Podkolzin has speed, excellent hands, power, a deadly shot and defensive responsibility. He also has some nastiness in his game. He forced Valeri Bragin -- a coach notorious for underplaying his young players -- to use him in key situations at the World Juniors, like the penalty kill and late-game must-score moments. Podkolzin is not a physically imposing player, but he still manages to out-battle players along the walls and in the hard areas of the ice. On the rush, he has the vision to make the right passes and can put defenders on their heels before unveiling a great release on his shot.

4. Dylan Cozens, C/W, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 180
Cozens plays a mature style of hockey that will only become more effective as he tacks more muscle onto his frame. He has explosive speed that makes him a weapon in transition, while his strong play on the puck allows him to make plays in tight spaces and under pressure. Cozens has two seasons of big-time production in the WHL, and he has been a top performer in international events, as well. I think his skating and ability to make plays with pace is the separating factor between him and Kirby Dach, for now, but it's tight.

5. Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 197
A cerebral center who can make plays in so many different ways, Dach has that ideal combination of skill and size. He is a natural play-driver with elite vision, and he has had instances in which he simply takes over the game this season. The only concern I have at this point is that he has struggled a bit in faster games. That said, he has an easiness to his game, uses the ice well and takes advantage of his high-end hockey sense to put himself in good positions and make good reads.

Kirby Dach has a great combination of size and skill. Marissa Baecker/Getty Images

6. Trevor Zegras, C/W, U.S. National U18 (NTDP)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 166
A slick skater with the hands to match, Zegras makes high-end offensive plays look routine. His speed makes him difficult to contain, and his vision and passing ability make him an asset to linemates. I'd like to see a little more maturity in Zegras' game. He tends to fade out when things aren't coming as easily, but it's hard to argue with his skill. His scoring rates are second only to those of Hughes on the U18 team.

7. Matthew Boldy, LW, U.S. National U18 (NTDP)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 187
With his rare mix of size and exceptional puck skills, Boldy has the tools to grow into a game-changing winger. What makes Boldy unique among his peers is just how slippery he is at his size. He skates well and has the confidence and ability to execute high-skill plays to get around defenders with relative ease. As he continues to fill out his frame and add a little extra power to combine with his evasiveness, Boldy could become a dominant offensive presence. He also has a deceptive release that has allowed him to find the back of the net often this season.

8. Alex Turcotte, C, U.S. National U18 (NTDP)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 189
Turcotte's puck skills are subtle, but his hockey sense and vision allow him to make some really advanced plays. After spending much of the first half of the season injured, Turcotte slid right back into the No. 2 center role on the NTDP's loaded Under-18 team and went right back to making everyone around him better. He does not boast a huge frame, but he is very strong on his skates and goes to the net hard. His fearlessness is an asset at both ends of the ice, as he reads plays well and attacks the puck every chance he gets.

9. Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 193
There are a lot of defense prospects I've talked to this year that consider themselves "two-way defensemen," but they're really just offensively minded players who are at best average on the defensive end. Not Byram. He is a legitimate two-way defensemen who makes his team better when he's on the ice. With unrivaled poise with the puck on his stick and the vision to make plays, he is having an otherworldly season in the WHL. Byram is scoring at nearly a point per game from the back end, while not sacrificing anything in his defensive play. To me, he's the best defenseman in this draft by a fairly large margin.

this was a new ranking out from ESPN If we don't end up in the playoffs I would really like to end up in the top 9. I like all the top 9.

Just read from the Ottawa Sun that Dzingel will ask for $5.5mil. in free agency. Nice player, but not worth that much.
- LAHawk

I don't think $5.5M is out of line for Dzingel. He had 21 goals / 41 points in 79 games last season and he's got 21 goals / 41 points already in 53 games this season. He's on track to hit 30 goals and about 55/60 points, plus he can play center.

Because the name on the back of his Jersey says "MALKIN" he will probably get only 2 games (maybe less), anyone else would get a minimum of 5.
- TheTrob

Malkin is lucky it was pretty much a swing and a miss. Probably one or two games, if he actually connected it’d probably be five or six.

Raffl did a pretty good sales job IMO.

he has played in 71% of the games and at just under 10 min TOI with 4 points and 18 PIM. I am sure he can be replaced.
- riozzo

I agree.... Sometimes it takes a bit longer for players to get going. I just wish he would be more consistent with his play. I'm of the opinion if we trade him it should be for decent return not just to dump him.

I don't think $5.5M is out of line for Dzingel. He had 21 goals / 41 points in 79 games last season and he's got 21 goals / 41 points already in 53 games this season. He's on track to hit 30 goals and about 55/60 points, plus he can play center.
- EbonyRaptor

He's been getting top opportunities with Duchene injuries and the lack of depth in Ottawa. He's probably a 45 point guy most of his career, which to me isn't enough for $5.5MM. He's a career 39% at the dot as well. I don't think he's awful, but he'll get overpaid if he gets $5.5.

Simple math.

Hawk win and losses by Colorado, Phoenix and Minnesota tonight mean the hawks will be 2 off of the pace. 2 behind Minn - tied potentially with Colorado and Phoenix.

With 25 games to go, with Koivu out for Minn...how do you not like your chances, especially if the Hawks can stay healthy?

Of course, need a win or at least a point.

Simple math.

Hawk win and losses by Colorado, Phoenix and Minnesota tonight mean the hawks will be 2 off of the pace. 2 behind Minn - tied potentially with Colorado and Phoenix.

With 25 games to go, with Koivu out for Minn...how do you not like your chances, especially if the Hawks can stay healthy?

Of course, need a win or at least a point.
- TrueGrit

Plus, I hope Marchand doesn't "slip" and "fall" and get hurt.

Plus, I hope Marchand doesn't "slip" and "fall" and get hurt.
- 35Tony0

Or he doesn't pull any poop like he did with Duclair last year.....

Debrincat is gonna get more than 6
- GPHawksfan

His production is similar to both Forsberg and Pasta.

I expect 6x6.

I know this is quite random, but does anyone know what happened to wingels?

Not sure why it is unfortunate. He's been cleared to play, why shouldn't he be able to decide for himself if he wants to play?
- mohel

I mean "unfortunate" as in if the team thinks he would benefit from another week off and Corey says nope im good to go, then he's on the active roster. I hope nothing but health and happiness to him, i think it's great he auctioned off the chevelle for a charity and all that stuff.