Boqvist scored the GWG in OT tonight for London. The London goalie made a lass right up the middle to Boqvist who broke in alone and buried a nice top shelf wrist shot for the winner. It was Boqvist's 20th goal of the season which is 2nd in the OHL for goals by a d-man and the guy who is the leading d-man goal scorer is an over-ager two years older that Boqvist and playing in his 4th OHL season.

Boqvist scored the GWG in OT tonight for London. The London goalie made a lass right up the middle to Boqvist who broke in alone and buried a nice top shelf wrist shot for the winner. It was Boqvist's 20th goal of the season which is 2nd in the OHL for goals by a d-man and the guy who is the leading d-man goal scorer is an over-ager two years older that Boqvist and playing in his 4th OHL season.
- EbonyRaptor

The strength of our team in future years lies in how deep and how good the defenseman corp becomes. Each pair with one or more good skater, one or more good offensive player. Think extraordinary skill and smarts with some of them. A strong puck moving mobile defense and quick to pucks holds back the opposition. With or without Gus!

Am I missing something? From the article: Reese Johnson is certainly a candidate to join the IceHogs late in the year with WHL teammate Brandon Hagel. Hagel has been very successful on a Red Deer team that will likely miss the playoffs. He would arguably be the biggest addition to the IceHogs as they look to have another playoff run similar to last season.

I thought their roster was set. Besides Johnson’s contract begins the 2019/20 season.
- walleyeb1

AFAIK AHL teams can still sign players such as Hagel and Johnson to amateur tryouts once their season in juniors ends. They can appear in remaining regular season games, but are ineligible for AHL playoffs. As their NHL contracts start in the summer, they don't interfere with the short-term ATOs.

Someone suggested to wait until end of summer and then offer him a one year low offer. I am thinking they might go as low as $1 mill.

I would not be surprised if Kruger accepts. Chicago is where he has played and been happy. I suggest that Kruger asks for an oral agreement that he continues in his role here and Bowman will say, as long as you are playing well....but if we want to give the job to someone else...we will try to accommodate you with a trade or you will play less here.
- jhawk59

There is absolutely no reason to bring back Kruger. Youth and Speed gentlemen !! Develop the young players in the system. David Kampf will be a good 4th line center if somebody can coach him up properly. Kruger is a waste to this team. No offense, mediocre faceoffs, and part of the reason they're LAST in the league at the PK. Be done with these memories of the past, it's time to move forward. He did his job and we all appreciate his services but there's a reason nobody wanted him at the deadline. There are dozens of Marcus Kruger types in NHL systems that are younger, cheaper, and faster.

I surely don't want to pay top UC money to watch him again next year. That would be just more of the same PR gimmicks holding on to senseless ex hawks.

There is absolutely no reason to bring back Kruger. Youth and Speed gentlemen !! Develop the young players in the system. David Kampf will be a good 4th line center if somebody can coach him up properly. Kruger is a waste to this team. No offense, mediocre faceoffs, and part of the reason they're LAST in the league at the PK. Be done with these memories of the past, it's time to move forward. He did his job and we all appreciate his services but there's a reason nobody wanted him at the deadline. There are dozens of Marcus Kruger types in NHL systems that are younger, cheaper, and faster.

I surely don't want to pay top UC money to watch him again next year. That would be just more of the same PR gimmicks holding on to senseless ex hawks.
- Hawkytalk

The whole deal with Kruger was, during the Cup winning years, he was an integral part of an NHL Top 5 PK. So, the question to me is, can he again be integral to a Top 5 PK?
That being said, there simply has to be a number of new faces on the PK moving forward.

You spelled senile wrong.


EDIT: this works better
- Elbows15

Senile clown seems pretty accurate.

The whole deal with Kruger was, during the Cup winning years, he was an integral part of an NHL Top 5 PK. So, the question to me is, can he again be integral to a Top 5 PK?
That being said, there simply has to be a number of new faces on the PK moving forward.
- 35Tony0

Sure I would rather the younger player too
But if Kruger was back he may not last the entire season, the pay rate is right (around $1 mill) and btw is the pk numbers his fault. He has played well - not great - and I always appreciated his effort

Theyre winning too many games......


No mans land right in the middle of the bad teams.

What legit top 4 D men are available for purchase on 7/1 ?

From SecondCityHockey, good chance another year in the OHL is on tap for Boqvist.
Per his comments, sounds like he has a good attitude.


https://www.secondcityhoc...s-london-knights-ohl-2019

Theyre winning too many games......


No mans land right in the middle of the bad teams.

What legit top 4 D men are available for purchase on 7/1 ?
- mrpaulish

https://www.spotrac.com/n...ee-agents/defenseman/ufa/

Theyre winning too many games......


No mans land right in the middle of the bad teams.

What legit top 4 D men are available for purchase on 7/1 ?
- mrpaulish

For a decent price and term, that won't put them in cap hell in a couple years? Nada.

Theyre winning too many games......


No mans land right in the middle of the bad teams.

What legit top 4 D men are available for purchase on 7/1 ?
- mrpaulish

Maybe one of those type is available for. ................
Hold your breathe
For (1)Gus OR
(2) Unless exchange first round and they get Gus (the move up to higher #1) lands us a legitimate (choose) center or power forward. Read draftsite.com review & figure if you want to add those type of forwards to mix and match with our current set.

From SecondCityHockey, good chance another year in the OHL is on tap for Boqvist.
Per his comments, sounds like he has a good attitude.


https://www.secondcityhoc...s-london-knights-ohl-2019
- boilermaker100

I think Boqvist will be a star ,just not tomorrow .Great he is n London learning the finer points of Defense .He already has the stuff you can't teach

Interesting article about 4th lines that I came across.

https://www.stanleycupofc...ng-to-change-nhl-thinking

One thing is, an effective 4th line is probably not going to employ a gaggle of rookies.

Interesting article about 4th lines that I came across.

https://www.stanleycupofc...ng-to-change-nhl-thinking

One thing is, an effective 4th line is probably not going to employ a gaggle of rookies.
- scottak

Interesting conclusion because within two or certainly three years where do you insert some of these guys we drafted or already play in Rockford:
Barrett,

Knott. (large body checker/how many of these are lurking in our farm system especially if Hayden leaves.

Nilsson . Whom Collison knows

Highmore. What is his "High - mark."

Sutherland. Speed kills. Talent level agitator pest?

(The other) Dahlstrom do you like his game

Others: there are always others. Reese Johnson. Entwhistle.

There is a gaggle, eh! ........how to finagle? Eh?

How high can you go. How low can you go
Up and down the forward lines
Up or down in round one

Somebody feel free to insert line dance picture "how high can you go; how low can you go"

I think Boqvist will be a star ,just not tomorrow .Great he is n London learning the finer points of Defense .He already has the stuff you can't teach
- oldduffman

And Beaudin has the defensive game understood and applied which takes years to learn and perform

And Mitchell is Duncan Keith Light or lite or like. But i bet he gets more shots on net than Keith. If they play on same blueline, somebody get the old Keith double net pictures and put a picture of Mitchell with one net. Dubbed one goal one net.

But i am focused on Carlsson so much because i like 1). He is NHL closest? 2). I love his strong points: skates crazy good, competes like heck, a defensive dman yet he garners some goals on pp due to his shot.

Interesting factoid: With the fantastic season Kane has been having, I almost missed the fact that Jonathan Toews is on track to having his career best regular season, at least point wise.

Good piece on Duncs

https://www.nytimes.com/2...lHex9I_HQMxtUQkuFGpMi1oec

Interesting factoid: With the fantastic season Kane has been having, I almost missed the fact that Jonathan Toews is on track to having his career best regular season, at least point wise.
- walleyeb1

It's good to see the captain playing so well.

Boqvist scored the GWG in OT tonight for London. The London goalie made a lass right up the middle to Boqvist who broke in alone and buried a nice top shelf wrist shot for the winner. It was Boqvist's 20th goal of the season which is 2nd in the OHL for goals by a d-man and the guy who is the leading d-man goal scorer is an over-ager two years older that Boqvist and playing in his 4th OHL season.
- EbonyRaptor

Great post ER. Nice season by Boqvist and loved his point reax the goalie.
Love when the goalscorer appreciates the set up man.

Good piece on Duncs

https://www.nytimes.com/2...lHex9I_HQMxtUQkuFGpMi1oec
- philco28

Yeah, I posted that earlier. Style Section, who woulda thunk it?

No surprise after reading it that it was Duncan that got Toews (and Ladd? and Oduya?) into the Onnit stuff.

Yeah, I posted that earlier. Style Section, who woulda thunk it?

No surprise after reading it that it was Duncan that got Toews (and Ladd? and Oduya?) into the Onnit stuff.
- pdx2ord

We’re a long way from the players going out for a steak & a few beers after the game, and working construction in the off season the stay in shape.

And Beaudin has the defensive game understood and applied which takes years to learn and perform

And Mitchell is Duncan Keith Light or lite or like. But i bet he gets more shots on net than Keith. If they play on same blueline, somebody get the old Keith double net pictures and put a picture of Mitchell with one net. Dubbed one goal one net.

But i am focused on Carlsson so much because i like 1). He is NHL closest? 2). I love his strong points: skates crazy good, competes like heck, a defensive dman yet he garners some goals on pp due to his shot.
- jhawk59

The Big 4 prospects + Krys (Big 5?) are all good skaters and known to be smooth, puck movers. None are big but it is imperative that they each have a respectable defensive element to their game. It's fine to be the "modern NHL defenseman" as long as defense is not considered optional.

This is where it is critical for them to learn how to read plays well to manage gaps and cut off angles, body players off the puck with even just a simple bump (body check not always required), stick check when appropriate, and simply shadow the puck handler stride for stride. As strong skaters, that last part should come naturally but it's learning what defensive play to make at any given moment that stymies the other player or limits his options all while not handcuffing teammates who are hopefully ready to support whatever results next.

Defensive support is a team element that also needs to improve for the Hawks. It's like in baseball: no matter where the ball is hit, each player activates to have a direct role (such as all players involved in a double play) or in a secondary role in case of things that go wrong like errant throws and dropped catches or keeping tabs of additional runners on the base paths.

We’re a long way from the players going out for a steak & a few beers after the game, and working construction in the off season the stay in shape.
- scottak

It’s a 12 month job.

Yeah, I posted that earlier. Style Section, who woulda thunk it?

No surprise after reading it that it was Duncan that got Toews (and Ladd? and Oduya?) into the Onnit stuff.
- pdx2ord

Putting aside Keith's comments about the NHL not being a developmental league, I wonder if Keith has interest in being a trainer for NHL players and prospects after he has retired. IIRC, Gary Roberts was a fitness freak when he played and he now trains players and prospects.

Don't know if Keith has the engaging personality and patience to work with others on their fitness and nutrition and is more comfortable just being a solo cat. Obviously, whatever he wants to do in his retirement years is his business.