I live in the traverse city area part time some I go to the prospect tournament every year. I think terrible is a strong word he just seemed a little lost out there.
Again that is why he sat on the bench for a couple of shifts. I also was at the game last night.
As for the traverse city tournament out of the offense fortin has the nhl speed but cannot finish Sikura I was not that impressed with and as you see good hustle but just something lacking.
I really liked Entwistle but everyone is seeing that now. As for the defense the only ones were Beaudin who has great vision and can play just needs to get stronger and oh course Boqvist nice skater needs to get stronger also but I could see him making the team.
- Sn1362

It's interesting that Q commented that they might keep Boqvist up for a couple games when training camp was winding down, which they obviously didn't, but it indicated that Q saw enough to at least intrigue him that maybe ...

The standard operating procedure is for more experience playing lower levels than less before playing NHL, especially for d-men. There are exceptions of course and that's where it becomes a little muddled in my thinking - what are those exceptions? There are some obvious ones where the player is so exceptional that they go right to the NHL as an 18 year old - Dahlin in Buffalo as an example. There are others who make the NHL a year after being drafted like Heiskanen in Dallas. I've seen both of Dahlin and Heiskanen play a couple times this season and both of them show very good offense but neither of them look very good defensively. So, rhetorically speaking - why are they in the NHL?

My guess is that there is some (almost) unspoken nuance that overrides SOP when it comes to very gifted offensive d-men and perhaps Boqvist rises to that level. Not Beaudin, Mitchell or Jokiharju - but Boqvist. Is Boqvist exceptional enough offensively to override the usual plan to marinate a d-man longer than shorter?

I would have liked to see him get another game or two. He definitely needed some time to settle his nerves and got a bit more comfortable as the game went on.

I noticed he won a couple puck battles in the corner with his strength, pushing in and winning position on the puck.
- breadbag

Rockford has 2 games in Texas Friday and Saturday, and probably want him to play in those for the Hogs playoff push.

Even you?
- paulr

ESPECIALLY me.

Where is Elbows? I think Mohel has him in some old man meat locker behind his house.
- I Am The Breadman

Old men like him don't hang out in meat lockers - too cold. He's in a steam room somewhere. Or a Turkish bath.

For those of you looking for Montreal style pastrami, you can get it at Fumare in the French Market, located at the Ogilvie station.

Old men like him don't hang out in meat lockers - too cold. He's in a steam room somewhere. Or a Turkish bath.
- mohel

Maybe he's resting after contracting laryngitis from yelling at all the kids on his lawn.

I live in the traverse city area part time some I go to the prospect tournament every year. I think terrible is a strong word he just seemed a little lost out there.
Again that is why he sat on the bench for a couple of shifts. I also was at the game last night.
As for the traverse city tournament out of the offense fortin has the nhl speed but cannot finish Sikura I was not that impressed with and as you see good hustle but just something lacking.
I really liked Entwistle but everyone is seeing that now. As for the defense the only ones were Beaudin who has great vision and can play just needs to get stronger and oh course Boqvist nice skater needs to get stronger also but I could see him making the team.
- Sn1362

I look forward to your thoughts this summer.

I didn't get the animal wrong but the gender. Though not uncommon as this would explain...

The singular, cow, technically means the female, the male being bull. The plural form cows is sometimes used colloquially to refer to both sexes collectively, as e.g. in a herd, but that usage can be misleading as the speaker's intent may indeed be just the females. The bovine species per se is clearly dimorphic.
- HawkintheD

Thanks, Farmer Brown.

I thought he played well after the first period - made the right plays, patience with the puck, nothing flashy but steady.

Colliton had him out there for several shifts fairly late in the third trying to protect the lead.
- StLBravesFan

Agree. This is pretty much the synopsis I gave.

It's interesting that Q commented that they might keep Boqvist up for a couple games when training camp was winding down, which they obviously didn't, but it indicated that Q saw enough to at least intrigue him that maybe ...

The standard operating procedure is for more experience playing lower levels than less before playing NHL, especially for d-men. There are exceptions of course and that's where it becomes a little muddled in my thinking - what are those exceptions? There are some obvious ones where the player is so exceptional that they go right to the NHL as an 18 year old - Dahlin in Buffalo as an example. There are others who make the NHL a year after being drafted like Heiskanen in Dallas. I've seen both of Dahlin and Heiskanen play a couple times this season and both of them show very good offense but neither of them look very good defensively. So, rhetorically speaking - why are they in the NHL?

My guess is that there is some (almost) unspoken nuance that overrides SOP when it comes to very gifted offensive d-men and perhaps Boqvist rises to that level. Not Beaudin, Mitchell or Jokiharju - but Boqvist. Is Boqvist exceptional enough offensively to override the usual plan to marinate a d-man longer than shorter?
- EbonyRaptor

Boqvist is very, very good, I have seen him probably 30 times on TV and twice live. And while it's possible he could play in the NHL now and bypass the extra development he runs the risk of being a one dimensional guy like Gus. If the Hawks want a fuly developed player it's imperative he stay in london next season before playing in Rockford for a bit to get used to the pro game. I would really hate to see Boqvist become the next Leddy, Gardiner, Gus or even Karlsson, none of whom can play defense to save their lives, although Trotz has Leddy playing better "D" than I've ever seen him play.

Thanks, Farmer Brown.
- I Am The Breadman

Now you be a good lad and drink every drop of your Lactaid.

Maybe he's resting after contracting laryngitis from yelling at all the kids on his lawn.
- HawkintheD

I heard he pulled a hammy getting up to yell at Perlini.

Now you be a good lad and drink every drop of your Lactaid.
- HawkintheD

I did actually. Haha. It's actually really good, just expensive.

Old men like him don't hang out in meat lockers - too cold. He's in a steam room somewhere. Or a Turkish bath.
- mohel

Maybe he's resting after contracting laryngitis from yelling at all the kids on his lawn.
- HawkintheD

nah...sore fingers from yelling at us...

nah...sore fingers from yelling at us...

- bogiedoc

Boqvist is very, very good, I have seen him probably 30 times on TV and twice live. And while it's possible he could play in the NHL now and bypass the extra development he runs the risk of being a one dimensional guy like Gus. If the Hawks want a fuly developed player it's imperative he stay in london next season before playing in Rockford for a bit to get used to the pro game. I would really hate to see Boqvist become the next Leddy, Gardiner, Gus or even Karlsson, none of whom can play defense to save their lives, although Trotz has Leddy playing better "D" than I've ever seen him play.
- paulr

sorry everytime i hear someone mention leddy...this all i can think about...5 (frank)n years ago...wow

Don't pick at old scabs, Bogie.

nah...sore fingers from yelling at us...

- bogiedoc

Carpel tunnel.

Boqvist is very, very good, I have seen him probably 30 times on TV and twice live. And while it's possible he could play in the NHL now and bypass the extra development he runs the risk of being a one dimensional guy like Gus. If the Hawks want a fuly developed player it's imperative he stay in london next season before playing in Rockford for a bit to get used to the pro game. I would really hate to see Boqvist become the next Leddy, Gardiner, Gus or even Karlsson, none of whom can play defense to save their lives, although Trotz has Leddy playing better "D" than I've ever seen him play.
- paulr

This is the main argument. There are those that argue, for the most talented players, as long as they can handle it physically, it is better to get to the NHL and learn there than it is to stay in the minors. The argument is that due to the size, speed and skill of the NHL you will learn quicker than in Jrs or AHL. The flipside to that argument is that for some players you will mentally break them and wreck them for the long term.

There are certain players who are mentally strong enough and have the ability to learn that adapt to the NHL game. Take Seth Jones and Drew Doughty as examples. They started in the NHL with no time in the AHL. Their first seasons they were toasted frequently on the defensive end. They learned and improved to become effective d-men at the NHL level. On the flip side you have a guy like Leddy, little AHL time yet 8-9 years into his career defensive play is still a question mark. He may be better this season, but still not good. My guess is that he is just not a real smart hockey player. He doesn't seem to grasp the concepts and improve. Gus is a guy with 4-5 years of minor hockey, yet still doesn't seem to get it.

Boqvist at the NHL level will be like most young defenseman (Dahlin) who will get beat regularly by veterans who understand the game better. If he can physically and mentally take the abuse that will be dished out at the top level, he will most definitely develop faster than he will in Jr's or even the AHL.

sorry everytime i hear someone mention leddy...this all i can think about...5 (frank)n years ago...wow


- bogiedoc

He was so useless when he didn't have the puck when he was with the Hawks.

This is the main argument. There are those that argue, for the most talented players, as long as they can handle it physically, it is better to get to the NHL and learn there than it is to stay in the minors. The argument is that due to the size, speed and skill of the NHL you will learn quicker than in Jrs or AHL. The flipside to that argument is that for some players you will mentally break them and wreck them for the long term.

There are certain players who are mentally strong enough and have the ability to learn that adapt to the NHL game. Take Seth Jones and Drew Doughty as examples. They started in the NHL with no time in the AHL. Their first seasons they were toasted frequently on the defensive end. They learned and improved to become effective d-men at the NHL level. On the flip side you have a guy like Leddy, little AHL time yet 8-9 years into his career defensive play is still a question mark. He may be better this season, but still not good. My guess is that he is just not a real smart hockey player. He doesn't seem to grasp the concepts and improve. Gus is a guy with 4-5 years of minor hockey, yet still doesn't seem to get it.

Boqvist at the NHL level will be like most young defenseman (Dahlin) who will get beat regularly by veterans who understand the game better. If he can physically and mentally take the abuse that will be dished out at the top level, he will most definitely develop faster than he will in Jr's or even the AHL.
- TheTrob

None of the offensive defensemen I've listed have ever developed into strong two way defenders in the NHL, yes Leddy has improved so that he's no longer terrible but in a cruicial siuation where a lead is being protected he won't be on the ice. I remember Shaw turing Karlsson inside out and beating him for a goal. Andrew Shaw, not Patrick Kane. If the Hawks are willing to have a defenseman who can't defend in the lineup then he'll be there. Hopefully they understand a fully developed Boqvist is more valuable to the Blackhawks and to Boqvist if he can play in all situations.

The only thing I use ketchup for is when I use it to make sweet and sour chicken. My brother used to butter toast, pour a puddle of ketchup on his plate and dip the toast into it. But he also put ketchup on pizza. We have a deli in Toronto called Shopsys that has the best dogs in Toronto. They make good corned beef too. The best place I've ever had something like corned beef that they name Montreal Smoked meat is a little place in Old Montreal called Shawartz's. It will remind some of the iconic New York places, if you take too long to order or ask a million questions they ignore you and go on to the next person.
- paulr

Schwartz's is on St.Laurent. Nothing much has changed in that joint except that Celine Dion bought it from the family because they were going to close it. Long ago after a Saturday night game at the Forum you would see some of the Habs come in to scoff down a couple of big sandwiches with fries. Larry Robinson came in with Serge Savard the night I was in there.

And where else can you get a Cherry Coke to go with your meal? And buy a hockey poster for $2 when you go up to the cashier to pay the bill. Used to be cash only, no credit cards.

Schwartz's is on St.Laurent. Nothing much has changed in that joint except that Celine Dion bought it from the family because they were going to close it. Long ago after a Saturday night game at the Forum you would see some of the Habs come in to scoff down a couple of big sandwiches with fries. Larry Robinson came in with Serge Savard the night I was in there.

And where else can you get a Cherry Coke to go with your meal? And buy a hockey poster for $2 when you go up to the cashier to pay the bill. Used to be cash only, no credit cards.
- RickJ

Too funny! The first time I went I was told to get the wild cherry drink with my meal. It was (frank)ing awful, way too sweet for me.

This is the main argument. There are those that argue, for the most talented players, as long as they can handle it physically, it is better to get to the NHL and learn there than it is to stay in the minors. The argument is that due to the size, speed and skill of the NHL you will learn quicker than in Jrs or AHL. The flipside to that argument is that for some players you will mentally break them and wreck them for the long term.

There are certain players who are mentally strong enough and have the ability to learn that adapt to the NHL game. Take Seth Jones and Drew Doughty as examples. They started in the NHL with no time in the AHL. Their first seasons they were toasted frequently on the defensive end. They learned and improved to become effective d-men at the NHL level. On the flip side you have a guy like Leddy, little AHL time yet 8-9 years into his career defensive play is still a question mark. He may be better this season, but still not good. My guess is that he is just not a real smart hockey player. He doesn't seem to grasp the concepts and improve. Gus is a guy with 4-5 years of minor hockey, yet still doesn't seem to get it.

Boqvist at the NHL level will be like most young defenseman (Dahlin) who will get beat regularly by veterans who understand the game better. If he can physically and mentally take the abuse that will be dished out at the top level, he will most definitely develop faster than he will in Jr's or even the AHL.
- TheTrob

"Mentally strong enough" - yep, that's probably the key ingredient, especially for a d-man. Confidence is required to perform at their best. How to assess the mental toughness is part of the equation on deciding when a young player is ready.