Question for the board:

Is Bowen Byram NHL ready?
If so, does Stan grab him?
Finally, if that’s the case which Hawks defensemen would you be most willing to move to fetch another asset that they need?
- Bjm84

No one but Hughes and Kakko are going to play next year.

Can I answer tomorrow because after his team scored ONE goal tonight and Prince Albert score EIGHT, I want to know how many he was on for...


St. Albert 8 - Vancouver Giants 1. game three
- wiz1901

Giants lost 8-2, Byram had 1 assist and was -1. It looks like Vancouver’s PK (or lack thereof) let them down allowing 4 goals.

Interesting tidbits from an NBC Sports podcast interview of Mark Kelley, as it relates to the first two questions.

He said as of now, he does not see anyone NHL ready beyond Hughes/Kakko, but said it is a long time until September and someone could surprise.

Asked for a few words about each top 10 prospect, Kelley answered one question very differently . . . he went on much longer about Byram and seems to be quite high on him.
- gmurban

Might explain why Scotty was at the Giants game tonight in Vancouver. Giants lost 8-2

Question for the board:

Is Bowen Byram NHL ready?
If so, does Stan grab him?
Finally, if that’s the case which Hawks defensemen would you be most willing to move to fetch another asset that they need?
- Bjm84

No one but Hughes and Kakko are going to play next year.

Can I answer tomorrow because after his team scored ONE goal tonight and Prince Albert score EIGHT, I want to know how many he was on for...


St. Albert 8 - Vancouver Giants 1. game three
- wiz1901

Even if we draft Byram and he had an exceptional camp in the fall, consider no professional experience whereas a couple of Rockford kids do as determining factors. No one will get rushed. And don't be misled by how much TOI in preseason.

Meanwhile could Entwhistle be on fast track? You wan to say no matter how much they like him THAT he could hit a wall and also do not want him to become too one dimensional because he excels in one area but needs time to becone all that he could become in another facet of his game.

Nonetheless makes you pause and think why would Scotty go see him play. Maybe Kelly is torn between two different type of players and if we pass say on a physical player like Cozens (as projected), well guess what.......we have another kid whom is going to play a regular shift and he has a physical game + more ability than Stan thought when he was acquired via trade.

I could be reading too much into this....but who knows

So I've been away from hawks news for a while ... Soderlund & Hakkarainen, ice hog guarantees or dark horses? What do you guys think?

So I've been away from hawks news for a while ... Soderlund & Hakkarainen, ice hog guarantees or dark horses? What do you guys think?
- I Am The Breadman

Ice Hog regulars for next season, then challenge as dark horse candidates a year later. Of the current prospects, IMO, dark horses may include:

- Kurashev and Entwistle, don't think they make it but will be the last cuts. I think R Johnson will really surprise; loved his game in his brief stint with the Hogs after Red Deer.

- Boqvist will have a strong camp but will be one of the last cuts again back to London (or Rockford if the Hawks decide he is better getting pro experience). Beaudin is a dark horse, too.

- Carlsson and Gilbert are the realistic D prospects to have a chance to possibly make the team out of camp.

- I guess Forsling and Koekkoek (if they're resigned) but they're sort of expected to make the team at this point given how many years they've been in the pros.

-Same goes for L Johnson and Highmore as far as forward prospects go.

So I've been away from hawks news for a while ... Soderlund & Hakkarainen, ice hog guarantees or dark horses? What do you guys think?
- I Am The Breadman

Back read this blog for a perspective. Summation was:

Neither would be ready nhl. Nice projections for both. Soderlund may be too lofty once as highly touted but could stick purely due to his PK. He needs to show that he can play AHL first of all. The Hakkarrainen is projected to be in line to supplant Kampf as 4th center. Hakkarrainen too needs development time.

This is the 15 min condensed game against Dubuque.

https://m.youtube.com/wat...wpiDVYWxE&time_continue=4
- gifman

I thought he played very well in that game. He was fast, tenacious and he made plays all over the ice. After watching that game I like him more than I did before I watched that.

Giants lost 8-2, Byram had 1 assist and was -1. It looks like Vancouver’s PK (or lack thereof) let them down allowing 4 goals.
- DarthKane

That's two disastrous games in a row for Vancouver. They took 4 straight penalties (including one by Byram) and were down 5-0 before the game was 10 minutes old. Let's hope they can muster a better effort in the game tomorrow.

I thought he played very well in that game. He was fast, tenacious and he made plays all over the ice. After watching that game I like him more than I did before I watched that.
- EbonyRaptor

I completely agree, he looked very impressive in this game. Really stood out in both ends of the ice and looks like he can be a very good guy at the dot as well.

If I’m drinking New Glarus, Moon Man is my go to, but there’s so many good beers out there right now. Noon Whistle, Tighthead, Maplewood, Pipe Works are some of my favorite breweries. Lots of love out there for Zombie Dust, but that’s another one that is highly overrated IMO...it’s good, but not as good as the hype, and not even my favorite from Three Floyd’s.
- Ogilthorpe2

Thanks Ogi for the info I'm going to try those out

Question for the board:

Is Bowen Byram NHL ready?
If so, does Stan grab him?
Finally, if that’s the case which Hawks defensemen would you be most willing to move to fetch another asset that they need?
- Bjm84

No one but Hughes and Kakko are going to play next year.

Can I answer tomorrow because after his team scored ONE goal tonight and Prince Albert score EIGHT, I want to know how many he was on for...


St. Albert 8 - Vancouver Giants 1. game three
- wiz1901

Byram was on for 1 of the 7 goals in first period, the last one. He finished -1 with 1 assist during a PP. Also of note, the CBH had a large group watching the game led by Scotty Bowman.

yep...but give them credit down 3-2 and won 2 strt...they played a great game...

if not for bishop they game is over in regulation 4-1. stars just could get anything going...blows had them chasing the whole game...
- bogiedoc

First team to 3 loses.

The conventional wisdom says that game 5 is the most important game of a series - one team goes up 3-2.

But so far - all four series that have gone 7 - the winner of game 5 has lost games 6 and 7, and the series.

Okay I give. Who had #72 for the Hawks?
- boilermaker100

John Tonelli ....

Always thought John Madden would make an excellent coach

Always thought John Madden would make an excellent coach
- tim62b

I know I brought up the name Ken Hitchcock, and of course it was met with a lot of resistance and I understand why, his style doesn’t coincide with what Stan Bowman wants a bunch of 5 foot nine Smurfs that play in the perimeter. I agree with those watching the playoffs, that style will not win the Stanley Cup‘s. It may look pretty for a couple of months during the season, but the playoffs are a different animal.
Who are some of the candidates out there that Bowman would bring in to fit behind the bench with Colliton .
I still am not sold on the fact that some of these older players Who have won Stanley cups here, and, whom this kid is the same age, are privately buying in to him,I have to believe that if it does not start out good next season that some of that will rise to the top and tensions will rise in the locker room.
Moving onto the draft, if it is true that whoever we draft first does not play here next year, I am interested to see what plans they have, because I do not for one minute believe Rocky and John McDonough will accept another season of no playoffs.Yet Bowman continues to go after the peewees overseas.

Thanks Ogi for the info I'm going to try those out
- BGKarras

It's amazing how far the beer brewing industry has come and most of it is because of medium and small breweries and not conglomerates which is a refreshing change. In the 80s and 90s some friends and i used to visit various football stadiums in the US and partake in the pre game tailgate parties. When the American fans saw us come in they would be come over trading food for our Candian beer because the American stuff (Bud, Schlitz etc) was terrible. In hindsite our Canadian stuff (Molson, O'Keefe, Labatts, etc.) was awful too. With the hundreds, if not thousands, of medium and small sized breweries the beer in Canada and the U.S has never been better.

I know I brought up the name Ken Hitchcock, and of course it was met with a lot of resistance and I understand why, his style doesn’t coincide with what Stan Bowman wants a bunch of 5 foot nine Smurfs that play in the perimeter. I agree with those watching the playoffs, that style will not win the Stanley Cup‘s. It may look pretty for a couple of months during the season, but the playoffs are a different animal.
Who are some of the candidates out there that Bowman would bring in to fit behind the bench with Colliton .
I still am not sold on the fact that some of these older players Who have won Stanley cups here, and, whom this kid is the same age, are privately buying in to him,I have to believe that if it does not start out good next season that some of that will rise to the top and tensions will rise in the locker room.
Moving onto the draft, if it is true that whoever we draft first does not play here next year, I am interested to see what plans they have, because I do not for one minute believe Rocky and John McDonough will accept another season of no playoffs.Yet Bowman continues to go after the peewees overseas.
- wonthecup10

I have mentioned his name before, but maybe the ship has sailed. Trent Yawney.....Would be great for the young D-men to learn what Seabs and Keith learned.

I know I brought up the name Ken Hitchcock, and of course it was met with a lot of resistance and I understand why, his style doesn’t coincide with what Stan Bowman wants a bunch of 5 foot nine Smurfs that play in the perimeter. I agree with those watching the playoffs, that style will not win the Stanley Cup‘s. It may look pretty for a couple of months during the season, but the playoffs are a different animal.
Who are some of the candidates out there that Bowman would bring in to fit behind the bench with Colliton .
I still am not sold on the fact that some of these older players Who have won Stanley cups here, and, whom this kid is the same age, are privately buying in to him,I have to believe that if it does not start out good next season that some of that will rise to the top and tensions will rise in the locker room.
Moving onto the draft, if it is true that whoever we draft first does not play here next year, I am interested to see what plans they have, because I do not for one minute believe Rocky and John McDonough will accept another season of no playoffs.Yet Bowman continues to go after the peewees overseas.
- wonthecup10

quote=wonthecup10]I know I brought up the name Ken Hitchcock, and of course it was met with a lot of resistance and I understand why, his style doesn’t coincide with what Stan Bowman wants a bunch of 5 foot nine Smurfs that play in the perimeter. I agree with those watching the playoffs, that style will not win the Stanley Cup‘s. It may look pretty for a couple of months during the season, but the playoffs are a different animal.
Who are some of the candidates out there that Bowman would bring in to fit behind the bench with Colliton .
I still am not sold on the fact that some of these older players Who have won Stanley cups here, and, whom this kid is the same age, are privately buying in to him,I have to believe that if it does not start out good next season that some of that will rise to the top and tensions will rise in the locker room.
Moving onto the draft, if it is true that whoever we draft first does not play here next year, I am interested to see what plans they have, because I do not for one minute believe Rocky and John McDonough will accept another season of no playoffs.Yet Bowman continues to go after the peewees overseas.




I could never stand a guy like Hitch. In my playing days when a guy ordered a bag skate or demanded a certain type of play, physical or skilled, I had to know that coach had a perspective on what he was asking. I'd pay huge money to see Hitch have to participate in a bag skate or run a Dman in a corner. When Keenan was in juniors he was a chickenpoop. Those ball buster kinds of guys always have success short term but their message fizzles out sooner than later.
The Blues goalie is making a huge difference, but so is Berube. I think he has a better perspective on what he demands as a coach due to his having been there and done that. I know guys in these parts hate the Blues, but I think they are legit with Berube behind the bench.
I'm willing to give Colliton a longer leash because he played internationally for Canada and actually made the show, even if it was brief. I think he has a clue. All he has done is try to crawl out of a hole. I'd like to see things go well for a bit and then hit a losing streak and see how he handles it and pulls out of it. That's when we will know what the hawks have in JC.

I have mentioned his name before, but maybe the ship has sailed. Trent Yawney.....Would be great for the young D-men to learn what Seabs and Keith learned.
- powerenforcer

I'm biased, but I agree.

I have mentioned his name before, but maybe the ship has sailed. Trent Yawney.....Would be great for the young D-men to learn what Seabs and Keith learned.
- powerenforcer

After what Yawney did with Keith and Seabrook he may be the ideal Rockford coach or maybe a roving instructor who works with prospects? Why after less than a full season are we discussing firing JC, especiallly with the way the team responded for him? Right now as far as I see Bowman's focus should be on improving the roster not on firing a coach who hasn't had the time or team to work with.

*NEW* blog up: https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=99371

5 IceHogs that could make an impact in Chicago next year.

I know I brought up the name Ken Hitchcock, and of course it was met with a lot of resistance and I understand why, his style doesn’t coincide with what Stan Bowman wants a bunch of 5 foot nine Smurfs that play in the perimeter. I agree with those watching the playoffs, that style will not win the Stanley Cup‘s. It may look pretty for a couple of months during the season, but the playoffs are a different animal.
Who are some of the candidates out there that Bowman would bring in to fit behind the bench with Colliton .
I still am not sold on the fact that some of these older players Who have won Stanley cups here, and, whom this kid is the same age, are privately buying in to him,I have to believe that if it does not start out good next season that some of that will rise to the top and tensions will rise in the locker room.
Moving onto the draft, if it is true that whoever we draft first does not play here next year, I am interested to see what plans they have, because I do not for one minute believe Rocky and John McDonough will accept another season of no playoffs.Yet Bowman continues to go after the peewees overseas.
- wonthecup10

You've been throwing the 'smurf' moniker out there since 2010 and the Hawks won 2 cups with some smurfs on the roster. Quenneville won with a mix of players and the last two cups were won with toughness but not aggression. There's a Mark Twain quote I'm sure you don't buy into because you look at height and weight and not heart. "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."

[quote=6628]

Massive difference between boys playing on all star teams in U18 tournaments and the men pounding the crap out of each other in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's unfair to expect them to be at all meaningful at the NHL level just a few months after they are drafted.

Can u imagine a Bovqist or Jack Hughes playing in a heavyweight battle like the game tonite or tomorrow's out in San Jose.

Draft the best player available and develop him for a couple years at progressively tougher levels, not the NHL where they are over their heads.
- RickJ

Thanks for yet again being a voice of reason.

and your NHL organization must have some MacKenzie Entwistles too, or heavy lifter scorers like Evan Barrett who like high traffic contact play.