I recommended that line previously on the blog then had


ADB-Strome-Perlini
Nylander-Toews-Kubalik

Nobody liked the idea of Toews being labelled a #3 center
- LAHawk

Probably because Toews is the best center on the team.

Article about goaltenders and increase in concussions.

https://www.apnews.com/dc...0915f43dcb8ef40f24fd99e7e
- LAHawk

Great article. League needs to step up and defend the tenders. How they attempt to achieve this, is way above my pay grade. Afraid of a career ending hit one of these days.

Probably because Toews is the best center on the team.
- Elbows15

He would still get the most minutes whatever you want to number the lines with his PP and PK time.

so anyone care to speculate by JC had that smirk a few times when talking about Dach? has he already made the squad and JC just doesnt want to let the cat out of the bag? GIF pls
- glennjpawlak22

I've been thinking for awhile now , that when Chicago surprised everyone at the draft by selecting Dach, they knew this kid in their minds was way ahead of the learning curve and had a more than realistic chance.

I think then watching him and his play in the tournament's only solidifies their decision.

so anyone care to speculate by JC had that smirk a few times when talking about Dach? has he already made the squad and JC just doesnt want to let the cat out of the bag? GIF pls
- glennjpawlak22

I've been thinking for awhile now , that when Chicago surprised everyone at the draft by selecting Dach, they knew this kid in their minds was way ahead of the learning curve and had a more than realistic chance.

I think then watching him and his play in the tournament's only solidifies their decision.

so anyone care to speculate by JC had that smirk a few times when talking about Dach? has he already made the squad and JC just doesnt want to let the cat out of the bag? GIF pls
- glennjpawlak22

No need to speculate his “he’s never out of the running” said it all!

so anyone care to speculate by JC had that smirk a few times when talking about Dach? has he already made the squad and JC just doesnt want to let the cat out of the bag? GIF pls
- glennjpawlak22

As we all know, the NHL is getting younger. I think Dach will be on the Hawks from the get-go and unless he is overwhelmed in his first 9 games (which I doubt will happen), he will be with them all year. Whether it's Saad or Nylander on 3LW and Shaw or Kubalik on 3RW, the Hawks aren't going to destroy the 3rd line's offensive potential by having no-offense Kampf at 3C rather than Dach. Kampf will move to 4C where he is best suited and most effective.

IMO once Boqvist gets some experience in Rockford, he will take Gustafsson's place this year. The Hawks know they won't be able to afford Gus next year, so they will move him before the trade deadline, get something for him and replace him with Boq, who is already exhibiting incredible offensive talent and does not have a high bar to be better than Gus defensively.

Moreover, adding "Dach-Boq" to the team will create a marketing buzz, get them NHL playoff experience (hopefully) and get the Hawks back to serious Cup contenders in 2020-21.

Good news, #Blackhawks fans: Kirby Dach (concussion protocol) is back on the ice!

https://www.nbcsports.com...cussion-protocol-back-ice
- walleyeb1

This is great news!!

IMO you are selling him short. Murphy has been a #3 guy for more than one NHL team and he is far from a problem in that role. He is becoming one of the most under appreciated players for the Hawks.

Consider these facts.

He got deployed defensively (He and Dahlstrom as a pair used against the other teams top guys and in the Dzone). He still maintained decent puck possession numbers despite that slant and having a non-NHL partner for much of his time. All that considered, the actual goals against while he was on the ice was solid and better than nearly every other dman on the team.

He is physical throwing and taking lots of hits. Pretty much the most consistently physical dman we had last year.

While the numbers show he was solid in his own end, he didn't really get any PP time to put up points there, but 5v5 only Gus was scoring goals at a better rate and really was like our #3 in terms of regulars putting up offense behind Keith and Gus.

I don't get why people need to rehash an old trade. Murphy is a #3 and while he is less of a defensive specialist, he is 6 years younger and his contract is cheaper. If we had more guys like him, this team wouldn't have sucked as bad last year.
- breadbag

Im really curious to see if adding DeHaan and Maata means Murphy wil stop making bad decisions on the ice? That's all i care about i honestly think we traded a #3 dman for a fringe 4-5 dman

I just don't get the "stubbornness" in hockey about a young player's position. In the case of Boqvist, why not move him to wing if his defensive play is so lacking as many here seem to suggest. Position moves happen in football with some degree of regularity, even at the highest levels. Why not in juniors or even the NHL? Thanks
- BobP.

Hawks just changed a player's position for the first time in his life so he could play pros. Jack Ramsey. 4 years at Minnesota as a forward however his dad was in the NHL over a decade as a dman and on the 1980 team I believe...now Ramsey is a d man prospect. Interesting

I don't disagree with you. The only thing I'm saying is murphy isn't and shouldn't have been compared to hammer.
Sure murphy was a upgrade and I do agree with you .

I do agree that the hawks should equally balance out playing time.
- Taylorst1

Murphy was an upgrade? I thought you said he was a clunker. Do you read your previous posts?

Murphy was an upgrade? I thought you said he was a clunker. Do you read your previous posts?
- tvetter

Yeah, it was a little hard to follow.

Murphy was an upgrade? I thought you said he was a clunker. Do you read your previous posts?
- tvetter

Let me clarify things . When hammer was traded for murphy Stan went out and sold us on how murphy was the younger version of hammer.

That statement was nothing more than dishonest that's where my reference sold a clunker came from.

Regards to upgrade statement when you look at the hawks defense the past couple of years murphy is a upgrade over dalstrom and koekkoek and even Gus defensively.

The only reason right now I think everyone would to some degree with this statement,

Murphy on a well balanced team would be the 3rd pairing , here in chicago because of the overall situation murphy is our 2nd best pairing partner, which isn't truly saying much for murphy.

Seabrook is on the decline and if things where different he would easily be our 2nd or 1st best pairing D man.

I also said if the pairing ends up murphy and DE HAAN it's possible my opinion could change if the situation works in favor of both murphy and the teams defensive improvement .

Lots of reports mirror or compare DE HAAN to hammer, I'm holding judgement on those reports.


I hope this clarifies my opinion better

Hawks just changed a player's position for the first time in his life so he could play pros. Jack Ramsey. 4 years at Minnesota as a forward however his dad was in the NHL over a decade as a dman and on the 1980 team I believe...now Ramsey is a d man prospect. Interesting
- just69sayin

Big buff played both defenseman and forward however as a forward he wasn't a elite player but he did a heck of a job in that role.

Imo boqvist is very talented offensively , it's his size and defensive side that makes more sense to move him to a forward where he could truly excel and succeed.

Big buff played both defenseman and forward however as a forward he wasn't a elite player but he did a heck of a job in that role.

Imo boqvist is very talented offensively , it's his size and defensive side that makes more sense to move him to a forward where he could truly excel and succeed.
- Taylorst1

He'd wouldn't have half the touches as a forward.

A lot of chatter on Murphy. I agreed with the guy who said he's 3rd pairing on a cup contender. But I will go on to say that his effort and determination is admirable. He never takes a shift off. And last year he seemed a bit more solid on his skates. When he came here he was physically over matched a lot as it seemed his foundation wasn't NHL strong enough. But he has improved and I'd like to think it's something he's been working on. And if I'm right I think that demonstrates his efforts on and off the ice. And I'll take a guy like that on my team every day. I can think of two other guys who stick out as this type of player. Neither one was strong on his skates at first in the show and their shot from the point wouldn't break an egg. Magnuson and Chelios. In my opinion Murphy demonstrates that work ethic. Not saying he'll stand out as much as those two, and not saying he's as good as Hammer. But I'll take him.

He'd wouldn't have half the touches as a forward.
- 6628

Boqvist appears very gifted and it wouldn't hurt for him or the team to put him in the best possible position to succeed.

We see players in various different sports get drafted and make position changes based on coaches seeing that player better suited to excel in a different position.

From the naked eye boqvist isn't a physical player , if your playing defense you still to some degree need to be able to bring some physicality to your game.

Boqvist likes to drive the play and create scoring chances by moving up around and behind the net which means a forward needs to always be aware and shift to a defensive posture to cover his spot?

That's always a opportunity for teams to create 2 on 1s or even breakaways.

He'd wouldn't have half the touches as a forward.
- 6628

Boqvist appears very gifted and it wouldn't hurt for him or the team to put him in the best possible position to succeed.

We see players in various different sports get drafted and make position changes based on coaches seeing that player better suited to excel in a different position.

From the naked eye boqvist isn't a physical player , if your playing defense you still to some degree need to be able to bring some physicality to your game.

Boqvist likes to drive the play and create scoring chances by moving up around and behind the net which means a forward needs to always be aware and shift to a defensive posture to cover his spot?

That's always a opportunity for teams to create 2 on 1s or even breakaways.

Murphy fits in perfectly because outside of de Haan and Keith the rest of the "D" are all probably 3rd pairing defensemen. There's that.

Hawks just changed a player's position for the first time in his life so he could play pros. Jack Ramsey. 4 years at Minnesota as a forward however his dad was in the NHL over a decade as a dman and on the 1980 team I believe...now Ramsey is a d man prospect. Interesting
- just69sayin

Boqvist is 19, Ramsey is 23. Give the kid time to develop properly, he has came so far in one year on the defensive sides of things, not a finished product yet by any means, but he has tons of talent. The kid will get there, as he is eager to learn and I can remember when Keith and Seabrook first started they had holes in their games as well.

Boqvist appears very gifted and it wouldn't hurt for him or the team to put him in the best possible position to succeed.

We see players in various different sports get drafted and make position changes based on coaches seeing that player better suited to excel in a different position.

From the naked eye boqvist isn't a physical player , if your playing defense you still to some degree need to be able to bring some physicality to your game.

Boqvist likes to drive the play and create scoring chances by moving up around and behind the net which means a forward needs to always be aware and shift to a defensive posture to cover his spot?

That's always a opportunity for teams to create 2 on 1s or even breakaways.
- Taylorst1

He isn't ever going to run people through the boards with his size, but from what I have noticed, he does not shy away from the physical part of the game either. Again, I will repeat, he is 19 years old, it is not like we have been waiting on him to learn defense for the last 5 years. He is better than where he was a year ago, Hawks know he needs to improve it, he knows it too. Give the kid time, he will get there. Name me 3 nineteen year old defensemen that were polished all-around at that age. It is also the toughest position in the NHL to learn.

Murphy fits in perfectly because outside of de Haan and Keith the rest of the "D" are all probably 3rd pairing defensemen. There's that.
- ChicagoHope

I'd also include maatta, he at one point did excel . He has been dealing with some injuries . The other day when he and Seabrook paired up he looked good and comfortable playing.

Just to make sure people don't misunderstand Maatta would be a solid 5th or 6th defender maybe a 4th if his injuries are behind him and his partner compliments his game,

Boqvist appears very gifted and it wouldn't hurt for him or the team to put him in the best possible position to succeed.

We see players in various different sports get drafted and make position changes based on coaches seeing that player better suited to excel in a different position.

From the naked eye boqvist isn't a physical player , if your playing defense you still to some degree need to be able to bring some physicality to your game.

Boqvist likes to drive the play and create scoring chances by moving up around and behind the net which means a forward needs to always be aware and shift to a defensive posture to cover his spot?

That's always a opportunity for teams to create 2 on 1s or even breakaways.
- Taylorst1

If that means handling the puck then the best position for him to get the puck is defense where it comes to him. And as it's doing so he can scan the ice with time and space and know what he wants to do when he gets it. Having a stay at home D man and a defensive forward on the ice at the same time would go a long way to helping him put on the show. Plus he would share the ice with five or six guys on D and not twelve or thirteen as a forward allowing him much more time on ice. I stand by what I said. He wouldn't see the puck half as much as a forward.

If that means handling the puck then the best position for him to get the puck is defense where it comes to him. And as it's doing so he can scan the ice with time and space and know what he wants to do when he gets it. Having a stay at home D man and a defensive forward on the ice at the same time would go a long way to helping him put on the show. Plus he would share the ice with five or six guys on D and not twelve or thirteen as a forward allowing him much more time on ice. I stand by what I said. He wouldn't see the puck half as much as a forward.
- 6628

Agreed on all points!! He will be paired in the future with a guy like Vlasic, deHaan, and even a guy like Beaudin. The Sharks play Karlsson with Vlasic because he is the best defensive defenseman they have, and that allows Karlsson to do his thing. Boqvist is going to be just fine.

Boqvist appears very gifted and it wouldn't hurt for him or the team to put him in the best possible position to succeed.

We see players in various different sports get drafted and make position changes based on coaches seeing that player better suited to excel in a different position.

From the naked eye boqvist isn't a physical player , if your playing defense you still to some degree need to be able to bring some physicality to your game.

Boqvist likes to drive the play and create scoring chances by moving up around and behind the net which means a forward needs to always be aware and shift to a defensive posture to cover his spot?

That's always a opportunity for teams to create 2 on 1s or even breakaways.
- Taylorst1

Phil Housley was built about as slightly as Boqvist, maybe a bit taller, and he was the all time leading American scorer in the NHL for years until Modano finally blew by him.

Phil Housley was a defenseman.