not yet anyway...but a shark team that is 0-3 and could be 0-4 after playing the perds tomorrow may be a little bit pssed and ready to torch a maybe to well rested hawk team.

We know the hawks suck after 3 or more days between games.
- bogiedoc

All the bru-ha-ha before the game with the red carpet etc.is not going to help.

not yet anyway...but a shark team that is 0-3 and could be 0-4 after playing the perds tomorrow may be a little bit pssed and ready to torch a maybe to well rested hawk team.

We know the hawks suck after 3 or more days between games.
- bogiedoc

Ya... I don’t like the Hawks odds playing an 0-4 Sharks team after 6 days of rest. All signs point to a disappointing effort.

Q had a veteran team. Most coaches handle it the same way.

How many practices do you need to stop chasing the puck? The forwards not all being on the same plane?

I hardly believe any system includes those elements.
- Elbows15

A good portion of the defensive lapses seem related to fundamentals learned at a young age and not attributed to a system as you pointed out. Fundamentals like recognizing numbers, ensuring the crease is protected, staying between your man and the net, etc.

What I wonder about is if Colliton's system involves his players communicating on the fly who each of them are covering and continue talking as the play develops, could that lead to conflict with execution of those fundamentals in such a fast sport?

For example, what if two players pursue the same opponent? By the time that gets sorted out, the other team finds holes to easily exploit for prime scoring chances. This is the NHL so giving even a second or two to the other team to react and make plays can be disastrous.

I think if anything, Colliton likes to have as many practices as possible.
- Chunk

I think this is the case, too. Colliton constantly communicates with his players, always in their ear.

The older players may not like that as much as they're used to coaches like Q or other veteran bench bosses but the younger players may crave this type of interaction in comparison

Gross generalization but guessing there's a kernel of truth to it all.

Sounds like the NHL PR machine intervened on at least one of the practices, too. The big practice before the Prague game was open to public (ticketed) and was attended by Gritty and Tommy Hawk on the ice. Hard to get in a good workout with all that hoopla.

With the reports of the ice being so horrible, wondering if O2 was kept open as an ice rink for practicing the whole time or if it reverted back to being the concert arena it's known to be on the off days.
- pdx2ord

Games played in other countries whether the NHL, NFL, MLB, or NBA is as much a showcase to grow the sport more broadly and generate revenue streams as it is a novel way to play pre-season or start the regular season.

Don't mind this business aspect of the game. As long as the teams got practice to some degree, then the rest of the days could be devoted to getting used to the significant time zone change and enjoying the locale away from the rink.

Gus is going to be an enigma all season.

He will be a UFA. He is playing on his off side. Anyone he gets paired with will look bad. He could play with Girodano, Josi or Hedman and they would look bad. He might be a great help on the power play. But that is probably 3 or 4 minutes per game. What do you do with the other 14 minutes he plays. You can protect him with offensive zone starts some of the time.

Would the Blackhawks be better off with a more well rounded 25~30 point scoring defender that actually had the speed. skills and an interest in playing defense?

The Hawks do not have cap space so if you traded him you could not take much back in salary. You would have to get another young cheap RD defender back and they are very hard to find. Or you package Gus, Smith (salary dump), and a draft pick (so they take Smith's salary) for a decent 200' RD defender with some offensive skills. Or you trade him for a high draft pick and bring up Boqvist. He is probably not ready for the NHL, but at least his inexperience and lack of strength and development are an excuse. No excuse for Gus.
- -Doh-

I would think it's the latter. One reason for Boqvist playing in Rockford rather than London this season is to keep closer tabs on his development.

Another reason could be so he is readily available for a call up not necessarily for injury depth but possibly as a potential replacement for Gustafsson if the Hawks are looking to move him sooner than later.

If Gustafsson is traded, unless there's a no-brainer hockey trade on the table that doesn't hurt the salary cap, then I would expect draft picks and/or prospects in return.

And not late rounders but at least a 1st rounder and/or prospect with potential to be an NHL regular.

Who would have thought Seabrook and Maatta would have made a solid pair? If the right partner can be found for Seabrook the same can happen with Keith. I don't think Gus is the right guy.
- DarthKane

Good post, Darth. I know Taylor has been hammering away at this point as well, i.e. Keith would be better served with a partner who played more of a stay-at-home game.

Keith has always been described as a rover so he's constantly attacking but has the defensive acumen and agility to retreat back if the ice tilts the other way. In their prime, Seabrook as his long-term partner allowed him to thrive with this style.

Now that they're both older and not compatible from that stand point yet Keith still likes to rove, a defensive RD who can skate well would be an ideal partner. But as others pointed out, nobody on the team fits the bill.

Murphy? Maybe but he could be best with de Haan as his partner.

Games played in other countries whether the NHL, NFL, MLB, or NBA is as much a showcase to grow the sport more broadly and generate revenue streams as it is a novel way to play pre-season or start the regular season.

Don't mind this business aspect of the game. As long as the teams got practice to some degree, then the rest of the days could be devoted to getting used to the significant time zone change and enjoying the locale away from the rink.
- AEL_Fox

This is all well and good unless you hold a city hostage to pay for your billion dollar stadium under the auspices of "economic growth" and then take the game (and that so-called economic growth) out of the city.

On another note, Crow should get the first home start. He was great at times and shaky at times v. Philly, and I attribute that to mostly rust. Ultimately the play in front of the net must be better or it won't matter who the Hawks put into net to serve as shot fodder. Preseason sucked, the first game sucked, win or lose I just want to see a quality brand of hockey being played.

the euro "propaganda" trip hurt the hawks more than it helped...

1. the travel back and forth
2. the distraction of the trip
3. non-normal practice schedule
4. almost a week between games; some teams will have played 4 games already by the time hawks get the sharks (who will have 4)
5. If crow starts that's almost two weeks between games for lehner: both these guys want to play..

only positive i see is extra healing time for dach, murphy and dehaan

i expect crow to start vs sharks and oil while lehner gets the jets game...then they get another 3 days off

the hawks must take adv of these 8 of 9 at home over the next 2.5 weeks. 6-2-1 would be nice..

the euro "propaganda" trip hurt the hawks more than it helped...

1. the travel back and forth
2. the distraction of the trip
3. non-normal practice schedule
4. almost a week between games; some teams will have played 4 games already by the time hawks get the sharks (who will have 4)
5. If crow starts that's almost two weeks between games for lehner: both these guys want to play..

only positive i see is extra healing time for dach, murphy and dehaan

i expect crow to start vs sharks and oil while lehner gets the jets game...then they get another 3 days off


the hawks must take adv of these 8 of 9 at home over the next 2.5 weeks. 6-2-1 would be nice..
- bogiedoc

I would add - 2 less pre-season games for the starters against NHL caliber teams. Do you really think JC and the staff would have started an all AHL team vs Boston had there not been oversee travel.

Hahaha.....Douchbag
- BGKarras

That’s fair. Totally uncalled for. Sorry.

Who would have thought Seabrook and Maatta would have made a solid pair? If the right partner can be found for Seabrook the same can happen with Keith. I don't think Gus is the right guy.
- DarthKane

Darth, never saw this tandem working out this well at all. They don't appear to
overthink the game. Sometimes it looks as though the Hawks suffer from paralysis
of the analysis. Just play hard to your strengths and have fun. Agree with you 100% in Keith being able to find a new partner. He's attempting to do way too much.

That’s fair. Totally uncalled for. Sorry.
- Ogilthorpe2

No worries Ogi. Sorry as well

Darth, never saw this tandem working out this well at all. They don't appear to
overthink the game. Sometimes it looks as though the Hawks suffer from paralysis
of the analysis. Just play hard to your strengths and have fun. Agree with you 100% in Keith being able to find a new partner. He's attempting to do way too much.
- gabriel

Not to beat a dead horse... but Keith had a good defense partner, he was unfortunately traded to Buffalo.

Not to beat a dead horse... but Keith had a good defense partner, he was unfortunately traded to Buffalo.
- DarthKane

I understood fully the Hawks wanting to take a gamble on Nylander. What I still
can't grasp is why they were so eager to pull the plug on Joker. Could not another package have been arranged? Meanwhile, on the Sabres board, they pretty much
see Joki as a work in progress. The same applies to Nylander in Chi-town.

I understood fully the Hawks wanting to take a gamble on Nylander. What I still
can't grasp is why they were so eager to pull the plug on Joker. Could not another package have been arranged? Meanwhile, on the Sabres board, they pretty much
see Joki as a work in progress. The same applies to Nylander in Chi-town.
- gabriel

Because of Mitchell and Bovquist as right handed defenseman are rated by the organization with greater upside than Joki, and you weren't getting rid of Seabrook's contract, the need was for a young forward with potential, not a young defenseman with potential.

They weren't trading Gus this offseason unless they were blown away, you have Murphy still, so I believe Joki would of played in Rockford this year, not as a #1 RD (Bovquist), his trade value wouldn't of increased, so he was an expendible asset that could be moved. It will take a few years to see if it works out for either team or not.

Because of Mitchell and Bovquist as right handed defenseman are rated by the organization with greater upside than Joki, and you weren't getting rid of Seabrook's contract, the need was for a young forward with potential, not a young defenseman with potential.

They weren't trading Gus this offseason unless they were blown away, you have Murphy still, so I believe Joki would of played in Rockford this year, not as a #1 RD (Bovquist), his trade value wouldn't of increased, so he was an expendible asset that could be moved. It will take a few years to see if it works out for either team or not.
- LAHawk

This makes the most sense. The problem (and I completely understand it) was that Joki looked to be the most NHL ready (physically and mentally) D-man in our system, and while there were some holes in his game, he did have the stats to back him up. I think it just came down to the coincidence of the Hawks having so many prospects that are close, as well as Stan wanting to upgrade the backend for this year.

Most disconcerting about game 1 - they really seemed not ready for the opening drop, although the had an ok 1st period - and certainly weren’t ready for the second period. The only “domination” the whole game came at the end of the third.

If not for three nice to excellent plays by Kane, they’d have been shut out.

Colliton needs to turn this aspect of the game around.
- StLBravesFan

I would argue it's the players who need to turn it around.

Last year was Cam Ward, i would guess this year would be Shaw? Murphy?
- LAHawk

If Shaw is the voice of reason we're in trouble.

Because of Mitchell and Bovquist as right handed defenseman are rated by the organization with greater upside than Joki, and you weren't getting rid of Seabrook's contract, the need was for a young forward with potential, not a young defenseman with potential.

They weren't trading Gus this offseason unless they were blown away, you have Murphy still, so I believe Joki would of played in Rockford this year, not as a #1 RD (Bovquist), his trade value wouldn't of increased, so he was an expendible asset that could be moved. It will take a few years to see if it works out for either team or not.
- LAHawk

Seems like sound analysis to me.

Well, one of the days was an "open" practice which was basically a glorified skills competition since tickets were sold to the public and the damn mascots were on the ice. They had two travel days (the flight out and Berlin to Prague) where they didn't practice, No morning skate in Berlin, one off-day in Prague.

Not excusing the product on the ice, but the schedule was janky.
- Chunk

Philly played under the same situation...

I would think it's the latter. One reason for Boqvist playing in Rockford rather than London this season is to keep closer tabs on his development.

Another reason could be so he is readily available for a call up not necessarily for injury depth but possibly as a potential replacement for Gustafsson if the Hawks are looking to move him sooner than later.

If Gustafsson is traded, unless there's a no-brainer hockey trade on the table that doesn't hurt the salary cap, then I would expect draft picks and/or prospects in return.

And not late rounders but at least a 1st rounder and/or prospect with potential to be an NHL regular.
- AEL_Fox

A first rounder and or NHL regular for a rental AHL Defense man? Umm stop yourself!

A first rounder and or NHL regular for a rental AHL Defense man? Umm stop yourself!
- rpeters01

If Gus is on track for another 60 point season, he will easily get a 1st round pick, and quite possibly more.

If Gus is on track for another 60 point season, he will easily get a 1st round pick, and quite possibly more.
- tvetter

Stan would pack Gus' bags himself today and make that trade before he gets hurt. IMO value nowhere close to that. If Boquist gets called up simply to make a change it's Gus who's out.

Philly played under the same situation...
- rpeters01

Again, I wasn't excusing the product on the ice. I was simply replying to someone who was asking why they had so little practice time while they were overseas...