The primary difference I saw in the last two games was the forwards, not the Dmen. Last night there was almost no forechecking by the forwards, Jackets had a free pass through the neutral zone all night long.
- walleyeb1

Totally agree. Every team in the NHL is now tightening-up defensively at the center line, yet the Hawks continue to lack the intensive offensive zone forecheck and then allow teams to exit their zone and have free reign from the center line in. With all those guys back, it would seem that they wouldnt allow so many high quality scoring chances, but they do. Great goaltending last night by Lehner kept them in the game against a very mediocre opponent.

Watch out tomorrow night as the Caps are one of the best teams in the NHL. This is a HUGE test for the Hawks. Hopefully they'll tighten up their defense or CC (probably) will face 40 plus shots again.

The primary difference I saw in the last two games was the forwards, not the Dmen. Last night there was almost no forechecking by the forwards, Jackets had a free pass through the neutral zone all night long.
- walleyeb1

So if this pattern keeps up, the question again is it the players (forwards) or the system?

Really been impressed with Maatta. Not sure the underlying numbers but he seems to make smart quick passes out of the zone or to a forward to start transition. No overthinking or hesitation. Just crisp clean quick decisions. Nice improvement from what we saw from some of our D last year.
- bhawks2241

The numbers say he and Seabrook are getting crushed when on the ice. Not sure what forward groups they are spending the most time with. They need better forward support because neither are going to skate the puck out of trouble and teams are getting pressure on them due to both of them lacking some foot speed.

IDK, to me they seem to be doing a good job of keeping the shots from the outside and cleaning up rebounds. They also appear to be the only pair that can handle a cycle down low.

So if this pattern keeps up, the question again is it the players (forwards) or the system?
- RaleighHawk

If the pattern keeps up, the answer is obvious.

Kirby Dach in action: https://twitter.com/johnd.../1185592268088107009?s=21

Yeah, Dach had been getting rubbed out with a lot of high hits and extra-curriculars after whistles. Not sure it will be any better in the NHL. Hopefully his linemates stick up for him more.

Dach was generally quiet in his initial set of AHL games but when he's in a groove he really shows off his strength, reach, and skill to dominate puck possession and create scoring chances.
- AEL_Fox

I just want to add a couple of points to
your astute remarks.

Dach had at least four good scoring opportunities when the radio announcer was excited to describe roughly one and a half periods when i was listening more carefully than the last few minutes of the game. Dach is skating with puck, or in crease so the point is that he is active and aggressive in offensive forays. He is not timid about playing his style. He will play on the first or third lines apparently at least initially according to the Dach banter. Dach probably will get scoring opportunities.

We have to remember that he is merely 18 and although strong, he can get stronger and he must anyway over the next couple summer time of season. He is a kid now competing against men (see as a referance to Rick's post).

Is Dach going to progress and is he going to contribute more or in a meaningful way with his style than the other players Colliton could play in his place? This is where the intrigue lies as far as Bowman and Colliton's observations.

Now we know we will have a roller coaster up and down season if he stays. Does he develop into an impact NHL player sooner if he plays here. That is debatable and i won't pretend to know which path is better for the player and or Dach.

As food for thought and in no way a comparison model....but just understand there is going to be improvement from Dach....so ....the Dennis Savard timeline read was he had 79 points as a rookie. Also was drafted #3 overall. I just think that Dach could help now in the situation & linemates he aligns but he can be more of an impact once he is stronger and has some experience.
Now please do not compare his expected progress to Savard jumping to 100 points. Dach is a different type of player style wise...which is good because wr could really appreciate what style he brings.

I hope we can afford to retain both Shaw and Saad with Dach joining in the next couple of seasons.

Yesterday was the first game that I watched fully of the season - I was pretty impressed with some of the new faces

1) Kubalik - this guy is big, strong on the puck, aggressive, and smart. I have no doubt that he’s a very good middle 6 nhl player, great pickup by Stan and that 3rd line does look impressive. Having said that, I’m not sure how necessary Kampf is to that lines success, I would try Dach in that spot if they are going to play him

2) Maatta - as another poster said, this guy just looks like a damn solid defenseman, good positioning and good plays whenever the puck is on his stick, love the consistency

3) Nylander - I didn’t see the laziness that seems to be his shortcoming, so maybe this was just an inspired effort from him. What I saw was a guy who was backchecking like a fiend wvwry chance he got, and who made a number of good plays with the puck. I think he just needs to work on moving his feet at the play in the o and d zone. Seems like he gets himself to the right spot offensively and defensively, but just needs to finish plays at that last moment, I think keeping his feet churning would help

Not to whiz on anybody’s cheerios but I’m not ready to drink the Blackhawks kool aid. This team is woefully slow and their defense too often resembles a clown car convention. Ive seen mite teams have better breakouts and the ability to win face-offs is spotty at best. We do have more depth this year, but still need to hide players (gus). I don’t see a true #1 defensive pairing, and the second and third pairings would have trouble being a third pairing on a stanley cup contending team.
I do think the third line is a positive, but the other pairings need some work to maximize talent.

Not to whiz on anybody’s cheerios but I’m not ready to drink the Blackhawks kool aid. This team is woefully slow and their defense too often resembles a clown car convention. Ive seen mite teams have better breakouts and the ability to win face-offs is spotty at best. We do have more depth this year, but still need to hide players (gus). I don’t see a true #1 defensive pairing, and the second and third pairings would have trouble being a third pairing on a stanley cup contending team.
I do think the third line is a positive, but the other pairings need some work to maximize talent.
- ksilvy58

“Not to whiz on anybody’s Cheerios...”

* proceeds to whiz on everyone’s Cheerios

15 plus periods and hawks have played decently in maybe 6 or 7 = 2-2-1 with out A plus goal tending in 3 of those game they might still be winless...

some tough teams coming in...they need get it figured out and play like they did in that oiller game...

Isn't that a low number of high danger scoring chances for each team?
- mohel

[url]

I listened to game on radio then watched it later. No doubt the forwards did not duplicate their play from last game.

On the radio i actually wondered if Toews was playing his name was said so little.

To me the chances are overblown, lots of those shots had stick on stick which prevents the forward from elevating the shot, why our goalies go down early, and since the SJ game they've cleaned up 2nd chance opportunities

[url]

I listened to game on radio then watched it later. No doubt the forwards did not duplicate their play from last game.

On the radio i actually wondered if Toews was playing his name was said so little.

To me the chances are overblown, lots of those shots had stick on stick which prevents the forward from elevating the shot, why our goalies go down early, and since the SJ game they've cleaned up 2nd chance opportunities
- BetweenTheDots

I was asking because I don't know what a decent number of HDSC might be. I'm curious because it was an offseason goal to tighten up a lot.

15 plus periods and hawks have played decently in maybe 6 or 7 = 2-2-1 with out A plus goal tending in 3 of those game they might still be winless...

some tough teams coming in...they need get it figured out and play like they did in that oiller game...
- bogiedoc

True but how many times during the playoff years have we won games that many thought we weren't suppose to. It's something to build on

I was asking because I don't know what a decent number of HDSC might be. I'm curious because it was an offseason goal to tighten up a lot.
- mohel

https://www.naturalstattrick.com

Feel free to keep track

I just want to add a couple of points to
your astute remarks.

Dach had at least four good scoring opportunities when the radio announcer was excited to describe roughly one and a half periods when i was listening more carefully than the last few minutes of the game. Dach is skating with puck, or in crease so the point is that he is active and aggressive in offensive forays. He is not timid about playing his style. He will play on the first or third lines apparently at least initially according to the Dach banter. Dach probably will get scoring opportunities.

We have to remember that he is merely 18 and although strong, he can get stronger and he must anyway over the next couple summer time of season. He is a kid now competing against men (see as a referance to Rick's post).

Is Dach going to progress and is he going to contribute more or in a meaningful way with his style than the other players Colliton could play in his place? This is where the intrigue lies as far as Bowman and Colliton's observations.

Now we know we will have a roller coaster up and down season if he stays. Does he develop into an impact NHL player sooner if he plays here. That is debatable and i won't pretend to know which path is better for the player and or Dach.

As food for thought and in no way a comparison model....but just understand there is going to be improvement from Dach....so ....the Dennis Savard timeline read was he had 79 points as a rookie. Also was drafted #3 overall. I just think that Dach could help now in the situation & linemates he aligns but he can be more of an impact once he is stronger and has some experience.
Now please do not compare his expected progress to Savard jumping to 100 points. Dach is a different type of player style wise...which is good because wr could really appreciate what style he brings.

I hope we can afford to retain both Shaw and Saad with Dach joining in the next couple of seasons.
- jhawk59

I know of the perfect fitness plan... the “JJ 20lbs of muscle guaranteed” plan. It’s cornerstone is eating pizzas in a weight room while doing heavy squats and deadlifts.

Marcus Kruger swears by it.

I know of the perfect fitness plan... the “JJ 20lbs of muscle guaranteed” plan. It’s cornerstone is eating pizzas in a weight room while doing heavy squats and deadlifts.

Marcus Kruger swears by it.
- Chief4Feathers

Wasn’t a puke bucket involved? Could have sworn there was.

Wasn’t a puke bucket involved? Could have sworn there was.
- HawkintheD

Oh yeah, you gotta have the puke bucket. No way you’re doing deadlifts right unless you’re puking up that pizza.

We have to remember that he is merely 18 and although strong, he can get stronger and he must anyway over the next couple summer time of season. He is a kid now competing against men (see as a referance to Rick's post).
- jhawk59

Big forwards like Dach and Entwistle are already strong for their age and will be that much better as they physically mature and be under the guidance of pro-level trainers like Goodman.

Even smaller players like Sikura, Kurashev, and Soderlund are deceptively strong. Sikura has been under the Gary Roberts training program which is supposedly renowned by even NHL veterans. Kurashev dedicated his off season to building up his strength and skating explosiveness. Soderlund is short but sturdy like a fire hydrant.

Big forwards like Dach and Entwistle are already strong for their age and will be that much better as they physically mature and be under the guidance of pro-level trainers like Goodman.

Even smaller players like Sikura, Kurashev, and Soderlund are deceptively strong. Sikura has been under the Gary Roberts training program which is supposedly renowned by even NHL veterans. Kurashev dedicated his off season to building up his strength and skating explosiveness. Soderlund is short but sturdy like a fire hydrant.
- AEL_Fox

Yeah, remember reading that Sikura trained with McDavid at Roberts' facility. Impressive company.

Must have been the few times I went to the toilet. Never really noticed him. Sorry boys, he's not that good in my view.
- kwolf68

For the record the experts ranked him 19th out of about 120 last month. That's 1C anyway you slice and dice it...

Not to whiz on anybody’s cheerios but I’m not ready to drink the Blackhawks kool aid. This team is woefully slow and their defense too often resembles a clown car convention. Ive seen mite teams have better breakouts and the ability to win face-offs is spotty at best. We do have more depth this year, but still need to hide players (gus). I don’t see a true #1 defensive pairing, and the second and third pairings would have trouble being a third pairing on a stanley cup contending team.
I do think the third line is a positive, but the other pairings need some work to maximize talent.
- ksilvy58

Go look at the defensive pairings for the last three out of four Cup Championship teams (‘18 Caps, ‘17 & ‘16 Pens) and you probably aren’t going to be overly impressed with the level of defensive talent. The Hawks have their warts, but the overall quality of their blue line isn’t a primary concern.

Yeah, remember reading that Sikura trained with McDavid at Roberts' facility. Impressive company.
- pdx2ord

I thought it was Teuvo?

Yeah, remember reading that Sikura trained with McDavid at Roberts' facility. Impressive company.
- pdx2ord

#freesikura

#freesikura
- DarthKane

No goals but I'll take him over Morin, Pirri or Jimmy Hayes any day. I recognize those are all low bars, but still.

No excuses because these guys are pros, but the Hawks have hardly played early on this season. I think we will start to gain a true indication what this team is in short order. The Hawks counting last night will be playing 7 games in 12 days. That allows them to get into the rhythm of playing a lot of games. Even pros need game action, as practice can only prepare a team so much. I am a little concerned about overall team speed on this team as well, but I do think as long as Crawford and Lehner stay healthy, the Hawks are going to be in just about every game they play. The next little while is when the real "bashing" should start as the Hawks are finally getting into the teeth of a schedule. This board is good at "bashing" including myself, but I am looking for some "positivity" as well as the Hawks start playing more.