My understanding is that JC did adjust the defensive scheme a few games ago, and that the Hawks are back to the high-risk hockey they played last year.
- mohel

He said that they adjusted by having the weak-side forward moving up higher in the zone to be available for an outlet-clearing pass.

I'm not sure why that needs to be considered "high-risk hockey" if the other 4 skaters in front of the goalie are responsibly handling their positions.

Is Colliton saying that either the coaches can't implement a system which is both defensively responsible and provides a moderate - decent offensive scheme? Or that the players he has are not capable of doing both?

And it's not like the change turned them into some kind of 5x5 juggernaut - in the last 5 games, they have scored the following 5x5: 1-2 (very late, too late, against SJ) -1-2-4.

No, actually Kovalchuk's is,


Elliotte Friedman
✔
@FriedgeHNIC
There is word this afternoon that LA has informed Ilya Kovalchuk he will be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. He is welcome to practice with the club, but he will not be playing. Obviously, more details as they occur.
- LAHawk

That's not even the worst on the team, given it only has a year left after this. Brown is worse. Carter, Quick, too. Doughty and Kopitar will be shortly.

That's not even the worst on the team, given it only has a year left after this. Brown is worse. Carter, Quick, too. Doughty and Kopitar will be shortly.
- mohel

Love Doughty, was best dman in NHL there for a bit, still a really good player, but that contract has way too much term.

That's not even the worst on the team, given it only has a year left after this. Brown is worse. Carter, Quick, too. Doughty and Kopitar will be shortly.
- mohel

Yes and all with NMC and untradeable.

Love Doughty, was best dman in NHL there for a bit, still a really good player, but that contract has way too much term.
- Angotti

Yeah, too much cap hit, too. His cap hit is a hair less than double Keith's.

Not only speed, decision making and the ability to actually get a very good first pass out of the zone or to forward who isn't being crashed on,
Cough cough Gus and Murphy doesn't just blindly dump it up the boards because a forecheck is coming. I appreciate Koekkoek but he is what he is and the way JC is monitoring the kids minutes and games i can see Bo staying with the big club
- BetweenTheDots

Seabrook and Keith are still head above shoulders the 2 best outlet passers they have. But that's not a fancy stat or show up in corsi ratings so it's not a factor when people think those 2 suck

Love Doughty, was best dman in NHL there for a bit, still a really good player, but that contract has way too much term.
- Angotti

Playing this year like Keith, still an above average defenseman, but not in the elite category either.

Yes and all with NMC and untradeable.
- LAHawk

I'd rather have the Hawks cap situation than either Kings or Sharks. Ouch, babe.

Love Doughty, was best dman in NHL there for a bit, still a really good player, but that contract has way too much term.
- Angotti

Vlasic, Karlsson (SJ), Doughty, Seabrook, I'm sure I'm missing others. I don't get the huge money and term thrown at these older D-men. Most of these guys have deals that start near of after 30. Not everyone is going to be Nik Lidstrom.

I know I've beaten this point repeatedly, but I'm sure at some point one of these GM's is going to read this and listen.

Vlasic, Karlsson (SJ), Doughty, Seabrook, I'm sure I'm missing others. I don't get the huge money and term thrown at these older D-men. Most of these guys have deals that start near of after 30. Not everyone is going to be Nik Lidstrom.

I know I've beaten this point repeatedly, but I'm sure at some point one of these GM's is going to read this and listen.
- Chunk

The system (not JC'S) is at fault. Players can't be UFA until 27 (if they enter the league pretty young). Teams seek to "buy out" a year or two of the ufa years on the earlier contract. Then the guy's a ufa at 28 or 29. Still a good player, but close to the cliff. When the player is on a Cup contender, the GM isn't letting him go. So they're stuck.

See Roman Josi.

I'd rather have the Hawks cap situation than either Kings or Sharks. Ouch, babe.
- mohel

And the Leafs

And the Leafs
- LAHawk

Well, at least they have young stars. But I don't know how they're gonna get a back end with that cap situation.

And the Leafs
- LAHawk

Totally agree. At least for us and the Kings, we are strapped with unmoveable contracts but we won the big prize- multiple times. Tough nuts for the Leafs and Sharks if they don't hoist the cup.

Per Laz:

Slater Koekkoek (healthy) and Drake Caggiula (sick) are scratches tonight.

Also, it looks like Corey is starting tonight. Maybe giving Lehner some more time to recover from the collarbone shot he took?

Per Laz:

Slater Koekkoek (healthy) and Drake Caggiula (sick) are scratches tonight.

Also, it looks like Corey is starting tonight. Maybe giving Lehner some more time to recover from the collarbone shot he took?
- Chunk

Not sure I would call that "illness".

Retweeted Ben Pope

Caggiula is now in concussion protocol, Colliton says. “There are some symptoms so we want to be sure.”

Carpenter back from personal absence.

With Murphy coming back, I don't see any way that Boqvist stays unless someone else is moved. I can't see Stan losing another asset the same way he did Dahlstrom.
- Chunk

The more think about it, I agree that Boqvist will be returned to Rockford upon Murphy's return. 4K liks it or not will remain as 7D. With Boqvist and possibly Mitchell ready to step in next season, a couple of D are expendable.

4K would return something in the off season. Look what a 7D like Forsling and Forsberg brought last summer.

Gus would be expendable also, maybe at the
TDL. Not the 1st round pick that many hoped for last year, but maybe a lower pick or prospect.

I feel uneasy about moving any our defencemen right now. The reason for that is because I am worried about Murphy becoming injury prone.
- 67hawks

He already is. He's the one they should trade

Per Laz:

Slater Koekkoek (healthy) and Drake Caggiula (sick) are scratches tonight.

Also, it looks like Corey is starting tonight. Maybe giving Lehner some more time to recover from the collarbone shot he took?
- Chunk

Not directed at you, I never shoot the messenger. JC, quit (frank)ing scratching Caggiula!!!

Edit, just read the concussion protocol.

Numbers game. If you keep Boquist, you either have to launch Gus or KK, and I am sure they are going to give Mitchell a good shot at making the team either after his season is over or next year.
- LAHawk

Mitchell isn't going to sign with the Hawks

Mitchell isn't going to sign with the Hawks
- GPHawksfan

What makes you say that? Not contradicting, just picking your brain.

The more think about it, I agree that Boqvist will be returned to Rockford upon Murphy's return. 4K liks it or not will remain as 7D. With Boqvist and possibly Mitchell ready to step in next season, a couple of D are expendable.

4K would return something in the off season. Look what a 7D like Forsling and Forsberg brought last summer.

Gus would be expendable also, maybe at the
TDL. Not the 1st round pick that many hoped for last year, but maybe a lower pick or prospect.
- boilermaker100

Boqvist and Mitchell play next year in Chicago? What about Beaudin and Gilbert? Running out of spots with players like Keith, Seabrook, de Haan, Murphy, and Maatta still on long-term deals.


Don't see a lot of those players overly tradeable sadly!!

What makes you say that? Not contradicting, just picking your brain.
- I Am The Breadman

Read the post directly below yours. Plus why would he want to sign with this poop show? He could be developed better somewhere else.

Mitchell isn't going to sign with the Hawks
- GPHawksfan

He will be in Chicago next year. The Jokiharju trade cleared room for Mitchell to have a chance for Mitchell to play in Chicago sooner than later. Hawks need to clear some bodies though, which may be a bit difficult.

Read the post directly below yours. Plus why would he want to sign with this poop show? He could be developed better somewhere else.
- GPHawksfan

Okay, I can understand a logjam on our defense. But all the prospects we have, that is kind of assuming all of them will make it & all are better than Mitchell. I thought he looked up to Keith as well & wanted an opportunity to play with him. Idk, Gus & Koek probably aren't coming back, so that is two spaces. Yeah, Chicago can be in a hell of a better position, but Lehner wanted to be a part of it. Will be interesting to see how it plays out. I'm just holding out hope, because I liked everything I read about him.

I've liked de Haan, he's been good, Maatta has been fine on his natural side (not permanent, but good for what we gave up,) & Murphy is fine if he can stay healthy. If that continues, that's not a good sign. If I had a choice, keep de Haan.

Seabrook and Keith are still head above shoulders the 2 best outlet passers they have. But that's not a fancy stat or show up in corsi ratings so it's not a factor when people think those 2 suck
- PatShart