A few Rockford observations:

Delia is dropping fast in the goalie depth chart with some poor play lately. He seems to have trouble tracking the puck and controlling rebounds.

Lankinen is distancing himself as #1 in the system with consistent, reliable play. Tomkins holding his own and giving Delia a run for his money as well.

Tuulola is one tough customer regulating anyone who tries to crash the crease. Love the way he and Carlsson play with physicality and a mean streak.

Why is Fortin not in Indy with Knott and Noel? For a guy who should have disruptive speed, he barely uses it and is irrelevant most of the time.

Soderlund needs to play every game rather than every 1-2 games. He busts his tail every shift playing in traffic.
- AEL_Fox

Thanks Theo! Appreciate the scouting and observations. How have Kurashev and Entwistle looked? If you've posted something already, may have missed it.

I just visited the Leafs blog. The posters are clamoring for Babcock's head.
- boilermaker100

Not a Babs fan, however their issue is on defense, lots of #4 and #5’s there, and I’m being nice.

Here was something on Entwistle from Second City...

https://www.secondcityhoc...e-hogs-update-projections

Carpenter-Dach-Smith I remember some people on here scoffing at the notion not too long ago
- eagle50

I still do, but probably not for the reason you’re (your) alluding to.

Colliton or Babcock?
- RedRevenge

Babcock

A few Rockford observations:

Delia is dropping fast in the goalie depth chart with some poor play lately. He seems to have trouble tracking the puck and controlling rebounds.

Lankinen is distancing himself as #1 in the system with consistent, reliable play. Tomkins holding his own and giving Delia a run for his money as well.

Tuulola is one tough customer regulating anyone who tries to crash the crease. Love the way he and Carlsson play with physicality and a mean streak.

Why is Fortin not in Indy with Knott and Noel? For a guy who should have disruptive speed, he barely uses it and is irrelevant most of the time.

Soderlund needs to play every game rather than every 1-2 games. He busts his tail every shift playing in traffic.
- AEL_Fox

Good morning, Theo. I really enjoy these glimpses into individuals at Rock. Thanks for the regular updates. I was wondering if you had opinions on who was distancing themselves as potential NHL contributors from career AHLers? From your eye test, as well as guesstimating, who deserves their cup of coffee with the hawks first & when do you think they make the big club to stay? Ignoring the full roster that the hawks are close to having.

A few Rockford observations:

Delia is dropping fast in the goalie depth chart with some poor play lately. He seems to have trouble tracking the puck and controlling rebounds.

Lankinen is distancing himself as #1 in the system with consistent, reliable play. Tomkins holding his own and giving Delia a run for his money as well.

Tuulola is one tough customer regulating anyone who tries to crash the crease. Love the way he and Carlsson play with physicality and a mean streak.

Why is Fortin not in Indy with Knott and Noel? For a guy who should have disruptive speed, he barely uses it and is irrelevant most of the time.

Soderlund needs to play every game rather than every 1-2 games. He busts his tail every shift playing in traffic.
- AEL_Fox

How has Kurashev looked so far? He was the guy I was banking on to become the cream of the crop there but his stats appear to be underwhelming.

Here was something on Entwistle from Second City...

https://www.secondcityhoc...e-hogs-update-projections
- HawkintheD

“Once you kind of get used to the game and realize you don’t have three or four seconds with the puck and that you’re down to one or half a second — I’m starting to realize that and implement that in my game."

This quote from Entwistle really seems to hit on the developmental hurdle each player needs to cross. Some can think faster and make the adjustment; others don't. Whether they can is hard to predict, and is why drafting and development is such a crapshoot.

Carpenter-Dach-Smith I remember some people on here scoffing at the notion not too long ago
- eagle50

Besides the fact that the line has looked good, what I also like about it is that Carpenter and Smith can offer some protection for Dach to permit him to play his type of game.

A few Rockford observations:

Delia is dropping fast in the goalie depth chart with some poor play lately. He seems to have trouble tracking the puck and controlling rebounds.

Lankinen is distancing himself as #1 in the system with consistent, reliable play. Tomkins holding his own and giving Delia a run for his money as well.

Tuulola is one tough customer regulating anyone who tries to crash the crease. Love the way he and Carlsson play with physicality and a mean streak.

Why is Fortin not in Indy with Knott and Noel? For a guy who should have disruptive speed, he barely uses it and is irrelevant most of the time.

Soderlund needs to play every game rather than every 1-2 games. He busts his tail every shift playing in traffic.
- AEL_Fox

Big fan of this kid. Wondering if you see a Kubalik lite in Soderlund? No he doesn't have the size or skill of Kubalik but he does have the speed, hair on fire forecheck and north-south gets pucks and people to the net mentality.

Hope you were watching, real good veteran team Bruins stick it to the top heavy, overrated Leafs. One is a Cup contender and the other tries to sell sizzle.

Marchand walks Morgan Reilly for 2 goals. If that was Duncan Keith this board would fry him.

Leafs have given up 1st goal 6 games in a row, are banged up, can't defend in their own zone and have 11 of next 13 on the road. So that's all I have to say about your admiration for the Leaf defence.

Paul R and I are loving this. Read the Toronto media for Babcock abuse coming soon.
- RickJ

Respectfully Rick, in my 10 yrs reading and conversing with you this is the first time I've seen you lose your objectivity. Maybe not so much your take about what's happening ion the ice but your take on my post. ..... Your hatred of the Leafs is crystal clear to me now.

I'll leave it at that.

Huge game tonight in Trashville. The comments made by Rinne after that butt whopping of a loss should be more than enough to motivate this team. I'm hoping that this team plays inspired and competitive a win tonight will be huge in terms of confidence against the preds and for the team overall.

Besides the fact that the line has looked good, what I also like about it is that Carpenter and Smith can offer some protection for Dach to permit him to play his type of game.
- 67hawks

Don’t believe they commented on this line specifically, but there’s an article in the Athletic that talks about Dach getting hit the the most in the NHL per 60.

Loved how he went to the net on his goal vs Vegas and collected the garbage.

Respectfully Rick, in my 10 yrs reading and conversing with you this is the first time I've seen you lose your objectivity. Maybe not so much your take about what's happening ion the ice but your take on my post. ..... Your hatred of the Leafs is crystal clear to me now.

I'll leave it at that.
- Mr Ricochet

Objective...not objective??? I read a lot of Rick’s posts the way I read Darth’s. He’s just a little less obvious. I still crack up when someone asks Darth if he’s being serious or not. Absolute GOLD!

Afa the Leafs hate goes, I’ve never had to read between the lines where Rick and Paul are concerned. I get it. Didn’t grow up in Detroit but my dislike for them is still strong whether they are in our division or not.

Objective...not objective??? I read a lot of Rick’s posts the way I read Darth’s. He’s just a little less obvious. I still crack up when someone asks Darth if he’s being serious or not. Absolute GOLD!

Afa the Leafs hate goes, I’ve never had to read between the lines where Rick and Paul are concerned. I get it. Didn’t grow up in Detroit but my dislike for them is still strong whether they are in our division or not.
- HawkintheD

Darth ISN'T serious? ... Mind blown! So he DOESN'T really like & DIDN'T really want the hawks to draft Cole Caufield.

Huge game tonight in Trashville. The comments made by Rinne after that butt whopping of a loss should be more than enough to motivate this team. I'm hoping that this team plays inspired and competitive a win tonight will be huge in terms of confidence against the preds and for the team overall.
- BGKarras

Speaking of Nashville and Rinne, my all time favorite moment.... Hossa'a OT winner against Nashville in 2010.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC8-PTTee0

Respectfully Rick, in my 10 yrs reading and conversing with you this is the first time I've seen you lose your objectivity. Maybe not so much your take about what's happening ion the ice but your take on my post. ..... Your hatred of the Leafs is crystal clear to me now.

I'll leave it at that.
- Mr Ricochet

Mr.R after re-reading my post I owe you an apology. Hope you are in a good enough mood to accept.

The Leafs for me are what some baseball fans get out of the Yankees losing. They never cease to ramble on about their great history as a team, their great players and being in the hockey center of the universe. The truth is they haven't won anything in 50+ years and going to a game in that arena is a grossly overpriced snorefest that the average Joe can never afford.

Back to your reference about their defence - individual names don't assure good roster construction on the back end. They aren't big enough, snarly enough and as a team their 5 man groups consistently leave the middle of the ice wide open and hope their goaltender saves them. Can't win that way in any league.

“Once you kind of get used to the game and realize you don’t have three or four seconds with the puck and that you’re down to one or half a second — I’m starting to realize that and implement that in my game."

This quote from Entwistle really seems to hit on the developmental hurdle each player needs to cross. Some can think faster and make the adjustment; others don't. Whether they can is hard to predict, and is why drafting and development is such a crapshoot.
- mohel

Agree, and it's not just about kids. Seabrook is a very good hockey player in all aspects except one. He needs too much time because his mobility isn't even NHL average, never was, and it's only getting worse as the league gets younger and faster. But he knows how to play.
The next thing I would look for is can a player quickly figure out where the play is going and get there first or does he just follow the play and hope to catch up to it. As a kid with good speed grows up he can catch up to the play. But as he advances it becomes more difficult and the question becomes can he figure out almost instantly which way to go to be most effective. I think that's one of the main reasons a player who lights up a major junior league and seems to be a can't miss high draft prospect doesn't pan out as a star player. So like you said, drafting and development is a crap shoot.

Speaking of Nashville and Rinne, my all time favorite moment.... Hossa'a OT winner against Nashville in 2010.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC8-PTTee0
- boilermaker100

All time moment right there.

Speaking of Nashville and Rinne, my all time favorite moment.... Hossa'a OT winner against Nashville in 2010.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC8-PTTee0
- boilermaker100

I was at that game and the Madhouse was rocking!

I was at that game and the Madhouse was rocking!
- BGKarras

That was as loud as I've ever heard that building.

Darth ISN'T serious? ... Mind blown! So he DOESN'T really like & DIDN'T really want the hawks to draft Cole Caufield.
- I Am The Breadman

That he was and still is serious about. Pretty sure there is a shrine to Cole in his house somewhere.

That he was and still is serious about. Pretty sure there is a shrine to Cole in his house somewhere.
- HawkintheD

Yeah, his 600 posts didn't give that away. Yeah, I'd put money on that. Probably trying to join the Cole Caufield member of the month club ... the gift that keeps on giving, Clark.

(frank) no
- 6628

I'll second that motion.

Carpenter-Dach-Smith I remember some people on here scoffing at the notion not too long ago
- eagle50

Swap Kampf and Dach so the rook can get more TOI. Otherwise keep these forward lines. Gus to 3rd pairing for the love of Jeebus wtf.