If people love Highmore, then chances are high they'll love Hagel as well. Hagel brings a similar package of speed, relentlessness, 200-foot play, and fearlessness. Highmore is just further along in his development curve.
- AEL_Fox

I think they are hoping Hagel has more offense to his game.

The 5 man unit thing you mention was noticeable last night on more than one occasion. As the Leafs moved the puck on the Chicago side of the red line you could see 5 Hawks in the picture fairly tightly bunched. So the Dmen had support and outlets when they got possession of the puck. And when that happens even guys like Gus and KKKK look proficient.
- RickJ

Great observations. Outlets for the defense is critical for flipping the ice or else the team spends way too much time and energy clearing the zone and starting an effective attack.

Gifman, I believe you asked what was the gist of Tyler's recent podcast. One of the topics was outlets for the defense.

IMO, there are 3 parts to breakout: (1) forwards moving around to create openings, (2) blueliners making hard crisp passes, and (3) forwards receiving them cleanly and knowing where to go next.

Nylander is more likely to make his being protected either a definite yes or a fairly certain no. I do not know actually if you can grammatically say fairly certain no be ause there is probably a better word choice. It if you look at what Nylander offers or hints at offering, you should probably agree it will be a clear cut decision - no hem and haw.

We do know that the players you protect are either because you are forced to let their contract, or they represent your best or obviously are going to be your best as they continue to improve.

Until Nylander shows ea h game that he is an important cog, you.cannot protect him instead of someone else. And I really do not believe even if he starts scoring some, he still gets healthy scratch if he is too uninvolved in the action outside if his offensive opportunity

Do if you are still holding out hope for Nylander, do not worry as he will not be plucked because he is likely too big a gamble. Nylander might do well if he has one skill and one responsible defensive boards player as linemates. But if he finds himself in such a situation, he endears himself to the GM way of wanting to protect him only if he is consistently involved with the on ice play and be ones a backchecking maven. He better wake up and do what it takes otherwise he will begin languishing in someone's farm system
- jhawk59

Although on the record of supporting Nylander, I wouldn't worry about protecting him... I wouldn't worry about protecting ADB or Matta and deHann either.

Not disagreeing and some times players need a honest chance with consistent shifts to find their way.

BTW, Sikura is nothing like Morin. Sikura actually knows where his own zone is located.
- Elbows15

Ya there is no similarities between Morin and Sikura other than the majority on this board didn't accept that Q had no use for Morin and wouldn't play him because he didn't think he was an NHL'er..

The reality of the NHL when a player is scratching and clawing to make a team is that he only gets so many chances. Sikura has about 50 games under his belt and nothing much delivered so far. By comparison, a guy like Vinny Hinostroza got his chance in Arizona and is making the most of it so far.

So now up comes Brandon Hagel and he too is looking to take somebody's job permanently - could be Highmore's, could be Nylander's, could be Smith's after this season. Internal competition is good.

I was thinking that this morning, Matthews was a pain in the ass but Tavares other than a great keep in the zone was very quiet last night
- BetweenTheDots

A royal pain was constantly seeing that caterpiller under Matthews' nose. Someone please flip his calendar two pages so he realizes Brovember is over.

Olcyczk had a boner for Matthews all game. A little too much to hear that on the Hawks broadcast.

If people love Highmore, then chances are high they'll love Hagel as well. Hagel brings a similar package of speed, relentlessness, 200-foot play, and fearlessness. Highmore is just further along in his development curve.
- AEL_Fox

Looking forward then, to seeing this kid. Keeping teams penned in their own end, is something that every good team craves. When will we get a chance to see him, I wonder?

Although on the record of supporting Nylander, I wouldn't worry about protecting him... I wouldn't worry about protecting ADB or Matta and deHann either.
- rpeters01

Correct. I would not protect any of them. DeHahn yes if he didn't have ongoing shoulder issue. I would not be surprised if some sort of arrangement is valiantly pursued by Bowman regarding Seabrook. To avoid the cost of a top player or top prospect requested by Seattle, perhaps an agreed upon deal to trade Seabrook back to Chicago immediately after the draft

Just like where the kid's head and heart appear to be. Will do whatever it takes to get favorable reviews. Sacrifices his body to the betterment of team results. Could use a few more like him, in that regard. Thanks, Elbows.
- gabriel

Hagel definitely sacrifices his body. While I like his hustle and courage to literally throw his body around to make a play wherever on the ice, he falls down and gets knocked around quite a bit which takes him out of the play and risks injury.

He needs to pick his spots better. At least he's quick to recover, hop back up, and rejoin the play.

In this regard, Highmore is better but that may be natural as he's older and more experienced.

I think they are hoping Hagel has more offense to his game.
- Elbows15

Agree. If I had to wager, Hagel has more offensive upside than Highmore. Getting way ahead of myself, but a future 3rd line of Kurashev centering Hagel and Entwistle would be swell.

Looking forward then, to seeing this kid. Keeping teams penned in their own end, is something that every good team craves. When will we get a chance to see him, I wonder?
- gabriel

Maybe tonight. Sikura was just reassigned to Rockford. Rockford at Wolves 3pm but Sikura was healthy scratch in press box in Toronto last night

A royal pain was constantly seeing that caterpiller under Matthews' nose. Someone please flip his calendar two pages so he realizes Brovember is over.

Olcyczk had a boner for Matthews all game. A little too much to hear that on the Hawks broadcast.
- AEL_Fox

Honestly he was the 1 Leaf player that stood out last night, the rest were okay.

Agree. If I had to wager, Hagel has more offensive upside than Highmore. Getting way ahead of myself, but a future 3rd line of Kurashev centering Hagel and Entwistle would be swell.
- AEL_Fox

And Soderlund on 4th line. Evan Barrett needs to improve skating most likely before he plays in an NHL rink. I hope he can challenge Strome for a job, or Strome starts playing with a better effort defensively

Although on the record of supporting Nylander, I wouldn't worry about protecting him... I wouldn't worry about protecting ADB or Matta and deHann either.
- rpeters01

You’re willing to give up a skater who scored 28+41 in his first two seasons because of a down first 60% of a season - and even so, will probably wind up with over 20 goals?

Agree. If I had to wager, Hagel has more offensive upside than Highmore. Getting way ahead of myself, but a future 3rd line of Kurashev centering Hagel and Entwistle would be swell.
- AEL_Fox

Sucks about Kurashev being injured. He has a lot of Danault to his game. Not quite the size and maybe a bit more offensively developed at this point. Strange that this is a kid that was labeled as someone who didn't bring it every night. I watched him quite a bit last season and he was a one man gang trying to will his team to wins.

Considering where the Hawks are currently, I would give Nylander another season before determining whether to move on or not. He has a big league shot and skating ability. But then, I see a kid who has given effort whereas many don't. He spent 3 seasons being in the Sabres system under two different GMs/coaching philosophies all the while when he should have been left in junior/Europe in his D+1 year at the very least. He also dealt with some injuries in each season. This has been his first season of being healthy all season to date.
- Elbows15

Yep. No reason to give up on him yet. Maybe he won't find his way, maybe he will. No harm in finding out, given that the Cup ain't coming to Chicago this year or next anyway.

And Soderlund on 4th line. Evan Barrett needs to improve skating most likely before he plays in an NHL rink. I hope he can challenge Strome for a job, or Strome starts playing with a better effort defensively
- jhawk59

He will never see the NHL.

Agree. If I had to wager, Hagel has more offensive upside than Highmore. Getting way ahead of myself, but a future 3rd line of Kurashev centering Hagel and Entwistle would be swell.
- AEL_Fox

But then where would Toews play?

Honestly he was the 1 Leaf player that stood out last night, the rest were okay.
- BetweenTheDots

No doubt, Matthews was the best Leafs player. Willie Nylander was quite good, too, actually. Marner and Tavares were contained for the most part.

Yep. No reason to give up on him yet. Maybe he won't find his way, maybe he will. No harm in finding out, given that the Cup ain't coming to Chicago this year or next anyway.
- mohel

He doesn't piss me off watching him. He makes some poor decisions at time but for me, I see it as a kid struggling with his confidence and maybe trying to do everything the coaches are asking of him instead of just playing the game. Maybe after a season playing in this system, things will become rote for him and his natural abilities flourish.

I hope so because I really hated that trade.

And Soderlund on 4th line. Evan Barrett needs to improve skating most likely before he plays in an NHL rink. I hope he can challenge Strome for a job, or Strome starts playing with a better effort defensively
- jhawk59

Strome doesn't suffer from a lack of effort defensively. Defensively is where his poor skating is most noticeable. He lacks that short area burst that separates average defensive forwards from vg ones. Once he gets going he is okay-ish but he lacks quickness in his first couple of strides.

Strome may actually be better suited to play wing at the NHL.

But then where would Toews play?
- tvetter

4C, duh.

Ya there is no similarities between Morin and Sikura other than the majority on this board didn't accept that Q had no use for Morin and wouldn't play him because he didn't think he was an NHL'er..

The reality of the NHL when a player is scratching and clawing to make a team is that he only gets so many chances. Sikura has about 50 games under his belt and nothing much delivered so far. By comparison, a guy like Vinny Hinostroza got his chance in Arizona and is making the most of it so far.

So now up comes Brandon Hagel and he too is looking to take somebody's job permanently - could be Highmore's, could be Nylander's, could be Smith's after this season. Internal competition is good.
- RickJ

Vinnie did have 100 games in Chicago prior to being shipped out. He also has 17 points in 50 games this year. Maybe the Hawks gave him a reasonable amount of time here, and made the right choice in trading him.

But then where would Toews play?
- tvetter

Good point. Depends on where Strome ultimately lands: center or wing. Would love him to be center.

Also depends on how center depth rounds out over time. Just listing potential options:

Toews, Dach, Strome, Kampf, Kurashev, Hakkarainen, Barratt, Wise

Many of the prospects could ultimately land at wing as well.

Would be cool if that rumored Gustafsson for Krebs came to fruition.

Correct. I would not protect any of them. DeHahn yes if he didn't have ongoing shoulder issue. I would not be surprised if some sort of arrangement is valiantly pursued by Bowman regarding Seabrook. To avoid the cost of a top player or top prospect requested by Seattle, perhaps an agreed upon deal to trade Seabrook back to Chicago immediately after the draft
- jhawk59

Seebrook has to be protected NMC.

No doubt, Matthews was the best Leafs player. Willie Nylander was quite good, too, actually. Marner and Tavares were contained for the most part.
- AEL_Fox

Doesn't Matthews get about 12 large a year to be good?