Tyler Cameron: Scrimmage notes and thinking fast Let's touch on a few observations from training camp 2.0 before I dive into the meat of this blog.

First off, I have been really impressed with how Jeremy Colliton has been running his camp.

Now, on the main event presented by Theodore Fox called "Think Fast".

Tyler Cameron: Scrimmage notes and thinking fast
Let's touch on a few observations from training camp 2.0 before I dive into the meat of this blog.

First off, I have been really impressed with how Jeremy Colliton has been running his camp.

Now, on the main event presented by Theodore Fox called "Think Fast".
- Tyler Cameron

There’s a baseball saying - you can’t steal first base - you have to have other skills - physical and mental - to succeed in whichever show you’re trying for.

Hockey is a game of giveaways, takeaways and great skill. Coaches tinker with line and defense paings. The big what if renders another rendition of the line combinations and defense pairings between games, during games, even at 3 am when the coach cannot sleep.

Edmonton does have a lot of speed, and they added more at the trade deadline. Tippet may try to overwhelm out of shape opponents and youthful dmen with speed speed speed. His GM has supplied him speed so why not see how it might play out.....if finding some success maybe they stick with a big emphasis on speed

Maata isn't fleet but it is more about how he covers, experience and he had a long reach

Seeler is just not too good, can be not a liability perhaps at his best. I don't believe his physicality would really make much difference.

Special K shall we say is too easily an "elbow" away out of the lineup both in loosing physical battles as well from elbows strong distaste on this hockeyboard

Seabrook is playing even if he isn't quite recovered. Carlsson should find a way to get onto the lineup

What about Beaudin. Could he do well if plugged in

Final game might Kyrs be a surprise ADD playing wing?

There’s a baseball saying - you can’t steal first base - you have to have other skills - physical and mental - to succeed in whichever show you’re trying for.
- StLBravesFan

You no doubt heard or your teamattes in your playing days may have jiiibed; you got to hit to run, you got to run to score; you got to hit, run, score!
Edmonton could just try speed all speed.
Of course if some of them did any of the all dance and or all dtink when bars opened maybe they might miss some time[/img]

Tyler and Theo,

First, great blog. I have been lamenting this idea of smarts over just speed to anyone that has listened for the last few years...ever since watching Stahlberg, I knew that smarts are the most important.

Do you feel that the Hawks have been trending towards more high hockey IQ players in the past few years, especially in the draft? It just seems to me that they have been picking the smartest players (i.e. Dach). This is why I believe the Hawks are on the right track to becoming contenders again with Kane and Toews still around, and are setting themselves up well for the post Kane and Toews era.

Tyler and Theo,

First, great blog. I have been lamenting this idea of smarts over just speed to anyone that has listened for the last few years...ever since watching Stahlberg, I knew that smarts are the most important.

Do you feel that the Hawks have been trending towards more high hockey IQ players in the past few years, especially in the draft? It just seems to me that they have been picking the smartest players (i.e. Dach). This is why I believe the Hawks are on the right track to becoming contenders again with Kane and Toews still around, and are setting themselves up well for the post Kane and Toews era.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Thanks, TNK! Good question, too.

I think there is a trend in the right direction with some areas like amateur drafting and scouring the Euro leagues for talent, at least.

Through recent drafts you see smart players with hockey sense in Dach, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Krys, Kurashev, Entwistle, Soderlund, Sikura, Hagel, and Wise.

Even amateur free agents and undrafted players have been cerebral ones like Highmore and Kalynuk.

Euro free agency have unearthed intelligent gems like Kahun, Kubalik, and now Suter. Even the unheralded ones like Nilsson and Wedin are boring yet heady players.

Acquisitions through free agency and trades of NHL players seems hit or miss still and need improvement.

Thanks, TNK! Good question, too.

I think there is a trend in the right direction with some areas like amateur drafting and scouring the Euro leagues for talent, at least.

Through recent drafts you see smart players with hockey sense in Dach, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Krys, Kurashev, Entwistle, Soderlund, Sikura, Hagel, and Wise.

Even amateur free agents and undrafted players have been cerebral ones like Highmore and Kalynuk.

Euro free agency have unearthed intelligent gems like Kahun, Kubalik, and now Suter. Even the unheralded ones like Nilsson and Wedin are boring yet heady players.

Acquisitions through free agency and trades of NHL players seems hit or miss still and need improvement.
- AEL_Fox

I'm kinda thinking that for the next 3-5 years, FA and trades within the NHL are not going to be as important as drafts, and unsigned and European FAs coming in on entry level deals.

If Rocky's resources are limited (and I'm also kinda thinking that the free-spending days of the past however-many-years since $Bill died are over for a while), I'd put them into the draft and other entry-level areas of player acquisition.

I'm kinda thinking that for the next 3-5 years, FA and trades within the NHL are not going to be as important as drafts, and unsigned and European FAs coming in on entry level deals.

If Rocky's resources are limited (and I'm also kinda thinking that the free-spending days of the past however-many-years since $Bill died are over for a while), I'd put them into the draft and other entry-level areas of player acquisition.
- StLBravesFan

Does anyone know the breakdown of the Wirtz businesses? I know Wirtz Corporation has its hands in real estate, banking and liquor, but I have no idea about revenue each stream provides. It seems that liquor sales are very strong, and (if my wife's job in title/escrow is any indication) banking seems very strong as well. I'm sure real estate will take quite a hit in the next year or so.

I completely agree with your first paragraph. I think a lot of mid-range players are going to be very upset in the next few years. I wonder if the league and PA would ever agree to a temporary contract renegotiation period. Scratch that - I know the PA would never agree to it, but it would be interesting to watch.

The one guy that reminds me of iffy skating ability, and doubts weather he could keep up (at least at draft day, was only a 6th rounder), but was head and shoulders one of the smartest hockey players ever wore #28, Steve Larmer.

Does anyone know the breakdown of the Wirtz businesses? I know Wirtz Corporation has its hands in real estate, banking and liquor, but I have no idea about revenue each stream provides. It seems that liquor sales are very strong, and (if my wife's job in title/escrow is any indication) banking seems very strong as well. I'm sure real estate will take quite a hit in the next year or so.

I completely agree with your first paragraph. I think a lot of mid-range players are going to be very upset in the next few years. I wonder if the league and PA would ever agree to a temporary contract renegotiation period. Scratch that - I know the PA would never agree to it, but it would be interesting to watch.
- Chunk

Being a private company, there is no public information on the Wirtz companies, but estimates are that revenues are over $4 bil. dollars, with the beverage division being the substantial driver of revenue and profits.

I'm kinda thinking that for the next 3-5 years, FA and trades within the NHL are not going to be as important as drafts, and unsigned and European FAs coming in on entry level deals.

If Rocky's resources are limited (and I'm also kinda thinking that the free-spending days of the past however-many-years since $Bill died are over for a while), I'd put them into the draft and other entry-level areas of player acquisition.
- StLBravesFan

Definitely agree and Tyler has mentioned the trend towards constructing the team through the draft, undrafted players, and Euro free agents.

Last week's signings of Mitchell, Kalynuk, and Suter was a perfect illustration of this.

So were the earlier announcements of ELCs to Altybarmakyan, Barratt, and Teply, free agent signing of Chalupa, and re-upping of Highmore and Lankinen.

Definitely agree and Tyler has mentioned the trend towards constructing the team through the draft, undrafted players, and Euro free agents.

Last week's signings of Mitchell, Kalynuk, and Suter was a perfect illustration of this.

So were the earlier announcements of ELCs to Altybarmakyan, Barratt, and Teply, free agent signing of Chalupa, and re-upping of Highmore and Lankinen.
- AEL_Fox

I keep having this feeling in the back of my head that the Hawks are going to just let the higher priced players play out their contracts and not try to resign them. Murphy, Maatta, Saad types.

I keep having this feeling in the back of my head that the Hawks are going to just let the higher priced players play out their contracts and not try to resign them. Murphy, Maatta, Saad types.
- Chunk

This is very possible, Chunk.

The Hawks might not be the only team to do that, and if that becomes a trend, those higher priced guys you mention will have less options and therefore, have to take a haircut on their next deal (and/or term) that they were hoping for.

This is very possible, Chunk.

The Hawks might not be the only team to do that, and if that becomes a trend, those higher priced guys you mention will have less options and therefore, have to take a haircut on their next deal (and/or term) that they were hoping for.
- Tyler Cameron

The Hawks have just stockpiled so many guys that are between 1-3 years away (and have done so for the past couple of years. It just seems like they want to slowly bleed out the old contracts and immediately fill with a younger player waiting in the wings.

I'm kinda thinking that for the next 3-5 years, FA and trades within the NHL are not going to be as important as drafts, and unsigned and European FAs coming in on entry level deals.

If Rocky's resources are limited (and I'm also kinda thinking that the free-spending days of the past however-many-years since $Bill died are over for a while), I'd put them into the draft and other entry-level areas of player acquisition.
- StLBravesFan

The way i see it, they will continue to spend towards the cap, but the days of being able to spend to win a title are over, you must draft well and sign rookie free agents. Because of cap restraints they hit a home run with Panarin but they couldn't afford him in the long run. It's got to be one of the toughest jobs being a gm with a hard cap.

The Hawks have just stockpiled so many guys that are between 1-3 years away (and have done so for the past couple of years. It just seems like they want to slowly bleed out the old contracts and immediately fill with a younger player waiting in the wings.
- Chunk

I believe this is exactly what they are doing. To be honest it's taking longer than i expected but at the same time i really like all the young talent they have.

The one guy that reminds me of iffy skating ability, and doubts weather he could keep up (at least at draft day, was only a 6th rounder), but was head and shoulders one of the smartest hockey players ever wore #28, Steve Larmer.
- LAHawk

To me Larmer always looked like he was skating in mud. But, most times, he always got where he needed to be.

To me Larmer always looked like he was skating in mud. But, most times, he always got where he needed to be.
- Rota's Rooter

Absolute sniper.

To me Larmer always looked like he was skating in mud. But, most times, he always got where he needed to be.
- Rota's Rooter

Absolute sniper.

Gretzky was never the fastest skater.

As I recall, he was quoted as saying something along the lines of, 'I don't go to where the puck is, I go to where it's going to be.'

I keep having this feeling in the back of my head that the Hawks are going to just let the higher priced players play out their contracts and not try to resign them. Murphy, Maatta, Saad types.
- Chunk

They'll probably make offers the players don't want to take. If every team is doing that which they will be, ok all but 2-3 teams, same thing, the players will end up taking offers they never dreamed of taking. I expect many 1-2 year deals.

The Hawks have just stockpiled so many guys that are between 1-3 years away (and have done so for the past couple of years. It just seems like they want to slowly bleed out the old contracts and immediately fill with a younger player waiting in the wings.
- Chunk

I agree the HAWKS have done a great job of late getting younger players . Not in the goalie department and that why I think it is the perfect time to take a shot at drafting Askarov if still available at the 9 or 10 spot . And have him develop with the rest of the prospects . Now if they happen to win the lottery I guess we will just have to live with Lafreniere

They'll probably make offers the players don't want to take. If every team is doing that which they will be, ok all but 2-3 teams, same thing, the players will end up taking offers they never dreamed of taking. I expect many 1-2 year deals.
- rpeters01

My plan is coming together perfectly!

I keep having this feeling in the back of my head that the Hawks are going to just let the higher priced players play out their contracts and not try to resign them. Murphy, Maatta , Saad types.
- Chunk

Here's a question for you HockeyBuzzers out there regarding protecting D in next year's Seattle expansion draft. Carlsson turned pro in 18-19 so he'll have 3 years in next year and be eligible to be selected if not protected. Assuming the Hawks protect 3 D and two of them are 2 and 7 due to their NMC, do you protect Murphy, DeHaan, Maatta or Carlsson as the third? If Carlsson proves himself as an effective 3rd pair D, I would protect him as a cheaper option over the others. I figure Mitchell is Murphy's replacement at RD if he's lost and Beaudin, Krys, Kalynuk and Regula are waiting in the wings to replace the others.

Here's a question for you HockeyBuzzers out there regarding protecting D in next year's Seattle expansion draft. Carlsson turned pro in 18-19 so he'll have 3 years in next year and be eligible to be selected if not protected. Assuming the Hawks protect 3 D and two of them are 2 and 7 due to their NMC, do you protect Murphy, DeHaan, Maatta or Carlsson as the third? If Carlsson proves himself as an effective 3rd pair D, I would protect him as a cheaper option over the others. I figure Mitchell is Murphy's replacement at RD if he's lost and Beaudin, Krys, Kalynuk and Regula are waiting in the wings to replace the others.
- boilermaker100

So hard to say because before the expansion draft is even held, I can see 2 or 3 of those you named not even being on the team either due to all 3 having injury histories, or trade. To me Murohy should bring back the most value ($3.8 mil. plays top 4 minutes and will barely be 30.