Not to rag on you for a typo, but I love the name Pius Suter - sounds like a good name for a monk.
- EbonyRaptor

auto correct have never been my friend

Bovquist, Dach, Kubalik and Strome would not have made any of the cup teams especially with Q coaching.
- rpeters01

I think Bovquist has been rushed at least his personnel schedule was 3 or 4 years till he was NHL ready .The concussions are a huge concern

I think Bovquist has been rushed at least his personnel schedule was 3 or 4 years till he was NHL ready .The concussions are a huge concern
- oldduffman

I hear you Duff, I'm glad towards the end of the season they started calling the late check penalties against opponents. The prehistoric mentality, well these kids have to pay their dues is such bull poop by the league. The league is the reason these kids are rushed to the pros, (frank)ing hard cap

I hear you Duff, I'm glad towards the end of the season they started calling the late check penalties against opponents. The prehistoric mentality, well these kids have to pay their dues is such bull poop by the league. The league is the reason these kids are rushed to the pros, (frank)ing hard cap
- BetweenTheDots

Agree with that the hard Cap is turning NHL into a bit of a Jr. league . Boqvist has the talent to play but lacks some of the size still to take the Neanderthal late hits he must withstand as you mentioned .

Not to be politically incorrect - but comparing Corey to other Hawks goalies is akin to winning a tallest midget contest ... except for Lehner who I thought was much better behind his net than Corey is.
- EbonyRaptor

Lehner was not better than Crow at handling the puck. Lehner rarely got his fat ass out behind the net to stop the puck.

Boqvist never looked out of place in the NHL. So he was ready. Could he have benefited from more AHL time? Maybe, but he handled the NHL game just fine and was progressing nicely by the end of the season.

Lehner was not better than Crow at handling the puck. Lehner rarely got his fat ass out behind the net to stop the puck.
- Elbows15

Agreed. I thought Lehner was not very good at handling the puck.

I am as excited about the prospect pool as you are, I guess what i am saying is that you can't compare this team to 2010 because they haven't accomplished what the 2010 team had already accomplished. I would be ecstatic, if this team could be compared to the 2008-09 team when all is said and done, that was the dawn of the new era.
- LAHawk

The bolded is key, IMO. Mitchell's interview today alluded to the building up to the 3 recent Cups. 2010, 2013, and 2015 didn't just happen overnight.

Yes, they fell short in 2009 but that was a pivotal point in the growth growth that they needed to have to win in 2010.

Cinderella stories are nice but evolution is more realistic.

Hey TC, I haven't had the chance to watch any of the scrimmages. You mentioned that Subban has some PO experience (albeit on the bench), and that he plays the puck a bit better than Delia.

Any overarching opinions on the actual goalie play between Subban, Lankinen, and Delia?

Hey TC, I haven't had the chance to watch any of the scrimmages. You mentioned that Subban has some PO experience (albeit on the bench), and that he plays the puck a bit better than Delia.

Any overarching opinions on the actual goalie play between Subban, Lankinen, and Delia?
- Chunk

I thought Delia had an edge as Colliton is more familiar with him as they went into a playoff run together.

However, no one goalie has emerged from camp as the clear leader.

My gut tells me Subban gets the game #1 start but is on a short leash with Delia ready to come in if he falters.

Boqvist never looked out of place in the NHL. So he was ready. Could he have benefited from more AHL time? Maybe, but he handled the NHL game just fine and was progressing nicely by the end of the season.
- Elbows15

Never said he did not have the talent and speed to play in the NHL .Size seem to be the only draw back and he took some good hits even in Jr. He will be more then fine once he fills out . I think he could have benefited from more Jr. time learning the game under the Hunter in London, but that's just me .

I think Bovquist has been rushed at least his personnel schedule was 3 or 4 years till he was NHL ready .The concussions are a huge concern
- oldduffman

His personnel schedule? Wtf is that?

He looked fine as a rookie, not out of place whatsoever. And that early experience is only going to make him better. 3-4 years my ass.

Never said he did not have the talent and speed to play in the NHL .Size seem to be the only draw back and he took some good hits even in Jr. He will be more then fine once he fills out . I think he could have benefited from more Jr. time learning the game under the Hunter in London, but that's just me .
- oldduffman

So instead he is learning the game playing at a much higher level, and not looking out of place at all. If anything, I think he was playing too conservatively. holding back too much.

His personnel schedule? Wtf is that?

He looked fine as a rookie, not out of place whatsoever. And that early experience is only going to make him better. 3-4 years my ass.
- SimpleJack

Duff was alluding to the year he was drafted. He himself said that he expected his timeline to be about 3 years before he was ready for the NHL.

His personnel schedule? Wtf is that?

He looked fine as a rookie, not out of place whatsoever. And that early experience is only going to make him better. 3-4 years my ass.
- SimpleJack

I tell WTF that is ,those were his own words in the pre draft interview he thought he was 3 or 4 years away from playing in the NHL .Ya he looked just fine what is the concussion count at now 2 or 3 before he 20 , that will benefit him later to I bet

Agreed. This group of young D may end up being deeper, (the Hawks ran some bad 3rd pairing guys out there during the glory years) there might not be a future HOF/Norris/Conn Smythe winner in the group.
- scottak

Great perspective.

If all 7 defensemen on the team can play a balanced game with reliable defense, strong puck movement, and offensive contributions no matter how big or small, then it doesn't matter if none of them are worthy of any trophies.

The only trophy that matters is the Stanley Cup.

Exactly.

Your farm has to produce Bollands, Bickells, Shaws, Krugers Find Versteegs and complimentary players in the cheapest way possible.
The current era and new Cap restraint translates to find the player like Pius Super who you get on the cheap and performs at an effective level, so when and if they start to be outpaced for Cap room, you get a chance to recycle them for either another player of a chance to draft a prospect.
- wiz1901

Excellent summary of the player development cycle. Having a dynasty where the same roster is intact for years on end is long gone.

Instead, you have a core and constantly build the team with players who were just as good (if not better) than their predecessors.

So instead he is learning the game playing at a much higher level, and not looking out of place at all. If anything, I think he was playing too conservatively. holding back too much.
- LAHawk

Boqvist acquitted himself fine in his rookie year. Agree, he did play conservatively and maybe it was so he could focus on learning to defend.

He wasn't lighting up the AHL either so his play in the NHL mirrored how he was playing in Rockford. Getting his bearings defensively but showing flashes of what is to come with his electric offense.

If it boils down to merit, though, Carlsson deserved to be called up way before Boqvist. Carlsson has been the Hogs #1 D-man the past two seasons.

In the end, Boqvist deserves to stay in the NHL and has just scratched the surface of his contributions to the Hawks.

I tell WTF that is ,those were his own words in the pre draft interview he thought he was 3 or 4 years away from playing in the NHL .Ya he looked just fine what is the concussion count at now 2 or 3 before he 20 , that will benefit him later to I bet
- oldduffman

Sidney Crosby has battled with concussions throughout his career. So have countless other players. It happens. Doesn’t always mean the player will have his days in the NHL cut short. By being hesitant and passive you’re only holding the player back. If he’s cleared protocol then let him play. If you’re thinking “he could be one game closer to his next concussion” that’s the wrong mindset to have. Especially if that’s what’s on the players mind.

Sidney Crosby has battled with concussions throughout his career. So have countless other players. It happens. Doesn’t always mean the player will have his days in the NHL cut short. By being hesitant and passive you’re only holding the player back. If he’s cleared protocol then let him play. If you’re thinking “he could be one game closer to his next concussion” that’s the wrong mindset to have. Especially if that’s what’s on the players mind.
- SimpleJack

I believe another year in Jr. would not have stunted his growth as a hockey player and working with the Hunter in one of the best Jr. programs around learning the game on and off the ice would have been a benefit going forward .Not like he was going to lead the HAWKS to the promise land or anything . That ship has sailed so we shall see .
Ps I don't believe Crosby suffered any concussions before the age of 20 let alone two or three .

Lehner was not better than Crow at handling the puck. Lehner rarely got his fat ass out behind the net to stop the puck.
- Elbows15

I already conceded Corey was good at hustling to stop the puck on dump-ins, but I still maintain Lehner was a better puck handling goalie than Corey - Lehner made crisp accurate passes to a teammate's stick whereas Corey made passes that sometimes got close to the vicinity of a teammate.

Great perspective.

If all 7 defensemen on the team can play a balanced game with reliable defense, strong puck movement, and offensive contributions no matter how big or small, then it doesn't matter if none of them are worthy of any trophies.

The only trophy that matters is the Stanley Cup.
- AEL_Fox

So similar to NSH/PHI?

That ought to fire up the board...

So instead he is learning the game playing at a much higher level, and not looking out of place at all. If anything, I think he was playing too conservatively. holding back too much.
- LAHawk

I think that's a product of NHL players NHL forecheck, and like you said he didn't look out of place

So instead he is learning the game playing at a much higher level, and not looking out of place at all. If anything, I think he was playing too conservatively. holding back too much.
- LAHawk

He was skating mostly with Keith - maybe playing more responsibly at the side of the master.

I think Bovquist has been rushed at least his personnel schedule was 3 or 4 years till he was NHL ready .The concussions are a huge concern
- oldduffman

I share the concern about concussions in general. I really would like to see the league focus on getting them out of the game. it wouldn’t take any structural changes to the sport to remove head contact like it would in football, I think if they really just start dishing out tough and consistent punishments for head contact, it would go away.

I will say, I feel like Boqvists concussion this year had to have been extremely minor. I’m usually extremely concerned to the point of being neurotic about head injuries, but to me it looked like he didn’t take much of a hit to the head. I feel like they were probably just being cautious.