Looking forward to your blogs Theo!

Tyler, you will be missed

I feel so torn, haha

Thank you very much for your service, Tyler.
Wishing you nothing but more success in your future endeavors.

Let's go 'Hawks!!!

Theo, thank you for taking the helm.
I am certain you will continue to kick arse!!

Tell me again why it is a bad thing that a player wants to improve his overall game?

Dinky will be fine. Playing with Dach most of the season is also a contributing factor to his struggles. Strome being useless for much of the season didn't help.

Dach needs to improve his decision making to get it up to NHL game speed. Dach got better as the season went on but there is still too much one on one in his game.

BTW. Dinky was still on pace for a 50 point season in an off year for him. How many other 50 point players do the Hawks have beside Kane and Toews?

Good info, Chunk!

I like that operative word "intelligently" that Dach used about gaining muscle and strength. It was wondered (still is?) if DeBrincat wasn't intelligent about adding muscle and strength last off season.

Maybe DeBrincat was smart about it but we're all still trying to figure out why he had a sharp decline in goal production.

And I like what Boqvist has to say about both game and season endurance. Derek King often talks about building up prospect stamina once they go pro.

A healthy scratch doesn't always mean poor play but is a way to slowly break in the prospects for the long haul and preserve their bodies.
- Theo Fox

Watching the /vancouver series, Hughes is no better than Bovquist was in the defensive zone. They give him free reign on offense (and play's #1 PP, so his stats look good, but he consistently was pushed off the puck and outmuscled in the defensive zone, and threw the puck away when pressured.

Watching the /vancouver series, Hughes is no better than Bovquist was in the defensive zone. They give him free reign on offense (and play's #1 PP, so his stats look good, but he consistently was pushed off the puck and outmuscled in the defensive zone, and threw the puck away when pressured.
- LAHawk

Boqvist is actually more sturdy than Hughes and does a fairly decent job in the corners where he can use leverage. Hughes is getting rag dolled out there.

Then again, it is no shame that two young inexperienced D-men are having their struggles. Both need to get some man strength that only will come with maturity.

Tell me again why it is a bad thing that a player wants to improve his overall game?

Dinky will be fine. Playing with Dach most of the season is also a contributing factor to his struggles. Strome being useless for much of the season didn't help.

Dach needs to improve his decision making to get it up to NHL game speed. Dach got better as the season went on but there is still too much one on one in his game.

BTW. Dinky was still on pace for a 50 point season in an off year for him. How many other 50 point players do the Hawks have beside Kane and Toews?
- Elbows15

Because he was touted as a goal scorer. We were used to him as a goal scorer. And people don't like/can't handle change. We were supposed to be able to pencil him in for 30-35 goals per year and just fill in around him. It sucks when reality sets in that things change (his line mates, the team, the league, etc).

Not to mention sometimes guys just have a bad year. Again, how many years did we (well many here anyway) bury Toews?

Boqvist is actually more sturdy than Hughes and does a fairly decent job in the corners where he can use leverage. Hughes is getting rag dolled out there.

Then again, it is no shame that two young inexperienced D-men are having their struggles. Both need to get some man strength that only will come with maturity.
- Elbows15

Not to mention, most teams are going to have the same problems against Vegas. It's just they way they play.

Watching the /vancouver series, Hughes is no better than Bovquist was in the defensive zone. They give him free reign on offense (and play's #1 PP, so his stats look good, but he consistently was pushed off the puck and outmuscled in the defensive zone, and threw the puck away when pressured.
- LAHawk

This is what i see as well.

Boqvist is actually more sturdy than Hughes and does a fairly decent job in the corners where he can use leverage. Hughes is getting rag dolled out there.

Then again, it is no shame that two young inexperienced D-men are having their struggles. Both need to get some man strength that only will come with maturity.
- Elbows15

Agree totally, just trying to highlight to those that already think that Boquist is a failed draft pick, that even the probable Calder trophy winner has the same defensive struggles. Could you imagine this board if Boquist did what Makar did last night? whoa.

Take care TC. Loved reading your articles on here. All the best.

Agree totally, just trying to highlight to those that already think that Boquist is a failed draft pick, that even the probable Calder trophy winner has the same defensive struggles. Could you imagine this board if Boquist did what Makar did last night? whoa.
- LAHawk

Yea that was a tough turnover for the kid, but that's what happens when a team forechecks well

Boqvist is actually more sturdy than Hughes and does a fairly decent job in the corners where he can use leverage. Hughes is getting rag dolled out there.

Then again, it is no shame that two young inexperienced D-men are having their struggles. Both need to get some man strength that only will come with maturity.
- Elbows15

I thought he was always in a good position just not strong enough

Agree totally, just trying to highlight to those that already think that Boquist is a failed draft pick, that even the probable Calder trophy winner has the same defensive struggles. Could you imagine this board if Boquist did what Makar did last night? whoa.
- LAHawk

I got what you were putting down. Not many 19 year old are playing in the NHL. Just watching Boqvist's reactions after he makes a mistake leading to a goal tells me all I need to know about the kid. He knows when he has messed up on a play immediately.

He will work hard to improve.

I thought he was always in a good position just not strong enough
- BetweenTheDots

Definitely. Not many 19 year olds are strong enough at that stage. I know he is 20 now. Best part is he recognizes it and want to improve in that area.

Because he was touted as a goal scorer. We were used to him as a goal scorer. And people don't like/can't handle change. We were supposed to be able to pencil him in for 30-35 goals per year and just fill in around him. It sucks when reality sets in that things change (his line mates, the team, the league, etc).

Not to mention sometimes guys just have a bad year. Again, how many years did we (well many here anyway) bury Toews?
- Chunk

I would be more worried about Dinky if he dropped off drastically in some areas like SAT and SOG. Those numbers were consistent with his previous seasons. He shooting percentage was down quite bit. I expect his shooting % will be in his normal-ish range next season and most will be touted a comeback for him.

The same thing happened to Toews. His metrics were the same but his shooting percentage was down and there was one year when Hoss couldn't buy a goal which prolly cost Toews a good ten points.

It gets me excited to see these young guys all in on improving themselves. Bodes well for the short term future of the Hawks!
- ToewsdNKanefusd

What's Nylander working on?

I think Debrincat was/is working on other areas of his game so much, that it took away from his sniping a bit?? Like puck protection/handling.

I like that he is trying to be a complete player, but at what point do you decide that you can't do it all, and decide to stick to the niche that got you there?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I subscribe to your way of analysis on the DeBrincat out of sync mode. I do not believe players loose ability at his age and I doubt he was lacking confidence The body size and strength has a lot to with his skill as related to his on ice results

But here is the unknown: If he gets back to the 40 goal form. can he get there in the duration of a few fall months. Or to be fully in the old form does it take an entire next summer of training?

Looks like the Hawks might have to carry some cap overages into next season:

https://www.tsn.ca/13-nhl...nto-next-season-1.1517304

Tyler, you will be missed, but I do look forward to reading Theo's articles.

P.S. It's weird seeing Theo Fox instead of AEL_FOX.

Wow Blogger's are dropping like Flies on Hockey Buzz lately.

Good luck Tyler, always enjoyed your writing.
Look forward to seeing your blogs Theo

Looks like the Hawks might have to carry some cap overages into next season:

https://www.tsn.ca/13-nhl...nto-next-season-1.1517304
- LAHawk

Yep, the Hawks have to carry over $878K.

What's Nylander working on?
- rpeters01

Social distancing ......on and off the ice

I got what you were putting down. Not many 19 year old are playing in the NHL. Just watching Boqvist's reactions after he makes a mistake leading to a goal tells me all I need to know about the kid. He knows when he has messed up on a play immediately.

He will work hard to improve.
- Elbows15

Makar doesn't look all that hot in his own end either at the ripe age of 21. Carries the puck like a top line forward though.

Yep, the Hawks have to carry over $878K.
- EbonyRaptor

1.1. There's no way Kubalik doesn't make the all rookie team