Theo Fox: Season Review: Defensemen
Season review of defensemen. The blueline needs to improve flipping the ice which should come by being well rounded and getting younger and more mobile.

Two for two?

Thanks, Theo - good analysis.

The other thing is - too often - by the time they (defensemen AND forwards) finally get out of their own zone, it’s time for a line change. Any transition is lost.

Great write up Theo!

I’m hoping Seabs is able to come back and regain some of what he lost due to playing through injuries.

All depends on the return, but I would trade DeHaan and Maata (buyout if necessary) and keep 2, 5 and 7 as your veteran presence, vs say trading Murphy. He might net the biggest return but like you I think he is coming into his own.

I’d like to see more of Carlsson and would like to see him start the season with the Big Club, while Mitchell maybe plays a bit in the AHL and come up at some point durin the year.

Of the RHD’s, any have the ability to play their offside? Oh and sign 4K as your number 7...mostly cause I know Elbows is pushing for this.

Great work Theo, thank you!

I know teams will be challenged to move salary, but I expect Stan will move 2 of Murphy, de Haan and Maatta. Obviously, Murphy is the first choice to stay but Stan may have no choice but to move him. Maybe the Hawks only deal one of them if Stan can free up cap space by moving a forward (i.e. Saad).

As long as the Hawks forwards continue to turnover pucks at both blue lines, either because of dumb passes, or being outworked, it doesn’t matter who is on defense. Remember when that was what the Hawks were best at? Creating turnovers, especially at the blue lines and counter attacking.

Just look at this years tournament. The teams that are left are best at creating turnovers. Hawks have plenty of talented forwards, but more than a few are dumb as rocks between the ears. Even an offensive team with middling defenseman like Vegas, you don’t see their forwards turning the puck over in high danger areas of the ice.

Great work Theo, thank you!

I know teams will be challenged to move salary, but I expect Stan will move 2 of Murphy, de Haan and Maatta. Obviously, Murphy is the first choice to stay but Stan may have no choice but to move him. Maybe the Hawks only deal one of them if Stan can free up cap space by moving a forward (i.e. Saad).
- DarthKane

On the other hand, if traded, Murphy should get us a forward at least as good as Saad. Regarding Maata, if not tradable at $4m, he gets a lot more enticing at $3m if Stan eats a million and Rocky buys that out. Something I have seen done by teams with other players we've traded for but I don't remember who?

Great write up Theo! One thing to keep in mind, there will always be more Defensive prospects added every year at varying degrees of ability. But I would still think over the next five years there will be 3-5 added high level Defense prospects. If all our current prospects actually come to fruition some will be cap casualties in their second contracts which would be a fantastic problem to have. Also, should Murphy be traded depending what comes back there becomes more of an opening for Gilbert...

It seems to me that no matter which angle you look at what the Hawks should do, they are facing cross purposes - doing one thing to help in this area hurts something in that area. You can't serve two masters so the Hawks need to decide if the objective is to make the playoffs at the cost of the youth movement or go all in on the youth movement at the cost of making the playoffs. Yes, both can be achieved - play young players and make the playoffs - but both would be half measures rather than dedicating the focus in one direction or the other. I don't know the answer but I think trying to do both at the same time more often than not results in achieving neither.

Theo Fox: Season Review: Defensemen
Season review of @cb defensemen. The blueline needs to improve flipping the ice which should come by being well rounded and getting younger and more mobile.
- Theo Fox

Well thought out and thorough, it would be nice to have 3 solid defensive pairings. A common issue i see right now is hard forecheck on Keith, Keith forced to pass it to other dman and many times that's when the Hawks have issues. I believe teams study who the better passer is and suffocate that dman. I watch these playoffs and 1 thing the good blue lines have in common are soft enough hands to make the pass from below the goal line to the forwards who are in between the forwards and dmen of the opponent something must of our dmen struggle to do consistently

Theo great breakdown on each player. You mentioned in your article that a buyout could happen with maatta? I just read I believe either yesterday or saturday a write up by second city and they where clear that no buyouts are allowed according to the rules set in place ? This article was talking about saad being traded to Montreal.

Great write up Theo! One thing to keep in mind, there will always be more Defensive prospects added every year at varying degrees of ability. But I would still think over the next five years there will be 3-5 added high level Defense prospects. If all our current prospects actually come to fruition some will be cap casualties in their second contracts which would be a fantastic problem to have. Also, should Murphy be traded depending what comes back there becomes more of an opening for Gilbert...
- rpeters01

I don't think they want to see Gilbert in the NJL unless he can get his game together over the better part of an entire AHL season. His coverage sucks. He has to learn how and when to impose his physicality. The assignment for him has to be to be solid positional and make the right decisions. I am certain AEL_FOX has said as much or more about Gilbert's future (in past blogs).

I don't think they want to see Gilbert in the NJL unless he can get his game together over the better part of an entire AHL season. His coverage sucks. He has to learn how and when to impose his physicality. The assignment for him has to be to be solid positional and make the right decisions. I am certain AEL_FOX has said as much or more about Gilbert's future (in past blogs).
- jhawk59

I am assuming an improved player, not the work in progress we saw last year.

As long as the Hawks forwards continue to turnover pucks at both blue lines, either because of dumb passes, or being outworked, it doesn’t matter who is on defense. Remember when that was what the Hawks were best at? Creating turnovers, especially at the blue lines and counter attacking.

Just look at this years tournament. The teams that are left are best at creating turnovers. Hawks have plenty of talented forwards, but more than a few are duYour call out on the forwarfs is exactly correct. It is like they are trying to operate with 5he carriage in front of the horse. A coach must lay out the system and it needs to include the forwarfs helping out...so obbious why is it so often a problem even often under Q?mb as rocks between the ears. Even an offensive team with middling defenseman like Vegas, you don’t see their forwards turning the puck over in high danger areas of the ice.
- LAHawk

Playing the right way.
:
A good coach gets his forwards to help and to be in position. The forwards under Colliton and often under Q have not been playing the way they need to. Your criticism is spot on.

Thanks, Theo - good analysis.

The other thing is - too often - by the time they (defensemen AND forwards) finally get out of their own zone, it’s time for a line change. Any transition is lost.
- StLBravesFan

Good point, STL. That's why the D-man need to make haste with clearing the zone.

This is where a more mobile D corp from 1-6 would aid in this regard.

Same with a better passing game to make one crisp pass out to forwards assuming they can receive the pass and know what to do next.

Anyone who watched the Dallas/Vegas hitfest last night, please tell me how the Hawks midget/softie lineup could realistically win a playoff series against either of them (or the Islanders or Lightning for that matter). Crow can still win a game or two himself from time to time, but other than Toews, Dach and sometimes Saad, our forwards never help our defensemen defend, and without help (and even with their help), our dmen just aren't quick enough, smart enough, skilled enough or big enough to get the puck out of our dzone.

Great write up Theo!

I’m hoping Seabs is able to come back and regain some of what he lost due to playing through injuries.

All depends on the return, but I would trade DeHaan and Maata (buyout if necessary) and keep 2, 5 and 7 as your veteran presence, vs say trading Murphy. He might net the biggest return but like you I think he is coming into his own.

I’d like to see more of Carlsson and would like to see him start the season with the Big Club, while Mitchell maybe plays a bit in the AHL and come up at some point durin the year.

Of the RHD’s, any have the ability to play their offside? Oh and sign 4K as your number 7...mostly cause I know Elbows is pushing for this.
- HawkintheD

Good question, D. IIRC, they tried Murphy on his offside a little bit when they first acquired him but haven't done so since, likely because he wasn't effective at it.

Other than that, nobody else comes to mind.

Perhaps they have Mitchell take reps on his offside in Rockford to start his pro career just like they had Carlsson, Beaudin, and Krys play their offside on occasion (sometimes out of necessity).

The downside to that is you don't want to do it too much or else you could stunt their growth on their strong side that you hope they actually play at the NHL level. At least alternate L vs R.

Not sure if Regula can play his offside. Moberg is the only other RHD in the system.

Great work Theo, thank you!

I know teams will be challenged to move salary, but I expect Stan will move 2 of Murphy, de Haan and Maatta. Obviously, Murphy is the first choice to stay but Stan may have no choice but to move him. Maybe the Hawks only deal one of them if Stan can free up cap space by moving a forward (i.e. Saad).
- DarthKane

I would have to agree with you and others who believe the Hawks will move 1-2 of Murphy, de Haan, and Maatta.

I'd also tentatively throw Seabrook in the mix as I have a hunch he could be willing to waive his NMC if he feels Colliton and crew are jerking him around as far as a starting spot.

There is also the option of not re-upping Koekkoek whether that's just not signing him or trading his RFA rights.

Great write up Theo! One thing to keep in mind, there will always be more Defensive prospects added every year at varying degrees of ability. But I would still think over the next five years there will be 3-5 added high level Defense prospects. If all our current prospects actually come to fruition some will be cap casualties in their second contracts which would be a fantastic problem to have. Also, should Murphy be traded depending what comes back there becomes more of an opening for Gilbert...
- rpeters01

Great point that it's a good problem to have if the Hawks actually do a thorough job developing their D prospects. The goal wouldn't be to play all of them but to trade some to shore up other organizational needs.

As for Gilbert, as long as he's still in the system, he'll be in the mix for a recall. In the long term, I just don't see him being a Blackhawks regular unless the other more highly skilled prospects flop.

Well thought out and thorough, it would be nice to have 3 solid defensive pairings. A common issue i see right now is hard forecheck on Keith, Keith forced to pass it to other dman and many times that's when the Hawks have issues. I believe teams study who the better passer is and suffocate that dman. I watch these playoffs and 1 thing the good blue lines have in common are soft enough hands to make the pass from below the goal line to the forwards who are in between the forwards and dmen of the opponent something must of our dmen struggle to do consistently
- BetweenTheDots

Excellent point, Dots. I see that, too. Not just Keith either as the best passer but also hammering away at the weak links to demoralize them and render them completely useless that game.

Crisp passing is something the Hawks (forwards and D-men) need to improve on. Even when a clear passing lane is available, either the pass itself is sloppy or the receiver just can't receive it cleanly.

I would also like the team to make several short passes in the same sequence to move the puck up ice. Common sense says if you can't connect on longer passes, then make shorter ones.

Theo great breakdown on each player. You mentioned in your article that a buyout could happen with maatta? I just read I believe either yesterday or saturday a write up by second city and they where clear that no buyouts are allowed according to the rules set in place ? This article was talking about saad being traded to Montreal.
- Taylorst1

Others can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe there will be no compliance buyouts like from a few seasons ago but a team can buyout a player if they can afford it. Many owners may be averse to this for financial reasons.

Also, not all buyouts are the same. Buying out Seabrook, for example, really does nothing to help the cap situation as many posters here have outlined quite well.

Buying out Maatta is weird at face value because he's still in his mid-20s and still playing decently. For his scenario, it's the opposite of Seabrook, i.e. the cap benefit to Chicago would be more palatable.

You might be right on the latter . It was a very well written article regarding saad for domi and how that trade would or could work out including in its article that chicago cant do any buyouts,

Maybe they meant no freebies but just from a purely contract and salary cap standpoint Chicago is locked into keith , murphy , de haan, matta for 3 more years and seabrook is on the hook for 4 years I'm not sure how Chicago can improve its defense or create a opening with a league wide flat cap for the next 3 years.

If we had to guess whom is close enough to get a chance next year ?

I would have to agree with you and others who believe the Hawks will move 1-2 of Murphy, de Haan, and Maatta.

I'd also tentatively throw Seabrook in the mix as I have a hunch he could be willing to waive his NMC if he feels Colliton and crew are jerking him around as far as a starting spot.

There is also the option of not re-upping Koekkoek whether that's just not signing him or trading his RFA rights.
- Theo Fox

With a flat cap and very few teams with enough cap space to take on a seabrook contract whom would be the likely team in your opinion that Seabrook would waive his contract for ? Would it have to be a contender or is it simply any team he feels the coaching staff will appreciate his value ?

I would have to agree with you and others who believe the Hawks will move 1-2 of Murphy, de Haan, and Maatta.

I'd also tentatively throw Seabrook in the mix as I have a hunch he could be willing to waive his NMC if he feels Colliton and crew are jerking him around as far as a starting spot.

There is also the option of not re-upping Koekkoek whether that's just not signing him or trading his RFA rights.
- Theo Fox

Koekkoek’s situation is an interesting one. I think he’d make a find 7th d-man but I think that role falls to Seabrook. Koekkoek may have more trade value than people think. No, he won’t bring back a king’s ransom but a capable and cost effected #5 - #7 d-man (depending on the team) is worth a mid-round pick. Or maybe Stan gets a college or European prospect that needs a little more time to develop.

I know this blog is about defenseman, but I just wanted to point out that when everyone thought my vegas pick was crazy and everyone was all in on Colorado, I think it's safe to say Chicago might have had a better shot facing Colorado than vegas . And hat's off to Vancouver for their play.