Still think stamina is the biggest problem for Strome. Yes, he's slow off the line but not that bad early in shifts. It's later in shifts when he looks to be dragging a boat anchor.

One perspective to think about is skill versus ability to execute fundamentals. Then add in compete level and that is a method for determining whether someone is an impact player.

Strome definitely has skill but needs to enhance his execution of fundamentals and ramp up his compete level.

Handzus had all three. Maybe a little less offensive skill but more skills for all situations.

I remember even in his younger years when he first started with the Blues, Handzus starred in a Slovakian line with Pavol Demitra and Lubos Bartecko who could all cycle the puck like nobody's business.
- Theo Fox

Great points then Zeus was a good solid player when he played.

Guys, guys, guys!!!

Let's simmer down a bit with the trash talking.

How about we sing a song instead?
- Theo Fox

Here Come The Hawks

Just saw that Conner McDavid tested positive for covid.

On the plus side about 94% of the American population recovers from it. The liberal and Dem Party and media in this country would have you all up in arms over this (that is a fact, not an opinion). Know that half the Florida Marlins team had it, and they just beat the Cubs in the playoffs. And a certain politician makes a mockery out of it because he is a germiphobe and worries about re-election.

Nonetheless, it is reported that half those who contract covid will have mental (bodily) issues perhaps the remainder of their lives. The heart is often one area where issues would arise.

It is like playing Russian roulette with only one or two bullets. Take your chance not being safe.

To be fair in coverage how it spreads, sometimes people who a re safe get the virus. Being careful nonetheless you might not realize you came into contact with the germ. Reportedly people in nursing homes can get it from touching the wheels in wheelchair. They thought they were safe. But the germ can go from ground to wheelchair wheel to person in wheelchair after they touch wheel then their face.


McDavid is the ultimate glowing talented NHL player. What a shame if his career would be reduced in a few years.

This is merely a report of germs affecting us and our beloved hockey. It is not intended in any way as a political comment. It is in our midst, it is reality. It is a factual report I give. It is a shame if McDavid later on has to retire early. Be safe friends.

Just saw that Conner McDavid tested positive for covid.

On the plus side about 94% of the American population recovers from it. The liberal and Dem Party and media in this country would have you all up in arms over this (that is a fact, not an opinion). Know that half the Florida Marlins team had it, and they just beat the Cubs in the playoffs. And a certain politician makes a mockery out of it because he is a germiphobe and worries about re-election.

Nonetheless, it is reported that half those who contract covid will have mental (bodily) issues perhaps the remainder of their lives. The heart is often one area where issues would arise.

It is like playing Russian roulette with only one or two bullets. Take your chance not being safe.

To be fair in coverage how it spreads, sometimes people who a re safe get the virus. Being careful nonetheless you might not realize you came into contact with the germ. Reportedly people in nursing homes can get it from touching the wheels in wheelchair. They thought they were safe. But the germ can go from ground to wheelchair wheel to person in wheelchair after they touch wheel then their face.


McDavid is the ultimate glowing talented NHL player. What a shame if his career would be reduced in a few years.

This is merely a report of germs affecting us and our beloved hockey. It is not intended in any way as a political comment. It is in our midst, it is reality. It is a factual report I give. It is a shame if McDavid later on has to retire early. Be safe friends.
- jhawk59

Actually, 94.5% of adults over 70 recover. Under 50 it's over 99%

Blacktop Rise site name
Name of video: this is the future of cars
By Supercar Blondie (husband shoots video. On FB)

You can watch a hockey game while driving autonomous to a hockey game. The dashboard connects to your phone and if amicable to a ride share.driver so choose to play only music you both like.

The seat has a hand sanitizer automatic dispense on side of seat. The glass around this car darkens or lightens if you want to see out, or you do not want public to see inside of car.

How about that drive to games once the covid simmers down and hopefully goes away

Actually, 94.5% of adults over 70 recover. Under 50 it's over 99%
- tvetter

Correct. Didn't recall exact number but I knew I was very close

Correct. Didn't recall exact number but I knew I was very close
- jhawk59

Throughout this unprecedented pandemic the numbers and actually information has been misleading. So who knows what information and what actual numbers of case and deaths are accurate. And condolences go out to families who has lost someone to this virus.

In the Athletic this morning here's a couple of thoughts from Pronman's latest mock up...

11. Nashville Predators: Yaroslav Askarov, G, SKA-KHL
Trying to figure out where Askarov is going to go has consumed an amount of my time I’d rather not discuss. I think Nashville makes a lot of sense in terms of talent and fit, and I’ve had a hard time seeing teams picking higher tolerate the risk. As I’ve mentioned before, I also think the Predators like Portland center Seth Jarvis if they went in another direction.

17. Chicago Blackhawks: Dawson Mercer, C, Chicoutimi-QMJHL
Chicago and Mercer has been a team I’ve connected for a while, even though I’ve heard the Blackhawks linked to various other names in recent days, such as Holloway and the two WHL defensemen.

21. Columbus Blue Jackets: Anton Lundell, C, HIFK-Liiga
Where Lundell lands is a bit of a mystery to me. I haven’t heard his name mentioned a lot in the leadup to the draft as a player a team wants or heard other teams want with a high pick. It would be hard to imagine him lasting too much longer than this range.

Actually, 94.5% of adults over 70 recover. Under 50 it's over 99%
- tvetter

100% of all people die......eventually. FACT!

Actually, 94.5% of adults over 70 recover. Under 50 it's over 99%
- tvetter

Under 70 its way way over 99%.

Still amazes me how people who always claim to look at science won't look at real data

700K college students have tested positive, 3 hospitalizations, 0 deaths...............

Under 70 its way way over 99%.

Still amazes me how people who always claim to look at science won't look at real data

700K college students have tested positive, 3 hospitalizations, 0 deaths...............
- vabeachbear

Not going to argue it's pointless but that's not true.

Under 70 its way way over 99%.

Still amazes me how people who always claim to look at science won't look at real data

700K college students have tested positive, 3 hospitalizations, 0 deaths...............
- vabeachbear

Gentlemen, to paraphrase Q, no one likes being right more than me. That said, let's not go down this road. There are plenty of other hockey related topics to discuss right now. This stuff just ends up getting everyone up in a tizzy.

Cheers.

I’m going to respectfully disagree. Although I’m not a huge fan of Strome, and would like a different 3C on the Hawks, his point pace for two full seasons with Hawks is about 58 points/yr. I would say that’s worth more than a bag of pucks.
- Angotti

The projection on what he could have scored is kinda pretend isn't it?

Strome had a nice bounce season when he got traded to the Hawks and a lot of people (myself included) had hoped that all that "potential" had finally started to come out. Add that he knew he was going into the last year of his contract and you would think he would play to maximize the dollars of his next contract. I just didn't see it. I thought, regardless of his point total, that he was rather underwhelming the past season and he an several others were pretty ineffective in the play offs/play ins.

I think he has to be signed to a prove it contract.

The projection on what he could have scored is kinda pretend isn't it?

Strome had a nice bounce season when he got traded to the Hawks and a lot of people (myself included) had hoped that all that "potential" had finally started to come out. Add that he knew he was going into the last year of his contract and you would think he would play to maximize the dollars of his next contract. I just didn't see it. I thought, regardless of his point total, that he was rather underwhelming the past season and he an several others were pretty ineffective in the play offs/play ins.

I think he has to be signed to a prove it contract.
- Rota's Rooter

Exactly. He has no arbitration rights. As cruel as it is to him, a one year minimum QO is the way I would go. Prove that he deserves to be around longer and he gets a better contract. He was switched to wing for a time (unsuccessfully), and scratched because he couldn't carry his weight this past year. Make the players earn their contracts.

Under 70 its way way over 99%.

Still amazes me how people who always claim to look at science won't look at real data

700K college students have tested positive, 3 hospitalizations, 0 deaths...............
- vabeachbear

US statistics:

WW1:
Servicemen deployed: 4,734,000
Killed: 116,516
Surviveability rate: 97.5%

WW2:
Deployed: 16,112,000
Killed: 405,399
Surviveability rate: 97.5%

Korean War:
Deployed: 1,789,000
Killed: 36,574
Surviveability rate: 97.8%

Vietnam
Deployed: 3,403,000
Killed: 58,220
Surviveability rate: 98.2%

(Sources: Congressional Resource Services of the Library of Congress, World War 2 Museum, KQED report)

Apples to apples? Not exactly - just presented for context.

And by the way: the surviveability rate for people my age is about 85% - and less for those with compromising conditions.

And we don’t know all of the medium and certainly long-term effects of the virus - and there seem to be some very important ones.

No, we needn’t be afraid of the virus - but we certainly should be respectful, and take reasonable precautions to protect ourselves and others.

The projection on what he could have scored is kinda pretend isn't it?

Strome had a nice bounce season when he got traded to the Hawks and a lot of people (myself included) had hoped that all that "potential" had finally started to come out. Add that he knew he was going into the last year of his contract and you would think he would play to maximize the dollars of his next contract. I just didn't see it. I thought, regardless of his point total, that he was rather underwhelming the past season and he an several others were pretty ineffective in the play offs/play ins.

I think he has to be signed to a prove it contract.
- Rota's Rooter

I agree. Given the Cap crunch, I'm hoping they are able to sign him for $2M or less.

I know he injured his ankle last year but there were too many games where he was pretty invisible.

Don't expect him to become a speed demon or the Hulk overnight but as others have said, some added strength could likely help his overall game.

Gentlemen, to paraphrase Q, no one likes being right more than me. That said, let's not go down this road. There are plenty of other hockey related topics to discuss right now. This stuff just ends up getting everyone up in a tizzy.

Cheers.
- Chunk

Gentlemen, to paraphrase Q, no one likes being right more than me. That said, let's not go down this road. There are plenty of other hockey related topics to discuss right now. This stuff just ends up getting everyone up in a tizzy.

Cheers.
- Chunk

Can’t overstate enough that no one cares about political/pandemic views on a hockey blog. Go lock those opinions in a box and throw them into a volcano.

THERE’S SOME KIND OF DRAFT HAPPENING TODAY, RIGHT?

Gentlemen, to paraphrase Q, no one likes being right more than me. That said, let's not go down this road. There are plenty of other hockey related topics to discuss right now. This stuff just ends up getting everyone up in a tizzy.

Cheers.
- Chunk

U R right, I didn't start it though............

Who the Hawks drafting?

Gentlemen, to paraphrase Q, no one likes being right more than me. That said, let's not go down this road. There are plenty of other hockey related topics to discuss right now. This stuff just ends up getting everyone up in a tizzy.

Cheers.
- Chunk

U R right, I didn't start it though............

Who the Hawks drafting?
- vabeachbear

Who I want - Holloway, but I don't think he will be there.

Who I think they will draft - Lapierre, because I believe he will be the best player available.

Who I would be miffed at them taking - Gunler. Eff that guy. I'm sure he's a perfectly fine human, but I just don't like what I've read and seen from him. In what I've seen, he relies far too heavily on others to do the dirty work to get and keep the puck. He is a good finisher and can make plays, but I would stay away from a guy who doesn't seem to be able to either carry the puck in, or get it back.

Who I want - Holloway, but I don't think he will be there.

Who I think they will draft - Lapierre, because I believe he will be the best player available.

Who I would be miffed at them taking - Gunler. Eff that guy. I'm sure he's a perfectly fine human, but I just don't like what I've read and seen from him. In what I've seen, he relies far too heavily on others to do the dirty work to get and keep the puck. He is a good finisher and can make plays, but I would stay away from a guy who doesn't seem to be able to either carry the puck in, or get it back.
- Chunk

Agreed! I'd like either of these two, but have a preference for Holloway.

Very curious to see if there is any movement in the goalie market today. I read the reports about the Hawks sniffing around Murray yesterday and it seems like everyone is still waiting.. I thought Lehner signing would help set the market.

Exactly. He has no arbitration rights. As cruel as it is to him, a one year minimum QO is the way I would go. Prove that he deserves to be around longer and he gets a better contract. He was switched to wing for a time (unsuccessfully), and scratched because he couldn't carry his weight this past year. Make the players earn their contracts.
- Chunk

Did strome fully heal from his ankle injury might have something to due with his poor play or not.

Agreed! I'd like either of these two, but have a preference for Holloway.

Very curious to see if there is any movement in the goalie market today. I read the reports about the Hawks sniffing around Murray yesterday and it seems like everyone is still waiting.. I thought Lehner signing would help set the market.
- Q-stache

The goalie market is really strange. First of all, if you are looking at trading for a goalie, why would you trade for Murray? So many negatives, and few recent positives.

Second, unless you NEED to move out another contract, why would you move assets when there are so many tenders available as FA's that would at a minimum be serviceable?

CO interested in Crow, now Washington interested in Lundqvist (per Ek ). The big guns seem to be looking at the more experienced goalies? Who knows. Tonight will be interesting.