Theo Fox: Formulaic Structure
It’s still too early to project the Blackhawks lineup for the 2020-21 season yet we can at least make educated guesses on how to structure the forward lines and defense pairs.

Thanks for everything Theo. First!!!

Maybe Stan & Co. have decided that the long held logic of great defence and goaltending as the keys to winning is old theory that doesn't apply to NHL hockey in 2020.

Joe Sakic probably advised him of that and Stan bought the idea 100% forgetting he doesn't have a Cale Makar or Sam Girard on the back end or a game breaker like Mackinnon up front. (At the same time, it will be very interesting to see if the Avs pick up another goaltender or try to win it all with 2 Euro stiffs between the pipes).

I like what the Habs are doing instead - insulating their star goaltender with a capable backup and building up their depth on the blueline.

This is a really insightful blog. Thanks.

I notice you didn’t include Adam Boqvist in your list of two-way defensemen.

The more I think about it, I really think that the way the season is heading (uncertainty when the season starts, fans in the stands, etc), it really forced the team to take a cautious approach and does not allow them to tie themselves up into too many long term contracts. Is this the makeup of the team they really want? I bet no, but until the worls levels off, they have to make due with a team season by season. Yes, it stinks that the core is getting older, but that is just life.

There's been some talk about the financial situation of the Hawks, including that some of the recent activity has a cost-cutting bent. Well, the Hawks are in the upper echelon of the league financially; if they are making adjustments because of the Covid lockdowns, imagine the impact on the vast majority of the teams that have nowhere near the financial resources of the Hawks.

There is talk of a shortened season, perhaps beginning with no fans. This might be an existential threat to some teams in the league. This league is fan more dependent on gate revenue than the other pro sports. Interesting times ahead.

While success is unlikely, next season could nonetheless provide great drama, such as:
1) Will management recognize and try to heal their blunder in dissing and blindsiding the Core-4 (and their admired friend Crow), or will the breach between them grow?
2) Will the Core (with the possible exception of Kane) go public, or leak, details of their dissatisfaction with the way the team is being managed and/or coached?
3) Will Danny get more publicly involved? Will Rocky?
4) Will anyone win the goalie battle? If so, who? All three goalies have interesting stories. And if Subban is charitable and outgoing like his brother and wins the job, could it impact the hockey inclusion movement or racial matters in the community?
5) Will Stanbo’s new direction at least give some reason(s) for optimism? Or will it be another clear failure that will finally lead to his dismissal?
Being a fan is in some ways like following a good soap opera. Stay tuned. It will be interesting!

There's been some talk about the financial situation of the Hawks, including that some of the recent activity has a cost-cutting bent. Well, the Hawks are in the upper echelon of the league financially; if they are making adjustments because of the Covid lockdowns, imagine the impact on the vast majority of the teams that have nowhere near the financial resources of the Hawks.

There is talk of a shortened season, perhaps beginning with no fans. This might be an existential threat to some teams in the league. This league is fan more dependent on gate revenue than the other pro sports. Interesting times ahead.
- mohel

This.

The league would probably be better of financially shutting down - depending on debt loads, that might be the best way for some franchises to survive.

BUT:

The league can’t shut down in the midst of upcoming (soon, I think) negotiations for new national TV contracts. NBC will need sports programming between the Super Bowl and the Olympics - and that’s the NHL product.

Time for the league to embrace socialism on the revenue side - sharing the meager incoming cash - as well as on the labor side (salary cap and fixed percentage of revenues) - although other than already-shared TV money, I don’t know what’s left to share.

Or - temporarily or permanently - shutting down some franchises.

I do fear for the health of the league.

https://www.sportingnews....koqd3fe6k3v518swi1q3gwufs

Pretty sobering coming from a owner who can buy and sell Wirtz a few times over. As Friedman said on his 31 points, the Hawks punted on the season, shortened schedule, little to no fans, and probably ending up with a TV contract with no increase from the prior one.

You know everyone, myself included, believe the Hawks won the Saad trade.

Theo, that Colliton quote regarding chemistry being less important was somewhat taken out of context. He didn't express that as a fundamental principle in his approach to coaching, he was responding to a question that was implying he didn't know what he was doing because he wasn't keeping so and so together to gain chemistry. He was somewhat exasperated and answered with the implication that there's other factors in how he puts lines together other than what the reporter thought was or primary importance.

You know everyone, myself included, believe the Hawks won the Saad trade.
- BluemanGuruu

Except most of those who post on this blog.

The latest redwings blog sums it all up very well. Finances and senses of lack of talent result in a rebuild year

You know everyone, myself included, believe the Hawks won the Saad trade.
- BluemanGuruu

Go back to your own boards, your positivity about the Blackhawks has no place here.

From The Athletic article getting league input on the Blackhawks’ offseason moves:

League source: “They’re selling Danny Wirtz on the idea that in two or three years, they’ll be competitive again. But I look at what they’ve got, and there are no game-breakers coming.”

From me:

Yeah, they have AdB and Kubalik - supposed 30 goal scorers - some exciting blue-line prospects - but no game-breakers in the prospect pool. Maybe Toews and Keith - probably/certainly Kane - can still provide that for another 4 or 5 seasons, but....

From the same article:

The draft
One league source insisted the Blackhawks wanted defenseman Kaiden Guhle in the first round. They saw him as the big, puck-dislodging defenseman they needed to complement the smaller guys such as Adam Boqvist and Ian Mitchell. The source believed Montreal was willing to trade down for a third- or fourth-round pick, but that the Blackhawks were told the Canadiens would be taking a forward, not a defenseman. The Habs ended up taking Guhle, so the Blackhawks chose Lukas Reichel, who was the second name on their board.

From me:

If true, Sounds like they could have moved up for not much cost - misinformation cost them their desired pick.

The latest redwings blog sums it all up very well. Finances and senses of lack of talent result in a rebuild year
- TheDrumonMadison

I think the uncertain financial future is playing a big role on the Hawks decision making, and I can’t blame them for that. If we were making decisions based on our millions of dollars we wouldn’t be do quick to sign big dollar long-term contracts.

I like the moves the Hawks made. Sure, there’s a lot more that needs to be done but at least Stan has started to chill away at the teams needs with a physical stay-at-home defenseman and 2 forwards that improve the team’s overall defense.

Stan and the Hawks still have lots of work to do in the long-term, but these moves are a good start (while being somewhat financially responsible).

From The Athletic article getting league input on the Blackhawks’ offseason moves:

League source: “They’re selling Danny Wirtz on the idea that in two or three years, they’ll be competitive again. But I look at what they’ve got, and there are no game-breakers coming.”

From me:

Yeah, they have AdB and Kubalik - supposed 30 goal scorers - some exciting blue-line prospects - but no game-breakers in the prospect pool. Maybe Toews and Keith - probably/certainly Kane - can still provide that for another 4 or 5 seasons, but....
[quote=StLBravesFan]

1) I think Toews and Kane could well be contributing in 2 or 3 years, maybe not at their highest levels, but they will not fall off a cliff.
2) Also you did not mention Dach. I think his game in 2 or 3 years could be very very good.
3) Finally if the Hawks suck the next two seasons they could have very high draft picks (maybe top 5) which could turn into pretty good top 6 players.
4) Finally there is Nylander. (I am not sure if this bullet should be red font or not.)

From The Athletic article getting league input on the Blackhawks’ offseason moves:

League source: “They’re selling Danny Wirtz on the idea that in two or three years, they’ll be competitive again. But I look at what they’ve got, and there are no game-breakers coming.”

From me:

Yeah, they have AdB and Kubalik - supposed 30 goal scorers - some exciting blue-line prospects - but no game-breakers in the prospect pool. Maybe Toews and Keith - probably/certainly Kane - can still provide that for another 4 or 5 seasons, but....

- -Doh-[quote=StLBravesFan]

1) I think Toews and Kane could well be contributing in 2 or 3 years, maybe not at their highest levels, but they will not fall off a cliff.
2) Also you did not mention Dach. I think his game in 2 or 3 years could be very very good.
3) Finally if the Hawks suck the next two seasons they could have very high draft picks (maybe top 5) which could turn into pretty good top 6 players.
4) Finally there is Nylander. (I am not sure if this bullet should be red font or not.)

Toronto has all the game breakers in the world, but if you have no team, the gamebreakers are good for highlight reals, but not for team championship pictures.

Gamebreakers sell seats, but that is a non-issue for at least next season.

Sucess in all sports is about BALANCE throught the lineup. How you achieve that balance has different ways to go about it .... as Theo explained at the start of this blog. Great blog by the way !! Chemistry should factor into the make up of the line up but I can see where if everyone is competing, the team chemistry will be throughout the entire team .... and not just a particular line or defensive pairing

CHL
17h ago

QMJHL suspends play in Quebec because of COVID-19

This.

The league would probably be better of financially shutting down - depending on debt loads, that might be the best way for some franchises to survive.

BUT:

The league can’t shut down in the midst of upcoming (soon, I think) negotiations for new national TV contracts. NBC will need sports programming between the Super Bowl and the Olympics - and that’s the NHL product.

Time for the league to embrace socialism on the revenue side - sharing the meager incoming cash - as well as on the labor side (salary cap and fixed percentage of revenues) - although other than already-shared TV money, I don’t know what’s left to share.

Or - temporarily or permanently - shutting down some franchises.

I do fear for the health of the league.
- StLBravesFan

As like anything since this virus hit, it's all being made up as we go along. I'm sure the players aren't happy either since they aren't getting their full paycheck.

Unfortunately for most people and companies they have to tighten their belts and do without. Maybe they lose a franchise or two but i have a feeling because of the money involved or to be made that all sports franchises will some how get through this.

Toronto has all the game breakers in the world, but if you have no team, the gamebreakers are good for highlight reals, but not for team championship pictures.

Gamebreakers sell seats, but that is a non-issue for at least next season.

I'll go one step further...a well-balanced team will make more gamebreakers. Elevating players that are on the cusp to over the top.

CHL
17h ago

QMJHL suspends play in Quebec because of COVID-19
- LAHawk

Another important issue. Can the Junior leagues and AHL afford to play with no fans? If so, for how long? How does the NHL develop talent? The NHL has LARGE problems right now, and for the foreseeable future.

One way to solve the issues are to allow full stadiums. I know that is sacrilege to some, but there are real costs to locking down.

Ratings are down too. Saw that the Stanley Cup Final viewers were down 61% from the year prior. Partially due to two so-so market teams.

That said, the NBA championship also suffered an over 40 percent drop in viewers too even with the LA market team involved.

Not like we can have large house parties and bar events to watch the games.

These are going to be interesting times. Not sure of a revenue source to replace lost ticket sales... Hate to say this, but what if the Hawks and other teams pulled an old-school Wirtz, broadcast away games and have some type of Hawk-Vision where we pay to see home games for the duration of the empty stadiums... That's just off of the top of my head. I'd hate having to pay, but heck, I'll have to buy the package because I need to watch each game. The Hawks are the only reason I haven't cut the cord yet.