Theo Fox: Backend Engineering A look at the Blackhawks defensemen as the offseason idles before the ramp up to training camp next month.

Plus, thoughts on Mike Hardman and the IceHogs blueline depth.

Hope the skies have been friendly for you lately, Ogi

On paper, the defense will definitely be better than last year, with the added bonus of buying time for the young'uns to develop their skills in the AHL longer.

Praying for Troy Murray and the family and friends of Tony O.
Still awed by his fifteen shutout season!

I like the Hardman signing. A great Cap hit and should be a solid 4th line guy. I like the way our bottom 6 is rounding out. Great speed...a bit of grit, even a touch of scoring. If Johnson in on the 3rd line we have Johnson, Hardman, Hagel, Kurachev as 4 guys I think can make up 4 of the 6 spots and bring a lot of what we need. Sprinkle in a Borgstrome, Khaira, Carpenter (not so much), Connolly and Gaudette and the bottom 6 look much more solid than last year.

Thanks Theo. On paper the Hawks bottom six should be better, the defense should be better with the additions of Jones and McCabe, the top six should be better with Toews and a full year of Dach, and the goaltending should be better as well with MAF. This team will be an interesting watch this season, I’m looking forward to see what Borgstrom and Gaudette bring this year as well. My only disappointment is Stan giving up next year’s first, but that’s water under the bridge.

Angotti:

With the new players on defense plus Murphy and deHahn (when he plays due to injuries or not yet traded), think they will listen and should be more adept in Collitin's system. If the team defense resembles last year with rookies constantly attempting stretch passes and firwardscoutvof position on break outs, I bet Colliton gets warned to fix it or else he is fired.

Kalynuk is much farther advanced and able to play effectively in the NHL than the other prospecteams

If it comes down to C Jones and Kalynuk, I will guess that C Jones is only a third calibre and Kalynuk eventually might earn or take his job.

35

we make the playoffs and do some damage in the post season if: 3 of these 4 score 20 goals next year. nylander, Borgstrom, Gaudette, Toews. we get .920 from MAF, and Mcabb stays healthy and 2 of these 3 make a nice step forward Wyatt, stillman Caleb.

we miss the payoffs if MAF does .910, Mcabb is not healthy, We are bottom .25 in draws and we have very little secondary scoring.

the top is what Im hoping for the bottom is what Im worried about? any thoughts.

also I would say that some of these big D deals. I wonder if ZAD gets closer to 5mil then 4 in ARB. might have been a great move to Q him and then trade him. still think we should have Q suter and then traded him but Im sure we tried to before without any luck. hard to believe a guy that got 3.5 for 2 years did not have any value.

Thanks Theo. On paper the Hawks bottom six should be better, the defense should be better with the additions of Jones and McCabe, the top six should be better with Toews and a full year of Dach, and the goaltending should be better as well with MAF. This team will be an interesting watch this season, I’m looking forward to see what Borgstrom and Gaudette bring this year as well. My only disappointment is Stan giving up next year’s first, but that’s water under the bridge.
- Angotti

I agree the team should be significantly harder to play against, better defensively and with more scoring potential. It still bothers me that the rebuild was abandoned for a quick fix but as you say, that’s water under the bridge. Hopefully Bowman, or whomever, can find a way to continue adding pieces to build a contender.

I believe a lot of Canadians out there think Dryden was the best goalie in the 72 summit series but truth be told it was Espo with a 3,25 GAA two Canada MVP (games 2 and 5 ) and the critical game 7 win . A true gentleman and legend R.I.P. Tony 0

Watch "Canadian ad - Miller Lite" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/eV8JCQBTPo0

Looking over the stats, Hamilton, Fox, Makar really benefit from PP points. Fox scored basically half is points vs Flyers and Sabres.

Hockey reference has this neat all situation buttons, 5 on 5, even strength and so on.

Looking at Heiskanen stats can one say Seguin being hurt had an effect on his point total? Absolutely, don't think it's a surprise Jones numbers dropped on the PP with Panarin leaving.

At even strength its remarkable how all these dmen stats are similar to one another.

Going back to Tony O, I grew up in the town where he lived (Elmhurst). This morning, been sharing some great stories with friends who had interactions with him over the years--while active and in retirement. Each story depicts how great a person he was with the rest of the community.

Hawks PP flatlined when Shaw got hurt. No one they tried could play the bumper position adequately. Hawks need to find someone good at puck retrieval, and willing to crash the net for screens and rebounds. The best one after Shaw was Soderberg. Instead of Kurashev on PP2, they should try him as a bumper on PP1. Only problem is that Kurashev is a left hander, and with Kane with the puck most times when the Hawks have control, a right handed shot would give another one time option from the slot besides the cross ice to ADB play.

Hawks PP flatlined when Shaw got hurt. No one they tried could play the bumper position adequately. Hawks need to find someone good at puck retrieval, and willing to crash the net for screens and rebounds. The best one after Shaw was Soderberg. Instead of Kurashev on PP2, they should try him as a bumper on PP1. Only problem is that Kurashev is a left hander, and with Kane with the puck most times when the Hawks have control, a right handed shot would give another one time option from the slot besides the cross ice to ADB play.
- LAHawk

Isn't Tyler Johnson a rightie?

Isn't Tyler Johnson a rightie?
- tvetter

Not a puck retriever or someone to crash the net. As un-Shaw like as you can get.

Watch "Canadian ad - Miller Lite" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/eV8JCQBTPo0
- BetweenTheDots

Great find. I always liked those old masks for that reason, you knew who the goalie was in net. Today's masks, while nice artwork, is hard to see on TV.

Not a puck retriever or someone to crash the net. As un-Shaw like as you can get.
- LAHawk

I doubt they do it but Seth Jones is a rightly and he has great eye hand coordination

But then again i remember Keith having a try out in that position, or maybe just maybe Dach becomes the guy.

Watch "Canadian ad - Miller Lite" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/eV8JCQBTPo0
- BetweenTheDots

Classic. Totally had forgotten about that one

Hawks PP flatlined when Shaw got hurt. No one they tried could play the bumper position adequately. Hawks need to find someone good at puck retrieval, and willing to crash the net for screens and rebounds. The best one after Shaw was Soderberg. Instead of Kurashev on PP2, they should try him as a bumper on PP1. Only problem is that Kurashev is a left hander, and with Kane with the puck most times when the Hawks have control, a right handed shot would give another one time option from the slot besides the cross ice to ADB play.
- LAHawk

Three possible options (one that will make Ogi's head explode):

Gaudette - Added heft and incentive to play well may be just what is needed.
Connolly - He's had a couple of seasons with four goals on the PP
Nylander - Maybe it will force him to be more assertive?

Hawks PP flatlined when Shaw got hurt. No one they tried could play the bumper position adequately. Hawks need to find someone good at puck retrieval, and willing to crash the net for screens and rebounds. The best one after Shaw was Soderberg. Instead of Kurashev on PP2, they should try him as a bumper on PP1. Only problem is that Kurashev is a left hander, and with Kane with the puck most times when the Hawks have control, a right handed shot would give another one time option from the slot besides the cross ice to ADB play.
- LAHawk

Personally I’m more interested to see the hawks improve their defensive play and penalty killing and worry about the offensive game and power play down the road. Build the team on solid defense.

Hawks PP flatlined when Shaw got hurt. No one they tried could play the bumper position adequately. Hawks need to find someone good at puck retrieval, and willing to crash the net for screens and rebounds. The best one after Shaw was Soderberg. Instead of Kurashev on PP2, they should try him as a bumper on PP1. Only problem is that Kurashev is a left hander, and with Kane with the puck most times when the Hawks have control, a right handed shot would give another one time option from the slot besides the cross ice to ADB play.
- LAHawk

Personally I’m more interested to see the hawks improve their defensive play and penalty killing and worry about the offensive game and power play down the road. Build the team on solid defense.

Hawks PP flatlined when Shaw got hurt. No one they tried could play the bumper position adequately. Hawks need to find someone good at puck retrieval, and willing to crash the net for screens and rebounds. The best one after Shaw was Soderberg. Instead of Kurashev on PP2, they should try him as a bumper on PP1. Only problem is that Kurashev is a left hander, and with Kane with the puck most times when the Hawks have control, a right handed shot would give another one time option from the slot besides the cross ice to ADB play.
- LAHawk

Personally I’m more interested to see the hawks improve their defensive play and penalty killing and worry about the offensive game and power play down the road. Build the team on solid defense.

Personally I’m more interested to see the hawks improve their defensive play and penalty killing and worry about the offensive game and power play down the road. Build the team on solid defense.
- paulr

Boy, you really are interested in defensive play and penalty killing.