Theo Fox: Blue Collar Men Summaries of the Blackhawks vs Blues and IceHogs vs Admirals games as the Hawks came from behind to win in OT while the Hogs struggled to keep up.

Plus, thoughts on Adam Gaudette and Dylan Strome.

Theo Fox: Blue Collar Men
Summaries of the Blackhawks vs Blues and IceHogs vs Admirals games as the Hawks came from behind to win in OT while the Hogs struggled to keep up.

Plus, thoughts on Adam Gaudette and Dylan Strome.
- Theo Fox

Looks like the great Dylan Strome has worn out his welcome with 3 coaches - Rick Tocchet, JC and now Derek King.

This is on a team with big time offensive dynamos like Carpenter, Hardman, Johnson, Khaira and Kurashev.

Please just dispose of this guy somewhere. There is nothing more to see or hope for. His trade value is about the same as the Persimmon 5 wood and Corey Pavin bullseye putter I have had in the basement for 35 years, but so what, just move him out Mr. Interim G.M.

I hope Gaudette makes it through waivers to the Rock. You can say he is coming back from a long illness. If he is healthy fo the first time in the last few years give him 20 games in the top 6 in the AHL and see what happens. What have you got to lose.

Theo: Secondary scoring is starting to heat up with Jujhar Khaira notching a 4th-liner's garbage goal and Brandon Hagel picking up his 3rd goal in as many games

Me: I think Hagel may have graduated to “primary scorer” on this team - 2nd in goals, 4th in points, on pace for 33 in his 17 games. He likely won’t get there - but who on this team would pass him? Probably (hopefully, since he needs to get going in scoring goals) Kane, you would think Kubalik (but he has 0+4=4 in his last 14 games), apparently not Toews (missed it by “that much” last nite).

I agree Theo.

The 4th line should be three of Khaira, Carpenter, Reese Johnson, Hardman. Entwistle should get some games at the Rock to get back in shape before rejoining the Hawks. But he should center the 4th line when 100%.

Play Strome every game on the 3rd line at least until Tyler Johnson gets back. If he does nothing waive him or take whatever you can get for him after Tyler Johnson returns.

I really like the fact they came back to win after giving up an early goal and getting down 2 goals. And both their goals were greasy ones.
Hoping they get a lift from that and give San Jose a good game.

Dach’s faceoff % is concerning. Basically Debrincat, Dach and Kubalik are starting most shifts trying to get the puck back after losing a faceoff. Surprisingly Strome is 54% at the dot.

Maybe
Hagel Toews Kane
Debrincat Dach T. Johnson(Johnson takes faceoff)
Kurashev/Strome Borgstrum Kubalik
Khaira Johnson Carpenter/Hardman

Actually Hardman and/or R. Johnson need to be at the Rock when T. Johnson comes back, especially if they don’t move Strome.

I really like the fact they came back to win after giving up an early goal and getting down 2 goals. And both their goals were greasy ones.
Hoping they get a lift from that and give San Jose a good game.
- 35Tony0

Didn't get to see the game yesterday but the Hawks have needed more of this kind of scoring going back to when Q was coach.

Saw the highlights and love seeing both those guys rewarded for going to the net.

What a find Hagel's been. Now they need to get a few more guys denting the twine like Toews, Dach and Kubalik...maybe the Borg too now that he's back from Covid protocol.

Attendance was nearly a sellout. Maybe Black Friday. Maybe special ticket packages. But it looks like the “Aldrich issue” and the “Oppressed Indian issue“ will not hamper attendance too much if they put a decent product on the ice.

Attendance was nearly a sellout. Maybe Black Friday. Maybe special ticket packages. But it looks like the “Aldrich issue” and the “Oppressed Indian issue“ will not hamper attendance too much if they put a decent product on the ice.
- Ztra

Day game is the day to take the kids. For people stuck with season tickets paid for two years ago it's a no brainer. Plus the one thing that McD never figured out is to sell tickets all they have to do is win or look good trying. The fans that have always loved the game will be there. But taking them for granted for a decade or so and sucking up to the "be where it's cool to be seen" crowd was always going to go south when the window inevitably closed. Need a solid hockey guy at the top, not a salesman. Hopefully that's going to sink in.

Id love to clone Hagel a few times and get one of him on every line. What a gem he is.

That tip goal was a thing of beauty. We don’t do enough of that. Toews can’t carry the play and create for himself, but I see no reason why he shouldn’t have a few greasy goals. Get to the crease and park it.

Id love to clone Hagel a few times and get one of him on every line. What a gem he is.

That tip goal was a thing of beauty. We don’t do enough of that. Toews can’t carry the play and create for himself, but I see no reason why he shouldn’t have a few greasy goals. Get to the crease and park it.
- Fat_Tony_Amonte

It would be nice to have a few more Hagel's on this team. 8 games in and i can appreciate the focus on defense. Probably why the PP is struggling now, aren't focusing on it in practice now.

Really like King preaching patience to his team and you have to trust the team will get its chances over the course of the game. I believe this trust will grow in each other over time so we will see less of one player trying to do to much which will actually help this team be better.

I have always preached that it’s better to have a good PK than a good PP, their powerplay is now struggling, yet they are winning games. Now if both the PK and PP are both top ten in the league, then you have a for sure playoff team.

That’s the Bruins formula, outstanding special teams, one line that scores, responsible 5 x 5

I have always preached that it’s better to have a good PK than a good PP, their powerplay is now struggling, yet they are winning games. Now if both the PK and PP are both top ten in the league, then you have a for sure playoff team.
- Angotti

Absolutely!! Great team defense and a great penalty kill is what every (minus the 80s Oilers) championship team had in common. And if I have my years right the 2013 or the 2015 Hawks had exceptional penalty killing and a second rate power play and still won it all.

That’s the Bruins formula, outstanding special teams, one line that scores, responsible 5 x 5
- LAHawk

Don't forget near elite goaltending. In fact Rask is quoted today as saying he plans on being ready to play in January. He's been skating for a couple weeks now.

Made a mistake yesterday on Borgstrom. I posted he skated 9:00 when he in fact skated 12:06 with 2:19 of it being PP time. The 9:00 I posted was 5 on 5 TOI. His line with Khaira and Kurashev had a 4-0 shot share, best of the night for CHI. ........

Love it that he's getting consistent 3C minutes. Hopefully that stretches to a 30-40-50 game proper look and evaluation of him. Kid seems to skate with more purpose each game. He has all the tools and size to be a player and if he ends up a legit 3C along with Hagel the Hawks have found two gems on value contracts. Kid might end up what the organIzation hoped Strome would be.

LA, I think Dobber has the games boxscore shortly after the game ends. Click CHI on the "toggle content". https://frozenpool.dobber...&game_type=R&game_num=311

Don't forget near elite goaltending. In fact Rask is quoted today as saying he plans on being ready to play in January. He's been skating for a couple weeks now.

Made a mistake yesterday on Borgstrom. I posted he skated 9:00 when he in fact skated 12:06 with 2:19 of it being PP time. The 9:00 I posted was 5 on 5 TOI. His line with Khaira and Kurashev had a 4-0 shot share, best of the night for CHI. ........

Love it that he's getting consistent 3C minutes. Hopefully that stretches to a 30-40-50 game proper look and evaluation of him. Kid seems to skate with more purpose each game. He has all the tools and size to be a player and if he ends up a legit 3C along with Hagel the Hawks have found two gems on value contracts. Kid might end up what the organIzation hoped Strome would be.

LA, I think Dobber has the games boxscore shortly after the game ends. Click CHI on the "toggle content". https://frozenpool.dobber...&game_type=R&game_num=311
- Mr Ricochet

My worry with him, like any other forward on this team is, don't know if it was a bad line change or what, but it's 2 games in a row he's trailing the forward going to the front of the net, yesterday it was Thomas. If that pass was on the money Blackhawks might of been down 3-0. He has to clean this up if he wants to get minutes from King in the NHL. It happened vs the Flames then all of a sudden 22 is on the same line.

paulr

Theo, about Taige Harding, I think Ricco brought this up before but he’s playing in a Tier 2 Junior league in Alberta. Not sure why? Unless he’s looking to get into College? If not him playing in a second rate Junior leage makes no sense. He should be playing Major Junior or College.

I will keep this as short as possible so as not to confuse.

The CHL (Canada), aka Major Junior, made up of three 20 team leagues, OHL-WHL-QMJHL, are the only jr leagues in the world where if you skate 1 minute of even one practice you lose all NCAA eligibility cuz the players get a stipend.

CJHL (Canada), aka Jr A, and to a lesser extent known as Tier 1 (USHL is known as Tier 1 and the NAHL is known as Tier II both US based leagues). This link may or may not help you. It is written by a Canadian so when they compare leagues IMO it's skewed. https://goaliecoaches.com...g-junior-hockey-path-nhl/

Now Harding. He's playing in the AJHL, Canadian Jr A. Makar came out of that league. Fair to rank that league below Major Junior, USHL, BCHL and NAHL. He was drafted by Fargo of the USHL and decided to stay as a 19 yr old in a much inferior league.

Not a deal breaker to me but a red flag. That was what I posted after he decided to stay in the AJHL. https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/201918/taige-harding

Yrs ago I posted the same concern about Hawk 2014 3rd rd pick Beau Starrett. Drafted by USHL powerhouse Dubuque he decided to stay in the much much much inferior USPHL. Red flag then and a red flag, but not a deal breaker, with Harding. https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/252369/beau-starrett

My worry with him, like any other forward on this team is, don't know if it was a bad line change or what, but it's 2 games in a row he's trailing the forward going to the front of the net, yesterday it was Thomas. If that pass was on the money Blackhawks might of been down 3-0. He has to clean this up if he wants to get minutes from King in the NHL. It happened vs the Flames then all of a sudden 22 is on the same line.
- BetweenTheDots

I see the kid really responsible, leaning towards being below the puck. He's often the 3rd man high in the Ozone. Isolating on him I see him giving up offense for defense although the fancies do not bear that out. It's only been since King has taken over that I've really focused on him though: https://www.naturalstattr...d=8479404&sit=5v5&stype=2

I see the kid really responsible, leaning towards being below the puck. He's often the 3rd man high in the Ozone. Isolating on him I see him giving up offense for defense although the fancies do not bear that out. It's only been since King has taken over that I've really focused on him though: https://www.naturalstattr...d=8479404&sit=5v5&stype=2
- Mr Ricochet

I'm glad you think so Rico, i think King and I see the game similarly, so I'm really curious to see where Borgstrom will be in the line up next game or even an healthy scratch, which won't surprise me.

Gaudette claimed off waivers by Ottawa.

Gaudette claimed off waivers by Ottawa.
- boilermaker100

This paves the way for the Hawks to claim Murray. It makes too much sense not to happen.

Don't forget near elite goaltending. In fact Rask is quoted today as saying he plans on being ready to play in January. He's been skating for a couple weeks now.

Made a mistake yesterday on Borgstrom. I posted he skated 9:00 when he in fact skated 12:06 with 2:19 of it being PP time. The 9:00 I posted was 5 on 5 TOI. His line with Khaira and Kurashev had a 4-0 shot share, best of the night for CHI. ........

Love it that he's getting consistent 3C minutes. Hopefully that stretches to a 30-40-50 game proper look and evaluation of him. Kid seems to skate with more purpose each game. He has all the tools and size to be a player and if he ends up a legit 3C along with Hagel the Hawks have found two gems on value contracts. Kid might end up what the organIzation hoped Strome would be.

LA, I think Dobber has the games boxscore shortly after the game ends. Click CHI on the "toggle content". https://frozenpool.dobber...&game_type=R&game_num=311
- Mr Ricochet

I agree with Borgstrum getting more TOI and more PP time. But why not have him and Dach carry the puck up on the 2nd PP unit instead of Kurashev and Dach on the PP. Borgstrum sees the ice and stickhandles much better than Kurashev.

Gaudette claimed off waivers by Ottawa.
- boilermaker100

Toews Out Sunday for a maintenance day, per the Blackhawks website.
Correction: his maintenance day is for practice today. Apologies.