Oh I know, change the coach, play a zone defense, Stanley Cup finals here we come
- LAHawk

No, change everything. Who has been defending this roster?

To funny surprised they aren't worried about his BP?
- BetweenTheDots

Easy there Dots. Don’t get on my bad side. I know people. I’ll get KD to extend Gus if you’re not careful. 🤣

Easy there Dots. Don’t get on my bad side. I know people. I’ll get KD to extend Gus if you’re not careful. 🤣
- Chunk

Hahaha, it's all a poop show now. I'll be rooting for KD, hope he's the man for the job. There's a part of me though, sinister part, to see them qualify 8

Hahaha, it's all a poop show now. I'll be rooting for KD, hope he's the man for the job. There's a part of me though, sinister part, to see them qualify 8
- BetweenTheDots

Thanks Dots, there went my BP

Wagon Wheel was more of a figure skating rink than hockey. Olympian Janet Lynn came out of there. I don’t remember the Cardinals. I skated there, but my recollection was it was during the summer.
- scottak

The Cardinals played in the winter. They would invite other semi-pro teams and some college teams in for friday night and saturday night games. They'd all stay at the Wagon Wheel and hit the bar after the game along with some of the fans. That was a better show than the games.

One weekend they had Michigan Tech in Rockton for a weekend. It was after Tony Esposito played at Tech. The Cardinal coach tells the guys they're kids, run em all night and kick their asses. So one guy starts on a kid and the kid kicks his ass so bad he stopped half way through and asked "we done fighting yet?" Cardinal player says F you and the kid goes to town some more. They had to help the guy off the ice. And Tech beat them bad both games. The kid who kicked ass? Some kid named Phil Russell. Yep, that Phil Russell.

Found this about the IceHogs and Rockton.

https://roscoenews.com/g/...gon-wheel-cardinals-night

Oh I know, change the coach, play a zone defense, Stanley Cup finals here we come
- LAHawk

Well maybe not- but at least it sort of stops the female doging about running around in the D zone without at least some sort of basis for how it's supposed to be working.

On the other hand, er, it is kind of basic hockey and I don't imagine that pro- level offenses haven't worked out the zone about a million years ago.

Found this about the IceHogs and Rockton.

https://roscoenews.com/g/...gon-wheel-cardinals-night
- boilermaker100

Thanks for this. Brought back memories.

Cut bait, 8 no longer has a role. At 4 mil it just seems to be rewarding whatever he's become and sets a bad precedent.
- SC116

I think they can get something "better" with the $4M+ if they want to go shopping...

And what do they do with the other RFA with arb. rights Kubalik. Do you give him the one year at $4 mil. or cut bait. You aren't getting anything for him in the off-season if you couldn't at the trade deadline. If anything his play has regressed since then.
- LAHawk

At this stage I think you offer him 2.5 and say try not to suck. If he demands a QO then you probably let him walk at this point.

Raddysh looks like a more useful player and if Kubalik isn't getting the minutes or opportunity to pound in one timers then whats the point?

I am all for winning the lottery. But given a choice I would like winning the lottery next year more than winning the lottery this year.
- Ztra

Meh, take it where you can get it. If they could find a way to get a few more picks in next years draft that would be neat as well.

I think the value of getting firsts from competing teams for the 2023 draft is that it will be deep so picking in the top 10 isn't necessarily relevant but if they could get 4 picks between 15 and 50 then that would be where the real value is.

Was at the game last night and said the exact same thing. At this point if you don't realize the difference Crawford, Lehner and Fleury made while on this team you just aren't paying attention.

This defense is atrocious. Of the 6 on the ice last night, sure, S.Jones deserves a spot and there are some things I see in Vlassic that I like, but not one tear will be shed if and when the others are gone.

Lastly, S. Jones has to be one of the least noticeable #1D in the league. He is average at best in his own zone, and isn't really a difference maker in the offensive zone.
- TheTrob

Yeah until they have 3 other top 4 defensemen to support Jones and a certifiable NHL caliber goalie....not a lot to get worked up about.

I would hope Jones is better than Campbell offensively and defensively, but this year has been rough. Needs to be better for sure.

At this stage I think you offer him 2.5 and say try not to suck. If he demands a QO then you probably let him walk at this point.

Raddysh looks like a more useful player and if Kubalik isn't getting the minutes or opportunity to pound in one timers then whats the point?
- fattybeef

I'd pump the breaks on Raddysh a bit. He had 2 horrendous shifts back to back in the 3rd where he was exposed playing with Kane and DeBrincat. Threw a pass well behind DeBrincat for an easy zone exit, and then had a quick tic-tac-toe play where the puck literally exploded off his stick entering the zone and another possession killer. Way early....but there is a reason Tampa gave up on him early. Lets see if he can become a depth scorer ie...top 9 f.

I think they can get something "better" with the $4M+ if they want to go shopping...

- rpeters01

100% agreed.

Very curious to see what they do with 17. Don't see how you can hitch your wagon to a guy who has been inconsistent way too often....but I don't think it's worth not resigning him. perfect world you sign him for 1-2 years on a prove it deal.

Rest of it...we have been through. Curious to see what Davidson's plan is regarding 12/88/19 and others.

100% agreed.

Very curious to see what they do with 17. Don't see how you can hitch your wagon to a guy who has been inconsistent way too often....but I don't think it's worth not resigning him. perfect world you sign him for 1-2 years on a prove it deal.

Rest of it...we have been through. Curious to see what Davidson's plan is regarding 12/88/19 and others.
- SteveRain

I think 2 of them will be gone this offseason. IMO. that is the only way we can get better and get back to contending in 3-4 years. we could have done the mini blowup but the jones trade set us back 2 years. Cat is going to want a 9 mil deal after this contract is up and that really makes no sense on a rebuilding team. He also does not seem to effect the game as much as a 40 goal scorer typically does. So I think you have to end up over paying for PP goals and empty netters. In all honesty I trade all 3 and Murph and try to speed up the rebuild along with take on more bad contracts for more assets.

100% agreed.

Very curious to see what they do with 17. Don't see how you can hitch your wagon to a guy who has been inconsistent way too often....but I don't think it's worth not resigning him. perfect world you sign him for 1-2 years on a prove it deal.

Rest of it...we have been through. Curious to see what Davidson's plan is regarding 12/88/19 and others.
- SteveRain

It is interesting when he came over he had some success then disappeared. I appreciate JC not handing him a position he's a much better hockey player than last year. Better at faceoffs, defensively, along the boards, in front of the net, plays faster with the puck, personally I'd try to sign him to a 3 year deal, because if he gets stronger he's really going to be a good center in this league. If he was able to play up i think we would of witnessed it the last time his contract was ending, but he sure didn't. Since the new year almost a point per game player and you won't have to pay him as one.

I know many are down on Dach but this is where patience comes in with taller young players. I think it also can be encouraging for Dach to see the once healthy scratched Strome having more and more success in the NHL and motivate him to work hard in the offseason.

I think 2 of them will be gone this offseason. IMO. that is the only way we can get better and get back to contending in 3-4 years. we could have done the mini blowup but the jones trade set us back 2 years. Cat is going to want a 9 mil deal after this contract is up and that really makes no sense on a rebuilding team. He also does not seem to effect the game as much as a 40 goal scorer typically does. So I think you have to end up over paying for PP goals and empty netters. In all honesty I trade all 3 and Murph and try to speed up the rebuild along with take on more bad contracts for more assets.
- kmw4631

I think Kane and Debrincat will be back. I am 100% in favor whoever they can and restock picks and prospects to get this rolling quicker but alas....gotta sell tickets and have people tune in.

It is interesting when he came over he had some success then disappeared. I appreciate JC not handing him a position he's a much better hockey player than last year. Better at faceoffs, defensively, along the boards, in front of the net, plays faster with the puck, personally I'd try to sign him to a 3 year deal, because if he gets stronger he's really going to be a good center in this league. If he was able to play up i think we would of witnessed it the last time his contract was ending, but he sure didn't. Since the new year almost a point per game player and you won't have to pay him as one.

I know many are down on Dach but this is where patience comes in with taller young players. I think it also can be encouraging for Dach to see the once healthy scratched Strome having more and more success in the NHL and motivate him to work hard in the offseason.
- BetweenTheDots

I can't see the justification going past 2 years for Strome....I agree he's been better but is he one of those guys where when the team is burried he starts producing? I want to see him get off to a start when this team is still mathematically alive. Give him 2 years....tops. You go 3 years and he morphs back into maddening Strome and you have this guy for another 2 seasons where he is shopped, scratched, etc. Been there done that.

We all better pray Dach becomes something because rebuilding teams can't whiff on 3rd overall picks.

I can't see the justification going past 2 years for Strome....I agree he's been better but is he one of those guys where when the team is burried he starts producing? I want to see him get off to a start when this team is still mathematically alive. Give him 2 years....tops. You go 3 years and he morphs back into maddening Strome and you have this guy for another 2 seasons where he is shopped, scratched, etc. Been there done that.

We all better pray Dach becomes something because rebuilding teams can't whiff on 3rd overall picks.
- SteveRain

Meh, didn't really get a chance early this year plus he's young and perhaps just figuring out the way he "wanted" to play didn't work and now is playing the way he should play? Don't want to see a guy with his size and ability end up an all star for somebody else. He may be open to two years but probably not at what we want to pay him. Don't be surprised if he goes arbitration.

I can't see the justification going past 2 years for Strome....I agree he's been better but is he one of those guys where when the team is burried he starts producing? I want to see him get off to a start when this team is still mathematically alive. Give him 2 years....tops. You go 3 years and he morphs back into maddening Strome and you have this guy for another 2 seasons where he is shopped, scratched, etc. Been there done that.

We all better pray Dach becomes something because rebuilding teams can't whiff on 3rd overall picks.
- SteveRain

I guess we'll see with Strome, but Tallon did say confidence plays a big role in the success of a hockey player.

Dach is still to slow to process the speed of the game, once that happens, thankfully that hasn't happened prior to his contract ending, gets stronger, he's got so much skill, i have more faith in him actually being a more effective top 6 center than Strome.

I can't see the justification going past 2 years for Strome....I agree he's been better but is he one of those guys where when the team is burried he starts producing? I want to see him get off to a start when this team is still mathematically alive. Give him 2 years....tops. You go 3 years and he morphs back into maddening Strome and you have this guy for another 2 seasons where he is shopped, scratched, etc. Been there done that.

We all better pray Dach becomes something because rebuilding teams can't whiff on 3rd overall picks.
- SteveRain

Dach was drafted before the rebuild began.

Dach was drafted before the rebuild began.
- rpeters01

Think at that point they were still rebuilding before doing the 180 this past summer, only to be rebuilding again........

I guess we'll see with Strome, but Tallon did say confidence plays a big role in the success of a hockey player.

Dach is still to slow to process the speed of the game, once that happens, thankfully that hasn't happened prior to his contract ending, gets stronger, he's got so much skill, i have more faith in him actually being a more effective top 6 center than Strome.
- BetweenTheDots

So what's the magic number of games of played for Dach to be still "developing"

I am just curious as it seems to be a moving target....

Meh, didn't really get a chance early this year plus he's young and perhaps just figuring out the way he "wanted" to play didn't work and now is playing the way he should play? Don't want to see a guy with his size and ability end up an all star for somebody else. He may be open to two years but probably not at what we want to pay him. Don't be surprised if he goes arbitration.

- rpeters01

All star?

Nah....not yet. Remember when he did this, had a great run after first arriving here...and then......nothing. Only to have another great run after his old coach was fired and he played with a chip on his shoulder?

That's my issue with Strome. Only when he gets a chip on his shoulder does he play well....otherwise he's far too inconsistent to be a piece you build around. Lets see him produce when he knows he's safe, and content. Then I'll start to buy in...but until then, I have seen this show before with him.

Agree, 5 x 5 the Strome (erie otters) line was by far the best

When the Erie Otters line of Alex DeBrincat, Taylor Raddysh and Dylan Strome were on the ice at even strength, the Blackhawks led in shot attempts (10-5), shots on goal (4-1) and scoring chances (6-1) through two periods. They didn't need much time to rekindle that chemistry.

Interesting that it appears Strome can be good away from Kane also
- LAHawk

This is my biggest problem with the Hawks. Line juggling worked during the cup years because it was the same main guys year in year out.

It does not work when no one has chemistry together. There is a reason Dcat and Strome look good together and duh a reason why adding Raddysh makes it even better. They all played in Jrs and prob roomed together, etc.

Chemistry matters so much in team sports.