Theo Fox: Edit Profile A look at how a powerful tool like a hiring profile can serve the Blackhawks well as they search for a head coach and even select the "best player available" in the entry draft.

FIRST! Barry would be a good hire, wonder what the veterans would think?

If the focus is an up tempo, fast, offensive game like KD has advertised, Trott will NOT be the next head coach of the Blackhawks. Just reading the tea leaves there.

Having said that, the Hawks would greatly benefit by Trotz's defensive system if they did bring him in

Thanks for another great write-up Theo!

KD is a man with a plan, let’s hope he sticks to it rather than pulling a Stan and tries to rush the rebuild.

How are people feeling about the draft lottery today? Any predictions? I’ll got with: #1 Detroit and #2 Chicago.

Thanks for another great write-up Theo!

KD is a man with a plan, let’s hope he sticks to it rather than pulling a Stan and tries to rush the rebuild.

How are people feeling about the draft lottery today? Any predictions? I’ll got with: #1 Detroit and #2 Chicago.
- DarthKane

Well this will be proof if Bettman "needs" Chicago to be a viable franchise for the league or not. Just like he shaped the course for the Penguins, he has the chance to do the same for the Blackhawks. They CANNOT get the #1 or #2 this draft, period!

Thanks for another great write-up Theo!

KD is a man with a plan, let’s hope he sticks to it rather than pulling a Stan and tries to rush the rebuild.

How are people feeling about the draft lottery today? Any predictions? I’ll got with: #1 Detroit and #2 Chicago.
- DarthKane

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl

A half-dozen spins on the sim and the Hawks held or moved down each time. Your mileage may vary.

AS FOR DRAFT LOTTERY TONIGHT . MAYBE BETTER IF HAWKS DON'T GET IT THIS YEAR , BUT GET IT NEXT YEAR . MY UNDERSTANDING IS NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE A DEEPER DRAFT. BESIDE IF KANE AND TOEWS ARE TRADED . YOU CAN BET WE WILL BE IN THE BOTTOM 3 IN THE LEAGUE NEXT YEAR

Thanks for another great write-up Theo!

KD is a man with a plan, let’s hope he sticks to it rather than pulling a Stan and tries to rush the rebuild.

How are people feeling about the draft lottery today? Any predictions? I’ll got with: #1 Detroit and #2 Chicago.
- DarthKane

I'm going #1 Seattle and #2 Phoenix. Let's see how it goes.

We all know if they Hawks get the second pick this year, CBJ will end up the winners of the Bedard lottery next year.

In anticipation of the draft, I did a little exercise and came up with this lineup:

Panarin Kyrou Kucherov
Debrincat Batherson Guentzel
Gaudreau Trocheck Rust
Marchand Bergeron Stone

Letang D. Towes
Fox Slavin
Faulk Klingberg

Sorokin
Jarry

I think this team would be a really good one, and I feel there are elite players on it. I also feel they could easily vie for a Stanley cup. The other thing about this team is that no player on it was drafted in the 1st round. I also left off some really good players from it too. I suspect you could also make a team of 1st rounders that would be worse than the yotes.

My point is: you don't need a ton of 1st round draft picks to build a good team or find game-breaking talent. Panarin is a game-breaker, and he wasn't even drafted. Bergeron has been for years arguably one of the best centers in the game, and he was taken in the second.

What you do need is a good scouting department and a GM willing to listen/work with that department. I suspect that for years the Hawks amateur scouting department has been bad, and the scouts who were good were not listened to. Hopefully, that has changed with KD, if not, it doesn't matter who we trade for how-many-1sts, this team won't get any better. We'll simply be Buffalo, but with more history.

Thanks Theo. On the last blog, Rick mentioned that he didn’t have a clue how Fox won a Norris, I just want to say that I second that. How can a guy that is a train wreck in his own zone win the Norris? That’s inconceivable. Josi is also not very good in his own end. Obviously Hedman is the real deal , and as far as Cale Makar is concerned, the guy is just spectacular, best offensive defenseman in the NHL, and unlike Fox and Josi, he’s very adequate in his own end. IMHO, Makar will not only win a Norris or two, he will also win a Hart in the near future.

I vote for Malcolm Subban to replace Corneloson as anthem singer, and practice goalie.

Big results tonight which will decide who will be one of a few key pieces of the new team.

One piece of feedback that I’m sure many are experiencing. This website’s performance has always been an extremely poor experience, but the constant shifting after initial load for ads and other bugs has been out of hand. There has been consistent crashes and reloads of URLs which I suspect is intended as it artificially inflates page views for more advertising revenue for site owners.

For such great content we’re lucky to have in the Hawks boards, this site’s owners and webmasters work has only resulted in worse performance for users.

Anyone do a wellness check on our buddy VopatsRush?

Are they hanging another banner this year for playoff qualifier?

AS FOR DRAFT LOTTERY TONIGHT . MAYBE BETTER IF HAWKS DON'T GET IT THIS YEAR , BUT GET IT NEXT YEAR . MY UNDERSTANDING IS NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE A DEEPER DRAFT. BESIDE IF KANE AND TOEWS ARE TRADED . YOU CAN BET WE WILL BE IN THE BOTTOM 3 IN THE LEAGUE NEXT YEAR
- Ging72

I wish I could respond to you using extremely small font so as you would have to strain your eyes trying to read it..... I could hear ya now "speak Up I cant Hear you"

Thanks Theo. On the last blog, Rick mentioned that he didn’t have a clue how Fox won a Norris, I just want to say that I second that. How can a guy that is a train wreck in his own zone win the Norris? That’s inconceivable. Josi is also not very good in his own end. Obviously Hedman is the real deal , and as far as Cale Makar is concerned, the guy is just spectacular, best offensive defenseman in the NHL, and unlike Fox and Josi, he’s very adequate in his own end. IMHO, Makar will not only win a Norris or two, he will also win a Hart in the near future.
- Angotti

Eric Karlsson won the norris I believe one year.....think it was TheTrob who suggested 2 defensive trophies...1. for best offensive D man (Bobby Orr memorial) 2. best defensive d man

And I'd like to offer a 3rd for the biggest POS D man and call that the annual Boris Mironov trophy

Eric Karlsson won the norris I believe one year.....think it was TheTrob who suggested 2 defensive trophies...1. for best offensive D man (Bobby Orr memorial) 2. best defensive d man

And I'd like to offer a 3rd for the biggest POS D man and call that the annual Boris Mironov trophy
- SteveRain

I would call it the Gustafsson

Eric Karlsson won the norris I believe one year.....think it was TheTrob who suggested 2 defensive trophies...1. for best offensive D man (Bobby Orr memorial) 2. best defensive d man

And I'd like to offer a 3rd for the biggest POS D man and call that the annual Boris Mironov trophy
- SteveRain

Kapotsov Award if Foley had a vote to name it.

Eric Karlsson won the norris I believe one year.....think it was TheTrob who suggested 2 defensive trophies...1. for best offensive D man (Bobby Orr memorial) 2. best defensive d man

And I'd like to offer a 3rd for the biggest POS D man and call that the annual Boris Mironov trophy
- SteveRain

There was a great article in the Athletic about why its a shame that Charlie McAvoy will never win a Norris. They mentioned that so many of the winners are at or near the top in defenseman scoring, but also not so great in their own zone. Guys like McAvoy who play a great all around game, or guys who are shut-down D but don't score a ton just don't have a chance.

Karlsson has won the Norris 2 times. Josi has one and he is a nightmare in his own end

Thanks Theo. On the last blog, Rick mentioned that he didn’t have a clue how Fox won a Norris, I just want to say that I second that. How can a guy that is a train wreck in his own zone win the Norris? That’s inconceivable. Josi is also not very good in his own end. Obviously Hedman is the real deal , and as far as Cale Makar is concerned, the guy is just spectacular, best offensive defenseman in the NHL, and unlike Fox and Josi, he’s very adequate in his own end. IMHO, Makar will not only win a Norris or two, he will also win a Hart in the near future.
- Angotti

It's only been this way for the last fifty years. Totally understandable why you and others are surprised by it though.

Thanks for another great write-up Theo!

KD is a man with a plan, let’s hope he sticks to it rather than pulling a Stan and tries to rush the rebuild.

How are people feeling about the draft lottery today? Any predictions? I’ll go with: #1 Detroit and #2 Chicago.
- DarthKane

Vegas #1, Seattle #2.

In anticipation of the draft, I did a little exercise and came up with this lineup:

Panarin Kyrou Kucherov
Debrincat Batherson Guentzel
Gaudreau Trocheck Rust
Marchand Bergeron Stone

Letang D. Towes
Fox Slavin
Faulk Klingberg

Sorokin
Jarry

I think this team would be a really good one, and I feel there are elite players on it. I also feel they could easily vie for a Stanley cup. The other thing about this team is that no player on it was drafted in the 1st round. I also left off some really good players from it too. I suspect you could also make a team of 1st rounders that would be worse than the yotes.

My point is: you don't need a ton of 1st round draft picks to build a good team or find game-breaking talent. Panarin is a game-breaker, and he wasn't even drafted. Bergeron has been for years arguably one of the best centers in the game, and he was taken in the second.

What you do need is a good scouting department and a GM willing to listen/work with that department. I suspect that for years the Hawks amateur scouting department has been bad, and the scouts who were good were not listened to. Hopefully, that has changed with KD, if not, it doesn't matter who we trade for how-many-1sts, this team won't get any better. We'll simply be Buffalo, but with more history.
- Jance

By definition that's true. The odds are 6-1 lumping all FA's as a #6 pick.

It's only been this way for the last fifty years. Totally understandable why you and others are surprised by it though.
- GPHawksfan

I understand, doesn’t mean I agree with it.

In anticipation of the draft, I did a little exercise and came up with this lineup:

Panarin Kyrou Kucherov
Debrincat Batherson Guentzel
Gaudreau Trocheck Rust
Marchand Bergeron Stone

Letang D. Towes
Fox Slavin
Faulk Klingberg

Sorokin
Jarry

I think this team would be a really good one, and I feel there are elite players on it. I also feel they could easily vie for a Stanley cup. The other thing about this team is that no player on it was drafted in the 1st round. I also left off some really good players from it too. I suspect you could also make a team of 1st rounders that would be worse than the yotes.

My point is: you don't need a ton of 1st round draft picks to build a good team or find game-breaking talent. Panarin is a game-breaker, and he wasn't even drafted. Bergeron has been for years arguably one of the best centers in the game, and he was taken in the second.

What you do need is a good scouting department and a GM willing to listen/work with that department. I suspect that for years the Hawks amateur scouting department has been bad, and the scouts who were good were not listened to. Hopefully, that has changed with KD, if not, it doesn't matter who we trade for how-many-1sts, this team won't get any better. We'll simply be Buffalo, but with more history.
- Jance

great point drafting well and nit going hit on every draft pick but trust scouts the information and the analytics. Hawks don't the first 2 pick due the black eye they put on themselves and the league. Most likely 6-8 is where they end up imo. I could see the hawks getting a top 3 pick in the next two drafts the league needs chicago Blackhawks in the playoffs along with the red wings.

Thanks Theo. On the last blog, Rick mentioned that he didn’t have a clue how Fox won a Norris, I just want to say that I second that. How can a guy that is a train wreck in his own zone win the Norris? That’s inconceivable. Josi is also not very good in his own end. Obviously Hedman is the real deal , and as far as Cale Makar is concerned, the guy is just spectacular, best offensive defenseman in the NHL, and unlike Fox and Josi, he’s very adequate in his own end. IMHO, Makar will not only win a Norris or two, he will also win a Hart in the near future.
- Angotti

Well his d partner was literally skating in circles, i think it was the 3rd goal against, in the defensive end, Braun is brutal reminds me a lot of Murphy, he was so bad they put Miller with Fox in the 3rd period

Well, how can this be? I thought he was no good!

Seth Jones was named captain of Team USA, while Nate Schmidt and Austin Watson were tabbed alternate captains.