Good news on the injury front. Paul Ludwinski back playing for Kingston in the OHL after being out with a concussion for 5 1/2 weeks suffered in a rookie tourney.

Scott Wheeler has an article in the Athletic.

Nothing really new here, but interesting read coming from outside the Chicago bubble

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...c-rebuild-pushes-forward/

We've got to get out of that 29th draft position (as per tankathon).
- 67hawks

Hey, at least the western conference finals could be fun

Hey, at least the western conference finals could be fun
- Hawkeynation

Hawks win tonight they are in first in the division.

Haven't seen a Hogs game, but aren't the Hawks grooming Reichel to be a center? If so, I would leave him down at Rockford until a center spot opens up.
- LAHawk

Reichel has been playing 1C for the Hogs and still by far the best player on the team.

The veteran forwards like Sikura, Seney, Philp, and Gust have provided strong top 6 play and productivity to complement Reichel.

Teply has been okay. Active and competing but just not much results yet.

Although he was scratched for a game, Galvas has been the best all-around defenseman IMO. Smart plays, fundamentally sound, good escapability with the puck.

Vlasic has been impressive when he's on his game but needs consistency like how it is for most prospects. He has excellent ability to get to pucks right away in his end and get it moving the other way. His size and reach help in that regard.

Regula and Phillips definitely have great skill sets for 3-zone play but need to be consistent like Vlasic. Expect Regula to heat up offensively especially on the PP.

Crevier is raw. Decent compete level. It's early as he gets his bearings to keep up with the pro rigor, physicality, and speed.

Reichel has been playing 1C for the Hogs and still by far the best player on the team.

The veteran forwards like Sikura, Seney, Philp, and Gust have provided strong top 6 play and productivity to complement Reichel.

Teply has been okay. Active and competing but just not much results yet.

Although he was scratched for a game, Galvas has been the best all-around defenseman IMO. Smart plays, fundamentally sound, good escapability with the puck.

Vlasic has been impressive when he's on his game but needs consistency like how it is for most prospects. He has excellent ability to get to pucks right away in his end and get it moving the other way. His size and reach help in that regard.

Regula and Phillips definitely have great skill sets for 3-zone play but need to be consistent like Vlasic. Expect Regula to heat up offensively especially on the PP.

Crevier is raw. Decent compete level. It's early as he gets his bearings to keep up with the pro rigor, physicality, and speed.
- Theo Fox

It made sense to bring back Sikura if it's all about getting Reichel ready for the Show.

Reichel has been playing 1C for the Hogs and still by far the best player on the team.

The veteran forwards like Sikura, Seney, Philp, and Gust have provided strong top 6 play and productivity to complement Reichel.

Teply has been okay. Active and competing but just not much results yet.

Although he was scratched for a game, Galvas has been the best all-around defenseman IMO. Smart plays, fundamentally sound, good escapability with the puck.

Vlasic has been impressive when he's on his game but needs consistency like how it is for most prospects. He has excellent ability to get to pucks right away in his end and get it moving the other way. His size and reach help in that regard.

Regula and Phillips definitely have great skill sets for 3-zone play but need to be consistent like Vlasic. Expect Regula to heat up offensively especially on the PP.

Crevier is raw. Decent compete level. It's early as he gets his bearings to keep up with the pro rigor, physicality, and speed.
- Theo Fox

Hey Theo! Thanks for popping in. Did you get a decent viewing of Soderblom? I'm intrigued, but don't really know what he is as a player.

Trap game for the Oilers.

They beat the Blues in STL last night, and travel to Calgary to play the Flames Saturday night on HNIC.

If the Oil are ever going to take a game off, this would be the one.

Nothing really new here, but interesting read coming from outside the Chicago bubble

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...c-rebuild-pushes-forward/
- LAHawk

Yes, the White Sox are a cautionary tale. Great article.

Hey Theo! Thanks for popping in. Did you get a decent viewing of Soderblom? I'm intrigued, but don't really know what he is as a player.
- Chunk

Soderblom still has a good trajectory despite riding pine right now for the Hawks due to the Mrazek injury. Hopefully he gets a game or two in the NHL before getting sent down again.

In the AHL, though, I do like Soderblom's mechanics and composure. What I hope he does less of which can get him into trouble is playing too deep in his crease. He's got the size and mobility to not have to do that.

Trap game for the Oilers.

They beat the Blues in STL last night, and travel to Calgary to play the Flames Saturday night on HNIC.

If the Oil are ever going to take a game off, this would be the one.
- scottak

1. Ek got his server fixed and web site back up - check
2. Exciting game last night. Hawks are a fun team to watch. - check
3. Hawks lose a point by allowing a last minute goal which may be important later in the year. - check
4. Domi with 3 more points increases his trade value - check

1. Ek got his server fixed and web site back up - check
2. Exciting game last night. Hawks are a fun team to watch. - check
3. Hawks lose a point by allowing a last minute goal which may be important later in the year. - check
4. Domi with 3 more points increases his trade value - check
- boilermaker100

These Hawks remind me of the early Nashville Preds. Always difficult to play against, but ultimately not enough talent to win much.

I'm with you, they are a fun team to watch. Never quit, play simple structured D (most of the time), and have enough skill guys to make some fun plays every now and then. That long pass from Domi to AA was fun to see.

The only time I used to catch Troy Murray on a broadcast was when the Hawks were on NHL radio with the Chicago feed. Has he always been that brutally honest? That takedown of Toews by Troy was one of the most personal I have heard from a hometown announcer/analyst since at least Foley's take down of Karpotsev, which he waited until the final game of the season to do that.

Is Sharpie going to do more games now, and Troy quietly goes back to being Weideman's sidekick?

Is Domi playing himself into being traded for a #1 draft choice? AA isn't too far behind.

McCabe still hasn't read the memo that the Hawks D are supposed to make quick ups ? At least Murphy seems to have read the memo and is trying, either by pass or banging it off the boards to get it out of the zone. McCabe looks like Calvin deHaan with the puck on his stick. Tinordi (as limited as he is) has looked like a top 4 (playing with Murphy). McCabe looks like a #7.

I didn't know last night was throwback to the 70's night? is Buffalo suiting up the French Connection on Saturday?

The way Richardson has this team playing. Hard to root for them to lose.

The only time I used to catch Troy Murray on a broadcast was when the Hawks were on NHL radio with the Chicago feed. Has he always been that brutally honest? That takedown of Toews by Troy was one of the most personal I have heard from a hometown announcer/analyst since at least Foley's take down of Karpotsev, which he waited until the final game of the season to do that.

Is Sharpie going to do more games now, and Troy quietly goes back to being Weideman's sidekick?

Is Domi playing himself into being traded for a #1 draft choice? AA isn't too far behind.

McCabe still hasn't read the memo that the Hawks D are supposed to make quick ups ? At least Murphy seems to have read the memo and is trying, either by pass or banging it off the boards to get it out of the zone. McCabe looks like Calvin deHaan with the puck on his stick. Tinordi (as limited as he is) has looked like a top 4 (playing with Murphy). McCabe looks like a #7.

I didn't know last night was throwback to the 70's night? is Buffalo suiting up the French Connection on Saturday?

The way Richardson has this team playing. Hard to root for them to lose.
- LAHawk

Always, never holds back that's why i like him so much.

...
Although he was scratched for a game, Galvas has been the best all-around defenseman IMO. Smart plays, fundamentally sound, good escapability with the puck.
....
- Theo Fox

I would really like to see Galvas brought back up to rotate with Roos as the 6/7 dmen. Get C Jones off the ice altogether. He makes mistakes every single shift. The most cringeworthy player on the team by a wide margin IMO.

I believe Galvas could become a regular in the NHL. He's 23 and in the last year of his ELC so why not give him 20+ games to see what they really have in him.

The penalty calls last night were rough.

Funny we went from a coach who made things very complicated, to such simple hockey, love the dmen just firing the puck on the net, forwards going to the front of the net creating chaos.

This team will probably win more games than they did last year.

Seth Jones with a really rough night, he was just bad and with the puck he's just so damn indecisive which hurts his ability to produce more than anything else

A thing that concerns me is if the team keeps playing hard and putting forth extreme efforts they will burn themselves out one of these days. It's hard for me to see them keep up the pace for the whole season.

A thing that concerns me is if the team keeps playing hard and putting forth extreme efforts they will burn themselves out one of these days. It's hard for me to see them keep up the pace for the whole season.
- boilermaker100

We only need them to until at the latest the trade deadline to maximize the return.

The penalty calls last night were rough.

Funny we went from a coach who made things very complicated, to such simple hockey, love the dmen just firing the puck on the net, forwards going to the front of the net creating chaos.

This team will probably win more games than they did last year.

Seth Jones with a really rough night, he was just bad and with the puck he's just so damn indecisive which hurts his ability to produce more than anything else
- BetweenTheDots

In all honesty, if Stalock is better last night Hawks win.

It really does suck watching McDavid last night and the realization that we won't have a real chance at drafting Bedard.

In all honesty, if Stalock is better last night Hawks win.
- rpeters01

Toughest loss to face, as all of us thought we'd get at least a point by the time the GWG was scored. Images of McDavid/Draisidal and Kane/Toews (Domi) racing around as 3 and 3 were crushed by that one. Really deflating.

Impressed that we kept up with the Oil. I was expecting a 4-1 or 5-2 drubbing.

It really does suck watching McDavid last night and the realization that we won't have a real chance at drafting Bedard.
- BetweenTheDots

We trade pieces, it becomes easier and easier.

If Murphy is moved pre-deadline, it gets a bit easier. Same as Lafferty, Domi, AA, etc. By March there will be such a shell of the team we have now, it'll be loss after loss.

It really does suck watching McDavid last night and the realization that we won't have a real chance at drafting Bedard.
- BetweenTheDots

Why?

In all honesty, if Stalock is better last night Hawks win.
- rpeters01

Quite amusing how bi-polar the BOD is either lamenting that the Hawks lost because of a lack of talent (Stalock, why was C. Jones/Blackwell out there with Toews in the final minutes., etc., or lamenting the Hawks currently appear to not be the dumpster fire that was advertised to possibly not getting a top 3 pick.