Send LR on vacation and have King coach the rest of the season
- LAHawk

Great idea .Don't send him alone send Reichel (great pass solid D ) Raddysh Johnson Stalock .As much as I want the Tank to succeed it was great to beat Preds and Bruins ,as Ido hate both . Well now I get to stay up late and root for CLB ye haw

So who sits when Kaiser finally plays, i have to say Mitchell and even Reichel have been embracing the physical part of the game. Mitchell actually looks like he's playing pissed off which is a good thing in this league.

So who sits when Kaiser finally plays, i have to say Mitchell and even Reichel have been embracing the physical part of the game. Mitchell actually looks like he's playing pissed off which is a good thing in this league.
- BetweenTheDots

Easy answer: Caleb Jones. I am not ready to give up on 51 yet. He played very well against the Bruins. Kid was rushed and overhyped, but he has talent, but needs to get a lot stronger if he wants to be a consistent top 6 NHL defenseman.

Did Davidson get another sneaky good acquisition in Anderson? Play’s similar to Lafferty with what looks like better hands.

Did Davidson get another sneaky good acquisition in Anderson? Play’s similar to Lafferty with what looks like better hands.
- LAHawk

Time to troll the Leaf board.

Easy answer: Caleb Jones. I am not ready to give up on 51 yet. He played very well against the Bruins. Kid was rushed and overhyped, but he has talent, but needs to get a lot stronger if he wants to be a consistent top 6 NHL defenseman.
- ChicagoHope

Thank you for your balanced answer about Mitchell. I don’t know if he gets a lot stronger, but he could become adequate or get by on the physical defending part of the game…..the more he plays regularly, the more his ability will stand out. If he is here start of next training camp/exhibition slate, this tells us about KD viewpoint on Mitchell

Easy answer: Caleb Jones. I am not ready to give up on 51 yet. He played very well against the Bruins. Kid was rushed and overhyped, but he has talent, but needs to get a lot stronger if he wants to be a consistent top 6 NHL defenseman.
- ChicagoHope

Can't sit Caleb he is a top tanker .We can't afford to many more of these Kumbaya moments we got to get serious about losing .

Can't sit Caleb he is a top tanker .We can't afford to many more of these Kumbaya moments we got to get serious about losing .
- oldduffman

Meanwhile, since Mc Cabe left, C. Jones has replaced him with his brother, and has played just as well if not better than Mc Cabe.

Played 24 minutes tonight.

I want to hear Reichel say, I'll be back
- BetweenTheDots

Got a chuckle there

Did Davidson get another sneaky good acquisition in Anderson? Play’s similar to Lafferty with what looks like better hands.
- LAHawk

VERY noticeable early on with quick little plays and then he scores a goal later on. Agree, Lafferty with more upside.

Can't sit Caleb he is a top tanker .We can't afford to many more of these Kumbaya moments we got to get serious about losing .
- oldduffman

This franchise can't even lose right

VERY noticeable early on with quick little plays and then he scores a goal later on. Agree, Lafferty with more upside.
- 6628

I think the more interesting thing is that while Lafferty has struggled a bit since joining TOR, Anderson has seemed to improve with the Hawks. Could it possibly be that coaching is a major factor in how some of these guys play?

The only slight concern I have is that while LR seems to be able to get anyone to play better, will his system and method be effective when applied to a guy like Bedard?

I think the more interesting thing is that while Lafferty has struggled a bit since joining TOR, Anderson has seemed to improve with the Hawks. Could it possibly be that coaching is a major factor in how some of these guys play?

The only slight concern I have is that while LR seems to be able to get anyone to play better, will his system and method be effective when applied to a guy like Bedard?
- Chunk

You have a valid point however Richardson is a smart coach and he will find a way for Bedard to be a productive scorer despite any facet of the game which could impede Bedard’s success.

You have a valid point however Richardson is a smart coach and he will find a way for Bedard to be a productive scorer despite any facet of the game which could impeded Bedard’s success.
- jhawk59

I'm bullish on the future in general, and I don't think it will be too big of an issue. Whoever they draft is going to be in the same system from the start so it's not like it will take long to adjust.

The reason that I brought it up was that they seem to actually be playing better now than before when they had better talent on paper. Maybe that's everyone coming together. Maybe it was the attitude. Maybe it was the stress of the TDL.

I did not want Kane to go at all (I also think he can be a PPG player even in his current age and condition), but it just seems like there is less tentativeness among the top two lines right now. Is that because players were deferring, or because there was a reluctance to play a certain way, or something else (or I certainly could just be hallucinating)?

This team is so stupid.
Can't even lose when the time is right.
Picking 6th will change nothing.
Waste of a season/s and get zero impact players in the draft because we're winning worthless games.
If you've done everything to tank then TANK.

That was a perfectly feathered pass by Reichel to AA.
- Angotti

He's killing us send him back to Rockford where they're trying to win.

This team is so stupid.
Can't even lose when the time is right.
Picking 6th will change nothing.
Waste of a season/s and get zero impact players in the draft because we're winning worthless games.
If you've done everything to tank then TANK.
- CanHawk

It would be wrong to have a coach change his coaching so that the team looses more. That is the wrong messsge to players and fans. You want players to care and work hard. The success of the team in following years is predicated upon good coaching

So

Maybe a few prospects of probably little or no future could be recalled and swapped out with a veteran who is going to AHL on conditioning stint for three games..,,, minimal impact sending down lousy players and recalling say a Teply. But what else to do?

I wholeheartedly agree a 6th is so much worse than the 4th overall. Wiz paints a picture of good talent at # 6 overall but picks # 1-4 is the better, far better

This team is so stupid.
Can't even lose when the time is right.
Picking 6th will change nothing.
Waste of a season/s and get zero impact players in the draft because we're winning worthless games.
If you've done everything to tank then TANK.
- CanHawk

So you would of been OK with keeping ADB, Dach, having no cap space to make deals (Mrazek and a first), and having zero first round draft choices last year.

The jettison of the above was yes about the race to the bottom for the Bedard sweepstakes, but also to start filling the pipeline last year. How much better do you think the team would of been if KD would of just made changes on the periphery? Funny if they draft 6th like they finished last year (with the draft pick being Columbuses).

So you would of been OK with keeping ADB, Dach, having no cap space to make deals (Mrazek and a first), and having zero first round draft choices last year.

The jettison of the above was yes about the race to the bottom for the Bedard sweepstakes, but also to start filling the pipeline last year. How much better do you think the team would of been if KD would of just made changes on the periphery? Funny if they draft 6th like they finished last year (with the draft pick being Columbuses).
- LAHawk

Whenever anyone brings up the departure of these guys, I always like to point out Ernie Banks and the Cubs. Ernie was a multiple all-star, 500+ home runs, Hall Of Famer and spent his entire 19 year career with the Cubs. Not one post season game. No pennants, division titles, nothing.

While it's regrettable that those guys were traded, KD was not going to get that type of return moving Kurashev or Reese Johnson.

While it seems that the Hawks may be sabotaging their chances at 1st overall I'm feeling pretty confident it will all work out. So far KD seems to have a knack for acquiring players that LR can turn into useful or semi-useful NHL players.

This team is so stupid.
Can't even lose when the time is right.
Picking 6th will change nothing.
Waste of a season/s and get zero impact players in the draft because we're winning worthless games.
If you've done everything to tank then TANK.
- CanHawk

You're right picking 6th won't change anything, but picking 6th plus 20 something, then 30 something then 50 to 60 something, 6 picks in the top 2 rounds this year, 4 picks in the top 60 next year, 4 picks in the top 60 the year after, i have a feeling that will change everything

LR has a bunch of no names playing great team hockey! If there is one thing that this will do is cement LR as a coach who took a bunch of castaways and have competed with playoff teams, fringe playoff teams, so any players that come in and struggle we know it won't be because of the coaching

And in all honesty i thought the get was Raddysh and the two first round picks, and all of a sudden after playing over 100 games in the NHL Katchouk is coming alive? I mean if this is my GM having the foresight to see this, I'm (frank)ing impressed, hell I'm impressed that he has assembled a team that is competing with NHL teams at half the cost.

Hey LA Hawk fan,

I do not mean to hound you about a question I posed but I wil just ask once more and that is it. I know you haven’t had a lot of time to respond but you are posting often and I value your opinion

So….how far might the Kings go in the playoffs. Both the Kings but also the opposition is better this season. I see Edmonton is vulnerable in goal but Ekholm makes a big difference Eventually it seems likely Dallas and Colorado engage and either team could win. The wild card IMHO might be the Kings, not Edm if Korpisalo plays well. Another point is coaching….can make a difference….any coach who might outcoach their opponent?

The floor is yours ….I am not debating or questioning anything. Merely would appreciate your insight. As well the board should find your keen insight maybe somewhat enlightening as the young Kings players are coming on

This team is so stupid.
Can't even lose when the time is right.
Picking 6th will change nothing.
Waste of a season/s and get zero impact players in the draft because we're winning worthless games.
If you've done everything to tank then TANK.
- CanHawk

a pick at 6 will still bring an impact player. depending on who falls or raises we could end up with Zack Bensen, Ryan Leonard, Will Smith or if we get really lucky Mitchov. Maybe not Bedard but still really really good prospects.

You're right picking 6th won't change anything, but picking 6th plus 20 something, then 30 something then 50 to 60 something, 6 picks in the top 2 rounds this year, 4 picks in the top 60 next year, 4 picks in the top 60 the year after, i have a feeling that will change everything

LR has a bunch of no names playing great team hockey! If there is one thing that this will do is cement LR as a coach who took a bunch of castaways and have competed with playoff teams, fringe playoff teams, so any players that come in and struggle we know it won't be because of the coaching

And in all honesty i thought the get was Raddysh and the two first round picks, and all of a sudden after playing over 100 games in the NHL Katchouk is coming alive? I mean if this is my GM having the foresight to see this, I'm (frank)ing impressed, hell I'm impressed that he has assembled a team that is competing with NHL teams at half the cost.
- BetweenTheDots

Im interested what other Cast-off's he can mine from other teams this summer and at the draft. Players that might not fit in other systems but given a chance here can really shine!

Hey LA Hawk fan,

I do not mean to hound you about a question I posed but I wil just ask once more and that is it. I know you haven’t had a lot of time to respond but you are posting often and I value your opinion

So….how far might the Kings go in the playoffs. Both the Kings but also the opposition is better this season. I see Edmonton is vulnerable in goal but Ekholm makes a big difference Eventually it seems likely Dallas and Colorado engage and either team could win. The wild card IMHO might be the Kings, not Edm if Korpisalo plays well. Another point is coaching….can make a difference….any coach who might outcoach their opponent?

The floor is yours ….I am not debating or questioning anything. Merely would appreciate your insight. As well the board should find your keen insight maybe somewhat enlightening as the young Kings players are coming on
- jhawk59

The Kings offense is as talented and deep as anyone. For the Kings it comes down to the goaltending, and the defense. This is not your old LA kings. They play a high tempo offensive game, and the defense can get a bit wonky. Korpasalo has so far been good since coming over. I do not see Copley's play as being sustainable.

This team is so stupid.
Can't even lose when the time is right.
Picking 6th will change nothing.
Waste of a season/s and get zero impact players in the draft because we're winning worthless games.
If you've done everything to tank then TANK.
- CanHawk

Outside of literally not icing a team, what else do you want them to (not) do? FFS, Entwistle-Hardman-Robinson was a fricking line. Their best forward is either Lukas Reichel or Taylor Raddysh. Outside of making Mrazek play injured, how would you propose they try HARDER to lose?