This upcoming season I will see Crevier I in person and on a television feed, so I expect to get a better read on his aggressiveness. From what I have read he is not naturally borane but can upon occassiion play rough. His skating is actually pretty good and he has a descent slapshot. The Blackhawks did not hesitate signing him to turn or I and determined that he could handle the AHL pace as a first year pro. But as I said the key is continued improvement
- jhawk59

So is he the next Victor Svedberg or Carl Dahlstrom ?

I think Nazar is a better prospect than Korchinski. Reichel, too. Provided he stays healthy.
- Elbows15

Elbows, when I saw that hawk prospect list, I figured the fact that Nazar was I injured almost an entire season, it was easy to demote hime, by simply ignoring his career prior to playing in Michigan.

It looks to me like they drafted three wings who prefer the RW whether they are right handers or not.
That sets Bedard up as a centre, and Moore are centre forward and Nazar I believe has such a good forecheck he can play wing or centre or below the top six in a checking role to shake things up.

Almost all their after the first forwards through the 3rd, are more scorers, not heavy guys.

There is a lotta "ifs" to all their games (except for Bedsy) so before I crown them possible NHL scorers, I am willing to think they will continue to draft forwards but maybe bigger ones? Same with defenders...you have to think that at some point the draft board will have an impact offense man that they do not pash on, or a big guy up front.

I am gonna think that as this nuclear joins the big league and starts jelling, the GM will be looking for a heavy Wilson-like wing, and a Hyman type dog , maybe a Hagel clone, or H a g e l ?

So is he the next Victor Svedberg or Carl Dahlstrom ?
- LAHawk

Hopefully, like any and all Blackhawk prospects, I hope the kid can make it. But realistically he’s a very long shot because he is pegged as a defensive defenseman who plays the game like a gentle giant. A 6’8 240 lb defensive defenseman with limited skills had better be mean. Maybe he can find his niche? But I wouldn’t bet the rent money on it.

Hopefully, like any and all Blackhawk prospects, I hope the kid can make it. But realistically he’s a very long shot because he is pegged as a defensive defenseman who plays the game like a gentle giant. A 6’8 240 lb defensive defenseman with limited skills had better be mean. Maybe he can find his niche? But I wouldn’t bet the rent money on it.
- paulr

Maybe we can have Chelios teach him a thing or two.

Hopefully, like any and all Blackhawk prospects, I hope the kid can make it. But realistically he’s a very long shot because he is pegged as a defensive defenseman who plays the game like a gentle giant. A 6’8 240 lb defensive defenseman with limited skills had better be mean. Maybe he can find his niche? But I wouldn’t bet the rent money on it.
- paulr

Yeah, I just don't see the connection with Crevier to the new FO. I'll admit this is going off of limited info (reading some reports/updates and seeing him live once), but he skates "Q-speak" fine and doesn't seem to have the non-stop motor that KD keeps talking up. Obviously, I'm not counting anyone out, but I think it will be a tall hill to climb for him to be a Hawk.

So is he the next Victor Svedberg or Carl Dahlstrom ?
- LAHawk

Too early to know. Next season he needs to progress.

I saw Dahlstrom in AHL. Too soft won’t engage physically was my impression. Had ability skating was descent but doubtful he ever gets back to NHL

Some players will gain confidence and know how, but will not handle the physical grind. I don’t know if Crevier turns out this way

I read an article the other day talking about Kane not likely to sign with a club until November-December as he wants to see how teams are performing and make sure his health is where it needs to be. That article rightfully noted that while he certainly has the ability to do so, many contending teams will be close to the cap at that point.

This is where I started laughing to myself about an absurd hypothetical. What if the Hawks amazingly played competitive and put themselves in good position for a PO spot by end of Nov. How much mental justification would I need to think bringing Kane back would be a good idea.

I'm all in on the FO justification for not offering 19 and 88 contracts this offseason. However, there is a part of me that thinks it would be hilarious to see the Hawks sign Kane under these conditions, and I think it would be very entertaining for both Chicago and the league.

Sorry for the odd tone of the post. Just some random thoughts on a Wednesday afternoon. Cheers everyone!

Yeah, I just don't see the connection with Crevier to the new FO. I'll admit this is going off of limited info (reading some reports/updates and seeing him live once), but he skates "Q-speak" fine and doesn't seem to have the non-stop motor that KD keeps talking up. Obviously, I'm not counting anyone out, but I think it will be a tall hill to climb for him to be a Hawk.
- Chunk

We all know what the girl or guy ‘with the nice personality’ looks like. When a huge player is said to ‘skate well for a big guy’ it basically says the same thing. From the ten to twelve minutes of YouTube clips I’ve seen, Crevier looks slow, awkward and unbalanced. In a few instances as he went to pin guys on the boards he wound up on his ass. Like I said before I just don’t see how a huge guy who’s strictly a defensive defenseman but who isn’t remotely physical with average, at best, skating ability can bring much to an NHL team?

All that said, he does have a Chara like wingspan, it’s possible he grows into his body to improve his skating and if he figures out how to play mean, he may have an NHL future? And it’s also very possible he’s better than the video clips I saw. Let’s hope so.

I read an article the other day talking about Kane not likely to sign with a club until November-December as he wants to see how teams are performing and make sure his health is where it needs to be. That article rightfully noted that while he certainly has the ability to do so, many contending teams will be close to the cap at that point.

This is where I started laughing to myself about an absurd hypothetical. What if the Hawks amazingly played competitive and put themselves in good position for a PO spot by end of Nov. How much mental justification would I need to think bringing Kane back would be a good idea.

I'm all in on the FO justification for not offering 19 and 88 contracts this offseason. However, there is a part of me that thinks it would be hilarious to see the Hawks sign Kane under these conditions, and I think it would be very entertaining for both Chicago and the league.

Sorry for the odd tone of the post. Just some random thoughts on a Wednesday afternoon. Cheers everyone!
- Chunk

I believe a player can sign a deal with a club for the season before January 1, then sign an extension after January 1. So many contending teams with cap problems can sign Kane for 1/2 season for say $1M then extend him for a year or two or three at a greater amount. Plus, that team could see how well Kane is playing coming off his surgery before committing to a longer term deal with him. And that team will very, very likely NOT be Chicago.

We all know what the girl or guy ‘with the nice personality’ looks like. When a huge player is said to ‘skate well for a big guy’ it basically says the same thing. From the ten to twelve minutes of YouTube clips I’ve seen, Crevier looks slow, awkward and unbalanced. In a few instances as he went to pin guys on the boards he wound up on his ass. Like I said before I just don’t see how a huge guy who’s strictly a defensive defenseman but who isn’t remotely physical with average, at best, skating ability can bring much to an NHL team?

All that said, he does have a Chara like wingspan, it’s possible he grows into his body to improve his skating and if he figures out how to play mean, he may have an NHL future? And it’s also very possible he’s better than the video clips I saw. Let’s hope so.
- paulr

Size aside, Crevier is beginning to sound like the next Chad Krys, who was discussed on this board for years as a possible 3rd pairing/7D guy.

Sherwoods and Louisvilles were my sticks of choice. Never used aluminum or composite. The first aluminum sticks had an aluminum shaft and you inserted wood blades into the shaft, kind of hokey.

About 10 or 12 years ago the kids on my street were out playing road hockey as I was cleaning out the garage. I called them over and gave them some old sticks I had. One of the kids held it up and in complete disbelief said ‘it’s made of wood!’.
- paulr

That last line - see, now that was my problem when I lived in KC --- at a Blades game- after I decided I liked the upper deck, and looking down from above- I was sitting by some high school age kids --- they were debating what the puck was made out of....

...the decided that it had to be made out of wood (nevermind that the little souvenir stands in the Kemper Arena concourse sold the stupid things ...

-there was a distinct culture clash when I was down there - I never really assimilated.

Yeh that aluminum thing- trust me- it was a cheap one - I think it ran $30-and rattled. I sorta hated it.

Love it though ... 'made of wood' ?!?!?! I told some younger guys (pretty much all of them were) down here- my frigging sticks were older than them. (Allegedly).

Krys? I forgot about that guy -- I had to check if he even was playing still -- and I guess he really lit it up for Austria ... 7 points in 24 games... you can't really beat that...

https://www.hockeydb.com/...s/pdisplay.php?pid=177808

Hopefully that other guy mentioned is a bit better than that -but it isn't a really tall bar to clear I guess.

...edited after a few more minutes- ok, now you guys have me surfing HockeyDB, and I'm depressed-- I forgot about guys like Quenneville (the player that the Kraken didn't even want), and Anton Wedin ... I imagine it will get more depressing as I go along and find all of those trumpeted Euro free agents of the past that Stanbo was so into. So far both of those guys had exactly the same amount of points for the Hawks as I have (you all too, no doubt).. a big nada - not even any PIMS (although somehow Wedin was on the ice for a +1 ... amazing he had enough ice time to even manage that) ...

I tellya I'm traumatized.

Size aside, Crevier is beginning to sound like the next Chad Krys, who was discussed on this board for years as a possible 3rd pairing/7D guy.
- boilermaker100

I just brought him up since he's 22, right handed and the Blackhawks didn't sign any FA dmen.

I just brought him up since he's 22, right handed and the Blackhawks didn't sign any FA dmen.
- BetweenTheDots

No problem. I know Crevier is the only RD available for call up and one if the few in the system. There's a couple of unsigned no names still in college and Rinzel. Maybe one will be picked up through waivers.

No problem. I know Crevier is the only RD available for call up and one if the few in the system. There's a couple of unsigned no names still in college and Rinzel. Maybe one will be picked up through waivers.
- boilermaker100

That is my guess, or still left on FA like Cal Foote. I did read where KD said they are going to have Allan play RD in Rockford (he did play both sides for Seattle and the WJC last year), and said that del Maestro is capable of playing the right side also. Plus Roos can play his off side.

Congrats on them showing your question on CHGO podcast yesterday
- vabeachbear

via GIPHY

That is my guess, or still left on FA like Cal Foote. I did read where KD said they are going to have Allan play RD in Rockford (he did play both sides for Seattle and the WJC last year), and said that del Maestro is capable of playing the right side also. Plus Roos can play his off side.
- LAHawk

This whole RD/LD thing seemed to become a very big deal with Mike Babcock 10 or so years ago. Until then defensemen playing their ‘wrong side’ was never really an issue. When I played defense as a kid we were taught how to cover the boards of your wrong side or how to take away the middle of the ice on a rush. One huge advantage is playing the point as you had a much better shooting angle.

That is my guess, or still left on FA like Cal Foote. I did read where KD said they are going to have Allan play RD in Rockford (he did play both sides for Seattle and the WJC last year), and said that del Maestro is capable of playing the right side also. Plus Roos can play his off side.
- LAHawk

I wonder if teams are waiting for the Team Canada scandal details to come out before signing Foote. Through his agent, Foote made the statement that he was not involved. But I can see teams being cautious at this point.

Raddysh and Katchouk we're on that team too, both have said they were not involved and are cooperating with the investigation.

I'm not trying to minimize or ignore the impact on the victim, and I certainly hope that whatever justice is required is delivered. But I hope that Raddysh and Katchouk are actually not a part of this. The Hawks didn't draft these two, but it would still be another blemish on the Hawks image.

This whole RD/LD thing seemed to become a very big deal with Mike Babcock 10 or so years ago. Until then defensemen playing their ‘wrong side’ was never really an issue. When I played defense as a kid we were taught how to cover the boards of your wrong side or how to take away the middle of the ice on a rush. One huge advantage is playing the point as you had a much better shooting angle.
- paulr

Remember back in the neandrathal days, the best defenseman played the opposite side ({Pilote, Howell, Orr, Bourque, J.C Tremblay, Savard, Doug Harvey) to name a few. I too when played defense like the offiside, cause if you cut into the middle you were on your forehand to make a pass.

Has anyone heard anything about Coach Q? Did he have his meeting with the commish yet?

Has anyone heard anything about Coach Q? Did he have his meeting with the commish yet?
- bjphawkfan

Yup. Bettman told him to get bent.


... kidding, I don't think it's happened yet.

The Athletic posted their list of top 10 drafted goalies, Commesso ranked #10. Gajan and Soderblom were listed as honorable mentions.

From the 2023 draft class Augustine was #6 and Hrabal was #7.

Has anyone heard anything about Coach Q? Did he have his meeting with the commish yet?
- bjphawkfan

Even if he is cleared to come back do you envision any team owner wanting to take the PR hit for having Q stand behind his team's bench ?

Yup. Bettman told him to get bent.


... kidding, I don't think it's happened yet.
- Chunk

Again, these are the guys who just stated that Murphy was renowned for his shut-down ability, but here is the most recent article that I can find on the topic.

https://www.hawksinsider....turning-to-the-NHL-249024

Remember back in the neandrathal days, the best defenseman played the opposite side ({Pilote, Howell, Orr, Bourque, J.C Tremblay, Savard, Doug Harvey) to name a few. I too when played defense like the offiside, cause if you cut into the middle you were on your forehand to make a pass.
- LAHawk

Back in the ‘Neanderthal days’ defensemen played quite a bit differently. You took on an oncoming forward physically, you looked at the crest of his jersey, you put your stick out straight on the ice and you didn’t look at the puck. You didn’t bother with the head feints, shoulder shrugs or fancy stick handling. The whole idea was a player couldn’t go anywhere his crest didn’t go. Today this philosophy has changed, it’s about staying in the play, about not losing position by physically taking a player off the puck. And I’m guessing some of that necessitates defensemen playing their ‘proper’ side.

Another thing that absolutely drives me crazy is watching a two on one and the defenseman drops and sprawls on the ice. Occasionally this tactic works to break up a play but most of the time the defenseman just takes himself out of the play, you can’t do much lying on the ice. The way I was taught is the defenseman’s job on a two on one is to do as much as you can to push the puck carrier outside but ensuring he can’t make the pass across for a sure goal. As the coaches used to say, on a two on one the defensemen take away the pass, the goalie has the shooter.