Yup, totall agree. As fans of the team just going to have to watch the on ice product and be excited when good stuff happens and when bad stuff occurs assess why. Young players screw up, but so do veterans. That includes bad line changes, stupid penalties, unforced icings, lopsided faceoff loss numbers.

So far, can't be upset about the coaching, goaltending or defence as a group. Up front there is a low voltage talent shortage. But if young players like Reichel and Bedard and even Guttman and Katchouk develop properly over the season thats a win for me.
- RickJ

Would you have believed as recently as 3 yrs ago the Hawks would have 3 legit rookie Dmen and 3 forwards with a legit shot at being NHLers? And that's not mentioning a1 is a possible generational talent and 1 Dman with a real chance of being a upper level PP guy that has size and skate like the wind?

This is damn fun. ........ Evaluate, draft the BPA and develop properly/slowly while evaluating the whole system 12 months a yr.

And why didn't this team at least offer Toews, a contract. He could easily have been there #3 Center, Help Bedard and Rechial with there face offs. Even take pressure of them from taking to many interviews.
- Ging72

Because Toews has publicly stated that he is taking this year off to try and get his body right. He’s. Not. Playing. This. Year.


Easily the female dogiest thing I’ve posted, but FFS drop it about Toews.

Oh, for sure. They did the smart thing and brought KK along to start the season, give him some games to see where he's at and most importantly would he be overwhelmed to the point he could not develop at the NHL level.

He has not shown even the slightest sign he's overwhelmed but he's skating 3rd most minutes for Dmen and runnin the #2 PP......... IMO the most important thing is can KK develop at the NHL level and so far, with no warning signs shown, he's shown he can/will.

In fact, IMO all 3 rookie D have shown very well. Could not have hoped for more as far as their play and would the atmosphere/slotting/partners allow them to develop.
- Mr Ricochet

I agree that all three look like they belong so far. KK, in particular, hasn't played at this intensity level for anywhere near the length of an NHL season. I suspect the kids will get enough rest along the way, so as not to exhaust them and hinder development.

And why didn't this team at least offer Toews, a contract. He could easily have been there #3 Center, Help Bedard and Rechial with there face offs. Even take pressure of them from taking to many interviews.
- Ging72

Not sure you saw the news, but Toews isn't playing this year.

Would you have believed as recently as 3 yrs ago the Hawks would have 3 legit rookie Dmen and 3 forwards with a legit shot at being NHLers? And that's not mentioning a1 is a possible generational talent and 1 Dman with a real chance of being a upper level PP guy that has size and skate like the wind?

This is damn fun. ........ Evaluate, draft the BPA and develop properly/slowly while evaluating the whole system 12 months a yr.
- Mr Ricochet

Yep, each year going forward will be even more fun. Next year two more #1 picks, then maybe Nazar makes the jump, maybe not, the kids keep developing, all this will make the wait worthwhile.

Not sure you saw the news, but Toews isn't playing this year.
- mohel

Well…. That’s a lot more reasonable response than mine…

Yo Chunk, think it was you last thread that asked what I thought of Stauber when he was in the USHL. I saw him good when his Sioux Palls team won the cup on Steel ice.

Simply said he looked the part, passed the eye test. Good size at 6ft 3in, was a balanced skater, showed enough athleticism and was technical. He went on an 11-1 run with a .941 SPG in the playoffs when he beat the Steel for the cup. That was as a 19 yr old in his draft +1 yr (he was never drafted).

As a USHLer I liked his foundation but never thought he would or would not be an NHLer.. To me he's like Hawk draft pick Basse. Both could go late in the draft or not be drafted at all. But they both pass an eye test, show enough to think they can develop and played in a good league.

A Stauber or Basse are swings and worth the swing cuz they show enough at 18-19-20 that they have skills that COULD translate to being a pro goalie. A good pro goalie? Who knows but that's why you take that swing.

I like having a Stauber, or 2, in the system.

Agree with your last paragraph regarding the upside of the 3rd and 4th liners but how many will be around when the team becomes relevant in a few years? Maybe Raddysh and Kurashev. What about the top 6? Bedard is a given. Jury still out on Reichel. Hopefully he develops and shows something this season. Nazar probably 1-2 years away, Is Dach top 6 material? He could be ready next year but must stay healthy. Moore and other possible top 6, Green. Kantserov, Lardis probably three years away. Maybe Misiak, Marcel, Ludwinski will be in the mix for the bottom 6 by that time. This build up to a contending them is going to take a while.
- boilermaker100

I think the jury is more out on Reichel as a center than as a wing.

Scott Powers
@ByScottPowers
Soderblom is starting. Zaitsev in for Tinordi and Hall and Entwistle in for Guttman and R. Johnson
- LAHawk

Well then, looks like Kaiser draws in. Didn’t like the idea of a Tinordi/Zaitsev pair, although we could see that here and there if no other defensive transactions are made.

Yo Chunk, think it was you last thread that asked what I thought of Stauber when he was in the USHL. I saw him good when his Sioux Palls team won the cup on Steel ice.

Simply said he looked the part, passed the eye test. Good size at 6ft 3in, was a balanced skater, showed enough athleticism and was technical. He went on an 11-1 run with a .941 SPG in the playoffs when he beat the Steel for the cup. That was as a 19 yr old in his draft +1 yr (he was never drafted).

As a USHLer I liked his foundation but never thought he would or would not be an NHLer.. To me he's like Hawk draft pick Basse. Both could go late in the draft or not be drafted at all. But they both pass an eye test, show enough to think they can develop and played in a good league.

A Stauber or Basse are swings and worth the swing cuz they show enough at 18-19-20 that they have skills that COULD translate to being a pro goalie. A good pro goalie? Who knows but that's why you take that swing.

I like having a Stauber, or 2, in the system.
- Mr Ricochet

Hey Rico, wasn’t me but thanks for the breakdown. I’m fine with having as many goalie prospects as possible. I’m still in on Soderblom. I just like his attitude. No other reason at this point. Gajan, Commesso both look promising as well. I’m expecting like three years of development before we see something like a competitive team. I hope it’s before that, but really not expecting that. It will be fun to see who breaks through in that timeframe.

Well then, looks like Kaiser draws in. Didn’t like the idea of a Tinordi/Zaitsev pair, although we could see that here and there if no other defensive transactions are made.
- Angotti

So happy I gave everyone a half-pucker to start the day. 😁

Cheers people!!

So happy I gave everyone a half-pucker to start the day. 😁

Cheers people!!
- Chunk

Please don’t share what you’re puckering ….

Well then, looks like Kaiser draws in. Didn’t like the idea of a Tinordi/Zaitsev pair, although we could see that here and there if no other defensive transactions are made.
- Angotti

I was hoping this was going to be the case, at least for this game. I mean if you are going to have Kaiser play defense by himself he might as well do it on the side he's more comfortable on.

And why didn't this team at least offer Toews, a contract. He could easily have been there #3 Center, Help Bedard and Reichel with their face offs. Even take pressure of them from taking to many interviews.

Eric Engels

initial word I'm receiving on Canadiens' Kirby Dach is he has a torn ACL+torn MCL in his knee. There are more tests being done, and we'll wait for Habs to officially confirm once they're received all the info, but this puts Dach's season at risk if it ends up being the case.

I agree that all three look like they belong so far. KK, in particular, hasn't played at this intensity level for anywhere near the length of an NHL season. I suspect the kids will get enough rest along the way, so as not to exhaust them and hinder development.
- mohel

Absolutely, the kid Dmen, especially, will need both physical and mental rest. As soon as signs of mental or physical fatigue show you back off on top of whatever "pitch count" they had going in for each individual prospect.

With the total roster turnover the evaluation simply continues after you draft them. Since I've decided I'm a borderline fanboy I have to say I haven't seen a misstep at all by the KD regime (one can always argue who should and shouldn't been drafted of course).

Not sure you saw the news, but Toews isn't playing this year.
- mohel

, NOt the point they cut ties with him before, that was decide > Just told him they weren't going to resign him. Basically told a guy who help delivery 3 cups he had no value !

Not a great argument really. How many times has Jones set up Bedard for a one-timer and he’s not taken it? Bedard seems to like skating with the puck and trying to create an opening for either himself or a teammate. I don’t really have an issue with that, but before the season started LR said they need to get shots from the point early and often on the PP. They aren’t winning many faceoffs so they start the PP chasing.


They need to start working as a group. Hopefully Hall coming back helps. The guy who leads all Hawks in PP shots this far… Reichel. Perry is next with 4. Bedard has one on goal. There is plenty of blame to go around. At this point, I’d rather see them try to get some sort of continuity going for the young guys. It’s hard enough for them without the constant changes.
- Chunk

Better question why can’t Jones successfully hold the puck in at the Blue Line…ever?

Seth Jones has been a reliable offensive defenseman and has been valuable on PP over his career. Sometimes you gotta give the guys time to gel and the results will follow, it's only been 3 games. KK is 19 and he's far from an established star like a DJ Moore. Give him time to get his feet wet before you throw him on the top PP unit.
- Hawkeynation

same can be said of Jones.

Jones will be on this team for a while and he'll likely continue to get PP time unless one of the other D-men not named Korchinski prove themselves as better.

Not sure what else to tell you. Learn to enjoy brown liquor?
- Chunk

They are all better.

Reminder....

The Hawks are not going to be near the playoffs. They didn't build this roster to maximize wins this season; this roster is built to reach the cap floor and to aid the development process for the kids.

This will also be true next year.

How well the PP plays this year doesn't mean anything, except through a developmental lens.
- mohel

Next year, wed better at least see some incremental improvement in the W/L column…agree about this year.

Well…. That’s a lot more reasonable response than mine…
- Chunk

It’s ok to be a little bit of a Richard sometimes. Sometimes it’s deserved. I approve of your response.

I was hoping this was going to be the case, at least for this game. I mean if you are going to have Kaiser play defense by himself he might as well do it on the side he's more comfortable on.
- BetweenTheDots

Kaiser has been my favorite Hawk to watch this yr. Love that the kid makes immediate decisions and ACTS on them. Kid plays on pure instinct and just reads and reacts in a blink.

Kaiser is perpetual motion and he can skate and handle the thing a bit. Once engaged he's always pokin, jabbin, pushing, angling, competing, trying to get under a guy, liftin a stick, fighting for position, whackin, spinnin, hackin, fallin,tying a guy up all rapid fire motion on instinct, like HAMMER did, all in ONE sequence!!! ......... I also think this kid with his IQ and feet can run a PP.

Yes, Bedard is a sight but so far my favorite Hawk to watch is von Kaiser. Kid embodies all that's good with the sport.

Great to see Woll start. So far I'm really high on that kid. Very nice foundation.

Yo Leaf haters, my first time seeing them this yr. How's Woll looked? You a fan? Liked the additions of Domi and Bertuzzi, a lot. How they fittin in?