He is 18, gets pushed off the puck (doesn't have man strength yet), and was never asked to do anything but produce points.

I also think LR and the staff are going to leave his defense alone for now, let him concentrate (this year) on what he is wired to do, produce offense.
- LAHawk

There are times where defense is lacking, and it looks like he gets pushed around, but we also see moments like where he grabbed inside position against Hedman to grab a feed from Kurashev and score, or when he stole a puck in the O zone and immediately roofed it.

I am hoping the reason the Hawks acquired Bouvillier was when Tinordi comes back Zaitsev can go n waivers and sent to the A while still staying above the cap floor.

Both Tinordi and Zaitsev contracts end next season, and OMO neither are on the Hawks roster next season
- LAHawk

When Tinordi returns it will be Phillips that gets sent down. I don't agree with that approach, but I think that's what will happen.

We've seen progression in the young d-men, overall. I think Vlasic and Phillips are at the top of that list. This year is all about learning for Korchinski, since he can't play in the AHL playing with the Blackhawks is the next best option. Kaiser has struggled, but he's showing signs of improving over that past couple of games.

Have you watched Beauvillier with VAN? I haven't seen but a period here and there.. But, kid came up as a 20 yr old and stuck. Saw him in the preseason and thought this guy can move and is slippery. Put him in my black book and drafted him in the 23rdis rd for the next 3 yrs assuming he's a nice swing late in the draft.

Beauvillier got some prime top 6 minutes with Nelson, Barzal, Lee but nothing clicked........ I watched him a good bit for fantasy and found with NYI he can flat out skate with speed and on his edges, a darter at times, decent work rate, slippery/silky type at 5ft 11in 180lbs, good hands but not a finisher, always thought he looked poised and polished even as a youngster.

He's a pro and can skate with 500 NHL games and scored at about .4 pts per. He'll fit with what KD is trying to do and would guess he gets top 6 minutes on a contact yr!!

Now, he's overpaid at 4 mil per and gives a surprising VAN club valuable cap room AND it costs CHI a 5th rd pick???
- Mr Ricochet

He was a salary cap inclusion in the Horvat deal. AB skates well, not too bad defensively and is inconsistent on offense. On this team he'll likely be top 6, in Vancouver he was relegated to the 4th line. The Canucks are one of the best teams right now, they're best forwards are producing, but AB isn't.

For the price and length of the contract remaining it's a good deal for the Hawks and the Canucks free up space for a defenseman. If AB improves with Chicago KD can always retain 50% and flip him at the deadline for a 4th.

No matter what happened or didn’t happen Bedard is going to have to put up with all kinds of trash talk. I can’t even imagine how ugly it’s going to get.

No matter what happened or didn’t happen Bedard is going to have to put up with all kinds of trash talk. I can’t even imagine how ugly it’s going to get.
- paulr

YUP, Hawks public relations dropped the ball again. As soon as the ugly rumor's came out, the Hawks could of immediately said the investigation has nothing to do with any team family member, but can't say more, instead of letting the rumor fester for 2 days.

YUP, Hawks public relations dropped the ball again. As soon as the ugly rumor's came out, the Hawks could of immediately said the investigation has nothing to do with any team family member, but can't say more, instead of letting the rumor fester for 2 days.
- LAHawk

That didn’t really matter, unless KFC says why Perry was let go people will believe what they want to believe.

No matter what happened or didn’t happen Bedard is going to have to put up with all kinds of trash talk. I can’t even imagine how ugly it’s going to get.
- paulr

YUP, Hawks public relations dropped the ball again. As soon as the ugly rumor's came out, the Hawks could of immediately said the investigation has nothing to do with any team family member, but can't say more, instead of letting the rumor fester for 2 days.
- LAHawk

That’s a lot of crap to put on an 18 year old that already has a ton of pressure on him.

I could discuss where in the lineup Beavilier will play and how he will probably be shifted up and down the lines. Of course with both Hall, Perry missing and Athansiue for a while longer, a reprieve from part time service appears the case for Entwhustle and particularly R Johnson. Also J Anderson sticks around. The positive out of those guys still in the show is that one of them might garner us a late round draft choice. Which is fine since as soon as next season some AHL and or newly minted pro prospects could seriously challenge and eventually take their job

But hold on, it is Phillips and P Kane who I am more attuned to ask about and just see how their season turns out

With Phillips KD needs to determine if this prospect has reached the point where he should continue developing and improving in the NHL. Phillips should stay and either someone else conveniently goes on IR or is moved. It would be easiest to move Tinordi due to his contract than Zaitsev’s contract. It is inconsequential what we receive for Tinordi - even a late round to replace a pick in round five surrendered to Vancouver

Now comes along P Kane.

Can we figure out how well he recovered from surgery by how well he practices? Is it possible that he recovers better than Backstrom? Yes not such a big odds to overcome, although he won’t be up to par maybe this season. Improving as he plays in some games - maybe. Valuable as a point producer even if not fully recovered. Sure he can produce some points but nex season is the litmus test for Kane too get back into something close to his old modus operandi

YUP, Hawks public relations dropped the ball again. As soon as the ugly rumor's came out, the Hawks could of immediately said the investigation has nothing to do with any team family member, but can't say more, instead of letting the rumor fester for 2 days.
- LAHawk

The ones who dropped the ball are the clowns the spread a rumor without any actual evidence or fact. The people who dropped the ball are the ones that would actually believe something as stupid as what was being spread. Talk about gullible and just pining for a scandal. Hopefully now things can move onto hockey and Perry can just fade into obscurity as a guy who was a decent player but kind of a meh human being.

Shifting gears, who should wear the 4th A now?

Shifting gears, who should wear the 4th A now?
- 333inthe3rd

Andreas Athanasiou,

When Tinordi returns it will be Phillips that gets sent down. I don't agree with that approach, but I think that's what will happen.

We've seen progression in the young d-men, overall. I think Vlasic and Phillips are at the top of that list. This year is all about learning for Korchinski, since he can't play in the AHL playing with the Blackhawks is the next best option. Kaiser has struggled, but he's showing signs of improving over that past couple of games.
- DarthKane

When Tinordi returns I would send down in order:
1-Zaitsev
2-Kaiser
3-Phillips

I think Phillips has shown he deserves time in the NHL to grow and progress. Let Kasier get some AHL time and play 25 minutes a night instead.

Shifting gears, who should wear the 4th A now?
- 333inthe3rd

Bernard

Andreas Athanasiou,
- paulr

He should get 2.

Shifting gears, who should wear the 4th A now?
- 333inthe3rd

Perry

Is Bedard's defense, or lack thereof, a problem?

His last shift ended at 17:08 of the 3rd period, and he never saw the ice the rest of the night. The last 2:52 with a 1 goal lead and the game on the line, his coach decided to keep him on the bench.
- scottak

Definitely not. He had a bit of a nightmare anyway and the other guys were playing well.

He should get 2.
- HawkintheD

5 by my count.

Bernard
- Scott1977

Who is Bernard?

Who is Bernard?
- paulr

I hear he's a Saint.

I hear he's a Saint.
- mohel

Praise the lord and pass me my hockey stick.

There are times where defense is lacking, and it looks like he gets pushed around, but we also see moments like where he grabbed inside position against Hedman to grab a feed from Kurashev and score, or when he stole a puck in the O zone and immediately roofed it.
- 333inthe3rd

He's very good in the offensive zone. The issue is in his own end.

He's very good in the offensive zone. The issue is in his own end.
- scottak

He's obviously a very selfish player who wants no part of playing in his own end (don't do it Mo). KFC should sell on him before others find this out and his trade value is bupkis.

That didn’t really matter, unless KFC says why Perry was let go people will believe what they want to believe.
- paulr

We probably won't find out what happened with Perry until his agent starts shopping him around to different clubs in a week or two. GMs will want to know exactly what happened, and then an assistant GM or staffer will catch wind of the story and leak it to the press. Hopefully, GMs will corroborate the story from Perry's camp with Blackhawk management. Or, maybe all of the GMS interested in Perry will go straight to the Hawks first.

The development issue with KK remains the same.... Will he be a better player in 2-4 years if he plays Junior, or in Chicago. For me, it depends on his emotional makeup; if getting beat and making mistakes are viewed by him as learning opportunities rather than "maybe I can't do this", I'd keep him playing with better players. The current Hawks coaching staff has a good history with defensemen.

In the meantime, I continue to suggest he (and the others) get some games off to process and physically rest.
- mohel[/b ]

Also, reminders from this morning's back reading.... The Hawks are rebuilding, and it is still quite early. Rebuilds aren't for everyone. This season is about developing the next core.

And get some mental rest too. So far LR just runs the kids out every game, no strategy at all. ..... The NHL world is watching ANA as they give Carlsson every other game off as load management for the 18/19 yr old.

But, LR has 1,400 NHL games playing D so I defer but sooner or later you'd think the kids get a game off here and there.

Head scratcher to me. For Anderson to go down now, he is exposed to waivers. Do you think he clears? Checks a lot of boxes for a cash strapped team.

Only waiver exempt forwards are Rand Guttman. When Aa comes off of IR, if you don’t want to expose Anderson, I guess Gutman goes back. Unless they are planning on putting Zaitsev on waivers to go to the A when Tinordi comes off IR, then Phillips goes back.

Of course depends on if there are other injuries.

Thought KD said yesterday, he wanted to look internally first before exploring a trade.
- LAHawk

Think it was you where I read the Hawks needed to get back up to the floor after removing Perry. So acquiring Beauvillier is more than just a hockey move?

How they manage the roster/cap is a reason I come to HB. You guys always parse thru the brainiac stuff pretty good....... But man, they need some NHL talent in the top 6... Bedard and Kurashev were AWOL last night. Kurashev reminded us of his inconsistencies last night.