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

Toronto would probably claim him in a minute.

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

Haven't seen him at all really in a Canuck uni, but recall him always being very noticeable whenever the Hawks would play the Isles.

The speed was evident and while not big, wasn't afraid of contact or going to the dirty areas.

Yeah for a 5th rd pick I think this was a decent acquisition by KFC.

Alright then appears there is a need for a veteran who can mentor the kids on defense.
- jhawk59

Can Corey Perry play defense?

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.

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.

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.

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.
- mohel

Bedard kind of hit a wall too though that is probably more a result of the internet than anything to do with the actual game itself. Really ridiculous situation and reinforces the absolute stupidity of social media for anything other than cat pictures.

It seems like theyre letting the kids make mistakes. Kaiser went through a stretch earlier in the season where he looked very bad then settled down. Philips looked awful starting off and has settled down. Vlasic has had some forgettable periods.

These guys are getting experience points aren't used to the pace and figuring out how to stay at a mental peak for most of the season. I've been pretty impressed so far with the guys on the blue line even with the mistakes.

Also the Ottawa implosion continues. Maybe they look to shuffle the deck similar to Colorado coming off Duchene, ORielly and Statsny before they got really good. Which - if you think about it - unloading that much talent and still being able to produce a competitive team is pretty solid.

Bedard kind of hit a wall too though that is probably more a result of the internet than anything to do with the actual game itself. Really ridiculous situation and reinforces the absolute stupidity of social media for anything other than cat pictures.

It seems like theyre letting the kids make mistakes. Kaiser went through a stretch earlier in the season where he looked very bad then settled down. Philips looked awful starting off and has settled down. Vlasic has had some forgettable periods.

These guys are getting experience points aren't used to the pace and figuring out how to stay at a mental peak for most of the season. I've been pretty impressed so far with the guys on the blue line even with the mistakes.
- fattybeef

Waddaya got against dogs?

Same on the kids. I know you're not typically a fan of kids marinating in the A but in Vlasic's case, I think giving him big minutes there seems to be the right call.

Squirrels trying not to get thwarted by birdfeeders are my go to ... but I guess cats vs cucumbers is ok too.

Squirrels trying not to get thwarted by birdfeeders are my go to ... but I guess cats vs cucumbers is ok too.
- SC116

Frogs "helping" monkeys is always a good time.

Waddaya got against dogs?

Same on the kids. I know you're not typically a fan of kids marinating in the A but in Vlasic's case, I think giving him big minutes there seems to be the right call.
- HawkintheD

Like you know anything about dogs.

Squirrels trying not to get thwarted by birdfeeders are my go to ... but I guess cats vs cucumbers is ok too.
- SC116

Squirrels vs bird feeders have and continue to keep me entertained.

Nah he's the future, let him keep playing it. Confidence, he's learning and he's young, and i haven't seen Korchinski get blown up this season, so he's avoiding the big hits and making good plays, and his fair share of mistakes.
- BetweenTheDots

He is the future, but his game has struggled since moving to first PP unit. Let him get more used to NHL speed and talent for a bit, keep it simple with him, he’s only 19.

While plus/minus can be a skewed stat, it’s very impressive that Vlasic is a +7, especially with the Hawks goal differential.

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.

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

Kane during the cup years did not see the ice when the Hawks had a one goal lead either late in the game.

Kane during the cup years did not see the ice when the Hawks had a one goal lead either.
- LAHawk

Understood, but Kane was a wing. Bedard is the presumptive #1 center. His lack of defensive acumen is on display for all 60 minutes, not just the last 3. While he was on the ice 5v5 last night, Hawks generated 8 shots and gave up 19. That is not so good.

Understood, but Kane was a wing. Bedard is the presumptive #1 center. His lack of defensive acumen is on display for all 60 minutes, not just the last 3. While he was on the ice 5v5 last night, Hawks generated 8 shots and gave up 19. That is not so good.
- scottak

He's 18 and that side of the game can be worked on. Also, Foligno and Kurashev aren't going to be his line mates for the longhaul.

He's 18 and that side of the game can be worked on. Also, Foligno and Kurashev aren't going to be his line mates for the longhaul.
- HawkintheD

Yep, his line mates next year will be far worse....

Yep, his line mates next year will be far worse....
- mohel

Darth???

Darth???
- HawkintheD

Darth would be interesting, eh?

Understood, but Kane was a wing. Bedard is the presumptive #1 center. His lack of defensive acumen is on display for all 60 minutes, not just the last 3. While he was on the ice 5v5 last night, Hawks generated 8 shots and gave up 19. That is not so good.
- scottak

Maybe it was more his 33.3% face-off percentage last night? Plus why not reward the 4th line. Statistically they were dominant last night. And the third line was the second best line.

Maybe it was more his 33.3% face-off percentage last night? Plus why not reward the 4th line. Statistically they were dominant last night. And the third line was the second best line.
- LAHawk

I agree with everything you've just said. My point is, Bedard's defense, at this point in time, is not good. And unless he can drive possession and score, he's putting the team in a hole.

I'm more concerned about Bedard's defense then KK's.

I agree with everything you've just said. My point is, Bedard's defense, at this point in time, is not good. And unless he can drive possession and score, he's putting the team in a hole.

I'm more concerned about Bedard's defense then KK's.
- scottak

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. Let the "leadership on the team" coach him on his defensive responsibilities.

However, now 2 of Bedard's "mentors", Hall and Perry are gone, it is left up to the remaining boat anchor Foligno.

Since Perry is now gone, I am retiring the boa tanchor monicker on Foligno. Only reason I included both because at the time the Hawks acquired Perry for leadership, (and just to get to the cap floor) is that KD used the leadership excuse for the Perry and Foligno signing because KD had no interest in starting to improve the team, which I (I know am way in the minority in here) think it is a mistake.

Look at what the Hawks have next year. KD has to start almost completely from scratch again next year Is Bedard really going to take over as captain at 19 yo? Oldest players as far as term will be Jones and Murphy.

If they draft Celebrini or Eiserman are they with the big club next year? Who rounds out the top 6 ? Can Hall play anywhere near before his reconstructed knee, and can he last 20 games before being injured? Unless Reichel takes a big leap in the next 60 games, and Kurashev proves he can be consistent, they will not be the answer for next year. Going to play a second line of AA, Raddish, and Rechel again this year? katchook, Entwhistle, Anderson/Johnson as your third line?

Or will KD instead of giving bloated one year contracts to over the hill veteran's to get to the cap floor again next year, or commit to a FA, or a trade for an established player with some term to at least have a base of consistency.

Domi signs one year in Toronto for $5 mil.. Think he would of signed 2 X 4 or 3 x 4 with the Hawks, instead of giving that $4 mil. to Perry? Would committing to Domi for 2 or 3 years really hurt the rebuild? What was really a better fit, having Perry as a 4th liner, guy wh oon the PP is good at sticking his ass in the goalies face, or Domi that could play top 6 at either center or left wing?

And looking in 2 years hence you have as forwards Bedard?, and 2 more top 5 draft choice forwards, and what, starting with 9 other new forwards? KD must think he is the best drafter or evaluator of talent since Sam Pollack, because all I see is a strip down each season 1 or 2 draftees hopefully making the team each year, which means he might have a bubble team in 8+ years, if everything goes according to the "book on rebuilds", that KD must have written cause I have not seen any other NHL GM do it this way (successfully).

End of rant for today, maybe!!

I agree with everything you've just said. My point is, Bedard's defense, at this point in time, is not good. And unless he can drive possession and score, he's putting the team in a hole.

I'm more concerned about Bedard's defense then KK's.
- scottak

Given the pedigree and what many thought he could be, I’d be way more worried if Bedard came in and didn’t look like a guy that could score at this level.

Understood, but Kane was a wing. Bedard is the presumptive #1 center. His lack of defensive acumen is on display for all 60 minutes, not just the last 3. While he was on the ice 5v5 last night, Hawks generated 8 shots and gave up 19. That is not so good.
- scottak

He is 18 years old and playing on a bare roster. He is still a kid.

Are people serious with the criticisms of Bedard and Korchinski? They are 18 and 19 years old. Objectively, this team as a whole SUCKS. Mistakes made now are far better than when they are contending again. These two are going to be big pieces of their future success. I love Korchinski and am glad they have him up. Questioning his emotional state and well-being as it relates to his being able to handle the frustrations that he is enduring is comical.

The Hawks have him where he belongs and know what they are doing. The kid (Korchinski) is going to be a stud.