That's why you let him keep handling the puck, just like you throw this game away for Vlasic playing defense. The minutes and the experience are important same goes for Reichel.

If Phillips can ever play as fast as he tries to play he'll be one of the best defenseman in the league.
- BetweenTheDots

I don't see any major issues with Phillips....

He can keep trying. Look at how Forsling turned out. Reichel is disappointing but not yet a bust. I have seen enough good performance albeit brief in his tenure. Those in the know realize what battles Reichel is engaged There isn’t much better to replace him- perhaps veteran minor league players who might be ok in 3L & 4L duty and recent drafts turned pro who clearly are just beginning at AHL level. I would be curious to see Reichel with one boards checking linematte and a descent center like Guttman in the AHL and NHL level.

https://x.com/CRoumelioti...xSrON1MvMHWEYLV75_6A&s=01

What a pass.

Developing young dmen

In position for a top 3 pick

We are right on schedule.

https://x.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1734038407070753087?t=7nxSrON1MvMHWEYLV75_6A&s=01

What a pass.
- BetweenTheDots

Forget the praise on the pass, Connor Murphy is a f'n sniper. Who knew - could be a 1st line right winger?

https://x.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1734038407070753087?t=7nxSrON1MvMHWEYLV75_6A&s=01

What a pass.

Developing young dmen

In position for a top 3 pick

We are right on schedule.
- BetweenTheDots

Bedard still trying to skate through three players
- LFS

He will learn still young also think the other teams have adjusted to him in some ways now he has ti adjust.

Forget the praise on the pass, Connor Murphy is a f'n sniper. Who knew - could be a 1st line right winger?
- RickJ

The pass. How do you spell Kane - like: Kane- Kanesk Kaneqsk? Go with first choice

The shot. Why of course Toronto will be calling and planning Murphy to line up as 2nd RW behind Mathews

ADD Gretzky will be mentioning who made the pass because he is a Bedard fan

Forget the praise on the pass, Connor Murphy is a f'n sniper. Who knew - could be a 1st line right winger?
- RickJ

Well at least he used his stick -- unlike Kurashev who has tried to perfect the art of self deflection.

I imagine it's piling on Jonesy - but seriously - if you are going to do the cliche'd push 'em back PP entry - try to maybe not backpass blindly ... tends to jack up the rush, even as predictable as those might be by this decade.

Wouldn't hurt to have a couple of finishers in the forward ranks, could of had 2 or 3 when they were carrying the play. And then the Caps take advantage on their chances, veteran team. I'm not blaming much of it on Solderblum.

Those +1 minute shifts Bedard takes have to stop.
- RickJ

Didn't know there was a new game thread and posted a couple in the last thread in game. ........ Simple one on Mantha's goal to tie it at 1. Copy and paste.

Bedard makes my point on the Mantha goal. Was thinking atta boy kid when gave an honest effort on the backcheck and caught Mantha but cuz he was at 1:25 of his shift he losses the inside position he had, then instead of simply putting himself between Mantha and the puck/net he's got nuttin left in the tank and he gets thrown to the side and Mantha is in alone.

Simply hit the cutoff man kind of stuff and good things happen. Even world class shooters can do things like Guttman does.

Safe to say, Reichel is a complete BUST...Other than skating, he is worthless..
- shidler

You missed his moving without the puck, darts into the low slot, got open, took a feed for a grade A, ripped er from 7 feet but Keumper stood tall?? Missed he poked a puck loose at the side of the crease straight to Entwhistle goal mouth for a shot?..... He got open for a Grade A and created one. Was any other Hawk responsible for 2 grade A's that I missed??????

Pucks following the kid. Skating with purpose enjoying the same slotting for a few games straight, the QoC relief and no centerman responsibility. And no, his nose is not over the puck but if he's gonna be responsible for 2 Grade A's a game in 12:00 TOI I'll wait the 5 yrs until he's a man and gets his nose over the puck.

Kid is taking a step and good chance he pops. .......

If Phillips can ever play as fast as he tries to play he'll be one of the best defenseman in the league.
- BetweenTheDots

A copy and paste of my post in real time in the last thread.


That goal never happens without Phillips' beauty keep, carry deep and dish. Very very nice.. .. Just before that sequence I was thinking Phillips and Crevier are playing so well, and on the PK(!), how do you send one down and what a wonderful problem it is....... Puck is following Reichel I tell you.

I remember Kane taking a seat a few times for not looking after his defensive responsibilities. Hopefully someone is in his ear about letting up on the play.
- paulr

Paul, Bedard was outa gas (long shift) once he got level with big boy Mantha and had nuttin left in the tank to defend. ... I was satisfied though with his effort to get back, which he did.

If KD wants the number 1 pick again, play soderblum every night for the rest of the season. As much as I loved Mrazek the last two nights, you knew this was going to happen with soderblum in the net. Yes, the PP is not helping the cause after a goose egg on 4 attempts with the man advantage.
- bigfly46

Yea, Soderblom was back to looking like I'm afraid he'll look for his career after 2 good starts. Back to chaos and nothing clean in his crease...... BUT, you never know so they gotta keep runnin him out to see if he's got something.

He will learn still young also think the other teams have adjusted to him in some ways now he has ti adjust.
- Scott1977

The way to adjust is not trying to go through three players… no einsteinian

Paul, Bedard was outa gas (long shift) once he got level with big boy Mantha and had nuttin left in the tank to defend. ... I was satisfied though with his effort to get back, which he did.
- Mr Ricochet

First of all it’s his responsibility to be in position defensively regardless of if he’s out of gas from a long shift. That’s on him. And the same applies if he’s taking long shifts especially if it impacts his play defensively or otherwise. Next time his shift is longer than 35 to 50 seconds he’s warned he doesn’t go out for the next powerplay. If it happens again he misses a pp shift, if it happens again he misses a regular shift. Again a period and so on. It’s easy to get a player to get in line without pulling an all out Torts on him. Playing defense is easy, all it requires is the understanding of the defensive responsibilities and hard work.

To be fair Murphy and Reichel were on the ice for 2 of those goals against
- BetweenTheDots

The best case outcome for Chicago is to get the first or second lottery pick. The two top forwards would be the next major piece KD needs to add. While a dmsn is the more likely picjk at #3 overall. I would be disappointed to see a dmsn chosen third overall by us. Whomever is chosen by Chicago will probably become a top player but we need the offensive production from a center or forward more than what the top dman would bring

The way to adjust is not trying to go through three players… no einsteinian
- LFS

Why does Bedard try to go through three players? Is he a puck hog? No he’s proven he’s a superlative passer and his goals to assists ratio prior to the NHL bear that out. Also in the NHL so far, he has more assists than goals. Is he mindlessly skating around with the puck? No, his head is always on a swivel looking for options. So what would an Einstein deduce? Either he’s suddenly turned into a puck hog, he’s forgotten how to pass or …… for some reason he can’t pass. Let’s look at the third option. Almost every shift, including when the Hawks are on the power play Bedard is not only double teamed, but other opponents cheat towards him. And his teammates seemingly have no clue how to get into open ice. In most cases Bedard has to pass through opposition players to pass to a team mate. Twice on rushes last night Bedard was carrying the puck through the neutral zone. In both cases, as the opposing team converged on him I didn’t see one other Blackhawk in the frame on my TV. Until proven otherwise I see all of Bedard’s problems the direct result of playing with mostly AHL quality teammates. And despite all that he’s been involved in 40% of the team’s scoring. Does Bedard make mistakes, yep a ton of them. Is him trying to skate through the opposition one of them? Nope, that’s on his teammates and ultimately the GM for not having enough talent around him.

To be fair Murphy and Reichel were on the ice for 2 of those goals against
- BetweenTheDots

Vlasic was a -3, Creivier looked like he belonged in the ECHL.

Vlasic was a -3, Creivier looked like he belonged in the ECHL.
- LAHawk

Vlasic got completely annihilated last night. He needs to start showing a mean streak so opponents steer clear of him especially along the boards and in tough areas on the ice.

https://x.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1734038407070753087?t=7nxSrON1MvMHWEYLV75_6A&s=01

What a pass.

Developing young dmen

In position for a top 3 pick

We are right on schedule.
- BetweenTheDots

Dot's profile must of been hacked by Baghdad Bob.

Why does Bedard try to go through three players? Is he a puck hog? No he’s proven he’s a superlative passer and his goals to assists ratio prior to the NHL bear that out. Also in the NHL so far, he has more assists than goals. Is he mindlessly skating around with the puck? No, his head is always on a swivel looking for options. So what would an Einstein deduce? Either he’s suddenly turned into a puck hog, he’s forgotten how to pass or …… for some reason he can’t pass. Let’s look at the third option. Almost every shift, including when the Hawks are on the power play Bedard is not only double teamed, but other opponents cheat towards him. And his teammates seemingly have no clue how to get into open ice. In most cases Bedard has to pass through opposition players to pass to a team mate. Twice on rushes last night Bedard was carrying the puck through the neutral zone. In both cases, as the opposing team converged on him I didn’t see one other Blackhawk in the frame on my TV. Until proven otherwise I see all of Bedard’s problems the direct result of playing with mostly AHL quality teammates. And despite all that he’s been involved in 40% of the team’s scoring. Does Bedard make mistakes, yep a ton of them. Is him trying to skate through the opposition one of them? Nope, that’s on his teammates and ultimately the GM for not having enough talent around him.
- paulr

Gotta tread lightly on that one boss. You may get accused of giving up on the plan too soon.

Dot's profile must of been hacked by Baghdad Bob.
- LAHawk

Is that like bizzaro ArlingtonRob?

I posted this on last blog, wasn’t aware of new blog.

Vlasic wasn’t at his best tonight for sure, but I’d still take him over any defenseman that was on the ice tonight, probably even Carlson. Guttman is a keeper, especially on this team.

Paul, Bedard was outa gas (long shift) once he got level with big boy Mantha and had nuttin left in the tank to defend. ... I was satisfied though with his effort to get back, which he did.
- Mr Ricochet

You made reference in one of your posts to Bedard looking or playing like a junior player - and for the most part I agree with that. He was so dominant offensively in junior he didn't need to check and it was probably not expected of him. So he is just going to have to learn at this level or be taught.

Now I'm releuctant to make this comparison but I can't think of another player - #99 Gretzky. Do you think he ever checked anybody or thought much about defence? Why would he when he knew he and his mates could outscore every team in the league. Often, while on a 1:30 - 2:00 minute shift, he hung around the blueline or center ice looking for the breakout pass, he didn't care what was going on behind his own blueline, that was for defenceman.

The game is different now and Bedard is going to have to play different than current. The coaching staff will eventually mandate it.