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.
- Angotti

Beautiful clean bodycheck by Oshie on the big fella. Reminder that its a man's league where they hit to inflict pain. Don't see enoough of those hits in the league anymore.

Beautiful clean bodycheck by Oshie on the big fella. Reminder that its a man's league where they hit to inflict pain. Don't see enoough of those hits in the league anymore.
- RickJ

That’s because if you hit anyone any more you have to fight. Who would have thought the NHL players would outlaw hitting? I was happy no one decided to beat up Oshie on that hit but you know the next time another player gets hit cleanly the guy who hit him will have to drop the gloves.

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
- jhawk59

You know J I'm just not a believer in best case scenario, I'm a bigger believer in you are right where you are supposed to be. Take the Avs for instance. They lost the draft lottery and Sakic was pissed. Took them out of the top 3 and they missed out on Heiskanen ended up drafting Makar. That worked out way better for them, Heiskanen is a really really really nice defenseman, so is Makar but he also is one of the best in the offensive zone for dmen, very very very rare bird.

So long as the Blackhawks are true to their scouting department, they don't deviate from their board they'll be fine. That kid from Michigan State is really really impressive as well.

Beautiful clean bodycheck by Oshie on the big fella. Reminder that its a man's league where they hit to inflict pain. Don't see enoough of those hits in the league anymore.
- RickJ

Random thought... I could see Vlasic being their next captain.

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.
- Angotti

Every player has a bad game occasionally. His mistakes (too long a shift, etc.) are fixable. I just brought it up because of course the Murphy was a -2 chorus come up. Well he played with Zaitsev and on his off side.

I just brought it up with Jones and the blocked shot last game. He has had IMO the past 2 games especially playing big minutes a game worthy of a #1 defenseman. But I guess Cale Makar, Victor Hedman, Alex Pieterangelo, etc. never make a mistake.

And I really would like to know where this Phillips is not aggressive enough come from? Even before last night, I think he is a physical defenseman. And has more talent than the other "physical" defenseman the Hawks are carrying (Tinordi)

I guess I should check my streaming feeds for the games. They definitely are not showing the same games as the rest of the board.

Every player has a bad game occasionally. His mistakes (too long a shift, etc.) are fixable. I just brought it up because of course the Murphy was a -2 chorus come up. Well he played with Zaitsev and on his off side.

I just brought it up with Jones and the blocked shot last game. He has had IMO the past 2 games especially playing big minutes a game worthy of a #1 defenseman. But I guess Cale Makar, Victor Hedman, Alex Pieterangelo, etc. never make a mistake.

And I really would like to know where this Phillips is not aggressive enough come from? Even before last night, I think he is a physical defenseman. And has more talent than the other "physical" defenseman the Hawks are carrying (Tinordi)

I guess I should check my streaming feeds for the games. They definitely are not showing the same games as the rest of the board.
- LAHawk

From the very limited amount I have seen from Phillips, I like him. I have enjoyed bits and pieces of all the Hawks' young defensemen this year. Vlasic, Korchinski, Kaiser, Phillips, and Crevier have all shown flashes (some more than others).

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

Vlasic had a rough night, everyone complaining about how long Bedard shift was but no one calling out Vlasic on that 1st goal against when he had inside position and he stopped skating as well. I guess we all pick the players or personnel that we criticize like little Nappy, eh

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.
- Angotti

I agree, that's what this year is all about, rookies getting NHL experience and big dose of tough lessons

That’s because if you hit anyone any more you have to fight. Who would have thought the NHL players would outlaw hitting? I was happy no one decided to beat up Oshie on that hit but you know the next time another player gets hit cleanly the guy who hit him will have to drop the gloves.
- paulr

100% agree.

There's a way to fix it but the league won't - on a clean hit no penalty if somebody attacks the hitter he gets an 2 minute instigator plus 5 minute fighting major and the player forced to defend himself gets no penalty even if he fights.

I agree, that's what this year is all about, rookies getting NHL experience and big dose of tough lessons
- BetweenTheDots

That should be posted at the top of every thread moving forward. Spot on.

And I really would like to know where this Phillips is not aggressive enough come from? Even before last night, I think he is a physical defenseman. And has more talent than the other "physical" defenseman the Hawks are carrying (Tinordi).
- LAHawk

I thought that they played physical all night.

100% agree.

There's a way to fix it but the league won't - on a clean hit no penalty if somebody attacks the hitter he gets an 2 minute instigator plus 5 minute fighting major and the player forced to defend himself gets no penalty even if he fights.
- RickJ

I agree and have said something similar. Five for fighting, five for instigating and a game misconduct.

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.
- jhawk59

I disagree with the good performance thing. Engaged and hitting guys doesn't count.

He isn't good positionally on defense and does not seem to read the ozone play well. You can forgive some of the offensive stuff because the team is absolute rubbish and if he was just dogging it on plays and cheating the zone that would be one thing but he's putting forth a lot of effort to do the wrong things.

If he didn't learn how to play hockey on the smaller ice in Rockford - I'm confused about what the value was there. At least if he failed two years ago in the NHL they could have moved on and tried someone else in that spot.

Forsling is the exception not the rule. Thats like saying because Rafalski (or Tim Thomas for that matter) broke into the league in back half of their 20s means you should take a shot on every cast away that shows any potential. Not good odds. Nor is it smart to wait 6 years for a guy to figure it out.

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.
- SC116

Probably because he isn't good enough to get his stick on the puck.

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. .......
- Mr Ricochet

Bedard.

He looked awful. Skating hard and without purpose isn't anything to be happy with.

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.
- paulr

Again - what is the point?

He is there to score and put up points. The team is trash on purpose. Why should he care about anything but being in a position to rack up individual stats when the management for the organization clearly doesn't care about winning or playing good hockey?

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

This 100%

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.
- RickJ

If they wanted Bedard to play better hockey they should have surrounded him with competent hockey players instead of garbage.

Again - what is the point?

He is there to score and put up points. The team is trash on purpose. Why should he care about anything but being in a position to rack up individual stats when the management for the organization clearly doesn't care about winning or playing good hockey?
- fattybeef

The point? To build his game so he’s a better rounded player in two three years. You’re right that management hasn’t built a team around him, this season, but I suspect the plan is to continue to build a team through the draft and possibly trades and free agency. There’s nothing wrong with Bedard going through a little adversity to make him a better player down the road. If, as you say he shouldn’t care then trade him now because he’s obviously void of any kind of innner strength and character. Luckily he isn’t pouting like some fans are because they can’t understand the goal isn’t short term.

If they wanted Bedard to play better hockey they should have surrounded him with competent hockey players instead of garbage.
- fattybeef

You have a one track mind on this.

Improvement isn't an option or a possibility. A player is either elite or terrible.

The point? To build his game so he’s a better rounded player in two three years. You’re right that management hasn’t built a team around him, this season, but I suspect the plan is to continue to build a team through the draft and possibly trades and free agency. There’s nothing wrong with Bedard going through a little adversity to make him a better player down the road. If, as you say he shouldn’t care then trade him now because he’s obviously void of any kind of innner strength and character. Luckily he isn’t pouting like some fans are because they can’t understand the goal isn’t short term.
- paulr

Wrong.

If it is about building long term good habits then they should have him playing with quality players so he is playing good hockey and not trying to do literally everything himself. That would be way to develop a prospect of his calibre. Get him playing good hockey with guys who don't suck that way there are fewer bad habits forming.

At this point its just him and the expectation that he's going to pass to some bozo like Kurashev or a journeyman like Bouvillier instead of try to score himself is ridiculous.

You have a one track mind on this.

Improvement isn't an option or a possibility. A player is either elite or terrible.
- RickJ

Not at all. None of the guys that they have are showing any improvement aside from the players on the blue line. That's a fact.

Kurashev, same high skill, good speed but no idea how to play the game. Raddysh, zero improvement and regression at least production wise though he can kill a penalty which is neat I guess. Reichel has been bad all year. Donato is bad and at 27 probably is what he is at this point. The 4th line energy guys are fine but thats all they are.

Jason D!ckinson is the second best forward on the team right now so at least they have their shutdown center they can lock down for the next 3 - 5 years.

All of the forwards with the exception of Reichel who is still technically a rookie - are on their third or fourth year and pretty much are who are they are at this point and that just so happens to be bad.

If they wanted Bedard to play better hockey they should have surrounded him with competent hockey players instead of garbage.
- fattybeef

It's not about getting him to score 100 points in his first season and he isn't surrounded by garbage. Claiming Bedard is stuck playing with AHL players? In what world is that even true?

Realistically there aren't that many UFA options for top skilled players and you can bet most of them weren't lining up to join a team in the middle of a deep cut rebuild. That is just the reality. The Hawks went into a burn it down rebuild, so we aren't going to have tons of established talent on the roster. That is how we got Bedard to begin with and we can't "Have our cake and eat it too". World doesn't work that way.

Bedard isn't having to do everything himself and actually as this season has gone on, he has not been trying to do it himself nearly as much. Those first 5 games of the year, he was trying to deke NHL dmen and make players 1 on 1 a lot more than he is now. He is showing more chemistry with the team and familiarity to move the puck around more.

They will surround him with more talent as the rebuild progresses and this season right now, who he is playing with doesn't really affect that future one bit. He is a special talent and he isn't going to be ruined because he isn't playing on a line of superstar players. Talents like Bedard are who they are for a reason, just like in Jr, he wasn't on the star studded team, but he still dominated.

It's not about getting him to score 100 points in his first season and he isn't surrounded by garbage. Claiming Bedard is stuck playing with AHL players? In what world is that even true?

Realistically there aren't that many UFA options for top skilled players and you can bet most of them weren't lining up to join a team in the middle of a deep cut rebuild. That is just the reality. The Hawks went into a burn it down rebuild, so we aren't going to have tons of established talent on the roster. That is how we got Bedard to begin with and we can't "Have our cake and eat it too". World doesn't work that way.

Bedard isn't having to do everything himself and actually as this season has gone on, he has not been trying to do it himself nearly as much. Those first 5 games of the year, he was trying to deke NHL dmen and make players 1 on 1 a lot more than he is now. He is showing more chemistry with the team and familiarity to move the puck around more.

They will surround him with more talent as the rebuild progresses and this season right now, who he is playing with doesn't really affect that future one bit. He is a special talent and he isn't going to be ruined because he isn't playing on a line of superstar players. Talents like Bedard are who they are for a reason, just like in Jr, he wasn't on the star studded team, but he still dominated.
- breadbag

You know i enjoy the debating, i know i get frustrated in game when i see a play like Vlasic and Bedard deciding to stop skating on the play.

Outside of the games to me there's no rush. Time is on our side we have young players trying to learn a very difficult game at a very difficult speed. We have over 50 games to go this season no point in defining anyone's career who hasn't hit their prime yet or is even close to it.

Great idea! Give up on 21 year old kid during a rebuild.
- paulr

Agreed he looks lanky to me, needs more lower body strength.