Did the board know Kantserov had offseason shoulder surgery? He's out for a couple more months.

Probably better to ask on the eve of opening night, LA. But as a guy who hated the total tear down do you have any thoughts as they go into pretty much the first yr of not tanking? Any way you look at it it's a different phase of "the plan".

And speaking of "the plan" it was only a short while ago fans begged for the organIzation to come up with a plan, any plan and stick to it.
- Mr Ricochet

I don't think this was what KD had originally planned for this year. I think he was going to do the same roster type construction as last year, but then Foligno had his end of season presser, and KD switched gears on the fly.

I have no issue with any offseason transaction except Brodie, why they gave him a 2 year contract is beyond me, especially since it happened after day 1.

Steve, Chunk agreed with everything you preach and IMO his was a solid post. You disagree with him saying the plan between the Hawks and Hogs is no good? I've read numerous times that the systems being taught in RKF has allowed the kids to step right in with the Hawks. No lag time in getting caught up on "how we do things up here" for a kid to deal with.......... You disagree with that or the coaches down there? Counting on you to be specific on this kinda stuff cuz you follow coaches, coaching and the AHL closely.

Glad your posting, Steve. This should get to your wheelhouse as the league/city/fans are expecting some wins outa the club and if not the spotlight goes to LR first.
- Mr Ricochet

Hawks had their chance to draft that point producing forward and chose to draft a defenseman instead.
- LFS

Defence wins championships ask the point producers with no defence (Austen Matthews and Connor McDavid). Besides according to JHawk and a few others Demidov will get injuries because of the way he skates. Never heard anyone getting injured strictly by their skating style before, but what do I know?

[quote=stevefrmglencoe]

It is my opinion that the Rockford Coaching Staff is incredibly weak. There are 5 coaches there and 4 are without NHL experience. Klinkhammer played a couple hundred NHL games. Like almost everyone in the organization they are all filling roles for the first time through huge promotions. Yes Jon Cooper came through the ranks but he won a Championship at every level.

I understand that it would be foolish to just hire retreads but isn't some experience useful somewhere. Sorensen was Colliton's Assistant in low level Sweden prior to coming here. This is an Original Six Franchise worth $2 Billion with the future of the franchise in the AHL coach's hand. This is the best coach available?

As for seamless transition from AHL to NHL, hard to say because every time they move a player up from Rockford, they take the Rockford offensive guy and ask him to play a 4th line defensive role. I know that this board is directionally content with LR's work because "they play hard," and "they beat Pittsburg," late when Pittsburgh needed a win to make the playoffs. I'm with everyone that LR has mostly had dreck to coach but without repeating my complaints, have not been impressed.


Anecdotally, I heard that the new video coach for Rockford went on the ice for practice in the past day or so while KD was watching. He is apparently a terrible skater and KD told him to never go on the ice again.

Chunk, I bought in as a 7 yr old and became an old soul when I was 9. I don't care who you are hit the cutoff man, back up a man/base, choke up with 2 strikes, 45 second shifts kinda stuff.

Posted I'm thrilled Bedard won't have freaks with cameras following him around asking what kinda cereal he likes and he can "enjoy" an offseason to refresh mentally and physically.

No way a person can develop the skills he has without being a proud MFer. I'm excited to see what he's decided to work on over his offseason cuz I know his pride won't let him do otherwise.

I'll say this, first period of Game 1 this yr was the only time I thought the kid was playing like a centerman. Not perfect but the effort (legs moving without the puck and in all 3 zones) was there, staying high when needed in the Ozone, supporting and battling for pucks in all 3 zones.......

Green shoots maybe but to my eye the kid is more aware and with his skill in my mind a matter of time for the 19 yr old starts fixing some things.... I've accepted Bedard's chances of being a freakish 3 zone player like Crosby are slim at best but the kid is far from a finished product and his pride will push his 2 way game.

What is starting to concern me, maybe interesting is a better term, is his scoring in high danger areas. Gotta be one of the best shots ever and it seems he finds the goalies belly or shoulder. Between the dots with his shot a 35-40% SPG seems about right.
- Mr Ricochet

If you want that player then it is Celebrini. He may not score quite as much as Sid but he will play all 3 zones and is gonna be really good.

[quote=stevefrmglencoe]

It is my opinion that the Rockford Coaching Staff is incredibly weak. There are 5 coaches there and 4 are without NHL experience. Klinkhammer played a couple hundred NHL games. Like almost everyone in the organization they are all filling roles for the first time through huge promotions. Yes Jon Cooper came through the ranks but he won a Championship at every level.

So other than the lack of NHL experience, what makes them weak? In other words, what have you personally witnessed them doing that makes you believe they have no ability to coach at the AHL level?

[quote=HawkintheD]
No experience = weak. Come on Bucko get with the program.

I don't think this was what KD had originally planned for this year. I think he was going to do the same roster type construction as last year, but then Foligno had his end of season presser, and KD switched gears on the fly.

I have no issue with any offseason transaction except Brodie, why they gave him a 2 year contract is beyond me, especially since it happened after day 1.
- LAHawk

You think KD changed plans but only after the end of last yr? Foligno's input or not you think KD thought it was good to have another horrid season?

I sure hope not, about changing plans I mean. It's waaaay too early into tearing it down to build it back up to be changing plans/lanes. His draft picks are just now playing pro hockey this yr.

If you want that player then it is Celebrini. He may not score quite as much as Sid but he will play all 3 zones and is gonna be really good.
- Black Raven

Fantilli, too. My dream would be for Fantilli to become a Peter Forsberg, Celibrini an ultimate ceiling of the great Crosby but more probably a Toews and our guy? Not sure yet.

I do get your point, Raven.

I don't think this was what KD had originally planned for this year. I think he was going to do the same roster type construction as last year, but then Foligno had his end of season presser, and KD switched gears on the fly.

I have no issue with any offseason transaction except Brodie, why they gave him a 2 year contract is beyond me, especially since it happened after day 1.
- LAHawk

I don't buy that at all. They had a plan in place last year and then injuries happened laying waste to best or at the very least laid plans.

Not in KD's noggin but I don't believe for a minute he was going to run it back this year and then he had an epiphany when Foligno or some other disgruntled vet suggested there would be mutiny or whatever.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
·
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Richardson said Mikheyev will be a "utility guy" for the Blackhawks this year.

"He automatically goes good with [Foligno and Richardinson], but we think he can move around and help other areas at certain times. He'll probably be doing that all year."




Never been a time when I saw Mikheyev I didn't like his game and thought a line of Mikheyev-D!ckinson-Foligno would allow LR to sleep at night. An all situations, throw em over the boards with confidence every time. A top 10 3rd line. A line no matter how bad things get you leave alone. A legit shutdown line that can tilt the ice night after night and take the toughest minutes/matchups.

That's why I thought Smith, a 4th liner, would get the first looks in the top 6 cuz right now Reichel flat out stinks and AA is what he's always been, so that's 2 open top 6 spots.

Count me as an Anderson guy so he slots nicely into The Cossack's spot on L3 IMO. ........ That said looking forward to tonight vs a structured Wild squad and how Mikheyev does with Hall and Kurashev.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
·
Follow
Richardson said Mikheyev will be a "utility guy" for the Blackhawks this year.

"He automatically goes good with
- Mr Ricochet[Foligno and Richardinson], but we think he can move around and help other areas at certain times. He'll probably be doing that all year."




Never been a time when I saw Mikheyev I didn't like his game and thought a line of Mikheyev-D!ckinson-Foligno would allow LR to sleep at night. An all situations, throw em over the boards with confidence every time. A top 10 3rd line. A line no matter how bad things get you leave alone. A legit shutdown line that can tilt the ice night after night and take the toughest minutes/matchups.

That's why I thought Smith, a 4th liner, would get the first looks in the top 6 cuz right now Reichel flat out stinks and AA is what he's always been, so that's 2 open top 6 spots.

Count me as an Anderson guy so he slots nicely into The Cossack's spot on L3 IMO. ........ That said looking forward to tonight vs a structured Wild squad and how Mikheyev does with Hall and Kurashev.

Hey Rico, your guy Marco Kaspar just missed a shorthanded breakaway for the natural hat trick. 2 goals so far in the first.

It’s time to come up with a way to stop this nonsense where a player hitting an opponent cleanly has to fight, or worse, gets attacked for the hit. Almost every preseason game it’s the same. The only way to stop it is a harsh penalty like a five minute penalty plus a ten minute instigation penalty, that has to be served fully, 15 minutes short handed and ejection from the game. Or take the fact that players seem to want hitting eliminated from the game and change the rules to how women play, a hit is penalized.

I don't buy that at all. They had a plan in place last year and then injuries happened laying waste to best or at the very least laid plans.

Not in KD's noggin but I don't believe for a minute he was going to run it back this year and then he had an epiphany when Foligno or some other disgruntled vet suggested there would be mutiny or whatever.
- HawkintheD

The plan is to bring in the kids but they won’t rush them this season apparently- KK was demoted to gain experience and practice things at the AHL level. They have no grand illusion anyone was coming in and they would be much better with their addition

However trying to be more competitive is good for morale, ticket sales, and young kids to try to ripen. What young kids - well I hope Kaiser and others get recalled and some playing time later in the season. Meanwhile you really shouldn’t let your team be so bad and loose without a descent chance so adding some veterans as place holders for young kids helps for the reasons stated above but also not to discourage and piss off your franchise player [Bedard].

Next season is when I expect to start seeing young kids get playing time. By the middle to end of next season there could conceivably be several kids in the lineup and we will have moved some veterans as well as both Reichel, Phillips will have proved whether they should stay or go. Another - AA - will be gone as soon as he can fetch a descent return. Murphy is on his last leg too

Might only be preseason, but they are an embarrassment already..............

[quote=HawkintheD]

Thanks for the back and forth.

Unlike the NHL the AHL is a development league and the best AHL coaches are the ones that move guys along. Over the past 8 years Hagel, Kurashev, and Vlasic are the ones that have progressed beyond expectations. There are a 100 plus that did not progress, including first rounders. Reichel is the most disappointing because he looks like he has NHL quickness but they have not been able to get him north/south to the net. Even in the playoffs last season, his goals were PP goals from soft areas. Looks to me like he will be on waivers in the next couple of days.

Go back to 2011-12 Norfolk. One of the better AHL teams of recent times. Jon Cooper coached them to a Championship. 25 guys from the 38 who suited up on that team ended up playing some games in the NHL. Not 1 of the 25 ever played better than the did when coached by Cooper in the AHL or NHL in Tampa.

Everyone who spends time on this board and watches a lot of hockey can see well coached teams and players. It is mostly details starting with turnovers at the blue lines, impressive special teams, and hustling on and off the ice. I've never left an Icehog game thinking that and very few Hawks games since the glory days.

Might only be preseason, but they are an embarrassment already..............
- vabeachbear

Honestly, giveaways are a problem right now and our upgraded D might not be much different than last season, but I guess time will tell.

The plan is to bring in the kids but they won’t rush them this season apparently- KK was demoted to gain experience and practice things at the AHL level. They have no grand illusion anyone was coming in and they would be much better with their addition

However trying to be more competitive is good for morale, ticket sales, and young kids to try to ripen. What young kids - well I hope Kaiser and others get recalled and some playing time later in the season. Meanwhile you really shouldn’t let your team be so bad and loose without a descent chance so adding some veterans as place holders for young kids helps for the reasons stated above but also not to discourage and piss off your franchise player
- jhawk59[Bedard].

Next season is when I expect to start seeing young kids get playing time. By the middle to end of next season there could conceivably be several kids in the lineup and we will have moved some veterans as well as both Reichel, Phillips will have proved whether they should stay or go. Another - AA - will be gone as soon as he can fetch a descent return. Murphy is on his last leg too

There will be playing time for young kids this season, we are only just getting started with the season and injuries will happen, TDL will happen. Most of the guys who were just sent down because they were close to making the cut out of camp will probably still get to play some significant minutes.

Maybe the plan all along was for no one to watch this garbage team coached by a clueless HC.

I don't think this was what KD had originally planned for this year. I think he was going to do the same roster type construction as last year, but then Foligno had his end of season presser, and KD switched gears on the fly.

I have no issue with any offseason transaction except Brodie, why they gave him a 2 year contract is beyond me, especially since it happened after day 1.
- LAHawk

I don't buy it. KD is showing he is really good at sticking to the process. He can make adjustments as it goes, but I don't buy that anything Foligno said had any real impact on his plans. This is just the evolution of the rebuild as they try to also run a business and have some players around their young star.

It's so refreshing that KD continues to stick to the process and doesn't flip-flop some some GMs and isn't going into that "lets rush things" mistake that we've seen with teams stuck in medicore land.

It is preseason, but PP2 consists of the entire 4th line plus Kurashev and Vlasic?

Might only be preseason, but they are an embarrassment already..............
- vabeachbear

its the same thing every game. Easy entries into the zone. Multiple passing options and the royal road is open for one and all.

Can't win a board battle to save their lives.

Apparently the system is to chase the puck around the ice.

Bring back Colliton!

It is preseason, but PP2 consists of the entire 4th line plus Kurashev and Vlasic?
- LAHawk

Yeah, PP2 won't do much, but they won't see the ice much either.