Zach Jarom: Are The Blackhawks Improving?

1st!


Some news on McDavid

@FriedgeHNIC
Good news as, thankfully, the worst-case scenario is averted with Connor McDavid.

Looking like at least a couple of weeks, but exact timeline TBD.

Been sharing it here and yes, from a metric's standpoint and quality of what you see on the ice, they are a bit better this year over last year.

Been sharing it here and yes, from a metric's standpoint and quality of what you see on the ice, they are a bit better this year over last year.
- breadbag

We've also managed to integrate two more young defense men, Allen and Kaiser. I admit the barre was low with Tinordi and Megna but it has gone fairly well.

Aside from the Vancouver loss, they have competed in every single game. And no way last year's team beats the Avs if the first line is held pointless.

We've also managed to integrate two more young defense men, Allen and Kaiser. I admit the barre was low with Tinordi and Megna but it has gone fairly well.
- rpeters01

I'm a really big fan of Nolan Allan and I think he could eventually be a good shutdown dman, but I'm still on the fence if he is really ready right now. Not saying he has been bad but more that I feel like he is still playing a bit too timid/passive for what I think will make him successful.

He hasn't been too physical so far and I'm just hoping we see him bring it a bit more and become that guy you don't want to battle in the corners. He is still young at just 21, so I think he has room to grow here as a Dman. I just think he might still be a bit green and could shuttle back down if someone in RFD deserves a call up. I'm glad he is playing but I just hope we see him take another step here.

Something interesting from the hockey news.

https://thehockeynews.com...er-is-prized-trade-target

"A guy who I think people would take a look at and think, 'does this make sense at all?' would be a guy like Connor Murphy," Friedman revealed to the host. "Last year, there were a lot of teams that were interested in Murphy."

Something interesting from the hockey news.

https://thehockeynews.com...er-is-prized-trade-target

"A guy who I think people would take a look at and think, 'does this make sense at all?' would be a guy like Connor Murphy," Friedman revealed to the host. "Last year, there were a lot of teams that were interested in Murphy."
- breadbag

Stan Bowman and the Oilers will surely be lining up.

I'm a really big fan of Nolan Allan and I think he could eventually be a good shutdown dman, but I'm still on the fence if he is really ready right now. Not saying he has been bad but more that I feel like he is still playing a bit too timid/passive for what I think will make him successful.

He hasn't been too physical so far and I'm just hoping we see him bring it a bit more and become that guy you don't want to battle in the corners. He is still young at just 21, so I think he has room to grow here as a Dman. I just think he might still be a bit green and could shuttle back down if someone in RFD deserves a call up. I'm glad he is playing but I just hope we see him take another step here.
- breadbag

After seeing him in WHL I was thinking he would require two full years in Rockford to really be ready. He is getting some good experience now, but I have to agree that some more AHL time would probably generate some significant improvement.

Something interesting from the hockey news.

https://thehockeynews.com...er-is-prized-trade-target

"A guy who I think people would take a look at and think, 'does this make sense at all?' would be a guy like Connor Murphy," Friedman revealed to the host. "Last year, there were a lot of teams that were interested in Murphy."
- breadbag

I think they will wait a year on Murphy, left side is still too raw, unless Arty shows so much improvement in Rockford.

Regarding Allan all the fancies are saying he's holding more than his own except when paired with Brodie.

Nice work on the blog post, Zach.......

Perfect thread to add some numbers from Second City Hockey that looks at exactly the same thing Zach is asking. Are the Hawks better this yr thru 10 games? ... Copy and paste from the last thread.

Ran across a really helpful crunching of the numbers over the first ten games this yr and last at Second City that shows the Hawks are demonstrably better than last yr. Your eyes are correct, really since Game 1 in the preseason, that this yr is a much better team. ......... The 2nd graph is the one to see.

https://www.secondcityhoc...khawks-games-this-season/