Yo LA, or anyone else, you see Askarov beat the Kings last night? I had it on my laptop while watching a movie with the wife so I didn't follow as closely than I would have liked.

Speaking of SJ, they've been a pretty damn good club the last 5ish games. And Blackwood is playing better than I even thought he had in him. ... The got a little something going in SJ.
- Mr Ricochet

I didn't Rico, I probably fell asleep last night before the game was even on

One of the really bad things about the league and Hawks seeing just how flawed Bedard is is that just the mention of his name would have most any hockey players want to play with him, especially elite players.

At the start of the season I thought Bedard's name would be an automatic draw for potential linemate, not so sure now. .... The way his game is right now can you imagine how invisible and a drag he'd be on his team in the playoffs?

But, your points are valid. A load of circumstances have to align to acquire a difference maker. Especially young, skilled, power players with a nasty disposition. But, as Bamford points out, the Hawks have loads of draft picks and prospects and that is almost essential to acquiring elite talent.
- Mr Ricochet

One of my points is I don't think KD would give up the requisite draft choices to entice Ottawa to trade him. We have only seen him trade for draft choices, does he have it in him to trade a high pick, or for that matter include a Nazer in a deal/ he might even have to on paper overpay, I can see Blake from LA coming with a package that Ottawa would like, he has done it before.

One of my points is I don't think KD would give up the requisite draft choices to entice Ottawa to trade him. We have only seen him trade for draft choices, does he have it in him to trade a high pick, or for that matter include a Nazer in a deal/ he might even have to on paper overpay, I can see Blake from LA coming with a package that Ottawa would like, he has done it before.
- LAHawk

You're right and in fact there is still much about KD we don't know. We do know however he'll trade pieces like Dcat and Hagel. So we know he ain't scared but trading 2 #1's, and Nazar, plus for Tkachuk is a different animal.

Yep, a lot about KD we don't know which makes going thru the stages of a complete tear down even more interesting than a GM who has done it or something similar.

Yes he is producing more than last year and some credit should go to the coach and certainly the player for taking advantage of opportunities.

Most of my point in criticizing his play has been to emphasize that his success in Rockford against inferior athletes didn't have a lot of value and no matter when he came to the NHL there would be a big adjustment.

Even if he wasn't mature enough to be in the NHL yet it's not like a player coming up from triple A being ready to step in. The AHL just isn't that good of a league. Which is why I think with a kid like Nazar, it's probably fine to bring him up now because buzzing around these inferior players isn't going to be beneficial for more than a confidence builder and he shown to have a lot of mental toughness especially with how he recovered from that injury and is walking the league now.
- fattybeef

Fatty, you do know your thoughts on the AHL and development are in a very small minority?

Yeah, I raised an eyebrow at that comparison too. In another article he said that Kurashev was responsible defensively. I'm still trying to find any evidence of such.
- Chunk

I mean Kurashev is very responsible....for a lot of goals against.

I mean Kurashev is very responsible....for a lot of goals against.
- breadbag

At this point, who cares? Most of the current Hawk lineup won’t be here in two or three years when the team will hopefully be starting to become relevant again. Why people are seemingly losing sleep over Kurashev or Hall or Bertuzzi or whomever is baffling. The most important things are Vlasic is looking really good and he’s getting better. Allan is playing well and he may not be good enough when the prospects start moving into the Hawk lineup. Bedard, despite his slow start is still very very promising for the future. The links Boiler posts about the Hawk prospects is showing lots of potential. Then there’s next June’s draft, possible trades and down the road Free Agent signing(s).

That's all well and good, and I'm not taking that away from him. He was a mid-first rounder who held his own against adults as a kid. That he is now getting back to what he was supposed to be as a rookie is kind of a red flag (even accepting that development is not linear).

A few weeks ago, I came up with "the Slaggert index". Does a player provide anything more than Landon Slaggert does. I'm using him as the bottom standard of what a hockey player should bring to the table if you want to have a competitive team. He works really hard, battles for pucks and wins a good share of them, and can/will occasionally chip in offense.

If a player is exceptional in one direction or the other above what Slaggert brings that's a benefit to the team. If he is equal or less than, I call that "trade asset". My reasoning is that they have tons and tons of prospects in the system as well as picks coming that they can't ice them all. You pick out the really good ones and use the others to acquire what you don't have.

I'm sure there are flaws in this concept, but it's the best way I can think of to sift through the mountain of players the Hawks have brought into the system recently. Obviously, you don't need to trade all the guys that don't distinguish themselves so you have some depth, but I'm not drawing a line in the sand saying that I'm not trading X because he's still young and I drafted him.

Yeah, two long flights to Frankfurt and back gave me some time to come up with some BS, but I think it has merit.
- Chunk

Well it's solid Chunk.

Reichel was playing in an adult league in Germany so I'm not really sure it's comparable to the NHL. Other than Panarin who wasn't drafted and came from the KHL, most of these guys we picked up from other leagues (Kahun, Kubalik, Suter) have flashed for a year but haven't had real staying power. Suuter might still be with VAN but haven't looked.

Anyway, just preaching a little patience where Reichel is concerned as yes while a lot of these guys have the fast and grindy attributes, Reichel seems to have some scoring ability too. Though I'm sure someone will queue the Sakura comps which seems a bit misplaced.

At this point, who cares? Most of the current Hawk lineup won’t be here in two or three years when the team will hopefully be starting to become relevant again. Why people are seemingly losing sleep over Kurashev or Hall or Bertuzzi or whomever is baffling. The most important things are Vlasic is looking really good and he’s getting better. Allan is playing well and he may not be good enough when the prospects start moving into the Hawk lineup. Bedard, despite his slow start is still very very promising for the future. The links Boiler posts about the Hawk prospects is showing lots of potential. Then there’s next June’s draft, possible trades and down the road Free Agent signing(s).
- paulr

I think I have seen Kurashev tap Mrazek's pad after bailing him out a few times. I guess encouragement counts ?


But I do agree with you, his defensive acumen reminds me of the former Blackhawk's legend Dominick Kubalik.
- LAHawk

And again, Kurashev is Russian. Russian players are known to be allergic to responsible play in their defensive end.

Why is this still so surprising to Blackhawks fans???

Fatty, you do know your thoughts on the AHL and development are in a very small minority?
- Mr Ricochet

I don't think it is a small minority. You are seeing a lot of young players go directly to the NHL club. The days of only 1 or 2 guys skipping the AHL to go straight to the NHL are over.

The current top 10 rookies in points this season combined 4 seasons of AHL experience. The AHL can be a good league for development but it is not the end all and there are plenty of NHL players that never set foot in the AHL.

The Red Wings "over marinating" their prospects in the NHL hasn't worked out to well for them.

If your eye can't see a difference between this yr and last, and you're counting so heavily on the fancies, you won't see any improvement. ...... I admitted to Fatty of all players I can't remember such a disparity between like Reichel's fancies and the eye test. And, not being a slave to the fancies, there is still something to those fancy numbers for the 22 yr old. .. Twenty two yrs old coming off a horrendous yr on a horrid team, Chunk.

Fancies don't cover all variables, Chunk. ..... Of any player, including Bedard, Reichel is the guy fans get to the edge of their seat when he gets the puck and starts hitting gears in attack mode. Fancies won't tell you that but your eye will.
- Mr Ricochet

Sure he’s better than last year, but I’d say he’s no better than he was when he first came up. What’s his ceiling?

And again, Kurashev is Russian. Russian players are known to be allergic to responsible play in their defensive end.

Why is this still so surprising to Blackhawks fans???
- dahawks8819

The worst two were Datsyuk and Barkov.

I don't think it is a small minority. You are seeing a lot of young players go directly to the NHL club. The days of only 1 or 2 guys skipping the AHL to go straight to the NHL are over.

The current top 10 rookies in points this season combined 4 seasons of AHL experience. The AHL can be a good league for development but it is not the end all and there are plenty of NHL players that never set foot in the AHL.

The Red Wings "over marinating" their prospects in the NHL hasn't worked out to well for them.
- bhawks2241

The AHL or staying junior is a waste. I think as soon as a a player is drafted he should play on the big club.

At this point, who cares? Most of the current Hawk lineup won’t be here in two or three years when the team will hopefully be starting to become relevant again. Why people are seemingly losing sleep over Kurashev or Hall or Bertuzzi or whomever is baffling. The most important things are Vlasic is looking really good and he’s getting better. Allan is playing well and he may not be good enough when the prospects start moving into the Hawk lineup. Bedard, despite his slow start is still very very promising for the future. The links Boiler posts about the Hawk prospects is showing lots of potential. Then there’s next June’s draft, possible trades and down the road Free Agent signing(s).
- paulr

We should just call it what it is... another tank season. Hawks front office made it seem like something else and fooled many of us into having higher expectations. Bertuzzi, when playing well, is a middle 6 forward. TT is a good roll player. Neither are going to carry the team or have any substantial impact on number of games won.

In my book, Bertuzzi and TT are not huge upgrades from Tyler Johnson as far as offense production. Kurashev has regressed (or returned back to the norm). 17 goals and 31 points in 67 games for Johnson last year. Call that a wash with Bertuzzi.

So TT is the real only upgrade on offense and Kurashev is not going to sniff 50 pts this year so any value added from TT is essentially wiped out by Kurashev's lack of production.

Not a whole lot of difference between this years team and last year's team. Still going to be a top 5 pick.

The AHL or staying junior is a waste. I think as soon as a a player is drafted he should play on the big club.
- paulr

Why the backhanded response? I said the AHL can be good developmental league. Depends on the player. I then pointed out a trend of more and more young players not going to the AHL, rather going straight to the NHL.

The worst two were Datsyuk and Barkov.
- paulr

If you're just going to be an a** at least post accurate things. Barkov is Finnish. Born there and played hockey there. His dad is Russian. Has dual citizenship.

Right? Bedard has been called generational or possibly generational. He was a guy that was tabbed to turn pro immediately yet there were obviously areas of his game that still needed work.
- HawkintheD

Hey D, do you think Bedard was ever coached on anything but offense? Do you think this is the first time ever being taught structure, positioning or any defensive theory?

Is he starting from Ground Zero in learning the game without the puck?

I don't think it is a small minority. You are seeing a lot of young players go directly to the NHL club. The days of only 1 or 2 guys skipping the AHL to go straight to the NHL are over.

The current top 10 rookies in points this season combined 4 seasons of AHL experience. The AHL can be a good league for development but it is not the end all and there are plenty of NHL players that never set foot in the AHL.

The Red Wings "over marinating" their prospects in the NHL hasn't worked out to well for them.
- bhawks2241

Yep, kids are coming to the NHL without playing AHL and IMO are not ready for the Bigs. I think it's out of necessity cuz of the cap not that all a sudden prospects are that much better and don't need the fundamentals taught at the AHL level.

Plus, a lotta kids are playing pro all over Europe before even hitting North America. Now those kids get to the NHL sound and ready for the jump.

If you're just going to be an a** at least post accurate things. Barkov is Finnish. Born there and played hockey there. His dad is Russian. Has dual citizenship.
- bhawks2241

Like the generalization that Russians don’t play defense? If you’re so upset about the way the Hawks are going about things why don’t you follow another team or better yet just follow the winning team that way you’ll always be happy.

Sure he’s better than last year, but I’d say he’s no better than he was when he first came up. What’s his ceiling?
- Chunk

That is absolutely the question for Reichel, and any prospect for that matter. What are their ceilings? ...... The hope is the Hawks are evaluating correctly and able to move those they don't think will be players for better assets and hang on to the ones that do end up useful NHLers.

For me I see a dynamic/explosive/quick twitch athlete who can fly. Helluva foundation Reichel has. ....... I'd keep him thinking he has a solid/reasonable middle 6 forward that adds a lotta speed to the lineup and a guy who flirts with 60 points.

Lotta value a player like that adds to a roster of an NHL playoff team.

And if he busts, 25-30 pt guy, so what. Plenty of high draft choices moving their way up the ladder to take his spot.

Fatty, you do know your thoughts on the AHL and development are in a very small minority?
- Mr Ricochet

Doesn't bother me. If the AHL was a league comparable to triple A where guys are facing MBL or near MLB competition then Reichel should have been able to step into the line up and make an impact straight away. That certainly hasn't been the case. If that were the case he'd either still be in the minors or significantly more productive - and I don't mean just points or looking dangerous with the puck on his blade.

There is a massive gap in speed and talent and once a player consistently demonstrates that they are better the most of the rest of that league they should be in the NHL getting reps so they can take their next step.

Some of these toolsy guys like Hayes, Ludwinski or Savoie probably need some more time to mature mentally and work on their skill set and they have to go somewhere. I would have preferred Levshunov stay at MSU another year or two rather than go to Rockford but we'll see what happens I guess.

I just don't see value in having highly skilled players beat up placeholders, mid level talent and mentally immature younger guys when there is such a big gap between the two leagues.

For those interested the CHL vs USA NTDP starts at 6:00 tonight.

The AHL or staying junior is a waste. I think as soon as a a player is drafted he should play on the big club.
- paulr

Hey Paul. In your opinion, what does a player need to show in the AHL or Juniors to prove he is ready for NHL mins?

I’m not as hard as Fatty against the AHL, but my thought is that it’s more about just repetition against the bigger/faster players and less about skill development.

Just curious about your views on it.

The worst two were Datsyuk and Barkov.
- paulr

Compared to the many Russian forwards who have taken up space on NHL rosters over the past 30+ years, they are outliers, and you know that.

Why the backhanded response? I said the AHL can be good developmental league. Depends on the player. I then pointed out a trend of more and more young players not going to the AHL, rather going straight to the NHL.
- bhawks2241

Yes, the AHL can be good for development, as long as the player needs to develop.

Defensemen definitely benefit from time in the AHL, but most forwards that have played at least two years of college hockey, I'm not so sure.

And tbh, the GM and coach has said playing time would be based on merit. Can you honestly say that has been the case through 1/4 of this season?? Especially with the forward play??