I am not going to say I know how Hawks management sees managing Ollie Moore after this year. On one hand you can say he needs more time but is college practice and gym time or Rockford playing time in 2025-26?

We all know it is nice to have guys signed before they might get the itch to bolt elsewhere.

The Hawk current situation isn't one where kids most likely shy away from it's allure, b/c they see the veteran roster as one that is leaving, as they probably stay in the fold...
- wiz1901

Or they see an organization that is going to make guys hang out in rockford for a prolonged time even though they don't have anything left to prove there (even though the parent club is the worst in the league) and would rather hang out in college and choose their destiny then play an arbitrary year in the minors.

CLB is 5-1 last 6....... They look like a nice little club so far.
- Mr Ricochet

Coaching change helped. Having a guy who isn't playing mind games with Kent Johnson and the other young guys is probably a good thing. Monahan - a veteran who has some top 6 talent - is taking some of the load off Fantilli so he can continue to grow into his role.

Waddell isn't a moron and knows how to build a competitive hockey club. If that tragic drunk driving event didn't happen they'd probably be in decent shape.

Vlasic inability to clear the zone or maintain possession is leading to the puck in the back of our net today
- BetweenTheDots

They can't get out of the zone in general. Theyre playing 6 defense first defenders which is part of the problem.

The forward group is also total and complete rubbish so that doesn't help. It's not like they have a lot of competent players to give the puck to.

Watching the wolves game, Nazar is just dangerous gets and gives a ton of opportunities

Levshunov does know how to clear the crease. He may look disengaged but he really is calm cool and quick especially those feet. They are doing a lot of clutching and grabbing on him behind the net and he got tired of it and hammered the guy got called for a high stick, but it was a missed call.

Don't know what fatty is talking about KK is playing the left side, playing it well.
- BetweenTheDots

Hey, what’s Kevin Korchinski up to in Rockford? He’s played some on the right side recently, and the IceHogs (and Blackhawks) are mixing things up as Artyom Levshunov gets more comfortable playing as a pro. Ben Pope had this installment from his trip to Rockford looking at the organ-I-zation asking Korchinski to feel free to do him and be the playmaker they drafted more often.[/I]

https://www.bleachernatio...other-blackhawks-bullets/

So Kurashev gets reunited with Bedard and both are a -2 this game. Kurashev is a -17 so fsr this season, extrapolated a -61, 17 worse than last years -44.

He has 3 goals and 2 assists this year, so his offense is non-existent also.

Someone tell me why he is even dressed, let alone is on Bedard’s line. Thought there was supposed to be accountability this year?
- LAHawk

Kurashev is a bad hockey player.

Because the organization thinks Nazar needs to learn how to move his feet in the AHL...

Kurashev is a bad hockey player.

Because the organization thinks Nazar needs to learn how to move his feet in the AHL...
- fattybeef

Watching the wolves game, Nazar is just dangerous gets and gives a ton of opportunities

Levshunov does know how to clear the crease. He may look disengaged but he really is calm cool and quick especially those feet. They are doing a lot of clutching and grabbing on him behind the net and he got tired of it and hammered the guy got called for a high stick, but it was a missed call.

Don't know what fatty is talking about KK is playing the left side, playing it well.
- BetweenTheDots

Yep, Artie was the same casual, unhurried, low heart rate, efficiency of movement kid in the USHL. ... And yea man, when he gets pissed you can see how strong of a kid he is. Gotta figure he'll be a strong SOB as a man. Farmer strong, not weight room strong ... And, he doesn't look like it with his slumped shoulders posture but the kid is a helluv an athlete.... And a right shot, man!!

Kurashev is a bad hockey player.

Because the organization thinks Nazar needs to learn how to move his feet in the AHL...
- fattybeef

Hey Fatty, do you remember when Tiger Woods was a young man? He won a few Majors but tore his swing down to Ground Zero and rebuilt it cuz even though his swing was winning Majors he felt he would not reach his potential/ceiling with it.

Kinda like properly learning your trade down in the AHL. Build a solid foundation to build on not grasp at short term flawed success. ........

Yep, Artie was the same casual, unhurried, low heart rate, efficiency of movement kid in the USHL. ... And yea man, when he gets pissed you can see how strong of a kid he is. Gotta figure he'll be a strong SOB as a man. Farmer strong, not weight room strong ... And, he doesn't look like it with his slumped shoulders posture but the kid is a helluv an athlete.... And a right shot, man!!
- Mr Ricochet

You know who else had slumped shoulders? Gordie Howe.

That is something that i don't understand, how it seems it is more important to just get the puck out of the defensive zone instead value placed on possession once you have the puck on your stick, they are all guilty of this.

One of my favorite moves of the Wild was if nothing was there they would reverse direction instead of forcing something up ice and reset.
- BetweenTheDots

At times they play like the puck is a fricking hand grenade. It's like there sole purpose is to get it away from themselves before it explodes. They need to show clips of Hossa, Toews, Kane, Hjalmarsson, Seabrook holding and/or protecting the puck until they had a decent play to make with it.

Kurashev is a bad hockey player.

Because the organization thinks Nazar needs to learn how to move his feet in the AHL...
- fattybeef

Not totally bad. But should be on the bottom six unless there is an emergency.

3 top tens. 1 top 15, 2 top 20s and a top 25. And 14 between 27 and the third round.

If they haven't accumulated enough talent there to build around then this isn't the right front office for the job anyway.
- fattybeef

I hear you, but how many are up playing with the big club? Nazar will be up after the holidays(my prediction), and KK will be up after the TDL. There are no other prospects ready to contribute offensively in the bigs at this point.

You know who else had slumped shoulders? Gordie Howe.
- paulr

Don't forget Lucic.

Watching the wolves game, Nazar is just dangerous gets and gives a ton of opportunities

Levshunov does know how to clear the crease. He may look disengaged but he really is calm cool and quick especially those feet. They are doing a lot of clutching and grabbing on him behind the net and he got tired of it and hammered the guy got called for a high stick, but it was a missed call.

Don't know what fatty is talking about KK is playing the left side, playing it well.
- BetweenTheDots

I look forward when you have the time and enough viewing to report on how some other prospects have performed. Dach, EDM, Hayes, Comesso, others? This Mayhew apparently AHL career type but had 39 goals as a rookie in AHL in 2019

Don't forget Lucic.
- Dieselhead

Lucic has Scheuermann's disease, a condition that can cause the upper back to curve and has given him a hunched-over posture

Kurashev is a bad hockey player.

Because the organization thinks Nazar needs to learn how to move his feet in the AHL...
- fattybeef

And yet X is filled with people agreeing he needs to hang out in the AHL because he needs to "marinate" whatever that means.
I know I'm a broken record,but not all prospects have the same linear progression. A prospect is ready when he is ready. Frank is ready,bring him up. Hayes needs time,leave him in the AHL. Why is this so hard to understand?

I see the Dach comments- they brought up Kirby too soon and look at him now. Is it possible that Dach just isn't very good??

Bring up Frank and put him on a line with Bedard. See if they can cook together.

I hear you, but how many are up playing with the big club? Nazar will be up after the holidays(my prediction), and KK will be up after the TDL. There are no other prospects ready to contribute offensively in the bigs at this point.
- Angotti

Well then they're useless and need to be traded NOW for players that can elevate us to be at least a middling team!

I look forward when you have the time and enough viewing to report on how some other prospects have performed. Dach, EDM, Hayes, Comesso, others? This Mayhew apparently AHL career type but had 39 goals as a rookie in AHL in 2019
- jhawk59

Hey jhawk. Your post reminded me, and I wanted to chime in about what I've seen thus far with the Hogs.

Commesso: He's fighting it a bit now. You can tell he's "trying to make the save" instead of playing the position right now. I don't think it's too big of an issue especially given his age. I think he will have a similar road as Soda in that he just starts to "get it" at some point and he'll be really good.

Hayes: I think he just needs time to figure out how his skills translate. He was hyped for his shot and goal scoring, but he actually is an above average passer. He had a really nice dish to Dach at the goal mouth I think against the Wolves, that was impressive. His skating and positioning need work.

EDM: This guy is probably my version of everyone's Crevier or Phillips. Others point out that his doesn't skate well (which I think is a bit overblown from what I've seen), but I see the total package. He's really strong and kills plays well. When he does engage offensively, which seems less often these days, he is not at all out of place. Good passer, and gets his shot on net. He reminds me of a defense version of Handzus. Looks kinda slow, but is almost always in the right spot and makes very few mistakes.

Dach: I still don't know what this kid is. It's the consistency thing. When he is on, I really think he's a difference maker. When he's off, you can barely tell he dressed. He could be similar to Bickell. Rarely makes any noise in the regular season, but could be a PO guy.

KK: Generating shots and offense more/better than last year. Much more active overall instead of just trying to survive. Defensively, still needs to clean things up and someone really needs to teach him how to play a 2-on-1... still.

Levshunov: Several times he's show why he was the 2OA. Separates guys from the puck, drives offense and takes a lot of shots. There are a few head scratcher moments, but those seem fewer and further between recently. Again, I'll warn that he looks/plays like it's very low effort, but he is making the plays. Don't fall into the "he doesn't care" crowd. He's just really calm out there.

Savoie/Slaggert: Personally, I think either or both could replace guys on the NHL roster and be just as good if not better (Maroon, Kurashev, Anderson, Mikheyev). Both always going toward the opponents' nets and can get under their skin.

Hey jhawk. Your post reminded me, and I wanted to chime in about what I've seen thus far with the Hogs.

Commesso: He's fighting it a bit now. You can tell he's "trying to make the save" instead of playing the position right now. I don't think it's too big of an issue especially given his age. I think he will have a similar road as Soda in that he just starts to "get it" at some point and he'll be really good.

Hayes: I think he just needs time to figure out how his skills translate. He was hyped for his shot and goal scoring, but he actually is an above average passer. He had a really nice dish to Dach at the goal mouth I think against the Wolves, that was impressive. His skating and positioning need work.

EDM: This guy is probably my version of everyone's Crevier or Phillips. Others point out that his doesn't skate well (which I think is a bit overblown from what I've seen), but I see the total package. He's really strong and kills plays well. When he does engage offensively, which seems less often these days, he is not at all out of place. Good passer, and gets his shot on net. He reminds me of a defense version of Handzus. Looks kinda slow, but is almost always in the right spot and makes very few mistakes.

Dach: I still don't know what this kid is. It's the consistency thing. When he is on, I really think he's a difference maker. When he's off, you can barely tell he dressed. He could be similar to Bickell. Rarely makes any noise in the regular season, but could be a PO guy.

KK: Generating shots and offense more/better than last year. Much more active overall instead of just trying to survive. Defensively, still needs to clean things up and someone really needs to teach him how to play a 2-on-1... still.

Levshunov: Several times he's show why he was the 2OA. Separates guys from the puck, drives offense and takes a lot of shots. There are a few head scratcher moments, but those seem fewer and further between recently. Again, I'll warn that he looks/plays like it's very low effort, but he is making the plays. Don't fall into the "he doesn't care" crowd. He's just really calm out there.

Savoie/Slaggert: Personally, I think either or both could replace guys on the NHL roster and be just as good if not better (Maroon, Kurashev, Anderson, Mikheyev). Both always going toward the opponents' nets and can get under their skin.
- Chunk

So overall, as should be expected, the young guys are coming along slowly but surely. Isn’t there something you can do to speed it up and to ease the panic here?

So overall, as should be expected, the young guys are coming along slowly but surely. Isn’t there something you can do to speed it up and to ease the panic here?
- paulr

I'm pretty sure all that I can do is speed up the panic.

Not to feed the flames too much, but I have to agree with Fatty on Nazar. The things that they want him to work on (keep moving his feet, staying engaged without the puck), I think would be best honed in the NHL. That way he can see how little time and space is really available. He really seems to be skating through defenses quite easily, so I'd like to see him figure out what it takes to do that against the best competition. It's not like our NHLers don't have the same warts at this point.

So overall, as should be expected, the young guys are coming along slowly but surely. Isn’t there something you can do to speed it up and to ease the panic here?
- paulr

If we only had Rod Taylor's time machine.

Saw this on NHLRumors.com and had to laugh.

Joel Quenneville could be the top candidate in Detroit and New York
Marco D’Amico of RG.org: The Detroit Red Wings are not having the season they envisioned and GM Steve Yzerman may look to make a move behind the bench.

A source said that Joel Quenneville could be the top candidate to replace Derek Lalonde if they decide to make a move.

As the losses mount in New York, the Rangers are another team that could look at making a coaching change in order to spark their team.

“Laviolette doesn’t have long there,” a trusted NHL source told RG. “I’m hearing Quenneville could be the guy there if that’s the route goes.”

I'm pretty sure all that I can do is speed up the panic.

Not to feed the flames too much, but I have to agree with Fatty on Nazar. The things that they want him to work on (keep moving his feet, staying engaged without the puck), I think would be best honed in the NHL. That way he can see how little time and space is really available. He really seems to be skating through defenses quite easily, so I'd like to see him figure out what it takes to do that against the best competition. It's not like our NHLers don't have the same warts at this point.
- Chunk

I’m not only talking fatty who is not only looking for Nazar to come up but is looking to fire the coach, maybe GM, start trading for older players and known injury prone players, start bringing guys up and in allot of cases just bypass the AHL altogether. But he and many other posters are in full blown panic. We knew this season would offer incremental improvement and so far the results haven’t been there. However we are seeing improvement, take Bedard as a huge example. He’s no longer cherry picking at center ice but positionally he's improved dramatically and he’s picking up his check on occasion, now he has to add consistency. And last year in your wildest dreams did you ever expect to see him drop down in the slot to block a shot? And the improvement of other young guys Vlasic, Allan and Kaiser. However small Reichel has made strides this season. Kurashev is what he is. As for the older players they’re there as mercenaries, as place holders, most don’t really care about anything but their paycheque. Right now it’s about the younger guys and the process, if the process works the results will come.


As for Nazar, we don’t know what the GM is looking for. If we did, we could all quit our daytime jobs flipping burgers and become NHL or even AHL, CHL or College GMs. Maybe, just maybe, KD knows more than us or Nazar hasn’t shown he’s ready in certain areas? Or perhaps KD is ready to promote him?

Hey Fatty, do you remember when Tiger Woods was a young man? He won a few Majors but tore his swing down to Ground Zero and rebuilt it cuz even though his swing was winning Majors he felt he would not reach his potential/ceiling with it.

Kinda like properly learning your trade down in the AHL. Build a solid foundation to build on not grasp at short term flawed success. ........
- Mr Ricochet

He has a solid foundation obviously.

If he keeps skating circles around people he's going to start creating bad habits. He's clearly above that level of competition and should be challenged - not coddled.

I hear you, but how many are up playing with the big club? Nazar will be up after the holidays(my prediction), and KK will be up after the TDL. There are no other prospects ready to contribute offensively in the bigs at this point.
- Angotti

Exactly, but there will be soon so since there ought to be enough talent in the pipe line to fill out the roster as they go along there shouldn't be an issue bringing in players today who are going to be part of the bigger picture a few years from now.