I would agree to that except that the Hawks despite Bedard, their free agent signings and multiple high draft picks do not have someone to build around. I do not think Bedard is "the guy".

If you signed a Rantanen you would have "that guy" and with Bedard, Nazar, you might have three of a top 6. You have a decent bottom 6. You are stuck with Bert and TT for a few years. You hope one of the prospects is a top 6 player soon. Then you hope other prospects matriculate to be NHL caliber players fortifying the roster and pushing TT and Bert to the 3rd line. It could happen.
- Ztra

Oh I cannot say he won’t be the guy given his ability and desire to become better. What some people say now is that he is lacking and not producing. So maybe generational talent like Crosby could have produced if he were in this spot. With better coaching and better players Bedard will rise up. Now will he be as great as everyone figured he would become back when he was drafted. Maybe not quite as good but you do not waiver to grade him as a disappointment. No, grade the job of the GM and the coach for his less than stellar performance. Bedard will become one really good player …. Just how soon is reliant upon the job KD does to improve both the talent level and his coaching

3-3-1-3-3

isnt it obvious that 98 was playing to get LR fired.

isnt it obvious that 98 was playing to get LR fired.
- glennjpawlak22

- paulr

Oh I cannot say he won’t be the guy given his ability and desire to become better. What some people say now is that he is lacking and not producing. So maybe generational talent like Crosby could have produced if he were in this spot. With better coaching and better players Bedard will rise up. Now will he be as great as everyone figured he would become back when he was drafted. Maybe not quite as good but you do not waiver to grade him as a disappointment. No, grade the job of the GM and the coach for his less than stellar performance. Bedard will become one really good player …. Just how soon is reliant upon the job KD does to improve both the talent level and his coaching
- jhawk59

Crosby had an older Recchi and John LeClaire. Probably better than Hall and TT but I dunno maybe splitting hairs for year one.

Year two Malkin and Staal were in the line up the whole season. Which is def better than anything the Hawks have.

Friedman mentioned it again on 32 thoughts that the Hawks went hard after Guentzel and they were really disappointed he didn't sign in Chicago. So I dunno.

Probably one where we just have to wait for stuff to play out through the TDL.

So, does Richardson’s firing change anything? Is the team going to get better? I figure most teams that had a coaching change come out playing hard for a game or two. Can Sorensen turn the team around? If so, how?

3-2-1-1-2

NCAA Hockey, Michigan at Minnesota 8 pm Eastern, Big 10 network.

After looking at the whole thing, I don't really mind that the Hawks fired LR. It's been repeated ad nauseum that they were close or within a goal in most of their games in the 3rd period. They were also playing very low event hockey, and were notably improved on the PP and PK vs last year. These things cannot be counted on for success. It's great that they improved defensively, but that also neutered their offense.

Riding a strong PP is great if you have a stronger base 5v5.

If the best thing you can say about the coach is that they aren't losing as bad as they were last year, that kinda says it all doesn't it? If anything, I think it's almost worse that they have been so close in so many games and found ways to lose them. How many times were they leading and ended up giving away the game?

I don't think AS is going to move the needle much, but will be happily surprised if he shows otherwise. The main thing I want to see is them getting back to playing aggressive hockey. November was brutal watching as they always looked like they were skating uphill.

I'm sure we'll at least have some good trade speculation to talk about.
- Chunk

Guess I could tag anyone but you're the winner, Chunk...... Good post and I agree with it but wanna just make a point or two.

You guys were here talking Hawks in July so you're invested a bunch but sometimes we get into the bubble and don't see the picture from 20,000 ft. Not you but still, you and me Chunk fit someone who follows so closely you/me miss/forget some things.

One main thing, do we forget what a clown show this team looked like numerous times last yr. Clown show, chasing the puck all over until a wide open net was the outcome!

That is rare this yr. Is that better for development???????????????

Yea, people get on pointing out this about Brodie, that about Bert and TT too. And WTF! ..... Without these guys, the guys who can't score/lost a step/got dumb/can't work with the Golden Boy/fancies blow, that clown show is not here anymore. .... The bums acquired are the reason the Hawks aren't a clown show... Is that good for development?????

The Hawks have led, were down a goal or tied going into the 3rd 24 outa 25 times this yr!!! Is that good for development?????

Is all this stuff that really can't be argued good for Bedard, TT and all the young D? If so is that enough of a "leap in development at the NHL level" from last yr? Is that a big picture thing to point to explaining their record?

Has the rebuild at the NHL level done enough remembering where the organIzation at the NHL level was at last yr?

Crosby had an older Recchi and John LeClaire. Probably better than Hall and TT but I dunno maybe splitting hairs for year one.

Year two Malkin and Staal were in the line up the whole season. Which is def better than anything the Hawks have.

Friedman mentioned it again on 32 thoughts that the Hawks went hard after Guentzel and they were really disappointed he didn't sign in Chicago. So I dunno.

Probably one where we just have to wait for stuff to play out through the TDL.
- fattybeef

And besides Recchi and LeClaire, 2005 was a funny year in general. Don't get me wrong, I think Crosby is genuinely a gnerational talent etc...but his stats that year much like a lot of players are a bit inflated.

Jonathan Cheechoo had a 50+ goal season and I think Gionta or someone was flirting with 50--60 goals as well. Just a funny year with the NHL missing a season + rule changes etc...

So, does Richardson’s firing change anything? Is the team going to get better? I figure most teams that had a coaching change come out playing hard for a game or two. Can Sorensen turn the team around? If so, how?

3-2-1-1-2
- paulr

Like a developing player a rebuild isn't linear. Which zig in the graph will the Sorensen led Hawks bring. An up, a down, a flatline?

Stressful, but very fun and interesting times in this process of the rebuild they are in for the fan. ...... I'll be watching.

So, does Richardson’s firing change anything? Is the team going to get better? I figure most teams that had a coaching change come out playing hard for a game or two. Can Sorensen turn the team around? If so, how?

3-2-1-1-2
- paulr

Probably the same but different. Lipstick on a pig kind of thing IMO.

Or you'll see a dead cat bounce and then a slide.

I don't know how you build chemistry when you don't know who your linemates are going to be every shift. It was comical at times and when i hear coaches say it doesn't matter?

The other thing that pissed me off and i think it peeved KD is when he sat Reichel for 4 games to start the season.

I think it made KD sit back and think okay i got you these vets let's see how you do.

I honestly don't know what the right answer is, but if puck possession is so valuable why don't our dmen work on maintaining it. I bet we give up possession about 50% of the time in games because we are just satisfied of getting the puck out of the defensive zone.

All that said i did think LR improved the defense with better NHL players.

He didn't improve possession though and to me that's a big problem. I don't know how the new coach is going to improve that because in the Rock they play a similar brand of hockey.
- BetweenTheDots

Dots, is it even a question that the 4 game scratch of Reichel, after a terrible preseason, worked??? Or that Reichel's 4th line has been the Hawk's best and most consistent this yr?

I would have thought you'd have Reichel in your plus columnn for LR. No?

Really Columbus?
- BetweenTheDots

CLB could very well be on the come, Dots. That fancy stat genius GM they have, (Wadell?) could very well be the real deal and it ain't like the organIzation was deft of legit young talent when he got there.

Lotta fits out there for Trouba if you're realiastic where his game is at at this point of his career. SJ, ANA??? BUF, CHI? LVG?!!!!!

For the benefit of those that don't have a subscription to The Athletic here is a copy and paste from a Laz and Powers article today..... This is info/quotes a fan can use.


If Davidson had been working for former Blackhawks president John McDonough, Davidson likely would have been forced to recall all of Rockford to boost attendance and team interest. Since Danny Wirtz replaced McDonough and then took over for his father, Rocky Wirtz, as chairman, the Blackhawks’ front office seems to be more hands-off.

Davidson was asked Friday whether Danny Wirtz or president of business Jaime Faulkner had been involved in the decision and whether they supported him in it.

“I don’t want to speak for them, but no, it’s full support from Danny and he’s there every step of the way and we talk every single day,” Davidson said. “There are no secrets. I believe that transparent, honest communication between any boss and employee is critical, but certainly with what we’re doing in the long game that we’ve started a couple of years ago and we continue to look at in executing our plan, it’s something we’re always in touch on. Again, I don’t want to speak for him but from my point of view, he’s extremely supportive, extremely understanding of the rationale that we’ve got and what we’re experiencing and why we, in the end, made a change.”

It is not crazy to say that Kyle's veteran player \ pro player evaluation may not be very great at this point.

Depth (or alleged depth) at the org level hasn't done a whole lot for Buffalo, Ottawa or the Ducks or Red Wings for that matter.
- fattybeef

That is not the issue.

The issue is coaches implementing the neutral zone trap defense are very demanding about structure and effort for it to work, and keep scores down.

Players hate playing it. When you are losing faceoffs like the Blackhawks do, you spending at least 30 seconds of every one minute shift chasing the puck and defending. By the time you get it back, it's the end of the shift, and more times than not, you are dumping the puck in for a change, rinse and repeat.

It's why they have so few shots on goal game after game. I am really hoping Sorensen scraps it for a more offensive strategy, at least for the first two lines.

Went for our daily walk this morning and was explaining this tv mess to my wife, what was their thought process, they put the cart before the horse. Why get in bed with Reinsdorf on this deal, it’s not like the Sox are top tier in marketing. Say what you want about the management on the north side of town , but marketing is not one of their shortcomings.
- Angotti

To be fair to the Blackhawks, it's not like there were a lot of options to go with for local broadcasting.

Comcast is trying to squeeze more out of their customers for this channel, it's more than what they charged for the previous network.

It's frustrating, but I do think Reinsdorf and Wirtz are right on this one. And that's the only time you will hear me say that, lol!!!!

Dots, is it even a question that the 4 game scratch of Reichel, after a terrible preseason, worked??? Or that Reichel's 4th line has been the Hawk's best and most consistent this yr?

I would have thought you'd have Reichel in your plus columnn for LR. No?
- Mr Ricochet

I do have him in my plus column, i didn't feel anyone played well in the preseason. If he came out the first game like a turd i would of then benched him and told him my expectations.

I said before i would of had him on the wing with Di ckinson, but with Maroon and Smith they work really well together.

I like LR too bad for him, but I also appreciate KD wanting more from the FAs he signed. I think with so many metrics out there to not value the puck as much as possible did LR in

"Hossa" types don't sign with the worst teams in the league. They don't even get traded there because they have NMCs.
- rpeters01

Agree, and they are 2 years away from trading for a Hossa unless a special deal comes along.

Going back many years... Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
- boilermaker100

Had a gig in the early to mid 90s where i had to take poeple out in NYC, everyone wanted to see Phantom, think i had to sit through it 9 times on Broadway.

It was good, but not 9 times. Thought Les Mis is the worst waste of time i ever spent. Miss Siagon was good, guys and Dolls with Jamie Farr was good.

It is not crazy to say that Kyle's veteran player \ pro player evaluation may not be very great at this point.

Depth (or alleged depth) at the org level hasn't done a whole lot for Buffalo, Ottawa or the Ducks or Red Wings for that matter.
- fattybeef

Isn't that what Norm McIver and Mike Doneghy are supposed ot do?

NCAA Hockey, Michigan at Minnesota 8 pm Eastern, Big 10 network.
- boilermaker100

My Big 10 Network has Illini and Northwestern bball

Vanacker with a nice goal to tie the game with Peterborough

Also respectfully, what would you want a new blogger to write about? His/her thoughts on the daily lineup, the recap of the previous game, how the prospects are doing in their respective leagues, what trades to make or free agents to sign, the firing of a coach? That all can be found elsewhere and there is substantial discussion here among ourselves on those and other topics, blogger or not. So what if it's 95 pages long and counting. It takes about two seconds to get to the current page.
- boilermaker100

Ideally you want a solid hockey mind jotting down thoughts to kinda steer conversation but as you point out there is substantial conversation without one here. I other words, if this site doesn't disappear the info and conversation with the hockey minds here is excellent.

Problem is it sounds like you'll go to HB one day and it's closed down cuz the payments aren't being paid to the server. ..... I know, I paid that yearly bill, along with 3-4 other things yearly for 15 yrs on top of the 350 bucks I paid for the software that is the platform.. I stopped paying the bills and our USHL message board is gone.

But BM, we started the thing on FREE software and server before going all in for the "big stuff". As far as I know the free message board is still out there. Someone would have to hunt that down and have a tech savvy guy to set it up and you have a free message board on deck for when this joint goes down, if it indeed does but it does sound like it will.

My Big 10 Network has Illini and Northwestern bball
- vabeachbear

It's on FS1. Moore just got an assist.