Theo Fox: Keep It Short
A plea to the Blackhawks to keep their shifts to optimal TOI at ES as well as on the PP and PK. Easier said than done, though, if team defense continues to struggle.

First! I can’t believe it....

Anyhow, thanks Theo for the extremely well written article and the surgical breakdown of what short shifts mean to a team during a game. My concern with Coach Colliton still remains does he have enough respect from the veterans on the team to implement his puck/time management philosophy?

Anyhow, thanks Theo for the extremely well written article and the surgical breakdown of what short shifts mean to a team during a game. My concern with Coach Colliton still remains does he have enough respect from the veterans on the team to implement his puck/time management philosophy?
- Puck_Em

Thank you and you're welcome!

I share the same concern. While I am cautiously optimistic that Bowman and Colliton's zoom call (October?) with the core to get them all on the same page was beneficial, we shall see how the veterans' relationship with their coach actually plays out once play resumes.

And, again - players in position to get the quick outlet passes that allows all of this - fewer stretch passes that don’t connect or result in icings.

Oh, well - time to make like a hockey player and get the puck out.

I felt the Hawks were extremely poor at line changes. It seemed like they got caught in a line change way too often. Short shifts mean more line changes. So they better make better decisions when making a line change or it will just result in more high quality chances against.

I agree on not double shifting Kane and not playing him for the full two minutes on the PP. I can see double shifting him when you are down a goal late in the game for a couple/few shifts. But if he is double shifted too often or plays the full two minutes on the PP he tends to conserve energy by not playing a 200' game (which I think we can all admit is just so so at best to begin with).

I know they want to win more games, but they are a borderline playoff team at best. Why pile the minutes on Kane and Toews? I would like to see them rolling 4 lines more. That would keep the top 2 lines fresher. It would also keep the 3rd and 4th lines more in the rhythm of the game and give people like Highmore more ice time/experience. Playing only one shift per period there is no way to get anything going. If the 4th line is an energy line or sand paper line there little opportunity for them to effect the other lines or the game playing one shift per period.

Shorter Season, different divisions alignments, unknown results if scheduled games with teams are ovid-19 cancelled means (to me)

New adversaries that you play many times, a need for lots of players, and strong performances and match ups in the contests, rotating line-ups, and your goaltenders are kinda in the situation Jordan Binnington was in, where the first year was one where he hadn't accrued a major league "book of tendencies" so attackers didn't have sweet spots or as many "go to areas" in their attacks.

(Was that why after the Cup, he s=uddenly was not the favor of the month?)

My point is a' wanna snatch points in each occasion b/c the new allignmented teams are not going forget the games you win, so try and steamroll early to get to a playoff, before the season unravels...

Theo, you are really bringing it with these blogs. If the Hawks play with the dedication you've displayed, they could really blow their draft position!

Theo, you are really bringing it with these blogs. If the Hawks play with the dedication you've displayed, they could really blow their draft position!
- mohel

I agree. Theo is killing it! Well done.

There are now 11 ECHL teams who will not play this season.

And, again - players in position to get the quick outlet passes that allows all of this - fewer stretch passes that don’t connect or result in icings.

Oh, well - time to make like a hockey player and get the puck out.
- StLBravesFan

Spot on. That is key to a quick breakout and tilting the ice more.

I hate stretch passes. They scream desperation and lack of discipline.

The hail mary ones that actually connect and result in a breakaway are fun to watch but rarely ever connect when attempted.

I felt the Hawks were extremely poor at line changes. It seemed like they got caught in a line change way too often. Short shifts mean more line changes. So they better make better decisions when making a line change or it will just result in more high quality chances against.

I agree on not double shifting Kane and not playing him for the full two minutes on the PP. I can see double shifting him when you are down a goal late in the game for a couple/few shifts. But if he is double shifted too often or plays the full two minutes on the PP he tends to conserve energy by not playing a 200' game (which I think we can all admit is just so so at best to begin with).

I know they want to win more games, but they are a borderline playoff team at best. Why pile the minutes on Kane and Toews? I would like to see them rolling 4 lines more. That would keep the top 2 lines fresher. It would also keep the 3rd and 4th lines more in the rhythm of the game and give people like Highmore more ice time/experience. Playing only one shift per period there is no way to get anything going. If the 4th line is an energy line or sand paper line there little opportunity for them to effect the other lines or the game playing one shift per period.
- -Doh-

Great point about the art of changing lines playing a factor. How many times have the Hawks been called for too many men on the ice?

You also see ill-timed changes when someone exits as the puck is heading into their zone.

Agree on rolling 4 F lines (plus 3 D pairs). Makes sense if Colliton is preaching work ethic and competitiveness from everyone.

Theo, you are really bringing it with these blogs. If the Hawks play with the dedication you've displayed, they could really blow their draft position!
- mohel

Rip. Richard Allen

There’s more than one concern with Colliton, but getting veteran buy-in is an enormous challenge. This is another reason to accelerate the youth movement with trades.

There’s more than one concern with Colliton, but getting veteran buy-in is an enormous challenge. This is another reason to accelerate the youth movement with trades.
- Aurora Hawk

Does veteran buy in matter if said vet will be gone (or suck) before the team's good again?

Rip. Richard Allen
- I Am The Breadman

One of the best I ever saw - and one of the smartest.

Should definitely be in the HOF.

Does anyone know the link to watch Berlin or other Euro teams play? Thx

To me you belong in the HOF if you were one of the best in your era, and he definitely was, I agree 100%. I saw him at Wrigley a few times when I wore a younger man’s clothes, while he played for the Phillies.

To me you belong in the HOF if you were one of the best in your era, and he definitely was, I agree 100%. I saw him at Wrigley a few times when I wore a younger man’s clothes, while he played for the Phillies.
- Angotti

Jackie Wright: I have the body of a 30 year old.

Bennie Hill: WELL GIVE IT BACK! YOU’RE RUINING IT!!!

Yeah Allen was one of the best players of his time - not sure anyone was better. He was a bit of a head case early on, IIRC - fought with the press, etc. - got out of that after a while.

Does veteran buy in matter if said vet will be gone (or suck) before the team's good again?
- mohel

Nope. Even now, should matter little.

Nope. Even now, should matter little.
- Aurora Hawk

I agree. I don't want to see them disrespected, but the coach's main job is to get the kids ready.

There was a summer all star league for highschool. We had 9 players show up and one them wasn't our goalie. We played without a goalie.
We won. I don't recall if the final score was 18-13 or what but we did it without a goalie and a shortened bench.
I've played in bigger, more meaningful games but that was the one that sticks bc you think no way. Then you see it--the other team gets lazy and careless bc it's an empty net. One rings off the post and our top line we were on it. Everything on the tape and burying shots. Got their goalie shakey and we come back to take a lead in the first period and never looked back.

There was a summer all star league for highschool. We had 9 players show up and one them wasn't our goalie. We played without a goalie.
We won. I don't recall if the final score was 18-13 or what but we did it without a goalie and a shortened bench.
I've played in bigger, more meaningful games but that was the one that sticks bc you think no way. Then you see it--the other team gets lazy and careless bc it's an empty net. One rings off the post and our top line we were on it. Everything on the tape and burying shots. Got their goalie shakey and we come back to take a lead in the first period and never looked back.
- BluemanGuruu

Love these type of stories. That was a barn burner!

Players grip their sticks more tightly when they struggle potting empty netters and the defense of the shorthanded team often gets razor focused.

Thanks for sharing!

Reports out there that:

- January 13 could be the new start date.
- Non-playoff teams start camp on 12/28.
- All other teams start camp on 1/1.
- No exhibition games.
- 56-game regular season.
- NHL players in Europe are being told to start packing up to return back to North America.