Theo Fox: Teaser Ad An early look at the Blackhawks and IceHogs forward lines, D pairs, and goalie tandems based on the rosters as they stand today.

This has been killing me for a couple of days now... not 'ein' - it would have been:

Erstens...


I don't know -- I guess they ought to make a promo video of a presage of winning the lottery ... it could be one of those cheezy dream sequences from sit-coms.

If the Blackhawks have problems scoring goals next season, perhaps for erasing spots or stretches of time in a period there will be defensemen looking to join the rush and make plays deep in the offensive zone. Although not all star level, most of the kids on defense have certain offensive ability and are capable to provide an offenduve spark

Of course we can get burned by doing this. Just a consideration for a new coach to considerably out if frustration over lack of scoring. I mean, shadow Kane andvwho is left to worry about.

It is not improbable to think better defense will be played. The new system and new coach likely get much better effort andvredukts defensively. But offensively we appear weak.

If the Blackhawks have problems scoring goals next season, perhaps for erasing spots or stretches of time in a period there will be defensemen looking to join the rush and make plays deep in the offensive zone. Although not all star level, most of the kids on defense have certain offensive ability and are capable to provide an offenduve spark

Of course we can get burned by doing this. Just a consideration for a new coach to considerably out if frustration over lack of scoring. I mean, shadow Kane andvwho is left to worry about.

It is not improbable to think better defense will be played. The new system and new coach likely get much better effort andvredukts defensively. But offensively we appear weak.
- jhawk59

A German lesson in the first post and now you're introducing Dutch?

I don't think appearances are deceptive in this case. The Hawks will have big issues scoring goals, which seems to be the plan, and right now the only dman that is offensively adept is S. Jones.

Stillman was showing a little bit last season before getting hurt and if Mitchell or Regula are on the team they may be able to provide a bit more O from the backend...but not enough to really matter.

I don't think Richardson is going to run a system to specifically win hockey games this year. I think he will install a system that he believes will win hockey games when the rebuild starts delivering players to the big club.

Also look at it this way. IF the Hawks give up 40 goals less (1/2 a goal a game), that is the amount of goals that they lost from ADB. Will Domi, Athanaseu replace the goal scoring of Dach and Kubalik. That isn't such a high bar to attain. Can Kurashev (only 6 goals last year) and Reichel (if he is on the big squad) make up for Strome's offense?

That is the glass half full outlook. To me it all depends on Kane and Toews. If they start the season with the Hawks and are engaged, the team could play themselves out of a top 3 pick (not top 8 IMO). One thing you have to say about the team, is they played hard every game. That will not mean any wins against the Colorado's or the Blues of the division, but in the dog days of the season they can steal a win here and there against other teams.

I don't think Richardson is going to run a system to specifically win hockey games this year. I think he will install a system that he believes will win hockey games when the rebuild starts delivering players to the big club.

Also look at it this way. IF the Hawks give up 40 goals less (1/2 a goal a game), that is the amount of goals that they lost from ADB. Will Domi, Athanaseu replace the goal scoring of Dach and Kubalik. That isn't such a high bar to attain. Can Kurashev (only 6 goals last year) and Reichel (if he is on the big squad) make up for Strome's offense?

That is the glass half full outlook. To me it all depends on Kane and Toews. If they start the season with the Hawks and are engaged, the team could play themselves out of a top 3 pick (not top 8 IMO). One thing you have to say about the team, is they played hard every game. That will not mean any wins against the Colorado's or the Blues of the division, but in the dog days of the season they can steal a win here and there against other teams.
- LAHawk

Another way to look at it is with total goal differential. Last season Hawks scored 219 goals and gave up 291, a -72. Debrincat, Strome, Kubalik and Dach scored 87, more than 1/3 of the total. Another 21 by Hagel before he was traded.

Very optimistically 15 from Reichel? 20 each from Domi and AA? That's 55 goals tops, probably less. Then Raddysh and Katchouk will have to score 21 combined by the TDL to make up for Hagel. Will Kane be as productive without Cat and Strome and score 26 goals? (Let's hope so if he decides to waive and join a contender). Maybe on the other hand Toews and Johnson return to a semblance of their old selves and increase their output.

I'd love to see an improvement in overall team defense and a reduction in goals. Even if 40 less goals are allowed, there very well could be 40 less goals scored which would still mean about a -70 goal differential ... 180 scored and 250 given up.

Bergeron signs a one of those 35+ contracts with the Bruins- one year at 2.5M base with 2.5M more in performance bonuses. Don't know what the bonus milestones are. Could be certain amount of games played, certain number of points scored, making the playoffs, etc.

Toews will be 35 next April. IF Toews rebounds and IF he wants to stick around and continue playing here, and IF KD wants him back, would that be a fair contract for him next off season?

The good news for the Hawks: Expectations are so low that they could not possibly disappoint.

Another way to look at it is with total goal differential. Last season Hawks scored 219 goals and gave up 291, a -72. Debrincat, Strome, Kubalik and Dach scored 87, more than 1/3 of the total. Another 21 by Hagel before he was traded.

Very optimistically 15 from Reichel? 20 each from Domi and AA? That's 55 goals tops, probably less. Then Raddysh and Katchouk will have to score 21 combined by the TDL to make up for Hagel. Will Kane be as productive without Cat and Strome and score 26 goals? (Let's hope so if he decides to waive and join a contender). Maybe on the other hand Toews and Johnson return to a semblance of their old selves and increase their output.

I'd love to see an improvement in overall team defense and a reduction in goals. Even if 40 less goals are allowed, there very well could be 40 less goals scored which would still mean about a -70 goal differential ... 180 scored and 250 given up.
- boilermaker100

And those 4 were also a combined -53. So although they provided most of the offense, the 4 (and Hagel was a -14 before he was traded, and BTW, I think Raddysh can replace Hagel's offense), they were a net minus 5 x 5.

Also the Hawks were 7th worst in the NHL in PP/PK percentage. Even if you don't replace all of ADB's 14 PP goals, a significant improvement on the PK would help tremendously.

Of course I will admit that if Mrazek has a year like last year, the Hawks will be looking to sign the Geico Walrus to play nets this year, and it won't matter how much the defense improves or how many goals are scored.

Bergeron signs a one of those 35+ contracts with the Bruins- one year at 2.5M base with 2.5M more in performance bonuses. Don't know what the bonus milestones are. Could be certain amount of games played, certain number of points scored, making the playoffs, etc.

Toews will be 35 next April. IF Toews rebounds and IF he wants to stick around and continue playing here, and IF KD wants him back, would that be a fair contract for him next off season?
- boilermaker100

Extremely fair. I would just give him the $5 mil. for one year without the bonus clauses, Hawks will need it to make the cap floor anyway next year.

Another way to look at it is with total goal differential. Last season Hawks scored 219 goals and gave up 291, a -72. Debrincat, Strome, Kubalik and Dach scored 87, more than 1/3 of the total. Another 21 by Hagel before he was traded.

Very optimistically 15 from Reichel? 20 each from Domi and AA? That's 55 goals tops, probably less. Then Raddysh and Katchouk will have to score 21 combined by the TDL to make up for Hagel. Will Kane be as productive without Cat and Strome and score 26 goals? (Let's hope so if he decides to waive and join a contender). Maybe on the other hand Toews and Johnson return to a semblance of their old selves and increase their output.

I'd love to see an improvement in overall team defense and a reduction in goals. Even if 40 less goals are allowed, there very well could be 40 less goals scored which would still mean about a -70 goal differential ... 180 scored and 250 given up.
- boilermaker100

KD's plan is for at least -164.

Extremely fair. I would just give him the $5 mil. for one year without the bonus clauses, Hawks will need it to make the cap floor anyway next year.
- LAHawk

I look for Toews with the Hawks to end exactly the same way Urlacher with the Bears ended.

Goaltending - probably slightly weaker than last year.
Forwards / PP - probably less goal point production than last year.
Defense / Team Defense / PK - even though the real changes will come in following years after roster changes, it would be nice to see some progress made in defensive scheme, structure and execution not only by the defenders but by the team overall.

Particularly important to see will be the development of younger players in Rockford, juniors, college, and Euro leagues.

I would be in favor of Reichel starting in the AHL. He and other Hogs could be called up at various times due to injuries or in season trades. Getting some NHL time has value. But I would like the Hogs to have a good year and the younger players start getting some chemistry together.

Goaltending - probably slightly weaker than last year.
Forwards / PP - probably less goal point production than last year.
Defense / Team Defense / PK - even though the real changes will come in following years after roster changes, it would be nice to see some progress made in defensive scheme, structure and execution not only by the defenders but by the team overall.

Particularly important to see will be the development of younger players in Rockford, juniors, college, and Euro leagues.

I would be in favor of Reichel starting in the AHL. He and other Hogs could be called up at various times due to injuries or in season trades. Getting some NHL time has value. But I would like the Hogs to have a good year and the younger players start getting some chemistry together.
- -Doh-

Montreal was the worst team in the league last year. I'm baffled by people expecting improvement from this coach?

Montreal was the worst team in the league last year. I'm baffled by people expecting improvement from this coach?
- rpeters01

And the year before?

Montreal was the worst team in the league last year. I'm baffled by people expecting improvement from this coach?
- rpeters01

And the year before against all odds they were in the SCF? Did he go from a good to pathetic ASST. coach in one year?

And the year before against all odds they were in the SCF? Did he go from a good to pathetic ASST. coach in one year?
- LAHawk

KD hope's so. And the year before wasn't a real schedule.

KD hope's so. And the year before wasn't a real schedule.
- rpeters01

And last year their goalies were almost as good as CHI's
And they were decimated by injuries/absences.
And they lost most of their center depth from the year before...

No, Richardson is not going to make this Hawks roster a contender, but I am certainly expecting that they play a much better team game.

I look for Toews with the Hawks to end exactly the same way Urlacher with the Bears ended.
- rpeters01

Toews is getting one of those hair plug/transplant treatments?

Toews is getting one of those hair plug/transplant treatments?
- boilermaker100

They'll make him a deal he can't accept.

I don't think Richardson is going to run a system to specifically win hockey games this year. I think he will install a system that he believes will win hockey games when the rebuild starts delivering players to the big club.

Also look at it this way. IF the Hawks give up 40 goals less (1/2 a goal a game), that is the amount of goals that they lost from ADB. Will Domi, Athanaseu replace the goal scoring of Dach and Kubalik. That isn't such a high bar to attain. Can Kurashev (only 6 goals last year) and Reichel (if he is on the big squad) make up for Strome's offense?

That is the glass half full outlook. To me it all depends on Kane and Toews. If they start the season with the Hawks and are engaged, the team could play themselves out of a top 3 pick (not top 8 IMO). One thing you have to say about the team, is they played hard every game. That will not mean any wins against the Colorado's or the Blues of the division, but in the dog days of the season they can steal a win here and there against other teams.
- LAHawk

Interesting post, LA. If I had to guess Richardson would lean defensive in style but you'd hope he can adapt to his roster and KD is going with speed high motor high compete guys. .... Heavy forecheck or keep your forwards back and let their speed disrupt in the neutral zone as opposed to the Ozone? The systems schemes will be interesting to watch for sure and as mentioned will it be the ones that are used in 3-4 yrs when they have more talent?

Another thing you mention is simply cutting 1/2 goal a game shaves 40 GA. Yes, the goaltending is probably worse but by simply having NHL caliber coaching this might be possible.

Toews is getting one of those hair plug/transplant treatments?
- boilermaker100

He can revive the old Bobby Hull Hairline Creations commercials.

https://www.hawksinsider....nts-Available-146961&s=15

Interesting post, LA. If I had to guess Richardson would lean defensive in style but you'd hope he can adapt to his roster and KD is going with speed high motor high compete guys. .... Heavy forecheck or keep your forwards back and let their speed disrupt in the neutral zone as opposed to the Ozone? The systems schemes will be interesting to watch for sure and as mentioned will it be the ones that are used in 3-4 yrs when they have more talent?

Another thing you mention is simply cutting 1/2 goal a game shaves 40 GA. Yes, the goaltending is probably worse but by simply having NHL caliber coaching this might be possible.
- Mr Ricochet

Richardson on how he wants to play. Notice he is going with zone for the reasons noted in the interview:

https://www.nbcsports.com...-zone-defense-not-man-man

Richardson on how he wants to play. Notice he is going with zone for the reasons noted in the interview:

https://www.nbcsports.com...-zone-defense-not-man-man
- LAHawk

Step in the right direction for the franchise.