Zach Jarom: Hawks Fall To MTL and Game Day: Hawks vs Leafs

You know...

You know...
- HawkintheD

Bettman hates the Blackhawks!

No one is going to like me saying this - heck, I don't like me saying this - but I think Zaitsev is drawing in tonight in place of Kaiser. With Reaves, Domi and Bertuzzi in the lineup, I think LR will put a bit of extra beef on the blueline.

Bettman hates the Blackhawks!
- powerenforcer

Well duh.

No one is going to like me saying this - heck, I don't like me saying this - but I think Zaitsev is drawing in tonight in place of Kaiser. With Reaves, Domi and Bertuzzi in the lineup, I think LR will put a bit of extra beef on the blueline.
- Chunk

Ugh! Was hoping he’d draw in for Tinordi which is a literal pick your poison scenario.

Ugh! Was hoping he’d draw in for Tinordi which is a literal pick your poison scenario.
- HawkintheD

Oh it certainly is between those two. I'm just going off of the comments earlier in the season when LR said to expect the young guys to sit for a game or two to learn if they see some things they are struggling with. To my eye (bloodshot, dry, and tired as it is), it seems like Kaiser is making some really risky and atypical plays for him.

Just a hunch, absolutely no information or "inside" information guiding me here.

For the record, I'd like to see KK on the first unit as well, but there is this:

Richardson’s dedication to keeping Jones atop the top power-play unit — while rookie Kevin Korchinski quarterbacks the second unit — is already frustrating fans, but the Hawks actually have been less effective during Korchinski’s ice time so far. They’ve produced only two shots on goal in 10 minutes of power-play time with Korchinski, compared with 17 shots on goal in 15 minutes with Jones.
- Chunk

Great, i have one question 17 shots right, how many of those are one timers set up from Seth Jones to Bedard? I believe the answer is a big fat zero. Let Reichel and Korchinski be on the power play both who are left handed very good passers. Seth Jones the past 2 games looks terrible, can't even stay on his skates.

Besides less minutes from Seth Jones would be better for everyone he obviously can't handle the 25 minutes a game. I let Korchinski man the 1st power play unit until he gives up a breakaway goal.

It's one thing to score on a man advantage but it's another thing entirely to give up short handed goal.

Am i the only one that worries every time Jones is carrying the puck in our end or the neutral zone on a PP he's going to turn it over, he just looks so unnatural with the puck on his stick.

Not having KK on the 1st unit with Bedard is like Justin Fields not throwing passes to DJ Moore, frustrating

Great, i have one question 17 shots right, how many of those are one timers set up from Seth Jones to Bedard? I believe the answer is a big fat zero. Let Reichel and Korchinski be on the power play both who are left handed very good passers. Seth Jones the past 2 games looks terrible, can't even stay on his skates.

Besides less minutes from Seth Jones would be better for everyone he obviously can't handle the 25 minutes a game. I let Korchinski man the 1st power play unit until he gives up a breakaway goal.

It's one thing to score on a man advantage but it's another thing entirely to give up short handed goal.

Am i the only one that worries every time Jones is carrying the puck in our end or the neutral zone on a PP he's going to turn it over, he just looks so unnatural with the puck on his stick.

Not having KK on the 1st unit with Bedard is like Justin Fields not throwing passes to DJ Moore, frustrating

Seth Jones has been a reliable offensive defenseman and has been valuable on PP over his career. Sometimes you gotta give the guys time to gel and the results will follow, it's only been 3 games. KK is 19 and he's far from an established star like a DJ Moore. Give him time to get his feet wet before you throw him on the top PP unit.

Seth Jones has been a reliable offensive defenseman and has been valuable on PP over his career. Sometimes you gotta give the guys time to gel and the results will follow, it's only been 3 games. KK is 19 and he's far from an established star like a DJ Moore. Give him time to get his feet wet before you throw him on the top PP unit.
- Hawkeynation

If Seth keeps playing like he had a few before the game, that's alright let the kids play.

Great, i have one question 17 shots right, how many of those are one timers set up from Seth Jones to Bedard? I believe the answer is a big fat zero. Let Reichel and Korchinski be on the power play both who are left handed very good passers. Seth Jones the past 2 games looks terrible, can't even stay on his skates.

Besides less minutes from Seth Jones would be better for everyone he obviously can't handle the 25 minutes a game. I let Korchinski man the 1st power play unit until he gives up a breakaway goal.

It's one thing to score on a man advantage but it's another thing entirely to give up short handed goal.

Am i the only one that worries every time Jones is carrying the puck in our end or the neutral zone on a PP he's going to turn it over, he just looks so unnatural with the puck on his stick.

Not having KK on the 1st unit with Bedard is like Justin Fields not throwing passes to DJ Moore, frustrating
- BetweenTheDots

Not a great argument really. How many times has Jones set up Bedard for a one-timer and he’s not taken it? Bedard seems to like skating with the puck and trying to create an opening for either himself or a teammate. I don’t really have an issue with that, but before the season started LR said they need to get shots from the point early and often on the PP. They aren’t winning many faceoffs so they start the PP chasing.


They need to start working as a group. Hopefully Hall coming back helps. The guy who leads all Hawks in PP shots this far… Reichel. Perry is next with 4. Bedard has one on goal. There is plenty of blame to go around. At this point, I’d rather see them try to get some sort of continuity going for the young guys. It’s hard enough for them without the constant changes.

Not a great argument really. How many times has Jones set up Bedard for a one-timer and he’s not taken it? Bedard seems to like skating with the puck and trying to create an opening for either himself or a teammate. I don’t really have an issue with that, but before the season started LR said they need to get shots from the point early and often on the PP. They aren’t winning many faceoffs so they start the PP chasing.


They need to start working as a group. Hopefully Hall coming back helps. The guy who leads all Hawks in PP shots this far… Reichel. Perry is next with 4. Bedard has one on goal. There is plenty of blame to go around. At this point, I’d rather see them try to get some sort of continuity going for the young guys. It’s hard enough for them without the constant changes.
- Chunk

It's hard on them because Jones is a below average passer, and 2 seconds to slow

I expect Bedard to improve on faceoffs in the near future. He's probably spending a lot of time working at it. He's not going to get to Toews/Bergeron level this year, but he won't remain this bad for long.

Seth Jones is not a power play QB, we all know it. Korchinski has only played three games in the NHL, so I can see why it might be a more gradual break in for him. It would certainly help if I had the context of how this has shaken out at their practices.

Probably a good thing to give Kaiser a night off. If only there were better options than Zaitsev/Tinordi. Does Zaitsev step it up at all against Toronto, given that they traded him away early on in his career?

This young group certainly didn't get any breaks from the schedulers, having to start with five games on the road.

Wow Angina about the power play. I was told by the BOD, as long as you have a good PK (which the Hawks have so far), who cares about the PP ?

I expect Bedard to improve on faceoffs in the near future. He's probably spending a lot of time working at it. He's not going to get to Toews/Bergeron level this year, but he won't remain this bad for long.

Seth Jones is not a power play QB, we all know it. Korchinski has only played three games in the NHL, so I can see why it might be a more gradual break in for him. It would certainly help if I had the context of how this has shaken out at their practices.

Probably a good thing to give Kaiser a night off. If only there were better options than Zaitsev/Tinordi. Does Zaitsev step it up at all against Toronto, given that they traded him away early on in his career?

This young group certainly didn't get any breaks from the schedulers, having to start with five games on the road.
- 333inthe3rd

It really boggles my mind (especially since he hasn't played), that they didn't put Zaitsev in the minors (no one was going to pick him up off waivers), and kept Phillips. Unless they thought Zaitsev would be so poisonous to the other young D in Rockford, they wanted to keep him away from them.

It really boggles my mind (especially since he hasn't played), that they didn't put Zaitsev in the minors (no one was going to pick him up off waivers), and kept Phillips. Unless they thought Zaitsev would be so poisonous to the other young D in Rockford, they wanted to keep him away from them.
- LAHawk

I get it about Zaitsev, but the coaches had some very specific things they wanted Phillips to work on at the end of the preseason. Being the number 1 guy in Rockford and tons of minutes to work on it is likely the best situation for him. To me, Zaitsev is like a poopty tea kettle. He’s just kind of there. You don’t really want to even look at him, but if you absolutely need him for something he can do the basic minimums (i.e. skate and generally get in the way). I don’t think the Hawks would ever willingly skate four rookie d-men. He’s an unfortunate reality at the moment.

It really boggles my mind (especially since he hasn't played), that they didn't put Zaitsev in the minors (no one was going to pick him up off waivers), and kept Phillips. Unless they thought Zaitsev would be so poisonous to the other young D in Rockford, they wanted to keep him away from them.
- LAHawk

Perhaps they don't want to have a youngster as 7D, preferring that they get lots of ice time and develop further, instead of having them sit in the press box.

I haven't followed Zaitsev's career at all. I see that he had a good rookie campaign and the Leafs rewarded him with a long term deal that finally expires this season. One could only hope that a contract year would be real motivation, if that's been the problem.

It's hard on them because Jones is a below average passer, and 2 seconds to slow
- BetweenTheDots

So Jones is the only reason the power play sucks? Couldn’t possibly be the fact you have an 18 year old learning what he can and can’t do against NHL players, this group being together for about 6 minutes total, Bedard missing the net far more often than hitting it (which often results in the puck being easily cleared), and them being abysmal at the dot making it difficult to set up….

I’m not laying the blame on anyone specifically. There are several reasons they suck now.

It really boggles my mind (especially since he hasn't played), that they didn't put Zaitsev in the minors (no one was going to pick him up off waivers), and kept Phillips. Unless they thought Zaitsev would be so poisonous to the other young D in Rockford, they wanted to keep him away from them.
- LAHawk

I just think they wanted to break in a maximum of three young defenders. KK has been playing decently in our collective eyes, but what will KFC and LR decide about him staying or getting sent back to Juniors. Phillips would take his place, I guess, if he gets sent down.

I think they need a more dynamic on the right half boards to be able to set up Bedard.

Or everything should run through Bedard kind of like it did through Kane only from the opposite side.

I don't get putting Reichel on PP2 at this point. I'd put Perry in front of the goal, Hall on the bumper, Reichel on the right boards, Bedard on the left and Jones (until Korchinski makes it impossible not to play him there) on the top of the diamond.

Other than that. They haven't gotten completely blown away. They've been in every game. Pucks aren't falling in for Bedard yet but he looks good and the rookies on the blue line are really impressing.

Still a lot more positives than frustrations - especially with the lack of depth at forward.

So Jones is the only reason the power play sucks? Couldn’t possibly be the fact you have an 18 year old learning what he can and can’t do against NHL players, this group being together for about 6 minutes total, Bedard missing the net far more often than hitting it (which often results in the puck being easily cleared), and them being abysmal at the dot making it difficult to set up….

I’m not laying the blame on anyone specifically. There are several reasons they suck now.
- Chunk

It would be nice to win a face off, and it would be a risk having KK out there on the 1st unit, but right now KK is a far superior passer to Jones. I don't get whats going on with Jones? Don't care, this team owes him nothing, play the kid and let KK and Bedard grow together on the power play unit. Cause do we really see Seth jones QBing this PP in 1x to 2 years? I don't especially if his skill set keeps deteriorating

It would be nice to win a face off, and it would be a risk having KK out there on the 1st unit, but right now KK is a far superior passer to Jones. I don't get whats going on with Jones? Don't care, this team owes him nothing, play the kid and let KK and Bedard grow together on the power play unit. Cause do we really see Seth jones QBing this PP in 1x to 2 years? I don't especially if his skill set keeps deteriorating
- BetweenTheDots

They owe him $53.5 million after this year for the next 6 years.

I think they need a more dynamic on the right half boards to be able to set up Bedard.

Or everything should run through Bedard kind of like it did through Kane only from the opposite side.

I don't get putting Reichel on PP2 at this point. I'd put Perry in front of the goal, Hall on the bumper, Reichel on the right boards, Bedard on the left and Jones (until Korchinski makes it impossible not to play him there) on the top of the diamond.

Other than that. They haven't gotten completely blown away. They've been in every game. Pucks aren't falling in for Bedard yet but he looks good and the rookies on the blue line are really impressing.

Still a lot more positives than frustrations - especially with the lack of depth at forward.
- fattybeef

Yeah, Donato there maybe isn't ideal. I don't mind him on L1 as long as Hall is playing.

I'd just like to see if they can let these guys get some sort of consistency going.

They owe him $53.5 million after this year for the next 6 years.
- LAHawk

Indeed they do.

It would be nice to win a face off, and it would be a risk having KK out there on the 1st unit, but right now KK is a far superior passer to Jones. I don't get whats going on with Jones? Don't care, this team owes him nothing, play the kid and let KK and Bedard grow together on the power play unit. Cause do we really see Seth jones QBing this PP in 1x to 2 years? I don't especially if his skill set keeps deteriorating
- BetweenTheDots

Jones will be on this team for a while and he'll likely continue to get PP time unless one of the other D-men not named Korchinski prove themselves as better.

Not sure what else to tell you. Learn to enjoy brown liquor?