Zach Jarom: Takeaways From Preseason Game One

Point of order-- Criag Smith opened the scoring for Chicago, didn't he? And it was pretty sweet too - the way he stuck with it - and got a really good rebound backhander away.

Teuvo? Oh man -well yep I agree with you on that - stuff like that ought to de-frustrate Bedard significantly compared to last season. Nifty spinning backhander by 86.

Zach i really think the Blackhawks power play needs a Corey Perry type, front of the net guy and slick with the puck. The millisecond decisions that Perry makes in front of the net with the puck are outstanding.

Hopefully us out of town fans can see the next game and watch the new look Blackhawks.

Watched Vegas/Kings last night. Doughty out with a brutal injury. Updates are left ankle fracture, 6-10 weeks. He only missed one game the last 4 years.

I was blacked out and didn't see the game. But from reading articles and tweets, appears the game was nothing more than the veteran's trying to get their sea legs, and the bubble guys (Smith, Anderson) trying to prove they deserve a roster spot.

Also seems to be consensus that Nazer had a rough game, but had a good PK shift in the third, and still has some rope to make the squad. Speelcy continues to impress, but obvious he and Lardis are headed back to juniors at some point.

Anything else I should know from the game besides Ricco's observations?

When Rico watches this I’m thinking he’s going to get a serious woody.

https://youtu.be/hmMMUKkvaQA?si=dGsZiU6tqaqv4RaW

Hopefully us out of town fans can see the next game and watch the new look Blackhawks.

Watched Vegas/Kings last night. Doughty out with a brutal injury. Updates are left ankle fracture, 6-10 weeks. He only missed one game the last 4 years.

I was blacked out and didn't see the game. But from reading articles and tweets, appears the game was nothing more than the veteran's trying to get their sea legs, and the bubble guys (Smith, Anderson) trying to prove they deserve a roster spot.

Also seems to be consensus that Nazer had a rough game, but had a good PK shift in the third, and still has some rope to make the squad. Speelcy continues to impress, but obvious he and Lardis are headed back to juniors at some point.

Anything else I should know from the game besides Ricco's observations?
- LAHawk

The broadcast itself was a mess, during the game they would show a screen size picture of the players who scored and got the assists, so we would miss like the breakaway Bedard gave up on the PP. The booth sounded like it was in a tin can. I did fall asleep in the 3rd period.

The intermission was all about the Blackhawks stroking themselves and their decisions

The broadcast itself was a mess, during the game they would show a screen size picture of the players who scored and got the assists, so we would miss like the breakaway Bedard gave up on the PP. The booth sounded like it was in a tin can. I did fall asleep in the 3rd period.

The intermission was all about the Blackhawks stroking themselves and their decisions
- BetweenTheDots

Seemed like LR was pretty happy with Spellacy and Mrazek. He has some really good positives to say about guys like Nazar and Korchinski. Seems like the Murphy/Korchinski pair was pretty decent last night, but got the easier assignments deployed offensively more so.

Luke said he thought they didn't play with enough team speed and he seems all about guys shooting the puck and not trying to do too much with it.

Excerpt from Powers' article regarding his views on the game.

Connor Bedard can get away with having the puck taken from him at the offensive blue line and allowing a breakaway.

Seth Jones can be on the wrong side of a backdoor goal. Alex Vlasic can have a so-so opening game. On the ice for the Chicago Blackhawks in Wednesday’s preseason opener, a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, were a lot of players whose roster spots are secure regardless of how they played.

But for the players who are fighting for roster spots, Wednesday’s game mattered. Every game they get in the next two weeks, every shift they take, they all matter. Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson and team management are going to let the preseason play out and give those bubble players ample opportunity to prove themselves, but Wednesday’s performance will be part of it.

For Frank Nazar, the most notable of the Blackhawks’ young forwards with a chance to make the team, Wednesday wasn’t the start of the preseason he was looking for. Rather than building off what he showed last season after turning pro and showcasing his offensive ability, he and his line, which often consisted of Nick Lardis and Taylor Hall, spent most of the night chasing the puck and defending.

With Nazar on the ice in five-on-five play, the Red Wings had a 17-6 advantage in shot attempts, 13-2 in shots on goal and 2-0 in goal. He also had just one shot attempt, which missed.

Richardson opted to focus on the positives he saw from Nazar in the third period, but Nazar has a lot to prove in the coming games to steal a spot from a veteran.

“Frank had probably a better third period than he did the first two periods,” Richardson said. “I thought his penalty killing was excellent in the third period, especially; he applies pressure, had a really good chance. One time in the third period, the way we want to play our D-zone, I think he closed slow on one side and let a guy kind of turn back and have a little more time. So we talked about a timeout, and the next time he took two to three hard strides on the far side and cut the guy off and got the puck back. You like to see young guys take in information and put it right into their game plan and execute. That was a good finish for him. He needs to have his legs going like that the whole game.”

Nazar should be one of the players who gets in nearly all of the preseason games, so he still has plenty of time to impress management. Wednesday just didn’t help.

AJ Spellacy didn’t waste any time getting into the spirit of what once was hockey’s greatest rivalry. Late in the first period, he delivered a big hit to Lucas Raymond in the offensive zone. Moments later, after he had darted back into the Red Wings’ end, he stumbled a bit and ended up taking a Dylan Larkin forearm shiver to the face, prompting the first skirmish of the preseason. Spellacy popped right up and jumped into the fray, shoving Detroit’s Albert Johansson in the face a couple of times. While most of the players were shaking off the rust and easing into the preseason, Spellacy was running around like it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. That’ll happen when you’re 18 and wearing an NHL jersey in an NHL rink for the first time.

Seemed like LR was pretty happy with Spellacy and Mrazek. He has some really good positives to say about guys like Nazar and Korchinski. Seems like the Murphy/Korchinski pair was pretty decent last night, but got the easier assignments deployed offensively more so.

Luke said he thought they didn't play with enough team speed and he seems all about guys shooting the puck and not trying to do too much with it.
- breadbag

I think that's the toughest part for guys who are trying to earn a spot. Just play hockey vs trying to stand out.

Sounds like Korch had a really strong game which is good while Nazar struggled a bit to start which is not surprising. Other than guys trying to make the team can't imagine a lot of veterans give a (frank).

Will be interesting to see how things shake out after some of these younger guys work out the yips. Spellacy probably goes back to dominate junior for another year at least but he looks like a find, which is cool.

One positive to take away from last night was protecting the front of the net. The Wings didn't get to attempt much from the dangerous areas of the ice, while half of Chicago's scoring chances were right near the front of the net. I think the Red Wings had a fair bit of the "medium" danger type chances though, but at least it wasn't so many right in close.

I think that's the toughest part for guys who are trying to earn a spot. Just play hockey vs trying to stand out.

Sounds like Korch had a really strong game which is good while Nazar struggled a bit to start which is not surprising. Other than guys trying to make the team can't imagine a lot of veterans give a (frank).

Will be interesting to see how things shake out after some of these younger guys work out the yips. Spellacy probably goes back to dominate junior for another year at least but he looks like a find, which is cool.
- fattybeef

I think like most of us, I have a hard time putting too much stock into these early preseason games. It's fun to see them playing, but still seems like some of the vets are only going 70% effort. I'm hoping we got one or two young players ready or on the cusp and nobody gets injured. I think Korchinski was okay, but I just don't think he was tested too hard against top guys last night. Jones/Martinez/Vlasic definitely got the assignment of facing the Red Wings top line.

Charlie Roumeliotis

@CRoumeliotis
·
2m
#Blackhawks projected lineup for Friday’s preseason game in Detroit:
Reichel-Nazar-Lardis
Dach-Guttman-Hayes
Slaggert-Spellacy-Smith
Sanford-Ludwinski-Anderson

Korchinski-Brodie
Allan-Crevier
Phillips-Strand

Charlie Roumeliotis

@CRoumeliotis
·
2m
#Blackhawks projected lineup for Friday’s preseason game in Detroit:
Reichel-Nazar-Lardis
Dach-Guttman-Hayes
Slaggert-Spellacy-Smith
Sanford-Ludwinski-Anderson

Korchinski-Brodie
Allan-Crevier
Phillips-Strand
- breadbag

That should be interesting. Dach, Guttman and Anderson are probably good enough to get spots but there's no room right now. Shows how much depth there is that guys like Savoie, Rolston, and Del Mastro have to wait for the 3rd game to get a start.

That should be interesting. Dach, Guttman and Anderson are probably good enough to get spots but there's no room right now. Shows how much depth there is that guys like Savoie, Rolston, and Del Mastro have to wait for the 3rd game to get a start.
- totem

Yeah, I think the guys going back to Jr are going to get this game and possibly one more and then they are cut and back to get ready for their season.

When Rico watches this I’m thinking he’s going to get a serious woody.

https://youtu.be/hmMMUKkvaQA?si=dGsZiU6tqaqv4RaW
- paulr

Poor kid can't even do a celly without his arms and legs hitting a bunch of people! The Moldovan Monster, what's not to like?...... Hopefully the kid develops enough to play some D1 hockey, and get a degree, at Penn St. Never know except to say you can't teach size.

I'm assuming this has something to do with the big kid Roebruck outa Oshawa? That was a nice swing in the 6th rd(?). I think as a draft +1 the big kid centered the top line in all of the OHL. Not bad for the kid who you just know had to put tons and tons of work into making a 6ft 7in frame work in high level hockey.

Happy for that kid.

Poor kid can't even do a celly without his arms and legs hitting a bunch of people! The Moldovan Monster, what's not to like?...... Hopefully the kid develops enough to play some D1 hockey, and get a degree, at Penn St. Never know except to say you can't teach size.

I'm assuming this has something to do with the big kid Roebruck outa Oshawa? That was a nice swing in the 6th rd(?). I think as a draft +1 the big kid centered the top line in all of the OHL. Not bad for the kid who you just know had to put tons and tons of work into making a 6ft 7in frame work in high level hockey.

Happy for that kid.
- Mr Ricochet

Isn't there another big Russian kid playing for Penn State this year?

Oh same kid

Isn't there another big Russian kid playing for Penn State this year?

Oh same kid
- BetweenTheDots

Karmanov is only 16, Dots. Minimum 3 yrs before he sees D1 hockey.

Karmanov is only 16, Dots. Minimum 3 yrs before he sees D1 hockey.
- Mr Ricochet

Oh he committed to play for the lions 27-28 season, boy that's planning ahead

Oh he committed to play for the lions 27-28 season, boy that's planning ahead
- BetweenTheDots

What was your immediate thought(s), say the 1st period, of the Hawks? Anything jump out at you?

What was your immediate thought(s), say the 1st period, of the Hawks? Anything jump out at you?
- Mr Ricochet

If I'm going with first thought, icing the puck so many times

I liked the kids, Savoie, Lardis, Lud, Spe....

That should be interesting. Dach, Guttman and Anderson are probably good enough to get spots but there's no room right now. Shows how much depth there is that guys like Savoie, Rolston, and Del Mastro have to wait for the 3rd game to get a start.
- totem

Savoie played last night.

If I'm going with first thought, icing the puck so many times

I liked the kids, Savoie, Lardis, Lud, Spe....
- BetweenTheDots

Even though the Hawks opened with a rough 2 minutes, I agree with Zach. I thought Bedard legitimately has NHLers to skate with. Now they weren't "tight" by any means but you could see right off the structure that icing groups of 5 legit NHLers brings.

For sure it looked different and in a good way.

Agree, all rookies passed the eye test but as caved as Nazar and Lardis' fancies were I thought linemate Hall was dangerous quite a few times. Now, I thought he played hungry but it was Nazar and Lardis on the ice when this was happening. ..... Watched Lardis off the puck and liked his reads and there were a couple times on a backcheck the kid got in between a grouping of Wings and was disruptive.

Well, we're getting a look at a kid with just 27ish games before playing a full season of OHL hockey. That is so rare I can't remember anything quite like it in North America. ... Spellacy has a real real shot. He himself says he patterns his game off of Tom Wilson, and you can connect those dots, but maybe a better skating Brady Tkchuk? ...... The kid gobbles up ice with each stride, covers a lotta surface and his hits can be heard on tv.

Him getting a rise outa Larkin causing him to take a penalty was something to see from an 18 yr old. ......

And up until maybe 1/2 way into last season you had to look for Ludwinski, even in jrs. Now you notice him most every shift. Kid who patterns himself as a 2 way player is starting to get the look of a pro.

Don't see Wiz posting lately. Is he well?

When Rico watches this I’m thinking he’s going to get a serious woody.

https://youtu.be/hmMMUKkvaQA?si=dGsZiU6tqaqv4RaW
- paulr

My source says he's switching to pairs figure skating back home.