Tyler Cameron: Future vs. Swagger I've been in a glass case of emotion in the last week or so.

I thought I knew what's best for the Blackhawks for the future and that was to lose this series, get that high draft pick, and continue to stock up through the draft.

I look at how winning this series affects the Hawks for the short and long-term.

You guys sleeping? or drinking? How am I 1st.

You guys sleeping? or drinking? How am I 1st.
- 6628

I'm drinking! Ha.

How you feeling about tonight, 6628?

Happy Friday Tyler and hawks fans. Tyler after reading your blog I wasn't crystal clear on your point regarding if you want chicago to win or have a chance at the 1st overall pick?


I agree strome and nylander are both not living up to higher expectations.

Slater and maatta would be either traded or not resigned after this season.

Tyler's right, at this point it's a no lose situation. At the very least, they have 2 more playoff games to evaluate the younger guys. If they lose, they get a chance at the #1 pick and will definitely get a top 10 pick. If they win, they get a date with the winner of tomorrow's Avalanche/Knights game, which will give the young guys even more valuable playoff experience.

Giving these kids a playoff taste and seeing the HOFers on the team showing why they have multiple rings is really valuable. Not saying the #9 pick isn't valuable, but you roll the dice with that unknown. I know they have a shot at #1, but a 7 of 8 chance of not getting the #1 pick.

7-2 Hawks tonight because Oilers.

As for whether to get a top 10 draft pick or get swagger back by succeeding in the post season, I prefer the latter.

For one thing, I will always cheer for the Blackhawks to win no matter what.

Another thing is the 1st round is still pretty deep in the teens and 20s if the Hawks drop that far. I wouldn't mind Zary or Amirov at all.

One way to look at is whether it's better to have an elite prospect + a mini boost in team swagger or a really good prospect + a huge boost in team swagger?

Again, I prefer the latter.

The Hawks had the perfect line combos and decided to abandon them because of one bad game.

You want 3 dangerous scoring lines again instead of 2? Separate Dach and Kane.

I thought Nylander-Strome-Kane looked fine in game 1. Strome scored a goal, and they created several other chances as well.

Dach is clearly proving that, unlike others(more specifically unlike Strome and Nylander), he doesn’t need Kane to be dynamic and dangerous. Having him and DeBrincat on a “3rd” line gave this team a unique look with 3 legit scoring lines. Caggiula compliments those 2 nicely as well.

It’s a simple switch and it can go a long way in reworking the matchups in the Hawks favor not only against the Oilers but against the league in general. Give Nylander and Strome another look with 88. You can even still put Kane with Cat and Dach for a few shifts here or there.

Hahaha! Great Anchorman reference to start, TC. Great blog!

Play well these last (2) games, and get the highest draft pick they can.

Since Montreal is the only other team with a lower season total winning %, a Montreal pay-in loss takes them to the lotto and a hawk win make them the team going to the sweet 16 dance with the lowest winning %, so they only elect after the 15 lotto teams at 16, unless Montreal wins and that bumps the 'hawks to 17. No chance for a 18 19 0r 20.

...and unfortunately this draft addict can't root against them either.

|I love the class and at 16 there is still pretty nice pickings, but I just can't remember a top ten that fits so well with their needs and the chance someone drops into their laps.

I think there is a top ten team that might take Holloway, and you have to think New jersey has got eyes on Askarov.
You will notice on my 7 round draft board on Draftsite, I dropped Holloway to slot 16, I guess you now know why.
I do think that tier ends at slot 17, but what do I know?

My neighbor is a huge Pens fan and he is also a respectful hockey fan and we watch both our teams together many a time in his new man cave, a delightful exclusion of what my wife calls noise when I am, home. I take my goal light, computer there and he actually cued up Chelsea's dagger for me on his sound system for game one.

In his frustration with the tabs wins he texted me the back of a Penquin's sweater with a #11 Alexis Lafrenière on it.

You think that is not happening in Winnipeg? (and basically their window as a genuine contender looks like it was ended by the Cap, before it actually started?

Blackhawk Jim was rooting for Blue jackets to win the lotto, and I think I would like that too.

I would like to see a fan poll where fans must vote for a team they dont root for and see what they think.

Not sure I agree that Carpenter Kampf Highmore are creating a 4th line shutdown line. With the exception of Highmore (who I haven't been that impressed with) the rest are just place holders.

Kubalik looked like a stud in game 1 but has been pretty pedestrian the last 2 games. Seems to be chasing the play far to often.

Does Nylander just lack confidence? Seems far to hesitant on most plays.

I so badly want the Hawks to get a good to great draft pick but I never want the hawks to do anything but win. Trouble is I can’t see the team going too deep in the playoffs with the lack of depth the team has. Talk about mixed emotions watching This series.

As for Dach, I believed, as I do with most 18 year olds, he belonged in junior and possibly the minors next year. Man was I wrong. Not only is he putting in the minutes he’s putting in important minutes in the important times of the game. The damN kid is not only killing penalties and on the top powerplay but he’s excelling there and where ever he plays. In two or three years when they look back at last years draft it won’t surprise me if Dach turns out to be the best pick.

In past years. The Cup years...and contending years.... (2009-2016). I would be a mess. Find it so stressful and nervous watching Hawk playoff hockey.

And two years from now, I expect to be the same. I really love the direction this team is taking.

But, for today....and a Game 5 if needed....I am truly peaceful for this series. Maybe it is the fact we have no business even being at the dance. Maybe it is because the "prize" of first overall is there. Maybe it's just liking the Dach, Kubalik, Bouqvist, etc growth right before my eyes.....

Whatever the case....I can watch the game with my normay cheering interest, but not near the stress as usual.

Go Hawks!!! I am not built to cheer for a "tank"....so win this, and on to the Top 16!!!!

The biggest reason I see for the sense of optimism which has not been mentioned, is the eternal great equalizer - health. Everyone is healthy, and this is why we're seeing #19 in monster mode for the first time in 5 years.

Hawks are more talented on paper than they've shown in the regular season... but part of that is not having many of their best players in prime age range of 25-28... If guys like Boqvist and Kubalik and Cat and Dach are indeed as good as we think they could, the future could be bright...

In past years. The Cup years...and contending years.... (2009-2016). I would be a mess. Find it so stressful and nervous watching Hawk playoff hockey.

But, for today....and a Game 5 if needed....I am truly peaceful for this series. Maybe it is the fact we have no business even being at the dance. Maybe it is because the "prize" of first overall is there. Maybe it's just liking the Dach, Kubalik, Bouqvist, etc growth right before my eyes....!
- hawk35

You know, me too.
It was great to be that dominant force but with it came stress to those Blackhawk players and all of us fans were so involved and passionate and that taste was so close, that the rebuild has really given us a reset and a new level plain to start our climb to build a team that does this and gets better doing it and eventually gets close to dominant before we die!

Historically, I would have agreed with the following:

Full transparency, I love the draft, and I think it's the best way to build a successful team for the long-term.

However, with the number of strong players available from overseas, not to mention the Hawks track record with them, that has become a very important part of building a team. It not only provides relatively inexpensive players, but most of the time, they are ready to contribute a lot sooner than a draft pick would be.

In past years. The Cup years...and contending years.... (2009-2016). I would be a mess. Find it so stressful and nervous watching Hawk playoff hockey.

And two years from now, I expect to be the same. I really love the direction this team is taking.

But, for today....and a Game 5 if needed....I am truly peaceful for this series. Maybe it is the fact we have no business even being at the dance. Maybe it is because the "prize" of first overall is there. Maybe it's just liking the Dach, Kubalik, Bouqvist, etc growth right before my eyes.....

Whatever the case....I can watch the game with my normay cheering interest, but not near the stress as usual.

Go Hawks!!! I am not built to cheer for a "tank"....so win this, and on to the Top 16!!!!
- hawk35

Wow same here. I feel lucky just to be in this play-in round. More hockey games that mean something. Being the 12th seed I feel no pressure to win and accept the flawed team and mistakes they make. If they lose, I can get on with my next day as normal whereas in any year after 09, my whole next day would have this heavy feeling if they lost. And since this is a win-win situation with a good draft spot if they are eliminated, even less dread and worry.

I'm drinking! Ha.

How you feeling about tonight, 6628?
- Tyler Cameron

Hey Tyler, if you tell me they will play like the last six minutes from the last game I'd express confidence. But if they play like the rest of the game I'd say not so much.
With these guys who knows. I would say the Oil lost the last game more than the Hawks won it. They let the Hawks hang around and that's always asking for trouble. I don't think Tip will let that happen again so I think a fifth game is likely tomorrow. The only thing I know for sure is I'll be watching and loving every second no matter what.

7-2 Hawks tonight because Oilers.
- MaximumBone

So you've got no confidence in McDavid and Leon powering this team past an opponent? I wouldn't be that dismissive. It's not like the Hawks are some great shutdown team. I think we are looking at two teams with just about the same odds.

I so badly want the Hawks to get a good to great draft pick but I never want the hawks to do anything but win. Trouble is I can’t see the team going too deep in the playoffs with the lack of depth the team has. Talk about mixed emotions watching This series.

As for Dach, I believed, as I do with most 18 year olds, he belonged in junior and possibly the minors next year. Man was I wrong. Not only is he putting in the minutes he’s putting in important minutes in the important times of the game. The damN kid is not only killing penalties and on the top powerplay but he’s excelling there and where ever he plays. In two or three years when they look back at last years draft it won’t surprise me if Dach turns out to be the best pick.
- paulr

Hey, Paul. Good to see you come around every now & again. How have you & the family been?

You summed things up perfectly. Game 1 was a complete team win, that's exactly how this team has to play every game with no room for slacking. Games 2 is more of a reality of this team.

Game 3 chicago played better but that wasn't a high bar to reach after game 2, it was the Oilers imo who outplayed chicago but for 2 lucky bounces in Chicago's favor tonight we would be looking at a possible elimination game for chicago.


Consistency and a lack of talent both players and even coaching. JC has made plenty of head scratching moves or lack of moves.


Imo even if chicago wins this series I don't see enough confidence and consistency in this team to make me believe they can beat vegas , Colorado or st Louis.

Tonight's true test lies in crawford raising his level of play , confidence and proving that he can create magic again by stealing the game.

Playoffs always comes down to which goaltender gets hot at the right time and not only makes the save he should but makes unbelievable saves that make teams go crazy.

Happy Friday Tyler and hawks fans. Tyler after reading your blog I wasn't crystal clear on your point regarding if you want chicago to win or have a chance at the 1st overall pick?


I agree strome and nylander are both not living up to higher expectations.

Slater and maatta would be either traded or not resigned after this season.
- Taylorst1

Originally I would have preferred a higher draft pick.

Now after watching so much progression from guys like Dach, I say screw it... give me a win and we'll figure out the rest later bevause this experience for this team might trump a higher pick any way.

Hahaha! Great Anchorman reference to start, TC. Great blog!
- I Am The Breadman

You're welcome. Ha.

Hey, Paul. Good to see you come around every now & again. How have you & the family been?
- I Am The Breadman

I’ve been under the weather the last eight months with little energy to do more than read the posts here. Finally beginning to come around. When COVID hit in March I worked from home and my company offered me a package to retire, I have been eligible to retire for three years and had been padding my pension. So the buyout came at an opportune time. Still awful way to begin my retirement and I wasted some gorgeous June and July weather. The family is good, all the kids are secure in their jobs which is lucky in this environment. How are you doing? Started teaching yet? Two of my daughters who teach are planning how they’ll deal with the challenges they’ll face in September.