Theo Fox: Wallflowers
A look at the paradox of playing along the wall in hockey and how the Blackhawks can improve in this area where they’ve struggled.

Also, a perspective on Stan Bowman and Jaime Faulkner being named co-presidents.

Great post Theo.

In the early days of the "glory years", the Hawks had a great cycle game going on along the boards. They had the players with the grit and speed to be able to do it.

The last few seasons, they have pretty much lost all their grit, and most of their team speed. They need some fearless players as well, not afraid to go into the corners, or the front of the net, who are willing to take a hit to make a play.

The one guy who was strong, fast, and never afraid to get his hands dirty was Marian Hossa. A lot of fans say that Toews and Kane were the straws that stirred the drink for the Hawks, but i always thought that Hossa was the one who set the tone for the team.

Great post Theo.

In the early days of the "glory years", the Hawks had a great cycle game going on along the boards. They had the players with the grit and speed to be able to do it.

The last few seasons, they have pretty much lost all their grit, and most of their team speed. They need some fearless players as well, not afraid to go into the corners, or the front of the net, who are willing to take a hit to make a play.

The one guy who was strong, fast, and never afraid to get his hands dirty was Marian Hossa. A lot of fans say that Toews and Kane were the straws that stirred the drink for the Hawks, but i always thought that Hossa was the one who set the tone for the team.
- plyrs99

Different positions but I could see Dach developing into something a bit similar as he matures and fills out a bit.

I saw an article in The Athletic the other day (Wheeler I think) discussing the roster for Team Canada in the WJC's. The blurb on Dach talked about how he is able to use his size and reach to keep defenders on his hip long enough to make plays.

I didn't really think about Hossa in that comment til you mentioned him. Among his many attributes, watching Hoss hang onto the puck and bull his way around the Ozone on the cycle was a thing of beauty.

Not saying Dach's there or ever will be but I think the potential is there for that to be a part of his game.

The headlines are always as good as the articles--thanks Theo!

So - from One Goal to ... One Headlight?

Good that there is this emphasis on teaching young players how to play - at least I’m assuming that Colliton is placing as much emphasis on it as you (Theo) are. Clearing the dzone and transitioning, winning the puck battles and transitioning, driving the net - all require five players in good position to do something positive whatever happens on the ice - ready to go in either direction to help create a chance or stop one.

Hockey is a game of short shifts - two or three rushes up and back and off for a change. Making the most of each shift means being in the right place and making the right decision - which too often hasn’t happened in the recent past - which continually changes....

It’s less about system and more about hockey sense - knowing where your teammates are and where you need to be to complement and cover up.

Great post Theo.

In the early days of the "glory years", the Hawks had a great cycle game going on along the boards. They had the players with the grit and speed to be able to do it.

The last few seasons, they have pretty much lost all their grit, and most of their team speed. They need some fearless players as well, not afraid to go into the corners, or the front of the net, who are willing to take a hit to make a play.

The one guy who was strong, fast, and never afraid to get his hands dirty was Marian Hossa. A lot of fans say that Toews and Kane were the straws that stirred the drink for the Hawks, but i always thought that Hossa was the one who set the tone for the team.
- plyrs99

Agree. I thought Hossa in his Hawk's years was the greatest all around player they have ever had. 200' game, leadership in showing players what it means to get back, a ton of offensive skills, good speed, hockey IQ that was off the charts, played the boards, the corners and in front of the net, came up big in big games, great penalty killer, whoever he played with looked better.

I think the key thing is you need one player or a few players to be the spark. Then it is contagious. If the last 10 years we had several players who got the ball rolling. Bolland, Eager, Shaw, Burrish, Byfuglien, Sopel, Carcillo, Bollig, Seabs, Rozsival, etc.. They can be forwards or dmen. 1st line or 4th line. Top pair or bottom pair. Big guys or small guys. But you need the mind set that you are going to go to the dirty places (corners, boards, front of the net) and some how come out with the puck. I like the saying "You can get past me or the puck can get past me, but not both".

Maybe Murphy, Zadorov and the Marx Brothers (Wallmark and Janmark) can be the spark. Depending on their health maybe Seabs, Shaw and deHaan. Shaw with his history can still be a spark, but he needs to be a little smarter and be more of thorn and less kamikaze.

I think the key thing is you need one player or a few players to be the spark. Then it is contagious. If the last 10 years we had several players who got the ball rolling. Bolland, Eager, Shaw, Burrish, Byfuglien, Sopel, Carcillo, Bollig, Seabs, Rozsival, etc.. They can be forwards or dmen. 1st line or 4th line. Top pair or bottom pair. Big guys or small guys. But you need the mind set that you are going to go to the dirty places (corners, boards, front of the net) and some how come out with the puck. I like the saying "You can get past me or the puck can get past me, but not both".

Maybe Murphy, Zadorov and the Marx Brothers (Wallmark and Janmark) can be the spark. Depending on their health maybe Seabs, Shaw and deHaan. Shaw with his history can still be a spark, but he needs to be a little smarter and be more of thorn and less kamikaze.
- -Doh-

Theo Fox: Wallflowers
A look at the paradox of playing along the wall in hockey and how the Blackhawks can improve in this area where they’ve struggled.

Also, a perspective on Stan Bowman and Jaime Faulkner being named co-presidents.
- Theo Fox

This is really the Achilles heel of this team, it has been since 2016. Over the past couple years father time has caught up to both our prominent defenseman.

Forwards wise Stan has showed me he's got a clue. I think as many of our Forwards get older the better and tougher they will be to play against and he does a great job of adding pieces here and there.

Is he finally out from under the cap? For 9 years he's constantly had to do a juggling act, last year he was finally in a position to bring in some players taking on salary and really giving nothing up.

I like these young dmen, as I've said before watching Heiskanen and Lindell they really make their partner so much better defensively because they are that good and that team is going to be a pain in the ass to play against, i really hope a couple of pieces on our back end are the real deal that'll be the key to all of this.

Watching the Blackhawks Cup years i always thought of them as a great boxer, they would just methodically wear you down with their boring cycle game, safe line changes, and patiently wait for the opponent to break down, slip up or a bad line change and damn the puck would be in the back of the net. Those years it was common for them to score within a minute or 2 after they scored the 1 goal. Mental breakdown again or trying to hard to get that goal back exposing their defense.

There will never be another Hossa, what a great hockey player that never took a shift off. So I have a question, if you were to add a thirty year old Hossa to this team, are they a playoff team?

Happy Holidays everyone. Very nice write up Theo. I can't say I'm surprised at the current events regarding rockys new choices to lead this team.

I can only assume with the financial situation and uncertainty of the league for the foreseeable near future, its easier to deal with the devil you know ( stan ) then the devil you don't.

I'll just chalk this up to making the most of a bad situation. Personally having stan as in both roles that might be ok for now but in the future accountability has to be a huge part of chicago orginization structure.

- Rota's Rooter

Minny’s Boys - even Zeppo and Gummo.

This is really the Achilles heel of this team, it has been since 2016. Over the past couple years father time has caught up to both our prominent defenseman.

Forwards wise Stan has showed me he's got a clue. I think as many of our Forwards get older the better and tougher they will be to play against and he does a great job of adding pieces here and there.

Is he finally out from under the cap? For 9 years he's constantly had to do a juggling act, last year he was finally in a position to bring in some players taking on salary and really giving nothing up.

I like these young dmen, as I've said before watching Heiskanen and Lindell they really make their partner so much better defensively because they are that good and that team is going to be a pain in the ass to play against, i really hope a couple of pieces on our back end are the real deal that'll be the key to all of this.

Watching the Blackhawks Cup years i always thought of them as a great boxer, they would just methodically wear you down with their boring cycle game, safe line changes, and patiently wait for the opponent to break down, slip up or a bad line change and damn the puck would be in the back of the net. Those years it was common for them to score within a minute or 2 after they scored the 1 goal. Mental breakdown again or trying to hard to get that goal back exposing their defense.
- BetweenTheDots

Agree with the post except for this. They led the league in too many men pims every year.

Angotti: Before a 30 year old Hossa signed on he would be asking Bowman how the hell he thinks the team could make the playoffs with those 4 goaltenders he has on the books.

Angotti: Before a 30 year old Hossa signed on he would be asking Bowman how the hell he thinks the team could make the playoffs with those 4 goaltenders he has on the books.
- RickJ

They made the playoffs in '17 with Hossa and then lost four straight. Making the playoffs isn't everything.

Happy Holidays everyone. Very nice write up Theo. I can't say I'm surprised at the current events regarding rockys new choices to lead this team.

I can only assume with the financial situation and uncertainty of the league for the foreseeable near future, its easier to deal with the devil you know ( stan ) then the devil you don't.

I'll just chalk this up to making the most of a bad situation. Personally having stan as in both roles that might be ok for now but in the future accountability has to be a huge part of chicago orginization structure.
- Taylorst1

Not sure what you mean? Can't fire somebody first mistake they make. How many of us have worked for companies "we want people who aren't afraid to think outside the box and take chances?" I would say Nylander Jokiharju falls under that heading? Getting Nylander tells us what the market said Joki was worth. It also may have led to Mitchell signing?

They made the playoffs in '17 with Hossa and then lost four straight. Making the playoffs isn't everything.
- rpeters01

Understood, but I t was just a hypothetical question. With all their flaws and questionable goaltending, does this team make the playoffs if you were to add a thirty year old Hossa? Whether they get killed in the playoffs or not.

Understood, but I t was just a hypothetical question. With all their flaws and questionable goaltending, does this team make the playoffs if you were to add a thirty year old Hossa? Whether they get killed in the playoffs or not.
- Angotti

Can't disagree but one of those goaltenders is a #1 draft choice. Tony Esposito was more or less "dumped" when Chicago got him. If none of those goalies makes it and there's not another solution the team is DOA.

Agree with the post except for this. They led the league in too many men pims every year.
- 6628

Some would consider that an extra safe line change.

Different positions but I could see Dach developing into something a bit similar as he matures and fills out a bit.

I saw an article in The Athletic the other day (Wheeler I think) discussing the roster for Team Canada in the WJC's. The blurb on Dach talked about how he is able to use his size and reach to keep defenders on his hip long enough to make plays.

I didn't really think about Hossa in that comment til you mentioned him. Among his many attributes, watching Hoss hang onto the puck and bull his way around the Ozone on the cycle was a thing of beauty.

Not saying Dach's there or ever will be but I think the potential is there for that to be a part of his game.
- HawkintheD

Excellent post, sizzle chest (Jerky Boys reference for the Utes in the crowd). Watching Hoss do what you describe was awesome. A man among boys. And I do see Dach hinting at a similar ability in that area.

Like you, I am not saying Dach is Hossa. I recall people making similar comments about Saad reminding them about some aspect of Hossa's game, and then getting roasted by the former blogger (and minions) for saying Saad was the next Hossa. Good times....

Agree. I thought Hossa in his Hawk's years was the greatest all around player they have ever had. 200' game, leadership in showing players what it means to get back, a ton of offensive skills, good speed, hockey IQ that was off the charts, played the boards, the corners and in front of the net, came up big in big games, great penalty killer, whoever he played with looked better.
- -Doh-

Yeah, but what did he bring to the table other than that?

There will never be another Hossa, what a great hockey player that never took a shift off. So I have a question, if you were to add a thirty year old Hossa to this team, are they a playoff team?
- Angotti

Playoff team? Could well be. Title contender? No.

Happy Holidays, Lou.

There will never be another Hossa, what a great hockey player that never took a shift off. So I have a question, if you were to add a thirty year old Hossa to this team, are they a playoff team?
- Angotti

A 30 year old Hossa would make them a Playoff team. (Adding a 41 year old Hossa in a shortened season would move them closer to being a playoff team.) But Cup contender no. He is great, but not God or Gretzky.

Playoff team? Could well be. Title contender? No.

Happy Holidays, Lou.
- mohel

Agreed. Happy Holidays to you and yours Mo, hopefully we will have real games to watch soon.

Excellent post, sizzle chest (Jerky Boys reference for the Utes in the crowd). Watching Hoss do what you describe was awesome. A man among boys. And I do see Dach hinting at a similar ability in that area.

Like you, I am not saying Dach is Hossa. I recall people making similar comments about Saad reminding them about some aspect of Hossa's game, and then getting roasted by the former blogger (and minions) for saying Saad was the next Hossa. Good times....
- mohel

Maybe Dach can be a Selke finalist at C - which Hossa should have been often as a W.