I am glad that others are starting to see the value in Highmore. I have been high on him since I first saw him play for us. These are the kind of players you go to battle with when the going gets tough as in playoff hockey.
- 67hawks

Has Adam Burish in him.

Last time I checked the Hawks were something like 25 for 175 on the PP this season - 14%. If they were 35 for 175 they would be at 20%. 10 more goals here and there throughout the season would have probably resulted in several more victories and a quite a few more points. The PP is an important facet of the Hawks game which needs improvement.
- boilermaker100

Or 10 less SH goals for the other team...

Last time I checked the Hawks were something like 25 for 175 on the PP this season - 14%. If they were 35 for 175 they would be at 20%. 10 more goals here and there throughout the season would have probably resulted in several more victories and a quite a few more points. The PP is an important facet of the Hawks game which needs improvement.
- boilermaker100

Your right about the power play. I don't ex0ect Chicago to be #1 but they have enough talent to produce better results.

Crawford Has been a disappointment with running Chicago's Power play and he hasn't changed their scheme or found better more cohesive units.

Would love to see him win a battle behind the net and center the puck for a goal like Highmore did for him.
- rpeters01

Nylander has all the necessary skills, but someone needs to impress upon him a sense of urgency. There are still far too many times when he doesn't get shots off or make plays because he is just moving/reacting too slow. This isn't the AHL or Jr's anymore, and he still doesn't make enough plays at full speed.

He CAN do it. There were actually a few shifts towards the end of last nights game where he was skating and moving at full speed where you could see the potential and promise. If only he could play at that speed all the time.

Or 10 less SH goals for the other team...
- rpeters01

Only 8 SHGA I think, but good point. Even more points in the standings pissed away.

A quick note on Strome: If he doesn't raise his compete level you have to cut ties. I think he is still learning what it takes to be a pro. He looks timid, afraid, cautious out there. I question whether he wants to be a pro. He has a little of perlini syndrome.

The last 10 games have been a preview of playoff hockey...looks who is performing the best; Kane, Toews, Caggiula, Highmore, Kubalik, Saad, Dach. The ones who are struggling; Strome, Debrincat and Nylander.
- catrisc

Dach and Nylander are tied at 8 goals and 11 assists. They are both in the top ten for rookies along with Kubalik for goals. It's time to put the Nylander is a bum meme to rest.

I really don't get the hate for JC, the defense sucks, period

Things have gotten better on the PK but we have a young softish team in regards to if we are being held, interfered with, and so on and the refs decide not to call it, like on this losing streak, we fade away.

I wish, they would have the mentality to compound the issue by if interfered with, cross check, if being held slash the player, sure they will call penalties on us but the more you do it the less it'll happen or escalation will happen where you force the refs to make calls. Not going to the playoffs anyways
- BetweenTheDots

Agreed, players play, coaches coach, 99% of the time the record is on the players.

Your right about the power play. I don't ex0ect Chicago to be #1 but they have enough talent to produce better results.

Crawford Has been a disappointment with running Chicago's Power play and he hasn't changed their scheme or found better more cohesive units.
- Taylorst1

Their inability to produce with the talent they have is maddening.
There are a few obvious problems. #1 is that everyone defers to Kane and expects him to perform Kane like magic without helping him out. Give him the puck and stand around is not an option. If everyone is in motion, Kane has the vision and passing ability to make the "magic" happen, if everyone is standing, it's too easy to pressure and overplay Kane and kill the opportunities.

A bigger issue is expecting Gus to be a PP QB. I'm sorry, but he is just too dumb. Watch his choices when he has to make a decision with the puck. Dump when you should pass, pass when you should shoot, poor reads leading to short handed goals, and man oh man, how many times has he put teammates in awful positions with just terrible passes. Boqvist may have been a little tentative on the PP, but even as a 19 year old he made better decisions than Gus.

Rick,

I always appreciate your keen insight. I want y run a couple thoughts.indogar we to see if you agree. I believe I know how you feel we I get an idea from your post. I am just diving s bit deeper and appreciate your response.

1) DeBrincat and Strome. Together on a line when they were scoring or generating good opportunities last year, I grumbled about Strome. Teams do not need to be fast at each position, each player in line up. Fact is that you win more puck battles if you have speed. Yes desire and attitude also to get to puck. This last point is a shortcoming of Strome.mm......he too often doesn't get going or involved enough. Immediately. I want to move him from center but did he get best results with DeBruncat as a center

If a player is slow skating I sure as heck demand 5hat he have something else to contribute. Not sure that Strome can be consistent but I realize when (if) DeBrincat is back in last season form, then Strome should be scoring and more involved in the play. Nonetheless if I could dump Strome, I would. Ideally his replacement is 50% at 5he dot. Ideally his replacement comes from the 2020 draft because i like best a Toews, Dach, 2020 draft center. The prospects like Kurashaev is the other center, eventually the #3 or #4 center

The problem with 5his outcome is the availability of a power center ptefernce over s skill set guy and to be able to draft him. S back up plan is at least one year down the road if the Penn State kid improved his skating. Then he is comparable to Strome in many ways, although iike him potentially more because he is a yapper. With him we hope his skating improved. With him we await the answer whether he is so good to be a point per game player. Upside higher than Strome? This is all.the thoughts that .ust perculate in Bowman's mind

XeBrincat you keep and hope some time next season he is in shape to produce the skill and goals again. I am betting his problems are more due to weight training than other concerns brought up on this board

2). I like Doh poster want to give Colliton better players to succeed with as far as next season. But then after reading the post about dmen skating out if position, and even routinely lured out if position as game strategy......this is just to much to bear. We have a bumper crop of young dmen. They should not be set back in their development by Colliton's system

While I hope that Carlsson really does get opportunity and can become a solid #5/ third pair, I would like your impression on Special K. Has he leveled out or do you suggest that he might develop yet into a more consistent third pair?
- jhawk59

Didn't Strome acknowledge last week he was healthy scratched because the coaches wanted more aggressive play out of him? That speaks loads about how the Hawks view him currently. And my guess is why Rick Tocchet didn't use him much when he was with Arizona.

At the right salary within the Hawks cap structure, I'd keep Strome and work to develop him further into an NHL player who is useful. But don't expect him to ever turn into Brayden Point. If Strome wants $4 or $5M next year, he can sit home In Mississauga picking splinters out of his butt until his agent gets a dose of reality. The kid has some talent in the Ozone; outside of that and without the puck he is very marginal.

But keep something in mind, if Sidney Crosby can backcheck and work his ass off without the puck, so can Strome. It doesn't require any special talent.

I think it's fair to suggest that other qualified professionals should be allowed to try and right the Hawk's ship. If it's true that Q's tenure and way of doing things became stale, how can Stan keep receiving a pass? True, Stan has a plan, but perhaps others have more astute plans? Just asking, and good morning to you, sir.
- gabriel

Hopefully they are not the more astute plans being used in LA, Detroit, Aneheim, San Jose and have been used in Edmonton and Buffalo the last 10 years?

A quick note on Strome: If he doesn't raise his compete level you have to cut ties. I think he is still learning what it takes to be a pro. He looks timid, afraid, cautious out there. I question whether he wants to be a pro. He has a little of perlini syndrome.

The last 10 games have been a preview of playoff hockey...looks who is performing the best; Kane, Toews, Caggiula, Highmore, Kubalik, Saad, Dach. The ones who are struggling; Strome, Debrincat and Nylander.
- catrisc

Oh, and while Saad has more goals, both Strome (31 pts) and Debrincat (37 pts) have more points than Saad who has 28 points.

Helps to build when you are so bad, that you draft #’s 1 and 3 in consecutive years. Didn’t builder Dale get overruled with the Hossa signing, he wanted to keep Havlat.

How has Dale done building the Panthers the past 10 years? He has sure gone through a lot of coaches including DeBoer, Gallant, and Boughner
- LAHawk

When Florida moved Dale "up" the GM they put in tore down what Dale built I think it's been proven that was a mistake and Dale had to start over.

Dach and Nylander are tied at 8 goals and 11 assists. They are both in the top ten for rookies along with Kubalik for goals. It's time to put the Nylander is a bum meme to rest.
- Googlyeyes

#1 pick Hughes 7G 13A 20 points and a -20
#2 pick Kakko 8G 11A 19 points and a -22
#3 pick Dach 8G 11A 19 points and a -1

Next season’s 4th line:
Entwistle- Carpenter - Highmore

That will be hard to play against. Of course Stan & JC will need to figure out what t9 do with the other 3 lines.
- scottak

Hawks have the three best 4th lines in hockey!

Agree on your perspectives of Highmore and Caggiula.

On Highmore, he's got the making of an outstanding 4th liner with NHL staying power: relentless, fearless, fast as heck, nose for dirty areas, offensive skill. And as you pointed at, he actually wins his battles whether along the boards or other 50/50 situations. Even when he loses, he still competes hard.

I also agree with scottak that a future 4th line of Carpenter centering Highmore and Entwistle would be ideal. Entwistle plays a similar game as Highmore just much stronger and bigger but slower. Entwistle can battle against two opponents and still come away with the puck.

Entwistle may need a little more time in Rockford but he's on a good trajectory for no later than 2021.
- AEL_Fox

Doesn't Hagel have any potential for inclusion here?

#1 pick Hughes 7G 13A 20 points and a -20
#2 pick Kakko 8G 11A 19 points and a -22
#3 pick Dach 8G 11A 19 points and a -1
- boilermaker100

And, Nylander is a -4 along with the 8G 11A 19 points.

And, Nylander is a -4 along with the 8G 11A 19 points.
- Googlyeyes

He wasn't a top 3 pick either.

Mohel I believe you nailed Chicago's current situation and plan. I read Keith's recent comments in the athletic and what stood out in my nd was , he is of the belief based on what Chicago front office has told him they are not doing a rebuild and I gathered that if it was the case he would be open To a trade. Otherwise he has no intentions on waiving his NMC.
- Taylorst1

This is probably the Bowman mcDonough understanding. So we should quit calling for Colliton and Bowman to be axed. Actually I still have a problem with Bowman since I want more accountability. This comes with a better system and more quantity wise grit and willingness to battle along boards. Playoff is key exposes this if it is lacking. I do believe Bowman will draft well but this Colliton system has me disgusted. Probably both are coming back though. I await poster Rick to comment on my post which addresses some of this. Be had a good read on everything always imho

Doesn't Hagel have any potential for inclusion here?
- RickJ

Maybe a 3rd liner? All the 4th line spots are taken.

Doesn't Hagel have any potential for inclusion here?
- RickJ

Hagel has more offensive talent. Could be part of a good 3rd line. VG speed. Decent hands. Relentless. Fearless. Could be a mid 30-ish point guy.

The metric to measure the SB post cup era is that FOUR YEARS AFTER the last cup, this year's team will have the worst record it's ever had since 2006-7 when they had 71 points.

Four years of time for SB to get it together.

Almost two years under Colliton.
- Return of the Roar

That would still have them doing better than the other teams cycling through lean times which nobody ever wants to acknowledge.

Doesn't Hagel have any potential for inclusion here?
- RickJ

I would think so. Hagel's offensive resume could grant him chances to compete for a 3rd line role. He has a similar package of speed, fearlessness, compete level, and 200 foot game but greater offensive skill.

Highmore was never a big scorer in juniors in 5 seasons at Saint Johns while Hagel put up video game scoring numbers at Red Deer. Hagel would be hard pressed to be a top 6 winger but a 30-40 point 3rd liner is doable.

Nylander has all the necessary skills, but someone needs to impress upon him a sense of urgency. There are still far too many times when he doesn't get shots off or make plays because he is just moving/reacting too slow. This isn't the AHL or Jr's anymore, and he still doesn't make enough plays at full speed.

He CAN do it. There were actually a few shifts towards the end of last nights game where he was skating and moving at full speed where you could see the potential and promise. If only he could play at that speed all the time.
- TheTrob

Simplify. Nylander needs to learn to not try to make every play a highlight reel. He has gotten better a bit as the season has worn on. To me, it is almost like he trying to decide what to do. In the NHL, time and space is quickly taken away.

Maybe a 3rd liner? All the 4th line spots are taken.
- boilermaker100

Rockford sucks. Moving too many up to Chicago doesn't sound like a plan for success for the NHL team.

Hagel has more offensive talent. Could be part of a good 3rd line. VG speed. Decent hands. Relentless. Fearless. Could be a mid 30-ish point guy.
- Elbows15

I know the Hawks are very short on top 6 talent in the pipeline but the bottom 6 could be quite solid. Assuming the top 6 can beef up in other ways, the teams with the best 3rd and 4th lines will routinely be the more competitive teams.

Middle 6 potential: Barratt, Nordgren, Kurashev, Teply, Wise

Bottom 6 potential: Entwistle, Hagel, Hakkarainen, Highmore, Saarela, Slavin, Soderlund

I bolded the prospects who have the highest potential to make it to the NHL, IMO. The others are either too early to tell or need to get past injury setbacks.

Altybarmakyan has middle 6 potential but all Russian prospects are in the "believe it when I see it" category to not only want to play in North America but actually work hard to stay beyond a year.