Theo Fox: Game 4 @ Panthers
A preview to the Blackhawks last game of the season-opening road trip in Florida with a game tonight against the Panthers.

Player capsules on Boqvist, Beaudin, Carlsson, Kalynuk, DeBrincat, Kubalik, and Shaw.

First. Great job again Theo!

G'mornin' Theo. Thanks for the game day write up!

Hawks flip the script and beat the Q Cats 5-2. Suter with the 1st. I'm basing this on nothing other than just cause.

Edit - Just cause it's Lanky Time!

Jokiharju last night vs. PHL:
1 goal, +2, 2 shots, 1 hit, 3 blocks, 18:08 TOI

I still would of made that trade. He did absolutely nothing the first 2 games. He is Buffalo's 5th-6th defenseman.

Jokiharju last night vs. PHL:
1 goal, +2, 2 shots, 1 hit, 3 blocks, 18:08 TOI
- scottak

Quinn Hughes last night vs CAL: 0 pts, -2, 2 PIM, 0 blocks. What’s your point? They are both defensemen who do not play for the Hawks. There will be examples every single night of former Hawks who have good nights. Does it matter that his goal was almost as skillful as Strome’s (weak backhander that got through everything and went in off of the opposing defenseman’s skate)?

Thanks for your daily breakdowns...my first readings of the day and follow the boards the rest of the day. Really looking forward to some progression with this group but not feeling it just yet.

Jokiharju last night vs. PHL:
1 goal, +2, 2 shots, 1 hit, 3 blocks, 18:08 TOI
- scottak

Now do Rutta
then Kempny
then Johns
then Gustaffsson
then Osterle
...
...


Who cares, they are gone and none of them do anything defensively to move the needle. Hawks have a stable of young guys as good or better than those above.

Now do Rutta
then Kempny
then Johns
then Gustaffsson
then Osterle
...
...


Who cares, they are gone and none of them do anything defensively to move the needle. Hawks have a stable of young guys as good or better than those above.
- TheTrob

Oof, Johns. I’m pretty sure he’s done playing. Poor kid could never catch a break with the concussions.

Oof, Johns. I’m pretty sure he’s done playing. Poor kid could never catch a break with the concussions.
- Chunk

Yeah, Johns has had a hard time staying healthy. Kempny is probably gonna miss the year after an offseason training injury.
With Nylander out and no comparison for the swap, throwing up Joki's numbers don't really mean anything, heck you could pick select games or only look at numbers and Rundblad would seem like a serviceable player, while anyone who watched him more than casually would say thats not the case.

Oof, Johns. I’m pretty sure he’s done playing. Poor kid could never catch a break with the concussions.
- Chunk

I thought I read that, too. I wish him the best.

Thanks for your daily breakdowns...my first readings of the day and follow the boards the rest of the day. Really looking forward to some progression with this group but not feeling it just yet.
- billparmer

I agree that progression looks slow. A lost year for Dach, too. The bright side is that many of the players on the next good Hawks team are not here yet.

I agree that progression looks slow. A lost year for Dach, too. The bright side is that many of the players on the next good Hawks team are not here yet.
- mohel

Its gonna be decision time soon enough. Lot's of seemingly good young d-men in the organization now. Beaudin, Kalynuk, Carlsson, Krys, etc. you are gonna need to make some decisions soon enough. Maybe move Murphy and DeHaan by the TDL and let the young D learn in the NHL. As long as the expectations to win are not there trial by fire could be an effective learning method. You have to question whether Brookbank is the guy to bring these young d-men along though. Keith & Seabrook were trial by fire, but they had Yawney to coach them up.

Its gonna be decision time soon enough. Lot's of seemingly good young d-men in the organization now. Beaudin, Kalynuk, Carlsson, Krys, etc. you are gonna need to make some decisions soon enough. Maybe move Murphy and DeHaan by the TDL and let the young D learn in the NHL. As long as the expectations to win are not there trial by fire could be an effective learning method. You have to question whether Brookbank is the guy to bring these young d-men along though. Keith & Seabrook were trial by fire, but they had Yawney to coach them up.
- TheTrob

Yep, choices are coming up. The Braves in baseball were always good at knowing which of their prospects to trade and which to keep. We'll see how Stan & Co., do with that.

On Yawney, was he a good coach because he happened to coach Keith and Seabrook, or were they good because he coached them? I know it is some of each, but how much?

Its gonna be decision time soon enough. Lot's of seemingly good young d-men in the organization now. Beaudin, Kalynuk, Carlsson, Krys, etc. you are gonna need to make some decisions soon enough. Maybe move Murphy and DeHaan by the TDL and let the young D learn in the NHL. As long as the expectations to win are not there trial by fire could be an effective learning method. You have to question whether Brookbank is the guy to bring these young d-men along though. Keith & Seabrook were trial by fire, but they had Yawney to coach them up.
- TheTrob

I'm thinking they won't move too many of the vet D-men since they have to expose a certain number of them to the expansion draft.

Yep, choices are coming up. The Braves in baseball were always good at knowing which of their prospects to trade and which to keep. We'll see how Stan & Co., do with that.

On Yawney, was he a good coach because he happened to coach Keith and Seabrook, or were they good because he coached them? I know it is some of each, but how much?
- mohel

Who knows. They seem to credit him an awful lot.

Who knows. They seem to credit him an awful lot.
- HawkintheD

They do, and I am sure it is deserved. I suspect they'd have been good anyway, but I am sure he made them better. I also suspect Rundblad would've stunk ever with coaching up from Trent.

As an analogy, I'm sure Butch Harmon would make me a better golfer. I am also sure he wouldn't make me Tiger Woods.

They do, and I am sure it is deserved. I suspect they'd have been good anyway, but I am sure he made them better. I also suspect Rundblad would've stunk ever with coaching up from Trent.

As an analogy, I'm sure Butch Harmon would make me a better golfer. I am also sure he wouldn't make me Tiger Woods.
- mohel

Of course he wouldn’t make you Tiger Woods! He’s a golf coach not a human shifter. C’mon Pallie!!

Of course he wouldn’t make you Tiger Woods! He’s a golf coach not a human shifter. C’mon Pallie!!
- paulr

It's an analogy, Sizzle Chest. We all know I'm too beefed up from tossing around cement filled cans and slugging down the wheat germ to be good at golf. Quit being a locker room lawyer, chief. (I was once called that by your guy).

Jokiharju last night vs. PHL:
1 goal, +2, 2 shots, 1 hit, 3 blocks, 18:08 TOI
- scottak

Nobody cares......

Jokiharju last night vs. PHL:
1 goal, +2, 2 shots, 1 hit, 3 blocks, 18:08 TOI
- scottak

The team would still be 0-3. Now if he played goal too and still had those numbers......well then maybe it was a bad trade.

Thank you, Theo. Some really good thoughts put to "paper!"
And thank you commenters, some good insights here.
Overall, I'm hoping the boys can get the goals against tonight under 5. Clear the darn zone even if it means taking an icing call!

Quinn Hughes last night vs CAL: 0 pts, -2, 2 PIM, 0 blocks. What’s your point? They are both defensemen who do not play for the Hawks. There will be examples every single night of former Hawks who have good nights. Does it matter that his goal was almost as skillful as Strome’s (weak backhander that got through everything and went in off of the opposing defenseman’s skate)?
- Chunk

Off of former Hawks great Gustaffson's skate to be exact

Who knows. They seem to credit him an awful lot.
- HawkintheD

Yawney played for years in the luxury of the NHL. When he went to Norfolk to coach the hawks didn't hire an assistant coach for him. He did it all, on and off the ice. He did a fine job and paid his dues. The shortest bus ride was six hours. Try that after being in the show. He deserves all the respect he gets.

Yawney played for years in the luxury of the NHL. When he went to Norfolk to coach the hawks didn't hire an assistant coach for him. He did it all, on and off the ice. He did a fine job and paid his dues. The shortest bus ride was six hours. Try that after being in the show. He deserves all the respect he gets.
- 6628

I've always wondered why he didn't get another shot.