Theo, Thanks for putting out the time and effort in writing these blogs on a daily basis.

I can tell you're truly passionate about the team. I think we all are, but we just post our thoughts in different manners. We all share the same goal, and that is for the Hawks to eventually produce another Stanley Cup winning team.

Like the others, I am looking forward to your off season blogs. Take some time off here and there. You've earned it.

Thanks for your observations. It should be noted that Dallas had their regular defense playing including Heiskenen, Klingberg, Lindell. Even with a full healthy defense, the Hawks currently do not have anyone that is at their level.
- LAHawk

Thanks LA. Really appreciate your insight after every game.

You're right again. The Dallas D is mighty good. They join the rush and are deadly when they pinch in. That definitely was one of the reasons the Hawks were hemmed in their zone so much of the game.

This year the Cat played like a superstar. Yep, I'll say it, a superstar. He's everywhere on the ice, stealing the puck, breaking up a pass and putting it in the net. Him and Vinnie were the reasons the Hawks almost pulled off a win last night even after being so thoroughly outplayed. Vinnie plays hard every shift. I hope they can resign him next year. Even better, he's a Bartlett guy.

Well Foley didn't go full Karpotsev last night, but he did trash the the team defense as a whole, and did intimate that the system could be part of the problem.
- LAHawk

Yes LA he certainly did.

I guess all the alcohol in the world can't numb the senses enough to realize that unless this team figures out how to play defense without the world's best goalie saving them, they will never be more than a middle-of-the-road team.

You know, I haven't looked it up but to Scottak's point about JC's record wherever he was, he was always in the bottom of the league in terms of team defense. It points out a real problem to me. I will not say it is the system because as others note, a similar D system is employed elsewhere by other coaches successfully.

It goes back to the same issue I had with Q in the later years -- is JC simply being stubborn? He is going to run this system of defense even though he does not have the horses necessary to implement it successfully? You need the right players, need the players' buy-in and execution. Without both, we've seen some of the results (like last night's 49 SOG against.

Thanks Theo! Hands down your blog has no equal, we are blessed in having you, thanks again for what you bring.

If it ain't Stan's fault, I wonder who is at fault then.

Not sure what the thanks are all about, Theo is clearly the worst blogger we've had since Ty-cam left us!

Thanks, Theo. You're too good for this motley crew!

Thanks for all the blogs Theo!

To everyone here looking for great strides next season, this is going to take longer than you want. The current roster is a fire drill at times with only so much talent. Hustle only goes so far this roster will not magically do all the things you expect from them new faces not in the system yet will be needed. The kiddie corp part of the defense will still be young and light next season. Keith will continue to decline. Murphy, Zad and deHaan who knows where they will be?

Very telling will be what type of free agents Stan targets.

Thanks for all the blogs Theo!

To everyone here looking for great strides next season, this is going to take longer than you want. The current roster is a fire drill at times with only so much talent. Hustle only goes so far this roster will not magically do all the things you expect from them new faces not in the system yet will be needed. The kiddie corp part of the defense will still be young and light next season. Keith will continue to decline. Murphy, Zad and deHaan who knows where they will be?

Very telling will be what type of free agents Stan targets.
- rpeters01

This will be the first full offseason with the demotion of MacIver as assistant GM, and the promoting of 3 to split up those duties., let alone a total reorganization of the scouting staff. Not only telling what type (if any) free agents he targets, but what trades are made, who they draft. Stan has different voices in his head than he has had in the past.

Just getting into it but on the Athletic they are saying Borgstom is signed.

Lol Pat Foley.
- fattybeef

I knew the minute he said, "if I had to quarantine, that way for a season, I would end up putting a gun to my head." he would be hearing that he had to walk back on it.

Thanks Theo for a great season, looking forward to the off-season posts.

A better season than expected, but I am disappointed in the amount of points they got. Just for the sake of a better draft pick (Since Seattle will be taking a player off the roster).

The 4 players I will be interested in watching what happens with them this offseason:

1) Toews
2) Strome
3) Nylander
4) Big Z
- powerenforcer

and for me add Reichel, Borgstrum, Gaudette, and Zhafyarov.

Just getting into it but on the Athletic they are saying Borgstom is signed.
- HawkintheD

Did they really need to sign him 1 day into the off-season. Stan should have waited and forced Borgstrom to play for the league minimum on an 8 year deal.

Thanks LA. Really appreciate your insight after every game.

You're right again. The Dallas D is mighty good. They join the rush and are deadly when they pinch in. That definitely was one of the reasons the Hawks were hemmed in their zone so much of the game.

This year the Cat played like a superstar. Yep, I'll say it, a superstar. He's everywhere on the ice, stealing the puck, breaking up a pass and putting it in the net. Him and Vinnie were the reasons the Hawks almost pulled off a win last night even after being so thoroughly outplayed. Vinnie plays hard every shift. I hope they can resign him next year. Even better, he's a Bartlett guy.
- Popsghostly

Now if we could only extract some of the genetic compete level from him or Hagel and inject it into Strome...

Just my thought on the system. Players obviously don't know it well enough and maybe have to think about the situation rather than naturally reacting to it. Maybe some are playing it properly, but others don't react to what a teammate does leaving an opponent open.

Some say a full training camp is needed for the players to better learn it. Same was said after JC took over early in the 18-19 season and I don't remember the defense improving after the 2019 camp leading into the 19-20 season.

I don't know how much the players can learn at camp especially during the early part when there are about 40 players on the ice. By the time the roster is whittled down to the 23 keepers, there's about a week left in camp. Is that really enough time to better learn the system?

I don't know much about hockey X's and O's and can't say whether the system is crap or not, but if the players don't eventually pick it up, what's the problem? System too complex to learn? Players not good or smart enough to learn it? Coaches not explaining/teaching the system properly?
- boilermaker100

Good questions boilermaker. I think that they have an opportunity to improve over the summer just studying film and going over it with coaches and teammates. Also if the roster stabilizes they should benefit from playing with the same partner and on the same side on a more regular basis. Also if they do not have to watch Z roam all over the D zone with no rhyme or reason it might be easier to figure out what scheme we are trying to play. Finally it would not surprise me for Z and deHaan to be gone and have Stan bring in a veteran dman that is already familiar with the man and a half scheme.

Just getting into it but on the Athletic they are saying Borgstöm is signed.
- HawkintheD

Well we know Pius Suter was only a centre under duress and that the Swiss miss Kurashev has to be on the wing as he floats away from contact, so there is an opportunity down the middle.

I do not see the coach or GM in any way impacted or in fear for their jobs.

What probably DOES lay pressure on them? EMPTY SEATS.

I have no way of making any determination on how the last year or so has affected the season ticket holders in terms of their wallets, and the old Cup days being a memory, but it was really good publicity that so many youngsters scored, that the deadline deals brought even MORE youth, and that holding the line on paying Crawford sorta worked out...

I just see a team that doesn't defend well.

I don't see the goaltending position as one where the guys playing there will take quantitative jumps in their abilities.

The young defenseman revolving door was fun, and necessary to get the prospect group there to focus on how they improve to be NHLers.

But, let's get back to that poor defense area:

I am not sure they are willing to add a marquee UFA defenseman.

BUT if I was in charge, the minute the Ottawa Brady Thachuk is a RFA, I throw money at him, lots of it.

I just feel a big dominant scorer with some nasty is something you don't have and to me if it impacts the $ they will have to throw at Suter, Kubalik in a year, and Dach and then there is Strome, well their $ is not as well spent if you don't have a nasty dominant wing out there.

Well we know Pius Suter was only a centre under duress and that the Swiss miss Kurashev has to be on the wing as he floats away from contact, so there is an opportunity down the middle.

I do not see the coach or GM in any way impacted or in fear for their jobs.

What probably DOES lay pressure on them? EMPTY SEATS.

I have no way of making any determination on how the last year or so has affected the season ticket holders in terms of their wallets, and the old Cup days being a memory, but it was really good publicity that so many youngsters scored, that the deadline deals brought even MORE youth, and that holding the line on paying Crawford sorta worked out...

I just see a team that doesn't defend well.

I don't see the goaltending position as one where the guys playing there will take quantitative jumps in their abilities.

The young defenseman revolving door was fun, and necessary to get the prospect group there to focus on how they improve to be NHLers.

But, let's get back to that poor defense area:

I am not sure they are willing to add a marquee UFA defenseman.

BUT if I was in charge, the minute the Ottawa Brady Thachuk is a RFA, I throw money at him, lots of it.

I just feel a big dominant scorer with some nasty is something you don't have and to me if it impacts the $ they will have to throw at Suter, Kubalik in a year, and Dach and then there is Strome, well their $ is not as well spent if you don't have a nasty dominant wing out there.
- wiz1901

Interesting, that is who Hardman says he tries to model his game after. He impressed me as a 4th line banger with some offense.

Did they really need to sign him 1 day into the off-season. Stan should have waited and forced Borgstrom to play for the league minimum on an 8 year deal.
- DarthKane

Hilarious. Such a new refreshing joke.

and for me add Reichel, Borgstrum, Gaudette, and Zhafyarov.
- -Doh-

Yes, I was just going with current roster players....

Theo, Wiz or other experts...... Does Borgstrum need to be protected in the expansion draft?

Is Theo an UFA when it comes to keeping this blog going?

Well we know Pius Suter was only a centre under duress and that the Swiss miss Kurashev has to be on the wing as he floats away from contact, so there is an opportunity down the middle.

I do not see the coach or GM in any way impacted or in fear for their jobs.

What probably DOES lay pressure on them? EMPTY SEATS.

I have no way of making any determination on how the last year or so has affected the season ticket holders in terms of their wallets, and the old Cup days being a memory, but it was really good publicity that so many youngsters scored, that the deadline deals brought even MORE youth, and that holding the line on paying Crawford sorta worked out...

I just see a team that doesn't defend well.

I don't see the goaltending position as one where the guys playing there will take quantitative jumps in their abilities.

The young defenseman revolving door was fun, and necessary to get the prospect group there to focus on how they improve to be NHLers.

But, let's get back to that poor defense area:

I am not sure they are willing to add a marquee UFA defenseman.

BUT if I was in charge, the minute the Ottawa Brady Thachuk is a RFA, I throw money at him, lots of it.

I just feel a big dominant scorer with some nasty is something you don't have and to me if it impacts the $ they will have to throw at Suter, Kubalik in a year, and Dach and then there is Strome, well their $ is not as well spent if you don't have a nasty dominant wing out there.
- wiz1901

I think empty seats in 2021/22 will be assumed and downplayed next season for the Hawks. They have deep pockets. However I think small market low revenue teams may be more effected. So possibly their self imposed budget is tighter, thereby making some players available due to cost cutting moves. Instead of being at the cap ceiling they could be well below it (more than this year).

There should be a couple of good playoff series coming up in the Central.

I saw glimpses of the last two Florida-TB games. Lots of chippy physical play. I expect it to continue in this playoff round. It's a coaching rematch between Q and Cooper (remember the 2015 finals?).

Carolina going through the motions the last 2 games against Nashville. Canes on a 3 game losing streak counting their last game against the Hawks. Reminiscent of 2017 when the Hawks finished the regular season poorly and were swept in the 1st round by NSH.

Theo, Wiz or other experts...... Does Borgstrum need to be protected in the expansion draft?
- -Doh-

Yes, even though he played in Europe last year, he already completed his 3 year ELC playing for Florida and their AHL team, making him eligible for the draft.

Is Theo an UFA when it comes to keeping this blog going?
- RaleighHawk

Maybe Ek will reassign him to the ARI board. Tanner's a tough act to follow, but I think Theo would be up to it.

Just getting into it but on the Athletic they are saying Borgstom is signed.
- HawkintheD

https://www.google.com/am...on-development-model/amp/

Based on Capfriendly.com expansion draft tool
https://www.capfriendly.c...m/expansion-draft/seattle

My protected list:
Toews, Kane, Debrincat, Hagel, Gaudette, Borgstrum, Nylander
Keith, Murphy, Stillman
Lankinen