Hahaha no penalty for tripping, sheesh

They ought to give the Hawks bench minors for not having a clue on how to break out of their own zone.

They ought to give the Hawks bench minors for not having a clue on how to break out of their own zone.
- SC116

I don't expect the Blackhawks to have a winning record but goddamit if they aren't going to penalize the home team like tonight can they treat us the same way at home.

Jesus Christ Bedard

Nice game refs

Jesus Christ Bedard
- BetweenTheDots

Um ... yeh ... at least they don't to worry about having any moral victories tonight. WWTD? (What Would Torts do?).


Fly the L.

I tell you though i really like Kaisers game he's kind of reminding me of a former Blackhawks player, i hope he continues getting better.

Allan very nice game tonight.

Reichel was all over the place tonight in a good way.

Bedard just tries to hard against the Canucks and it always looks bad.

Soda looked great again.

Nice game tough to do anything when the other team is allowed to get away with cheating.

I tell you though i really like Kaisers game he's kind of reminding me of a former Blackhawks player, i hope he continues getting better.

Allan very nice game tonight.

Reichel was all over the place tonight in a good way.

Bedard just tries to hard against the Canucks and it always looks bad.

Soda looked great again.

Nice game tough to do anything when the other team is allowed to get away with cheating.
- BetweenTheDots

Yeah, it looks like the defense is at least in good hands going forward.

I'm gonna echo Fatty a bit here and say I enjoy watching the Hogs more than the Hawks right now. They aren't great but they play entertaining hockey and all four lines attack the puck. The Hawks look like they are doing everything they can to always make the safe play. It slows everything down so much that they can't really generate anything. Maybe I'm just bitter cuz they still suck, but I don't even enjoy watching at this point.

BTW - who told them all that it was acceptable to send all the no-look backhanders across the ice all night?

Players go into slumps especially sophomore slumps and Bedard is no different. Disappointing for sure for everyone in the NHL of course. He just needs to make the simple plays as he’s overthinking everything. He had less than 16 minutes on the ice tonight but that could be due to fewer power plays.

I’d been saying bench Kurashev for days and the only thing that has saved him was the OT goal in Minny. He’s weak on the puck and regularly coughs it up. Right now with Bedard’s frustration, he’s not who to pair him with. I’d put Hall in next game (is he injured? I missed the first 5 minutes) and sit Kurashev.

There were plenty of calls that were missed by the refs in that third period, boarding on TT, the trip on Kaiser and plenty of holding/interference on Bedard.

Jesus Christ Bedard
- BetweenTheDots

“Generational talent”….

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Luke Richardson said he doesn't think any systemic adjustments would fix this Blackhawks scoring drought.

"There’s not really much we can do. We can’t start seaming passes. I don’t think we have the guys that are the strong J.T. Millers of the world... With our group makeup right now, we have to play straight on and slash and support. Everybody can do that... We had some more sustained O-zone time tonight. If we can continue to do that, I think we’ll get better at burying those chances."

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Luke Richardson said he doesn't think any systemic adjustments would fix this Blackhawks scoring drought.

"There’s not really much we can do. We can’t start seaming passes. I don’t think we have the guys that are the strong J.T. Millers of the world... With our group makeup right now, we have to play straight on and slash and support. Everybody can do that... We had some more sustained O-zone time tonight. If we can continue to do that, I think we’ll get better at burying those chances."
- LAHawk

I really don't disagree with LR, so maybe now he'll just set the lines up and let them play on the same line for a while? I have to imagine familiarity with a line mate should actually help them play better defense.

Players go into slumps especially sophomore slumps and Bedard is no different. Disappointing for sure for everyone in the NHL of course. He just needs to make the simple plays as he’s overthinking everything. He had less than 16 minutes on the ice tonight but that could be due to fewer power plays.

I’d been saying bench Kurashev for days and the only thing that has saved him was the OT goal in Minny. He’s weak on the puck and regularly coughs it up. Right now with Bedard’s frustration, he’s not who to pair him with. I’d put Hall in next game (is he injured? I missed the first 5 minutes) and sit Kurashev.

There were plenty of calls that were missed by the refs in that third period, boarding on TT, the trip on Kaiser and plenty of holding/interference on Bedard.
- Popsghostly

Ok.... with regars to 'sophmore slumpiness' - I contend that blind no look passes in the d zone, particularly when it is towards your own goal (and if you had your head up - you actually saw the opposing player), are a fundamentally stupid idea. And has nothing about being someone's second season in the NHL.

Crappy at face-offs -sure it is is a bad night, so be it - the problem is, it's been a trend for a long time. I guess it got better in the third period- he must have won one .. he is showing at 11.1% for the night... and seeing as it is more than just tonight, that's a significant issue. It also isn't really about too long of a stick length - if that were the case, you'd simply swap back to the other one.

And then that last thing - whiffing on a dump in attempt with the goalie pulled? Well if anything that was just another empty net goal. I mean looking at the positive side, considering how many empty netters he is on the ice for (nearly all of them) - his plus minus probably isn't as terrible as it might seem at first glance.

Personally, I'd consider Rockford as an option -but because they hyped him up to the stars (and marketing followed along) - that isn't about to happen, but seriously ... something ought to. Maybe Luke can do a Tessier, or an Iron Mike ... where's the cut through?

There's definitely help on the way if patience is practiced. Candidates for future regular fixtures could be Lardis, Nazar, Rinzel, Levshunov. Then I'd be happy if two of Moore, Boisvert, Vanacker
Greene, and Kantserov make it to the bigs. Throw in a top 5 pick or better next summer. Unfortunately, Bedard will be 2 or 3 years into his 2nd contract before these kids are ready to make contributions. Just have to wait it out.
- boilermaker100

Because patience has worked really well for Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal and the formally Arizona team?

Yeah, it looks like the defense is at least in good hands going forward.

I'm gonna echo Fatty a bit here and say I enjoy watching the Hogs more than the Hawks right now. They aren't great but they play entertaining hockey and all four lines attack the puck. The Hawks look like they are doing everything they can to always make the safe play. It slows everything down so much that they can't really generate anything. Maybe I'm just bitter cuz they still suck, but I don't even enjoy watching at this point.

BTW - who told them all that it was acceptable to send all the no-look backhanders across the ice all night?
- Chunk

The other issue is talent. The discussions in the beginning of the year was "who's gonna score" and that's pretty much where we are at.

Vancouver is also one of the better teams in the league and that is actually fast. The Hawks not being fast are going to have issues there.

I think they need to either being Nazar up or make a move. Also with Jones out why not give Korch a few NHL games to see what he's learned if anything? It's not like they have anyone else to push the puck forward. Or (frank) it Levshunov just to give him a taste and solid things to work on in Rockford when he goes back.

Ok.... with regars to 'sophmore slumpiness' - I contend that blind no look passes in the d zone, particularly when it is towards your own goal (and if you had your head up - you actually saw the opposing player), are a fundamentally stupid idea. And has nothing about being someone's second season in the NHL.

Crappy at face-offs -sure it is is a bad night, so be it - the problem is, it's been a trend for a long time. I guess it got better in the third period- he must have won one .. he is showing at 11.1% for the night... and seeing as it is more than just tonight, that's a significant issue. It also isn't really about too long of a stick length - if that were the case, you'd simply swap back to the other one.

And then that last thing - whiffing on a dump in attempt with the goalie pulled? Well if anything that was just another empty net goal. I mean looking at the positive side, considering how many empty netters he is on the ice for (nearly all of them) - his plus minus probably isn't as terrible as it might seem at first glance.

Personally, I'd consider Rockford as an option -but because they hyped him up to the stars (and marketing followed along) - that isn't about to happen, but seriously ... something ought to. Maybe Luke can do a Tessier, or an Iron Mike ... where's the cut through?
- SC116

They need an appropriate supporting cast rather than the dumpster fire going out there right now.

LR took a shot at Davidson it seems like in the presser as well for the talent level of the team.

Because patience has worked really well for Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal and the formally Arizona team?
- fattybeef

Exactly
Being patient and waiting for all your prospects to turn into bonafide NHL contributors is a fools errand.
Davidson needs to take a few swings,and that is one of the reasons I wouldn't mind him taking a swing at Zegras.

Everyone keeps saying how Nazar (or insert any prospect's name) needs to be in the AHL etc..if he is too good for the AHL then there really isn't any point in being there.

And all this Lardis talk is amusing as well. This is his 4th OHL season. Bolland put up huge numbers in his 4th season,don't get me wrong because I loved The Rat as much as anyone else,but this thinking that Lardis is a sure thing and he is tearing the OHL up is funny. He's among the older guys in the league,he should be tearing it up.

Not sure I like what I see from LR. Hope he isn't losing the team the way EberLose has lost the bears.

Because patience has worked really well for Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal and the formally Arizona team?
- fattybeef

Yeah, Fatty, those teams have been on the eternal rebuild too and are bubble playoff teams at best.

Even though I said to practice patience, at this point I'm just hoping for bubble potential in a few years with the development and promotion of the prospects.

We all know that a team full of prospects isn't going to succeed and we've all said the roster will have to be augmented by a few top free agents and/or some wise trades to fill in the gaps in the lineup.

Friedman said last night next year's cap will go up by 4.5M and maybe more since both the NHLPA and the teams can push for an even bigger increase.
Bamford said over at his site that a big cap increase may hinder the Hawks signing a top free agent since teams will have plenty of money to retain their own UFA's. So likely no Ratanen, Ehlers, Marner, Kaprizov types coming this way next summer or the following year.

I doubt if a Zegras type trade will be a difference maker. And with the top UFA's likely off the market, I don't know what the answer is to get better faster.

With the way that Soderblom is playing, they will end up with three NHL goaltenders once Brossoit comes back. I wouldn’t force a trade, but if there’s an opportunity to get some value back, I’d move Mrazek.

Yeah, Fatty, those teams have been on the eternal rebuild too and are bubble playoff teams at best.

Even though I said to practice patience, at this point I'm just hoping for bubble potential in a few years with the development and promotion of the prospects.

We all know that a team full of prospects isn't going to succeed and we've all said the roster will have to be augmented by a few top free agents and/or some wise trades to fill in the gaps in the lineup.

Friedman said last night next year's cap will go up by 4.5M and maybe more since both the NHLPA and the teams can push for an even bigger increase.
Bamford said over at his site that a big cap increase may hinder the Hawks signing a top free agent since teams will have plenty of money to retain their own UFA's. So likely no Ratanen, Ehlers, Marner, Kaprizov types coming this way next summer or the following year.

I doubt if a Zegras type trade will be a difference maker. And with the top UFA's likely off the market, I don't know what the answer is to get better faster.
- boilermaker100

Imo Kaprizov was always a pipe dream.
Minnesota can pay him easily.
Raantanen/Ehlers/Marner were "possibilities" because Col and Tor have quite a bit of cash tied up in other players(not sure about Winnipeg).

Not sure a Zegras trade would be a difference maker either,just think it would be a decent swing to try and improe the roster and have 98 someone to play with.

With the way that Soderblom is playing, they will end up with three NHL goaltenders once Brossoit comes back. I wouldn’t force a trade, but if there’s an opportunity to get some value back, I’d move Mrazek.
- Angotti

Good to see him playing in the NHL and improving(which is what I think Korch and Nazar should be doing as well).
He might have to go back to the AHL,which I'm not a fan of,but carrying 3 goalers...not sure I see them doing that.
If he keeps playing well and Brossoit returns healthy and plays well they might be able to send Mrazek packing at 50% retained.

Ok.... with regars to 'sophmore slumpiness' - I contend that blind no look passes in the d zone, particularly when it is towards your own goal (and if you had your head up - you actually saw the opposing player), are a fundamentally stupid idea. And has nothing about being someone's second season in the NHL.

Crappy at face-offs -sure it is is a bad night, so be it - the problem is, it's been a trend for a long time. I guess it got better in the third period- he must have won one .. he is showing at 11.1% for the night... and seeing as it is more than just tonight, that's a significant issue. It also isn't really about too long of a stick length - if that were the case, you'd simply swap back to the other one.

And then that last thing - whiffing on a dump in attempt with the goalie pulled? Well if anything that was just another empty net goal. I mean looking at the positive side, considering how many empty netters he is on the ice for (nearly all of them) - his plus minus probably isn't as terrible as it might seem at first glance.

Personally, I'd consider Rockford as an option -but because they hyped him up to the stars (and marketing followed along) - that isn't about to happen, but seriously ... something ought to. Maybe Luke can do a Tessier, or an Iron Mike ... where's the cut through?
- SC116

Yeah a blind pass in your D zone should get you a seat on the bench. A visit to Rockford is extreme especially when you are the high scorer on the team. He's 19, keep throwing him out there for faceoffs- either he'll improve or coaching will make determination he's better on the wing.

He's on the ice for many ENG but good teams don't have to pull their goalie that much. This is the difference compared to last year as games weren't close enough last year to pull the goalie.

It's so clear that Connor is trying to do too much. Taking the anchor off his line, Kurashev is the first step. Kurashev will be a RFA next year and with a season like last year this might be the best time to trade him for another younger player in a slump. Might get both going.

These games have all been close, winnable games. This is a huge difference than last year.

Exactly
Being patient and waiting for all your prospects to turn into bonafide NHL contributors is a fools errand.
Davidson needs to take a few swings,and that is one of the reasons I wouldn't mind him taking a swing at Zegras.

Everyone keeps saying how Nazar (or insert any prospect's name) needs to be in the AHL etc..if he is too good for the AHL then there really isn't any point in being there.

And all this Lardis talk is amusing as well. This is his 4th OHL season. Bolland put up huge numbers in his 4th season,don't get me wrong because I loved The Rat as much as anyone else,but this thinking that Lardis is a sure thing and he is tearing the OHL up is funny. He's among the older guys in the league,he should be tearing it up.

Not sure I like what I see from LR. Hope he isn't losing the team the way EberLose has lost the bears.
- captainserious

Again we are giving up about 3 goals a game, kind of where you want to be in the NHL. That's including quite a few empty netters.

The key is to replace the guys who can't score with guys who can without it costing more goals against. They are 4 top 6 forwards away, they are to far away to trade or sign one top 6 player. This is year 3 if they get another top 5 pick and able to draft another top 6 forward, then you just need 3 to develop and this puts you so much closer to where you want to be.

That's why they have to practice patience or you end up being like Nashville and signing 2 guys into their 40s. It was really dumb move by the gm. I'm glad KD didn't give them the ridiculous term that they got.

Again we are giving up about 3 goals a game, kind of where you want to be in the NHL. That's including quite a few empty netters.

The key is to replace the guys who can't score with guys who can without it costing more goals against. They are 4 top 6 forwards away, they are to far away to trade or sign one top 6 player. This is year 3 if they get another top 5 pick and able to draft another top 6 forward, then you just need 3 to develop and this puts you so much closer to where you want to be.

That's why they have to practice patience or you end up being like Nashville and signing 2 guys into their 40s. It was really dumb move by the gm. I'm glad KD didn't give them the ridiculous term that they got.
- BetweenTheDots

I think their improved D has more to do with letting Tinordi and Megyna go and bringing in Martinez(even if he has played only 6-7games so far) and letting Kaiser and Allan show if they can play. Both Kaiser and Allan are waaay better than Tinordi and Megyna.

Plus, Arvid has been really good in his limited 5-6 games.

Letting Nazar play in place of Kurashev/Mikheyev/Maroon isn't going to hurt this team.

Yeah, Fatty, those teams have been on the eternal rebuild too and are bubble playoff teams at best.

Even though I said to practice patience, at this point I'm just hoping for bubble potential in a few years with the development and promotion of the prospects.

We all know that a team full of prospects isn't going to succeed and we've all said the roster will have to be augmented by a few top free agents and/or some wise trades to fill in the gaps in the lineup.

Friedman said last night next year's cap will go up by 4.5M and maybe more since both the NHLPA and the teams can push for an even bigger increase.
Bamford said over at his site that a big cap increase may hinder the Hawks signing a top free agent since teams will have plenty of money to retain their own UFA's. So likely no Ratanen, Ehlers, Marner, Kaprizov types coming this way next summer or the following year.

I doubt if a Zegras type trade will be a difference maker. And with the top UFA's likely off the market, I don't know what the answer is to get better faster.
- boilermaker100

I think you have to build a team rather than place holders and when someone is available you over pay.

They obviously need some size and play drivers. Maybe Kakko or Chytil are available and that solves one problem. With Lindgren and Igor needing paper this year maybe one of them is available.

If Norris is healthy now Ottawa is probably going to look to shake things up. They'd probably want a roster player of some sorts so futures plus Reichel or Kurashev could be attractive to them but they probably need to send some kind of message.

Going the Zegras route would be fine. They could build a team similar to Tampa where its little guys at forward and giants on the blue line.

I think they need to start figuring out what they have with Levshunov, Korchinski and Nazar - may as well throw Dach in the mix there and start giving these guys some chances.

If that means waiving someone else or even Brodie, for example, to make space to start a Rockford shuffle I think you do the shuffle and start to get these guys cuppa coffees - identify the pieces in the system that are def part of the future and also identify some guys to make stupid offers for and start to have those conversations with other teams before it gets too close to the TDL.