Looking at Vlasic, Kaiser and Allen and the improvement from Jones as well Bedards overall improvement (even though we all continue to female dog about him) I think those make a good argument for him sticking around.

The complete lack of scoring talent is not a him problem. Brodie isn't a LR problem though he could bench him every night. Maciver even asked "where the goals going to come from" and that problem was not remotely addressed.

So I still think you have to give the coach a decent amount of talent before launching him. The roster problems at this stage are Kyle and the pro scouting.
- fattybeef

I think it's going to be that way for a while, because it's not win now time. This last offseason wasn't go out and get the star UFA time, because the rebuild isn't that far along yet. We aren't tanking, but we aren't winning yet either.

LR should be judged on bringing along the young players that KD has given him on the roster, because that's what the season is about.

I agree with you that LR needs to be put in a position to succeed before we judge him too harshly. He hasn't been without fault but it's not like he is coaching a team that is built to win yet either.

4 or 5 shifts
- BetweenTheDots

4 or 5 minutes maybe -which at this rate is about 2 shifts . . .

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/_right-now-he-just-looks-lost~3032023

"I did the game Saturday in Vancouver... not a very good team... he looks lost... he doesn't generate anything... he doesn't have a good fit to play with... five players in the league average over a minute a shift... that needs to be cut like by a third... no pace to his game... no danger... not a threat..."

Ferraro on Bedard
- Popsghostly

I was at the game on Saturday. Bedard was invisible, except for the miscue that led to the first empty net goal. He wasn’t the only player that was invisible, but I expect more from #98.

Reichel, Foligno, Smith and Soderblom stood out but that was about it. I liked Bertuzzi’s effort, but his play was too erratic overall.

It seems like Reichel’s efforts will be rewarded soon, I think he’ll start getting on the scoresheet soon. Overall I think his effort was second only to Foligno but it was close.

Sorry that is a fireable offense. He's an NHL head coach, aside from hitting the line blender button, his main job is to communicate with player.

Would love to hear what he tells Bedard when he goes and pairs him with Richardson and Anderson....

Bedard needs to play better.

Kyle needed to get forwards to play with Bedard. 18 games in, the forwards brought in aren't even playing with Bedard. TT is on pace for one of his worst season. Bertuzzi, while playing a bit better, still underperforming.

This is an organizational failure. GM, coaching, and players, including Bedard.

If Bertuzzi and TT aren't the type of players that can play with Bedard, then why did we sign them? What analysis was done in the offseason to try and determine what type of forward should be signed to play with Bedard.

His development is paramount to this rebuild. Growing frustration, not from the losing, but the lack of a perceived plan, inconsistent lines, and either a lack of development plan with Bedard or the coaching staff not holding him accountable.

Unfortunately, seems like a mix of all the above.
- bhawks2241

Not even a big deal let alone fireable offense. You think Q used to explain everything...

I think it's going to be that way for a while, because it's not win now time. This last offseason wasn't go out and get the star UFA time, because the rebuild isn't that far along yet. We aren't tanking, but we aren't winning yet either.

LR should be judged on bringing along the young players that KD has given him on the roster, because that's what the season is about.

I agree with you that LR needs to be put in a position to succeed before we judge him too harshly. He hasn't been without fault but it's not like he is coaching a team that is built to win yet either.
- breadbag

Any prime free agent would take the biggest overpay in history to land where we're at right now.
That said, Bertuzzi and Brodie are not earning their money.

I think it's going to be that way for a while, because it's not win now time. This last offseason wasn't go out and get the star UFA time, because the rebuild isn't that far along yet. We aren't tanking, but we aren't winning yet either.

LR should be judged on bringing along the young players that KD has given him on the roster, because that's what the season is about.

I agree with you that LR needs to be put in a position to succeed before we judge him too harshly. He hasn't been without fault but it's not like he is coaching a team that is built to win yet either.
- breadbag

This is pretty much is what it is

I was at the game on Saturday. Bedard was invisible, except for the miscue that led to the first empty net goal. He wasn’t the only player that was invisible, but I expect more from #98.

Reichel, Foligno, Smith and Soderblom stood out but that was about it. I liked Bertuzzi’s effort, but his play was too erratic overall.

It seems like Reichel’s efforts will be rewarded soon, I think he’ll start getting on the scoresheet soon. Overall I think his effort was second only to Foligno but it was close.
- DarthKane

Let's not overlook Bedard is one year out of pee wee hockey and draws the best defenders every night. Stop him you stop Chicago.

2024
18G 43GF 56GA
2023
18G 41GF 76GA

That looks like an improvement to me. That's a 22 goal difference.

I get it i get it, there's a phrase in baseball, the chick's dig the long ball.

Bedard will be fine, i wanted Reichel with Di ckinson but this works to.

How did Arty, EDM, and Korchinski look?
- Angotti

Defensively, all three looked good.

I can see why the scouts love Arty, fluid skater, very poised with the puck on his stick, makes good passes, but the forwards handling them was a much different story.

During warmups, he was the last player off the ice. His shot is hard and accurate, and he takes little effort letting it go. I think Blackhawk fans are going to love his game.

Korchinski also looked good with the puck on his stick. His gap control was fine, but with so little help from the forwards, it was hard to gauge him or the the other d-men for that matter in the offensive end.

EDM also was fine, not really noticable, but just steady play in his own end, and that's never a bad thing.

I also find it hard to believe that Nazar's absence is what ailed all four lines from being able to complete a pass, either in the accuracy or control of the most basic passes. It seemed like they were playing hot potato most of the afternoon.

What was really frustrating was they looked a lot like the pro team. I'm starting to think this is what both groups of coaches are teaching.

How did Arty, EDM, and Korchinski look?
- Angotti

And to be honest, Gavin Hayes, Colton Dach and Marcel Marcel were invisible. They brought nothing to the game offensively. The rest of the forwards are career AHL players.

And that was against the 2nd worst team in the AHL. I just don't see them being NHL players.

And to be honest, Gavin Hayes, Colton Dach and Marcel Marcel were invisible. They brought nothing to the game offensively. The rest of the forwards are career AHL players.

And that was against the 2nd worst team in the AHL. I just don't see them being NHL players.
- dahawks8819

Thanks for the recap. So basically the same as the big club, good young defensemen and not so talented forwards other than Nazar, and he was out. I Know that things can change, however Boisvert, Moore, Nazar, Vanacker, and their 2025 pick could be the only possibilities to play top six, need at least two to hit. With that said they need to package Toronto’s pick with whomever(s) and pick up a good young forward, plus add a genuine top six FA.

2024
18G 43GF 56GA
2023
18G 41GF 76GA

That looks like an improvement to me. That's a 22 goal difference.

I get it i get it, there's a phrase in baseball, the chick's dig the long ball.

Bedard will be fine, i wanted Reichel with Di ckinson but this works to.
- BetweenTheDots

I watch six to seven NHL games a week, and in my opinion there are multiple contenders that would love to have the Hawks defensive group, and I’m not including Arty, KK, and Rinzel, only the NHL roster.

Thanks for the recap. So basically the same as the big club, good young defensemen and not so talented forwards other than Nazar, and he was out. I Know that things can change, however Boisvert, Moore, Nazar, Vanacker, and their 2025 pick could be the only possibilities to play top six, need at least two to hit. With that said they need to package Toronto’s pick with whomever(s) and pick up a good young forward, plus add a genuine top six FA.
- Angotti

From what I saw yesterday, there just isn't much help down there right now.

The defense on the parent club is better this year, so I'm pretty sure the three you listed are blocked from any major time this year.

And the forwards you mentioned, other than Nazar, are at least 2-3 years away from being considered at the NHL level, so I don't know what they are going to do until then.

Watching them in Vancouver the other night, it just solidified in stone what I've been saying - they just don't have many NHL finishers on this roster right now. And other than Bedard, that's just not going to change with this group.

Thanks for the recap. So basically the same as the big club, good young defensemen and not so talented forwards other than Nazar, and he was out. I Know that things can change, however Boisvert, Moore, Nazar, Vanacker, and their 2025 pick could be the only possibilities to play top six, need at least two to hit. With that said they need to package Toronto’s pick with whomever(s) and pick up a good young forward, plus add a genuine top six FA.
- Angotti

And another add, I now know why Isaac Phillips passed through waivers with no takers. He is a mystery in his own end.

And to be honest, Gavin Hayes, Colton Dach and Marcel Marcel were invisible. They brought nothing to the game offensively. The rest of the forwards are career AHL players.

And that was against the 2nd worst team in the AHL. I just don't see them being NHL players.
- dahawks8819

Marcel is just a big size kid with questionable skill and Dach is nothing much. If Dach keeps his nose to the grindstone perhaps he will emerge as a serviceable tough forward but only a third line forward, so he should work to become positional sound and hustle. I view him as a depth forward mid to late twenty possibility

Hayes is only a rookie who has to adjust to playing against big larger players. He can look invisible when he has no one to play with. Give him a year to get stronger and at least one descent linematte. The kid has a quick release good shot and is a scorer He is capable passing and the rest of his game remains to be evaluated with best experience and someone to play with. Ludzindki is a hard working good skater not really a finisher but can chip in as a checking line center not devoid of offensive ability. He is someone to watch develop but for cripe sake need to be on a competitive team with better forwards and perhaps the AHL coaching could be better

Marcel is just a big size kid with questionable skill and Dach is nothing much. If Dach keeps his nose to the grindstone perhaps he will emerge as a serviceable tough forward but only a third line forward, so he should work to become positional sound and hustle. I view him as a depth forward mid to late twenty possibility

Hayes is only a rookie who has to adjust to playing against big larger players. He can look invisible when he has no one to play with. Give him a year to get stronger and at least one descent linematte. The kid has a quick release good shot and is a scorer He is capable passing and the rest of his game remains to be evaluated with best experience and someone to play with. Ludzindki is a hard working good skater not really a finisher but can chip in as a checking line center not devoid of offensive ability. He is someone to watch develop but for cripe sake need to be on a competitive team with better forwards and perhaps the AHL coaching could be better
- jhawk59

Overlooking Slaggert who probably can make NHL grade on third or fourth line Fescent skill not really a scorer but smart, dependable and likely can move back and forth on lines without hurting any line. Good skater, right?

Overlooking Slaggert who probably can make NHL grade on third or fourth line descent skill not really a scorer but smart, dependable and likely can move back and forth on lines without hurting any line. Good skater, right?
- jhawk59

Celebrini with OT winner bs Detroit

P Kane looks to be getting TOI and shots but he isn’t scoring much. Wondering what is up with Kane not producing points

Celebrini with OT winner vs Detroit

P Kane looks to be getting TOI and shots but he isn’t scoring much. Wondering what is up with Kane not producing points
- jhawk59

Overlooking Slaggert who probably can make NHL grade on third or fourth line Fescent skill not really a scorer but smart, dependable and likely can move back and forth on lines without hurting any line. Good skater, right?
- jhawk59

I didn't overlook Slaggert. I grouped him in with Nazar and Savoie as the only forwards I thought could have productive NHL careers.

I watched Levshunov, Korchinski, Slaggert and Savoie in warmups, and throughout the game. There is definitely NHL talent in those four. Del Maestro was good in his own end and through the middle of the ice, not much in the offensive end.

Other than those five, plus Nazar who was scratched, were the only future NHL players I saw on the ice, and that was against the 2nd worst team in the AHL.

And I said before, I can really see what the scouts love about Levshunov. Very fluid skater, poised with the puck on his stick. He was the very last player on the ice during warmups - he has an outstanding shot, accurate and very little effort getting it off. I think the fans are going to love him.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/_right-now-he-just-looks-lost~3032023

"I did the game Saturday in Vancouver... not a very good team... he looks lost... he doesn't generate anything... he doesn't have a good fit to play with... five players in the league average over a minute a shift... that needs to be cut like by a third... no pace to his game... no danger... not a threat..."

Ferraro on Bedard
- Popsghostly

Bedard is slow and plays slow. Great hands. Great shot. Lost in his own zone. Not getting any better in year 2. For him to succeed in the NHL he is going to need fast wingers who create chaos in the offensive zone so Bedard can take advantage of turnovers and broken plays. TT and Bertuzzi are not very fast and have not been able to help him.

As much as I cannot stand the way Richardson coaches, talks about hockey, and his lifeless bench presence, Hall has done nothing since he has been here and knows he's not producing. Hall should have kept his mouth shut and stayed out of the press. Veteran leader 101. I don't think he turns into a 1st rounder at the deadline. Davidson should move him now and set the tone for the future.

8 of the top 10 scorers in the NHL right now are high first round picks. Only Karpisov and Kucherov weren't picked high. The silver lining here is June of 25 and June of 26 where the Hawks will be picking top 3 again and in a few years, the team will contend.

Bedard is slow and plays slow. Great hands. Great shot. Lost in his own zone. Not getting any better in year 2. For him to succeed in the NHL he is going to need fast wingers who create chaos in the offensive zone so Bedard can take advantage of turnovers and broken plays. TT and Bertuzzi are not very fast and have not been able to help him.

As much as I cannot stand the way Richardson coaches, talks about hockey, and his lifeless bench presence, Hall has done nothing since he has been here and knows he's not producing. Hall should have kept his mouth shut and stayed out of the press. Veteran leader 101. I don't think he turns into a 1st rounder at the deadline. Davidson should move him now and set the tone for the future.

8 of the top 10 scorers in the NHL right now are high first round picks. Only Karpisov and Kucherov weren't picked high. The silver lining here is June of 25 and June of 26 where the Hawks will be picking top 3 again and in a few years, the team will contend.
- stevefrmglencoe

I'll even add to that, most top 6 forwards are drafted in the 1st round.
That's 5 picks so far with 2 more this coming summer.

Yup
I've given Kyle the benefit of the doubt, but he didn't sign anyone that can play with 98.
The Martinez deal still can't be judged,neither can the Brossoit(since he hasn't played).
LR has also been given the benefit of the doubt until now,because he hasn't had much to work with, and he still doesn't, but...his line juggling,scratching Hall etc..are giving me the feeling he is in over his head.
- captainserious

The Martinez deal can be 100% judged because he's played 51, 53, 26, 77 and 55 games over the past 5 years. So him missing stretches should probably be expected.

As a player though to be like "oh gosh I dunno why I got scratched" is pretty silly. These guys know when they aren't performing or meeting expectations. It also sounds like at the beginning of the season the plan with him was to limit ice time in the form of maintenance days because they wanted to keep him fresh and not overwork that knee.

Maybe they didn't do the best job being like hey we noticed you were slowing down a bit, getting overly frustrated and think it would be best for you to have a night off just to get refreshed for the next one. But these are also adults. Figure it out.

Any prime free agent would take the biggest overpay in history to land where we're at right now.
That said, Bertuzzi and Brodie are not earning their money.
- rpeters01

Most of the free agents this year are going to make historic money.

Rantanen will get around 13.5 million.
Marner will be in the 12-13 range.
Ehlers probably gets 9-10.
Boeser probably gets close to 10.

Bennett probably gets a decent raise.

I watch six to seven NHL games a week, and in my opinion there are multiple contenders that would love to have the Hawks defensive group, and I’m not including Arty, KK, and Rinzel, only the NHL roster.
- Angotti

Yes but also no. I think they would like Kaiser and Vlasic, maybe Murphy in the right situation but this blue line cannot push the puck forward. And in the playoffs especially you need one special defender who can push the play and another one that can keep the puck moving forward. (I would be that the Leafs struggle in the playoffs again because this problem has not been solved)

Especially without Jones - the Hawks don't have that at the moment and that is part of the forward problem. It makes it much easier to defend them.

I think with Jones out they should give a few games to Arty and Korch just to hit them over the head and remind them what they are working towards. Seems like Nazar has earned a call up at this point so not sure why they are sitting on their hands there.