A few thoughts on your comments:

1) Putting a team together to play LA Kings style in a short tournament like this is very risky. The very good NHL refs will call more of the hooks and holds and cheap shots than they do in a regular NHL game. Team USA taking way too many penalties to be successful, when they are in the box Kane is sitting on the bench twiddling his thumbs.

2) Did Lombardi think he had Kopitar, Doughty, Gaborik and Carter playing for Team USA? Take those guys off the Kings and they are an AHL team. Kane and Pavelski are very, very good skill players but Wheeler, JVR and Pacioretty also have to play big as skill guys. The likes of Dubinsky, Stepan, Parise, Backes, Kesler, Oshie etc. really don't scare anybody best on best.

3) I can only assume Lombardi and Torts figured they could get into a 2 out of 3 final vs Canada (or anybody else) and beat them into submission physically and win with great goaltending. In a way I don't blame them because best on best the talent and skill differential is quite large and when they were selecting players they had to think Carter, Keith, Seguin, Taylor Hall and Letang would be playing for Canada and they aren't.

4) Probably sat Palmieri because of stupid penalties playing the tough guy which he isn't. Sitting Buff was totally ridiculous.

5) The Kane 2 on 0 turnover was real bad but there were many other odd man rushes and bad play by the U.S. in that game. Even Quick couldn't save them.
- RickJ

Can't disagree with any of this. Take world class guys like Kopitar and Doughty out of any scheme and it suffers. True with any team you have to stay out of the box.

Did I miss it but did Torts not juggle lines even once last night? Shake things up if need be and it needed shaken up. Sure they outshot, chanced, out fancy stated Europe but even so there were a lot of one and dones.

I thought JVR was one of the better players on the ice through two periods, didn't pay too much attention to the 3rd, and was as engaged as I've ever seen him. He might bust out big with those kids in Toronto this year. He is very skilled, great size and went #2 behind Kane IIRC.

In a way this could have been a good thing losing to Europe if you're rooting for an optimum Canada v USA game. USA will be up against the wall and hungry. Should be a war and possibly be an old school war between two clubs that don't like each other.

Gotta dress a hungry Buff.

More like "pounds of interest" - it's hockey, and a tournament that most sports fans have never heard of.
- StLBravesFan

Have had that Finland v NA game circled for a few days now. Youthful exuberance vs time tested structure. Plus the only real value I saw was Finland coming out of Group B at 4-1/2 to 1. ....... IF NA can crack that Finnish discipline they might be primed for a nice run.

No doubt the best chance for "acceptable" ratings is Canada v USA or Russia but the next best IMO is vs NA. At least most of the tvs in Canada will tune in.

Have had that Finland v NA game circled for a few days now. Youthful exuberance vs time tested structure. Plus the only real value I saw was Finland coming out of Group B at 4-1/2 to 1. ....... IF NA can crack that Finnish discipline they might be primed for a nice run.

No doubt the best chance for "acceptable" ratings is Canada v USA or Russia but the next best IMO is vs NA. At least most of the tvs in Canada will tune in.
- Mr Ricochet

Yes on Canada - I meant to say in the US.

I got my first look at Kempny in game action yesterday and even though the Czechs got crushed, I liked what I saw from him. He certainly looked good enough to be a mainstay on the 3rd pairing and looked good enough to possibly be a 2nd pairing guy once he gets some NHL experience. He looked good playing the point on the PP and not bad on the PK either.

I got my first look at Kempny in game action yesterday and even though the Czechs got crushed, I liked what I saw from him. He certainly looked good enough to be a mainstay on the 3rd pairing and looked good enough to possibly be a 2nd pairing guy once he gets some NHL experience. He looked good playing the point on the PP and not bad on the PK either.
- EbonyRaptor

Ya, Kempny should make the team and contribute some.

But I'm sure Q was watching very closely and committed to memory that he got stripped in the last 10 seconds of Period 1 which resulted in the 3-0 goal at 19:59.

I got my first look at Kempny in game action yesterday and even though the Czechs got crushed, I liked what I saw from him. He certainly looked good enough to be a mainstay on the 3rd pairing and looked good enough to possibly be a 2nd pairing guy once he gets some NHL experience. He looked good playing the point on the PP and not bad on the PK either.
- EbonyRaptor

Agreed. While he wont have a Panarin impact, him and TVR on the third pairing will greatly upgrade our D. Hoping for Keith/Seabs reunion and Hammer/Soupy reunion. Just need to get Toews linemates set and we are ready to rock.

Ya, Kempny should make the team and contribute some.

But I'm sure Q was watching very closely and committed to memory that he got stripped in the last 10 seconds of Period 1 which resulted in the 3-0 goal at 19:59.
- RickJ

He got no help, his entire team left him alone in his own end against a couple of fore checkers, and pretty good ones as well.

TT?? https://www.wch2016.com/n...c-281810856?tid=281231174

TERAVAINEN DEALING WITH DISAPPOINTMENT -- He's not sure yet what the lineup will be in the tournament opener Sunday, but for now Team Finland center Teuvo Teravainen knows the signs are not pointing him to where he wants to be.

Teravainen did not play against Team USA on Tuesday and he was not on a line in practice Wednesday.

"I was actually the eighth
- Mr Ricochet[defenseman]," Teravainen said. "That's not where I want to be."

Teravainen played in the first two pretournament games but was underwhelming in a combined 23:47 of ice time, with zero points, one shot on goal and a minus-1 rating. Sebastian Aho, who was scratched for the first two games, was on Team Finland's top line with Barkov and Patrik Laine by the third period against Team USA.

"Of course I want to be part of the team and show myself," Teravainen said. "I think I can be good for this team and help this team to win games, so I want to be playing. But it's up to the coaches."

Teravainen said he is surprised that he is the 13th forward.

"I feel like I'm in good shape," he said. "I had a good summer and I'm pretty excited about the season, so that's why it's a little disappointing I'm not playing. But I have to be ready to play every night."

Kid lives up (down) to every negative stereotype about the millennial generation. While he has undeniable natural skill, IMO Hawks made the right move.

Found it telling that Captain Toews sent heartfelt best wishes to Bickell and Shaw upon their trades and Kane mentions the sting of their loss repeatedly, but neither has said anything publicly about TT.

Ya, Kempny should make the team and contribute some.

But I'm sure Q was watching very closely and committed to memory that he got stripped in the last 10 seconds of Period 1 which resulted in the 3-0 goal at 19:59.
- RickJ

No, he didn't play a perfect game. But when you consider he was playing against what was essentially an NHL first line all game long, regardless of which set of Canadians happened to be on the ice at any one time, he held his own quite well - certainly well enough to be an upgrade over the merry-go-round of 3rd pairing d-men of last season.

Agreed. While he wont have a Panarin impact, him and TVR on the third pairing will greatly upgrade our D. Hoping for Keith/Seabs reunion and Hammer/Soupy reunion. Just need to get Toews linemates set and we are ready to rock.
- onehundredlevel

This. Yep.

No, he didn't play a perfect game. But when you consider he was playing against what was essentially an NHL first line all game long, regardless of which set of Canadians happened to be on the ice at any one time, he held his own quite well - certainly well enough to be an upgrade over the merry-go-round of 3rd pairing d-men of last season.
- EbonyRaptor

And, weren't a lot of people questioning his ability to transition to an NHL-sized rink? Think he has proven in this tournament that is not a big concern.

Kid lives up (down) to every negative stereotype about the millennial generation. While he has undeniable natural skill, IMO Hawks made the right move.

Found it telling that Captain Toews sent heartfelt best wishes to Bickell and Shaw upon their trades and Kane mentions the sting of their loss repeatedly, but neither has said anything publicly about TT.
- pdx2ord

I liked TT. I liked his personality and I certainly liked his obvious skills on the ice. I was a TT fanboy I have to admit. But the rose starting loosing its blush after he made little or no progress over last summer and showed up at camp maybe a couple pounds heavier but not appreciably stronger in body or mind. He didn't dedicate himself to the extent that was needed and expected. So he may eventually bloom into the player his promise gave rise to, but with the Cap and him needing another contract at the end of this coming season - Stan did what was necessary to offload Bickell's $4M and I'm not too broken up about it.

From Laz re: Hossa and his (potentially) changing role this season.

http://chicago.suntimes.c...-as-age-creeps-up-on-him/

My conspiracy theory senses think pushing this idea by the beats, pretty consistently since the end of last season, has been "suggested" by the FO. But, who knows. . .

And, weren't a lot of people questioning his ability to transition to an NHL-sized rink? Think he has proven in this tournament that is not a big concern.
- pdx2ord

It's still only two games on NHL size ice, as the Czechs first two games were in Europe, but the early returns from those two games look good.

https://theathletic.com/1...cond-rookie-tourney-game/

Good problem to have: Forsling NHL-ready now.

From Laz re: Hossa and his (potentially) changing role this season.



My conspiracy theory senses think pushing this idea by the beats, pretty consistently since the end of last season, has been "suggested" by the FO. But, who knows. . .
- pdx2ord

Go back to 2014 and you'll see similar articles about Bickell being 1LW. Or 2015, it's all about Shaw being 2C between Saad-Kane. Neither lasted more than 5 games. I'm not saying Hossa won't start and possibly stay with Kruger, but after every playoffs, Q mentions some line combo/pairing and the media runs with it because it's literally the only thing happening re: Hawks hockey during summer.

https://theathletic.com/19764/2016/09/18/observations-from-blackhawks-second-rookie-tourney-game/

Good problem to have: Forsling NHL-ready now.
- 35Tony0

Didn't know he was Sweden's top junior last year. He just turned 20 so very young to be a regular in an NHL lineup but those reviews on him are pretty exciting for Hawk's fans. All of a sudden there is Forsling, Kempney, Gustaffson, Pokka, Svedburg, Norrell, Dahlstrom for the back end - where are they all going to play?

From Laz re: Hossa and his (potentially) changing role this season.

http://chicago.suntimes.c...-as-age-creeps-up-on-him/

My conspiracy theory senses think pushing this idea by the beats, pretty consistently since the end of last season, has been "suggested" by the FO. But, who knows. . .
- pdx2ord

I don't think this is a bad idea at all. Our first line is really the Breadman/AA/Kane line. If you have a fourth line of Desi/Moose/Tootoo...and third line of like Hinostroza/Kruger/Hoss....you are then maybe looking at Schmaltz/Toews/Panik as line two. Or Motte in there too. Always have the trade deadline to upgrade the Toews line. With our d improving and having Crawford....we should be fine.

https://theathletic.com/19764/2016/09/18/observations-from-blackhawks-second-rookie-tourney-game/

Good problem to have: Forsling NHL-ready now.
- 35Tony0

Two things that stood out to me in Powers' observations is of blueliners Dahlstrom and Norell. Dahlstrom is demonstrating one of the Hawks' achilles heels last year which is the d-men holding on to the puck way too long and often getting pinned in their zone rather than making quick passes or breaks out to start the rush with minimal pressure that lead to forced turnovers.

The return of Campbell and projected capacity of Kempny will help restore what the Hawks used to be good at on the backline. And hopefully that sets the tone for the blueline prospects.

Norell, on the other hand, is being something that is needed IMHO out of the 5-6-7 guys: being a defensive defenseman. Play simple and safe. Nothing fancy. Be unnoticeable in a good way as Powers put it.

https://theathletic.com/19764/2016/09/18/observations-from-blackhawks-second-rookie-tourney-game/

Good problem to have: Forsling NHL-ready now.
- 35Tony0

Definitely a nice problem to have.

If Kempny is as good as hoped, he might be out of the Hawks price range after this season when he is a RFA. Maybe Forsling heads back home for another year then replaces Kempny next year on the 3rd pair.

Or maybe his emergence means it is that much easier to trade a defensemen for a LW.

Didn't know he was Sweden's top junior last year. He just turned 20 so very young to be a regular in an NHL lineup but those reviews on him are pretty exciting for Hawk's fans. All of a sudden there is Forsling, Kempney, Gustaffson, Pokka, Svedburg, Norrell, Dahlstrom for the back end - where are they all going to play?
- RickJ

A couple will play with the team that trades Chicago new left-wing

They've been posting streams here: https://www.reddit.com/r/NHLStreams/
just before every game starts. I've found the YouTube ones to be pretty reliable.
- pdx2ord

I'll check it out. Thanks!

https://theathletic.com/19764/2016/09/18/observations-from-blackhawks-second-rookie-tourney-game/

Good problem to have: Forsling NHL-ready now.
- 35Tony0

Here's the problem with prospect tourney (or prospect camp) games: they always seem to encourage some people to think it's NHL competition. When it isn't.

The correct observation by the writer (Powers?) is to say: he's head and shoulders above this level of competition. Which probably supports saying he's definitely ready for pro (i.e., as likely AHL as NHL) hockey. That's it.

The level of competition in these games is just slightly better than prospect camp games. Not as good as, say, World Junior competition, for example. Not nearly as good as the AHL.

I would be encouraged by the reports on Forsling and the Hawk team doing well overall versus other teams' top prospects. But that's it.

I don't think this is a bad idea at all. Our first line is really the Breadman/AA/Kane line. If you have a fourth line of Desi/Moose/Tootoo...and third line of like Hinostroza/Kruger/Hoss....you are then maybe looking at Schmaltz/Toews/Panik as line two. Or Motte in there too. Always have the trade deadline to upgrade the Toews line. With our d improving and having Crawford....we should be fine.
- onehundredlevel

Uhhhh, would you be willing to wager on that?

Go back to 2014 and you'll see similar articles about Bickell being 1LW. Or 2015, it's all about Shaw being 2C between Saad-Kane. Neither lasted more than 5 games. I'm not saying Hossa won't start and possibly stay with Kruger, but after every playoffs, Q mentions some line combo/pairing and the media runs with it because it's literally the only thing happening re: Hawks hockey during summer.
- L_B_R

^^^^^^^^^