Guys like this request trade because they want MORE $
- wiz1901

Read an article saying that he's looking for McGinn type money which is 3.33M per year.

Out of the Hawks range.

Would be nice though!

Not sure who's watching the game... but Hawks controlled the 1st vs. Pens.

Things to note:

"A"s belong to Campbell, Tootoo and Panik tonight

Tootoo fought vs. Sestito and handied himself well despite about a 5 inch / 30 lbs difference.
Schmaltz looks good on the left side
Forsling can really fire a puck and skates really well
Fortin has jets
Kempny looks confident and is a great skater
Motte's skating style is iffy to me and took an offenive zone penalty
Panik is playing aggressive and physical
- TyCamScore

I would like to see Schmaltz shoot more, and Panik shoot less, but was very impressed by that line.

I thought Motte was invisible when he wasn't committing penalties.

Forsling looked great for a 20 year old kid not used to NA ice.

Fortin looked really good at the start, but faded. Still LOVE the signing, and I expect to see him in regular season games before his ELC is over.

Darling was the Hawks' best player for most of the game.

Hey 66, hope you are well, loved your last line there! I see not much has changed at the UC this early in the season.

Def agree with you on Forsling and Fortin. I was also pleased with Kempny's skating and puck-moving ability.

Watching the D, odd-men out at this point would appear to be: TVR, Pokka (no surprise there for me, I said a while ago his skating and mobility were subpar) and Sved. If Q really wants to re-tool the D, I think both Sved and TVR are on the outside looking in. As others have said, both may be part of a future trade.

BTW, Forsling has one helluva shot.
- savvyone-1

If this is the case, the Hawks' need to trade them before they lose them on waivers.

Thanks everyone for your takes on last night's game, as I was only able to watch two minutes or so.
In that two minutes, I did see a bit of Forsling. Kid can skate.

Thoughts from the game last night:

Good:
Darling looks in mid-season form.
Forsling's shot
Fortin's wheels
Tootoo's fists

Meh:
Everything else

He might come here for less, eh? That's what i said before but can you talk to him? Don't know. Club says they're not trading him. I thought we had future considerations with az.

We'll see.
- hocktock

IF you believe that is true, I am sure that died with the old regime.

Chayka likely isnt going to hold true the promises Maloney made in good faith and do Chicago favors

Read an article saying that he's looking for McGinn type money which is 3.33M per year.

Out of the Hawks range.

Would be nice though!
- TyCamScore

I read he's looking for $2.5 million but the club won't go higher than $2.2.

Keeping in mind that there was very little (any?) Top 6 talent on the ice for either team, and several top d-men missing....

Schmaltz stood out on and off the puck. He was dangerous all the time, and Panik was a man among boys (which many of the Pens were AHL fodder; ditto for the Hawks).

Fortin can skate and created a little danger. Hartman had some hits at the end of the game but was invisible (along with all of the Hawks) during the 2nd period.

The biggest disappointment? Mark McNeil. He did okay preventing a couple of chances on D. He did not win a lot of pucks, did not hold the puck and create, and never crashed on any shots. I think he got a look on the PK, but overall, very forgettable. Not what I was hoping for in regards to a seasoned AHL player trying to make the roster.

Thoughts from the game last night:

Good:
Darling looks in mid-season form.
Forsling's shot
Fortin's wheels
Tootoo's fists

Meh:
Everything else
- EbonyRaptor

McNeil was invisible too. Nothing about him stands out. Pretty clear why he has only had 1 game with the big club.

Hey 66, hope you are well, loved your last line there! I see not much has changed at the UC this early in the season.

Def agree with you on Forsling and Fortin. I was also pleased with Kempny's skating and puck-moving ability.

Watching the D, odd-men out at this point would appear to be: TVR, Pokka (no surprise there for me, I said a while ago his skating and mobility were subpar) and Sved. If Q really wants to re-tool the D, I think both Sved and TVR are on the outside looking in. As others have said, both may be part of a future trade.

BTW, Forsling has one helluva shot.
- savvyone-1

Hi Savvy, ya I forgot about Kempney. He looked like a pro. Forsling can crank the one timer, but I think he needs to shoot the puck lower most of the time. Once in a while a high hard one is a good thing.

And it's raining hard when I got to the parking lot. There's some cars closer to the building, then a couple acres of asphalt. As I pull in there's the parking guy with a flashlight in the corner of the lot waaaaaay out there waving for me to park there. Naw, not happening. I parked with everyone else. Same thing used to happen when I had "special" parking. Trucks got to park on the side of the lot, but not mine. All the way in the back near the "L" tracks. Just a normal pickup, not a monster sized vehicle. I swear these guys see me coming and I can never figure out why. Glad I don't have to go there much anymore. Real glad it's on tv.

McNeil was invisible too. Nothing about him stands out. Pretty clear why he has only had 1 game with the big club.
- bhawks2241

Agree, you and Phantasmo are right on as far as I could tell.

There was definitely a reason the only two goals scored were by a veteran NHLer in Kunitz. Lots of AHL talent out there. I agree with what everyone has said. Seemed a lot of skaters were falling, both sides. Early sheet issues?

The only thing I wanted to add is on the TT-Schmaltz comparison. The ONLY thing I see as a comparison is the pass-first mentality. Other than that, Schmaltz could be a good one. Wasn't impressed with Motte, Kero, McNeill, Hartman. Was impressed with Fortin, Johnson, Tootoo, Ras and Lundberg.

D looked a little scattered, but that's to be expected. Overall, good job for first game. Looking forward to getting everyone from the WCOH back in camp.

There was definitely a reason the only two goals scored were by a veteran NHLer in Kunitz. Lots of AHL talent out there. I agree with what everyone has said. Seemed a lot of skaters were falling, both sides. Early sheet issues?

The only thing I wanted to add is on the TT-Schmaltz comparison. The ONLY thing I see as a comparison is the pass-first mentality. Other than that, Schmaltz could be a good one. Wasn't impressed with Motte, Kero, McNeill, Hartman. Was impressed with Fortin, Johnson, Tootoo, Ras and Lundberg.

D looked a little scattered, but that's to be expected. Overall, good job for first game. Looking forward to getting everyone from the WCOH back in camp.
- CanOCorn

Johnson has been quite the surprise so far. I know he's likely still a year or two away from being NHL ready but he's off to a better than expected start.

Agree, you and Phantasmo are right on as far as I could tell.
- 6628

I was trying to specifically watch him. He looked slow. Half step behind and did not impress me with his positioning. Especially on the PK. I hope I do not take too much flack for this but he doesn't look like he brings much more than Manshinter at the NHL level. I don't think there is anything there except maybe a 4th line roll.

Forsling looked really smooth. Loved how he opened up for 1 timers. Think the biggest question is will he be able to hold up against a heavy fast NHL forecheck.

Looks like Panik is understanding his roll. Speed, disruption, and using his big frame.

I'd like to see Schmaltz get in the dirty areas a little more but he looks like he has the talent for a potential top 6 roll. I think he is the only one. Motte Hinostroza etc don't.

Hartman did not do anything for me either.

Is DeBricant in camp? And if so anyone know if he will play an exhibition game?

Don't draw any conclusions from a Pre-season game. The game was basically an AHL game with a few prospects and a few veterans thrown in.

At this point the things that you should be looking at, and what you can be assured the coaching staff is looking at are:

- how well does a player skate, incl. stop/starts, transitions, balance, etc.
- how is his positioning
- how well does he read the ice
- how crisp is his passing
- does he engage physically
- can/does the player follow the "system" (can they take instruction)

Game scores are irrelevant. In a game with very little current NHL talent in it, coaches are looking at all the other stuff and trying to extrapolate to how a player will react when playing with and against NHL caliber players.

McNeil was invisible too. Nothing about him stands out. Pretty clear why he has only had 1 game with the big club.
- bhawks2241

Damn!!! This disappoints me greatly Hope they give him at least a few more games to show what he's made of. I'll be at the game on Saturday so I'll let you guys know who I thought stood out and who can languish with the Hogs. Anybody notice anything particularly good or bad about Lundberg? If McNeil's gonna be a slack ass, "supposedly" Lundberg can bring the physicality/PK abilities that we need and would not be getting from McNeil on the 3rd or 4th lines.

I watched the first two period last night - then switched over to American Horror Story.

From what I saw:
I liked Rasmussen's game, I think he will be the 4th line center and on the 2nd PK line.
Schmaltz need to shoot the puck - there were a few time he was in a prime score area and looked to pass when he should have just fired it.
McNeil did nothing! For the majority of the game, I didn't think he dressed. He would be in any trade as a throw in at this point for me. For as much time as he has had in the AHL, he should have stood out.
Fortin looks like a prospect at least from what I saw - the puck just seemed to find him early in the game.
Forsling has a rocket of a shot and sets up well on the PP for one-timers. Skated pretty well too.

One take away after the first pre-season game - I am starting to doubt we are finding our 1LW in the group we sent out last night. No one stood out that I would write in after the performance last night.

I watched the first two period last night - then switched over to American Horror Story.

From what I saw:
I liked Rasmussen's game, I think he will be the 4th line center and on the 2nd PK line.
Schmaltz need to shoot the puck - there were a few time he was in a prime score area and looked to pass when he should have just fired it.
McNeil did nothing! For the majority of the game, I didn't think he dressed. He would be in any trade as a throw in at this point for me. For as much time as he has had in the AHL, he should have stood out.
Fortin looks like a prospect at least from what I saw - the puck just seemed to find him early in the game.
Forsling has a rocket of a shot and sets up well on the PP for one-timers. Skated pretty well too.

One take away after the first pre-season game - I am starting to doubt we are finding our 1LW in the group we sent out last night. No one stood out that I would write in after the performance last night.
- spudrock512

We are, but that's out of necessity. I'd like to see Schamltz, Hino, and Panik in a game with more NHL guys before I make any judgements.

We are, but that's out of necessity. I'd like to see Schamltz, Hino, and Panik in a game with more NHL guys before I make any judgements.
- JRoenick97

Looks like McNeil and Knott are going to be misses and we lost Danault for nothing... Not good.

I hope I'm wrong, but I will go out on a limb and predict that we'll see Fortin flanking 19 and 81 for at least 2-3 games this year...

Was nice to see the Hawks play last night. For what it is worth, I wouldn't draw too many conclusions based on a preseason opener.

I feel like across the NHL every year, we see some guys tear it up in preseason and then fall flat and do nothing. Or on the other side of the coin, you get those guys who just quietly play their game and go under the radar.

Great to see all the impressions and compare notes.

I'm willing to bet the Hawks are evaluating a lot around who plays the system and is in position, just as much as who stands out offensively or with the puck on their stick. Will be interesting to see who ends up sticking.

Looks like McNeil and Knott are going to be misses and we lost Danault for nothing... Not good.

I hope I'm wrong, but I will go out on a limb and predict that we'll see Fortin flanking 19 and 81 for at least 2-3 games this year...
- busmaster

It might be a bit early to give up on Knott.

Looks like McNeil and Knott are going to be misses and we lost Danault for nothing... Not good.

I hope I'm wrong, but I will go out on a limb and predict that we'll see Fortin flanking 19 and 81 for at least 2-3 games this year...
- busmaster

He can't play in the AHL, so he will be back in the QMJHL or a full time Hawk. Unless the Hawks allow him that 9 game buffer before being sent back to junior.

Wish Dineen and Kitchen would take all post-practice interviews even into the season. Feel like they give a lot more insight into what the coaching staff is thinking about the individual players and on-ice strategy vs. what we typically get from Q.

Wish Dineen and Kitchen would take all post-practice interviews even into the season. Feel like they give a lot more insight into what the coaching staff is thinking about the individual players and on-ice strategy vs. what we typically get from Q.
- pdx2ord

I really like Dineen. I am glad he didn't take an HC job somewhere else. If Q ever retires and Dineen is still here, I want him promoted to HC.

I really like Dineen. I am glad he didn't take an HC job somewhere else. If Q ever retires and Dineen is still here, I want him promoted to HC.
- JRoenick97

Or if this team bombs outa the gate... we have Dineen. Not tying to be the Debbie Downer but this is a true test of Q's coaching ability. Prolly one of the thinnest forward groups in terms of depth Q has had since taking the Con. He is going to have to adjust lines (which means 88 or 72 with Toews) to balance out the top 6.

And he will have to roll 4 lines or he will kill this team. Q just comes across very old school/my way and that may not work this year. In the past, he had pure race horses to make this sytem go. Now? Nope. There is going to be alot of growing pains with the new faces. Gotta work through it.