Scouting the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks …
Scouts listed to attend last night’s Avs – Blackhawks game: regular scouts from the Montreal Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes, amateur scout from the New York Rangers, Executive Director of Player Personnel from the Boston Bruins, Senior Pro Scout from the Los Angeles Kings and the Director of Player Personnel from the Minnesota Wild.

Scouting the Ottawa Senators and St. Louis Blues …
Scouts listed to attend last night’s Senators – Blues game: Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks.
- BURDA13

Scouts go to games for three reasons:

1) They're paid to go to games
2) To scout upcoming opponents
3) To scout players for acquisition/trade

A couple of things I have learned about Hawk scout presence.

If they are scouting another team's AHL club, watch that closely.Also if Scotty or Stanley go to the game, that means something.

Outside of that, usually, it's just what scouts do. All teams have lots of scouts who go to lots of games on any given night. I would bet the Hawks have scouts at at least 4-5 games every night.

Scouts go to games for three reasons:

1) They're paid to go to games
2) To scout upcoming opponents
3) To scout players for acquisition/trade

A couple of things I have learned about Hawk scout presence.

If they are scouting another team's AHL club, watch that closely.Also if Scotty or Stanley go to the game, that means something.

Outside of that, usually, it's just what scouts do. All teams have lots of scouts who go to lots of games on any given night. I would bet the Hawks have scouts at at least 4-5 games every night.
- John Jaeckel

AND Scouts meet in Chicago because its a central location.

I'm wondering if there is some kind of fundamental shift in the way the game is being played that "diminishes" the utility of the "all-around" center. A lot of the big names out there are having brutal offensive years:

Toews - 22pts / 7G
Getzlaf - 34pts / 6G
Bergeron - 18pts / 9G
Spezza - 27pts / 7G
Kopitar - 24pts / 4G
Thornton - 27pts / 3G (and all of them empty netters!)

Most of the "offense-first" guys are having really good years.
Crosby, Malkin, McJesus, Scheifele.

Pavelski and Kesler are the only real "two-way" guys that are also putting up a lot of points.

Maybe everyone saw how Pitt played in the SCF and is trying to emulate (D be damned)?

Lot of harsh crissum and hand wringing over a team that right now is tied for 1st in the west and 4th overall . Maybe they don't win pretty but the have won more then they have lost by a lot .I know they have not played any tough teams ,there Captain is terrible ,they can't win endless the goalie stands on his head . Oh well carry on ..

I'm wondering if there is some kind of fundamental shift in the way the game is being played that "diminishes" the utility of the "all-around" center. A lot of the big names out there are having brutal offensive years:

Toews - 22pts / 7G
Getzlaf - 34pts / 6G
Bergeron - 18pts / 9G
Spezza - 27pts / 7G
Kopitar - 24pts / 4G
Thornton - 27pts / 3G (and all of them empty netters!)

Most of the "offense-first" guys are having really good years.
Crosby, Malkin, McJesus, Scheifele.

Pavelski and Kesler are the only real "two-way" guys that are also putting up a lot of points.

Maybe everyone saw how Pitt played in the SCF and is trying to emulate (D be damned)?
- Chunk

Nice post. Interesting. I don't have any initial thoughts on it other than to say those guys on the top of your list are almost all aging to some extent (all are +30 save Toews-28, and Kopitar-29). Your offensive first guys are all young and Crosby is a generational talent superior to every player on the top list.

It may just be a matter of raw talent + age playing a factor.

Lot of harsh crissum and hand wringing over a team that right now is tied for 1st in the west and 4th overall . Maybe they don't win pretty but the have won more then they have lost by a lot .I know they have not played any tough teams ,there Captain is terrible ,they can't win endless the goalie stands on his head . Oh well carry on ..
- oldduffman

It's called a message board where various opinions are presented. Instead of snarky, sarcastic laden posts perhaps provide your view for consumption that drives home the point the team is as how you see it.

Lot of harsh crissum and hand wringing over a team that right now is tied for 1st in the west and 4th overall . Maybe they don't win pretty but the have won more then they have lost by a lot .I know they have not played any tough teams ,there Captain is terrible ,they can't win endless the goalie stands on his head . Oh well carry on ..
- oldduffman

It's not all unwarranted. They are admittedly not playing great, but as you say they are gaining points. I'm a firm believer in simply getting to the playoffs and seeing what happens. The problem is people get concerned that the issues we have (similar to last year) will results in identical results. While you can't outright dismiss that thought, you also have to take into account that EVERY team is different EVERY year. Just look at STL. You think they are as happy as they were last year at this time? "Past performance is not guarantee of future gains."

Nelson is playing LW this year. He's cheap $2.5 mil for the year (not sure what that would be at the deadline). And $2.5 mil next year, then an RFA. I was thinking get him for this year. If you can fit him next year, great! if not, he can be exposed for the expansion draft (I think) or trade him.
- CanOCorn

Mark Stone would be a solid winger for Toews. Affordable contract 3.2M??
Problem... RW. A top line player for Ottawa. Would cost a lot.

Vanek ((frank))...Nelson, Hanzal, McGinn, Zack Smith seem like more realistic options

Lot of harsh crissum and hand wringing over a team that right now is tied for 1st in the west and 4th overall . Maybe they don't win pretty but the have won more then they have lost by a lot .I know they have not played any tough teams ,there Captain is terrible ,they can't win endless the goalie stands on his head . Oh well carry on ..
- oldduffman

Thats right my friend, never stop fighting the optimist's battle! I love it! I love the relentless positive attitude! Kool-aid all day every day and proud of it!!! Down with the naysayers! Down with the doom and gloom!

It's called a message board where various opinions are presented. Instead of snarky, sarcastic laden posts perhaps provide your view for consumption that drives home the point the team is as how you see it.
- kwolf68

Ah C'mon, no harm in a little ball busting between the ledge jumpers and the kool aid drinkers. It is what it is. Gotta keep the rivalry brewing!!!

Its all in good fun, because at the end of the day we're all Hawks fans who would die to see the team win that 4th Cup!

Thats right my friend, never stop fighting the optimist's battle! I love it! I love the relentless positive attitude! Kool-aid all day every day and proud of it!!! Down with the naysayers! Down with the doom and gloom!


- SimpleJack

(frank)in DOWNNNNNN with the doom and gloom !!! Sorry futures Stan is going to send high draft picks for a rental LW

LETS go Hawks !

It's called a message board where various opinions are presented. Instead of snarky, sarcastic laden posts perhaps provide your view for consumption that drives home the point the team is as how you see it.
- kwolf68

Oh I but in my 2cents ,and are called cool laid drinker and rainbows and lollipops for my trouble .So I though I would just state the facts this time

. I am very happy with the direction that this team is going ,and the players on it .If you have noticed this team usually lacks enthusiasm for stretches of any season other then the strike shorten one .They also have had a lot of injuries to key players this season, but continue to win more then they lose .

I said at the beginning of the summer the HAWKS would not do much if anything as they did .And the Kids would be moved in . It has become a young mans league .HAWKS may make a move for Vaniek but the price may be large IMO . So they could very well Stan Pat . So I will not be surprised to see Motte joining Schmaltz sooner then later ..

I don't know how many people have a subscription to the Atlantic, but there was just a great article about the Hawks d-men.

It pretty much sums up that the Hawks d-corp is one of the best transition groups in the league as a whole, but their shot rates are low. Only Kempny and TVR have positive shot differentials so far this year, though Seabrook was in that group before he got paired with Campbell. Campbell would be in that group if you took out his time with Forsling. Keith and Hjammer are not putting up the best shot rates but they're also allowing the least amount of shots against outside of Kempny. Rozsival and Forsling neither had good shot rates for or against (just bad, in other words).

As for zone exits and entries, it gets kind of interesting. Five of the Blackhawks’ defensemen have posted zone exit rates above the league average, led by Duncan Keith. Kempny and Seabrook are the best duo for their ability to both exit the zone with possession and break-up entry attempts by the opposition more than the league average defenseman. Seabrook's numbers for entry break-ups is impressive. Hjammer is having a down year for moving the puck (zone exit numbers are sub par), but he's still one of the best d-men at breaking up zone entries by opposing players. TVR excels at neither taking or preventing entries, but he's a good possession maintainer once in the zone, making him a steady and useful but not extraordinary 3rd pair player.

The Hawks defense is currently ranked 7th based on XPM, the “total impact” stat and the overall team is the 2nd best transition team in the league. This lines up with how the Hawks are typically top 1-2 team in timed possession, but yet, their shot metrics are average. At this point, it really looks like their issues are in-zone - getting off enough shots, including quality shots. Part of it is because they currently like passing to make the goalie move rather than playing a net-front presence style (personnel issue?) but either way, it's not working on a consistent basis.

Of note, these particular stats are looking at transition and shot numbers only, so there are other areas such as passing and turnovers that could also be impacting the shot porous nature of the team as a whole. The fact that they can move the puck well is encouraging, but they need to figure out how to make it translate into better possession and ultimately scoring. Tweaking to the pairings would likely have a positive impact as well. [/img]

Oh I but in my 2cents ,and are called cool laid drinker and rainbows and lollipops for my trouble .So I though I would just state the facts this time

. I am very happy with the direction that this team is going ,and the players on it .If you have noticed this team usually lacks enthusiasm for stretches of any season other then the strike shorten one .They also have had a lot of injuries to key players this season, but continue to win more then they lose .

I said at the beginning of the summer the HAWKS would not do much if anything as they did .And the Kids would be moved in . It has become a young mans league .HAWKS may make a move for Vaniek but the price may be large IMO . So they could very well Stan Pat . So I will not be surprised to see Motte joining Schmaltz sooner then later ..
- oldduffman

I agree with you and I'll add.

Given the talent this team has lost, I don't think anyone can really complain about the Hawks position in the standings. In the last 9 years this is their 4th best in terms of points % and that is nearly tied with 3rd best. The best being the crazy lockout year, followed by the powerhouse 2010 team. The Hawks are generating points in the standings on par with 2013-14.

The team now compared the team before 2015-16 just relies on goal-tending a lot more. I don't know if one is a component of the other. Would the Hawks press the issue on offense more if they had a worse goalie? Is it worse to rely on your goalie to win or win despite your goalie. I think the kids have some potential to round out the forward group (if not this year, than next) and the Hawks are a bit of an unknown right now. They have the core that has been there and played like world beaters, but nobody knows what we'll get come playoff time. It is exciting.

Mark Stone would be a solid winger for Toews. Affordable contract 3.2M??
Problem... RW. A top line player for Ottawa. Would cost a lot.

Vanek ((frank))...Nelson, Hanzal, McGinn, Zack Smith seem like more realistic options
- 93Joe

Ottawa is fighting for a playoff spot and have games in hand on all the teams above them, so they're not likely going to be sellers unless they go on a losing streak soon. It's also highly doubtful they'd move Stone anyway as he's their best young NHL player.

Ottawa is fighting for a playoff spot and have games in hand on all the teams above them, so they're not likely going to be sellers unless they go on a losing streak soon. It's also highly doubtful they'd move Stone anyway as he's their best young NHL player.
- L_B_R

Agreed. I realized this morning that they are sitting pretty well in the Wild Card race in the east, they aren't likely to give anyone up.

Boy he can't get rid of that puck fast enough, but on another note, watching games on the tele and I see Keith fall to the ice once or twice a game with no one around him? Sure they call it a toe pick but....
- BetweenTheDots

He overhandled the puck a few times last night resulting in turnovers and one of them resulted in an Avs' goal. The announcers even called him out for the overhandling. I'm not sure if it's lingering knee problems, or if all the hard minutes and miles finally caught up to him and he's just lost a step.

I don't know how many people have a subscription to the Atlantic, but there was just a great article about the Hawks d-men.

It pretty much sums up that the Hawks d-corp is one of the best transition groups in the league as a whole, but their shot rates are low. Only Kempny and TVR have positive shot differentials so far this year, though Seabrook was in that group before he got paired with Campbell. Campbell would be in that group if you took out his time with Forsling. Keith and Hjammer are not putting up the best shot rates but they're also allowing the least amount of shots against outside of Kempny. Rozsival and Forsling neither had good shot rates for or against (just bad, in other words).

As for zone exits and entries, it gets kind of interesting. Five of the Blackhawks’ defensemen have posted zone exit rates above the league average, led by Duncan Keith. Kempny and Seabrook are the best duo for their ability to both exit the zone with possession and break-up entry attempts by the opposition more than the league average defenseman. Seabrook's numbers for entry break-ups is impressive. Hjammer is having a down year for moving the puck (zone exit numbers are sub par), but he's still one of the best d-men at breaking up zone entries by opposing players. TVR excels at neither taking or preventing entries, but he's a good possession maintainer once in the zone, making him a steady and useful but not extraordinary 3rd pair player.

The Hawks defense is currently ranked 7th based on XPM, the “total impact” stat and the overall team is the 2nd best transition team in the league. This lines up with how the Hawks are typically top 1-2 team in timed possession, but yet, their shot metrics are average. At this point, it really looks like their issues are in-zone - getting off enough shots, including quality shots. Part of it is because they currently like passing to make the goalie move rather than playing a net-front presence style (personnel issue?) but either way, it's not working on a consistent basis.

Of note, these particular stats are looking at transition and shot numbers only, so there are other areas such as passing and turnovers that could also be impacting the shot porous nature of the team as a whole. The fact that they can move the puck well is encouraging, but they need to figure out how to make it translate into better possession and ultimately scoring. Tweaking to the pairings would likely have a positive impact as well.
- L_B_R[/img]

Good post. Interesting to see that about Seabrook and Campbell

Ottawa is fighting for a playoff spot and have games in hand on all the teams above them, so they're not likely going to be sellers unless they go on a losing streak soon. It's also highly doubtful they'd move Stone anyway as he's their best young NHL player.
- L_B_R

Detroit amd Tampa should sell. Both have LWs that could help

Detroit amd Tampa should sell. Both have LWs that could help
- mrpaulish

They probably will be sellers, but the east is so close right now, it's hard to determine where teams will be in 5-6 weeks for the TDL. Tampa is only 3 points back from a playoff spot, thought they've played more games than the closest teams in a playoff position now. The likelihood of them selling anything of value is low though. Detroit will go with expiring contract players and Tampa may try to get out from under a larger contract or two plus see if anyone wants Bishop. Most of the likely candidate for trade from those team are lower line forwards.

Imo they should look less at who is currently scoring (like they did last year with the Weise pick-up) and look towards who might help with the shots issue this team has.

Detroit amd Tampa should sell. Both have LWs that could help
- mrpaulish

Honestly wouldn't mind some Brian Boyle to shore up the bottom 6. Strong, Big, good at faceoffs, defensive, can score when needed, 2 mil cap hit though.

If we could get him at 50% I wouldn't mind it.

where did you see Q call him out...I heard him say specifically craw needed to be better last night...he was reluctant to say anything about his overall post injury play...
- bogiedoc

Yes, I was referring to Q saying he needed to be better last night. I pulled the stats to say he's been below par since the return from the surgery.

Yes, I was referring to Q saying he needed to be better last night. I pulled the stats to say he's been below par since the return from the surgery.
- scottak

cool...i was just wondering if i missed something in the interview or he was quoted by another source...he has been quick to note the netminding is the one of the reasons they are a top 5 team now...

This may be of interest to some. A look at a scouts life: http://letsplay.pointstre...lph/news-1147/news_467961

Just to throw this out there...Friedman brought up Sharp as pure speculation as a possibility to play 1LW

For starters we know the chemistry is there. It wouldn't cost us much and Dallas owes us one for the giveaway to acquire him in the first place. It's also a no lose proposition for the hawks IMO. Imagine the fan fare if it happened. People would go nuts and if they lost in playoofs they wouldn't have given much up to bring back an old favorite and can preserve some of these young guys.

I know the guy is having a down year (some injuries in there too) but we know nothing would bring the best out in him like playing here again which in his mind is his home. Pretty sure he never sold his house here either...