TT with career highs in goals, assists, points.

Should hit 40+ points easily.
- BINGO!

Career high possession numbers, too, but all has to be viewed through the lens of about 2/3 of his zone starts being in the o-zone.

Still weak in the dot, prone to giving up the puck.

A top 6 C probably needs to do better than 40 points, unless he is basically a screen/space creator for superstars (like Anisimov).

Career high possession numbers, too, but all has to be viewed through the lens of about 2/3 of his zone starts being in the o-zone.

Still weak in the dot, prone to giving up the puck.

A top 6 C probably needs to do better than 40 points, unless he is basically a screen/space creator for superstars (like Anisimov).
- John Jaeckel

I was never a fan.

That's awesome, thanks for sharing! TT is a small and soft perimeter player that has still not hit 40 points yet, even though offense is his primary contribution on the ice. Hawks appear to be doing just fine without him so thanks for taking Bickell's dead $4mil ($3mil if he was in the AHL) off the Hawks salary cap. Seems to have worked out for both teams and I certainly don't miss Tuevo's bull fighter impression for every puck battle along the boards.

Tuevo's biography written by J. Carter-Ball


- EnzoD

This is perfect!

Off to both games this weekend! Of course we get 70 degree weather when I'm leaving haha

That's awesome, thanks for sharing! TT is a small and soft perimeter player that has still not hit 40 points yet, even though offense is his primary contribution on the ice. Hawks appear to be doing just fine without him so thanks for taking Bickell's dead $4mil ($3mil if he was in the AHL) off the Hawks salary cap. Seems to have worked out for both teams and I certainly don't miss Tuevo's bull fighter impression for every puck battle along the boards.

Tuevo's biography written by J. Carter-Ball


- EnzoD

A small group of friends of mine nicknamed a former Blues player bamboo. Why? Cause bamboo is softer than cotton.

Career high possession numbers, too, but all has to be viewed through the lens of about 2/3 of his zone starts being in the o-zone.

Still weak in the dot, prone to giving up the puck.

A top 6 C probably needs to do better than 40 points, unless he is basically a screen/space creator for superstars (like Anisimov).
- John Jaeckel

Good thing he's not playing C, then. Majority of his time has been at RW.

Kaner is absolutely lethal. His ability to look anywhere BUT at the spot he is going to shoot and then placing an unbelievably accurate shot is probably unmatched in the World today. He makes that 2v1 five-hole snipe look easy, and we all know that is an INCREDIBLY difficult play to make. Panarin goes to the EA Sports NHL17 short side glitch goal in the shootout and Kaner just playing with Lehtonen....they are franking amazing at hockey.

I always find Elliotte Friedman enlightening (courtesy of sportsnet.ca). Some nice insights about the Blackhawks that he obtained during their swing through Ottawa and Toronto.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-mvp-vote-go-brent-burns/
- hpk90

Thanks for sharing! Couldn't agree more with this one:

"If I was running the NHL, I’d be terrified of offside video reviews in the post-season. One of them is going to decide a playoff series, and it’s going to be ugly."

Dunno, I actually thought he sort of turned into a pumpkin last night, looked a step behind at times, possession wise Panik and Toews better than him (I think). Just one game and expecting him to rip it up every night at this point is not fair, gotta wait and see a bit more.
- John Jaeckel

Agree with that assessment, and while maybe he doesnt stick on the 1st line when we are at full strength, He's proved he belongs.

Good thing he's not playing C, then. Majority of his time has been at RW.
- BINGO!

Good to see him doing well. I like some elements of his game. Great passer. A little too good for his team mates alot of the time.

I honestly had a nightmare one night during the playoff run in 2015 that someone hit Teuvo with his head down so hard that he was decapicated. Blood everywhere. Scary dream.

I watched the next game nervously and was glad he turned out ok. It really got to me.

Good to see him doing well. I like some elements of his game. Great passer. A little too good for his team mates alot of the time.

I honestly had a nightmare one night during the playoff run in 2015 that someone hit Teuvo with his head down so hard that he was decapicated. Blood everywhere. Scary dream.

I watched the next game nervously and was glad he turned out ok. It really got to me.
- kinigitt

Little bastard makes some great passes out there. Really good at getting the puck way from opponents too. Not as fast as you'd probably like him to be, but he doesn't lose as many puck battles as you'd think either.

Kaner is absolutely lethal. His ability to look anywhere BUT at the spot he is going to shoot and then placing an unbelievably accurate shot is probably unmatched in the World today. He makes that 2v1 five-hole snipe look easy, and we all know that is an INCREDIBLY difficult play to make. Panarin goes to the EA Sports NHL17 short side glitch goal in the shootout and Kaner just playing with Lehtonen....they are franking amazing at hockey.
- EnzoD

I picked that out on the reply, insanely sick to bury that. Quick quick release with crazy accuracy.

The wife asked why they go 5-hole, it seems harder. I told her when there's a 6'6" guy like Darling in the net, his positioning can make picking a spot pretty damn hard. Now get the guy moving and open up, sometimes that actually is easier than a snipe.

I still can hardly ever get a slick backhand tuck 5-hole when actually playing, but that's why I'm playing shinny and he's an All-Star!

The more I see Schmaltz, the more I see high-end vision/playmaking ability, but he just doesn't show the comfort consistently to take a shot.

I expect over time like others on this team, he will grow in the offense to open some of that up - his points are primarily going to be assists, but add some goals.

Him with Kane/Pan makes sense in theory with 2x Snipers on that line, but they do need a net driver since they can create their own shots most of the time.

Hartman not exactly ideal for that role, much bigger 200-foot requirements for a C, especially a 2C given the opposing D-matchups, than playing LW. He's is solid 3LW option to have in the mix, without a doubt.

Depending on how Hayden continues to play while Anisimov is out, Toews might love the kid and what he's doing and he stays. Schmaltz on a lower line definitely improves the overall skill down there without question.

Not the biggest fan of the bottom-6 groups last night, though the 4th line was surprisingly effective and keeping the puck out of our end when they were out.

Little bastard makes some great passes out there. Really good at getting the puck way from opponents too. Not as fast as you'd probably like him to be, but he doesn't lose as many puck battles as you'd think either.
- BINGO!

His creativity to make sneaky passes is great, I think he just needs to find a way to take that next step physically and mentally. Like you said, he is 22. I look at his fellow countryman Granlund, who 3 years ago wasn't much different in terms of performance and now he is the most dangerous forward on his team at age 25.

I'm not saying TT will follow the same path and that they are the same player, but a lot can change from age 22 to 25. That potential can be realized, the question will be if he can do it.

I always find Elliotte Friedman enlightening (courtesy of sportsnet.ca). Some nice insights about the Blackhawks that he obtained during their swing through Ottawa and Toronto.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-mvp-vote-go-brent-burns/
- hpk90

Found this one the most interesting, would explain why nothing ever materialized to try to bring him over during the season (going back to Nov/Dec discussions on the board):

4. Mentioned a few weeks ago that Las Vegas was checking out KHLers Evgeny Dadonov and Vadim Shipachyov. Haven’t spoken to the Golden Knights, but word is both free agents come with big asks. The first request should always be high, but it gives you an idea of where talks are expected to go. Shipachyov is believed to be looking for around $5.5 million per season.

Has a Conn Smyth trophy winner ever been traded the next year?

Little bastard makes some great passes out there. Really good at getting the puck way from opponents too. Not as fast as you'd probably like him to be, but he doesn't lose as many puck battles as you'd think either.
- BINGO!

I was a TT fan (still am) and was sorry to see him go. My hope for him was he was just going to take a little longer than we wanted to find his stride but then when he did he would be a very good player. Although Granlund is a different type of player I use him as an example of a star Finnish player that much was expected of but did not happen as quickly as people thought it should. Patience with Granlund has paid off and my hope is it will for TT too.

But, as the saying goes - timing is everything in life - and the Hawks just didn't have the time to wait for TT to reach his potential. They needed to purge Bickel's cap hit and they deemed the cost of TT to be acceptable. Oh well ... I can't blame the Hawks for moving because TT was given an opportunity and he didn't make the most of it.

I check the Carolina box score every so often just to see how TT did. I'm rooting for him.

The more I see Schmaltz, the more I see high-end vision/playmaking ability, but he just doesn't show the comfort consistently to take a shot.

I expect over time like others on this team, he will grow in the offense to open some of that up - his points are primarily going to be assists, but add some goals.

Him with Kane/Pan makes sense in theory with 2x Snipers on that line, but they do need a net driver since they can create their own shots most of the time.

Hartman not exactly ideal for that role, much bigger 200-foot requirements for a C, especially a 2C given the opposing D-matchups, than playing LW. He's is solid 3LW option to have in the mix, without a doubt.

Depending on how Hayden continues to play while Anisimov is out, Toews might love the kid and what he's doing and he stays. Schmaltz on a lower line definitely improves the overall skill down there without question.

Not the biggest fan of the bottom-6 groups last night, though the 4th line was surprisingly effective and keeping the puck out of our end when they were out.
- gringointoronto

He is a rookie. In deference to others he is playing with his first thought is usually to pass. As he gains confidence he will shoot more and defer less, though he will probably always be a pass first playmaker. Not comparing his skills to Kane, but similarly, when Kane was younger he was much more of a pass first, shoot second player. As he matured, got stronger and worked on his shot he found a better balance, which also makes him harder to defend.

TT with career highs in goals, assists, points.

Should hit 40+ points easily.
- BINGO!

That is great but TT was not the player the Hawks needed.

Dunno, I actually thought he sort of turned into a pumpkin last night, looked a step behind at times, possession wise Panik and Toews better than him (I think). Just one game and expecting him to rip it up every night at this point is not fair, gotta wait and see a bit more.
- John Jaeckel

No doubt.

Like you said, there will be ups/downs and good/bad games (for anyone in the league)-- these are more prone for a young guy.

I like what I see so far, though. It's certainly nice to see the Hawks have a bigger guy on the roster.

I think this goes a bit "under the radar" but I've noticed #8 consistently gains the zone with control of the puck on the PP. Over the last few weeks, on that 2nd unit, they dropping it back to him and he carries it in, and they are usually gaining the zone as a result.

Not something that shows up on stat sheets, but one of the little things he is doing that often go unnoticed. Stuck out to me in recent games when the 1st unit had trouble gaining the zone and then the 2nd unit got their 35 seconds or so and just walk right in with the puck.

I was a TT fan (still am) and was sorry to see him go. My hope for him was he was just going to take a little longer than we wanted to find his stride but then when he did he would be a very good player. Although Granlund is a different type of player I use him as an example of a star Finnish player that much was expected of but did not happen as quickly as people thought it should. Patience with Granlund has paid off and my hope is it will for TT too.

But, as the saying goes - timing is everything in life - and the Hawks just didn't have the time to wait for TT to reach his potential. They needed to purge Bickel's cap hit and they deemed the cost of TT to be acceptable. Oh well ... I can't blame the Hawks for moving because TT was given an opportunity and he didn't make the most of it.

I check the Carolina box score every so often just to see how TT did. I'm rooting for him.
- EbonyRaptor

Too much pressure on him in Chicago to be something bigger than he is too soon. If he tops out as a 50 point guy, I think we're pretty happy with him.

He is a rookie. In deference to others he is playing with his first thought is usually to pass. As he gains confidence he will shoot more and defer less, though he will probably always be a pass first playmaker. Not comparing his skills to Kane, but similarly, when Kane was younger he was much more of a pass first, shoot second player. As he matured, got stronger and worked on his shot he found a better balance, which also makes him harder to defend.
- TheTrob

If Schmaltz wants to model his game after Adam Oates, I'd be just fine with that.

I was a TT fan (still am) and was sorry to see him go. My hope for him was he was just going to take a little longer than we wanted to find his stride but then when he did he would be a very good player. Although Granlund is a different type of player I use him as an example of a star Finnish player that much was expected of but did not happen as quickly as people thought it should. Patience with Granlund has paid off and my hope is it will for TT too.

But, as the saying goes - timing is everything in life - and the Hawks just didn't have the time to wait for TT to reach his potential. They needed to purge Bickel's cap hit and they deemed the cost of TT to be acceptable. Oh well ... I can't blame the Hawks for moving because TT was given an opportunity and he didn't make the most of it.

I check the Carolina box score every so often just to see how TT did. I'm rooting for him.
- EbonyRaptor

TT may be about where he will be for his career. A 15-18 goal, 40 point guy. I'm not sure he will ever work hard enough to be anything more than that. He probably will never reach the ceiling that people originally thought he would.

Jj any idea when hawks will bring up latta could add depth to the center position and be able to win faceoffs more than 40% sorry but kero and rass are depth players and win draws consistently plus latta gives the haeks a little bit physicality