Playing nice or not, you can't take back some of the ignorant trolling posts he made a few months ago.


- dahawks8819

Hence the troll chart - ignore

Unofficial photo of Alex Fortin taken at Prospect Camp

Prospects praising new Rockford coach:

http://www.csnchicago.com...ord-coach-jeremy-colliton

I have no idea whether he'll be a boom or a bust or something in between, but since we're quoting his coach:


“I think Alex is really close,” Otters coach Kris Knoblauch said in a phone interview on Thursday night. “It’s been a pleasure coaching Alex, seeing him come in as a young player but not too often do young players have an immediate impact. A lot has to do with his skill. Obviously he was fortunate to play with skilled players like (Connor) McDavid but his game has come a long way.”


“The biggest part of his defense is the ability of stealing pucks, pressuring the defensemen, forcing them to make bad decisions,” he said. “Just being able to have the stick in the right lane an intercept passes. He got better at those little subtle skills.”


“I think it’s just playing against the big, strong guys. It’s not that he’s afraid; he’s very good at battles. But just playing against the opposition, against five strong, fast players and just finding out how much time he has, where the room is,” Knoblauch said. “One-on-one battles in our league, there are strong guys and he does fairly well. But when you have a unit of guys, it makes the game a little more difficult.”


“I’m sure many people are telling him he won’t be able to play in the NHL or questioning if he ever will. That’ll be just more motivation for Alex,” Knoblauch said. “He feeds off that. When people tell him he can’t do something, he loves to show them they’re wrong.”
- walleyeb1

Thanks, Walleye...........

Man that's a coach speaking keeping these kids grounded and still acknowledging their accomplishments. You can do a, b and c at this level against very good players but at the NHL level you have a UNIT of 5 big fast players that take away time and space.

Everything his coach praises him on in that piece speaks to his IQ. Steal, pressure, stick in right place, subtle skills is all anticipation, reads, vision, feel, awareness are IQ. ........Hawks like players with IQ and probably value that as much as any skill.

Jarmo Kekalainen talks about how @tmotte_14 will impact #CBJ.

https://www.nhl.com/bluej...web-int-soc-twi-jarmo0718

It's funny you should mention that specific camp and how when we would attend these things three things were a given:
1)There was never a huge number of us in attendance, and most of us were there because we simply loved the idea that we got to be there, elite watchers getting a coming attractions preview of what was to come, maybe.
2)One fan (me) seemed to never stop talking answering questions or commenting, much to the dismay of the irritated fans around me.
3) The format of so many scrimmages seemed to skew the abilities and cause mixed reviews of just about every player out there.

There was great access.
You could easily get a word in with a draftee, the Blackhawk organization although they did usually bunker up, so that they could talk without interrurption, there was access to them too.

and then, it happened:

The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

- wiz1901

A big thing too Wiz was they had Hawk camp and practices at the Edge which seated 2,500ish. Then they move to the asinine Ice House where 80 people can be seated and you're 4-5-6 deep at the glass. One time there was enough for me and that was it for the Ice House.

But yea, that 09 Prospect Camp had maybe 100 people there. And yes they were approachable. Hell after practices at the Edge most Hawks left out the front door. Stand and talk to Seabs if you wanted and he'd sign and chat for anyone which were just a few. Kaner and Johnny parked in the back though.

Even after the Cup win if they stayed at a fan friendly Edge you could jam 3,000+ in the joint and SEE the action.

TT would be a nice player to have along the Hawks third line. Not a star, but a very solid, capable player who would provide some competent depth. He also didn't leave, he was jettisoned for no other reason than influencing another team to take one of the many crappy Hawks contracts.
- kwolf68

Count me as a guy who thought TT was the real deal. His WJC lifetime stats had him in Peter Forsberg company. His burst, quickness, hands, vision are rare. He comes up as a 20 yr old for 30 games puts up 10 points and in the playoffs a light goes on and the kid puts up a solid 10 points in 18 brutal playoff games and a cup win. What's not to like?

In the offseason JJ and others said wait until he does it again before you pencil him in for 10 yrs. I had seen enough and would battle anyone on that. Next year he plays with alligator arms once too many times and that was it for me. I'm gonna be wrong on LOTSA players but not on a guy I deem plays with no heart.

If I'm wrong on a guy I deem with no heart let that be with another club. Wish him the best, think he has freakish talent but let him prove me wrong with CAR is how I see it. I'll be wrong with a Dano, Panik, Hartman, Shaw, Hayden, Vinny, Kero type on my team cuz I know I never have to question their compete.

Similar size and style. Atkinson' a better skater.
- John Jaeckel

Agree, JJ. But I see the similarities in that Atkinson is smallish, plays with IQ in finding seams and has a +shot.

you have to view him as jack of trades and not an elite player unless he actually proves he is.

He's got a little Cam Atkinson in him, but there will be no free ride, time off, or instant top six slot for him.(((GREAT MINDS JJ...I just read your comment above so I added this parenthesis)
Two things, durability and toughness to the injuries he will face and actually being a scoring factor from the lower end, like he WAS a safe big sized checking forward back there...

I am telling you there not as much worried on Debrincat not helping soon and Sikura not helping the team next April.
- wiz1901

Not following this, Wiz........

Because I'm bored...here are the jersey numbers for the new Blackhawks:

Bouma - 17
Wingels - 57
Murphy - 5
Oesterle - 82 (previously assigned to Alex Fortin?)
Rutta - 44 (previously assigned to John Dahlstrom?)

Sharp and Saad will of course return to their old numbers (10 & 20).
- DarthKane

I'm happy nobody has Hammer's #4 yet. I'm not ready to see that number on any other Hawk yet.

Gents forgive me, casual follower of this site but rabid Hawks fan. Please let me know where to find decent Prospect Camp analysis. This time of year I'm starved for anything Blackhawks. FWIW my 93 yr old Dad was one of the Veterans honored by the Hawks in Playoff game 1, what a class organization! If anyone is or knows a Vet who should be honored I have the contact info for the USO liaison, my Dad loved it.
- Mrwirtz

Welcome, and God bless your Pops. Some ornery posters at times but you'll get good feedback on JJ's threads.

Good start for camp analysis is this link Walleye posted: https://soundcloud.com/th...podcast-prospects-edition

I'm happy nobody has Hammer's #4 yet. I'm not ready to see that number on any other Hawk yet.
- Mr Ricochet

Can I be upset that Rundblad's #5 is already taken?????? so dreamy


Red font

Happy Birthday Duncan Keith. 34 years old! How time flies.

Can I be upset that Rundblad's #5 is already taken?????? so dreamy


Red font
- phantasmo

Yeeeeesh, I missed the connection with Murphy wearing Rundblad's #5!!

Brander's team also found that forwards:

Improve more quickly than they decline and typically begin "a significant decline in their early 30s."
Perform within 90 per cent of their peak from 24 to 32 years old.
25 is their most common age, with 24-27 very similar.

Defencemen, the co-authors report:

Improve and decline more slowly than forwards and do so very symmetrically.
Perform within 90 per cent of their peak from 24 to 34 years old (two years longer than forwards).
26 is their Peak age with 25 and 27 very similar.

Would not most agree Hawks are a Keith injury away (or maybe Crawford) from it getting dicey making the playoffs??

Brander's team also found that forwards:

Improve more quickly than they decline and typically begin "a significant decline in their early 30s."
Perform within 90 per cent of their peak from 24 to 32 years old.
25 is their most common age, with 24-27 very similar.

Defencemen, the co-authors report:

Improve and decline more slowly than forwards and do so very symmetrically.
Perform within 90 per cent of their peak from 24 to 34 years old (two years longer than forwards).
26 is their Peak age with 25 and 27 very similar.

Would not most agree Hawks are a Keith injury away (or maybe Crawford) from it getting dicey making the playoffs??
- VopatsRash

If you take the best defender off of any team and their chances take a significant hit. While trends are what they are, there are always exceptions to the rule (Jagr, Lidstrom, etc.).

I can definitely agree that they seem to have a smaller margin for error. That said, all 30 other teams have had changes this year as well. Anyone can look great on paper. The Hawks made a concerted effort to get faster and tougher to play against. The coaching changes could also include changes in style of play.

I've said this several times. Let's wait until we get everyone on the ice.

I disagree, maybe TT, but Danault will be a 2C before his career is over. Probably is this upcoming year in MTL.

He made big strides this year (which is what young players do)
- vabeachbear

Maybe, and maybe could have been in Chicago. Didn't say I didn't want him but he'd be 3C on this team this year, which, while I would take in an instant, it's not like last year and the team on paper appears to have better bottom 6 depth.

My comment was more about the Hawks trading away all their higher picks of recent years. Schmaltz and Hartman are still here and both of them likley have some continued development in their future.

Brander's team also found that forwards:

Improve more quickly than they decline and typically begin "a significant decline in their early 30s."
Perform within 90 per cent of their peak from 24 to 32 years old.
25 is their most common age, with 24-27 very similar.

Defencemen, the co-authors report:

Improve and decline more slowly than forwards and do so very symmetrically.
Perform within 90 per cent of their peak from 24 to 34 years old (two years longer than forwards).
26 is their Peak age with 25 and 27 very similar.

Would not most agree Hawks are a Keith injury away (or maybe Crawford) from it getting dicey making the playoffs??
- VopatsRash

Congrats to the 2017 Western Conference Champions!

We already have a gentle giant, well not quite as gentle and a bit more of a giant.
- walleyeb1

I meant Cody Franson, who has always been a lightweight for a guy that large...

Happy Birthday Duncan Keith. 34 years old! How time flies.
- VopatsRash

Get lost chump. We all know why you're here. Preds have an allergy to winning Championships so is that the Rash your username is referring to? Just bc there are 2 total Predators fans on the internet doesn't mean you have to come here and toss thinly veiled shade at the Hawks. Rinne played out of his mind for 3 Rounds then turned into a sieve that couldn't stop a beach ball vs Pittsburgh. Preds will not win the Cup with that guy in net, regardless of the talent Poile has assembled for this upcoming season. Please do us all a favor and GTFO.

Still wish there was some way we could move AA, Forsling/Pokka, and a 1st(maybe also throw in DeBrincat if we have to) for Duchene:

Sharp-Toews-Hartman
Fortin-Duchene-Kane
Saad-Schmaltz-Panik
Wingles-Dauphin-Hinostroza

That might be the fastest group of forwards we've had since 2013, and definitely one of the fastest in the league next season.
- SimpleJack

Saad-Toews-Panik
?Fortin?-Duchene-Kane
Sharp-Schmaltz-Hartman
Wingles-Dauphin-Kero-Hinostroza

fixed

I meant Cody Franson, who has always been a lightweight for a guy that large...
- wiz1901

Yeah I knew that, that's why I said we've already got our own cheaper option if that's what they're looking for. Svedberg would be a younger cheaper option. Heck maybe Samuelsson can work with him, besides he's got a one way contract so he's getting paid the same no matter where he plays. I'd rather pass on Franson.

Happy Birthday Duncan Keith. 34 years old! How time flies.
- VopatsRash

And almost a year younger than Pekka Rinne...

Keith accumulated 3 Cups, 2 Norris, and 1 Conn Smythe by 34.///

Pekka has the labrum of a 60 year old.

Let's hope Ruuta does not become a right handed Danny Richmond in that 44.

Yes, DeBrincat isn't a guy who jumps out in a practice or drills. Besides his hands and possibly shot his size and skating are average at best so he won't jump out. This is an IQ/vision guy and you need to see those types in game action to see what separates them from others.
- Mr Ricochet

I don't disagree but when DeBrincat is ready his skating will have had to improve or he won't be an effective NHL scorer.

Have you ever seen anyone close to his size dominate as a goal scorer and not be able to skate well?

Only one I can recall was Dino Ciccarelli but he was as tough as a cheap steak and could get tons of goals under the nose of larger dmen.