Why do people say Nick natural wing is RW? He shots R which most of the time would mean he is a Natural LW. Others the shot R are HINO, HAYDEN, HARTMAN,SHARP, WINGELS. which mostly play LW.
- kmw4631

He's not a shooter, he's a pure setup guy, and really, instinctively NEITHER wing is his best position. Center is.

But if they have to play him at one wing or the other, I believe in junior (pretty sure) he had more experience on the right side.

And it's just my take, but he looks very "perplexed" at times coming off the left half board into the center of the ice.

But it's possible he's no better or worse at either wing right now, further support for why he should probably be at center.

Hinostroza and Hartman are really natural right wings, although Hartman is not bad on the left IMO. Wingels can play all three forward forward positions but—again—this is something I believe I saw somewhere—he is better on the right.

The stick is not always the dictator of which side a guy is most comfortable on. Generally yes, high skill/shooter guys prefer the wing opposite their stick. But other than that it's where you've played generally speaking that dictates comfort.

Correct.

As a right hander playing RW or a lefthander playing LW, you have to shoot across your body and you have less of a 180 degree shooting arc at the net from any given place on your side of center. Playing the wing on the "off"side of your stick (ie LH playing RW) gives you more and better shooting angles anywhere your side of the center of the ice.
- John Jaeckel

Can make the difference of shooting at a 3 or 4' wide net or less the farther a shooter advances into the zone and a 6' wide net shooting from the middle.
Before the butterfly goalies would hug the post so it was best to shoot from the middle as even large goalies weren't 6' wide and a shooter could snipe any corner. Now butterfly goalies give up short side, 5 hole, so it doesnt matter as much where the shot originates. But a shooter definitely gets more leverage on the shot from his off wing.

Can make the difference of shooting at a 3 or 4' wide net or less the farther a shooter advances into the zone and a 6' wide net shooting from the middle.
Before the butterfly goalies would hug the post so it was best to shoot from the middle as even large goalies weren't 6' wide and a shooter could snipe any corner. Now butterfly goalies give up short side, 5 hole, so it doesnt matter as much where the shot originates. But a shooter definitely gets more leverage on the shot from his off wing.
- 6628

Here's a decent article about this topic:

For wingers, it’s a similar story. In the defensive zone, a key role of the winger is to help move the puck up ice. When a defenseman wants to pass the puck up the boards to the winger for a breakout, the winger will be in a position to receive the pass on their forehand and make the next play. Wingers who play the off wing have to receive the same pass on their backhand; this is a tricky skill to master, which can weaken the breakout.

http://www.crossicehockey.com/play-off-wing/

I see that the KHL season got started today. SKA beat CSKA. Maxine Shalunov got a pretty goal for Moscow. Who knows ... Maybe next year our Rockford alumni Maxime will be making his debut with the Hawks.

https://www.hockeyfeed.co...n-the-nhl-today/?ref=troy

Toews outside the Top 10 for NHL Centers.

https://www.hockeyfeed.co...n-the-nhl-today/?ref=troy

Toews outside the Top 10 for NHL Centers.
- EnzoD

Sch had a good write-up about this. I think after the last two years, 12th is fair.
https://www.secondcityhoc...jonathan-toews-blackhawks

Not a big deal signing but college free agent Doyle Somerby (6'5" D from Boston U) signed with the Jackets.

Here's a decent article about this topic:

For wingers, it’s a similar story. In the defensive zone, a key role of the winger is to help move the puck up ice. When a defenseman wants to pass the puck up the boards to the winger for a breakout, the winger will be in a position to receive the pass on their forehand and make the next play. Wingers who play the off wing have to receive the same pass on their backhand; this is a tricky skill to master, which can weaken the breakout.

http://www.crossicehockey.com/play-off-wing/
- walleyeb1

When playing the off wing a player needs to be good deflecting the puck from the boards to his stick on a breakout. As JJ said, the off wing stuff came from Europe. And I'm thinking it's because they all played soccer as kids. Today just about all of the teams play a kick ball type of game in the hall outside the lokcer room before the warmup.

He's not a shooter, he's a pure setup guy, and really, instinctively NEITHER wing is his best position. Center is.

But if they have to play him at one wing or the other, I believe in junior (pretty sure) he had more experience on the right side.

And it's just my take, but he looks very "perplexed" at times coming off the left half board into the center of the ice.

But it's possible he's no better or worse at either wing right now, further support for why he should probably be at center.

Hinostroza and Hartman are really natural right wings, although Hartman is not bad on the left IMO. Wingels can play all three forward forward positions but—again—this is something I believe I saw somewhere—he is better on the right.

The stick is not always the dictator of which side a guy is most comfortable on. Generally yes, high skill/shooter guys prefer the wing opposite their stick. But other than that it's where you've played generally speaking that dictates comfort.
- John Jaeckel

JJ has made a ton of good posts in this thread. This another one I like to cite. The hand can give you a general rule, but just because a guy is right doesn't mean he wants to be on the left side. And a LOT of that decision isn't offensive zone play, opening up for a one timer, but rather how you feel in the D-zone. And just because you exit on the right side of the ice doesn't mean you should transition into the next two zones on that same side, you should be moving laterally to open up the defense. Personally, I did not like Schmaltz on the left side. I am with JJ, I think the kid should center, if not line 2, line 3. His faceoff game is dreadful, but he's a kid the book still could be written a bit differently on him. Work him up...be high 40s and you have a center.

JJ has made a ton of good posts in this thread. This another one I like to cite. The hand can give you a general rule, but just because a guy is right doesn't mean he wants to be on the left side. And a LOT of that decision isn't offensive zone play, opening up for a one timer, but rather how you feel in the D-zone. And just because you exit on the right side of the ice doesn't mean you should transition into the next two zones on that same side, you should be moving laterally to open up the defense. Personally, I did not like Schmaltz on the left side. I am with JJ, I think the kid should center, if not line 2, line 3. His faceoff game is dreadful, but he's a kid the book still could be written a bit differently on him. Work him up...be high 40s and you have a center.
- kwolf68

IMO, I would give Schmaltz the 3C job, put him with Jurco, Hartman and/or Sharp, maybe Wingels because he can bury it too. Let him learn in the job because it is going to be a rough start for the whole team regardless with lots of learning on the job/adjustment all over the roster.

As for the wing preference thing, I played center growing up and in college (club, mind you), but if I played wing it was right side (I am a left handed righty shooter). I never played left until many years later in beer league and it felt weird AF. I got a little used to it over time, but it was never completely natural for me largely because I was oriented to the right side, I was also a passer not a shooter.

IMO, I would give Schmaltz the 3C job, put him with Jurco, Hartman and/or Sharp, maybe Wingels because he can bury it too. Let him learn in the job because it is going to be a rough start for the whole team regardless with lots of learning on the job/adjustment all over the roster.

As for the wing preference thing, I played center growing up and in college (club, mind you), but if I played wing it was right side (I am a left handed righty shooter). I never played left until many years later in beer league and it felt weird AF. I got a little used to it over time, but it was never completely natural for me largely because I was oriented to the right side, I was also a passer not a shooter.
- John Jaeckel

It would be interesting to see Schmaltz in between two bangers that have some scoring touch and go to the net hard like Hayden and Hartman. Maybe a total of 50 goals out of the 3rd line (20% of teams total goals), playing physical and with energy. I am ok with that.

IMO, I would give Schmaltz the 3C job, put him with Jurco, Hartman and/or Sharp, maybe Wingels because he can bury it too. Let him learn in the job because it is going to be a rough start for the whole team regardless with lots of learning on the job/adjustment all over the roster.

As for the wing preference thing, I played center growing up and in college (club, mind you), but if I played wing it was right side (I am a left handed righty shooter). I never played left until many years later in beer league and it felt weird AF. I got a little used to it over time, but it was never completely natural for me largely because I was oriented to the right side, I was also a passer not a shooter.
- John Jaeckel

You must be a lacrosse player...I could never really get used to playing LW in hockey. Always preferred the right side. Seemed to see the ice better.

I see that the KHL season got started today. SKA beat CSKA. Maxine Shalunov got a pretty goal for Moscow. Who knows ... Maybe next year our Rockford alumni Maxime will be making his debut with the Hawks.
- spanky

So he signed a 3 year deal, Let me know if I understand this correctly. He would be 28 if he plays out all 3 years, so he would not be bound by a ELC but he would still be the hawks property since he is in the KHL? And could only sign with hawks on his 1st contract unless we trade his rights. Do I have that correct?

Dude .

Sorry have not back read the 138 comments but TOEWS needs to be #1 on that list.

TOEWS needs to step up. TOEWS needs to be the best player on the ice eevrytime he is on the ice otherwise this Hawks team goes no where.

(Hopefully Saad helps with this)

I love the Murphy addition. Kid can skate and I love the nasty. He'll be a fan favorite.

Hope everyone has had a great summer.

https://www.hockeyfeed.co...n-the-nhl-today/?ref=troy

Toews outside the Top 10 for NHL Centers.
- EnzoD

Can't blame them.

Big year for his reputation this year. The Penguins have erased all the Blackhawks glory.

Can't blame them.

Big year for his reputation this year. The Penguins have erased all the Blackhawks glory.
- mrpaulish

It hasn't been erased. These guys will have a reputation for the next decade.

The shine has certainly come off, though, and unless something turns around, the water will continue to be muddied.

Can't blame them.

Big year for his reputation this year. The Penguins have erased all the Blackhawks glory.
- mrpaulish

IMHO after McDavid and Crosby there is very very little separating the next 13+/- centers. All are very very good centers with a variety of styles, strengths, and weaknesses. If this list was prepared 6 months ago or 6 months from now the top two probably would be the same, but the next 13+/- might be reslotted up or down. If a different panel of hockey experts (GM's, coaches, players or even others in the professional hockey media - not to be confused with "so called experts" on this site) made the list the rankings today the list would be a little different.

I do not think it is an indictment against Toews to be #12.

Of course the next 30 posters will whine "But Toews is making $10.5 mil". Get over it. How many times do we need to beat that dead horse.

IMHO after McDavid and Crosby there is very very little separating the next 13+/- centers. All are very very good centers with a variety of styles, strengths, and weaknesses. If this list was prepared 6 months ago or 6 months from now the top two probably would be the same, but the next 13+/- might be reslotted up or down. If a different panel of hockey experts (GM's, coaches, players or even others in the professional hockey media - not to be confused with "so called experts" on this site) made the list the rankings today the list would be a little different.

I do not think it is an indictment against Toews to be #12.

Of course the next 30 posters will whine "But Toews is making $10.5 mil". Get over it. How many times do we need to beat that dead horse.
- -Doh-

It's not a dead horse when it's affecting the structure of the team.

IMHO after McDavid and Crosby there is very very little separating the next 13+/- centers. All are very very good centers with a variety of styles, strengths, and weaknesses. If this list was prepared 6 months ago or 6 months from now the top two probably would be the same, but the next 13+/- might be reslotted up or down. If a different panel of hockey experts (GM's, coaches, players or even others in the professional hockey media - not to be confused with "so called experts" on this site) made the list the rankings today the list would be a little different.

I do not think it is an indictment against Toews to be #12.

Of course the next 30 posters will whine "But Toews is making $10.5 mil". Get over it. How many times do we need to beat that dead horse.
- -Doh-

There are a lot of reasons why Toews is #12 on that list. Some of those reasons directly related to Toews and some aren't.

1) Training/Health
2) Deployment
3) Linemates (they do matter and Toews has had some of the weakest compared to other top C)

Even in a down year, Toews is still great player. He won't have his best year every season, especially when the team is lacking in top 6 forwards and Q was loading up the prime offensive chances to the Russians + Kane.

It's not a dead horse when it's affecting the structure of the team.
- BINGO!

But as the term implies .... we know the horse is dead, so beating it is a waste of time as the outcome has already been decided.

It's not a dead horse when it's affecting the structure of the team.
- BINGO!

A dead horse topic can be valid but still a waste of time to repeat ad nauseam. No one here is unaware that high cap hits are a point of contention, and that's not going to change if we discuss it again for the 898736th time.

https://www.hockeyfeed.co...n-the-nhl-today/?ref=troy

Toews outside the Top 10 for NHL Centers.
- EnzoD

When you see Crosby listed at #2 and Auston Mathews #4 best to immediately throw that publication in the garbage can.

A dead horse topic can be valid but still a waste of time to repeat ad nauseam. No one here is unaware that high cap hits are a point of contention, and that's not going to change if we discuss it again for the 898736th time.
- L_B_R

What else is there to talk about?

Nothing HAS happened since the beginning of July, and unlike past summers, there is nothing that WILL (or has to) happen until October 6 - not even rumors out there.

Of course, we could put lines together for the 898736th time.

I know - let's talk politics....

😇

You must be a lacrosse player...I could never really get used to playing LW in hockey. Always preferred the right side. Seemed to see the ice better.
- walter34

I am a lax player (or was)! And a coach.

Speaking of which, a few weeks ago, took my boy (who is a player) to see an Ohio Machine game versus the New York Lizards (dumb name, but Paul Rabil plays for them).

The Machine won the MLL Championship the other night and they are (frank)ing awesome. They mostly double-teamed Rabil all night so he didn't do much, still it was amazing to see how the field tilted toward him every time he had the ball.

But Ohio has some amazing middies and forwards: especially Baum and Cockerton. Cockerton scored a couple of the most sick goals I have ever seen. What a blast. MLL is in its infancy but the more people who go to the games, it's going to really take off, plus with all the kids playing nowadays and the quality of instruction that's now out there.

What else is there to talk about?

Nothing HAS happened since the beginning of July, and unlike past summers, there is nothing that WILL (or has to) happen until October 6 - not even rumors out there.

Of course, we could put lines together for the 898736th time.

I know - let's talk politics....

😇
- StLBravesFan

Not posting unless you have something relevant to contribute is an option. Seldom practiced though. (By me included)