It wasn’t just Thornton who lost his mind, they, especially Bolland had that affect on everyone. Remember the Sedins
- paulr

To me, Bolland is still one of the most under-rated parts of the team we had. I know we got one more cup after he was gone, but it was visibly so much harder for the Hawks to get to the top that last time without him IMO. I wish he could have stayed healthy and playing longer. I would love for the Hawks to find another guy in that mold.

I agree the Hawks will need to keep adding players that can win those board battles, maintain possession, and grind like you described. It doesn't hurt to have guys who are difficult to knock off the puck or that can get it back.

AA coming back into the lineup has helped, he has had some good shifts so far, winning pucks by being engaged. I think Jason D and Joey Anderson have decent job. Colin Blackwell has been a battler since coming back from injury. Donato has been at times.

For me, I'm not convinced on having Nazar as 2C, I think either he may just end up on the wing. I do think we will need 3 solid defensively sound C. I'm not saying Bedard or Nazar can't be that in time, but I don't think it happens right away. Reichel can kind of be in that list too, they can play C, but none of them have much size/weight to their game.

Right now, we really have one solid defensively sound C and that's Jason D. Just an example looking back at our cup winning teams, we had
2010 Toews/Sharp/Bolland/Madden down the middle
2013 Toews/Handzus/Bolland/Kruger
2015 Toews/Richards/Vermette/Kruger

In 2014 when we got close, it was Toews/Handzus/Smith/Kruger/Shaw playing in the middle, and I think we were a good center short of going all the way.

I know the post wasn't all about C, but I think that will be important along with a few more of those guys that are hard on the puck. My personal feeling is that the D is starting to slowly take shape, but the C position is murky. Jason D is here for two more years, but probably isn't a long term solution past the next few seasons. Bedard if he stays at C, will be the 1C no doubt, but I really wonder about 2C and 4C in the longer term.
- breadbag

long term, IMO Moore will be 2 or 3 C. I like you think Nazer will move to wing.

To me, Bolland is still one of the most under-rated parts of the team we had. I know we got one more cup after he was gone, but it was visibly so much harder for the Hawks to get to the top that last time without him IMO. I wish he could have stayed healthy and playing longer. I would love for the Hawks to find another guy in that mold.
- breadbag

Shaw in 15 became Bolland. Hopes are Savoie is the new Bolland.

I take issue with the Vlasic is a stud line. He is good and improving, but a stud NHL defenseman he currently is not.

That is what I hate about all these Jfresh, hockeystat etc. cards. IMO all it is is robot fandom.
- LAHawk

Those are important for establishing baselines and comparing players.

Probably depends on how you describe stud. In terms of defensive defensemen, getting pucks, getting pucks out of zone, ect. He's been very very good.

It will be interesting to see how that translates when the forward group improves and making an outlet pass should be less of a chore.

The very encouraging part of this is that he looks very good watching him play and then these numbers reinforce that. Other players who are more active and dynamic maybe 'look' better at times but this helps separate activity for activities sake and results which is instructive.

Now looking at these, and this is probably a team thing in general, yielding the blue line is a problem. Some of that can be partner related since Jones is not good at disrupting in the neutral zone and killing plays at the blue line. He retreats. The other issue its that the forward group is very bad so there isn't a lot of back checking help so it could be that they're yielding the blue line purposefully to buy time for people out of position or not thinking fast enough to get back.

With a better team you'd like to see the exits with possession above the league mean and him do a little bit better in terms of letting walk into the offensive zone.

Supposedly that is part of Del Mastro's game, I'm looking forward to seeing him maybe next year. Next season
- BetweenTheDots

I’ve seen Del Mastro quite a few times and that is part of his game, there’s no reason why other players, including Vlasic can’t add it to their game. Hell I’d like to see Korbustsky start getting more physical. And by physical I’m not talking fighting or running guys into the fifth row I’m talking about separating guys from the puck and every once in a while leaving a mark by doing it.

To me, Bolland is still one of the most under-rated parts of the team we had. I know we got one more cup after he was gone, but it was visibly so much harder for the Hawks to get to the top that last time without him IMO. I wish he could have stayed healthy and playing longer. I would love for the Hawks to find another guy in that mold.
- breadbag

You don’t have to convince me, he was one of my favorites. And what I really admired about Bolland was he came into the NHL with outstanding scoring stats in the OHL yet embraced the role of a checker and shutdown center.

Tinordi has concussion issues too, as do most players who role is to be the teams policeman. Even good players that fight have a lot of concussions. How many concussions has Tom Wilson had in his career?
- LAHawk

True, true, true...

Tinordi was out for awhile after that scrap where someone tagged his ear.

Agree everything. So you think Harding and Kelly are worthy and will be offered contracts? Have not heard a whisper about their ceiling or performance not even wiz had anything to say
- jhawk59

It's a good question - my impression was they liked Harding, he was a 3rd rounder, is big (6-7, 236), and scored a little last year (but less this year). He is finishing his junior year, so I was thinking they would sign him and see what he could do at Rockford.
https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/201918/taige-harding

Kelley is a harder call, he was a late rounder and may not have the upside for the NHL. He is a righty and would provide org depth at least. He also has played a lot with Harding the last 2 years, and also played with Kaiser at UMD. Ageing out of the reserve list and has to be signed or becomes a free agent this summer.
https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/495926/connor-kelley

It's a good question - my impression was they liked Harding, he was a 3rd rounder, is big (6-7, 236), and scored a little last year (but less this year). He is finishing his junior year, so I was thinking they would sign him and see what he could do at Rockford.
https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/201918/taige-harding

Kelley is a harder call, he was a late rounder and may not have the upside for the NHL. He is a righty and would provide org depth at least. He also has played a lot with Harding the last 2 years, and also played with Kaiser at UMD. Ageing out of the reserve list and has to be signed or becomes a free agent this summer.
https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/495926/connor-kelley
- totem

I'm curious if KD will sign any college, CHL or European free agents. I know he's avoided them in the past, but there could be room on the roster for 1-2 guys this year and could let some of the prospects marinate in Rockford/juniors/college for another season.

I'm curious if KD will sign any college, CHL or European free agents. I know he's avoided them in the past, but there could be room on the roster for 1-2 guys this year and could let some of the prospects marinate in Rockford/juniors/college for another season.
- DarthKane

This player looks kind of interesting: Sam Colangelo - RW - Western Michigan

https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/386333/sam-colangelo

FA this summer if he doesn't sign with ANA. Played with Chicago Steel but from Boston area.

I think Megna, Tinordi and Zaitsev are all good as gone. Roos is probably gonna not be resigned I bet. And we will see what the Hawks think about Crevier and Phillips if those two are offered a QO or not.

On the defensive front Wyatt Kaiser was recalled today as Emergency Loan call up.
- breadbag

Why would they not sign both Phillips and Crevier? I think both have shown enough to warrant more time in the organization. They will only be 22 and 23 next season.

FFS, they are no worse than Tinordi or Megna and even Zaitsev on some nights. Hell Korchinski ain't exactly a defensive stalwart himself.

I’m not saying Del Mastro will or won’t be better, than Vlasic I frankly have no clue? Considering how well Vlasic has played so far in his rookie season if EDM is close that will huge for Chicago. I just wouldn’t be calling Vlasic a stud …. Just yet.
- paulr

While i agree its too early to proclaim Vlasic as a stud D-man. What he is doing this season has been impressive considering he is facing among the toughest match-ups in the whole league. At one point he was in the top 3 in QoC faced.

While i agree its too early to proclaim Vlasic as a stud D-man. What he is doing this season has been impressive considering he is facing among the toughest match-ups in the whole league. At one point he was in the top 3 in QoC faced.
- Elbows15

I have to admit, I'm really intrigued when Del Mastro arrives in Chicago. What are the chances we might have 3 really good LD men, 2 that are a pain in the a ss to play against and the other who is really athletic and has suprising lower body strength for a 19 year old, all 3 playing 20 minutes a night for the next 10 plus years.

That would be a fantastic start to the rebuild.

I have to admit, I'm really intrigued when Del Mastro arrives in Chicago. What are the chances we might have 3 really good LD men, 2 that are a pain in the a ss to play against and the other who is really athletic and has suprising lower body strength for a 19 year old, all 3 playing 20 minutes a night for the next 10 plus years.

That would be a fantastic start to the rebuild.
- BetweenTheDots

Thank you Stan

Thank you Stan
- LAHawk

Yea about time he figured out what a good defensive prospect looked like. It does go hand in hand with Seth Jones contract.

Yea about time he figured out what a good defensive prospect looked like. It does go hand in hand with Seth Jones contract.
- BetweenTheDots

He was winning Cups, remember those ? Wasn’t looking to maybe be in the playoffs 5 years down the line.
Not much pressure giving out bloated contracts to veterans because you have to get to he cap floor.

He was winning Cups, remember those ? Wasn’t looking to maybe be in the playoffs 5 years down the line.
Not much pressure giving out bloated contracts to veterans because you have to get to he cap floor.
- LAHawk

Whatever man, grateful for the Cups, but he sh i t the bed 2016 and on. Couldn't draft 1 defenseman until Vlasic all that time. Lot of pressure gutting a team and starting over.

If he does well he'll have Bowman's parting gift, Seth Jones and his contract.

Whatever man, grateful for the Cups, but he sh i t the bed 2016 and on. Couldn't draft 1 defenseman until Vlasic all that time. Lot of pressure gutting a team and starting over.

If he does well he'll have Bowman's parting gift, Seth Jones and his contract.
- BetweenTheDots

Why does Bowman or Davidson need to be the villain here? Davidson hasn’t done anything yet to be critical of. In fact so far he’s followed his plan and assembled some intriguing prospects and given himself lots of high draft picks to get more. And yes Bowman had a difficult time trying to keep the group together for another crack at another Stanley cup, giving away draft picks and prospects to try to do it. And yes his drafting wasn’t great but he didn’t draft very high for a decade and made mistakes on others. The (frank)ing guy won three cups, three, not many GMs have done that.

Why does Bowman or Davidson need to be the villain here? Davidson hasn’t done anything yet to be critical of. In fact so far he’s followed his plan and assembled some intriguing prospects and given himself lots of high draft picks to get more. And yes Bowman had a difficult time trying to keep the group together for another crack at another Stanley cup, giving away draft picks and prospects to try to do it. And yes his drafting wasn’t great but he didn’t draft very high for a decade and made mistakes on others. The (frank)ing guy won three cups, three, not many GMs have done that.
- paulr

Who says either one is the villain, just pointing facts out. I'm not going to argue with you or LA. I really like how the rebuild is going, I'm glad Bowman got a clue what a good defensive prospect finally looks like and the rebuild benefits from it. That Seth Jones contract might become an issue though, i really wish KD didn't trade and sign him for all that cabbage.

I missed what was the emergency reason causing Kaiser to be recalled

Anyone know?

Why does Bowman or Davidson need to be the villain here? Davidson hasn’t done anything yet to be critical of. In fact so far he’s followed his plan and assembled some intriguing prospects and given himself lots of high draft picks to get more. And yes Bowman had a difficult time trying to keep the group together for another crack at another Stanley cup, giving away draft picks and prospects to try to do it. And yes his drafting wasn’t great but he didn’t draft very high for a decade and made mistakes on others. The (frank)ing guy won three cups, three, not many GMs have done that.
- paulr

It's called recency bias. What have you done for me lately? What do you think of when you hear the name Bill Cosby?

I missed what was the emergency reason causing Kaiser to be recalled

Anyone know?
- jhawk59

Probably because they only had three healthy D-men and wanted to have 7. Plus kaiser can actually get in some NHL games now.

Who says either one is the villain, just pointing facts out. I'm not going to argue with you or LA. I really like how the rebuild is going, I'm glad Bowman got a clue what a good defensive prospect finally looks like and the rebuild benefits from it. That Seth Jones contract might become an issue though, i really wish KD didn't trade and sign him for all that cabbage.
- BetweenTheDots

Did you mean Stan?

Why would they not sign both Phillips and Crevier? I think both have shown enough to warrant more time in the organization. They will only be 22 and 23 next season.

FFS, they are no worse than Tinordi or Megna and even Zaitsev on some nights. Hell Korchinski ain't exactly a defensive stalwart himself.
- Elbows15

Only so many spots and more guys will be coming, so at some point they will cut bait on someone. Korchinski is way up the depth chart compared to Phillips/Crevier.

It's not unreasonable if they don't QO all the prospects on D. Especially when one played as poorly defensively as Phillips or lack offensive upside like Crevier. I'm not saying 100% those guys are gone, but also not 100% they will be back either. We will see what the Hawks choose in the offseason.

Whatever man, grateful for the Cups, but he sh i t the bed 2016 and on. Couldn't draft 1 defenseman until Vlasic all that time. Lot of pressure gutting a team and starting over.

If he does well he'll have Bowman's parting gift, Seth Jones and his contract.
- BetweenTheDots

There is no pressure when you set the bar that you are planning on being one of the worst teams in the league for so many years, and won’t commit to a timeline of when you think your team will be competitive.

According to the strato matic cards you flashed this morning, Seth Jones is an elite defenseman. Elite defenseman get contracts like Jones has.