Training Camp: Day 5 (d.j busdeker)

d.j busdeker

Training Camp: Day 5

By Theo Fox

Sep 29, 2021 • 3:20 am

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Sources:
Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago

Day 5 of Blackhawks training camp was a full team scrimmage so no news from practice and drills. More on the scrimmage below including highlights and observations. The Hawks host the Red Wings in the preseason opener this evening at 7:30pm CDT at the United Center.

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Scrimmage Highlights

Opening Goal by Dominik Kubalik

OT GWG by Kirby Dach

Iso Cam on Kirby Dach

Iso Cam on Dylan Strome

Iso Cam on Lukas Reichel

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Scrimmage Lineup Observations

Team Red

Observations for Team Red are the top forward lines and the top D pairs. Up front, Tyler Johnson centering Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane seems cemented in stone at this point for opening night: high-end offense with loads of competitive fire despite them being diminutive.

Jonathan Toews paired with Brandon Hagel and having another skilled winger like Reichel could be an effective line that can dominate in all zones and put up points. However, if Reichel starts on the 3rd line or even in Rockford, Kubalik is an ideal linemate instead.

A few days ago head coach Jeremy Colliton commented on the coaching staff expecting big minutes from Seth Jones and Connor Murphy. Both are RHD so it makes sense for them to be anchoring different pairs leaving another minute muncher Jack McCabe as partner to one of them.

Team Black

The key observation for Team Black is the top forward line of Dach centering Kubalik and Kurashev. Of the lines on that team, this one is most realistic as far as being a realistic one that the Blackhawks could go to war with once the regular season commences.

This trio has a mix of offensive skill, defensive acumen, and youthful energy. Kurashev is underrated in hunting down pucks and digging them out. Dach is a playmaker with size to create space and draw defenders to him which would leave a volume shooter like Kubalik open.

When looking at the top lines on Team Red and the top line on Team Black, Strome and Henrik Borgstrom could be on the outside looking in unless one or both of them outplays Reichel and/or Kurashev for top 9 roles. Strome and Borgstrom simply aren't 4th line material.

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Lesson of the Day

A key element of the breakout is every skater -- and even the goalie -- being where they need to be so that they can use instinct to react to developing plays and trust that a teammate will be in position to support them no matter the situation or what zone the team is in.

In terms of the transition game from defense to offense, the D-men need the forwards to do their duty to get open in order to receive outlet passes but also be ready to revert immediately back to defending if the opposition forces a turnover before the puck breaches the blueline.

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Colton Dach

Kelowna also has rights to Blackhawks D prospect Michael Krutil. Had the pandemic not severely impacted the WHL last season, Krutil would have been in juniors rather than in the AHL where he struggled mightily. Not the optimal choice but he will be with the IceHogs again.

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Athlete vs Project

"Is this player an athlete or is he a project? For Lukas, he's an athlete."

Yet, this isn't to say all athletic players won't be projects and all players who aren't projects are naturally athletic. How would roster players like Strome and Alex Nylander be classified? What about youngsters like Michal Teply who may be rounding the corner toward top 6 potential?

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See you on the boards!

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