Coming off the first victory of the season after an 0-7-2 start, tonight's Blackhawks-Hurricanes game could be as good of a benchmark as any to see if winning is contagious or was just a flash in the pan.
Given that the initial win was against another bottom feeder in the Senators and up next is the NHL's only undefeated team, the Hawks need to show that they can hang and not get obliterated again by the Canes.
What seems different heading into this matchup is Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Seth Jones, and Marc-Andre Fleury starting to ramp up their play to at least a baseline level of what is expected of them.
While star power has its place in fueling a team to being a force on the ice, the key to being a fierce competitor is everyone playing their role, executing fundamentals, and staying focused whistle to whistle.
Another critical element is how the coaches deploy the players in terms of lines and pairs as well as what situations they play in (ES, PP, PK) and where on the ice they start their shifts (O zone vs D zone).
The fear, though, is that the Hawks fall flat on their face again and plummet meteorically as quickly as they rose on Monday. There's pressure on the players to perform consistently and the coaching staff to get the most out of the team or else jobs could be on the line.
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COVID Protocol
Newly entered into protocol:
* None
Still in protocol:
* Henrik Borgstrom, Center
Out of protocol:
* Jujhar Khaira, Left Wing
* Riley Stillman, Defenseman
* Marc Crawford, Assistant Coach
* Jimmy Waite, Goaltending Coach
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Louis Crevier
Louis Crevier had a standout prospect showcase and training camp in September which he was able to parlay into his first NHL contract. He's back in juniors so his ELC won't kick in until he goes pro.
What to expect of Crevier is he relishes in locking it down defensively by using his big frame and long reach to his advantage. He separates players from pucks, disrupts plays, cuts off lanes, and skates well.
A reasonable timeline to the pros is spending one final season in the QMJHL then heading to the AHL for at least two seasons before he states his case for an NHL cup of coffee then a regular tour of duty.
Alex Vlasic, Nolan Allan, Ethan Del Mastro, and Crevier headline the young D corps who could make a living as defenders who will shut down the other team and be sufficient contributors on the breakout.
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Arvid Soderblom
This decision by the Blackhawks to prioritize Arvid Soderblom as the primary IceHogs goalie makes sense. For one, Soderblom dresses for every game while Collin Delia and Malcolm Subban alternate suiting up.
Additionally, Delia and Subban seem to be hitting a plateau in their development where they may be nothing more than NHL/AHL tweeners and no greater than 3rd string tenders who may not be retained past 2021-22.
Soderblom has intriguing potential that may be a notch below that of 2020 2nd rounder Drew Commesso who is viewed as Chicago's goalie of the future. However, a strong AHL campaign keeps Soderblom relevant.
Dominic Basse, Cale Morris, and Tom Aubrun have much to prove and could merely be minor league depth. Then there's Kevin Lankinen in the big show already yet also having more to go to obtain NHL job security.
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Alex Nylander
This is the type of attitude you want to see out of a reclamation project like Alex Nylander: see a demotion to the minors as a way to get rejuvenated en route to hopefully becoming an impact player once he earns a recall -- ideally a permanent one -- to the NHL.
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Lukas Reichel
Although for different reasons, this is again the type of attitude you want to see out of a prospect: marinate as long as needed in the minors in order to refine the natural talents, learn the nuances of the pro game in North America, and mature physically.
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Investigation & Lawsuit Updates
For now, I am going to stop posting about the Kyle Beach investigation, lawsuit, and related matters. If you are interested in following the unfolding details, I recommend reading Rick Westhead and Emily Kaplan on Twitter in addition to your standard Blackhawks news sites.
Rick Westhead's Twitter Page
Emily Kaplan's Twitter Page
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See you on the boards!
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