Under man to man you don’t just throw out what side of the ice the D-Men play on. Man to man may allow more agressive stepping up and puck challenges deep. However, this isn’t done in a vaccum. You don’t want a D-Man caught up-ice nor do you want both D-Men caught on the same side leaving the front of the net or the far post open.
- Z3Hawk

It's read and react for all 5 skaters. No as a rule you don't want two Dmen behind the net or on the same side but there are times that's what a man to man allows with the centerman becoming the 3rd Dman taking if front of the net responsibilities when a Dman leaves his post to WIN a puck.

Takes familiarity and chemistry for this to work something the Hawks have not had on all 3 D pairings and 4 lines for yrs.

I had the same reaction to Fortin's callup: he didn't really earn it, at least compared to others in Rockford. Fortin was not noticeable in the 4-5 games he played for the Hogs before his callup while forwards like Highmore, both Sikura brothers, and even Schroeder and Broadhurst were busting their tails creating offense.

If Fortin was actually producing and making a difference by using his blazing speed to be a disruptive force like say Athanasiou or Zucker, then I wouldn't care so much about him leapfrogging other prospects. Save for a few games you can count on one hand, he has been inconsequential.
- AEL_Fox

He still on the hawks’ roster?

It's read and react for all 5 skaters. No as a rule you don't want two Dmen behind the net or on the same side but there are times that's what a man to man allows with the centerman becoming the 3rd Dman taking if front of the net responsibilities when a Dman leaves his post to WIN a puck.

Takes familiarity and chemistry for this to work something the Hawks have not had on all 3 D pairings and 4 lines for yrs.
- Mr Ricochet

How’s that working? Any D System still has a continuum aspect to it from safe to reckless. Having D-Men running around leaving the front of the net, the far post and entire halves of the ice open is reckless. Need 12 Centres to cover this type of chaos. We have replaced Ulf’s System which was also reckless on the continuum (mindless pinching) with another reckless System of puck chasing. Doesn’t help that the out of position D-Men have not been actually winning the puck. The fact that you call it a “Man to Man” System does not change the fact that D-Men make mistakes and get caught out of position. You could actually call a D System “Mistake Free” and there would still be mistakes.

Yeah, agree and that was kind of my point or half formed opinion. Can’t really recall any players that truly developed there under Dent.

Most of the better ones, like Shaw, Saad, and a few others never really spent much time there...which really leaves essentially only Hartman, Vinnie and Gus who are in the NHL unless I’m missing someone.
- HawkintheD

So. Agree. There were so many I waited. Ten years for Polka and Dano. The laws of probability should have stocked the shelves with more. All that came up were so called promising Smurfs from. Europe and. 23 year old rookies from college.

Speed and positioning to manage gaps and skate the puck out of trouble will be the cornerstone of Boqvist's defensive game so something good to build upon.

If he can add an element of using his body to separate the puck from the carrier like Jokiharju has shown he can do and what I observed Beaudin and Krys do during prospect camp (albeit against peers, not NHLers), then that would be a great weapon to add to his utility belt and make him a more complete player.
- AEL_Fox

Agreed. I remember at Camp that Boqvist at least tried to engage opposing players physically. You don’t necessarily have to flatten opposing players all the time but you do have to fight for the right position. I think Boqvist’s instincts are excellent to get in the right place to defend, and fight for pucks.

Bread, the very very very very best a Hawk fan can hope for is Bovquist to be near adequate in his zone. His best chance at being defensive is in the neutral zone using his feet, stick and IQ to stop/muddy an entry cuz once the puck is in his zone he has never ever ever ever shown any ability defensively that I've seen.

No expert, have seen the kid 5-6 times and some clips but I would use words like abomination and hideous to describe his Dzone play/positioning/effort/reads. ...... Kid is a young 18 yrs old, is in the best spot to develop (can't say that if/when he gets to Rockford), is physically talented and has a long ways to go as far as developing.

My hope is he develops into a Tyson Barrie and I don't care how long that takes. That would be just fine for this fan.
- Mr Ricochet

Just to show what if......a comparison in terms of where their development is at coming fresh from junior ......wiz could expound on this....Ryan Ellis, Nashville.....attempted to shelter him but he had to go to Milwaukee ahl. After one season he fast tracked to NHL. Remarkable. He had problem knowing how able to turn when the puck or opponent was bearing down. Basic defense should have learned but apparently got by like Boqvust does now. Wonder what Mark Hunter will do for him? Rick (wiz friend in Canada) you see & hear the Canadian press. As an astute commentator on this site, perhaps you could expound on the issue of defensive resonsibility and how you guess Boqvist develops.

I mean it is a positive what he is able to do now BUT he has a long ways to go .

Agreed. I remember at Camp that Boqvist at least tried to engage opposing players physically. You don’t necessarily have to flatten opposing players all the time but you do have to fight for the right position. I think Boqvist’s instincts are excellent to get in the right place to defend, and fight for pucks.
- Z3Hawk

I tried to watch him closely last night and noticed that he rarely made contact but he would bump into players in the corners to cut them off from coming out of the corners with the puck.Boqvist was confident with the puck in the D zone while under pressure and made tight short passes when he was unable to carry the puck out.I

How’s that working? Any D System still has a continuum aspect to it from safe to reckless. Having D-Men running around leaving the front of the net, the far post and entire halves of the ice open is reckless. Need 12 Centres to cover this type of chaos. We have replaced Ulf’s System which was also reckless on the continuum (mindless pinching) with another reckless System of puck chasing. Doesn’t help that the out of position D-Men have not been actually winning the puck. The fact that you call it a “Man to Man” System does not change the fact that D-Men make mistakes and get caught out of position. You could actually call a D System “Mistake Free” and there would still be mistakes.
- Z3Hawk

I think their D zone system has maintained continuity- they play "headless chicken" with man principles now instead of zone is all. Kinda looks like the the same thing, only different.

Thanks for the insight. Makes sense. I would prefer that as well in a man-to-man defense: no matter what, never have both defenders in the same area of the ice and never leave your goalie unprotected (as long as you still know where your man is at all times and can prevent any backdoor plays).
- AEL_Fox

Re. The defense at Rockford since Colliton left.

They haveber. surteneri g bushel full of goals most each time out. Seven hosps against B's Rockford Friday night. Three if not maybe give ECHL forwards on the game sheet stats.

What is going on here. It must be team defense. Rematch at Horizon Sunday/I might go

In a couple games I listened to Dahlstrom was the guy used in all situations. Clearly Colliton had confidance in him. Since he has mhl experience, I wonder if he might be ok in NHL because Colliton might give him a fair opportunity.anning, Rutta have been bad. Davidson was brought in as depth and is third pair able IMHO. But with all the kids coming I like Davidson to stick around. Even Manning could be bearable. Gus, Rutta must go. Murphy does not have wheels to stick around, not with the guys coming

I am guessing that Carlsson and Hillman were the better dmen along with Dahlstrom. Then Raydash began off and on star of game and scoring. But lately as aformentioned team defense has been brutal

The coaching change, all the youth, the influx of ECHL forwards. Icehogs just not good

Can you set us straight regarding whom if anyone is playing well and whom you like more on their defense. I have been hoping Carlsson but now what is going on

In response to a question yesterday about why Crawford was still in net after the hawks went down 3-0, I suggested that it was to prevent him from taking the skate of shame and would just get teleovwd during the intermission

I was surprised when he started the second, but I thought it was because he gave a sh*t and felt he was the team’s best chance to possibly come back. I thought Crawford showed a lot yesterday and was one of the few on the ice making a solid effort
- Spec41971

I figured playing again today factored into the equation.

Re. The defense at Rockford since Colliton left.

They haveber. surteneri g bushel full of goals most each time out. Seven hosps against B's Rockford Friday night. Three if not maybe give ECHL forwards on the game sheet stats.

What is going on here. It must be team defense. Rematch at Horizon Sunday/I might go

In a couple games I listened to Dahlstrom was the guy used in all situations. Clearly Colliton had confidance in him. Since he has mhl experience, I wonder if he might be ok in NHL because Colliton might give him a fair opportunity.anning, Rutta have been bad. Davidson was brought in as depth and is third pair able IMHO. But with all the kids coming I like Davidson to stick around. Even Manning could be bearable. Gus, Rutta must go. Murphy does not have wheels to stick around, not with the guys coming

I am guessing that Carlsson and Hillman were the better dmen along with Dahlstrom. Then Raydash began off and on star of game and scoring. But lately as aformentioned team defense has been brutal

The coaching change, all the youth, the influx of ECHL forwards. Icehogs just not good

Can you set us straight regarding whom if anyone is playing well and whom you like more on their defense. I have been hoping Carlsson but now what is going on
- jhawk59

Ths does not bode well for the future prospects people are clamoring to make the NHL roster.

Rockford has been stripped of its best guys to patch holes with the NHL squad, they aren’t good enough with the big boys.

Tells me three things:

1. The callups are in fact AHL guys and not more than that
2. The pipeline must really be thin if the Hogs are tanking too.
3. The types of players being drafted are the wrong kind for NHL play.

also 2/7 need to be kept off the pp, try 28 or 42 directing it.

20-19-8
88-15-12
84-62-40
29-64-16

not that the bottom 6 matter, but if the top 2 click a bit
with this combo, it might loosen up the bottom 6
- gazza53

Holy crap, yes, totally agree with our pp qb's! One more thing JC needs to realize and change.

I think their D zone system has maintained continuity- they play "headless chicken" with man principles now instead of zone is all. Kinda looks like the the same thing, only different.
- Davewn

Hmmm I thought it was “Deer in Headlights”

Bread, the very very very very best a Hawk fan can hope for is Bovquist to be near adequate in his zone. His best chance at being defensive is in the neutral zone using his feet, stick and IQ to stop/muddy an entry cuz once the puck is in his zone he has never ever ever ever shown any ability defensively that I've seen.

No expert, have seen the kid 5-6 times and some clips but I would use words like abomination and hideous to describe his Dzone play/positioning/effort/reads. ...... Kid is a young 18 yrs old, is in the best spot to develop (can't say that if/when he gets to Rockford), is physically talented and has a long ways to go as far as developing.

My hope is he develops into a Tyson Barrie and I don't care how long that takes. That would be just fine for this fan.
- Mr Ricochet

Thanks, Rico. I get that he is a kid and has a ways to go, but noting any good areas or where he is improving defensively is great to read. I know some here have said he makes the Hawks out of camp next year.

I tried to watch him closely last night and noticed that he rarely made contact but he would bump into players in the corners to cut them off from coming out of the corners with the puck.Boqvist was confident with the puck in the D zone while under pressure and made tight short passes when he was unable to carry the puck out.I
- eagle50

Exactly. I think he is just a great prospect. I was stunned he was available at 8. It is not often discussed as a separate issue today but it once was - namely, that you don’t have to crush opposing players all the time but you do need to get in their way. Applies to D-Men and Forwards.

Thanks, Rico. I get that he is a kid and has a ways to go, but noting any good areas or where he is improving defensively is great to read. I know some here have said he makes the Hawks out of camp next year.
- I Am The Breadman

Hard to picture both Gus and Boqvist in line up.....the way they play defense now. My guess is that it is only a matter of how long before Gus goes. Wiz thinks the roster gets stripped but how long would that process entail

Think and hope second round choices. Think and hope some players are packaged at trade deadline. Wishful thinking is Crawford and Gus even our 2019 second just to extract a first round. But wiz has said the difference makers are the top six picks.

How’s that working? Any D System still has a continuum aspect to it from safe to reckless. Having D-Men running around leaving the front of the net, the far post and entire halves of the ice open is reckless. Need 12 Centres to cover this type of chaos. We have replaced Ulf’s System which was also reckless on the continuum (mindless pinching) with another reckless System of puck chasing. Doesn’t help that the out of position D-Men have not been actually winning the puck. The fact that you call it a “Man to Man” System does not change the fact that D-Men make mistakes and get caught out of position. You could actually call a D System “Mistake Free” and there would still be mistakes.
- Z3Hawk

My opinion, damn good. I mentioned a couple games back that I can't remember a fire drill looking defensive zone in a little while and asked for a thought, none. .....

We watch an under talented, lazy, soft team and critique a system(s)/coaches that can't fix an unfixable roster and look for an answer that isn't there.

It's been yrs when the Hawks played I knew what I was doing that day, yrs. So I have to defer sometimes to those who suffer thru it as I watch the Jets v Preds, Wild v Sharks, Knights v Caps, Waterloo v U-18's, the WJC. But what I have seen under JC is a more structured group that seems to have a purpose.

Sure they give up 62 shots in a period to a TB group that only 1 maybe 2 Hawks could crack their lineup but to answer your question, in my eyes the system of go get the God Damn puck and have a teammate cover for you is a good one.

I don't post much anymore cuz I really have little to say and will defer to what I said after StanBowPops&McD gave up Denault and a 2nd for Weise and Fleishman and Q sat em, the Committee gets Daley and Kempny, Q runs em out and both players win a cup that SAME yr, only Rocky can fix this and it's his fault dating from the trade with MTL not Stan's, McD's or Q's. ......... The dysfunction is under Rocky's watch.

I think their D zone system has maintained continuity- they play "headless chicken" with man principles now instead of zone is all. Kinda looks like the the same thing, only different.
- Davewn

Keith and Seabrook are like what, we have to keep up with who????

Hard to picture both Gus and Boqvist in line up.....the way they play defense now. My guess is that it is only a matter of how long before Gus goes. Wiz thinks the roster gets stripped but how long would that process entail

Think and hope second round choices. Think and hope some players are packaged at trade deadline. Wishful thinking is Crawford and Gus even our 2019 second just to extract a first round. But wiz has said the difference makers are the top six picks.
- jhawk59

Bovquist is 18, Gus is 26. ...... Coming out of Sveden there is no possible way Bovquist was not coached up deeply on the defensive side of the puck since Mites, apparently he just didn't care.

That can change though and is my hope. In no way have I given up on the kid but my guess is if he's not a 55ish point Dman he's a liability. Hoping for a Barrie and not a Shattenkirk, or worse.

No better place to land, as many have mentioned, than under Hunter in London. We'll get a look at any improvement soon during the WJC which is around Christmas.

Z,3 blogger

You have been outspoken about taking thrbrsy skill player available over a skill BUT still attractive type style player we are in fire need to insert into the lineup. B Tzachuk was the example last draft

And iagtee with your sentiment. However if we had a second d #1 2019 I would strongly consider a power foreward whose.skating is above average. We do not.want to draft another dman - we have enough in spades. Goaltenders take a long time to develop. Did M Suppan play three or more seasons AHL. And is anyone at goaltender position that much better ceiling than Dellia?

We needs tough and tumble *2 line or at minimum more grit. I know drafting such very early has not Bowman's way. I would like to see a second offensive line to complement the zKa e line

And get a hold of this; Toees is not the same type player or effective how he used to be He actually is a caretaker until a few #1 center comes along. Even if Toews gets 30 goals AS SOMEONE SAID ....Toews makes mistakes and is to blame for effort plemty nowadays. It is not the same players who get roundly criticized.iy is Toews and Keith too

Hard to picture both Gus and Boqvist in line up.....the way they play defense now. My guess is that it is only a matter of how long before Gus goes. Wiz thinks the roster gets stripped but how long would that process entail

Think and hope second round choices. Think and hope some players are packaged at trade deadline. Wishful thinking is Crawford and Gus even our 2019 second just to extract a first round. But wiz has said the difference makers are the top six picks.
- jhawk59

Based upon the first quarter + of the season, the Blackhawks are looking like a lock for another high pick, if not the lottery.

My opinion, damn good. I mentioned a couple games back that I can't remember a fire drill looking defensive zone in a little while and asked for a thought, none. .....

We watch an under talented, lazy, soft team and critique a system(s)/coaches that can't fix an unfixable roster and look for an answer that isn't there.

It's been yrs when the Hawks played I knew what I was doing that day, yrs. So I have to defer sometimes to those who suffer thru it as I watch the Jets v Preds, Wild v Sharks, Knights v Caps, Waterloo v U-18's, the WJC. But what I have seen under JC is a more structured group that seems to have a purpose.

Sure they give up 62 shots in a period to a TB group that only 1 maybe 2 Hawks could crack their lineup but to answer your question, in my eyes the system of go get the God Damn puck and have a teammate cover for you is a good one.

I don't post much anymore cuz I really have little to say and will defer to what I said after StanBowPops&McD gave up Denault and a 2nd for Weise and Fleishman and Q sat em, the Committee gets Daley and Kempny, Q runs em out and both players win a cup that SAME yr, only Rocky can fix this and it's his fault dating from the trade with MTL not Stan's, McD's or Q's. ......... The dysfunction is under Rocky's watch.
- Mr Ricochet

Tell it like it is. I concur with all you said

Bread, the very very very very best a Hawk fan can hope for is Bovquist to be near adequate in his zone. His best chance at being defensive is in the neutral zone using his feet, stick and IQ to stop/muddy an entry cuz once the puck is in his zone he has never ever ever ever shown any ability defensively that I've seen.

No expert, have seen the kid 5-6 times and some clips but I would use words like abomination and hideous to describe his Dzone play/positioning/effort/reads. ...... Kid is a young 18 yrs old, is in the best spot to develop (can't say that if/when he gets to Rockford), is physically talented and has a long ways to go as far as developing.

My hope is he develops into a Tyson Barrie and I don't care how long that takes. That would be just fine for this fan.
- Mr Ricochet

“Abomination and “Hideous”? Also Lazy. Thank goodness you were not and are not a Scout. How possibly were the Hawks interested in such an awful player. Thank goodness nobody agrees with you.

Thanks, Rico. I get that he is a kid and has a ways to go, but noting any good areas or where he is improving defensively is great to read. I know some here have said he makes the Hawks out of camp next year.
- I Am The Breadman

Bread, this is not rocket science. Watch the WJC coming up and you can see for yourself what Bovquist is or isn't. +++ release, incredible release, + skater but IMO not elite, head always up looking to spring a forward, + vision and reads, can and does skate it out. Tons of tools, tons but there is a reason he went from possibly going #1 overall to falling to 8th in one yr and IMO it was his WJC defensive play and being overwhelmed with pros in Sveden in 25 games.

The WJC is the best tournament in the world for many, watch and see. Beaudin may skate for Canada. I'm really really high on this Dman. https://www.eliteprospect...er/284924/nicolas-beaudin

When reading Beaudin's stats understand the USHL has had more kids drafted the last 3-4 yrs than the Q and the Q is defense optional. Wide open trade chances hockey.

“Abomination and “Hideous”? Also Lazy. Thank goodness you were not and are not a Scout. How possibly were the Hawks interested in such an awful player. Thank goodness nobody agrees with you.
- Z3Hawk

I only used hideous and abomination cuz that's as far as my vocabulary will reach.

Z, few are in your league. I know that cuz you tell us often. You just have to suffer with the serfs but this you've known since you were developing your special hockey mind as a youth.......... The one that wanted Bovquist all along but never posted once until after the fact. Or that Brady Tkachuk is a bum cuz he only scored 8 in 40 at BU but now in 12 NHL games as a 19 yr old has 7 goals, 11 points, 15 PIM, 30 hits, 4 PP points, 32 shots and a fight. How'd that kind of game look in the Indianhead?

Not saying you're wrong, 10 yrs will tell, as I rarely make closed ended comments as you do and am old enough to know what I don't know. Hopefully time will allow you that same luxury, Z.