"We shall assume control" .... of C.P.
I know he went into arbitration, and it caused a little tension. As their season slides out of control, what would they look for? A first, and a great prospect?
- I Am The Breadman

A goalie?

Thanks, Justin - nice beginning to a series that could get us through the winter.

No love for Jake Wise - 3rd pick last spring - was supposed to be a "surprise", IIRC - but apparently not lighting it up at BU.
- StLBravesFan

Yeah, not much buzz about Wise as well as Soderlund this season.

For Wise at least, one reason could just be the adjustment to the NCAA. Barratt started slow last season but picked it up and then took a rocket to the moon this year. Sikura started slowly in his college career, too, amping it up each season until he graduated.

For Soderlund, his worth seems to be more than just stats with his high motor, fearlessness, and strong play at both ends of the rink. Haven't seen any footage of him and his low offensive stats may not tell the whole story of his actual game play.

I also suspect that if he weren't injured, Highmore would be on the Rockford all-star list. After Sikura, he's the Hogs best forward.

A goalie?
- Rota's Rooter

Duh? On my part. I'm slow. Yeah, great point. Allen and Johnson combined can't play to the level of a Crow fart.

Fletcher is getting announced as the Flyers new GM. Don't be surprised if Q gets hired rather quickly there.

Justin, whats the buzz you are hearing from Mgmt? Are they ready to concede this is not even close to a playoff team this year? have they thought about asking players to waive their NMCs?

Justin,

I know it is hard to write positive things these days, and very much appreciate the effort, but I don't see much hope in the pipeline either. A few guys might get a shot - maybe even one or two might be above average someday.

However when you look at the fact that the NHL team is lucky if on any given night there are eight legit NHL players in the lineup, the "best of Rockford" is already on the team filling out the lineup, and that the Hogs are also playing like ass.....

Great tweet last night from Lazerus:


Mark Lazerus
‏Verified account @MarkLazerus
16h16 hours ago

If the Blackhawks were a caravan of scary, scary migrants, all Trump would have to do is paint the southern border blue. They'd never be able to cross it.
14 replies 11 retweets 101 likes
- Return of the Roar

Does that extend beyond RFD, or are you already labelling Boqvist, Beaudin, and Mitchell busts?

At the risk of being a heretic with the name I am going to mention:

As the decision was being made to axe Q, a wise GM and Hockey Ops Dept might have concluded that this was a weak team playing in the very tough Central Div. and the likelihood of a playoff spot wasn't great. That GM would have noted that defence was a massive weak spot and they needed a coach who could help school the young defenceman on the roster and also provide a candid, honest assessment of their capabilities.

There would have been no better guy than 'retired' Ken Hitchcock on a short term deal - pay him $2M for the season with no commitments beyond that because Colliton was heir to the throne for next season. Hitch might not have gotten the team into the playoffs but this disaster of a defence corps would have been noticeably improved over the course of this season and going forward. And Colliton would have had the time to prepare for the transition instead of being thrown into a complete dumpster fire.

31st overall here we come.
- RickJ

Plus, there would be donuts...and redass!

Doesn't sound horrible. The defense in St. Louis which seemed like a strength when he was there, doesn't seem so much now.

Leafs trade Leivo to Vancouver

Does that extend beyond RFD, or are you already labelling Boqvist, Beaudin, and Mitchell busts?
- HawkintheD

I think looking at things objectively, you start with the premise that maaaybe 20% of your prospects get a shot, and of them maaaybe half stick.

Too soon to tell on the three you mention as they are still very young, very raw, and not really men vs men experience under their belt yet.

However, a prudent GM would not rush them. Let them develop. That takes time, and IMHO, these guys are two years-ish out from getting a look at them in the NHL.

But, but...they call him the working man.
- Rota's Rooter

When we get C P I will have to break my fast on honey dew
And drink the milk of paradise. #deeplyric

I have been following Maxim Shalunovs play in the KHL. He has been playing mostly on the third line... His stats are way down from last year. He has had some injuries and has been scratched more than a few times. His Red Army Moscow team is the best team in the KHL . Maybe , Maxim is in the dog house because he wants out of his contract to play for the Hawks next year( as stated on the blog). One of the players on his team is ex Hawk Dalstrom.

Preliminary WJC roster spots

Canada: Beaudin, Mitchell, Entwistle
Czech Republic: Galvas
Finland: Nordgren

Bulls fire Hoiberg as head coach. Q has his new gig lined up.

Bulls fire Hoiberg as head coach. Q has his new gig lined up.
- AEL_Fox

Zone D is allowed in NBA - done deal

Nice one Justin. I'd be interested to read your notes about Hillman and Raddysh.

When I look at the list, it seems like maybe there is an NHL player or two in Rockford and a lot more to be excited about in the group not yet at the AHL/NHL level. Phillip Kurashev is one guy I was super impressed with, because he looked on the ice like he was mature beyond his years.

This guy is saying "not all is lost" on the
prospect front

https://www.eprinkside.co...-in-there-blackhawks-fans

Preliminary WJC roster spots

Canada: Beaudin, Mitchell, Entwistle
Czech Republic: Galvas
Finland: Nordgren
- AEL_Fox

I assume the Swedes haven't announced their team yet - otherwise - where is Adam?

Preliminary WJC roster spots

Canada: Beaudin, Mitchell, Entwistle
Czech Republic: Galvas
Finland: Nordgren
- AEL_Fox

Second City Hockey has been coming in hot with these good updates, glad someone's keeping track of it. Although I feel like we're already at 'Bill Murray Caddyshack' level of pride:

'Our team is a couple points out of last place, our PP and PK are worst in the league, we have some huge contracts that will hamstring us for years, it's dire. But, a couple of our prospects made their WJC preliminary rosters. So we got that going for us, which is nice.'

https://i.imgflip.com/6hhvd.gif

Bulls fire Hoiberg as head coach. Q has his new gig lined up.
- AEL_Fox

the bulls are a complete a mess also...Paxson has been a fail also...but reinsdorf will never pull the plug on him....

A problem with an analysis of prospects is that it's very difficult to put them into league-wide context.

How do "our" prospects - as highly as we may think of them - stack up against other teams' future stars - as they also think highly of theirs?

the bulls are a complete a mess also...Paxson has been a fail also...but reinsdorf will never pull the plug on him....
- bogiedoc

The Old Man pulled the plug on Krause - and they were very close.

Of course - GarPax will now be appointing their fifth head coach - how many do they get?

Will Stan get as many?

the only relentless i see..is the relentlessly poor defense decisions and getting blown off the ice in the first period since game 1

The Old Man pulled the plug on Krause - and they were very close.

Of course - GarPax will now be appointing their fifth head coach - how many do they get?

Will Stan get as many?
- StLBravesFan

paxson caught a break with the lottery and Rose...other than that its one bad decision after another...

Bulls fire Hoiberg as head coach. Q has his new gig lined up.
- AEL_Fox

Q gets to coach again in Chicago!

At the risk of being a heretic with the name I am going to mention:

As the decision was being made to axe Q, a wise GM and Hockey Ops Dept might have concluded that this was a weak team playing in the very tough Central Div. and the likelihood of a playoff spot wasn't great. That GM would have noted that defence was a massive weak spot and they needed a coach who could help school the young defenceman on the roster and also provide a candid, honest assessment of their capabilities.

There would have been no better guy than 'retired' Ken Hitchcock on a short term deal - pay him $2M for the season with no commitments beyond that because Colliton was heir to the throne for next season. Hitch might not have gotten the team into the playoffs but this disaster of a defence corps would have been noticeably improved over the course of this season and going forward. And Colliton would have had the time to prepare for the transition instead of being thrown into a complete dumpster fire.

31st overall here we come.
- RickJ

very intrigueing but I don't think hitch would have replaced Q...hitch has huge respect Q