Or maybe, putting the onus on the player, Nylander puts in the effort that got him drafted so highly.
- paulr

Hockey isn't all about effort, I mean of course effort is part of it but it's not everything... The game is also mental, not only that but players have to be developed and used correctly...

I mean you cant start a top 6 offensive player on the 4th line playing 7 minutes a night and say "earn your way up" or play him sparingly on the 2nd PP unit...

IMO, I don't think Buffalo developed him right or developed him in the way he felt he should have been developed --- and that came from Nylander himself...

I mean being naturally lazy is one thing but not giving 100% because you're pissed off with your situation is a completely different situation....

I'm sure Nylander will be handled completely different here in Chicago/Rockford, obviously Stan and our scouts were really high on him, and they see a lot of talent in Nylander and the fact they gave up Joker for him really shows that the Hawks staff will give him every opportunity to be the player he should be and has the talent to be....

I think they're going to groom him to be Toews & Kanes LW.... To be a Panarin type, because he is a right handed shot, and he has an excellent shot to boot....

I know some fans are saying WTF right now, but perhaps in 6 months they will be calling Bowman a genius or at the very least saying this trade was a wash like the Strome/Schmaltz deal..

Look, I really don't judge players where they were drafted 4-5 years in hindsight because at that point it means nothing but this kid was taken 7th overall a couple of years ago and he was taken that high for a reason, so I'm not going to call him a bust just yet - especially since he was drafted by Buffalo...

What makes you uneasy about it? I'd argue that adding him to with two guys with great chemistry that are young and skilled would be a perfect spot for him, or playing with Toews and Kane who also have great chemistry would be a very good landing spot for him IF he makes the roster. Unless they wanna add some grit to Cat and Strome and put Shaw there (though I like the idea of Saad-AA-Shaw as a third line on this team). I think that if Nylander does make it on the roster it will be on one of those top two lines with Toews-Kane or Cat-Strome. Otherwise, he should be getting Top 6 scoring minutes in Rockford.
- Savetheembers33

I think Nylander needs to be playing players that are going into the boards to win battles. I’d also worry about that line defensively.

Little dude is a late add to development camp:

Originally not listed on the #Blackhawks development roster, but Chicago has invited Bolingbrook's Logan Ommen of the Janesville Jets (NAHL) to camp this week
- walleyeb1[/quote

The Hawks traveling secretary's kid.

The Blackhawks have 16 back-to-back games this season so that right there is 16 games to Lehner. I would give him 25% of the remaining 66 games:

Lehner 32 games
Crow 50 games

This only assumes though that Crow is healthy all season which is a huge assumption.
- BlackhawkMike

I would definitely reverse those numbers.....

Crow is 35 coming off of concussion problems, Lehner is 27 coming off of a Vezina finalist season....

I see at the most Crow and Lehner rotating, but more realistically I see Lehner getting the majority of starts.....

IMO, the Hawks signed Lehner for a couple of reasons, they signed him because they're giving him an opportunity to be Crows long-term replacement and they also signed him as a legitimate goalie to take much of the workload off of Corey's back and not have to worry about depending on a Delia if something goes terribly wrong again....

Sorry but I think this is Corey's last season, 50/50 (no pun intended) he retires at the end of this season, his contract is up and the last couple of seasons have been rough on his health.... No doubt if Corey wants to come back next season I'm sure the Hawks will get him signed to maybe a 1-2 million 1 year deal to backup Lehner but this is the end of the road as far as Corey being a 50+ game starter..... Could I be wrong? sure, but given Corey's age and the concussions he's had it's highly unlikely he will ever be a consistent starter again.... But like I said, Corey is an excellent goalie and he could prove all of us wrong, he could beat out Lehner in the rotation and end up starting the majority of games but that is a long shot at best..

I'm sure if Lehner takes the majority of the workload, has an excellent season I could see Bowman giving him a 7-year deal next summer, Crow retires and Delia becomes Lehner's backup...

I know we all love Corey but he doesn't have much left - not because he's regressing - it's because of his health issues and eventually he will regress over the next year or 2.... And I wouldn't be shocked if Crow does take a step back this season...

I mean I wish Crow could play until he's 41 but I cant see that happening... And I don't think Lehner signed with the Hawks to play backup...

Not wanting to necessarily make too big of a deal out of this observation, but...

An awful lot of smurfs on that list of defensemen coming to camp. I know they are young and have time to grow yet, but does anyone see any of the 5'10"/170ish guys filling out to 6'2"/200ish?? Like could any of them handle say...Mark Stone in a board battle?
- Return of the Roar

ROR, I think the "smurf" narrative is played out. I saw guys like Torrey Krug and Vince Dunn make quite the difference in the playofs, Gryzlich (butchered i'm sure) as well. I think that a guy needs to be 6'2 to be a factor is a pointless concern.

[quote=walleyeb1]Little dude is a late add to development camp:

Originally not listed on the #Blackhawks development roster, but Chicago has invited Bolingbrook's Logan Ommen of the Janesville Jets (NAHL) to camp this week
- TYDALE[/quote

The Hawks traveling secretary's kid.

Good grief.....

That is an exciting read, how many years would you guesstimate he's away from NHL...2-3???
- BlackhawkMike

Best guess is Beaudin is at least challenging for a spot on the Hawks blueline in 2020-21. He could have a strong week at prospect camp then a strong training camp in September but there may not be enough room in the inn this fall, especially as a LD.

Even if he challenges next year, I'd also be fine with the slow and steady approach and have him on the Hawks blueline in 2021-22 so that he gets optimal development time in the AHL. He's only 19.

I think Nylander needs to be playing players that are going into the boards to win battles. I’d also worry about that line defensively.
- walleyeb1

Fair point. Depends on how they are deployed. If possible I would try to get them out against teams 3rd lines (despite being our "2nd" line) to open things up more and provide that depth scoring while our "3rd" line of Shaw, AA, and Saad can go up against teams second line to grind on the boards and play solid D.

I mean, no matter what we can find a flaw on this roster of where they look weak or why this or that doesn't look good on paper but we all have to admit this roster looks lightyears better than it did last year and actually has a legit shot to be a Playoff team if they develop the chemistry together

Assuming Gus is Gus, how much trial ballooning will we see out of Rockford if any? For reasons beyond my limited comprehension, Colliton beat the wrong nag to death in Gus. Kept trotting him out there. I wish I had your confidence in this being a legit playoff team. Points early in the season will be critical. I know what Gus brings on the offensive side of the equation, and believe me when I say I like him as a person. But if Colliton or anyone else thinks that one mere camp is going to solve his inherent struggles, they are already dipping into the moonshine. I felt sorry for Gus, and wanted to choke Colliton.
- gabriel

You're entitled to your opinion so this isn't a dig at your post. I don't feel sorry for Gustafsson at all. As Obiwan Kenobi said, "Who's the bigger fool? The fool or the fool who follows him?"

Colliton may have given Gustafsson primo minutes but Gustafsson still needs to perform across the entire ice sheet which includes playing defense. Gustafsson can't expect to mail it in defensively just to play 4th forward as often as he wants.

I actually felt like Gustafsson made some strides at defending in the latter part of the season. He has a mean streak, too. He's not that bad if he exerts himself. Therein lies the rub: he just doesn't apply himself consistently enough. Fingers crossed he does so this season.

ROR, I think the "smurf" narrative is played out. I saw guys like Torrey Krug and Vince Dunn make quite the difference in the playofs, Gryzlich (butchered i'm sure) as well. I think that a guy needs to be 6'2 to be a factor is a pointless concern.
- nickmo2699

Size isn't the end all be all. We've had this discussion a million times. You be small and have the heart and desire to win against a Mark Stone or whoever else that's 6'4 230 like Andrew Shaw and at the same time you can have a guy like Perlini or Viktor Svedberg or Viktor Stalberg but if they don't have the willingness to fight on the boards their size doesn't mean anything. Idc if all our guys are small if they have half the heart and desire that Andrew Shaw has. That's the difference between winning and losing those battles

You're entitled to your opinion so this isn't a dig at your post. I don't feel sorry for Gustafsson at all. As Obiwan Kenobi said, "Who's the bigger fool? The fool or the fool who follows him?"

Colliton may have given Gustafsson primo minutes but Gustafsson still needs to perform across the entire ice sheet which includes playing defense. Gustafsson can't expect to mail it in defensively just to play 4th forward as often as he wants.

I actually felt like Gustafsson made some strides at defending in the latter part of the season. He has a mean streak, too. He's not that bad if he exerts himself. Therein lies the rub: he just doesn't apply himself consistently enough. Fingers crossed he does so this season.
- AEL_Fox

Gus wouldn't be looked at the same way he currently is IF this teams overall Defense wasn't as poor as it has been. If it is better overall people would be taking about Gus as a breakout player this year

I think if they both have good camp(s) I think they both make the team... Clearly both will be attending training camp too.

Either way Dach will get his 9 games in regardless, and given Dach's size, skill and 180 foot game I really think he makes the team, even if he's not offensively effective right off the bat...

Nylander, I think he was just disinterested in Buffalo - the kid has skill and seems to be excited to be here in Chicago where his dad played and where he spent time as a kid, and the fact the Hawks have been a damn good team for the better part of a decade and that may light a fire under his butt and get him to play to the ability he can play...

So I wouldn't be shocked if both made the team.....I could see Nylander perhaps starting on the Toews/Kane line and Dach given his strong 2-way game starting the season off as the Hawks 3C, with Shaw on a line that can both score and shut down opposing top lines..

Either way I'm excited because the Hawks will have a lot of talent on display over the next coming month..
- Savard2Secord

does he have to 'play' in those 9 games? if he plays in 7 and is in the press box for 3, does that count as 10?

does he have to 'play' in those 9 games? if he plays in 7 and is in the press box for 3, does that count as 10?
- glennjpawlak22

yes- he is "called up" or on the team for more than 9 games. Plays or not

Gus wouldn't be looked at the same way he currently is IF this teams overall Defense wasn't as poor as it has been. If it is better overall people would be taking about Gus as a breakout player this year
- Savetheembers33

I think there’s truth to that statement. Good post.

The Hawks would really need to like Wenneberg.

He's @ 4.9M AAV for the next 4 years.
- Tyler Cameron

24 year old 2-way center and former 14th pick overall (stan’s favorite projects).

Here's hoping Beaudin looks solid...I never hear much about him at defense and yet I think he will be a solid player for us.
- BlackhawkMike

Same. Seems to be in Boqvist’s shadow. Beaudin had a great season this past year too.

I have no idea on breakdown...I just know we will have either $5 million or $6 million in cap space sitting on the bench every night. And I am not trying to be a jerk...it's just a lot of cap space tied up in goalie.
- onehundredlevel

That cap space isn't the problem, having a nearly $7mil Dman on the
bench or in the pressbox is

ROR, I think the "smurf" narrative is played out. I saw guys like Torrey Krug and Vince Dunn make quite the difference in the playofs, Gryzlich (butchered i'm sure) as well. I think that a guy needs to be 6'2 to be a factor is a pointless concern.
- nickmo2699

First off, I said I didn't want to make it a bigger deal than it should be.

Second, Grzelcyk took enough of a beating in the finals to miss a few games. Heart can compensate but it can also put you on the DL or into the dark room if the mismatch is too great (see: Shaw).

Third, my real point was that it may be that some of these kids - and we should again remember they are still kids - have a need to finish growing and get stronger before they are ready to play NHL hockey. NONE of the D prospects in the Hawk pipeline IMHO should see pro ice for AT LEAST another year. Especially in light of their own scouting and coaching staff (Capmbell, Smith, etc.) saying they all have significant areas of their games to work on yet.

When's the AA shoe going to drop? They need to trade him for two reasons:
1. Cap space this year. Yeah, I know there are ways to fit him, but it is clearly not Stan's plan to fit him, as the cap is too tight this year with him, no maneuverability.
2. Cap space next year for Strome and Cat. Again, there are scenarios where they can fit them w losing one of Lehner and Craw, plus the cap going up. But that certainly isn't Stan's plan either.

Stan has to have plans to jettison another player yet this summer. When's that shoe gonna drop?
- Cmonalready

When:

1. A team who needs AA to meet cap floor but saves actual salary payout comes calling (OTT?)

and

2. When the Hawks have a replacement of equal of better talent than AA at 3C, not named Kirby Dach. You develop him to play top six time and not rush him to the lineup out of where the team likely wants him slotted.

First off, I said I didn't want to make it a bigger deal than it should be.

Second, Grzelcyk took enough of a beating in the finals to miss a few games. Heart can compensate but it can also put you on the DL or into the dark room if the mismatch is too great (see: Shaw).

Third, my real point was that it may be that some of these kids - and we should again remember they are still kids - have a need to finish growing and get stronger before they are ready to play NHL hockey. NONE of the D prospects in the Hawk pipeline IMHO should see pro ice for AT LEAST another year. Especially in light of their own scouting and coaching staff (Capmbell, Smith, etc.) saying they all have significant areas of their games to work on yet.
- Return of the Roar

I wouldn’t mind seeing Mitchell at the end of the season, when college is finished.

I think there’s truth to that statement. Good post.
- AEL_Fox

Thank you. I think it's a true statement that if the Defense was in a better position overall and Gus was the 5th or 6th best D-man on the team people would think that he could possibly take another step to improve his defense to an acceptable level while being a PP specialist.

The other factor is the fact that his contract is expiring next season and there is a possible replacement in Boqvist who could be ready to step in on the cheap while he'll be looking to get paid.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Mitchell at the end of the season, when college is finished.
- walleyeb1

For a look/see - maybe, as he will be 21 by then, older than most, and likely at least close to fully grown.

Did Perlini accept his QO or did he let it expire?

Same. Seems to be in Boqvist’s shadow. Beaudin had a great season this past year too.
- Assman22

Think this has more to do with the ceiling of Boqvist than the floor of Beaudin. Boqvist has the potential to be a legit 2 Top high point producing defensemen while Beaudin looks to be a solid 3-4 D-Man who contributes on both end of the ice

I wouldn’t mind seeing Mitchell at the end of the season, when college is finished.
- walleyeb1

I just worry he will go the Hayes Vesey route/