It is a big jump, especially with the grind of the length of the season. For him, it's been a heavy hockey offseason, too. I could see anyone wearing down. So, I can see him getting some maintenance time along the way.
- mohel

It is, though DBC seemed to survive the same after a busy offseason. By all accounts, Dach is a workout/fitness freak in the vein of Toews, so he may have the stamina to withstand the season, with maybe a lull or two in performance in the middle.

Or... you do the opposite. You go all Dusty Baker on his ass and double-shift him for every game of the season. Just burn him down to the nub.

That’s how the Hard-Bake rolls...
- Chief4Feathers

"In Dusty we Busty" should have been the phrase! What an inept manager.

Some thoughts from last nights game:

* Dach and Boqvist were solid and they should look that way
* Entwistle played hard, liked his game. He looks like he's going to be a great role player
* Beaudin had a nice game.
* Would like to see more out of Kurashev and Hagel
* Soderlund had some really solid defensive plays. I'm waiting to see if his game has an offence to it.
* Ramsey looked solid for his first real game as a defenceman
* The broadcaster were horrendous. I wish the Blackhawks would just ante up and get a crew there to cover it.
* Gravel - even though he gave up 4 goals - was really good. I wonder if he gets the start again today.
* Blackhawks special teams were not good.

--

Baby Hawks take on the Baby Leafs at 2pm CT.

Leafs won their first game 6-2. Should be a good one.

I'll post the link if I can find it.

Some thoughts from last nights game:

* Dach and Boqvist were solid and they should look that way
* Entwistle played hard, liked his game. He looks like he's going to be a great role player
* Beaudin had a nice game.
* Would like to see more out of Kurashev and Hagel
* Soderlund had some really solid defensive plays. I'm waiting to see if his game has an offence to it.
* Ramsey looked solid for his first real game as a defenceman
* The broadcaster were horrendous. I wish the Blackhawks would just ante up and get a crew there to cover it.
* Gravel - even though he gave up 4 goals - was really good. I wonder if he gets the start again today.
* Blackhawks special teams were not good.

--

Baby Hawks take on the Baby Leafs at 2pm CT.

Leafs won their first game 6-2. Should be a good one.

I'll post the link if I can find it.
- Tyler Cameron

The earlier Ranger/Jacket game had no announcers, just the sounds of the game.

The earlier Ranger/Jacket game had no announcers, just the sounds of the game.
- Beaver-Warrior

That's better than hearing about some kid's soft serve ice cream.

Some thoughts from last nights game:

* Dach and Boqvist were solid and they should look that way
* Entwistle played hard, liked his game. He looks like he's going to be a great role player
* Beaudin had a nice game.
* Would like to see more out of Kurashev and Hagel
* Soderlund had some really solid defensive plays. I'm waiting to see if his game has an offence to it.
* Ramsey looked solid for his first real game as a defenceman
* The broadcaster were horrendous. I wish the Blackhawks would just ante up and get a crew there to cover it.
* Gravel - even though he gave up 4 goals - was really good. I wonder if he gets the start again today.
* Blackhawks special teams were not good.

--

Baby Hawks take on the Baby Leafs at 2pm CT.

Leafs won their first game 6-2. Should be a good one.

I'll post the link if I can find it.
- Tyler Cameron

I couldn't watch the game last night, so thanks for the insights from everyone. If dach played as good as everyone says he did, then i agree that he should stay up, as he is far above even the better Junior players, and leaving him in Juniors is not going to develop him any further... It would be a waste of a year.

Will be interesting to see whether he plays C or W if he stays in Chicago to start the year
- Assman22

Well they might use options in the dot, but I see no reason why he doesn't stay in the middle because he can cover ground and defend. He is like a big defender and forward hybrid...and any worry about him being abused...well the DUB (WHL) is THE roughest Canadian junior league and they came after Dach all year.and playoff. Any he gives back...he has NEVER been a uninvolved player, so I bet he would be ok.
(Maybe McKay his junior wing enforcer IS there NOW as a safety....but if you worry Dach gets eaten up in the bigs play him with Zach Smith...)


Ig he doesn't fit with Hawks now and he is viewed as a part time press box guy, you send him back...I just do not see any indication he cannot play...unless today we see an entirely different kid playing in aback to back...but I always felt he was the real deal...

Lines for today's game is:

Hagel-Dach-McKay
Soderlund-Kurashev-Josling
Hakarainen-Entwistle-McLaughlin
Purboo-Johnson-Teply

Gilbert-Boqvist
Beaudin-Krys
Ryczek-Moberg

Kossoff

Ty , I am fussy so I am correcting the positions:
LW C RW
38 Brandon Hagel 77 Kirby Dach 42 Riley McKay First line

59 Mikael Hakkarainen 58 MacKenzie Entwistle. 45 Dylan McLaughlin 3rd line

53 Michel Teply 52 Reese Johnson 55 Cole Purboo
76 Tim Soderlund. 71 Philipp Kurashev Sean Josling
I don't know if they get a look at Soderlund on his real left side and let Josling play the right where he usually does, we will see...

39 LD Gilbert 27 RD Boqvist
74 LD Beaudin 43 LhRd Krys
75 LD Ryczek. 62 RD Cole Moberg

I think the lines that are still together are that way because the coaching staff felt they worked.
Teply on what is basically a checking line to me makes sense_ he is a guy who always wants to be out on specula teams and saw time yesterday too. But playing away from Philipp Kurashev might help him get some additional touches...
I am gonna repeat what I saw in Teply and believe me this is a down the road guy maybe, but:
Big off-hand left winger with soft hands, great physical attributes and an improved skating gear and footwork. Seems like a natural goal scorer with good mobility and pace to his game. Handles passes and in the Five Nations U-17, had a hat trick against the Finns. Improving as an attacker as his legs and hands are coming together. He has good vision and now is playing at a confident tempo. His co-ordination has progressed and was surprisingly physical against the Russians and applied strong forechecking pressure throughout the match. Lets go with dangerous shots through heavy traffic. Just through open ice and his solid edging helps him cut out of traffic for a good look. He is still filling his frame in. A team captain, he is a prospect with considerable upside, because of his vision and execution on the power play. Uses his body to an advantage, and wants to be on the ice in crucial situations.

link for the game. need to enter your service provider is the only catch.

https://www.foxsportsgo.com/

also think the hawks have it on their website.

I was correct they are looking at Soderlund on left. wing for the left hander who plays both sides...

This Toronto announcer is a professikonal- not a homer hack...

I was correct they are looking at Soderlund on left. wing for the left hander who plays both sides...
- wiz1901

Kurashev looked pretty good on that shift. Not even talking about the move up the middle. He gets in good support positions

I was correct they are looking at Soderlund on left. wing for the left hander who plays both sides...

This Toronto announcer is a professikonal- not a homer hack...
- wiz1901

Thank god for a passable announcer as the Hawk feed is crap and I don't get fox😀

I was correct they are looking at Soderlund on left. wing for the left hander who plays both sides...

This Toronto announcer is a professikonal- not a homer hack...
- wiz1901

Saw that. Think he's more of a winger with his size and speed.

Toronto announcer is much better than DET peeps last night.

Kurashev looked pretty good on that shift. Not even talking about the move up the middle. He gets in good support positions
- Elbows15

Yeah, Kurashev really stands out with his defensive support and awareness. Doesn't get caught in no man's land.

He skates well and seems fundamentally sound. Just not enough chances to show his offense yet.

Two others that stood out that period are Soderlund and Johnson.

Soderlund is definitely not shy with driving to the net. Sturdy on his skates. Fearless and particularly strong for his size. Really able to hold his own against opponents looking to bring the physicality. Like Kurashev, also good defensive awareness and support.

Some posters mentioned yesterday that Johnson is a player. He's engaged defensively and in board battles in the O zone. Good on draws, too. He's wearing an A but I can't make out who else is wearing the A. Gilbert has the C as Tyler pointed out yesterday.

Saw that. Think he's more of a winger with his size and speed.

Toronto announcer is much better than DET peeps last night.
- Tyler Cameron

well they played him were is plays a lot as a left-handed RW in game and if he were ever a NHl player, he most certainlytainly would see duty in more than a set position..he sorta to a back slide this past year or maybe the better way of putting it is he didn't make a qualitative jump in developing more offensive prowess in Sweden.
But every thing mention above my post stands true...

Two others that stood out that period are Soderlund and Johnson.

Soderlund is definitely not shy with driving to the net. Sturdy on his skates. Fearless and particularly strong for his size. Really able to hold his own against opponents looking to bring the physicality. Like Kurashev, also good defensive awareness and support.

Some posters mentioned yesterday that Johnson is a player. He's engaged defensively and in board battles in the O zone. Good on draws, too. He's wearing an A but I can't make out who else is wearing the A. Gilbert has the C as Tyler pointed out yesterday.
- AEL_Fox

Hagel is wearing the other A

I was correct they are looking at Soderlund on left. wing for the left hander who plays both sides...
- wiz1901

What side defense do you see Kyrs playing in Rockford? Often the backhand is one skill and confidance level noticed when playing on your off non shooting side. While i realize it is likely imperative whom Chicago wanted to mix/match on each defence pair for this tournament, what side defense do you foresee Kyrs after Traverse City.

Kyrs had a rough AHL opening game but was better after that. Yet only a ciuple or so AHL games last season. Wondering if you suspect that his weak points in his game will not be nearly as glaring and he may show much better from the opening AHL contest this season.

I have pegged him as a descent third pair NHL dman after 1-2 AHL campaigns. I feel like he could be quite valuable with the correct pairing. While he does have the size and strength issue to work through, nonetheless it does not be a handicap if he is good in all areas of the game aside from that. And as a puck carrier strong offensive game with a big shot, Kryz could really stand out as helping his five man unit outperform the opponent

I am guessing that Chicago is going to have an ever increasingly better strong third and fourth lines since we have prospects with combination of speed toughness skill filtering in as they turn pro and their game develops more. Kryz may often play with those future teamattes SO A BONUS HAVING AN OFFENSIVE GENERATOR WITH 3rd & 4th lines. Of course Kyrz will get Pp duty too

Bottom line: if everything works out well then Chicago utilizes four lines with a nice balance on each five man unit. Rolling four lines with third and fourth lines outplaying the opponent will be one way we become a playoff team. Kryz is part of the equation.

Minor thing but may add up as pluses on the bench and locker room but Moberg seems like a really great teammate. He's constantly stick tapping teammates after even simple plays.

As for his play, not standing out in a good or bad way which overall isn't a bad thing for a blueline prospect who's calling card for the pros may be ultimately as a defensive defenseman.

Ryczek on the other hand looked over-matched on some shifts.

Hagel is wearing the other A
- Elbows15

Thanks, Elbows!

Faceoffs were brutal in the first. Boqvist was trying to be too cute in the first IMO. Dach needs to get better on draws.

What side defense do you see Kyrs playing in Rockford?
- jhawk59

all I know is I didn't like his start when he was supposed to transition out and was taken away...
he is comfortable where they play him but the idea with theses push defenders like Gus is if their stick is closer to the net they can drive c chances with shots...

he was on the Ld on the pp with Boqvist....

on the other side of things Jake ryczek id a RH LD because he is playing with Moberg...

Faceoffs were brutal in the first. Boqvist was trying to be too cute in the first IMO. Dach needs to get better on draws.
- ChicagoHope

I believe it was Boqvist who got burned in his O zone that led to a Leafs breakaway that Kossoff stopped fortunately.

I believe it was Boqvist who got burned in his O zone that led to a Leafs breakaway that Kossoff stopped fortunately.
- AEL_Fox

It was.