I figured they would come back to earth after a decent start. Still no defense.
- HawkintheD

How can you say the Wings don't have defense? They have Hall of Famer Trevor Daley!

The Canucks have looks surprisingly good, I wonder if they'll be able to keep it up. Hughes is the real deal, for a small kid he's surprisingly good on defense. He'll never be confused with Hjalmarsson, but he's much better than guys like Gustafsson. Stan certainly screwed up when he didn't draft Hughes.

I know what has happened because I can clearly see it on the ice. If you can’t see it you are blind and I can’t help you. You can also see how the bench is working. Again if you can’t see it you are blind and I can’t help you. Finally the Reporters that cover the Hawks are reporting what they see the Hawks practicing. I have no reason to distrust what they report.
- Z3Hawk

1.) I may be old and my eyesight may not be what it use to be but I’m not blind and I don’t need help from a young whippersnapper like you.

2.) As far as Blackhawks reporters goes, it’s not a matter of trust or distrust. It’s just that I find most of them have no idea what they’re talking about.

I’m not in the torch and pitchfork mob against JC (not yet at least), but this is what leads to the concern. Why is it that a bunch of amateur hockey fans, myself included, can see that Gustafsson is at best a PP specialist who should otherwise be given sheltered minutes - and yet JC (last game notwithstanding) has been propping him up as something more? I understand it during times of injury and the roster forces JC to play him more, but other times that hasn’t been the case. Perhaps it has something to do with JC “seeing” something in Gustafsson that leads him to think he can coach him into being a better defenseman? Ok, but meanwhile this is the NHL and wins and losses count.

As a point of integrity, however, I will state that I was critical of Kampf being slotted at 3C at the start of the season, but he has proven to be serviceable up to this point. I like Kampf better at 4C, but we’ll have to wait on when/who emerges at 3C.
- Chief4Feathers

Hey Chief. This is only my opinion, as I don’t have any stats or quotes to back this up. I believe that Colliton was just trying to find ways to get wins last year. I think he realized that they were not going to be able to switch and become a defensive monster so he went all in on offense and tried to out score teams. That is why Gus got so much time (not to mention being on the ice for 75% of every PP).

Gus and Keith weren’t terrible last year (they obviously were not great either), but he thought it could work so he started the year with him. It didn’t work and he went away from it. Again, just a guess.

Jack Hughes

GP - 6

G - 0

A - 0

Pts - 0

BUST!!!!!

1.) I may be old and my eyesight may not be what it use to be but I’m not blind and I don’t need help from a young whippersnapper like you.

2.) As far as Blackhawks reporters goes, it’s not a matter of trust or distrust. It’s just that I find most of them have no idea what they’re talking about.
- walleyeb1

Sometimes i wonder how far the internet can travel, hope he built the igloo before he got on line

How can you say the Wings don't have defense? They have Hall of Famer Trevor Daley!

The Canucks have looks surprisingly good, I wonder if they'll be able to keep it up. Hughes is the real deal, for a small kid he's surprisingly good on defense. He'll never be confused with Hjalmarsson, but he's much better than guys like Gustafsson. Stan certainly screwed up when he didn't draft Hughes.
- DarthKane

Stan didn't get the chance Hughes was picked 7th, Stan selected Bovquist at #8

Hey Chief. This is only my opinion, as I don’t have any stats or quotes to back this up. I believe that Colliton was just trying to find ways to get wins last year. I think he realized that they were not going to be able to switch and become a defensive monster so he went all in on offense and tried to out score teams. That is why Gus got so much time (not to mention being on the ice for 75% of every PP).

Gus and Keith weren’t terrible last year (they obviously were not great either), but he thought it could work so he started the year with him. It didn’t work and he went away from it. Again, just a guess.
- Chunk

That could have been the case. At any rate, I’m cautiously optimistic that with the full contingent of defensemen back from injury - we’ll see more of Gus being deployed like he was against Edmonton. I have no problem with him being out there for the majority of the PP as his positive impact is undeniable - but 5v5 should be few and far between.

Stan didn't get the chance Hughes was picked 7th, Stan selected Bovquist at #8
- LAHawk

And your point is? Stan should have found a way to draft Hughes over the sure-fire bust that is Boqvist.

Jack Hughes

GP - 6

G - 0

A - 0

Pts - 0

BUST!!!!!
- glennjpawlak22

Kakko has 1 point in 3 games.

The 2019 draft appears to be a total bust.

Jack Hughes

GP - 6

G - 0

A - 0

Pts - 0

BUST!!!!!
- glennjpawlak22

He's teeny tiney, and watching the devils vs Flyers, Flyers outmuscled them everywhere

1.) I may be old and my eyesight may not be what it use to be but I’m not blind and I don’t need help from a young whippersnapper like you.

2.) As far as Blackhawks reporters goes, it’s not a matter of trust or distrust. It’s just that I find most of them have no idea what they’re talking about.
- walleyeb1

Great point walleyeb. A fair amount of these reporter's do a tremendous amount of Spin in their reporting. Or they insert their opinion as fact and try and pass it off as fair reporting.

You also have to look at it this way if they don't how the line they will be either fired or demoted .

And your point is? Stan should have found a way to draft Hughes over the sure-fire bust that is Boqvist.
- DarthKane

Most if not all the scouting bureaus had Bovquist ahead of Hughes, and expected him to be selected in front of Hughes. If memory serves me correct, most on this blog were p.o'd the Hawks didn't select Wallstrom, a big power forward type.

Hey Chief. This is only my opinion, as I don’t have any stats or quotes to back this up. I believe that Colliton was just trying to find ways to get wins last year. I think he realized that they were not going to be able to switch and become a defensive monster so he went all in on offense and tried to out score teams. That is why Gus got so much time (not to mention being on the ice for 75% of every PP).

Gus and Keith weren’t terrible last year (they obviously were not great either), but he thought it could work so he started the year with him. It didn’t work and he went away from it. Again, just a guess.
- Chunk

I think that's 2 games in a row they haven't given up a goal for about 30 minutes, and had a 2 goal lead, continue to do that not only will they be in a lot of games, they will win their fair share of them.

You at right. No team can get 3 points for winning 5 games; they only get 10. But the 10 they got with the 5 the losing team got totals 15 points available. The losing team gets .333 of the points and the winning team gets .667 of the points.
- Spec41971

I still think you have to look at it as Max amount of points a team can get. In any one game, the max amount of points is 2.

That's why i have always wanted them to go to a completely 3 point system. 3 points to the winner in regulation, 2 to the winner in overtime/shootout, 1 to the loser in overtime/shootout, and 0 to the loser in regulation.

I would agree - but I’d have to think the analytics people were also saying “umm.. Gus is not good and here are the numbers to prove it.” So, you’d have to suppose Stan was a big influence in his playing time?

As an aside, one of the first series (maybe it was the very first) they did in the lead up to the winter classic involved the Caps and Penguins. One of the more interesting scenes they did was a conversation between McPhee and Trotz on grading the performances of the players during the last game and discussing the roster. Pretty cool stuff to be witness to.
- Chief4Feathers

The decision puzzles me, too. Just pointing out that it is likely a collective decision than just JC's.

Kakko has 1 point in 3 games.

The 2019 draft appears to be a total bust.
- DarthKane

Dach hasn't even played a game. You're right...bust!

Tyler retweeted this, and I thought it was interesting enough to put here:

@hockeypunhere
This stat, from @jcgreenx, is absolutely insane. #Blackhawks


- pdx2ord

Static analysis. Gus plays more when they are losing. They are not necessarily losing because he plays more.

But yes I get it and agree, a more balanced Dcore is better for stable play. When the hawks are winning late in games, he is likely to be on the pine.

Static analysis. Gus plays more when they are losing. They are not necessarily losing because he plays more.

But yes I get it and agree, a more balanced Dcore is better for stable play. When the hawks are winning late in games, he is likely to be on the pine.
- TrueGrit

Moreover, the teams biggest weakness last year was the PK, which he NEVER plays on. I am not saying he should be by any stretch. The poor PK was a big reason the team trailed in a lot of games....

If we get stable top 4 minutes from Keith, Murphy, Seabrook, Matta and DeHaan, then Gus is a value doing what he does.

Tyler retweeted this, and I thought it was interesting enough to put here:

@hockeypunhere
This stat, from @jcgreenx, is absolutely insane. #Blackhawks


- pdx2ord

So if Gus plays zero minutes, would they be undefeated ?

I know what has happened because I can clearly see it on the ice. If you can’t see it you are blind and I can’t help you. You can also see how the bench is working. Again if you can’t see it you are blind and I can’t help you. Finally the Reporters that cover the Hawks are reporting what they see the Hawks practicing. I have no reason to distrust what they report.
- Z3Hawk

Which reporters, and what exactly are they saying? Can you provide a link so that we can all read this? What do you mean by "you can also see how the bench is working"? I'll go back to a question I posed to you in the last blog: How do you know that the last game isn't how Colliton's system is supposed to be played?

You seem to post on here just to get a rise out of people (and obviously, I'm guilty here). If you really believe what you are saying, be more specific and reference where you get your extra info. Don't just say "If you can't see it, I can't help you", or "some reporters said something". It's lazy.

Or you can just start every post with "In my opinion".

That could have been the case. At any rate, I’m cautiously optimistic that with the full contingent of defensemen back from injury - we’ll see more of Gus being deployed like he was against Edmonton. I have no problem with him being out there for the majority of the PP as his positive impact is undeniable - but 5v5 should be few and far between.
- Chief4Feathers

This is spot on. It’s not that Gustafsson brings zero value. He clearly does on the offense side of the ledger.

With the additions of Maatta and de Haan as well as a healthy Murphy, who are all better defensively than Gustafsson, all this allows for appropriate slotting for D pairs and special teams.

This is spot on. It’s not that Gustafsson brings zero value. He clearly does on the offense side of the ledger.

With the additions of Maatta and de Haan as well as a healthy Murphy, who are all better defensively than Gustafsson, all this allows for appropriate slotting for D pairs and special teams.
- AEL_Fox

And hopefully not being down 2 - 3 goals in the first 10 minutes like we did for awhile last year. As True Grit pointed out, once that happens Gus is going to play alot to try and generate offense to get back in the game.

Moreover, the teams biggest weakness last year was the PK, which he NEVER plays on. I am not saying he should be by any stretch. The poor PK was a big reason the team trailed in a lot of games....

If we get stable top 4 minutes from Keith, Murphy, Seabrook, Matta and DeHaan, then Gus is a value doing what he does.
- TrueGrit

Yes, last year and at the beginning of this year, the Keith/Gus pairing was one borne out of necessity given the lack of other options and/or injury. Now that there are more/better defensive players - Gus can slot in to being a PP specialist and limited 5v5.

I need to keep this in mind before I continue to get the red-ass at JC over the Keith/Gus pairing.

This is spot on. It’s not that Gustafsson brings zero value. He clearly does on the offense side of the ledger.

With the additions of Maatta and de Haan as well as a healthy Murphy, who are all better defensively than Gustafsson, all this allows for appropriate slotting for D pairs and special teams.
- AEL_Fox

I know it’s early, but the Maatta and de Haan acquisitions are looking to be solid, particularly so given what was traded in exchange. It’s enjoyable to watch a game and not have to endure extended shifts with the Hawks pinned down in their zone chasing the puck around like a hair-on-fire drill.

And hopefully not being down 2 - 3 goals in the first 10 minutes like we did for awhile last year. As True Grit pointed out, once that happens Gus is going to play alot to try and generate offense to get back in the game.
- LAHawk

Thank you, what I am trying to point out and hopefully level out and settle is that nobody, JC/Q/Bowman strategically believed that Gus playing 25mins a night is a recipe for long term success. It was more of a result of other plans failing.

The Hawks have "chased the game" for the better part of the last 2 years. When this happens, all plans go out the window and it becomes survival.