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.
- Chief4Feathers

Have not heard that in a while....

Have not heard that in a while....
- TrueGrit

I served in the Army - you pick up phrases - some just happen to stick.

“Butt hurt” is a similar one that seemed to have more usage with my friends from the south.

Jack Hughes

GP - 6

G - 0

A - 0

Pts - 0

BUST!!!!!
- glennjpawlak22

Are you sure they didn't put Dylan Sikura's stats in by mistake?

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.
- LAHawk

Kyle Beach was a big power forward...

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

If it was 6-12-4 I could see your point but 1-12-4 pretty much covers every possibility.

Kyle Beach was a big power forward...
- rpeters01

So was Akim Aliu...

Are you sure they didn't put Dylan Sikura's stats in by mistake?
- rpeters01

Hopefully the kid scores soon before it is determined he's forever an ECHL guy.

If it was 6-12-4 I could see your point but 1-12-4 pretty much covers every possibility.
- rpeters01

Actually it does not.

If you are down a goal or 2 from giving up PP goals early and he plays more chasing the game, it is his fault they gave up the PP goals and lost?

Nowhere do you see the hawks up by 1 goal or 2 in the 2nd or 3rd and Gus playing 10 minutes each period.

Are you sure they didn't put Dylan Sikura's stats in by mistake?
- rpeters01

Omg lmaooooo

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

But I think the stats have proven that playing Gus more in 5v5 situations the odds are about even whether you will score more goals or give up more goals. Last year the options may have been limited. This year when down by a couple of goals I would rather play our top 2 pairs heavily, try to hold the opponent scoreless, and then have confidence that you could score a couple of goals.

Are you sure they didn't put Dylan Sikura's stats in by mistake?
- rpeters01

No, he had 3 assists in his first 5 games.

You heard it here first, Dylan Sikura will have a better career than Jack Hughes!

I just like the fact JC wasn't happy after the peg game and had the team do drills of dumping the puck and retrieving it. End of 2nd period and all of 3rd period vs Oilers anytime they had no pass they dumped it and made the Oil play 200 feet of hockey. Such a simple but effective play especially when you have the lead.

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

Great point.

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.
- Chief4Feathers

In the case of Murphy and de Haan, it’s great to see them play physical in the neutral zone and D zone. Use the body to separate puck from skater, not overly rely on stick checking.

Then in the case of Maatta, I like how he makes quick decisions particularly on zone exits. One pass out to clear the zone and get the puck going the other way.

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.
- LAHawk

https://eyesonisles.com/2...ahlstrom-impresses-debut/

Could we use him?

He started out on the third line, with Josh Bailey and Derrick Brassard but by the end of the game, he was taking shifts with Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee.

He finished with 15:13 of ice time, two shots on goal, and a hit. While it might not look like much, he was buzzing around the puck and looked like he belonged in an NHL top six at just 19 years old, a welcomed sign for the Islanders.

After the game, Barry Trotz had some kind words saying he “didn’t look out of place at all.” If he continues to play the way that he did yesterday, it’s going to be very difficult to send him back down to the AHL.

https://eyesonisles.com/2019/10/15/new-york-islanders-oliver-wahlstrom-impresses-debut/

Could we use him?

He started out on the third line, with Josh Bailey and Derrick Brassard but by the end of the game, he was taking shifts with Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee.

He finished with 15:13 of ice time, two shots on goal, and a hit. While it might not look like much, he was buzzing around the puck and looked like he belonged in an NHL top six at just 19 years old, a welcomed sign for the Islanders.

After the game, Barry Trotz had some kind words saying he “didn’t look out of place at all.” If he continues to play the way that he did yesterday, it’s going to be very difficult to send him back down to the AHL.
- gazza53

Boqvist is the real deal. Like a wee Brent Burns. May not be able to defend but will put up +60 points per year if he stays healthy which is pretty incredible.

Hopefully the kid scores soon before it is determined he's forever an ECHL guy.
- mohel

Screw his scoring - he’s a hockey player, and a good one - he’ll score.

Boqvist is the real deal. Like a wee Brent Burns. May not be able to defend but will put up +60 points per year if he stays healthy which is pretty incredible.
- fattybeef

Isn't that a little over enthusiastic at this point considering
he hasn't played a game in the bigs yet?

But yes he does have the tools, will they work once here?

Isn't that a little over enthusiastic at this point considering
he hasn't played a game in the bigs yet?

But yes he does have the tools, will they work once here?
- gazza53

Not over enthusiastic at all. Other than Dach he's the best prospect since the dark days ended. Really a different caliber of talent then we have seen since Toews and Kane came up.

Saad was an athlete where people questioned his mental fortitude (I don't think he has a problem there I just think that he's not the type of pure goalscorer that people assumed he would be and that is a problem.) And El Gato was a hockey player but not what you would consider an elite level athlete based on his size and foot speed (which to his credit he has overcome and proven to be quite the player).

Boqvist is pretty close to the total package in terms of skill level, athleticism and skating ability and racking up at all levels. Unless he gets his bell rung a few more times or becomes injury riddled in some other way he will be an exciting and dynamic player to watch in the next year or two.

No, he had 3 assists in his first 5 games.

You heard it here first, Dylan Sikura will have a better career than Jack Hughes!
- tvetter

That doesn't mean they both won't end up Kyle Beach again.

Kyle Beach was a big power forward...
- rpeters01

Imagine how goodvthe team coukd have bern if Tsllon and Mije Smith not fsiled with #1 picks. Tallinntook Beech and Skille. Smith took A Babchucknsnd a Rusdisn crnyet

Boqvist is learning to play defense...some things he needs to learn and practice. Jack Hughes had a good pre season and he will be fine.

Yesteryear: the great Dennis Savard recorded 79 points as a rookie in 1979.

https://eyesonisles.com/2019/10/15/new-york-islanders-oliver-wahlstrom-impresses-debut/

Could we use him?

He started out on the third line, with Josh Bailey and Derrick Brassard but by the end of the game, he was taking shifts with Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee.

He finished with 15:13 of ice time, two shots on goal, and a hit. While it might not look like much, he was buzzing around the puck and looked like he belonged in an NHL top six at just 19 years old, a welcomed sign for the Islanders.

After the game, Barry Trotz had some kind words saying he “didn’t look out of place at all.” If he continues to play the way that he did yesterday, it’s going to be very difficult to send him back down to the AHL.
- gazza53

Caufield hopes yo makevthe same jump after one seson a U of Wsc. I am expecting Darth Kane to inform us of Caufield's scoring collegiate exploits

So was Akim Aliu...
- Chief4Feathers

Was he a Tallon pick?

No, he had 3 assists in his first 5 games.

You heard it here first, Dylan Sikura will have a better career than Jack Hughes!
- tvetter

No way. But D Sikura is a descent able NHL center.

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.


- Chief4Feathers

With the record though, it doesn't really represent games where the Hawks were using 56 to protect a lead, but probably moreso a really ineffective method of trying to use 56's offence to make comebacks (and almost all of them failed) -so that wasn't ever really an effective tactic.