On the lighter side of things, The Hockey News put out their list of top 100 players under 21.

Notables:

21. Dach
22. Caufield
47. Boqvist
59. Jokiharju
87. A. Nylander
- DarthKane

Wow, wouldn't expect Boqvist to be ranked higher than Jokiharju. What are the criteria?

I’d like to see Dach with Shaw and Saad.
- DarthKane

Toews is starting to warm up, I wouldn't screw with him at the moment.

Wow, wouldn't expect Boqvist to be ranked higher than Jokiharju. What are the criteria?
- Chunk

Tumbling dice, Chunk. Has anyone been watching Joker? I wonder how he's doing?

On the lighter side of things, The Hockey News put out their list of top 100 players under 21.

Notables:

21. Dach
22. Caufield
47. Boqvist
59. Jokiharju
87. A. Nylander
- DarthKane

There probably aren't 20 players under 21 in the league which means the whole list is wrong.

Sure. And if a pitch is only an inch off the outside corner, let the ump call it a strike if it fits ‘his’ strike zone. If we’re going to allow plays that are only an inch offside, how about 2, or 3 or 4? Exactly where do you draw the line?

Offside is black and white, it either is or isn’t.
- scottak

Greg Maddux would disagree...

Tumbling dice, Chunk. Has anyone been watching Joker? I wonder how he's doing?
- mohel

I've seen 4-5 games. He looks better than he did right before he got sent down. He's smart. Instead of dealing with heavy forechecking, he is more adept at getting to the puck and moving it before the pressure gets there. Different angles to pucks and some better positioning. Still not a lot of offense. H doesn't seem to pinch much. Has the most points (so far) from D-men on BUF. Not a world beater, but a very good player. He tries some of Keith's moves in the D-zone which gets him in trouble sometimes.

Murphy on the ice

I've seen 4-5 games. He looks better than he did right before he got sent down. He's smart. Instead of dealing with heavy forechecking, he is more adept at getting to the puck and moving it before the pressure gets there. Different angles to pucks and some better positioning. Still not a lot of offense. H doesn't seem to pinch much. Has the most points (so far) from D-men on BUF. Not a world beater, but a very good player. He tries some of Keith's moves in the D-zone which gets him in trouble sometimes.
- Chunk

Thanks, Chunk. Maybe that'll work out to be a good ol' fashioned hockey trade good for both sides.

Nylander with a couple tough games in a row.

New #Blackhawks lines:
Saad-Toews-Caggiula
DeBrincat-Strome-Kane
Shaw-Kampf-Kubalik
Carpenter-Dach-Smith/Nylander

Nylander with a couple tough games in a row.

New #Blackhawks lines:
Saad-Toews-Caggiula
DeBrincat-Strome-Kane
Shaw-Kampf-Kubalik
Carpenter-Dach-Smith/Nylander
- Chunk

per Ben Pope:

The clear takeaway from this is that Colliton is not happy with Nylander.

He was benched late in Pens game and then had a 29% Corsi against the Leafs.

Plus, on this particular play, his forward momentum carried him towards the puck carrier. If he had to stop at the blue line after his teammate fell down, he may not have been in position to receive the puck and score. Even an inch or two on a play like this could make a big difference.

Conversely, plays like what happened to Col in last year's playoffs should not result in a goal being overturned. If you don't remember, Col scored against SJ, and SJ challenged because a skater getting off the ice after a line change still had a skate on the ice inside the offensive zone when the puck crossed the line. I think there should be some discretion involved, but I'm ok with the challenge. If discretion is involved, maybe they could change the rule so that if the play is offside, there's no penalty, but the refs have final say in whether or not the goal is overturned.
- tvetter

Good - let’s give the refs /linesmen more discretion on calls.

They do it so well on penalties.

Nylander with a couple tough games in a row.

New #Blackhawks lines:
Saad-Toews-Caggiula
DeBrincat-Strome-Kane
Shaw-Kampf-Kubalik
Carpenter-Dach-Smith/Nylander
- Chunk

I could see Nylander sitting a game or two, but nothing to be worried about.

I do like the Shaw- Kampf-Kubalik line.

Nylander with a couple tough games in a row.

New #Blackhawks lines:
Saad-Toews-Caggiula
DeBrincat-Strome-Kane
Shaw-Kampf-Kubalik
Carpenter-Dach-Smith/Nylander
- Chunk

Three (tree) lines that can play at least some defense.

Tumbling dice, Chunk. Has anyone been watching Joker? I wonder how he's doing?
- mohel

TOI 16:39
CF 51.38%
SCF 52.91%
HDCF 57.65%
OZnSt 51.39%
xGF 49.99%

(all 5v5 from Natural Stat Trick)

Pretty solid for a guy with about a half a year of NHL experience.

TOI 16:39
CF 51.38%
SCF 52.91%
HDCF 57.65%
OZnSt 51.39%
xGF 49.99%

(all 5v5 from Natural Stat Trick)

Pretty solid for a guy with about a half a year of NHL experience.
- scottak

Yep, seems he is doing well.

There prime minister can were black face and nothing happens. Don Cherry didn’t really say anything that bad. I know he is past his time but people are so ready to jump on anything. Grow up People.
- Hockeygirl222

There, their, they’re.
Where, wear, were.

Maybe don’t post if you don’t have a rudimentary grasp of the language.

Good lord.




But....got the "no" , "know" right. or...is that write???

I've seen 4-5 games. He looks better than he did right before he got sent down. He's smart. Instead of dealing with heavy forechecking, he is more adept at getting to the puck and moving it before the pressure gets there. Different angles to pucks and some better positioning. Still not a lot of offense. H doesn't seem to pinch much. Has the most points (so far) from D-men on BUF. Not a world beater, but a very good player. He tries some of Keith's moves in the D-zone which gets him in trouble sometimes.
- Chunk

Thanks for your insights on Jokiharju. Your description of his play this season is very similar to how I would describe Beaudin's rookie year so far in Rockford.

One thing I would like Beaudin to do more is if a stick check is not successful is to then play the body rather than stay a stick length away from the puck carrier. He stick checks a little too much and it doesn't always deter the offensive drive by the other team.

Thanks for your insights on Jokiharju. Your description of his play this season is very similar to how I would describe Beaudin's rookie year so far in Rockford.

One thing I would like Beaudin to do more is if a stick check is not successful is to then play the body rather than stay a stick length away from the puck carrier. He stick checks a little too much and it doesn't always deter the offensive drive by the other team.
- AEL_Fox

Hi, Theo, hope you're well. Regarding the bolded...do you think the Hawks want him to do what you describe? Do they appear to be trying to mold defensemen to play a style the Hawks like, or are they letting them develop their own style?

There prime minister can were black face and nothing happens. Don Cherry didn’t really say anything that bad. I know he is past his time but people are so ready to jump on anything. Grow up People.
- Hockeygirl222

There, their, they’re.
Where, wear, were.

Maybe don’t post if you don’t have a rudimentary grasp of the language.

Good lord.



But....got the "no" , "know" right. or...is that write???
- hawk35

Good of you to help prove her point!

per Ben Pope:

The clear takeaway from this is that Colliton is not happy with Nylander.

He was benched late in Pens game and then had a 29% Corsi against the Leafs.
- Chunk

I don't think he is ready for top 6. Seems to do much better on bottom 6 where he is probably the faster player.

Being the glass half empty guy that I usually am, I have a few expectation tempering observations before we think the "system" finally paying dividends, the and the "star" players are re-engaged:

1. The system is NOT paying any dividends - in fact it is getting worse

The sheer volume of SOG against is just inexcusable, and unsustainable. Look at the stats. The Hawks beat the Leafs ONLY because Hutchinson crapped the bed in the first period. They did not deserve to win that game.

This is reminiscent of last year's desperation attempt to turn things around by going to an all offense focus.

2. The star players are not re-engaged - they momentarily benefited from abandonment of the 200 foot game and got some chances.

Call me when the "star" players sacrifice the body to get/keep possession with regularity, when they stop whining at the refs, and when they get back to playing a full rink game.

We are what...17 games in and we applaud our salary cap suck captain for maybe one good game??

No matter how many hits this Hawk team registers, other teams still push this squad around with impunity in the areas where it matters the most - fighting to keep/maintain the puck.

There are some bright spots from a much longer term perspective with respect to some of their younger players, but you just have to wonder what the immediate future brings when Ryan Carpenter at $1MM/yr has quite handily outplayed the $10.5MM/yr "star" just about every game this season.

I don't think he is ready for top 6. Seems to do much better on bottom 6 where he is probably the faster player.
- rpeters01

I'd be happy if they stapled him on "line 3" with guys that have some skill (Kubalik, Shaw, Dach, maybe Kampf/Caggiula). Put him there and keep him there as long as he is doing the right things (with maybe some PP time as well). let him grow into it. Then he can just concentrate on playing aggressive and doing the things that he does well.

Thanks for your insights on Jokiharju. Your description of his play this season is very similar to how I would describe Beaudin's rookie year so far in Rockford.

One thing I would like Beaudin to do more is if a stick check is not successful is to then play the body rather than stay a stick length away from the puck carrier. He stick checks a little too much and it doesn't always deter the offensive drive by the other team.
- AEL_Fox

I get what you are saying, but Joki does have about 20 lbs on him. That will just come down to learning what he can and can't handle/get away with.

I'd be happy if they stapled him on "line 3" with guys that have some skill (Kubalik, Shaw, Dach, maybe Kampf/Caggiula). Put him there and keep him there as long as he is doing the right things (with maybe some PP time as well). let him grow into it. Then he can just concentrate on playing aggressive and doing the things that he does well.
- Chunk

Yes, and 29% Corsi probably was as good as anybody...

Hi, Theo, hope you're well. Regarding the bolded...do you think the Hawks want him to do what you describe? Do they appear to be trying to mold defensemen to play a style the Hawks like, or are they letting them develop their own style?
- mohel

Good question. Seems like they are letting each D-man's strengths and weaknesses dictate their style. Carlsson for example is really competitive with a physical edge and mean streak so he plays the body every chance he gets. Similar with Tuulola and Gilbert.

Boqvist, Beaudin, and Krys are more of the stick checkers who are learning how a simple body bump or hip check can be enough to create separation and disrupt plays by the other team.

Krys is interesting in that he is finally realizing the style he wants to play (i.e. that he played as a kid and in college) will not necessarily be what carves his niche in the pros. He has steadily improved defensively since the start of the season when he was serving up pizzas left and right.