According to a poll in 'The Athletic', 69% of Chicago Blackhawk fans want their team to LOSE the play-in series. The only 2 teams with higher rates of fans hoping for a play-in loss are MIN 73% & MTL 91%.

Also, based on their numbers, 'The Athletic' has the Hawks with a 30.1% probability of winning both the play-in round and the 1st round (of 16). Only FLA & WPG have a lower probability.

So Crow and Murph are the only ones who tested positive? Seems odd. (RF)
- HawkintheD

If CC & Murphy tested positive, it would have been BEFORE the NHL started their testing at the camps.

Ha, another blast from the past - Marx toys. Unfortunately I lost track of my friend after high school and his dad would be close to 100 by now if he's even still on the green side of the grass.

I think the first plastic toys I got were those little green army guys in different poses of fighting/shooting that my brother and I used to have war battles against each other. They more or less replaced the metal Civil War toy soldiers we had before we got the cool plastic U.S.Army toy soldiers - plus we had dozens of the new plastic soldiers where we had only 10 or 12 of the metal Civil War soldiers so we could have much bigger battles.
- EbonyRaptor

Spent many hours of my childhood with plastic cowboys and Indians (Native Americans ?) with buildings constructed of Lincoln logs to augment my Fort Apache stockade. Also had WWII army soldiers - GI's in olive drab uniforms and Germans in gray.

Toews left practice half way through yesterday and is MIA today. Wonder if we will hear anything other than "unfit?"

Toews left practice half way through yesterday and is MIA today. Wonder if we will hear anything other than "unfit?"
- pdx2ord

I think Colliton said it was "maintenance" - no issues.

Toews left practice half way through yesterday and is MIA today. Wonder if we will hear anything other than "unfit?"
- pdx2ord

They said they were just pacing Toews. I would be surprised to see more vets get a rest at some point.

According to a poll in 'The Athletic', 69% of Chicago Blackhawk fans want their team to LOSE the play-in series. The only 2 teams with higher rates of fans hoping for a play-in loss are MIN 73% & MTL 91%.

Also, based on their numbers, 'The Athletic' has the Hawks with a 30.1% probability of winning both the play-in round and the 1st round (of 16). Only FLA & WPG have a lower probability.
- scottak

This bothers me sooooo much. I don't care about this strange restart, or the expanded rosters or any other oddity about this. If my team is playing competitive hockey that counts, I want them to give full effort and play as well as they can and let the cards fall where they may. Regardless of my opinions of how good they are, I never would want my team to lose. Especially so that they could just have a "chance" at the first overall.

I think Colliton said it was "maintenance" - no issues.
- StLBravesFan

Oh - very good to hear that update

Murphy also back on the ice, looking pretty "fit"

We'll need both of those guys to stand a chance

Toews left practice half way through yesterday and is MIA today. Wonder if we will hear anything other than "unfit?"
- pdx2ord

He's not playing in the scrimmage today either.

The first of two 15 minute periods just ended. The second period of the scrimmage will start in about 15 mins. Black team leading red team 3-1. I missed the first few mins but I saw Nylander and Boqvist score for black and Kubalik score for red.

More good news

@Tramyers_NHL
11m
Calvin de Haan is on the second rink here. Has been out due to a family emergency since early last week.

He's not playing in the scrimmage today either.

The first of two 15 minute periods just ended. The second period of the scrimmage will start in about 15 mins. Black team leading red team 3-1. I missed the first few mins but I saw Nylander and Boqvist score for black and Kubalik score for red.
- EbonyRaptor

4 goals in 15 minutes? Are they playing All-Star game defensive effort, or are they trying to play legit D and failing?

This bothers me sooooo much. I don't care about this strange restart, or the expanded rosters or any other oddity about this. If my team is playing competitive hockey that counts, I want them to give full effort and play as well as they can and let the cards fall where they may. Regardless of my opinions of how good they are, I never would want my team to lose. Especially so that they could just have a "chance" at the first overall.
- Chunk

I agree I root for the HAWKS to win if it playoffs or pre season . I do understand some people frustration with this sham tournament in the middle of the summer and the pee wee format . And that is one big fish at the bottom of the tank . There is a lot of stink on this draft and soon the SCF .

The scrimmage just ended after going to OT. The players were shifted around from the first period - but the black team still won 3-2 with Dylan Sikura scoring all three goals for the black team. Carpenter and Seabrook had the goals for the red team. Sikura was playing center between DCat and Saad - essentially taking Toews spot for the scrimmage.

This bothers me sooooo much. I don't care about this strange restart, or the expanded rosters or any other oddity about this. If my team is playing competitive hockey that counts, I want them to give full effort and play as well as they can and let the cards fall where they may. Regardless of my opinions of how good they are, I never would want my team to lose. Especially so that they could just have a "chance" at the first overall.
- Chunk

I really believe it's fans who know what's best for the team. If they are like me i will always root for the Blackhawks to win, but the logical side of my brain knows it's best for the teams long term success to not win the playoff series and get a better draft pick. Imagine if they or the Oil get the 1st pick overall.

4 goals in 15 minutes? Are they playing All-Star game defensive effort, or are they trying to play legit D and failing?
- scottak

It's a scrimmage so there's no hitting or rough stuff so it's easy for the players to try stuff they wouldn't get away with in a real game - but it's not as bad as an All-Star game where defense is more or less frowned upon. The guys are playing defense as well as they can without being very physical.

maybe it was mentioned but murphy was back today so that basically leaves CROW out. if he is not back by THURS. I would pick a starter for game 1 and give him more work. a Rusty Crow is a .900 save guy just like who ever we pick from.

I watched the scrimmage (or a scrimmage) and I liked the way Philipp Kurashev looked. Also, let me say again how much I love Drake on this team. Defense still concerns me some, but we got some fliers on offense.

I really believe it's fans who know what's best for the team. If they are like me i will always root for the Blackhawks to win, but the logical side of my brain knows it's best for the teams long term success to not win the playoff series and get a better draft pick. Imagine if they or the Oil get the 1st pick overall.
- BetweenTheDots

I get what you are saying and I understand the argument. I just really don't like it. Yes, you have a better chance at getting a difference maker the higher you pick in the draft. Is Lafreniere, truly that much better than everyone else in this draft? I'm happy to be proven wrong, but I didn't hear anyone talk about Dach being anywhere close to as good as Hughes (and Kakko closer to the draft). I would easily put Dach up against those two. Draft picks are still, ultimately, a crapshoot. Just the way I see it...

Seabs can waive to be exposed for the EXP draft. the odds of him actually being taken under 1% and he is from the upper NW as well. I hope he does that hawks at least this favor. if they asked and he declined I would just buy him out and deal with the ugly cap hit.
- kmw4631

First I doubt the hawks would buy him out better to send him to the rock and terminate his contract if he doesn’t report

I agree I root for the HAWKS to win if it playoffs or pre season . I do understand some people frustration with this sham tournament in the middle of the summer and the pee wee format . And that is one big fish at the bottom of the tank . There is a lot of stink on this draft and soon the SCF .
- oldduffman

Don't watch it crybaby

First I doubt the hawks would buy him out better to send him to the rock and terminate his contract if he doesn’t report
- Abadseed

I think he has a no movement clause so an AHL demotion won't happen unless he agrees to go

I watched the scrimmage (or a scrimmage) and I liked the way Philipp Kurashev looked. Also, let me say again how much I love Drake on this team. Defense still concerns me some, but we got some fliers on offense.
- kwolf68

Yep - Kurashev looked pretty good. Didn't notice Entwhistle, Hagel or a couple of the other young players as much today as I did in the previous scrimmage.

Other observations: Dach needs to work on his shot - that might be the weakest part of his game. It seems like he's had a ton of chances but unable to bury them at the level he will need to to be a difference maker. Boqvist has the knack to jump in and either create or snipe at a very high level. Really excited to watch him and Dach against the Oilers. And, whether or not this sounds believable - Strome looks to be skating better now than when we last saw him 4-5 months ago. Not saying he's a great skater by any stretch but he looks a lot better to these untrained eyes.

I think he has a no movement clause so an AHL demotion won't happen unless he agrees to go
- GPHawksfan

Has Seabs participated in any of the scrimmages? If so, how has he looked?

I get what you are saying and I understand the argument. I just really don't like it. Yes, you have a better chance at getting a difference maker the higher you pick in the draft. Is Lafreniere, truly that much better than everyone else in this draft? I'm happy to be proven wrong, but I didn't hear anyone talk about Dach being anywhere close to as good as Hughes (and Kakko closer to the draft). I would easily put Dach up against those two. Draft picks are still, ultimately, a crapshoot. Just the way I see it...
- Chunk

The way i look at it, for me the Hawks win either way, i understand the draft is a crap shoot, but at the sametime difference makes/ generational talents are typically drafted with a top 5 pick, well at least forwards more than dmen. Sure teams get lucky and get someone who will develop into a great player but those cases are very rare.

Has Seabs participated in any of the scrimmages? If so, how has he looked?
- LAHawk

He played in at least two of them including Sunday and today. How has he looked? It's hard to tell with d-men in a scrimmage because they can't really be as physical as they would in a real game. One play I recall is when someone (Dach I think) blew by him on Sunday which wasn't good. He had a nice slapper for a goal today but inconclusive from a skating and playing defense stand point.