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.
- EbonyRaptor

Wasn't he nursing an ankle injury for a while this season? Could be that is better healed now.

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
- pdx2ord

NOOO. there was some good consternation going on.


Seriously. Glad Murph is back.

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.
- EbonyRaptor

I hope the Dach blowing past him being more a positive for Dach, then a negative on Seabs. Defenseman and goalies will tend to look bad in non/minimal-contact scrimmages.. If Chara can play top 4 minutes for Boston, Seabs has the experience to be the 5/6 defeseman on the Hawks. Watching some of the 2010 finals against the Flyers, Seabs was loosing all-out footraces back then, I don't expect him to get any faster, just hoping he can get some mobility back to become the modern day Roszival.

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

People need to stop with buying out Seabs.

Just look at the last column on the right and you will see why buying Seabs makes no sense.

https://www.capfriendly.c...calculator/brent-seabrook

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

He has been in all of them. He has looked okay. Seems to be moving well considering.Been paired with Carlsson and I like that pair, tbh.

Don't watch it crybaby
- GPHawksfan

Oh I will be watching with a very critical eye .And posting on what I see .Sorry bout your luck .

I hope the Dach blowing past him being more a positive for Dach, then a negative on Seabs. Defenseman and goalies will tend to look bad in non/minimal-contact scrimmages.. If Chara can play top 4 minutes for Boston, Seabs has the experience to be the 5/6 defeseman on the Hawks. Watching some of the 2010 finals against the Flyers, Seabs was loosing all-out footraces back then, I don't expect him to get any faster, just hoping he can get some mobility back to become the modern day Roszival.
- LAHawk

I don't know how much contact there will be in the tournament .Ontario just moved to stage 3 and it said sports teams can resume as long as there is no contact .

Wasn't he nursing an ankle injury for a while this season? Could be that is better healed now.
- Chunk

Yep, so that's certainly a factor, but he looks pretty fluid and doesn't look like he's behind the play ... so, hoping.

Should this be read as Keith not having a whole lot of confidence in what he's seen from the backup goalie squad?

@CRoumeliotis

Duncan Keith on Corey Crawford: "If there’s one guy who could step in, it would be him. We’ll wait and see. Hopefully he comes back and stands on his head.” #Blackhawks

---
Not that he wouldn't have the most confidence in a guy with whom he's played for years..

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.
- EbonyRaptor

It was Dach and Dach still ended up on his a$$ at the end of it. The vet giving the kid a little lesson.

Meaningless as always, however wondering if even a maintenance day has to be grouped under "unfit"

@MarkLazerus

Jonathan Toews was "unfit to participate" today. Jeremy Colliton said that's the "term we've been asked to use."

Should this be read as Keith not having a whole lot of confidence in what he's seen from the backup goalie squad?

@CRoumeliotis

Duncan Keith on Corey Crawford: "If there’s one guy who could step in, it would be him. We’ll wait and see. Hopefully he comes back and stands on his head.” #Blackhawks

---
Not that he wouldn't have the most confidence in a guy with whom he's played for years..
- pdx2ord

I don't read that at all, I read, i have gone to war with Corey Crawford, seen him battle through his struggles, if anyone on this team could play at a top level without much or any training camp, it would be Crow.

I bet if Patrick Kane was unfit to play as of yet, Keith's comment would apply to him also.

I hope the Dach blowing past him being more a positive for Dach, then a negative on Seabs. Defenseman and goalies will tend to look bad in non/minimal-contact scrimmages.. If Chara can play top 4 minutes for Boston, Seabs has the experience to be the 5/6 defeseman on the Hawks. Watching some of the 2010 finals against the Flyers, Seabs was loosing all-out footraces back then, I don't expect him to get any faster, just hoping he can get some mobility back to become the modern day Roszival.
- LAHawk

As much as I like Seabrook, and as big a heart as he has, I would wager that he is at best a 7th D when the games start. He is still just barely coming off of surgery. It's great that he is back practicing, but I just don't see it.

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.
- boilermaker100

So, no Marx Basttle of the Blue & Grey Playset?

I just realized that the Gray's flag didn't exist during the real civil war...funny how inaccurate our socialization can be?

There was also a Ben Hur set (which I have unless I have a buyer here) with a forum chariots, etc., an Untouchables playset,many variations on Operation Moon Base, and various Western iterations....

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 truly understand how it bothers you, especially after the article pointed towards the fact that getting the kid who is the first round pick doesn't necessarily guarantee a clear pAth to the Cup in a team game.

But even after 3 Cups the fan base feels entitled, maybe fears a period coming equal to Detroit's dry spell and wants Lafreniere so that our aging stars have another complimentary forward that gets us deep into a "now" run.

I truly understand how it bothers you, especially after the article pointed towards the fact that getting the kid who is the first round pick doesn't necessarily guarantee a clear pAth to the Cup in a team game.

But even after 3 Cups the fan base feels entitled, maybe fears a period coming equal to Detroit's dry spell and wants Lafreniere so that our aging stars have another complimentary forward that gets us deep into a "now" run.
- wiz1901

I guess there is no better resource to use here. Do you see Lafreniere as head and shoulders ahead of anyone else in this draft? Is he closer to Matthews/McDavid, or Patrick/Hischier?

I truly understand how it bothers you, especially after the article pointed towards the fact that getting the kid who is the first round pick doesn't necessarily guarantee a clear pAth to the Cup in a team game.

But even after 3 Cups the fan base feels entitled, maybe fears a period coming equal to Detroit's dry spell and wants Lafreniere so that our aging stars have another complimentary forward that gets us deep into a "now" run.
- wiz1901

I watched a youtube highlight video of Dach at the Hlinka tourney a couple years ago where his line mates were Lafreniere and Krebs and for as well as Dach played - Lafreniere was as good or better (and a year younger). Hence my dream of re-uniting Lafreniere and Dach on the Hawks. Maybe put Kane or Kubalik on the other wing ... brings a big (optimistic) smile to my face.

I guess there is no better resource to use here. Do you see Lafreniere as head and shoulders ahead of anyone else in this draft? Is he closer to Matthews/McDavid, or Patrick/Hischier?
- Chunk

Lafreniere is a winger so it's hard to compare him to the centers you listed, but I'm also interested in Wiz' opinion.

Dylan Sikura with a hat trick in scrimmage today... so don't say he can't score.

As much as I like Seabrook, and as big a heart as he has, I would wager that he is at best a 7th D when the games start. He is still just barely coming off of surgery. It's great that he is back practicing, but I just don't see it.
- Chunk

For the most mobile D unit possible, I would have to agree on keeping Seabrook as a depth defender and insert him into the lineup at a later point.

My preference would be to start with (assuming 44 and 5 are ready to go):

Keith - Boqvist
de Haan - Murphy
Maatta - Koekkoek
Seabrook

Carlsson and Beaudin also are poised to serve if necessary, especially if they keep their games simple. Personally would not mind if either get the opportunity to start if the need arises.

I truly understand how it bothers you, especially after the article pointed towards the fact that getting the kid who is the first round pick doesn't necessarily guarantee a clear pAth to the Cup in a team game.

But even after 3 Cups the fan base feels entitled, maybe fears a period coming equal to Detroit's dry spell and wants Lafreniere so that our aging stars have another complimentary forward that gets us deep into a "now" run.
- wiz1901

Well for me entitled is the wrong word, just realistic. My son would laugh at me because i would scream at the Bears games and say but dad why are you upset they are losing and playing like poop and you yourself said they'd be better off drafting sooner than later. I told him I never root for my team to lose, hate it when they do. I guess i can see both sides of it and logically it makes sense, the fanside wants them to win every game. I guess I'm not so black and white

As we become closer to resuming hockey I have been considering all angles, all possibilities of the way the Chicago - Edm series turns out.

Of course Cameron will provide an excellent break down. Perhaps too elsewhere - The Athletic, Second City etc al - we might glean a nugget or two in their review which is stressed more than here in hockeybuzz

The overriding concern for both teams is twofold: how good is the goaltending and how good is the blueline corps. Consistency, lack of mistakes really smacks. Both teams can generate offense but how well does individual and team defense perform

For Edm Tippet, the.veteran coach, I imagine may instill some way to help their dmen accomplish their job. Forwards helping out some way. Not a new system is going to be taught now in the short term of the return to practice.....but let's look at Edmonton dmen

Not too good and not too bad. Top to bottom guys this is Edm if you rate the dmen. No #1 dman. Nurse stretches the not too good not too bad analysis. He can actually be pretty good offensively and has some nasty but he is also downright bad with his thinking and decisions.

As for Chicago blueline crew I am crossing fingers they are in adequate physical shape. Whether from injury or whatever reason(s) not practicing, DeHahn and Seabrook is a concern. I like Carlsson to play but I cringe with Koekkook and Maata.

Maata is perhaps adequate but my gosh Edm is really bringing the speed game.

As for goaltending.if Crawford doesn't practice by wed then he surely seems unprepared. Edm goaltenders might be just good enough and for us.....let's hope to be pleasantly surprised they too can be just good enough.

Dylan Sikura with a hat trick in scrimmage today... so don't say he can't score.
- Tyler Cameron

I wish he can do that when it counts in real games.

As we become closer to resuming hockey I have been considering all angles, all possibilities of the way the Chicago - Edm series turns out.

Of course Cameron will provide an excellent break down. Perhaps too elsewhere - The Athletic, Second City etc al - we might glean a nugget or two in their review which is stressed more than here in hockeybuzz

The overriding concern for both teams is twofold: how good is the goaltending and how good is the blueline corps. Consistency, lack of mistakes really smacks. Both teams can generate offense but how well does individual and team defense perform

For Edm Tippet, the.veteran coach, I imagine may instill some way to help their dmen accomplish their job. Forwards helping out some way. Not a new system is going to be taught now in the short term of the return to practice.....but let's look at Edmonton dmen

Not too good and not too bad. Top to bottom guys this is Edm if you rate the dmen. No #1 dman. Nurse stretches the not too good not too bad analysis. He can actually be pretty good offensively and has some nasty but he is also downright bad with his thinking and decisions.

As for Chicago blueline crew I am crossing fingers they are in adequate physical shape. Whether from injury or whatever reason(s) not practicing, DeHahn and Seabrook is a concern. I like Carlsson to play but I cringe with Koekkook and Maata.

Maata is perhaps adequate but my gosh Edm is really bringing the speed game.

As for goaltending.if Crawford doesn't practice by wed then he surely seems unprepared. Edm goaltenders might be just good enough and for us.....let's hope to be pleasantly surprised they too can be just good enough.
- jhawk59

For me it is all about Crawford stopping 35ish shots per night and Kane doing Patrick Kane things over what will probably be 26 minute nights for him.

Obviously other fellers need to contribute but those two at a high level are what them advancing hinges on.

Dylan Sikura with a hat trick in scrimmage today... so don't say he can't score.
- Tyler Cameron

He should be our captain... of the Ice Hogs.