Wiz, you and I are old enough to remember Phil Russell. He was a rookie of the year or something close to that. In the playoffs his inexperience got exposed. In the old days they used to say "it takes 3 years to learn how to play defense" and also I'll throw in "5 years to learn how to play quarterback," but I digress...
- rpeters01

I still remember his rookie year, Montreal's coach Claude Ruel screaming from the top of the bench for Marc Tardiff to challenge Russell to a fight. it lasted one punch, and Tardiff had to be carted off to the dressing room.

Wiz, you and I are old enough to remember Phil Russell. He was a rookie of the year or something close to that. In the playoffs his inexperience got exposed. In the old days they used to say "it takes 3 years to learn how to play defense" and also I'll throw in "5 years to learn how to play quarterback," but I digress...
- rpeters01

One of my daughter's best find growing up was Phil's nice through marriage, and he is a good example of toughness and size and decent feet.

So you get him play him and you hope that the team jells enough so he can grow to full potential.
Unfortunately for Phil, Denis Potvin targeted his knee and the upward progression planed and the fists became the frustrated by-product and area of expertise he had to depend upon.

Phil still to this day is angered about it, and in a charity baseball game he went after Potvin, who got separated and still had no remorse.

Bet you didn’t know that JC sucks.
- paulr

I had a hunch!

Hey, it's Old One Trick! How's it going?
- mohel

Better than most.
Working & watching the PGA from Honolulu.

I still remember his rookie year, Montreal's coach Claude Ruel screaming from the top of the bench for Marc Tardiff to challenge Russell to a fight. it lasted one punch, and Tardiff had to be carted off to the dressing room.
- LAHawk

LOL@ Claude Ruel. I forgot about him and Gump Worsley and Bruce Gamble and Johnny Bower and Punch Imlach, Billy Reay. Other than the fact the Hawks didn’t win the cup as much as I think they should have, the good old days!

Didn’t they have the best nicknames back then? Lorne “Gump” Worsley, George “punch” Imlach, Elmer “moose” Vasko, etc. Tazer is OK but most nicknames today consist of adding an “R” “Y” or “ie” to their surname.

LOL@ Claude Ruel. I forgot about him and Gump Worsley and Bruce Gamble and Johnny Bower and Punch Imlach, Billy Reay. Other than the fact the Hawks didn’t win the cup as much as I think they should have, the good old days!

Didn’t they have the best nicknames back then? Lorne “Gump” Worsley, George “punch” Imlach, Elmer “moose” Vasko, etc. Tazer is OK but most nicknames today consist of adding an “R” “Y” or “ie” to their surname.
- paulr

The Golden Jet
The Silver Jet
The Rocket
The Pocket Rocket
Big M
Little M

I still remember his rookie year, Montreal's coach Claude Ruel screaming from the top of the bench for Marc Tardiff to challenge Russell to a fight. it lasted one punch, and Tardiff had to be carted off to the dressing room.
- LAHawk

I remember that fight!

The Golden Jet
The Silver Jet
The Rocket
The Pocket Rocket
Big M
Little M
- LAHawk

How the hell did I not type in the Golden Jet? I wonder how Mikita got “ Stosh”?

Everyone see this?

The Chicago Blackhawks placed captain Jonathan Toews and forward Kirby Dach on long-term injured reserve Thursday.

How the hell did I not type in the Golden Jet? I wonder how Mikita got “ Stosh”?
- paulr

Stosh U. is a czech / Polish endearment version of the American Stanley.

LOL@ Claude Ruel. I forgot about him and Gump Worsley and Bruce Gamble and Johnny Bower and Punch Imlach, Billy Reay. Other than the fact the Hawks didn’t win the cup as much as I think they should have, the good old days!

Didn’t they have the best nicknames back then? Lorne “Gump” Worsley, George “punch” Imlach, Elmer “moose” Vasko, etc. Tazer is OK but most nicknames today consist of adding an “R” “Y” or “ie” to their surname.
- paulr

Doubt we will see anyone called "Whitey" anytime soon...

LOL@ Claude Ruel. I forgot about him and Gump Worsley and Bruce Gamble and Johnny Bower and Punch Imlach, Billy Reay. Other than the fact the Hawks didn’t win the cup as much as I think they should have, the good old days!

Didn’t they have the best nicknames back then? Lorne “Gump” Worsley, George “punch” Imlach, Elmer “moose” Vasko, etc. Tazer is OK but most nicknames today consist of adding an “R” “Y” or “ie” to their surname.
- paulr

"Toe" Blake
Eddie "The Entertainer" Shack
Brian "Bugsy" Watson

and of course The Golden Jet

"Toe" Blake
Eddie "The Entertainer" Shack
Brian "Bugsy" Watson

and of course The Golden Jet
- boilermaker100

Gil "the bulldog" Marotte.

One of my daughter's best find growing up was Phil's nice through marriage, and he is a good example of toughness and size and decent feet.

So you get him play him and you hope that the team jells enough so he can grow to full potential.
Unfortunately for Phil, Denis Potvin targeted his knee and the upward progression planed and the fists became the frustrated by-product and area of expertise he had to depend upon.

Phil still to this day is angered about it, and in a charity baseball game he went after Potvin, who got separated and still had no remorse.
- wiz1901

I would take a 2020's edition of Denis Potvin on the Blackhawk blueline any day of the week. He was a skilled, mean mofo and IMO is somwhat underrated in the history books of great NHL defenceman. The Islanders don't win 19 consecutive playoff series without him anchoring their D. Ranger fans still hate his guts.

The Golden Jet
The Silver Jet
The Rocket
The Pocket Rocket
Big M
Little M
- LAHawk

Herbert "Pit" Martin

I would take a 2020's edition of Denis Potvin on the Blackhawk blueline any day of the week. He was a skilled, mean mofo and IMO is somwhat underrated in the history books of great NHL defenceman. The Islanders don't win 19 consecutive playoff series without him anchoring their D. Ranger fans still hate his guts.
- RickJ

If the Hawks bottom out there is a guy I’d like to see on Chicago’s blue line, Owen Power.

Stosh U. is a czech / Polish endearment version of the American Stanley.
- wiz1901

As in the song Stashu Pandowski (1957)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Arjd_Qw_y4

"Toe" Blake
Eddie "The Entertainer" Shack
Brian "Bugsy" Watson

and of course The Golden Jet
- boilermaker100

The Grim Reaper
Little Ball of Hate
The Rat
The Dominator
Cujo

If the Hawks bottom out there is a guy I’d like to see on Chicago’s blue line, Owen Power.
- paulr

We all would!

A giant who skates like a little guy.

No outwardly mean streak but uses his bu=I g body by way of it being there.

I dunno if I would put my head on the block like that until I see a solid trio of high end attacking forwards.

Dach would be one,

That is why I look at the nice group of 2021 draftees, not just the defenseman.

Even a strong centre who projects as a true second line centre, a strong top ling, are the type of adds they need.

I an not looking for an Elais Petterson level gift, in the draft but if a Trevor Zegras type upside if there I am calling that name at the mike.

all the Red Wing whining may have resulted in a restructuring of 2021 draft where the bottom teams would have more certainty they were going to not get booted too far out of the top talent range. There is multiple options in changes that are being discussed.

A. All non playoff teams being able by winning the lottery with THREE or two winners, where those winners do not drop to one two three but are allowed to move up 3-4 slots.
B. There us talk that all 16 non playoff teams Geta. chance at slot one with a win but then the order stays in reverse standings order.
and
C. There swill be a one team winner who simply moves 3-4 slot closer to #1 overall.
I really feel fairly certain that we won't see
D. all three of the 16 non-playoff teams pushing the three bottom feeders to 4, 5, and 6 over-all.

(LOL! WE know Kraken were guaranteed a starting pick equal to the three worst established clubs, but they too are quite concerned that they get GoldenKnighted out of the top four as Vegas was.

In the 2017 draft lottery, the expansion Vegas Golden Knights had the same odds of winning the lottery as the team that finished with the two fewest points in the 2016–17 NHL season (This ended up being the Arizona Coyotes). Vegas earned the lowest possible pick that they could receive, and selected sixth overall in the first-round and third in each subsequent round of this draft.

The lottery wins and BIG JUMPS had them settling for Cody Glass and never getting to
choose Miro Heiskanen,Cale Makar ,and Elias Pettersson.

I don't think the current bad teams will take kindly to a New York Rangers type team, who should have drafted tenth bouncing down those ten spots to #$1
- wiz1901

Hey Wiz when are the GM’s scheduled to meet to discuss this subject again?

As in the song Stashu Pandowski (1957)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Arjd_Qw_y4
- wiz1901

Starting lyrics
Stashu Pandowski, feels so very gay..."

Starting lyrics
Stashu Pandowski, feels so very gay..."
- wiz1901

Gay had a different meaning back then. My Mom, who was from Britain used to call cigarettes f*gs. We had to explain to her why it was no longer appropriate. She also used to tell me to “lay the table” for dinner. And once when we were on vacation in Florida she told my Dad’s friend to “knock her up in the morning “.

Hey Wiz when are the GM’s scheduled to meet to discuss this subject again?
- walleyeb1

I don't think anyone idea was decided but that =Uncle Gary told them it would be on a meeting agenda prior to the draft with enough to have the fan based knowing what they decided...still far away.

Even though the season is under way and not a lock to finish, there being a draft is...

They meet regularly but I am sure this is not pressing on their minds n ow as the continue to lose money.

Most younger defenseman that play get high praise beyond their performances even if they have done little on-ice to elevate them to high levels. Boqvist was rushed and the development into a stronger and more reactive player in his end is where he keeps putting the work in. The billings precede these guys and reality adjusts when they go into the first two salary negotiations when their teams decide what they are or what they REALLY are going to be in time.





Oh, a few blogs back there were discussions of who Kubalik reminded fans here of, and there were more than one comparisons to NHL high impact players.
To me, so far, 30 goals or not, he is basically a shot.

He reads opportunities at excellent level and he instinctively gets to where he is open, but it takes reading your linemates, and they also had to, when possessing the puck, have high end offensive instincts to find that open shot.

It is not like right now Kubalik can change the game by his lonesome.

So his line is not off the hook or him, but team game agent the champs.

(How many Kubalik's do the 'bolts have? 'cause they had guys through the lineup making things happen w/o forcing themselves outside their range / capabilities?

You can ask for more from him, or settle for the shot aspect.
- wiz1901

Thanks for the response, Wiz.

One other thing about Boqvist, I seem to remember some on here last season suggesting that having him play in the AHL at his size could expose him to more injuries, given how the league is full of guys who want scouts to take note of how well they can hit.

Last year, Kubalik got to play with Toews and Saad. As you say, not one who can change the game by his lonesome.

GM Theo! Great write up and analysis of defensive breakdowns. Was good to finally see Mitchell in his first NHL game and look forward to hopefully seeing him in the lineup all season.

I know it's one game, but it played out I would guess how most of us figured it would. It's going to be a rough year, maybe two, but that's ok.

The rebuild's been announced so play the kids when you can and hopefully the balls bounce the Hawks way where they can end up with a top 3 pick in the next draft.

I think when Soderberg gets here, that will help a little down the middle, but if Strome's your 1C, your team is likely no gouda. Still hoping for some growth from him this season and maybe he can score enough fluky goals like last night to pad his stats and entice someone to give up a first for him.

That last statement is mostly a mix of wishful thinking and red font.
- HawkintheD

Thanks, D.

Agree, adding in Soderberg will help a bit with the lineup depth. Alas, though, it won't necessarily move the needle much as far as overall record.

But that's the way it should be: don't put the eggs in one player's basket as the team's success relies on each player to work hard and compete.