Thanks very much for the breakdown of last night's game. I especially appreciate the video as I want to be a better viewer of the game since I am going to get my money's worth out of watching the Hawks since playing in the Central/Eastern time zones means fewer late nights for me.

It is going to be a long year, but knowing that going in mitigates the inevitable disappointment of not winning a lot of games or making the playoffs.

I wonder how long the Kane-Strome-Debrincat line is going to remain together. I do not think it is a bad line, but I just wonder if it is better to put Kane somewhere else to force other teams to try to defend two lines instead of one.
- hpk90

Glad you find the videos in the blog helpful. I'll try to keep that up for each game recap.

It's interesting that the Blackhawks Twitter page didn't have a full replay of Strome's goal, just a gif that's a few seconds.

I do like the idea of possibly splitting Kane from Strome and DeBrincat for the reason you stated. The line blender will always be on the counter so definitely feasible sooner or later.

Theo - The defenders running around like kids in an under 6 soccer league has been consistent since JC took over.

It has to be part of the silly high pressure \ man to man scheme he tries to play which is counter intuitive to anything that anyone learns about any sport.

It was going to be a rough year to watch regardless but woof. Pretty awful start even with another full training camp to learn whatever nonsense this guy is peddling.
- fattybeef

Definitely agree on the defensive coverage or lack thereof.

Stop the high pressure/man to man and go with zones or something similar.

I may be dumbing this down too much, but for example, if the puck is in the left corner or low boards, the LD shoud go there while the RD protects the crease. Switch roles if the puck goes to the right side.

Even if the other team has numbers in the corner, they can't score from there. Protecting the net is priority number one.

Everyone see this?

The Chicago Blackhawks placed captain Jonathan Toews and forward Kirby Dach on long-term injured reserve Thursday.
- wiz1901

Yeah. Looks likely Toews is out for the long haul. Not to be that guy but I hope this isn't the end for him. I hope he hasn't played his last NHL game.

Sounds like Seabrook isn't out long term based on the way I heard it.

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

Obviously, 4 isn't enough..................

Brendan Saad in his first game with Colorado (a 4-1 loss to the blues: 13;23 minutes played, no points, and a -3.

Brendan Saad in his first game with Colorado (a 4-1 loss to the blues: 13;23 minutes played, no points, and a -3.
- LAHawk

Ouch. Saad will be better than that, but that’s certainly a rough first game with your new team.

I get the criticism on JC, but the Hawks were bad and anemic offensively when he came in. The D was heavily criticised for mistakes, a lot of which were pinned on Gustafsson. Things didn't improve by moving Gus. The roster is younger and full of more question marks than it was before. They lost the guy masking a lot of mistakes in CC. While I get the criticism there wasn't a coach that was going to get a lot more out of this team against a team as stacked as Tampa. The Hawks are not in win now mode and it's all about development and that includes the coaching staff. I think we give them time to improve while the roster is built.

Obviously, 4 isn't enough..................
- vabeachbear

4x16 is more games than 5x12 the olden days. I think Mitch is what he is. Not that I think he's the next coming of Joe Montana but the playoff game wasn't his fault. As much as Scottak isn't a JC fan I'm not a Nagy fan. As Rex Ryan said, "some offensive guru."

Ouch. Saad will be better than that, but that’s certainly a rough first game with your new team.
- DarthKane

Suban was -3 faster than that.

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

And how can we forget "Elbows" Nesterenko

Back to what I was trying tom say about Kubalik...


to me, his upside dream scenario is to be Mike Hoffman.

Hoffman doesn't make a difference in two zones (IMO) and is a shot.

He is better when he is playing with guys who can get the biscuit to him.

And how can we forget "Elbows" Nesterenko
- boilermaker100

"elbows" was also called "Sonja" after Sonja Heine. Nester was a beautiful skater, and he could hold onto the puck for a while, only problem was after all his dipsy doodling he ended up in the same place he started. I can still see the veins pop in my dad's forehead whenever Nester would go on one of his "skates".

I get the criticism on JC, but the Hawks were bad and anemic offensively when he came in. The D was heavily criticised for mistakes, a lot of which were pinned on Gustafsson. Things didn't improve by moving Gus. The roster is younger and full of more question marks than it was before. They lost the guy masking a lot of mistakes in CC. While I get the criticism there wasn't a coach that was going to get a lot more out of this team against a team as stacked as Tampa. The Hawks are not in win now mode and it's all about development and that includes the coaching staff. I think we give them time to improve while the roster is built.
- breadbag

Spot on. Haven't been around in a while and usually not one to spread rumors and definitely haven't heard anything from a legitimate source but Toews might have long term issues from COVID... not sure if that was discussed. You really don't from being healthy and looking like his old self last season to not being able to even workout.

As for the overall team. Will Stan and Rocky go absorb a bad contract or two at the trade deadline for picks? Or does the revenue declines due to COVID stop them from doing that?

Plenty of talent on the roster that can fetch a nice return for teams taking a run at it. Keith, Murphy, Shaw (if healthy), De Hann (if healthy), Soderburg, and Strome (?) maybe.

Stock pile picks. If this team heads back in to playoff contention in 2-3 years you have much needed assets to make deals to add crucial cup run pieces. Plus a very likely top 5 pick this next draft. Hopefully, there is a stud C to create a 1-2 punch with Dach.

Brendan Saad in his first game with Colorado (a 4-1 loss to the blues: 13;23 minutes played, no points, and a -3.
- LAHawk

Not bad for $6M.

4x16 is more games than 5x12 the olden days. I think Mitch is what he is. Not that I think he's the next coming of Joe Montana but the playoff game wasn't his fault. As much as Scottak isn't a JC fan I'm not a Nagy fan. As Rex Ryan said, "some offensive guru."
- rpeters01

Not going to change the subject on this board, but never once in his career has Nagy ever shown that he was an offensive guru. That's a false narrative. You only have to look it up and study it for 10 mins.

At least the Wirtz's aren't the McCluskey's. Say what you want about McD, but at least he ain't Ted Phillips. I swear I could've done a better job with the press conf yesterday than George and Ted. How are they not embarrassed

Back to what I was trying tom say about Kubalik...


to me, his upside dream scenario is to be Mike Hoffman.

Hoffman doesn't make a difference in two zones (IMO) and is a shot.

He is better when he is playing with guys who can get the biscuit to him.
- wiz1901

So to go to everyone's point, if you can see that (and you certainly are a better judge of hockey than the average guy) why can't the coach who you just extended and handed the keys to the rebuild see that

A bit more background on Kubalik's low ice time:

Kubalik: "Our line...didn't do anything for our team."

Does he expect to play more? "Yeah, obviously. You want to play as much as you can. I want to be out there in every situation I can."

Jeremy Colliton after @johndietzdh asks why Dominik Kubalik played only 11:38 yesterday:

"We had a bunch of guys who can be better and will be better. He's a big part of our team. I totally expect a bounceback performance tomorrow."

I don't find ANYTHING controversial about this at all. The line had some struggles and they played less. Period. Strap them up tomorrow and get back at it.

So to go to everyone's point, if you can see that (and you certainly are a better judge of hockey than the average guy) why can't the coach who you just extended and handed the keys to the rebuild see that
- vabeachbear

Because they only have two guys left on the team that have the ability to get him the puck and give him some room. It's a lack of assets.

And while I'm ranting, what the hell sense does it make during a rebuild to give a playing time slot to Brandon Pirri.

Unless the only reason is to lose. Which I guess is a goal. But is he taking time from someone else's development (Kurashev), is having him on the ice helping the development of a younger inexperienced line mate.

Have no problem with the rebuild, I actually would've started two years earlier, but if you do things like give ice time for Pirri instead of developing someone, that's the kind of thing that will piss me off.

Because they only have two guys left on the team that have the ability to get him the puck and give him some room. It's a lack of assets.
- Chunk

I get that, but he was a top line guy last year, why wouldn't you just put him up with Strome, he might be slow of foot, but he can pass the puck.

Kane can play with anyone. That Kane, Strome, Cat line never works anyway.

Versteeg breifly talked a Collitons System on Spittin Chicklets. It doesn't sound like he is a big fan of it.

Brendan Saad in his first game with Colorado (a 4-1 loss to the blues: 13;23 minutes played, no points, and a -3.
- LAHawk

didnt he get a hatty in game 1 against the pens a few years ago in that blow out?

Versteeg breifly talked a Collitons System on Spittin Chicklets. It doesn't sound like he is a big fan of it.
- TJYTJY

Podcast for that? id like to hear that

I get that, but he was a top line guy last year, why wouldn't you just put him up with Strome, he might be slow of foot, but he can pass the puck.

Kane can play with anyone. That Kane, Strome, Cat line never works anyway.
- vabeachbear

Call me crazy but I think Pirri played because he cost $92,000 less than Kurashev. I think Stan had them right at $81.2 mil. Night one, with Toews and Dach not on LTIR on day 1. Stan now is going to accrue quite the LTIR pool as long as Toews is out for trading capital, and he can field a full 23 man roster.

Podcast for that? id like to hear that
- glennjpawlak22

Versteeg is on NHL radio. He might be funny in real life and giving interviews, but he sucks as an analyst.