When you trade a three-Stanley Cup defenseman (Hjammer), Murphy isn't a bad return as long as he isn't the only return. It took him three years to even stay healthy enough to talk about being in the top 4, and the only reason he is considered in the top 2 is the current state of the Hawk blue line. Not as bad as the Danault deal, but it was bad enough at the time.
- jrsamu

Hammer hasn't been healthy either.

I really like that analysis too. Awesome job Theo!
- King Agler

Thanks, King.

Whenever I watch the goals the first time during normal game run time, I sometimes miss the finer things that happen (good and bad). Watching replays a few times on my own time helps to break things down easier and provide (hopefully) a deeper anaylsis.

Heaven knows I don't learn too much from post-game interviews, replays, and such which I tend to skip altogether.

It looked to me like Mitchell jumped on that play. He slowed down about 4-5 feet from the boards (I assume to slow the opponent) and then jumped a bit to negate some of the hit.

I get what you are saying, but I have fewer concerns about Mitchell than almost any other D-man on this team. Zadorov strikes me as a "good in theory" guy. Big, good range, can/will hit, but is slow to process and gets himself into trouble more often than not. That play where he wheeled behind the net with the puck, only to have it immediately stripped by a stationary Panther was hard to watch.
- Chunk

I remember that play and it also seemed to me that Mitchell jumped to lessen the blow of Hinostroza's hit.

Mitchell has taken many hits to make plays so far in four games so I don't mind if a player jumps out of the way like he did once in a while.

None of the guys that need time got any in OT.

Two defenders (new, old, anyone that dresses) are constantly chasing the puck to the corners or behind the net. They are either being told to do that (which is a stupid way to play a professional sport) or all of the defenders on the team have absolutely no idea how to play the sport.

Getting beat because they have less talent is expected. Watching them play fundamentally bad hockey while riding veterans when it isn't appropriate is silly.

Also, not letting Boqvist do his thing and develop his talents rather than trying to make him Duncan Keith is maddening to watch. The staff is just as responsible for a potential bust as the player at this point.
- fattybeef

Correct, and I've said my piece about that. I didn't understand that at all, but I would guess that Colliton was trying to play safe and get the 2 pts in stead of just the one. I'm not defending that move.

They were in the exact same system during the play in series, and the mistakes were not as egregious. There can be a litany of reasons for the issues with 2 and 5 (and 44 to a degree). Maybe they realize that there isn't a chance at the playoffs this year and are just going through the motions. Maybe they are overreacting to not trusting their partners.

I will fully admit that coaching has something to do with it. I would say that it has less to do with the overall system and more to do with how it is implemented, and/or who is buying in.

THat's fair to an extent.

When I say Keith/Seabrook its top pair D men.....guys they can roll out against the league's best and win that 30-45 seconds and tilt matchup favors throughout the lineup in the Hawks favor.

I don't know what the correct time frame is regarding Boqvist. I remember the days when Yawney was heralded in helping Keith and Seabrook grow. Think that's a fair ask about the current coaching set up. Does this organization have the right assistants to work with the younger guys so the same mistakes are more educational and learned from instead of repeating? To an extent that's the only reason I can accept Keith playing out his deal IF he's willing to be a coach on the ice and accept that mentor role. Staying engaging.....is entirely on Keith. Could help transition him to a coaching role in the NHL if he wanted it.

However, great players arent' great coaches....see Gretzky
- SteveRain

Good call on defensive coaches. Right now the Hawks system has Brookbank and Campbell.

Not sure how much the youngsters can learn from Brookbank that they couldn't learn from Keith and Seabrook given those 3 were teammates and 2 + 7 >> Brookbank defensively.

Campbell is fine to learn how to be a mobile defenseman but wonder how he's coaching them up to play defense.

Either way, I'm guessing the youngsters appreciate Brookbank and Campbell and learn from them. Just wonder what exactly they're learning and if they will hit a ceiling on the learning curve.

They're all puds. Replace them all with a talented high schooler or a small horn arrangement and call it a day.
- Chunk

If you watch Hogs games (or any other minor league games), they more often than not have what you are describing as the anthem performers.

Fun to watch. Sometimes not pleasant to the ears but still cool to give these kids a chance in the spotlight.

I cannot wait until mid-season when this is one of Theo's blog titles!

- Chunk

Sorry that my blog titles have been rather mundane. I save the idioms as titles for more editorial-style blogs.

I see this team on a positive note and could see us finishing at 500 or right under by end of year.

But my thoughts are the hawks knew what they were doing and I imagine by the end of the hockey season the gelling will happen. I think 2023 Should be a year we start winning again. Gives us a year to gel all these stud offensemen set in roles. The hawks knew what they were doing with all these young kids, they just didn't realize they would need to expedite them a year due to Toews and Dach. This pushed Suter, Kurashev, and the others up a year. I think we have several 25+ goal scorers that will put points on the board, and the scores will decrease over time. We had a massive turnover in players YOY, and these guys need time to develop with one another. Plus we are also lacking on Goalie, but I see either Lankinen, or Delia taking the starting gig as they are both very firey type of guys that want to get better and improve. So they are both going to push each other to get better, and that leaves me feeling like Subban will be the back up.

The defense will improve and goaltending will improve when the defense and offense gels with one another. I think that Coliton knows what he is doing with developing these young kids.

I can't honestly say that I could see Dach do as well under Coach Q, not that I dislike Q, just that Q likes his vets and doesn't take time to work with the kids and help them mature. Even with Dach being as hyped as we thought he would have been in Q doghouse multiple games and may not have grown as much. I think the defense will come with Beaudin and we may see a wildcard in Nylander next year as he gets a year away from hockey. Maybe this will show him what he is missing and the fun they can have when they work hard. I see the Hawks turning back into potential cup contenders in 2023. Think about the offense you just saw from Florida the other night with no holds bare and add in improved goaltending, more experience, and improvement from the defense and Coliton takes us to a cup contender and then his job is done and the Hawks bring in someone else to take us back to a cup or two before Kane Retires. Idk if Toews comes back or not, but I think Coliton is a placeholder to get the young kids developed quick, and once we get to the playoffs the hawks bring in another type of Q to take the reins and lead us to the cup. I just don't see Coliton as the guy to manage and take a team to championship. I think the hawks when they fired Q they wanted to redevelop young kids, something Q is not very good at, which Coliton has a reputation for. So Coliton comes in as the scapegoat to take all the beatings to his professional coaching record while we use him to develop our team and then they can him in 2024 and they hire someone to manage a wrecking crew team that matches the 2010 Cup again.

Just my 2 cents.

Ryno
- Hawk4life

I love your optimism, Ryno. Good points and food for thought.

Cole Moberg signed to a PTO with Rockford, Also, 2020 draft picks Michael Krutil and Isaak Phillips are on ATOs with the Hogs. All 3 are defensemen.

The Hog sorely need more blueliners so this is a good step in that regard. Trial by fire for the 2020 draftees, though, but they may not be playing much in juniors anyway.

So here’s why the Hawks have lost so badly:

The league was using new pucks with tracking devices embedded in them. Some players complained that the pucks weren’t sliding right - and the league found weight problems.

They’re going back to the old pucks.

Blackhawk play will be much more competitive now....

So here’s why the Hawks have lost so badly:

The league was using new pucks with tracking devices embedded in them. Some players complained that the pucks weren’t sliding right - and the league found weight problems.

They’re going back to the old pucks.

Blackhawk play will be much more competitive now....
- StLBravesFan

Just as I suspected...

So here’s why the Hawks have lost so badly:

The league was using new pucks with tracking devices embedded in them. Some players complained that the pucks weren’t sliding right - and the league found weight problems.

They’re going back to the old pucks.

Blackhawk play will be much more competitive now....
- StLBravesFan

The same tracking devices found in the Covid vaccine I bet!

Since I don't want to let Theo have all the fun here, I'm going to provide a few observations of my own:

1) ADB is a different player this year. Yes, he does still need to get better at puck retrieval, but his backchecking, defensive awareness and transitions through the neutral zone are much improved. He also seems better able to find the little alleys to shoot the puck that he was struggling with last year.

2) I would say that if you put Hagel or Highmore on the line with Walmark and Shaw, it would be absolute hell to play against. As much as I wanted Janmark to be a solid addition, he's just a guy. Every team has these type of players, but on this squad, he is just taking up a space for a younger player.

3) For some reason de Haan is playing like a rookie. He makes some amazing defensive plays (and some in the O-zone as well), but he has some absolute gaffes as well.

4) One of the Hawks' biggest issues thus far is their play around the bluelines. Boqvist is brutal at the "push-em-back" drop at the blueline. Most of the odd man rushes against were off of horrible decisions at the bluelines (Kane with a weak backhand pass through two defenders, ADB with the same mistake earlier in the game, numerous times when our D-men get confused on who to pick up entering the zone).

5) For all the concern that we have for our AHL development, it looks like the guys brought up who were there for extended time have fared quite well thus far. Highmore, Hagel, Kurashev, Carlsson are all at least competent 200' players thus far. Yes, it is a very small sample size for some if not all, but they all engage the entire ice sheet and pretty much have each one of the C's that Theo discussed before the season.

The same tracking devices found in the Covid vaccine I bet!
- paulr

I heard they used the same devices used by GoogleAmazonTwitter. Can't believe anyone noticed.

So here’s why the Hawks have lost so badly:

The league was using new pucks with tracking devices embedded in them. Some players complained that the pucks weren’t sliding right - and the league found weight problems.

They’re going back to the old pucks.

Blackhawk play will be much more competitive now....
- StLBravesFan

Now why in the heck would you go and say something like this when you know PE is watching?

Sorry, PE. Had to.

I heard they used the same devices used by GoogleAmazonTwitter. Can't believe anyone noticed.
- mohel

What! Are you saying the advertisements for piggy porn weren’t coincidental? 🥺

The same tracking devices found in the Covid vaccine I bet!
- paulr

I thought I saw Gates and Soros lunching with Bettman....

Since I don't want to let Theo have all the fun here, I'm going to provide a few observations of my own:

1) ADB is a different player this year. Yes, he does still need to get better at puck retrieval, but his backchecking, defensive awareness and transitions through the neutral zone are much improved. He also seems better able to find the little alleys to shoot the puck that he was struggling with last year.

2) I would say that if you put Hagel or Highmore on the line with Walmark and Shaw, it would be absolute hell to play against. As much as I wanted Janmark to be a solid addition, he's just a guy. Every team has these type of players, but on this squad, he is just taking up a space for a younger player.

3) For some reason de Haan is playing like a rookie. He makes some amazing defensive plays (and some in the O-zone as well), but he has some absolute gaffes as well.

4) One of the Hawks' biggest issues thus far is their play around the bluelines. Boqvist is brutal at the "push-em-back" drop at the blueline. Most of the odd man rushes against were off of horrible decisions at the bluelines (Kane with a weak backhand pass through two defenders, ADB with the same mistake earlier in the game, numerous times when our D-men get confused on who to pick up entering the zone).

5) For all the concern that we have for our AHL development, it looks like the guys brought up who were there for extended time have fared quite well thus far. Highmore, Hagel, Kurashev, Carlsson are all at least competent 200' players thus far. Yes, it is a very small sample size for some if not all, but they all engage the entire ice sheet and pretty much have each one of the C's that Theo discussed before the season.
- Chunk

He was trending in that direction last season - one reason, I think, who his goal production declined.

Since I don't want to let Theo have all the fun here, I'm going to provide a few observations of my own:

1) ADB is a different player this year. Yes, he does still need to get better at puck retrieval, but his backchecking, defensive awareness and transitions through the neutral zone are much improved. He also seems better able to find the little alleys to shoot the puck that he was struggling with last year.

2) I would say that if you put Hagel or Highmore on the line with Walmark and Shaw, it would be absolute hell to play against. As much as I wanted Janmark to be a solid addition, he's just a guy. Every team has these type of players, but on this squad, he is just taking up a space for a younger player.

3) For some reason de Haan is playing like a rookie. He makes some amazing defensive plays (and some in the O-zone as well), but he has some absolute gaffes as well.

4) One of the Hawks' biggest issues thus far is their play around the bluelines. Boqvist is brutal at the "push-em-back" drop at the blueline. Most of the odd man rushes against were off of horrible decisions at the bluelines (Kane with a weak backhand pass through two defenders, ADB with the same mistake earlier in the game, numerous times when our D-men get confused on who to pick up entering the zone).

5) For all the concern that we have for our AHL development, it looks like the guys brought up who were there for extended time have fared quite well thus far. Highmore, Hagel, Kurashev, Carlsson are all at least competent 200' players thus far. Yes, it is a very small sample size for some if not all, but they all engage the entire ice sheet and pretty much have each one of the C's that Theo discussed before the season.
- Chunk

You're singing Elbows' tune and after getting to watch him play for a few games here I'd have to agree. Thought he played better last nite but agree he's just taking up a place where another rookie might be able to.

Not sure you could get anything for him at the TDL but why not try? In the meantime put Highmore back in.

What! Are you saying the advertisements for piggy porn weren’t coincidental? 🥺
- paulr

Piggy? Mine doesn't....oh....nevermind.....

Good call on defensive coaches. Right now the Hawks system has Brookbank and Campbell.

Not sure how much the youngsters can learn from Brookbank that they couldn't learn from Keith and Seabrook given those 3 were teammates and 2 + 7 >> Brookbank defensively.

Campbell is fine to learn how to be a mobile defenseman but wonder how he's coaching them up to play defense.

Either way, I'm guessing the youngsters appreciate Brookbank and Campbell and learn from them. Just wonder what exactly they're learning and if they will hit a ceiling on the learning curve.
- Theo Fox

This echoes what I have said/questioned before. Is Brookbank the guy to teach our young D. As you also note, while Campbell was good at what he did, playing defense was not really his strong point. If you ever watched Campbells game closely, he didnt spend a whole lot of time skating backwards. He was loops and turns in both the Offensive and defensive zones. His game was puck possession and transition out of the zone, plus for all the talk of him being a power play QB, he wasn't all that effective at it with the Hawks.

It's early on in the season, with no pre-season, so for now you give everyone the benefit of the doubt until they find a rhythm in their games and with their line-mates/d partners. One thing however is still blatantly clear, and that is for whatever reason, Murphy and Keith just do not play well together. They have never meshed well and when paired together look far from what they do when apart.

Who sits when Soderburg joins the lineup? From what we have seen so far, I would think maybe its either Wallmark or Janmark? New team, new environment, but neither has really flashed much of anything yet.

Who sits when Soderburg joins the lineup? From what we have seen so far, I would think maybe its either Wallmark or Janmark? New team, new environment, but neither has really flashed much of anything yet.
- TheTrob

Maybe Strome.

Maybe Strome.
- mohel

is it christmas already?

My body hurts watching this guy skate.

is it christmas already?

My body hurts watching this guy skate.
- SteveRain

I'm with you, but some here see him as a future #2 center on a Cup contender. Maybe they're right, but I don't think so.