It goes without saying that the Hawks have no one to replace Keith’s minutes, but for those who want to launch Connor Murphy into the sunset, they have no one to replace his minutes either.

It wasn’t’t as noticeable against Detroit, but it sure was against Carolina. His 20-23 minutes playing PK and against the other teams top lone cannot be replaced by the 2 vets (DaHaan and Zadorov), and Mitchell is still being sheltered in his minutes as far as defensive responsibilities. The other rookies aren ‘t even close to taking any of Murphy’s responsibilities.

It goes without saying that the Hawks have no one to replace Keith’s minutes, but for those who want to launch Connor Murphy into the sunset, they have no one to replace his minutes either.

It wasn’t’t as noticeable against Detroit, but it sure was against Carolina. His 20-23 minutes playing PK and against the other teams top lone cannot be replaced by the 2 vets (DaHaan and Zadorov), and Mitchell is still being sheltered in his minutes as far as defensive responsibilities. The other rookies aren ‘t even close to taking any of Murphy’s responsibilities.
- LAHawk

Murphy is a keeper, he’s got better each year he’s been with the Hawks. He has one more year on his deal after next season, I’d like to see him stick around beyond that as long as his salary demands are too high.

It goes without saying that the Hawks have no one to replace Keith’s minutes, but for those who want to launch Connor Murphy into the sunset, they have no one to replace his minutes either.

It wasn’t’t as noticeable against Detroit, but it sure was against Carolina. His 20-23 minutes playing PK and against the other teams top lone cannot be replaced by the 2 vets (DaHaan and Zadorov), and Mitchell is still being sheltered in his minutes as far as defensive responsibilities. The other rookies aren ‘t even close to taking any of Murphy’s responsibilities.
- LAHawk

Yea they could of used him on the pk last night

The NHL could screw up a 3 car funeral.

Who’d have thought that it could be sunny during an outdoor day game in Tahoe?

Bettman just said, “It’s cloudy everywhere except where the sun is”. Amazing incompetence.

He is getting caved in every time he is on the ice. He is being sheltered and still is ending up on the wrong side of the ice.

Its not about points. Name one other things he brings to a team besides points?
- Elbows15

I think he's playing better defensively in his own end. He's one of the guys who can actually complete a pass to a player, I'm just looking for incremental improvements and Im seeing them. Hopefully he can string it all together get stronger and become an NHL player, all this hate for a guy who was drafted 3rd is quite impressive, if he ends up being a Hawk great if not that's fine too

The NHL could screw up a 3 car funeral.

Who’d have thought that it could be sunny during an outdoor day game in Tahoe?

Bettman just said, “It’s cloudy everywhere except where the sun is”. Amazing incompetence.
- scottak

Teams and the league are losing millions and the league decides to spend gosh knows what on this outdoor rink and bringing 2 eastern teams out west for Sunday's game. Maybe NBC was pushing for this to make up for the lost Winter Classic game. Anyway not turning out good at this point.

Mike Babcock named head coach of ...

wait for it...

The University of Saskatchewan

Mike Babcock named head coach of ...

wait for it...

The University of Saskatchewan
- boilermaker100

Go Huskies!

I think he's playing better defensively in his own end. He's one of the guys who can actually complete a pass to a player, I'm just looking for incremental improvements and Im seeing them. Hopefully he can string it all together get stronger and become an NHL player, all this hate for a guy who was drafted 3rd is quite impressive, if he ends up being a Hawk great if not that's fine too
- BetweenTheDots

The numbers say he isn't playing better defensively. Its worse. A lot worse and he was one of the 5 worse forwards defensively last season.

CorRel% is -5.6. That is horrid.

Where he was drafted 6 years ago is irrelevant at this point.

It goes without saying that the Hawks have no one to replace Keith’s minutes, but for those who want to launch Connor Murphy into the sunset, they have no one to replace his minutes either.

It wasn’t’t as noticeable against Detroit, but it sure was against Carolina. His 20-23 minutes playing PK and against the other teams top lone cannot be replaced by the 2 vets (DaHaan and Zadorov), and Mitchell is still being sheltered in his minutes as far as defensive responsibilities. The other rookies aren ‘t even close to taking any of Murphy’s responsibilities.
- LAHawk

Murphy needs to get back. Think most want Murph to stay unless someone loses their mind and massively overpays for him. i don't see that happening.

Murphy is a keeper, he’s got better each year he’s been with the Hawks. He has one more year on his deal after next season, I’d like to see him stick around beyond that as long as his salary demands are too high.
- DarthKane

Too soon if at all Murphy gets traded. Originally I hoped some young dmen would develop sooner. There would need to be two young dmen step up and play well for a couple of months. Perhaps the trade deadline after this one. Again...if he gets traded. My major point about Murphy was to try to move him insofar as to then be able to draft one of the top centers in 2021. Moving Murphy to get a high pick was not enough. Include our first too. Still might not be happen.

Certainly now Murphy is not being traded as he is an integral.part of the defense and is even taking on leadership. He will be protected of course comes The Expansion Draft.

DeHahn and Zadorov probably will be available. Maybe Carlsson too. Let us see how well everyone plays the remainder of the season.

As far as the centerice position goes, my thoughts are:

We can outperform other teams when our center position is strong. Dach #2, Kurashev #3, Kampf #4. What if Toews returns. At what level would he be? Maybe Kurashev to wing and put Toews and Hagel on that line? Also, I have hope that drafting the correct center might mean this center helps Kane be among scoring leaders for the next 2-3 years. Pr longer if Kane really takes care of himself.

The Suter, Kubalik, soon Reichel on #2 line is ideal. Exactly who lines up with whom...whom do you like Dach to play with? The #2 and #3 linemattes might be interchangeable. I want a top skill center, fast, to play with Kane and DCat.

The NHL could screw up a 3 car funeral.

Who’d have thought that it could be sunny during an outdoor day game in Tahoe?

Bettman just said, “It’s cloudy everywhere except where the sun is”. Amazing incompetence.
- scottak

I caught that quote and almost coughed up breakfast laughing.

I caught that quote and almost coughed up breakfast laughing.
- 6628

Breakfast? Where do you live?

Murphy needs to get back. Think most want Murph to stay unless someone loses their mind and massively overpays for him. i don't see that happening.
- Elbows15

If Murph is the Hawks #4 defenseman in two years, the team will be quite good, imo.

If Murph is the Hawks #4 defenseman in two years, the team will be quite good, imo.
- mohel

He is a solid vet. Shows up every night. Doesn't cheat a team with his effort. Injuries are the only concern with him.

Like I said, it would take a deal that blew me away to move him. Its starts with a 1st Rd. pick.

His next contract should be reasonable too. Points are what gets a D-man paid and Murph provides some offense but not enough to move the needle on a contract.

The numbers say he isn't playing better defensively. Its worse. A lot worse and he was one of the 5 worse forwards defensively last season.

CorRel% is -5.6. That is horrid.

Where he was drafted 6 years ago is irrelevant at this point.
- Elbows15

What does that mean? When i watch him it looks like for the most part he's covering in his own end, when the dmen feel frisky he goes to the front of the net and covers for them. I've seen several times where he read the play and was a split second to late to stop the quality shot on net which did end up being a goal. Not perfect but better.

Didn't Florida just go off analytics one year? I heard it didn't go well for them

The NHL could screw up a 3 car funeral.

Who’d have thought that it could be sunny during an outdoor day game in Tahoe?

Bettman just said, “It’s cloudy everywhere except where the sun is”. Amazing incompetence.
- scottak

Jeez - ya pays your money and ya takes your chances.

They did something bold - they took a chance - it is a terrific setting - and you’re criticizing them for trying to make something good happen?

I don’t like Bettman (or Fehr, for that matter) but give them credit for putting it out there.

Tough crowd....

Jeez - ya pays your money and ya takes your chances.

They did something bold - they took a chance - it is a terrific setting - and you’re criticizing them for trying to make something good happen?

I don’t like Bettman (or Fehr, for that matter) but give them credit for putting it out there.

Tough crowd....
- StLBravesFan

They should have scheduled it for evening, in prime time, for maximum exposure. Someone in the NHL HQ wanted the pretty pictures of the mountains.

NBC has the say of when the game is televised, and probably 90% of what teams play. Beggars ( the NHL) can ‘t be choosers

NBC has the say of when the game is televised, and probably 90% of what teams play. Beggars ( the NHL) can ‘t be choosers
- LAHawk

Game to be resumed at 11 pm Central. NBC going to prempt SNL? Don't think so. Probably be on NBCSN.

[quote=BetweenTheDots]What does that mean? When i watch him it looks like for the most part he's covering in his own end, when the dmen feel frisky he goes to the front of the net and covers for them. I've seen several times where he read the play and was a split second to late to stop the quality shot on net which did end up being a goal. Not perfect but better.

Didn't Florida just go off analytics one year? I heard it didn't go well

It means the other team badly outshoots the Hawks while Strome is on the ice. Probably not his fault though.....

Jeez - ya pays your money and ya takes your chances.

They did something bold - they took a chance - it is a terrific setting - and you’re criticizing them for trying to make something good happen?

I don’t like Bettman (or Fehr, for that matter) but give them credit for putting it out there.

Tough crowd....
- StLBravesFan

Such a beautiful area, just (frank)ing gorgeous.

What does that mean? When i watch him it looks like for the most part he's covering in his own end, when the dmen feel frisky he goes to the front of the net and covers for them. I've seen several times where he read the play and was a split second to late to stop the quality shot on net which did end up being a goal. Not perfect but better.

Didn't Florida just go off analytics one year? I heard it didn't go well for them
- BetweenTheDots

No one is saying go by metrics alone. It's part of the picture. CorRel% is a measure in relation to his team mates and that numbers means they are basically better with him not even playing. What good is a guy who sole purpose for being in the NHL is to provide offense is spending most shifts in his own zone? Which is what some of the numbers are showing. He is always going to be a step slow. Cause he is slow.

He is going to have to be around a PPG at this rate to compensate for what he is giving up defensively.

[quote=BetweenTheDots]What does that mean? When i watch him it looks like for the most part he's covering in his own end, when the dmen feel frisky he goes to the front of the net and covers for them. I've seen several times where he read the play and was a split second to late to stop the quality shot on net which did end up being a goal. Not perfect but better.

Didn't Florida just go off analytics one year? I heard it didn't go well

It means the other team badly outshoots the Hawks while Strome is on the ice. Probably not his fault though.....
- mohel

It means the another team is outshooting the Hawks even more when he is on the ice than when he is not.

The guy is getting close to 60% of his zone starts in the O-zone and while he is on the ice(not alone mind you), the Hawks are giving up almost 60% of the SAT.

The relative does account for how he compares to the rest of the team.[/img]

No one is saying go by metrics alone. It's part of the picture. CorRel% is a measure in relation to his team mates and that numbers means they are basically better with him not even playing. What good is a guy who sole purpose for being in the NHL is to provide offense is spending most shifts in his own zone? Which is what some of the numbers are showing. He is always going to be a step slow. Cause he is slow.

He is going to have to be around a PPG at this rate to compensate for what he is giving up defensively.
- Elbows15

Doesn't he also start in the offensive zone a lot? And shouldn't that help his CorsiRel?