I may have to completely rethink this based on the non propoganda evaluations coming out of Scotiabank Arena.

Based on what I have heard, Rielly will be on the Canadian Olympic team. To that I say, don't even bother going.
- RickJ

Speaking of team Canada it won’t surprise me if Keith is given an opportunity to make the team.

You’re suggesting Hedman is better than Morgan Reilly?😳
- paulr

And David Runblad.

Speaking of team Canada it won’t surprise me if Keith is given an opportunity to make the team.
- paulr

For an over the hill old f$cker he looked pretty spry on Tuesday night.

Blackhawks holding optional morning skate.

Kirby Dach, Boqvist and DeBrincat were the first skaters on the ice. Doesn't mean Dach is playing, though.

Lankinen in the starter's crease.

Brandon Hagel has been on PP1 the last 2 games — his first PP time of his NHL career.

"I’m trying to help these guys get into the zone with my speed and get pucks to the guys. Last game it worked well. Hopefully we'll just keep building off it."

Kurashev has been on the 4th line wing recently.

"I’m more of a natural center. I played there all my life almost. But at wing, I’m comfortable too. Of course at the start I had to get used to it, but now it doesn’t really matter."

Lankinen starts tonight for Blackhawks.

Highmore in for Entwistle.

Otherwise same lineup as Tuesday. So no Dach return tonight.

Colliton: "You look too far ahead, you get hit by a bus."

Thats why they are called highlights. It's a very small subset. You can put together a "highlight" reel for almost any player, it doesn't mean they are necessarily any good. Want to see the Runblad highlight reel? Some nice shots and goals and a few nice passes.....big booming shot, he must be a superstar.
- TheTrob

So why did I question how well.his entire game was, and not just a few nice plays. Because obviously I was not making an evaluation without input about the rest if his game. So yes, you are right about highlights don't tell the whole story

And btw Runsblad highlights ....really....has a heavy shot......three or four GM's traded for him.....all he ever showed though was "runs bad."

Blackhawks holding optional morning skate.

Kirby Dach, Boqvist and DeBrincat were the first skaters on the ice. Doesn't mean Dach is playing, though.

Lankinen in the starter's crease.

Brandon Hagel has been on PP1 the last 2 games — his first PP time of his NHL career.

"I’m trying to help these guys get into the zone with my speed and get pucks to the guys. Last game it worked well. Hopefully we'll just keep building off it."

Kurashev has been on the 4th line wing recently.

"I’m more of a natural center. I played there all my life almost. But at wing, I’m comfortable too. Of course at the start I had to get used to it, but now it doesn’t really matter."

Lankinen starts tonight for Blackhawks.

Highmore in for Entwistle.

Otherwise same lineup as Tuesday. So no Dach return tonight.

Colliton: "You look too far ahead, you get hit by a bus."
- Chunk

Guess we don't have to worry about Boqvist's work ethic.

Guess we don't have to worry about Boqvist's work ethic.
- Elbows15

Don't Bovquist and ADB live together, reason why they were in COVID 19 protocol together?

Don't Bovquist and ADB live together, reason why they were in COVID 19 protocol together?
- LAHawk

Probably not a bad thing considering how competitive ADB is said to be.

@PuckReportNHL

UPDATE: Canadian federal government is poised to approve a shortened 7-day quarantine for players traded from US to Canadian teams before the April 12th trade deadline, per CBC News.

Guess we don't have to worry about Boqvist's work ethic.
- Elbows15

Not today.....

When Zadorov goes by the “less is more” adage, his game, including his passing, is reasonably good. When he’s running around looking for hits or trying to find his inner Erik Karlsson by over handling the puck he gets into real trouble. Lately he’s played very well defensively, getting the puck cleanly out of his zone or moving the puck in the offensive zone. Not coincidentally when he plays well he seldom gets in a huge hit.
- paulr

What you just described is pretty much what the Hawks seem to want out of Alex Vlasic: big body (6'6" 200 pounds and will likely gain more muscle), smooth skater to move the puck, improvements in his defensive game particularly using his huge frame and long reach.

While Vlasic can be relied upon to be part of a mobile blueline, he will be leaned on to be a shutdown defender in the top 4.

Scott Powers has an article in the Athletic today actually on Vlasic's growth at BU.

Thats why they are called highlights. It's a very small subset. You can put together a "highlight" reel for almost any player, it doesn't mean they are necessarily any good. Want to see the Runblad highlight reel? Some nice shots and goals and a few nice passes.....big booming shot, he must be a superstar.
- TheTrob

That's what I hate about hightlight videos especially for prospects and draft picks and in particular for defensemen. It's cool to see them wheel and deal but can they actually defend?

I'm more interested in watching defensive clips. That's why I am thoroughly enjoying Boqvist's immense growth defensively this season given how he started the year pretty shaky to the point where I felt he was better off developing in Rockford.

That's what I hate about hightlight videos especially for prospects and draft picks and in particular for defensemen. It's cool to see them wheel and deal but can they actually defend?

I'm more interested in watching defensive clips. That's why I am thoroughly enjoying Boqvist's immense growth defensively this season given how he started the year pretty shaky to the point where I felt he was better off developing in Rockford.
- Theo Fox

Defense is also sometimes tough to see unless you see a whole bunch of games. Sometimes the best defensemen show almost nothing outstanding, but then you look back at tape and stats and realize that very few chances and goals are given up with them on the ice. Its like a great cornerback in football, a great defensive player in baseball, you don't notice it until you really study the stats and watch the games. In hockey the true shutdown D-men are overshadowed by the D-men who may be a little worse in their own end, but provide a little more offense. For a lot of the cup run years, Hjarlmarsson was the best defensive d-man the Hawks had, not flashy, not much O, but a quality one-on-one defender, rarely beaten.

Lastly, every D-man is gonna get beat, even the best ones, its really more a matter of how often.

Defense is also sometimes tough to see unless you see a whole bunch of games. Sometimes the best defensemen show almost nothing outstanding, but then you look back at tape and stats and realize that very few chances and goals are given up with them on the ice. Its like a great cornerback in football, a great defensive player in baseball, you don't notice it until you really study the stats and watch the games. In hockey the true shutdown D-men are overshadowed by the D-men who may be a little worse in their own end, but provide a little more offense. For a lot of the cup run years, Hjarlmarsson was the best defensive d-man the Hawks had, not flashy, not much O, but a quality one-on-one defender, rarely beaten.

Lastly, every D-man is gonna get beat, even the best ones, its really more a matter of how often.
- TheTrob

What's the old adage? If you don't notice a defenseman he's probably doing okay?

Defense is also sometimes tough to see unless you see a whole bunch of games. Sometimes the best defensemen show almost nothing outstanding, but then you look back at tape and stats and realize that very few chances and goals are given up with them on the ice. Its like a great cornerback in football, a great defensive player in baseball, you don't notice it until you really study the stats and watch the games. In hockey the true shutdown D-men are overshadowed by the D-men who may be a little worse in their own end, but provide a little more offense. For a lot of the cup run years, Hjarlmarsson was the best defensive d-man the Hawks had, not flashy, not much O, but a quality one-on-one defender, rarely beaten.

Lastly, every D-man is gonna get beat, even the best ones, its really more a matter of how often.
- TheTrob

A very under-recognized point. Think about teams playing against this year's Hawks. Generally, they will try to match their best pair against the Kane/Cat line. That pair is likely to get beat sometimes; maybe more likely than the d-men matched against other Hawk lines.

Defense is also sometimes tough to see unless you see a whole bunch of games. Sometimes the best defensemen show almost nothing outstanding, but then you look back at tape and stats and realize that very few chances and goals are given up with them on the ice. Its like a great cornerback in football, a great defensive player in baseball, you don't notice it until you really study the stats and watch the games. In hockey the true shutdown D-men are overshadowed by the D-men who may be a little worse in their own end, but provide a little more offense. For a lot of the cup run years, Hjarlmarsson was the best defensive d-man the Hawks had, not flashy, not much O, but a quality one-on-one defender, rarely beaten.

Lastly, every D-man is gonna get beat, even the best ones, its really more a matter of how often.
- TheTrob

Good post. Agree wholeheartedly.

I'm hoping Vlasic becomes that type of defenseman.

A long shot would be someone like Moberg. No frills, just gets the job done but can still make a strong pass out to clear the zone. Doubt he progresses very far but he has the tools to be a Sopel-like NHLer.

https://twitter.com/Freda.../1375140742390145024?s=01

Ogi that wasn't you was it?

https://twitter.com/BenPo.../1375102692071247873?s=01

Guess we don't have to worry about Boqvist's work ethic.
- Elbows15

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis
·
Mar 24
Patrick Kane working with Adam Boqvist and Brandon Hagel 45 minutes after practice ended. They’re the last three on the ice. #Blackhawks

Looks like Bovquist first one on, last one off.

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis
·
Mar 24
Patrick Kane working with Adam Boqvist and Brandon Hagel 45 minutes after practice ended. They’re the last three on the ice. #Blackhawks

Looks like Bovquist first one on, last one off.
- LAHawk

https://twitter.com/NHLBl.../1375130259864092677?s=01

Too funny i think he just loves hockey

Don't Bovquist and ADB live together, reason why they were in COVID 19 protocol together?
- LAHawk

Yes, they do live together in dinky's house.

Good post. Agree wholeheartedly.

I'm hoping Vlasic becomes that type of defenseman.

A long shot would be someone like Moberg. No frills, just gets the job done but can still make a strong pass out to clear the zone. Doubt he progresses very far but he has the tools to be a Sopel-like NHLer.
- Theo Fox

I haven't seen him play yet but reports regarding Isaac Phillips have been very positive and he is a bigun, too.

https://twitter.com/FredaMoon/status/1375140742390145024?s=01

Ogi that wasn't you was it?
- BetweenTheDots

Wrong airline. Ogi lovesss having to point out landmarks. Says its his favorite part of being a pilot.

What you just described is pretty much what the Hawks seem to want out of Alex Vlasic: big body (6'6" 200 pounds and will likely gain more muscle), smooth skater to move the puck, improvements in his defensive game particularly using his huge frame and long reach.

While Vlasic can be relied upon to be part of a mobile blueline, he will be leaned on to be a shutdown defender in the top 4.

Scott Powers has an article in the Athletic today actually on Vlasic's growth at BU.
- Theo Fox

Moderate segue - re: the UFA's/RFA's - I would think that the only real discussions that need to be had are on Nylander, Janmark and Maybe Carlsson.

I don't really know what Carlsson is. If I had to handicap it, I would say they would like to keep him around, but I'm not really sure where anyone thinks he stands.

Again, I would assume that they want to give Nylander at least one more year, but do they think he can keep up with the new guys this year?

Janmark is just a solid contributor, but is he considered good enough to keep around (at this point in time)?

Hawks should move in on Hamilton if the price is right...