I’m surprised nothing has been said about Toews since the beginning of the season.
- paulr

Probably here something this off season. I wouldn't be surprised to hear a Seabrook type announcement from Toews saying his career is over. I just hope it isn't like the old Lou Gehrig speech.

Me, too. While there are reasons for his absence that can be temporary or managed, the silence is disheartening to me. If I had to guess, we will hear something shortly after the Hawk season ends if it is good or kind of bad; and after the Cup Final if it is tragic.
- mohel

I agree. What’s mind blowing is that nothing has leaked. In this day of social media and of people who want to be looked at as some sort of morbid hero for leaking the reason that nothing credible or that has been latched onto has come out.

I keep telling you guys. Barkov as a free agent addition the year after next would be one of them. Believe.
- boilermaker100

Or the following year when Austen Matthews is a UFA. I know who I’d rather see.

I know he's young. Hinnistroza was a guy when here skated around chasing all the time. He was fast but not effective. All of a sudden he comes back and in my opinion shows a maturity level I never saw coming and he is much more effective. Hopefully Nylander develops sooner than later. I seriously can't talk about his skating because he hasn't done much of it. As noted with a previous post that was not the case with Shaw.
I would say to Nylander just because you grew up with it doesn't mean it's yours. You have to earn it. He needs a kick in the ass.
- 6628

I believe Nylander is realizing that he's not an elite player. Sometimes it takes a while for a kid to get that through his head. It'll be interesting to see how he plays when he comes back. Blackhawks have the luxury of time since we are rebuilding

Putting players (i.e. Nylander) in the top 6 because "maybe they will finally play to their talent's potential" doesn't sound like the strategy of a legitimate playoff team.

The guy just had a major surgery and they are going to rush him back why exactly?

I'm probably in the minority thinking that rushing Dach back was also foolish, but at least you could rationalize it based on some of the play we saw in the stretch drive and playoffs last year.

Nylander? There is zero reason other than to give Stan an opportunity to pay him more than he should when he inevitably puts good money after bad and re-signs him.
- jrsamu

Who is rushing him back?

Why do you think Dach was rushed back? Define "rushed back" please.

I believe Nylander is realizing that he's not an elite player. Sometimes it takes a while for a kid to get that through his head. It'll be interesting to see how he plays when he comes back. Blackhawks have the luxury of time since we are rebuilding
- BetweenTheDots

I hope you're right and the kid rises to the challenge. Given where he came from and the chance he already had to re-write his story, the fact that we're still waiting for the light bulb to go off is not encouraging.

I agree. What’s mind blowing is that nothing has leaked. In this day of social media and of people who want to be looked at as some sort of morbid hero for leaking the reason that nothing credible or that has been latched onto has come out.
- paulr

It is great to see that it has remained private.

Who is rushing him back?

Why do you think Dach was rushed back? Define "rushed back" please.
- mohel

“Rushed back” is when medical doctors give a player a clean bill of health after scientifically reviewing the player’s health but when posters who get their medical degree from Twitter, Facebook or YouTube believe the doctors are wrong and that Dach was rushed back.

I know he's young. Hinnistroza was a guy when here skated around chasing all the time. He was fast but not effective. All of a sudden he comes back and in my opinion shows a maturity level I never saw coming and he is much more effective. Hopefully Nylander develops sooner than later. I seriously can't talk about his skating because he hasn't done much of it. As noted with a previous post that was not the case with Shaw.
I would say to Nylander just because you grew up with it doesn't mean it's yours. You have to earn it. He needs a kick in the ass.
- 6628

Vinnie has always been a balls to the wall player. He has understood for a long time that he needs to work hard and stay aggressive in order to compete with bigger, stronger, faster players. I think you are spot on in your assessment that there is more maturity to his game as opposed to just playing at a frenetic pace. If you listened to any of his interviews aftger the game the other day he was very honest about being knocked down a peg or two after being non-tendered by Ariz and not seeing much playing time in FL. He knows he has to work hard and play smart to maintain a spot in the lineup.

Nylander is really an enigma, he really does have a great skillset, but has never consistently shown the heart or drive to be effective. Part of it may be never having to work hard to be among the top players on the ice. Maybe a sense of entitlement based on his draft position and name, who knows. At some point you would hope he gets the kick in the ass he needs.

Great post! If I had written it I probably would have posted it twice as well.

I know he's young. Hinnistroza was a guy when here skated around chasing all the time. He was fast but not effective. All of a sudden he comes back and in my opinion shows a maturity level I never saw coming and he is much more effective. Hopefully Nylander develops sooner than later. I seriously can't talk about his skating because he hasn't done much of it. As noted with a previous post that was not the case with Shaw.
I would say to Nylander just because you grew up with it doesn't mean it's yours. You have to earn it. He needs a kick in the ass.
- 6628

It's been a while 6628 since you retired from your hockey job (being discreet in case it matters). Do you miss it? .

I hope you're right and the kid rises to the challenge. Given where he came from and the chance he already had to re-write his story, the fact that we're still waiting for the light bulb to go off is not encouraging.
- jrsamu

How do we know how he would of performed this year? Most everyone was saying Bovquist will never make it because he is timid and afraid after last years bubble.

Please point to where Bowman, JC, or anyone in the front office said Nylander was a "problem" and entitled? I highly doubt he comes back and plays this year, maybe he is being looked at by Seattle, maybe this is just part of his rehabilitation. As others have mentioned, we do not have an abundance of top 6 candidates out there, unless you think that Carpenter can still play the bumper position on the PP.

How do we know how he would of performed this year? Most everyone was saying Bovquist will never make it because he is timid and afraid after last years bubble.

Please point to where Bowman, JC, or anyone in the front office said Nylander was a "problem" and entitled? I highly doubt he comes back and plays this year, maybe he is being looked at by Seattle, maybe this is just part of his rehabilitation. As others have mentioned, we do not have an abundance of top 6 candidates out there, unless you think that Carpenter can still play the bumper position on the PP.
- LAHawk

I also imagine when Nylander came here, he got a 1st hand look to see how hard the elite players work in the off season like Toews, Kane, Keith, then you witness Cat, Kubalik and Boqvist improvement from one year to the next, valuable lessons for a kid in our system

I believe Nylander is realizing that he's not an elite player. Sometimes it takes a while for a kid to get that through his head. It'll be interesting to see how he plays when he comes back. Blackhawks have the luxury of time since we are rebuilding
- BetweenTheDots

I'm not sure that's true. He knows he has the skill set that matches the elite players, it's a matter of understanding that it's not the physical skills as much as the mental skills that determines success in the NHL. For some the light bulb goes on, for many it doesn't. Maturity plays a big role in it, especially for a kid that probably has never had to work hard to get where he wants. The history of the NHL is littered with skilled guys that never made it, and HOF'ers who made it because of their desire.

Or the following year when Austen Matthews is a UFA. I know who I’d rather see.
- paulr

I'll take Matthews too as long as he shaves off that moustache.

It's been a while 6628 since you retired from your hockey job (being discreet in case it matters). Do you miss it? .
- jhawk59

I had a great run. Multiple decades doing multiple things. At this point I'm happy with my decision.

Who is rushing him back?

Why do you think Dach was rushed back? Define "rushed back" please.
- mohel

Dach has admitted he still has pain in his wrist, and a wrist injury is a difficult one to begin with. The trade-off is giving him more minutes to help in the playoff drive (by default he is probably the #1 center now) or give him a full year to recover, when we know that it is a strange year anyway. The kid is a gamer, so certainly he wants to play, but if he still has pain why do it this year?

I know he's young. Hinnistroza was a guy when here skated around chasing all the time. He was fast but not effective. All of a sudden he comes back and in my opinion shows a maturity level I never saw coming and he is much more effective. Hopefully Nylander develops sooner than later. I seriously can't talk about his skating because he hasn't done much of it. As noted with a previous post that was not the case with Shaw.
I would say to Nylander just because you grew up with it doesn't mean it's yours. You have to earn it. He needs a kick in the ass.
- 6628

You and I are about the same age, I would think (and wasn't VJ Day great?) - we've seen talent and potential be wasted, and lesser talent rewarded because of hard play and 'heart" (whatever that means).

I'm not putting in ink Nylander's entry into the top-six for the Blackhawks next season - or even in pencil - but at 23, with his talent and potential (and I know you don't like his skating) - I'm willing to take a chance. Especially since the Blackhawks don't have a ton (or much - or almost any) top-six potential in the system.

How do we know how he would of performed this year? Most everyone was saying Bovquist will never make it because he is timid and afraid after last years bubble.

Please point to where Bowman, JC, or anyone in the front office said Nylander was a "problem" and entitled? I highly doubt he comes back and plays this year, maybe he is being looked at by Seattle, maybe this is just part of his rehabilitation. As others have mentioned, we do not have an abundance of top 6 candidates out there, unless you think that Carpenter can still play the bumper position on the PP.
- LAHawk

I'm not a Nylander fan but that's mainly because he seems to be on such a long development curve.

However, there could be something there, but he needs to show it very soon to be in Chicago's future. Take note of what Casey Mittlestadt in Buffalo has started to do lately. He is another guy who was being written off as a bust 8th overall pick. Donnie Granato takes over as coach, the team starts playing better and this kid starts to show some talent and potential.

Dach has admitted he still has pain in his wrist, and a wrist injury is a difficult one to begin with. The trade-off is giving him more minutes to help in the playoff drive (by default he is probably the #1 center now) or give him a full year to recover, when we know that it is a strange year anyway. The kid is a gamer, so certainly he wants to play, but if he still has pain why do it this year?
- jrsamu

Because no matter when he started playing, he is going to have that stiffness or pain. You can "test" it all you want, but it is still not the same as finding out how it will be in game conditions. Hopefully it is not chronic.

You and I are about the same age, I would think (and wasn't VJ Day great?) - we've seen talent and potential be wasted, and lesser talent rewarded because of hard play and 'heart" (whatever that means).

I'm not putting in ink Nylander's entry into the top-six for the Blackhawks next season - or even in pencil - but at 23, with his talent and potential (and I know you don't like his skating) - I'm willing to take a chance. Especially since the Blackhawks don't have a ton (or much - or almost any) top-six potential in the system.
- StLBravesFan

VJ day just a little before my time, unless we are talking about MTV.

Dach has admitted he still has pain in his wrist, and a wrist injury is a difficult one to begin with. The trade-off is giving him more minutes to help in the playoff drive (by default he is probably the #1 center now) or give him a full year to recover, when we know that it is a strange year anyway. The kid is a gamer, so certainly he wants to play, but if he still has pain why do it this year?
- jrsamu

So, what does "rushed back" mean to you?

Regarding Dach....why not give him two years?

So, what does "rushed back" mean to you?

Regarding Dach....why not give him two years?
- mohel

Whoa! What's your hurry?

How do we know how he would of performed this year? Most everyone was saying Bovquist will never make it because he is timid and afraid after last years bubble.

Please point to where Bowman, JC, or anyone in the front office said Nylander was a "problem" and entitled? I highly doubt he comes back and plays this year, maybe he is being looked at by Seattle, maybe this is just part of his rehabilitation. As others have mentioned, we do not have an abundance of top 6 candidates out there, unless you think that Carpenter can still play the bumper position on the PP.
- LAHawk

The front office isn't saying any of those things. They are still hopeful that the proverbial light bulb will go off. And Stan is still hoping that his move to deal a 1st round pick for this guy will pay off.

I see the same teasers you do of the skills Nylander can bring. That said I have seen no evidence that he has the rest of what it takes to raise his game nor any evidence that he will ever be a top-6 forward on a playoff team. Top 6 on a lousy team, yep, he checks that box.

The front office isn't saying any of those things. They are still hopeful that the proverbial light bulb will go off. And Stan is still hoping that his move to deal a 1st round pick for this guy will pay off.

I see the same teasers you do of the skills Nylander can bring. That said I have seen no evidence that he has the rest of what it takes to raise his game nor any evidence that he will ever be a top-6 forward on a playoff team. Top 6 on a lousy team, yep, he checks that box.
- jrsamu

I think he showed signs of his ability last year. Maybe they were brief or streaky, but they are definitely there. The expectations dictated by his draft position and the eye test confirm that he does indeed have the talent to play top 6. Finding out how to flip that switch so he stays engaged is the hard part. How much of where Nylander is at this point is due to the Sabres, how much is strictly on him.