Theo Fox: Game 56: Hawks 4, Stars 5 A recap of the Blackhawks finale as they lose to the Stars in overtime with lopsided metrics for shooting and scoring chances in favor of Dallas despite Chicago leading most of the game.

Plus, a recap of the IceHogs falling short of a comeback versus the interstate rival Wolves.

Considering that the first post yesterday was spam ... I might as well become 1st tonight. Great job, this season, mate

Considering that the first post yesterday was spam ... I might as well become 1st tonight. Great job, this season, mate
- SC116

I 2nd that.

Thanks Theo for the blogs and all your hard work this season. Great job and look forward to thoughts on the offseason and next season in upcoming blogs.

Mentioned last night along with a few others that overall the season had a lot more pluses than minuses especially considering how bleak things looked when it began.

I like how so many young players were worked into the lineup this season. For some it was an opportunity to get their feet wet and go back to RFD to work on their game. Some guys showed they belong and will be back with the big club next season.

Should be an interesting offseason.

The blogs and updates all year have been amazing. The players should have as much energy and commitment. Hope you're around for a while longer, Theo.

Next season is the test for Colliton, the coaching staff, team leadership. Lots of individual strides made this season - time to put all of that together into the team game.

Time to get skaters to look for - and see - what’s happening on the ice - making sure zones (or the man-and-a-half) are covered. Time to support teammates, covering up for them, coming back to provide a pass-outlet. Fewer stretch passes, south to north or cross-ice. A better team plan to rescue Kane if he’s double-triple teamed.

Communication on the ice - skaters knowing where teammates - AND opponents are.

I second the “thanks Theo” sentiments - game summaries, player updates, Chicago and Rockford - providing a forum (and priming the pump) for the rest of us.

Thanks Theo. The Hawks had a better than expected season. But you blew away all expectations. I am sure you have a list of interesting posts during the playoffs and throughout the offseason. But no one is expecting a new daily blog every morning. Too bad. I will miss it.

It should be an interesting offseason for the Hawks.
- Now that 10 players made their debuts with the Hawks, how much will they train/improve this summer and what will be the effect of a normal training camp be.
- or on Z, and/or Strome, and/or deHaan being moved? That is $10 mil in cap space.
- Toews back to 2019/20 form (good)? 2017/2018 form (so so)? or not coming back at all?
- Who do we protect/lose in the expansion draft?
- How lucky are we in the lottery? (Will we be in the lottery again next year?)
- Who do we draft?
- Are Borgstrum and Reichel on the Hawks NHL roster on day 1?
- Which free agents and prospects are signed and for how much?
1) Hagel (definitely)
2) Suter, Gaudette, Kampf, Nylander, Borgstrum, Reichel (probably)
3) Zadorov, Hino (???)
- Is there an outside chance Keith asks or agrees to be moved? What is the market for him?
- Does Hossa join the Hawks in some capacity? (EU scout and ambassador)
- Any significant surprise moves by Bowman?

On another topic.... which team will be most interesting in the playoffs/offseason? Leafs have the top seed in the North and a top heavy roster with 13 UFA's and 2 RFA's. (But they are the Leafs.) Blues 4th seed in the West with 5 UFA's and 6 RFA's. The Preds (for the obvious reason).

What big name players will be signed/traded. RNH? Johnny Hockey, Danault (only a big name to some on this board), Getzlaf, Hjalmarsson (is he returning to Sweden), Saad, Landeskog, Raanta, Johansson, Hamilton, Laine, Wennberg, Montour, Granlund, Krejci, Hall, Eichel, Reinhart, Palmieri, Deangelo,

What moves will the Kraken make? What will their roster look like?

It's always something!! (Roseanne Roseannadanna reference (Gilda Radner))

Got to say the same thing, hardest working blogger/sports writer, season was ups and downs, would have liked to seen some guys play more but now its time to make decisions on some of these guys. I hope they don't rush the German kid, get him a half season in AHL and if Mitchell needs more time send him down too. Thanks again for all you put into your articles and can't wait for your draft analysis !!! Lets hope we get a center man in first round ( don't rush him to NHL) and we get rid of Strome!

Next season is the test for Colliton, the coaching staff, team leadership. Lots of individual strides made this season - time to put all of that together into the team game.

Time to get skaters to look for - and see - what’s happening on the ice - making sure zones (or the man-and-a-half) are covered. Time to support teammates, covering up for them, coming back to provide a pass-outlet. Fewer stretch passes, south to north or cross-ice. A better team plan to rescue Kane if he’s double-triple teamed.

Communication on the ice - skaters knowing where teammates - AND opponents are.
- StLBravesFan

Wise remarks, you speak as if a sage. I am sure Colliton, Bowman, the players and coaches.- basicly everyone knows what they are supposed to do. Time to step up with much better responsibility. If we flounder like we did this season - outplayed like last night.- and the growing up, responsibility is not evident- then Colliton and Bowman are going to be in a tough spot.

Thanks Theo for all you do, you have kept us well informed all year, you rock! This is going to be an interesting off season, more so than normal and I’m looking forward to what Stan does.

Theo, I echo the statements from the other posters. You have to be the hardest working blogger on HB. This off-season, you should limit yourself to 2 blogs a week, and just do an extra one occasionally when something newsworthy happens. I'd love it if you stayed a while, and don't want you getting burnt out!

Lol Pat Foley.

Thanks Theo for a great season, looking forward to the off-season posts.

A better season than expected, but I am disappointed in the amount of points they got. Just for the sake of a better draft pick (Since Seattle will be taking a player off the roster).

The 4 players I will be interested in watching what happens with them this offseason:

1) Toews
2) Strome
3) Nylander
4) Big Z

Theo you spoiled us this season. An excellent job done with pretty much daily blogs and topics of discussion. Stick taps and thanks.



Certainly a much more interesting and enjoyable Hawk season compared to the last 3 or 4. I found myself watching the games to see which new guy is going to show what he has more then in the past where I watched to see how bad they could possibly be.

The Hawks may have some keepers in the group. I still think they may be a bit overloaded with bottom to middle 6 forwards (at least they're bottom/middle 6 on this team). Some newbie defensemen that may be able to make a decent living in the NHL.

It should be a fun off season and remember, Stan Bowman will always lose every trade, he will always overpay a player, he will always mismanage assets and he will always chose the wrong coach.

Theo, I also say a job well done, and you are the hardest working blogger out there. I find your blogs inciteful and well thought out.

I also want to thank the regulars and semi-regulars who show up on this blog. I learn from you as well. Although we don't always agree, I do respect your positions and opinions.

Will be an interesting offseason for sure. As Rota said, every move Stan makes will be wrong. JC will always pick the wrong line to que in the grocery store, and Rocky gets more like his father every day.

Theo you spoiled us this season. An excellent job done with pretty much daily blogs and topics of discussion. Stick taps and thanks.



Certainly a much more interesting and enjoyable Hawk season compared to the last 3 or 4. I found myself watching the games to see which new guy is going to show what he has more then in the past where I watched to see how bad they could possibly be.

The Hawks may have some keepers in the group. I still think they may be a bit overloaded with bottom to middle 6 forwards (at least they're bottom/middle 6 on this team). Some newbie defensemen that may be able to make a decent living in the NHL.

It should be a fun off season and remember, Stan Bowman will always lose every trade, he will always overpay a player, he will always mismanage assets and he will always chose the wrong coach.
- Rota's Rooter

You forgot bungle the timing of everything. Very important.

Well Foley didn't go full Karpotsev last night, but he did trash the the team defense as a whole, and did intimate that the system could be part of the problem.

I second the “thanks Theo” sentiments - game summaries, player updates, Chicago and Rockford - providing a forum (and priming the pump) for the rest of us.
- StLBravesFan

Thank you Theo. This is one of the few sites I actually check daily because of your thorough and insightful posts.

Theo you spoiled us this season. An excellent job done with pretty much daily blogs and topics of discussion. Stick taps and thanks.



Certainly a much more interesting and enjoyable Hawk season compared to the last 3 or 4. I found myself watching the games to see which new guy is going to show what he has more then in the past where I watched to see how bad they could possibly be.

The Hawks may have some keepers in the group. I still think they may be a bit overloaded with bottom to middle 6 forwards (at least they're bottom/middle 6 on this team). Some newbie defensemen that may be able to make a decent living in the NHL.

It should be a fun off season and remember, Stan Bowman will always lose every trade, he will always overpay a player, he will always mismanage assets and he will always chose the wrong coach.
- Rota's Rooter

Except for those occasions where he plays hardball, resulting in nobody wanting to play for the Hawks.

Theo, I also say a job well done, and you are the hardest working blogger out there. I find your blogs inciteful and well thought out.

I also want to thank the regulars and semi-regulars who show up on this blog. I learn from you as well. Although we don't always agree, I do respect your positions and opinions.

Will be an interesting offseason for sure. As Rota said, every move Stan makes will be wrong. JC will always pick the wrong line to que in the grocery store, and Rocky gets more like his father every day.


- LAHawk

Well said, LA.

Well Foley didn't go full Karpotsev last night, but he did trash the the team defense as a whole, and did intimate that the system could be part of the problem.
- LAHawk

Just my thought on the system. Players obviously don't know it well enough and maybe have to think about the situation rather than naturally reacting to it. Maybe some are playing it properly, but others don't react to what a teammate does leaving an opponent open.

Some say a full training camp is needed for the players to better learn it. Same was said after JC took over early in the 18-19 season and I don't remember the defense improving after the 2019 camp leading into the 19-20 season.

I don't know how much the players can learn at camp especially during the early part when there are about 40 players on the ice. By the time the roster is whittled down to the 23 keepers, there's about a week left in camp. Is that really enough time to better learn the system?

I don't know much about hockey X's and O's and can't say whether the system is crap or not, but if the players don't eventually pick it up, what's the problem? System too complex to learn? Players not good or smart enough to learn it? Coaches not explaining/teaching the system properly?

Thanks Theo. Looked forward to every entry for a great in depth look at the Hawks. This has to be the best blog on Hockey Buzz. Look forward to next year when we hopefully have an even better year.

I was at the game last night and man, I can't wait until we get a full stadium (and cheaper Stub Hub seats).

I was in 327 and the Stars defended two of the periods on my end. That said, I was watching up ice for most of the game. The Hawks were thoroughly dominated but still almost pulled off a win. The domination will happen with a rookie-filled roster with 4 very young DMen, 3 of which are rookies but there definitely needs to be some tweaks in the system. It appears that in the current system, the opposing D-Men aren't challenged enough and have free will to shoot and pass. Frequent lapses in coverage allow prime shots from the slot to goal line range. Weak clearing attempts and missed passes by both forwards and DMen allowed Dallas to keep the puck in the zone and pressure on. I also think the D need more support from forwards breaking out as Dallas often exploited it.

In entering the Dallas zone, Dallas collapsed in the middle almost every rush either causing the Hawk forward to lose the puck carrying it in or forcing dump ins which were rarely recovered. The Hawks could have had 4-6 more shots but the youngsters made ill advised passes or moves at times. This part can be corrected with experience.

Entertaining game but looking back, those 12 dollar beers would have tasted much better with an overtime win. That said, I can't wait to go back lol.

Thanks Theo. Looked forward to every entry for a great in depth look at the Hawks. This has to be the best blog on Hockey Buzz. Look forward to next year when we hopefully have an even better year.

I was at the game last night and man, I can't wait until we get a full stadium (and cheaper Stub Hub seats).

I was in 327 and the Stars defended two of the periods on my end. That said, I was watching up ice for most of the game. The Hawks were thoroughly dominated but still almost pulled off a win. The domination will happen with a rookie-filled roster with 4 very young DMen, 3 of which are rookies but there definitely needs to be some tweaks in the system. It appears that in the current system, the opposing D-Men aren't challenged enough and have free will to shoot and pass. Frequent lapses in coverage allow prime shots from the slot to goal line range. Weak clearing attempts and missed passes by both forwards and DMen allowed Dallas to keep the puck in the zone and pressure on. I also think the D need more support from forwards breaking out as Dallas often exploited it.

In entering the Dallas zone, Dallas collapsed in the middle almost every rush either causing the Hawk forward to lose the puck carrying it in or forcing dump ins which were rarely recovered. The Hawks could have had 4-6 more shots but the youngsters made ill advised passes or moves at times. This part can be corrected with experience.

Entertaining game but looking back, those 12 dollar beers would have tasted much better with an overtime win. That said, I can't wait to go back lol.
- Popsghostly

Thanks for your observations. It should be noted that Dallas had their regular defense playing including Heiskenen, Klingberg, Lindell. Even with a full healthy defense, the Hawks currently do not have anyone that is at their level.

Thanks Theo! You killed it this year. I really enjoyed the thought put into your posts. I look forward to the offseason thoughts, but like others have said, don't expect an every day post.

Cheers!