I just went with the one that came first. The O.G.

I like all of those too, although good country is increasingly hard to find, as most of what comes out of Nashville these days is a pop-a-fied caricature of what country music is “supposed” to be.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yes, I agree, there’s only a few artists that I listen to.

Same...but I still can't help feeling both Nagy and Pace should be shown the door.

To your point about Mitch, there's not only Nagy's stubbornness in terms of trying to make him something he wasn't, but after having him for four years, you'd think the Bears would have a better idea of how to defend him.

And as far as Pace, the whole Teven Jenkins thing and tackle position's a mess. Fields' mobility should help keep him from getting killed but that hit he took yesterday looked pretty scary at first.
- HawkintheD

Honestly I'm not watching until Fields becomes the starter. Dalton is garbage.

Honestly I'm not watching until Fields becomes the starter. Dalton is garbage.
- BetweenTheDots

Doles, Falton, same animal. Both need an o- line which Bears don't have. Cut Leno, rookie replacement who never played LT out for season Chris Williams II. Say goodbye to Pace and Nagy and overhill defense that's lost all their depth thanks to Pace and QB situation. Would have never dreamed defense could go from old to young to old again in 5 years.
#ASF

I was a guest on a podcast yesterday with Chicago Tomahawk. Check it out if interested. Thank you to Mike and Matt for inviting me.

https://player.captivate....4-23bbb8f476bd/episode=53

p.s. Feel free to rip me apart with my 3rd place prediction in the Central for the Hawks this season! I can explain...sorta...
- Theo Fox

This was really fun, Theo. Well done covering the organIzation basically from top to bottom with players in numerous leagues....... Not that I need reminders that I'm getting old but it's nice to hear a mature group on a podcast. No hot takes, no gettin edgy/super fly to make news or be cool, no sound effects and most of all no screaming.

I guess this is a thing now and something I'll never ever ever understand, Dach to wing. Firstly franchises go a decade or more looking for a #1 or #2, or both, centerman. When you draft one you don't move him to wing unless he fails for yrs or you have LA King depth at C. You draft a wing in the top 5 to be a super skilled player who scores you draft a centerman top 5 to be the best player on the ice in all 3 zones. Now if a C develops into a pt per game guy great but that's what wingers are for.

After the Hawks drafted Dach the Athletic talked to scouts/management types about the draft. Scout, who wasn't on the Hawks payroll, said Dach is one of a handful of players in the world that combines his skating, size and skill. Indeed. And if you watched him play jrs the kid can not play the game the wrong way. He will not cheat it. He will be on the right side of the puck and unless you're Bergeron, Kopitar or Johnny, before 27,428 things got into his head, you ain't gonna be responsible and score 85 points.

After watching a short amount of Dach in jrs I saw a Ryan Johanssen floor. The size skill and skating to be a legit warrior, 20:00 a night, 1st unit PP, 70+ point 1C but if that doesn't click a responsible 60ish point 2C that takes the opponents 1C.

The comparison to Getzlaf IMO is fair but flawed. That dude is a nasty character that few are in his league that way. But yea, cuz of the size and both play C they get compared but IMO Dach is bigger, a better skater and better hands. Getzlaf willed his way to success not skilled his way to it. He imposed his will on people and few could match that........ Dach could do that with his size and skating but few ever played the game like Getzlaf.

I guess the comparisons can go on and on but would say the kid has a floor as a top 1/3 of the league 2C and a ceiling of a pt a game guy but wouldn't expect that but IMO a kid with Dach's physical and mental makeup he doesn't need to hit 80 pts to be a very good 1C.

And remember the kid, a big kid, and they develop slower, never had a minute of AHL time and went to the NHL straight outa jrs after being drafted at 18/19 yrs old and played top 6 NHL center. We're just seeing the surface being scratched.

This was really fun, Theo. Well done covering the organIzation basically from top to bottom with players in numerous leagues....... Not that I need reminders that I'm getting old but it's nice to hear a mature group on a podcast. No hot takes, no gettin edgy/super fly to make news or be cool, no sound effects and most of all no screaming.

I guess this is a thing now and something I'll never ever ever understand, Dach to wing. Firstly franchises go a decade or more looking for a #1 or #2, or both, centerman. When you draft one you don't move him to wing unless he fails for yrs or you have LA King depth at C. You draft a wing in the top 5 to be a super skilled player who scores you draft a centerman top 5 to be the best player on the ice in all 3 zones. Now if a C develops into a pt per game guy great but that's what wingers are for.

After the Hawks drafted Dach the Athletic talked to scouts/management types about the draft. Scout, who wasn't on the Hawks payroll, said Dach is one of a handful of players in the world that combines his skating, size and skill. Indeed. And if you watched him play jrs the kid can not play the game the wrong way. He will not cheat it. He will be on the right side of the puck and unless you're Bergeron, Kopitar or Johnny, before 27,428 things got into his head, you ain't gonna be responsible and score 85 points.

After watching a short amount of Dach in jrs I saw a Ryan Johanssen floor. The size skill and skating to be a legit warrior, 20:00 a night, 1st unit PP, 70+ point 1C but if that doesn't click a responsible 60ish point 2C that takes the opponents 1C.

The comparison to Getzlaf IMO is fair but flawed. That dude is a nasty character that few are in his league that way. But yea, cuz of the size and both play C they get compared but IMO Dach is bigger, a better skater and better hands. Getzlaf willed his way to success not skilled his way to it. He imposed his will on people and few could match that........ Dach could do that with his size and skating but few ever played the game like Getzlaf.

I guess the comparisons can go on and on but would say the kid has a floor as a top 1/3 of the league 2C and a ceiling of a pt a game guy but wouldn't expect that but IMO a kid with Dach's physical and mental makeup he doesn't need to hit 80 pts to be a very good 1C.

And remember the kid, a big kid, and they develop slower, never had a minute of AHL time and went to the NHL straight outa jrs after being drafted at 18/19 yrs old and played top 6 NHL center. We're just seeing the surface being scratched.
- Mr Ricochet

I also think the past so many games he gets a pass, coming back after snapping his wrist and not able to train the upper body or core properly, he made a go of it but he needs a good offseason of strength training. Looking forward to seeing his play this year. I just hope he starts adding some weight to that frame so he can impose his will more often.

Being 6 4, i started putting on weight around 21-22 years old.

I also think the past so many games he gets a pass, coming back after snapping his wrist and not able to train the upper body or core properly, he made a go of it but he needs a good offseason of strength training. Looking forward to seeing his play this year. I just hope he starts adding some weight to that frame so he can impose his will more often.

Being 6 4, i started putting on weight around 21-22 years old.
- BetweenTheDots

I agree with this statement and said so during the season when you were criticizing Dach on not playing well and dismissing the injury. Why is it that between games or the off-season you are thoughtful and provide very good ideas and thoughts on the players or the game yet during games you lose that ability and make comments based strictly on the mood of a win of a loss?

No he hates Seth Jones
- LAHawk

I don't hate Jones. I hate the trade and signing to an extension he hasn't come close to being worth. I just don't think he as good as many think and his last 2 seasons, he has been not good. I even question whether he has ever played as a #1.

He has never been close to a top 5 D-man as many seem to think.

I also think the past so many games he gets a pass, coming back after snapping his wrist and not able to train the upper body or core properly, he made a go of it but he needs a good offseason of strength training. Looking forward to seeing his play this year. I just hope he starts adding some weight to that frame so he can impose his will more often.

Being 6 4, i started putting on weight around 21-22 years old.
- BetweenTheDots

This too, which I didn't even factor into Dach's career in my last post. Coming in as a true 18/19 yr old rookie, the Covid funk, busting up his wrist, coming back before he was healthy. Thinking about it could his circumstances possibly been worse since he was drafted?

Truthfully I couldn't name one counting stat of Dach's. It's all been eye test for me and I'm damn glad they took him. Top 6 centers are so hard to acquire and franchise 1C's that are big, skilled and can skate are rare. If one is on the board you gotta take him even though Zegras, who I think is a wing, might end up the best player of that draft points wise and quite frankly thought the Hawks would draft cuz he is freaky skilled like Kane........ If Dach ends up a Ryan Johanssen type player they have a 15 yr solid 2C with size. We're all hoping for more but that's a reasonable and acceptable floor.

A healthy Toews would be like hitting the jackpot for Dach. Johnny will take the hard minutes/matchups leaving Dach with easier opponents and zone starts.

Commesso is a top 5 goalie prospect for the whole league, IMO.

Also, when comparing Commesso to an athletic goalie, use Crawford. Crawford was extremely athletic and one of the main reasons he was drafted.

I don't hate Jones. I hate the trade and signing to an extension he hasn't come close to being worth. I just don't think he as good as many think and his last 2 seasons, he has been not good. I even question whether he has ever played as a #1.

He has never been close to a top 5 D-man as many seem to think.
- Elbows15

One interesting tidbit I heard on the radio the other day…Jones last productive year fancy stats wise was when Panarin was a Blue Jacket. As soon as Panarin left Jones as well as most of the other Blue Jackets stats suffered a big decline.

Maybe being around playmakers like Kane, Dach, and Dinky help turn Seth’s numbers around. Grasping at straws here. Don’t like the move, but best I can do now is hope Stan has a horseshoe up his ass, and this works out.

One interesting tidbit I heard on the radio the other day…Jones last productive year fancy stats wise was when Panarin was a Blue Jacket. As soon as Panarin left Jones as well as most of the other Blue Jackets stats suffered a big decline.

Maybe being around playmakers like Kane, Dach, and Dinky help turn Seth’s numbers around. Grasping at straws here. Don’t like the move, but best I can do now is hope Stan has a horseshoe up his ass, and this works out.
- Ogilthorpe2

Well, the Hawks are stuck with him for the next 9 years so hopefully he doesn't totally suck.

Maybe being around playmakers like Kane, Dach, and Dinky help turn Seth’s numbers around. Grasping at straws here. Don’t like the move, but best I can do now is hope Stan has a horseshoe up his ass, and this works out.
- Ogilthorpe2

Well...at least he looks like he has one up there.

This too, which I didn't even factor into Dach's career in my last post. Coming in as a true 18/19 yr old rookie, the Covid funk, busting up his wrist, coming back before he was healthy. Thinking about it could his circumstances possibly been worse since he was drafted?

Truthfully I couldn't name one counting stat of Dach's. It's all been eye test for me and I'm damn glad they took him. Top 6 centers are so hard to acquire and franchise 1C's that are big, skilled and can skate are rare. If one is on the board you gotta take him even though Zegras, who I think is a wing, might end up the best player of that draft points wise and quite frankly thought the Hawks would draft cuz he is freaky skilled like Kane........ If Dach ends up a Ryan Johanssen type player they have a 15 yr solid 2C with size. We're all hoping for more but that's a reasonable and acceptable floor.

A healthy Toews would be like hitting the jackpot for Dach. Johnny will take the hard minutes/matchups leaving Dach with easier opponents and zone starts.
- Mr Ricochet

Like you, I'm glad they selected Dach and think he will be a force for the Hawks up front for many years - provided he can stay relatively injury free and is given reasonable time to develop. That means more than 20 games this season before everybody starts dumping on him.

Looking at the 2017-2019 drafts, numerous centers drafted. Will give you a list of about a dozen names. Wondering who you think will turn out to be the best NHL pivots out of the group:

Dach
Jack Hughes
Turcotte
Zegras
Krebs
Kotkaniemi
Barrett Hayton
Hischier
Nolan Patrick
Nick Suzuki
Cody Glass
E.Pettersson
Cody Glass
Mittlestadt

I like some of the guys that are a bit underrated - Dach, Suzuki, Mittelstadt and a longshot in Barrett Hayton, especially if he can escape Arizona.

Like you, I'm glad they selected Dach and think he will be a force for the Hawks up front for many years - provided he can stay relatively injury free and is given reasonable time to develop. That means more than 20 games this season before everybody starts dumping on him.

Looking at the 2017-2019 drafts, numerous centers drafted. Will give you a list of about a dozen names. Wondering who you think will turn out to be the best NHL pivots out of the group:

Dach
Jack Hughes
Turcotte
Zegras
Krebs
Kotkaniemi
Barrett Hayton
Hischier
Nolan Patrick
Nick Suzuki
Cody Glass
E.Pettersson
Cody Glass
Mittlestadt

I like some of the guys that are a bit underrated - Dach, Suzuki, Mittelstadt and a longshot in Barrett Hayton, especially if he can escape Arizona.
- RickJ

First off while I am disappointed the Hawks didn’t do what they should have, allow Dach to develop his game before they brought him to the NHL, I think he’ll become a solid player. As for injuries, I thought the same then realized his injury was a freak one and he hasn’t shown a sign of being injury prone. I don’t see any reason why injuries should be an issue for him. I’m looking forward to him filling out and playing in the 220 range. Like Dots said some taller guys take time filling out. Not sure he’s a number one center but I think he’s most definitely a top six forward, preferably at center.

Same...but I still can't help feeling both Nagy and Pace should be shown the door.

To your point about Mitch, there's not only Nagy's stubbornness in terms of trying to make him something he wasn't, but after having him for four years, you'd think the Bears would have a better idea of how to defend him.

And as far as Pace, the whole Teven Jenkins thing and tackle position's a mess. Fields' mobility should help keep him from getting killed but that hit he took yesterday looked pretty scary at first.
- HawkintheD

Unfortunately, George McCaskey didn't fire these two last off-season like he should have. This team continues to digress under their leadership. And for whoever posted that 1 preseason game is causing these continued concerns is just plain wrong. Matt Nagy has faltered all along. His 12-4 rookie season was lead by a defense that ranked number one in defensive turnovers, and the addition of Kahlil Mack just before the start of the season.
That team was as close to being a SB contender that year as we'll ever see under Nagy. The 4 losses that year, along with the playoff loss to the Eagles were all caused by the same deficiencies we still see today.
A terrible offensive scheme that can't score touchdowns, lack of a productive running game, receivers that are not hit in stride, horrendous third down conversions, and a now aging defensive team. For some reason this team just cannot run the football. No matter how many new offensive lineman are drafted, the scheme is ineffective. Yes they do have injuries but so do other teams.

I guess it's pretty obvious that I am not a Matt Nagy fan and I strongly believe that he is a highly overrated head coach because of his first year.

Lastly, Justin Fields is obviously a tremendous talent and hopefully he will be able to mask over the deficiencies of a horrible offensive scheme. And if he does and becomes the player that we all want him to be, unfortunately that may save the jobs of Pace and Nagy.

One interesting tidbit I heard on the radio the other day…Jones last productive year fancy stats wise was when Panarin was a Blue Jacket. As soon as Panarin left Jones as well as most of the other Blue Jackets stats suffered a big decline.

Maybe being around playmakers like Kane, Dach, and Dinky help turn Seth’s numbers around. Grasping at straws here. Don’t like the move, but best I can do now is hope Stan has a horseshoe up his ass, and this works out.
- Ogilthorpe2

Didn't that happen to Doughty to? I'm sure it'll start to happen to Hedman and the same thing will be said. Ultimate team sport, just based on percentages the better your forwards play defense and tilt the ice in their favor the less defense a defenseman has to play.

I agree with this statement and said so during the season when you were criticizing Dach on not playing well and dismissing the injury. Why is it that between games or the off-season you are thoughtful and provide very good ideas and thoughts on the players or the game yet during games you lose that ability and make comments based strictly on the mood of a win of a loss?
- paulr

Don't recall criticizing Dach? If you say so. If he made a bone head play then i probably did.

I guess we don't understand each other, its like you don't care they lose?

First off while I am disappointed the Hawks didn’t do what they should have, allow Dach to develop his game before they brought him to the NHL, I think he’ll become a solid player. As for injuries, I thought the same then realized his injury was a freak one and he hasn’t shown a sign of being injury prone. I don’t see any reason why injuries should be an issue for him. I’m looking forward to him filling out and playing in the 220 range. Like Dots said some taller guys take time filling out. Not sure he’s a number one center but I think he’s most definitely a top six forward, preferably at center.
- paulr

Best scenario for the Hawks would be to have a healthy and productive Toews for the next 2 seasons with Dach playing well but also learning from one of the best 2 way centers in the game. Significant learning curve to develop into an excellent #1 C and being able to compete against guys like Crosby, Bergeron, Barkov, Malkin, Couturier, Point, Mackinnon and that other guy #97.

Like you, I'm glad they selected Dach and think he will be a force for the Hawks up front for many years - provided he can stay relatively injury free and is given reasonable time to develop. That means more than 20 games this season before everybody starts dumping on him.

Looking at the 2017-2019 drafts, numerous centers drafted. Will give you a list of about a dozen names. Wondering who you think will turn out to be the best NHL pivots out of the group:

Dach
Jack Hughes
Turcotte
Zegras
Krebs
Kotkaniemi
Barrett Hayton
Hischier
Nolan Patrick
Nick Suzuki
Cody Glass
E.Pettersson
Cody Glass
Mittlestadt

I like some of the guys that are a bit underrated - Dach, Suzuki, Mittelstadt and a longshot in Barrett Hayton, especially if he can escape Arizona.
- RickJ

Pettersson is the best at the moment. Zegras is going to end up as a winger, imo. Glass is meh. He hasn't taken the next step as of yet. Suzuki is prolly 2nd best as of rn.

Patrick is a bust. Hirschier has moved to the wings if I am not mistake. Hughes will make a huge jump this season is my guess. I don't being in Arizona has anything to do with Hayton. He was a huge reach at the time and nothing has changed that perception.

As of rn, Dach would be 3rd on my list.

Unfortunately, George McCaskey didn't fire these two last off-season like he should have. This team continues to digress under their leadership. And for whoever posted that 1 preseason game is causing these continued concerns is just plain wrong. Matt Nagy has faltered all along. His 12-4 rookie season was lead by a defense that ranked number one in defensive turnovers, and the addition of Kahlil Mack just before the start of the season.
That team was as close to being a SB contender that year as we'll ever see under Nagy. The 4 losses that year, along with the playoff loss to the Eagles were all caused by the same deficiencies we still see today.
A terrible offensive scheme that can't score touchdowns, lack of a productive running game, receivers that are not hit in stride, horrendous third down conversions, and a now aging defensive team. For some reason this team just cannot run the football. No matter how many new offensive lineman are drafted, the scheme is ineffective. Yes they do have injuries but so do other teams.

I guess it's pretty obvious that I am not a Matt Nagy fan and I strongly believe that he is a highly overrated head coach because of his first year.

Lastly, Justin Fields is obviously a tremendous talent and hopefully he will be able to mask over the deficiencies of a horrible offensive scheme. And if he does and becomes the player that we all want him to be, unfortunately that may save the jobs of Pace and Nagy.
- Hawkytalk

Horrible offensive scheme? Its the same one run by KC and it was the scheme for the Eagles when they won the Super Bowl.

Horrible offensive scheme? Its the same one run by KC and it was the scheme for the Eagles when they won the Super Bowl.
- Elbows15

This league is so QB driven. Hope Fields is the real deal, looks like he can actually complete a deep pass. Throw on the run and with that oline throw on the run he will have to

Pettersson is the best at the moment. Zegras is going to end up as a winger, imo. Glass is meh. He hasn't taken the next step as of yet. Suzuki is prolly 2nd best as of rn.

Patrick is a bust. Hirschier has moved to the wings if I am not mistake. Hughes will make a huge jump this season is my guess. I don't being in Arizona has anything to do with Hayton. He was a huge reach at the time and nothing has changed that perception.

As of rn, Dach would be 3rd on my list.
- Elbows15

Hughes should make a jump if he really was the best player in that draft. But when he does, the rest of the league will start really taking it to him physcally at which point that little boy frame of his will become a significant issue.

This league is so QB driven. Hope Fields is the real deal, looks like he can actually complete a deep pass. Throw on the run and with that oline throw on the run he will have to
- BetweenTheDots

We will see about the O-line. I think the middle of it will be solid. Peters hopefully has something left and that will help the LT spot. Ifredi being healthy with help the RT spot.

Fields isn't ready yet. No need to rush him at the moment. Get the O-line settled before putting him back there. Dalton is better than we have seen so far. Vets hate preseason games and rarely show much if they even play.

Hughes should make a jump if he really was the best player in that draft. But when he does, the rest of the league will start really taking it to him physcally at which point that little boy frame of his will become a significant issue.
- RickJ

Hughes has been small he whole life. He will adjust and avoid hits like Kane and other smaller players. Plus, you can't hit what you can't catch.

Like you, I'm glad they selected Dach and think he will be a force for the Hawks up front for many years - provided he can stay relatively injury free and is given reasonable time to develop. That means more than 20 games this season before everybody starts dumping on him.

Looking at the 2017-2019 drafts, numerous centers drafted. Will give you a list of about a dozen names. Wondering who you think will turn out to be the best NHL pivots out of the group:

Dach
Jack Hughes
Turcotte
Zegras
Krebs
Kotkaniemi
Barrett Hayton
Hischier
Nolan Patrick
Nick Suzuki
Cody Glass
E.Pettersson
Cody Glass
Mittlestadt

I like some of the guys that are a bit underrated - Dach, Suzuki, Mittelstadt and a longshot in Barrett Hayton, especially if he can escape Arizona.
- RickJ

Tough one. Better is subjective, playing style/size matters to me, but as pure centers I like Dach, Hughes, Hischier and Suzuki is the real deal. The fancy stats back up the eye test on this skilled high IQ kid. Not tall but I believe the kid weighs 205ish, stout kid. Tree trunk legs I'd guess. Big fan..... Think Hughes is too skilled to miss and think Hischier is underrated cuz he plays in NJ but his IQ, skill and responsible game says he's the kinda guy cup teams have at least 1 of.

Pettersen is freaky skilled but an offensive minded guy. I still like Kotkaniemi. Love what I read about Krebs' playing style but haven't seen enough to comment. Mittlestadt gets overlooked too. Saw him live in jrs and NCAA and was really impressed with his burst. Kid can fly with some zig to his path and his hands keep up but Buffalo may as well be Siberia. That organIzation could ruin McDavid so we may never know what Mittlestadt could be.

Hands down though the most skilled of the group is Zegras for my money but I remember him as a wing. I have little doubt he puts up 100 points in an NHL season. Watching him with Turcotte, Hughes, York, Beecher (who I love), Boldy, Caufield, Beniers live with the NTDP would make your head spin. He played wing with that group. .. Think that squad had 8 1st rounders.

Interesting what Patrick does on an elite squad in Vegas with 3C minutes and matchups this yr. ...... I think Turcotte ends up a fine 55-60 point 3 zone 2C...... I may have missed on Glass but ain't giving up on his skill.

Tough one, man. I only know Zegras as a wing but think he ends up the best player of the group. A bonafide maniac/freak in the Kane mold... In no particular order Dach, Suzuki, Hughes and Hischier as the best centers.