That announcing was rough
- PatShart

That's an understatement. It was insufferable. Leah Hextall was brutal--you kind of knew from the get go that it was going to be bad when she said, "Gee, I have never been to the United Center, isn't this going to be great!" How could they have that woman broadcasting the game?! It was like fingernails on a chalkboard. I actually turned the game off because of her. ESPN/HULU and even the NHL probably doesn't care, but they actually lost viewers because of the atrocious play-by-play.

As you have probably read, there are those that believe the AHL is a garbage league that does nothing to develop players and the overall speed of the game is well below NHL level.

So Dach is struggling a bit in the best league in the world as a 20 year old, playing on a team with big time talent limitations.

So will ask you this - how are Alex Turcotte, Cole Perfetti, Peyton Krebs, Barrett Hayton and Alex Newhook doing so far at about the same age as Dach?

Rush 'em to ruin 'em has happened many times in the NHL. Lets hope it doesn't apply with Dach.
- RickJ

I agree and that is what frustrates me by making him the #1 center between ADB and Kane, putting him at the bumper on PP 1, etc. only puts more pressure on the kid that obviously he can’t handle right now. I know the options are limited, but right now, I would stick Kurashev there and see if he can break out.

I respectively disagree. I am not saying he will not ever be a very good player, but right now IMO he is a very lost puppy. Hopefully he becomes a building block to the rebuild, but right now he is trending in the wrong direction.
- LAHawk

Dach's faceoff percentage will have to improve. Also, had he come in to a Blackhawk team where all the core were still here and competing for Cups, I think his transition to the NHL would have been far more successful.
I just hope you're wrong and two years from now we see a good two-way NHL Center.

I agree and that is what frustrates me by making him the #1 center between ADB and Kane, putting him at the bumper on PP 1, etc. only puts more pressure on the kid that obviously he can’t handle right now. I know the options are limited, but right now, I would stick Kurashev there and see if he can break out.
- LAHawk

We spent a month complaining about JC’s coaching, or lack thereof. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to see if King can help coach Dach into playing his position, be it center, wing or the bumper position on the powerplay? Most of Dach’s shortcomings aren’t because of a lack of skill or speed, granted he does have difficulty getting his shot off especially in tight. Many of his problems stem from over handling the puck, stickhandling himself into bad places on the ice and I find in the offensive zone when the Hawks have possession, he sometimes appears lost. These are all coachable situations.

I agree and that is what frustrates me by making him the #1 center between ADB and Kane, putting him at the bumper on PP 1, etc. only puts more pressure on the kid that obviously he can’t handle right now. I know the options are limited, but right now, I would stick Kurashev there and see if he can break out.
- LAHawk

Unfortunately thats what happens when a young player is playing on a relatively bad team - forced into a slot he isn't ready for. Pick a reason - competitive level is too much for him at this stage, lacks confidence, unlucky around the net, wingers don't produce on the chances he sets up, etc, etc.

A player I have always really liked is Pierre Luc Dubois, started out great with Columbus. Loved his game. Couldn't understand what happened to him last year, he was basically a zero for the Jets after the trade. Look at him this year playing on a good team with talent around him. He is 23 now, physically mature, experienced. He may even be a long shot candidate for Team Canada. I would be ecstatic if Dach could evolve into a P-L Dubois in a year or 2.

Unfortunately thats what happens when a young player is playing on a relatively bad team - forced into a slot he isn't ready for. Pick a reason - competitive level is too much for him at this stage, lacks confidence, unlucky around the net, wingers don't produce on the chances he sets up, etc, etc.

A player I have always really liked is Pierre Luc Dubois, started out great with Columbus. Loved his game. Couldn't understand what happened to him last year, he was basically a zero for the Jets after the trade. Look at him this year playing on a good team with talent around him. He is 23 now, physically mature, experienced. He may even be a long shot candidate for Team Canada. I would be ecstatic if Dach could evolve into a P-L Dubois in a year or 2.
- RickJ

Unfortunately for the player, drafted high means you are drafted by a bad team. I am more looking at Sean Clotourier of the Flyers as Dach’s development.

We spent a month complaining about JC’s coaching, or lack thereof. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to see if King can help

coach Dach into playing his position, be it center, wing or the bumper position on the powerplay? Most of Dach’s shortcomings aren’t because of a lack of skill or speed, granted he does have difficulty getting his shot off especially in tight. Many of his problems stem from over handling the puck, stickhandling himself into bad places on the ice and I find in the offensive zone when the Hawks have possession, he sometimes appears lost. These are all coachable situations.
- paulr

Well Paul we cannot complain after the last few games, Kane looks off. He has put the team on his back since the coaching change. And you know since last year I see Dach’s future as a winger, not a center.

And if he doesn’t learn to protect himself, Dach won’t be around long enough for us to see him develop.

Unfortunately for the player, drafted high means you are drafted by a bad team. I am more looking at Sean Clotourier of the Flyers as Dach’s development.
- LAHawk

Coutourier is another good development target example.

I guess there are 4 more games that you can only watch the game on ESPN+. Hope fully none with Leah Hextall.

So what does that mean? He should have X number of goals by now or clearly be a dominant #1 center or be a Patrice Bergeron clone already?

He takes some hard knocks out there, I'd like to see him avoid some of those. Slow developing - maybe? But he is still immensely better than Strome, who was drafted in the same slot.
- RickJ

So many are impatient about players. I agree he's only 20 yrs old. He's already an NHL quality player, so he's struggling to score, he's had 3 games with a new coach who's got a clue on how to deploy lines, pulse of the team by telling them to relax and just play your game with some tweaks. He's definitely better than Strome. But like Strome he'll only get better as he grows into his frame.

It's interesting how in the last 3 games we've had much better opportunities scoring in the offensive end by being patient and playing much better defense in our own end, 4 breakaways last night vs 1 2 on 1 against. Really enjoy boring hockey.

I guess there are 4 more games that you can only watch the game on ESPN+. Hope fully none with Leah Hextall.
- LAHawk

Leah was stellar last night and super knowledgeable about the hawks. She may be in line for Pats job next year

I also would like to add, Dach when he came up had always been a pass first player. How many times myself included have we said shoot the puck? Here we are now he's shooting the puck way more than he did before. He's still learning and hopefully he takes up juggling like Strome did in the off season to be better at the dot.

Well Paul we cannot complain after the last few games, Kane looks off. He has put the team on his back since the coaching change. And you know since last year I see Dach’s future as a winger, not a center.

And if he doesn’t learn to protect himself, Dach won’t be around long enough for us to see him develop.
- LAHawk

Kane is Kane, he doesn’t require any coaching. It’s nice he was able to get his game untracked but he’s a short term concern. These games are completely meaningless if younger players aren’t being worked with to improve. It’s very unlikely the Hawks are contending for a playoff spot so shouldn’t the focus be on developing younger players especially seeing how the Hawks can be averse to using the AHL? As for Dach playing wing, I don’t disagree but again shouldn’t King and staff be working with him on the finer points of the position before he’s moved to wing?

Many of Dach’s issues stem from him being brought into the NHL before he was ready. He should have remained in junior to allow him to learn points of the game he is weak at. Now I think it’s up to management, via the coaches to develop him in the NHL.

So many are impatient about players. I agree he's only 20 yrs old. He's already an NHL quality player, so he's struggling to score, he's had 3 games with a new coach who's got a clue on how to deploy lines, pulse of the team by telling them to relax and just play your game with some tweaks. He's definitely better than Strome. But like Strome he'll only get better as he grows into his frame.

It's interesting how in the last 3 games we've had much better opportunities scoring in the offensive end by being patient and playing much better defense in our own end, 4 breakaways last night vs 1 2 on 1 against. Really enjoy boring hockey.
- BetweenTheDots

Pot, meet kettle......

Kid is up to 97 regular season games now at 20 yrs old. 15 games over a regular 82 game season.
- Mr Ricochet

Agreed, it’s time to pull the plug on Dach and call him out for being the bust that he is. KD might get a 3rd or 4th round pick for Dach at this point.

Agreed, it’s time to pull the plug on Dach and call him out for being the bust that he is. KD might get a 3rd or 4th round pick for Dach at this point.
- DarthKane

I don't get it, he plays great defense, at the NHL level already on a line with Kane and Cat?? Really really really makes sense to me.

Kane is Kane, he doesn’t require any coaching. It’s nice he was able to get his game untracked but he’s a short term concern. These games are completely meaningless if younger players aren’t being worked with to improve. It’s very unlikely the Hawks are contending for a playoff spot so shouldn’t the focus be on developing younger players especially seeing how the Hawks can be averse to using the AHL? As for Dach playing wing, I don’t disagree but again shouldn’t King and staff be working with him on the finer points of the position before he’s moved to wing?

Many of Dach’s issues stem from him being brought into the NHL before he was ready. He should have remained in junior to allow him to learn points of the game he is weak at. Now I think it’s up to management, via the coaches to develop him in the NHL.
- paulr

Stan Bowman would never do a thing like that. Just ask Adam Bovqist.

I don't get it, he plays great defense, at the NHL level already on a line with Kane and Cat?? Really really really makes sense to me.
- BetweenTheDots

Dach’s played in parts of two season, has never hit a point-per-game pace and hasn’t led the Hawks to a Cup. That’s a bust.

In Kane’s 3rd season he scored 88 points and led the Hawks to a Cup. I expect Dach to score 77 points this year and lead the Hawks to a Cup. Otherwise, he needs to go.

Dach’s played in parts of two season, has never hit a point-per-game pace and hasn’t led the Hawks to a Cup. That’s a bust.

In Kane’s 3rd season he scored 88 points and led the Hawks to a Cup. I expect Dach to score 77 points this year and lead the Hawks to a Cup. Otherwise, he needs to go.
- DarthKane

You're right i mean only since he's been put on the top line they are a positive in plus minus, i know i know that doesn't mean anything, he was parked in front of the goalie on the Jones goal, that line has, don't know what the fancy stats say, by my eye has had the puck possession in the offensive zone for long stretches vs the last 3 opponents. Yes you're right he needs to go.

Hopefully they can get a 3rd round pick for him

You know when Anisimov was centering the Kane, Panarin line i believe he only had 40 something points that year while Kane and Panarin were both over a point per game player. And Dach is already better than Anisimov so the less points he scores this year the better, for the next contract

You know when Anisimov was centering the Kane, Panarin line i believe he only had 40 something points that year while Kane and Panarin were both over a point per game player. And Dach is already better than Anisimov so the less points he scores this year the better, for the next contract
- BetweenTheDots

Are you sure?

So what does that mean? He should have X number of goals by now or clearly be a dominant #1 center or be a Patrice Bergeron clone already?

He takes some hard knocks out there, I'd like to see him avoid some of those. Slow developing - maybe? But he is still immensely better than Strome, who was drafted in the same slot.
- RickJ

To me? It means I wouldn't make any assessment yet on a kid who has had 2 Covid NHL seasons, a broken wrist, on a horrid team, coached by bad coaches, with a goof GM when he should have stayed in jrs for another yr cuz he couldn't play in the AHL due to The Indentured Servitude Clause...... If you set out to sabotage the kid after he was drafted you couldn't have done better than what I listed above.

Besides my own eye test I always fall back on what one scout said after he was drafted. Dach is one of a handful of players on earth that has his size/skating/hands combination. .......... And as a fantasy hockey nut Dobber has proven the average breakout threshold for a 6ft under 200lb player is 200 games. For a bigger player it's 300-400 games, average mind you.

Taking all that into account tells me way too early to make an assessment on Dach but as I said since he was drafted IMO he has at minimum a high floor.

Agreed, it’s time to pull the plug on Dach and call him out for being the bust that he is. KD might get a 3rd or 4th round pick for Dach at this point.
- DarthKane

It's doubtful he'll be able to stay healthy long enough to even get that.

Are you sure?
- mohel

He’s sure …. until he isn’t.

This could be a meaningless stat, but Dach is tied for fourth in the league on takeaways, so for those that think he’s not giving an effort, there’s that. Does he need to improve his offensive skills? Sure, but how about a little patience with a 20 year old kid.
- Angotti

A lot of patience. But let's take some pressure off him. Play him as the 3rd line center with some decent wings that have some offensive upside and some 200' game. In the top 6 he is facing the opponents top line or their shut down line. In the top 6 he is deferring to Kane and ADB and passing up his shot. On the 3rd line he would face weaker lines and without KKane and ADB he might be more inclined to shoot first. If one of the wings has center experience and can take some faceoffs his line might start with the puck more often. I am not totally against moving him to wing somewhere down the road, but let's give him a fair shot (a full season in the NHL) at playing center first.