Joker, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Allan, Krys. All taken by the Hawks in the first two rounds since 2016. Will any of them be solid top four defensemen in the NHL?
- mohel

Better question might be how many career games in the NHL will these guys play.

Krys will play none unless they give him a courtesy call up for a few games at the end of a season.

The rest - they will all play some games. Joki is probably as good as Connor Murphy who has 400+ games in already.

Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell - all small, can they deal with the physical demands of the NHL for any length of time?

Hawks should have grabbed Noah Dobson instead of Boqvist. He is now in the perfect system under Trotz. Will probably play 1000 games in the league.

Walhstrom as for d man Bouchard
- Scott1977

Same thing I keep saying….. Bowen instead of Dach. Duns replacement or a 3-4th line center that will be good for 15-20 points at best season after season—-

At any rate, two more glorious picks by a GM we shouldn’t be talking about anymore

Riley Stillman on Derek King: “You want to win for a guy like that. He’s open. He’s honest. He’s going to call a spade, a spade. As a player that’s all you can ask for. We want to play our hearts out for him. And I think that’s what we’ve shown in the last 2 weeks.”
- PatShart

Well than where were you and your teammates in that God awful 3rd period the other night against AZ ? That quite possibly was the worst period of hockey this team has played this year, and that was against the cruddy Coyotes. The Team showed no hustle at all and all I can assume is that you were playing a lousy game of rope-a-dope, are the team is just not very good shape to play 60 minutes.

Riley Stillman on Derek King: “You want to win for a guy like that. He’s open. He’s honest. He’s going to call a spade, a spade. As a player that’s all you can ask for. We want to play our hearts out for him. And I think that’s what we’ve shown in the last 2 weeks.”
- PatShart

Hope JC is staying away from watching the players' interviews, the podcasts, social media etc. since he was fired. Or, maybe he hears and learns from it (but based on at least on the Boyle ESPN podcast, unwillingness to learn from others was one problem).

One thing I really like with Stillman is he is always hellbent on clearing the defensive zone and not afraid to take an icing call if that's all there is.
- 35Tony0

I like Stillman a lot, he still needs to improve his defensive game, but I like what he brings. In no league should he ever play less minutes than Gus.

I like Stillman a lot, he still needs to improve his defensive game, but I like what he brings. In no league should he ever play less minutes than Gus.
- Angotti

I'm a Stillman fan, too. I like what he said about King. King appears to be a man's man type, a guy who loves busting chops with the boys. It seems JC was more aloof and nerdy. I think they liked JC, but wouldn't necessarily want to have a beer with him. They'd go on a three day bender with King.

Apologies if I offended anyone with the Neanderthal talk....

I'm a Stillman fan, too. I like what he said about King. King appears to be a man's man type, a guy who loves busting chops with the boys. It seems JC was more aloof and nerdy. I think they liked JC, but wouldn't necessarily want to have a beer with him. They'd go on a three day bender with King.

Apologies if I offended anyone with the Neanderthal talk....
- mohel

I wasn’t offended with the Neanderthal talk, but I was with the mouth breathing.

I'm a Stillman fan, too. I like what he said about King. King appears to be a man's man type, a guy who loves busting chops with the boys. It seems JC was more aloof and nerdy. I think they liked JC, but wouldn't necessarily want to have a beer with him. They'd go on a three day bender with King.

Apologies if I offended anyone with the Neanderthal talk....
- mohel

I don’t mind the “man’s man Neanderthal” talk - as long as it wouldn’t exclude and leave on the outside (same thing, I guess) any women who might be involved in the organization. I guess we’d have to see if Kendall Coyne Schofield would be comfortable in these three-day benders.

As for King - let’s see how far this “just one of the boys” attitude goes. At some point - soon - he’s going to have to be a coach, in addition to being a mentor.

They’ve started a 1 game in 8 days period. Im very interested in seeing what innovations King and Crawford can make by the time they hit Seattle and then Edmonton. In particular ( fro my viewpoint) the transition and 5x5 games (which of course go together).

Better question might be how many career games in the NHL will these guys play.

Krys will play none unless they give him a courtesy call up for a few games at the end of a season.

The rest - they will all play some games. Joki is probably as good as Connor Murphy who has 400+ games in already.

Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell - all small, can they deal with the physical demands of the NHL for any length of time?

Hawks should have grabbed Noah Dobson instead of Boqvist. He is now in the perfect system under Trotz. Will probably play 1000 games in the league.
- RickJ

yeah, no. Joker can't stay on the ice at this point. Joker is small, too

I don’t mind the “man’s man Neanderthal” talk - as long as it wouldn’t exclude and leave on the outside (same thing, I guess) any women who might be involved in the organization. I guess we’d have to see if Kendall Coyne Schofield would be comfortable in these three-day benders.

As for King - let’s see how far this “just one of the boys” attitude goes. At some point - soon - he’s going to have to be a coach, in addition to being a mentor.

They’ve started a 1 game in 8 days period. Im very interested in seeing what innovations King and Crawford can make by the time they hit Seattle and then Edmonton. In particular ( fro my viewpoint) the transition and 5x5 games (which of course go together).
- StLBravesFan

Its okay for men and women to have different activities.

Riley Stillman on Derek King: “You want to win for a guy like that. He’s open. He’s honest. He’s going to call a spade, a spade. As a player that’s all you can ask for. We want to play our hearts out for him. And I think that’s what we’ve shown in the last 2 weeks.”
- PatShart

I am rooting for King but he has to start making some changes to the structure. The team can breathe a bit now, plus he has time rn to make some changes.

Start by scraping that 1-2-2 system and get real forecheck going. At least put all the grinders in position to do something beside kill offense.

Well than where were you and your teammates in that God awful 3rd period the other night against AZ ? That quite possibly was the worst period of hockey this team has played this year, and that was against the cruddy Coyotes. The Team showed no hustle at all and all I can assume is that you were playing a lousy game of rope-a-dope, are the team is just not very good shape to play 60 minutes.
- Hawkytalk

Really? King seems to understand teams are going to come at you when you have a lead in the 3rd. They did a great job of not giving up any free, unchallenged shots, and got some great great chances the other way vs the Yotes, just like they did vs the Pens but haven't been able to convert. Remember when we didn't have a lead for what 5-6 games, i wish this was the 2010 Blackhawks but it isn't, so winning is going to look a little boring for this team.

I don’t mind the “man’s man Neanderthal” talk - as long as it wouldn’t exclude and leave on the outside (same thing, I guess) any women who might be involved in the organization. I guess we’d have to see if Kendall Coyne Schofield would be comfortable in these three-day benders.

As for King - let’s see how far this “just one of the boys” attitude goes. At some point - soon - he’s going to have to be a coach, in addition to being a mentor.

They’ve started a 1 game in 8 days period. Im very interested in seeing what innovations King and Crawford can make by the time they hit Seattle and then Edmonton. In particular ( fro my viewpoint) the transition and 5x5 games (which of course go together).
- StLBravesFan

I don't think he's just one of the boys. I believe he's being what the team needs to be right now. He seems to have no ego, and i imagine he has boundaries which he'll establish over time. His line changes are refreshing, don't see the defense chasing anymore, sometimes in pro sports looking for the newest and best things gets you away from certain golden rules you must follow for your team to have any success and I'm afraid that's exactly why JC lost his job.

Its okay for men and women to have different activities.
- Elbows15

No, we must continue to try and divide the population and have them waring with each other

Its okay for men and women to have different activities.
- Elbows15

I agree.

As long as it doesn’t mean that advancement in an organization depends on on taking part in activities that excludes based on gender, race, religion, ethnicity….

Too many organizations still rely on relationships formed in “boys will be boys” attitudes and activities.

Really? King seems to understand teams are going to come at you when you have a lead in the 3rd. They did a great job of not giving up any free, unchallenged shots, and got some great great chances the other way vs the Yotes, just like they did vs the Pens but haven't been able to convert. Remember when we didn't have a lead for what 5-6 games, i wish this was the 2010 Blackhawks but it isn't, so winning is going to look a little boring for this team.
- BetweenTheDots

Sorry but I will respectfully disagree. I do agree that teams will come at you in the third period when trailing. We all understand that. But they did give up high quality scoring chances and their defensive mode was ineffective, especially at home against a really poor Arizona Coyotes team. It is fine to play that type of slow down hockey on the road, but in my opinion that third period was completely subpar. If that is the level of hockey we are going to expect for the remainder of the season then it will continue to be bleak. You still have to compete and not allow 18 shots against a team like AZ. Let's see how they progress on this road trip and what changes King will make.

Sorry but I will respectfully disagree. I do agree that teams will come at you in the third period when trailing. We all understand that. But they did give up high quality scoring chances and their defensive mode was ineffective, especially at home against a really poor Arizona Coyotes team. It is fine to play that type of slow down hockey on the road, but in my opinion that third period was completely subpar. If that is the level of hockey we are going to expect for the remainder of the season then it will continue to be bleak. You still have to compete and not allow 18 shots against a team like AZ. Let's see how they progress on this road trip and what changes King will make.
- Hawkytalk

Well Arizona only had 10 SOG in the 3rd period total of 23 for the game.

I agree.

As long as it doesn’t mean that advancement in an organization depends on on taking part in activities that excludes based on gender, race, religion, ethnicity….

Too many organizations still rely on relationships formed in “boys will be boys” attitudes and activities.
- StLBravesFan

What makes you think King is this way? Because of what Stillman said?
Or how someone interpreted what Stillman said? Or because he's old and white?

What makes you think King is this way? Because of what Stillman said?
Or how someone interpreted what Stillman said? Or because he's old and white?
- BetweenTheDots

First people are labeled with homophobic slurs now it’s ageism and racism.

What makes you think King is this way? Because of what Stillman said?
Or how someone interpreted what Stillman said? Or because he's old and white?
- BetweenTheDots

Reading compression is a skill - some people here should learn it - it might be useful in the future. (Snark begets snark.)

When did I ever say King was that way? I didn’t.

I was responding to a comment by Mo - I said I was ok with his “man’s msn’ comment as long as….and by Elbows - I said again I was ok with his “different activities” comment as long as….

I never came close to saying the King was anything.

First people are labeled with homophobic slurs now it’s ageism and racism.
- paulr

Yeah, I don't see Sage as an ageist or racist.

Yeah, I don't see Sage as an ageist or racist.
- mohel

Or a homophobe.

Dots doesn’t seem to like people different than himself

Or a homophobe.

Dots doesn’t seem to like people difftthen himself
- paulr

And he abhors those who think forwards have defensive responsibilities.

Reading compression is a skill - some people here should learn it - it might be useful in the future. (Snark begets snark.)

When did I ever say King was that way? I didn’t.

I was responding to a comment by Mo - I said I was ok with his “man’s msn’ comment as long as….and by Elbows - I said again I was ok with his “different activities” comment as long as….

I never came close to saying the King was anything.
- StLBravesFan

Oh okay, I'm with you, i hope as well all those things you bring up don't happen.

Yea my Reading compression isn't the greatest, so i asked the question?

No offense.

Or didn't mean to offend you

Oh okay, I'm with you, i hope as well all those things you bring up don't happen.

Yea my Reading compression isn't the greatest, so i asked the question?

No offense.

Or didn't mean to offend you
- BetweenTheDots

No apology needed.

My responses to Mo and Elbows were general comments having nothing to do with the Chicago NHL franchise.