Did anyone watch the big ten championship game between Michigan and Minnesota? Cooley, Knies and Snuggerudd were really impressive. Pitlik had a highlight goal as he stickhandled through a defenseman and scored a goal. It was vintage Kane (or for us older types, Savard). Nazar made a few nice plays but wasn't really impressed with Fantilli. Whenever he threw a check he would bounce off the other player.
- bjphawkfan

Gotta remember Nazar is only a handful games into his true freshman yr. We'll get a better feel for him next yr at Michigan.

Did you notice what line he's on and who were his linemates?

NCAA Frozen Four tournament schedule: https://www.ncaa.com/news...llege-hockey-championship

Gotta remember Nazar is only a handful games into his true freshman yr. We'll get a better feel for him next yr at Michigan.

Did you notice what line he's on and who were his linemates?
- Mr Ricochet

I did not notice who his linemates were but I don't think he was on the same line as the guy who scored the first two goals. I did see his speed and tenacity.

I did not notice who his linemates were but I don't think he was on the same line as the guy who scored the first two goals. I did see his speed and tenacity.
- bjphawkfan

I read where Nazar's speed really jumped out. Kid can fly, no doubt. Just a matter if his hands and brain can keep up.

If the Hawks decided to move on from Kane, why would they cling to Toews. Last year he wasn't close to the same Toews, this year maybe a 2 week stretch where you saw glimpses of the old Toews. Other than that, you saw a veteran trying to hang on (most veterans hang on to win their first cup, not a 3 time cup winner).

I don't think the Hawks would be interested in keeping Toews on for sentimental purposes especially even if he did start the season, it is highly probable he lasts about as long as this season. And I as a fan would hate to watch Toews play while his body betrays him.
- LAHawk

I think it was made crystal clear by KD to both Kane and Toews that the Hawks were moving on from both at the end of this year but were willing to accomodate moves for either or both to teams of their choosing at the trade deadline. Kane got his wish and Toews' health issue prevented any movement.

Their is no real good reason for either player to come back and the organization wants and needs new blood to start building with. Sounds heartless and unappreciative but thats pro sports.

I'm more emotional about Bobby Orr turning 75 today than these two very good Hawks moving on with their careers. Good Luck to both.

Yo LA, good piece in The Athletic on Byfield. A copy and paste of a part of it. ... Looks like the kid is taking a step forward. The expected goals rate for Kopitar and Kempe with and without him is very impressive.

"Byfield’s 19 points (16 of them assists) don’t accurately cover the impact he is now making. His underlying metrics are much better as, per Natural Stat Trick, his Corsi-for rating in five-on-five play is up from 49.54 last season to 53.39. Other numbers are positive at even strength, where he definitively plays most. He’s been on the ice for 29 goals and 19 against. He has a 108-85 edge when it comes to high-danger chances.

But it’s with Kopitar and Kempe that the difference is striking. The expected goals rate for them with Byfield is 56.06 and 56.42 respectively. Without him, it’s 47.91 and 48.52. The actual goals are more decisive, with Kopitar (25-11) and Kempe (23-9) having a serious advantage since Byfield has joined them full-time".

I think it was made crystal clear by KD to both Kane and Toews that the Hawks were moving on from both at the end of this year but were willing to accomodate moves for either or both to teams of their choosing at the trade deadline. Kane got his wish and Toews' health issue prevented any movement.

Their is no real good reason for either player to come back and the organization wants and needs new blood to start building with. Sounds heartless and unappreciative but thats pro sports.

I'm more emotional about Bobby Orr turning 75 today than these two very good Hawks moving on with their careers. Good Luck to both.
- RickJ

Put me in thios camp. I think Exhibit A for moving on from Kane and Toews is the way the club has played since the Kane trade. ...

There is no "superstar" for the roster to look to, or lean on, and the club has taken on the identity of a hair on fire hustle, proper structure and pay attention to a 5 man defense and not an add lib Fancy Dan approach.

I really do think the roster/coaches/coaching have moved on, and played much better, without having to defer to or count on the aging and less effective past.

I agree, Rick. KD probably told Kane and Toews they were moving on without them and IMO it's the right way to proceed.

Yo LA, good piece in The Athletic on Byfield. A copy and paste of a part of it. ... Looks like the kid is taking a step forward. The expected goals rate, and actual goals for/against, for Kopitar and Kempe with and without him is very impressive.

"Byfield’s 19 points (16 of them assists) don’t accurately cover the impact he is now making. His underlying metrics are much better as, per Natural Stat Trick, his Corsi-for rating in five-on-five play is up from 49.54 last season to 53.39. Other numbers are positive at even strength, where he definitively plays most. He’s been on the ice for 29 goals and 19 against. He has a 108-85 edge when it comes to high-danger chances.

But it’s with Kopitar and Kempe that the difference is striking. The expected goals rate for them with Byfield is 56.06 and 56.42 respectively. Without him, it’s 47.91 and 48.52. The actual goals are more decisive, with Kopitar (25-11) and Kempe (23-9) having a serious advantage since Byfield has joined them full-time".
- Mr Ricochet

Here's part of an Athletic article about the Hawks is pursuit of collegian free agent Hunter McKown of Colorado College.

The Blackhawks can promise college and European free agents something that not all NHL teams can right now.

That’s opportunity.

It’s not the end all for such free agents, but it’s usually a major piece of what they’re looking for. Teams are limited to what they can offer in entry-level contracts, so playing time, especially at the NHL level, is valuable. The windows for these types of players to prove themselves aren’t always wide, so they’re searching for organizations that are in need of their skill set and can provide a path to the NHL sooner than later.

The Blackhawks had success with this strategy in years past, especially with European free agents. Players like Artemi Panarin, Dominik Kubalik and Pius Suter were sold on that opportunity and turned it into future NHL contracts. It certainly appears to have worked out too for Cole Guttman, who signed as a college free agent after last season and broke into the NHL this season.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has a number of forward prospects coming down the pipeline and will have even more after the upcoming drafts, so he isn’t going to pursue too many of these kinds of free agents. But he will pursue some, as long as they make sense, such as Guttman.

Which brings us to Colorado College junior forward Hunter McKown. With his collegiate season ending on Saturday, he’s now entertaining NHL offers, and the Blackhawks are expected to be in the mix for him.

McKown doesn’t fit the prototype of forward Davidson has been after mostly so far. McKown doesn’t have superb speed or skating ability. But what he does possess — an elite shot and offensive skill — the Blackhawks don’t have a whole lot of among their forward prospects.

As The Athletic’s Corey Pronman recently wrote of McKown, “The skill and scoring touch will be worth a team taking a gamble on.” And that perfectly describes the Blackhawks’ situation. With where they are in their rebuild, they can take a chance on a player like McKown and even give him NHL games this season by burning the first year of his contract. At worst, McKown is with the Rockford IceHogs for the next few seasons. At best, he’s probably a middle-six forward who plays a key power-play role.

Let’s dive further into what McKown brings to the table.

McKown’s shooting ability is what makes him so desirable. He delivers a massive right-handed shot from his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame. He’s tied for seventh in college hockey with 21 goals. He’s especially dangerous on the power play and leads the country with 14 power-play goals. Colorado College wasn’t much of an offensive team the past two seasons, but McKown still found ways to score and led the Tigers in goals the last two seasons.

Whether the rest of McKown’s game is transferable to pro hockey is where the question marks come in. He has the size and isn’t a terrible skater. His hockey sense is noticeable and can make plays. It’s one of those things where you probably don’t know for sure until he gets that chance. Guttman had some knocks on him, and he looks like he’s going to prove his skeptics wrong. McKown could be the same.

McKown is expected to have other NHL suitors as well. It’s been known for some time he’d be turning pro after his season. It wouldn’t be surprising if his decision came quickly, too. College free agents who have a chance to play NHL games at the end of the season often try to make that happen.
- boilermaker100

https://www.nhl.com/bluej...evel-contract/c-342482958

https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/blue-jackets-sign-c-hunter-mckown-to-three-year-entry-level-contract/c-342482958
- DarthKane

#kdfail

https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/blue-jackets-sign-c-hunter-mckown-to-three-year-entry-level-contract/c-342482958
- DarthKane

He was probably sold on playing with Bedard.

[quote=Mr Ricochet]

McLellan has worked Byfield in from 3rd line center to 1st line left winger, and let him settle in while taking all the pressure of being a top draft choice away from him.

Kopitar is loving life since the Kings signed Danault, whose line now for the most part takes the opponents # 1 line, leaving Kopitar’s line to free up offensively, but of course Kopitar and Kempe are excellent defensively also.

Well now that we are sure we cannot make the playoffs lets throw in the towel and start a nice long losing streak.
If Toews is thinking of retirement he should do it ,its wonderful .

He was probably sold on playing with Bedard.
- boilermaker100

Jarmo probably told him that he could play there with Gaudreau/Laine, or sign in Chicago and play with AA.

Any predictions for tonight? I’ll say 4-1 Hawks.

Any predictions for tonight? I’ll say 4-1 Hawks.
- DarthKane

7 - 3 Avs

Ian Mitchell with the goal 😵‍💫

How did that not go in. WOW!

Am i the only one that finds the digital ads on the boards distracting?

Hawks are doing Mitchell no favors by playing him on his offside with Zaitsev, but he sure isn’t showing anything to think he can be a regular next year.

Any predictions for tonight? I’ll say 5-0 Colorado.
- DarthKane

Nailed it!

Sharks pick up a point against the Oilers last night. Yeah!!!
The Sharks were leading with 5 minutes to play. Damn!!! It could have been 2 points.

Ben Pope is basically laying the groundwork for Mitchell not being a Blackhawk:

Defenseman Ian Mitchell might be running out of time to prove himself to the Blackhawks.

Mitchell was reinserted into the Hawks’ lineup for a 5-0 loss Monday to the Avalanche because coach Luke Richardson wants to ease rookie Wyatt Kaiser — who played over Mitchell on Saturday — into the NHL slowly.

But with Kaiser settling in and fellow defenseman Andreas Englund set to return soon from injury, Mitchell’s opportunities might be scarce during the final weeks of the season. And in even worse news, he struggled mightily during his critical opportunity Monday.


Kurtis MacDermid banked in the Avalanche’s first goal off Mitchell’s shin, Denis Malgin and Valeri Nichushkin exploited Mitchell on a give-and-go goal to double the lead in the second period and Malgin sliced in front of a flat-footed Mitchell to knock in the Avalanche’s fifth goal late.

“He had a tough battle,” Richardson said. “It’s always tough coming in and out of the lineup, but that’s just pro hockey. You have to be ready when you get your chance. He was a little tentative and stepped back on a couple goals where he’s close to his man. He’s just got to step into that man and play the body.”

Mitchell entered the game with an ugly 35.9% scoring-chance ratio at five-on-five in 29 games this season, second-worst on the team. He finished the day no better off, with the Avalanche generating an 11-4 advantage during his shifts.

The Hawks have a decision to make regarding Mitchell, 24, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. He isn’t making a convincing case at the moment for another contract, although he is still relatively young.

Mitchell turned 24 at the beginning of the year. By when do they usually "know" if a defenseman is going to make it in the NHL? And what does management see in the pipeline that would make them more or less patient with Mitchell? We throw around a lot of the same names on here, but what are the expectations on them versus Mitchell? And obviously this conversation could change significantly after the draft.

Ben Pope is basically laying the groundwork for Mitchell not being a Blackhawk:

Defenseman Ian Mitchell might be running out of time to prove himself to the Blackhawks.

Mitchell was reinserted into the Hawks’ lineup for a 5-0 loss Monday to the Avalanche because coach Luke Richardson wants to ease rookie Wyatt Kaiser — who played over Mitchell on Saturday — into the NHL slowly.

But with Kaiser settling in and fellow defenseman Andreas Englund set to return soon from injury, Mitchell’s opportunities might be scarce during the final weeks of the season. And in even worse news, he struggled mightily during his critical opportunity Monday.

Kurtis MacDermid banked in the Avalanche’s first goal off Mitchell’s shin, Denis Malgin and Valeri Nichushkin exploited Mitchell on a give-and-go goal to double the lead in the second period and Malgin sliced in front of a flat-footed Mitchell to knock in the Avalanche’s fifth goal late.

“He had a tough battle,” Richardson said. “It’s always tough coming in and out of the lineup, but that’s just pro hockey. You have to be ready when you get your chance. He was a little tentative and stepped back on a couple goals where he’s close to his man. He’s just got to step into that man and play the body.”

Mitchell entered the game with an ugly 35.9% scoring-chance ratio at five-on-five in 29 games this season, second-worst on the team. He finished the day no better off, with the Avalanche generating an 11-4 advantage during his shifts.

The Hawks have a decision to make regarding Mitchell, 24, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. He isn’t making a convincing case at the moment for another contract, although he is still relatively young.
- LAHawk

TVR, Boqvist, Jokiharju, Gustav Forsling, Gus, Leddy, Rutta, Beaudin, Kempny, Mitchell