Imo hawks need a skilled powerforward that can finish and skate with Bedard. Bedard can create and finish on his own that is a given. Also I invision nazar and Moore being wingers not centers in the nhl. So needs going forward for the Hawks Bolland type 3rd line center towes like 2nd line center big buff type dman , possibly already have that in Valsic, some nasty forechecking high motor bottom six forward to creat hell in the offensive zone. Now it the seems the Blackhawks might have these players already time will tell. One last thing I see Reichel as Sharp type player. Just be patient with him. And when the time is right supplement with free agents.
- Scott1977

Why?

Didn't Epstein sign (especially pitchers) veterans to flip at the deadlines ? isn't that how they got Arrieta. Strop, Hendricks, Rizzo, Russell to name a few acquired in trades, not draft choices?
- LAHawk

You can't trade draft picks in baseball. Yes they brought in good coaching, signed players they thought they could fix which they did, then traded them for propsects at the trade deadline. Jed Hoyer in an interview said its a numbers game when it comes to prospects, the more you have the better your chances.

Seems familiar both Blackhawks and Bears are doing this.

Added, i know you think they have no value but I'm curious to see what happens to all the guys we've signed to one year contracts or guys like Tyler Johnson, Mrazek on the last year of their deals

I really don't see KD doing this. When you are the rebuilding team you aren't looking for a quick fix, or how one of your own players is doing statistically, the process right now is playing the right way both offensively and defensively. The stats and the team record are not important right now. As much as i want them to win, that's the painful part of the rebuild.

Everyone is so worried about Reichel, instead of feeling sorry for himself it sounds like he's putting extra work in. I prefer nothing come easy to these young players so they are constantly chasing the game to be better. Sounds like they all are putting extra work in, and to me that sounds like a bunch of kids who are serious about being professional hockey players.

Last thing a rebuilding team wants is to be a pretender.
- BetweenTheDots

The cool thing is that it sounds like from the NHL down to Juniors all of the guys who have been drafted are all big competitors, and it's all healthy competition. Pope ran a story about Allan and del Mastro and it quoted them as giving criticism to each other to improve on things they see on the ice. Good stuff.

The cool thing is that it sounds like from the NHL down to Juniors all of the guys who have been drafted are all big competitors, and it's all healthy competition. Pope ran a story about Allan and del Mastro and it quoted them as giving criticism to each other to improve on things they see on the ice. Good stuff.
- Chunk

I know i read the samething, i thought it was nice how they talked about being roommates and they shop at the grocery store together now. How Del Mastro is the better cook, good stuff. Didn't mean to steal your line but i agree.

I really don't see KD doing this. When you are the rebuilding team you aren't looking for a quick fix, or how one of your own players is doing statistically, the process right now is playing the right way both offensively and defensively. The stats and the team record are not important right now. As much as i want them to win, that's the painful part of the rebuild.

Everyone is so worried about Reichel, instead of feeling sorry for himself it sounds like he's putting extra work in. I prefer nothing come easy to these young players so they are constantly chasing the game to be better. Sounds like they all are putting extra work in, and to me that sounds like a bunch of kids who are serious about being professional hockey players.

Last thing a rebuilding team wants is to be a pretender.
- BetweenTheDots

Agreed... thats the Bulls the last 15 years. Sign a couple big name over the hill FAs every few years to keep the attendance up and continue to bask in 23's afterglow... Just mailing it in with no real plan on how to win.

When the hockey gos gift you 98, better not mess this up.

It's finally game day. Hope the boys can sweep the Bolts tonight.

Roos recalled, interesting. Maybe Zaitsev will be gone for a bit?
Edit - Zaitsev placed on non roster list.

Roos recalled, interesting. Maybe Zaitsev will be gone for a bit?
Edit - Zaitsev placed on non roster list.
- Angotti

I heard somewhere (maybe CHGO podcast) that he has some personal issue to attend to.

I heard somewhere (maybe CHGO podcast) that he has some personal issue to attend to.
- Chunk

Hmmm so maybe we get Kaiser and Phillips pairing tonight.

Hmmm so maybe we get Kaiser and Phillips pairing tonight.
- BetweenTheDots

I’d count on it, or at least they both will be playing.

Well, Dots, hell has now officially frozen over. This is an excellent summation of the plan, imo. Your posts lately have aligned with my thoughts far too often for the comfort of either of us. My compliments, or condolences, whichever you prefer.
- mohel

When Turkeys fly on WKRP to both the Zadorov and Matthews rumors.

Over under on PIMs Foligno will take tonight defending for Bedard ? Nobody else playing forward tonight is one bit of concern to the Bolts tonight.

Over under on PIMs Foligno will take tonight defending for Bedard ? Nobody else playing forward tonight is one bit of concern to the Bolts tonight.
- LAHawk

O/U 8.

And although he really shouldn't since he's not very good at it, Murphy will probably try to act extra tough tonight.

https://x.com/Chi_Prospec...sF80SkpYpVKV3ft505nQ&s=01

It sounds like he started slowly but is really improving now and if he continues to improve he'll be up with the big boys next season. I don't see them burning his ELC at the end of this season either. Gotta stagger those contracts.

Elbows and Dots will not be happy

https://x.com/jfreshhocke...&t=-lYSo_1RuJFY9DF5E7gGcw

Elbows and Dots will not be happy

https://x.com/jfreshhocke...&t=-lYSo_1RuJFY9DF5E7gGcw
- LAHawk

Why not? My complaint is the PP and i don't need a chart to show me he's not so good at it.

I appreciate the fact he's playing more upright now as well, instead like he had a few to many or working off of a hangover early in the season

And what does 82% PP mean, that he's on it? What a great stat

Why not? My complaint is the PP and i don't need a chart to show me he's not so good at it.

I appreciate the fact he's playing more upright now as well, instead like he had a few to many or working off of a hangover early in the season

And what does 82% PP mean, that he's on it? What a great stat
- BetweenTheDots

I figured, quote the source when it benefits your narrative, but when it doesn’t you trash it. Do all this money that KD is putting into advanced metrics is s waste of time now? OK

I figured, quote the source when it benefits your narrative, but when it doesn’t you trash it. Do all this money that KD is putting into advanced metrics is s waste of time now? OK
- LAHawk

What does the 82% mean LA?

Why not? My complaint is the PP and i don't need a chart to show me he's not so good at it.

I appreciate the fact he's playing more upright now as well, instead like he had a few to many or working off of a hangover early in the season

And what does 82% PP mean, that he's on it? What a great stat
- BetweenTheDots

https://jfresh.substack.c.../player-card-20-explainer

https://jfresh.substack.com/p/player-card-20-explainer
- LAHawk

So its an estimate of how the player impacts the teams power play scoring chances? 82%? I really hope KD has better advanced stats system then that guy, really LA you think he helps the PP 82%? poop with my eyes Seth Jones helps that PP between 35 and 45% its the little things he can't do that hurts us.

Crazy to think that Korchinski has the same total assists that Seth Jones does playing the power play. 82% hahaha and KK gets maybe 30 seconds to 1:30 seconds to Seth Jones

So its an estimate of how the player impacts the teams power play scoring chances? 82%? I really hope KD has better advanced stats system then that guy, really LA you think he helps the PP 82%? poop with my eyes Seth Jones helps that PP between 35 and 45% its the little things he can't do that hurts us.

Crazy to think that Korchinski has the same total assists that Seth Jones does playing the power play. 82% hahaha
- BetweenTheDots

If you have followed my posts Dots I am not an advanced stats guy. I just posted knowing it would cause an uproar

If you have followed my posts Dots I am not an advanced stats guy. I just posted knowing it would cause an uproar
- LAHawk

So i looked up Makar and Hedman, 100% to 96%. I don't think 82% is really a good score for a guy running the power play. So I'm right, hahaha

Zach has a new blog up.