Eye test wise last night's tilt was the first time this season I thought KK and Reichel looked out of place. Following whole shifts Reichel really looked like a young TT afraid of contact so much it really hurt his game.

And KK was ineffective often enough to really notice.
- Mr Ricochet[/

Per my eye test, I thought that KK played a decent game last night, and when I looked a GameScore stats this morning, it confirmed what I saw. I agree on Reichel, but he can’t play on the fourth line. If the kid is going to be part of the future, then play him with Guttman and Raddysh and keep them together for a bit, the kid has been moved all over the place. I believe in putting people in a position to succeed, moving him around is not doing him any good. Also, T Johnson is not part of the future, that’s another reason why Reichel needs to play on the second line.

Guess this would depend on whether they think Allan and Kaiser can play RD in the NHL. If not, the need for RD prospects goes up. But if they can, then next year they have something like:

NHL
Vlasic - Jones
Korchinski - Murphy
Phillips - Kaiser
Vet #7

AHL
Del Mastro - Allan
Roos - Crevier
Harding - Kelley

Rinzel (R)
Peltonen (L)

This is a lot of players but prospect logjams tend to clear pretty quickly (Joki, Beaudin, Boqvist, etc). I would like to add forwards with the 2 first rounders, and then add a few defensemen in Rds 2-3 as it seems like a deep class.

Maybe something like:
Rd 2, First Pick - Charlie Elick, RD, Brandon WHL
Rd 2, Third Pick - Bryce Pickford, RD, Seattle WHL
Rd 3 - use one pick on a LD

Continue to like Pickford as he is usually in the right spot, is agile with decent speed, and plays big minutes including PP and PK. He is average size though, and doesn't seem to fit the current profile. Lots of possibilities this year.
- totem

A fine post, Totem. Thanks for sharing your work. ..... I especially like this part of your post, "This is a lot of players but prospect logjams tend to clear pretty quickly (Joki, Beaudin, Boqvist, etc)".

Indeed!!

Post game interview last night after New Jersey scored with 30 seconds left to win the game, Rick Tochett said "I watched what our guys were doing in our zone on that play and not one player was in the correct position, it was an easy clear if they had been." That cost the Canucks the game or at least a standings point.

It really doesn't matter who the goaltender is if the goup of 5 in front of him can't execute the basics.
- RickJ

Hard not to like Tocchet. .... And to be clear, it's not all all easy to stay with in a 5 man group at NHL speed vs crazy skilled players and be properly positioned. The deadliest lines like McKinnon-Rattanen, Marchand-Bergeron, Point-Kucherov-Stamkos, and a bunch of others, will make you pay in seconds for even one man outa position.

And I just read something that indirectly speaks to this. In fact, it's a quote from Jones that I thought this is the most impressed I've ever been with Jones. At least I know he's aware of proper play whether or not I ever see him do it.

https://www.bleachernatio...other-blackhawks-bullets/

“It’s a struggle. We’re not a big rush team, so there’s not a lot of chances that come from there. So I’ve got to find a way to be a little bit more involved [in the O-zone] without being careless and over-aggressive and giving up chances the other way. That’s the line I’m trying to fight right now.”

[quote=Mr Ricochet]Eye test wise last night's tilt was the first time this season I thought KK and Reichel looked out of place. Following whole shifts Reichel really looked like a young TT afraid of contact so much it really hurt his game.

And KK was ineffective often enough to really notice.
- Angotti[/

Per my eye test, I thought that KK played a decent game last night, and when I looked a GameScore stats this morning, it confirmed what I saw. I agree on Reichel, but he can’t play on the fourth line. If the kid is going to be part of the future, then play him with Guttman and Raddysh and keep them together for a bit, the kid has been moved all over the place. I believe in putting people in a position to succeed, moving him around is not doing him any good. Also, T Johnson is not part of the future, that’s another reason why Reichel needs to play on the second line.

I saw the same thing with Korchinski, even when he makes a mistake like trying a long pass across the ice through the neutral zone, Preds head back yep they get a shot on goal but the rebound comes towards him and he casually lifts, i think 17s stick. No goal. Can't fault him for the goal against, Murphy leans forward at the blue line then tries to get back KK defending a quick developing 2 on 1, off Sodas left pad rebound goes right to Preds forward.

He may not be physical but the kid is really effective and when that puck gets on his blade he's pretty good at making something positive out of it, at the same time can't forget the puck behind your own goalies net and turn it over but I'm thinking 19 year olds do that.

Yea its too bad for Reichel right now, he had a golden opportunity on a possible breakaway but couldn't field the puck cleanly, to me that's been his real struggle this year, I'm sure he'll figure it out.

Yea its too bad for Reichel right now, he had a golden opportunity on a possible breakaway but couldn't field the puck cleanly, to me that's been his real struggle this year, I'm sure he'll figure it out.
- BetweenTheDots

He needs a German slump buster.

He needs a German slump buster.
- mohel

Threaten to send him to the Eastern front.

Be careful you can't critize here. Be happy how we are losing in a good way.

I saw the same thing with Korchinski, even when he makes a mistake like trying a long pass across the ice through the neutral zone, Preds head back yep they get a shot on goal but the rebound comes towards him and he casually lifts, i think 17s stick. No goal. Can't fault him for the goal against, Murphy leans forward at the blue line then tries to get back KK defending a quick developing 2 on 1, off Sodas left pad rebound goes right to Preds forward.

He may not be physical but the kid is really effective and when that puck gets on his blade he's pretty good at making something positive out of it, at the same time can't forget the puck behind your own goalies net and turn it over but I'm thinking 19 year olds do that.
- BetweenTheDots

Not sure what you're trying to say here since you tagged me too but I think most agree that a guy like KK is really hurt by the CHL-NHL Agreement. .... He's a tweener that going back to jrs won't be of any great help and he's just not quite ready for the NHL as a 19 yr old Dman.

I was just watching letting the game come to me and thought this is as out of placed KK has looked. Any play that came his way did not seem to have good results. Not a trainwreck or even poor play mind you just that as I watched him I didn't expect much.

But with his skating and agile style of play KK won't ever totally kill you. I do notice though if you just watch highlights of a Hawk's game often see a goal scored while KK is directly behind that player. Like in hoops when a guy dunks KK is the guy gaurding him in the photo.

That's a fair comment. But I wouldn't want to set Mrazek as the standard for success. He could be a good veteran for another year, but that's it.

I didn't mean to suggest Soderblom is a bust, rather I was questioning what's the right time for that. #40s stats haven't been great, but he's looked worse through the eye test. I certainly hope Sodie turns things around, but I'm starting to get worried.
- DarthKane

I get it, I just think almost any goalie will struggle with the team we have right now.

Even the rebounds, Soderblom can do better, but likely the D can also box out attackers better or win more battles for those rebounds or just even get more sticks on pucks to prevent more rebound attempts. IMO, we don't have a team that wins enough battles right now.

For what it's worth I checked out some of the goalie stats I could find regarding rebounds and Soderblom ranked 13th in rate of rebounds per save he made. A rate similar to Raanta, Markstrom, DeSmith, Quick, Husso, Demko, Lankinen, Jarry, Martin, Gibson, Shesterkin, Domingue. I don't know 100% how accurate this specific stat was, but he didn't stand out as a huge outlier at least.

Hard not to like Tocchet. .... And to be clear, it's not all all easy to stay with in a 5 man group at NHL speed vs crazy skilled players and be properly positioned. The deadliest lines like McKinnon-Rattanen, Marchand-Bergeron, Point-Kucherov-Stamkos, and a bunch of others, will make you pay in seconds for even one man outa position.

And I just read something that indirectly speaks to this. In fact, it's a quote from Jones that I thought this is the most impressed I've ever been with Jones. At least I know he's aware of proper play whether or not I ever see him do it.

https://www.bleachernatio...other-blackhawks-bullets/

“It’s a struggle. We’re not a big rush team, so there’s not a lot of chances that come from there. So I’ve got to find a way to be a little bit more involved
- Mr Ricochet[in the O-zone] without being careless and over-aggressive and giving up chances the other way. That’s the line I’m trying to fight right now.”

Well Mr. R. I will take Seth Jones at his word when he demonstrates on the ice that he has turned a leaf and is now playing a solid, smart game inside of both bluelines. Not spectacular, just a stable game with speed and a level of physicality that he is very capable of. Play a Drew Doughty type of game, for example. He will still play big minutes.

But my guess is Jones probably prefers to play a different game - higher risk, carry the puck on end to end rushes, notch a lot of points. Whatever it takes to justify the contract and salary. (But I could be wrong).

Prior to Chicago, Jones has played under 3 very experienced NHL coaches who know the game - Barry Trotz, Peter Laviolette and John Tortorella. A true #1 defenceman doesn't usually find himself being moved more than once, let alone twice. Wonder what those coaches thought of his game and how it fit their teams?

Jones isn't ever going to be a Viktor Hedman or Kale Makar or Quinn Hughes or Erik Karlsson. But if he can evolve into a player closer to Alex Pietrangelo or Brent Burns then the Hawks will get some value out of employing him.

I get it, I just think almost any goalie will struggle with the team we have right now.

Even the rebounds, Soderblom can do better, but likely the D can also box out attackers better or win more battles for those rebounds or just even get more sticks on pucks to prevent more rebound attempts. IMO, we don't have a team that wins enough battles right now.

For what it's worth I checked out some of the goalie stats I could find regarding rebounds and Soderblom ranked 13th in rate of rebounds per save he made. A rate similar to Raanta, Markstrom, DeSmith, Quick, Husso, Demko, Lankinen, Jarry, Martin, Gibson, Shesterkin, Domingue. I don't know 100% how accurate this specific stat was, but he didn't stand out as a huge outlier at least.
- breadbag

Wonder if they have a fancy stat for puck battles/50/50's won? ....... Agree whole heartedly that this club doesn't win nearly enough puck battles. And why is that? You'd think a roster with 3/4's being bottom 6ers or 3rd pairing guys they'd be playing hungry every shift and win a large majority of puck battles.

It can't be a system thing but I'm sure the organIzation has stats on each player's puck battles won and lost.

Yo Leaf despizer's, just heard SJ has more regulation wins than Da Leafs!!! Yowsa.

Pope has a piece on Dach but even better are some RKF nuggets. https://chicago.suntimes....physicality-ryder-rolston

Well Mr. R. I will take Seth Jones at his word when he demonstrates on the ice that he has turned a leaf and is now playing a solid, smart game inside of both bluelines. Not spectacular, just a stable game with speed and a level of physicality that he is very capable of. Play a Drew Doughty type of game, for example. He will still play big minutes.

But my guess is Jones probably prefers to play a different game - higher risk, carry the puck on end to end rushes, notch a lot of points. Whatever it takes to justify the contract and salary. (But I could be wrong).

Prior to Chicago, Jones has played under 3 very experienced NHL coaches who know the game - Barry Trotz, Peter Laviolette and John Tortorella. A true #1 defenceman doesn't usually find himself being moved more than once, let alone twice. Wonder what those coaches thought of his game and how it fit their teams?

Jones isn't ever going to be a Viktor Hedman or Kale Makar or Quinn Hughes or Erik Karlsson. But if he can evolve into a player closer to Alex Pietrangelo or Brent Burns then the Hawks will get some value out of employing him.
- RickJ

Rick, I remember watching Jones with the NTDP and always leave saying the kid does not live up to the hype. IRRC he was thought to go 1st overall by at least some if not many. But, ii never saw it. Handled pucks like hand grenades, showed poor IQ and like today had multiple brain cramps per game. He could skate fast but like today a bit wobbly, wide turns and out of control at pace.

If I had to guess Jones himself bought into the hype around him in jrs and that's never left his mind. IMO, he sees himself as a 1st pairing 65 pt Dman and he's not. Does not have that ability mentally or physically.... And, since he's been on bad teams almost every yr he just might think what does wins and losses matter as long as I get a point or two every game.

Dude does not know his limitations therefore would never buy into the role of what his real ability is/can be and that's a good 2nd pairing guy who can eat some minutes, play physical and pitch in 40 pts.

If he gave the Hawks steady vet play, instead of even thinking about scoring pts, he'd for sure give em more value than he has since he got here.

Pope has a piece on Dach but even better are some RKF nuggets. https://chicago.suntimes....physicality-ryder-rolston
- Mr Ricochet

Damn, flat out calling Marcel fat. Dats cold…

Well Mr. R. I will take Seth Jones at his word when he demonstrates on the ice that he has turned a leaf and is now playing a solid, smart game inside of both bluelines. Not spectacular, just a stable game with speed and a level of physicality that he is very capable of. Play a Drew Doughty type of game, for example. He will still play big minutes.

But my guess is Jones probably prefers to play a different game - higher risk, carry the puck on end to end rushes, notch a lot of points. Whatever it takes to justify the contract and salary. (But I could be wrong).

Prior to Chicago, Jones has played under 3 very experienced NHL coaches who know the game - Barry Trotz, Peter Laviolette and John Tortorella. A true #1 defenceman doesn't usually find himself being moved more than once, let alone twice. Wonder what those coaches thought of his game and how it fit their teams?

Jones isn't ever going to be a Viktor Hedman or Kale Makar or Quinn Hughes or Erik Karlsson. But if he can evolve into a player closer to Alex Pietrangelo or Brent Burns then the Hawks will get some value out of employing him.
- RickJ

I think Jones just tries to do too much. Focus on playing solid D and stay in position first. Half the time in our zone you cannot tell if he is playing LD or RD. That must be tough for his rookie D partner.
On offense I just think he does not have much of a feel for the game. He forces things that are not there. He does not spot the open man. When he joins the rush he does not find the open space.
I thought he (and Murphy) looked better the first few games of the year. But after that they looked like the same journeymen dmen that they were last year (and that is the best they are ever going to be).

Well Mr. R. I will take Seth Jones at his word when he demonstrates on the ice that he has turned a leaf and is now playing a solid, smart game inside of both bluelines. Not spectacular, just a stable game with speed and a level of physicality that he is very capable of. Play a Drew Doughty type of game, for example. He will still play big minutes.

But my guess is Jones probably prefers to play a different game - higher risk, carry the puck on end to end rushes, notch a lot of points. Whatever it takes to justify the contract and salary. (But I could be wrong).

Prior to Chicago, Jones has played under 3 very experienced NHL coaches who know the game - Barry Trotz, Peter Laviolette and John Tortorella. A true #1 defenceman doesn't usually find himself being moved more than once, let alone twice. Wonder what those coaches thought of his game and how it fit their teams?

Jones isn't ever going to be a Viktor Hedman or Kale Makar or Quinn Hughes or Erik Karlsson. But if he can evolve into a player closer to Alex Pietrangelo or Brent Burns then the Hawks will get some value out of employing him.
- RickJ

I wish, to me he's one of the most underrated dmen in the league. He does all the little things so so so well. He reminds me so much of a healthy Seabrook, it's no surprise to me he has 2 SC rings. Don't like the contract length he got from Vegas but Vegas went all in and were so fortunate to get a SC out of it.

Not sure what you're trying to say here since you tagged me too but I think most agree that a guy like KK is really hurt by the CHL-NHL Agreement. .... He's a tweener that going back to jrs won't be of any great help and he's just not quite ready for the NHL as a 19 yr old Dman.

I was just watching letting the game come to me and thought this is as out of placed KK has looked. Any play that came his way did not seem to have good results. Not a trainwreck or even poor play mind you just that as I watched him I didn't expect much.

But with his skating and agile style of play KK won't ever totally kill you. I do notice though if you just watch highlights of a Hawk's game often see a goal scored while KK is directly behind that player. Like in hoops when a guy dunks KK is the guy gaurding him in the photo.
- Mr Ricochet

I think his last bad game was vs Seattle. I know many know I'm not a Murphy fan and am trying to be objective, Murphy is killing that pairing. He's ending up on the wrong side of the puck more and more.

I think Jones just tries to do too much. Focus on playing solid D and stay in position first. Half the time in our zone you cannot tell if he is playing LD or RD. That must be tough for his rookie D partner.
On offense I just think he does not have much of a feel for the game. He forces things that are not there. He does not spot the open man. When he joins the rush he does not find the open space.
I thought he (and Murphy) looked better the first few games of the year. But after that they looked like the same journeymen dmen that they were last year (and that is the best they are ever going to be).
- -Doh-

In my opinion Jones played his best game as a Hawk Tuesday against the Preds, hopefully the Hawks get more of that. According to my eye test, Jones, KK, and Vlasic all had really good games and that bodes well for next year when hopefully they have a bit more offense.

Connor Murphy for Tyson Barrie? Basically just getting out of last two years of Murphy.

Connor Murphy for Tyson Barrie? Basically just getting out of last two years of Murphy.
- Ztra

Ehhh i keep Murphy unless you can get a deal like you did for McCabe and Lafferty. He does serve a purpose, he's going to make Vlasic and KK better defenseman in a way.

Damn, flat out calling Marcel fat. Dats cold…
- Chunk

They said Bufglyien was fat he liked too much beer.

Lineup for tonight's game per Ben Pope twitter. 4RD in the lineup so Murphy is playing left side.


Blackhawks lines vs Ducks:

Beauvillier-Bedard-Kurashev
TJohnson-Guttman-Raddysh
Foligno-Richardinson-Anderson
Reichel-Donato-Entwistle

Korchinski-Jones
Murphy-Zaitsev
Vlasic-Crevier

Mrazek

Lineup for tonight's game per Ben Pope twitter. 4RD in the lineup so Murphy is playing left side.


Blackhawks lines vs Ducks:

Beauvillier-Bedard-Kurashev
TJohnson-Guttman-Raddysh
Foligno-Richardinson-Anderson
Reichel-Donato-Entwistle

Korchinski-Jones
Murphy-Zaitsev
Vlasic-Crevier

Mrazek
- boilermaker100

That's smart, no worse than a top 3 pick for us

I think Jones just tries to do too much. Focus on playing solid D and stay in position first. Half the time in our zone you cannot tell if he is playing LD or RD. That must be tough for his rookie D partner.
On offense I just think he does not have much of a feel for the game. He forces things that are not there. He does not spot the open man. When he joins the rush he does not find the open space.
I thought he (and Murphy) looked better the first few games of the year. But after that they looked like the same journeymen dmen that they were last year (and that is the best they are ever going to be).
- -Doh-

I think you have pretty much answered why Mr. Jones is on his 3rd NHL team. Unfortunately Stan Bowman didn't see what real hockey guys did.