https://www.nbcsportschic...eally-frustrating/543993/

"You can see the frustration mounting with Connor Bedard as well. The other night against Colorado, he punched the bench after a failed power play." ... actually Charles, what I saw was Manson hacking his wrist (with these crappy gloves nowadays it takes not a whole lot to break a wrist... and I do believe 98 was a tad ticked off by the no call.

91 looked decent at C, mostly.

Seriously though if your top paid player is clearly mailing it in - you have to consider what sort of example that is really setting.

So Z Werenski named #1 star of game

A Boqvist tackled someone in period one. He has been given 20 plus TOI last couple of weeks. Wondering if anyone who was at game or watched closely on screen thought Boqvist played well tonight

So Z Werenski named #1 star of game

A Boqvist tackled someone in period one. He has been given 20 plus TOI last couple of weeks. Wondering if anyone who was at game or watched closely on screen thought Boqvist played well tonight
- jhawk59

He lost Kurashev on the Hawks first goal.

He definitely looked better than Crevier though.

Reichel getting chances sounds like he could be more but has points and goals already after a few games

He needs that success as he works to get another opportunity in NHL

Which however is probably not until next season

On positive note the Icehogs are playing well and might wind up making AHL playoffs. Would like to see Reichel extend season in playoffs
- jhawk59

59, as you roam the internets see if you can find out if Reichel is playing wing or center. A great question that needs an answer. ......... Better be wing, though.

1-2-1-3-3

59, as you roam the internets see if you can find out if Reichel is playing wing or center. A great question that needs an answer. ......... Better be wing, though.
- Mr Ricochet

Cates the center with Seney and Reichel through first few games. I listened to their game last weekend. They played three times since during this week and I do not know if line remained intact

Dach is out injured still after brief few games return

Reichel is on an Icehogs team which can score goals, plenty dangerous and deep after NHL demotions. Augment with four young but good kids on defense and two young netminders playing well

Icehogs try to get into playoffs

Milwaukee Nashville farm team with a few good prospects hadn’t lost this year 2024 as of last weekend (believe it!).

He lost Kurashev on the Hawks first goal.

He definitely looked better than Crevier though.
- LAHawk

Thanks for the information

Wiz said Crevier is playing tougher. I glean maybe you are not a Crevier fan and you are Phillips> Crevier

If Murphy and Zaitsev return one or both Phillips/Crevier back to AHL

Murphy might have been traded this deadline if he was not injured. I wouldn’t give much for him next trade deadline as he gets injured often and I am not a fan of his anyway

Yo StevefromGlencoe, what do you think of LR picking this tilt to pair two rookie Dmen with Soderblom in goal?
- Mr Ricochet

Full Disclosure: I was watching Mission play Windy City last night in Mt Prospect. Listened to the game on the radio driving home so I have no ideas of what happened because Wiedeman has given up on objectively calling the game.

I don't put any value in "They play hard," because every team I watch at every level plays incredibly hard. It is in every player, with the exception of Boris Mironov, to play hard.

I don't see the great "structure" in the Hawks game. I think they have become a 1 on 1 team all over the ice.

Bedard came here awesome. Vlasic has 12 points and is -8. Could become awesome. Might be middle pair guy. I don't see a lot of young players getting better under Richardson.

I hope I am eating my keyboard in a couple years and Richardson leads a young Hawks team to the Cup.

Full Disclosure: I was watching Mission play Windy City last night in Mt Prospect. Listened to the game on the radio driving home so I have no ideas of what happened because Wiedeman has given up on objectively calling the game.

I don't put any value in "They play hard," because every team I watch at every level plays incredibly hard. It is in every player, with the exception of Boris Mironov, to play hard.

I don't see the great "structure" in the Hawks game. I think they have become a 1 on 1 team all over the ice.

Bedard came here awesome. Vlasic has 12 points and is -8. Could become awesome. Might be middle pair guy. I don't see a lot of young players getting better under Richardson.

I hope I am eating my keyboard in a couple years and Richardson leads a young Hawks team to the Cup.
- stevefrmglencoe

Kurashev's taken a nice step this year and seems to be playing with another gear. Besides him there were 5 other players you could categorize as young and only 3 of those have been in the lineup for most if not all of the season (Bedard, Vlasic, Korchinski).

Most of the young players aren't even on the team yet.

Kurashev's taken a nice step this year and seems to be playing with another gear. Besides him there were 5 other players you could categorize as young and only 3 of those have been in the lineup for most if not all of the season (Bedard, Vlasic, Korchinski).

Most of the young players aren't even on the team yet.
- HawkintheD

Kuraschev might end up with 40 points.

Kuraschev might end up with 40 points.
- wiz1901

Maybe more like 45 given about what he's averaging and that's close to doubling what he's had before. Progress.

Maybe more like 45 given about what he's averaging and that's close to doubling what he's had before. Progress.
- HawkintheD

Playing with Bedard helps. Not a knock on Kurashev. The hawks kept trading players that Kane got used to. If they do that to Bedard I'll bet he gets pissed.

I was there for the Patrick Kane draft and the fan base was knowledgable, passionate, and there, supporting a team, and all they have gotten was their first rounders dying, unable to get primary support on the top six, and one shake-up trade after another, all resulting in no big steps forward.

I really like what Jarmo drafted and was attempting, but I bet all of the above and the Johnny Gaudreau signing is what sealed their fate, besides hiring the red head phone voyeur coach Babcock.

Those fans deserve better.

At least there is talent in the works.
- wiz1901

I think Jarmo did well with what he had to work with for a number of years.

The Babcock debacle was no bueno and it seems like they have had issues with some of their younger players for whatever reason even before that.

Issues started to arise when they went from a team trying to be "competitive" to a team trying to "compete" if that makes sense. Reaching or desperation is never a good thing.

The Columbus area is growing like crazy (lotta family over there) - can't really say it's a depressed rust belt has been anymore - so I don't think it's an undesirable place for players at this point. Still very much a college football town though which may be more attractive to being hounded in a place like Toronto.

Sometimes change is needed just for the sake of change for both he employer and the employee.

Playing with Bedard helps. Not a knock on Kurashev. The hawks kept trading players that Kane got used to. If they do that to Bedard I'll bet he gets pissed.
- 6628

Absolutely! I do think he looks a more engaged/effective this season. You can attribute some of that to his play evolving but possibly putting him on a line and keeping him there.

Not saying he's a top of the lineup guy, especially not on a good team, but I think he's a guy who could slide up and down the lineup a bit.

Kuraschev might end up with 40 points.
- wiz1901

Good thing that Kurashev is not in his contract year because we would likely end up overpaying.

Cates the center with Seney and Reichel through first few games. I listened to their game last weekend. They played three times since during this week and I do not know if line remained intact

Dach is out injured still after brief few games return

Reichel is on an Icehogs team which can score goals, plenty dangerous and deep after NHL demotions. Augment with four young but good kids on defense and two young netminders playing well

Icehogs try to get into playoffs

Milwaukee Nashville farm team with a few good prospects hadn’t lost this year 2024 as of last weekend (believe it!).
- jhawk59

Neither of the Dach brothers can stay healthy.

Kurashev's taken a nice step this year and seems to be playing with another gear. Besides him there were 5 other players you could categorize as young and only 3 of those have been in the lineup for most if not all of the season (Bedard, Vlasic, Korchinski).

Most of the young players aren't even on the team yet.
- HawkintheD

I'm going to go against the grain here. Do not like Kurashev as a player. Drifts, bad defensively, not very good on the boards, vision isn't there. Don't think he's hockey smart at all. He was terrible and non existent without Bedard creating space for him.

He skates good and is the only guy on the team smart enough to shoot when the rest of the opponent is marking Bedard so I guess that counts for something.

Other than that I think he's a Donato clone where it looks like he has all the tools but doesn't seem to put it all together.

Seems to be more of a player where the focus is on the toolsyness rather than the results.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Seth Jones

Take him, please
- Elbows15

The Bedard reaction after was great. Wonder if he said anything to him after.

Still lots of work to do but Korchinski’s defense is showing improvement. His positioning is better and he’s closing gaps better. But what I’m really liking is him battling harder for loose pucks.
- paulr

His stick work is very good too. Kind of interesting that his defensive play is outshining his offensive play which is definitely the opposite of what I expected.

I'm going to go against the grain here. Do not like Kurashev as a player. Drifts, bad defensively, not very good on the boards, vision isn't there. Don't think he's hockey smart at all. He was terrible and non existent without Bedard creating space for him.

He skates good and is the only guy on the team smart enough to shoot when the rest of the opponent is marking Bedard so I guess that counts for something.

Other than that I think he's a Donato clone where it looks like he has all the tools but doesn't seem to put it all together.

Seems to be more of a player where the focus is on the toolsyness rather than the results.
- fattybeef

I know you’re not a fan and neither is Wiz but agree to disagree I guess. He’s not a monster along the boards but I think better than you’re willing to allow, and afa his hockey sense at least in the offensive zone he seems pretty good.

I definitely think he’s better than Donato at least skill wise. I think Donato’s biggest attribute is he’ll go to the net but he has a hard time keeping the puck on his stick like about 80-90% of the rest of the team. JMHO…

Kurashev's taken a nice step this year and seems to be playing with another gear. Besides him there were 5 other players you could categorize as young and only 3 of those have been in the lineup for most if not all of the season (Bedard, Vlasic, Korchinski).

Most of the young players aren't even on the team yet.
- HawkintheD

I personally couldn’t be bothered discussing this anymore. Steve has from day one decided Richardson sucks because he’s inexperienced. He won’t discuss the fact the team with only 3 players of NHL quality and three raw rookies and a kid with three years of NHL experience complete hard most nights. He’s not interested in the fact of the five young players, the team had high expectations for, four are improving and are better than they are on the first game of the season. One rookie, Lucas Reichel has regressed. Instead Steve’s focus is on how Richardson didn’t use his time out and how he didn’t scramble the lines during the game.

So far Richardson has done a pretty good job of getting of getting the most out of a bad lineup. He’s also allowed the rookies to play in an environment where they are encouraged to play to their skill set. When Korchinski got himself into positional trouble by making poor decisions of when to lead or join the rush or when to pinch, he eventually had to sit a few shifts. And he learned from it and we’re not seeing the poor decisions all the time. I noticed Bedard isn’t extending his shifts as often as he had been. We will see if LR can prove he’s a strategic and tactical coach and has the ability to make in game adjustments. But at the moment I can’t see anything but positives from Richardson and the coaching staff.

I personally couldn’t be bothered discussing this anymore. Steve has from day one decided Richardson sucks because he’s inexperienced. He won’t discuss the fact the team with only 3 players of NHL quality and three raw rookies and a kid with three years of NHL experience complete hard most nights. He’s not interested in the fact of the five young players, the team had high expectations for, four are improving and are better than they are on the first game of the season. One rookie, Lucas Reichel has regressed. Instead Steve’s focus is on how Richardson didn’t use his time out and how he didn’t scramble the lines during the game.

So far Richardson has done a pretty good job of getting of getting the most out of a bad lineup. He’s also allowed the rookies to play in an environment where they are encouraged to play to their skill set. When Korchinski got himself into positional trouble by making poor decisions of when to lead or join the rush or when to pinch, he eventually had to sit a few shifts. And he learned from it and we’re not seeing the poor decisions all the time. I noticed Bedard isn’t extending his shifts as often as he had been. We will see if LR can prove he’s a strategic and tactical coach and has the ability to make in game adjustments. But at the moment I can’t see anything but positives from Richardson and the coaching staff.
- paulr

All very well said, Chief.

I personally couldn’t be bothered discussing this anymore. Steve has from day one decided Richardson sucks because he’s inexperienced. He won’t discuss the fact the team with only 3 players of NHL quality and three raw rookies and a kid with three years of NHL experience complete hard most nights. He’s not interested in the fact of the five young players, the team had high expectations for, four are improving and are better than they are on the first game of the season. One rookie, Lucas Reichel has regressed. Instead Steve’s focus is on how Richardson didn’t use his time out and how he didn’t scramble the lines during the game.

So far Richardson has done a pretty good job of getting of getting the most out of a bad lineup. He’s also allowed the rookies to play in an environment where they are encouraged to play to their skill set. When Korchinski got himself into positional trouble by making poor decisions of when to lead or join the rush or when to pinch, he eventually had to sit a few shifts. And he learned from it and we’re not seeing the poor decisions all the time. I noticed Bedard isn’t extending his shifts as often as he had been. We will see if LR can prove he’s a strategic and tactical coach and has the ability to make in game adjustments. But at the moment I can’t see anything but positives from Richardson and the coaching staff.
- paulr

Needs to get much stronger, Jenner knocked him flying with a one handed push.
- LAHawk

Weird, I'd figure at 18/19 he'd reached his strength peak

I personally couldn’t be bothered discussing this anymore. Steve has from day one decided Richardson sucks because he’s inexperienced. He won’t discuss the fact the team with only 3 players of NHL quality and three raw rookies and a kid with three years of NHL experience complete hard most nights. He’s not interested in the fact of the five young players, the team had high expectations for, four are improving and are better than they are on the first game of the season. One rookie, Lucas Reichel has regressed. Instead Steve’s focus is on how Richardson didn’t use his time out and how he didn’t scramble the lines during the game.

So far Richardson has done a pretty good job of getting of getting the most out of a bad lineup. He’s also allowed the rookies to play in an environment where they are encouraged to play to their skill set. When Korchinski got himself into positional trouble by making poor decisions of when to lead or join the rush or when to pinch, he eventually had to sit a few shifts. And he learned from it and we’re not seeing the poor decisions all the time. I noticed Bedard isn’t extending his shifts as often as he had been. We will see if LR can prove he’s a strategic and tactical coach and has the ability to make in game adjustments. But at the moment I can’t see anything but positives from Richardson and the coaching staff.
- paulr

I disliked the choice from the moment I heard it because I clearly remember Richardson's Binghampton era as being unimpressive. I prefer retread NHL coaches or a rising guy with some championship or major turnaround track record. I remember watching Hitchcock's Kalamzoo IHL teams and thinking this team plays hard and disciplined. The next year, Gainey made him head coach and I loved Hitchcock' Hall of Fame speech. I think a hard head coach, even on a below average team, creates the culture. I don't think this is a learn on the job league. I think it is silly to rush young players. It was Richardson who vouched for Perry's character. What a debacle. Rumor has it Perry has been a booze bag everywhere he has been. Somebody on this board wrote some horrible things about him.

I have watched many NHL practices starting at Johnny's East with Lorne Molleken, though Johnny's West and 5/3. Lots of flow in a Richardson practice. I am not seeing lots of teaching. You might say it is all done through video. I hope you are right.

StevefromGlencoe Trivia: I used to ride my bike to Lake Forest and watch the Bears practice. This is 1978-1982. The intensity of the Bears practices were night and day from before 82 till 82. In 83 they put up a construction fence so nobody could watch and. 85 was pretty good. Even as a kid, it was easy to sense the seriousness after watching a team for a while.


The timeouts, not juggling lines, the lack of creatively getting Bedard on the ice for Ozone faceoffs, the one-on-one style I see. Bad starts. Late collapses. Understandable to some extent with the roster. You like some of what you are seeing and you are an optimistic guy. He's not impressing me.

You know I thought Reichel was a perimeter player. I wrote about going to Rockford and watching the AHL playoffs. I asked the Wilds Director of Player Personnel, Matt Hendricks, about Reichel this summer and he told me, "All talented guys take the puck outside so they can find time and space. Coaching is getting them into the hard areas." I'm not sure about Reichel but I know the coach bounced him from line to line and position to position and he still took the puck away from the center of the ice and is a minus machine.

I am trying to bite my tongue about Richardson and have only made a handful of negative posts all season because I am even less optimistic that we have a stacked prospect pool and good times are around the corner. Just as Vegas is built by losers, 60% of 1st rounders play 300games. 25% of 2nd rounders, and 20% of 3rd rounders. 8% of everyone else. Yes there have been short bursts where teams exceed those numbers, right now Dallas is by far on the hottest drafting run I can remember. But the GM there is a 30 year management vet. Our GM is 35.

I am a firm believer that Drafting, Astute Trading, and Aggressive Free Agent Signing make a winner. The tanking for top picks only scratches at the first. You may say wait. I think the can do more now. If they end the season with $10+ million of unused Cap Space, it shows there is no eye of the tiger here. Would Bill Foley slow play like this?

I love the passion on this board. Great joy to burn off steam here. I read everything you post and respect your knowledge and vision. Thanks for the back and forth.