Well, he's not an NHL All-star yet, so.....bust.
- mohel

We’re not waiting for first NHL shift anymore before we declare they’re a bust?

The Chicago Busthawks

Hawks are going to have to do a Phaneuf with Jones. Retain half his hit and get his ass out of here.

Take a bag of pucks, some stick tape and case of Biosteel drinks and call it a day.

The Chicago Busthawks
- wizardofi

Maybe we could still get a couple of thirds for KK and Nazar.

We’re not waiting for first NHL shift anymore before we declare they’re a bust?
- paulr

Why dilly-dally?

As much as everyone bags on Bedard's defence, the one thing I notice - and maybe a couple of wingers help him out more - but he seems to get into the d zone way too deep. Meaning way too deep in terms of what he actually does back that far down in the D zone - which mostly just effs up break out patterns.

He's not going to be overly effective that deep in his own zone (nevermind that he is playing C -sorta) - in that his version of D oughta probably be more geared towards being in position to get the puck out of the D zone -by being one of the primary outlets ... I guess. I don't know - I mean the games I do get to catch he's sorta just swanning around the goal line doing nothing much, apart from a shot block which I don't imagine he has the D-men's set of padding to actually do that too often without it having a 'really adverse result' -sorta like last night where that shot hit him in a spot that stunned him and took him out of the play -which shortly thereafter resulted in a goal against.

3-3-2-2-1
That was one tough game to watch.
Still hoping the young ones improve. And they acquire more NHL talent.
And the injuries sure haven't helped.

If S. Jones is such a cancer and KD does not move him this summer, it is all on KD. Seems other GM’s are able to move disgruntled players, and if all else fails buy him out. Fact of the matter is, if Jones is at best s #3 defenseman, the Hawks currently have no one to replace him, and KD is not going to trade for or commit $’s and term to do so.

Vancouver bought out OEL, case in point. Then he wouldn’t have to sign veterans to bloated contracts to get to the cap floor.
- LAHawk

Vancouver and Minnesota bought out veterans, but that doesn’t make it a good idea.

If the Hawks bought out Jones they’d have a cap hit until Bedard is 30-31, including 4 years of about $8 million.

Unless a team is willing to take on Jones the Hawks are stuck with him for the foreseeable future.

Vancouver and Minnesota bought out veterans, but that doesn’t make it a good idea.

If the Hawks bought out Jones they’d have a cap hit until Bedard is 30-31, including 4 years of about $8 million.

Unless a team is willing to take on Jones the Hawks are stuck with him for the foreseeable future.
- DarthKane

Are there any potential change of scenery deals out there with a similar contract coming back?

I watched Mich. Vs Minn. again, last night. IMO Oliver Moore is miles ahead of Frank Nazar. Moore is always a presence on the ice where Nazar goes barely noticed. Fun fact; Moore and Rinzel are roommates.
- bjphawkfan

To be honest, I don't think Nazar's teammates did him any favors with the amount of stupid penalties they took.

I was surprised at the lack of discipline in their overall game.

Are there any potential change of scenery deals out there with a similar contract coming back?
- 333inthe3rd

Darnell Nurse

Darnell Nurse
- boilermaker100

Good one, didn't think of him. Others that came to mind were Erik Karlsson and Johnny Hockey. Just thinking this might be a way forward. One potential problem is the Oilers already had his brother. Not sure what they thought of him. And Seth would probably veto Columbus, and Johnny Hockey probably costs more than straight up.

As much as everyone bags on Bedard's defence, the one thing I notice - and maybe a couple of wingers help him out more - but he seems to get into the d zone way too deep. Meaning way too deep in terms of what he actually does back that far down in the D zone - which mostly just effs up break out patterns.

He's not going to be overly effective that deep in his own zone (nevermind that he is playing C -sorta) - in that his version of D oughta probably be more geared towards being in position to get the puck out of the D zone -by being one of the primary outlets ... I guess. I don't know - I mean the games I do get to catch he's sorta just swanning around the goal line doing nothing much, apart from a shot block which I don't imagine he has the D-men's set of padding to actually do that too often without it having a 'really adverse result' -sorta like last night where that shot hit him in a spot that stunned him and took him out of the play -which shortly thereafter resulted in a goal against.
- SC116

I don’t think he’s bad defensively at all when he fully commits. I really don’t care if he has shifts where he’s lazy on D. He’s brought here to score. My only concern is does he commit to both ends come playoff time.

He’s also a kid.

Lot of top centers in the NHL take off plays on D during the regular season.

Vancouver and Minnesota bought out veterans, but that doesn’t make it a good idea.

If the Hawks bought out Jones they’d have a cap hit until Bedard is 30-31, including 4 years of about $8 million.

Unless a team is willing to take on Jones the Hawks are stuck with him for the foreseeable future.
- DarthKane

But the last 7 years the hit is only $1.5. Any trade will probably be $4.5 mil. Retained anyway. If he is that much of a cancer, which is worse, Jonrs on the team or dead cap hit?

Are there any potential change of scenery deals out there with a similar contract coming back?
- 333inthe3rd

Jeff Skinner?

Wild beat the Sharks tonite.

I watched Mich. Vs Minn. again, last night. IMO Oliver Moore is miles ahead of Frank Nazar. Moore is always a presence on the ice where Nazar goes barely noticed. Fun fact; Moore and Rinzel are roommates.
- bjphawkfan

Ollie Moore is a nose over the puck, high motor, north-south, crazy speed guy. Nazar is fancy, east west and really skilled...... Generally, players with Moore's traits acclimate faster, as they move up, than Nazars.

I'd guess evaluators see Moore with a higher floor and Nazar a higher ceiling.

And yes, I have found I can watch a U of MI game and Nazar makes little to no impact. Other times he's buzzin and the puck follows him... I do think he'll be best getting another yr at U of MI but his camp and preseason will tell the Hawks where he belongs.

Ollie Moore is a nose over the puck, high motor, north-south, crazy speed guy. Nazar is fancy, east west and really skilled...... Generally, players with Moore's traits acclimate faster as they move up than Nazars.

I'd guess evaluators see Moore with a higher floor and Nazar a higher ceiling.

And yes, I have found I can watch a U of MI game and Nazar makes little to no impact. Other times he's buzzin and the puck follows him... I do think he'll be best getting another yr at U of MI but his camp and preseason will tell the Hawks where he belongs.
- Mr Ricochet

And also to stay healthy!

I see it more like someone is gonna put up points on a team like that.

Domi had 49/60 with the Hawks last year and Raddysh scored 20 goals. Stuff that is only possible on an awful team and probably won't ever happen again. No one would mistake Domi for a first line center or a player with finish or vision but there was a 60-70 point pace for the okayest player.

If stuff was clicking my expectation wouldn't be an occasional great pass or highlight every 4 or 5 games but consistency being a threat and generating opportunities and I don't think he's that player.

But we'll see what happens next year when hopefully the roster is better or at least some of these youngsters with higher skill levels are providing some competition.
- fattybeef

Hey Fatty, I find you and I agree on most things hockey and few things about players. You're helpful to me to see where my blind spots are on players, but we are really far apart on Kurashev......

I do think he's better with the puck on his stick, skatin, wheelin and pressuring the opponent and that ain't happening on Bedard's line cuz he has the puck on his stick. I do however remember he was on a 57 pt pace when Bedard went down. Today he's on a 47 pt pace.

Either way I think he can be useful even in 3-4 yrs when it's win time cuz he really does check a lotta boxes, is versatile and LR likes him.. ..... And what NHL player isn't looking for consistency? Kurashev is no different except IMO he's shown me what I wanna see and until you show your skill translates to the Bigs you won't have to worry about consistency cuz you ain't an NHL player.

1. Show you and your skills belong.

2. Do that consistantly.

Edit: IMO Kurashev and Vlasic have been the best Hawks this yr, not counting Bedard.

And also to stay healthy!
- 35Tony0

IIRC Tony O Nazar only had that one injury, his hip, which took most of his freshman season last yr. Don't remember him having injury trouble with the NTDP. .... I'm a Nazar guy but think he'll play NCAA one more yr.

Bjork, Hardman, Dach all out injured with Hardman just entered concussion protocol. I don’t know the injury to others but I don’t believe it is concussion

The team is deep and winning despite those injured

I will attend the Rockford at Wolves game Friday and focus on some of the Icehogs players

I was talking more about where you want a guy like 98 to be in the D zone -and given that he is there as, primarily, an O threat - I'd be letting him know he ought to be staying up higher in the zone ... that's where I think his contribution is going to be that is most effective.

Yeh - no I don't have a problem with Bedard's D ... I also want him to get more opportunities to shoot more - and to do it without the temptation of dusting off the puck before firing ... at the moment, no one is really able to feed him anything so he isn't getting those game reps to get the timing down.

Yo Fatty, took a stroll over to Dobber for a quick look see to see if anything is there to support what I believe, Kurashev is a line driver and better away from Bedard.

Bedard got injured Jan 5th and came back Feb 15th. He was out for 14 games and in those 14 games Kurashev was above 50% corsi in 9 of them. 9 of 14 games without Bedard he was above 50 in corsi 9 times.

He had a helluva run without Bedard where his corsi was 66, 63, 56, 59, 57 and 63 in consecutive games!!! On a rotten squad. ...That's good. https://frozenpool.dobber.../players/philipp-kurashev (click advanced stats)

IIRC Tony O Nazar only had that one injury, his hip, which took most of his freshman season last yr. Don't remember him having injury trouble with the NTDP. .... I'm a Nazar guy but think he'll play NCAA one more yr.
- Mr Ricochet

I'm definitely ok with one more NCAA year, but also impatient with the desire to see the 'Hawks get more players with the excellent speed. I'd put Nazar and Moore in that category.
It seems the great 'Hawks teams always got to the loose pucks first. (I know it is more than just speed that makes that happen.)
Speedy, smart and positionally sound. It'll be fun watching these guys come up!

I'm definitely ok with one more NCAA year, but also impatient with the desire to see the 'Hawks get more players with the excellent speed. I'd put Nazar and Moore in that category.
It seems the great 'Hawks teams always got to the loose pucks first. (I know it is more than just speed that makes that happen.)
Speedy, smart and positionally sound. It'll be fun watching these guys come up!
- 35Tony0

What I’d like to see in a year or two is a defense first team, that attacks the puck in every zone like Carolina and an all for one attitude like Florida.