Never, not as long as Q is runnin the bench. All 4 lines must have speed and a threat to score and more than anything play a possession game. Top 3-4 team corsi and waaaaay out of the playoffs.

Speed/skill/possession wash, rinse, repeat.
- Mr Ricochet

But just enough toughness too. Or loose out sooner or later.

Late add: yes I agree that is the Q and Bowman way. And they will never win or go far as long as they stick to that recipe. Tram was tough enough when they won Cups. They are a shell of team toughness if you compare to last year and the present roster. Just add some grit and toughness on one of two top offensive lines.

The OHL televise alot of their games and the quality is top notch in numerous rinks and London is top of the list.I would expect to see some links shared here come hockey season. I am half an hour away.
- eagle50

Even better (30 min away)!
Actually a little farther than from my place to where the Hawks use to practice (Edge in Bensenville). Nothing like seeing these guys up close at ice level, only then the sense of speed, skating ability, puck handling and shooting really pops out.

Eagle, hope you are able to catch some games in-person and come back to give us your thoughts.

Yes they do and a lot of OHL games are produced like an NHL game. Multiple cameras/angles, replays, 2 announcer booths, graphics. Even the lil ole USHL has productions like that in 5-6 arenas.

Do you buy the OHL package?
- Mr Ricochet

Not since the lockout but I will probably think about it now.I miss the HockeyStreams days as it was way cheaper.

Even better (30 min away)!
Actually a little farther than from my place to where the Hawks use to practice (Edge in Bensenville). Nothing like seeing these guys up close at ice level, only then the sense of speed, skating ability, puck handling and shooting really pops out.

Eagle, hope you are able to catch some games in-person and come back to give us your thoughts.
- savvyone-1

Will do .

But just enough toughness too. Or loose out sooner or later.

Late add: yes I agree that is the Q and Bowman way. And they will never win or go far as long as they stick to that recipe. Just add in some grit and toughness on one if two top offensive lines.
- jhawk59

Never win, huh?

Never win, huh?
- PatShart

To clarify, never win in playoffs and always subject to a team that plays heavy physical hockey

Not since the lockout but I will probably think about it now.I miss the HockeyStreams days as it was way cheaper.
- eagle50

I get the USHL package and it's 200 bucks!! Steep price IMO. I compared it to the OHL package and the OHL was 30 or so bucks cheaper. Upside tho. USA just had it's Ivan Hlinka camp last week with 8 teams of players trying out for the team and I was able to watch the games. These will be the NHL draft eligible kids in June. Happy to say 2 Steel players made the final cut and will battle the best players on earth in their age bracket in August!

Major Junior rocks man! I'm jealous of you guys. If I had to I could easily live with CHL as my only hockey. Same with the NCAA.

They say Minnesota is the state of hockey but IMO Michigan is better. They have everything MN has, of course not on their level of HS hockey, plus the OHL and USHL and the USA NTDP as well playing in the USHL.

Even better (30 min away)!
Actually a little farther than from my place to where the Hawks use to practice (Edge in Bensenville). Nothing like seeing these guys up close at ice level, only then the sense of speed, skating ability, puck handling and shooting really pops out.

Eagle, hope you are able to catch some games in-person and come back to give us your thoughts.
- savvyone-1

Savvy, have you, or anyone else been to the new practice rink, thinks it's MB Center, yet? Are there bleachers where you can see the action? Johnny's Ice House was brutal. Only a few hundred could see the whole surface.

How is the new facility on that account? Would love to see prospect camp but ain't gonna stand 3 deep on the glass.

But just enough toughness too. Or loose out sooner or later.

Late add: yes I agree that is the Q and Bowman way. And they will never win or go far as long as they stick to that recipe. Tram was tough enough when they won Cups. They are a shell of team toughness if you compare to last year and the present roster. Just add some grit and toughness on one of two top offensive lines.
- jhawk59

If Hayden sticks, Manning stays out of the dog house, Seabs gets back to near himself, Martinson makes the squad, Kunitz is healthy they might have some push back.

But grit is just waaaay down the organIzational priorities list.

Another fail by Bowman. Why would the team put their top euro-smurf prospect in the Canadian goon league? The kid will be lucky to ever play an NHL game now.
- DarthKane

Thought the W was the goon league not the O.

Savvy, have you, or anyone else been to the new practice rink, thinks it's MB Center, yet? Are there bleachers where you can see the action? Johnny's Ice House was brutal. Only a few hundred could see the whole surface.

How is the new facility on that account? Would love to see prospect camp but ain't gonna stand 3 deep on the glass.
- Mr Ricochet

I have not Mr R but the pics I have seen make it appear to be somewhat similar to the setup at the Edge.

If you Google "MB Ice Arena pictures" you should see a bunch that will make you think right away of the Edge. Plus, I doubt with last year's finish (and the past 3 yrs in general) that there are going to be quite the crowds they used to get at the Edge when it was pretty clear the team was on the rise and you had Toews, Kane, Sharp in the early days.

Excellent post & question. My belief: yes. It's only when guys like this understand their limitations and role and play within themselves. Used to piss me off to no end when a guy like Steve Montador (God rest his soul) who Stan WAYYYYYYYYYY overpaid to get, would think he was Bobby Orr and find himself attempting to rush the puck up-ice, get caught and before you knew it, odd-man break the other way. He'd be back in time to fish the puck out of our net.

Maybe it's pride. Maybe it's a guy's image of what he can/can't do is simply skewed. Maybe it's trying to please a coach or even show off to your teammates that you can do it.

Guys like Brent Sopel OTOH were OK skaters (much like Murphy although I think Sopes was smoother from what I remember) but knew his limitations and fit perfectly as to what he was asked to do and what he could do. I don't recall many times when he went outside that envelope. Sopel was slotted correctly, used correctly and trusted by Q. And I think the match of coach trusting and slotting a player appropriately is what is going to matter for a guy that is not necessarily physically gifted as a very good skater.

EDIT: that was my biggest beef with TVR -- had Q slotted him correctly and used him the right way by NOT slotting him in the 1st or 2nd pairing, he would have been fine. I'd love him back -- but only as a d-minded 3rd pairing guy (and we have plenty of those).

I'm sure there will be lots of disagreement with my thinking.
- savvyone-1

I am with you most of the way! I agree with you on Murphy, that he can be effective if used correctly (said another way sheltered/protected) and he is just an average skater for a D, little to upright and rigid. D's are by far the best skaters with great transitions, tight turns, stop and go's, etc which the Swedish D men are good at. Although Quinn Hughes is way up there. My only slight disagreement is that TVR could play himself into a #4 D man. He would be top 4 on this current Hawk team. He showed promise and progress his first year until his ankle injury then came back and performed well. I actually thought prior to ankle injury he would have been top 4 in stacked Hawks D core back then.

I have not Mr R but the pics I have seen make it appear to be somewhat similar to the setup at the Edge.

If you Google "MB Ice Arena pictures" you should see a bunch that will make you think right away of the Edge. Plus, I doubt with last year's finish (and the past 3 yrs in general) that there are going to be quite the crowds they used to get at the Edge when it was pretty clear the team was on the rise and you had Toews, Kane, Sharp in the early days.
- savvyone-1

Thanks, Savvy. But no, it's set up like Johnny's with a few rows of bleachers on one side and that's it. https://www.google.com/se...SM:&imgrc=8je_fpGsoR98-M:

Thought the W was the goon league not the O.
- Beaver-Warrior

The W is the most goony of all the goony hockey leagues in Canada. But the OHL is still far more goony than the Q.

The W is the most goony of all the goony hockey leagues in Canada. But the OHL is still far more goony than the Q.
- DarthKane

Thank you for straightening me out. I'll sleep better at night now.

Thank you for straightening me out. I'll sleep better at night now.
- Beaver-Warrior

Ya basically as you travel west it gets more goonies.

I'd guess the OHL is probably more physical especially cuz they play on a smaller surface in NA.

No doubt the OHL is the very best jr league in the world.
- Mr Ricochet

I would have to agree on the OHL being the very best but with a caveat...Top 2 pair of d men and Top 6 Forwards. I believe you can get goalies anywhere and that's where proper and smart scouting comes into play.

The W is the most goony of all the goony hockey leagues in Canada. But the OHL is still far more goony than the Q.
- DarthKane

home of Ogi ogilthorpe?

home of Ogi ogilthorpe?
- ikeane

Federal League

Federal League
- riozzo

The other day I was thinking of the scene were Yvon Barrette is shell shocked........time to get some top flight D to help out .

Federal League
- riozzo

Chicago Whales, Weeghman Park, Wimpy’s....

"Rangers getting Kucherov as third team in Karlsson to Tampa? That's the rumor at this hour. Stay tuned."
Lol

Thought the W was the goon league not the O.
- Beaver-Warrior

yeah, me too!

Good question.
I think it depends on whether Q is at the helm. If not, then a question of when he was replaced (and by whom) and the "scheme" they are attempting to run.

IMO, guys like Murphy don't have a place in today's NHL except under the right circumstances. Gus, Ruuta are decent skaters (better than Murphy) but don't have great speed either. I would want to see the others against NHLers and make that determination. Without excellent wheels, a defender in today's NHL is going to be hard-pressed to be successful except in a great situation.

If Colliton can develop some of those guys and the best of them get NHL slotted, would be possible to restock some of the F's we're lacking via trade.
- savvyone-1

Lemme guess.....Hawks need a purdy skating dman like.....hmmmm, who? I dunno, maybe nick leddy and his -42? His wheels ain't helping him so much.

Great dmen have the ability to think and see the play and create off of that.
Speed alone gets ya bad hockey players....trash heap is loaded with them

I spoke with Brandon Manning's uncle yesterday and Brandon is super stoked about joining the Hawks. He is one of those players that will stick up for his teammates and will grind it out with anyone, regardless of size. He is one tough kid. And that is something we've been sorely lacking on our backend. I am excited to see what he brings to the Hawks. In my opinion this could be a solid pickup. A decent 5/6 D-man with grit and toughness.
He is attending Claude Giroux's wedding this week, and then heads to Chicago to find a place to live.
- DPStampeder

He is stoked because someone gave him a contract. He is terrible. Tell him to get drunk and break something.