Tyler Cameron: Blackhawks Play Some Games and I Have Some Thoughts
Wow, has it ever been nice to finally watch some Blackhawks hockey the past 3 games?

Yes, it is exhibition, but still.

With the Hawks sitting at a 1-1-1 record, I'm going to jump into this one with 10 observations on specific players I've made so far.

Good thing the Hawks won last night before the preseason got away from them.

Great write up as always TC. Saw a tiny bit of the Caps game from a link someone here posted but didn't see either Wings game. Figured one of them might be on locally but, oh well.

You mentioned Shaw playing with 12 and 17 which is where I see him possibly playing and performing a role similar to the one Caggiula did with 88 and 19, though with potentially more scoring.

Speaking of, do you have any thoughts on Strome?

Saw a couple posters comment positively about his skating. That would be big if he is better defensively this season and stronger on his skates while still providing offense.

I noticed D Sikura's brother in the lineup last night. He is behind many - includung his brother- forr an nhl roster spot. However perhaps he coukd be a useful bottom line over achiever for another team. Possibly evrn an expansion team

Hawks win !!!! Great job Tyler summing things up.
Last night was a great team effort of the past 3 games, and defensively outstanding performance.

Maatta and Seabrook looked like they played for years together.

Tyler in your opinion do you think Dach makes the team even though he missed a few preseason games he did play in the tournament recently and looked great.

With that in mind could Stan and JC have him penciled in in their minds and just being a bit cautious with his concussion protocol?


How about boqvist putting on a show, wow that kid has some great slick skills, the way he undressed their d and his shot ?

If Buff does end up retiring that would further deplete an already thin Jet blue line. Either way, I think they have an even bigger regression this season than last.

Also, ESPN came out with their prospect rankings. Nylander has fallen quite a bit but still made the top 100 and Kubalik didn't make theirs while he did make the Athletic's. Appears he was eligible too.

6) Dach
29) Boqvist
68) Mitchell
82) Beaudin
88) Nylavendar

Good thing the Hawks won last night before the preseason got away from them.

Great write up as always TC. Saw a tiny bit of the Caps game from a link someone here posted but didn't see either Wings game. Figured one of them might be on locally but, oh well.

You mentioned Shaw playing with 12 and 17 which is where I see him possibly playing and performing a role similar to the one Caggiula did with 88 and 19, though with potentially more scoring.

Speaking of, do you have any thoughts on Strome?

Saw a couple posters comment positively about his skating. That would be big if he is better defensively this season and stronger on his skates while still providing offense.
- HawkintheD

I was thinking exactly that! The last few days we were on the verge of full BOD meltdown after the Hawks lost the first games. Now I guess we can start planning the parade?

Another great write up Tyler. It is really impressive how you are able to create fresh topics and analysis and continue to generate discussion without having to resort to making stuff up or trying to be be controversial like Tanner.

So I'm curious who the goat du jour will be after the HUGE win last night.

If Buff does end up retiring that would further deplete an already thin Jet blue line. Either way, I think they have an even bigger regression this season than last.

Also, ESPN came out with their prospect rankings. Nylander has fallen quite a bit but still made the top 100 and Kubalik didn't make theirs while he did make the Athletic's. Appears he was eligible too.

6) Dach
29) Boqvist
68) Mitchell
82) Beaudin
88) Nylavendar
- HawkintheD

Another epic Blowman fail! I know! Today's goat will be Ole Stanley himself!

The position depth and competition for playing time is encouraging. Now let’s hope this team can coalesce around an effective playing structure - particularly on defense.

Hope springs eternal during the preseason.

I just don't get the "stubbornness" in hockey about a young player's position. In the case of Boqvist, why not move him to wing if his defensive play is so lacking as many here seem to suggest. Position moves happen in football with some degree of regularity, even at the highest levels. Why not in juniors or even the NHL? Thanks

I just don't get the "stubbornness" in hockey about a young player's position. In the case of Boqvist, why not move him to wing if his defensive play is so lacking as many here seem to suggest. Position moves happen in football with some degree of regularity, even at the highest levels. Why not in juniors or even the NHL? Thanks
- BobP.

As a young man coming out of College hockey Duncan Keith was very good with the puck and not so good without it. Then two years working with a coach who taught him how to play without the puck may answer your question? If a coach can work with Boqvist in Rockford to learn ow to play defense it would be the ideal situation for the player and the team.

He's been performing and is working hard away from the puck.

That can't be, I've been told by most of the Buffalo fans, and some of the experts here who knew without ever seeing him play that he was lazy, arrogant, selfish, soft privileged, player who just doesn't get it and never will.

Oh ya, and his dad is an idiot as well.................

As a young man coming out of College hockey Duncan Keith was very good with the puck and not so good without it. Then two years working with a coach who taught him how to play without the puck may answer your question? If a coach can work with Boqvist in Rockford to learn ow to play defense it would be the ideal situation for the player and the team.
- paulr

Ok, Chief, I'll give him a week on the Rock to learn it all. Otherwise he's a bust, a product of the Hawks hype machine. Ya follow?

There is no need whatsoever to rush Dach into a late bid to win an NHL job. I don't want to see him experience the same thing as Nolan Patrick is with recurring injuries.

Kids like Sam Steel, Morgan Frost and Robert Thomas all benefited from an extra year of Junior. The NHL is a man's league. 18 year olds don't need to be there.

Tyler Cameron: Blackhawks Play Some Games and I Have Some Thoughts

Wow, has it ever been nice to finally watch some Blackhawks hockey the past 3 games?

Yes, it is exhibition, but still.

With the Hawks sitting at a 1-1-1 record, I'm going to jump into this one with 10 observations on specific players I've made so far.
- Tyler Cameron

You could have at least mentioned that the Maple Leafs have been skewered 2 nights in a row by the powerful Ottawa Senators and the sky is falling in Toronto. It would have made PaulR and me very happy to read that.

Small sample but cool look at skating efficiency and how reliant Keith was/is on that Lance Armstrong like motor. While a guy like Lidstrom was probably more cerebral as opposed to being the best athlete on the ice.

https://www.arcticicehock...eith-and-nicklas-lidstrom

Also, 11 million dollars ought to be a pretty good third pairing lol.

I think they give Dach at least 5 games to see what's there. They have to see how he plays in the NHL with how big and athletic he is now.

Price Adam comes up after they flip one or both of Murphy and Gus.

Ok, Chief, I'll give him a week on the Rock to learn it all. Otherwise he's a bust, a product of the Hawks hype machine. Ya follow?
- mohel

He needs to learn it now, in camp, or the Hawk preseason is lost!

IMPRESSIONS

Toews - Looked quick and strong again this year, great sign, look out NHL, JT is still
an elite talent.

Seabrook and Maatta - Not fast, but the two understand positioning and aren't afraid to block shots.

Boqvist - Awesome skills, will benefit playing 20 minutes a night at Rockford, but he is really close to being in the show, defensively he is much better though.

Nylander - Potentially 88-19-92 could be lethal, love his speed and release. Think if he plays with 19, you won't see him float anymore.

Kubalik - Didn't realize how big he is, kid looks like a steal.

Gilbert - Like what he brings to the table, more so than 68 and 63. Probably
headed to Rockford, but could see some NHL time this year.

Holm - Pleasant surprise, ladies and gentlemen, say hello to your 7th D-Man.

Crawford - Looks very motivated, and knock on wood; healthy.

Unfortunately, Tyler, JC is already raving about the Saad-Gretzky (Kamph)-Kubalik line. Don't think Highmore makes it. Too bad because I do agree with you, I think Highmore has more offensive upside than Kamph.

Just my impressions of who I really liked last night.

Also, 11 million dollars ought to be a pretty good third pairing lol.

I think they give Dach at least 5 games to see what's there. They have to see how he plays in the NHL with how big and athletic he is now.

Price Adam comes up after they flip one or both of Murphy and Gus.
- fattybeef

No rush to do anything with Dach. Only desperate GMs do that

No rush to do anything with Dach. Only desperate GMs do that
- RickJ

Maybe not! Enzo says he's already relegated Toews as the third line center.

I thought Nylander was running into Toews and Kane a bit in the offensive zone and was it me or does he look, I don't want to say lazy but he's just kind of floating out there. Small sample but just an outside observation. Kind of frustrating because you can see at times he has the look of potentially a really good player.

Maybe not! Enzo says he's already relegated Toews as the third line center.
- paulr

You are risking a verbal assault from Sir Enzo.

Here’s the full run down on Nylander from Powers in The Athletic.

Prior to the Blackhawks training camp, I went back and watched a number of Nylander’s games with the Buffalo Sabres at the end of last season. I was curious what he did well and what he struggled with. I watched every one of his shifts over four games. It came out to be 61 shifts.

I cut a number of clips that stood out for various reasons. I then passed those clips onto someone whose opinion about skill development I trust. I feel like I’ve gotten better at identifying things, but this person is at a different level.

First, here are some overall observations the source made was about Nylander’s game.

“Nylander struggles possessing the puck while crossing over. He cannot blend two skills. This is crucial in creating space and being deceptive.”
“I’m getting the feeling he relies on his size too much. Being a big kid in junior may have led to bad habits. He’s now a big playing against players with the same size or with smaller players who make up for their lack of size with skating ability.”
“Every shot attempt, he stops movement. It’s almost as if he thinks the puck is going in or his job is done. After his shot, he needs to continue his momentum and movement and his production could increase. Everywhere he’s played, he’s had more assists than goals, which can be normal, but I wonder how many of those assists were not generated from a shot/rebound.”

I just don't get the "stubbornness" in hockey about a young player's position. In the case of Boqvist, why not move him to wing if his defensive play is so lacking as many here seem to suggest. Position moves happen in football with some degree of regularity, even at the highest levels. Why not in juniors or even the NHL? Thanks
- BobP.

I get what you're saying, but watch him yourself, he may not be as good defensively as he is offensively, but he's actually not bad. I know it's not saying much but he's better defensively then Gusto

Here’s the full run down on Nylander from Powers in The Athletic.

Prior to the Blackhawks training camp, I went back and watched a number of Nylander’s games with the Buffalo Sabres at the end of last season. I was curious what he did well and what he struggled with. I watched every one of his shifts over four games. It came out to be 61 shifts.

I cut a number of clips that stood out for various reasons. I then passed those clips onto someone whose opinion about skill development I trust. I feel like I’ve gotten better at identifying things, but this person is at a different level.

First, here are some overall observations the source made was about Nylander’s game.

“Nylander struggles possessing the puck while crossing over. He cannot blend two skills. This is crucial in creating space and being deceptive.”
“I’m getting the feeling he relies on his size too much. Being a big kid in junior may have led to bad habits. He’s now a big playing against players with the same size or with smaller players who make up for their lack of size with skating ability.”
“Every shot attempt, he stops movement. It’s almost as if he thinks the puck is going in or his job is done. After his shot, he needs to continue his momentum and movement and his production could increase. Everywhere he’s played, he’s had more assists than goals, which can be normal, but I wonder how many of those assists were not generated from a shot/rebound.”
- scottak

That sounds like stuff that is pretty fixable. Who was he traded for again?