Theo Fox: Game 17 @ Red Wings
A preview to the second season series between the Blackhawks and Red Wings and a look at whether the youth will push the agenda for setting next year's roster.

Plus, a recap of the IceHogs overtime loss to the Iowa Wild on Saturday.

Thanks Theo,

Interesting read as always. Especially thanks for the Rockford updates.

Was going through playlists and hit on "Mack the Knife"; reminder that it is time for MacKenzie Entwistle to get in, or to go to Rockford and play a lot.

Like reading about how to get the win in the next game while still bringing in the yoots.

How strong a prospect is Yetman? He has continued getting points as he transitions to a rookie pro.

And as for Moberg and Phillips, do they skate reasonably well. I am thinking that in the years ahead Chicago may at times have the talent on the bluelune to play a puck posession game. With many compete players now and in the pipeline, I am wondering a darkhorse one of Phillips or Moberg could be the physical dman on a third pair....would help if they are descent skate and pass.

Thank you Theo for the update and Rockford report.

It is encouraging that the young players are stepping up, both the forwards and the Dmen. In your opinion, where do you think the team has the stronger pool of players (D or F)? And do you see some kind of trade with some of these players to maybe get a Toews replacement If he does not return to where he needs to be?

Thank you Theo for the update and Rockford report.

It is encouraging that the young players are stepping up, both the forwards and the Dmen. In your opinion, where do you think the team has the stronger pool of players (D or F)? And do you see some kind of trade with some of these players to maybe get a Toews replacement If he does not return to where he needs to be?
- powerenforcer

I think your Toews replacement will eventually be Dach. If this year is just about growth, no need to try to replace The Capt if he can’t return this season.

Hopefully he is able to return or regain his health to where he isn’t dealing with whatever he currently is.

Theo Fox: Game 17 @ Red Wings
A preview to the second season series between the Blackhawks and Red Wings and a look at whether the youth will push the agenda for setting next year's roster.

Plus, a recap of the IceHogs overtime loss to the Iowa Wild on Saturday.
- Theo Fox

Who knows what to do with Strome, i don't believe they will trade him this year. My biggest issue with him is once they lose possession he will try to take an angle and steal the puck back, but imho he's a completely different skater when the offense has the puck and when they don't. There seems to be no urgency getting back on defense.

Hopefully Boqvist was able to get the piano off his back.

I think your Toews replacement will eventually be Dach. If this year is just about growth, no need to try to replace The Capt if he can’t return this season.

Hopefully he is able to return or regain his health to where he isn’t dealing with whatever he currently is.
- HawkintheD

I guess I am worried that Dach's wrist will hinder him from being the player we think he could have been. Will it hurt his face-off ability?

I guess I am worried that Dach's wrist will hinder him from being the player we think he could have been. Will it hurt his face-off ability?
- powerenforcer

I'm worried about the same thing. If that was his wrist in the photo, me to pe

The bass player has been reassigned.

https://www.cbssports.com...tle-reassigned-to-minors/

Blackhawks believe they’re positioned well for NHL’s 2021 Seattle expansion draft - Chicago Sun-Times
https://chicago.suntimes....__twitter_impression=true

Hope Hagel is kept

I think your Toews replacement will eventually be Dach. If this year is just about growth, no need to try to replace The Capt if he can’t return this season.

Hopefully he is able to return or regain his health to where he isn’t dealing with whatever he currently is.
- HawkintheD

Your opinion/guess is spot on logical. I could see Bowman going for center in a very very center and dman heavy 2021 draft. Our draft slot plus the Expansion Draft need to come into focus. Whom do we loose. Do we make a trade. The larger question might be, is the type style center Bowman wants as a #1 center come from our middle of the pack selection. If not, would Bowman offer a young dman just to move up for the type of center he wants

I think you are right about Dach. All purpose center. Maybe one of best in the league as a #2L center. Well first we would have to draft a slick fast skilled center and perhaps this center helps Kane finish among the top scoreres even as Kane gracefully ages

All kinds of ideas and special attention to this 2021 draft is expected from Mark Kelly and Bowman. They go after the best player? They want a certain style NHL ready or near ready top 15 tier dman? Um....btw that Swedish goaltender is in the mix? Or do they like our current goaltender prospects enough and will not pass on a center or dman

Whole lot of intrigue. Whole lot of trades and I expect Seattle makes off better than Vegas did.

All I am fairly certain upon is that Seabrook, Toews, and Keith aren't changing address. Maybe Keith but not until at least two young dmen are the real deal and a third and fourth dman look very promising.

Most of our prospects are going to make the NHL grade here or elsewhere in the league. Not each will be top pair or top lines. Oh sure some misses. Kyrs migh make it but not for a couple years or more.

And despite my giddiness I know that Moberg and possibly Phillips are darkhorse candidates. I will see what Theo says about them. Vlasic is needing to develop in the AHL too.

Blackhawks believe they’re positioned well for NHL’s 2021 Seattle expansion draft - Chicago Sun-Times
https://chicago.suntimes....__twitter_impression=true

Hope Hagel is kept
- BetweenTheDots

If his usage thus far is any indication, they will. He's shown to be more effective than a number of other forwards.

On defense, I know he isn't as big, and doesn't go out of his way to hit people, but What are everyone's thoughts on Bowey vs Zadorov? I thought Bowey played better hockey, made quicker/better decisions, skates better and can still play tough in front of the crease.

Two things ADB related:

1) After the year he had last year, it is great to see him producing again, and also doing a portion of it away from Strome.

2) Theo's comment about Kubalik needing to get his scoring up reminded me of ADB last year. Kubalik mentioned before the season that he wanted to become a better overall player. I think this year will be his DeBrincat '19-20 season where his point total is down a bit, but his overall game grows immensely. This can only be a good thing.

If his usage thus far is any indication, they will. He's shown to be more effective than a number of other forwards.

On defense, I know he isn't as big, and doesn't go out of his way to hit people, but What are everyone's thoughts on Bowey vs Zadorov? I thought Bowey played better hockey, made quicker/better decisions, skates better and can still play tough in front of the crease.
- Chunk

I liked him. Granted it was only 2 games but he appeared calm and played a conservative game.

His skating is much smoother than Zadorov's but I'm kinda liking Z-man too. He picks his spots to make a hit pretty good. So far only 9 PIM this year. A major for his bout with Benn and 2 minors. One of which was a dive by Max Domi.

I also think his habit of trying to clear the crease is rubbing of on the other younger d-men. Mitchell and Beaudin are doing it too.

If his usage thus far is any indication, they will. He's shown to be more effective than a number of other forwards.

On defense, I know he isn't as big, and doesn't go out of his way to hit people, but What are everyone's thoughts on Bowey vs Zadorov? I thought Bowey played better hockey, made quicker/better decisions, skates better and can still play tough in front of the crease.
- Chunk

I think the same about Hagel. He's that guy that doesn't show up on the scoresheet for now but does so so so many things to help your team win games.

Z isn't the best defender but there's no denying so many want nothing to do with him. If? If is always it isn't it,
if he can just get better at reading the play and anticipating. Honestly i won't lose to much sleep over whoever they expose, even if it's Murphy

I liked him. Granted it was only 2 games but he appeared calm and played a conservative game.

His skating is much smoother than Zadorov's but I'm kinda liking Z-man too. He picks his spots to make a hit pretty good. So far only 9 PIM this year. A major for his bout with Benn and 2 minors. One of which was a dive by Max Domi.

I also think his habit of trying to clear the crease is rubbing of on the other younger d-men. Mitchell and Beaudin are doing it too.
- Rota's Rooter

I have to admit, I'm surprised at how well Mitchell has been at working in front of our goalie. He doesn't look all that big, but he's quite effective and not giving up position and especially tying up opponents sticks.

I think the same about Hagel. He's that guy that doesn't show up on the scoresheet for now but does so so so many things to help your team win games.

Z isn't the best defender but there's no denying so many want nothing to do with him. If? If is always it isn't it,
if he can just get better at reading the play and anticipating. Honestly i won't lose to much sleep over whoever they expose, even if it's Murphy
- BetweenTheDots

Yeah, I'm not sweating the expansion draft at all. We very well might lose a good player (Murphy, de Haan, etc.), but of the guys we are exposing, there appears to be (at least at this point) someone who will be able to fill the void - forwards as well.

Detroit fans couldn’t wait to get rid of Bowey fast enough. Has all the tools, but is (was) lost in the defensive zone. They mused what would happen if they moved him to forward. Unless the light went on, sounds like Gusto part 2.

That being said, I agree he looked good in his limited time so far.

Seattle is not going to have it better than Vegas, cause the GM’s are not going to fall for giving Vegas draft choices and players in order to protect a player. Best example, Panthers giving Reilly and Marchesault for a 4th round pick) (Haula and Tuch to Vegas so that Minnesota didn’t lose a defenseman).

Also Seattle has to meet the $60 million lower threshold when making the 30 picks. They could make hay with the cap strapped teams, but can they find another Fleury and his $7 million to waive his no trade?

Detroit fans couldn’t wait to get rid of Bowey fast enough. Has all the tools, but is (was) lost in the defensive zone. They mused what would happen if they moved him to forward. Unless the light went on, sounds like Gusto part 2.

That being said, I agree he looked good in his limited time so far.

Seattle is not going to have it better than Vegas, cause the GM’s are not going to fall for giving Vegas draft choices and players in order to protect a player. Best example, Panthers giving Reilly and Marchesault for a 4th round pick) (Haula and Tuch to Vegas so that Minnesota didn’t lose a defenseman).

Also Seattle has to meet the $60 million lower threshold when making the 30 picks. They could make hay with the cap strapped teams, but can they find another Fleury and his $7 million to waive his no trade?
- LAHawk

Initially I think you're right that Seattle wasn't gonna benefit from teams trading picks to take players with big contracts, but now with the (frank)ed up cap for a few years they might. There are a few teams that will need to shed salary again.

Who knows what to do with Strome, i don't believe they will trade him this year. My biggest issue with him is once they lose possession he will try to take an angle and steal the puck back, but imho he's a completely different skater when the offense has the puck and when they don't. There seems to be no urgency getting back on defense.

Hopefully Boqvist was able to get the piano off his back.
- BetweenTheDots

Hmm, I believe you were the same guy about 6 weeks ago that would have been willing to pay Strome $5M per based on all of the points he amasses and ignore all of the things you are seeing now.

On a talent weak Coyotes team a couple of years ago, Rick Tocchet quickly ran this 3rd overall pick down to their AHL team in Tucson and then they traded him, likely on the Tocchet's internal assertion that he couldn't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. So Bowman decided to take a chance because Q had no use for Nick Schmalz.

His former linemate ADB has put the work in to become a better player and it shows, Strome apparently did not. Best you can hope for now is that Seattle grabs him in the expansion draft.

Dach should not come back this year. Let the wrist fully heal. He was not good on faceoffs to begin with, the wrist can only hinder him more. Nylander will probably be signed in the offseason, to a cheap one year deal. Given the work ethic and compete level that the Hawks have established this year, simply put, it will be make or break year for him next year. If he continues playing like he has, he will stick out like a sore thumb with this team, and will be gone. If he picks it up, given his skillset, Hawks might add another top six winger into the mix. But he has no choice but to adapt, or he's gone. While Strome has been quiet of late, he does put up goals and assists quietly, when all is said and done. It's like he is the opposite of Hagel, who does everything possible on the ice, but does not get on the score sheet very often

Dach should not come back this year. Let the wrist fully heal. He was not good on faceoffs to begin with, the wrist can only hinder him more. Nylander will probably be signed in the offseason, to a cheap one year deal. Given the work ethic and compete level that the Hawks have established this year, simply put, it will be make or break year for him next year. If he continues playing like he has, he will stick out like a sore thumb with this team, and will be gone. If he picks it up, given his skillset, Hawks might add another top six winger into the mix. But he has no choice but to adapt, or he's gone. While Strome has been quiet of late, he does put up goals and assists quietly, when all is said and done. It's like he is the opposite of Hagel, who does everything possible on the ice, but does not get on the score sheet very often
- chuckdahammer

Imagine if Strome approached the game with the same energy and work ethic as Hagel?

Hmm, I believe you were the same guy about 6 weeks ago that would have been willing to pay Strome $5M per based on all of the points he amasses and ignore all of the things you are seeing now.

On a talent weak Coyotes team a couple of years ago, Rick Tocchet quickly ran this 3rd overall pick down to their AHL team in Tucson and then they traded him, likely on the Tocchet's internal assertion that he couldn't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. So Bowman decided to take a chance because Q had no use for Nick Schmalz.

His former linemate ADB has put the work in to become a better player and it shows, Strome apparently did not. Best you can hope for now is that Seattle grabs him in the expansion draft.
- RickJ

You are correct, i still haven't given up on him yet. Does he look disinterested defensively absolutely. Do i hope he commits himself to playing better defense, absolutely. For $3 million he looks a hell of a lot better player than $5 mil, right again.

You're wrong though, the best i can hope for is he eventually becomes a solid contributor, better defensively on this Blackhawks team. I'm hoping the coaching staff can get through to him.

Imagine if Strome approached the game with the same energy and work ethic as Hagel?
- paulr

Strome prefers to make video clips of him and his girlfriend playing with their dog. Thats why he was useless in the Edmonton bubble - he was homesick for the dog.

Strome prefers to make video clips of him and his girlfriend playing with their dog. Thats why he was useless in the Edmonton bubble - he was homesick for the dog.
- RickJ

Well hopefully the child their expecting make him more mature and responsible, like it did to me.

Since you enjoyed throwing that in my face, how about the uber talented Dubois, your boy, he's lighting it up isn't he. Talk about growing up