Theo Fox: Game 34 vs Panthers
A preview to the Blackhawks hunt for another win versus the Panthers tonight and attempt to pad their playoff positioning.

Plus, a look at Chicago's contract limit and who should be considered for available spots.

Theo Fox: Game 34 vs Panthers
A preview to the Blackhawks hunt for another win versus the Panthers tonight and attempt to pad their playoff positioning.

Plus, a look at Chicago's contract limit and who should be considered for available spots.
- Theo Fox

Forsling didn't last in Chicago. How ironic a coach with a short leash for playing youngsters - Queeneville - has the ex Blackhawk. By design or not, Forsling is now one of coach Q's better dmen

Just what is his ceiling....second pair/better. It is early to say but looks like Forsling got away, Stan

You have lots of dmen prospects now Stan. You should have an offensive dman for third pair. Probably a dman with muscle and some meanness too to compliment the lighht weight offensive type on our blueline. Vlasic could be the one but surely needs one year AHL.

Mitchell works out. Kaiser comes along like we expect Mitchell to. Play Kalynuk and Carlsson for cripes sake - they have elements in their game to fit in.

Personally believe Zadorov is here to keep teams from often running Boqvist and Mitchell. How long Zadorov is here might be tied to how much he gets next contract.....I expect he is here for at least 1-2 years then let us see if we should keep him or maybe Vlasic even Phillips challenges..

Not sure what is going in with Keith but expect him to retire a Blackhawk or finish with Q. Murphy is gone as soon as another kid turns a corner- could be Mitchell

I'm going to say it again because it irks me and I believe we need to determine, play Kalynuk and Carlsson to see if they are keepers. A bit disappointed with Beaudin but he is young and gladly give him another year

Let's just not give away another Forsling

Forsling didn't last in Chicago. How ironic a coach with a short leash for playing youngsters - Queeneville - has the ex Blackhawk. By design or not, Forsling is now one of coach Q's better dmen

Just what is his ceiling....second pair/better. It is early to say but looks like Forsling got away, Stan

You have lots of dmen prospects now Stan. You should have an offensive dman for third pair. Probably a dman with muscle and some meanness too to compliment the lighht weight offensive type on our blueline. Vlasic could be the one but surely needs one year AHL.

Mitchell works out. Kaiser comes along like we expect Mitchell to. Play Kalynuk and Carlsson for cripes sake - they have elements in their game to fit in.

Personally believe Zadorov is here to keep teams from often running Boqvist and Mitchell. How long Zadorov is here might be tied to how much he gets next contract.....I expect he is here for at least 1-2 years then let us see if we should keep him or maybe Vlasic even Phillips challenges..

Not sure what is going in with Keith but expect him to retire a Blackhawk or finish with Q. Murphy is gone as soon as another kid turns a corner- could be Mitchell

I'm going to say it again because it irks me and I believe we need to determine, play Kalynuk and Carlsson to see if they are keepers. A bit disappointed with Beaudin but he is young and gladly give him another year

Let's just not give away another Forsling
- jhawk59

Technically they didn't give him away. They traded him and Forsberg to CAR for deHaan in what was considered a good trade at the time.

If deHaan hadn't gotten injured again and was less broken down, it would still likely be considered a great trade.

Like someone said in the other blog, the talent was there, it just took Gus time to harness it and figure out the defensive side of things.

Depending on how many of the dmen Stan drafted figure it out and become NHL'ers, it wouldn't be a shocker if Stan had to make a decision of who to keep and the guy they trade goes on to succeed elsewhere. Mostly cause, you know...Blowman...but also cause they can only play 6-8 dmen depending on whether they're playing Colliton's or Darth's system.

Technically they didn't give him away. They traded him and Forsberg to CAR for deHaan in what was considered a good trade at the time.

If deHaan hadn't gotten injured again and was less broken down, it would still likely be considered a great trade.

Like someone said in the other blog, the talent was there, it just took Gus time to harness it and figure out the defensive side of things.

Depending on how many of the dmen Stan drafted figure it out and become NHL'ers, it wouldn't be a shocker if Stan had to make a decision of who to keep and the guy they trade goes on to succeed elsewhere. Mostly cause, you know...Blowman...but also cause they can only play 6-8 dmen depending on whether they're playing Colliton's or Darth's system.
- HawkintheD

Sometimes a GM cannot wait and keep waiting for a player to develop. DeHahn was a solid dman but had shoulder problems. DeHahn was a gamble to hope his repaired shoulder would hold up for a couple years. Hopefully some prospects would develop within the time span of DeHans contract. The contract has one year remaining.

Forsling sank so low on Carolina’s depth chart last year, he played all year in Europe. The Panthers new GM was looking for anybody to upgrade the Panthers blue line. He plucked Forsling from the garbage bin, good on Forsling for turning around his career.

BTW, Forsling was NOT a Hawks draft pick, he was acquired from Vancouver for Luke Clendening. So in essence Luke Clendening got you Calvin Da Haan.

Forsling is a great example of how difficult it is to assess and develop young dmen and how long it could take for them to figure it out. He is 24 now and has played 141 games in the NHL. He bounced between Rockford and the Hawks for 3 years. Played all of last year with the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL. And now is getting regular shifts on a good Panther team. But it is important to note that he only has dressed for 19 of the Panthers 32 games this year (60%). He only has 2 goals and 3 assists in those 19 games.

My take is that he should have spent more time with the Hogs, but our AHL coaching and development was so weak it was a waste of time. Bouncing back and forth was probably not good either. At 23 he was physically ready and the full year in Charlotte with some good coaching and a pretty good team served him well.

Forsling didn't last in Chicago. How ironic a coach with a short leash for playing youngsters - Queeneville - has the ex Blackhawk. By design or not, Forsling is now one of coach Q's better dmen

Just what is his ceiling....second pair/better. It is early to say but looks like Forsling got away, Stan

You have lots of dmen prospects now Stan. You should have an offensive dman for third pair. Probably a dman with muscle and some meanness too to compliment the lighht weight offensive type on our blueline. Vlasic could be the one but surely needs one year AHL.

Mitchell works out. Kaiser comes along like we expect Mitchell to. Play Kalynuk and Carlsson for cripes sake - they have elements in their game to fit in.

Personally believe Zadorov is here to keep teams from often running Boqvist and Mitchell. How long Zadorov is here might be tied to how much he gets next contract.....I expect he is here for at least 1-2 years then let us see if we should keep him or maybe Vlasic even Phillips challenges..

Not sure what is going in with Keith but expect him to retire a Blackhawk or finish with Q. Murphy is gone as soon as another kid turns a corner- could be Mitchell

I'm going to say it again because it irks me and I believe we need to determine, play Kalynuk and Carlsson to see if they are keepers. A bit disappointed with Beaudin but he is young and gladly give him another year

Let's just not give away another Forsling
- jhawk59

Let's just continue to push that false narrative. Q never had a problem playing youngsters, and the "short leash" is also a fallacy. The Hawks during Q's tenure were a different team with different expectations. You were held to a higher level of play because the expectations of success were higher. Plenty of rookies played significant roles.

Forsling is also not necessarily a "kid" anymore. This is his 5th year as a Pro. He has been given multiple chances and never really stuck. As someone else mentioned, he also has only played in about half of the FLA games. He's not a 2nd pairing guy, maybe he will be, probably not, and he's not exactly lighting up the league currently. He most definitely does not seem to be better than the younger D the Hawks currently have in house, and realistically has a lower ceiling than all of them.

He wasn't "given away", but I guess that doesn't fit the Stan sucks narrative.

Let's just continue to push that false narrative. Q never had a problem playing youngsters, and the "short leash" is also a fallacy. The Hawks during Q's tenure were a different team with different expectations. You were held to a higher level of play because the expectations of success were higher. Plenty of rookies played significant roles.

Forsling is also not necessarily a "kid" anymore. This is his 5th year as a Pro. He has been given multiple chances and never really stuck. As someone else mentioned, he also has only played in about half of the FLA games. He's not a 2nd pairing guy, maybe he will be, probably not, and he's not exactly lighting up the league currently. He most definitely does not seem to be better than the younger D the Hawks currently have in house, and realistically has a lower ceiling than all of them.

He wasn't "given away", but I guess that doesn't fit the Stan sucks narrative.
- TheTrob

It’s common knowledge that Q hated young players, except for Toews, Kane, Byfuglien, Niemi, Shaw and a dozen or so more I can’t recall at the moment.

Forsling sank so low on Carolina’s depth chart last year, he played all year in Europe. The Panthers new GM was looking for anybody to upgrade the Panthers blue line. He plucked Forsling from the garbage bin, good on Forsling for turning around his career.

BTW, Forsling was NOT a Hawks draft pick, he was acquired from Vancouver for Luke Clendening. So in essence Luke Clendening got you Calvin Da Haan.
- LAHawk

I find it interesting that Forsling played for coach Q and Ulf prior to the year they got fired, then they bring him to Florida, Q's system isn't easy to learn but if/once you do it can be pretty effective. Considering Carolina and JC play the same kind of chase the puck around the ice defense those teams saw him as expendable.

It’s common knowledge that Q hated young players, except for Toews, Kane, Byfuglien, Niemi, Shaw and a dozen or so more I can’t recall at the moment.
- paulr

Bolland, Brouwer, Bickell, Hjarlmarsson, Kruger, Saad, Teuvo..........

Now, lets look at all the guys who Stan traded away and how many of them turned into stars........Panarin and Byfuglien. Teuvo and Danault are nice players, but not stars, Johns may have been something if not derailed by injuries, the rest are meh.

There are definitely trades that Stan has lost, but for the most part other than Panarin not a whole bunch of guys to be continually pining for.

I do agree, i don't know what's going on with deHaan? 1 play he does this ole thing where he's in position to block a shot, then he reaches with his stick and moves his body out of the line of fire.

Bolland, Brouwer, Bickell, Hjarlmarsson, Kruger, Saad, Teuvo..........

Now, lets look at all the guys who Stan traded away and how many of them turned into stars........Panarin and Byfuglien. Teuvo and Danault are nice players, but not stars, Johns may have been something if not derailed by injuries, the rest are meh.

There are definitely trades that Stan has lost, but for the most part other than Panarin not a whole bunch of guys to be continually pining for.
- TheTrob

Come on Trob, anyone with the power of hindsight knows that Stan lost the majority of trades, had minimal impact on any of the Cup runs, is horrible at drafting and essentially ruined the team.

Blowman!

Your point is duly noted..
It is also true that after the last Cup, a young player whom was lacking in a particular skill or willingnes to play the way Q wanted.......was not going to play much if at all.

Q played the younger guys through the Cup years because they were the best players he had. Many og the younger players began their NHL career with Q.

Upon closer examination the notion that Q did not wish to use younger players is not true. Coach Q had expectations and sometimes post the last Cup the younger player(s) were lacking.

One player whom was not well rounded enough was a Coach Q scratch . He wasn't t puck pursuant enough. Of course this player has not been able to barely hang on in the NHL. That would be Pirri. Just one example of Q not liking young players

https://twitter.com/CRoum.../1374782649517150209?s=01

Come on Trob, anyone with the power of hindsight knows that Stan lost the majority of trades, had minimal impact on any of the Cup runs, is horrible at drafting and essentially ruined the team.

Blowman!
- HawkintheD

https://twitter.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1374782649517150209?s=01
- BetweenTheDots

Lame stick checks by the D. He needs to take the body. He can't score if he's on his ass.

https://twitter.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1374782649517150209?s=01
- BetweenTheDots

But what if he gets hurt? He shouldn't even be skating!

But what if he gets hurt? He shouldn't even be skating!
- Chunk

If dach is cleared to play by the doctors and management feels he is ready and the wrist is back to 100% then play him. My only argument would put dach on wing for a few shifts then evaluate after that and things good to go put at center between kubalik and hagel and strome betweent dcat and kane imo.

Others have already mentioned, but I love to beat dead horses...

What is the love with Forsling? He's the same guy he was here. Decent defensively, an occasional good shot/offensive play, but gets manhandled by physical play (just like many other d-men). If he was playing on the Hawks, he would be summarily ridiculed as being too soft/just a guy/blah blah blah.

If dach is cleared to play by the doctors and management feels he is ready and the wrist is back to 100% then play him. My only argument would put dach on wing for a few shifts then evaluate after that and things good to go put at center between kubalik and hagel and strome betweent dcat and kane imo.
- Scott1977

I know. I don't use red font because I'm challenged.

I wouldn't even put your caveat on him. If he is cleared to play, put his lanky a$$ at center and let him go. He's instantly the best center on the team.

Bolland, Brouwer, Bickell, Hjarlmarsson, Kruger, Saad, Teuvo..........

Now, lets look at all the guys who Stan traded away and how many of them turned into stars........Panarin and Byfuglien. Teuvo and Danault are nice players, but not stars, Johns may have been something if not derailed by injuries, the rest are meh.

There are definitely trades that Stan has lost, but for the most part other than Panarin not a whole bunch of guys to be continually pining for.
- TheTrob

Please stick with the narrative. We don’t need facts, only opinion.

Others have already mentioned, but I love to beat dead horses...

What is the love with Forsling? He's the same guy he was here. Decent defensively, an occasional good shot/offensive play, but gets manhandled by physical play (just like many other d-men). If he was playing on the Hawks, he would be summarily ridiculed as being too soft/just a guy/blah blah blah.
- Chunk

Forsling is just a guy.

Forsling is The guy.
- mohel

FIFY.

Others have already mentioned, but I love to beat dead horses...

What is the love with Forsling? He's the same guy he was here. Decent defensively, an occasional good shot/offensive play, but gets manhandled by physical play (just like many other d-men). If he was playing on the Hawks, he would be summarily ridiculed as being too soft/just a guy/blah blah blah.
- Chunk

I was curious about his game overall. I recall his shying Way from physical play as the season went along. I heard parts of some games vs Florida, saw some scoring highlights on various sites where Forsling made some nice plays

The question naturally is, knowing he has ability, has he become stronger and does he still shy away from physical play

Thanks for your input

Forsling is like many, many offensive skll guys whom have to tackle the toughnes issue at professional level yet usually they have not developed a man's body.

Forsling and Jokiharju haven't shown they can handle or want to really deal with it as little as possible. Others will have their own battles. Maker has not been deterred yet. Will Byram handle it well if he doesn't get some protected minutes? Drysdale? How about Fox on NYR

I suspect both Boqvist and Mitchell will be able to deal with it. Boqvist has been better this season and Mitchell likely will go nuts dealing with it.....in time I.bet Mitchell is going to handle it just fine

Forsling is just a guy.
- mohel

I just said that!

70-75% of d-men in the league are "just a guy". That's not to say that they are bad, but they don't really move the needle. They are serviceable players that are needed to fill out a roster and compete. That is to say, relatively easy to replace. I don't get the stewing that happens whenever a former player has a modicum of success. It's going to happen. The Hawks have also brought on a number of players who would be viewed as the same from other teams.