Theo Fox: Game 51: Hawks 4, Cats 5 A recap of the Blackhawks loss to the Panthers despite staging a 2nd half comeback.

Plus, a recap of the IceHogs 3-2 victory over the Griffins.

When you talk about weak clearing attempts, does any of that have to dmen playing their off side? Also, I noticed Mitchell often ended up following his player to Lankinen's left. As one of 2 right-handed dmen, it would seem to make sense that he and Murphy could/should almost always be on their strong side. However, in the man and a half system, they follow their man, and it gets them out of position. Is this a system issue, or experience issue? I ask because I really didn't notice it with Murphy.


Oh yeah....first.

It's the little things, the 1st goal Vinny not aware enough to see Kalynuk lost his position defending Duclair let's him skate to the middle of the ice instead of taking the lane away and more concerned about the pass to the blue line is why he didn't play for Q.

And that 4th goal against, poor Z he really has no clue

Another competitive game but fell short. Same old story of physical and mental mistakes leading to opposition goals.

Not to single out Z, but did you see him on the Duclair goal early in the 3rd?
He's playing left defense, but drifts over to the right at the blue line (where there were already a couple of Hawks) to contest a Panther player. Puck goes over to the offensive right side where Duclair is wide open due to the vacant area caused by Z. Then Z falls down trying to regain position.

Previous game after a defensive zone draw, Zadorov wanders up to the blue line leaving Stillman as the lone defenseman around the net. Puck goes down low and Stillman can't cover two Panthers players by himself leading to a goal.

I can't believe Colliton gives Zadorov carte blanche to roam around the defensive zone. I doubt if it the system. It's time to end the Zadorov career in Chicago.

Hawks were dominated last night, stats showed it, eye test certainly showed it.

But: none of the Panther goals were scored by domination - all of them were off of rushes due to Blackhawk breakdowns - missed checks, opponents left open, bad clearing passes, losing focus at the end of a period.

It’s a strange defense - so often dominated, but often surviving the domination, only to give up bad goals off of the rush on breakdowns. I don’t know what it says about the defense, player skills, coaching competence.

Of course, they need to end the domination - so much of it is due to inability to clear the puck and transition, so much is due to opponents being quicker to the puck AND winning puck battles - it is a major factor in the offensive deficiencies of this team.

Maybe next season….

Gusev is not a bad looking player for someone who was available for free not too long ago. He is an upcoming UFA. I wonder how he would look with Kane?

Gusev is 28, I think that is a bit old for Bowman to target. Hawks have a quantity of forwards now, I don’t think Gusev would be other than a short term solution.

I thought Sharp did a decent job as analyst along side Foley last night on the Hawks broadcast.

With NBC not in on the future NHL contracts, I'm sure he can land a national gig with ESPN or Turner as a studio analyst or color man on some broadcasts.

Looks like they had a few fans last night.

Looks like they had a few fans last night.
- TJYTJY

Read where it was open to special guests and team family members.

Hopefully Forsling's play last night helps to remind Bowman about not making Forsling/DeHaan type trades during a rebuild.

Hopefully Forsling's play last night helps to remind Bowman about not making Forsling/DeHaan type trades during a rebuild.
- 67hawks

I recall people here calling for Forsling to be jettisoned ASAP. Carolina didn’t think too much of Forsling either. I’m happy for the guy, but there were no signs that he’d be a guaranteed NHL defenseman, which the Hawks needed.

He was a nothing guy with some offensive potential when he was with the Hawks. No one cared when he was moved and he is still not anything substantial.

I thought Sharp did a decent job as analyst along side Foley last night on the Hawks broadcast.

With NBC not in on the future NHL contracts, I'm sure he can land a national gig with ESPN or Turner as a studio analyst or color man on some broadcasts.
- boilermaker100

Sharpie is great. Hope to hear him more often.

I recall people here calling for Forsling to be jettisoned ASAP. Carolina didn’t think too much of Forsling either. I’m happy for the guy, but there were no signs that he’d be a guaranteed NHL defenseman, which the Hawks needed.
- DarthKane

Stop already! Admit it was a Bowman fail and get on with your day.

Stop already! Admit it was a Bowman fail and get on with your day.
- paulr

My bad... I’ll take my self-imposed time out now.

via GIPHY

Well looks like full on tank is were we should be now .Good season some pleasant surprises Hagel Lankinen Kalynuck I think Gaudette could be a nice player if given a chance
Maybe the HAWKS get lucky again this year in the draft and move up get a shot at Powers or Clark .Chayka Bolduc Lucius are a coule players on the radar for me . Slow and steady is the way a couple more years of building blocks in place .
I thought Sharpie did a great job last night his future is bright .

Oversight on your behalf
What record does Florida have since Ekblad went out injured? Forsling has been on top pair. He makes plays, plas pretty solid. No he is not going to dump players on their rear end. But he mirrors what dmen trending are these days. Quick, can react and make plays at speed. Good enough skater, good shot. Of course teams need some meaness and bulk on defense but those type need to be able to play solid defense, make a good first pass out of their end. So theoretically you could try three or four new age age dmen, or three plus with the silk/skating, one sort of hybrid and a couple tough hombres to round out the defense

Phillips, Regula possibly Moberg might fill the void on the toughness part. Plus they have some skating and offensive ability as a bonus. Which is why Beaudin has to become very good at interference using body to break up plays without actually being a physical type hard check dman. If Beaudin is to ascend, that is.

Forsling wasn't good enough while here. It is tricky and hard to decipher when and if prospects will develop into useful, even pretty good dmen like Forsling has.

Some like to say 250 -300 gp. Some need years of repetitition when retrieving pucks and quickly moving puck on dump ins. In old NHL some dmen came up at age 28-30 and carved out a career.

Only a few top draft choice dmen break in soon and are a force. Most need to get stronger and need a couple years or more. I wonder how J Bean turns out? He has been trying to dislodge Gardiner and Bean even was AHL best dman award last season.

It takes time for dmen. When Forsling left, I had no clue if he could eventually "ripen." So you, myself and everyone else have to give Forsling credit for his improvement.

I wouldn't mind us drafting another dman. I also am.intrigued by Guhle and mentioned to Wiz how I would like to trade Besudin for him

Bergevin has liked Beaudin. Wiz cautioned, Guhle us farther behind in development. But I love that Guhle is tough and skates well. I see him go #15 and wonder how his overall game turns out.

Hopefully Forsling's play last night helps to remind Bowman about not making Forsling/DeHaan type trades during a rebuild.
- 67hawks

I get that he's put up some points against the Hawks this year, but everyone has done that. Forsling is almost exactly the same player he was on the Hawks. He's fine in the defensive zone as long as there is no pressure, and has good offensive instincts. He's like most of our current D prospects, only older.

He would not be playing regular minutes if Ekblad was healthy.

Well looks like full on tank is were we should be now .Good season some pleasant surprises Hagel Lankinen Kalynuck I think Gaudette could be a nice player if given a chance
Maybe the HAWKS get lucky again this year in the draft and move up get a shot at Powers or Clark .Chayka Bolduc Lucius are a coule players on the radar for me . Slow and steady is the way a couple more years of building blocks in place .
I thought Sharpie did a great job last night his future is bright .
- oldduffman

Gaudette has talent, he regressed this season in Vancouver but the season before he was a decent depth forward.

Gaudette has talent, he regressed this season in Vancouver but the season before he was a decent depth forward.
- DarthKane

I probably need a time out in the box of shame for this blasphemous suggestion I’m about to post:

Bowman has done a good job of finding talent in creative ways. Hagel and Kalynuk off the scrap heap. Trading a guy with little future in Chicago for a guy with far more upside because Vancouver panicked. Finding talent in Europe in guys like Kubalik and Suter.

Oversight on your behalf
What record does Flotida have since Ekblad went out injured? Forsling has been on top pair. He makes plays, plas pretty solid. No he is not goingbyo dumo.playets on theirvrrar end. But he rrorrentered what neecsgevtrending NHL dmen are these days. Quick, can react and make plays at speed. Good enough skater, good shot. Of course teams need some meaness and bulk on defense but those type need to be able to play solid defense, make a good first pass out of their end. So theoretically you could try three or four new agevtyoe dmen, or three plus one sort of hybrid and a couple tough hobbies to round out the defense

Phillips, Regula possibly Moberg might fill the void on the toughness part. Plus they have some sjating and offensive ability as a bonus. Which is why Beaudin has to become very good at interference using body to break up plays without actually being a physical type hard check dman. If Beaudin is to ascend, that is.

Forsling wasn't good enough while here. It is tricky and hard to decipher when and if prospects will develop into useful, even pretty good dmen like Forsling has.

Some like to say 250 -300 gp. Some need years of repetitition when retrieving pucks and quickly moving puck on dump ins. In.old NHL some dmen came up at age 28-30 and carved out a career.

Only a few top draft choice dmen break in soon and are a force. Most need to get stronger and need a couple years or more. I wonder how J Bean turns out? He has been trying to dislodge Gardiner and Bean even was AHL best dman award last season.

It takes time for dmen. When Forsling left, I had no clue if he could eventually "ripen." So you, myself and everyone else have to give Forsling credit for his improvement.

I wouldn't mind us drafting another dman. I also am.intrigued by Guhle and mentioned to Wiz how I would like to trade Besudin for him

Bergevin has liked Beaudin. Wiz cautioned, Guhle us farther behind in development. But I love that Guhle is tough and skates well. I see him go #15 and wonder how his overall game turns out.
- jhawk59

Forsling didn’t replace Ekblad, they went out and got Montour to replace Ekblad.

I probably need a time out in the box of shame for this blasphemous suggestion I’m about to post:

Bowman has done a good job of finding talent in creative ways. Hagel and Kalynuk off the scrap heap. Trading a guy with little future in Chicago for a guy with far more upside because Vancouver panicked. Finding talent in Europe in guys like Kubalik and Suter.
- paulr

Forsling a 5th round draft choice was traded to Chicago for Adam Clendening, it is not like he was a Hawk draft choice.

Forsling didn’t replace Ekblad, they went out and got Montour to replace Ekblad.
- LAHawk

Forsling must have been maybe still does play sometimes top pair, according to Carolina buzz writer.