Theo Fox: Game 55: Hawks 4, Stars 2 A recap of the Blackhawks victory over the Stars fueled by Entwistle's 1st career goal, DeBrincat's pair, and Lankinen's 37 saves.

Plus, a recap of the IceHogs shutout loss to the new bitter rivals from Iowa as both teams absolutely hate each other.

Maybe just maybe the first post person today is missing an NHL team In Quebec City

Needs something else to do. Certainly if they had a team again this person knows where to get the ice girls. Those were nice color Nordique uni's but the young ladies shall be scantily attired even if they show off the uniform colors and emblem.

Their faces have masks now but not the rest of them , eh. The Blackhawks' Icegirls used to headline the road watch games throughout Chicagoland. Maybe they will return next season.

Thank you Theo - I appreciate the work you are doing for us.

I have been thinking about this season, and with all the "kids" playing, and how many of them have gotten their first NHL goals this season. I think it proves that it is easier to score goals in this league than to stop goals. Should a team focus then on goalie out, or at least build a team with the best "true defensemen"? Is it easier to win when you focus on trying to prevent a goal, rather than trying to outgoal every team?

I think it is easier to be competitive if you focus on playing defense, but if you look at the last 10 Stanley Cup Champions, they all had plenty of offense, with most having one or multiple HOFers in the line-up.

At the end of the day, the goal (no pun intended), is to outscore your opponent, so yes it is easier to outscore if you only need 2 if you give up one, but to say I am going to have the 6 best defenseman in the league (which is an impossibility), and mediocre at best forwards, you probably won't make the playoffs either.

Thank you Theo - I appreciate the work you are doing for us.

I have been thinking about this season, and with all the "kids" playing, and how many of them have gotten their first NHL goals this season. I think it proves that it is easier to score goals in this league than to stop goals. Should a team focus then on goalie out, or at least build a team with the best "true defensemen"? Is it easier to win when you focus on trying to prevent a goal, rather than trying to outgoal every team?
- powerenforcer

I think that was the thought process in Nashville for a long time. Due to an internal budget, Trotz and Poille for years focused on high-end goaltending and solid defense and scored what they could out of their forwards.

History shows that while they could be competitive it didn't get them to the promised land.

Hopefully next year is a "normal" year, and the team has a full training camp. Looks like some great competition stacking up for roster spots. I just hope Rocky doesn't go Dolan (or McDonough), and say playoffs next year or bust.

I think it is easier to be competitive if you focus on playing defense, but if you look at the last 10 Stanley Cup Champions, they all had plenty of offense, with most having one or multiple HOFers in the line-up.

At the end of the day, the goal (no pun intended), is to outscore your opponent, so yes it is easier to outscore if you only need 2 if you give up one, but to say I am going to have the 6 best defenseman in the league (which is an impossibility), and mediocre at best forwards, you probably won't make the playoffs either.
- LAHawk

It's pretty well that way in most sports: Baseball "all hitting no pitching = last place." "All pitching no hitting (which your Dodgers often were in the 60's and 70's when they weren't winning titles) = .500 team." Have to have offense to be a winner. Same with football. We need 5 more ADB's.

Hopefully next year is a "normal" year, and the team has a full training camp. Looks like some great competition stacking up for roster spots. I just hope Rocky doesn't go Dolan (or McDonough), and say playoffs next year or bust.
- LAHawk

Hopefully it is a normal year. Things are looking up; there were 73,000 at a boxing match over the weekend.

I think it is easier to be competitive if you focus on playing defense, but if you look at the last 10 Stanley Cup Champions, they all had plenty of offense, with most having one or multiple HOFers in the line-up.

At the end of the day, the goal (no pun intended), is to outscore your opponent, so yes it is easier to outscore if you only need 2 if you give up one, but to say I am going to have the 6 best defenseman in the league (which is an impossibility), and mediocre at best forwards, you probably won't make the playoffs either.
- LAHawk

The make up of most winning teams is balance and depth. The Blackhawks cup teams were a perfect example. Solid defense. High end talent. Some scoring ability. Lots of role players providing depth. And the whole team willing to buy into a coaching philosophy and strategy.

I think it is easier to be competitive if you focus on playing defense, but if you look at the last 10 Stanley Cup Champions, they all had plenty of offense, with most having one or multiple HOFers in the line-up.

At the end of the day, the goal (no pun intended), is to outscore your opponent, so yes it is easier to outscore if you only need 2 if you give up one, but to say I am going to have the 6 best defenseman in the league (which is an impossibility), and mediocre at best forwards, you probably won't make the playoffs either.
- LAHawk

Darryl Sutter maintains the NHL is a 3-2 league.

I don't like the style his teams play but he has 2 Cups in the bank.

New York Rangers rookie Alexis Lafrenière is expected to decline Team Canada's invite to play at the IIHF World Championship, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports.

Brooks adds that Rangers defencemen and K’Andre Miller have already declined invites from the United States to play at the tournament in Latvia later this month.

I am sure most NHL players are going to decline after playing a game every 2 days this year, never mind travelling to Latvia to play.

New York Rangers rookie Alexis Lafrenière is expected to decline Team Canada's invite to play at the IIHF World Championship, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports.

Brooks adds that Rangers defencemen and K’Andre Miller have already declined invites from the United States to play at the tournament in Latvia later this month.

I am sure most NHL players are going to decline after playing a game every 2 days this year, never mind travelling to Latvia to play.
- LAHawk

During the U18 tournament the play by play guys were discussing this and suggested it could wind up being an AHL tournament or a junior tournament. Could we see 15 year old Connor Bedard or 16 year old Matvei Mitchkov play?

During the U18 tournament the play by play guys were discussing this and suggested it could wind up being an AHL tournament or a junior tournament. Could we see 15 year old Connor Bedard or 16 year old Matvei Mitchkov play?
- paulr

Well Lafreniere didn't play the worlds last year, citing injury concerns. Wonder if the Hawks will allow Dach to play. I would say no, rest the wrist.

Well Lafreniere didn't play the worlds last year, citing injury concerns. Wonder if the Hawks will allow Dach to play. I would say no, rest the wrist.
- LAHawk

If the wrist was giving him problems I’d agree. But if he’s healthy and wants to play let him play. Same goes for any other Hawk player who is asked to play for their country. Could ADB play there? I doubt Kane or Keith would be interested. If NHL players for the most part aren’t interested then the next talent pool may be very young junior/College players.

So, sarcastic comments aside, at what point is David Kampf expendable?

I would assume that the Hawks are moving on (or at least trying to) from Carpenter. Kampf has been a dependable (in that you know what you will get from him) player, but he obviously has limitations. I'd say if Toews comes back, they can/will move on. I don't think they want to leave all the heavy defensive lifting to Dach.

If Stan thinks Entwhistle is ready, Kampf is definitely expendible, but I can't see him getting much of a raise, and as a 12th, 13th forward at $1.25mil. would be fair.

Sorry JHawk, Barrett can't play, Hawks had too many AHL call-ups.

Sorry JHawk, Barrett can't play, Hawks had too many AHL call-ups.
- LAHawk

Collin Delia starts in goal tonight for the Blackhawks, as we knew yesterday.

Strome in for Gaudette. Rest of lineup the same.

Collin Delia starts in goal tonight for the Blackhawks, as we knew yesterday.

Strome in for Gaudette. Rest of lineup the same.
- Chunk

And the question is why? Doesn’t make any sense at this time, he’ll be gone by draft day.

Collin Delia starts in goal tonight for the Blackhawks, as we knew yesterday.

Strome in for Gaudette. Rest of lineup the same.
- Chunk

And the question is why? Doesn’t make any sense at this time, he’ll be gone by draft day.
- Angotti

It certainly does not seem that they have a ton of love for the kid. I still think it will come down to whether or not Toews comes back.

It certainly does not seem that they have a ton of love for the kid. I still think it will come down to whether or not Toews comes back.
- Chunk

I agree

Last two games Zadorov was not noticeable due to his lack of glaring mistakes. That's a good thing for a defenseman. Where has that type of play been for the majority of the season?

Z is arbitration eligible. If Stan offers him the QO of 3.2M and, as reported earlier, Z was asking for 4M, then asks for arbitration, the arbitrator usually splits the difference. So will Stan risk keeping him for a year at 3.6M. Stan can't walk away from the arbitrator's decision since the award is less than walk away amount of 4.5M. If he reverts back to his usual lackadaisical play, he'll be harder to move at the TDL.

IMO, it's time to just let him walk. Stan lost the Saad trade. Don't compound it by extending him, or "paying" Seattle to take him off the Hawks' hands.

It certainly does not seem that they have a ton of love for the kid. I still think it will come down to whether or not Toews comes back.
- Chunk

I think he’s gone, whether Toews comes back or not. I would think that there are other options for $3-$4M out there that will add more value to Hawks than Strome.

It certainly does not seem that they have a ton of love for the kid. I still think it will come down to whether or not Toews comes back.
- Chunk

Maybe it hinges on Toews, but not necessarily. Strome has some skills that others on the roster don't possess. That being said, I believe that the current thinking of JC is that he would rather ice guys who compete hard every shift even if they don't have the skills that Strome does. Push comes to shove, you are keeping a Kurashev, Suter, Hagel over Strome. Hinostroza has been playing hard since his return, and makes 1/3 of the salary, but if it were to come down to those 2 for a roster spot, it goes to Strome. Bottom line, as others upthread have said, no matter how good you may be defensively or in goal, you still need to score, and one thing Strome has been able to do is put points on the board.

I think it may also hinge a bit on Nylander. Nylander compete wise is similar to Strome, but bottom line has more skill, and at a lower cap hit. If you are making a choice between those two, then Strome is gone and Nylander stays.

Last two games Zadorov was not noticeable due to his lack of glaring mistakes. That's a good thing for a defenseman. Where has that type of play been for the majority of the season?

Z is arbitration eligible. If Stan offers him the QO of 3.2M and, as reported earlier, Z was asking for 4M, then asks for arbitration, the arbitrator usually splits the difference. So will Stan risk keeping him for a year at 3.6M. Stan can't walk away from the arbitrator's decision since the award is less than walk away amount of 4.5M. If he reverts back to his usual lackadaisical play, he'll be harder to move at the TDL.

IMO, it's time to just let him walk. Stan lost the Saad trade. Don't compound it by extending him, or "paying" Seattle to take him off the Hawks' hands.
- boilermaker100

I believe that we can get something half way decent for him, big defensemen are like lefty relief pitches in baseball, they’re always wanted.