Theo Fox: Course Correction A look at whether the Blackhawks offseason and current roster composition point towards trying to buy a championship or whether building a home-grown contender is still the correct course.

Hi Theo - thanks for the breakdown. I guess that is the price you pay when you have successful seasons. Drafting late in the rounds will force you to pick guys that may take longer to develop. Some "luck" is also involved in the draft positioning

Theo Fox: Course Correction
A look at whether the Blackhawks offseason and current roster composition point towards trying to buy a championship or whether building a home-grown contender is still the correct course.
- Theo Fox

I believe with the hard cap era where you can poach cap strapped teams, and having a healthy relationship with rookie free agents, is a real option to build a Stanley Cup contending team.

I see you've lollygagged your way through another write up with more lazy blogging Theo...BOO!!!

Good stuff as always! I'm excited for the season to start and hopefully see some of the offseason moves pay dividends.

Also excited to see Hagel's progression and more importantly what Kirby can do with hopefully his most normal season with the team.

Obviously Covid is still around but in Dach's case, I don't think he's even been able to participate in a Hawk training camp or start the season due to injury, so hoping for that at least.

I think it was from the NHL site Theo posted that predicted him with like 70 pts but I think 50 would be a good season for him in a 2C role. Also hoping for some improvement at the dot.

If he and Toews can both start the season I think that also will help improve the overall team D.

I saw in the Daily Herald today that 30% of Covid patients at Elmhurst Hospital were vaccinated. I thought St. Fauci said that getting the vaccine would give you a 95% chance of avoiding serious disease. Oh, well, yet another "mistake". I hope Bettman has a plan for last year's division lineup.

On the NHL rules to enter the stadium.... Is there an exception for those with natural immunity from having survived The Vid?

I saw in the Daily Herald today that 30% of Covid patients at Elmhurst Hospital were vaccinated. I thought St. Fauci said that getting the vaccine would give you a 95% chance of avoiding serious disease. Oh, well, yet another "mistake". I hope Bettman has a plan for last year's division lineup.

On the NHL rules to enter the stadium.... Is there an exception for those with natural immunity from having survived The Vid?
- mohel

I do not trust any numbers/percentages/reports that the media reports. I saw Ginger Zee blame the flooding in the NE from climate change. How do these people lie to the general public?

I saw in the Daily Herald today that 30% of Covid patients at Elmhurst Hospital were vaccinated. I thought St. Fauci said that getting the vaccine would give you a 95% chance of avoiding serious disease. Oh, well, yet another "mistake". I hope Bettman has a plan for last year's division lineup.

On the NHL rules to enter the stadium.... Is there an exception for those with natural immunity from having survived The Vid?
- mohel

I will repost from my response in the last blog:

From a NYT article on August 10, 2021:

Fully vaccinated people have made up as few as 0.1 percent of and as many as 5 percent of those hospitalized with the virus in those states, and as few as 0.2 percent and as many as 6 percent of those who have died.


Seems to bear out Fauci's numbers.

Your last sentence: they can show proof of a negative test within 3 days of the event.

From a NYT article on August 10, 2021:

Fully vaccinated people have made up as few as 0.1 percent of and as many as 5 percent of those hospitalized with the virus in those states, and as few as 0.2 percent and as many as 6 percent of those who have died.


Seems to bear out Fauci's numbers.

St. Louis Braves Fan

It appears that vaccinations are only good for a period of time.

https://www.usnews.com/ne...ael-approach-january-peak

I do not trust any numbers/percentages/reports that the media reports. I saw Ginger Zee blame the flooding in the NE from climate change. How do these people lie to the general public?
- powerenforcer

Scientific evidence (the kind you have absolutely no clue about) shows that climate change is responsible for more storms, and more intense storms - they have higher wind levels, higher rain counts.

It's also a major factor in the fires in the west - higher temperatures, less rain (unlike in the south and northeast), more wind, more fire spread.

Mods, it's your job to keep posters like this from spreading lies on the boards you control (although I wouldn't be surprised to see them suspend me again).

I will repost from my response in the last blog:

From a NYT article on August 10, 2021:

Fully vaccinated people have made up as few as 0.1 percent of and as many as 5 percent of those hospitalized with the virus in those states, and as few as 0.2 percent and as many as 6 percent of those who have died.


Seems to bear out Fauci's numbers.

Your last sentence: they can show proof of a negative test within 3 days of the event.
- StLBravesFan

Why would they need to? Do the vaccinated need to? Why wouldn't the same rules apply to both?

On the article...30% of Elmhurst Hospital covid patients were vaccinated. Serious statistical anomaly.

From a NYT article on August 10, 2021:

Fully vaccinated people have made up as few as 0.1 percent of and as many as 5 percent of those hospitalized with the virus in those states, and as few as 0.2 percent and as many as 6 percent of those who have died.


Seems to bear out Fauci's numbers.

St. Louis Braves Fan

It appears that vaccinations are only good for a period of time.

https://www.usnews.com/ne...ael-approach-january-peak
- LAHawk

Which is why, unfortunately, they're looking to boosters.

Vaccines aren't perfect - "breakthrough" infections will occur (but at a much lower rate that infections in the unvaccinated), "breakthrough" hospitalizations will occur (but again, at a dramatically lower rate than in the unvaccinated).

And however short-term the vaccination effects might be (and the beset evidence shows that the effectiveness drops off after 6-8 months, but is still relatively high after that), it's still better than getting the infection without vaccination.

And to Mo's question about those having had the infection: the best evidence shows that immunity provided by the illness PLUS vaccination is dramatically better that from the illness alone.

Of course, you do have to trust the studies to believe all of this. Or you could believe diSantis, Abbott, Paul, and those pushing Ivermectin - a d-wormer - as a cure. Your choice.

EDIT TO ADD (from that article you quoted):

More than 5.9 million of Israel's 9.3 million people have received at least a single dose of vaccine, and the government's data show the shots help people avoid severe illness. A disproportionate number of people hospitalized in serious condition are unvaccinated. And morbidity remains lower than at Israel's peak.

Why would they need to? Do the vaccinated need to? Why wouldn't the same rules apply to both?

On the article...30% of Elmhurst Hospital covid patients were vaccinated. Serious statistical anomaly.
- mohel

"Anomaly" being the operative word.

One hospital out of how many in the region / state / country?

pops in for some morning hockey talk and gets..................not hockey talk.

I saw in the Daily Herald today that 30% of Covid patients at Elmhurst Hospital were vaccinated. I thought St. Fauci said that getting the vaccine would give you a 95% chance of avoiding serious disease. Oh, well, yet another "mistake". I hope Bettman has a plan for last year's division lineup.
- mohel

Are they smokers? Have lung / immune issues?

The first consideration is how close you were to the infected person who was shedding virus. Second is how much virus that person was putting out, as some people spread a lot more virus than others. Third is what the ventilation was like — if you were exposed in a poorly ventilated room, there’s a greater chance the virus could have gotten into your cells. The host, or how your body handles the virus, also plays a role.

Why would they need to? Do the vaccinated need to? Why wouldn't the same rules apply to both?

On the article...30% of Elmhurst Hospital covid patients were vaccinated. Serious statistical anomaly.
- mohel

And you have a point on whether people who have had the infection should be treated the same as vaccinated: I understand the point, and I'm not sure I would disagree with it, even tho evidence shows that they should also receive vaccinations.

pops in for some morning hockey talk and gets..................not hockey talk.
- SaskHawkFan

Then talk some (frank)ing hockey - light a candle, stop cursing the darkness.

Given the 'Hawks we're drafting late in rounds for many years, I agree that drafting and acquiring is the way to go to step towards Cup competitiveness.

Given the 'Hawks we're drafting late in rounds for many years, I agree that drafting and acquiring is the way to go to step towards Cup competitiveness.
- 35Tony0

I just learned that a late 1st round pick is actually a 3rd round pick. Honestly there is a lot of luck in drafting. So many things have to go right. You look at Dach's class no one has really stood out yet.

"Anomaly" being the operative word.

One hospital out of how many in the region / state / country?
- StLBravesFan

Sage, let it go. You aren't going to change their minds.

The good news is Ogi might be right, chicagoland area is seeing the numbers leveling out, but they need a week or two to confirm

I just learned that a late 1st round pick is actually a 3rd round pick. Honestly there is a lot of luck in drafting. So many things have to go right. You look at Dach's class no one has really stood out yet.
- BetweenTheDots

The 'Hawks had a pretty sound foundation, then they drafted Toews and Kane. Then they brought in Hossa.
It's likely going to be a similar combination of drafting and otherwise acquiring talent to get them to the top of the heap.
Meanwhile, I guesstimate they will be vastly improved on the defensive end this year.

Are they smokers? Have lung / immune issues?

The first consideration is how close you were to the infected person who was shedding virus. Second is how much virus that person was putting out, as some people spread a lot more virus than others. Third is what the ventilation was like — if you were exposed in a poorly ventilated room, there’s a greater chance the virus could have gotten into your cells. The host, or how your body handles the virus, also plays a role.
- wiz1901

A high percentage of those who have died with Covid have had several comorbidities. Perhaps the NHL should require proof of lack of comorbidities prior to entry. You could just give the team access to your Mychart the day before the game. You know, out of an abundance of caution....

Then talk some (frank)ing hockey - light a candle, stop cursing the darkness.
- StLBravesFan

Amen. Well said.

pops in for some morning hockey talk and gets..................not hockey talk.
- SaskHawkFan

Is it our duty to provide you a certain amount of hockey talk?

Back to hockey. Flyers Joe Farabaee, has been extended, signed for 6 years at 5M AAV, beginning next year after his ELC expires. 107 NHL games played in his first two years with 28 goals and 31 helpers. They must expect big things from him.

Reminds me of the Debrincat situation when he signed his 6.4M extension with one year left on his ELC. He had better numbers after his 2 seasons warranting the 6.4M.

Wonder how this would affect Kubalik's ask.