Theo Fox: Devil's Playthings A brief look at the Blackhawks chance to rebound vs the Devils after losing the first game of the season vs the Avalanche.

Plus, thoughts on Kirby Dach, Alex DeBrincat, Andrew Shaw, Alec Regula, and the IceHogs season opener, final roster, and projected starting lineup.

No way!

Thanks for the write up Theo. Definitely looking for a better start from the Hawks tonite.

I missed the third the other night but checked out Landeskog's hit on Dach on YT. I know Johnson isn't the typical guy you'd expect to go after the POS but good on him for doing it.

Strome got results playing with Kane and Debrincat before. With how the Johnson experiment has gone in the preseason and the first game that is worth a shot.

Also Johnson should be centering or at least on the third line taking more of the dungeon assignments like he did for tampa.

Strome got results playing with Kane and Debrincat before. With how the Johnson experiment has gone in the preseason and the first game that is worth a shot.

Also Johnson should be centering or at least on the third line taking more of the dungeon assignments like he did for tampa.
- fattybeef

Not saying I like that line or disagree that Johnson should maybe be on the third line but where do you play Dach if you decide to play Strome on that line?

Not saying I like that line or disagree that Johnson should maybe be on the third line but where do you play Dach if you decide to play Strome on that line?
- HawkintheD

Johnson should play on the 4th line, I don’t see him in the top 9.

Johnson should play on the 4th line, I don’t see him in the top 9.
- DarthKane

I'd actually rather see that and have them sit Carpenter. Not sure Strome with Kane and Cat's a great idea though.

That line also has the potential to get hemmed in its own zone for long stretches.

THought the same thing HawksintheD

I would put Dach between Kane and DeBrincat and then move Johnson down to line 3....

I think somebody else posted it last thread, but what would a Shaw LTIR and STrome package get back for this team? Could they get a steady Eddie D man to allow a guy like Mitchell to get more minutes in the A?

The less they play DeHaan the better for everyone involved.

Not saying I like that line or disagree that Johnson should maybe be on the third line but where do you play Dach if you decide to play Strome on that line?
- HawkintheD

3C. Johnson plays wing somewhere in the Top 9, I guess. If Johnson goes to the 3rd line, either Hagel or Borgy go to the 4th, or the bench. So, Strome causes one of the other forwards to sit. Who? And does that trade-off make the team better?

Thank you, Theo.
There are a LOT of guys on the Rockford roster. If the coach does this right, he can instill a requirement of going full tilt boogie on each and every shift for the entire game. If a guy doesn't, coach can easily say "next" and he's got plenty of choices to bring in for the next game.
On the NHL team, my eye test saw Dach and Hagel being at or better than Colorado's speed the entire game. We're going to have to see more than just those two in order to be a winning team.

I'm more than ok with Fleury out tonight because:
He slots in versus Pittsburgh tomorrow, and;
I wouldn't be surprised he's still trying to catch his breath after Colorado!

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Kevin Lankinen is in the Blackhawks starter's crease in New Jersey.
8:30 AM · Oct 15, 2021·TweetDeck

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Kevin Lankinen is in the Blackhawks starter's crease in New Jersey.
8:30 AM · Oct 15, 2021·TweetDeck
- LAHawk

Gaudette in for Carpenter and Gus in for Mitchell.

3C. Johnson plays wing somewhere in the Top 9, I guess. If Johnson goes to the 3rd line, either Hagel or Borgy go to the 4th, or the bench. So, Strome causes one of the other forwards to sit. Who? And does that trade-off make the team better?
- mohel

I do NOT understand the desire to see Strome play....we know how this goes.....he gets benched or scratched....comes back into the lineup and makes a noticeable difference for a game or two and then reverts back to his normal game....and then ends back in the pressbox until the cycle repeats itself.

The idea of packaging him with LTIR Shaw is fantastic idea....kills 2 birds with 1 stonea and frees up more room.....Hawks then have flexibility add NOW or later on to address holes or pocket the space.

Is strome leaving here going to be a detriment? I don't believe so...I would rather see Borgstrom and/or Gaudette get chances then DS.

I'd actually rather see that and have them sit Carpenter. Not sure Strome with Kane and Cat's a great idea though.

That line also has the potential to get hemmed in its own zone for long stretches.
- HawkintheD

I don’t see much of a future in Chicago for Strome. Best case scenario for him would be 3C (moving Dach to 1C).

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Kevin Lankinen is in the Blackhawks starter's crease in New Jersey.
8:30 AM · Oct 15, 2021·TweetDeck
- LAHawk

Makes sense with Pittsburgh tomorrow night for Fleury to play against his old team.

Need a W tonight....1-1-1 trip to start wouldn't be awful. They can go at least 1-0-1 these next 2 days if we see MORE of the 2nd and 3rd period effort from Thursday than the 1st 10 minutes........

I don’t see much of a future in Chicago for Strome. Best case scenario for him would be 3C (moving Dach to 1C).
- DarthKane

I thought Toews was the team’s #3 center?

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Lankinen starting for Blackhawks. Gaudette in for Carpenter. Gustafsson in for Mitchell. Strome still scratched.
9:09 AM · Oct 15, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

So JC finallly is putting in future Hockey Buzz board HOF Adam Gaudette!!!

I do NOT understand the desire to see Strome play....we know how this goes.....he gets benched or scratched....comes back into the lineup and makes a noticeable difference for a game or two and then reverts back to his normal game....and then ends back in the pressbox until the cycle repeats itself.

The idea of packaging him with LTIR Shaw is fantastic idea....kills 2 birds with 1 stonea and frees up more room.....Hawks then have flexibility add NOW or later on to address holes or pocket the space.

Is strome leaving here going to be a detriment? I don't believe so...I would rather see Borgstrom and/or Gaudette get chances then DS.
- SteveRain

Me, either, unless it is a showcase.

I do NOT understand the desire to see Strome play....we know how this goes.....he gets benched or scratched....comes back into the lineup and makes a noticeable difference for a game or two and then reverts back to his normal game....and then ends back in the pressbox until the cycle repeats itself.

The idea of packaging him with LTIR Shaw is fantastic idea....kills 2 birds with 1 stonea and frees up more room.....Hawks then have flexibility add NOW or later on to address holes or pocket the space.

Is strome leaving here going to be a detriment? I don't believe so...I would rather see Borgstrom and/or Gaudette get chances then DS.
- SteveRain

Hey Steve! Gotta agree. Though help me out as I'm Cap stupid. Does trading Shaw's contract help a team who is close to the Cap, then exceed it by Shaw's money if they were to acquire another player?

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Lankinen starting for Blackhawks. Gaudette in for Carpenter. Gustafsson in for Mitchell. Strome still scratched.
9:09 AM · Oct 15, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

So JC finallly is putting in future Hockey Buzz board HOF Adam Gaudette!!!
- LAHawk

Not to worry, he could be the new whipping boy by 6:15, central time.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Lankinen starting for Blackhawks. Gaudette in for Carpenter. Gustafsson in for Mitchell. Strome still scratched.
9:09 AM · Oct 15, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

So JC finallly is putting in future Hockey Buzz board HOF Adam Gaudette!!!
- LAHawk

Gaudette cut you off in traffic or something LA?

Hey Steve! Gotta agree. Though help me out as I'm Cap stupid. Does trading Shaw's contract help a team who is close to the Cap, then exceed it by Shaw's money if they were to acquire another player?
- HawkintheD

Great question...I am no cap wizard either. I think it can help a team get closer to the ceiling or use the money on LTIR if they have another coming off....I think the advantage for the hawks would free up those dollars to make a sizeable in season move IF they need it vs if they keep SHaw those dollars aren't available.

Not to worry, he could be the new whipping boy by 6:15, central time.
- mohel

That long?

I thought Toews was the team’s #3 center?
- paulr

He’s been demoted to the 14th forward, try to keep up.

I do NOT understand the desire to see Strome play....we know how this goes.....he gets benched or scratched....comes back into the lineup and makes a noticeable difference for a game or two and then reverts back to his normal game....and then ends back in the pressbox until the cycle repeats itself.

The idea of packaging him with LTIR Shaw is fantastic idea....kills 2 birds with 1 stonea and frees up more room.....Hawks then have flexibility add NOW or later on to address holes or pocket the space.

Is strome leaving here going to be a detriment? I don't believe so...I would rather see Borgstrom and/or Gaudette get chances then DS.
- SteveRain

Yet somehow he puts points up. I can't explain it. If he was to play it better be with speed that can cover for his defensive deficiencies. My problem with that is I want the speed attacking, not helping defend.

Gaudette cut you off in traffic or something LA?
- HawkintheD

Gave him a two-handed slash to the new Achilles. I don't blame LA for the angst.