Theo Fox: Island Hopping Summaries of the Blackhawks vs Rangers and IceHogs vs Griffins games.

Next, the Hawks hop from Manhattan Island to Long Island with a Sunday showdown against the Islanders.

First

Not a lot of depth all around--could be a long fix for that.

Thought overall they played pretty well last night especially considering McCabe and Murphy weren't playing.

Toews looked tired and they hadn't played in three days so I'm wondering what tonight will look like.

Dach shot the puck when he had good looks so that's a plus and he needs to continue that.

Still way too many guys are passing up shots to make the perfect pass.

Thanks Theo - It was a frustrating game to watch. When are the refs going to stop calling dives trips? Both Miller and Breadman did their best Greg Louganis to draw penalties. And Ryan Reaves is just plain bad. It's too bad the league has players like him due to the Wilsons and Marchants. Bettman has a real problem, this league is a joke.

Thanks Theo - It was a frustrating game to watch. When are the refs going to stop calling dives trips? Both Miller and Breadman did their best Greg Louganis to draw penalties. And Ryan Reaves is just plain bad. It's too bad the league has players like him due to the Wilsons and Marchants. Bettman has a real problem, this league is a joke.
- powerenforcer

Reaves isnt dirty like marchand or subban. He just hits when ever he can. Typically hes clean. The rangers 4th lines is a big reason for their success this year. You were also gifted two of the flukiest goals so be happy the hawks were even on the board.

Reaves isnt dirty like marchand or subban. He just hits when ever he can. Typically hes clean. The rangers 4th lines is a big reason for their success this year. You were also gifted two of the flukiest goals so be happy the hawks were even on the board.
- nyrangers2

So now I am in the record book for scoring 2 goals? Thanks.

Two cheap goals by the hawks neither one should have counted the officiating in the nhl is horrible. Made an easy win into a nail biter at the end!

Two cheap goals by the hawks neither one should have counted the officiating in the nhl is horrible. Made an easy win into a nail biter at the end!
- Bobd62

Initially, I was kind of surprised the second one counted but the first one? Looks more like your guys got caught napping watching Hagel make a nice pass.

For anyone who female doges about Chelsea Dagger as the Hawk goal song, maybe you'd prefer the Rangers.

edit - also your goalie had a bit of help from from the iron and is lucky our skaters couldn't score in a Cathouse with a shoebox full of $50's.

Without Tyle Johnson, and a right handed shot, Bhawks have no secondary closing. Toews is done...I noticed the last two minutes of third period with extra man, Toews lost two board battles and Edzo sighed......Its time to clean house...

Dach at best will be an average center....The kid is 20 yes...But he has no juice in his game...Average everything.....shots, hustle, board battle, face offs etc.....Should have saved draft choice and shipped him out to Columbus on a Jones trade...

An Old article Article about Kirby Dach after he was drafted.

However, Dach has a number of flaws to his game that have the potential to lead his career astray. For starters, Dach has been known for significant periods of inconsistency throughout his time in junior. The young centre may be priority viewing one night and invisible the next.

his skating. His ability on skates can be described as no better than average. Dach takes very powerful strides, contributing to his ability to overpower opponents, but like many larger players, speed is an issue. He is frequently unable to reach loose pucks before opposing defencemen, stifling open-ice scoring opportunities. Another common by-product of size is a lack of agility, likely preventing him from ever replicating the moves of a smaller player.

However, issues with size and speed can be overcome through hard work and a strong hockey sense. While Dach certainly goes the extra mile to improve his game, his hockey IQ is more questionable. Dach will make the correct play seven of ten times but can have lapses in judgement on the other three. These may take the form of an errant pass or poor positioning, or sometimes defensive miscues that can cost his team a goal.

Dach at best will be an average center....The kid is 20 yes...But he has no juice in his game...Average everything.....shots, hustle, board battle, face offs etc.....Should have saved draft choice and shipped him out to Columbus on a Jones trade...
- shidler

Yes...he's 20. Maybe we could close the book on him and label him average everything when he's 22 or 23.

Missed most of last season due to injury and in part because of the dumb rule about juniors, didn't spend any time in RFD.

Different players and Hagel's 23 but how many had him being an NHL regular. Even the prospect gurus out there as of a year ago had him as a guy barely deserving a cup of coffee in the NHL.

I think I'll let the story play out on Dach a little longer.

Yes...he's 20. Maybe we could close the book on him and label him average everything when he's 22 or 23.

Missed most of last season due to injury and in part because of the dumb rule about juniors, didn't spend any time in RFD.

Different players and Hagel's 23 but how many had him being an NHL regular. Even the prospect gurus out there as of a year ago had him as a guy barely deserving a cup of coffee in the NHL.

I think I'll let the story play out on Dach a little longer.
- HawkintheD

What’s wrong with you? He’s obviously a bust!

What’s wrong with you? He’s obviously a bust!
- paulr

My bad. We should label Kakko a bust too then since he was taken a pick before Dach.

It’s clear with both, neither will ever be any better than they are at this point of their careers.

Random musings:

I guess the upside of this year is plenty of cap space next year. No deHaan, Fleury. Lankenin, Dach, Kubalik (if not traded), won’t cost much more than they do this year. Shaw off the books.

I don’t know what to d fancy’s show, but S. Jones sure looked like one of the top 30 defenseman in the league. And you can’t say it is because he is playing with a Zach Werenski as a partner.

Hurts to watch Toews. You can tell he has lasting side effects from his illness. Does he go the LTIR route for his last year of his contract.

Wonder what Flip Forsberg would cost as a UFA next year?

Mitchell looked last night like the defenseman we expect him to be.

I wouldn’t mind if the current coaching staff becomes permanent. I haven’t seen where King has been outcoached in-game either.

Random musings:

I guess the upside of this year is plenty of cap space next year. No deHaan, Fleury. Lankenin, Dach, Kubalik (if not traded), won’t cost much more than they do this year. Shaw off the books.

I don’t know what to d fancy’s show, but S. Jones sure looked like one of the top 30 defenseman in the league. And you can’t say it is because he is playing with a Zach Werenski as a partner.

Hurts to watch Toews. You can tell he has lasting side effects from his illness. Does he go the LTIR route for his last year of his contract.

Wonder what Flip Forsberg would cost as a UFA next year?

Mitchell looked last night like the defenseman we expect him to be.

I wouldn’t mind if the current coaching staff becomes permanent. I haven’t seen where King has been outcoached in-game either.
- LAHawk

The only thing I’ll comment on is Forsberg. The Hawks do not need a 28 year old good, not great, player who plays wing and will command $8M plus. By the time the Hawks have the pieces in place to contend he and Jones will be the equivalent of Toews and Keith sucking up cap space and not contributing enough to justify the contract. Besides the Hawks are so far out of contention if he does sign it’ll be strictly because Chicago offere more cash than anyone else.

Random musings:

I guess the upside of this year is plenty of cap space next year. No deHaan, Fleury. Lankenin, Dach, Kubalik (if not traded), won’t cost much more than they do this year. Shaw off the books.

I don’t know what to d fancy’s show, but S. Jones sure looked like one of the top 30 defenseman in the league. And you can’t say it is because he is playing with a Zach Werenski as a partner.

Hurts to watch Toews. You can tell he has lasting side effects from his illness. Does he go the LTIR route for his last year of his contract.

Wonder what Flip Forsberg would cost as a UFA next year?

Mitchell looked last night like the defenseman we expect him to be.

I wouldn’t mind if the current coaching staff becomes permanent. I haven’t seen where King has been outcoached in-game either.
- LAHawk

Coaching staff: King keeps saying that he keeps his hands off of the defense, Crawford runs it, including in-game pairings. Defense has dramatically improved in the 11 games of the new regime.

King is in charge of the offense: moderate improvement in ozone play, no improvement in EV goals (except 3x3].

I guess Cookson is in charge of special teams - no improvement there.

Yeah, only 11 games, but this staff (including King) still has a lot to prove. I’m willing to give them time - certainly thru this season, not sure about giving them the off-season and training camp to see how it goes next season.

Coaching staff: King keeps saying that he keeps his hands off of the defense, Crawford runs it, including in-game pairings. Defense has dramatically improved in the 11 games of the new regime.

King is in charge of the offense: moderate improvement in ozone play, no improvement in EV goals (except 3x3].

I guess Cookson is in charge of special teams - no improvement there.

Yeah, only 11 games, but this staff (including King) still has a lot to prove. I’m willing to give them time - certainly thru this season, not sure about giving them the off-season and training camp to see how it goes next season.
- StLBravesFan

.

Unless you want to go with a young gu, this coaching staff has as much experience as any in the league. I don’t care if King is a delegator, better than JC’s I know everything approach. Guess it depends on who becomes the new GM. Or do they take interim off of KD’s title?

https://twitter.com/CRoum...wdltE3_nSbI1B4Gsd4xA&s=01

Didn't know someone was keeping this stat, if this is based on actual possession of the puck in the ozone, i feel this one has much more value than SOG

https://twitter.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1467349603238481920?t=FuwdltE3_nSbI1B4Gsd4xA&s=01

Didn't know someone was keeping this stat, if this is based on actual possession of the puck in the ozone, i feel this one has much more value than SOG
- BetweenTheDots

Rags had twice as much zone time as the Hawks, but the Hawks had the better of the 5x5 stats - SAT, SOG, SC, HDSC.

That tells me that the Hawks kept them to the outside, didn’t give up the slot or cross-ice passes, covered shooting lanes - gave them the perimeter and had trouble getting the puck back, but didn’t allow New York to do anything with all of that puck possession.

Good coverage and goalie protection - now, figure out how to get the puck.

Rags had twice as much zone time as the Hawks, but the Hawks had the better of the 5x5 stats - SAT, SOG, SC, HDSC.

That tells me that the Hawks kept them to the outside, didn’t give up the slot or cross-ice passes, covered shooting lanes - gave them the perimeter and had trouble getting the puck back, but didn’t allow New York to do anything with all of that puck possession.

Good coverage and goalie protection - now, figure out how to get the puck.
- StLBravesFan

Blackhawks did have a couple golden opportunities on 2 on 1s and just couldn't convert, the Rangers are a try to pass the puck in to the net team for sure, but i sure would like us to be able to sustain more time in the opponents zone, kind of difficult when you only have one top 4 dman playing, but it's something i hope happens over time with this club, they are passing better out of their own zone now so we'll see.

Random musings:

I guess the upside of this year is plenty of cap space next year. No deHaan, Fleury. Lankenin, Dach, Kubalik (if not traded), won’t cost much more than they do this year. Shaw off the books.

I don’t know what to d fancy’s show, but S. Jones sure looked like one of the top 30 defenseman in the league. And you can’t say it is because he is playing with a Zach Werenski as a partner.

Hurts to watch Toews. You can tell he has lasting side effects from his illness. Does he go the LTIR route for his last year of his contract.

Wonder what Flip Forsberg would cost as a UFA next year?

Mitchell looked last night like the defenseman we expect him to be.

I wouldn’t mind if the current coaching staff becomes permanent. I haven’t seen where King has been outcoached in-game either.
- LAHawk

LA, for me at least the upside of this yr is huge, only yrs bigger was winning a cup. As fans we shed StanBo! That's beyond huge. As fans Colliton is gone. That's huge. As fans we have semi-fresh eyes in Davidson overseeing what's been a 5 yr riddle. That's huge. As fans the clown show is gone both upstairs and on the ice.

Funny you mention should they keep King as coach cuz I just started wondering the same thing. Unless one watched the Hawks this yr you can't know just how clownish the squad was on the ice, then comes King and they not only win but out fancy and beat or stay close to the best teams in the league. The change in the win loss column, the fancy stats, the culture is real under King. Huge in fact.

The upside of this yr has to be hope as a fan. After 5 miserable yrs of incompetence at every level there is hope now that those decision makers are gone. Now, Rocky and his boy have not shown me a sliver that they will do the right thing going forward but the slate is clear and there is a "chance" to do the right thing, make the right hires and set this original 6 organIzation up for a 10 yr run of competence...... That's my upside to this yr. Justified hope.

https://twitter.com/BenPo....com%2Fchicago-blackhawks

LA, for me at least the upside of this yr is huge, only yrs bigger was winning a cup. As fans we shed StanBo! That's beyond huge. As fans Colliton is gone. That's huge. As fans we have semi-fresh eyes in Davidson overseeing what's been a 5 yr riddle. That's huge. As fans the clown show is gone both upstairs and on the ice.

Funny you mention should they keep King as coach cuz I just started wondering the same thing. Unless one watched the Hawks this yr you can't know just how clownish the squad was on the ice, then comes King and they not only win but out fancy and beat or stay close to the best teams in the league. The change in the win loss column, the fancy stats, the culture is real under King. Huge in fact.

The upside of this yr has to be hope as a fan. After 5 miserable yrs of incompetence at every level there is hope now that those decision makers are gone. Now, Rocky and his boy have not shown me a sliver that they will do the right thing going forward but the slate is clear and there is a "chance" to do the right thing, make the right hires and set this original 6 organIzation up for a 10 yr run of competence...... That's my upside to this yr. Justified hope.
- Mr Ricochet

From the coach himself:

We made a couple [of mistakes], and they cost us,” interim coach Derek King said. “But those two mistakes that cost us, when I first got here, they were about 10 or 12 mistakes. So we’re making really good strides.”

From the coach himself:

We made a couple
- LAHawk[of mistakes], and they cost us,” interim coach Derek King said. “But those two mistakes that cost us, when I first got here, they were about 10 or 12 mistakes. So we’re making really good strides.”

When he was named interim coach my wish was simply end the clown show. Insert some simplicity that will result in structure, build from that and that will end the clown show.

King has done that in spades. Now, can he take an NHL team to the next level? My hope is they hire a seasoned hockey ops guy to determine that. ....... Beyond excited that StanBow isn't making that call conceding I have no idea who will.

But the path of least resistance, and the play under Davidson and King makes it justifiable, is to retain both. It's cheaper too.