Theo Fox: Pick 6: Defensemen A look at the Blackhawks top 3 defensemen prospects in the AHL and top 3 in the rest of the system.

Plus, updates on Seth Jones, Mike Hardman, Josiah Slavin, Jakub Galvas, and Cale Morris.

GM Theo and good stuff!

As much as I'd like to see both Galvas and Reichel up, I think you're right in terms of letting them play big minutes in RFD, grow their game and continue building confidence.

Don't know how much you follow other team's prospects or if you checked out Wheeler's article in the Athletic (who had the Hawks at 26th), but...

a) Do you think that's a fair assessment?

b) He had Vlasic pretty low on his rankings. Lower than Del Mastro and a couple other dmen prospects. Any thoughts?

GM Theo and good stuff!

As much as I'd like to see both Galvas and Reichel up, I think you're right in terms of letting them play big minutes in RFD, grow their game and continue building confidence.

Don't know how much you follow other team's prospects or if you checked out Wheeler's article in the Athletic (who had the Hawks at 26th), but...

a) Do you think that's a fair assessment?

b) He had Vlasic pretty low on his rankings. Lower than Del Gastro and a couple other dmen prospects. Any thoughts?
- HawkintheD

My take.....

A.) No

B.) No.

Good talk.

My take.....

A.) No

B.) No.

Good talk.
- mohel

Thanks TheMo...I just like that autocorrect made his name Del Gastro.

Thanks TheMo...I just like that autocorrect made his name Del Gastro.
- HawkintheD

I thought Del Gastro was code for the screamers.

Maybe some of these exceed projections. Maybe some fall short of expectations. Maybe no all stars. But the breadth and depth is better than we have had in years. It should be interesting to see how this plays out.

If we are able to move deHaan and/or Gus at the TDL we could see Galvas, Mitchell, Beaudin, Phillips, or Kalynuk get rotated in and out with the Hawks. That might be a very good way to get them experience and measure where they are at.

Maybe some of these exceed projections. Maybe some fall short of expectations. Maybe no all stars. But the breadth and depth is better than we have had in years. It should be interesting to see how this plays out.

If we are able to move deHaan and/or Gus at the TDL we could see Galvas, Mitchell, Beaudin, Phillips, or Kalynuk get rotated in and out with the Hawks. That might be a very good way to get them experience and measure where they are at.
- Ztra

The prospects mentioned should be rotating in NOW instead of trotting out Gus on a regular basis. There is absolutely no reason for him to be dressed more often than not. As bad as DeHaan has been he is still a thousand times better than Gus, and DeHaan needs to be playing in order to trade him.

Many of the defensemen.prospects have different strength from an offensive look. The prosoects who can play defense andake the simple play vs the turnovers or unforced error, these are the guys who win out.

You don't know if one of them might figure things out and or adjust and play the way they know but cannot or will not perform.

I see an apology. A best selling author in thec1989's wrote a book called "Passages": It spoke about how people go through the up and downs, the low points and the high points like landing at low and high spots if they were in a mountainous valley

That is what these prospects are going through. Using.Beaudin as an example, he made some improvement in how he defends, how he uses his body. But we see he struggles again and cannot stick in the NHL or even perform adequately in the AHL.

Kaiser and Crevier may be the smartest, and best at making safe good plays..among non pros. Galvas has that distinction among the pro prospects.

The prospects mentioned should be rotating in NOW instead of trotting out Gus on a regular basis. There is absolutely no reason for him to be dressed more often than not. As bad as DeHaan has been he is still a thousand times better than Gus, and DeHaan needs to be playing in order to trade him.
- TheTrob

If they are only going to get 10 minutes, like Mitchell and Beaudin have been the last few times in the lineup, then they should be getting as much time as possible in the AHL. As prospects, by definition, they need the work. Mitchell has grown his game a bit this year. If you had a top 4 of Keith, Seabrook, Hjammer, and Oduya in their primes and brought him in as a 6th (a la TVR) then fine, but this is not that situation.

Galvas looked good, but with all of the NHL D corps available, he's not going to play. Get him as many minutes as possible.

Agreed Gus is not good, but neither is most of the rest of this team. Develop properly, and re-evaluate at the end of the year.

Maybe some of these exceed projections. Maybe some fall short of expectations. Maybe no all stars. But the breadth and depth is better than we have had in years. It should be interesting to see how this plays out.

If we are able to move deHaan and/or Gus at the TDL we could see Galvas, Mitchell, Beaudin, Phillips, or Kalynuk get rotated in and out with the Hawks. That might be a very good way to get them experience and measure where they are at.
- Ztra

If their recent moves are any indication, I would bet against too many of the young guys playing much to end the year. Maybe, but if the Hawks are able to trade d-men, I see them taking back some expiring contract scrubs to fill the lineup.

Leave the young core in Rockford and let them vie for the Calder while developing chemistry and winning mentality.

From Lazerus today:

"As for Derek King, who has loosened up the locker room and led the Blackhawks to a respectable 14-9-4 record (their points percentage of .593 is 15th-best in the league since King took over on Nov. 7), he remains a long shot to have the interim tag removed."

The prospects mentioned should be rotating in NOW instead of trotting out Gus on a regular basis. There is absolutely no reason for him to be dressed more often than not. As bad as DeHaan has been he is still a thousand times better than Gus, and DeHaan needs to be playing in order to trade him.

The Trob

If KD can somehow swing a first for Murphy, I would do it, and then sign daHaan for 1 year at a max $2 mil. That is what he would be looking at as a UFA next year, and he could still eat some minutes especially on the PK. Trading Murphy opens up a spot on the right side for Mitchell. Your veteran D would be S. Jones, McCabe, daHaan, and you then have a competition for the other 3/4 slots.

Trying to think a bit outside the box.

Agreed Gus is not good, but neither is most of the rest of this team. Develop properly, and re-evaluate at the end of the year.
- Chunk

Feel like we’ve been saying this for 4-5 years now…oh wait we have! And now there’s no 1st rounder in a stacked draft which would’ve been a lottery pick. Organization needs to pick a direction and stay on that path back to relevance

Feel like we’ve been saying this for 4-5 years now…oh wait we have! And now there’s no 1st rounder in a stacked draft which would’ve been a lottery pick. Organization needs to pick a direction and stay on that path back to relevance
- Assman22

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl

Hawks will need lady luck to really like them to get one of the 1st 2 slots.

Hell, the BJs have a better chance of getting the #1 and #3 picks this year.

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl

Hawks will need lady luck to really like them to get one of the 1st 2 slots.

Hell, the BJs have a better chance of getting the #1 and #3 picks this year.
- Rota's Rooter

Is the pick top 2 protected? I didn’t see that anywhere. Would’ve thought Stan would keep it lottery protected like top 5.

Feel like we’ve been saying this for 4-5 years now…oh wait we have! And now there’s no 1st rounder in a stacked draft which would’ve been a lottery pick. Organization needs to pick a direction and stay on that path back to relevance
- Assman22

Well, the guy who got them to this point is gone (as is the coach). It ain't gonna get fixed overnight.

Is the pick top 2 protected? I didn’t see that anywhere. Would’ve thought Stan would keep it lottery protected like top 5.
- Assman22

Yes, just top 2 protected.

If they are only going to get 10 minutes, like Mitchell and Beaudin have been the last few times in the lineup, then they should be getting as much time as possible in the AHL. As prospects, by definition, they need the work. Mitchell has grown his game a bit this year. If you had a top 4 of Keith, Seabrook, Hjammer, and Oduya in their primes and brought him in as a 6th (a la TVR) then fine, but this is not that situation.

Galvas looked good, but with all of the NHL D corps available, he's not going to play. Get him as many minutes as possible.

Agreed Gus is not good, but neither is most of the rest of this team. Develop properly, and re-evaluate at the end of the year.
- Chunk

Chunk, I don't disagree. If you are gonna play them 10 mins or less let them stay down. Gus is averaging 16.5 mins a game however. I would rather see one of them fill that 16+ mins than Gus.

If KD can somehow swing a first for Murphy, I would do it, and then sign daHaan for 1 year at a max $2 mil. That is what he would be looking at as a UFA next year, and he could still eat some minutes especially on the PK. Trading Murphy opens up a spot on the right side for Mitchell. Your veteran D would be S. Jones, McCabe, daHaan, and you then have a competition for the other 3/4 slots.

Trying to think a bit outside the box.
- LAHawk

Thinking outside the box is good, unfortunately I don't think anyone is giving up a 1st for Murphy, though stranger things have happened. In regards to bringing back DeHaan.....no.....just no.

As you can ascertain from my previous posts I am not a DeHaan fan. Other than a short span when Keith was out hurt he has been consistently bad. Other than being a veteran, what does he possibly give you that one of the youngsters doesn't. I would rather suffer thru some mistakes by a youngster with upside than watch DeHaan make the same mistakes without the upside.

Chicago has a league-best .938 save percentage at 5-on-5 play since King took over. Of goalies who’ve played at least 250 minutes in that timeframe, Fleury’s individual save percentage at 5-on-5 play is .947 — No. 1 in the league.

This is from SCH, they sure would have a better chance at top two pick if MAF wasn’t around. The Hawks have also lowered their HSC against a little bit since King took over, but can’t ignore MAF’s numbers, they’re outstanding.

Chunk, I don't disagree. If you are gonna play them 10 mins or less let them stay down. Gus is averaging 16.5 mins a game however. I would rather see one of them fill that 16+ mins than Gus.
- TheTrob

As would I. The issue is that this coaching staff seems to put a ton of emphasis on "trust" as opposed to "this guy should get more time" (see Strome). If one of the youngsters are up (maybe save for Galvas) they won't necessarily automatically get Gus' 16.5 mins. They seem to just lean on the older guys more.

Chicago has a league-best .938 save percentage at 5-on-5 play since King took over. Of goalies who’ve played at least 250 minutes in that timeframe, Fleury’s individual save percentage at 5-on-5 play is .947 — No. 1 in the league.

This is from SCH, they sure would have a better chance at top two pick if MAF wasn’t around. The Hawks have also lowered their HSC against a little bit since King took over, but can’t ignore MAF’s numbers, they’re outstanding.
- Angotti

I think we can attribute more of MAF"s improved numbers to King than just looking at HSC against. The whole defensive unit is playing better in front of him. I'm not necessarily taking anything away from MAF, but I think if Lankinen was playing more, you would see a similar improvement in him as well.

I actually would prefer to see more of Lankinen right now as opposed to MAF. With the improved D, he should be able to settle in a bit better. Maybe we could finally see his true potential.

I think we can attribute more of MAF"s improved numbers to King than just looking at HSC against. The whole defensive unit is playing better in front of him. I'm not necessarily taking anything away from MAF, but I think if Lankinen was playing more, you would see a similar improvement in him as well.

I actually would prefer to see more of Lankinen right now as opposed to MAF. With the improved D, he should be able to settle in a bit better. Maybe we could finally see his true potential.
- Chunk

While this is certainly true, I don't think they are playing championship level defense in front of him. And the stat says Flower has the best 5-on-5 save percentage, not merely better than before. I think both are playing better, but Flower is carrying more of the load.

Trade him now!

Thinking outside the box is good, unfortunately I don't think anyone is giving up a 1st for Murphy, though stranger things have happened. In regards to bringing back DeHaan.....no.....just no.

As you can ascertain from my previous posts I am not a DeHaan fan. Other than a short span when Keith was out hurt he has been consistently bad. Other than being a veteran, what does he possibly give you that one of the youngsters doesn't. I would rather suffer thru some mistakes by a youngster with upside than watch DeHaan make the same mistakes without the upside.
- TheTrob

Well, if the Hawks do trade Murphy, they are going to sign someone of a veteran presence, and what will be available are a bunch of daHaan's, or Gus's if you would rather have someone like him.