Theo Fox: Freeze Dried A summary of the Blackhawks stronger performance led by a razor-focused Marc-Andre Fleury but still wasn't enough in a 2-0 shutout at the hands of the Avalanche and Pavel Francouz.

Theo Fox: Freeze Dried
A summary of the Blackhawks stronger performance led by a razor-focused Marc-Andre Fleury but still wasn't enough in a 2-0 shutout at the hands of the Avalanche and Pavel Francouz.
- Theo Fox

I thought they played a good game last night, the thing that really stands out to me is their passing and believe instead of understanding a team mate is open they just make the pass. I think this will come with time

I think the Avs baited Jones on the 2nd goal last night, 4 or 5 times Jones would feel pressure and just pound the puck along the right boards, and they did a great job on the 2nd goal of pressuring 4, then whoever was along the boards.

Effort was there. Watchable.

Why have Lafferty on the 2nd line and Borgstrum on the 4th line?

Lafferty took some faceoffs instead of Toews. I wonder if Toews is hurt.

DeHaan and Strome are playing their best hockey since they have been on the Hawks. DeHaan is raising his trade value. Strome probably is making management think about keeping him around.

Effort was there. Watchable.
- 6628

The Hawks have plenty of guys who can focus on defense, but there is a serious void of offensive talent.

On the back-end, Seth Jones is the only d-man who consistently drive the offense. Stillman was starting to show promise, but I don’t think he’s best suited as a top pairing defenseman. Kalynuk is waiting in the wings, beyond that there isn’t much hope.

Up front, Kane and DeBrincat continue to be the go-to options for firepower. Hagel, Toews and Kubalik are nice complimentary pieces but they won’t lead the forward group in offense consistently. Dach is still learning, we should expect too much, he should be kept in the middle-six for now. Strome is consistently inconsistent, I like the way he’s playing now but I have little faith he can keep it up. Kurashev is a very good depth forward, his sweet spot is the bottom 6 and maybe some top 9 duties if there are injuries. Like Dach, Borgstrom is a work in progress but there is potential there. The rest of the forwards are 4th liners or AHL/NHL tweeners.

Reichel will inject some offense next season, but the Hawks shouldn’t pin their hopes of a successful season on a rookie. KD will need to get creative this summer and hes certain got his work cut out for him. Aatu Raty would certainly be a welcome addition to the Hawks prospect pool. They should have drafted him in the 1st round then taken Allan with one of their 4th round picks.

Why have Lafferty on the 2nd line and Borgstrum on the 4th line?

Lafferty took some faceoffs instead of Toews. I wonder if Toews is hurt.

DeHaan and Strome are playing their best hockey since they have been on the Hawks. DeHaan is raising his trade value. Strome probably is making management think about keeping him around.
- Ztra

This is totally laffable.

Until the front office issues are settled, it’s hard to comprehend this team is going to be moving in the right direction. The team is at least two impact players from being even mediocre, and without a 1st round pick in the upcoming draft (most likely) they have virtually no means to get one anytime soon. Unfortunately, the only thing that MAF is accomplishing right now, with his stellar play, is to guarantee Columbus keeps our first round pick. I have no idea what promises Bowman made to Fleury to get him to report to the team at the beginning of the year, but if Fleury can be traded, the time for recouping that first round pick may never be better. It’s getting to the point where I don’t look forward to game nights anymore.

Effort there yes...Watchable yes....But we simply do not have the weapons to win games but just to hang on....Disappointed still in Dach...Seems to be invisible and can't win face off nor board battles...Skating has no juice.....wasted draft pick.....Compete level is there.....Could live with Strome...KD needs to make a bold move....Kane and Fleury can fetch nice assets...

I thought they played a good game last night, the thing that really stands out to me is their passing and believe instead of understanding a team mate is open they just make the pass. I think this will come with time

I think the Avs baited Jones on the 2nd goal last night, 4 or 5 times Jones would feel pressure and just pound the puck along the right boards, and they did a great job on the 2nd goal of pressuring 4, then whoever was along the boards.

Between The Dots

Here is Raantanen's goal, and you are going to fault Jones? This is what every defenseman who feels a forecheck has been taught to do since they first started playing organized hockey, since they allowed the forward pass. Especially since he didn't throw it around blind, knowing he had a teammate along the boards.

The blame should go to Lafferty for losing the board battle, and especially McCabe for taking a skate into itchycoo park.


Over bridge of sighs
To rest my eyes in shades of green
Under dreaming spires
To Itchycoo Park, that's where I've been

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=33142399

I thought they played a good game last night, the thing that really stands out to me is their passing and believe instead of understanding a team mate is open they just make the pass. I think this will come with time

I think the Avs baited Jones on the 2nd goal last night, 4 or 5 times Jones would feel pressure and just pound the puck along the right boards, and they did a great job on the 2nd goal of pressuring 4, then whoever was along the boards.

Between The Dots

Here is Raantanen's goal, and you are going to fault Jones? This is what every defenseman who feels a forecheck has been taught to do since they first started playing organized hockey, since they allowed the forward pass. Especially since he didn't throw it around blind, knowing he had a teammate along the boards.

The blame should go to Lafferty for losing the board battle, and especially McCabe for taking a skate into itchycoo park.


Over bridge of sighs
To rest my eyes in shades of green
Under dreaming spires
To Itchycoo Park, that's where I've been

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=33142399
- LAHawk

I'm not blaming Seth, just pointing out the Avs could game plan on that sequence of events happening again in the game, and they did, i don't know what McCabe was doing on that play but it wasn't supporting his goalie

Until the front office issues are settled, it’s hard to comprehend this team is going to be moving in the right direction. The team is at least two impact players from being even mediocre, and without a 1st round pick in the upcoming draft (most likely) they have virtually no means to get one anytime soon. Unfortunately, the only thing that MAF is accomplishing right now, with his stellar play, is to guarantee Columbus keeps our first round pick. I have no idea what promises Bowman made to Fleury to get him to report to the team at the beginning of the year, but if Fleury can be traded, the time for recouping that first round pick may never be better. It’s getting to the point where I don’t look forward to game nights anymore.
- Ogilthorpe2

Good post, Ogi. I agree that they need impact players all over the ice. The only no doubt top six players are Cat and Kane. Hopefully Lukas is another. That's well short of what they need.

To get more, they need to get a high pick, take chances on 2nd round picks who drop on draft day, get very lucky with a college FA, find a gem in Europe, fleece another team for a prospect, or go the UFA route.

Gonna take some time, even if everything goes well.

In the meantime, the best thing to do as fans is to hyperventilate about the current state of affairs and get pissed off when a bad team plays like it.

Caleb Jones had a nice preseason. But his regular season has been “ugh”.

Murphy is ok defensively, but a handicap when trying to transition from defense to offense.

The offense will really improve if Kalynuk, Mitchell, Galvas, Beaudin are developed properly. They have enough offensive skills and skating skills. They show some defensive skills. Hopefully a few of them figure things out offensively and defensively to become solid two way defensemen.

Dach seems to choose the most difficult play to make. If he would just make the simple play he would be much more successful.

That is true of several Hawks. Given two or three choices, they choose the most difficult.

I thought they played a good game last night, the thing that really stands out to me is their passing and believe instead of understanding a team mate is open they just make the pass. I think this will come with time

I think the Avs baited Jones on the 2nd goal last night, 4 or 5 times Jones would feel pressure and just pound the puck along the right boards, and they did a great job on the 2nd goal of pressuring 4, then whoever was along the boards.

Between The Dots

Here is Raantanen's goal, and you are going to fault Jones? This is what every defenseman who feels a forecheck has been taught to do since they first started playing organized hockey, since they allowed the forward pass. Especially since he didn't throw it around blind, knowing he had a teammate along the boards.

The blame should go to Lafferty for losing the board battle, and especially McCabe for taking a skate into itchycoo park.


Over bridge of sighs
To rest my eyes in shades of green
Under dreaming spires
To Itchycoo Park, that's where I've been

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=33142399
- LAHawk

A lot of blame to go around on that play. It looks like Debrincat is covering Raantanen then let's him go leaving him wide open to accept the pass.

Good post, Ogi. I agree that they need impact players all over the ice. The only no doubt top six players are Cat and Kane. Hopefully Lukas is another. That's well short of what they need.

To get more, they need to get a high pick, take chances on 2nd round picks who drop on draft day, get very lucky with a college FA, find a gem in Europe, fleece another team for a prospect, or go the UFA route.

Gonna take some time, even if everything goes well.

In the meantime, the best thing to do as fans is to hyperventilate about the current state of affairs and get pissed off when a bad team plays like it.
- mohel

I have no hope that anything good is going to come from this TDL. Davidson has the same brain trust that advised Bowman on assembling this team. Hope they just get draft picks, and no actual players back. Whoever the new GM is, the pro-scouting staff has just got to go.

Good post, Ogi. I agree that they need impact players all over the ice. The only no doubt top six players are Cat and Kane. Hopefully Lukas is another. That's well short of what they need.

To get more, they need to get a high pick, take chances on 2nd round picks who drop on draft day, get very lucky with a college FA, find a gem in Europe, fleece another team for a prospect, or go the UFA route.

Gonna take some time, even if everything goes well.

In the meantime, the best thing to do as fans is to hyperventilate about the current state of affairs and get pissed off when a bad team plays like it.
- mohel

Having a below average or mediocre team also means having cheap tickets. If tickets are as low as recent stub hub seats, I don't have a problem paying 16-20 for parking and 20 on a hot dog and beer to reward myself after work lol. Of course I'd prefer a winning team, but good or bad, the Blackhawks experience at the UC is still one of my favorites.

I have no hope that anything good is going to come from this TDL. Davidson has the same brain trust that advised Bowman on assembling this team. Hope they just get draft picks, and no actual players back. Whoever the new GM is, the pro-scouting staff has just got to go.
- LAHawk

I'll say again, if the marching orders are to put out the best team possible each year (for money purposes), it doesn't matter much who gets put in charge.

Also noticed some posters saying that Rocky's other interests mean he's not concerned about making money on the Hawks. Wishful thinking. He's a Wirtz. He's said several times that the team needs to be profitable.

A lot of blame to go around on that play. It looks like Debrincat is covering Raantanen then let's him go leaving him wide open to accept the pass.
- Rota's Rooter

Yep, looks like one of the common themes for Hawks defensive coverage breakdowns, the forwards thinking offense and moving out of the zone before the team has possession of the puck. Debrincat didn't take a man and really left McCabe hung out to dry there.

Not a hockey meat head but the Hawks also lack physical forwards in the top 9... especially guys that can skate and play hockey.

Hagel isn't going to scare anyone and he isn't a top 6 forward on a good team. The rest really have minimal, if any, physical play in them. I don't know how many times I see opposing D or forwards just eat pucks along the boards b/c they know the Hawks won't lay a hit on them.

Eat the puck, wait till the Hawks attempt a fly by stick check, continue on with moving the puck.

I am not saying go out of your way to hit guys but I see way too many opponents perfectly content to hold pucks along the boards b/c they know the Hawks forward is not going to check them.

I'm not blaming Seth, just pointing out the Avs could game plan on that sequence of events happening again in the game, and they did, i don't know what McCabe was doing on that play but it wasn't supporting his goalie
- BetweenTheDots

Obviously the reason they lost is because the league and refs are out to get the Hawks because of the events of 2010, am I correct?

Definitely a watchable game, they played the Avs fairly even last night, they kept (IMHO)the best player in hockey in check(Makar). The Hawks are basically a NHL .500 team, just not enough talent. To be a playoff team next season they need one more good Dman with offensive skills, and at least two impact forwards, good luck KD.

Obviously the reason they lost is because the league and refs are out to get the Hawks because of the events of 2010, am I correct?
- paulr

What was this 2010 incident Dots keep bleating about?

This is totally laffable.
- DarthKane

This board can argue which 5th line player should play 2nd line adnauseum.

Not a hockey meat head but the Hawks also lack physical forwards in the top 9... especially guys that can skate and play hockey.

Hagel isn't going to scare anyone and he isn't a top 6 forward on a good team. The rest really have minimal, if any, physical play in them. I don't know how many times I see opposing D or forwards just eat pucks along the boards b/c they know the Hawks won't lay a hit on them.

Eat the puck, wait till the Hawks attempt a fly by stick check, continue on with moving the puck.

I am not saying go out of your way to hit guys but I see way too many opponents perfectly content to hold pucks along the boards b/c they know the Hawks forward is not going to check them.
- bhawks2241

Been saying this since I called the great Kubalik a 3rd line player which he's struggling to be. Agree on Hagel but he will wear down and be gone soon anyway.

Yep, looks like one of the common themes for Hawks defensive coverage breakdowns, the forwards thinking offense and moving out of the zone before the team has possession of the puck. Debrincat didn't take a man and really left McCabe hung out to dry there.
- breadbag

No defense is perfect. If so, we're still tied 0-0.