Deprecated: Automatic conversion of false to array is deprecated in /var/www/hockeybuzz.com/classes/clsBlog.php on line 243 HockeyBuzz.com - Zach Jarom - Game Day: Hawks vs Rangers and Quick Hits
The Hawks continue their road trip to the Big Apple as they look to put an end to their latest three-game losing streak. They dropped their game on Tuesday against the Predators 3-0, but despite the score, I will say that it was a well-played game from Arvid Soderblom, who desperately needed a solid outing. He stopped 35 of the 37 shots he faced and went 26 for 26 at even strength. You really can't fault him for letting up two goals on the powerplay, but despite taking the loss, he should feel good about his performance and take it as a confidence boost going forward. It's unfortunate that he couldn’t get any offensive support, but the giant joke that is the injury bug struck the Hawks again, this time taking out forward Anthony Beauvillier, who has since been placed on the IR with a wrist injury. At one point, the team was playing with just nine forwards. It is a tough situation for this team to be in when they are already hurting for talent up front. At some point, there is going to need to be a move or two made to get some offense reinforcements, or at least you would hope so.
It's not going to get any easier for Chicago as they are taking on the Rangers, who have had a fantastic season and are in a tight battle for the top spot in the league. They come into this one with a 6-4 record over their last 10 games and are coming off a brutal 6-1 loss against the Hurricanes. If anything, let's hope for a great show between Panarin and Bedard.
Quick Hits New Guy on the Block
The Hawks claimed defenseman Jaycob Megna off waivers from the Seattle Kraken. Megna is a Chicago native, so this is a cool, feel-good story for him. He has 141 NHL games under his belt, so he does bring some experience to the backend.
Winter is coming.
This past week we saw the NHL Winter Classic take place from Seatlle, and while I thought it was a great game and well done, it left a lot to be wanted from a view point and attendance point. It will be the first time the Classic isn’t the largest attended game of the season and was the lowest viewed Classic. The NHL knows what draws fans, and as Elliotte Friedman reported in his latest 32 Thoughts, it seems like the Hawks will lose next year. The NHL knows that Bedard moves the needle. I mean, his NHL debut surpassed the Classic in terms of US viewership. The Hawks are going to be a mainstay in these outdoor games once again, and if the next one is in Chicago, for everyone’s safety, let's avoid Comiskey Park.
Manage Off-Season Expectations
Scott Powers wrote in his latest for the Athletic that, from what he is hearing, don’t expect the team to be active in adding long-term contracts. The Hawks and Nylander seemed to be connected for this upcoming summer, but it doesn’t seem like that’s the direction KD wants to go. He is committed to his rebuilding vision and is not going to sacrifice the future for the present. Powers goes on to say that because they will have the luxury of lots of cap space, they could be open to overpaying for short-term deals. They are going to need to spend money this offseason, and even with Taylor Hall expected to be back next season, this team needs to bring in more options for the forward group. Players to keep an eye on are older vets, and one idea could be Steven Stamkos if the Lightning decided to move on from their captain. I have no backing that that could be an option, but more of me just looking at pending free agents.
That’s going to be it for now. Puck Drop is set for 6 p.m. central time, and as always, Let's Go Hawks!
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