For a franchise that hasn't developed a legit NHL Dman since Hammer would you ever ever have thought they would have the problem of a prospect/rookie Dman glut in 2023?????

The evaluators are gonna have to earn their money. And I'd add GMing ain't easy. Hundreds of forks in the road for KD in the next few yrs and untangling the Dman glut might be his most important one.
- Mr Ricochet

Who to trade for more scoring help, and who not to, that will be the question

There goes Celebrini.

- Mr Ricochet

Remember, you want the first overall, you finish 3rd worse

If you are going to be privileged to be a sports anchor like Pat Boyle do your homework. He did a who's hot and who's not, posted stats on Alex Newhook not realizing he's out 8-10 weeks, what a pro.
- BetweenTheDots

Don't they have staff for such things?

If you are going to be privileged to be a sports anchor like Pat Boyle do your homework. He did a who's hot and who's not, posted stats on Alex Newhook not realizing he's out 8-10 weeks, what a pro.
- BetweenTheDots

Hopefully, he at least had him down in the "who's not" column?

Remember, you want the first overall, you finish 3rd worse

- vabeachbear

Yep. Bettman's got our back.

McKinnon ain't small and it ain't easy to get a square hit on the guy but Blackwell sure did knocking him down.
- Mr Ricochet

To me the hit was borderline from behind. He could see the numbers on McK's back.

Who to trade for more scoring help, and who not to, that will be the question

- vabeachbear

Well, I’m thinking that Vlasic and Korchinski aren’t going anywhere, and they won’t be able to move Jones due to that contract, but it does help that he’s a RD. That leaves two spots open for the below, maybe three.
Del Mastro
Allan
Kaiser
Phillips
Roos
Edit - plus Crevier and Murphy, not including Rinzel at this time.

8-1 Avs. This one will be ugly.
- Dieselhead

Whoops. The radio guys said it was one of their best games of the season.

Takes like this are why Vegas can keep building bigger & bigger hotels.

Watching the Colin Blackwell locker room interview.

He keeps saying yeah-no.

It’s a pet peeve of mine. 😒

Very gutsy game.

What is the difference between this crop of young dmen and the one from 2-3 years ago? Is this crop definitely that much better that they. Can all play against the Aves and not get exposed, or is it different set of expectations and circulations is all?
- busmaster

To me the difference that stands out is size. That last crop of defencemen were undersized to the point where it was frustrating to see opposing forwards owning the blue paint area of our net.

To me the hit was borderline from behind. He could see the numbers on McK's back.
- 6628

It was definitely a hit from behind. I was surprised to see a veteran club take a dumb penalty retaliating to it with the game on the line especially considering MacKinnon wasn’t hurt.

https://youtu.be/yKMSGfVjQZA?si=c8DS4413XWRId4GJ

With his skill, speed, motor and polish Beauvillier is their best forechecker. ... He looks comfortable as a Hawk tonight making plays in all 3 zones.

Blackwell ain't the most talented but he's not a bum. Good motor, solid IQ.
- Mr Ricochet

I liked what I saw from Blackwell last season and could understand the reason for the criticism from some people posting here. If he can prove not to be injury prone for the rest of this season, I would be in favor of extending him. There is always room on any team´s bottom 6 for a player with the hustle and tenacity that he displays.

To me the hit was borderline from behind. He could see the numbers on McK's back.
- 6628

I thought it was 100% from behind. From my view at the game last night, it looked like it could have been boarding and I thought for sure the refs were going to call a penalty.

The Avs didn't play a great game, but my God they can fly. Their puck movement is so smooth and you hold your breath when they are on the attack.

I believe that a lot of the Hawks problems would be solved at both blue lines. The Hawks are lucky that Colorado didn't take advantage of so many different turnovers they (Hawks) had at their own blueline last night. On Offense, the Hawks have such a problem with turning the puck over at their opponent's blue line when they don't have a line out there that can dump the puck and get it deep (this is an issue of not having enough offensive firepower)- but it was glaringly evident how different the rosters were last night with talent.

The Hawks young blue line is starting to improve. Vlasic and Korchinski are going to be the backbone of that, but I thought Phillips was OUTSTANDING last night. Kaiser looked a LOT more aggressive all over the ice. Crevier doesn't do anything that jumps out at you, but maybe that's a good thing (quiet and basic- just gets the job done). All of these guys are going to get better with experience and playing together more. I would love for them to become more physical with time and develop some 'nasty' to their game.

To me the hit was borderline from behind. He could see the numbers on McK's back.
- 6628

He had it coming with that flailing he did when Murphy was trying to get in his way.

Also his hit wasn't into the boards the angle was more north and south.

Don't they have staff for such things?
- vabeachbear

Maybe it's not in the budget, and he forgot how to do his homework

I thought it was 100% from behind. From my view at the game last night, it looked like it could have been boarding and I thought for sure the refs were going to call a penalty.

The Avs didn't play a great game, but my God they can fly. Their puck movement is so smooth and you hold your breath when they are on the attack.

I believe that a lot of the Hawks problems would be solved at both blue lines. The Hawks are lucky that Colorado didn't take advantage of so many different turnovers they (Hawks) had at their own blueline last night. On Offense, the Hawks have such a problem with turning the puck over at their opponent's blue line when they don't have a line out there that can dump the puck and get it deep (this is an issue of not having enough offensive firepower)- but it was glaringly evident how different the rosters were last night with talent.

The Hawks young blue line is starting to improve. Vlasic and Korchinski are going to be the backbone of that, but I thought Phillips was OUTSTANDING last night. Kaiser looked a LOT more aggressive all over the ice. Crevier doesn't do anything that jumps out at you, but maybe that's a good thing (quiet and basic- just gets the job done). All of these guys are going to get better with experience and playing together more. I would love for them to become more physical with time and develop some 'nasty' to their game.
- frafra

Was wondering when Jones comes back if KFC makes Murphy available. He actually has been playing some good hockey, especially in the absence of Jones. (Based partly on the lack of Murphy sucks posts on the board)


If Josh Manson at the TDL got a second and a prospect who was a mid second rounder, would KFC do that trade? Opens up another spot for one of the young D.

I thought it was 100% from behind. From my view at the game last night, it looked like it could have been boarding and I thought for sure the refs were going to call a penalty.

The Avs didn't play a great game, but my God they can fly. Their puck movement is so smooth and you hold your breath when they are on the attack.

I believe that a lot of the Hawks problems would be solved at both blue lines. The Hawks are lucky that Colorado didn't take advantage of so many different turnovers they (Hawks) had at their own blueline last night. On Offense, the Hawks have such a problem with turning the puck over at their opponent's blue line when they don't have a line out there that can dump the puck and get it deep (this is an issue of not having enough offensive firepower)- but it was glaringly evident how different the rosters were last night with talent.

The Hawks young blue line is starting to improve. Vlasic and Korchinski are going to be the backbone of that, but I thought Phillips was OUTSTANDING last night. Kaiser looked a LOT more aggressive all over the ice. Crevier doesn't do anything that jumps out at you, but maybe that's a good thing (quiet and basic- just gets the job done). All of these guys are going to get better with experience and playing together more. I would love for them to become more physical with time and develop some 'nasty' to their game.
- frafra

That's why I'm really looking forward to these kids that KD drafted start making their way into the NHL.

Hopefully, he at least had him down in the "who's not" column?
- HawkintheD

No who's hot, 5 goals and 5 assists in his last whatever, hahaha

Similar to last year, guys either gone because they were traded or hurt, and with a bunch of different players in the line up especially the blue line, each game they look a little better and better.

That's why I'm really looking forward to these kids that KD drafted start making their way into the NHL.
- BetweenTheDots

Their skating is incredible. They close gaps and take away so many different lanes when they are backchecking because of their speed. Was a really fun game to be at last night; the crowd was lively and very into the game.

Yea that Blackwell wall paste was a beaut
- BetweenTheDots

I saw that mackinnon was ready for the check.

My plan today was to go look at it again, because the way Blackwell shot out of a cannon, I wanted to see how many strides he took and where he took them.

The Blackhawks won on playing "engaged" and I will. not call it a dirty play, but in my mind, I figured Balckwell was going to get suspended later, mostly because it was a star player he snuffed to close down a scoring opportunity.

This current rookie group on the backline its certainly getting strong playing time and it was really a good showing on their behalf.

After the Avs had hurt feelings post Blackwell, I love the way their #12 Ryan Johansen got forcefully grabbed by Isaak Phillips from behind post scrum and then turned to see who just got their paws on him.

Roos got to play to his strength and sw lots of PP time and didn't blow the audition.

Kaiser isn't getting taller. His burst and quick decisions will help him continue to get a NHL career out of his gifts.

Big Louie Crevier has got to be the guy with the best Christmas ever feeling.

Maybe his taste will get to accelerate his improvement and build him into more athn we have seen.

Similar to last year, guys either gone because they were traded or hurt, and with a bunch of different players in the line up especially the blue line, each game they look a little better and better.
- BetweenTheDots

Yeah, the present backline corps has taking their opportunity and last night HAD to feel mighty good for the entire team and sespecially them.

Their skating is incredible. They close gaps and take away so many different lanes when they are backchecking because of their speed. Was a really fun game to be at last night; the crowd was lively and very into the game.
- frafra

Good points about using their speed defensively. Many fans look at speed strictly as an offensive weapon but speed is essential in every zone offensively and defensively. It’s possible a great skater like Moore or Lardis may be used on a shutdown line to keep top opponents from scoring but like Dave Bolland have enough skill to also be an offensive threat as well.

Good points about using their speed defensively. Many fans look at speed strictly as an offensive weapon but speed is essential in every zone offensively and defensively. It’s possible a great skater like Moore or Lardis may be used on a shutdown line to keep top opponents from scoring but like Dave Bolland have enough skill to also be an offensive threat as well.
- paulr

That was the biggest and most noticeable difference between the two teams last night. I was talking to my friends and some other people around me. The Avs had multiple guys who could force/create turnovers and then take the puck and enter it into the Hawks zone to create offense- all because of their speed.

The Hawks defensemen (and this will come with time) have got to be better in front of their net. I thought their blue line played well (or as well as one could hope against the Avs) all night. Too many easy goals for Hawks opponents because they are camping out in front of their goalie.

Thanks to whomever threw up the replay of the Blackwell "check."

I count four or more strides.

But, the old time hockey is still rooted in my veins and that turn aways to the boards by players as they are about to get hit...why?, is that become more vulnerable and are looking for mercy??

Man, to think a short time ago that could have been Beaudin, Boqvist, Mitchell or Jokiharju back there after the Blackwell encounter.

It is comforting that Phillips Crevier and hopefully Vlasic are going to evolve to regulars and a reason to think twice in our end.

To me the difference that stands out is size. That last crop of defencemen were undersized to the point where it was frustrating to see opposing forwards owning the blue paint area of our net.
- 67hawks

Good point... Now we draft bigger dmen and our forwards are the shrimps.