Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
New: The Blackhawks will likely be less active in the NHL trade market this winter than in past years.

"[We'll be] keeping some guys that, maybe in years past, we would have considered to move along," Kyle Davidson says.

Little Frankie Nazar lowering the boom in a practice game today agains host country team. Knocks player out of the game.

Did not know he was that physical.


https://twitter.com/ryan_...atus/1737898350588903796?
- Revco38

The player HAD the puck, and the the hit looks straight to the chest.

Lil Frankie is really quick in all areas of his blades and he is going to be another addition, who (when carrying the puck) is used to driving inside in the attack zone, no matter if he waltzed in on two or three defenders in the Bedard model.
Bedard has had limited successes as he sees these ain't junior defenders, and has had less success in th9se smaller spaces.
Frankie is also that type of attacker, and I really don't think they both will stopping going into middle ice traffic.
Nazar is also so quick. He is also thinking options on every look where he has the biscuit.
These two are fearless, and I cannot wait until the audition starts.

and Merry Christmas all.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
New: The Blackhawks will likely be less active in the NHL trade market this winter than in past years.

"
- LAHawk[We'll be] keeping some guys that, maybe in years past, we would have considered to move along," Kyle Davidson says.

The unexpected Corey Perry departure and the fact that the Bedard family must already feel their boy is playing with a sub-standard complement and they want him back home playing there....

Roos and Kaiser back to Rockford.
- boilermaker100

That is fine.

They can build on their experience.

Great. Just means more Tinordi.
- Elbows15

And here I thought you had been gone attending one of Santa's self-awareness retreat and were added to Santa's ship & transport team, a cheery busy elf now.

Tinordi is a hot mess.
- mohel

He is there for one reason.

He is there for one reason.
- wiz1901

To get injured again?

Harold was a gem, eh?
- mohel

The older guys that my parents sent me to the Stadium games with had built a" talking relationship with" and he was always more than will to not only answer what ever crap they would give him, but have jstifued answers.
Hecwas always with King Clancy, who I think they all knew from even farther back, so maybe Harold Ballard was tolerant.
It would be a hoot, they would back and forth like they were his buddies.

Maybe Harold just needed more real friends to temper his reality.

Just keep playing that Phillips kid, he looks so good sometimes and at times i cringe a wee bit, let's get him as minutes as we can cause we might have another 20 minute defenseman who contribute offensively
- BetweenTheDots

All I know is he seems to make contact with attackers a lot.

He gets little pieces when they are in possession and he looks to start doing less moving as he is able to slow things down in his NHL play.

not even close to being offside.

they have a chance. Not really.
- Elbows15

Oh ye of little faith...

The unexpected Corey Perry departure and the fact that the Bedard family must already feel their boy is playing with a sub-standard complement and they want him back home playing there....
- wiz1901

You have info that he and his parents want him to play in Vancouver?

You have info that he and his parents want him to play in Vancouver?
- captainserious

It’s the internet, info and facts aren’t needed.

It’s the internet, info and facts aren’t needed.
- paulr

The problem is if he doesn’t improve defensively it won’t be long before he’s the next whipping boy.
- paulr

I have been on this board listening to complaints about defenseman for a long time.

I also find it interesting that the very same defenseman so many here has been castigated but they then go elsewhere and are still in the National Hockey league, which to me says, they that either the league has no young up n coming defenseman or they weren't all that bad since some other team signed them.

I won't count Forsling,because at the time I think StanBo wasn't gonna pay him for on the job training.


Calvin de Haan
Erik Gustafson
Jack johnson
Caleb Jones
Nick Leddy
Olli Maatta
Jake McCabe
Jan Rutta
Riley Stillman
Trevor van Riemsdyk
ikita Zadorov

While playing here, the board picked apart most of these guys weaknesses.

It is stil a team sport and when your team is and, it is easy to find scapegoats, yet, other NHL teams thought enough to sign them and pay them a million or so.

My point is it difficult for me to separate individual play in win and losses, and there is a better chance you would have liked some of those guys more (and did less harping about them) if we had a club that was winning.

Have a good Christmas all.

You have info that he and his parents want him to play in Vancouver?
- captainserious

The boy still loves his Canucks, is my only info, but I do know he is got a very concerned support group that the Hawks want to keep try and keep happy...

The boy still loves his Canucks, is my only info, but I do know he is got a very concerned support group that the Hawks want to keep try and keep happy...
- wiz1901

Is this info from the same source who told you Toews had ALS. Come on Wiz your strength is in ranking draft prospects not in starting and passing stupid rumours.

Fluke goal. He had him tied up and the puck just laid there.

Korchinski is Gus at this point defensively
- Elbows15

That is simply not true. I'm trying to dig up the stat card but his zone denials and ability to disrupt plays successfully at the blue line is very good. His passing out of the zone is very good.

Biggest issue is exiting the zone after retrievals which is a speed of play thing.

Also - let's be a bit more realistic. It's his first game back after missing a few weeks. Probably going to take another one or two to get his legs back under him.

The coaches need to tell KK to stop rushing and pinching for the time being and just focus on his defensive game. Simplify his game to focus on his weaknesses. He does allot of things well but the most important part.
- paulr

He was earlier in the season. They probably told him to be more aggressive and not worry about the mistakes.

The sucking isn't the worse part. I knew they weren't going to be good. Its the fact every game is the same story. They get hemmed in their own zone for days on end. Mainly cause the forwards are never in position or can win a board battle. The system needs some changes. They leave the points open constantly which in turns leaves options for the guys down low.

We will see if KD can make some moves this summer to get some players in here who aren't plugs or bottom 3 guys.
- Elbows15

It's not the system its lack of talent.

Getting hemmed in and not executing a game plan is 100% a description of a bad team.

Interesting that they sent Kaiser and Roos to the Rock and were only left with six defensemen, maybe Vlasic is ready to draw back in? I hope so, no more Tinordi please.

The boy still loves his Canucks, is my only info, but I do know he is got a very concerned support group that the Hawks want to keep try and keep happy...
- wiz1901

When he was drafted I read some rumblings that he might force a trade back home. But I also read some arguments that he'd never do that, and even in the WHL he could have been traded to a better team but he wanted to remain with Regina.

I just figured if they put a team around him,and they start winning then leaving would be a long shot.
I think if the Isles were more successful that Tavares probably wouldn't have left until he was 32-33 years old.

The sucking isn't the worse part. I knew they weren't going to be good. Its the fact every game is the same story. They get hemmed in their own zone for days on end. Mainly cause the forwards are never in position or can win a board battle. The system needs some changes. They leave the points open constantly which in turns leaves options for the guys down low.

We will see if KD can make some moves this summer to get some players in here who aren't plugs or bottom 3 guys.
- Elbows15

We can all agree that there is a serious lack of talent. What is your surprise?

When he was drafted I read some rumblings that he might force a trade back home. But I also read some arguments that he'd never do that, and even in the WHL he could have been traded to a better team but he wanted to remain with Regina.

I just figured if they put a team around him,and they start winning then leaving would be a long shot.
I think if the Isles were more successful that Tavares probably wouldn't have left until he was 32-33 years old.
- captainserious

Organizationally the Hawks have treated players extremely well after the old man died. I think thats why you see so many re-treads. Guys want to come back after leaving.

If the Islanders could have put together some better teams Tavares probably doesn't leave. They were also playing in that poop hole and the org didn't seem very well ran. Though after he left they had some degree of success with Trotz.

If the Hawks make the playoffs twice in the next 7 years. Yeah he probably maybe doesn't stick around.

If theyre in the mix and consistently a threat and more or less winning (even if it is only the degree of Toronto or whatever) he probably sticks around until his 30s.

I love the way Blackwell plays. Put five more in the bottom six and we will be much better.

Organizationally the Hawks have treated players extremely well after the old man died. I think thats why you see so many re-treads. Guys want to come back after leaving.

If the Islanders could have put together some better teams Tavares probably doesn't leave. They were also playing in that poop hole and the org didn't seem very well ran. Though after he left they had some degree of success with Trotz.

If the Hawks make the playoffs twice in the next 7 years. Yeah he probably maybe doesn't stick around.

If theyre in the mix and consistently a threat and more or less winning (even if it is only the degree of Toronto or whatever) he probably sticks around until his 30s.
- fattybeef

I agree,and I think that is why Davidson needs to sign some decent players next offseason + hope that Nazar/Moore show enough to come and be impact players in the NHL. Neither of them needs to be a star in their 1st season,but something along the lines of Richardinson is totally possible. That way the team is more competitive and 98 is somewhat happy.

The Isles were messed up, and they pretty much shot themselves in the foot. Hopefully the Blackhawks are a bit smarter and realize they can't just sit back and follow a model where they are going to build exclusively through the draft.