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.
- wiz1901

Yes, this 100%. So many Dmen who were deemed "not good enough" for a struggling Hawks team seem to find a comfortable home on better teams.

Sometimes folks just have blinders on mistakes for some players and amplify everything on the ones they don't like. I think we all do it at times.

No doubt a win would do Soderblom a helluva lotta good but helps the Hawks in that if he gets going a bit less likely LR will over play Mrazak hopefully keeping him healthy.

Soderblom looks much better than usual. He's square to most pucks and not sloppy in his crease. Decent reads.

5-5 after leading 5-2. Thats less than ideal.

5-5 after leading 5-2. Thats less than ideal.
- DarthKane

The Hawks have them just where they want them.

The Hawks have them just where they want them.
- paulr

Exactly, Tinordi with the game winner.

Soderblom is not a good hockey goaltender.

Soderblume does not belong in the nhl

Soderblom is not a good hockey goaltender.
- DarthKane

3rd period meltdown.

Soderblom is not a good hockey goaltender.
- DarthKane

I’d send him down. He’s terrible. No rebound control. Can’t stop routine saves. Needs to play in Rockford.

Yeah the Hawks were standing around but that Saad deflection was unacceptable and then that Faulk goal was even worse.

I’m not sure of the stats but he has two wins this year? I think I heard his GAA average is around 4?!

3rd period meltdown.
- Chief4Feathers

Thought they had it in the bag after Foligno scored the shorty. Apparently so did they.

Soderblom is not a good hockey goaltender.
- DarthKane

KD has an agenda to get us the number one overall pick again- foligno and Richardinson will be gone here soon no matter what the media says about who is going and who is not… might be the worst or close to worst record since the caps in the mid 70’s— play that guy 80% of the time they’ll be there— regressing after getting Bedard is not a good look— I still contend that he won’t be here long after his ELC expires it’ll be to BC

3rd period meltdown.
- Chief4Feathers

No surprise

Asking
Why Montreal is better than Chicago They have young men and are in a rebuild too

Their dmen aren’t as bad. As for the dmen in our lineup tonight, Crevier is ok and the others are not desirable. Well KK needs AHL learning and application. The kid Phillips we shall see if he ever gets past this stage in his development;?I will give him time.

The goaltender of future probably Comesso and Gajan

Vlasic is needed. Murphy can go.

Nice goal, and saw at least 2 face off wins in the d zone ... but ... the game is still 60 minutes -- wished he'd get more ticked off and take it by playing even harder - not wasting a stick. That's just misspent frustration.

This more general - is it so bad for anyone to actually play the man when they have the puck? I see a lot of going for the puck - whiffing, and the dude just goes on by? Am I that much of a dinosaur?

3rd period meltdown.
- Chief4Feathers

They'll never win back to back games this season. What a disastrous season !

Boyle is talking about Soderblum AHL options.
Scott agrees Soderblum struggles but doesn’t think they should send him down.

The Hawks had a game last year that was similar against the Stars where they gave up 4 in a row to lose 6-5. Bad teams find ways to lose.

Boyle is talking about Soderblum AHL options.
Scott agrees Soderblum struggles but doesn’t think they should send him down.

The Hawks had a game last year that was similar against the Stars where they gave up 4 in a row to lose 6-5. Bad teams find ways to lose.
- Popsghostly

Didn't watch the game, but as bad as Soderblom apparently was, the shots in the 3rd were 22 to 2. FFS, maybe the team in front of him could have done something to stop the onslaught…

Don’t watch the game, but as bad as Soderblom apparently was, the shots in the 3rd were 22 to 2. FFS, maybe the team in front of him could have done something to stop the onslaught…
- Chunk

Standing around no doubt and penalty trouble (the Murphy penalty was a weak call), 32 seconds of a 5-3, but watch two of the goals he gave up in the 3rd. Also watch a weak shot from the blue line go in to tie it at 2. They are showing a montage of Soderblum’s good saves and every one- 4 of them, he’s giving up rebounds. Not one of them did he hold on to the puck.

Standing around no doubt and penalty trouble (the Murphy penalty was a weak call), 32 seconds of a 5-3, but watch two of the goals he gave up in the 3rd. Also watch a weak shot from the blue line go in to tie it at 2. They are showing a montage of Soderblum’s good saves and every one- 4 of them, he’s giving up rebounds. Not one of them did he hold on to the puck.
- Popsghostly

This season isn’t about winning. Ride out the season with Soderblom then make a decision in the off season.

The team in front of Soderblom isn’t great, but its the same team playing in front of Mrazek whom is getting praised for his play.

This season isn’t about winning. Ride out the season with Soderblom then make a decision in the off season.

The team in front of Soderblom isn’t great, but its the same team playing in front of Mrazek whom is getting praised for his play.
- DarthKane

True Darth. But in the moment of spending 2 1/2 hours watching a 3 goal lead disappear in the third, pretty darn upsetting. Scott said it’s these losses which are the worst and I agree.

Charlie had an interesting stat-

“The Blackhawks are 10-22-1 with 21 points entering the Christmas break. They were 8-20-4 with 20 points at this point last season.”

The team is worse this year without a Kane, Toews, Jones (for past few games), Domi and AA so not surprising.

Yeah having a top 3 pick will make things better for sure but darn frustrating.

No doubt a win would do Soderblom a helluva lotta good but helps the Hawks in that if he gets going a bit less likely LR will over play Mrazak hopefully keeping him healthy.

Soderblom looks much better than usual. He's square to most pucks and not sloppy in his crease. Decent reads.
- Mr Ricochet

Or he can give up 4 goals in the 3rd and fall even farther. ....... Something good has to happen to him or the organIzation needs to swap him and Stauber for a spell. .. Poor dude is undrafted for a reason and if he's some kinda NHL goalie someday it sure ain't now.

Ain't good for the group that's grinding out 60 minutes of NHL hockey either.

True Darth. But in the moment of spending 2 1/2 hours watching a 3 goal lead disappear in the third, pretty darn upsetting. Scott said it’s these losses which are the worst and I agree.

Charlie had an interesting stat-

“The Blackhawks are 10-22-1 with 21 points entering the Christmas break. They were 8-20-4 with 20 points at this point last season.”

The team is worse this year without a Kane, Toews, Jones (for past few games), Domi and AA so not surprising.

Yeah having a top 3 pick will make things better for sure but darn frustrating.
- Popsghostly

21 points, thats a clear and undeniable improvement that the glory days are right around the corner.

This season is more frustrating than last for sure, some positive growth was expected. I’d argue that there has been individual progress with Bedard, Vlasic, Korchinski and Kurashev. Sadly the team success hasn’t been there. Losing Hall, Jones, AA, and Perry long-term certainly doesn’t help. Not to mention certain players completely underperforming - Raddysh, Reichel, Soderblom.

This season isn’t about winning. Ride out the season with Soderblom then make a decision in the off season.

The team in front of Soderblom isn’t great, but its the same team playing in front of Mrazek whom is getting praised for his play.
- DarthKane

I agree that this season isn't about winning - I mean -obviously there is no question that this is the case - but it should be about playing fundamental hockey ... it isn't always happening.

I guess it should also be about developing an NHL attitude for those kids newer to the league.

Why not Bedard go to college?

Because he doesn't want to learn about the history of American Facism, with Prequel as required reading, or business, he wants to be on the ice stick in hand at least 6 hours a day.
- wiz1901

You ever been around athletes in college on full rides? They can get away with taking basket-weaving. You must have been talking about actual college- please don't confuse the 2... I went to the type that you described -and had to type papers on a typewriter (with ample correcto-tape)... so it isn't like I don't know.

All I was saying is that if 'his heart was in Vancouver' -there were ways to make it happen -which did not happen.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a belated Happy Hanukkah to everyone out there.
- boilermaker100

Merry Christmas, BM! .... And for all you golfers out there if you're getting some gear for Christmas you can probably get a round in the next couple days.

Nice goal, and saw at least 2 face off wins in the d zone ... but ... the game is still 60 minutes -- wished he'd get more ticked off and take it by playing even harder - not wasting a stick. That's just misspent frustration.

This more general - is it so bad for anyone to actually play the man when they have the puck? I see a lot of going for the puck - whiffing, and the dude just goes on by? Am I that much of a dinosaur?
- SC116

Yep, today's NHL is stick on stick, stick on puck. Playing the body is old school now.