From the scouting reports he’s a goal scoring winger but he’s not very physical. Unfortunately one game live doesn’t tell me much. I saw Lardis twice this year and neither time he looked great although his speed was incredible and he has a quick release and good shot. I’ve seen Ludwinski before, what he brought when I saw him was roll up his sleeves, nose over the puck hard work.
- paulr

The scouting reports also called Kirby Dach a solid two way player.


I've watched Misiak a couple of times and like the way he plays, but as you said, it's early and small sample size.

From the scouting reports he’s a goal scoring winger but he’s not very physical. Unfortunately one game live doesn’t tell me much. I saw Lardis twice this year and neither time he looked great although his speed was incredible and he has a quick release and good shot. I’ve seen Ludwinski before, what he brought when I saw him was roll up his sleeves, nose over the puck hard work.
- paulr

Neither was Mike Bossy.
Thanks for the clip on Lindstrom.

I'm ok with sitting Phillips as long as he's told it ain't a punishment for last game and that his play has been escellent. With Jones and Vlasic out he's been leading the Dmen in TOI and that's against top lines.. No rookie Dman should be put in that situation but the kid has and done a fantastic job.

And yea man, looks like LR is a bonifide line blender guy. There's no magic bullet with this group so it'd be nice to see if anything gels over a 5 game period.
- Mr Ricochet

Phillips might welcome the break after that last game, and the chance to reassess. A minus 5 night can't be easy to endure at his stage.

As for is LR a line blender guy, the injury merry go round seems to be dictating a lot of that as well. And it seems as good a time as any to observe all the possible combos for any potential value added. Besides, nobody can predict what the lineup will be like in a few years, let alone next year.

A slower Anthony Beauvillier?
- LAHawk

Good thing we got him.

Neither was Mike Bossy.
Thanks for the clip on Lindstrom.
- Angotti

Bossy in earlier days and Kane later are always my examples of guys who are really good going straight to the NHL.

Oh no, the keeper of the board don't dig it when you use The Phenom and jrs in the same sentence. ........ You say Bedard needs to correct his jr hockey ways I SAID he's a jrs hockey player with a world class shot playing in the NHL, TODAY. Semantics, but yours is a much kinder description.

And where Bedard is at is ok as painful as parts of his game can look as he figures out he NHL. Yes, Fantilli and Carlsson both have a more rounded game but that's their game, 2 way players. Bedard never was that, and was never asked it seems, so like any kid/prospect, just like in jrs, the expectation (requirement) is to develop and IMO as bad as the kid can look without the puck outside the Ozone at times he has taken positive steps in the last 5ish games.

My eye says he's cognizant of taking shorter shifts acknowledging it's still a work in progress. I think last game was the first I saw him skate into a triple team in 5ish games. Kid is checking up, finding trailers (who didn't fly the zone like he did) or executing beautiful dumps away from the goalie. ...... That's all new, and no, it ain't gonna make him a 2 way player today but it makes him a better one and that's what developing looks like. Keep building on small improvements. ........ I'm sure I'm not saying anything you don't know, or are saying, Rick, just adding some context to what I've found following jrs closely.

He'll learn. Even a player as talented as Bedard is you do not win in the NHL outscoring your weaknesses on a team this devoid of talent........ Guys like Datsyuk and Toews would have added 20ish more pts per yr, Datsyuk even more, if they weren't world class 2 way players that won cups... Let's see what Bedard wants to be cuz IMO there ain't nothing the kid can't do and that includes playing reasonable 2 way hockey.
- Mr Ricochet

He’s not a jrs player in the NHL. Does he have defense lapses and does he dog it on the back check from time to time? Yes… but so do a lot of NHL forwards and defenseman.

He also makes a lot of good defensive plays.

Ever think maybe the coaching staff is telling him to play up high and fly the zone for offensive rushes?

He’s not a jrs player in the NHL. Does he have defense lapses and does he dog it on the back check from time to time? Yes… but so do a lot of NHL forwards and defenseman.

He also makes a lot of good defensive plays.

Ever think maybe the coaching staff is telling him to play up high and fly the zone for offensive rushes?
- bhawks2241

Well LR did tell him he can't go behind the net in the opponents end and chase the puck he knows he wants to get the puck back but he needs to be patient because he then compromises the team defense, that was after the 1st period of the stars game, he'll get there. We suck as a coach i just keep reminding him of what he's doing wrong, but if i have a one goal lead he doesn't see the ice at the end of the game. And i don't think he has

If there has been any super hype of Celebrini, as better than Bedard, I haven't seen it.

The TSN announcers will continue to try and relate this World Junior -20 to last years and connect how both are under agers who play better or are on equal footing with the older kids. Celebrini is a horse, fearless and hell bent to win and if we got so lucky, Connor would have a friend from before to make him feel comfortable and a good compatible on ice linemate.
We can come here and moan at the results of the Hawks last game, but it is clear we are going to close in on a pretty exceptional prospect in 2024.

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts


I am pretty much in a holding pattern with dropping any of my top seven rounds of picks out for now.


I dived into lots a tape of Cayden and moved him into slot #2 on my board.

I really like Eiserman too, but I think he has got a little longer incubation time, the shot is there, and a really good one, and he looks like a guy who can playa forward positions but is going to improve once he is settled with one and line mates and that is happening.
(He is a tough pass if we pick #2)
((I guess I should mention that Cayden Lindstrom is also a player who as of now doesn't have a etched in stone position as a centre or LHRW, or left as a pro projection...that comes with climbing the ladder to his potential)

I look at the lottery as "what does bad luck bring this year with our pick?"

I feel that the Hawks brass KNOWS they still need help up front no matter how many hopefuls they have taken already.

If two teams below slot 1 & 2 win the lottery, they may be either reaching for a forward or taking the best defender.

I see Tampa's place in the standings related to the late arrival of Vassy due to his recovery, but granted they ARE on a decline, and I am hard pressed to think TB stays at their current slot 13.
But if they DID, that pick could win the lottery and bump the pick to slot THREE.

I just saw an article that said Stevie Y. told Kane that if they are not in a playoff position come trade deadline, he would be willing to trade Kaner to a playoff team.

I just saw an article that said Stevie Y. told Kane that if they are not in a playoff position come trade deadline, he would be willing to trade Kaner to a playoff team.
- bjphawkfan

I'm sure they will try to get something out of the deal if they don't gain some ground in the standings soon. Right now, the Wings are in the exact same spot in the standings they finished in last year with regards to a playoff spot. 6th place in the Eastern wild card race, but they have a little bit of a chance if Tampa/Toronto falter, they could try to sneak into 3rd in the Atlantic.

Just a note, but looks like the more things change the more they stay the same.

Bottom 5 teams in the standings last year Anaheim, Columbus, Chicago, San Jose, Montreal. Right now, 4 of those 5 are still in the bottom 5. Montreal has climbed 2 spots to 26th in the league as of right now.

Rebuilds take time and not just for Chicago. Probably at least one more season after this before the Hawks start to be a bubble team or in a playoff position discussion at all.

Moore with a goal and assist in the USA 7-2 win over Latvia. Nazar and Rinzel scoreless.

Before the tournament began there was talk that Celebrini was a better player than Bedard not only because he played a better two way game but because he was close offensively. Celebrini is a decent enough player but it’s clear he’s not in the same stratosphere. Last year Bedard put the Canadian team on his back and completely dominated the tournament in two cases winning games on his own. Celebrini is a nice player but he’s no where near as dominating or dynamic.

Lindstrom started the draft rankings in the high teens. He’s been flying up the rankings and in some lists he’s top five. Before it’s over he could very well be challenging in the top three. It’s up to scouts to project who will be the best pro player. The Hawks are getting a good player in the draft I want them to draft the best available, but I like a lot of what I’ve seen of Lindstrom.
- paulr

IDK, might be a little early to make that assessment of 17 year old Celebrini. I want to give the Swedes and Czechs lots of credit, both strong, mature well prepared teams defensively and they played him vey tough. Was he suppoosed to do it all by hmself? The Canadian forwards around him did squat out there when the going got real competitive last 2 games.

NHL stars get shut down too in the playoffs by teams with goaltending and commitment to not letting goal scorers just free wheel.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/1/1/24021176/blackhawks-prospects-paul-ludwinski-kingston-frontenacs-patrick-kane

Nice to see Ludwinski finding his game.
- Chunk

https://www.bleachernatio...other-blackhawks-bullets/

Like the part where he is taking on the same role as he will play in the pros.

Once you've been the "FAT BASTARD BURRITO Performer of the Night" a few times, well, nothin' left to prove......

If Korchinski = Korbustski
then does Ludwinski = Ludbustski?

Soderblom in net tonight.

https://twitter.com/BenPo...amp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

IDK, might be a little early to make that assessment of 17 year old Celebrini. I want to give the Swedes and Czechs lots of credit, both strong, mature well prepared teams defensively and they played him vey tough. Was he suppoosed to do it all by hmself? The Canadian forwards around him did squat out there when the going got real competitive last 2 games.

NHL stars get shut down too in the playoffs by teams with goaltending and commitment to not letting goal scorers just free wheel.
- RickJ

I’m not taking anything away from the Swedes or Czechs or Slovaks and certainly not the American team. Before the tournament I had Canada battling for third against the aforementioned teams.

Celebrini has great numbers in the NCAA and last year in what was essentially a junior B league he had decent numbers. I’ve seen a few Boston College games as well as him playing for Canada and he’s a solid two way forward. I just don’t see him as that special guy like a Bedard, McDavid or Matthews. I’d love to see the Hawks grab him.

Didn't see the game, but looks like Gajan was just OK at best today.

Finland looked like they didn't have a good shot this year, and boom, they're in the Semis.

I wanted Halttunen

Soderblom in net tonight.

https://twitter.com/BenPo...amp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
- boilermaker100

Hopefully the team in front of him can play well, limit those dangerous chances and maybe manage more than 23-25 shots on goal the other way. Our goalies will continue to be under siege if we keep giving up chances around the net.

So far, opposition teams have gotten dangerous scoring chances 50% more than the Hawks have managed to generate. It's more than 60% at even strength.

Soderblom is really only second to Blackwood in San Jose in terms of volume of dangerous chances against per 60. Of course he can help the cause by absorbing a few more pucks and holding onto rebounds, but the team needs to defend the dangerous areas better too.

Mark Lazerus
@MarkLazerus
Seney and Katchouk in for Reese Johnson and the injured Tyler Johnson. Zaitsev in for Phillips. Söderblom starts.

C'mon Swiss.

Assume US would get Swiss in semis if they win

Phillips might welcome the break after that last game, and the chance to reassess. A minus 5 night can't be easy to endure at his stage.

As for is LR a line blender guy, the injury merry go round seems to be dictating a lot of that as well. And it seems as good a time as any to observe all the possible combos for any potential value added. Besides, nobody can predict what the lineup will be like in a few years, let alone next year.
- 333inthe3rd

How does line blending alter the talent level of a player?

Swiss got screwed by refs, I hate refs who decide games this big.

How does line blending alter the talent level of a player?
- LFS

??? Who said it did? All I've read was people talking about continuing line blending. There's not much talent overall on this team, so even if it did, it wouldn't change much.