Rolston hasn’t scored much so far. Last time I noticed ha had three goals
- jhawk59

He'll fit right in.

The last two games I have seen the Reichel that played in Germany; engaging on the forecheck. I do not care about scoring now. That may come, but this WAS part of his game.

- wiz1901

Glad you brought this up and I haven't thought of it this way. But yea, remembering the small sample tapes of Reichel playing pro in Germany as a teenager the kid played a kinda hair on fire, high motor, hungry forecheck. His forecheck now, and it may be coaching, is much much more passive.

When I think about it in this context I think the kid is confused cuz we saw his effective forecheck in Germany and his overall success in last yrs callup.

And on the forecheck topic this is an area that has disappointed me this yr overall. A team of 10 bottom 6 forwards should be hungry and forechecking it would seem would be a strength. Not often we see a disruptive forecheck that at the minimum causes teams to have trouble exiting their zone if not creating some dangerous chances.

It's only been 4-5 games since Bedard has realized dumping is better than coughing with odd mans going the other way. The kid has shown his dumps are excellent. Away from the goalie and soft to where the Dman has to dig the thing off the wall instead of playing a hard bounce that's a foot or two off the wall where a Dman can scoop it in stride.

The best outcome on dumps for the Hawks is when Bedard does the dumping..... Point is the Hawks should be a much better squad at dumping and getting positive results from them.

You guys need to relax a bit on the negative. I thought they would be a bit better than they have been, but i certainly didn't expect them to be any good. Next year either.

I said I wasn't on board with KK being in the NHL, thought he should lead his minor league team, lead team Canada in the World Jrs, and maybe come up.

They saw it different, I might have been better on that one than them, only time will tell. My point wasn't based on anything i saw, its just i would always take that route with anyone not named Bedard.

You need to get your excitement for this and the next two years from guys in College, Minors, and world tourney's cause that's where the guys are that are going to be playing until the team is good again.

I was impressed with Nazar, Moore and Rinzel (Hayes didn't show me much), and Misiak (that guy goes to the front of the net and attacks it like an animal) He will be in that position on the power play for the Hawks for a decade.

Nazar will get on a line with Bedard and have a minimum of 50 or 60 assists per year. Howard and Brindley thrived in the tourney, Frankie was the one dishing to them.

Don't get overly negative about the NHL team, there won't be more than 4 or 5 guys on it when they are good again in 2 to 3 years.

It was always going to be this way.

You guys need to relax a bit on the negative. I thought they would be a bit better than they have been, but i certainly didn't expect them to be any good. Next year either.

I said I wasn't on board with KK being in the NHL, thought he should lead his minor league team, lead team Canada in the World Jrs, and maybe come up.

They saw it different, I might have been better on that one than them, only time will tell. My point wasn't based on anything i saw, its just i would always take that route with anyone not named Bedard.

You need to get your excitement for this and the next two years from guys in College, Minors, and world tourney's cause that's where the guys are that are going to be playing until the team is good again.

I was impressed with Nazar, Moore and Rinzel (Hayes didn't show me much), and Misiak (that guy goes to the front of the net and attacks it like an animal) He will be in that position on the power play for the Hawks for a decade.

Nazar will get on a line with Bedard and have a minimum of 50 or 60 assists per year. Howard and Brindley thrived in the tourney, Frankie was the one dishing to them.

Don't get overly negative about the NHL team, there won't be more than 4 or 5 guys on it when they are good again in 2 to 3 years.

It was always going to be this way.
- vabeachbear

This is correct.

You guys need to relax a bit on the negative. I thought they would be a bit better than they have been, but i certainly didn't expect them to be any good. Next year either.

I said I wasn't on board with KK being in the NHL, thought he should lead his minor league team, lead team Canada in the World Jrs, and maybe come up.

They saw it different, I might have been better on that one than them, only time will tell. My point wasn't based on anything i saw, its just i would always take that route with anyone not named Bedard.

You need to get your excitement for this and the next two years from guys in College, Minors, and world tourney's cause that's where the guys are that are going to be playing until the team is good again.

I was impressed with Nazar, Moore and Rinzel (Hayes didn't show me much), and Misiak (that guy goes to the front of the net and attacks it like an animal) He will be in that position on the power play for the Hawks for a decade.

Nazar will get on a line with Bedard and have a minimum of 50 or 60 assists per year. Howard and Brindley thrived in the tourney, Frankie was the one dishing to them.

Don't get overly negative about the NHL team, there won't be more than 4 or 5 guys on it when they are good again in 2 to 3 years.

It was always going to be this way.
- vabeachbear

I, like you, thought Korchinski should have stayed in junior but he’s up now and has to learn his weaknesses under pressure. I noticed against New York he didn’t force his rushes and pinches and was always in position defensively. Last night he was out of position allot again and had a terrible night defensively. I think he is also a bit timid in physical situations but he’s a 19 year old boy who needs to get stronger, that’ll come. Let’s give him a couple of seasons before we make absolutist judgements.

As for Nazar, let’s hope there’s chemistry with him and Bedard. I also hope he can do his share of sniping. It’ll prevent teams from double teaming Bedard if there’s another legit scoring threat on the ice. Also I’m tired of seeing teammates unable to find Bedard or receive a pass from him. But most of all Nazar has the speed and hopefully awareness to get on the rush when Bedard does so Bedard has an option other than to try to deke around the team himself or just give the puck up.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Blackhawks acquire Rem Pitlick from Pittsburgh for a conditional 2026 7th. There’s some forward depth.

Why didn’t KD sign Bjork to a NHL contract? He could have used the seventh to get another boat anchor next year.

Amazing it was a few weeks ago and Katchook was sent down because the Hawks had too many bodies disguised as forwards

Already dealing with a long injury list, things just got even worse on that front for the Blackhawks. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve placed center Connor Bedard and winger Nick Foligno on injured reserve. Bedard has a fractured jaw while Foligno is dealing with a fractured left finger.

Already dealing with a long injury list, things just got even worse on that front for the Blackhawks. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve placed center Connor Bedard and winger Nick Foligno on injured reserve. Bedard has a fractured jaw while Foligno is dealing with a fractured left finger.
- Angotti

It's going to be quite the finish between the Blackhawks and the Sharks.

Fractured jaw, ouch tough lesson

Already dealing with a long injury list, things just got even worse on that front for the Blackhawks. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve placed center Connor Bedard and winger Nick Foligno on injured reserve. Bedard has a fractured jaw while Foligno is dealing with a fractured left finger.
- Angotti

Fractured Jaw I assume is a season ender?

It's coming folks don't know which season but opponent makes any contact to another players head it will be a penalty and possible ejection.

Wonder if Foligno broke his finger in the fight?

Keep your head up kid!! Luckily it’s just a broken jaw. He’ll learn for that and be even better

Fractured Jaw I assume is a season ender?
- vabeachbear

Depends how bad and the extent of any surgery he may need. Lots of guys have played with a full cage. From all the anecdotes I’ve read, I’d bet we’ll see him sooner rather than later.

Fractured Jaw I assume is a season ender?
- vabeachbear

6-8 weeks is more likely. Boone Jenner fractured his in early December and is close to returning to practice.

Fractured Jaw I assume is a season ender?
- vabeachbear

Without knowing the details I would assume 6-8 weeks.

Will all depend on how many games Bedard ends up missing (my guess is about 20), but there is a very strong likelihood now that the Hawks don’t have a single 50 point scorer on the season.

Has that ever happened in the NHL? This team is comically thin right now.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Blackhawks acquire Rem Pitlick from Pittsburgh for a conditional 2026 7th. There’s some forward depth.

Why didn’t KD sign Bjork to a NHL contract? He could have used the seventh to get another boat anchor next year.

Amazing it was a few weeks ago and Katchook was sent down because the Hawks had too many bodies disguised as forwards
- LAHawk

Maybe KD will sign Bjork in addition to this trade?

Maybe KD will sign Bjork in addition to this trade?
- DarthKane

Don’t waste that glorious cap space!

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Blackhawks acquire Rem Pitlick from Pittsburgh for a conditional 2026 7th. There’s some forward depth.



- LAHawk

Pitlick is a 2016 3rd rd pick, 5ft 11 in 200lbs, St Mary's kid for a bunch of yrs, 2 full yrs USHL, 3 full yrs at U of MN, 121 games in the AHL, 123 NHL games, put up pts all the way up to AHL. Solid + - numbers throughout. Love the path. https://www.eliteprospect...player/199968/rem-pitlick

I do remember him in jrs as a solid 2 way player the kind a coach loves. Don't remember his skating/motor. An honest 2 way guy.

On this roster of bottom 6 and borderline NHLers who don't bring much offense Pitlick is a fit and my guess is he'll get looks in the top 6. A D!ckenson type IIRC. ...... I like the move in the way I liked Beaulivier. The guy is an NHLer something the Hawks are short on.

As i mentioned yesterday, hiccups in the plan of a rebuild, what will KD do?

You guys need to relax a bit on the negative. I thought they would be a bit better than they have been, but i certainly didn't expect them to be any good. Next year either.

I said I wasn't on board with KK being in the NHL, thought he should lead his minor league team, lead team Canada in the World Jrs, and maybe come up.

They saw it different, I might have been better on that one than them, only time will tell. My point wasn't based on anything i saw, its just i would always take that route with anyone not named Bedard.

You need to get your excitement for this and the next two years from guys in College, Minors, and world tourney's cause that's where the guys are that are going to be playing until the team is good again.

I was impressed with Nazar, Moore and Rinzel (Hayes didn't show me much), and Misiak (that guy goes to the front of the net and attacks it like an animal) He will be in that position on the power play for the Hawks for a decade.

Nazar will get on a line with Bedard and have a minimum of 50 or 60 assists per year. Howard and Brindley thrived in the tourney, Frankie was the one dishing to them.

Don't get overly negative about the NHL team, there won't be more than 4 or 5 guys on it when they are good again in 2 to 3 years.

It was always going to be this way.
- vabeachbear

Well said, VBear........ The season is not about winning but developing and if the roster doesn't have enough NHL skill that the kids play in so many games getting stomped is that good enough from a developing standpoint?

At least for me that's my problem/concern/question. And I haven't touched on the culture.

You guys need to relax a bit on the negative. I thought they would be a bit better than they have been, but i certainly didn't expect them to be any good. Next year either.

I said I wasn't on board with KK being in the NHL, thought he should lead his minor league team, lead team Canada in the World Jrs, and maybe come up.

They saw it different, I might have been better on that one than them, only time will tell. My point wasn't based on anything i saw, its just i would always take that route with anyone not named Bedard.

You need to get your excitement for this and the next two years from guys in College, Minors, and world tourney's cause that's where the guys are that are going to be playing until the team is good again.

I was impressed with Nazar, Moore and Rinzel (Hayes didn't show me much), and Misiak (that guy goes to the front of the net and attacks it like an animal) He will be in that position on the power play for the Hawks for a decade.

Nazar will get on a line with Bedard and have a minimum of 50 or 60 assists per year. Howard and Brindley thrived in the tourney, Frankie was the one dishing to them.

Don't get overly negative about the NHL team, there won't be more than 4 or 5 guys on it when they are good again in 2 to 3 years.

It was always going to be this way.
- vabeachbear

Yep. We gotta take the bad along with the good. Right now it's great to see that a lot of prospects are doing well. Not all of them will pan out, but there will be some NHL talent coming.

Will all depend on how many games Bedard ends up missing (my guess is about 20), but there is a very strong likelihood now that the Hawks don’t have a single 50 point scorer on the season.

Has that ever happened in the NHL? This team is comically thin right now.
- TommyHawk

It happened to Chicago last season.

It happened to Chicago last season.
- breadbag

Good point.

It's coming folks don't know which season but opponent makes any contact to another players head it will be a penalty and possible ejection.

Wonder if Foligno broke his finger in the fight?
- BetweenTheDots

Probably. He was trying to slap Smith with an open hand toward the end of the fight.

Big game at the UC on January 16th. Hawks play the Sharks in a battle for last place. Whoever wins may be the only game either team wins for a long time.

Sharks with 10 regulation losses in a row. Hawks with Richardinson as highest paid forward at 2.65M, a roster with a cap hit of about 35M and 35.5M on IR.