Riechel’s looked good too. Had he played that way all year and AA and Hall had been in the lineup, I think we’d have seen a more competitive team most nights.

Hopefully no Tinordi or Megna next season and a couple more NHL fwds of maybe middle 6 caliber…dare to dream. Won’t be great but likely a lot more watchable.
- HawkintheD

Unfortunately I can see LR wanting and KFC signing Tinordi, the Hawks d- men collectively are not physical, no matter how many 6’5 and above d men the Hawks dress.

Unfortunately I can see LR wanting and KFC signing Tinordi, the Hawks d- men collectively are not physical, no matter how many 6’5 and above d men the Hawks dress.
- LAHawk

Blew my mind that he was +3 tonight. He should not be allowed to ever carry the puck again. The second he gets to the offensive blue line, his mind explodes.

Riechel’s looked good too. Had he played that way all year and AA and Hall had been in the lineup, I think we’d have seen a more competitive team most nights.

Hopefully no Tinordi or Megna next season and a couple more NHL fwds of maybe middle 6 caliber…dare to dream. Won’t be great but likely a lot more watchable.
- HawkintheD

The lineup on opening night didn't look terrible, I thought they could max out at 70-80 standings points. But as we can see now, the lineup was paper thin and could not sustain the injuries and release of Perry. I think KFC will learn from this and have some more veteran depth next year (but the need for short-term signings limits how good that veteran depth can be).

At forward, I expect mostly veteran adds and an experienced lineup, probably only Nazar (if he signs) would be another young guy in the opening night lineup. Rockford will be loaded with forward prospects though.

On defense I am hoping that it will be the expected top 4 but that the third pairing will be young guys (maybe pairs of young guys that rotate through while the rest are in Rockford). #7 would be a veteran who really does not play all that much.

Could make 4 prospect dman pairings, with one in Chicago and the rest in Rockford. Something like:

Del Mastro - Allan
Phillips - Crevier
Roos - Kaiser
Harding - Kelley (probably stay in Rockford all year)

No need to trade any of the young dmen until summer of 2025.

The lineup on opening night didn't look terrible, I thought they could max out at 70-80 standings points. But as we can see now, the lineup was paper thin and could not sustain the injuries and release of Perry. I think KFC will learn from this and have some more veteran depth next year (but the need for short-term signings limits how good that veteran depth can be).

At forward, I expect mostly veteran adds and an experienced lineup, probably only Nazar (if he signs) would be another young guy in the opening night lineup. Rockford will be loaded with forward prospects though.

On defense I am hoping that it will be the expected top 4 but that the third pairing will be young guys (maybe pairs of young guys that rotate through while the rest are in Rockford). #7 would be a veteran who really does not play all that much.

Could make 4 prospect dman pairings, with one in Chicago and the rest in Rockford. Something like:

Del Mastro - Allan
Phillips - Crevier
Roos - Kaiser
Harding - Kelley (probably stay in Rockford all year)

No need to trade any of the young dmen until summer of 2025.
- totem

Agree everything. So you think Harding and Kelly are worthy and will be offered contracts? Have not heard a whisper about their ceiling or performance not even wiz had anything to say

Bread man earning his bread this season in a big way. He had 93 points so far and should hit the century mark!

Within last couple days I saw a story about the LA Kings strategy to draft RH dmen. The Kings have traded from surplus of RH dmen - one such trade was for Fiala and another was to send Durzi to Phoenix

But what surprise me is reportedly RH dmen is a minority in the NHL and therefore teams covet the rearguards who shoot and pass from the right side

I know in the general population - in the USA anyway - preponderance of population is right handed,

Hmmmm!
- jhawk59

In hockey it seems reversed - by far more people with right dominant hand - will be lefty in hockey -it's about the dominant hand being the top one on the stick (by the but end).

Unfortunately I can see LR wanting and KFC signing Tinordi, the Hawks d- men collectively are not physical, no matter how many 6’5 and above d men the Hawks dress.
- LAHawk

They have one on the way in DelMastro but they might like him to spend one more year in RFD, or at least a part of one.

I haven't looked at FA Dmen, but they should have Murphy back who can fill that role to a degree and maybe they sign a stopgap better than Tinordi. Really hoping he and Megna are not on the team next season.

They have one on the way in DelMastro but they might like him to spend one more year in RFD, or at least a part of one.

I haven't looked at FA Dmen, but they should have Murphy back who can fill that role to a degree and maybe they sign a stopgap better than Tinordi. Really hoping he and Megna are not on the team next season.
- HawkintheD

.

I agree, befuddling to me he kept Tinordi over the younger England who I thought was OK when coming over from Colorado last year. He is averaging 13 minutes a night playing for the Kings. Performing the tough guy role.

.

I agree, befuddling to me he kept Tinordi over the younger England who I thought was OK when coming over from Colorado last year. He is averaging 13 minutes a night playing for the Kings. Performing the tough guy role.
- LAHawk

Maybe it has to do with being another vet role model?

Maybe it has to do with being another vet role model?
- BetweenTheDots

On defense? Wasn't Jones, Murphy, Zaitsev enough veteran presence?

.

I agree, befuddling to me he kept Tinordi over the younger England who I thought was OK when coming over from Colorado last year. He is averaging 13 minutes a night playing for the Kings. Performing the tough guy role.
- LAHawk

KD needs to find a decent 7D this offseason, a guy that may play once every 10 days or so and isn't a complete pilon. I'd rather that not be Tinordi, I'd take Zaitsev over him any day.

On defense? Wasn't Jones, Murphy, Zaitsev enough veteran presence?
- LAHawk

Should be. Vlasic and Korchinski having a year under their belt will help and I think Crevier and Philips getting some time was good too.

KD needs to find a decent 7D this offseason, a guy that may play once every 10 days or so and isn't a complete pilon. I'd rather that not be Tinordi, I'd take Zaitsev over him any day.
- DarthKane

You mentioned that last blog and I'd rather have that as well. I think another poster was arguing for another young guy but I'd much rather their young guys be seeing time on the ice whether it be here or in RFD. Let Zaitsev be press box fodder.

On defense? Wasn't Jones, Murphy, Zaitsev enough veteran presence?
- LAHawk

I don't think any of those guys are willing to get punched in the face, hell I'm vjust throwing it out there.

You mentioned that last blog and I'd rather have that as well. I think another poster was arguing for another young guy but I'd much rather their young guys be seeing time on the ice whether it be here or in RFD. Let Zaitsev be press box fodder.
- HawkintheD

Agree, let the youngsters play in Chicago and/or Rockford, use a vet as 7th Dman and it can’t be Megna or Tinordi, they both need to go.

Agree, let the youngsters play in Chicago and/or Rockford, use a vet as 7th Dman and it can’t be Megna or Tinordi, they both need to go.
- Angotti

Who knows maybe we'll go 7 dmen next year and 11 forwards? If Tinordi plays 10 minutes like Seth Jones eventually plays 20 minutes a night it's all good.

Tinordi and Megna should not be back next year.

I would rather watch two young defensemen up and struggle than watch those two again. They both did their job this year and now keep moving forward.

Landon Slaggert was enjoyable to watch live yesterday. You can tell he has been well-coached and is defensively responsible. He was constantly looking around the ice to make sure he was in a good defensive position. Quick shifts that were effective and can skate!

Reichel looked way better too and significantly more confident. Overall, the Blackhawks looked much faster and played with good speed. Vlasic and Korchinski are going to be monsters when this team starts coming together. They have gotten so much better over this year; it's scary to think about their ceiling as players.

They have one on the way in DelMastro but they might like him to spend one more year in RFD, or at least a part of one.

I haven't looked at FA Dmen, but they should have Murphy back who can fill that role to a degree and maybe they sign a stopgap better than Tinordi. Really hoping he and Megna are not on the team next season.
- HawkintheD

Don't forget Allan, whom it seems LR likes, he was praising his physical play before the season started during prospects tourney and training camp. He may not make the jump yet, but I bet he will be in the mix. Murphy will definitely continue to fill that role too.

First and foremost though, before worrying about having enough "physical" guys on back end, they need to focus on defensive reads and having sticks in lanes, disrupting plays and defending the rush better.

Once the team starts to get actually competitive, it's not like they can't add some physical guys as depth to round things out. The trade market and UFA market will always have options to add grit.

Don't forget Allan, whom it seems LR likes, he was praising his physical play before the season started during prospects tourney and training camp. He may not make the jump yet, but I bet he will be in the mix. Murphy will definitely continue to fill that role too.

First and foremost though, before worrying about having enough "physical" guys on back end, they need to focus on defensive reads and having sticks in lanes, disrupting plays and defending the rush better.

Once the team starts to get actually competitive, it's not like they can't add some physical guys as depth to round things out. The trade market and UFA market will always have options to add grit.
- breadbag

All of this.

Agree, let the youngsters play in Chicago and/or Rockford, use a vet as 7th Dman and it can’t be Megna or Tinordi, they both need to go.
- Angotti

I think Megna, Tinordi and Zaitsev are all good as gone. Roos is probably gonna not be resigned I bet. And we will see what the Hawks think about Crevier and Phillips if those two are offered a QO or not.

On the defensive front Wyatt Kaiser was recalled today as Emergency Loan call up.

Don't forget Allan, whom it seems LR likes, he was praising his physical play before the season started during prospects tourney and training camp. He may not make the jump yet, but I bet he will be in the mix. Murphy will definitely continue to fill that role too.

First and foremost though, before worrying about having enough "physical" guys on back end, they need to focus on defensive reads and having sticks in lanes, disrupting plays and defending the rush better.

Once the team starts to get actually competitive, it's not like they can't add some physical guys as depth to round things out. The trade market and UFA market will always have options to add grit.
- breadbag

Well unless you want Foligno to be the designated face puncher, or Murphy when he is not injured, you do need a Ryan Reeves type (not necessarily a D man) to "answer" to any unnecessary roughness on Bedard. As much as fighting is not a thing in the NHL there still is a code, and there still are the Matt Rempe's, Radko Gudas's that are on major league rosters that the Hawks better have an answer for.

Well unless you want Foligno to be the designated face puncher, or Murphy when he is not injured, you do need a Ryan Reeves type (not necessarily a D man) to "answer" to any unnecessary roughness on Bedard. As much as fighting is not a thing in the NHL there still is a code, and there still are the Matt Rempe's, Radko Gudas's that are on major league rosters that the Hawks better have an answer for.
- LAHawk

So you're saying Reese Johnson is coming back....

So you're saying Reese Johnson is coming back....
- Chunk

Good one Chunk, forgot about him, but i can see a 2 way contract for him, why not? As much as we pan him, he is a perfect 13th forward for the Hawks. he can take face-offs, is actually defensively responsible can penalty kill, and will "answer the bell" for his teammate. Is his offense really any different than what David Kampf is?

Kaiser recalled. Seven defenseman now on the active roster.

After the TDL, a team can only make 4 non-emergency call ups. 1st Reichel and now Kaiser. Only two left. Hopefully Kaiser will stick on the roster for the remainder of the season and get some big league ice time and experience.

Well unless you want Foligno to be the designated face puncher, or Murphy when he is not injured, you do need a Ryan Reeves type (not necessarily a D man) to "answer" to any unnecessary roughness on Bedard. As much as fighting is not a thing in the NHL there still is a code, and there still are the Matt Rempe's, Radko Gudas's that are on major league rosters that the Hawks better have an answer for.
- LAHawk

We will probably have Reese Johnson next year.