Well if that’s the case maybe stop the Bedard and Richardinson at C experiments too since they were equally as bad on draws last night.

Two games and the sky is falling while the bottom’s dropping out. Gotta love this place.
- HawkintheD

Two games is more than enough time to figure out this team bites. You’re just an amateur if you can’t see how bad this team is after two games. Myself, I came to the conclusion after a single shift, but then again I understand the game, unlike yourself.

https://x.com/TalkinHawke...izXHsqvdmT7HjDMsgIXA&s=19


Rinzel with the goal

Last night is a prime example of learning how to win. For 59 minutes the Blackhawks were in position to do just that, and low and behold the team that has a winning record the past few years ends up winning the game. Be interesting to see if they can get over the hump more often than not this season.

I thought the team looked really good last night, really disappointed for Soda, he played fantastic, that left leg save in the 3rd period was outstanding.
- BetweenTheDots

I decided to watch last night in between innings of the BB game and the team looked much better to me than I expected. Hellebyuk is a fine goaltender but with some offensive finish the Hawks could have had 2 or 3 goals and a win.

Tonight will be different, McDavid and Draistl have fallen way off the pace in the scoring race. Oilers 9-2.

If anyone really thought this team was going to be good, then they need their heads examined. Are they better than last year, yes. Are they still a bad team, yes. Rebuilding takes time, we are still at least two years away from being good.

I decided to watch last night in between innings of the BB game and the team looked much better to me than I expected. Hellebyuk is a fine goaltender but with some offensive finish the Hawks could have had 2 or 3 goals and a win.

Tonight will be different, McDavid and Draistl have fallen way off the pace in the scoring race. Oilers 9-2.
- RickJ

I think if they can stay out of the penalty box it'll be a tight contest tonight.

In two or three years when the Hawks are a playoff team, they’re going to need a real good two way center with size. Although the cup teams were always looking for a 2nd line center, we were spoiled because they had maybe the best two way center of that era on the first line, of course he also had Hossa on his wing. When this team is ready to compete, Bedard will not be that guy, however he is definitely more offensively gifted than Toews. The Bedard team will not be able to get away without such center behind him. I’m hoping that they already drafted that guy in Boisvert. By the way, although I’m not a fan of the Brodie signing, he is so much better than Tinordi and Megna, this team will be hard to play against on most nights. Last night, for 59 minutes, was the best defensive game the Hawks have played in a few years, in my opinion.

One more add. There was a discussion here last night about their best defenseman. Jones is currently their best offensive defenseman(low bar), but there is no doubt that Vlasic is their best shut down guy and it’s not close, he’s probably already top ten in the league defensively. Pair Arty with Vlasic when Arty is ready, they’ll be set for eight years on their first pair, depending on Arty of course.

Last night is a prime example of learning how to win. For 59 minutes the Blackhawks were in position to do just that, and low and behold the team that has a winning record the past few years ends up winning the game. Be interesting to see if they can get over the hump more often than not this season.

I thought the team looked really good last night, really disappointed for Soda, he played fantastic, that left leg save in the 3rd period was outstanding.
- BetweenTheDots

I feel like it wasn't so much about learning to win, but learning to get that 2nd and 3rd goal. You aren't going to win many games 1-0 and really can't get too upset that they team got scored on late with the extra attacker. It happens, but they ideally need to carry the play more and try to dominate the play more than they get dominated. It wasn't that the team played well enough to win for 59 minutes, they had a goalie almost steal a game. Winnipeg was the stronger team in terms of the play on the ice.

That was just a poor defensive play by Kurashev. There is a reason why he is a -103 in 267 career games.
- LAHawk

I saw it the same way Bamford did. Too perfect, too clean for it not to be a set or practiced play. There is no doubt though, not subjective, that Scheifele "dragged" Kurashev on a route that put Vlasic between him and Kurashev that popped him open to recieve the pass on the game winner.

Video and still pics will show Vlasic between the two and that wasn't no accident, LA........ Could Kurashev read it coming and adjusted? Sure, but like Bamford says he took a bad route. You were destined to a bad route if you didn't read what Scheifele was brilliantly doing, elite level big league hockey play.

Bamford:

" And Philipp Kurashev — who turns 25 today — got beat because he took a bad route defensively around a well executed play in overtime on the game-winner".

Two games is more than enough time to figure out this team bites. You’re just an amateur if you can’t see how bad this team is after two games. Myself, I came to the conclusion after a single shift, but then again I understand the game, unlike yourself.
- paulr

Patience Grasshopper, the experienced ones have it down before the Zamboni driver finishes and pre skate warm ups.

I saw it the same way Bamford did. Too perfect, too clean for it not to be a set or practiced play. There is no doubt though, not subjective, that Scheifele "dragged" Kurashev on a route that put Vlasic between him and Kurashev that popped him open to recieve the pass on the game winner.

Video and still pics will show Vlasic between the two and that wasn't no accident, LA........ Could Kurashev read it coming and adjusted? Sure, but like Bamford says he took a bad route. You were destined to a bad route if you didn't read what Scheifele was brilliantly doing, elite level big league hockey play.

Bamford:

" And Philipp Kurashev — who turns 25 today — got beat because he took a bad route defensively around a well executed play in overtime on the game-winner".
- Mr Ricochet

Kurashev in the first two games has been a tale of two players. He has made some nice plays with the puck and through the middle and he has made some weak defensive plays in the middle and in his own end. Just because the Jets executed a well oiled play, doesn't give him a pass for losing his coverage. That's two goals against in two games where he should have been better.

If anyone really thought this team was going to be good, then they need their heads examined. Are they better than last year, yes. Are they still a bad team, yes. Rebuilding takes time, we are still at least two years away from being good.
- ChicagoHope

Yes agreed except it will be longer than two years emphasis on your "at least." What would be good is we're the youngest team in the league in two years.

In two or three years when the Hawks are a playoff team, they’re going to need a real good two way center with size. Although the cup teams were always looking for a 2nd line center, we were spoiled because they had maybe the best two way center of that era on the first line, of course he also had Hossa on his wing. When this team is ready to compete, Bedard will not be that guy, however he is definitely more offensively gifted than Toews. The Bedard team will not be able to get away without such center behind him. I’m hoping that they already drafted that guy in Boisvert. By the way, although I’m not a fan of the Brodie signing, he is so much better than Tinordi and Megna, this team will be hard to play against on most nights. Last night, for 59 minutes, was the best defensive game the Hawks have played in a few years, in my opinion. Even with Seth Jones.
- Angotti

Fixed.

I saw it the same way Bamford did. Too perfect, too clean for it not to be a set or practiced play. There is no doubt though, not subjective, that Scheifele "dragged" Kurashev on a route that put Vlasic between him and Kurashev that popped him open to recieve the pass on the game winner.

Video and still pics will show Vlasic between the two and that wasn't no accident, LA........ Could Kurashev read it coming and adjusted? Sure, but like Bamford says he took a bad route. You were destined to a bad route if you didn't read what Scheifele was brilliantly doing, elite level big league hockey play.

Bamford:

" And Philipp Kurashev — who turns 25 today — got beat because he took a bad route defensively around a well executed play in overtime on the game-winner".
- Mr Ricochet[/quote

How about Kurashev’s positioning before the Shieffle/Connor exchange? If he was as good a defensively aware forward that others keep espousing on the blog, he would of been below Shieffle, not even with him, and the back door play would never have happened.

Thought they played pretty well but in the end not well enough. I'll take the effort and I think as they learn to play together games like this end up in the win column.
- HawkintheD

You know, for a gambler this was a trap game for WPG. A club that was 6 pts better than EDM last yr that came off a 6-0 beat down on the road to start the season..... Very easy to see a let down for Peg but from my eye their feet moved all night, no let down...

That was a damn fine effort for the Hawks and delightful for Hawk fans who've watched bad hockey for so long we might have forgotten what good hockey looks like. We saw it last night against a legit NHL squad that makes you earn every inch of ice.

Speaking of burners.....does Bedard have a sore leg or a
bad heart ?? Last year he was often the fastest and best player on the ice. Tonight he was terrible, slow and meaningless. And his preseason was soft as well. He needs to watch some tape of Matthew Barzal and see what hustle is all about.
When are we going to see the generational SUPERSTAR he's getting accolades for ? He's certainly was not taking charge of "jack" on his shifts tonight.
- Hawkytalk

This is damn funny......... In Bedard's defense an NHL opponent that is big (Lowry on him all night) and plays text book structure will frustrate and disappear a 19 yr old, including ones who become superstars.

We've all seen Bedard enough to say he's not gonna be a Crosby in that he has a top 5 2 way NHL game for 15 yrs straight and without rambling I'd say about the possible "sticker shock" some have about Bedard will lessen. .... We watch him and say 10 times a game, WTF, and 3 times a game say, wow.

As he gets his NHL reps there will come a time when we say WTF only 5 times a game and say, wow, 5 times a game. Then there will come a time when the wows outnumber the WTF's. Now we watch for that yr .......

You know, for a gambler this was a trap game for WPG. A club that was 6 pts better than EDM last yr that came off a 6-0 beat down on the road to start the season..... Very easy to see a let down for Peg but from my eye their feet moved all night, no let down...

That was a damn fine effort for the Hawks and delightful for Hawk fans who've watched bad hockey for so long we might have forgotten what good hockey looks like. We saw it last night against a legit NHL squad that makes you earn every inch of ice.
- Mr Ricochet

The Hawks played a perfect road game. The 1-2-2 forecheck really bottled up center ice. There were few times that Winnipeg had any odd man rushes with speed.

In two or three years when the Hawks are a playoff team, they’re going to need a real good two way center with size. Although the cup teams were always looking for a 2nd line center, we were spoiled because they had maybe the best two way center of that era on the first line, of course he also had Hossa on his wing. When this team is ready to compete, Bedard will not be that guy, however he is definitely more offensively gifted than Toews. The Bedard team will not be able to get away without such center behind him. I’m hoping that they already drafted that guy in Boisvert. By the way, although I’m not a fan of the Brodie signing, he is so much better than Tinordi and Megna, this team will be hard to play against on most nights. Last night, for 59 minutes, was the best defensive game the Hawks have played in a few years, in my opinion.
- Angotti

Really good post, Lou. No, Bedard will not be the Toews of the Hawks but in some form he'll be the Kane but with a 140 pt ceiling. A scoring machine that's a liability defensively. And that's ok. ...... In fact, with no true #2 center Kaner took the role of one offensively. I'm not sure Bedard is a lock in the organIzation's mind to be a cewnterman. LOVE, love, love hearing KD say over and over this season that we want Connor to fucus on his 2 way game!! Tells me the club is aware he might be such a liability in 2 of the 3 zones in the sport that they entertain the thought he won't be an NHL centerman.

Yep, they need centerman as 95% of organIzations do. Too early to say they have any in the pipeline? I think so.

Kurashev in the first two games has been a tale of two players. He has made some nice plays with the puck and through the middle and he has made some weak defensive plays in the middle and in his own end. Just because the Jets executed a well oiled play, doesn't give him a pass for losing his coverage. That's two goals against in two games where he should have been better.
- breadbag

No doubt, BB. I wanted to point out the beauty of the play and player but you gotta read that if you're Kurashev. He's "dragging" you into coverage and you have to read that and avoid the obstructions and stay on your man. ...... I'm sure live 25 rows up you could have called that as it was unfolding.

But BB, Kurashev is not an NHL 2C even if he is a C!!! He's not capable, right now, if ever, to handle 2C matchups defensively. He's not slotted correctly instead is the 2C cuz the other options are worse.

Kid's feet are always moving, motor going, good on the forecheck, backchecks hard, a good shot, can play with top offensive players. He's a useful NHL player if slotted correctly, where is that, don't know but doubt it's as a 2C. ....... BUT, you could sell me on him having some traits where one day he could be a 2/3 NHL C.

Celebrini on IR, to bad we don't get to see him in our matchup