The start to this year reminds me a lot of last season. We started on the road last year and went 2-2 in the first 4 games, stealing a couple wins because of goaltending.

The game vs Winnipeg was almost a goalie steal and you have to give a lot of credit to Mrazek in the game last night. That game vs Edmonton could have went sideways really quickly as Edmonton had ~70% of the scoring chances and the "high danger" chances were 17-1 in favor of Edmonton for the game.

I do think our D is covering people in front of the net a bit better so far, but we struggle to breakout and transition to the attack.

Has he has a passing TD, we know his feet work in football.

Iheard the Steelers elite receivers aren't getting open on the mid routes, but he was never good at making those throws either.
- wiz1901

Fields has been merely an efficient Qb with Steelers. Today 145 passing but team 300 yards yet that has been good enough for Steelers to win. Maybe we should hope that Reichel can become merely efficient like Fields has this season

The start to this year reminds me a lot of last season. We started on the road last year and went 2-2 in the first 4 games, stealing a couple wins because of goaltending.

The game vs Winnipeg was almost a goalie steal and you have to give a lot of credit to Mrazek in the game last night. That game vs Edmonton could have went sideways really quickly as Edmonton had ~70% of the scoring chances and the "high danger" chances were 17-1 in favor of Edmonton for the game.

I do think our D is covering people in front of the net a bit better so far, but we struggle to breakout and transition to the attack.
- breadbag

Not to come across like a downer, I liked the battle the team has had and the offensive push they've put up at times, but just stating the facts that we are near the bottom to start the year when it comes to possession of the puck, time on attack, scoring chances for/against. We still looks like a team that will lose a lot of road games unless the goaltending bails us out.

No more often than the rest of the Hawks D, he just gets way less slack because he has a bit contract.
- breadbag

And he also plays about 6-8 minutes more per game

And he also plays about 6-8 minutes more per game
- LAHawk

And gets paid to be better than the rest….usually expect more from the guy with the highest salary.

And gets paid to be better than the rest….usually expect more from the guy with the highest salary.
- bhawks2241

Well if someone else on defense is better, wouldn’t they be playing more minutes than Jones?

Well if someone else on defense is better, wouldn’t they be playing more minutes than Jones?
- LAHawk

True. He ain't perfect and he has a contract bigger than it should be but he still contributes a lot of things the rest of our D don't as much.

And he also plays about 6-8 minutes more per game
- LAHawk

And more eyes on him because of that contract. If he made $7M per you wouldn’t hear as much negativity. He’ll be a good #3 on a good team, that could be the Hawks in 2-3 years. He’ll make 7.5M in actual salary the last two years of his contract, although his AAV will still be $9.5.

I am curious if our top non pro junior and foreign prospects might get a WJC invitation. I suspect at least a couple or more of our collegiate guys may be too old, but would be great if any of them get to play even a second time for someone like Rinzel

Man is Edmonton bad right now.

Man is Edmonton bad right now.
- LAHawk

And I'm loving it.

Man is Edmonton bad right now.
- LAHawk

It wasn't just Conner on Conner violence....

Face it- Reichel and Phillips are trade bait ... not exactly the type anyone will be burning up the phone lines to acquire- but I don't see their purpose any longer, and if the 'risk' is about bouncing up and down from the NHL to the AHL - -and not being waiver-exempt, I fail to see their purpose.

Move them on, they are not going to help the team. It isn't like there aren't other players in the pipeline.

Face it- Reichel and Phillips are trade bait ... not exactly the type anyone will be burning up the phone lines to acquire- but I don't see their purpose any longer, and if the 'risk' is about bouncing up and down from the NHL to the AHL - -and not being waiver-exempt, I fail to see their purpose.

Move them on, they are not going to help the team. It isn't like there aren't other players in the pipeline.
- SC116

What you say is rational however there may sort of be a caveat here

Because the return for them is not much, you could let them have another opportunity without risking anything. Phillips is in the AHL so give him half a season to show a significant upgrade in decision making and using his size to be more physical

Reichel has the skating and probably the ability to score and make plays; this season the Blackhawks NHL roster has a dearth of this desirable quality. Would like him to play some games on a top line and be told to relax “you are getting an opportunity with top players.”

Personally I am more skeptical of Phillips but dman can take longer for the light bulb to turn on. He has to show signs of definite improvement’while Reichel needs a fair opportunity told no pressure he stays in lineup for a while but needs to show he can play consistent and contribute some points

Justin completing another “field day”

The English folks would call it a Sports day insofar as c Williams performance today
- jhawk59

While a huge fan of Fields, (and someone who probably would have kept him and taken the 3 #s in return for the first pick), that TD pass yesterday to Keenan Allen never happens under Justin.

It was the right move, and Poles made it. You could argue that maybe Daniels is just as good and he still shouldve traded with Washington and got 3 more picks, but time will tell on that.

I watched the first half of the Steelers and Raiders. The passing accuracy between JF and CW is not comparable. I admit i was wrong

Time will tell if I was wrong about Demidov over Arty.

Fields has been merely an efficient Qb with Steelers. Today 145 passing but team 300 yards yet that has been good enough for Steelers to win. Maybe we should hope that Reichel can become merely efficient like Fields has this season
- jhawk59

the real goal here is for JF to play at least 50.0000000001% of the snaps. Change that 6th to a 4th rounder. As long as they are winning I can't see them putting Wilson in. 6 down 3 and maybe a 4th game to go.

the real goal here is for JF to play at least 50.0000000001% of the snaps. Change that 6th to a 4th rounder. As long as they are winning I can't see them putting Wilson in. 6 down 3 and maybe a 4th game to go.
- vabeachbear

Tell you this
I respect the awesome ability professional players possess. Especially the arm strength the throw a deep spiral, throw 90 + mph, the great NHL shooters
I was able to still throw after age 50 without my arm feeling like it was going to fall off Never threw hard or could toss a good curve ball though

While a huge fan of Fields, (and someone who probably would have kept him and taken the 3 #s in return for the first pick), that TD pass yesterday to Keenan Allen never happens under Justin.

It was the right move, and Poles made it. You could argue that maybe Daniels is just as good and he still shouldve traded with Washington and got 3 more picks, but time will tell on that.

I watched the first half of the Steelers and Raiders. The passing accuracy between JF and CW is not comparable. I admit i was wrong

Time will tell if I was wrong about Demidov over Arty.
- vabeachbear

That one, the one to Moore the week before, the one that hits a wide open Kmet in stride so he can continue to run and score a TD. We've been in the QB desert for so long, I think we all wanted Fields to succeed, but have to agree with the people who said Justin is a good runner playing QB and not a passer.

Not to come across like a downer, I liked the battle the team has had and the offensive push they've put up at times, but just stating the facts that we are near the bottom to start the year when it comes to possession of the puck, time on attack, scoring chances for/against. We still looks like a team that will lose a lot of road games unless the goaltending bails us out.
- breadbag

I see that they have 94 low danger shots against so far this year. Of all the numbers that's a good number for the Blackhawks.

One big difference i see this year is we are not stuck in our own end most of the night. It always seemed like the 2nd period has done us in with the long change but that hasn't been the case this year.

Is it possible with the players they signed they try to keep teams to the outside and take advantage in transition? It's early but I'm curious to see if they get better at this as they get more games under their belt.

Even though they are being outshot after the 1st period of the first game my eye says this is going to be a difficult team to play against

in the NHL the difference between winning and losing is razor thin. Small plays, lucky bounces and key saves at the right moment. Last year the Hawks just could not make the small plays. I think this years team can. Teuvo, Taylor Hall, D!ckinson, Martinez, Bedard, Mikheyev, Kaiser, Donato, Maroon and a few other show it. This is still a pretty bad team, but better than last year.

Others like Murphy and AA rarely make those small plays. Jones doesn't make many but his size, speed and athleticism allows him to contribute.

I see that they have 94 low danger shots against so far this year. Of all the numbers that's a good number for the Blackhawks.

One big difference i see this year is we are not stuck in our own end most of the night. It always seemed like the 2nd period has done us in with the long change but that hasn't been the case this year.

Is it possible with the players they signed they try to keep teams to the outside and take advantage in transition? It's early but I'm curious to see if they get better at this as they get more games under their belt.

Even though they are being outshot after the 1st period of the first game my eye says this is going to be a difficult team to play against
- BetweenTheDots

So far, and maybe that will change when the Hawks are home, they are playing a very passive 1-2-2 forecheck, which is meant to channel the opposing team to one side of the ice and muck up the neutral zone. It used to be called a neutral zone trap. Most teams only apply it in the last 10 minutes of a game. Think of it as a prevent defense in football (from my limited football knowledge)

So far, and maybe that will change when the Hawks are home, they are playing a very passive 1-2-2 forecheck, which is meant to channel the opposing team to one side of the ice and muck up the neutral zone. It used to be called a neutral zone trap. Most teams only apply it in the last 10 minutes of a game. Think of it as a prevent defense in football (from my limited football knowledge)
- LAHawk

I guess it's worked so far they've gone into the 3rd period with the lead against 2 playoff teams. I think the SOG had been pretty even until they took the lead into the 3rd period. I don't blame LR he doesn't have the horses yet at forward.


But i do think he's got he best defensive core this team has had for years.

It also doesn't hurt we've got a Connor Bedard on our team.

I just read this post from the Detroit blog. I'm still laughing.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks wondered if Steve Yzerman might put in a call for Joel Quenneville to replace head coach Derek Lalonde if the Detroit Red Wings get off to a sputtering start to this season. He also suggested a projected contender might turn to Quenneville.

Not Lalonde's fault with this Stevie Y built team. But greater coaches have been replaced to take the focus off the GM............Stevie: Fix the D!

That one, the one to Moore the week before, the one that hits a wide open Kmet in stride so he can continue to run and score a TD. We've been in the QB desert for so long, I think we all wanted Fields to succeed, but have to agree with the people who said Justin is a good runner playing QB and not a passer.
- HawkintheD

Fields wouldn't have thrown the interception because he's never found a wide open receiver.

I am curious if our top non pro junior and foreign prospects might get a WJC invitation. I suspect at least a couple or more of our collegiate guys may be too old, but would be great if any of them get to play even a second time for someone like Rinzel
- jhawk59

Each country's coaching staff usually go with the same guys from the three international tournament and you see an add from that draft class, but usually few additions that hadn't been active parts prior.