https://x.com/Andrew_Rina...jpv-_2RFbI30TfqiULhQ&s=19

Interesting statement by the owner of the Wolves.

The fall off last season was a direct result of a guy of his age playing 21 plus minutes a game. He looked ok until February or so then the bottom fell out and the Leafs were a terrible defensive team and he was one of the better defensive defensemen they had. If he plays 15 to 17 minutes a game hopefully he’s able to hold up over the course of the season.

Let’s wait until about Christmas to start rating the team and the players. It’s way too early to be declaring anyone as bums or superstars.
- paulr

Agree with you Dots. I save 170 bucks a month with that $50 antenna. The only downside is when I travel or go shopping with family, there will be no app to watch them on although if I go far enough out I might be able to watch on ESPN+.
- Popsghostly

Onhockey.tv. Every game free

Onhockey.tv. Every game free
- LFS

Better use a VPN if you’re going to use one of those sites.

Onhockey.tv. Every game free
- LFS

Thanks LFS. Saving that one.

I saw this in the Sun-Times about Kaiser and think there are parallels with KK:

He looked solid late last season, too, after a nearly four-month stint in the AHL helped settle his game down, build up his confidence and refine his defensive positioning.

‘‘Sometimes when a young defenseman gets a little scrambled, it’s hard to rectify that in the NHL,’’ Richardson said. ‘‘He doesn’t have the experience to settle himself down, and we didn’t have the team to surround him with [experience] last year, as well. He was on his own a little bit. That was the right call. He came back and played great at the end of last season, and he’s picked up right where he left off.’’

Obviously, KK could not be sent down last year so he had to deal in the NHL, but I see his current demotion as sort of a long-term version of what they did with Kaiser last year. Thus far it looks like KK is getting back to his old self if his coast-to-coast goal is any indication. It also appears that he is a bit more comfortable in his own zone. It will be interesting to see how much he grows this year.

I'm getting tickets to pretty much all of the Wolves games for when Rockford comes to town. Should be fun to see all the kids live.

You don’t think Brodie looked good against Winnipeg and Edmonton? I thought all the defensemen, including Brodie, looked really good the last two games.
- paulr

I agree with you, the D for the most part played pretty well, the team in general just needs to get better at breaking out but most of the dumb plays with the puck trying to get out of the defending zone were on the forwards making bad passes more than the D IMO.

I saw this in the Sun-Times about Kaiser and think there are parallels with KK:

He looked solid late last season, too, after a nearly four-month stint in the AHL helped settle his game down, build up his confidence and refine his defensive positioning.

‘‘Sometimes when a young defenseman gets a little scrambled, it’s hard to rectify that in the NHL,’’ Richardson said. ‘‘He doesn’t have the experience to settle himself down, and we didn’t have the team to surround him with
- Chunk[experience] last year, as well. He was on his own a little bit. That was the right call. He came back and played great at the end of last season, and he’s picked up right where he left off.’’

Obviously, KK could not be sent down last year so he had to deal in the NHL, but I see his current demotion as sort of a long-term version of what they did with Kaiser last year. Thus far it looks like KK is getting back to his old self if his coast-to-coast goal is any indication. It also appears that he is a bit more comfortable in his own zone. It will be interesting to see how much he grows this year.

I'm getting tickets to pretty much all of the Wolves games for when Rockford comes to town. Should be fun to see all the kids live.

There's a good article in The Athletic this am that talks to this. They don't necessarily draw the parallel with Kaiser, it sounds like they are also giving KK specific things to work on and hoping like Wyatt he can grow his game but also get back to doing things that led the Hawks to picking him 7th OA.

I agree with you, the D for the most part played pretty well, the team in general just needs to get better at breaking out but most of the dumb plays with the puck trying to get out of the defending zone were on the forwards making bad passes more than the D IMO.
- breadbag

Take even an icing infraction rather than a risky cross-ice pass in the defensive or neutral zones.

I wanna tip my cap to the guys in the last blog who posted some fancies. .. Thank you...... As you guys have shown thru the fancies the Hawks are a good bit on the short side of advanced stats. Bottom 3-4-5 in most possession numbers and 3rd worst in xGF.

As it was last yr the squad is getting damn near elite goaltending but the goalies have not faced fire drills 3-4-5 times a game and that has a lot to do with the influx of not only vet Dmen but forwards too. .... The eye tells us the structure between this yr and last is night and day and without numerous fire drills/odd mans/shooting galleries per game the goalies will have a much easier go this yr.

And, if Soderblom has indeed taken a jump when the inevitable goalie injury happens to Mrazek or Broisset goaltending will be a strength.

But, no matter the fancies a few games in I did not expect the results of the opening road trip so far and they've been exactly what this club needed. All this while the prospects get their reps at all levels but especially the AHL. ......
- Mr Ricochet

It just feels like more of the players are fitting into natural positions up and down the lineup and while we are still giving up a lot of chances around our net, they aren't always clean chances and maybe a bit less of the 2nd and 3rd chance rebound opportunities. I think mostly where we've gotten into trouble so far are turnovers at the bluelines which thankfully haven't been too often in these early road games.

While not always the best tracked stat, we are doing a good job of limiting giveaways (near the top of the NHL in fewest) but some of that is the fact we don't have the puck as often to give it away and a lot of times when we've gotten it, it's been just ice it or throw it out and then get back to defending. I hope they can start to transition more to attack and less time defending, because right now it's a thin margin of error for the D and G who have been pretty good after the first period against Utah.

Compared to the previous era of Hawks, we could really use a D like Keith who cuts off plays in the middle a few times a game to flip the puck back to attack and we could use another D who can skate the puck out of danger to start the rush and maybe another couple forwards who can help really carry the puck in on the attack with speed. I just feel like we are a bit better in our own zone, but still struggle to get our offense many chances because we can't get it up the ice with possession nearly often enough. Broken passes and plays really often that kill our speed up the ice or we lose the puck.

Take even an icing infraction rather than a risky cross-ice pass in the defensive or neutral zones.
- 35Tony0

Yeah, that was something I was just typing in my other reply here. We saw it big time vs Edmonton and Richardson called it out I think in interview. They are willing to just ice it as much as needed to get the puck out of the zone right now and relieve the pressure or attempt a risky play.

Better use a VPN if you’re going to use one of those sites.
- Angotti

I do

It just feels like more of the players are fitting into natural positions up and down the lineup and while we are still giving up a lot of chances around our net, they aren't always clean chances and maybe a bit less of the 2nd and 3rd chance rebound opportunities. I think mostly where we've gotten into trouble so far are turnovers at the bluelines which thankfully haven't been too often in these early road games.

While not always the best tracked stat, we are doing a good job of limiting giveaways (near the top of the NHL in fewest) but some of that is the fact we don't have the puck as often to give it away and a lot of times when we've gotten it, it's been just ice it or throw it out and then get back to defending. I hope they can start to transition more to attack and less time defending, because right now it's a thin margin of error for the D and G who have been pretty good after the first period against Utah.

Compared to the previous era of Hawks, we could really use a D like Keith who cuts off plays in the middle a few times a game to flip the puck back to attack and we could use another D who can skate the puck out of danger to start the rush and maybe another couple forwards who can help really carry the puck in on the attack with speed. I just feel like we are a bit better in our own zone, but still struggle to get our offense many chances because we can't get it up the ice with possession nearly often enough. Broken passes and plays really often that kill our speed up the ice or we lose the puck.
- breadbag

Hawks are playing a 1-2-2 passive forecheck. It is really like a prevent defense in football, bend but don't break, hope the other team turns the puck over in center ice, and counter attack when they can.

Hawks are playing a 1-2-2 passive forecheck. It is really like a prevent defense in football, bend but don't break, hope the other team turns the puck over in center ice, and counter attack when they can.
- LAHawk

I get that but IMO it's not a long term viable strategy to be a competitive team in the league today. If we had a top 3 goalie in the league, above average shut down D and a second elite forward that can create something out of nothing, maybe you can be like New Jersey used to be or Minnesota where they could win close games effectively over and over. Boring but effective hockey.

I'm all for defense first mentality, but we need to get more effective at actually getting possession of the puck on the attack. There are too many good teams like Winnipeg who will not make many mistakes and will definitely beat us more often than not.

I get that but IMO it's not a long term viable strategy to be a competitive team in the league today. If we had a top 3 goalie in the league, above average shut down D and a second elite forward that can create something out of nothing, maybe you can be like New Jersey used to be or Minnesota where they could win close games effectively over and over. Boring but effective hockey.

I'm all for defense first mentality, but we need to get more effective at actually getting possession of the puck on the attack. There are too many good teams like Winnipeg who will not make many mistakes and will definitely beat us more often than not.
- breadbag

Right now it is a better strategy than trying to outchance/outscore the opponent. Hawks don't have anywhere close to the firepower, nor the speed to play an aggressive forecheck.

I get that but IMO it's not a long term viable strategy to be a competitive team in the league today. If we had a top 3 goalie in the league, above average shut down D and a second elite forward that can create something out of nothing, maybe you can be like New Jersey used to be or Minnesota where they could win close games effectively over and over. Boring but effective hockey.

I'm all for defense first mentality, but we need to get more effective at actually getting possession of the puck on the attack. There are too many good teams like Winnipeg who will not make many mistakes and will definitely beat us more often than not.
- breadbag

I mentioned this in the other blog, 94 low danger shots against isn't so bad. I did count the SOG the 2 games where we were leading going into the 3rd period of both games, until the 3rd period we were pretty even. Also i do see a lot of shots on net from long range where the goalie catches it and freezes it. I think its no secret we don't have the best face off team and i think this is a tactic most teams are going to use against us.

There's a good article in The Athletic this am that talks to this. They don't necessarily draw the parallel with Kaiser, it sounds like they are also giving KK specific things to work on and hoping like Wyatt he can grow his game but also get back to doing things that led the Hawks to picking him 7th OA.
- HawkintheD

Just read the article by Powers.
Looks like he was on duty with the piggies last weekend while Laz was on the road with the Blackhawks.

At 1st I thought it was dumb to send Korch down to the AHL.
Then I thought about it and said:maybe he can get some experience etc... and thought it was a good idea.
After counting everyone they have on D, and the fact that Allan and Kaiser are up and playing,I'm not sure Korch comes up to the NHL unless it is for the last 7 or 8 games of the season. I'm back to thinking it is dumb

Are they going to move both Murph and Martinez at or before the trade deadline?

Right now it is a better strategy than trying to outchance/outscore the opponent. Hawks don't have anywhere close to the firepower, nor the speed to play an aggressive forecheck.
- LAHawk

This is why I just can't get proper nuance without being in the arena. ..... But yes LA, the Hawks are runnin a 1-2-2 but to my eye it's a hybrid and not a strict NJ left wing lock/neutral zone trap that the 1-2-2 was designed for. .. To simply funnel the puck carrier to one side and the 1 man and a wing pincer the puck carrier.

Hawks do some end wall forechecking with the 1 man on the wall and the 2 man low at the circles as the 3rd man reads or the 1 man pressures and retreats swapping spots with one of the wings for structural purposes keeping pressure on the puck where all 3, or at least 2, forwards are moving and not flat footed.

My point is the Hawks' 1-2-2, and everyone's really except when holding a 2-3 goal lead, is a hybrid that multiple defenses are employed from a base 1-2-2 and some are aggressive..... What the vets are allowing the Hawks to do is play a structured game where the don't allow pucks between the dots without resistance. Control the play between the dots.

Now, I only saw 2 periods of a Hogs game this yr and they are playing much faster than the Hawks are. Looks like they're maybe teaching a speed pressure the puck game as they have plenty of speed down there and even more so if KK can use his speeed to trigger everyone elses.

Just read the article by Powers.
Looks like he was on duty with the piggies last weekend while Laz was on the road with the Blackhawks.

At 1st I thought it was dumb to send Korch down to the AHL.
Then I thought about it and said:maybe he can get some experience etc... and thought it was a good idea.
After counting everyone they have on D, and the fact that Allan and Kaiser are up and playing,I'm not sure Korch comes up to the NHL unless it is for the last 7 or 8 games of the season. I'm back to thinking it is dumb

Are they going to move both Murph and Martinez at or before the trade deadline?
- captainserious

They will probably move Martinez, he’ll be very attractive to contending teams. Although he’s older now, he was a top four defenseman on three cup winners, should get them a 3rd round pick. Murphy still has a year left on his contract, I can see him moved during offseason or next season’s TDL.

Just read the article by Powers.
Looks like he was on duty with the piggies last weekend while Laz was on the road with the Blackhawks.

At 1st I thought it was dumb to send Korch down to the AHL.
Then I thought about it and said:maybe he can get some experience etc... and thought it was a good idea.
After counting everyone they have on D, and the fact that Allan and Kaiser are up and playing,I'm not sure Korch comes up to the NHL unless it is for the last 7 or 8 games of the season. I'm back to thinking it is dumb

Are they going to move both Murph and Martinez at or before the trade deadline?
- captainserious

Murphy has another year, doubt he is moveable this year.

I looked to see what Calgary receive for Tanev last year at the deadline, a Second rounder from Dallas and a prospect drafted in the second round in 21. That would hopefullly be what the Hawks could get for Martinez at the deadline

This is why I just can't get proper nuance without being in the arena. ..... But yes LA, the Hawks are runnin a 1-2-2 but to my eye it's a hybrid and not a strict NJ left wing lock/neutral zone trap that the 1-2-2 was designed for. .. To simply funnel the puck carrier to one side and the 1 man and a wing pincer the puck carrier.

Hawks do some end wall forechecking with the 1 man on the wall and the 2 man low at the circles as the 3rd man reads or the 1 man pressures and retreats swapping spots with one of the wings for structural purposes keeping pressure on the puck where all 3, or at least 2, forwards are moving and not flat footed.

My point is the Hawks' 1-2-2, and everyone's really except when holding a 2-3 goal lead, is a hybrid that multiple defenses are employed from a base 1-2-2 and some are aggressive..... What the vets are allowing the Hawks to do is play a structured game where the don't allow pucks between the dots without resistance. Control the play between the dots.

Now, I only saw 2 periods of a Hogs game this yr and they are playing much faster than the Hawks are. Looks like they're maybe teaching a speed pressure the puck game as they have plenty of speed down there and even more so if KK can use his speeed to trigger everyone elses.
- Mr Ricochet

I can't tell either on the tube, but in the Winnepeg game, I even mentioned how the Hawks were gluming up the neutral zone. F1 was only starting to engage in the Ozoneface-off dot.

Of course score affects, home vs away, opponent will change the forechecking system. Be interesting to see how it evolves.

Take even an icing infraction rather than a risky cross-ice pass in the defensive or neutral zones.
- 35Tony0

I think simply said the influx of vets possess the professionalism where these kinds of high risk plays are far less likely (although Smith sure had one). They're pros and there weren't near enough of them last yr.

Right now it is a better strategy than trying to outchance/outscore the opponent. Hawks don't have anywhere close to the firepower, nor the speed to play an aggressive forecheck.
- LAHawk

I'm not saying they need to necessarily out chance the other team, but they don't have the goaltending or defensive strength(F or D) to survive being out-chanced at a 2-1 ratio. That's common sense that they will lose that battle most of the time.

The forecheck is only part of it, but I'm saying it's more about transition up the ice where they get stuck way too often. If that's strategy on breaking out or the personnel, I'm sure that can be debated, but all too often it seems like they only get 30-40% of the way lose possession of contested pucks and end up back defending again.

This doesn't mean I'm saying they need to run and gun and get overly aggressive on the forecheck, just improve on getting the puck to center ice under some control.

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