Oh yea why are we playing Vlasic with Jones? Vlasic and Brodie make a good pairing. Jones can't be paired with Kaiser?
- BetweenTheDots

Because Brodie got demoted to the third pair, and Vlasic/Jones have a history of being really good together.

Easy Taylor Hall, there's a reason he was playing on the 3rd line in Boston.
- BetweenTheDots

Yeah they had 6 better forwards. The Hawks have 2. Bedard and TT.

If you listen to what he said about Kurashev:

To me, he’s a guy that I’ve gotten used to counting on and he can’t play the way he did the last game for me to continue to count on him like that. I know he’ll use it as a bit of a wake-up call and be better.”

It’s not just that he’s struggling. He’s not playing reliably. So he’s gonna sit a game or two to make sure he understands what’s important to the team.

It’s almost like LR has a long history of playing and coaching hockey, and were just a bunch of guys on the internet.
- Chunk

AA, Taylor Hall and Bertuzzi, we'll see how long that line plays together vs the Canucks.

If you listen to what he said about Kurashev:

To me, he’s a guy that I’ve gotten used to counting on and he can’t play the way he did the last game for me to continue to count on him like that. I know he’ll use it as a bit of a wake-up call and be better.”

It’s not just that he’s struggling. He’s not playing reliably. So he’s gonna sit a game or two to make sure he understands what’s important to the team.

It’s almost like LR has a long history of playing and coaching hockey, and were just a bunch of guys on the internet.
- Chunk

I also think it is partly based on the stupid penalty taking a cheap shot after Bertuzzi already came to his defense.

AA, Taylor Hall and Bertuzzi, we'll see how long that line plays together vs the Canucks.
- BetweenTheDots

Like Hall - Kurashev - AA would be worth a poop?

They aren’t good yet. It’s gonna be another slog then ideally they start to really succeed.

Well for what it's worth, Brodie is so good, that I think he managed to get a tripping call by somehow tripping the guy that he was up ice of (and Brodie had the puck) ... not sure how that worked, but to be fair to the zebras they were consistent in making calls like that seemed iffy to me on both the Sabs and the Hawks. I wouldn't say that they weren't noticeable, but I guess they were fair -so that's at least something.

Dunno - didn't notice Brodie like in the same sense as the 'veteran D presence' from last season. I must have drank the Kool-Aid - I mean they've been competitive in each game this season.

Ok sure they really blow at playing with an extra attacker, it is nearly (or is -actually this season), a guaranteed empty-netter. They kinda blow playing against a team who has pulled the goalie too - in that, they simply are not able to score empty netters to make life a little easier -no matter what. I mean that is pretty much the same as last season in that respect.

KD still has a lot of work to do with the forwards on this roster in the next 3 years.

Centers
Right now Hawks have one legitimate center, D!ckinson, and he is a 2C at best. Probably a 3C on a good team. Bedard is fantastic. But is he best suited for center? He might be a legitimate NHL center someday. But he could easily drive a line from the wing like Patrick Kane.

Wings
TT - top six
Bertuzzi- probably 2nd liner
Foligno, Anderson, Donato - bottom six
Mikheyev, Kurashev, Reichel - to be determined. They show signs of being legit. But they really need to show more to secure a roster spot.

Goners after this year
AA, Hall, Maroon, Smith,

Prospects
Plenty of prospects. But are they one year away, two years, three. Are they centers or winger. Are they studs, duds or middle of the pack?

If a really good young 1C/2C came available I would trade a young defender (not named Vlasic), a high draft pick (not our first first round pick in 2025) and any winger other than Bedard and TT to land them.

I agree Sharp's toughness was underrated but he was still one of the fastest skaters on the team.
- rpeters01

I do follow you about Sharp and his speed. He did have top end speed and more importantly he could play fast.... But IMO a TT or Reichel are quick twitch athletes that Sharp isn't.

I see it as if Reichel were to race Sharp in a 50 yard dash they'd tie but Reichel would win the first 1,2, 3 and 5 yards of that 50 yard dash before it evened up, the quick twitch explosive element. He wins the all important first step that allows him to win the short bursts needed to win pucks, board battles or get positioning/leverage on any part of the ice.

Not many like that.

I'd first want to see him continue that success for a longer period of time (considering consistency has been his biggest issue). Then they can move him up to see if he can replicate among the top two lines.

This is the right idea. Let him gain confidence. Coach him and build upon “here’s what’s going well.” Let him find his fit on the team.

I’m always amazed by the windsock of opinions regarding player development. In this case, more time (last year) wasn’t helpful to him. Build him up from 6-8 minutes. Get him to 12-14 minutes slowly.

Like Hall - Kurashev - AA would be worth a poop?

They aren’t good yet. It’s gonna be another slog then ideally they start to really succeed.
- Chunk

I agree on AA. He should be a fill in. He has no future with the Hawks and is unlikely to have trade value.

Give the opportunities to Reichel, Kurashev and Mikheyev. See if any of those three make a claim for a top 6 role.

It's interesting. Even the Ice Hogs website (https://icehogs.com/team/roster) only lists one center. Guttman. It lists 4 left wings, 1 center, 9 "forwards".

I like the concept that if they see a players NHL position as a wing, play him there in the AHL.

Maybe they need to make a minor trade or two to balance their roster at the AHL level also. A good wing prospect for a good center prospect (maybe adding a mid round draft pick).

It's interesting. Even the Ice Hogs website (https://icehogs.com/team/roster) only lists one center. Guttman. It lists 4 left wings, 1 center, 9 "forwards".

I like the concept that if they see a players NHL position as a wing, play him there in the AHL.

Maybe they need to make a minor trade or two to balance their roster at the AHL level also. A good wing prospect for a good center prospect (maybe adding a mid round draft pick).
- Ztra

Ludwinski
Greene
Boivert
Moore
Nazar

All are prospects (top) that play center

KD still has a lot of work to do with the forwards on this roster in the next 3 years.

Centers
Right now Hawks have one legitimate center, D!ckinson, and he is a 2C at best. Probably a 3C on a good team. Bedard is fantastic. But is he best suited for center? He might be a legitimate NHL center someday. But he could easily drive a line from the wing like Patrick Kane.

Wings
TT - top six
Bertuzzi- probably 2nd liner
Foligno, Anderson, Donato - bottom six
Mikheyev, Kurashev, Reichel - to be determined. They show signs of being legit. But they really need to show more to secure a roster spot.

Goners after this year
AA, Hall, Maroon, Smith,

Prospects
Plenty of prospects. But are they one year away, two years, three. Are they centers or winger. Are they studs, duds or middle of the pack?

If a really good young 1C/2C came available I would trade a young defender (not named Vlasic), a high draft pick (not our first first round pick in 2025) and any winger other than Bedard and TT to land them.
- Ztra

People said the same poop about Jack Hughes when he came into the league as well as Brayden Point. Just give him reps and let him figure it out. He's been ridiculously successful at every other level at that position.

They're still a bad team. Let the kid do his thing. Still going to be a bottom 5 team unless some of the kiddos come up and go on a heater.

Sportsnet's top 2025 prospects, October edition.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...rankings-october-edition/

Top 10 - Hagens, Martone, Scheafer, McQueen, Misa, Ryabkin, Hensler, Frondell, Moore, Spence.

IMO Hawks will finish in the bottom 5, possibly as low as the 7th pick due to the lottery.

All 32 teams play tonight beginning at 5pm Central then with game starts at 15 minute intervals. Good night to have ESPN+, Sportsnet+, or CenterIce.

People said the same poop about Jack Hughes when he came into the league as well as Brayden Point. Just give him reps and let him figure it out. He's been ridiculously successful at every other level at that position.

They're still a bad team. Let the kid do his thing. Still going to be a bottom 5 team unless some of the kiddos come up and go on a heater.
- fattybeef

Then KD should of never signed these veterans to establish a culture, if you want to let a player play and "let him figure it out" with no accountability. Difference between Hughes and Reichel is that Hughes got better each year, and "broke out" in year 3. Has Reichel gotten better? He couldn't beat out Craig Smith and/or Joey Anderson for playing time. Are you saying that LR should play Reichel over Anderson/Smith no matter what he showed in training camp?

Maybe better comps than Hughes is a Puljujari or a Kotkiemeni? Hawks have 2 years to decide what he is. Reichel also has 2 years to convince the coach that he belongs in the line-up.

People said the same poop about Jack Hughes when he came into the league as well as Brayden Point. Just give him reps and let him figure it out. He's been ridiculously successful at every other level at that position.

They're still a bad team. Let the kid do his thing. Still going to be a bottom 5 team unless some of the kiddos come up and go on a heater.
- fattybeef

If they’re up, let them play and give them ice time. The only one that probably does not have a future with the Hawks is Phillips, too many others have passed him up. However Allan, Kaiser, and Reichel have to play.

Like Hall - Kurashev - AA would be worth a poop?

They aren’t good yet. It’s gonna be another slog then ideally they start to really succeed.
- Chunk

My issue is this,

AA Smith and Reichel have a good game and you can't wait to split them up fast enough.

Reichel has had 2 good games in a row yet LR thinks so little of him that he changes his line 3 games in a row and now his position.

How can he expect consistency when he offers none in return

How does AA get 2nd line promotion when he flew the zone on the game losing goal.

My issue is this,

AA Smith and Reichel have a good game and you can't wait to split them up fast enough.

Reichel has had 2 good games in a row yet LR thinks so little of him that he changes his line 3 games in a row and now his position.

How can he expect consistency when he offers none in return
- BetweenTheDots

I'm assuming you are referring to LR here and not me? I've not asked for anything.

My guess is that AA got moved up to the 2C position because he is more offensive than defensive and is the next best option on this team to play that role. Richardenson is not going to be playing 2C this year unless there is literally no other option.

Re Reichel: He was given a chance on L4. He's done well so far. There were injuries and illness that pulled guys out of the lineup, hence you plug and play with the 4th line instead of every other line.

I agree with you that giving Reichel consistency would benefit him. Apparently, he needs to earn that right from LR. In general, I don't have a big issue with that line of thinking. Ultimately, if he gets his poop together, I think Reichel tops out producing along the lines of a Ryan Hartman without the truculence. If that's the case the Hawks probably have 3-4 more guys just like that in the pipeline.

How does AA get 2nd line promotion when he flew the zone on the game losing goal.
- BetweenTheDots

The "Losing goal" starts at 7;00. You even said it was a pick play. Yes AA was the one getting picked. Please tell me where in this sequence that AA was flying the zone though? If anything, Reichel was up above the face-off circle covering exactly no one.

BTW, what was Brodie doing on that play?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZWiF5kbWfE

The "Losing goal" starts at 7;00. You even said it was a pick play. Yes AA was the one getting picked. Please tell me where in this sequence that AA was flying the zone though? If anything, Reichel was up above the face-off circle covering exactly no one.

BTW, what was Brodie doing on that play?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZWiF5kbWfE
- LAHawk

I agree but this puck most likely doesn't stay in the zone about 30 seconds earlier the puck was chipped up the opposite boards by the blue line and instead of supporting the puck and using his speed to jar the opponent along the boards he flew out of the zone. It's conveniently not in the replays.