So how many years into a rebuild until you are supposed to see any incremental improvement in the team?
- LAHawk

KD has always been clear there is no time frame.

Maybe. It’s just challenging for this team to score, need another finisher. Not sure where they can find a finisher for this year, besides Bedard that is.
- Angotti

Bedard has not been a finisher this year

Bedard has not been a finisher this year
- LFS

Not yet, but he is a finisher.

I know we all desire to see the Blackhawks win yet we are not totally disgruntled with a loss since we know another early draft choice is forthcoming due to the team’s low rank in the league

I also try to envision a few veterans pared and a couple of kids get a late season audition. Specifically I am thinking Nazar and Del Mastro. Then too we might catch a glimpse of a collegiate if KD inks them following the end of their season. Moore, Rinzel, Greene come to mind
I would like to add Savoie but a couple of pro rookies simply won’t get an opportunity maybe due to a numbers game than whether they can play

My thought of bedard so far: above average shot, decent set up ability, average skater, cannot create for himself, not a generational talent. Quite a drop off from players like mcdavid, crosby or mackinon. Just my opinion.

Great he was able to dump the puck from center ice, and he was just the right player at the right time when AA and Murphy did all the hard work for Hall to get a gratuitous bounce because he wasn't along the boards to help.

Watching him all night is painful he can't complete a pass and forgets the puck from time to time when he tries to make a move with it. Had another terrible turnover in his own end again.
- BetweenTheDots

On a team where scoring is one of the biggest deficiencies, you are knocking the guy who put the puck in the net because he wasn't helping along the boards (the way you want him to). What is his responsibility in that situation? I'm thankful that they actually had someone who had the reflexes and shot to put that quick turnover in the back of the net.

My thought of bedard so far: above average shot, decent set up ability, average skater, cannot create for himself, not a generational talent. Quite a drop off from players like mcdavid, crosby or mackinon. Just my opinion.
- LFS

The bolded are the key words here. I think you are probably right, although I think his set-up ability is very high and I think he's a very good skater (not necessarily fast).

You could definitely tell that he was trying to do it all himself after they got down, which is not really going to work in most situations.

If you remember, MacKinnon wasn't really lighting up the skies when he came into the league. He was around 0.7 PPG until year 5.

Add some more talent to spread out the offense and give him some more experience and he'll be just fine.

After losses by the Leafs and Oilers, it's always entertaining to read the comments after the articles on Sportsnet.ca.

The bolded are the key words here. I think you are probably right, although I think his set-up ability is very high and I think he's a very good skater (not necessarily fast).

You could definitely tell that he was trying to do it all himself after they got down, which is not really going to work in most situations.

If you remember, MacKinnon wasn't really lighting up the skies when he came into the league. He was around 0.7 PPG until year 5.

Add some more talent to spread out the offense and give him some more experience and he'll be just fine.
- Chunk

Chunk, im sure hell be just fine, i just dont see a generational talent.

Chunk, im sure hell be just fine, i just dont see a generational talent.
- LFS

Could certainly end up that way, but that's why they've gathered so many first rounders so that they don't have to depend on just one guy. I'd rather they end up closer to the Bolts than the Oilers.

By no means am I saying he should be switched now, but it would not surprise me in the least if Bedard is eventually moved to wing. He's just 19 and still has a lot to learn, but he really has almost no interest in (or maybe understanding of) his own zone.

My thought of bedard so far: above average shot, decent set up ability, average skater, cannot create for himself, not a generational talent. Quite a drop off from players like mcdavid, crosby or mackinon. Just my opinion.
- LFS

In a world of bad takes, this stands alone

In a world of bad takes, this stands alone
- ObeseOprah

He said "so far". Aside from disagreeing with some of his adjectives, where is he wrong?

The one noticeable difference is they are getting a few more shot attempts and shots on goal. Statistically they were second worst in the NHL in those metrics last year, now kind of middle of the road right now in getting some pucks on net. Better to be at least in the pack than nearly dead last.

Maroon and AA have been pretty much useless and thankfully both are only here for this season. Hopefully Kurashev can stay out of the dog house and Reichel can hopefully keep his play going the way he has been the first 3 games here.
- breadbag

Yeah exactly. Incrementally better - probably and more watchable but end result won't be too different.

I think Reichel is more likely than Kurshev to be productive but I don't know that either will be consistent enough to cement a top 6 spot even on this roster.

Considering the siege they were under, I thought Kaiser and Allan played pretty well.

Also, Vlasic on the PP kinda showed why they keep Jones there even though he's not anywhere near exceptional at it.

My thought of bedard so far: above average shot, decent set up ability, average skater, cannot create for himself, not a generational talent. Quite a drop off from players like mcdavid, crosby or mackinon. Just my opinion.
- LFS

Just because you're wrong it doesn't make you a bad person.

Just because you're wrong it doesn't make you a bad person.
- fattybeef

He was trying to hard last night, i think he wanted to play well vs Vancouver and kept trying to do it himself. How many offsides did he have last night, 3 or 4? Not good when you can't win a faceoff.

He said "so far". Aside from disagreeing with some of his adjectives, where is he wrong?
- Chunk

For one, he mentions above average shot. Having a top five shot in the league, and arguably the best shot in the league, is not just above average, it’s exceptional. He will score 50 goals within three years.

Considering the siege they were under, I thought Kaiser and Allan played pretty well.

Also, Vlasic on the PP kinda showed why they keep Jones there even though he's not anywhere near exceptional at it.
- Chunk

Id keep playing Vlasic there, we know what we got in Jones and really it's meh on the PP.

Last night Reichel tried to go through three defenders, not wise, but love the aggressiveness. Keep playing the kid, sit AA now!

On a team where scoring is one of the biggest deficiencies, you are knocking the guy who put the puck in the net because he wasn't helping along the boards (the way you want him to). What is his responsibility in that situation? I'm thankful that they actually had someone who had the reflexes and shot to put that quick turnover in the back of the net.
- Chunk

I'm glad he was able to score a goal but to not recognize he doesn't offer much else other than if he's left all alone in front of the goalie and can score a goal is concerning.

Glad he's only got 1 year remaining on the contract.

Id keep playing Vlasic there, we know what we got in Jones and really it's meh on the PP.
- BetweenTheDots

Vlasic could barely get out of his own zone on the PP last night, let alone into theirs.

He said "so far". Aside from disagreeing with some of his adjectives, where is he wrong?
- Chunk

The shot is clearly elite. How quickly he can get it off and from different positions is dumbfounding.

Seravilli commented last night that he has the best release in the league and still thinks he'll bang in 40 since he'll go on a heater at some point. The guy watches a lot of hockey and certainly isn't a Chicago Homer. 18 of his 22 goals last year were at evens getting absolutely hounded.

He had 39 assists over 60 some games having mostly Kurashev and Foligno to pass to. I'd say that's some pretty incredible play making ability. TT is at a PPG and on pace for over 30 goals (career high) playing with him - it certainly isn't Foligno driving that.

Defensively he's a lot better this year both getting into lanes and being where he is supposed to be faster. Last year he was a bit slow on that side of the ice but you'd expect that.

He's ahead of where Jack Hughes was as a similar player. Had 2 fewer points than MacKinnon's rookie year playing 14 fewer games and more points than Mac had in the next 3.

McDavid had a little more help but Crosby was probably a more complete player at that time.

Bedard is not a Justin Fields comp. He's the real deal and these Debbie downer Bears and inferiority complex white sox fans need to chill out. Go have a drink, eat a gummy, smoke a cigarette, take a yoga class whatever calms ya down. This is ridiculous. The kid has unreal talent.

I'm glad he was able to score a goal but to not recognize he doesn't offer much else other than if he's left all alone in front of the goalie and can score a goal is concerning.
- BetweenTheDots

I'm sorry, I must have missed when VAN scored when Hall was on the ice. You keep saying that he doesn't bring anything to the team and is a detriment. Is he playing his responsibilities properly? What is he doing wrong other than you not liking him? He's there for secondary scoring and generating chances and he's done that very well. What more do you want from him specifically?

I'm sorry, I must have missed when VAN scored when Hall was on the ice. You keep saying that he doesn't bring anything to the team and is a detriment. Is he playing his responsibilities properly? What is he doing wrong other than you not liking him? He's there for secondary scoring and generating chances and he's done that very well. What more do you want from him specifically?
- Chunk

Complete passes, either he dumps them in, over skates the puck or goes into a corner and turns it over. He's not very good its okay but i guess KD talked to him about his lack of defensive effort but benched Kurashev, so i guess we have different rules for different players.

The shot is clearly elite. How quickly he can get it off and from different positions is dumbfounding.

Seravilli commented last night that he has the best release in the league and still thinks he'll bang in 40 since he'll go on a heater at some point. The guy watches a lot of hockey and certainly isn't a Chicago Homer. 18 of his 22 goals last year were at evens getting absolutely hounded.

He had 39 assists over 60 some games having mostly Kurashev and Foligno to pass to. I'd say that's some pretty incredible play making ability. TT is at a PPG and on pace for over 30 goals (career high) playing with him - it certainly isn't Foligno driving that.

Defensively he's a lot better this year both getting into lanes and being where he is supposed to be faster. Last year he was a bit slow on that side of the ice but you'd expect that.

He's ahead of where Jack Hughes was as a similar player. Had 2 fewer points than MacKinnon's rookie year playing 14 fewer games and more points than Mac had in the next 3.

McDavid had a little more help but Crosby was probably a more complete player at that time.

Bedard is not a Justin Fields comp. He's the real deal and these Debbie downer Bears and inferiority complex white sox fans need to chill out. Go have a drink, eat a gummy, smoke a cigarette, take a yoga class whatever calms ya down. This is ridiculous. The kid has unreal talent.
- fattybeef

Guilty.


Fair enough. Certainly some recency bias in my statements, but I get frustrated as hell when you see him trying to do it by himself and he starts telegraphing his passes or trying to make plays through three guys.

"He's only 19".
"He's only 19".