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".


- Chunk

Just adding that personally, I see no issue with someone questioning where Bedard's career might go. No question that he has some really amazing things working for him, his overall talent is elite and his commitment/drive to play the game and improve is rock solid. Nothing is guaranteed and I think it's okay wonder if the talent he has will 100% translate into him being a "generational" player. Until be really breaks out, he is still in the "could be" phase, still young and getting better.

I will say, he has gotten stronger on his skates and he hasn't been shoved around nearly as much in this season compared to last year IMO.

Just adding that personally, I see no issue with someone questioning where Bedard's career might go. No question that he has some really amazing things working for him, his overall talent is elite and his commitment/drive to play the game and improve is rock solid. Nothing is guaranteed and I think it's okay wonder if the talent he has will 100% translate into him being a "generational" player. Until be really breaks out, he is still in the "could be" phase, still young and getting better.

I will say, he has gotten stronger on his skates and he hasn't been shoved around nearly as much in this season compared to last year IMO.
- breadbag

Agree Bread. I wondered this on a few occasions last year. I'm feeling more confident he's going to be a game breaker, if not generational. His possession, passing and overall skating strength has improved greatly compared to last year. His maturity needs to improve though as he needs to channel his frustration and not try to take on an entire line.

Loved how he was driving to the net. Wish other players would do that too as there are so many playing on the perimeter.

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".


- Chunk

When your team sucks you crap on your best player, even if he's only 19.

Bedard has not been a finisher this year
- LFS

It's not easy to pass it to yourself and get the goalie out of position.

Agree Bread. I wondered this on a few occasions last year. I'm feeling more confident he's going to be a game breaker, if not generational. His possession, passing and overall skating strength has improved greatly compared to last year. His maturity needs to improve though as he needs to channel his frustration and not try to take on an entire line.

Loved how he was driving to the net. Wish other players would do that too as there are so many playing on the perimeter.
- Popsghostly

The perimeter is where careers go to die. You separate the men from the boys.

The perimeter is where careers go to die. You separate the men from the boys.
- rpeters01

Thankfully, it looks like Reichel is starting to get that message as well.

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.
- Angotti

What leads you to believe that he currently has the best shot in the league? Based on his scoring? There are many 50 goal scorers in the nhl who are not generational. I am willing to wait to see if he develops into the type of player we all thought he would be but right now he isnt even close. Right now i would settle for him to win a face off in our own end.

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

Right now i would settle for a face off win in our end.

The Seth Jones contract might take the cake for the worst that Stan Bowman handed out before his time in Chicago ended. Wow.

I know that this team is far from great, but was hoping at the time they would get more out of him. To think that they have him through the rest of this decade is frightening.

Just adding that personally, I see no issue with someone questioning where Bedard's career might go. No question that he has some really amazing things working for him, his overall talent is elite and his commitment/drive to play the game and improve is rock solid. Nothing is guaranteed and I think it's okay wonder if the talent he has will 100% translate into him being a "generational" player. Until be really breaks out, he is still in the "could be" phase, still young and getting better.

I will say, he has gotten stronger on his skates and he hasn't been shoved around nearly as much in this season compared to last year IMO.
- breadbag

Thank you for pointing out that my statement refers to what hes done so far and not what he could become. And an elite shot is only good if the puck end up in the back of the net and not in the goalies belly. No one wants more for this kid to reach the potential we were hoping for when we drafted him than I.

What leads you to believe that he currently has the best shot in the league? Based on his scoring? There are many 50 goal scorers in the nhl who are not generational. I am willing to wait to see if he develops into the type of player we all thought he would be but right now he isnt even close. Right now i would settle for him to win a face off in our own end.
- LFS

Connor Bedard is the last thing Blackhawks fans should be complaining about. I bet 30 other teams would love to have him in their organization right now. The dude is a beast and is going to get even better as this team fills out into a more competitive roster.

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis
#Blackhawks announce Taylor Hall won't practice today for maintenance reasons. They've said they don't want him skating four days in a row after coming off ACL surgery so this is expected.

Connor Bedard is the last thing Blackhawks fans should be complaining about. I bet 30 other teams would love to have him in their organization right now. The dude is a beast and is going to get even better as this team fills out into a more competitive roster.
- frafra

I don't think anyone is really complaining about him.

I don't think anyone is really complaining about him.
- breadbag

Thank you

What leads you to believe that he currently has the best shot in the league? Based on his scoring? There are many 50 goal scorers in the nhl who are not generational. I am willing to wait to see if he develops into the type of player we all thought he would be but right now he isnt even close. Right now i would settle for him to win a face off in our own end.
- LFS

My comments never mentioned that he was generational, that’s to be determined. His release is unbelievable, Lankinen was struggling with his shots last night, sooner rather than later, they will go in. Also, let’s not forget that he has a fourth liner on his left, not Foligno’s fault that at this time, as he seems to be the best current option, or is he?

Durzi and Marino both out for about 4 months.
Blackhawks send Brodie or Murph packing? And let Kaiser,Allan play now. And bring up Korch later on?

Durzi and Marino both out for about 4 months.
Blackhawks send Brodie or Murph packing? And let Kaiser,Allan play now. And bring up Korch later on?
- captainserious

Maybe throw Phillips a bone since he's up with the team?

Maybe throw Phillips a bone since he's up with the team?
- Chunk

After he plays about 15-20 he can be traded too,right?

Thankfully, it looks like Reichel is starting to get that message as well.
- Chunk

He needs to eat more cheeseburgers.

He needs to eat more cheeseburgers.
- rpeters01

Yeah, an extra 10 lbs would do that kid wonders probably.

The Seth Jones contract might take the cake for the worst that Stan Bowman handed out before his time in Chicago ended. Wow.

I know that this team is far from great, but was hoping at the time they would get more out of him. To think that they have him through the rest of this decade is frightening.
- frafra

Cristobal Huet.

Mario Tirabassi
@Mario_Tirabassi
#Blackhawks d-pairs look to be shaping up like this today:
Phillips-Jones
Kaiser-Murphy
Vlasic-Brodie


Mario Tirabassi
@Mario_Tirabassi
With Taylor Hall out today, 2nd line rotation is a mixture of:
Bertuzzi-Kurashev-Reichel-Athanasiou

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Richardson had a long conversation with Reichel after practice. Turns out it was a positive conversation.

"He's not cheating on the offensive side. He's playing hard in the stick battles. He's showing he wants to stay in the lineup. I told him he's got to keep doing that and inch along some offense in there when you can and look to strike when you can. Hopefully he can get a little more time in the power play; we'll look to get him some of that."

Just adding that personally, I see no issue with someone questioning where Bedard's career might go. No question that he has some really amazing things working for him, his overall talent is elite and his commitment/drive to play the game and improve is rock solid. Nothing is guaranteed and I think it's okay wonder if the talent he has will 100% translate into him being a "generational" player. Until be really breaks out, he is still in the "could be" phase, still young and getting better.

I will say, he has gotten stronger on his skates and he hasn't been shoved around nearly as much in this season compared to last year IMO.
- breadbag

Wanna keep this as short as possible but want to point out Chunk and Fatty you guys are on fire posting about Bedard and your post here fits right in, BB.

The hockey universe was in unison praising Bedard as a generational talent predraft. 95% of hockey fans never saw the kid play but read he's generational comparing him to Crosby and McDavid.

Then they see the kid in the NHL and after seeing him enough times see him and the flaws that a kid who was never held to playing the game properly his whole life and playing in the NHL that way it can be ugly the way it wasn't in jrs.

The kid's shot and IQ are elite. Few, if any, doubt that and IMO is the reason for all the hype pre-pro. But even a person with those generational traits that is flawed in many other aspects will struggle at times in the NHL and that's what we see.

He's just 19, was never held to playing the game properly, lives and breathes hockey and has generational traits. To say anything definitively about what kind of player he will be once matured is simply a guess but one could argue he's more of a Kane than a Crosby. And if that's the case, is his floor, that's a damn good hockey player.

Taylor Hall on wanting to be with the Hawks long term.

https://www.dailyfaceoff....s-build-for-the-long-haul

If he has a choice, Hall is saying it now: He wants to be in Chicago. It’s too early to say if the feeling is mutual.

“I’d love to stay and be part of this,” Hall said. “I’ve moved around quite a bit, maybe more than I would’ve liked or planned at the start of my career. But it’s brought me and led me to some amazing people, and I’ve had a lot of great life experiences, and that’s made me grow up a lot. In saying that, I like it here, I like the organization. Most of all, I really like this team and the group of guys we have. I think I can be a good piece for us as we keep growing. If there was interest on their side, I’d definitely love to be around the team and help build this.”