Hall is middle 6. Injuries and age are undefeated.
- bhawks2241[/quot

I will check back with you in another month or two. I think you will appreciate Hall more.

IMHO the forwards rank as D!ckinson, Bedard, Hall.
Next tier Donato, TT, Foligno, Bertuzzi.
Then Reichel, Kurashev, Mikheyev, Maroon, Smith, Anderson

Darren Pang is Captain Obvious, his commentary adds absolutely nothing but a simple, bland description of the replay with an occasional "Right There!" At least Edzo could explain the Xs and Os of a play within seconds of the whistle being blown.
- Dieselhead

I'm near the front of the line of Pang is terrible. But, listen to him on a national broadcast he's totally different. During home calls he says the word I and me 20-30 times and makes Ball be subservient to his self important ego...... His stories are really immature and do nothing but name drop.

Dude sucks.

Could we parse out the blogging on this site.

Something like:
1 person - preview upcoming game / day of the game
1 person - post game comments / analysis
1 person - reports on Ice Hogs and prospects (maybe weekly)
1 person - (Maybe Wiz) on upcoming draft (a few times per month)
- Ztra

I like the way you think, Z........

Martinez must be ready, Phillips was sent down this morning.
- LAHawk

Also, I think it's near the 30 day deadline to send him back down without going through waivers again. And if Martinez isn't ready do they call up KK, Crevier or Lev to have a 7th D for the short 2 game western trip later this week?

Also, I think it's near the 30 day deadline to send him back down without going through waivers again. And if Martinez isn't ready do they call up KK, Crevier or Lev to have a 7th D for the short 2 game western trip later this week?
- boilermaker100

Not Lev, he has shown signs of having bad body language.

Interestingly Boudreau mentions
that LR won't be around when the Hawks become good. Midway (2:32ish) during the segment:

https://www.tsn.ca/video/...art-this-season%7E3025522
- Popsghostly

Not really surprising, I guess. Coaches on rebuilding teams rarely win enough to keep their jobs, so he's kinda just playing the odds. If LR can right the ship this year and get to where we thought they would be (75-80 pts), then he's got a much better shot. If they continue the one step forward -two back that they've been on, then he'll likely be gone sooner than later.

The thing is, they probably can't go with another "unproven" coach if they are going to replace LR. If the argument is that they have to win now, hiring the fresh young face out of the AHL or an assistant from another team is a really hard sell.

Not Lev, he has shown signs of having bad body language.
- paulr

Maybe Belarusian body language is interpreted differently than North American body language.

Nice to see Lardis working the front of the net to score and not just wristers from outside.

Scroll to the bottom of the article.

https://www.bleachernatio...wks-veterans-day-bullets/
- Chunk

Chunk, think Guentzel as a comp for Lardis. They are both smallish darters who don't establish position in the slots but instead play off their great reads and dart into dangerous ice in the slots, and after loose pucks and both can flat out wire the thing.

Don't really shy away from contact but both know they'd get knocked down hanging around the slots flat footed... They read, and dart. Not unlike the way Kaiser plays. Great reads and immediately/decisively act on those reads. You can't miss Lardis' Reichel like explosion but it's his reads that are his best trait IMO and generally speaking a high IQ jr with skill translates to the NHL.

That's what drew me to Kaiser the first time I saw him in his 12 game USHL stint and to post last yr I'm planting a flag on him being a Hammer-lite 13-15 yr NHL Dman. ....

Not Lev, he has shown signs of having bad body language.
- paulr

Maybe he needs a different deodarant

Maybe Belarusian body language is interpreted differently than North American body language.
- boilermaker100

Well I’ve never interpreted body language in another language so you may have a point? We need the body language expert to explain it.

Kaiser was excellent last night.
- fattybeef

He's fun to watch, ain't he fatty? .. You can just see him gaining confidence and simply play on instinct as he gains NHL experience.... A really fun player.

LA was right regarding Martinez. Ben Pope tweets he is expected to travel with the team this week.

He also tweets AA will go to Rockford if he clears waivers to get some playing time per LR.

Chunk, think Guentzel as a comp for Lardis. They are both smallish darters who don't establish position in the slots but instead play off their great reads and dart into dangerous ice in the slots, and after loose pucks and both can flat out wire the thing.

Don't really shy away from contact but both know they'd get knocked down hanging around the slots flat footed... They read, and dart. Not unlike the way Kaiser plays. Great reads and immediately/decisively act on those reads. You can't miss Lardis' Reichel like explosion but it's his reads that are his best trait IMO and generally speaking a high IQ jr with skill translates to the NHL.

That's what drew me to Kaiser the first time I saw him in his 12 game USHL stint and to post last yr I'm planting a flag on him being a Hammer-lite 13-15 yr NHL Dman. ....
- Mr Ricochet

Yeah, it's gonna suck watching him do it for NYR, TB, or FLA.

Maybe Belarusian body language is interpreted differently than North American body language.
- boilermaker100

Interestingly Boudreau mentions
that LR won't be around when the Hawks become good. Midway (2:32ish) during the segment:

https://www.tsn.ca/video/...art-this-season%7E3025522
- Popsghostly

I don't know, when i hear LR speak he is knowledgeable about the game of hockey. I like how he can go into detail about why he did this or that. I did get frustrated about Reichel not playing, then being bounced around in the line up. Ultimately if he keeps playing Reichel I'm good with it.

Don't like my dmen playing 25 minutes a night but he is playing the other kids over Brodie.

You want to hear a coach who is in over his head, Eberflus talking about the process and complimentary football, really offers no detail or insight in why they did what they did on any play, EVER!

I think it depends how long it takes before the Blackhawks are good more than anything else for LR.

Yeah, but he's always had other dangerous options on the PP as well. We are generally in agreement on the basics here. I'm just saying it's not exactly as simple as practicing passing more and he'll get more shots and score more goals.
- Chunk

Considering they are on the PP1 and more times than not Jones is out there with Bedard 5 on 5, i think it actually would lead to more goals for Bedard or at least rebounds in front of the net. It would be a nice step in the right direction.

So with Phillips going back to Rockford and AA expected to be waived, that opens up two roster spots, one for Martinez and one for who knows. Either a trade or someone is coming up from Rockford.

Hey D. It’s kinda like the first bears game where they beat TEN. Sure they won, but there were so many issues present that it’s hard to get excited about it.

I like the way they are trending defensively. On offense, there is very little to point to as an improvement outside of not getting grossly outshot every night. You can see them slowing down thinking about what to do with the puck instead of just doing it. I still watch and enjoy the game, but just too many times that I see indecision that kills momentum (TY in the bottom six should be over right now).
- Chunk

Chunk, what do you think the organIzations expectations were as the signed guys in the offseason and I guess what were yours? I bet the Hawks said at camp you never know but realistically they didn't want Bedard and the young Dmen to get slaughtered 7 out 10 games. ..... Last yr was dangerous to development and I think they realized that. So they acquire legit NHL players.

And instead of tapping away I'd add just two examples of how they are a proper NHL team. ....... Bedard was killed in the fancies last yr and the last I checked this yr he's at a 50% xGF. Kid was minus 100 last yr(?) and his fancies showed that and this yr he's at 50%GF which is a huge jump.

They have been within 1 goal at least in 17ish outa 19ish games in the 3rd period. That is a competitive team and conducive to development as Bedard's fancies show.

You never know but IMO the Hawks are pleased 20 games in organIzationally and I know I am no matter wins and losses which will in the end show a solid out talented (scoring goals) squad. Whatever that ends up being if club plays as they have the first 20 and development of the young players continues it will have been a successful step forward in the rebuild which is not in yr 2 from a total tear down.

I agree but at the same time what i notice from Bedard is he's using this season to be a Patrick Kane. He's trying to keep possession in the ozone on his stick while using the edges of his skates and learning how to create space for himself. It's not great right now but it's not terrible.
- BetweenTheDots

Bedard is maturing, including defensively, and that's what we're seeing.... His shot percentage is 5.8 this yr and a full 5 points lower than last yr at 10.7%. That will adjust.

Last yr he scored 22 goals and had a 74 pt pace. This yr he's on a 67 pt pace, not far of from last yr, but all his fancies are better. .... He's maturing and seemingly wants to be a better hockey player, not just a pts machine and is learning it takes more to win than just score pts.

I don't know, when i hear LR speak he is knowledgeable about the game of hockey. I like how he can go into detail about why he did this or that. I did get frustrated about Reichel not playing, then being bounced around in the line up. Ultimately if he keeps playing Reichel I'm good with it.

Don't like my dmen playing 25 minutes a night but he is playing the other kids over Brodie.

You want to hear a coach who is in over his head, Eberflus talking about the process and complimentary football, really offers no detail or insight in why they did what they did on any play, EVER!

I think it depends how long it takes before the Blackhawks are good more than anything else for LR.
- BetweenTheDots

It's maddening isn't it Dots? We get better more detailed answers from the rookie QB.

Chunk, what do you think the organIzations expectations were as the signed guys in the offseason and I guess what were yours? I bet the Hawks said at camp you never know but realistically they didn't want Bedard and the young Dmen to get slaughtered 7 out 10 games. ..... Last yr was dangerous to development and I think they realized that. So they acquire legit NHL players.

And instead of tapping away I'd add just two examples of how they are a proper NHL team. ....... Bedard was killed in the fancies last yr and the last I checked this yr he's at a 50% xGF. Kid was minus 100 last yr(?) and his fancies showed that and this yr he's at 50%GF which is a huge jump.

They have been within 1 goal at least in 17ish outa 19ish games in the 3rd period. That is a competitive team and conducive to development as Bedard's fancies show.

You never know but IMO the Hawks are pleased 20 games in organIzationally and I know I am no matter wins and losses which will in the end show a solid out talented (scoring goals) squad. Whatever that ends up being if club plays as they have the first 20 and development of the young players continues it will have been a successful step forward in the rebuild which is not in yr 2 from a total tear down.
- Mr Ricochet

This time last year 16 games in
40GF 56GA -16
This year
41GF 49GA -8

The 17th game last year was the Perry incident and they gave up 7 goals against that night. As that month goes on it's pretty ugly.

I will have open Sundays for the rest of the Bears season unless there is another game I want to watch.

Caleb is getting the Derrick Carr look in his eyes. Pressure up the middle, especially when unblocked, will ruin every QB in the NFL. I don't care who it is, you cannot function as a QB with constant pressure up the middle.

WRs are also not getting open. The replays yesterday of Caleb just holding the ball with no one open.... or seeing Caleb get sacked and the WRs and TE with their backs turned still trying to get into their routes.


Another huge problem. We play Cover 2. That means in practice, I doubt WRs are getting bumped at the line or jammed. Easy to throw timing routes in practice against the Cover 2... a lot harder in real games when your WRs don't get free releases. Timing won't be there and hasn't been.

Also huge concern is the wind. Caleb has not played well in the wind. Someone needs to be working with him on how to throw balls in 15mph plus winds. He's been inaccurate at times but some of that is the wind at Soldier Field. It was blowing yesterday.
- bhawks2241

As John Fox once said..."It's all a problem."

Bedard is maturing, including defensively, and that's what we're seeing.... His shot percentage is 5.8 this yr and a full 5 points higher last at 10.7%. That will adjusthe a.

Last yr he scored 22 goals and had a 74 pt pace. This yr he's on a 67 pt pace, not far of from last yr, but all his fancies are better. .... He's maturing and seemingly wants to be a better hockey player, not just a pts machine and is learning it takes more to win than just score pts.
- Mr Ricochet

From The Athletic the other day...

Bedard is second to only Toronto’s Auston Matthews with 41 individual scoring chances at five-on-five this season. He isn’t scoring, but it’s not for lack of trying. He shot nearly 20 percent in his last year in the WHL and 10 percent in his first year in the NHL. He’s at just 6 percent so far this season. The goals will come.

AA is now officially on waivers. He’ll probably get moved at 50% retained after he clears, we’ll see.

From The Athletic the other day...

Bedard is second to only Toronto’s Auston Matthews with 41 individual scoring chances at five-on-five this season. He isn’t scoring, but it’s not for lack of trying. He shot nearly 20 percent in his last year in the WHL and 10 percent in his first year in the NHL. He’s at just 6 percent so far this season. The goals will come.
- HawkintheD

Well that won't fit someone's observation based narrative......

I would say to get off that many individual scoring chances, on a team that lacks any legitimate scoring threats or playmakers outside of Bedard (hopefully TT gets going), being second in the league is damn near elite.

A 19 year old being able to get those scoring chances while being the focal point of every opponent, with D zone coverages shaded over to him.