Lardis with the hat trick. In seven playoff games he has 11 goals and over 80 goals for the season. Pretty impressive considering Oshawa are doing everything to take his time and space and are physically running him at every opportunity.

Lardis with the hat trick. In seven playoff games he has 11 goals and over 80 goals for the season. Pretty impressive considering Oshawa are doing everything to take his time and space and are physically running him at every opportunity.
- paulr

Lardis left the game with an injury. He took a knee on knee hit and lay crumpled on the ice and needed help to get off the ice. Hopefully he’ll be back later in the series.

Lardis left the game with an injury. He took a knee on knee hit and lay crumpled on the ice and needed help to get off the ice. Hopefully he’ll be back later in the series.
- paulr

That's a tough break. Hope it's nothing too serious for him.

Will be interesting to see how he does at the dot in the two NHL games.
- Assman22

Common on down, you are the next Blackhawk prospect to sign his ELC, Sweet.

This is great.

Kudos to the Jets for sticking around to say goodbye to Maroon and Martinez. Showed class. Western Michigan trounced BU. The best team won.
- bjphawkfan

Do the Hawks have any prospects from western Michigan?

That's a tough break. Hope it's nothing too serious for him.
- breadbag

Lardis was being targeted physically the last two games. Not only were Oshawa trying to take his time and space away, they were also trying to physically intimidate him. Not only was Lardis not intimidated, he was giving back everything the Gens dished out. Plus Lardis was able to find open ice all game to get his hat trick. Lardis already has above average NHL skating ability, he also possesses an NHL shot and release. But Lardis’ best skill may be his ability to find open ice all the time.

Lardis was being targeted physically the last two games. Not only were Oshawa trying to take his time and space away, they were also trying to physically intimidate him. Not only was Lardis not intimidated, he was giving back everything the Gens dished out. Plus Lardis was able to find open ice all game to get his hat trick. Lardis already has above average NHL skating ability, he also possesses an NHL shot and release. But Lardis’ best skill may be his ability to find open ice all the time.
- paulr

Not a trivial skill. Nazar seems to be greatly improving in that area as this year has progressed. Training camp next year is going to be intense with guys battling for spots.

Personally, I’ve got KD trading Reichel, and D!ckinson this offseason. It just seems like he’s souring on the whole situation and I think KD is going to want to open up another spot.

Not a trivial skill. Nazar seems to be greatly improving in that area as this year has progressed. Training camp next year is going to be intense with guys battling for spots.

Personally, I’ve got KD trading Reichel, and D!ckinson this offseason. It just seems like he’s souring on the whole situation and I think KD is going to want to open up another spot.
- Chunk

That's what i love about this, Kurashev he's gone, Reichel will have to dial it up next season but i also think he may actually perform better with faster more talented line mates.

That's what i love about this, Kurashev he's gone, Reichel will have to dial it up next season but i also think he may actually perform better with faster more talented line mates.
- BetweenTheDots

He's already been soured on by three different coaches. He's played with "better" line mates and hasn't moved the needle at all. In fact, he's always been pushed back down the lineup. He's got some of the worst metrics on the team and the eye test isn't much better outside of the fact that he's twitchy and skates fast. Combine that with "not a good hockey player" and you get Jeremy Morin.

Wouldn't surprise me if Veleno gets a ticket elsewhere either. Maybe not in the offseason, but during the preseason depending on how all the new kids show out.

That's what i love about this, Kurashev he's gone, Reichel will have to dial it up next season but i also think he may actually perform better with faster more talented line mates.
- BetweenTheDots

I’m not sure what to make of Reichel anymore? It’s obvious he has lots of skill, a great skater and very good hands but I’m not so sure about the size of his heart? How many times have I seen him get a step going wide on a defender and instead of using his speed to cut past the defenceman and try to make a move on the net he more often than not flutters a weak shot on net from a bad angle. Or he makes a weak cross ice pass to a team mate who may or may not be there. I’m watching Lardis take a beating to make plays and take another beating later to make another play. Lardis isn’t big, he’s not physical at all but he’s willing to do whatever he has to in the game.

I don’t want KD to just dump Reichel, I’d like to see him have another chance but Reichel’s success won’t come from being around better team mates. It’s got to come from himself. Reichel has to spend the summer looking for his balls then demonstrating to management he grew a pair, or he’ll get buried in Rockford.

He's already been soured on by three different coaches. He's played with "better" line mates and hasn't moved the needle at all. In fact, he's always been pushed back down the lineup. He's got some of the worst metrics on the team and the eye test isn't much better outside of the fact that he's twitchy and skates fast. Combine that with "not a good hockey player" and you get Jeremy Morin.

Wouldn't surprise me if Veleno gets a ticket elsewhere either. Maybe not in the offseason, but during the preseason depending on how all the new kids show out.
- Chunk

I get the Reichel vibe, however Morin was not a good skater, so they are different players. That being said you are probably right, he’s probably gone this offseason, but for me, I’d give him another opportunity with a legitimate NHL coach.

I get the Reichel vibe, however Morin was not a good skater, so they are different players. That being said you are probably right, he’s probably gone this offseason, but for me, I’d give him another opportunity with a legitimate NHL coach.
- Angotti

I don't disagree he probably will be traded but no need to be hasty next season if he earns it, he'll reach the 200 game mark and i think that'll give us a really good barometer on what he is. He at times has some really good games where he's in the mix them some games disappears, definitely has to get comfortable with being in the mix.

Paul i love hearing that about Lardis, hope he's okay and hope to see him soon in Rockford

Very good chance he’ll be completely overwhelmed. He’s going up against superior strength, much more experience and against the various little tricks NHL players have picked up that he hasn’t.
- paulr

Maybe- but also in games that pretty much don't matter to the teams involved. Overwhelm might come full on once playing in games that matter to the other teams.

Read something interesting. This is apparently the first time that the 4 US based original Six teams have all missed the playoffs in the same season.

The Hawks play a part tonight in deciding the fate of another Original Six team, as Montreal needs a point to clinch. Columbus is rising (3 points back) and needs to win their final 2 games (currently on a 4 game win streak).

I don't know for sure, but I assume tonight will be the debut game for Demidov in Montreal. I'm assuming the "Hawks should have taken him at #2" vibe will be strong tonight.

Maybe- but also in games that pretty much don't matter to the teams involved. Overwhelm might come full on once playing in games that matter to the other teams.
- SC116

Also won't see Tkachuk at the dot in Ottawa

Read something interesting. This is apparently the first time that the 4 US based original Six teams have all missed the playoffs in the same season.

The Hawks play a part tonight in deciding the fate of another Original Six team, as Montreal needs a point to clinch. Columbus is rising (3 points back) and needs to win their final 2 games (currently on a 4 game win streak).

I don't know for sure, but I assume tonight will be the debut game for Demidov in Montreal. I'm assuming the "Hawks should have taken him at #2" vibe will be strong tonight.
- breadbag

Let Levshunov take a run at him from time to time and see what happens

Read something interesting. This is apparently the first time that the 4 US based original Six teams have all missed the playoffs in the same season.

The Hawks play a part tonight in deciding the fate of another Original Six team, as Montreal needs a point to clinch. Columbus is rising (3 points back) and needs to win their final 2 games (currently on a 4 game win streak).

I don't know for sure, but I assume tonight will be the debut game for Demidov in Montreal. I'm assuming the "Hawks should have taken him at #2" vibe will be strong tonight.
- breadbag

If Demidov scores going against Levshunov, LFS will be inconsolable.

Per Ben Pope

Blackhawks lines in Montreal:

Donato-Bedard-Mikheyev
Teravainen-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Greene-Moore
Slaggert-Veleno-Reichel

Vlasic-Rinzel
Murphy-Crevier
Kaiser-Levshunov

Soderblom

*Korchinski and Kurashev are scratches

He's already been soured on by three different coaches. He's played with "better" line mates and hasn't moved the needle at all. In fact, he's always been pushed back down the lineup. He's got some of the worst metrics on the team and the eye test isn't much better outside of the fact that he's twitchy and skates fast. Combine that with "not a good hockey player" and you get Jeremy Morin.

Wouldn't surprise me if Veleno gets a ticket elsewhere either. Maybe not in the offseason, but during the preseason depending on how all the new kids show out.
- Chunk

I think Reichel is done in Chicago. Alex Nylander showed more.

I think Reichel is done in Chicago. Alex Nylander showed more.
- rpeters01

What does Reichel provide that Slaggert does not? I'd say at this point Slaggert provide more than Reichel does. Whether Reichel has better hands or not, he can't (or won't) use that to his advantage during play. So now he's just a fast twitchy guy who occasionally finds a nut, and can't win a battle.

Per Ben Pope

Blackhawks lines in Montreal:

Donato-Bedard-Mikheyev
Teravainen-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Greene-Moore
Slaggert-Veleno-Reichel

Vlasic-Rinzel
Murphy-Crevier
Kaiser-Levshunov

Soderblom

*Korchinski and Kurashev are scratches
- Angotti

Looks like we have the 2L set for next year.

I've read more than one writer say that the Hawks have Greene penciled into their lineup for next season. Hopefully, he shows really well in the next two games.

Per Ben Pope

Blackhawks lines in Montreal:

Donato-Bedard-Mikheyev
Teravainen-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Greene-Moore
Slaggert-Veleno-Reichel

Vlasic-Rinzel
Murphy-Crevier
Kaiser-Levshunov

Soderblom

*Korchinski and Kurashev are scratches
- Angotti

Slaggert will struggle to make the team next year assuming we add a couple new shiny pieces.

What does Reichel provide that Slaggert does not? I'd say at this point Slaggert provide more than Reichel does. Whether Reichel has better hands or not, he can't (or won't) use that to his advantage during play. So now he's just a fast twitchy guy who occasionally finds a nut, and can't win a battle.
- Chunk

Sounds like we're in agreement?

Bedard with 3 tonight
Demidov with 4