Looking at fancy stats alone, the top defensemen (remaining on the team) from last year were:
EDM
Kaiser
Murphy
Rinzel
KK
Vlasic
Crevier

That's looking at Corsi%, expected goals %, actual goals %, and scoring chance %.

Unless Arty puts on an absolute clinic in the preseason and has shown he is more understanding of how to play in a system, my guess is this is pretty close, if not exactly, what the Hawks will ice in game 1.

Hey man, I was bored, there is nothing else going on and I prefaced it with BIG IF and AI is the Devil. Not sure I can put any more qualifiers in there.


I don't expect them to actually be 20 pts better, but I wanted to see what the main drivers of big improvements have been in the last 20 years.

I think Bedard is going to be a monster this year. Between the new coaching staff putting in a more defined system (not cheating/paying defense to create offense/etc.), his approach to the offseason, the more active D, and I'm going to reiterate that I think Burakovsky will be a big surprise this year, I think Bedard is going to be much better.

They scored 47 more goals last year, but also gave up 6 more. Look at last year's roster vs what it is right now. I don't think anyone can say it's worse. In fact, I think between simple subtraction of the older guys like Smith, Maroon, Brodie, etc, and the addition of a few of the kids -who will have to fight for their spot - I'm not sure how you can't say it's better.

For sure there is Kool-Aid involved here, but it's not completely impossible. If the coaching staff is the real deal, it will be evident very early.
- Chunk

It seems when they bring in speed guys with some skill they perform well under KDs managers.

I think Bedard will be better, i actually think the year after this year Bedard will be flirting with triple digits in points, i see Frondell being to Bedard as to what Rantanen was to MacKinnon.

The thing about young players is consistency, i can see them playing really well some nights and other nights not so much but that's part of learning to be a pro, i see good things in the future especially since I've seen glimpses of it all over the ice the past season.

Defense and goalie will all be much younger than what we started last season with. Will be interesting to see if Lev starts the season in CHI or RFD with possibly Crevier playing in a 3rd pairing role if it’s the latter.

In which case I could see Rinzel with Vlasic, Murphy with Kaiser and EDM with Crevier or maybe even Allan as I believe they had him playing his off side a bit in RFD.

I think Frankie and Bedard both have break out years but will be interesting to see other than Slaggert and maybe Dach, which (if any) other young fwds start the season in CHI.
- HawkintheD

I do wonder about him, it's wild how much he reminds me of Hagel but with a better shot. Watching him in Rockford he did okay then all of a sudden he started racking the points up, he kind of did the samething at the end of the NHL season. Even if he's a 40 point player this season i know he's going to be giving a lot of effort every shift.

The added bonus for the Blackhawks this season would be if Reichel steps up and plays well. He's at the 165 game mark so....

Hey man, I was bored, there is nothing else going on and I prefaced it with BIG IF and AI is the Devil. Not sure I can put any more qualifiers in there.


I don't expect them to actually be 20 pts better, but I wanted to see what the main drivers of big improvements have been in the last 20 years.

I think Bedard is going to be a monster this year. Between the new coaching staff putting in a more defined system (not cheating/paying defense to create offense/etc.), his approach to the offseason, the more active D, and I'm going to reiterate that I think Burakovsky will be a big surprise this year, I think Bedard is going to be much better.

They scored 47 more goals last year, but also gave up 6 more. Look at last year's roster vs what it is right now. I don't think anyone can say it's worse. In fact, I think between simple subtraction of the older guys like Smith, Maroon, Brodie, etc, and the addition of a few of the kids -who will have to fight for their spot - I'm not sure how you can't say it's better.

For sure there is Kool-Aid involved here, but it's not completely impossible. If the coaching staff is the real deal, it will be evident very early.
- Chunk

Luke Richardson had a very defined defensive system.

The added bonus for the Blackhawks this season would be if Reichel steps up and plays well. He's at the 165 game mark so....
- BetweenTheDots

Yeah I'm waiting for the light to go on in his head.

Luke Richardson had a very defined defensive system.
- rpeters01

Indeed, but from what I've read, his was heavily weighted on forsaking offensive generation to concentrate on defense. There was the stretch in Bedard's rookie year where the team scored 2 goals or less in about 10 games straight.

Looking at fancy stats alone, the top defensemen (remaining on the team) from last year were:
EDM
Kaiser
Murphy
Rinzel
KK
Vlasic
Crevier

That's looking at Corsi%, expected goals %, actual goals %, and scoring chance %.

Unless Arty puts on an absolute clinic in the preseason and has shown he is more understanding of how to play in a system, my guess is this is pretty close, if not exactly, what the Hawks will ice in game 1.
- Chunk

Give me Allan over KK but otherwise probably accurate.

Indeed, but from what I've read, his was heavily weighted on forsaking offensive generation to concentrate on defense. There was the stretch in Bedard's rookie year where the team scored 2 goals or less in about 10 games straight.
- Chunk

He did what he could with the poop roster he was given.

He did what he could with the poop roster he was given.
- Assman22

Our games were more lopsided under Sorensen until the season was virtually over.

Our games were more lopsided under Sorensen until the season was virtually over.
- rpeters01

Scored more and gave up more.

He did what he could with the poop roster he was given.
- Assman22

Sure, but the way he coached the team really brought the offense to a grinding halt and they couldn't gain the zone or get any pressure. The jewel of making this team watchable last season is Bedard and offense is his selling point and LR pretty much did everything to sandbag it.

LR did some things well, but I don't think he was a good overall coach yet (maybe he will develop into one).

There were teams with crappier or just as bad rosters who outperformed the Hawks. Lots of things cost the Hawks points last season. Obviously the rebuild/roster being part of it. Mrazek being back to his normal self playing below average for an NHL starter probably cost us 3 if not 5 games at least. He was a problem. Along with just the old vets coasting into the sunset and a few that just wanted out because the rebuild really wasn't what they wanted.

Sure, but the way he coached the team really brought the offense to a grinding halt and they couldn't gain the zone or get any pressure. The jewel of making this team watchable last season is Bedard and offense is his selling point and LR pretty much did everything to sandbag it.

LR did some things well, but I don't think he was a good overall coach yet (maybe he will develop into one).

There were teams with crappier or just as bad rosters who outperformed the Hawks. Lots of things cost the Hawks points last season. Obviously the rebuild/roster being part of it. Mrazek being back to his normal self playing below average for an NHL starter probably cost us 3 if not 5 games at least. He was a problem. Along with just the old vets coasting into the sunset and a few that just wanted out because the rebuild really wasn't what they wanted.
- breadbag

LR is s good coach but had one hand tied behind his back. Sorensen was a disaster but glad some got to watch a crap roster score goals and throw our young d-men into a terrible defensive situation each game to crap on there confidence they built with LR.

Scored more and gave up more.
- Chunk

Exactly and the young d-men took the brunt of it. Ignorant.

LR is s good coach but had one hand tied behind his back. Sorensen was a disaster but glad some got to watch a crap roster score goals and throw our young d-men into a terrible defensive situation each game to crap on there confidence they built with LR.
- Assman22

I can guarantee you the young D didn't prefer the team struggling to cross center ice with possession of the puck. They didn't enjoy just trying to chip/ice the puck to stay alive and live to fight another day. The team had a lot more life under Sorensen because they actually got the puck on the attack a lot more. Playing the majority of the game in your own end just defend defend defend wasn't good for their confidence.

I was lying down this morning when I woke up and thinking. Why isn't Kaiser signed yet. Is he pricing himself out of the picture? Is KD playing hardball really tough with him? Is he maybe on the block to be traded and they are going to let the other team sign him after trading his rights?

I'm not saying they have to move him or advocating that should move him, but with him being RFA and possibly asking for a bump, maybe he isn't coming back.

I was lying down this morning when I woke up and thinking. Why isn't Kaiser signed yet. Is he pricing himself out of the picture? Is KD playing hardball really tough with him? Is he maybe on the block to be traded and they are going to let the other team sign him after trading his rights?

I'm not saying they have to move him or advocating that should move him, but with him being RFA and possibly asking for a bump, maybe he isn't coming back.
- breadbag

Are you trying to piss off Elbows?

Are you trying to piss off Elbows?

- rpeters01

I'm just legit wondering since he just isn't signed yet. There is still lots of time obviously in the next 7 weeks or so. Salary arbitration players (which Kaiser is not) will be settled in the next couple weeks. Have to think he should have a new contract by then or shortly there after or the questions/speculation will grow.

I'm just legit wondering since he just isn't signed yet. There is still lots of time obviously in the next 7 weeks or so. Salary arbitration players (which Kaiser is not) will be settled in the next couple weeks. Have to think he should have a new contract by then or shortly there after or the questions/speculation will grow.
- breadbag

Maybe Kaiser figures I'll just wait and maybe some team will give me an offer sheet? If my agent and i were negotiating and felt i should be paid more why not.

Are you trying to piss off Elbows?

- rpeters01

LOL! That was my first thought.

Maybe Kaiser figures I'll just wait and maybe some team will give me an offer sheet? If my agent and i were negotiating and felt i should be paid more why not.
- BetweenTheDots

He was part of the ice cream cone crew with Uncle Nic…I don’t see it. KFC’ll git ‘er done.

Maybe Kaiser figures I'll just wait and maybe some team will give me an offer sheet? If my agent and i were negotiating and felt i should be paid more why not.
- BetweenTheDots

According to PuckPedia Kaiser is a 10.2.c player who has not yet played enough to be eligible to receive an offer sheet.

According to PuckPedia Kaiser is a 10.2.c player who has not yet played enough to be eligible to receive an offer sheet.
- breadbag

Oh no poop, i guess we'll wait

Exactly and the young d-men took the brunt of it. Ignorant.
- Assman22

EDM, Kaiser, and Rinzel had some of the best metrics on the team. Sure everyone was under water, but they did the best of the bunch. At the end of the day, it's still experience. Ideally, the new coaches will have them playing more as a unit.

I can guarantee you the young D didn't prefer the team struggling to cross center ice with possession of the puck. They didn't enjoy just trying to chip/ice the puck to stay alive and live to fight another day. The team had a lot more life under Sorensen because they actually got the puck on the attack a lot more. Playing the majority of the game in your own end just defend defend defend wasn't good for their confidence.
- breadbag

They did and Jonesy spoke for the group. They didn’t win any more games with Sorensen. Our whole rebuild starts with our stocked and stout young d-men corps. That was thrown into the wind when Kyle was questioned about his #1 pick Bedard being in a sophomore slump. The rest of the way the young d-men were thrown to the wolves. Stupid, especially this far along in a rebuild.
Richardson: 8-16-2
Sorensen: 17-30-9