The problem is the GAA doesn't tell the whole story.

Pie in the sky - they finish with about 220 goals for. 220 for and 250 against should put them in spot where they're close to mathematically getting to a playoff position but no one is realistically taking their shirt off.

The bigger problem is when you look at their numbers at evens (these are all as percentages).

Corsi - last
Shots for - 5th from the last
Expected Goals for - 3rd from last
Scoring chances for - last
High Danger Chances - last
Save percentage - 7th

Their PDO is about even. Even strength save percentage is 92.75% and their shooting percentage is 7.97%.

That all says they are a bottom of the league team that has outstanding goaltending keeping games close.

Some of last night was score effects - and the Hawks did do an excellent job of slamming the door shut in the 3rd period (zero high danger chances for) - which is kind of funny because they've been playing 2 good periods then a bad third.

Long way of saying - it is not a good bet to assume winning in the fashion they did last night is sustainable and more often then not they are going to drop games 3-2 because they are bad at keeping the puck out of their zone and don't have enough talent at forward to put up 4 or 5 goals per game consistently.
- fattybeef

I don't disagree, but according to nhl edge the Blackhawks at even strength are only 1% less than league average in the defensive zone which correlates to being 1% less than in the offensive zone. They were terrible last year over 2% worse in each zone.

I also believe when you are concentrating on playing good defense it takes away from the offense until a team gets so accustomed to it, the transition from defense to offense becomes natural. As the season has gone on its becoming more and more fluid.

I believe winning is something learned as well, i think they have gone into the last 4 games with the lead in the 3rd period.

With many of the impatient wanting to gas Richardson, they are completely missing the fact that the team has really played well defensively. Good team defense isn’t an accident, it’s not a mistake, it’s not because they have good players it’s because the coaching staff has managed for the team to buy into a defensive game and taught them the nuances of a defensive game. While he’ll never be mistaken for Jonathan Toews, even Bedard has played better defensively than he did last year. The biggest thing a coach brings isn’t offense or improving the power play, it’s teaching and convincing the team to play defensively. As the team gets better LR may prove he doesn’t have the skills to be a tactical or strategic coach but right now I really see no reason to fire him.
- paulr

I don't either, this team gave up 290 goals last year, on pace to give up 240 this season. I agree with what you've been saying about building a team with defense first.

I recall the Preds last year being tough defensively and the last half of the season they went on a run because i believe there defense finally translated to offense. I watch the Blackhawks and to me they are beginning to play that pesky take away the middle of the ice defense that the Preds were playing great last year. Will it translate to offense, it has been but we haven't been able to score on the 2 on 1s or breakaways yet.

Long season but I'm very happy with the defensive play minus Seth Jones, the play of Reichel and Bedard. Even watching Hall play with more urgency is nice. The effort is there and as a fan i really like to see that.

The CHL vs NTDP game last night was a nasty one. Scrums after almost every whistle. The US team compensated over the skill discrepancy by playing a very physical game that kept the score close. Unfortunately the US team didn’t include Hagens so there was no head to head comparison between the top players. After seeing the two games and seeing last night’s game live, the best player in the series was Matthew Schaefer. His two way game, excellent skating skills and his ability to think the game are outstanding. He’s not shy about the physical parts of the game. Misa and Martone were good too. Aitcheson as a later pick will supply a team with strong defense, lots of physicality but not much offense although he does move the puck up ice well.

Happy Thanksgiving guys. Don’t eat or drink too much. And try to keep out of the Black Friday brawls at Walmart tomorrow.

That was a fun game to watch. If the Hawks make a move, it needs to be for a young asset(s), such player(s) needs to be part of the team for years to come. By the way, if you take away the empty net goals against, the Hawks are even in GA and GF, I would say that’s improvement, and credit goes to the coaching staff.

Anyone catch this interview with Kyle?
https://youtu.be/gz_am0xcxsc?si=P0hu-lm1iV7ll8p3

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

https://chicago.suntimes....efensive-retrievals-exits

And Vlasic is doing it for half the price, still don't like my dman playing so many minutes, but Pope has some nice nuggets in his article

With many of the impatient wanting to gas Richardson, they are completely missing the fact that the team has really played well defensively. Good team defense isn’t an accident, it’s not a mistake, it’s not because they have good players it’s because the coaching staff has managed for the team to buy into a defensive game and taught them the nuances of a defensive game. While he’ll never be mistaken for Jonathan Toews, even Bedard has played better defensively than he did last year. The biggest thing a coach brings isn’t offense or improving the power play, it’s teaching and convincing the team to play defensively. As the team gets better LR may prove he doesn’t have the skills to be a tactical or strategic coach but right now I really see no reason to fire him.
- paulr

They are still giving up 31 shots per game. Right in line with all the teams that are messes in their own zone. The goaltending has been solid. Lets see where they shake out at the end of the season before extending the coaching staff and subjecting the fans the more of this.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/11/26/blackhawks-alex-vlasic-progression-second-nhl-season-seth-jones-defensive-retrievals-exits

And Vlasic is doing it for half the price, still don't like my dman playing so many minutes, but Pope has some nice nuggets in his article
- BetweenTheDots

I wonder if it will ever be possible to deal Seth Jones. Is anybody seeing a noticeable difference in the defense since he's been out?

They are still giving up 31 shots per game. Right in line with all the teams that are messes in their own zone. The goaltending has been solid. Lets see where they shake out at the end of the season before extending the coaching staff and subjecting the fans the more of this.
- stevefrmglencoe

I was trying to find info on shots against, I've noticed some games they give up a ton when they have a1 or 2 goal lead going into the 3rd period. I was also trying to find stats of teams that give up the most high danger shots on goal with no luck. I think the Blackhawks are either avg or actually good at not giving up high danger chances

I did see even though they are giving up 3 to 5 more shots against per game, 3 to 5 less per game would make them league avg, they are league average in goals against which is pretty damn good.

I don't disagree, but according to nhl edge the Blackhawks at even strength are only 1% less than league average in the defensive zone which correlates to being 1% less than in the offensive zone. They were terrible last year over 2% worse in each zone.

I also believe when you are concentrating on playing good defense it takes away from the offense until a team gets so accustomed to it, the transition from defense to offense becomes natural. As the season has gone on its becoming more and more fluid.

I believe winning is something learned as well, i think they have gone into the last 4 games with the lead in the 3rd period.
- BetweenTheDots

Well said, Dots. When you play proper defense you are structured so when you exit it's predictable and if done really well you come out clean to build speed thru the neutral zone. ..... This team is more dangerous off the rush than station to station in the Ozone.

IMO the hardest thing to do in hockey is to gain the puck in your zone by a Dman facing the endwall. Especially so for young Dmen but if you're structured the Dman has a lot better chance at a good, quick, clean first pass cuz it's predictable.

The Kings and Sharks were masters at 2-3 quick passes and they have possession in your low slot. Incredible to watch those two team live from the 3rd level first row, especially in the playoffs.

I don't either, this team gave up 290 goals last year, on pace to give up 240 this season. I agree with what you've been saying about building a team with defense first.

I recall the Preds last year being tough defensively and the last half of the season they went on a run because i believe there defense finally translated to offense. I watch the Blackhawks and to me they are beginning to play that pesky take away the middle of the ice defense that the Preds were playing great last year. Will it translate to offense, it has been but we haven't been able to score on the 2 on 1s or breakaways yet.

Long season but I'm very happy with the defensive play minus Seth Jones, the play of Reichel and Bedard. Even watching Hall play with more urgency is nice. The effort is there and as a fan i really like to see that.
- BetweenTheDots

And IMO that's why they drafted Levshunov last yr. They see him as a pillar 25 minute, rugged, athletic, skilled, right shot, #1 Dman with size. If you intend to build from the back end up you don't pass on Lev......... I was near certain they'd take Levshunov cuz it was the right thing to do, like drafting an elite left tackle. You don't pass on those guys.

I wonder if it will ever be possible to deal Seth Jones. Is anybody seeing a noticeable difference in the defense since he's been out?
- 333inthe3rd

Not noticing him being gone at all so that's probably a good thing?

I was trying to find info on shots against, I've noticed some games they give up a ton when they have a1 or 2 goal lead going into the 3rd period. I was also trying to find stats of teams that give up the most high danger shots on goal with no luck. I think the Blackhawks are either avg or actually good at not giving up high danger chances

I did see even though they are giving up 3 to 5 more shots against per game, 3 to 5 less per game would make them league avg, they are league average in goals against which is pretty damn good.
- BetweenTheDots

High danger shots against. They are third worst in the league by total and second worst when you compare HDSF and HDSA as a percentage.

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/teamtable.php

Well said, Dots. When you play proper defense you are structured so when you exit it's predictable and if done really well you come out clean to build speed thru the neutral zone. ..... This team is more dangerous off the rush than station to station in the Ozone.

IMO the hardest thing to do in hockey is to gain the puck in your zone by a Dman facing the endwall. Especially so for young Dmen but if you're structured the Dman has a lot better chance at a good, quick, clean first pass cuz it's predictable.

The Kings and Sharks were masters at 2-3 quick passes and they have possession in your low slot. Incredible to watch those two team live from the 3rd level first row, especially in the playoffs.
- Mr Ricochet

It’s like a chess game, some come out firing away with offense, and they’ll beat an inexperienced player, or one with less talent. The best players play defense for as long as possible, then they attack offensively, all while still focusing on defense. That is what elite teams in the league do, the Hawks are still figuring out the defense part, although getting better, and the offense, well, we all know that is a bigger issue, but that will improve as well, first things first, and that’s defense.

That was a fun game to watch. If the Hawks make a move, it needs to be for a young asset(s), such player(s) needs to be part of the team for years to come. By the way, if you take away the empty net goals against, the Hawks are even in GA and GF, I would say that’s improvement, and credit goes to the coaching staff.
- Angotti

A very interesting stat. Unfortunately, as somebody said last week those kinds of players don't get traded. I'm afraid it would take trading somebody like Vlasic to get it done.

High danger shots against. They are third worst in the league by total and second worst when you compare HDSF and HDSA as a percentage.

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/teamtable.php
- fattybeef

It looks like they are 5th worst in the league, but I'm curious what that number is compared to when the Blackhawks are playing with a lead and when they are losing.

So i played with the web site pretty cool feature, when the Blackhawks are tied they are between 10 to 15th best in the league in hdca. When trailing they are slightly worse at 15 to 18th in the league. When leading they are in the top 5 of most amount of high danger chances given up. I think most here would agree that's exactly the hockey we are seeing. Which also points out this team has played with the lead for many minutes this season which isn't a bad thing.

So it's easy to look at the over all numbers and just throw out they are 3rd worst in the league but when you actually dig into the in game situations, leading trailing or tied there is a lot more to the story than the broad generalization they are bad.

I wonder if it will ever be possible to deal Seth Jones. Is anybody seeing a noticeable difference in the defense since he's been out?
- 333inthe3rd

I think having Jones in the mix helps the Hawks makes the d core stronger all around. Plus it gives kk and Levi more time to develop and not be rushed. If they would entertain the idea of moving Jones I see Buffalo as a good fit they need a top 2 right handed d man on the other side of dahlin. So maybe a trade of Jones for cozens and Quinn could be had.other assets might have to be added on both sides for it to work. But top pairing right handed d man do not get traded often. Plus Jones has a no movement clause so he would have to approve the trade.

A very interesting stat. Unfortunately, as somebody said last week those kinds of players don't get traded. I'm afraid it would take trading somebody like Vlasic to get it done.
- rpeters01

Considering Angotti didn’t even suggest anyone specific to trade for, I’m baffled as to how you come up with a specific player to send back?

Considering Angotti didn’t even suggest anyone specific to trade for, I’m baffled as to how you come up with a specific player to send back?
- paulr

I know things.

I know things.
- rpeters01

Future considerations for future considerations

Considering Angotti didn’t even suggest anyone specific to trade for, I’m baffled as to how you come up with a specific player to send back?
- paulr

Is this in regards to the Tkachuk/Norris rumors?

I’ll be at the Trib Centre tonight as Marek Vanacker of the Brantford Bulldogs makes his return from shoulder surgery in the summer. Of Course Nick Lardis will be in the lineup too. Not expecting much from Vanacker in his first game back but hopefully Lardis will put on a show.

Future considerations for future considerations
- wizardofi

I'm tapped into JJ.

Stupid question here: if a guy is finished with school and still playing juniors, what do they do for money?

So I guess it's being reported that LR said Laurent Brossoit had to have another procedure and out another 6 weeks. No crowded crease just yet. Hopefully Brossoit can recover and get back to playing.