If memory serves, he hurt the knee while training after he signed.
- Chunk

That may be correct. I thought it was something that was lingering and he didn't respond to the rehab.

From one of Power's recent pieces:

When the Blackhawks score at least three goals, they’re 7-1-0 this season. When they fail to reach that mark, they’re 1-12-2. That’s their season there.

Tough to believe they still have 58 games left.

Anyway, bout a quarter review of this years signings:

Smith - win. The dude is just a good hockey player.
Maroon - bad. Tooo slow. Don't care how fast he thinks the game the slowness is comically bad
Brodie - bad. hasn't been as atrocious lately but 2 years. woof.
Martinez - good. seems to help settle things down. kind of what you want in an older vet.
Brossoit - poop happens but you'd think they would have done a better job on the medical side here.
Bertuzzi - mixed bag. very bad at times but also on pace for 18ish goals.
TT - more good than very bad. also very bad at times, line juggling not helping, on pace for 41 points over 82 games which is not great.

Anyway - it doesn't look great results wise. It was also mentioned earlier that the team has identity and being all over the place with these acquisitions kind of shows that.

I'd give Kyle a D for not addressing the scoring which they knew was going to be a problem and bringing in these very slow guys who are the opposite of how his head coach said he wants to play.

I'd give Luke a D for running out of ideas, resulting in weird benching and line blending and not just saying (frank) it - putting his best players together (mainly leaving Bedard with TT) and letting the chips fall where they may across the rest of the line up. He's reaching for wins which would lead me to believe they expect certain results this year even with this very bad roster.

Also team isn't any better or worse without Jones so that's very good.
- fattybeef

Really have to disagree. The difference is noticeable. This year isn't as drastic because we have some better Dmen depth but we lack offensive push from the back end even more without him.

I don't think Maroon has been too bad, he is slow, but he has good hands and has used his body to win some puck battles. He fits his role as a 4th liner.

That may be correct. I thought it was something that was lingering and he didn't respond to the rehab.
- fattybeef

This is the best I could find on a quick search from about a month ago:

Meanwhile, Brossoit and Levshunov are beginning the season on the non-roster list, which is no surprise. Both suffered knee and foot injuries, respectively, late in the offseason that the team said would keep them out of training camp and plunge their regular-season opener availability into doubt.

He has a solid foundation obviously.

If he keeps skating circles around people he's going to start creating bad habits. He's clearly above that level of competition and should be challenged - not coddled.
- fattybeef

You know there is some real truth to the bolded, and indeed you can develop bad habits if you're at a level too low for you. It's a thing, and not rare, but isn't a thing you see often and if it does happen it ain't a career difference maker more a bump in the road.

Paul has a good post saying we don't know what the GM wants from a prospect and I'm sure to some extent that is a bit different from player to player. In essence a fan has to trust the GM until he doesn't. Like a player we fans have to trust the process until the GM shows we shouldn't.

I have Nazar in my miss category. Not that I thought he wouldn't become at least a useful middle 6 as a kinda floor but this kid showed with the Hawks last yr an elite kinda IQ I missed at The Program then at U of MI. This kid IMO has the tools and IQ to be an NHL difference maker and I didn't see that until those games with the Hawks last yr.

But, he showed in the preseason that as good as his skill is he's a ways away from being consistent in the NHL and that too Fatty can develop bad habits. ..... I think it was his preseason when the organIzation decided we're gonna season the kid on the Farm.... And, IMO it was the right move.

I think they're telling Nazar your yr is fantastic but we wanna see you score/play at near this pace over 50-75 games not just the 20 games so far. We wanna send you up when we think you can be consistent in the NHL and 20 AHL games ain't gonna tell us that one way or the other.

As an aside I see Slaggert like I do Nazar in that he has +NHL IQ that I missed. These kinds just make plays in all 3 zones every shift and impact games to the extent their athleticism/skill allows. .......

Too long of a post, sorry, but I'm on board with anything the GM decides until he proves to me I shouldn't.

Imagine if we had him with Gaudette and Alex Nylander...
- rpeters01

Point is sometimes it takes 5-6 NHL seasons of never showing a trait until we do. And, good for that dude. I don't have to be told this guy has worked damned hard to improve, my eyes are showing me and it's the best part of athletics for me. Go to work man, and keep working. Not that, Oh Man, the Hawks had this guy 5 yrs ago and they're idiots.

Also, is DeBrusk breaking out and wasn't he talked about as a possible add this offseason? .......... But no, rpete, don't let me dent your experience/narrative at HB by clarifying my post as not being a meatball observation.

Lucic has Scheuermann's disease, a condition that can cause the upper back to curve and has given him a hunched-over posture
- wizardofi

Did not know this, Thanks. Is this disease a long term problem, a serious disease that threatens your life or the quality of it? ..... Lucic was a complete load for 5ish yrs. A beast who contributed in the Ozone.

This is the best I could find on a quick search from about a month ago:

Meanwhile, Brossoit and Levshunov are beginning the season on the non-roster list, which is no surprise. Both suffered knee and foot injuries, respectively, late in the offseason that the team said would keep them out of training camp and plunge their regular-season opener availability into doubt.
- Chunk

Cool thanks. Weird that he needs a second one though. Northwestern is historically pretty good at that sort of thing though the general recommendation I've heard now is if you need an operation that UC is a better option.

I'm not sure anyone is getting better at the NHL level this season. Bedard is certainly not. He's not playing better D, he's getting pinned in the Hawks zone for whole shifts. Different. Yesterday in crunch time, Martinez was on the point not Vlasic. Allen was scratched. Kaiser plays hard but is no match physically for even the Columbus forwards let alone the best forwards in the game. Reichel and Kurashev could easily be waived through the league and end up in Rockford. Yesterday, it was clear from the opening minutes Mrazek, the teams MVP through 2 seasons, didn't look good. Why he wasn't pulled would be a head scratcher for 31 other coaches but the patient guy here just kept him in and the game slipped away on several bad goals. There is no identity. There is no fire. There will be another top 3 pick.
- stevefrmglencoe

Glad to see you post, Steve, even though I disagree with almost all of it. Paul can speak for himself but I think he's dead on concerning Bedard. Bedard was, and think he knows, embarrassingly bad off the puck last yr and in every zone but the Ozone. Record breakingly bad. That was just not sustainable.

1st shift of the preseason you could see he was attempting to be a hockey player and that has carried on. Kid is working his way to being Kane like acceptable off the puck but is far from it. .........

Point is sometimes it takes 5-6 NHL seasons of never showing a trait until we do. And, good for that dude. I don't have to be told this guy has worked damned hard to improve, my eyes are showing me and it's the best part of athletics for me. Go to work man, and keep working. Not that, Oh Man, the Hawks had this guy 5 yrs ago and they're idiots.

Also, is DeBrusk breaking out and wasn't he talked about as a possible add this offseason? .......... But no, rpete, don't let me dent your experience/narrative at HB by clarifying my post as not being a meatball observation.
- Mr Ricochet

DeBrusk I think was the most desirable of the bunch because he plays 200 ft, can skate and is fantastic on the boards and down low. Plus he can score.

Gaudette has 12 goals on 33 shots. Like you said good for him but also prolly not sustainable.

Michael Misa left off the WJC roster?
I'm a bit confused. I thought he was killing it this year?
- captainserious

These are youngster and they may be going with the older kids and seeking a certain mix, and Ignila wasn't a fit or injured.

Misa has REALLY jumped in my mind as a future prospect.

that doesn't leap frog him past the older under 20 kids.

I would be thrilled if where he gets drafted is about where the Balckhawks select.

A lot of times, I watch juniors and think this kid has got it, but it wasn't until right now, in his 3rd yr in junior now a full time centre, that he simply looks polished.

I really want me a Porter who can Martone, but I am not holding my breath that other teams will stink worse than this veteran Hawk team.

I just want another close to ready guy, not drafting a Ludwinski and hoping he can get better at scoring, or a undersized shooter like Lardis and expect him to be less of a perimeter shooter, and more of a body player.

DeBrusk I think was the most desirable of the bunch because he plays 200 ft, can skate and is fantastic on the boards and down low. Plus he can score.

Gaudette has 12 goals on 33 shots. Like you said good for him but also prolly not sustainable.
- fattybeef

Was DeBrusk and UFA this offseason? I looked him up before I posted the jury is kinda out on him, is he just a middle 6, if that.

But, and even though I had him in fantasy as a rookie, kid was a 1/2 pt per game player as a rookie and 2 yrs following that. And the eye test showed a decent sized good athlete that went 14th overall.

Yea, he fit as a kid, he's 28 now, who has the look of a player about to pop or reach his ceiling with good pedigree going 14th. https://www.eliteprospect...player/84242/jake-debrusk

If he was a UFA at his age he would have been a nice (great?) add for KD and the roster now and 3-4 yrs from now.

These are youngster and they may be going with the older kids and seeking a certain mix, and Ignila wasn't a fit or injured.

Misa has REALLY jumped in my mind as a future prospect.

that doesn't leap frog him past the older under 20 kids.

I would be thrilled if where he gets drafted is about where the Balckhawks select.

A lot of times, I watch juniors and think this kid has got it, but it wasn't until right now, in his 3rd yr in junior now a full time centre, that he simply looks polished.

I really want me a Porter who can Martone, but I am not holding my breath that other teams will stink worse than this veteran Hawk team.

I just want another close to ready guy, not drafting a Ludwinski and hoping he can get better at scoring, or a undersized shooter like Lardis and expect him to be less of a perimeter shooter, and more of a body player.
- wiz1901

Today Wiz, if they are both on the board and the Hawks are up who do you want them to take, Misa or Martone?

These are youngster and they may be going with the older kids and seeking a certain mix, and Ignila wasn't a fit or injured.

Misa has REALLY jumped in my mind as a future prospect.

that doesn't leap frog him past the older under 20 kids.

I would be thrilled if where he gets drafted is about where the Balckhawks select.

A lot of times, I watch juniors and think this kid has got it, but it wasn't until right now, in his 3rd yr in junior now a full time centre, that he simply looks polished.

I really want me a Porter who can Martone, but I am not holding my breath that other teams will stink worse than this veteran Hawk team.

I just want another close to ready guy, not drafting a Ludwinski and hoping he can get better at scoring, or a undersized shooter like Lardis and expect him to be less of a perimeter shooter, and more of a body player.
- wiz1901

This is how I saw Hayes as a 20 yr old, and even showed poise as a 19 yr old. Simply said Hayes looked polished, unhurried, head up, distributing as he effortlessly cruised, just ran the joint when he was on the ice. Poised and polished.

I like this smooth kid and have since they drafted him and then he popped the next yr for 35-40 goals as a 19 yr old. I see in Hayes just what you want to see in a prospect. Improvement every yr. So far his development has been linear.

Why? Were there not enough good players available via trade or FA? It's not like there wasn't enough draft capital or cap space to make a few moves. KD has overpaid, AA, Richardinson, Foligno, Martinez and Brodie. Why wouldn't you put some or all of that money toward better younger players instead of journeymen at best?
- Chunk

You're making it sound much easier than it is. At the start of this season all we really knew about were Bedard and Vlasic.

Following up on the Jiricek trade, a couple of interesting articles about it over at the Athletic. It's interesting to read how other GM's think.

Seems as if Waddell the CBJ GM, initially was looking for a young player for young player swap. Since Minnesota's Rossi is supposedly on the market, I'm surprised a Jiricek-Rossi trade didn't happen. Maybe Rossi isn't Waddell's type of player. After Waddell couldn't find a one for one trade, he began asking for a depth defenseman and a 1st round pick in return. Supposedly another team beside the Wild was in the mix, and Minnesota sweetened the pot with a few extra lower picks.

Another story said since Waddell didn't draft Jiricek (Jarmo did, the pick before Korchinski as a matter of fact) he could evaluate him without "wearing the blinders" of a GM that needed his first round picks to succeed. CBJ wasn't happy with Jiricek's skating skills and other D-men passed him in the depth chart. Awkward and clumsy were words used in the story about his skating. Waddell was also quoted "And after a couple of years, you have to forget where guys were drafted and just evaluate them.”

From Minnesota's view point GM Guerin felt that Jiricek was worth a 1st round pick, saying that it would be hard to get a similar propsect with a pick in the 20's.
- boilermaker100

This is a really good post in many ways, BM. Love reading about the evolution of trades and the way GM's and organIzations think.. Some sharp dudes and Wadell is the king of fanciy stats. Not the fancies we read but internal fancies.

Shows it's a process we have no access to in real time. That there are layers to a possible or real deal. That a kid like Crevier or Phillips may have value to a trade and is a reason I like to focus on these types.

I love that Wadell is the CLB GM and that he has real pieces to work with.

And, the Rossi speculation. Rossi is their beat writer along with the crack writer of TB for 6-7 yrs and is now in MN covering them. Have you read them say Rossi is available?

Cuz, I gotta think Geurin likes the kid after him going up and down as a top 10 pick for a few yrs but the eye says this kid is now an NHLer and a centerman. I don't think he's available unless it's a pretty big deal.

Today Wiz, if they are both on the board and the Hawks are up who do you want them to take, Misa or Martone?
- Mr Ricochet

Misa is a two way forward with I think a little more offensive upside than Martone. Martone brings a much heavier game. I’d go Martone. He’s also a mean SOB.

I agree with everyone who thought Mrazek played like he needed some time off yesterday. Big picture, they keep foolin with the bull and get Mrazek injured the organIzation is in the toilet at the big league level.

Love watching Sodeblom this yr and against an offensively stacked TOR squad that's 8-2 last 10 and 10-3 at home under Berube he's gonna see some rubber, big time.

And, it's awesome to see 30 yr old Stolarz find a spot where his game is at its ceiling. I remember when he was drafted outa Tier II NAHL in 2012 in rd 2 by PHI. That's high for any NAHLer or Tier II player. Bounced around to 5-6 organIzations and here he is........ That said, and I hope he can be part of getting TOR out of the 1st rd, but that Woll kid is My Guy.

Hope we see Stolarz tonight.

Misa is a two way forward with I think a little more offensive upside than Martone. Martone brings a much heavier game. I’d go Martone. He’s also a mean SOB.
- paulr

Martone is probably the real deal but he's a winger. I think that'll matter if both he and Misa are on the board for most organIzations...... And yea, every single yr people wring their hands over the CAN roster cuz damned good players are left off, but man, hard to see where he wouldn't be a fit.

I gotta read around but leaving Misa off the 28 man roster seems off.

Martone is probably the real deal but he's a winger. I think that'll matter if both he and Misa are on the board for most organIzations...... And yea, every single yr people wring their hands over the CAN roster cuz damned good players are left off, but man, hard to see where he wouldn't be a fit.

I gotta read around but leaving Misa off the 28 man roster seems off.
- Mr Ricochet

Yeah I forgot the position factor. Ideally you go center if all else is equal. Misa got into a bit of hot water during a game in Sarnia. OHL teams all have a Holiday Teddy Bear Toss games where fans bring Teddy Bears and toss them on the ice usually after the home team scores the first goal. Apparently he fired a Teddy Bear back into the crowd and the OHL is investigating and a penalty is pending. Not sure if that’s what kept him off the team?

Martone is probably the real deal but he's a winger. I think that'll matter if both he and Misa are on the board for most organIzations...... And yea, every single yr people wring their hands over the CAN roster cuz damned good players are left off, but man, hard to see where he wouldn't be a fit.

I gotta read around but leaving Misa off the 28 man roster seems off.
- Mr Ricochet

Let me add to this, Paul. I mentioned Misa is a centerman and that might be the determining factor on who gets drafted first but Martone being a power player may even the scales.

I still think NHL top 2 centerman are in many instances rare but so are power players like Martone has the traits to be as rare as legit top 2 NHL centerman. ...... Long way to go to draft day but if you said the 2 are neck and neck I'd agree.

Yeah I forgot the position factor. Ideally you go center if all else is equal. Misa got into a bit of hot water during a game in Sarnia. OHL teams all have a Holiday Teddy Bear Toss games where fans bring Teddy Bears and toss them on the ice usually after the home team scores the first goal. Apparently he fired a Teddy Bear back into the crowd and the OHL is investigating and a penalty is pending. Not sure if that’s what kept him off the team?
- paulr

Oh, I hope not. The Canada WJC rosters, especially the U-20's, is one of the best things in all of hockey for a tournament that many remember 40-50 yrs later. Lotta palace intrigue around any CAN WJC roster.

Fun stuff and that tournament is right around the corner. ...... Can't wait to see Augistine v Canada.

Oh, I hope not. The Canada WJC rosters, especially the U-20's, is one of the best things in all of hockey for a tournament that many remember 40-50 yrs later. Lotta palace intrigue around any CAN WJC roster.

Fun stuff and that tournament is right around the corner. ...... Can't wait to see Augistine v Canada.
- Mr Ricochet

With all the stuff going on where athletes think they are above rules or even the law I don’t see a problem if that’s part of the reason keeping him off. I suspect a fan threw a Teddy Bear at him, but that’s no excuse.

Can you imagine if Bedard, Fantilli and Celebrini were available?

This is a really good post in many ways, BM. Love reading about the evolution of trades and the way GM's and organIzations think.. Some sharp dudes and Wadell is the king of fanciy stats. Not the fancies we read but internal fancies.

Shows it's a process we have no access to in real time. That there are layers to a possible or real deal. That a kid like Crevier or Phillips may have value to a trade and is a reason I like to focus on these types.

I love that Wadell is the CLB GM and that he has real pieces to work with.

And, the Rossi speculation. Rossi is their beat writer along with the crack writer of TB for 6-7 yrs and is now in MN covering them. Have you read them say Rossi is available?

Cuz, I gotta think Geurin likes the kid after him going up and down as a top 10 pick for a few yrs but the eye says this kid is now an NHLer and a centerman. I don't think he's available unless it's a pretty big deal.
- Mr Ricochet

Rico, one of many articles regarding Rossi trade rumors.

https://clutchpoints.com/...e-pending-rfa-marco-rossi

Was DeBrusk and UFA this offseason? I looked him up before I posted the jury is kinda out on him, is he just a middle 6, if that.

But, and even though I had him in fantasy as a rookie, kid was a 1/2 pt per game player as a rookie and 2 yrs following that. And the eye test showed a decent sized good athlete that went 14th overall.

Yea, he fit as a kid, he's 28 now, who has the look of a player about to pop or reach his ceiling with good pedigree going 14th. https://www.eliteprospect...player/84242/jake-debrusk

If he was a UFA at his age he would have been a nice (great?) add for KD and the roster now and 3-4 yrs from now.
- Mr Ricochet

I think top 6 just entering his prime. It's taking the environment into account. Boston is a low scoring team that packs it in and doesn't get a lot going. He drives play forward which is nice. He was also one of their better players in the playoffs last year.

Him at 4 years 5.5 (which he signed for in Vancouver) > Bertuzzi for sure. Just a better hockey player.

The team needs good hockey players that play 200 feet and that can produce in lower event environments with the Hawks defiantly are.

Allan looks good..... Meant to post this lately, Kaiser is gonna start putting up points real soon. Every game he's getting 2-3 shots on net, 6-7-8 towards the net and successfully joining the rush as a 4th forward 1-2 times a game.. And, his IQ to Guttman like just get pucks at the net is seen more and more.