- This topic has 634 replies, 26 voices, and was last updated 12 hours, 37 minutes ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Nice debate on adding to the center position with elite YOUNG talent (all the guys you listed are too old Wizard) and paying big for it with The Cossack or Rinzel. Guess the brainiacs call this a thought exercise but thinking about if you value a 1C or #1 Dman more. I think my default position was always a 1C is the most valuable but with the modern Dman being big, huge. and can skate it up and pot 75 pts while playing huge minutes vs the opponents best makes it a much more interesting question.
I ain’t in any hurry to move Rinzel or Artie but I do think, hope, KD expects to do something really big for elite forward talent besides signing a Kaprisov type.
And Lou, if the club has a productive 2 way Frondell and a McTavish type in 3 yrs you move Bedard to wing. Unleash that kid from centerman responsibilities and tell him use 90% of your oxygen creating scoring chances.
And Maloney, this damn thing isn’t posting my posts. My hope is the Hawks’ Bennett is Spellacy. Big dude, has true speed and some skill in his hands and his hero is Tom Wilson. Kid has a chance to be useful like few can.
Listening to chgo Blackhawks podcast, sounds like Connor Bedard is indeed noticeably faster and much better on his edges, maybe he plays tomorrow?
Dots, Bedard has to add some explosion in his first step. The league has been on to him for awhile. They let him enter and just front him above the circles knowing he can’t beat an NHL Dman so he checks up and deals with back checkers and coughs……….. If he can add some explosion in his feet it’ll allow him to get a step on those Dmen and access the high danger area.
He’s gotta add some jump.
maybe he plays tomorrow
My guess is he plays in front of the home crowd next week. BTW, Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on that Chicago Sports Network at 6 pm Central.
Listening to chgo Blackhawks podcast, sounds like Connor Bedard is indeed noticeably faster and much better on his edges, maybe he plays tomorrow?
Dots, Bedard has to add some explosion in his first step. The league has been on to him for awhile. They let him enter and just front him above the circles knowing he can’t beat an NHL Dman so he checks up and deals with back checkers and coughs……….. If he can add some explosion in his feet it’ll allow him to get a step on those Dmen and access the high danger area.
He’s gotta add some jump.
According to the guys he did, that’s what I’m trying to tell you Rico. I believe that’s the reason he didn’t join the worlds after the season was over
Listening to chgo Blackhawks podcast, sounds like Connor Bedard is indeed noticeably faster and much better on his edges, maybe he plays tomorrow?
Thx for the intel.
Listening to chgo Blackhawks podcast, sounds like Connor Bedard is indeed noticeably faster and much better on his edges, maybe he plays tomorrow?
Thx for the intel.
They also said Reichel looks good and they feel like Moore is being given every chance to win a roster spot. He admits every time he thinks who is that it ends up being Moore
@Betweenthedots: You’re right, Bedard put in a strong offseason. He knew he had to get stronger and faster, and he worked very hard all summer. I expect him to have a really good year, maybe even a breakout season. I don’t think he’ll be in the lineup for the first road game, but I could be wrong — we’ll see soon enough.
Thanks again for all your comments here in the forum. I wish I could be more active, but with covering multiple teams, plus my channel and podcast, it limits the time I can spend replying. Still, I really appreciate the support. If you have any feedback on how I can improve my articles or our site, please share it with me — it means a lot. Thanks again!
Other than goaltending, the hardest position to find in the NHL is a right-shot defenseman. Just look around the league — teams are desperate for RHD. The price to acquire guys like Noah Dobson or what it might cost to get Rasmus Andersson in the coming months proves that point.
That’s why having Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel is so valuable for Chicago. You don’t give that up lightly, especially when your center depth is already in good shape with Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, plus Oliver Moore as an option down the middle.
Don’t get me wrong — Mason McTavish is a very solid young player. He’s smart, improving year after year, responsible defensively, and strong in the faceoff circle. But he’s not Sam Bennett. Bennett averages 154 hits per 82 games, compared to just 72 for McTavish. Bennett brings that edge, grit, and forechecking grind that McTavish doesn’t quite match.
The Blackhawks aren’t ready to make that kind of move yet. It’s a lot harder to find top RHD than it is to find a player like McTavish. The smart play is to keep developing Levshunov and Rinzel, learn their true ceiling, and be patient. In a couple of years — say by 2027–28 — Davidson will know more about his defensive core and can properly evaluate a big trade if the right opportunity comes along.
For now, it’s about patience. Davidson is finishing Phase I: accumulating assets. Next comes Phase II: building out the roster piece by piece. It’s not a sprint — it’s a marathon. And the Hawks are on the right path.
Riddle me this, Batman…would the Queafs trade Matthews for a #1 RD?
Nice cherry pick Assman.
Would you trade Rinzel or Lev for any of:
Elis Lindholm, Tage Thompson, Sebastion Aho, Roope Hintz, Dylan Larkin, Nick Suzuki, Ziby, Point, Pettersson, Scheifele, Keller?
Still butthurt about the Hoosiers whooping your Illini lol? Given where Hawks are in the rebuild, no I would not. However, if the Hawks were contending, yes I would trade Arty for Tage Thompson. I’d also happily trade Matthews(#1 center) for Makar(#1 RD).
For those of you comparing McTavish at 22 years old to Benny in his prime, remember when Benny was 22 years old he was putzing around with the Flames putting up 27 pts while McTavish had 52 pts. The epitome of apples to oranges. Again, it’s about a team’s current makeup/needs as to whether #1 center or #1 RD is more needed (not more important).
Still butthurt about the Hoosiers whooping your Illini
I have no clue what this is about. Professional Cornhole since it doesn’t sound like hockey?
For those of you comparing McTavish at 22 years old to Benny in his prime, remember when Benny was 22 years old he was putzing around with the Flames putting up 27 pts while McTavish had 52 pts. The epitome of apples to oranges. Again, it’s about a team’s current makeup/needs as to whether #1 center or #1 RD is more needed (not more important).
Teams current needs? For fun let’s say we trade Rinzel or Arty, who in the pipeline even comes close to the ability of either one on the right side defensively? No one so then you immediately create a need for another RDman when you actually have a ton of forwards who one of whom may possibly become that center. No offense but that would be a horrific trade.
Friendly reminder we won 3 SCs without a bonafide second liner.Tonight’s roster.
https://x.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1970500320196178356/photo/1
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.