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Just a quick reminder:
Development isn’t a one way street.
Organizations need to put players in positions to succeed, but players also need to take hold of the opportunity when it comes.
I can’t wait for EDM and Moore to graduate to the NHL, they’ll be upgrades to some on the current roster. For those that watch Rockford, how is EDM looking?
I would also add Allan to the graduation list as I really think he’s ready to be an NHL stay-at home rearguard but he’s unfortunately tasked with being KK’s partner. Hawks need a shutdown pairing and honestly don’t have one right now. I hope to be able to catch more Rockford games going forward and would love to hear any player analysis from those that have watched at least a few of the games.
On the outside looking in, Hogs are +5 in 7 games and EDM is +7 with 3 pts (3 helpers) in 7 games leading all blueliners and staying out of the box thus far. Meanwhile, KK +3 in 6 games with 4 pts and Allan +2 in 5 games with 1 pt. Both had concussions and both can’t seem to stay out of the box.I think EDM really hurt his stock with his play in the preseason and start of the year. The spot was his to take and they ended up going with the PTO for Grezlcyk. He seems to have bounced back decently in the AHL which is promising.
I can’t wait for EDM and Moore to graduate to the NHL, they’ll be upgrades to some on the current roster. For those that watch Rockford, how is EDM looking?
I would also add Allan to the graduation list as I really think he’s ready to be an NHL stay-at home rearguard but he’s unfortunately tasked with being KK’s partner. Hawks need a shutdown pairing and honestly don’t have one right now. I hope to be able to catch more Rockford games going forward and would love to hear any player analysis from those that have watched at least a few of the games.
On the outside looking in, Hogs are +5 in 7 games and EDM is +7 with 3 pts (3 helpers) in 7 games leading all blueliners and staying out of the box thus far. Meanwhile, KK +3 in 6 games with 4 pts and Allan +2 in 5 games with 1 pt. Both had concussions and both can’t seem to stay out of the box.From Scott Powers’ article today:
“Hawks are allowing, on average, more shot attempts, more shots on goal, more scoring chances and more high-danger chances than they did last season.Also,
overall:
defensive zone percentage 43.8 ranks 31st
offensive zone percentage 38.3 ranks 32ndat even strength:
defensive zone percentage 42.8 ranks 28th
offensive zone percentage 38.7 ranks 29thIt’s true, the play on the ice isn’t that much different from last season. Some tweaks and some younger personnel, but there are still a lot of the same flaws. The big part right now is that the Hawks have been finishing chances at a high rate and getting much better than typical goaltending. Losing Mrazek and adding knight has been a huge swing in ability to stay in games.
I might ruffle some feathers, but we don’t have a true #1 Center. Bedard is very talented, but he doesn’t at this time check all the boxes of a good and effective 1C. I’m not saying he doesn’t offer a lot, but the 200 foot game, the complete game, the board battles and everything that goes into it, it’s not at the level where you win more shifts than you lose yet. Nazar’s game is more complete but still he is growing into that top 6 C role and has more to round out. These are growing pains and things will work themselves out as more F bubble up through the system, but to me, Bedard will have to continue to improve his overall game or end up at wing.
Levshunov to me right now, should be playing AHL minutes. He has talent and does a lot of good things but there are still struggles and he is only 19. This whole 11F and 7D is a Band-Aid over the real issue. How is he going to get better playing in his own end when the coach is afraid to put him on the ice in the Dzone? They can only shelter him for so long before they have to either pull off the Band-Aid and let him play or send him down.
I’ll probably get flak for this too, but Kaiser should be and would be 3rd pair LD on a good team. I know he had a few good games to start the year and the coach has given him minutes, but the cracks have been showing against tougher competition. Grezlcyk is also a 3rd pair guy. The Hawks to be a better team would ultimately need another option in the top 4. The right side isn’t without issues either. Rinzel is learning on the job. Levshunov is inconsistent. Crevier is a 7th D. Murphy is wearing down and starting to really visibly struggle to keep up.
I like the direction the team is heading in, but just saying we have a ways to go before the wins come more regular, because we are gonna continue to be outplayed, relying on goaltending and counter-attacking with speed to try to close the gap.
I don’t disagree with your analysis of the young D. The bottom line is, well they’re young. Levshunov is definitely an adventure at this point, however I’d keep giving him minutes with the big club, he’s strong as an ox. I don’t recall which King tried to impede his progress yesterday, but he bounced right off of Arty. I still think that eventually the best option on the left side with Levshunov and top four is Del Mastro, with Vlasic and Rinzel rounding up the other pairing. The Hawks are still a lottery team, probably not bottom 5, more in the 6-10 range due to their goaltending. I can’t wait for EDM and Moore to graduate to the NHL, they’ll be upgrades to some on the current roster. For those that watch Rockford, how is EDM looking?
From Scott Powers’ article today:
“Hawks are allowing, on average, more shot attempts, more shots on goal, more scoring chances and more high-danger chances than they did last season.Also,
overall:
defensive zone percentage 43.8 ranks 31st
offensive zone percentage 38.3 ranks 32ndat even strength:
defensive zone percentage 42.8 ranks 28th
offensive zone percentage 38.7 ranks 29thIt’s true, the play on the ice isn’t that much different from last season. Some tweaks and some younger personnel, but there are still a lot of the same flaws. The big part right now is that the Hawks have been finishing chances at a high rate and getting much better than typical goaltending. Losing Mrazek and adding knight has been a huge swing in ability to stay in games.
I might ruffle some feathers, but we don’t have a true #1 Center. Bedard is very talented, but he doesn’t at this time check all the boxes of a good and effective 1C. I’m not saying he doesn’t offer a lot, but the 200 foot game, the complete game, the board battles and everything that goes into it, it’s not at the level where you win more shifts than you lose yet. Nazar’s game is more complete but still he is growing into that top 6 C role and has more to round out. These are growing pains and things will work themselves out as more F bubble up through the system, but to me, Bedard will have to continue to improve his overall game or end up at wing.
Levshunov to me right now, should be playing AHL minutes. He has talent and does a lot of good things but there are still struggles and he is only 19. This whole 11F and 7D is a Band-Aid over the real issue. How is he going to get better playing in his own end when the coach is afraid to put him on the ice in the Dzone? They can only shelter him for so long before they have to either pull off the Band-Aid and let him play or send him down.
I’ll probably get flak for this too, but Kaiser should be and would be 3rd pair LD on a good team. I know he had a few good games to start the year and the coach has given him minutes, but the cracks have been showing against tougher competition. Grezlcyk is also a 3rd pair guy. The Hawks to be a better team would ultimately need another option in the top 4. The right side isn’t without issues either. Rinzel is learning on the job. Levshunov is inconsistent. Crevier is a 7th D. Murphy is wearing down and starting to really visibly struggle to keep up.
I like the direction the team is heading in, but just saying we have a ways to go before the wins come more regular, because we are gonna continue to be outplayed, relying on goaltending and counter-attacking with speed to try to close the gap.
That’s the thing though. Very few, if any of these kids are finished products. I wouldn’t even call Vlasic finished yet, so of course they won’t be playing like real top-4 D or top 6 F’s. 100% 11/7 is a Band-Aid, but it’s being used because they have more D that are ready than F’s. As much as you, I, and everyone else hate to say it, this is what this year is supposed to look like.
I’ve been on the “you don’t have to suck for multiple years” bandwagon, but the fact of the matter is that big FA’s will be less and less available in the next few years as the cap rises. Trades will also be difficult to pull off unless there is a team similar to the Hawks a few years ago who is intentionally tanking and only want picks or prospects back. The good news for the Hawks is that they have a high volume of top of the draft prospects. We all just have to be patient now and watch the kids grow up live.
When comparing this year to last year, you’re still comparing at this time to Richardson’s defensive scheme.
From Scott Powers’ article today:
“Hawks are allowing, on average, more shot attempts, more shots on goal, more scoring chances and more high-danger chances than they did last season.Also,
overall:
defensive zone percentage 43.8 ranks 31st
offensive zone percentage 38.3 ranks 32ndat even strength:
defensive zone percentage 42.8 ranks 28th
offensive zone percentage 38.7 ranks 29thIt’s true, the play on the ice isn’t that much different from last season. Some tweaks and some younger personnel, but there are still a lot of the same flaws. The big part right now is that the Hawks have been finishing chances at a high rate and getting much better than typical goaltending. Losing Mrazek and adding knight has been a huge swing in ability to stay in games.
I might ruffle some feathers, but we don’t have a true #1 Center. Bedard is very talented, but he doesn’t at this time check all the boxes of a good and effective 1C. I’m not saying he doesn’t offer a lot, but the 200 foot game, the complete game, the board battles and everything that goes into it, it’s not at the level where you win more shifts than you lose yet. Nazar’s game is more complete but still he is growing into that top 6 C role and has more to round out. These are growing pains and things will work themselves out as more F bubble up through the system, but to me, Bedard will have to continue to improve his overall game or end up at wing.
Levshunov to me right now, should be playing AHL minutes. He has talent and does a lot of good things but there are still struggles and he is only 19. This whole 11F and 7D is a Band-Aid over the real issue. How is he going to get better playing in his own end when the coach is afraid to put him on the ice in the Dzone? They can only shelter him for so long before they have to either pull off the Band-Aid and let him play or send him down.
I’ll probably get flak for this too, but Kaiser should be and would be 3rd pair LD on a good team. I know he had a few good games to start the year and the coach has given him minutes, but the cracks have been showing against tougher competition. Grezlcyk is also a 3rd pair guy. The Hawks to be a better team would ultimately need another option in the top 4. The right side isn’t without issues either. Rinzel is learning on the job. Levshunov is inconsistent. Crevier is a 7th D. Murphy is wearing down and starting to really visibly struggle to keep up.
I like the direction the team is heading in, but just saying we have a ways to go before the wins come more regular, because we are gonna continue to be outplayed, relying on goaltending and counter-attacking with speed to try to close the gap.
Reichel never showed any game, either last season or this season. He obviously didn’t show much in practice either. If he thought he was cutting it he was way off. I don’t think we’re talking about Patrick Sharp going from Philly to Chicago. More like Alex Nylander.
Agree. I thought Alex Nylander too, although I really wanted both to succeed. They both seem kind of lost out there, not knowing where to go. Oh well there’s still a chance for Reichel to turn it around.
Roman with his 13th goal of the season in 20 games
Reichel
The 4th round 2027 pick the Hawks received back for Reichel is their own which was sent to VAN in the trade for Mikheyev, Lafferty, VAN 2nd round pick. Lafferty moved on and was reacquired. That trade tree can now be looked at as Mik and the 2nd for Reichel.
Mikheyev turned out pretty well for a cap dump. That new trade tree looks pretty good to me also.
