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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.
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.
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?
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 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.
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.
Bread i take no issue in your assessment, i think it’s fair.
Last 2 games are probably Kaisers worst. That’s the thing though for young players it’s about consistency. Last year and this year he is showing flashes of being a top 4 dman? Will he become one? Time will tell, but for now we have the luxury of giving him 160 games to show us.
One thing is evident, how painfully slow Murphy is.
Agree that Lev should be playing top, difficult AHL minutes, not sheltered NHL minutes.
There’s no reason he can’t be moved up and down. Even Hammer was only a part time NHLer in his 20 and 21 year old seasons.
Nothing wrong with rewarding AHL youngsters with a stint in the NHL when they have played well. Good way to identify strengths/weaknesses.
Also: today is Lev’s final day as a teenager.Kaiser being a 3rd liner is an interesting point.
From the end of the Cup era, he would obviously not crack the top 4 of Keith/Hammer/Seabrook/Oduya.
However, he might already be better than the 3rd pairing guys of that era. (except maybe Leddy was on the 3rd pairing?)
Were any of Brookbank, Cumiskey, Rundblad, Timmonen, TVR, etc. better than Kaiser?
So, he might rank in-between the 2nd and 3rd pairings from the later BH Cup years.Lastly, if Mikheyev and Bertuzzi are out, without a callup they would have to use 11/7 Tuesday vs Ottawa.
It’s been fine so far but doing it with 2 regulars out (one who is a top PK guy) seems like a mistake to me.
Especially since one of the 11F is Lafferty, who has been healthy scratched most of the time.🤘
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.
Just preseason and he also had a new system to learn. Not everyone is a quick learner but I will say I’d prefer EDM than Murph rn on the Hawks roster. Love Murph but he simply can’t keep up and is a liability on the ice. He’s already -3 in sheltered mins and next closest is Vlasic at -1 but he plays 5 mins more per game lol.
I have to agree with both of you on the two young defensemen.
DelMastro has advanced his game by developing a quick reads and reactions as he develops; the question might be can he get to a point where he isn’t gassed and unable to hold possession on the NHL instantaneous convergence by checkers but I am not giving up on his potential too be a helpful backliner.
The Arty opinion was where I started in the pre-season, that these over-eager Arty indulgences, deciding to put on his red cape and go defensively (or offensively for that matter) were too heavy burdens for the parent club to baby sit, AND show improvement.
Then I figured he will never see the attacking skills and speed the big league players would be challenging him with in the AHL.
I am a guy that sits you when you error by rolling out of where I want him to the end of the bench.
I think that the staff has ALL had talks with him.
I think it IS tempering his over exuberance.
And I last game, he again stepped up and unsuspectantly hit an attacker with a power check away from the boards.Right now, my concern is how last game, the redhead #6 seemed like he was over-used, and the ice water in his veins we all have experienced since his arrival started melting to tepid.
How lucky are we that San Rinzel WALKS in, gets the praise of opposing players and fills the power play and muches minutes UPON ARRIVAL!
Now is the time to stop talking Calder and managing his minutes.
I said a post back; this defense has three trees, Arty #44 and the two vets (both of who are better prepared for the now games).
Arty is listening. (And I think we can assume big Sam is tree with unusual agility.
The upside of this team is starting to arrive with the defensive system of play and teams are getting out sped to places.
So unless Arty has a major faux pas and needs a wrist slap.
I wonder if the Blackhawks are hoping that Arty will do what he has done in every league so far, 15 to 20 game mark the light goes on and he begins to be the best defender on the ice.
15 to 20 game mark
After tonight, Hawks begin a western 6 game road trip to kick off games 11-20 of the season. We’ll see how they perform and whether they can maintain their approximate .500 point percentage. Hopefully they can keep their heads above water and use the trip as a bonding experience.
If Bert and Mik are injured, will they make the trip with 11 healthy forwards or bring up someone from Rockford for a week or so?
For a team winning depending on higher shooting percentage and great goaltending, losing 2 top forwards in Bertuzzi and Mikheyev is going to be tough. I think this was demonstrated in the second period onward after Mikheyev went down. The third period had few chances. Let’s see how tonight’s game goes but I don’t see us scoring more than 2-3 goals. Hopefully I’m wrong.
I think the Blackhawks got schooled by the Kings, next time a team opens it up and you have a lead you’ve got to treat that puck like gold. As soon as the Kings took the lead they slowed the game way down closed the blue line and the boys had a tough time keeping our gaining possession in the ozone
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