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New forward lines again tonight. Hopefully something clicks for the top 3 lines. Blashell warned us that the lines weren’t a finished product prior to the season opener. Unfortunately for the Blashell there were only four pre-season games and with the veteran 2 game limit, it was hard to get a feeling for who played better with whom. He also had to figure out which of the young players were going to play at center and who would play at wing. I guess it will take time, but at least these young players all have skill and speed and work ethic to help achieve this.
Well at least he signed for less than being speculated. Talented as you say, but I just feel that because he caused a riff in Philly and the speculated 15 million plus contract demand. I found him not to be the kind of young player that Nazar spoke about in regards to his teammates. Now all of this can be taken with a grain of salt and his depiction could all be construed due to media and internet speculation. He could very well be a team player.
Hopefully our young guys follow suit like the Habs’ core; they get it, unlike a Cutter Gautier type.
I don’t necessarily think the Ducks did anything wrong; it’s just lucky for them that Kreider wanted to go back close to home and was willing to terminate his contract. Not too many players terminate their contracts to become free agents. Saad did it, cause he wasn’t playing in St Louis, and he gambled that he could sign with another team(LV). Larkin on the other hand wouldn’t do it because he’s being paid a lot of money for several more years, and Detroit wouldn’t allow it because they would be devoid of talent from replacement player(s). Same for Hellebuyck. Just a special circumstance that works for both sides I guess.
I think within our division, Nashville improved the most teamwise, not necessarily scoring-wise. They added Maverik Bourque, Kerfoot, Ross Colton, Jack Drury and Nils Hoglander. All decent NHLers, but nothing great. Hawks on the otherhand added a very good defenseman in Byram and 2 newcomers in Frondell and Kantserov plus Ian Cole, Cole Smith and Jordan Greenway. So the additions of Byram, Frondell and Kantserov are ……………. I just remembered that Patrick Kane is back. Nevermind. I think you’re right; the Hawks have improved the most. And you can never tell how much a young player will set back or improve, but with the Hawks’ drafting of these young determined kids, it’s hard not to think they will improve, and some exponentially. Let’s hope for a great training camp and a good start to the season.
Boy how does their powerplay look now, with the addition of Byram and Kane, not to mention any growth of the young guns that they already have. If Blashill can keep the PK running well and improve the 5 on 5 play, things are going to be interesting for the Hawks.:)
“The Hawks fans and beat writers beat the drum of bringing in a top flight winger, which sure, would be nice, but the hole on D was arguably bigger until some of the young guys actually take that step. The forward group will improve their offensive production when they have a D who can actually read the play offensively, join the rush effectively and make skilled plays to generate offense.”
Bread, this is such an important factor that most pundits and fans don’t realize. If Byram can take the lead for the young D in skating the puck out of the zone and distributing it effectively, their possession time will raise enormously. These young forwards have enough skill to put the puck in the back of the net.
