[Mr Ricochet]

Chunk, I agree Lev has never really shown an above average IQ to me and that’s going back to watching him in the USHL and NCAA and that continues in pro. He ain’t a goof 3 times a game brain fart guy but he’s average IQ to me, although I’d say he has solid IQ in the 1/2 court Ozone game. …. And I was alerted to watch this kid from Belarus in the preseason of his first USHL season. Guys who collected a paycheck from the USHL were high on him. I didn’t quite get it the first couple times seeing him that yr but it didn’t take long to think his excellent size/skill traits that are difference making. ….. To me it would always be how far his between the ears game developed cuz this kid ain’t only really big, can really skate, has real skill in his hands and as hard as it is sometimes to see athleticism in hockey players, especially compared to other sports, you can see it with Artie.

It might have even been while he was at Michigan St that I thought at worst Artie would be a Ristoleinen. His floor. Big, rangy, athletic Dman with offensive chops but it’s between the ears that limits him. IMO Risto is a very useful player but reading a lotta Meltzer and even when he was with BUFF the fancy stat folks did not like him……. Again, Risto is a pretty useful player but it’s fair to hope the 2nd overall will be better than that.

[Mr Ricochet]

Chunk, typed out a lengthy quote in your response to Bedard and playing wing specifically but the bastard software jacked me…….. In a nutshell I fail to realize as much as I should we got a new set of eyes with his own way of doing things behind the bench in Blashill. Every assumption we had as far as slotting and trust in players is being looked at by new eyes.

I understand the Hawks want Bedard to be a centerman but as is Bedard has never shown he won’t be a liability without the puck in every zone, not even glimpses. I hope Blashill’s fresh, and unbiased as one can be about Bedard. eyes will see that and move the kid to wing. IMO we get the worst version of Bedard as a centerman. He’s horrid without the puck and the energy he uses with centerman responsibilities depletes his offense. Him playing center keeps him farthest from his offensive ceiling.

I’m encouraged in Game 1 under Blashill he indeed had at least one shift I saw with Nazar centering Bedard and I think Moore. … That’s a good sign IMO.

[Mr Ricochet]

Metalhead wrote:

Dan Maloneys left hook wrote:

Replying to MH’s 1:27 post.
I’m still expecting KK to be one of the two remaining to make the team.

KK’s development arc is already disappointing based on his draft position (Adam Boqvist 2.0 anybody?)
Hopefully he gets it, sooner rather than later.

……………

MH, decent enough chance KK doesn’t live up to his draft status but the kid has the traits to be a useful NHL player. Boqvuist really never did. He was an average at best skater, small, really weak in his zone, physically weak and he certainly wasn’t a nose over the puck hungry player. …….. I’m not disappointed in KK but thought/hoped he’d be farther along. Kid turned 21 in June and that first yr in the NHL he was up way too soon and lost his Pops in season. There are excuses/reasons for where he’s at in his development but IMO the biggest one is cuz he is so young at 21 trying to play the toughest position to play in the NHL, defense. …. I can easily envision a 25 yr old man KK, much thicker, head up skating the thing out and being dangerous.

Remember when Sorensen took over? He must have straight out told KK go, go, go. Jump in, be a 4th forward when it seems proper. Let er rip. Cuz for a good 10 games KK was in the opponents crease a couple times a game, and more sometimes. …. Look forward to seeing a 25 yr old man KK playing that way. It’s in there, the traits are there, we saw it.

[Mr Ricochet]

LAHawk wrote:

Hello everyone, hope y’all had a wonderful summer.

Thanks Boilermaker for directing to this site. Really enjoying CoachFrenchy’s blogs. Clear, concise with ton’s of info, and in-depth analysis.

As far as the team, the old adage wait until after the first 20 games to see what you have really pertains to this team. New systems (again), new players young team will take awhile for Blashill to sort out the players roles.

………..

Alright, LA. Really good to see you and even better to know your well. ….. Same with me when I first got here, after just 2-3 of his articles this Frenchy guy is the goods I thought. We drew a fine hand here as a bunch of homeless Hawk fans.

And, your first post brings wisdom and context. Coaching changes are never easy but especially so with such a young roster. For sure, we just can’t get a decent enough handle on the Hawks until maybe 20 games in, at least, as you mention…….. But, even an objective fan is hoping for a jump forward to some degree this season and what we saw in Game 1 from the youngsters was not reassuring. No doubt though any vet forward of consequence didn’t dress v DET.

Can’t be positive about anything in sport but one thing I feel comfortable saying is a switch goes on outa nowhere many times for kids who will be useful NHLers. Once that starts to happen to a few of them you’ll see a much more dangerous team. …..

[Mr Ricochet]

Dan Maloneys left hook wrote:

I can’t get my quote to take….
Replying to MH’s 1:27 post.
I’m still expecting KK to be one of the two remaining to make the team.

………………

rpeters, KK just turned 21 in June. Besides that wasted season as a 19/20 yr old in the NHL has 16 more NHL games 56 AHL games. He’s still green and hopefully gets placed properly to develop and right now IMO that’s the AHL…….. But camp and the preseason should flesh this thing out.

[Mr Ricochet]

Metalhead wrote:

Mr Ricochet wrote:

Grz is a lock to make the roster and eat 20:00 a night for this squad.

Blackhawks defense rostered players:
Murphy
Vlasic
Kaiser
Rinzel
Crevier (lost waivers exemption, he stays up unless the team trades or sends him down and risks losing him for nothing

Out of those 5, only Murphy is a true veteran. Vlasic has 179 NHL games, Kaiser 98, Crevier 56 and Rinzel 9 games.
That would leave (2) roster spots that both get consistent TOI (if you think Crevier is mostly sitting).

There are three good reasons to keep another veteran to stabilize the defense for now.
1) Spencer Knight 2) Connor Bedard 3) Frank Nazar

Is Knight best developed by having him face a shooting gallery and lots of breakaways every game? Low save %, damaged confidence, etc.
Or would it be better to let him get slightly more comfortable with a possibly “weak”, but not “learning on the job” defense in front of him?
Is it really a great idea to have Bedard and Nazar consistently play while down a goal or two?
Or would it be better to have them play more minutes in tied games or learning how to protect/increase a lead?
(don’t get me wrong, if it’s a disaster all 3 will tough it out like they should, I just don’t think it’s the best way for them to develop)

you still can do something like:
Vlasic / Rinzel
Murphy / Kaiser
Gryz / rotating youngster (Crevier, Arty, EDM, etc) or flip Gryz and Kaiser

Still plenty of NHL experience to be had for defensive newbies (which includes Rinzel, Kaiser), while maybe upgrading the NHL game experience for your most important non-defense players.
I’m not 100% convinced Gryz gets kept, but this is my best argument in favor of it.

…………

Really good post, MH. You lay it out as it is and what the options are. Depending on camp/preseason I could see KD deciding EDM, Artie and KK need more seasoning and instead of rotating 1 in at times thru the season he gets another vet Dman for the reasons you post. You don’t want Bedard wasting shifts hemmed in his zone, Knight facing idiotic total shots against or see Nazar go thru that kind of dysfunction, weak structure or semblance of stability. … I do think EDM has a decent chance to break camp with the squad but if not I wouldn’t rule out another vet Dman added.

[Mr Ricochet]

Wiz, I’m here and so are a lotta fellas from HB. Both Chunk and I posted in this thread, both took at were posted and now both our posts are gone. Be careful of this software it’ll let you type out 3-4 paragraphs and then disappear the damn thing.

Go to the Hawk’s message board here and message board here and under the General Discussion topic you’ll find everyone here.

[Mr Ricochet]

Metalhead wrote:

popsghostly wrote:

43 shots against a JV Wings team is not good especially since we were fielding 6 NHL-ready D men

Hello Pops.
I would make the argument that KK, Crevier, Arty and EDM are not NHL ready defensemen.
They all give reason for future optimism, but they are all still raw, especially at playing defense.

I think you’re underestimating Crevier, MH. He checks a lotta boxes, passes the eye test, crazy good reach he uses, his fancies are solid as a Hawk (context is needed for any Hawk and their fancies), a balanced mobile Dman, his head is up often enough to chip in and he has some offensive zone IQ. Keeps shots low, takes half slappers so he can control it, gets pucks thru. …….. He’s gonna skate a lotta minutes IMO, MH.

[Mr Ricochet]

Chunk
Well that kind of depends, doesn’t it? After a turnover in your own zone, what are his responsibilities? If I had to guess, he’s not allowed to just chase the puck all over the zone until he gets it back. It was bad, but it’s also preseason playing with a bunch of guys he hasn’t much in practice and who likely won’t be with the club to start the year.

Point it out, learn, and move on…

I want to see how he does with Burakovsky and Donato. I’ll also hold any judgement on Nazar until I see him back with TT and Bertuzzi. They both looked very disjointed and unsure to me yesterday.[/quote]

……….

Chunk, I had a bad feed yesterday. Help me out…… At the sidewall bedard took a pass and it looked like he coughed not got stripped. Which was it….. Then he was so flat footed and unaware he didn’t even move his feet he pathetically reached as the Wing drove thru the circle. Wrong?

And I didn’t see Bedard below his endline much, if at all. Kid was above or at the top of the circles when the puck was below the dots in his zone. Looked to me he had winger responsibilities. Wrong? Anyone have a thought?………. So no Chunk, we don’t know what his resposibilities were on the cough/strip but regardless the attempt and awareness at recovery of the puck was feckless. As he’s been 80% of his time as a Hawk..

[Mr Ricochet]

popsghostly wrote:

Good to see familiar faces here. Hopefully Paul, Mo, LA and Wiz will join. Hopefully Blaishill will get the D shored up as 43 shots against a JV Wings team is not good especially since we were fielding 6 NHL-ready D men. They need to keep the crease clear and forwards need to come back and get their man as it seems like a lot of secondary chances.

Yea, it is good to see familiar faces, you included, Pops……… Wiz and VA Bear are here too. Wizard and Chunk signed up yesterday. Totem, lotta guys and many I forgetting.

I just hope it ain’t too soon into the season where we start talking about who the Hawks are drafting with the #2 pick in the draft.

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