[Angotti]

Mr Ricochet wrote:

I guess this is a good time to ask. I mentioned following Burakovsky since he came up with WSH and that the dude showed real skill with good size and the guy can skate. He’s shown that as a Hawk…….. Yet in 700 NHL games he’s averaged .54 pts per game. You’d think he’d be a top 6 NHLer putting up at least 60 pts per but for some reason it seems he’ll never reach his ceiling.

Love to see you chime in Frenchy but would like to see what Hawk fans feel as well…… Either way, great signing by KD. I thought with his skills he’d fit with Bedard and he sure has. Going by his stats over 700 NHL games seems we got the good Burakovsky.

If he plays with Bedard all year, he’ll put up 60 or more points, especially if he stays on PP1.

[Angotti]

BetweenTheDots wrote:

No worries Frenchy, i figured that was the case since i couldn’t sign in today until tonight, i appreciate what you do and how much you do it.

Same here, appreciate your blogs coach, once this site starts humming you’ll see a lot more traffic here.

[Angotti]

TheREALWiz wrote:

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’m with you Wiz, let Arty continue his development against NHL competition. If I’m not mistaken he’s played in four leagues the last four years, and has improved every year as the season has moved along.

The kid is strong as an ox, so he can handle the physicality of the NHL. This kid is going to be a beast in a couple of years.

I was at the game in Tampa on Thursday, were you there by any chance? Bedard is playing a physical game and winning board battles, even though he didn’t score I was impressed with his game.

[Angotti]

Breagbag wrote:

Metalhead wrote:

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 32nd

at even strength:
defensive zone percentage 42.8 ranks 28th
offensive zone percentage 38.7 ranks 29th

It’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?

[Angotti]

Great assessment of the early season coach. Vlasic, Rinzel, and Kaiser have played real good hockey along with Knight, hence the low scoring games. These guys along with Bedard and Nazar are just starting out, so they are still developing, scary thought for the rest of the league. I hope they keep Levshunov up, he shows signs at times of what he brings to the ice, although he also shows at times that he’s only 19 years old. He’s definitely not overmatched, just a little raw.

[Angotti]

Isn’t that their second line? I thought that Larkin and Raymond were part of their first line.

[Angotti]

Hard to believe that they still have seven 1st round picks not yet playing with the big club, and two more this coming draft. There will not be room for all of them, however not at that bridge yet.

KK
Allan
Boisvert
Vanacker
Frondell
Nestrasil
West

[Angotti]

And start playing Artie.

[Angotti]

BetweenTheDots wrote:

Man that’s a tough loss, but i will say 5 on 5 we were the better team.

These refs shouldn’t work another game

BetweenTheDots wrote:

Man that’s a tough loss, but i will say 5 on 5 we were the better team.

These refs shouldn’t work another game

Yeah, that sucked. Too many freaking penslties, they need to be more disciplined. Did you have two screens going Dots?

[Angotti]

CoachFrenchy wrote:

Game Update:
Levshunov will be a healthy scratch tonight, while Crevier draws into the lineup and joins Kaiser on the second pairing. Lukas Reichel is set to make his season debut, skating on the fourth line. Meanwhile, Jason Dickinson will be sidelined for at least one week due to injury.

Not a fan of this move…

[Angotti]

Metalhead wrote:

Is there some weird logical reason the NHL has zero games on night 4 of the season?
Or is this just the NHL being the NHL?

I was thinking the same thing. If I’m home, I try and watch a period or two every night, obviously not tonight. Also, to touch on boiler’s earlier post, they do have more assets upfront on the way than defensemen. KD needs to restock Rockford with some dmen in the ‘26 draft, because fairly soon Allan, EDM, and KK will no longer be waiver exempt.

[Angotti]

Chunk wrote:

I don’t care how much Tab likes him. Dickinson is a liability.

Yep, I’ve seen enough of him, move Greene to the third line.

[Angotti]

Dots, love Greene’s game, he’s a keeper. Artie will be okay, have to ride the growing pains and yes he needed to be stronger on that goal, however Soda needs to block that 5 hole with his stick.

[Angotti]

Assman22
Participant

He’s not. Gus has played 515 games and is -15 for his career. Grizzly has played 527 games and is +131. Also, Gus is a whore. 8 teams in 6 seasons = whore.
——————————-
Well. Seeing that the Bruins scored 395 more goals than they gave up during Grzelcyk‘s time there makes the plus/minus argument not so conclusive.

[Angotti]

Grzelcyk is Gus 2.0, don’t expect any defense from him.

[Author]

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