Ben
Pope
@BenPopeCST
Richardson said his plan is still to have Martinez-Jones and Vlasic-Brodie as the Blackhawks’ top two D pairs and Bertuzzi-Bedard-Teravainen as the top F line.

Vlasic and Brodie are both left-handed shots, so Vlasic said that has required adjustment when making D-to-D passes.

Doesn’t appear LR is worried about managing Martinez or Brodie’s minutes.

Ben
Pope
@BenPopeCST
Richardson said his plan is still to have Martinez-Jones and Vlasic-Brodie as the Blackhawks’ top two D pairs and Bertuzzi-Bedard-Teravainen as the top F line.

Vlasic and Brodie are both left-handed shots, so Vlasic said that has required adjustment when making D-to-D passes.

Doesn’t appear LR is worried about managing Martinez or Brodie’s minutes.
- LAHawk

True, and a good logical conclusion from there can postulate the 7th dman will also get plenty of games played.
And hope the 3rd pairing can play plenty of minutes.
And injuries or the lack of injuries will impact call-ups from Rockford.
If the forward group plays smart, that will also help overall performance.

True, and a good logical conclusion from there can postulate the 7th dman will also get plenty of games played.
And hope the 3rd pairing can play plenty of minutes.
And injuries or the lack of injuries will impact call-ups from Rockford.
If the forward group plays smart, that will also help overall performance.
- 35Tony0

So the third pair is basically Murphy and young kid. I'd think they'd be able to handle a better share of minutes than the 3rd pair of years past. Murphy-Kaiser/Phillips/Allan doesn't seem too bad.

I'm more interested to see how long LR keeps Vlasic and Jones apart. Of this group, Martinez and Jones are probably the best passers out of the zone unless Vlasic has made more strides in that area.

We're still in tank mode and will be until multiple young guys actually show something. Then we can sign some real UFA's. We're just not calling it tank mode.
- rpeters01

One could call tank mode a subjective term. To me tank mode is selling off anything that isn't nailed down like the last 2 yrs and even less so last yr as they hung on to Mrazak and D!ckenson.

IMO they've moved on from tank mode to the part of the rebuild where they add enough to the big league roster where they can compete on most nights, adding players without term while and until, as you say, the prospects are ready for the NHL........ Not really tank mode but in the mode of (part of the rebuild process) we're still gonna lose a lotta games.

I'll be watching what they do with Hall. Fron his first shift of this preseason he's played hungry. A hungry healthy Hall is legit 2LW on a playoff squad, a very good hockey player......... If he stays healthy I'm guessing KD gets a lotta calls wanting Hall. I guess if KD doesn't see a D!ckinson type role for Hall going into the next couple yrs he'll move him, probably for a 1st.

NBCSN has been removed from my Comcast cable provider here in Springfield, IL.
I hope CHSN replaces it soon.
I do know there are still also a lot of Chicago Bulls fans here, as well as Blackhawks fans.
- 35Tony0

From last blog TonyO. I read on the CHSN web site that they are planning to get a digital over the air station in the Champaign/Springfield area.

Teams will shut us down if they don’t believe there is a valid scoring second line or just any line beside the Bedard line that will pot some goals. So I have my fingers crossed that the speed, the verve the threat for a player on a second offensive line is going to have to be………..(eventually and upon recall) Nazar. Just have to find complimentary players and just maybe we will see oh maybe around trade deadline a good fit would be (sigh) another young guy who has the tools and is a goal scorer but actually has worked to become a more balanced player on both sides of the puck……you know the kid I have been pushing Hayes.

After all not counting on AA and Reichel would be a nice surprise but don’t bet on him

Next season I don’t know that Moore or Greene yes Lardis too are ready without some AHL time.

I don’t expect KD to pick up a forward unless he is moving another forward who would probably be just a fill in as a mediocre scorer since we don’t really have anyone

TT = nice player but not going to make a second line go. Neither will Kurashev. I kind of just feel like saying “hang on sloooy, help is on the way” via the prospects. That is the realization, the hope. As well, the Russian kid and or might draft a top line calibre forward in ‘25
- jhawk59

You can stack a first line.
You can have a decent 3rd line.
You have plenty of 4th liners.

Who shows that they can be decent 2nd liners from Reichel, Mikheyev, Kurashev, AA. They all have gone stretches being very good. But who can do it for long stretches (25 games)?

Sure, AA and Reichel for Kent Johnson, works for me. I see that Cayden Lindstrom is out tonight with a back issue, that sucks. Lots of talent there, I feel bad for the kid.
- Angotti

GMing ain't easy..... I hope Lindstrom stays heatly. He has a chance to be a difference maker and give fans 10ish yrs of seeing a monster with speed play.

And if he can't those fans might be beating the we coulda had Demidov drum for 15 yrs.

One could call tank mode a subjective term. To me tank mode is selling off anything that isn't nailed down like the last 2 yrs and even less so last yr as they hung on to Mrazak and D!ckenson.

IMO they've moved on from tank mode to the part of the rebuild where they add enough to the big league roster where they can compete on most nights, adding players without term while and until, as you say, the prospects are ready for the NHL........ Not really tank mode but in the mode of (part of the rebuild process) we're still gonna lose a lotta games.

I'll be watching what they do with Hall. Fron his first shift of this preseason he's played hungry. A hungry healthy Hall is legit 2LW on a playoff squad, a very good hockey player......... If he stays healthy I'm guessing KD gets a lotta calls wanting Hall. I guess if KD doesn't see a D!ckinson type role for Hall going into the next couple yrs he'll move him, probably for a 1st.
- Mr Ricochet

Yes. Tank Mode is really when we are not trying to win, we are just selling for picks. When we are trying to progress up the standings, we might still fail, but we aren't tanking.

I think KD brought Maroon in to play the role he brought Perry in for, and Maroon is pretty good at it. Excellent size, soft quick hands in the low slot/traffic, good wall play if engaged, 3 cups and he's a middleweight.

Having a guy play that role can be useful.
- Mr Ricochet

So, send him to Rockford during the Mother's trip?

So, send him to Rockford during the Mother's trip?
- Dieselhead

When I first heard the Hawks terminated Perry I honestly thought he grabbed Bedard by the throat and said enough 2 minute shifts, enough skating into 3 NHLers, enough of 75% of the time the play ends on your stick, enough spending 34 seconds per game in the Dzone.

I really really did cuz that kinda stuff kills blood and guts guys like Foligno and Perry. .... Anyway, I'm hopeful Maroon can help and be useful.

From last blog TonyO. I read on the CGSN web site that they are planning to get a digital over the air station in the Champaign/Springfield area.
- boilermaker100

Yep, I have been going to their website daily. Once the number is assigned, I will see if I can get reception over the air (OTA) for it.
Also still holding out hope they get a deal with Comcast.
And considering signing on with a streaming site.
Watching it on demand or via DVR are my highest hopes.

No, they acquired the veterans to give the prospects the time to get their respective games to the NHL level. KD saw the mistake of bringing up a guy, KK, who wasn’t ready. He can’t make that mistake again.
- paulr

Then why not bring in good veterans and try to win rather than pissing away years with Bedard on his entry level deal?

It doesn't make any sense. They're basically tanking again if they aren't going to give the kids NHL experience.

No, they acquired the veterans to give the prospects the time to get their respective games to the NHL level. KD saw the mistake of bringing up a guy, KK, who wasn’t ready. He can’t make that mistake again.
- paulr

KD was damned if he kept KK in Chicago, and damned if he sent him to juniors. It's a weird rule that kept him from ever being in Rockford last season. This isn't a situation we see too often.

We're still in tank mode and will be until multiple young guys actually show something. Then we can sign some real UFA's. We're just not calling it tank mode.
- rpeters01

If Bedard is what everyone thought Bedard was when he was drafted then the time to bring in real players was immediately after he was drafted.

They're pissing in the wind right now. If they were breaking in kids and getting them acclimated then you could argue that it's fine because they're getting talent ready for the NHL - otherwise they've spent nearly to the cap on trash. Aside from TT and Bedard - its going to be a lot like watching last years debacle except there isn't really an excuse other than incompetence and wussyfooting.

KD was damned if he kept KK in Chicago, and damned if he sent him to juniors. It's a weird rule that kept him from ever being in Rockford last season. This isn't a situation we see too often.
- 333inthe3rd

He could have just sent him back and said score 100 points. That wouldn't have been unreasonable. Its less unreasonable then him playing 76 NHL Games and then being sent down to the AHL to ride a bus.

He could have just sent him back and said score 100 points. That wouldn't have been unreasonable. Its less unreasonable then him playing 76 NHL Games and then being sent down to the AHL to ride a bus.
- fattybeef

Yep.

He could have just sent him back and said score 100 points. That wouldn't have been unreasonable. Its less unreasonable then him playing 76 NHL Games and then being sent down to the AHL to ride a bus.
- fattybeef

They can look at all of last year and figure out what KK needs to work on this year at Rockford. At Rockford, if he has some growing pains with the learning it won't be under the magnifying glass like it would be with the big club. This is what should have been done with Dach years ago.

The big club looks like those mediocre bubble teams full of vets that we all dread our team to be, like the early 2000's teams, if it wasn't for the potential pipeline coming up.

KD was damned if he kept KK in Chicago, and damned if he sent him to juniors. It's a weird rule that kept him from ever being in Rockford last season. This isn't a situation we see too often.
- 333inthe3rd

How was KD damned if he sent KK to junior? Korchinski was good but wasn’t dominant in junior offensively and he was average defensively and he wasn’t physical. Add to that he was slight framed. Why was he brought up, especially considering he didn’t make the Hawks out of camp this year.

How was KD damned if he sent KK to junior? Korchinski was good but wasn’t dominant in junior offensively and he was average defensively and he wasn’t physical. Add to that he was slight framed. Why was he brought up, especially considering he didn’t make the Hawks out of camp this year.
- paulr

He was brought up because the coaches and development staff decided that he would get more more benefit being in the bigs than back in junior. No more no less. He’s 20, and one of many young defensemen in the pipeline. The Hawks seem to finally have a pretty strong development staff and program. Let’s start practicing the patience we all preached when this thing started…

He was brought up because the coaches and development staff decided that he would get more more benefit being in the bigs than back in junior. No more no less. He’s 20, and one of many young defensemen in the pipeline. The Hawks seem to finally have a pretty strong development staff and program. Let’s start practicing the patience we all preached when this thing started…
- Chunk

I’m not arguing that. My point is KD can’t let this happen again. He has to be 100% sure anyone he brings up, especially as an 18 or 19 year old is ready to play in the NHL. Korchinski wasn’t ready and apparently still isn’t. He would have been better off learning to play defense in junior not in the NHL.

How was KD damned if he sent KK to junior? Korchinski was good but wasn’t dominant in junior offensively and he was average defensively and he wasn’t physical. Add to that he was slight framed. Why was he brought up, especially considering he didn’t make the Hawks out of camp this year.
- paulr

The horror show in my mind would have been: what if he suffered a career threatening injury playing another year in junior.
So, getting through an NHL year relatively unscathed was a plus for bringing him straight to Chicago.

I’m not arguing that. My point is KD can’t let this happen again. He has to be 100% sure anyone he brings up, especially as an 18 or 19 year old is ready to play in the NHL. Korchinski wasn’t ready and apparently still isn’t. He would have been better off learning to play defense in junior not in the NHL.
- paulr

You mean it might have been a misjudgment by an inexperienced GM? Who would think ?

My impression so far is that the hawks have very few people who can make a difference on offense. Having speed is one thing, but to be able to put the puck in the net is something different.
- LFS

I have to agree.

Each and every forward is quick thinking, quick footed, and with the exception of Boisvert who really can shoot, Lardis and Vanacker who are quick shooters, the idea seems to be that all that speed will lead to offense.
There are over 60 goalies who aren't interested in improving Blackhawk prospects confidence so they grow scoring either.
And they have SO many!
That is why it will be fun to see how the progress.

How was KD damned if he sent KK to junior? Korchinski was good but wasn’t dominant in junior offensively and he was average defensively and he wasn’t physical. Add to that he was slight framed. Why was he brought up, especially considering he didn’t make the Hawks out of camp this year.

He would have been better off learning to play defense in junior not in the NHL.
- paulr

I think some of the facts get muddled.
But most replies you are getting are they felt he was better NOT gettig coached in another year of junior. He couldn't experience the faster speed, so keeping him in junior would be giving him a year w/o a pro style training and weight regime for one, and no matter if he improved both sides of his game against junior adversaries, he would get a false sence of what was coming.

Korchinski was so good on his pins and with his stick, I don't think he lacked offensive abilities, just played with in the system, w/o gambling much (like this last year's draftee,Carter Yakemchuk). And his dee play was good in junior due to his abilty to close gaps...
I wouldn't worry about toughness and hitting that comes withbthe offensive oriened rearguards.

Staying another year junior last season would have him in a different development stage, but right now he knows what needs to get better, from experiencing the toughest league in the world.

I think some of the facts get muddled.
But most replies you are getting are they felt he was better NOT gettig coached in another year of junior. He couldn't experience the faster speed, so keeping him in junior would be giving him a year w/o a pro style training and weight regime for one, and no matter if he improved both sides of his game against junior adversaries, he would get a false sence of what was coming.

Korchinski was so good on his pins and with his stick, I don't think he lacked offensive abilities, just played with in the system, w/o gambling much (like this last year's draftee,Carter Yakemchuk). And his dee play was good in junior due to his abilty to close gaps...
I wouldn't worry about toughness and hitting that comes withbthe offensive oriened rearguards.

Staying another year junior last season would have him in a different development stage, but right now he knows what needs to get better, from experiencing the toughest league in the world.
- wiz1901

Welcome back! Hope all is well in your slice of the world.