The only issue with this is that the 4th line is going to continually be in flux on this team until guys start to cement themselves into certain roles.

In theory, I agree with your premise (especially with earning his spot). However, in practice I think as long as he keeps show the coaches what they want, giving him extended time on different lines isn't going to ruin anything.
- Chunk

Chunk, you, me, KD, LR and the whole hockey world has no answers for Reichel. IF they stumble upon something that's close to working for him LEAVE it alone. Let the 22 yr old enigma alone to get his NHL reps to experience some modicum of positivity as he gets his NHL reps.

Once they feel a switch has flipped for the kid move him up the lineup. Until then hope he finds some consistency while he earns being moved up.

- Chunk

Chunk, let it be known sometimes an old dog can indeed learn new tricks with a little help from his friends.

And other than TT there's not anywhere else to go. Him trying to undress 3 guys is probably going to result in the same outcome as giving the puck to Foligno or even Jones in a lot of cases.

Only props I'll give captain know it all is that he will at least stand in the crease. Otherwise it's tough to take the team seriously when he's on L1 consistently.

If anything Bedard is not shooting enough. I think you'd like to see him closer to 40ish shots over 7 games rather than 25.
- fattybeef

Preach on. I don’t mind Foligno being on this team, however they need more offensive talent on Bedard’s line. Teravainen was a great add, just a professional hockey player and fits in with Bedard. Ultimately, a power forward with speed and a scoring touch will be the perfect add to that line. In the meantime, move either Hall or Kurashev there, it’s not like this is a playoff team. I know that Reichel struggled playing center last year, but guess what, so has Kurashev this year. Just move Kurashev to L1 and insert Reichel with Hall and Bertuzzi and see what happens.

You are female doging. Right now he's a 19 year old PPG player. Those RARELY happen. The lack of appreciation for the talent level and current accomplishments does not align with reality.
- fattybeef

Fatty, the fancy stat guy at The Athletic said his model goes back to 2006 and in that time Bedard was the worst, nobody as bad in 18 yrs, defensively. The absolute worst player defensively in 18 yrs!!! And what's worse is it was allowed!!!

Give a kid with his shot and IQ ALL the Ozone starts, ALL the 1st unit PP, do NOT make him play in his zone, allow his 2 minute shifts I'd listen to anyone who argued he should be a point per game player at MINIMUM!!!

National guys are using words publicly about his defense, same guys who called him generational, atrocious and horrendous. Should those guys not say that?

The average NHL shift is maybe 38 seconds. Why? It takes so much out of you to skate that hard that a world class athlete can only be useful for 38 seconds. That player uses that 38 seconds of energy to play both ways.

Bedard uses zero energy to play in any zone that is not going towards the other goalie so he has tons of energy combined with sheltered offensive starts to put up points...... Yea, a point per is about right in that context and I'd add at minimum a point per.

That is why i said so far. Im hoping for the best.
- LFS

Not sure if you saw or remember 25 games in last yr I had seen enough of Bedard taking 2 minute shifts, skating into 3-4 guys and coughing the puck over and over and over every damn game, flying the zone, playing zero defense I posted the kid is playing like a jrs hockey player.

Tons of posters told me I'm nuts and wrong. You posted something similar and you got no real push back other than some context for his horrid effort and defense......

That says much. People came outa the woodwork to defend him last yr but today nobody does. Why, cuz they've seen him enough to agree to some extent.

Expectations have been readjusted. Bedard is not an 18 yr old Crosby like he was hyped up to be but that does not mean the 19 yr old will not mature into a generational player, a close to generational player, a prolific scorer or just as dangerous an offensive player as there is in the league whose defense is Kane like.

Taylor Hall on wanting to be with the Hawks long term.

https://www.dailyfaceoff....s-build-for-the-long-haul

If he has a choice, Hall is saying it now: He wants to be in Chicago. It’s too early to say if the feeling is mutual.

“I’d love to stay and be part of this,” Hall said. “I’ve moved around quite a bit, maybe more than I would’ve liked or planned at the start of my career. But it’s brought me and led me to some amazing people, and I’ve had a lot of great life experiences, and that’s made me grow up a lot. In saying that, I like it here, I like the organization. Most of all, I really like this team and the group of guys we have. I think I can be a good piece for us as we keep growing. If there was interest on their side, I’d definitely love to be around the team and help build this.”
- breadbag

I hope not

Kid stunk all preseason and all of last yr in the NHL. He sat the opening 4 games this yr and was told you won't get a shot until an injury happens. He got his chance 3 games ago and the naked eye has shown him to be active and not floating in those 3 games.. Something they've asked of him over and over and over since LR became coach.

What is the causation of this? The only difference I see is LR has been stern with him and made to sit and watch ONLY until an injury happens. Am I missing something?
- Mr Ricochet

Maybe he didn't want to get hurt in a preseason game?

Maybe he didn't want to get hurt in a preseason game?
- BetweenTheDots

Dots, I just have no answers for Reichel. None...... All I can say for sure is he is a rare quick twitch athlete that has played acceptable NHL hockey the last 3 games.

And, I'll believe anything he might do next game. I'd believe a 2 goal, 2 assist , 2 way game or an invisible 6:00 TOI outcome.

Dots, I just have no answers for Reichel. None...... All I can say for sure is he is a rare quick twitch athlete that has played acceptable NHL hockey the last 3 games.

And, I'll believe anything he might do next game. I'd believe a 2 goal, 2 assist , 2 way game or an invisible 6:00 TOI outcome.
- Mr Ricochet

Well he's still young Rico, that's why he needs his minutes. I would really like him to have consistent linemates but hey at least he's getting playing time now.

Anybody watching Michkov? Kid is an absolute blast to watch. A Marchand with more skill.

Fatty, the fancy stat guy at The Athletic said his model goes back to 2006 and in that time Bedard was the worst, nobody as bad in 18 yrs, defensively. The absolute worst player defensively in 18 yrs!!! And what's worse is it was allowed!!!

Give a kid with his shot and IQ ALL the Ozone starts, ALL the 1st unit PP, do NOT make him play in his zone, allow his 2 minute shifts I'd listen to anyone who argued he should be a point per game player at MINIMUM!!!

National guys are using words publicly about his defense, same guys who called him generational, atrocious and horrendous. Should those guys not say that?

The average NHL shift is maybe 38 seconds. Why? It takes so much out of you to skate that hard that a world class athlete can only be useful for 38 seconds. That player uses that 38 seconds of energy to play both ways.

Bedard uses zero energy to play in any zone that is not going towards the other goalie so he has tons of energy combined with sheltered offensive starts to put up points...... Yea, a point per is about right in that context and I'd add at minimum a point per.
- Mr Ricochet

Still the best player on that team.

I'd expect an 18 year old that was heads and shoulders better than the competition to not have a complete game at the NHL level.

That doesn't discount that his talent is undeniable. He's been quite good in his own zone to start the year and done well in the neutral zone to break up plays.

This is about as (frank)ed up as the bozos who were pissed the Bears moved Justin Fields and drafted Caleb after Fields threw the ball 12 times and managed to not lose the first game.

I don't know why you people can't be happy that one of the most exciting players to be drafted in the past 7-9 years is actually on the Blackhawks. Most of the rest of the roster is dog poop so I can see beating those guys up but jeez.

Had time between appointments so I went to 53rd today and watched 30 minutes of practice. Who knows what Richardson told them before they hit the ice but he was very quiet. Bedard was the first one on the ice. Hall did not practice. After 5 minutes of warming up and some flow drills, they practiced 3 different breakouts. Eventually they set up a drill working on defensive coverage with the puck below the goal line. Bedard's shot is as impressive in person as on TV. He practiced hard. I expected to see Kurashev and Reichel busting ass but they did not stand out. Bertuzzi was the loudest. Martinez was practicing with a coach on the west rink. I knew I wasn't going to see one on one battle drills out of the corner but after last night's start I would have expected more energy.

Had time between appointments so I went to 53rd today and watched 30 minutes of practice. Who knows what Richardson told them before they hit the ice but he was very quiet. Bedard was the first one on the ice. Hall did not practice. After 5 minutes of warming up and some flow drills, they practiced 3 different breakouts. Eventually they set up a drill working on defensive coverage with the puck below the goal line. Bedard's shot is as impressive in person as on TV. He practiced hard. I expected to see Kurashev and Reichel busting ass but they did not stand out. Bertuzzi was the loudest. Martinez was practicing with a coach on the west rink. I knew I wasn't going to see one on one battle drills out of the corner but after last night's start I would have expected more energy.
- stevefrmglencoe

Cool. Thanks for that insight. Always wonder how these guys manage practices and stuff between games. Especially with a predominately veteran team like they have now.

Taylor Hall on wanting to be with the Hawks long term.

https://www.dailyfaceoff....s-build-for-the-long-haul

If he has a choice, Hall is saying it now: He wants to be in Chicago. It’s too early to say if the feeling is mutual.

“I’d love to stay and be part of this,” Hall said. “I’ve moved around quite a bit, maybe more than I would’ve liked or planned at the start of my career. But it’s brought me and led me to some amazing people, and I’ve had a lot of great life experiences, and that’s made me grow up a lot. In saying that, I like it here, I like the organization. Most of all, I really like this team and the group of guys we have. I think I can be a good piece for us as we keep growing. If there was interest on their side, I’d definitely love to be around the team and help build this.”
- breadbag

Hard pass.

Friedman says Hawks looking for a center in a trade, but so are several teams.

If I am game planning to beat the Hawks I match my top offensive line and offensive dmen against the Bedard line. Keep Bedard’s line in the Hawk’s dzone as much as possible Bedard’s plus minus will be bad again this year (first 5 games not withstanding).

I feel his 200’ game is similar to Kane’s. It will get better. But he will never be a good 200’ player.

Hall D!ckinson Bedard
Kurashev TT Bertuzzi
Foligno Donato Anderson
Maroon Reichel Smith/Mikheyev

AA

Friedman says Hawks looking for a center in a trade, but so are several teams.
- LAHawk

Murphy to Utah for Chicken fat. Both have 2 years left on their contracts. Cap hits are basically a wash - Hawks take on about a 1.5M extra.

Utah needs D due to Marino and Durzi injuries. Murph's All-American boy image will play well in Utah and he would probably love it there.

Schmaltz can play 2C for a couple of years while the prospects develop.

Murphy to Utah for Chicken fat. Both have 2 years left on their contracts. Cap hits are basically a wash - Hawks take on about a 1.5M extra.

Utah needs D due to Marino and Durzi injuries. Murph's All-American boy image will play well in Utah and he would probably love it there.

Schmaltz can play 2C for a couple of years while the prospects develop.
- boilermaker100

Un tradeable due to multi years left on their contract at bloated salaries:

Murphy
Brodie
Mrazek
Foligno
Richardinson
Mikhaev
Jones

Tradable if stays healthy

Martinez (probably need to retain to get any kind of return)
Hall (would definitely need to retain to get any kind of return)

Tradeable:

Kurashev (RFA with arb rights at end of season)

Tradeable, no return

AA
Smith
Maroon
Donato
Anderson

Dave Pagnatta writes this about the quest for a center. So a young D for a young C sometime in the future?

On Wednesday’s edition of “The Latest” on TFP, David Pagnotta reported the Blackhawks are keeping tabs on the centre market and would like to add a young forward for the second-line, though a move may not necessarily be a priority for the rebuilding Blackhawks until the off-season.

“This is another team that would love to add somebody that fits the long-term core of this group. So, keep an eye on Chicago as the season moves along,” Pagnotta said. “Again, probably something more impactful happens in the off-season, but that doesn’t mean Kyle Davidson, like Craig Conroy in Calgary, isn’t going to do with due diligence.

“They don’t have an internal solution yet. Even though they’ve got some young kids in the system, they might end up being on the wing. So, they’re going to keep looking to see if they can add a piece, but add Chicago to the mix of teams that would love to add a 2C in that early-to-mid-20s range at some point over the next several months.”

For those that were asking about prospects earlier:

https://www.bleachernatio...nd-schedule-great-starts/

He normally follows up with Highlights and summaries for most of these guys as well.

If I am game planning to beat the Hawks I match my top offensive line and offensive dmen against the Bedard line. Keep Bedard’s line in the Hawk’s dzone as much as possible Bedard’s plus minus will be bad again this year (first 5 games not withstanding).

I feel his 200’ game is similar to Kane’s. It will get better. But he will never be a good 200’ player.
- Ztra

Or Kucherov or Point. Probably not going to kill the team but probably not going to win the Selke.

Murphy to Utah for Chicken fat. Both have 2 years left on their contracts. Cap hits are basically a wash - Hawks take on about a 1.5M extra.

Utah needs D due to Marino and Durzi injuries. Murph's All-American boy image will play well in Utah and he would probably love it there.

Schmaltz can play 2C for a couple of years while the prospects develop.
- boilermaker100

Could be a decent opportunity to get value for EDM, Crevier or Philips.

Got a very short look at Moose Jaw 2025 prospect forward Lynden Lakovic (Lah-ko-vich) tonight (3rd period only). Wiz has him at #19 right now. Lakovic is 6-4, 183 and plays LW on a line with Brayden Yager. Has 6-10-16 pts in 12 games so far.
Lakovic has a lot of speed and very good stick handling. He was able to carry up from the dzone a couple of times and get a shot on goal. Beat the dman around the edge on one rush. Rangy and pretty decent at getting loose pucks. Vision seems good and he had an assist while I watched and some good passes. Played a lot in the third as the team was behind and was trying to score. Will go to the front of the net in the offensive zone.
Did not see much in the way of defense or physical play from him in the period, but they were playing catch-up and so trying to break out and stay in the o-zone. Interesting prospect but will need to see more.
- totem

I like Lynden Lakovic also.
Presently, he is not very pro-like in his transitions, but once his squad rolls into the attack zone, he becomes a terrific and dynamic playmaking left winger with puck control, size, and speed who is patient and can buy time using his size to hold off defenders.

Un tradeable due to multi years left on their contract at bloated salaries:

Murphy
Brodie
Mrazek
Foligno
Richardinson
Mikhaev
Jones

Tradable if stays healthy

Martinez (probably need to retain to get any kind of return)
Hall (would definitely need to retain to get any kind of return)

Tradeable:

Kurashev (RFA with arb rights at end of season)

Tradeable, no return

AA
Smith
Maroon
Donato
Anderson
- LAHawk

Jones is movable to a desperate team and they're desperate. Only 4 years left and they're trying to gain traction and be a playoff team now.

He would probably be fine with Sergachev for the next few years. The Hawks could take back Ian Cole and it probably works money wise and they'll just have to figure it out for next year which never seems to be an issue.

Sergachev, Jones, Durzi and Marino (assuming his back holds up) would be a pretty solid top 4 for the next few years and makes a very clear path for big Arty to move into that top spot on the right without any awkwardness.