Lotta chatter around the internets grading out the organIzation/players after the 10 game mark. Firstly, I'll say they are 1 yr and 10 games from a total tear down. You gotta give any evaluations with that context.

To me it could be seen in the 1st preseason game this was a different club from last yr. With the influx of veteran NHL players, 2nd or 3rd oldest club, the positioning, structure and maturity was much greater than last yrs really low bar. Nearly all the fancies support that.

Simply said this club is doing the blocking, tackling and hitting the cutoff man that is the foundation of consistency. I mentioned a couple games back the club is becoming connected and that is a direct result of doing the proper tackling and blocking (positioning and structure).... To me that was really on display v COL and SJ.

The proper tackling and blocking (structure and proper positioning) has them getting out of their zone much quicker, which allows for speed thru the neutral zone which is a key element to being dangerous. Connected.

To me I'm watching the/a process and it looks like it will become consistent.

Which brings us to the worst win% thru 10 games and back to the process which I'd see repeated every yr in jrs as the turnover is high. When I watch a jrs goalie whether or not he saves a puck is almost irrelevant. To cut it short I'd see a kid who looks fantastic digging 6-7 pucks out of the net. Kid was skating well, in balance, good reads, square to everything showing an excellent foundation (blocking and tackling). If he had the skill/ability in him the next step of the/a process he would start stopping pucks and doing so regularly. And in that process (blocking and tackling) stopping pucks (winning games for a team) was last!!

To my eye the tackling and blocking is being accomplished and wins will follow. But I'm not as concerned with wins and losses (a jrs goalie stopping pucks) as I am the process, and I really like what I see.
- Mr Ricochet

They're still very bad though.

Slaggert PPG 3-0

3,2,1 All Rockford

Comesso in net btw

Now in period two
Nazar his third
Hayes his second
Slaggert his first
Dach had two assists

Thanks for the updates on the baby Hawks guys.

Would you agree that the turnover rate on the Blackhawks roster after two more seasons after this current campaign, will be at least 50%. KD is going to re-make the roster with mostly his draft choices. The lineup will feature what KD wants: speed, aggressive puck pursuit and tenacity challenging all over the ice. Skill yes but predicated upon speed and mobility among the blueline too. Have to skate at least average or above average. I think a DelMaestro can make this roster but due to the emphasis on mobility and despite his other qualities, I do not see him becoming more than a third pair. Maybe with experience he could slot as a second pair but certainly not right away
- jhawk59

JHawk, I really don't even think that far ahead. I will say this, and I'll miss a few, Nazar, KK, Levshunov and Slaggert will be with the Hawks in 2 yrs. Good chance Moore and Rinzel too if not 3 yrs seemingly for sure. That's 6 of 23 new spots and those are from within ...... I like Hayes more than most and each time I see Ludwinski this yr he shows some dangles and evasive moves. He's adding an offensive element whereas I never saw that outa him even in jrs. He's climbing up my chart. ...... Would not surprise me to see Lardis have a big NHL camp in 2 yrs after a yr in the AHL.... When's Kancerov due, after the 25-26 season?

Leveshunov paired with KK; they started game with Nazar/Seney/Mayhew. I don’t believe Mayhew is a Blackhawk signed prospect

JHawk, I really don't even think that far ahead. I will say this, and I'll miss a few, Nazar, KK, Levshunov and Slaggert will be with the Hawks in 2 yrs. Good chance Moore and Rinzel too if not 3 yrs seemingly for sure. That's 6 of 23 new spots and those are from within ...... I like Hayes more than most and each time I see Ludwinski this yr he shows some dangles and evasive moves. He's adding an offensive element whereas I never saw that outa him even in jrs. He's climbing up my chart. ...... Would not surprise me to see Lardis have a big NHL camp in 2 yrs after a yr in the AHL.... When's Kancerov due, after the 25-26 season?
- Mr Ricochet

If Greene and Moore is the real deal plus Comesso = 9 spots. I am watching Misiak and I agree about Ludwinski. Whomever drafted in top ten or top five overall in ‘25 also

Gavin Hayes PPG. 2-0 Levshunov #1 PP QB.
- rickboardman

Hayes wired that puck. I'm a fan of this kid. He's matured quite a bit since they drafted him....... Levshunov has shown in 2 periods how high the possibilities are for this kid and how raw he is. He's taken huge leaps in improvement each of the last 2 yrs despite moving up the ladder each yr.

With 10 to go in the 3rd the GR booth has mentioned 3 times how fast the Hogs are. I saw a couple periods of the club this yr and thought, and posted, the same thing.

Doesn't matter if you cannot win with him in playoffs. I would rather use a hard working less skill guy as long as he can skate, than a TOO soft Marner.That is how I would want to see a roster - no softies, at least compete physically to some extent. I know superstars get a pass but not Marner on my team. I would not tolerate him and I would be all over him as a teamatte irregardless if that is not acceptable behavior. Go play with the ladies Marner
- jhawk59

Eh. Why is it always Marner that gets beat up. What about the other big 4 and their defenders who can't push the puck forward?

70 points in 82 playoff games is pretty good. Getting Selke votes is not something a "soft" player gets.

Dach with a late goal. Final 4-1 Hogs.

Dach with a late goal. Final 4-1 Hogs.
- boilermaker100

Easy empty net goal off an errant pass. Nonetheless three point night for Dach Grand Rapids off to undefeated start except two losses to Rockford, both 4-1 final. In this contest Grand Rapids fell behind and never could get back into the game. The teams face of about ten more times this season Nazar clearly Rockford’s top player Sanford could make an NHL living if he wasn’t so slow

Personally I recall in the 1980 and early ‘90’s College of DuPage used to play a team from Grand Rapids, maybe COD junior college played Grand Rapids JV squad. COD did win a couple of junior college titles I had the pleasure to cover for the school newspaper. COD is now a four year college and hockey devolved to a club sport at COD

Hayes wired that puck. I'm a fan of this kid. He's matured quite a bit since they drafted him....... Levshunov has shown in 2 periods how high the possibilities are for this kid and how raw he is. He's taken huge leaps in improvement each of the last 2 yrs despite moving up the ladder each yr.

With 10 to go in the 3rd the GR booth has mentioned 3 times how fast the Hogs are. I saw a couple periods of the club this yr and thought, and posted, the same thing.
- Mr Ricochet

Watched the game tonight, Arty looks like he's bored cause the game is too slow for him in the AHL. Nazar was everywhere tonight.

If Greene and Moore is the real deal plus Comesso = 9 spots. I am watching Misiak and I agree about Ludwinski. Whomever drafted in top ten or top five overall in ‘25 also
- jhawk59

Told you I'd forget someone. I watched Greene live a few times when he was with USHL Green Bay. IMO he centered as good a line as there was in the league. Bigger smooth, skilled kid who plays 2 ways with solid IQ. That line was a possession monster.

Greene may have the goods to be an NHL 4C.

Watched the game tonight, Arty looks like he's bored cause the game is too slow for him in the AHL. Nazar was everywhere tonight.
- BetweenTheDots

Yea, Arty wasn't what you'd call engaged. Was good to see him play though.

It is getting a bit annoying. Posters think Bedard was single handedly going to lead this team as a teenager? With no legit top line players around him? TT on a playoff team is probably a 2nd line winger.

Put Bedard on the Wild between Kaprizov and Zuccarello and he's putting up 35-40g and 90 plus points at age 19.
- bhawks2241

Stop with the excuses already.

You just gotta love Torts!!

https://www.msn.com/en-us...4bdbc38c2c9badb80ac6&ei=6

The Philadelphia Flyers were missing a familiar face during Thursday's 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Flyers fans were caught off guard before the game when the team announced that rookie forward Matvei Michkov would be a healthy scratch.

After the win, head coach John Tortorella explained his decision.

"(Michkov is) totally not concentrated on certain parts of the game," Tortorella told reporters, per Flyers insider Jamey Baskow. "If I see other guys going, then he's going to sit and watch a bit. That's all that was."


Now, the best part!!

The NHL has announced that Michkov is the "Rookie of the Month" for October. The former 2023 first-round selection suited up in 11 games last month, scoring four goals and adding five assists while his nine points are tied for the most among rookies.


- Mr Ricochet

What am I missing??

It's 9am, still haven't had my cigarette and coffee yet, but I remember watching the Flyers/Blues highlights from 2 days ago, and specifically remember Michkov playing?

Or do they mean healthy scratch for today's Flyers game?

Just checked the box score to make sure I didn't mix up games, he played 13min against the blues.

Just read it again and can't figure out if I'm losing it or they are?

It's kind of why I'm glad KFC went with who they thought was best at 2nd OA last year. Maybe Demidov ends up being the better player but if Levshunov is a #1 or #2 RHD it's hard to quibble.

If Vlasic's game keeps growing and rounding out, a top 4 of him Arty, KK and possibly Rinzel could be really good.
- HawkintheD

Some viewers described levshunov as not engaged. Is that a good indication?

Would you agree that the turnover rate on the Blackhawks roster after two more seasons after this current campaign, will be at least 50%. KD is going to re-make the roster with mostly his draft choices. The lineup will feature what KD wants: speed, aggressive puck pursuit and tenacity challenging all over the ice. Skill yes but predicated upon speed and mobility among the blueline too. Have to skate at least average or above average. I think a DelMaestro can make this roster but due to the emphasis on mobility and despite his other qualities, I do not see him becoming more than a third pair. Maybe with experience he could slot as a second pair but certainly not right away
- jhawk59

You left out one thing missing…ability to put the puck in the net.

Watched the game tonight, Arty looks like he's bored cause the game is too slow for him in the AHL. Nazar was everywhere tonight.
- BetweenTheDots

The committed to the indian / faxes from uncle dale podcast mentioned the Powers article about Levshunov.

One of the guys mentioned that Arty is way too good for the AHL from what they see,but they get the reasoning for putting him in Rockford - only played 2 seasons on smaller NA ice etc...

The committed to the indian / faxes from uncle dale podcast mentioned the Powers article about Levshunov.

One of the guys mentioned that Arty is way too good for the AHL from what they see,but they get the reasoning for putting him in Rockford - only played 2 seasons on smaller NA ice etc...
- captainserious

Would not be surprised if he’s up in early 2025, same with Nazar.

Stop with the excuses already.
- LFS

Should we trade Bedard then while his value is still high? Since he isn’t going to reach his ceiling and will never even be a ppg player.

Not like when Kane got Panarin and then DCat on his line he suddenly became a ppg plus player with some 100 pt seasons.

The committed to the indian / faxes from uncle dale podcast mentioned the Powers article about Levshunov.

One of the guys mentioned that Arty is way too good for the AHL from what they see,but they get the reasoning for putting him in Rockford - only played 2 seasons on smaller NA ice etc...
- captainserious

I know it's a weird statement but i meant bored in a good way. He was so quick to break up anything and everything. He gets to his spots so quick and it doesn't look like he's using much energy doing it. Now i know what the coach meant about his skating ability. For now it looks like he's thinking about what he's being coached and how to play his position right now like KK did last year in the beginning of the season. Btw KK looked really good last night.

Would not be surprised if he’s up in early 2025, same with Nazar.
- Angotti

Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s up after the trade deadline. Have to think the Hawks will try and move at least one vet for a draft pick.

I know it's a weird statement but i meant bored in a good way. He was so quick to break up anything and everything. He gets to his spots so quick and it doesn't look like he's using much energy doing it. Now i know what the coach meant about his skating ability. For now it looks like he's thinking about what he's being coached and how to play his position right now like KK did last year in the beginning of the season. Btw KK looked really good last night.
- BetweenTheDots

Calm poised and anticipating plays. Just been a while since we saw that from Hawks Dmen.

Some viewers described levshunov as not engaged. Is that a good indication?
- LFS

The Hawks should probably trade him now along with Bustard.

As long as we're telling people to quit things, maybe dispense with some of the way too early hot takes.