Probably should have hired a different head coach over the summer...
- fattybeef

I thought the Kingsbury for OC made too much sense and was an easy decision.

Now i'm guessing Flus didn't want anyone on board who could take over if he was fired, to make his firing easy.

As long as Flus is there, Poles is responsible

Easy summary of the game.

Soberblom was good.
PowerPlay was good.
Second line was dangerous.
Third Line was under water and struggled.
Phillips/Allan were a bit inconsistent.
We won a game we only partially earned, but it was a good road win to come in on a back to back and steal one.
- breadbag

The difference between winning last night and losing, this year version of Soderblom vs last year's version.

Poles is in jepordy of losing his rebuild. I've said many times, there are critical points in a rebuild where you have a decision to make that is like a fork in the road, wrong decision, you're back to a rebuild in 3 years, right decision, you're a perennial playoff team.

Poles to me, chose the wrong fork with keeping Flus, he needed an Offensive HC paired up with his new rookie QB. Also, I would raise my life insurance with Larry Boram playing Left Tackle.

He probably took the wrong fork by not trading with Washington and taking Jayden Daniels as well...................
- vabeachbear

Flus was McCaskey's pick. He'll be Poles fire. Poles will fix the O-line this off season. We were playing without our best defensive player and half the D-backfield. I'm not worried about our QB kid took us down the field twice at the end of the Commanders game. I can't remember that happening before. Also, I would raise my life insurance with Larry Boram playing Left Tackle.

I hear many say this, but isn't this the same show just different characters now, it can't be a coincidence.
- BetweenTheDots

When was the last time we had three real wide receivers? Poles is building an offense.

From The Athletic this am...

How the Blackhawks finished the road trip is another signal that they’ve improved. They not only finished the trip with a winning record, but they also won consecutive games for the first time this season. Consecutive wins don’t seem like a major feat, but it’s again putting it in the perspective of last season when the Blackhawks had won two straight games only three times.

How about one more statistical difference from last season? The Blackhawks won just seven road games last season. They went 7-32-2. With Sunday’s win, they’re already 4-4-1 on the road this season.
- HawkintheD

Don't drink the kool-aid.

I saw Spellacys highlight last night, Blackhawks might of found a diamond in the rough
- BetweenTheDots

I'd like to see him play a year in college before the AHL.

I'd like to see him play a year in college before the AHL.
- rpeters01

Don't think he can unless/until that lawsuit is over allowing junior players to play for a university.

The difference between winning last night and losing, this year version of Soderblom vs last year's version.
- LAHawk

I was listening to the Ducks feed and they talked about Soda and said he was really unhappy about how he was playing frantically last year and when he went home over the summer he focused on getting back to basics with the focus on playing calmer in net. Something like that and it has showed this season

Who had the Hawks going 3-1 on this road trip, with the only loss coming against the Sharks?

A positive is that even with the pressure he is under, no TO's. Most games if you don't turn it over, you will have a decent shot at winning.
- vabeachbear

Not to delve into Bears talk but couldn't resist. Caleb is being coached not to put the ball in harms way.... to the point it is becoming a detriment. Go watch his college tape. He can make every throw.

He never throws 50/50 balls. No back shoulder throws. No intentionally under thrown balls. He almost always overthrows the ball when there is good coverage.

Every good NFL offense throws these types of balls regularly. The Bears apparently don't have any of those plays in the play book.

Also tired of seeing blitzes and everyone single route runner has their back to Caleb. No where to dump the ball off and no safety valve type routes. Also no clue why I continue to see Keenan Allen running go routes and deep routes in man coverage. He does not have that type of speed. He was never that type of WR.

10-1-10-1-11

What a difference a couple of wins make early in the year. I can't believe i got 1 twice

Who had the Hawks going 3-1 on this road trip, with the only loss coming against the Sharks?
- 333inthe3rd

They lost to Dallas too. 3-2, but point made and taken. Funny thing was the win vs COL and loss to SJ..

When was the last time we had three real wide receivers? Poles is building an offense.
- rpeters01

Without an O-Line, you don't have an offense. He failed the Bears org by drafting Williams #1 last draft. He needed to trade that pick (actually he should have oversold it) and built the o-line last draft.

With the forward line changes the Hawks now have four 3rd lines. It will keep them in games. Win some and lose some.

IMHO in the next year or two they need two big centers along with 3C Richardinson and one of their 4C's. (I think Bedard will eventually be moved to wing, and be great.) Maybe Boisvert will be one of their top 6 centers in 2 or 3 years. Maybe trade or FA for the other.

The difference between winning last night and losing, this year version of Soderblom vs last year's version.
- LAHawk

Oh big time. Soderblom looking way more comfortable in the crease IMO. He has not typically gotten a lot of goal support either, so I can imagine he was putting a lot of pressure on himself.

I was just perusing the Icehogs site and found that in 2 games, Arty has 13 shots on goal (unless that is a typo). That's tied for 4th on the team after 7 games total (KK has 10 in 7).

Kids a little trigger happy.



Edit: sorry 4 games not 2, but still.

Don't think he can unless/until that lawsuit is over allowing junior players to play for a university.
- Chunk

Next year?

Taylor Hall played some center earlier in his career. I wonder if LR would consider that. He has the skill set for it. It might make for some interesting line combinations.

Next year?
- rpeters01

As far as I know, the NCAA won't currently allow players from junior teams to play college hockey. Unless the court rules in favor of the plaintiff(s) he won't be allowed to at all.

Anyone know where this currently stands?

I'd like to see him play a year in college before the AHL.
- rpeters01

Isn't he in the OHL???

Without an O-Line, you don't have an offense. He failed the Bears org by drafting Williams #1 last draft. He needed to trade that pick (actually he should have oversold it) and built the o-line last draft.
- powerenforcer

If he trades with WAshington, picks up extra picks, draft Daniels, use those extra picks to draft a couple olineman and a certainly a center.

Time will tell, but he left himself weak at Tackle especially

If he trades with WAshington, picks up extra picks, draft Daniels, use those extra picks to draft a couple olineman and a certainly a center.

Time will tell, but he left himself weak at Tackle especially
- vabeachbear

What? Tackle was the strength of the oline before injuries. Interior line is and was a mess.

Daniels would be horrible behind this line.

When was the last time we had three real wide receivers? Poles is building an offense.
- rpeters01

This is what i meant

https://x.com/DannyParkin...Nwza2Q_Ca8Fql2occSkQ&s=19

He explains it much better than i do.

Soderblom with his 1st win in God knows how long. Good for him..

98 with 3 assists. He's back close to a PPG pace. Is everyone happy now?
- boilermaker100

Happy the club got a win to finish of a long road trip and a successful one. But after that my favorite part of this win was Bedard losing a puck close to his own blueline a from behind hounded the Duck player, lifted his stick, stole the puck and skated it out. .....

Not as much successfully stealing the puck as much as the mentality of not hoping a mate earns a puck but doing so himself. That's a change for him, like not skating into 3 forwards and taking 2:00 shifts, and with that mentality and his super quick hands he becomes less and less a defensive liability.

Kid is developing.

This is what i meant

https://x.com/DannyParkin...Nwza2Q_Ca8Fql2occSkQ&s=19

He explains it much better than i do.
- BetweenTheDots

It is crazy. I do think Williams is and will be a very good to great actual NFL QB.

Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields, especially early on, seemed challenged to grasp one pro offense, but then changing gears (HC and OC) after one season, I'm sure also did them no favors.

Whether there was some ruining of those guys by a franchise with a bleak history of QB play/QB development is debatable. What isn't to me, is that Pace whiffed on both those picks.

Williams looks different than either and still think he has a chance to have the last laugh if Poles gets him pass protection and an NFL HC with a pedigree on the offensive side of the ball.