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

I try not saying things like best ever, worse ever but I struggle to find any player at any position that has turned around his whole game in just one offseason like Sodeblom has.

A complete mess in goal last yr, played most every shot like a hand grenade, so much happy feet and flopping around like a break dancer to a demeanor like an assassin this yr. Calm and in control like an NHL vet and square to everything, even pucks that bounce up in the air he's square to it before it hits the ice.

In short he now has a foundation that allows for consistency which is no small feat for an NHL goalie.

I'd add Pang mentioned that Soderblom said he got rid of all the stuff he was being coached to improve his game and went back to what got him to North America in the first place. No elaboration but I found the statement interesting. The change in his game this yr is so dramatic there has to be a reason for it cuz it's so much more than just stopping pucks that has improved.

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.
- bhawks2241

I agree, Williams made every throw in college. Displayed great touch, very accurate especially on the move, throwing to guys who haven't yet come out of their break.

Tell you what, I've seen nothing of that as a Bear. He's been very inaccurate not just on deep passes, 5-8 yards off, and even when he completes a pass 50% of the time he doesn't hit the receiver in stride (very little run after the catch) and rarely, if ever as a Bear, completes a pass before the receiver comes out of his break. Often late getting balls to guys who are clearly open.

And these are pro bowl receivers in Allen, Moore, Kmet and the 9th overall pick, Odunze, who I've loved at first sight with U of WSH. ........... Yea, the line is bad and the O coordinator looks like a bum but consistently being inaccurate, even on completions, has me wondering. ........... Geez, and stop letting him change plays 40% of the time. Barking calls like Manning. Kid ain't ready for full control.

I try not saying things like best ever, worse ever but I struggle to find any player at any position that has turned around his whole game in just one offseason like Sodeblom has.

A complete mess in goal last yr, played most every shot like a hand grenade, so much happy feet and flopping around like a break dancer to a demeanor like an assassin this yr. Calm and in control like an NHL vet and square to everything, even pucks that bounce up in the air he's square to it before it hits the ice.

In short he now has a foundation that allows for consistency which is no small feat for an NHL goalie.

I'd add Pang mentioned that Soderblom said he got rid of all the stuff he was being coached to improve his game and went back to what got him to North America in the first place. No elaboration but I found the statement interesting. The change in his game this yr is so dramatic there has to be a reason for it cuz it's so much more than just stopping pucks that has improved.
- Mr Ricochet

Better to play on instinct then paint by numbers. Imagine if they made Dominic Hasek into Corey Crawford, although Crawford was outstanding when he had to be using the paint by numbers approach

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.
- HawkintheD

I agree 1000%. Passing on Williams would have been like passing/trading Manning and settling for Ryan Leaf. You can't get it all in one year. This kid is already ahead of Trubisky and Fields.

I agree, Williams made every throw in college. Displayed great touch, very accurate especially on the move, throwing to guys who haven't yet come out of their break.

Tell you what, I've seen nothing of that as a Bear. He's been very inaccurate not just on deep passes, 5-8 yards off, and even when he completes a pass 50% of the time he doesn't hit the receiver in stride (very little run after the catch) and rarely, if ever as a Bear, completes a pass before the receiver comes out of his break. Often late getting balls to guys who are clearly open.

And these are pro bowl receivers in Allen, Moore, Kmet and the 9th overall pick, Odunze, who I've loved at first sight with U of WSH. ........... Yea, the line is bad and the O coordinator looks like a bum but consistently being inaccurate, even on completions, has me wondering. ........... Geez, and stop letting him change plays 40% of the time. Barking calls like Manning. Kid ain't ready for full control.
- Mr Ricochet

He hasn't missed many except those over 15 yards. The ones he missed open WRs he has overthrown them deep. Every throw is long and high though. That tells me he is being overly coached to not put the ball in harms way.

I have no problem with Caleb being in control of the entire offense. However, maybe mix in some easy single read throws. Every play call is multiple reads. You're asking a rookie QB to run a multiple read offense, with a horrible Oline, with no running game.

Go watch Jayden Daniels tape. It is easy for him b/c the offense is simple and they have a guy that can take the top off the D. Daniels only pressured 6 times yesterday. Caleb over 40% of his dropbacks pressure in less than 3 secs.

I pulled this from the Ducks write-up here (Ben Shelley)

For a team who’s pretty consistently struggled to generate offense this season, there were some things to like for Anaheim. The Ducks had managed 26 shots or less in six of their 10 games coming into last night’s contest, so the fact they were actually able to generate more chances and sustain offensive zone time was a positive.

At the same time, the Ducks still can’t score. They’ve managed two goals or less in seven of their 11 games so far, and only once have they managed more than three goals.

As of now, Troy Terry is the only player on the team who has more than six points this season. Frank Vatrano has struggled to replicate his success with a single goal this year, while Trevor Zegras still has just one empty net goal and three points. Alex Killorn has just three points as well, and Robby Fabbri has a single goal (his only point), while Cutter Gauthier has yet to score.

Two things:
1) I read someone saying that ANA was deep down the middle with young players. Indeed, but they still need to put it together.

2) This sounds an awful lot like what the Hawks are going through right now. That said, I think the Hawks' foundation (players, structure, culture) is ahead of the Ducks right now.

Also, this is why I think the "vets first" approach is going to help a lot in the long run. The Hawks will likely have about 4-6 new players next year. It's better to have the guys in place know what the plan is instead of trying to teach everyone on the fly. I don't necessarily like it and thought the more reasonable move would be to put better players around Bedard after you landed him, but for this method I'd say it's best.

I agree 1000%. Passing on Williams would have been like passing/trading Manning and settling for Ryan Leaf. You can't get it all in one year. This kid is already ahead of Trubisky and Fields.
- rpeters01

Unfortunately for Caleb, Jayden Daniels isn't Ryan Leaf, but have heard a number of people talk about this and picking Daniels over Williams would have been getting "cute" with the pick.

After deciding not to take a QB at #1 OA the year before and given all the tape on those two QB's, there was no way they were taking anyone but Williams with the #1 this year.

Unfortunately for Caleb, Jayden Daniels isn't Ryan Leaf, but have heard a number of people talk about this and picking Daniels over Williams would have been getting "cute" with the pick.

After deciding not to take a QB at #1 OA the year before and given all the tape on those two QB's, there was no way they were taking anyone but Williams with the #1 this year.
- HawkintheD

Drafting a QB before an O-Line is like furnishing your home before you build the walls. He may get killed before the team is ready for a great QB.

Tyler Johnson finally signs with the Bruins $775K AAV

They did get outplayed for decent swaths. Arvid looked really solid, so that helped a lot. For the second of a back-to-back it was about as good as could be expected for this team.

Bedard's "assist" on Donato's goal was basically that he got a whack at it around the goal before Donato stuffed it in. He made a nice cut to the middle of the ice to set up Phillips goal when they were getting outshot pretty badly, and he teed up Jones for his slapper from the top of the umbrella on a PP.
- Chunk

Bedard got stick on puck at one point and also looked like he used his skate to push it back to Donato. Love seeing him down around the blue paint hacking and whacking. Earned that "assist".

Kid is back to about a ppg player. Anyone remember how bad Kane looked when they moved him to center in his 5th NHL season. Not good. He had Sharp on his wing most of the time. Better than anyone on Bedard's wing right now.

Drafting a QB before an O-Line is like furnishing your home before you build the walls. He may get killed before the team is ready for a great QB.
- powerenforcer

When you have the number one overall pick two years in a row, you're not not taking a QB with one of those kicks at the can...especially one with as much "can't miss" hype as Williams had.

They took the RT (Wright) the year before and Jones was actually working out pretty well at LT. They went for a RG in Nate Davis which didn't work and converted an LT to LG in Jenkins which has been decent when he's healthy.

Not addressing center or having a better option than Davis is on Poles. Injuries happen and the line they cobbled together yesterday is what it is and probably can't be addressed til the next draft and FA.

Having everything in place when you draft The Guy usually never happens.

Unfortunately for Caleb, Jayden Daniels isn't Ryan Leaf, but have heard a number of people talk about this and picking Daniels over Williams would have been getting "cute" with the pick.

After deciding not to take a QB at #1 OA the year before and given all the tape on those two QB's, there was no way they were taking anyone but Williams with the #1 this year.
- HawkintheD

They said same thing about Leaf and Manning. You had no idea Leaf was going to bust.

Tyler Johnson finally signs with the Bruins $775K AAV
- LAHawk

#KDFail.

They said same thing about Leaf and Manning. You had no idea Leaf was going to bust.
- rpeters01

No for sure and I think as epically as he did. It's way too early but this year's draft class has looked pretty good.

Tyler Johnson finally signs with the Bruins $775K AAV
- LAHawk

Final piece of the puzzle for Boston to turn it around!!!!

I pulled this from the Ducks write-up here (Ben Shelley)

For a team who’s pretty consistently struggled to generate offense this season, there were some things to like for Anaheim. The Ducks had managed 26 shots or less in six of their 10 games coming into last night’s contest, so the fact they were actually able to generate more chances and sustain offensive zone time was a positive.

At the same time, the Ducks still can’t score. They’ve managed two goals or less in seven of their 11 games so far, and only once have they managed more than three goals.

As of now, Troy Terry is the only player on the team who has more than six points this season. Frank Vatrano has struggled to replicate his success with a single goal this year, while Trevor Zegras still has just one empty net goal and three points. Alex Killorn has just three points as well, and Robby Fabbri has a single goal (his only point), while Cutter Gauthier has yet to score.

Two things:
1) I read someone saying that ANA was deep down the middle with young players. Indeed, but they still need to put it together.

2) This sounds an awful lot like what the Hawks are going through right now. That said, I think the Hawks' foundation (players, structure, culture) is ahead of the Ducks right now.

Also, this is why I think the "vets first" approach is going to help a lot in the long run. The Hawks will likely have about 4-6 new players next year. It's better to have the guys in place know what the plan is instead of trying to teach everyone on the fly. I don't necessarily like it and thought the more reasonable move would be to put better players around Bedard after you landed him, but for this method I'd say it's best.
- Chunk

Talent should take over at some point for the Ducks.

But to your point. I think it is difficult for a team of kids to put it together without a strong veteran presence AND a green NHL coach. I think with a younger team like that you'd want someone with some experience. That would be an interesting team to see Quenville go to .

Bedard got stick on puck at one point and also looked like he used his skate to push it back to Donato. Love seeing him down around the blue paint hacking and whacking. Earned that "assist".

Kid is back to about a ppg player. Anyone remember how bad Kane looked when they moved him to center in his 5th NHL season. Not good. He had Sharp on his wing most of the time. Better than anyone on Bedard's wing right now.
- bhawks2241

Until the end of the year when Toews got hurt and he dragged the team to the playoffs.

He also had wrist surgery that summer that caused issues with his release.

He hasn't missed many except those over 15 yards. The ones he missed open WRs he has overthrown them deep. Every throw is long and high though. That tells me he is being overly coached to not put the ball in harms way.

I have no problem with Caleb being in control of the entire offense. However, maybe mix in some easy single read throws. Every play call is multiple reads. You're asking a rookie QB to run a multiple read offense, with a horrible Oline, with no running game.

Go watch Jayden Daniels tape. It is easy for him b/c the offense is simple and they have a guy that can take the top off the D. Daniels only pressured 6 times yesterday. Caleb over 40% of his dropbacks pressure in less than 3 secs.
- bhawks2241

What originally made me respond to your post is you pointing out his deeper or touch throws are overthrown so as little to no chance for it to be picked off. I thought that too maybe 3ish games back and as each game goes by I think it's true that he's being too careful about getting picked... I do agree but,

I thought that has nothing to do with him not leading an open receiver, not throwing before the receiver completes his route, him under throwing Odunze, and others this yr, by 8-10 yards on the bomb Sunday, badly overthrowing backs on swing screens behind the line of scrimmage in WSH and simply being inaccurate often. Nothing to do with not showing that innate rhythm, feel, touch, the sync the great ones have and he showed in college. And what adds to the concern is he's throwing to 3 veteran pro bowlers, Odunze and a scat back who can catch outa the backfield...... Kid has more weapons than any 1st overall QB has ever had and by a bunch.

I'm not comparing him to Daniels or anyone else cuz it really doesn't matter. Williams has made some damn fine throws but for me I see some red flags acknowledging it's 8 games into his rookie season with a goof head coach, seemingly a way out of his league offensive coordinator and a horrid O line.

And he's playing for an organIzation/ownership that as a kid I couldn't see home games cuz they were not sold out so they were blacked out, same ownership group that had one of the greatest teams ever in 85 and by 86 Marshal started the exodus of a team that never got to the Super Bowl again with all the HOFers on that 85 club.

Whatever Williams ends up being he'll probably be the greatest Bear QB ever.

Until the end of the year when Toews got hurt and he dragged the team to the playoffs.

He also had wrist surgery that summer that caused issues with his release.
- fattybeef

Each yr that goes by I miss Toews more and more. We all knew it then but with hindsight it's even more apparent we were blessed to see Toews' career. ....... Not sure what the term is these days but in my day Toews was called an all out gamer.

Each yr that goes by I miss Toews more and more. We all knew it then but with hindsight it's even more apparent we were blessed to see Toews' career. ....... Not sure what the term is these days but in my day Toews was called an all out gamer.
- Mr Ricochet

I know its probably the wrong way to look at it, but I think back to when he was in his prime and it was debated about him being the best overall player, best captain, and they guy you would pick to build a team around. Most had him, Kopitar and Crosby in that conversation.

Those two are still very productive players and for that reason, Toews, while i appreciate everything he did here, and the cups he brought he falls short to the best of his era.

His last real productive season was 18-19, that's 6 years ago, and those two are still playing at a pretty high level.

I was thinking a lot about this watching Kopitar last Saturday, and then Crosby with the OT GWG that night.

Each yr that goes by I miss Toews more and more. We all knew it then but with hindsight it's even more apparent we were blessed to see Toews' career. ....... Not sure what the term is these days but in my day Toews was called an all out gamer.
- Mr Ricochet

My favorite all time Hawk, and been a fan since the 60’s. Does a 23 year old Toews get this team to the playoffs? Probably not, however they would be in the conversation.

Talent should take over at some point for the Ducks.

But to your point. I think it is difficult for a team of kids to put it together without a strong veteran presence AND a green NHL coach. I think with a younger team like that you'd want someone with some experience. That would be an interesting team to see Quenville go to .
- fattybeef

This is why I think the Hawks rebuild is still 3 years from being complete. We have forward prospects in the system. We will get more high draft choices this year. But it will take another 2 or 3 years for them to get experience and come together to be an offensive force. I think our D will come together much sooner. We have an interesting Goaltender situation. I am liking Soderblom. Commesso? Gajan? (Maybe like Lankinen and others it will take some time for them to find their form in the NHL.) Mrazek and Broissoit are in their early 30's. It is possible they could still be very good when they are 34/35 y/o.

Interested to see the Hawks vs Wings matchup tomorrow and how each look in their respective rebuilds.

While the Wings have a better record, they haven't looked all that great. They moved on from some players they had last year (Sprong, Fabbri, Ghost, Perron) and brought in Gus and Tarasenko while promoting Kasper and Edvinsson.

They are getting outshot most games and being bailed out by goaltending. Sounds familiar right, though I think the Hawks have generally looked better overall.

https://x.com/BenPopeCST/...5-bCEzIeHOyFpSFsZhyg&s=19

Interesting stuff about Donato and tweaking his skating over the summer.

Didn't get to see the Kings game but it was nice to see on the recap scoring with less than a minute to go to send the game into OT. Stealing 2 points like Peg did to us. Progress

https://x.com/BR_OpenIce/...S_A2KQD0rKai4knt8QGw&s=19

Pretty wild

Interested to see the Hawks vs Wings matchup tomorrow and how each look in their respective rebuilds.

While the Wings have a better record, they haven't looked all that great. They moved on from some players they had last year (Sprong, Fabbri, Ghost, Perron) and brought in Gus and Tarasenko while promoting Kasper and Edvinsson.

They are getting outshot most games and being bailed out by goaltending. Sounds familiar right, though I think the Hawks have generally looked better overall.
- HawkintheD

Call me cynical, but if the Hawks are fighting for the last playoff spot (and not getting it) in two more years, there will be pitchforks and torches surrounding the UC. SY is in year six at the helm of the Red Wings. the closest they've been to a spot was last year where they missed by a point. They didn't even do a complete tear-down.

You can't just wait for all of your draft picks to matriculate up to the big team, because not all of them are going to turn out. By no means am I saying trade everything to win now, but they will need to show marked improvement every year going forward. If they finish with 75-80 pts this year, I don't think they are really allowed to fall back (or at least they shouldn't be).

In theory, each year, your younger players are going to be getting better. Obviously, Reichel is Case 1 of that not being true, but that is kind of my point. The bar needs to continually be raised otherwise you turn into Buffalo and Det. Lots of potential, with no results.