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Last nights takeaways

Created by: WhatNowDiscussion
Team: 2019-20 Chicago Blackhawks
Initial Creation Date: Oct. 21, 2019
Published: Oct. 21, 2019
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
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Left Handed
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Right Handed
Position
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Max Perf. Bonus
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Term Remaining
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Waivers ExemptMcDavid, Connor
$12,500,000 (Performance Bonus$250,000)
C
NMC
UFA - 5
Description
To my surprise the Hawks actually faired pretty well offensively against the Caps last night. Surprise surprise defensively the hawks struggled big time. Bad exits, lackluster back checking, poor clearing attempts, etc. While still letting up four goals, Crawford didn't look to bad in net. That said, Crawford needs some defense in front of him in order for him to play well. He's simply too old to carry the team anymore. I love Crawford and always will but it's time to put Lehner in the net. Lehner has shown that even without defensive help, he can carry a team to at least a point in the standings.

Takeaways:
Keith is holding the puck way too long and skating himself into trouble. Keith has taken a step back this season. more so than last year. His skating, passing, shooting and design making seem to have slowed down immensely. He seems slow to react and turns over the puck in both the offensive and defensive zones.

Top 2 lines where non existent for the hawks last night. No flash no great offensive zone possessions. No nothing.

The much anticipated debut of Kirby Dach was disappointing. Yes he's still young. Yes it was his first NHL game. Yes he was just coming back from a concussion. His skill set was not what was disappointing however. It was his lack of urgency. Being 6'4" on the hawks, you are going to stand out on TV. So every shift it was easy to find Dach slowly drifting up and down the ice, making big circles during transition and doing the "fake hustle" players do during suicides at the end of practice. He was surprisingly slow and seemed like he had no idea where to position himself.

Third and fourth lines were on fire last night.
If someone were to have told me at the beginning of the season that Nylander would have the second most points on the Hawks, I would have said you're crazy. Especially the fact that he has been playing on the third/fourth line. He seems to have finally found some chemistry (as seen by last nights beautiful behind the back pass to set up a wide open caggiula) and found his game. If Nylander can continue the type of play I saw last night, he can equally be a 60 point scorer in the NHL.

Carpenter has been a very underrated addition by the hawks. Besides his penalty kill oopsie that led to Kuzy setting up Oshie for the first goal of the game, Carpenter look solid. He had good puck control, good forechecking and positioning.

I have been talking up Caggiula all year and I will continue to praise him if he continues to play like this. he has shown flashes of top six potential but is most likely going to be a bottom six checking winger who can put up 30ish points. He does it all. He's one of the Hawks best utility players being able to play on any line, in any situation, in any position. He has speed, size, puck control, and good hockey vision. getting consistent playing time is going to be essential for his development and confidence moving forward.

Kubalik has been great. He is a pure sniper with size that can throw the body and strip you of the puck. He's either camped out on the right wing waiting for a one-timer or in the high slot. Funny enough, Kubalik reminds me a lot of Oshie.

The final takeaway has been a consistent problem for the Hawks. Speed. Hawks have players that can thread the needle, snipe corners, rocket slappers, break ankles being able to do that with speed is something the hawks do not have. the lack of speed is really apparent during transition play when back checking.

If you like what I write, share with your friends! Leave comments below. I love talking anything hockey so hmu in the comments.
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2020
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2021
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2022
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ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
22$81,500,000$66,801,686$0$6,707,500$14,698,314
Left WingCentreRight Wing
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$778,333$778,333 (Performance Bonus$32,500$32K)
LW, RW
UFA - 1
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$10,500,000$10,500,000
C
NMC
UFA - 4
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$3,900,000$3,900,000
C, RW
UFA - 3
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$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$2,500,000$2M)
C, RW
RFA - 3
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$863,333$863,333 (Performance Bonus$2,475,000$2M)
C
UFA - 1
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$2,625,000$2,625,000
RW
NMC
UFA - 4
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$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
LW, RW
UFA - 1
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$1,000,000$1,000,000
C
UFA - 2
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$5,000,000$5,000,000
LW, RW
UFA - 2
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$1,500,000$1,500,000
LW, RW
UFA - 1
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$1,000,000$1,000,000
RW, C
UFA - 3
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$863,333$863,333 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
RW, LW
RFA - 2
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
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$5,538,462$5,538,462
LD
NMC
UFA - 4
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$3,850,000$3,850,000
RD
UFA - 3
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$6,000,000$6,000,000
G
M-NTC, NMC
UFA - 1
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$3,333,225$3,333,225
LD
UFA - 3
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$6,875,000$6,875,000
RD
NMC
UFA - 5
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$1,400,000$1,400,000
G
UFA - 1
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$4,550,000$4,550,000
LD/RD
UFA - 3
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$1,200,000$1,200,000
LD
UFA - 1
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
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$925,000$925,000
LD/RD
UFA - 1
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$3,250,000$3,250,000
LW, C
M-NTC
UFA - 2

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Top Comments

Oct. 21, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.
#1
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I agree with most of what you wrote, but I completely disagree with you on Dach. While not flashy, I think Dach played a very solid game last night (especially for an 18 year old). He wasn't the fastest guy on the ice, but he had good defensive positioning throughout the game, and he did a pretty admirable job defending Ovi (yes, he did let Ovi score once, but his positioning would have been correct against any other player in the NHL). His faceoffs were a problem and he definitely seemed like he had some nerves, but he was solid away from the puck and was safe with the puck.
exo2769 and WhatNowDiscussion liked this.
Oct. 21, 2019 at 11:07 a.m.
#2
exo2769
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Overall I very much agree with the analysis. Would love to see at least a game of Saad/Toews/Kubalik. I don't care if it upsets the 3rd line chemistry...it's just a game or 2 to try it out. I also agree that Nylander has found some chemistry and that's the line I don't want to break up. Allow him to continue to play there. Continue to develop they way he is. His situation is...don't mess with a good thing IMO. The 3rd line is a little different because Neither Saad or Kubalik are young prospects. They should adjust faster swapping lines. Also by adding just a little skill to that 4th line can make the opposing team respect the offense it has.

Also agree about Crow. He's had multiple own goals already which are partly to factor...and the PK is terrible again, but Lehner's also been solid. I want to see them split time 50/50 as much as possible.

As far as Dach. He's still only 18 years old. I do agree that he was very visible and I'm more ok with his play than how I interpreted the comments above. I'm not expecting a whole lot from him to be honest. 89% Ozone start...25% FO win...they're clearly giving him protected minutes. No team can keep that going. Unless he makes monumental strides, I don't see him playing more than a few more games. I'm perfectly fine with sending him down. Hopefully this gave him a hunger and a lot of lessons learned on what he needs to improve on. I'm still very excited for his future.
WhatNowDiscussion liked this.
Oct. 21, 2019 at 11:10 a.m.
#3
Chewbacca88
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Quoting: Petrock83
I agree with most of what you wrote, but I completely disagree with you on Dach. While not flashy, I think Dach played a very solid game last night (especially for an 18 year old). He wasn't the fastest guy on the ice, but he had good defensive positioning throughout the game, and he did a pretty admirable job defending Ovi (yes, he did let Ovi score once, but his positioning would have been correct against any other player in the NHL). His faceoffs were a problem and he definitely seemed like he had some nerves, but he was solid away from the puck and was safe with the puck.


Didn't watch the game but I watched highlights this morning. What was Dach's plus-minus? I know people hate that stat but I think it is good to show who generates offense and plays well away from the puck. I know he was on the ice for Ovechkin's one timer but can you really block a one t from Ovi? I don't think he looked terribly lost in the recap. I think people are underrating Dach a bit. Yes Turcotte would've been awesome but he's in college, maybe for a couple more years. Dach is gonna be good for Chicago.

I also really like Alex Nylander so far. He's really talented offensively and has high hockey IQ in the O zone. Defensively he could improve, but so could Patrick Kane. The bottom 6 is so good so far. DeBrincat and Toews are the ones who need to get going. Strome too. I was hoping on 70 points from him.
Petrock83 liked this.
Oct. 21, 2019 at 11:16 a.m.
#4
44 Foundation
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Quoting: CrazyK04
Didn't watch the game but I watched highlights this morning. What was Dach's plus-minus? I know people hate that stat but I think it is good to show who generates offense and plays well away from the puck. I know he was on the ice for Ovechkin's one timer but can you really block a one t from Ovi? I don't think he looked terribly lost in the recap. I think people are underrating Dach a bit. Yes Turcotte would've been awesome but he's in college, maybe for a couple more years. Dach is gonna be good for Chicago.

I also really like Alex Nylander so far. He's really talented offensively and has high hockey IQ in the O zone. Defensively he could improve, but so could Patrick Kane. The bottom 6 is so good so far. DeBrincat and Toews are the ones who need to get going. Strome too. I was hoping on 70 points from him.


Sorry to disappoint but Strome is going to fall in the range of a 40-60 point scorer. Yes that is a big range but I say that because he is a player that is carried by his line. What I mean by that is he needs to play with good players in order to produce points. He doesn't have enough raw talent to produce on his own. At least not yet but his development seems to be at a standstill right now. As for the Cat, he is having some bad puck luck. Especially last night. He had a stick break on him, a whiffed shot. the opportunities are there he just needs to capitalize on them. As for Toews, don't expect a repeat of last year. He is going to be a 50-60 point scorer. I thought he has looked pretty good at the dot and on the rush. His puck control has improved and his vision has also seemed better. He looks more comfortable with the puck so lets hope for good things.
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