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LivingAnew

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May 11, 2023
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Chicago Blackhawks
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Forum: Armchair-GMApr. 18 at 11:41 a.m.
Thread: JoJo Buyout and Gus Trade
I think in the Hawks' case, it depends on how they're thinking about Soderstrom. If they think he's not going stick going forward, this proposal (IMO) is a reasonable price for the Hawks to pull the trigger on a bonafide, young, NHL goaltender...

Have Mrazek and Gus be 1A and 1B for a couple years; then, Gus and Commesso be 1A and 1B for a time; and, finally, Commesso and Gajan be 1A and 1B for the reborn Hawks.

Mrazek has shown me that having good goaltending is more important to the Hawks rebuild than I thought. (Indeed, an argument could be made that Mrazek has been the co-MVP for the Hawks this year...) With him in net, the young Hawks got to experience and learn from close NHL games they had no business being in - despite being grotesquely outshot almost every game. Without him, they probably would have been routinely blown out, which may have been MUCH more demoralizing - perhaps, even damaging - to the young Hawks' development.
Forum: Armchair-GMApr. 15 at 8:24 a.m.
Thread: Frank is IN
Hmmm... Didn't he start, too, on the lower lines at the U-20 World Juniors team this year? I remember being mystified by that... Maybe that was why; i.e., he was often slotted too low at U-M? By the end of that tournament, though, he'd become an assist machine - playing up higher, IIRC, and being VERY effective.

That may explain, too, what I saw in two games when U-M visited South Bend this past season (and why Nazar seemed inconsistent to me this year)... The first game, both he and the entire team got shellacked by the Irish, 6-1. (Slaggert was terrific that game.) U-M looked like they had "jet lag" or something. The second game was entirely different, and U-M beat ND in a good game.

I guess reasons for his deployment can only be speculative, without knowing their coach's mind or the dynamics of the U-M team.

Whatever the case there, though, he seemed to fit right in everywhere last night - 5-5; when he almost initially scored crashing the net (prior to his breakaway); and, even on the PK. I know, I know... it was only one game. Luke had good things to say about his overall game - in addition to the threat he presents offensively, he (Luke) emphasized that Frank played a responsible full 200-ft game, as well.

How great to contemplate what the future portends for us beleaguered Hawk fans after the last two-plus years! The fun should continue, too, as recent draftees graduate into the NHL (fingers crossed).
Forum: Armchair-GMApr. 14 at 4:46 p.m.
Thread: Frank is IN
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Garak</b></div><div>Same here! Very interested to see where he ends up in the lineup too. I'm also just glad that no matter what Frank was gonna do, he isn't going back to Michigan. I did not like the fit for him there. I felt like they were utilizing him improperly and I also felt like he made plays constantly that were awesome and brilliant but no one he played with was ever on the same page.</div></div>

Hey, Garak and newman23 - thanks for this ACGM and your thoughts. I, too, am excited to see how Frank does.

Garak, can you expand on your thoughts as to why you think Frank wasn't a fit at Michigan? I certainly did notice he excelled in the World Juniors - became a fantastic assist machine there - playing with really good players. Would it be fair to say that his talents were wasted a bit in college; that average players just can't "keep up" with what's possible with him, while superior players can not only "see" what he's gonna do for them but can capitalize on what he does? If that's true, he could make a better pro than college player, yes?

Regarding his contract; i.e., that it took hold IMMEDIATELY and he's burning his first year now... IMO, the Hawks are sending a message to all their prospects: we're gonna give you a shot and not seek to hold you back on earnings. If you perform at a high level, we'll reward you sooner rather than later.

Last, if he's THAT good (including adjusting to the pro game as well as Slaggert seems to have), then the rebuild is really ON. Gonna be great to watch the Hawks grow from here!

Exciting times, indeed.