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LivingAnew

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May 11, 2023
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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.
Forum: Armchair-GMMar. 23 at 12:14 p.m.
Thread: my hope for Hawks offseason
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Garak</b></div><div>Thanks! Yeah, there will be a time and a place for frustration about the Blackhawks, but that won't be for a long time. It's best just to accept it and find other ways to enjoy the game and other aspects of the team to be excited about, like the rebuild process, etc.</div></div>

Concur. I now live in the South Bend area, and perhaps the most fun I had this season was attending Notre Dame games - like when BU and other teams visited with high-end prospects.

I especially enjoyed it when the University of Michigan and University of Minnesota visited, so I could watch multiple, high-pick Hawks prospects. And, truth be told, the Hawks' prospect with whom I was most impressed this year was... RInzel. Oliver Moore was all effort all the time, fast, and fun to watch. He has good instincts. Nazar was inconsistent; had bursts of making big impacts on the games, but also stretches where he seemed to disappear. Slaggert looked really good to me; seemed very positionally sound and willing to do whatever was needed for his team.

Contrary to what I'd heard and read about Rinzel, though, he was MUCH more polished than I expected. Sure, he has good size and speed; I expected that. But I was surprised by how positionally sound he seemed to be in his own end; VERY calm and competent. He almost always made good decisions there, even under pressure. Nothing seemed to faze him. I LOVE how poised he was.

Now, I saw him here in South Bend at the end of the regular college year; he made strides from the beginning of the season. And he seemed sometimes lost and/or indecisive in the offensive end. So, he needs more time. But... out of all the Hawks' prospects who came to play at ND, he is now the one about whom I'm most excited. Assuming he continues to make strides and develops in the offensive end, too, I can see him eventually being a top 4- or even top 2 - RD in the NHL.

Cheers, LA
Forum: Armchair-GMMar. 23 at 11:31 a.m.
Thread: my hope for Hawks offseason
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Garak</b></div><div>I get the appeal, but I do not HOPE for any of these things. However, I do HOPE KD stays the course that he started, building from within, and taking the patient long term approach. Adding long term big ticket free agents is a possible recipe for disaster at the point in the rebuild. Just be patient, Joey. CHI has so much more work to do, drafting and developing young players, before we will see real progress reflected in the standings... Like YEARS more. I just watch a lot of prospects now and get excited about drafts, which makes watching the Hawks "unbearable" games not so bad when you realize the kind of talent we can bring in and watch grow into pro's.</div></div>

Outstanding post, Garak; thank you for so concisely summarizing the approach I've been trying to implement myself this year, while watching our Hawks!

Cheers, LA