The Bedard Era Begins: the 2023 - 2024 NHL Season Thread

[RC Vikings]

It is driving me nuts watching this team. It is bad. So bad right now. There is no point to trying to win games with this team.

I hate watching Corey Perry play hockey for the Blackhawks.

Put Bedard and Reichel on a line together and let them develop together.

Let Korchinski pinch with abandon. If the other team scores who cares. It is about developing his skills at the point.

Denis Savard took this approach with Toews/Kane/Keith and it was absolutely right. It also probably got him fired, so I guess I don't expect Richardson to do it.

I watched a little of your Blackhawks last night, they aren't good. $9.5 million a year for Jones has got to be one of the worst contracts out there. Give your next three #1 picks to Edmonton and get McDavid out of there and a chance to win a title one day.

[falafel]

Knights, on the other hand, are good.

[beefytee]

I watched part of the Montreal game last night. They looked terrible as well. They couldn't figure out their breakout half the time. They looked so disorganized.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I watched a little of your Blackhawks last night, they aren't good. $9.5 million a year for Jones has got to be one of the worst contracts out there. Give your next three #1 picks to Edmonton and get McDavid out of there and a chance to win a title one day.

The Jones contract is easily one of the worst contracts in the NHL. It made no sense to give that contract when in rebuilding mode.

[Donuthole]

Knights, on the other hand, are good.

They are good, but they can be frustrating. When they need a goal, it seems like they suddenly can generate tons of SOG. Entering the 3rd last night, they were at around 11 SOG to Philly's 22. The game ended with VGK having more SOG, and not coincidentally, they scored twice that period. Had they shown the same effort in the 2nd, I don't think the game would have been close.

What a move by Cotter to score the tying goal, though. Beautiful.

[Commando]

I watched part of the Montreal game last night. They looked terrible as well. They couldn't figure out their breakout half the time. They looked so disorganized.

Good! I'm going to the Yotes/Montreal game- looking forward to this dub. (also played my Tuesday night hockey last night @ Mullet. Nothing like scrimmaging on NHL ice! )

[falafel]

They are good, but they can be frustrating. When they need a goal, it seems like they suddenly can generate tons of SOG. Entering the 3rd last night, they were at around 11 SOG to Philly's 22. The game ended with VGK having more SOG, and not coincidentally, they scored twice that period. Had they shown the same effort in the 2nd, I don't think the game would have been close.

What a move by Cotter to score the tying goal, though. Beautiful.

Wasn't it in the 2nd period that they had what felt like 10 opportunities with good shots and put backs all in like a 1:00 period? It was amazing none of them went in.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Can someone explain to me how the Blackhawks actually beat the Knights?

[falafel]

Can't win 'em all.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Can't win 'em all.

Against a team as bad as the Blackhawks, you probably should win 'em all.

[falafel]

Against a team as bad as the Blackhawks, you probably should win 'em all.

You know, the inverse of that statement is also true. Can't lose 'em all!

[Northwestcoug]

The video of the Adam Johnson injury is horrific. That player should be criminally charged.

[MartyFunkhouser]

When I said the Blackhawks were bad, I meant it. Korchinski to Bedard to start the game was a thing of beauty. The rest is this game. Holy shit this team is bad.

[RC Vikings]

When I said the Blackhawks were bad, I meant it. Korchinski to Bedard to start the game was a thing of beauty. The rest is this game. Holy shit this team is bad.

It's a race to the bottom between the Blackhawks and the Sharks, Eiserman in the draft next year would make a good 1 - 2 for the Hawks as a start.

[MartyFunkhouser]

It's a race to the bottom between the Blackhawks and the Sharks, Eiserman in the draft next year would make a good 1 - 2 for the Hawks as a start.

The top pick in the draft is definitely in play this year. It is incredibly impressive that Bedard is able to put up any numbers on this team. When he is on the ice, he is the focus of the other teams defense.

I have nothing against Seth Jones personally, but I hate seeing him play for the Blackhawks. This team sucks and he is eating up 9.5 million of the cap and it was an 8 year deal.

The only way you are moving off that contract is if you give up assets for someone to take the contract. Blackhawks can't do that because they can't afford to give anything up. The only way it isn't a huge anchor on the team is LTIR.

Then you look at the draft picks lost in it and the type of talent that the Blackhawks could have added. 12th pick in the 2021 draft and the 6th pick in the 2022 draft. In particular, losing the 6th pick in the 2022 draft is beyond aggravating. The Blackhawks could have drafted Jiricek and Korchinski back-to-back. That right there is your defensive core and under cost control.

The only reason you make a deal like that is if it makes you a Stanley Cup contender and, at the time, the Blackhawks were clearly in rebuild mode.