So what does this team really need for next year?
Lets compare the records for last year vs. this year:
YEAR GP W L OT PTS P% GF GA Diff
2024-25 68 20 39 9 49 .360 184 243 -59
2023-24 68 19 44 5 43 .316 150 242 -92
Priorities:
1) A new coach with a new system. Still too many goals are being given up. No improvement has been seen from last years goals against - This is a reflection on all 3 type of players i.e. Forwards, Defence and Goalies. This team lacks structure and has way to many giveaways. Most recent game they gave up 6 goals - How many shots did Knight face as a 1-timer from the slot? There was minimal response to this and after they did it 2 or 3 times, you would have thought the hawks would have adjusted. Thats coaching.
2) Goaltending - I'm sorry Arvid Soderblum is not the 1B goalie here. He is about to be rewarded with a contract for winning 8 games out of 32. Yes, I realize the Blackhawks are a mess, but this guy doesn't steal enough games for the Hawks. He is fragile. There is a huge difference between him and Knight. I think back to the dynasty years with Crow and Darling or Crow and Raanta. I don't see it here. I see a Niemi and Huet pairing in these 2. I hope the hawks don't give up on Broissant and invite him to training camp next year to see if he still has it. If Broissant doesn't show it, Drew Commesso can replace Soderblum and win 1/4 of his starts. To offset that, Knight gets the true #1 goalie and plays 60 games.
3) D pairings - Again with the transition over to Sorenson we have seen a great improvement in Defence goal scoring from the LRich era. One area that hasn't seen improvement from last years is goals given up. We have a lot of puck moving D-men in the system and they are good at that, but we still don't have a shutdown pair. I look at again the dynasty period with Hjalmarson and pretty much anyone he was paired with. Are one or two of these kids the answer, maybe. For us to improve dramatically we need a shutdown pairing (this is not only on the D-men, but the forwards need to learn how to backcheck - Bertuzzi, CB, Kurashev and others i'm looking at you).
4) Forwards - We have improved in scoring more goals this season. 22% is a significant improvement. This comes from players like Donato and Turbo (and the D-men). Two or 3 More goal scores should help this team and if you can increase the amount by 15% from this year to next year you should be moving up the standing to the middle. Much of the pain we feel is coming from this group not being Defense responsible. Again hopefully a new coach and a system will help this.
So back to my original question, what would I like to see KD do in the off season.
1) HIre a new coach that has proven he can win. Sullivan if available would be a dream. I also want to see that the new coach (staff) has developed young talent. No more unproven coaches.
2) Sign 1 mid tier players that can slot for players like Kurashev, Reichel, Veleno or Maroon. Sign 1 high end talent that can play with Bedard.
DRaft a center that can slot into the second line immediately prefer Misa over Hagens due to 3" size advantage.
3) remove Broadie, and martinez from this roster and see what are you best 6 options including Allan. I would like to move on from Murphy but we need a RHD to fill that spot, but I would not be adverse to trade him and Kaiser for a replacement.
Nazar Bedard HIGH End Signing
Donato draft choice Slaggart
Mikeyev Teravinnen Mid Level Signing
Foligno Dickenson Dach
Vlasic Levshuov
EDM Murphy
Kaiser Crevier
Allan
Knight
Commesso/Brosiaant
