January 2021 Game Thread

SemperFidelisSox

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It’s going to be a long year in Chicago. They should be in full tank mode to try to get a young franchise player to salvage the last few Toews/Kane years.
 

McDrew

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Sammy Blais will be this year's first contestant on Wheel of Discipline for this hit on Devon Toews.

Edit: I see head as point of contact, elbow up to make the hit, and changing direction to make the hit. 3 games?
 

cshea

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It’s going to be a long year in Chicago. They should be in full tank mode to try to get a young franchise player to salvage the last few Toews/Kane years.
They may have a young franchise player already, but they moronically decided to send him to the World Juniors where he promptly got hurt and will miss the entire season.

Maybe Dach gets hurt either way, but for a player so key to their rebuild, I think it was a ridiculous decision to let him play on the eve of the NHL season starting. They're losing a whole year of development.
 

santadevil

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They may have a young franchise player already, but they moronically decided to send him to the World Juniors where he promptly got hurt and will miss the entire season.

Maybe Dach gets hurt either way, but for a player so key to their rebuild, I think it was a ridiculous decision to let him play on the eve of the NHL season starting. They're losing a whole year of development.
I don't think you can fault anyone for this injury. Dach made it known to the club it was important to him to go play and represent his country and they agreed with him

Good insight here: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/blackhawks/why-stan-bowman-blackhawks-gave-kirby-dach-permission-play-world-juniors

Boils down to, shit happens, no matter what
 

cshea

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I don't think you can fault anyone for this injury. Dach made it known to the club it was important to him to go play and represent his country and they agreed with him

Good insight here: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/blackhawks/why-stan-bowman-blackhawks-gave-kirby-dach-permission-play-world-juniors

Boils down to, shit happens, no matter what
I don't really fault anyone- I agree, shit happens. I just think if I was in charge of the Blackhawks, I would not have let him play. What do they gain out of it? I don't think there's much of an argument that it's good for his development.He's already established as an NHL player,, and was penciled in as their 2nd line center. Competition wise, it's a stop down from where he was. I guess dominating lesser competition can boost confidence, but I don't think that's a good reason to let him play.

I understand the injury risk is there regardless of where he plays but they just lost an ELC and development year for their prized prospect in a situation where they had little to nothing to gain.
 

LogansDad

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Grubaur was great, too. If he can get back to his .912 or so save percentage from two years ago, instead of what he put up last year, this is a really dangerous team.
 

AB in DC

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Caps-Pens each team with a lucky goal (Pens deflected off a skate, Caps one made it a fraction of an inch over the goal line)
 

cshea

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Torts is Steve Kasper-ing Dubois tonight. Healthy. on the bench, 0 shifts in the 2nd period. We'll see what happens in the 3rd.
 

McDrew

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Laine has also been a health-related scratch for a couple days. I keep feeling like they're eventually going to be traded for each other, with the news being the other pieces involved.
 

McDrew

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This is an "I never played and am missing the nuance in 4 seconds of action" question:

What is the point where his lack of effort becomes obvious to you guys? I see at the beginning that he is pursuing the puck into the corner vs 2 TB defenders. It seems to me like at that point that he's doing what he should. But it also seems like he then becomes very passive when contact is initiated. He is outnumbered 2-1, and the second defender in gets possession pretty cleanly, but I'm unsure how much of that is being out numbered and how much is him putting in minimal effort.
 

Catcher Block

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The screenshot is probably the most telling for me. Look at DuBois' body language--straight legs/upright, arms dangling by his sides, etc. He might as well be a referee. Compare that to the TB players who are low, strong on their sticks, ready to make a play. In the video, the puck is long gone before DuBois starts moving his legs again.

Before that even, DuBois is first to the puck, but makes no play on it. Even sending around the boards creates a chance for his teammate in a more favorable 1v1 in the opposite corner. Anything better than what he ends up doing.
 

cshea

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Laine has also been a health-related scratch for a couple days. I keep feeling like they're eventually going to be traded for each other, with the news being the other pieces involved.
I thought of this, but I don't think it works for Winnipeg. We don't have a ton of information regarding the root cause of Dubois wanting out in Columbus, but one theory that seems to have some legs is he wants a larger spotlight. Winnipeg might be a dicey proposition if that's the case. That'll probably scare off the Jets. They like to get guys in and extend them long term immediately. Dubois has this year and next at $5 million and then he's an RFA. He'd be a flight risk for them too.

I think Dubois probably ends up in Montreal or with the Rangers. Not a clue on Laine.
 

McDrew

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I thought of this, but I don't think it works for Winnipeg. We don't have a ton of information regarding the root cause of Dubois wanting out in Columbus, but one theory that seems to have some legs is he wants a larger spotlight. Winnipeg might be a dicey proposition if that's the case. That'll probably scare off the Jets. They like to get guys in and extend them long term immediately. Dubois has this year and next at $5 million and then he's an RFA. He'd be a flight risk for them too.

I think Dubois probably ends up in Montreal or with the Rangers. Not a clue on Laine.
I agree with your valid hockey-related reasons why the trade should not happen. I think it happens anyways as a "Let's trade headaches to move on" deal.
 

cshea

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Looking at it some more, I'll be stunned if Dubois doesn't end up in Montreal. They have a desperate need for a top line center. With Dubois you get that and he's Quebecois to boot. They'll have a raging hard on for him. They've got young kids they can deal, a top farm system and a whopping 14 picks in the upcoming draft. They can build a package around Suzuki/Kotkaniemi, salary filler, picks and prospects. I don't think there are any teams out there that can beat that, and I assume Montreal would be a desirable destination for Dubois.
 

Maximus

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Looking at it some more, I'll be stunned if Dubois doesn't end up in Montreal. They have a desperate need for a top line center. With Dubois you get that and he's Quebecois to boot. They'll have a raging hard on for him. They've got young kids they can deal, a top farm system and a whopping 14 picks in the upcoming draft. They can build a package around Suzuki/Kotkaniemi, salary filler, picks and prospects. I don't think there are any teams out there that can beat that, and I assume Montreal would be a desirable destination for Dubois.
This makes too much sense. Montreal is building something.
 

McDrew

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Good call. Laine and Roslovic to CBJ for Dubois and a pick.
I will still insist that "not having the headache of dealing with the player we traded away" was a significant factor in the deal for both teams. I think knowing some other offers that were turned down would help us understand how much.
 

ColdSoxPack

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Torts is Steve Kasper-ing Dubois tonight. Healthy. on the bench, 0 shifts in the 2nd period. We'll see what happens in the 3rd.
I was at the famous game in Maple Leaf Gardens the night Kasper benched Neely and Tocchet, sitting behind the net that the awful Craig Billington "defended" twice. What should have been a fun night turned into a stain on hockey. I still don't get it.
 

McDrew

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I will still insist that "not having the headache of dealing with the player we traded away" was a significant factor in the deal for both teams. I think knowing some other offers that were turned down would help us understand how much.
From 31 thoughts this week:
Columbus hoped it could mend things with Dubois, but he had no interest and accelerated the process by sleepwalking through last Thursday’s game. It couldn’t continue. Kekalainen took one more trip around the NHL on Friday, but no one could beat the Jets. It was done Friday, although medical reviews weren’t completed until Saturday.
 

McDrew

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They celebrated like he was a 90-year-old football alumnus brought in to "score" in a spring game at a power-5 school.
 

ColdSoxPack

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