DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: bowen byram

  • Bowen Byram needs to be better if the Blackhawks want to start winning

    Bowen Byram needs to be better if the Blackhawks want to start winning

    He’s only been the number one defenseman in Chicago for five games, but the doubts surrounding Bowen Byram’s ability are getting louder and louder.

    After a 5-2 beatdown from the Carolina Hurricanes, the Blackhawks have fallen to 1-5-0. This rocky start is particularly frustrating given that the players spent all summer talking about playoffs, and how this season needs to be different.

    It’s only been six games and things could change, but if the Hawks don’t turn this thing around real soon, they can kiss any playoffs hopes goodbye.

    Analyzing the Blackhawks without Connor Bedard is like evaluating the San Jose Sharks without Macklin Celebrini, but the Hawks’ inability to play without him is concerning.

    Still, the biggest storyline of the Blackhawks season so far has been the underwhelming play of Bowen Byram.

    The Blackhawks made a statement when they gave up the fourth overall pick, Louis Crevier, and a second round pick for Byram. Then they signed him to a six-year, $75 million deal.

    Those transactions told the hockey world two things. The Blackhawks are ready to compete, and Bowen Byram is a number one defenseman.

    six games into the season and neither look to be true.

    Byram has played five games this season, it would be six, but he missed his return to Buffalo because his wife was giving birth to twins.

    Through those five games, Byram has zero points and is a -8. Byram was initially deployed on his off side with Alex Vlasic. The idea was to play Byram with a shutdown defenseman who can successfully retrieve pucks and allow Byram to flourish offensively, even if it means playing his off side.

    Unfortunately, that duo wasn’t working out, so Jeff Blashill made a change after just two games. Since then, Byram has been playing on his natural left side with Artyom Levshunov.

    Byram has looked better since the change, but still isn’t playing anywhere near the level he is supposed to be.

    At 5-on-5, Byram has been on the ice for seven goals against, two goals for, and has a 47.06% corsi (via NaturalStatTrick).

    Beyond just the numbers, Byram has looked slow, at times not engaged, and is struggling to connect on passes. This is especially concerning given how dominant he looked in the preseason.

    Bowen Byram oozes confidence off the ice, and yet, through five games, he seems to have non when the puck drops.

    The team as a whole has been struggling in pretty much every area of the game, so it’s not all on Byram. However, great players find a way when others can’t, that’s who Byram is supposed to be.

    The main issue isn’t that Byram hasn’t been able to elevate his play to that of a number one defenseman, it’s that he hasn’t even been able to play to the level he has throughout his career so far.

    Byram has been a reliable second/third defenseman with number one potential. However, so far in Chicago he’s looked more like a fifth or sixth.

    Like I stated earlier, adding Connor Bedard to this lineup is going to help the team win games, but his presence alone can’t fix the individual performances of 23 other guys.

    There are 78 games left to play, a lot can change, and a lot will change. The question is when will things change, and how drastic will that change be.

  • Blackhawks vs Hurricanes game preview

    Blackhawks vs Hurricanes game preview

    Tonight is game one of a seven game home stand for the Blackhawks, and it starts with the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

    Despite the fact that the Hawks have got better as the season’s gone on, they are still 1-4-0 entering tonight.

    “the last two games have been a huge step in the right direction, last game i thought we did tons of good stuff, i thought we played the way we need to play to be effective.” Jeff Blashill (via CHGO Blackhawks)

    Not only are the Hawks really feeling the absence of Connor Bedard, but now they have to go without Frank Nazar for two games while he serves his suspension.

    Blackhawks projected lines:

    Lardis – Greene – Kane

    Bertuzzi – Frondell – Kantserov

    Donato – Toninato – Teravainen

    Smith – Moore – Greenway

    Byram – Levshunov

    Vlasic – Cole

    Kaiser – RInzel

    Spencer Knight will start tonight.

    Ryan Greene moved up to the first line center spot. I’ve said multiple times lately that Ryan Greene could be the stability that the top six needs, and now he gets his shot. “he’s not chaotic…he can help settle any line down” Jeff Blashill after morning skate (Via CHGO Blackhawks)

    Nick Lardis might be the most underwhelming forward so far this season. He’s mostly played bottom six minutes but was moved up to the top line last game. It looks as though Lardis will start tonight with the top line.

    Jeff Blashill talked about depth scoring being an issue, if Lardis can find his game that will be a big boost for the Hawks. Lardis scored at a 20-goal pace last season.

    Roman Kantserov has an underwhelming zero points in his first five games this season, leaving fans wanting more. Kantserov was expected to be a top six contributor upon arrival this season.

    Jeff Blashill came to the young Russian’s defense this morning “I don’t believe in small sample sizes, if he keeps doing what he is doing he is going to have plenty of points in this league.” (Via CHGO Blackhawks)

    Kantserov has done the little things right, and at times has been very noticeable with his speed and physicality. The change from the KHL to the NHL is a big one and it may take time for Kantserov to find his best game.

    It has been stated many times, but the key to success tonight for the Blackhawks is simple, smart hockey. Make the safe play, gets pucks on net, and play as a unit. Often these are cliches, but if the Hawks want to beat the Hurricanes they need to play that way.

    What I’ll be watching for:

    • Special teams: the Hawks powerplay has been a non factor this season, only converting on an embarrassing 8.3% of opportunities. I may sound like a broken record, but clean zone entries are key. If they can get in, they already move the puck well. Maybe shoot more? The penalty kill hasn’t been much better, only clicking at a 64.3% success rate.
    • Bowen Byram: through four games, Byram is a -6 with zero points. I don’t think anyone expected a start like this, especially after how dominant he was in preseason. Byram is a huge part of this team, if things are going to turn around, he needs to lead the charge.
    • Spencer Knight: Having a goalie like Knight gives your team a chance to win every night. The Hawks haven’t given Knight enough help offensively this season, and they need to tonight. Knight has the ability to win them this game, but the offense needs to do it’s part and pot more than 1-2 goals.

    Hurricanes projected lines:

    Carrier -Aho – Svechnikov

    Hall – Stankoven – Blake

    Ehlers – Staal – Martinook

    Robinson – Jankowski – Kotkaniemi

    Slavin – Chatfield

    Miller – Walker

    Gostisbehere – Reilly

    Bussi/Kochetkov

  • The Blackhawks defense are making improvements, still have lots to learn

    The Blackhawks defense are making improvements, still have lots to learn

    The Blackhawks broke through last night, finally getting their first win in their home opener against the Blues. A big reason for that was some much needed stability on the back end.

    Pretty much every defenseman had their best game of the season last night, something the Blackhawks desperately needed.

    Let’s start with Artyom Levshunov. Levshunov was put on the top pair with Bowen Byram, allowing Byram to play his natural left side.

    The risk with pairing those two together is that they are both offensively minded defenceman who have gaps in their defensive games.

    Last night put some of that worry to bed, at least for now. Levshunov had 18:00 minutes of ice time where he put up one assist and was a +1.

    Beyond just his beautiful assist, Levshunov has shown steps forward in his defensive game this season. He has been given opportunity on the penalty kill, totaling 7:58 of ice time in the first four games of the season.

    With the defensive game improving, and him showing those dominant offensive flashes, Levshunov hopes to take a big step this season.

    “It was good, good play by me” Levshunov told Mark Lazerus after last night’s win.

    Byram had a decent game. He played 21:23, was a +1, had two shots on goal, and a block. There were moments where Byram looked dangerous, but couldn’t finish anything.

    I am still waiting for a dominant game from Byram. He obviously made a great first impression in the pre-season when he recorded a hattrick, but I want to see something like that when it counts.

    Alex Vlasic played arguably his best game of the season last night. He led all Blackhawks defenseman in time on ice with 21:48, was a +1, had a shot, and two blocks.

    Beyond the numbers, Vlasic has been using his defensive stick much more effectively over the last two games, and has been closing gaps a lot better. He also has added to his offensive game. There have been multiple times where last year’s Vlasic would just dump the puck in. This season, however, Vlasic loves to carry the puck in, often leading to a shot on goal or some sustained pressure.

    “There were a couple points in the season last year where…I’d have a couple bad games [with] a couple turnovers, a couple goals [against], and then I’m in my head, I’m not playing at that same level of confidence. This year, if something bad happens, it’s in one ear, out the other.” Vlasic told Ben Pope after last night’s win.

    Vlasic has also quietly added some more physicality to his game. Playing with Ian Cole seems to be a good fit for Vlasic. Another defensive defenseman to help shut down the other team’s top scorers, but having Cole there allows Vlasic to explore that newly found offensive side of his game.

    Wyatt Kaiser and Sam Rinzel were the bottom pairing for the Blackhawks last night, and they seemed to work okay together. They played the least out of all defenseman last night. Kaiser played 17:56 and Rinzel played only 17:45.

    Rinzel was a healthy scratch in Buffalo after playing very poor hockey in the first two games of the season. You hope a reset like that can help a player turn things around.

    Rinzel looked better on the defensive side of the puck, which was a good sign. He also scored the Blackhawks first goal of the game off a Frank Nazar rebound. Rinzel also scored in last years home opener against Montreal.

    It was a much needed goal for the offensive defenseman’s confidence. Hopefully Rinzel can build on this positive momentum.

  • Blackhawks vs Blues game preview

    Blackhawks vs Blues game preview

    Tonight is a big night for the Blackhawks for multiple reasons. Home opener against the rival St. Louis Blues, Patrick Kane’s return to the United Center, and Bowen Byram’s first regular season home game.

    All of which would probably be bigger talking points if the Blackhawks weren’t heading into this one 0-3-0.

    On a positive note, Bowen Byram is back in the lineup after his wife gave birth to twins. The timing unfortunately caused Byram to miss his return to Buffalo.

    Not only does Byram have new dad strength. but he also has a new defensive partner, Artyom Levshunov.

    The Blackhawks offence was better in Buffalo than they had been in the first two games of the season, probably due to the fact that Blashill went back to similar lines from training camp.

    The defence last game is what left people concerned. Granted, they were missing Byram, but the overall play was inexcusable. So it seems Blashill has changed up the pairings:

    Byram – Levshunov

    Vlasic – Cole

    Kaiser – RInzel

    Korchinski – Del Mastro

    Slotting Levshunov on the top pair makes sense for a couple reasons. It allows Byram to play his natural left side, but it also gives Levshunov the chance to play with a very skilled partner. Levshunov has been one of the few bright spots on the back end this season, albeit far from perfect.

    Keeping the second pairing of Alex Vlasic and Ian Cole is a wise decision. Vlasic had by far his best game in Buffalo and he was paired with Cole. Vlasic was using his stick effectively, using his body, and jumping up into the play offensively. He had two assists.

    Sam Rinzel gets back into the lineup after being scratched for poor play. Rinzel seems to have a longer runway than other defenseman. Korchinski has looked better most of the time and can’t seem to get into the lineup.

    Spencer Knight gets the start tonight for the second straight game.

    The forward lines stay the same:

    Kantserov – Nazar – Kane

    Bertuzzi – Frondell – Teravainen

    Donato – Moore – Lardis

    Smith – Greene – Greenway

    Anton Frondell is coming off of a good game. There has been conversation around whether he is better as a center or winger. I think it’s too early to rule him out as a full-time center, he looked good there in Buffalo. However, I would like to see a larger sample of him with Connor Bedard.

    Bedard joined the Blackhawks for practice for the first time yesterday. He was taking rushes, and doing one-on-one drills with light contact. There is still no update on his return date.

    It’s too early in the season to call a game a must-win game, but the Blackhawks are almost there. Given how high expectations were coming in to this season and how bad they have been to start, they need to make a statement tonight. St. louis in town, Patrick Kane’s first game back, and Byram’s first regular season game should be enough to get the guys going early.

    St. Louis Blues projected lines:

    Holloway – Thomas – Snuggerud

    Buchnevich – McTavish – McMichael

    Neighbours – Dvorsky – Berggren

    Dean – Suter – Dube

    Broberg – Parayko

    Lindstein – Carlo

    Fowler – Jiricek

    Hofer

    The St. Louis Blues come into town 1-1-0 and they should definitely come out with some gas after losing to Colorado 6-1 on Saturday.

  • Blackhawks vs Sabres game preview

    Blackhawks vs Sabres game preview

    It’s only the third game of the season for the Blackhawks and it already feels like a must win game.

    After losing both of their first two games by wide margins, 5-2 to Vegas and 6-0 to Utah, fans are worried that this will be another bottom of the league season.

    Players, coaches, and the GM all publicly said that playoffs are the expectation this season, and being at the bottom of the league is no longer an option, leaving fans and media with high expectations.

    This is the last game before the home opener vs St. Louis on Tuesday, and if the Blackhawks hit the United Center ice 0-3, the reception might not be so warm.

    Who’s in, who’s out

    Spencer Knight gets the start tonight. Arvid Soderblom by no means played bad against Utah, although he did let in six goals, but the team as a whole played miserably and did not give him a chance whatsoever.

    Blashill has resorted to similar lines from training camp. Regardless of how tonight goes, keeping consistent lines is key until Connor Bedard returns. There is some bad news, however, Bowen Byram was not one the ice during morning. (Via Ben Pope on X)

    Via Matthew Fairburn on X, Bowen Byram won’t play tonight because he is tending to a family matter.

    Blackhawks projected lines:

    Kantserov – Nazar – Kane

    Bertuzzi – Frondell – Teravainen

    Donato – Moore – Lardis

    Smith – Greene – Greenway

    *Defenceman all rotating

    Both Ethan Del Mastro and Kevin Korchinski will make their season debuts tonight, as confirmed by Blashill. Korchinski in particular had a really impressive camp and preseason. I feel he should have been in the opening night lineup, better late than never.

    Sam Rinzel will be scratched tonight, no surprise, as he has been subpar at best to start this season and could really use a reset.

    Sabres projected lines:

    Norris – Thompson – Doan

    Benson – Ostlund – Quinn

    Krebs – Mcleod – Helenius

    Kulich – Carrick – Malenstyn

    Dahlin – Samuelsson

    Power – Zellweger

    Grzelcyk – Crevier

    Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

  • Key takeaways from Blackhawks loss to Vegas

    Key takeaways from Blackhawks loss to Vegas

    The Blackhawks dropped the ball last night in Vegas, losing 5-2 to the defending Western Conference champions. There are plenty of things the Blackhawks could have done better, plenty of individual performances that left me wanting more, but there were also a few bright spots.

    Let’s start with a positive, Spencer Knight. Knight’s numbers on paper don’t look amazing as he logged an .889 save percentage, allowing four goals on 36 shots. However, I would attribute that more to the team in front of him rather than his individual play.

    There were moments in this game where Vegas could have opened the flood gates, perhaps leading to a seven or eight spot against the Blackhawks, but Knight came up huge. He made two incredible odd-man rush saves when his team was on the powerplay, but kept turning the puck over upon entry.

    That leads me to the first negative, the powerplay. The Blackhawks had two powerplays this game, scoring on zero of them. In fact, the Blackhawks only had two shots on the powerplay all game, plus a one attempt off the post from Patrick Kane.

    The issue with the powerplay remains the same as last season, the zone entry. Powerplay coach Mike Vellucci is insistent on the push back entry, which has not worked consistently for the Blackhawks at any point. Adding Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram help with that, but we didn’t see it tonight. Too many times the defenseman came up the ice posing zero threat, allowing Vegas to read the drop pass and get in the way.

    Once the Blackhawks are in zone, however, they can look dangerous. The second powerplay had some consistent movement in the third period.

    The much anticipated Bowen Byram debut did not go how many pictured it would, especially after the hattrick in his unofficial debut. Byram led the team in time on ice with 25:08, was a -2, and had zero shots on goal. Notably, he also didn’t play a second on the penalty kill.

    The fourth line of Cole Smith, Ryan Greene, and Jordan Greenway was pretty much the only line for Chicago that was consistent through the entire game. Greenway scored in the second to get the Hawks on the board. The line was dangerous offensively at times, physical, and overall relatively safe. If your fourth line is your best, however, you probably aren’t winning the game.

    Forward Andrew Mangiapane also left the game early in the second period and did not return. Jeff Blashill confirmed Mangiapane will not play the rest of the road trip. expect Teuvo Teravainen to slot in.

    To end on a good note, Patrick Kane scored a beautiful goal in his first game back in a Hawks jersey. His goal moved the Hawks within one in the third, however, Vegas struck back 39 seconds later to re-take the two goal lead. That was a theme in this game, anytime the Hawks got momentum, which they did a few times, Vegas took it right back.

    Patrick Kane had a decent game, he showed he still has it and that he can be a contributor on this team.

    All in all, it’s the first game of the season, the Hawks are young, have plenty of new faces, and started on the road against a good team. Give them time to settle in, this team is better than it was last year.