Hawk Thoughts: 12/30/2024 Happy Holidays
The Blackhawks Christmas present to you is a four-game losing streak.
Ready to ring in the New Year? Ready to see what kind of horrors 2025 has in store for you?
I thought I would end 2024 on a positive note and start this thing with an actual update.
You can now find my stuff over on On Tap Sports Net. The majority of my Blackhawks stuff will end up there as I’m now a contributor for them. I’m pretty stoked because I’ve been a longtime listener to the Four Feathers Podcast (On Tap’s Blackhawks podcast). To be offered in the first place was awesome in its own right.
Thank you to all of you who read this. I started writing about the Blackhawks and hockey as a way to learn more about this beautiful sport and this ugly team that I love. I sincerely appreciate anyone who’s given anything I’ve written a read.
I also want to directly shout out the Chicago Tomahawk Podcast and Rinkside General. Both have shared my work on Twitter and have been pretty damn supportive. Both do great things to bring fans together. Check them out.
The other thing I want to address is the “paywall.” No, I am not enforcing a paywall. There is a totally optional “pledge button” because Substack’s algorithm will bury these posts otherwise. If there is a paywall, it’s to test features like a podcast. If the podcast is good, it’ll be available for free. I’m a shy lad.
Main content will always be free.
Now, where were we?
Last Week - Christmas Vacation
Game recaps
I won’t spend too much time here. The Blackhawks lost 4 straight. If anything, check out my first On Tap Sports contribution and let me know if you want to see anything in game recaps.
Stories
World Juniors
I was mistaken that Oliver Moore was the only Blackhawks prospect participating in the World Juniors, Jiri Felcman is playing for Czechia. Felcman was 2 assists in 2 games played, including an assist picked up in Czechia’s 14-2 beatdown over Kazakhstan. Not very nice.
Moore has 2 points in 3 games played. He picked up an assist in USA’s 5-1 victory over Latvia on Saturday and in Sunday’s 3-4 loss to Finland. While Moore might not have a lot points, he’s been playing pretty solid on the 3rd line.
Call-ups and Demotions
Kevin Korchinski was sent down to Rockford on the 29th. Wyatt Kaiser gets called up and replaces Korch in the lineup. Korchinski was realistically only up here for a short time. In his 9 games, he had a 5v5 46.92 Corsi, 5.42 xGA, 9 actual goals against, 50.98 xG%, 5 goals for, and 0 points. Would I rather have him up here? Yeah. He looked a lot better than he did last year. Do I understand the reasoning behind sending him down? Yeah, I see it, but I would still much rather see him stay. I don’t think Kaiser should have been sent down in the first place.
Which leads me to this musing. Why is Louis Crevier still up here? Kaiser, and certainly Korchinski, has a real future here. Crevier doesn’t. At least, when using the eye test. It’s only 7 games for Crevier, but his fancy stats look better than Korch in every aspect. Maybe Kyle Davidson is holding Crevier up here to add more value to his name. A young defenseman with some NHL experience? That could be a nice addition to a bigger trade. The Hawks are loaded with lefthanded prospects. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Crevier added as a sweetener to a deal in the future.
Reads
Tape to Space: Redefining Modern Hockey Tactics, Ryan Stimson
This is a really good book so far, if you’re into hockey tactics.
“Breaking down Frank Nazar’s first 5 games since his Blackhawks call-up,” Scott Powers
“Four storylines to follow during middle portion of Blackhawks' season,” Ben Pope
Week Ahead - Ring in the New Year
The biggest event of the week is here, and for Blackhawks fans, it’s the biggest event of the season. The 2025 Winter Classic is tomorrow in Wrigley Field. I’m so excited that I want to shout on top of Palatine Hill (it exists). I’ll be going. Don’t care that my seats suck. I’m going.
The Hawks host the Canadiens on Friday which should be a good opportunity to reflect on Kirby Dach. How are the Canadiens looking anyway? You can catch me live at this game too.
After that, the Hawks get another chance to embarrass the Rangers on Sunday. Kick them while they’re down?
No IceHogs notes this week, I’ll try to get those back in future editions.
Have an awesome New Years Eve.