The 2017-18 season was an unfortunate one for the Chicago Blackhawks and their
extremely loyal fanbase. Fortunately, the long offseason was eased by the
inaugural season of the Chicago Pro Hockey League (CPHL). Their mission is
clear on the CPHL website - "The CPHL offers both fans and players an
enjoyable way to extend the hockey season into the summer. Players benefit from
 additional training and preparation for their regular seasons, while fans
revel in watching high-level play without the high prices and parking hassles
that often accompany pro hockey."

From developing players to high-profile NHL stars like Patrick Kane and
Jonathan Toews, fans got to see them all for five dollars a week for a six-week
 regular season. Although these games cannot compare to the level of an NHL
regular season game, a few takeaways can definitely be noted.1. Kane and
DeBrincat';s Chemistry

Alex DeBrincat was one of the most outstanding forwards in the CPHL with a
total of nine goals and five assists in six games. He is second overall in the
league. Patrick Kane only played two games yet tallied five goals and one
assist. They were the top two players on the Hawks'; roster last season, so
it';s no surprise that they were successful in the CPHL. Their chemistry
during the 2017-18 season was evident, and it also showed in the final two
weeks of the CPHL regular season.

Video of Alex DeBrincat sauce pass to Patrick Kane: https://t.co/Krm1hHdcOX

- Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) August 16, 2018

It appears their chemistry is stronger than ever and head coach Joel
Quenneville should take note. Kane and DeBrincat on the same line could be a
huge advantage when it comes to the Hawks making a comeback for the 2018-19
season.2. Possible Toews Resurgance

Jonathan Toews had the worst season of his career scoring-wise in the 2017-18
season where he tallied 20 goals and 23 assists in 74 games. Despite having an
impressive 57.95% faceoff percentage (which exceeded his career average
56.9%), he failed to make the league';s 2018 Top 20 Centers list.

Although CPHL games are not at the same level as NHL games, I was lucky to see
Toews play in one CPHL game and his improvement since March is obvious. It
wasn';t like watching him back in 2010, but he';s obviously trying to get back
at it. He only played three games and scored one goal (I was fortunate and got
to witness it), but that average exceeds his regular season average by
far.Jonathan Toews (Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports)

Toews turned 30 (in the sports world, known as the wrong side of 30) during the
 offseason and avidly watched the playoffs. He described how motivating it was
for him to get back on track to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times, "It's
not only motivating, just to see how fast that play was, and to have missed out
 on playoff hockey this year and to have the drive to get back there," Toews
said. "But knowing that if you do sneak into the playoffs, it doesn't really
matter - you can go a long way. Us thinking, ‘Oh, we're going to go back and
 win a Stanley Cup this year,' it sounds like a long shot. But as always, our
No. 1 goal is just getting back to the playoffs and being ready to hit our
stride the right way when we get there."

If he plays with similar energy as he played in the CPHL throughout the 2018-19
 season, he is sure to make a great comeback.3. Was the Hinostroza Trade a
Mistake?

It';s safe to say that not a single Hawks fan was pleased when Chicago native
Vinnie Hinostroza was traded to the Arizona Coyotes in July. The fact that
he brought hope to the future for the Hawks only made things worse. Fans were
 quick to call it a mistake. If he plays with the Coyotes like how he played in
 the CPHL, it definitely was. He scored four goals and seven assists in six
games, making him the sixth-best player in the league.Vinnie Hinostroza (Amy
Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Only time will tell if the right decision was made, but if he continues on his
current path, the Hawks made a giant mistake.4. Anthony Louis is one to Watch

It';s no secret that Anthony Louis is one of the top players on the Hawks'; AHL
 affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. Last season, he tallied 14 goals and 30
assists in 70 games. He played six games in the CPHL with six goals and six
assists, making him the fifth-best player overall. Although his future is
unclear, if he continues on his current path, he could be seen in a Hawks
sweater soon. The Hawks need all the help they can get, and add another strong
young forward to the roster could benefit them greatly.

Although takeaways from the six-week CPHL season cannot fully predict the
Hawks'; fate for the 2018-19 season, it gives Hawks fans plenty to think about
before the puck drops in October. There are positives and negatives, but plenty
 of reason to think the Hawks can be successful in the 2018-19 season.

All statistics are obtained from the CPHL, AHL, and NHL statistics pages.

The post CPHL Inaugural Season: Four Takeaways appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHockeyWrite...
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
 * Origin: TequilaMockingbird Online - Toms River, NJ (1:266/404)