Here Is How Brandon Saad Needs To Play
Do me a favor and watch #7 in red. THAT is how you play as a power-forward in the NHL and that is why I wanted the Blackhawks to find a way to draft him SO badly this year. Brady Tkachuk is a fantastic player and does a TON of things well. BUT…there’s nothing particularly special about this shift…other than it’s perfect effort and awareness. It’s not some dazzling Connor McDavid speed or Kucherov skill. It’s hard hat go to work power-forward shit. The type of shift that Brandon Saad is capable of, but seldom delivers.
Step 1) Use speed and strenth. Win a race and win on the boards. That’s Tkachuk taking a hit downlow and putting the puck into an area where his teammate can regain possession
Step 2) Brady Tkachuk helped his team win possession, got off his knee after the hit in pic one and went STRAIGHT to the front of the net to create chaos.
Step 3) Win the puck again. After the point shot the puck ended up in the corner. Tkachuk busted his ass, got to the corner at the same time, took a good angle, made a hit, separated the man from the puck, and got it to his teammate as the Sens stayed in possession and on the attack.
Step 4) RIGHT BACK TO THE NET. Tkachuk is living on top of the crease again after regaining possession. Better yet…he was ready and looking to score. Made his stick available. Teammate attempted a pass to him that just didn’t quite connect but this is good hockey. Good habits.
Step 5) This is about 4-5 seconds after the previous screenshot. Tkachuk left the net front area to support the puck, but as soon as possession was established again look where he’s living. Right in the goalie’s kitchen and making the defense work his ass off. This Dman HATES Tkachuk right now. This is a hard shift for the D. The type of shift that exhausts you not just in the moment but throughout the entire game.
Step 6) The defense is now GASSED and starting to run around. Tkachuk’s man leaves him for the puck carrier in the corner and Tkachuk is now WIDE open in front. He presents his stick, makes himself an option and…
Step 7) Celly
In the words of Patrick Kane…THAT’S HOCKEY BABY! Just fucking play. Do your job, Brandon. It’s not a mystery why Saad is not in the lineup. Play like this in the zone consistently and you’ll be in the lineup again, back with Kane again, and scoring 30 goals. This is simple hockey. This is something Brandon Saad can and should do. He’s not Marian Hossa. He doesn’t have a big shot. If he wants to play and produce this is how he needs to do his job. He needs that fire. That energy. That work ethic. The constant motion and battle. He needs to…Join Or Die.
Everyone on the team is pulling their weight. Toews, Kane, Keith, and DeBrincat are trying to DRAG this team to the playoffs. They need Saad to help and this is how he needs to play. Nobody is asking him to do something he can’t or be something he isn’t. Protect the puck, support the puck, get to the net. Rinse, repeat, score.
Hopefully something will snap in and he will be a hungry player that we saw when he first came into the league. If not the Blackhawks should try to find a way to move him because this team is going places and everyone needs to pull in the same direction.
ADDITIONAL NEWS:
Watch Party for the Blackhawks THIS coming Saturday at Declan’s in Old Town. Same place we had the NHL Draft Party where we had almost 100 people show up.
The deal runs from 5:30pm to 8:30om, and the game itself starts at 6pm central. Meaning you’ll get a good buzz on leading up to puck drop, and then the game will likely end right around 8:30pm(they can’t go to OT forever).
$30 all you can drink of domestic bottles and well drinks. Not going to find a better deal or a better party for the Blackhawks.
Now that Stanley’s is officially shut down I feel like there isn’t a great place to watch the Blackhawks in the city. I’d love to make Declans that spot for the 2018-19 season and it’ll start Saturday 10/20.
Also…thanks to everyone who did bought a #JoinOrDie shirt. This is the official shirt for the season and they’re going pretty quick. Get on board and when you do buy a shirt send me an email (Chief@barstoolsports.com) because I am making a list of the most loyal. I don’t know what I am doing with that list yet, but it’ll be something.
