ORLANDO – It’s not like Billy Donovan enjoys playing the role of bearer of bad news, but the Bulls coach also believes in trying to be as honest as he can.

That’s exactly what he was on Saturday when asked about injured point guard Lonzo Ball and the possibility of the team just shutting his comeback attempt down for the remainder of the year.

It’s not there yet, but it’s moving in that direction, according to Donovan.

“My guess would be – there’s not been a specifically set date – my guess would be I think we get through the All-Star Break, I think there would probably be everybody sitting down to talk about length and time of the season, how realistic is it for him to get back, if he could get back what would the minutes look like, is it not worth having him back just because it’s too much?” Donovan said of Ball. “I think everything, at least in my conversations with medical about him, have always been geared towards helping him get back to playing. Certainly once you get out of the All-Star Break, with the amount of time that’s left, basically you’re at the end of February. You have all of March and not even two weeks in April, so you start to get to that point where I think there will be some conversations of, ‘OK, if he’s still not close to playing, what’s the plan moving forward?’

“As much as he’s made some progress, and some slow progress, I’d be the first one to tell you he’s nowhere near playing, he’s just not.”

Ball was initially injured over a year ago, eventually having a second surgery on the left knee. There was a push to try and get him back for the playoff series against Milwaukee, but he just wasn’t ready.

When the rehab on the knee continued hitting more valleys than peaks over the summer, a third procedure was done on Ball’s knee – the second within a year – with the hope he could be back for the second half of the season.

That came into doubt pretty quickly, however, the updates continually showing how slow the progress for Ball was going.

Ball did speak with the media last week in Paris, and wouldn’t rule himself out for the season.

“Obviously I want to play, that’s the goal,” Ball said. “Once I feel I’m comfortable enough playing, whether it’s 70, 80, 90, 100% then I’ll be out there.”

According to Donovan, while Ball is doing work on the treadmill, as well as everything else the guard posted on his Instagram page a few weeks ago, he’s still not consistently running, let alone cutting or jumping on the knee.

“If he can get to that place where he can do that consistently, and be able to come back the next day and do it again, do it again, and do it again, I think you would feel a little more optimistic about when he could return,” Donovan said. “Optimistic where we could say, ‘OK, here’s a date. We feel pretty secure about this.’ Until he can back to that it’s kind of hard to say here’s where he can get back.”

As far as how that affects the Bulls with the Feb. 9 trade deadline approaching, especially at the point guard position, Donovan wasn’t putting much stock into that.

With Ayo Dosunmu the starter and Goran Dragic coming off the bench, it’s been a point guard by committee, especially late in games.

“For me you’re always, every game, every day, looking at the hand you have and trying to figure out ways to help it,” Donovan said of his point guard position. “I think there’s been enough for us with the absence of Lonzo. Work with the group that we have and try to get better.”

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A former Chicago Bears WR will be in the AFC Championship Game

The Chicago Bears aren’t anywhere close to being a playoff team, much less a Super Bowl contender. But one player who was on the Bears this season has the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl after being cut by Chicago midseason.

According to Aaron Wilson with KPRC, the Kansas City Chiefs elevated Ihmir Smith-Marsette to the active roster for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.

Smith-Marsette was signed off waivers by the Bears on September 1st. He was cut by mid-October following a fumble against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5 that killed the Bears’ shot at a comeback win over their NFC rival. Not good enough to play for the worst team in the league this season, Smith-Marsette was soon signed to the Chiefs practice squad and will now have a chance to play in the AFC Championship game as the Chiefs battle several injuries at pass-catching positions.

Call it failing upward, if you will.

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EDMONTON, Alberta — Recently called-up Blackhawks forward Luke Philp might not be well-known in Chicago, but he has been the most popular man in Alberta this week.

The storyline does feel movie-scripted, after all. His Albertan connections are endless. He grew up in Canmore, a mountain town west of Calgary, and finished his Canadian junior-hockey career in Red Deer, a city halfway between Calgary and Edmonton.

The undersized 5-10, 181-pound center wasn’t drafted into the NHL and instead played three years of Canadian collegiate hockey at the University of Alberta, located in Edmonton. He then signed with the Flames and spent three years with their AHL affiliate.

Philp signed in the Hawks’ organization this season, correctly believing NHL opportunities would be easier to come by with them, and dominated throughout the fall with Rockford, tallying 30 points in 31 games.

He earned his first-ever NHL call-up Monday — at age 27 — after Tyler Johnson’s ankle injury and debuted Tuesday against the Canucks. That made him one of only three active players to successfully follow the rare Canadian college route to the NHL.

He was initially going to be healthy-scratched Thursday against the Flames, but Jonathan Toews’ illness prompted the Hawks to notify Philp around 4:40 p.m. he’d need to play after all.

“I was going to go for dinner before the game with a couple friends, and I got a call saying I’m playing,” Philp said. “I told them, ‘I can’t come,’ and then hopped on the bus. It all happened pretty fast. But I didn’t really have any nerves throughout the day. It was just, ‘Alright, we’re going, we’re playing.’

His friends and family scrambled to buy last-second tickets, and Philp rewarded them by earning his first NHL point with an assist on Boris Katchouk’s second-period goal. He protected the puck down low and passed to Katchouk for a one-timer in the high slot, although he “wasn’t even thinking this could materialize into a goal” at the time.

“I was just like, ‘No way,'” he said. “Apparently my mom screamed pretty loud.”

Philp was scratched Saturday against the Oilers, however.

Toews returned to the lineup but was only handed the third-line center role between Sam Lafferty and Colin Blackwell, who have both played very well recently. Jason Dickinson retained his top-line spot and Max Domi settled into the second line.

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Senior Maxwell Haack drained the first three-pointer for Downers Grove North. It was the second basket of the game and it set off an avalanche.

“When we are shooting the ball well it’s just a massacre,” Trojans junior Jack Stanton said.

No. 23 Downers Grove North knocked off visiting Lane 63-43 on Saturday. The Trojans were 7-for-15 from three-point range in the first quarter, scoring 28 points.

Lane (8-12) was never able to recover. Stanton finished with a game-high 18 points for Downers Grove North (20-3).

“We have five guys that when open should be shooting the ball,” Trojans coach Jim Thomas said. “We’re playing pretty well, and the guys are moving the ball and being unselfish.”

The Trojans have been in and out of the rankings this season. The exquisite first quarter demonstrated their very high ceiling.

Haack, Stanton, junior Owen Thulin and senior Finn Kramper can all shoot well. That’s complemented by post players with size and strength: 6-8 juniors Jake Riemer (seven rebounds, two blocks) and George Wolkow. Jacob Bozeman, a 6-5 senior, added nine points and eight rebounds.

“[Stanton] and I went and saw a trainer that worked with Bobby Durkin from Glenbard West last year,” Riemer said. “That definitely gave us a lot of help in our overall games. It improved our quickness and strength. Last year we got bullied a lot because everybody else was bigger and more physical.”

The post defense made things difficult for Lane’s two primary scoring threats, 6-6 sophomore Dalton Scantlebury and junior guard Shaheed Solebo, who was blocked at the rim multiple times.

“We were focused on keeping [Scantlebury] from catching it on the blocks,” Riemer said. “And we wanted to limit his rebounding.”

The Trojans outrebounded Lane 35-21. Scantlebury finished with six points and three rebounds and Solebo scored seven.

Sophomore Brayden Rosenkrantz led Lane with 15 points off the bench. It’s been a rebuilding year for the Champions, with the core of the team comprised of sophomores and juniors.

Downers Grove North has split with Hinsdale Central this season and owns a major win against Bolingbrook. The Trojans’ only other loss is to Lyons.

“We’ve got balance and depth and some guys that can get it to the second level and be willing passers,” Thomas said. “It’s been good for us, besides for three games this year.”

Downers Grove North is heading into the biggest week of its season. The Trojans host No. 16 Lyons on Tuesday and they have a major showdown against Glenbrook South next Saturday at Evanston. Those two games should reveal where they stand in the area’s pecking order.

“We were 16-10 last year and nine of our losses came from teams that were in the top 25,” Thomas said. “This is the same group. We earned those war wounds last season and we are seeing the pay off right now. And hopefully next year we will get a little better.”

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Mel Kiper Jr, and former Chicago Bears scout Greg Gabriel are on record that the top QBs this class aren’t as good as Justin Fields.

The Chicago Bears are supposed to be able to take a big step forward toward building their team around Justin Fields this off-season.  With over $121-million in cap room and the number one overall pick and Justin Fields locked in as their starting QB the Bears don’t need to draft a QB.  They can trade down, collect draft picks, and begin forming a young core of players around Justin Fields.

But what if the Bears can’t trade down because no one wants to trade up for a subpar QB?

What’s so ridiculous about this is Fields is way better than the top QB in this class. Why would Bears want to start over … again… with a lesser player? Sapp just making stuff up https://t.co/BWGa8VkxZ6

— Greg Gabriel (@ggabefootball) January 27, 2023

The Warren Sapp rumor started with the Chicago Bears packaging up Justin Fields and then drafting Bryce Young at number one.  But the absurdity of that is as Gabriel points out, none of the QBs are better than Fields so why would you start over?

Then comes Mel Kiper Jr weighing in with his thoughts on ESPN radio that the Bears won’t be able to trade down.  Kiper also added that’s a weak draft class without much talent for the Bears to add players.

Followed by CJ Stroud reportedly being the QB the Carolina Panthers are looking at in the draft, Stroud is also likely to be there at nine meaning they won’t have to trade up to get him.

CJ Stroud is reportedly the “apple” of the Carolina Panthers’ eye at the moment.

The Panthers currently hold the ninth overall pick in the NFL Draft.

The Ohio State QB is currently the favorite to be the second QB taken off the board 👀 pic.twitter.com/Hg1WRtPm0A

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) January 27, 2023

With less than a month into the off-season for the Chicago Bears, it’s becoming clear that not only will the Bears likely struggle to gain more draft picks by trading down, but that the free agency class isn’t that great for the Bears to bring players in to rebuild their team.

It’s one thing to have resources at your disposal, it’s quite another for there to be a way to fill the holes in your team with resources available.  Historically speaking big-ticket-free agents don’t hit the market much anymore. Meaning that the Chicago Bears may struggle to field a competent enough team to make Justin Fields a better player.

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Saturday, January 28, 2023

BIG NORTHERN

Byron at Rockford Lutheran, 7:00

Dixon at Oregon, 7:15

Genoa-Kingston at North Boone, 7:00

Stillman Valley at Rockford Christian, 7:00

Winnebago at Rock Falls, 6:00

INTERSTATE EIGHT

Morris at Sandwich, 6:45

Plano at Rochelle, 7:00

NIC – 10

Belvidere North at Belvidere, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED-SOUTH / CENTRAL

Curie at Longwood, 2:00

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE – WEST

Oswego at Yorkville, 6:30

WEST SUBURBAN – SILVER

Oak Park-River Forest at Glenbard West, 3:30

NON CONFERENCE

Agricultural Science at Richards, 1:30

Amundsen at Niles North, 4:30

Argo at Sandburg, 6:00

Barrington at Dundee-Crown, 6:00

Christ the King at Marian Central, 1:30

Cristo Rey at Cristo Rey-St. Martin, 12:30

Elgin Academy at Alden-Hebron, 6:00

Fasman Yeshiva at Ida Crown, 9:00

Fenton at Lake Park, (at East) 6:00

Geneva at Downers Grove South, 4:00

Grant at Vernon Hills, 2:30

Hersey at Libertyville, 4:30

Hillcrest at Homewood-Flossmoor, 12:30

Lane at Downers Grove North, 2:00

Marengo at Crystal Lake South, 1:00

Milford at Clifton Central, 7:00

Naperville Central at Columbus Catholic (OH), 6:00

Nazareth at St. Ignatius, 1:00

Northridge at IC Catholic, 12:30

Peoria Quest at Yorkville Christian, 5:30

Proviso West at Proviso East, 2:30

Riverside-Brookfield at Lyons, 5:00

St. Bede at LaSalle-Peru, 5:30

St. Francis at La Lumiere-White (IN), 5:00

St. Viator at Mundelein, 7:00

Tremper (WI) at Hope Academy, 5:30

UIC Prep at Senn, 10:00

Warren at Palatine, 4:30

Waubonsie Valley at Plainfield East, 2:30

Westmont at Walther Christian, 3:00

Wheaton North at Hampshire, 4:00

Wheeling at Lake Zurich, 3:30

Willowbrook at Deerfield, 6:00

BEECHER

at Grant Park

Grant Park vs. Grace Christian, 10:30

St. Anne vs. Coal City, 12:00

Armstrong-Potomac vs. Illinois Lutheran, 1:30

Momence vs. Johnsburg, 3:00

Beecher vs. Prairie Central, 4:30

Johnsburg vs. Cornerstone Christian, 6:00

Reed-Custer vs. Iroquois West, 7:30

EAST AURORA

North Lawndale vs. St. Charles North, 1:00

Andrew vs. Metea Valley, 2:35

Naperville North vs. East Aurora, 4:10

EVANSTON

New Trier vs. DePaul, 2:00

Loyola vs. Bolingbrook, 3:30

Evanston vs. Notre Dame, 5:00

FULTON

West Carroll vs. Aquin, 9:00

Erie-Prophetstown vs. Prince of Peace (IA), 10:30

Fulton vs. Newman, 12:00

East Valley (IA) vs. Lena-Winslow, 1:30

South Beloit vs. East Peoria, 3:00

Camanche (IA) vs. Riverdale, 4:30

Marmion vs. Washington (IL), 6:00

GLENBROOK SOUTH

Morgan Park vs. Marian Catholic, 3:30

Glenbrook South vs. Auburn, 5:00

Moline vs. Rolling Meadows, 6:30

HERSCHER

Peotone vs. Woodland, 1:00

Centennial vs. Pontiac, 3:30

Manteno vs. Seneca, 5:00

Kankakee vs. Thornton Fr. North, CNL

Herscher vs. McNamara, 6:30

LINCOLN-WAY WEST

Neuqua Valley vs. Minooka, 11:00

Lincoln-Way Central vs. Lemont, 12:45

Lincoln-Way West vs. Oak Forest, 2:45

Lincoln-Way East vs. Hinsdale Central, 4:30

LITTLE TEN TOURNAMENT

at Somonauk

LaMoille vs. DePue, 1:00

Indian Creek vs. Hiawatha, 2:30

Somonauk vs. Leland, 4:00

MONTVERDE (FL)

St. Rita vs. Montverde (FL), 7:15E

ORR

Orr vs. Fenger, 9:00

Dyett vs. Bogan, 10:30

Rich vs. Dunbar, 12:00

Antioch vs. Lake Forest Academy, 1:30

Brooks vs. Thornton, 3:00

Hyde Park vs. West Aurora, 4:30

St. Francis de Sales vs. Bradley-Bourbonnais, 6:00

Kenwood vs. 21st Centrury (IN), 7:30

PERSPECTIVES-LEADERSHIP

UC-Woodlawn vs. Collins, 11:00

Butler vs. Milwaukee Languages (WI), 12:30

Legal Prep vs. Von Steuben, 2:00

Hansberry vs. Wells, 3:30

Perspectives-MSA vs. Evergreen Park, 5:00

Perspectives-Lead vs. Fenwick, 6:30

PUBLIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS – CONSOLATION

South Shore at Kennedy, 3:00

ST. LOUIS VASHON (MO)

Simeon vs. Cape Central (MO), 4:30

Young vs. Chaminade (MO), 6:00

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Last season, attacker Jairo Torres never showed why the Fire signed him as a young designated player.

He’s eager not to repeat that in 2023 after health problems marred his 2022 season.

“This season, it’s very different,” Torres said through a translator. “I come with a completely different mentality. I hope to prepare myself very well so that I don’t have any injuries.”

The Fire signed Torres from Liga MX club Atlas last February, acquiring him for a hefty $6 million fee. Torres debuted May 14 but already was struggling with injuries; he last played for the Fire in late August. A challenging season was capped off Sept. 30 when Torres underwent surgery to stabilize a stress fracture in his left tibia.

When he played, Torres’ impact was minimal. With the Fire needing an attacking wing opposite Chris Mueller, Torres mustered one assist in 684 minutes and started just six times.

“It was really frustrating not being able to show who you are,” Torres said.

To his credit, Torres tried to play hurt last season well before the stress fracture. Torres worked through the pain after the injury for three games before it was too much to handle.

After the Fire’s loss to CF Montreal on Aug. 27, he told the coaching and medical staff what he was dealing with and was diagnosed with the fracture.

Now, Torres is healthy and isn’t concerned the problem will plague him for the rest of his career. But the mental recovery process is still ongoing after his first major injury.

“I feel really good. I feel very strong,” Torres said. “My leg feels much better. I don’t feel too confident when I plant my leg, but that’s going to come. That confidence is going to come with time.”

Clearly, Torres isn’t worried about the confidence issue. And if Torres is fit and in form, it would take care of some separate issues for a Fire team that will need him to reach another level in 2023.

If Torres is the kind of player the Fire envisioned, it would give them another threat on the wing and round out a reputable corps of attacking midfield options alongside Mueller, Xherdan Shaqiri and Brian Gutierrez. Torres also said he’s comfortable playing deeper in the middle of the formation, something that could allow coach Ezra Hendrickson the opportunity to use him, Mueller, Shaqiri and Gutierrez at the same time.

Regardless of where he lines up, Torres staying healthy and producing would be a much-needed positive for the Fire.

“He knows he is a big part of the team, and we need his production,” Hendrickson said last week. “Injuries happen in this sport, and it is something we have to deal with. But he is mentally strong, and from what I have seen in the past few days at training, he has recovered well from his injury, and that is a plus for us.”

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As love and support from multiple directions flowed Liam Hendriks’ way after the White Sox closer revealed he has non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Jan. 9, no one immediately cared what it would mean for the Sox’ bullpen and their team as a whole in 2023.

The health of a teammate and athlete known around the city and beyond as a generous and caring voice for many causes was first and foremost.

The Sox, appropriately, said they would have nothing more to say regarding Hendriks until Opening Day at the earliest. Meanwhile, as the shock over the 33-year-old Hendriks’ health slowly subsides, the Sox approach the first day of spring training Feb. 15 with a bullpen missing its two-time American League reliever of the year.

Kendall Graveman (16 career saves, including six last season, when Hendriks had 37) is probably the favorite to close. Joe Kelly (six career saves) and perhaps Reynaldo Lopez (none) could be asked to record the final three outs of games.

“The loss of Liam is tough,” bullpen coach Curt Hasler told the Sun-Times Monday. “We’re all hoping and praying that things go well for him, first and foremost as a person, for what he’s going through.

“We still have plenty of options to fill that void. We have a lot of guys who possess good stuff. There are plenty of guys who can do that.”

Hasler also mentioned lefties Aaron Bummer (five career saves) and Jake Diekman (15).

Internal discussions are ongoing and likely will continue through spring training about whether to designate a ninth-inning specialist or mix and match in the eighth and ninth.

“That is still being talked about. We’ve had some great conversations,” Hasler said.

“Matchups are something I really believe in,” first-year manager Pedro Grifol said.

Lopez, the Sox’ best starter in 2018, is an intriguing option after finding a comfort level as a reliever last season, posting career lows in ERA (2.76) and strikeouts to walks (5.73) and allowing one home run in 61 appearances.

“With two very big-time pitches [fastball and slider as part of a four-pitch mix], his stuff speaks for itself,” Hasler said. “He would be an option to do that if that’s the route we took.”

Kelly signed a two-year, $17 million deal last offseason, started late because of an injury and posted a 6.08 ERA in 33 games. At $9 million, he’ll be the Sox’ second-highest-paid reliever behind Hendriks.

“A healthy Joe Kelly is a huge asset for the bullpen, but he has to be healthy,” Hasler said. “But we believe we’re on the right track to being healthy. Joe Kelly’s stuff is incredibly good, so he could fill that role, as well.”

Jose Ruiz, Jimmy Lambert and Rule 5 draft pick Nick Avila are good bets to round out an eight-man bullpen, a group now tasked with backing a starting rotation lacking depth even before this week’s troubling revelation of Major League Baseball’s investigation of fifth starter Mike Clevinger into allegations of domestic violence and child abuse, which puts his availability in 2023 in jeopardy.

As for middle and long relievers, newcomers Gregory Santos and Keynan Middleton, a 29-year-old non-roster invitee to spring training, will get looks in camp. Lefties Tanner Banks and Bennett Sousa and righty Nicholas Padilla are on the 40-man roster.

And don’t forget lefty Garrett Crochet, who will be a year removed from Tommy John surgery on Opening Day. The former No. 11 pick’s role will become clearer as the season unfolds.

“We hope he can just add to what we believe is already a strong bullpen,” Hasler said. “Now all of a sudden you can add him to the bullpen or rotation or something like that. Whatever we decide. But he’s still early in the process.”

Hendriks remains in the early phase of his treatment. While he’s away, his presence will still be felt.

“My stomach was in my throat when we got the phone call,” Hasler said. “But heck, he helped me out, he made me feel better. And that’s Liam. He’s that kind of person.

“Liam is going to tackle this head on like he does any hitter standing in the box, and no doubt he’s going to come out on the winning side of it. That’s his personality.”

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These Chicago Bulls are still the same old mess. After giving fans just a little bit of hope and going 10-6 following the embarrassment back in December against Minnesota, Chicago is back to the same story.

The Bulls are coming off losses against an Indiana Pacers team that had lost seven games straight — which, oh by the way, was a game where the Bulls blew a 21-point lead — and then a loss against the Charlotte Hornets, who are 14-36 on the year.

It’s a real shame, because Zach LaVine has finally started to turn things around and has played pretty strong ball over the past month and a half. Even Nikola Vucevic has been playing at an All Star level.

Yet, the Bulls simply cannot figure it out. They continue to lose games they should win, and that’s not going to amount to much of a playoff run, if they even get lucky enough to get in.

Don’t expect the Chicago Bulls to make any significant changes at the 2023 NBA trade deadline

After the loss to Charlotte, head coach Billy Donovan reiterated the same old nonsense fans are used to hearing.

“The character in the group and the chemistry and them as people — it’s in there,” Donovan said, per The Chicago Tribune. “We’ve got to find ways as coaches and players and all of us to try to pull that out of each other. But I’m not at a point to say, ‘OK, this just can’t work.’ “

As if Donovan’s words weren’t enough to convince fans that nothing is going to happen at the deadline, it seems the players are following suit. Big man Nikola Vucevic echoed his coach.

“I think we definitely have enough here,” Vucevic said.

Whatever magic spell Donovan has going on over his players right now, it’s going to quickly prove to be for naught when the Bulls barely make the play-in tournament with this roster and get bounced in the first round.

The truth is, the Bulls need more than just a change-up within their roster, but the front office committed to Donovan for the next few years, and that’s the main issue. We’re stuck here for the time being, folks.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are a very bad hockey team. They have their sights set on winning the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery. Obviously, the chances of that happening are much better when you are the worst team in the league and there is a chance that could be the case this year.

One team that is decent and should be in the playoffs is the Edmonton Oilers. They have some good players like Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent Hopkins, and Evander Kane but they are led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl who are two of the five best players in the world.

McDavid is far and away better than everyone in the league and it isn’t close. Draisaitl can be argued as the second-best player in the league but guys like Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning amongst others rival him for that title.

One thing that is non-negotiable is the fact that these two come into the league as the leading scorers in the NHL. McDavid has 40 goals and 49 assists for 89 points in 49 games played. He does what elite junior players do in their leagues in the best league in the world.

The Chicago Blackhawks will have their hands full against the Edmonton Oilers.

Those 40 goals and 89 points are each the league lead in those categories. He only trails Kucherov in assists but only by three. Don’t be surprised if he ends in the lead for all three of those stats.

As far as points are concerned, as mentioned before, Daisaitl is the NHL’s second-leading scorer with 73 points. Kucherov is close on his tail in third with 71 but Draisaitl is expected to stay in this spot for the rest of the season based on recent history.

With a very weak Chicago defense and forecheck coming to town, these two have to be so ready to play this game. You’d think that Edmonton’s speed and skill will help them absolutely destroy the Hawks.

The Hawks were terrible against the Vancouver Canucks on this trip but awesome against the Calgary Flames which makes it so confusing. Regardless, Edmonton is the best of the group and they have the best players. There is a chance that this one is not pretty.

McDavid uses the best speed that anyone has ever seen to make big-time plays which might be hard for the Hawks to contain while Draisaitl has a big-time shot that allows him to be an awesome two-way threat.

In order for the Hawks to win, they are going to have to make it physically demanding for both of these guys (which is obviously really hard) so that they can’t burn them.

If the Hawks do manage to have the puck every now and again, they need to be hard on it in their own zone and get bodies in front of the goalie. Edmonton is beatable but achieving these goals could be the difference.

You also don’t want to take a penalty because they are lethal when they go to work on the power play.

Don’t expect much out of the Hawks in this one other than gaining some valuable learning experience here. At the end of the day, it should be very fun to watch.

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