Ben Pope

Vlasic's left-handedness theoretically makes him a better fit at the point above right-handed Connor Bedard, but Jones has far more experience in that spot. The Hawks have tried both options.

The first 10 games of Brodie's two-year contract with the Hawks haven't gone particularly well, although his difficulties adjusting to the Hawks' system might be impacting that.

The Hawks were unable to convert plenty of possession time into a tying goal and fell 3-2 to the Sharks on Thursday, leading to plenty of frustrations after the game.

Some Hawks fans are fed up after years of losing, and others worry general manager Kyle Davidson might actually be moving too quickly. But a majority of the fan base continues to believe the franchise is on the right track.

Mrazek will make his sixth consecutive start Saturday — a stretch that includes a very rare set of back-to-back starts. But the 32-year-old goalie has enjoyed being so heavily relied upon.

The Hawks overcame two periods of terrible play with a third-period rally in a 4-3 shootout victory Saturday. Moving forward, they need to build on the result but not the performance.

Foligno's raised expectations for this year's team have caused him to do "more barking" at teammates. However, he has continued his thoughtful approach of inviting players over for home-cooked meals with his family.

Soderblom, the Hawks' little-used backup goalie, stopped 37 of 39 shots in a 4-2 victory Sunday, giving the team a winning record on their five-game road trip.

The Hawks general manager said Sunday he has seen "definite improvement" in the team this season. They might be starting to translate that into more tangible success after winning three of their last four games.

Donato has never before experienced a heater like this, tallying eight points — including six goals — in his last seven games. But he has always believed he “had more to give.”