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With the announced signings of Michal Rozsival and Brandon Mashinter in the last hour or so, and some late-breaking rumors on the free agency front, a picture of the Hawks opening night roster appears to be emerging.

What follows is the projected roster (at present), as well as a breakdown on a couple of rumors that may help flesh out the picture a bit further.


THE ROSTER, NOON JUNE 30, 2016


Bold=could be traded (but not likely)
Italic=Euro free agent, likely to make team 10/1
Underline=signing announced today


FORWARDS
Toews
Kane
Hossa
Panarin
Anisimov
Kruger
Desjardins
Panik
Rasmussen
Lundberg
X
X
X
Mashinter

DEFENSE
Keith
Seabrook
Hjalmarsson
Kempny
van Riemsdyk
X
Rozsival

GOALIE
Crawford
Darling


RUMORS

Adrian Dater is reporting this morning the Hawks are mulling a contract over to UFA W/C Eric Staal. This is in line with the two names I've heard—Jamie McGinn and Jiri Hudler—the common denominators being that they are all veterans who can play left wing and possibly alongside Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa.

Staal is a bit more intriguing because he has played primarily center, perhaps lending some credibility to rumors the hawks might deal Artem Anisimov or Marcus Kruger in the next 24 hours.

I had heard (and reported) this past February that the Hawks were looking hard at Staal to play 1LW, before they diverted to Andrew Ladd.

Another rumor gaining steam is Bryan Campbell to Chicago.

What I heard last night was that the Hawks are Campbell's top choice (no surprise there—this has been widely reported), that Dallas had entered the picture (also widely reported), but that the Hawks and Campbell were closing in on a deal.

Finally, I've heard that the Hawks will (if possible) pursue Russian C Vadim Shipachyov and college winger Jimmy Vesey, should either come on the free agent market. However, I would put the Hawks chances for either at 5-10%.

The roster is starting to take shape, and I would expect no huge moves in the next 24 hours.
League minimum vets (preferably with a high "Q" rating, i.e., Joel Quenneville endorsed), a couple of bargain basement vets at 1LW, possibly defense, maybe 2-3 rookies/learners (Schmaltz, Motte, Svedberg, Gustafsson) riding the Rockford shuttle.


Will update as it happens.


JJ

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