That's awesome.

Yeah, but Al has worked hard. He is also laying off the M and M's and now listens to JJ's spotify list. When Al gets it going, look out Darth. Everyone will be cheering Al, Al, Al in the United Center that you would think Secord was back.
- robhawks

Wish Al would go back to his true roots, Folk Music and Trail Mix.

Da Hammer is going to shock the Hawk Nation this season. He's going to get actual PP time and we're going to see a number of his shots from the point hitting the twine.

Annti Raanta

Annti #2 will come to the rescue when Crow and Habby go down to injuries. The Blackhawks will rally around the young net minder, who goes on to post a 1.89 gaa and .933 save percentage.

Raanta wins the Calder, Jennings, Vezina and Conn Smythe while doing a 'Ken Dryden' impression, leading the President's Cup winning Blackhawks to a 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup.

Al's a puck hog, as a center he needs to pass more. Also, I heard he's a real diva in the locker room. He demands green M&Ms & Justin Bieber music for home games and red licorice & Back Street Boys on the road. If Al doesn't get what he wants he doesn't perform, plain and simple.
- DarthKane

That's awesome.

Yeah, but Al has worked hard. He is also laying off the M and M's and now listens to JJ's spotify list. When Al gets it going, look out Darth. Everyone will be cheering Al, Al, Al in the United Center that you would think Secord was back.

Ben Smith............Just may take over Frolik's PK role and if Saad is 2nd line center he may see exclusive 3rd line duty with the flexibility to move up and down the lineup due to injuries.

That is of course if he makes the team.
- Mr Ricochet

Of all the be additions I am really interested to see how Smith fairs. I think he can slide into the 4th line winger / PK specialist role well. But I think there's a chance he could do more. Maybe we see a 3rd line of Saad - Shaw - Smith?

I predict Bollig will have a breakout year, with 1 goal and 2 assists.

I predict Bollig will have a breakout year, with 1 goal and 2 assists.
- SimpleJack

I'd wager on Kruger breaking through. He's getting better with experience and there's a chance he could center the 2nd line. If Perrault can get Kruger up to 50% on the dot that would be a huge improvement.

Linked to this I expect to see Smith make a big impact in the bottom 6. It would be nice to see him take on the PK specialist role and I think he can do it.
- DarthKane

I agree with you on Kruger. I think it's a safe bet that he has a breakout season, especially if he's playing in between Hossa and Sharp.

I think Smith with become a regular on the bottom two lines. Also, I think Morin makes the team out of camp and ends up putting up 30 points for the season skating on the bottom two lines.

I also think this season that Dahlbeck will put up steady defensive play in Rockford and become part of the conversation to possibly stick with the Hawks in '14-'15. He might even surpass Stanton on the depth chart.

I also predict that Pirri will be trade fodder come February.

I agree with you on Kruger. I think it's a safe bet that he has a breakout season, especially if he's playing in between Hossa and Sharp.

I think Smith with become a regular on the bottom two lines. Also, I think Morin makes the team out of camp and ends up putting up 30 points for the season skating on the bottom two lines.

I also think this season that Dahlbeck will put up steady defensive play in Rockford and become part of the conversation to possibly stick with the Hawks in '14-'15. He might even surpass Stanton on the depth chart.

I also predict that Pirri will be trade fodder come February.
- EKolb13

Pirri for a pick. Stan will be asking for a 2nd but in the end, will settle for a 3rd.

I agree with you on Kruger. I think it's a safe bet that he has a breakout season, especially if he's playing in between Hossa and Sharp.

I think Smith with become a regular on the bottom two lines. Also, I think Morin makes the team out of camp and ends up putting up 30 points for the season skating on the bottom two lines.

I also think this season that Dahlbeck will put up steady defensive play in Rockford and become part of the conversation to possibly stick with the Hawks in '14-'15. He might even surpass Stanton on the depth chart.

I also predict that Pirri will be trade fodder come February.
- EKolb13

I'd really like to see Morin work out, among other reasons it would be nice to see some return on the Byfuglien trade.

Of all the be additions I am really interested to see how Smith fairs. I think he can slide into the 4th line winger / PK specialist role well. But I think there's a chance he could do more. Maybe we see a 3rd line of Saad - Shaw - Smith?
- DarthKane

I agree on Smith. The guy is a winner. He seems the type to fit in on any line. He looked good with Hossa against vancouver in 2011. On most teams there is a big difference between the top 6 and bottom 6. Not on the Hawks. All lines will have a good mix of speed, skill, and grit

I agree on Smith. The guy is a winner. He seems the type to fit in on any line. He looked good with Hossa against vancouver in 2011. On most teams there is a big difference between the top 6 and bottom 6. Not on the Hawks. All lines will have a good mix of speed, skill, and grit
- tomcat24

I'd like to see a Saad - Shaw - Smith third line, but going with Saad - Shaw - Morin may work too. Q could keep Smith on the 4th line and focused on the PK.

I agree on Smith. The guy is a winner. He seems the type to fit in on any line. He looked good with Hossa against vancouver in 2011. On most teams there is a big difference between the top 6 and bottom 6. Not on the Hawks. All lines will have a good mix of speed, skill, and grit
- tomcat24

He's more like the guy who could spot for a game or two on any line. Smith is more of a 4th line energy guy.

I'd like to see a Saad - Shaw - Smith third line, but going with Saad - Shaw - Morin may work too. Q could keep Smith on the 4th line and focused on the PK.
- DarthKane

You almost need a couple of guys with some skating speed to play with Morin to cover for his skating speed deficiencies. Morin would fit better on a line with Saad & Shaw. Not so much on a line with Handzus.

You almost need a couple of guys with some skating speed to play with Morin to cover for his skating speed deficiencies. Morin would fit better on a line with Saad & Shaw. Not so much on a line with Handzus.
- EKolb13

Problem is, if Morin is with fast guys he will look noticeably slower and will always be the trailer on the play, not sure that's the best fit for him.

Problem is, if Morin is with fast guys he will look noticeably slower and will always be the trailer on the play, not sure that's the best fit for him.
- goaler11

...and if Morin is skating on a line with notoriously slower guys, who skates back to help cover the defensive zone?

Morin. He's be sneaky good this year offensively.

I hope it's Pirri.

I hope he gets a legitimate shot. If I recall, he also worked a point on Rockford's PP, which was quite good.

But my guess is Pirri takes Stalberg's role as Q's yo yo boy that bounces from line to line.

Anyway, longshot guess. Blackhawk PP continues to sputter and pop and emit foul gas and in a panic move, Stan brings Adam Clendenning up a year too early to QB the PP. He becomes the guy that breaks out. Sure. Why not....
- yahoodi

Same here....Piri should be given a pretty good luck and a chance to see if he can be "the" guy.

I like Kruger, but I don't see a skill set that can elevate him to the top 6. I think Q is perfectly comfortable having him be a fixture on that vaunted 3rd line, which is usually a key variable in this team's prolonged success.

What will be interesting to keep an eye on if there are any talks of any sort of extension between Crawford and Hammer. Be nice, if somebody from the press grew a pair and actually asked Bowman that type of question.....both could be seeking 5 million a year, and both can't get that here.....

My pick is Danault. I think he is going to make it hard to not keep him in the NHL. If not, the Hawks will throw Wiz out there on the 4th line. Wiz will dazzle the opponents with his tales of the old days and tell them about all their negatives as a player. That will create a lot of open ice for his wingers.

You almost need a couple of guys with some skating speed to play with Morin to cover for his skating speed deficiencies. Morin would fit better on a line with Saad & Shaw. Not so much on a line with Handzus.
- EKolb13

Cant the same being said about Morin and his skating, be said about Hayes? He looks old man slow in person....and very tentative at times.

Cant the same being said about Morin and his skating, be said about Hayes? He looks old man slow in person....and very tentative at times.
- SteveRain

I think Morin is strong on his skates. It's the slow skating speed that really holds him back. At least to the point of being a third line player.

Hayes is just horrible in the skating department all around.

Ben Smith.

I think he can be a great replacement for Frolik

Off the chart with Theo Peckham,

I think he will give the Hawks a good physical presence on D as long as he comes to camp in shape , something he has not done the last couple of years in Edmonton.

My pick is Danault. I think he is going to make it hard to not keep him in the NHL. If not, the Hawks will throw Wiz out there on the 4th line. Wiz will dazzle the opponents with his tales of the old days and tell them about all their negatives as a player. That will create a lot of open ice for his wingers.
- Elbows15

He's my dark horse pick to make the team out of camp.

Off the chart with Theo Peckham,

I think he will give the Hawks a good physical presence on D as long as he comes to camp in shape , something he has not done the last couple of years in Edmonton.
- HawkfaninBC

He'll be in Rockford. All season long.

He'll be in Rockford. All season long.
- EKolb13

Probably , but one never really knows.