Reading between the lines again?
- EKolb13

Pirri for a pick.

Pirri for a pick.
- Beaver-Warrior

Sure.

Kane's reply is Stan's comment about him and Toews being Blackhawks for a long long time isn't too reassuring:

"I don’t know. That’s what you hope for. That’s obviously the ultimate goal to win championships and then play for an organization like this, but, you know, I’m still a young kid. I’m 24, turn 25 this year. To say what’s going to happen the rest of my career, I just don’t know. I mean obviously it would be ideal to stay here, but we’ll cross that path when we get to it.”
- DarthKane

Yeppers. Doesn't give you the warm and fuzzing feeling.

I agree that Kruger is also a strong candidate to eventually win the 2C role, maybe more so than Saad, but i believe that still somewhat compromises our depth on the 3rd and 4th lines, and will lead to 3-4 holes on any given night depending on if Handzus is playing or not.
- SimpleJack

This has been my worry as well.

With three to four roster spots up for grabs, and most of the applicable candidates possessing minimal NHL experience, one would hypothesize the plan to be one of mitigation - i.e. spreading the young guys out across the lines to create a good balance of youth and experience.

I do not think we'll see a line with more than one "rookie" on it at the start of the year, which is why I think the Morin-Shaw-Smith line mentioned today is a practice-only scenario.

Wearing my prognosticator hat, here are my guesses:

1.) Pirri makes the team out of camp, and starts at the 2C between Sharp and Hossa. Not my favorite option, but unless he craps the bed in camp or has a really bad attitude, he's earned a shot. He's ill-suited for a lower-line role on the team, so 2C is the only spot that really makes sense. How long he stays there - we will have to see. I can't see him moving to wing, as the top six winger spots might as well be carved in stone.

2.) Bollig makes the team and plays most nights (at least in the early on) on the 4th line.

3.) One of Morin or Smith makes the team. The other rotates between Rockford and the 13th/14th forward. Hayes and Winchester have their stints of ice time (and press-box time) with the 'Hawks, likely when injuries occur. If I had to pick one for the 14th forward, I'd say Winchester b/c of his NHL experience.

I can't guess anything beyond the first coupe of weeks - too many variables, the largest being Q.


Here's my guess on opening night lines:


29-19-88
10-37-81
20-16-65
28-26-52

11, 25

2-7
4-27
8-32

17

50
39


I know TG poo-pooed the idea of Kruger centering Shaw on the third, and to be honest, I really don't love that 20-16-65 line. And I don't discount the possibility that 16 starts out centering Sharp and Hossa, with Pirri starting in Rockford and shuffling the whole deal. Just my best guess at this very moment.

Yeppers. Doesn't give you the warm and fuzzing feeling.
- Beaver-Warrior

Stan will have to throw Kane another half million per season to get that "warm and fuzzy feeling" again.

I'd say that Stan would just give him a NMC/NTC, but that's now a standard throw in to any Bowman contract. If anyone missed it, DarthKane saw on capgeek that both Crawford & Hjalmarsson got a NMC/NTC with their new deals.

3.) One of Morin or Smith makes the team. The other rotates between Rockford and the 13th/14th forward. Hayes and Winchester have their stints of ice time (and press-box time) with the 'Hawks, likely when injuries occur. If I had to pick one for the 14th forward, I'd say Winchester b/c of his NHL experience.
- FredoXV

I think Smith has already made the Hawks. Unless he comes up injured or completely craps the bed in camp, he'll be on the roster come opening night.

This has been my worry as well.

With three to four roster spots up for grabs, and most of the applicable candidates possessing minimal NHL experience, one would hypothesize the plan to be one of mitigation - i.e. spreading the young guys out across the lines to create a good balance of youth and experience.

I do not think we'll see a line with more than one "rookie" on it at the start of the year, which is why I think the Morin-Shaw-Smith line mentioned today is a practice-only scenario.
Wearing my prognosticator hat, here are my guesses:

1.) Pirri makes the team out of camp, and starts at the 2C between Sharp and Hossa. Not my favorite option, but unless he craps the bed in camp or has a really bad attitude, he's earned a shot. He's ill-suited for a lower-line role on the team, so 2C is the only spot that really makes sense. How long he stays there - we will have to see. I can't see him moving to wing, as the top six winger spots might as well be carved in stone.

2.) Bollig makes the team and plays most nights (at least in the early on) on the 4th line.

3.) One of Morin or Smith makes the team. The other rotates between Rockford and the 13th/14th forward. Hayes and Winchester have their stints of ice time (and press-box time) with the 'Hawks, likely when injuries occur. If I had to pick one for the 14th forward, I'd say Winchester b/c of his NHL experience.

I can't guess anything beyond the first coupe of weeks - too many variables, the largest being Q.


Here's my guess on opening night lines:


29-19-88
10-37-81
20-16-65
28-26-52

11, 25

2-7
4-27
8-32

17

50
39


I know TG poo-pooed the idea of Kruger centering Shaw on the third, and to be honest, I really don't love that 20-16-65 line. And I don't discount the possibility that 16 starts out centering Sharp and Hossa, with Pirri starting in Rockford and shuffling the whole deal. Just my best guess at this very moment.
- FredoXV

Altho Smith may technically still be a rookie, he has had fairly good NHL experience in pressure situations the past couple of years - perhaps he should be considered "more than a rookie".

The shot Pirri deserves will be during the 6 pre-season games, I would think: if he shows he can handle 2C, he may start the season there; if not, then not.

If they still have hopes for either Morin, or Smith, or both, I would hate to see one of them glued to a press-box seat: doesn't make sense to make either a 13th / 14th forward. Either they play in Chicago, or they play in Rockford.

Yeppers. Doesn't give you the warm and fuzzing feeling.
- Beaver-Warrior

I don't put stock in anything players tell the media about anything remotely related to contract negotiations.

They want to get paid, period. Announcing to the world that they want to be 'Hawks for life takes a lot of weight out of their leverage. It's a game, pure and simple. I'm certain they both want to stay, they just want to bet paid like some of the best players in the game (which they are) while in the prime of their careers.

Yeppers. Doesn't give you the warm and fuzzing feeling.
- Beaver-Warrior

I don't know if I read into it to much. I think he is basically happen he is young and a lot can happen. I think this also reflects of past conversations with the FO about his off ice behavior and know a major foul up could be his ticket out of Chicago.

Pirri for a pick.
- Beaver-Warrior

If you could get a 4th or a 5th....take it!

I don't know if I read into it to much. I think he is basically happen he is young and a lot can happen. I think this also reflects of past conversations with the FO about his off ice behavior and know a major foul up could be his ticket out of Chicago.
- UnnamedSource

Obviously I'd like to have Kane and Toews as Blackhawks for life, but my #1 priority would be re-signing them to an 8 year deal next summer. After that deal is up they can go wherever they want (hopefully that's still in Chicago).

If you could get a 4th or a 5th....take it!
- UnnamedSource

Throw in the rights to Lalonde and you'd really have something...like maybe a 3rd.

Stan will have to throw Kane another half million per season to get that "warm and fuzzy feeling" again.

I'd say that Stan would just give him a NMC/NTC, but that's now a standard throw in to any Bowman contract. If anyone missed it, DarthKane saw on capgeek that both Crawford & Hjalmarsson got a NMC/NTC with their new deals.
- EKolb13

When asked the same question, Toews as usual, gave the right political answer and where as Kane didn't. Kaner should have said something like "it would great to be a Hawk for life" even if he didn't mean it.

Throw in the rights to Lalonde and you'd really have something...like maybe a 3rd.
- Ogilthorpe2

I like it!

Kane's reply is Stan's comment about him and Toews being Blackhawks for a long long time isn't too reassuring:

"I don’t know. That’s what you hope for. That’s obviously the ultimate goal to win championships and then play for an organization like this, but, you know, I’m still a young kid. I’m 24, turn 25 this year. To say what’s going to happen the rest of my career, I just don’t know. I mean obviously it would be ideal to stay here, but we’ll cross that path when we get to it.”
- DarthKane

Thought the same myself.

Altho Smith may technically still be a rookie, he has had fairly good NHL experience in pressure situations the past couple of years - perhaps he should be considered "more than a rookie".

The shot Pirri deserves will be during the 6 pre-season games, I would think: if he shows he can handle 2C, he may start the season there; if not, then not.

If they still have hopes for either Morin, or Smith, or both, I would hate to see one of them glued to a press-box seat: doesn't make sense to make either a 13th / 14th forward. Either they play in Chicago, or they play in Rockford.
- StLBravesFan

For a reason I can't really explain logically, I'd really rather Morin get the look than Smith. Perhaps it just that he's an unknown, and I'm pretty certain I know what Smith's ceiling is.

Maybe it's also the fact that I'd like at least one of the 2010 camp-dump acquisitions turn into something worthwhile.

I think Smith has already made the Hawks. Unless he comes up injured or completely craps the bed in camp, he'll be on the roster come opening night.
- EKolb13

His one-way deal would seem to point that way.

Had a Twitt-a-log with someoe this morning on this, who said they would lose him to waivers if they sent him down. My response was, if he can't make this team, he might not have much future with the organization anyway. The guy would seem to be ideally suited to come in and nail down a 4th line/utility role, but I also don't believe anything is being handed to him. The other guys want that job too, regardless of their contracts.

If there is "enough talent in the world" for it, why don't more teams do it?

Seems obvious that you would be better off rolling four "talented" if you had the talent.

My guess is you are overestimating the amount of talent in the world.
- StLBravesFan

There still seems to be a bias against people under 6 feet and 190 lbs. It takes a special talent like Kane for people to look past it. Every player has flaws but there are so many players with talent that never get a chance. Shaw was always Shaw but it took him 19 rounds to get drafted. He played the same way his whole career. But the league is full of steroid abusing stiffs with very little skill that just know how to check someone

His one-way deal would seem to point that way.

Had a Twitt-a-log with someoe this morning on this, who said they would lose him to waivers if they sent him down. My response was, if he can't make this team, he might not have much future with the organization anyway. The guy would seem to be ideally suited to come in and nail down a 4th line/utility role, but I also don't believe anything is being handed to him. The other guys want that job too, regardless of their contracts.
- John Jaeckel

I wasn't think along the lines of his actually one-way deal, but I sure that plays a part in it. I was thinking along the lines of what Q appears to think of him - he's willing to stick him in a Stanley Cup game, along with other playoff games and different lines and roles. It seems to me that Q likes/trusts Smith.

On a lesser note, they assigned Smith's jersey number in Rockford to Danault. It probably doesn't mean much of anything, but it could say something?

Obviously I'd like to have Kane and Toews as Blackhawks for life, but my #1 priority would be re-signing them to an 8 year deal next summer. After that deal is up they can go wherever they want (hopefully that's still in Chicago).
- DarthKane

I agree. While being here to finish their careers would be great, just as long as they sign a long extension like that would be great

I wasn't think along the lines of his actually one-way deal, but I sure that plays a part in it. I was thinking along the lines of what Q appears to think of him - he's willing to stick him in a Stanley Cup game, along with other playoff games and different lines and roles. It seems to me that Q likes/trusts Smith.

On a lesser note, they assigned Smith's jersey number in Rockford to Danault. It probably doesn't mean much of anything, but it could say something?
- EKolb13

I will be very surprised if Ben Smith isn't taking a regular shift with the Hawks this year. Ben just needs to stay healthy...

I will be very surprised if Ben Smith isn't taking a regular shift with the Hawks this year. Ben just needs to stay healthy...
- ArlingtonRob

Agreed.

If you really loved the Blackhawks you would get a real estate licence and find Brookbank a 6 month rental property in Rockford because that's where he belongs.

Kostka is a much better player than Brookbank ever will be ( and that's not saying much).
- RickJ

Brookbank just played a majority of the games on a team that finished with the 6th best point % in NHL history, Mike Kostka couldn't play in the playoffs for the Leafs. Both are 6/7 defensemen, and Brookbank has proven he can do it on this team. One bad playoff game when you haven't played in a month in a half is not a fair way to judge a player

When asked the same question, Toews as usual, gave the right political answer and where as Kane didn't. Kaner should have said something like "it would great to be a Hawk for life" even if he didn't mean it.
- Beaver-Warrior

Too much analysis.

An off-handed answer to an off-handed question - let's not make too much of any of this at this point.

I wasn't think along the lines of his actually one-way deal, but I sure that plays a part in it. I was thinking along the lines of what Q appears to think of him - he's willing to stick him in a Stanley Cup game, along with other playoff games and different lines and roles. It seems to me that Q likes/trusts Smith.

On a lesser note, they assigned Smith's jersey number in Rockford to Danault. It probably doesn't mean much of anything, but it could say something?
- EKolb13

Jersey numbers tell the entire story...if Danault has Smith's #21 then Smith a virtual lock for the Blackhawks opening night roster!!

I think the Blackhawks have the most confidence in Smith, just look at who they played in game 3 of the SCF when Hossa went down....Smith.