Who was he stepping in and playing for right now?
- golfbard

we posted at the same time, but probably pouliot's spot on the brassard-zucc line. see my post above.

Magic 8-ball says....of course they wouldn't. They are just ass-chapped right now
- DONMURDOCH14

Right just like the Rangers faithful believe they just signed a lock 20-30 goal scorer.

we posted at the same time, but probably pouliot's spot on the brassard-zucc line. see my post above.
- NYRangers1124

I was posing the question to the other poster who said he would make the Hawks so I asked who would he beat out to make the Hawks?

Who was he stepping in and playing for right now?
- golfbard

He doesn't want to step in a play right now. He doesn't care about a guaranteed role.

I was posing the question to the other poster who said he would make the Hawks so I asked who would he beat out to make the Hawks?
- golfbard

ah my fault

my 2 cents: he would crack the hawks opening roster, but kreider didnt crack ours last year either. mid season, definitely next year i think he could have made the hawks, but i havtn seen him play much, just going off what ive read and highlights

I was posing the question to the other poster who said he would make the Hawks so I asked who would he beat out to make the Hawks?
- golfbard

Didn't necessarily imply for this season but you mean to tell me there is no room for Hayes on the third line of Chicago?

That works for me.

Kreider-Stepan-St. Louis
Hagelin-Miller-Nash
Hayes-Brassard-Zuccarello
Lombardi/Glass-Moore-Stempniak/Fast

I am cool with these forwards being on the opening day roster.
- MidnightMarauder

would love to see a line of Hagelin-Miller-Nash, Nash and Haglin have played together and had some chemistry at times. Miller is a decent passer and likes to go to the net.

would love to see a line of Hagelin-Miller-Nash, Nash and Haglin have played together and had some chemistry at times. Miller is a decent passer and likes to go to the net.
- MatzCT

Mille has to cash in on his potential this season. If he does, I think that will be the line. Zuccarello and Brassard are going to be linemates, for awhile, and it makes sense for a player similar to Pouliot's style(Hayes) takes that open spot on the left side.

Kreider and Stepan have good chemistry together and St. Louis looks like a good fit on that right side.

If these are the top three lines--and they very well should be--the fourth line will likely be Moore centering Stempniak and either Glass or Lombardi on the left side.

On paper, this could be a very good group of forwards, better than last season.

Right just like the Rangers faithful believe they just signed a lock 20-30 goal scorer.
- golfbard

I don't think anyone believes that. That comment was in response to a Hawks fan tagging Hayes as 'Rick Nash lite' as an insult. Nash scores 20-30 goals per year consistently. I for one will be surprised if he cracks the roster this season. But, with an acquisition cost of 0, this is a good pickup regardless.

I don't think anyone believes that. That comment was in response to a Hawks fan tagging Hayes as 'Rick Nash lite' as an insult. Nash scores 20-30 goals per year consistently. I for one will be surprised if he cracks the roster this season. But, with an acquisition cost of 0, this is a good pickup regardless.
- Maskdman3

Hayes can't beat out Lombardi for the third line left wing spot?

Hayes can't beat out Lombardi for the third line left wing spot?
- MidnightMarauder

Hayes will have to beat out Fast and Kristo too. Possible but not guaranteed.

If you say so, I think it is a tad presumptuous to think Hayes wouldn't have worked out in Chicago though.
- MidnightMarauder

Not at all, where is he playing then on the CHI roster?

Hayes will have to beat out Fast and Kristo too. Possible but not guaranteed.
- rangerdanger94

Kristo has next to no shot at making the opening night roster. A lot of knocks on him being bad defensively and easy to take off the puck.

Fast and Miller are the only two players that will be competing with Hayes for a spot on the opening night roster. Miller likely being slotted as a center so his fate won't be an issue for Hayes.

Not at all, where is he playing then on the CHI roster?
- FourFeathers773

Playing on the third line isn't viable? Or that little stretch of play where Ben Smith actually got some ice time, is sufficient enough for Hawks fans to think he is a lock to make the opening night roster?

Mille has to cash in on his potential this season. If he does, I think that will be the line. Zuccarello and Brassard are going to be linemates, for awhile, and it makes sense for a player similar to Pouliot's style(Hayes) takes that open spot on the left side.

Kreider and Stepan have good chemistry together and St. Louis looks like a good fit on that right side.

If these are the top three lines--and they very well should be--the fourth line will likely be Moore centering Stempniak and either Glass or Lombardi on the left side.

On paper, this could be a very good group of forwards, better than last season.
- MidnightMarauder

I think Miller will develop into more of a setup guy than scorer and that's ok if he has someone like Nash and defensively responsible Haglin to play with. Putting him with other guys who need to prove themselves will make it tougher for him.

With Hayes being a natural RW and with Zucc being a LW who played RW last year, I wonder if they would swap?

I really do like those combinations though

I think Miller will develop into more of a setup guy than scorer and that's ok if he has someone like Nash and defensively responsible Haglin to play with. Putting him with other guys who need to prove themselves will make it tougher for him.

With Hayes being a natural RW and with Zucc being a LW who played RW last year, I wonder if they would swap?

I really do like those combinations though
- MatzCT

Zuccarello proved he can play either wing so it would make sense for him to convert back to his natural slot to make it an easier transition for Hayes.

This is all under the assumption Hayes is NHL ready. A lot of reports suggest he is so that is what I am basing my opinions on, primarily.

Didn't necessarily imply for this season but you mean to tell me there is no room for Hayes on the third line of Chicago?
- MidnightMarauder

Um No

Sharp Toews Hossa
Saad Richards Kane
Bickell Shaw Smith

who exactly is Hayes better than right now of that group?

Guys like Kruger and Morin are also more established than Hayes to and are in front of him.

And Hayes being fourth line would be a complete train wreck

Playing on the third line isn't viable? Or that little stretch of play where Ben Smith actually got some ice time, is sufficient enough for Hawks fans to think he is a lock to make the opening night roster?
- MidnightMarauder

HUH?

Smith played 75 games and averaged 12 min a night during the regular season on a fourth line that Q refused to break up because they played so well together

He then was upped to 15 min a night

Ben Smith is a rock solid player, Hayes is in no way ahead of him. Ben Smith is a 1000% lock to make the opening night roster, he has literally been placed on every line and CAN play on every line

Um No

Sharp Toews Hossa
Saad Richards Kane
Bickell Shaw Smith

who exactly is Hayes better than right now of that group?

Guys like Kruger and Morin are also more established than Hayes to and are in front of him.

And Hayes being fourth line would be a complete train wreck
- FourFeathers773

All of that NHL experience Smith has makes him an absolute lock for that third line right wing spot, huh?

HUH?

Smith played 75 games and averaged 12 min a night during the regular season on a fourth line that Q refused to break up because they played so well together

He then was upped to 15 min a night

Ben Smith is a rock solid player, Hayes is in no way ahead of him. Ben Smith is a 1000% lock to make the opening night roster, he has literally been placed on every line and CAN play on every line
- FourFeathers773

One season and he is proven, ok, that makes a lot of sense.

Um No

Sharp Toews Hossa
Saad Richards Kane
Bickell Shaw Smith

who exactly is Hayes better than right now of that group?

Guys like Kruger and Morin are also more established than Hayes to and are in front of him.

And Hayes being fourth line would be a complete train wreck
- FourFeathers773

honestly if you just wouldn't want him in your organization because there are better players, why not just give your first rounders away and not show up to the draft

weird but i now feel we definitely are better than last year
we can't go wrong with one of these two lineups

kreider-stepan-nash
hagelin-miller-MSL
zucc-brassard-hayes
glass-moore-stempniak
lombardi

or

kreider-stepan-MSL
hagelin-miller-nash
zucc-brassard-hayes
glass-moors-stempniak
lombardi

i'd prefer the first one simply because i think it would benefit miller playing with MSL and learning from him

Sather works his magic again!! Preseason's gonna be great when Hayes plays 2 times against Chicago lol...

Here's what I'd like to see:

Nash Stepan St. Louis
Kreider Brassard Zucc
Hagelin Miller Hayes
Stempiak Moore Lombardi/Glass

weird but i now feel we definitely are better than last year
we can't go wrong with one of these two lineups

kreider-stepan-nash
hagelin-miller-MSL
zucc-brassard-hayes
glass-moore-stempniak
lombardi

or

kreider-stepan-MSL
hagelin-miller-nash
zucc-brassard-hayes
glass-moors-stempniak
lombardi

i'd prefer the first one simply because i think it would benefit miller playing with MSL and learning from him
- webleedblue

This gives the Rangers room to be able to scratch Glass if his game hasn't turned around. Nothing about this signing is negative in my eyes.

Sather works his magic again!! Preseason's gonna be great when Hayes plays 2 times against Chicago lol...

Here's what I'd like to see:

Nash Stepan St. Louis
Kreider Brassard Zucc
Hagelin Miller Hayes
Stempiak Moore Lombardi/Glass
- xcheckmajor

Stempniak's a right wing but that's semantics.