If Phil ever makes it to 2C (with his supreme character who knows) it won't be next year.

2C will be a huge question going into next year (that's nothing new)...

probably be a holdover from this year (Richards)
a similar scrap heap veteran for cheap (Roy)
Current roster player (Shaw, Kruger, TT-personally think TT and Shaw are wings and Kruger is bottom 6)
Youngster acquired via trade (Lazar type prospect)

So basically NONE of the options look immediately promising.
- kwolf68

I'd love for TT to slide in to 2C. Not sure that happens next year or at all. He's been good on the wing. I could see Kruger up to 3C and I'm really hoping they find some way to keep Desjardins who is versatile enough to play 4C

I'd love for TT to slide in to 2C. Not sure that happens next year or at all. He's been good on the wing. I could see Kruger up to 3C and I'm really hoping they find some way to keep Desjardins who is versatile enough to play 4C
- golfbard

If Krugs moves to 3C (I can see that) then Danault will be your 4C in my view. I like Desi too and he would be perfect on L4-W and can spot some center.

TT needs to remain on wing in my view. Although he is much better defensively than I originally thought (a huge key for centers)

If Krugs moves to 3C (I can see that) then Danault will be your 4C in my view. I like Desi too and he would be perfect on L4-W and can spot some center.

TT needs to remain on wing in my view. Although he is much better defensively than I originally thought (a huge key for centers)
- kwolf68

I think you have to at least try TT at 2C. If it works out great, if not no big deal.

Quenneville is already proven himself to be an excellent coach, his record and achievements bear that out and have already secured him a place in the HHOF. What 2015-16 will tell us is if Quenneville is as capable a teaching coach as he has proven to be a coach of a highly talented contending team.
- paulr

Great comment. I agree. I hope he finds the ability and patience to do so.

I think you have to at least try TT at 2C. If it works out great, if not no big deal.
- Ogilthorpe2

#weewaifswon'twork

Great comment. I agree. I hope he finds the ability and patience to do so.
- TrueGrit

That will be management's call.

#weewaifswon'twork
- paulr

Kane to Buffalo for Eichel then...

Saad Toews Hossa
Panarin Eichel TT
Baun Kruger Shaw
Desi Dannault Versteeg

I think you have to at least try TT at 2C. If it works out great, if not no big deal.
- Ogilthorpe2

Well Ogi. Considering the situation the Hawks will be faced with I think he will be given a long look there. Almost by default. I would rather have him on wing, but the Hawks may not have such a luxury. TT on a line with Patrick Kane? That's interesting.

http://www.coppernblue.co...al-offer-sheet-once-again


I dont think this guy realizes that it will cost over $3.6 mil to sign Saad away from the Hawks..that means that we get their 1st round pick....Saad for McDavid....I love Saader but the frase "generational talent" was never used on Brandon....feel free to sign him after the Hawks Cup win!

Kane to Buffalo for Eichel then...

Saad Toews Hossa
Panarin Eichel TT
Baun Kruger Shaw
Desi Dannault Versteeg
- Ogilthorpe2

you scare me

If Krugs moves to 3C (I can see that) then Danault will be your 4C in my view. I like Desi too and he would be perfect on L4-W and can spot some center.

TT needs to remain on wing in my view. Although he is much better defensively than I originally thought (a huge key for centers)
- kwolf68

I agree with Ogi - I think you at least try TT at center. I haven't seen Danault play as I live in NY and don't have access to the games but from what I've read it seems he has upside to be a 3c or 3W.

Still need a 2C for next year...

- DMChi2010

Crawford for Backes? Would Stl have the guts to do that?

you scare me
- BURDA13

A little scare is good for you now and then...and it's not that scary. I don't know if I'd do it, but I'd have to at least think about it. Buffalo wouldn't do it.

http://www.coppernblue.com/2015/5/28/8684555/the-dual-offer-sheet-once-again


I dont think this guy realizes that it will cost over $3.6 mil to sign Saad away from the Hawks..that means that we get their 1st round pick....Saad for McDavid....I love Saader but the frase "generational talent" was never used on Brandon....feel free to sign him after the Hawks Cup win!
- EnzoD

Pretty sure it would be next year's first round pick....so probably 30th overall

He didn't shun Hjalmarsson, Kruger, Shaw, Saad, TT, or TVR.
- Ogilthorpe2

Absolutely. Q is after a standard, not an age. Not worried about him and how he handles ready prospects.

Great comment. I agree. I hope he finds the ability and patience to do so.
- TrueGrit

Q knows he will have a stable of young replacements to work in next year. He will be up for the task and surprise many here IMO. I wouldn't be surprised if Dineen or Kitchen move on for a promotion in the OS. Would really like to see a Yawney type come in to work specifically with the young d men as his replacement.

This!!! Phil Danault breaks camp with the Hawks next year as a L3 or L4 center. FF has it right. This kid is probably at home right now doing off-ice conditioning. He'll play in the NHL and have a solid career in a set role.
- kwolf68

Danault is with the Blackhawks right now as a black ace.

I agree with Ogi - I think you at least try TT at center. I haven't seen Danault play as I live in NY and don't have access to the games but from what I've read it seems he has upside to be a 3c or 3W.
- golfbard

The flashes TT has shown are getting more frequent as the POs have moved along and he is obviously not intimidated. He is a top 6 player IMO. Hope he works hard in the OS. If Panarin meets expectations there could be some interesting combinations available. PP could be better. TT and Panarin project (for now) as top 6, Danault and most of the others as lower 6. If they can pull in any kind of a return for Sharp or Crow (if one or the other goes) who knows how it will look?

If Krugs moves to 3C (I can see that) then Danault will be your 4C in my view. I like Desi too and he would be perfect on L4-W and can spot some center.
)
- kwolf68

In my mind, this is exactly what is going to happen regarding the 3C and 4C roles next year, at least when the team breaks camp to start in October.

Pretty sure it would be next year's first round pick....so probably 30th overall
- Ogilthorpe2

so any RFA qualifying offer this summer gives draft pick compensation for the 2016 draft??

so any RFA qualifying offer this summer gives draft pick compensation for the 2016 draft??
- EnzoD

It must be the signing team's picks. No substitutions and they must come in the years subsequent to the signing so the Hawks would not get Connor.

Compensation

When a player accepts an offer sheet and his team declines to match the value of the contract, his former team is entitled to draft pick compensation in the next upcoming draft or drafts based on the averaged yearly salary of the contract.

Kane to Buffalo for Eichel then...

Saad Toews Hossa
Panarin Eichel TT
Baun Kruger Shaw
Desi Dannault Versteeg
- Ogilthorpe2

Kane trade not happening yet... give it 5 more years in Chicago and one more Cup before he rides into Buffalo as the icing on the cake they will bake in the next 5 years.

Lineup looks fine, but TT moves to L3 and Baun to L4. Get rid of Versteeg!

Methinks Kane still needs a 2C. One or two more years of Richards? Would Stan give him 2 years, 3M each year until that hole can be plugged? He'd have the cash once Bickell, Crawford, Sharp, and (hopefully) Versteeg are gone.

Bickell and Sharp to FLA for that younger defenseman whose name I'm forgetting. Crawford and Versteeg to EDM for Draisatl.

When you are talking about "the best" of anything, please remember that these are all simply opinions, which are perfect to the owner and questionable to most everybody else.

Trying to make an argument against the likes of Shea Weber just comes off as petty. The guy is a PHENOMENAL hockey player, a certain HOF and would be the cornerstone of every hockey team in the league! Keith is a great defenseman as well, just be happy we have one of those two!

As for next year, Bowman is going to have to shave at least one, if not two large salaries to make things fit, that means that Bickell, Crawford and Sharp will all be considered for trades. Who knows what will happen?

As for Runbad, if he's in CHI next season it will only be due to Bowman's ego. Objectively, he has NO PLACE on the Hawks moving forward. Oduya should be retained because that gives the Hawks a top 4 to work around with the likes of Stephen Johns, Ville Pokka and FA's. I don't consider TVR as having a legitimate shot because he simply can't stay healthy for any period of time, and this goes back to his midget hockey days as well. He's a good player, but is brittle and hockey is the wrong sport for that condition.
- MexicoHawk

I disagree. Keith is the best defender in the league in terms of being able to play an end to end game. He is the most complete player at that position since Lidstrom retired. That isn't petty, that is what I would consider an accurate observation that could probably be sufficiently backed up by a lot of different stats if I had the time to look that stuff up.

There is not a comparable player in terms of eating minutes, shutting down star players, driving offense, transitioning through the neutral zone and disrupting attacking players in the neutral zone. Complete package and the type of player you build a franchise around.

The guy literally does everything at an exceptionally high level and no other defender right now (though I think Doughty is probably second) can boast the same.

Kane to Buffalo for Eichel then...

Saad Toews Hossa
Panarin Eichel TT
Baun Kruger Shaw
Desi Dannault Versteeg
- Ogilthorpe2

This won't work, ya need to add in a bigger quotient of redass!

Wanna trade out Q for a "kinder, gentler" teacher who will appreciate the greatness of the Hawk prospects?

Be careful what ya wish for . . . Seems to me that could be akin to throwing good money after bad.
- John Jaeckel

My context may have been translated incorrectly:

I love Q, I don't want him out of Chicago at all! I think the worry would be more so if these guys don't "learn" but Q's ways of "teaching," we may see some young, rising kids stuck in a cellar. I guess the best comparison is Leddy for this but IMO, I actually liked what he did with Leddy. There is a reason why Leddy had a very, very good season. Being an LI guy, I watched Leddy all season (and yes I am a Center Ice subscriber,) and I will say his IQ definitely went up a very solid amount. No way Capuano gave him that