While I still think he is closer to a bad defender than he is to being "fair" at defense, Daley did have a very effective game IMO. If he can bring that kind of offense and not get blatantly burned on the defensive side of the puck, Daley can be a nice depth Offensive D asset. Hammer had a bounce back game and him catching Taylor Hall on a mini-breakaway was just an amazing play that 95% of NHL dman don't make. TVR continues to be rock solid and Gustaffson looks to be a 200ft dman that can get involved in the offensive zone. I'm still bummed bc I wanted to see Toews matchup against McDavid....BUT, huge 2 points last night. These are going to be a long almost 4 days without Blackhawks' hockey

Then who, maybe Nashville? How many teams are better? Just curious
- BetweenTheDots

When you compare top 6 groups (not top 4) the Rangers, Preds and Blues look really good. Yandle, Staal and McIlrath at 4-5-6 for the Rags. McIlrath is keeping Boyle out of the lineup. If Parayko keeps looking solid the Blues top 4 looks damn good too.

If TVR keeps playing well though I think defensively the Hawks top 4 is outstanding. If Oduya was still here and TVR and Daley/Rosi at 5-6 it wouldn't be close IMO.

Dano has been looking better, much stronger on the puck and more engaged than before.

Im warming up to the idea of having him on the top line as those attributes would make him a better fit for 19 and 81. I think the lines should be:

56-19-81
72-15-88
65-67-86
11-16-28

I think i remember Shaw and Teravainen playing together for a short while on the 3rd and 4th lines last year. That should also give our 3rd line more scoring potential than we've seen all year. Garbutt is the perfect guy to replace Shaw on our 4th line.

Sorry when I said he I meant Gustafsson. Yeah Rundblad can go don't care where but he can go
- BetweenTheDots

Yes, Gustafson has had mistakes but he seems to come back hard and not shell up after he makes them. I think he got in Pouliot's face within a few shifts of one of those odd man breaks he was at fault for... Shows to me he has the ability to bounce back. Rundblad, on the other hand....

Story on the 'Real Hockey Insider' from TSN, produced by an ole friend.
Piece is creating a good buzz. Highly recommend.

http://www.tsn.ca/video/t...eal-hockey-insider~745267
- philco28

Good post philco

The window is the next 3-5 years depending on how Seabs, Keith, Hammer and Hossa hold up. All the deals will look terrible in 5 years. But hopefully that's a total of 8 Cups in the Kane-Toews-Keith era.


- DMChi2010

The difference between SEABS and Keith Hammer Hossa is those guys were underpaid for a good portion of there contract so at some point they could become over paid (not hammer) Seabs is never underpaid. He will be in the top 15 of all D men in the league.

And with Crow, Kane and Teows. All of there contracts are in there prime and done under 35. So you could argue that they are overpaid by 1 mil per year but that is really about it.

Seabs could be overpaid by 1/2 to 3/4 of his contract 35-39. I wanted to keep him but paying him that much that long is a mistake for the our 3rd best d man. It also sets a bad precedent for hammer? do you give him a 6.5 X 8 as well?

Defensively though that could be among the best top 4. Definitely not the best top 6.

Also have to worry about TVR's durability. If he avoids injury how will he look come PO time too? This is essentially his rookie season.
- tredbrta

Just some thoughts/observations:


- I'd argue that Keith, Seabrook, and Hjalmarsson could stand up to any team in the league's top three defenseman and be better on any given night. That's a no-brainer.

- As for TvR's durability, you can lump Svedberg into that category of concern as well.

- How has Rozsival's injury affected his overall game? Does that injury suffered in the playoffs slow him down even more - to the point where Rozsival's overall effectiveness becomes limited, or even a detriment to the team?

Dano has been looking better, much stronger on the puck and more engaged than before.

Im warming up to the idea of having him on the top line as those attributes would make him a better fit for 19 and 81. I think the lines should be:

56-19-81
72-15-88
65-67-86
11-16-28

I think i remember Shaw and Teravainen playing together for a short while on the 3rd and 4th lines last year. That should also give our 3rd line more scoring potential than we've seen all year. Garbutt is the perfect guy to replace Shaw on our 4th line.
- SimpleJack

These lines have the Dark Side seal of approval.

These lines have the Dark Side seal of approval.


- DarthKane

I wouldn't mind seeing something like this for a couple of games. Also, I wouldn't mind seeing what Kruger could do plugged in between Teuvo and Shaw by swapping spots with Kero.

When you compare top 6 groups (not top 4) the Rangers, Preds and Blues look really good. Yandle, Staal and McIlrath at 4-5-6 for the Rags. McIlrath is keeping Boyle out of the lineup. If Parayko keeps looking solid the Blues top 4 looks damn good too.

If TVR keeps playing well though I think defensively the Hawks top 4 is outstanding. If Oduya was still here and TVR and Daley/Rosi at 5-6 it wouldn't be close IMO.
- tredbrta

Preds D is suspect. Weber and Josi and solid and Jones is coming along nicely. Outside of that its not great.

Dano has been looking better, much stronger on the puck and more engaged than before.

Im warming up to the idea of having him on the top line as those attributes would make him a better fit for 19 and 81. I think the lines should be:

56-19-81
72-15-88
65-67-86
11-16-28

I think i remember Shaw and Teravainen playing together for a short while on the 3rd and 4th lines last year. That should also give our 3rd line more scoring potential than we've seen all year. Garbutt is the perfect guy to replace Shaw on our 4th line.
- SimpleJack

I like those lines a lot

TT at RW

Only change I would make is maybe split time between Desi and Tikhonov? Desi's been having some struggles lately and while not a 1L player I really like Tikhonov's game

Just some thoughts/observations:


- I'd argue that Keith, Seabrook, and Hjalmarsson could stand up to any team in the league's top three defenseman and be better on any given night. That's a no-brainer.

- As for TvR's durability, you can lump Svedberg into that category of concern as well.

- How has Rozsival's injury affected his overall game? Does that injury suffered in the playoffs slow him down even more - to the point where Rozsival's overall effectiveness becomes limited, or even a detriment to the team?
- EKB13

No question on the top 3. Svedberg and Rosi having durability issues also has to be a concern. If Q ends up having to play Rosi a lot you have to be concerned for the POs. Hopefully, a rotation will work or another veteran D is added.

How much better would things look if Oduya stayed? Immensely IMO.

Preds D is suspect. Weber and Josi and solid and Jones is coming along nicely. Outside of that its not great.
- Gerk

Ekholm is very solid defensively. He deserved that contract. Elllis seems to play well when the Hawks play them and Jackman and Bitetto at 6-7 aren't bad minute eaters. 6-7 is where it evens out. I'd take Ellis's stats/mins at 5-6 any day.

7-1-1 at home, 1-5-0 on the road.

The boys really need to get the road thing figured out with the circus trip upcoming. 7 road games the remainder of the month:

STL, EDM, CLG, VAN, SJ, ANA, LA

The last few years the circus trip has been a time when the team has come together and played well. Hopefully they can do the same this year. Need to be at least 4-3 on the road the rest of the month.

How much better would things look if Oduya stayed? Immensely IMO.
- tredbrta

No argument there.

Ekholm is very solid defensively. He deserved that contract. Elllis seems to play well when the Hawks play them and Jackman and Bitetto at 6-7 aren't bad minute eaters. 6-7 is where it evens out. I'd take Ellis's stats/mins at 5-6 any day.
- tredbrta

Their problem is going to be finding goals. They are not coming as quickly/ often as last year.

7-1-1 at home, 1-5-0 on the road.

The boys really need to get the road thing figured out with the circus trip upcoming. 7 road games the remainder of the month:

STL, EDM, CLG, VAN, SJ, ANA, LA

The last few years the circus trip has been a time when the team has come together and played well. Hopefully they can do the same this year. Need to be at least 4-3 on the road the rest of the month.
- scottak

Game vs Blues will have a good amount of Hawks fans in attendance with the Bears also being in town.

I'd really like to see Kero get a chance on the top line as a LW. He's looked confident and comfortable playing at this level. Good energy. Put him with 19 and 81 and let's see what he can do!

But then what to do at 3LC? The easy choice is Shaw. Desjardins could work too. A more interesting option would be Dano. TT is not a center. Something like:

67-19-81
72-15-88
86-65-56
11-16-28

Another option would be to put Dano on the 4th line and Garbutt on the 3rd to split up Dano and TT.

I'd really like to see Kero get a chance on the top line as a LW. He's looked confident and comfortable playing at this level. Good energy. Put him with 19 and 81 and let's see what he can do!

But then what to do at 3LC? The easy choice is Shaw. Desjardins could work too. A more interesting option would be Dano. TT is not a center. Something like:

67-19-81
72-15-88
86-65-56
11-16-28

Another option would be to put Dano on the 4th line and Garbutt on the 3rd to split up Dano and TT.
- matt_ahrens

I still prefer the option of TT as the 3RW.

Kero as the 1LW is not a bad idea, he took some shifts late in the 3rd on that line. However this would leave a voice on the 3rd line as neither TT or Shaw are great options to centre that line.

While I still think he is closer to a bad defender than he is to being "fair" at defense, Daley did have a very effective game IMO. If he can bring that kind of offense and not get blatantly burned on the defensive side of the puck, Daley can be a nice depth Offensive D asset. Hammer had a bounce back game and him catching Taylor Hall on a mini-breakaway was just an amazing play that 95% of NHL dman don't make. TVR continues to be rock solid and Gustaffson looks to be a 200ft dman that can get involved in the offensive zone. I'm still bummed bc I wanted to see Toews matchup against McDavid....BUT, huge 2 points last night. These are going to be a long almost 4 days without Blackhawks' hockey
- EnzoD

Daley:
Agree with the Daley comments and it seems you and I watched the same effective game he played last night and agree with with you tha he will be a depth DMan going forward.

Seabrook:
He doesn't have the foot speed and never has. It's why he failed to make Team Canada on the larger ice surface. It's why he teams well with the faster Keith and why he will make the Canada's World cup team to be played on the North American ice surface.

Since I critical bowman for the seabs deal. I should give him credit for locking up AA till he is 33 (all in his prime). I think if you look at what he has done in years past it might have been a slight overpay but if he puts up 25G and 60 points he was going to get a even bigger deal. if you knew he was going to play him Kane it was a smart deal.

Dano has been looking better, much stronger on the puck and more engaged than before.

Im warming up to the idea of having him on the top line as those attributes would make him a better fit for 19 and 81. I think the lines should be:

56-19-81
72-15-88
65-67-86
11-16-28

I think i remember Shaw and Teravainen playing together for a short while on the 3rd and 4th lines last year. That should also give our 3rd line more scoring potential than we've seen all year. Garbutt is the perfect guy to replace Shaw on our 4th line.
- SimpleJack

Agreed 1000%. Best possible combinations.

I'd really like to see Kero get a chance on the top line as a LW. He's looked confident and comfortable playing at this level. Good energy. Put him with 19 and 81 and let's see what he can do!

But then what to do at 3LC? The easy choice is Shaw. Desjardins could work too. A more interesting option would be Dano. TT is not a center. Something like:

67-19-81
72-15-88
86-65-56
11-16-28

Another option would be to put Dano on the 4th line and Garbutt on the 3rd to split up Dano and TT.
- matt_ahrens

Agree on Kero, I'd like to see his energy on that line with 19 and 81.

Also would like to see Desjardins at 3C with 86 and 56. He's a career 52.9% on FOs versus Shaw at 46.2%, plus that 4th line could use something different for an offensive spark.

The difference between SEABS and Keith Hammer Hossa is those guys were underpaid for a good portion of there contract so at some point they could become over paid (not hammer) Seabs is never underpaid. He will be in the top 15 of all D men in the league.

And with Crow, Kane and Teows. All of there contracts are in there prime and done under 35. So you could argue that they are overpaid by 1 mil per year but that is really about it.

Seabs could be overpaid by 1/2 to 3/4 of his contract 35-39. I wanted to keep him but paying him that much that long is a mistake for the our 3rd best d man. It also sets a bad precedent for hammer? do you give him a 6.5 X 8 as well?
- kmw4631

It seems like the only Blackhawks player that is over-paid right now is Bickell and that is because he has underperformed, not because Stan paid above market for him (at the time.) The biggest challenge for the Blackhawks is the slow-in-rising salary cap that is decreasing the number of highly paid players and increasing the number of role players at the low end of the salary spectrum. It might be one of the reasons why the 3rd line just isn't producing as well this year with three close to minimum salary guys.

What about just putting Kane on the top line and having a second line of Pinaren, Artem and Tivo/Dano? Please excuse any misspelled names ha.