Mex, as far as the lines for next season go, if they do indeed keep Shaw i wouldn't mind seeing him anchor either RW on the Toews line or possibly a "4th" line center role. Also Schmaltz has top 6 potential and i think it would be huge for the Hawks if he bursted onto the scene, and if not Shaw can plug in:

Panik-Toews-Schmaltz/Shaw
Panarin-AA-Kane
TT-Kruger-Hossa
Desi-Shaw/Moose-Baun/Hartman

Also i think that might be a better fit for TT playing a defensively responsible game on a 3rd scoring line that has impressive potential. I'm not sure TT would work out as a top 6RW, if anything maybe try Hossa back up there if Schmaltz and Shaw don't work out.

Anyways, with that type of forward depth/firepower, the real issue can be focused on: Defense depth. Plug in guys on the bottom pairing that can play 15+ effective minutes with Keith, Seabs, Hammer, and TVR as the top 4 and Crawford in net, and i think the Hawks will be in prime shape to take back the Cup.

I agree Rick. Seems Tavares is a bit more bowlegged than JT. A little better (lower) center of gravity in tight spaces so easier to protect the puck.
- 6628

Toews is lopsided bowlegged. one side more than the other I think.

I wonder what the % is of NHL players that are bowlegged to some degree?

Toews is lopsided bowlegged. one side more than the other I think.

I wonder what the % is of NHL players that are bowlegged to some degree?
- Al

and what % play without all their teeth during the season?

Toews is lopsided bowlegged. one side more than the other I think.

I wonder what the % is of NHL players that are bowlegged to some degree?
- Al

It helps. Look how Leddy skates.

I think he won the 5th game and kept them within reach in Game 6.
Chances were close to the same and Elliott played really well but at the end of the day Crawford was good enough for the Hawks to win the series. I agree on Shaw and Crawford....Last year the best forwards in the postseason were Saad and Shaw.
- Al

Elliott makes $2.5, Jones $3.0, Andersen $1.3, Niemi $3.2. All are still playing and Crawford isn't (although Anaheim is down 2-0 going into the 3rd), but the trend seems to be mid price goalie and allocate dollars elsewhere. Certainly wouldn't be surprised if CC was moved.

Raanta is a UFA who made $750K, nets $5M

lets look at the issue of changing roster toews was referencing...

toews wingers this year: garbutt, tinkenov, sekic = gone; ladd and fleisch= gone; shaw, tt, desi, panik = most likely back

thats 9....did i miss anybody

forwards who got some time with the hawks: bicks, kero, ross, hartmann, hinostra, baun, ras

thats alot of forward churning...

i think 8 guys scored their 1st nhl goal...

Elliott makes $2.5, Jones $3.0, Andersen $1.3, Niemi $3.2. All are still playing and Crawford isn't (although Anaheim is down 2-0 going into the 3rd), but the trend seems to be mid price goalie and allocate dollars elsewhere. Certainly wouldn't be surprised if CC was moved.

Raanta is a UFA who made $750K, nets $5M
- Sundevil

umm no....been there..done that...just doesn't have the size teams must have in goal these days

umm no....been there..done that...just doesn't have the size teams must have in goal these days
- bogiedoc

Sorry should have clarified as a backup, or someone else with experience that is relatively cheap. The starting job would be Darling's, and you upgrade the D with the savings

Sorry should have clarified as a backup, or someone else with experience that is relatively cheap. The starting job would be Darling's, and you upgrade the D with the savings
- Sundevil

ok...i can see that...but does raanta want to come here as a backup...i doubt it...he wants to go and get a chance to be a starter...

to move the best big time goalie in the league (and I still think so despite this early exit) and hand the reigns to darling is one helluva bold high risk move but $$ and roster upgrade might demand it...i will not rule it out

Yes! Go Preds! Gotta love watching Kesler, Perry and the rest of those asshats choke away another game 7 at home.

Cool beans...

...Ducks are gone yet again.

Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch.

for the 3rd year in arow the ducks blow 3-2 lead and lose the G7 at home...and boudreau's record in G7 keeps going the wrong way

preds/sharks get your blood flowing...ah no

Yes! Go Preds! Gotta love watching Kesler, Perry and the rest of those asshats choke away another game 7 at home.
- SimpleJack

The west is gettin' weird this year.

I'm pulling for the Sharks, but I honestly would not mind seeing the Blues in the finals. Blues have better fans than that bunch in Dallas.

western conference looks so bland without hawks in the playoffs

western conference looks so bland without hawks in the playoffs
- arps714

blues/stars and preds/sharks


one of those team coming out of the west...

A few days ago, a few of you remarked that television ratings will suffer without the Hawks, Kings, and Rangers in the playoffs. Right your are.

Game 7 of the Hawks / Blues series drew 1.4 million viewers on NBCSN Monday night, up 76% from Islanders/Capitals game 7 last year. The game ranks as the most-watched first round playoff game ever on NBCSN. Apparently Chicagoans are not the only market watching the Hawks.

Note that the 1.4 viewers on NBCSN do not include the local telecasts in Chicago and St. Louis that together added 900K more television homes. Comcast SportsNet Chicago earned a 19.07 rating for its coverage, which is the highest for any program in the history of the network. Similarly, Fox Sports Midwest in St. Louis earned a 19.6 rating – also making it the highest rated program in the history of that network.
- etchtech

Ratings in Canada are down 61% versus last year. Chicago, LA/ANA and half of New York all out now, so DAL/STL/NSH/SJ now represent what is left of the West for a viewership base....

Be interesting to see the NBC numbers for the next series. PIT/WAS will draw heavy from their markets, but not sure how many NYI/TB fans will show.

No human can withstand so many game seven losses..

No human can withstand so many game seven losses..
- MjulQvist

Ducks lost another game 7 at home? Again? Wow...

no it was a wicked knuckler...i think steen tipped it...crow was looking left around the steen screen and paryenko's shot veered to his right and seemed to change direction...
- bogiedoc

Watched it again and it was just a screamer that went past Crow to his right, Paryako is credited with the goal from the blueline.

The shot hit the post and went in. Until Crawford eats too many pizzas and is 6' wide or grows a neck like a giraffe he can't stop that shot with just positioning. He looked left, it went right. I'll never blame a goalie on a seeing eye rocket through traffic off the post from the point. Konroyd is a nice guy, but if I was him I'd be talking about a D man knocking someone on their ass so Crawford could see.
- 6628

He's just off the LEFT post, and he looks LEFT and the shot goes right? He started way tooo far to the right, didn't follow the pass to Paryako in the CENTER of the ice. There was NO traffic it was a ONE man screen by Steen.

I see your point on Q but the NHL is not a place to learn in many ways. Hawks practice less than others but even if not there isn't a lot of time to learn. It's more about getting a feel for the system and game planning. Years ago there was more skills work I think, but the PA got into the mix as well and limits practice time.

I have said in the past and will keep repeating, young forwards coming up from Rockford don't stick here unless they are versatile and can play effectively on more than one line. Only exception since Q has been here was Bollig.
- Al

It's a hard cap world and the personnel is changing in that younger more inexperienced kids have to come up for cash strapped teams. They will need coaching at the NHL level.

Man, Drouin is really fun to watch out there, great vision. TB is a fun team to watch, just not sure they can stop the Pens or Caps.

What a joke Quick over Crawford. Seriously, how do the GMs not see what everyone else does?
- howiehandles

According to some of the experts, dealing the UNGODLY GREAT TT for the likes of Jonathan Drouin was LUNACY!!!!

blues/stars and preds/sharks


one of those team coming out of the west...
- bogiedoc

Yeah Bogie it would have really set up nice for the Hawks, just makes you sick.
Still can't believe both Q and Bowman said in the post season presser yesterday they were fine on defense...bullcrap...needed a #4 badly - top three were overtaxed for sure.

Stan's summer of suck really cost us. And look at how Drouin's playing right now. Looks like they've held onto TT past his shelf date just like Sharp/Bickell etc...you're certainly not going to get as much for TT now as you could've. Just pathetic.

According to some of the experts, dealing the UNGODLY GREAT TT for the likes of Jonathan Drouin was LUNACY!!!!
- John Jaeckel

Maybe I'm in the minority but I don't think TT is going to be a top 6 player. His size is a concern for me. I would trade him now because the longer the Hawks hold on to him the more his value may go down.

Haven't heard from my main sources in a month or so, obviously much has changed. So the following are just my opinions based on what I've heard and seen in the past.

Motte and Schmaltz will be given real shots, where the Great Swedish Defense Cavalry will be on a very short leash with Q at least. Svedberg and Gustafsson were the last Swedes who were supposed to solve 5-7 . . . and they're still here.

Mashinter is gone. Panik is here. Shaw tougher to project. Kruger is not going anywhere.

If no NHL ready talent is brought in at a couple of positions, then expect this to be about the 5th best team in the West next year. Again. Expecting otherwise would be diehard fanboy insanity.

The price of bringing in that talent will be higher than three plane tickets from Stockholm. Could be Crawford. Could be TT. Bickell should be bought out.