Kruger isnt 2C/top 6 material. That would be the worst center depth in the NHL. But I am also curious to see what Lundberg has to offer
- SimpleJack

If Kruger is your 2C, you're gonna have a bad time.

I think you have your RW and LW switched.
- EbonyRaptor

Good call, editing right now.

...or Radim Vrbata for that matter? I get going after Vesey, but letting everyone else slip away in the meantime? What exactly is left out there now who isn't an Icehog?
- Kewl1

If they'd signed anyone else, unless it was for a sub $1m contract, they wouldn't have been able to sign Vesey with full bonuses due to limited cushion space. Bowman definitely has an issue with waiting too long to make a move on occasion (esp more recently), but the only move here was waiting for Vesey if he was the #1 target.

I might, MIGHT, believe:
Rookie/Panik-Toews-Kane
Panarin-AA-Hossa
- JRoenick97

would feel better with;
AA-19-88
72-Pirri-Hossa

IMHO, Kruger VERY pleasantly surprises us this year.
Dude's every bit the gamer Shawzie is....

The lure of playing with Toews, Kane, Hossa appears not to be as strong as it was.
- StLBravesFan

Perhaps it's more accurate to say that the lure of the Hawks isn't enough to overcome the lure of a known quantity to some players - either due to friendships on other teams, connections via management, etc.

I understand the rational behind keeping the 72/15/88 line together, but in the absence of Stan acquiring another forward moving Panarin to Toews line might help spread out the talent. I'm not suggesting this is the only way to go, just an idea to try at some point in time. I think it's a better idea than moving Hossa to the third line.

72 - 19 - 81
?? - 15 - 88
14 - 16 - ??
11 - 70 - 22
- DarthKane

I would really like to see Panarin with Toews and Hossa

It moves the hole from 1LW to 3C, but that might be better for the team overall. I'd guess the bottom six centers would be two out of Desi or Moose or Lundberg. Or, maybe Schmaltz or Hinostroza or Motte or Carrick surprise and can hold down 3C.
- matt_ahrens

To the part in bold - That's the problem with slotting Kruger into the upper lines. Shutdown centers take time to develop, and the guy who was being groomed to become the next one was sent packing to Montreal at the trade deadline. You don't win cups without one.

Desjardins is a nice piece to have in the lower lines, but he's not the guy you want to lean on in that role. I've watched a lot of "Moose" over the past couple of seasons, and he looks more to be a better option on the left wing than taking draws.

I won't comment on Lundberg or Schmaltz because I haven't seen them to provide some informed opinion. However, I wouldn't hold your breath on Carrick. He's AHL depth.

Hinostroza isn't a guy who I would rely on in a defensive role. The more I watch him, he doesn't seem to adapt to physical side of the game, and will shy away from absorbing a hit or battling for a puck along the boards or in the corners, or trying to fight his way to the front of the net. Judging by where he spent most of his time in Rockford last season, the organizational plan might be to keep him at RW.

As for Motte, there is some upside there - at LW. The problem is that from what I saw this spring, Motte needs some time to adjust to the pro game. It will be interesting to see what he looks like in camp - and how much of a leap he has made developmentally (or not). Further, it might come down to Q and Bowman trying to decide if Motte can learn on the job in Chicago - despite Motte needing half a season in Rockford to put it all together.

Perhaps it's more accurate to say that the lure of the Hawks isn't enough to overcome the lure of a known quantity to some players - either due to friendships on other teams, connections via management, etc.
- L_B_R

.....Or not wanting to be a smaller fish in a big pond.

Assuming no more moves are made, how about this?

Rookie - Toews - Kane
Panarin - Anisimov - Rookie
Panik - Kruger - Hossa
Desi - Moose - Tootoo

Kane has proven that no matter his linemates he can score, and get them to score as well. This, along with Toews being so defensively responsible hopefully makes the rookie more effective/successful in his role.

Panarin and Anisimov are language buddies, I just don't know who you would play on their RW.

Line 3 will be a constant nuisance to whoever they play against.

Line 4 will be wrecking ball line.

IMHO, Kruger VERY pleasantly surprises us this year.
Dude's every bit the gamer Shawzie is....
- 35Tony0

Not advocating either way for Kruger to play 2C or not, but if he is given the chance, I agree that he may surprise. He's an under-rated passer and is one of few guys on the team to go to the dirty areas and the net with regularity. He's great at faceoffs and sound defensively. These qualities sound very similar to qualities of Anisimov, except for the faceoffs where Kruger is far more superior.

Assuming no more moves are made, how about this?

Rookie - Toews - Kane
Panarin - Anisimov - Rookie
Panik - Kruger - Hossa
Desi - Moose - Tootoo

Kane has proven that no matter his linemates he can score, and get them to score as well. This, along with Toews being so defensively responsible hopefully makes the rookie more effective/successful in his role.

Panarin and Anisimov are language buddies, I just don't know who you would play on their RW.

Line 3 will be a constant nuisance to whoever they play against.

Line 4 will be wrecking ball line.
- roots_gamble

I'd rather see this...

Panarin - Toews - Hossa
Rookie (Motte)- Anisimov - Kane
Panik - Kruger - Rookie (Schmaltz)
Desi - Moose - Tootoo

Not advocating either way for Kruger to play 2C or not, but if he is given the chance, I agree that he may surprise. He's an under-rated passer and is one of few guys on the team to go to the dirty areas and the net with regularity. He's great at faceoffs and sound defensively. These qualities sound very similar to qualities of Anisimov, except for the faceoffs where Kruger is far more superior.
- AEL_Fox

Kruger is never going to double his best point total just by moving to 2C.

Assuming no more moves are made, how about this?

Rookie - Toews - Kane
Panarin - Anisimov - Rookie
Panik - Kruger - Hossa
Desi - Moose - Tootoo

Kane has proven that no matter his linemates he can score, and get them to score as well. This, along with Toews being so defensively responsible hopefully makes the rookie more effective/successful in his role.

Panarin and Anisimov are language buddies, I just don't know who you would play on their RW.

Line 3 will be a constant nuisance to whoever they play against.

Line 4 will be wrecking ball line.
- roots_gamble

I think there is a good chance the Kane line will be tinkered with.
Your way will have 2 rookies and Mosse so in my view that's 3 rookies out of 12 forwards...hmmm

What about Tlusty over 4 years in CAR he played 247 games and scored 69 goals. Would probably come in for a league min deal. in a 82 game season that is 23 goals and he is still only 28.

would you bring in Pirri who can play either wing and put him on a scoring line? our forwards right now only has 4 Guys you can really count on to score goals. That's just not enough. Pirri has 49 goals in 159 games which comes out to 25 over 82 games.

Assuming no more moves are made, how about this?

Rookie - Toews - Kane
Panarin - Anisimov - Rookie
Panik - Kruger - Hossa
Desi - Moose - Tootoo

Kane has proven that no matter his linemates he can score, and get them to score as well. This, along with Toews being so defensively responsible hopefully makes the rookie more effective/successful in his role.

Panarin and Anisimov are language buddies, I just don't know who you would play on their RW.

Line 3 will be a constant nuisance to whoever they play against.

Line 4 will be wrecking ball line.
- roots_gamble

Same lineup I suggested. Well done.

I think there is a good chance the Kane line will be tinkered with.
Your way will have 2 rookies and Mosse so in my view that's 3 rookies out of 12 forwards...hmmm
- Al

Moose played 42 games last year. Not really a rookie.

What about Tlusty over 4 years in CAR he played 247 games and scored 69 goals. Would probably come in for a league min deal. in a 82 game season that is 23 goals and he is still only 28.

would you bring in Pirri who can play either wing and put him on a scoring line? our forwards right now only has 4 Guys you can really count on to score goals. That's just not enough. Pirri has 49 goals in 159 games which comes out to 25 over 82 games.
- kmw4631

There are slim pickings left in the free agent market, that's for sure. For the bottom 6 Korpikoski and Higgins could be interesting options (on PTOs).

We always have a hole we can't overcome ,but seem to .2ND line Center 4th dman now 1st or 2nd line LW wing . Like they say it's always something ,off to the beach .. Cheers !!
- oldduffman

Ha, very true, each cup winner 2010 2013 2015 had a hole that was glaring.

Stan is looking for that long-suffering player to whom Johnny can first hand the cup in June: so look for Doan, Hartnell, or that ilk to play 1W soon.

Moose played 42 games last year. Not really a rookie.
- JRoenick97

In my eyes he is more a rookie than a vet.

Older rookie tho at 26, but he played really only 3 months of hockey Dec-Feb and a handful of games in March.

In my eyes he is more a rookie than a vet.

Older rookie tho at 26, but he played really only 3 months of hockey Dec-Feb and a handful of games in March.
- Al

True...but Rasmussen isn't exactly wet behind the ears either. He has a few years of pro experience in Sweden and two years of pro experience in North America.

I'd be more comfortable with a seasoned NHL veteran, but I am more comfortable with Rasmussen as the 4C than a true rookie.

One of my thoughts for the hawks is to play Kruger LW with Toews and Hossa. He may not have the offensive talent to sustain it, but think about in the Olympics when Kruger played a more advanced role and how he was scoring. It adds another dominant board/puck possession player to that line. It would be the best defensive line in hockey as well and it might open Toews up to do a little more on the offensive side.

I think Rasmussen is capable of playing 3C in a checking role. Saw no reason for him not to be playing in the playoffs. Lundberg projects as a nice 4C so why not try that?

What about Tlusty over 4 years in CAR he played 247 games and scored 69 goals. Would probably come in for a league min deal. in a 82 game season that is 23 goals and he is still only 28.

would you bring in Pirri who can play either wing and put him on a scoring line? our forwards right now only has 4 Guys you can really count on to score goals. That's just not enough. Pirri has 49 goals in 159 games which comes out to 25 over 82 games.
- kmw4631

Haven't watched him enough recently, but he used to have some wheels and a shot.

True...but Rasmussen isn't exactly wet behind the ears either. He has a few years of pro experience in Sweden and two years of pro experience in North America.

I'd be more comfortable with a seasoned NHL veteran, but I am more comfortable with Rasmussen as the 4C than a true rookie.
- DarthKane

I agree but still 33% of top 12 without much NHL experience and I don't want to extend things and throw Panik in the mix.

There are slim pickings left in the free agent market, that's for sure. For the bottom 6 Korpikoski and Higgins could be interesting options (on PTOs).
- DarthKane

The problem is we are stocked on guys that can play on the 4th line and not score. all that does by bringing in a 4th line player is move another 4th line guy to the 3rd line and 3rd to 2nd.