Saad - Toews - Panik
Hartman - AA - Kane
Sharp - Schmaltz - Jurco
Bouma - Kero - Wingels

Tootoo

Keith - Rutta
Forsling - Seabrook
Kempny - Murphy

Rozsival
- walleyeb1

Ideally I'd like to see a third line of Sharp - Schmaltz - Hartman. But the problem is that there is a hole in the top 6 on the left side and all of these three guys are candidates to fill that void. Other than these 3 I don't know who could play LW with Anisimov and Kane.

Ideally I'd like to see a third line of Sharp - Schmaltz - Hartman. But the problem is that there is a hole in the top 6 on the left side and all of these three guys are candidates to fill that void. Other than these 3 I don't know who could play LW with Anisimov and Kane.
- DarthKane

This! All of it.

Ideally I'd like to see a third line of Sharp - Schmaltz - Hartman. But the problem is that there is a hole in the top 6 on the left side and all of these three guys are candidates to fill that void. Other than these 3 I don't know who could play LW with Anisimov and Kane.
- DarthKane

Maybe sign a couple of decent UFA's to PTO's that can be signed after Hossa goes on LTIR.

Schmaltz is the #1 question mark. If he makes progress... HEY! we have a team!

#2 is who even tries to fill Hossa's giant shoes.

Ideally I'd like to see a third line of Sharp - Schmaltz - Hartman. But the problem is that there is a hole in the top 6 on the left side and all of these three guys are candidates to fill that void. Other than these 3 I don't know who could play LW with Anisimov and Kane.
- DarthKane

The acquisition from the Hossa 5 million Cap windfall....

The acquisition from the Hossa 5 million Cap windfall....
- hawk35

JJ hinting on twitter that P Kane has requested E Kane...

JJ hinting on twitter that P Kane has requested E Kane...
- Marlowe

If Evander can stay out of the physio clinic he's worth a look. He hasn't ever had a full season played. Had a chance to knock it out of the park playing with a brilliant guy named Eichel and merely played ok.

More question marks than plus signs.

The acquisition from the Hossa 5 million Cap windfall....
- hawk35

If the Hawks go this route my guess is that they acquire a forward that Willa be a UFA next summer. TvR (paging LBR), E Kane and Neal are the best options, after that there isn't much.

Would the Hawks be better served to use that cap space on a defenseman? Or maybe a combination of a depth defenseman and depth forward. John Moore and Tyler Bozak?

Any thoughts on PA Parenteau as a budget addition on the left side?
- HawksFan30

Not terrible. Never got a fair shake playing for MTL. Definitely has skill and finish.

No one got a fair shake under Therrien though... Except Desharnais. Boy did he have a long leash.

If the Hawks go this route my guess is that they acquire a forward that Willa be a UFA next summer. TvR (paging LBR), E Kane and Neal are the best options, after that there isn't much.

Would the Hawks be better served to use that cap space on a defenseman? Or maybe a combination of a depth defenseman and depth forward. John Moore and Tyler Bozak?
- DarthKane

I vote second option. Defense is thin and will either send Q packing or cost a playoff spot. Q won't coach an offense first team no matter the makeup.

Great post TyCamScore.

On Kane needing a right handed shot. I wonder if Stan waits to see if he can get Drew Stanford on a cheap one year deal. He's a legitimate 20 goal scorer, 2nd liner and a left winger. Barring something like that obviously the two candidates are Sharp and Schmaltz. I still think Schmaltz needs to play Center as he did at North Dakota. Plus his excellent back checking and puck stripping ability is a real asset playing a 200 foot game.

Also, I think you nailed it on Oesterle. Good wheels, great first pass, NHL ready, cheap contract.

I like Dzingel (a lot actually) and the Hawks were mildly interested in him before this past deadline. Not sure they pay DeBrincat for him, but sure.
- John Jaeckel

I know you know this John, Dzingel is a C/W and has a nose for the net and is proven at the NHL level. Debrincat praise is a little off scale (and I'm not being overly judgmental on that either). I'd pay that price for Dzingel. Easily. Fills a need right away.

To start the year, i'd like to see this:

Saad-Toews-Panik
Jurco-AA-Kane
Sharp-Schmaltz-Hartman
Wingels-Kero-Bouma
Tootoo/Hino are scratches

Jurco on the 2nd line? why not? There is talent here, and who knows, maybe playing with Kane elevates his skill-set. Sharp should start out getting 3rd line minutes to get himself back up to speed from his injuries. Where's Dauphin? playing top line in Rockford with DeBrincat working on his faceoff numbers and pk skills.

Keith-Murphy
Kempny-Seabrook
Tyutin-Rutta
Dahlbeck is scratched, Rozy is bought out

Fedor Tyutin? what? The idea is that a trade of Hossa, Louis (lets say) and a pick go to Carolina for Klas Dahlbeck and an overall cap relief from Hossa. Tyutin is then brought in for under 2mil to play alongside Rutta to provide some veteran help across the ice. he's played 60 games or more in every season of his 13-year career besides his rookie season. He's also almost been a 100-100 guy (hits and blocks) in every one of his seasons as well.

Crawford
Forsberg

Forsberg won't be handed the backup job in training camp. He'll battle with Berube and ultimately win out. His aggressive style is similar to Darling's and i'm sure Waite can fine tune his mechanics and make him a formidable backup for 15-20 games next year.

Powerplay 1:

Sharp-Toews-Saad
Keith-Kane

Powerplay 2:

Hartman-AA-Panik
Kempny-Seabrook

Penalty Kill 1:

Toews-Bouma
Keith-Murphy

Penalty Kill 2:
AA-Kero
Tyutin-Seabrook

Great post TyCamScore.

On Kane needing a right handed shot. I wonder if Stan waits to see if he can get Drew Stanford on a cheap one year deal. He's a legitimate 20 goal scorer, 2nd liner and a left winger. Barring something like that obviously the two candidates are Sharp and Schmaltz. I still think Schmaltz needs to play Center as he did at North Dakota. Plus his excellent back checking and puck stripping ability is a real asset playing a 200 foot game.

Also, I think you nailed it on Oesterle. Good wheels, great first pass, NHL ready, cheap contract.
- Omahawk

Stafford would be a good option on a minimal 1 year deal, although I would guess he's looking for more than that.

Maybe sign a couple of decent UFA's to PTO's that can be signed after Hossa goes on LTIR.
- walleyeb1

that is an oxymoron. There are no decent UFA.

Guys like Iginla, Jagr and Doan are old and slow. The rest are a bunch of bottom 3 types.

Should have signed Versteeg. All kidding aside. He can fit with Kane. And has in the past.

Stafford would be a good option on a minimal 1 year deal, although I would guess he's looking for more than that.
- DarthKane

Please no. I rather they go with a young guy instead of players whose best years were 3-5 years ago just because its name that is familiar.

Sullivan is given credit for all kinds of insight and forward-thinking when his touchstone is as "old school" as it is possible to be. He coaches without a conscience. He rewards effort and productivity period. He does not see age, experience or size of contract. He has no misguided prejudice/loyalty in favour of any players. Nor does he have any misguided prejudice against any player. His analysis is true and is not over a number of games but is game to game and in-game and even shift to shift. Also no position is omitted - goalies are interchangeable. Changes are made to give the team a best chance to win. Period. End of Story.
- Z3Hawk

Right on, z. Sullivan simply plays the best players at that time in a place to succeed, with Malikin or Crosby. Hornqvist, Kunitz and Hagelin gave Sullivan all the predictability he would need but when they ain't playing at the top of their game down they go and up comes Rust, Sheary, Wilson or Guentzel. And when that doesn't work out they go and up comes who's playing well.

But you need depth to do that before the balls to do so. And I'd add the ability to tweak some style to your rosters strengths/weaknesses from your preferred way....... I don't have the knowledge to see per say but there is no way you lose a top 5 offensive Dman on earth in Letang and not tweak.

But I do have the vision to see 2 yrs ago that with a defense that was killing him with their outs Sullivan simply had his Dmen chip out to the neutral zone alley oop style to an area, have a forward engage that Dman immediately in a 50/50 battle, another forward coming fast to scoop up that 50/50 puck followed by F3 to make it an odd man advantage. All at warp speed..... If it fails you lose possession at the red or opposing blueline as opposed to losing possession in your own zone by a mangled out. Brilliant IMO. No it ain't a controlled exit but with the right players, fast and willing, you have a reasonable chance to attack with an odd man break and minimize in zone defensive turnovers.

I agree with every word you post that Sullivan is old school in that whomever is playing best slots up. But would add you need reasonable depth to do so and to further that have the coaching ability to tweak to your rosters strengths.

Not terrible. Never got a fair shake playing for MTL. Definitely has skill and finish.

No one got a fair shake under Therrien though... Except Desharnais. Boy did he have a long leash.
- kinigitt

He has traveled around the league quite a bit besides Montreal. Always gets moved.
Meh to him. He is softer than baby poop, too.

that is an oxymoron. There are no decent UFA.

Guys like Iginla, Jagr and Doan are old and slow. The rest are a bunch of bottom 3 types.

Should have signed Versteeg. All kidding aside. He can fit with Kane. And has in the past.
- TTtime

Versteeg was never "bad". He's affordable these days too. Surprised Calgary isn't re-upping.

Saw a game against the senators where he scored one of the wierdest goals I've ever seen. He seemed surprised to still have the puck after dangling. Goalie and D were surprised too. I'll try to find a clip.

Please no. I rather they go with a young guy instead of players whose best years were 3-5 years ago just because its name that is familiar.
- TTtime

Realistically I don't see Stan taking a chance on any boarderline forwards, there are enough of those guys on the roster. I'd like to see the Hawks make a move to solidify the defense with Hossa's cap hit.

He has traveled around the league quite a bit besides Montreal. Always gets moved.
Meh to him. He is softer than baby poop, too.
- TTtime

Never watched too much of him. Got injured or press-boxed a lot. But when he was out there he could make some plays.

Soft sounds like a fair assessment.

Versteeg was never "bad". He's affordable these days too. Surprised Calgary isn't re-upping.

Saw a game against the senators where he scored one of the wierdest goals I've ever seen. He seemed surprised to still have the puck after dangling. Goalie and D were surprised too. I'll try to find a clip.
- kinigitt

He did sign with Calgary for this season. At a 1.75M cap hit.

^^^ Like all of this ^^^^.

Great insight Rico-- and I also believe its a 'hybrid' of old school and new flexibility to work within the cap and parity mandate of this NHL--

To me probably the biggest asset the Hawks had in the last several years and especially in the Cup years was the depth to mix & match / adapt to the series opponent in front of them-- what has hurt the Hawks the last two seasons was the erosion of that depth over the years to cap restrictions and lack of growth that was anticipated--

I am all for Bowman restocking the depth and hopefully some of the younger guys step up-- and develop into that needed depth to bring another Cup to Chicago--
- jb3333

Indeed, you can't have flexibility without reasonable hard cap world depth. ..... I think acquiring Wingels and Dauphin is a start. Not unreasonable to see Q giving Wingels 3-4 shifts top 6 looks. If it works he rides until it doesn't but he didn't have that depth last year to allow that flexibility. ....Maybe same thing with Dauphin and if Jurco makes the roster on the bottom 6 him too.

If, at some point, Anisimov weren't around, I could definitely see the Hawks plugging Schmaltz in there and letting him learn on the job—especially if they had more of a road-grader, big body LW to go get pucks on that line.

A poster here (TTTime) seems to know Schmaltz or someone close to him and claims he is working hard this offseason on strength too.
- John Jaeckel

I know someone who knows him. And all the rest of the USDT boys.

Never watched too much of him. Got injured or press-boxed a lot. But when he was out there he could make some plays.

Soft sounds like a fair assessment.
- kinigitt

I think people forget he was a Hawk at one time. Talent isn't his issue. Effort wanes from time to time. He has play well in a couple of cities and dreadful in others.