Some of you who like to place a bet from time to time may like this one...

https://www.xpressbet.com...t-horse-racing?Itemid=101

Pass on Kindl. He was bad on a pretty middling to bad bunch of Wing dmen.
- HawkintheD

Kindl was actually good for the Wings. For some unknown reason Babcock refused to reward him when he played well. Assuming he still has his natural talents he would be a great 3rd-pairing defenseman for most teams.

Someone may have posted this in another thread but CSN Chicago projected the Hawks starting lineup which I think is about as realistic as it may likely be given the current options:

This may be the lineup to start but is most definitely not what it will look like by the quarter pole, mid-way, or at season's end.
- AEL_Fox

Or midway through the first period!

Kindl was actually good for the Wings. For some unknown reason Babcock refused to reward him when he played well. Assuming he still has his natural talents he would be a great 3rd-pairing defenseman for most teams.
- DARKSEID

Almost anyone that had an NHL contract last season would be better than Rosival at this stage in his career.

Almost anyone with an NHL contract would be better than Rosival at this stage in his career.
- EnzoD

You can have Dahlbeck back for... literally nothing. We can just say we probably owed you a warm body from somewhere.

You can have Dahlbeck back for... literally nothing. We can just say we probably owed you a warm body from somewhere.
- BINGO!

That would still be an overpay ....

You can have Dahlbeck back for... literally nothing. We can just say we probably owed you a warm body from somewhere.
- BINGO!

I wonder what it would take to get Stephen Johns back from Dallas....

I wonder what it would take to get Stephen Johns back from Dallas....
- EnzoD

Seriously wtf happened to that guy? did that playoff concussion end his career? I was so excited to have him coming up at the time

Seriously wtf happened to that guy? did that playoff concussion end his career? I was so excited to have him coming up at the time
- Assman22

He was playing 18 minutes a night last year for Dallas

He was playing 18 minutes a night last year for Dallas
- EnzoD

That's not saying a whole lot considering how terrible and injured their defense was last year. After missing a little bit of time for injury, Johns was rotating pretty much their 6/7, rotating in and out, until he got press boxed by being outplayed by Oleksiak. It wasn't until Oleksiak got injured that Johns got more regular playing time and then they had to stick with what they had when Oduya was injured again too. Honestly, I think Johns will end up being a solid 4/5 with the addition of Methot helping balance out the pairs but he struggled with consistency as many young d-men are wont to do.

That's not saying a whole lot considering how terrible and injured their defense was last year. After missing a little bit of time for injury, Johns was rotating pretty much their 6/7, rotating in and out, until he got press boxed by being outplayed by Oleksiak. It wasn't until Oleksiak got injured that Johns got more regular playing time and then they had to stick with what they had when Oduya was injured again too. Honestly, I think Johns will end up being a solid 4/5 with the addition of Methot helping balance out the pairs but he struggled with consistency as many young d-men are wont to do.
- L_B_R

A big body with a great shot that can skate very well for his size, and he is a mean SOB. Really tough losing him in the Sharp trade, especially given the current state of the Hawks' defense core.

Almost anyone that had an NHL contract last season would be better than Rosival at this stage in his career.
- EnzoD

you go try and sign them at Rosy number...and I disagree; the guy is still physical and solid in his decisions.
Get grip with gripe: he's the number 7 for goodness sake!

I wonder what it would take to get Stephen Johns back from Dallas....
- EnzoD

He's there number seven because of his poor decision making...he can mover faster than Rosy but not get the idea of what he instinctively must do in his end.

He's there number seven because of his poor decision making...he can mover faster than Rosy but not get the idea of what he instinctively must do in his end.
- wiz1901

I seem to recall this board blowing up over including Johns as he was pedestal status second coming...

Interesting article on CSN.Com

Jonathan Toews explains why he altered his offseason training regime: 'I might have overdone it'

Days after the Blackhawks were swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Jonathan Toews made it known that he wanted to make "some little changes" to his offseason training program.

He went on to say that he never quite reached the level of play that he wanted to during the 2016-17 season after scoring a career-low 21 goals and totaling 58 points for the second straight year. Not bad, but not great by his standards.

In a recent interview with Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, Toews opened up about why he altered his offseason regime from the previous year.

“Last summer is the first time I really got the time to train really hard and I might have overdone it in the wrong way," Toews admitted. "Just worrying about power and strength all the time. I came into the season and just couldn’t move, just felt slow. I mean the game is so fast nowadays. It’s kind of a wake-up call in that sense.”

The game indeed is getting faster, and younger players are breaking into the league much quicker because of it. Look no further than Connor McDavid, who's quickly emerged as the face of the NHL.

It's also evident after watching the Pittsburgh Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cups with their speed, not necessarily grit.

Toews recognizes that, and it's why he's making the necessary changes to help return to top form and get the Blackhawks back on track in doing so.

“When you see the top players nowadays they’re all on the ice,” Toews said. “They’re on the ice all the time just working on skill and that’s something I’m really going to focus on going forward.

"Just getting back to playing with the puck, knowing that that’s the type of player I am, and not just being overly concerned with the defensive two-way hockey but knowing that I can go out there and contribute with the best of them, too, if I put my mind to it a little bit more.”
- glennjpawlak22

Well he did not look strong or fast. Maybe the back was more injured then we are aware of. 19 was never a really fast skater. He made his money grinding and controlling pucks. If the back was bad, that would explain him getting tossed around in the corners. I expect a much better JT this year.

you go try and sign them at Rosy number...and I disagree; the guy is still physical and solid in his decisions.
Get grip with gripe: he's the number 7 for goodness sake!
- wiz1901

But is he really the #7 Dman in the eyes of Q? I highly doubt it until Forsling, Rutta, Osterle or Gustaffson prove otherwise. Forsling-Rosival is the opening night 3rd pair I'd expect if Stan doesn't acquire a Dman via trade with Hossa's LTIR Cap Space. You are comfortable with Forsling-Rosival as a 3rd pairing??? I'm not.

Well he did not look strong or fast. Maybe the back was more injured then we are aware of. 19 was never a really fast skater. He made his money grinding and controlling pucks. If the back was bad, that would explain him getting tossed around in the corners. I expect a much better JT this year.
- z1990z

In 2015 when we won the cup Toews scored only 66 points (28G 38A) in 81 games with good health and great linemates that played 82 games (Hossa 61pts and Saad 52pts). Last year he played 9 games less, was recovering from a back injury at the world cup, played with multiple different inferior linemates and only scored 8 less points.

The difference is in 2015 he was making $6.3 mil in 2017 he was making $10.5 mil.

This is not really about his individual performance it is about salary and team performance. With the same stats if they win the cup not much is said.

I agree with you. With Saad and Panik most of the year and with a healthy back I would expect a better year.

But is he really the #7 Dman in the eyes of Q? I highly doubt it until Forsling, Rutta, Osterle or Gustaffson prove otherwise. Forsling-Rosival is the opening night 3rd pair I'd expect if Stan doesn't acquire a Dman via trade with Hossa's LTIR Cap Space. You are comfortable with Forsling-Rosival as a 3rd pairing??? I'm not.
- EnzoD

I think Q knows what he has and will give out the playing time as he needs. Last year Rozsival only played 22 games and Forsling/Kempny played ahead of him. I don't see why that would change with guys like Ruuta or Osterle, or even Gus if called up. Rosy was the #8 on D last year and I don't think that has changed.

But is he really the #7 Dman in the eyes of Q? I highly doubt it until Forsling, Rutta, Osterle or Gustaffson prove otherwise. Forsling-Rosival is the opening night 3rd pair I'd expect if Stan doesn't acquire a Dman via trade with Hossa's LTIR Cap Space. You are comfortable with Forsling-Rosival as a 3rd pairing??? I'm not.
- EnzoD

I can't believe Roszival is still playing.

I first watched him when I was 8 years old.

But is he really the #7 Dman in the eyes of Q? I highly doubt it until Forsling, Rutta, Osterle or Gustaffson prove otherwise. Forsling-Rosival is the opening night 3rd pair I'd expect if Stan doesn't acquire a Dman via trade with Hossa's LTIR Cap Space. You are comfortable with Forsling-Rosival as a 3rd pairing??? I'm not.
- EnzoD

If Johns was making the same mistakes here that he did in Dallas, then Q would have press-boxed him too. Gustafsson made mistakes sometimes because he was fearful of a hit or pressure - Johns made mistakes just because he wasn't thinking. He will pass directly to an opposing player, he had issues exiting his own zone, and his coverage decision were spotty and inconsistent. Not dissimilar from Kempny in some ways. Q would have disliked Johns mistakes as much as those made by Gus or Kempny. It is possible that Johns would have developed better in Q's system than those guys, though, but it's hard to say for sure.

I don't think anyone is opposed to picking up a better 4/5 d-man - I hope Bowman does tbh - but Johns hasn't exactly turned out yet to be "the one that got away" either and warrants pining. Maybe in the future, but he's a pretty risky pick-up as well.

Also I think Rozsival will play like 20 games next year just like he did last.

I wonder what it would take to get Stephen Johns back from Dallas....
- EnzoD

Debrincat

Debrincat
- DarthKane

Jurco, but Dallas may have to sweeten that deal (Benn)

I can't believe Roszival is still playing.

I first watched him when I was 8 years old.
- BINGO!

Happy 65th birthday!

Speaking of DeBrincat, isn't he a Detroit kid? Why not try to trade him to the Wings for AA the 2nd day of the season? I'm sure you can throw in another player/draft pick.

Speaking of DeBrincat, isn't he a Detroit kid? Why not try to trade him to the Wings for AA the 2nd day of the season? I'm sure you can throw in another player/draft pick.
- powerenforcer

Not sure about this, but from what I have read on this site it sounds like the Greek Streak is the forward equivalent of Nick Leddy. Now, I love Nick Leddy and am not looking to rekindle anything and we all know that the hawks couldn't afford him. But there are some here that were frustrated when Leddy would blow by everyone so fast that at the other end of the ice he had nobody to pass to. This kid in Detroit is amazingly fast, but I have yet to see him elevate the play of his teammates. For all I can tell with the limited times I have seen him play he might be the fastest box of rocks ever. I think I'd prefer to see what ADB brings in some real games before I bail on him for Athennnaassseeeuuuu or however it's spelled.