I think this was one of Bowman's bigger mistakes that went largely unnoticed. He really let the situation in Rockford deteriorate. Hopefully Colliton can turn things around. Although it looks like he's starting out with basically the same staff that were there when Dent left.
- walleyeb1

If you recall at the time of Dent's hiring I thought they gave the job to the wrong guy. But organizations like to promote from within and anyone getting that job at the time knew Q was on solid ground.

Devils sign Drew Stafford to one-year deal = Devils trade Drew Stafford to Contending Team X next March for a third-rounder.

— Matt Larkin (@THNMattLarkin) August 25, 2017

What a JOKE!!!! Will NHL Network be setting aside an hour of programming for this....

Per SecondCityHockey.com: Will Butcher, the top NCAA free agent and 2017 Hobey Baker award winner, will announce his team of choice Sunday.
- glennjpawlak22

Let me guess he's taking his talents to south beach...is he going to become a Panther?

Maybe but I'm in the minority-I think when the Hossa mess is settled Bowman goes out and gets another dman with experience.
- Al

Unless there is slam dunk of a deal, I hope Bowman waits a bit before pulling the trigger on a move after they deal with Hossa. They have a number of pieces on D and likely it won't be critical to address as soon as the season starts. I mean, if they are in a situation where adding an 2nd or 3rd pair D is make or break for them, then the team had deeper issues. They won't likely be contending at that point anyway.

They should give some of the options they have a few shots to grab the reins and wait for the right deal in terms of adding more D. Unless there is someone available that they just can't pass up.

Unless there is slam dunk of a deal, I hope Bowman waits a bit before pulling the trigger on a move after they deal with Hossa. They have a number of pieces on D and likely it won't be critical to address as soon as the season starts. I mean, if they are in a situation where adding an 2nd or 3rd pair D is make or break for them, then the team had deeper issues. They won't likely be contending at that point anyway.

They should give some of the options they have a few shots to grab the reins and wait for the right deal in terms of adding more D. Unless there is someone available that they just can't pass up.
- breadbag

I'm certain they will give looks to Ruuta, Oesterle, and a bigger role to Kempny before they start shopping. Maybe ever some other RFD guys like Gustafsson, or some young bucks like Snuggerud.

Unless there is slam dunk of a deal, I hope Bowman waits a bit before pulling the trigger on a move after they deal with Hossa. They have a number of pieces on D and likely it won't be critical to address as soon as the season starts. I mean, if they are in a situation where adding an 2nd or 3rd pair D is make or break for them, then the team had deeper issues. They won't likely be contending at that point anyway.

They should give some of the options they have a few shots to grab the reins and wait for the right deal in terms of adding more D. Unless there is someone available that they just can't pass up.
- breadbag

I don't think forward depth is the issue, our top 2-3 lines should be just fine. As some others have said...if Rozy is dressing (at all in my opinion) and Kempny, Ruuta, or Forsling poop the bed, this team will be in a world of hurt. I hope they use Hoss' cap $ to get a competent 3 or 4 D to play with Keith or Seabs.
Keith - Murphy
Seabs - (New Guy)
Kempny- Forsling - Ruuta - bag of pucks, I mean Rozy.

For anyones reading pleasure during the dog days of summer and didnt want to pay for Pronman's paywall

http://insider2text.xyz/articles/ad3a259aadc90c3b

Unless there is slam dunk of a deal, I hope Bowman waits a bit before pulling the trigger on a move after they deal with Hossa. They have a number of pieces on D and likely it won't be critical to address as soon as the season starts. I mean, if they are in a situation where adding an 2nd or 3rd pair D is make or break for them, then the team had deeper issues. They won't likely be contending at that point anyway.

They should give some of the options they have a few shots to grab the reins and wait for the right deal in terms of adding more D. Unless there is someone available that they just can't pass up.
- breadbag

I'm thinking there's a deal already in place and they do it right away... or you will be correct.

I'm not looking for anything earth shaking but even to get a TVR player back wouldn't be hurt.

From Michael Pachla (The Sabres Blogger on HB)
Vulnerability makes the Wings/Athanasiou situation very intriguing in that we could see the first offer sheet for an RFA since the ill-fated Flames' offer sheet for Ryan O'Reilly in February, 2013. Perhaps the best part about all of this is that Athanasiou's poaching team could go as high as $3,755,233/season and only give up a second-rounder to the Wings. Or if a team feels that Athanasiou could be a key player for their team moving forward, they could offer up a future first rounder as an incentive not to try and poach him.

I'm thinking there's a deal already in place and they do it right away... or you will be correct.

I'm not looking for anything earth shaking but even to get a TVR player back wouldn't be hurt.
- Al

Bowman should aim higher than TVR.

Bowman should aim higher than TVR.
- -Doh-

He may have to but that could more in the time frame you suggested.

I hope Bowman waits to see what his biggest need is say 6 or 8 weeks into the season. Let Q take the new guys for a test ride and if the season starts to get away from them then pull the trigger on something.

Just picked up this year's Sports Forecaster hockey pool magazine. I know its just for fun, but it's always interesting to see what is predicted for the Blackhawks.

Overall Finish: 3rd in Central (behind the Preds and Wild)

Anisimov: 39 points (seems low)
Hartman: 43
Hayden: 22
Hinostroza: 24
Kane: 88
Kero: 24
Panik: 34
Saad: 50 (seems low, but not by much)
Schmaltz: 55 (seems high)
Sharp: 37
Toews: 63

Forsling: 19
Keith: 45
Murphy: 23
Rutta: 20
Seabrook: 43

Crawford: 30 wins
Forsberg: 10

Edit: As a point of interest here are some former Blackhawks:

Motte: 31 points
Panarin 62
Hjalmarsson: 15
Kruger: 16
Teravainen: 57
TvR: 24
Darling: 34 wins

Just picked up this year's Sports Forecaster hockey pool magazine. I know its just for fun, but it's always interesting to see what is predicted for the Blackhawks.

Overall Finish: 3rd in Central (behind the Preds and Wild)

Anisimov: 39 points (seems low)
Hartman: 43
Hayden: 22
Hinostroza: 24
Kane: 88
Kero: 24
Panik: 34
Saad: 50 (seems low, but not by much)
Schmaltz: 55 (seems high)
Sharp: 37
Toews: 63

Forsling: 19
Keith: 45
Murphy: 23
Rutta: 20
Seabrook: 43

Crawford: 30 wins
Forsberg: 10

Edit: As a point of interest here are some former Blackhawks:

Motte: 31 points
Panarin 62
Hjalmarsson: 15
Kruger: 16
Teravainen: 57
TvR: 24
Darling: 34 wins
- DarthKane

40 wins predicted (Crawford + Forsberg) - a third place finish seems unlikely (but not impossible) with only 40 wins, looking at past seasons.

Just picked up this year's Sports Forecaster hockey pool magazine. I know its just for fun, but it's always interesting to see what is predicted for the Blackhawks.

Overall Finish: 3rd in Central (behind the Preds and Wild)

Anisimov: 39 points (seems low)
Hartman: 43
Hayden: 22
Hinostroza: 24
Kane: 88
Kero: 24
Panik: 34
Saad: 50 (seems low, but not by much)
Schmaltz: 55 (seems high)
Sharp: 37
Toews: 63

Forsling: 19
Keith: 45
Murphy: 23
Rutta: 20
Seabrook: 43

Crawford: 30 wins
Forsberg: 10

Edit: As a point of interest here are some former Blackhawks:

Motte: 31 points
Panarin 62
Hjalmarsson: 15
Kruger: 16
Teravainen: 57
TvR: 24
Darling: 34 wins
- DarthKane

I like all of these numbers.

40 wins predicted (Crawford + Forsberg) - a third place finish seems unlikely (but not impossible) with only 40 wins, looking at past seasons.
- StLBravesFan

Maybe they think the Hawks will lose the other 42 games in OT/Shootout.

Just picked up this year's Sports Forecaster hockey pool magazine. I know its just for fun, but it's always interesting to see what is predicted for the Blackhawks.

Overall Finish: 3rd in Central (behind the Preds and Wild)

Anisimov: 39 points (seems low)
Hartman: 43
Hayden: 22
Hinostroza: 24
Kane: 88
Kero: 24
Panik: 34
Saad: 50 (seems low, but not by much)
Schmaltz: 55 (seems high)
Sharp: 37
Toews: 63

Forsling: 19
Keith: 45
Murphy: 23
Rutta: 20
Seabrook: 43

Crawford: 30 wins
Forsberg: 10

Edit: As a point of interest here are some former Blackhawks:

Motte: 31 points
Panarin 62
Hjalmarsson: 15
Kruger: 16
Teravainen: 57
TvR: 24
Darling: 34 wins
- DarthKane

I think they have a pretty optimistic prediction for Motte based on how he played after he got injured. He went 20 games scoring 1 point after the injury and did not really find his game in the AHL the rest of the season.

I think they have a pretty optimistic prediction for Motte based on how he played after he got injured. He went 20 games scoring 1 point after the injury and did not really find his game in the AHL the rest of the season.
- breadbag

I don't think TT hits 57 either.

50, maybe.

Just picked up this year's Sports Forecaster hockey pool magazine. I know its just for fun, but it's always interesting to see what is predicted for the Blackhawks.

Overall Finish: 3rd in Central (behind the Preds and Wild)

Anisimov: 39 points (seems low)
Hartman: 43
Hayden: 22
Hinostroza: 24
Kane: 88
Kero: 24
Panik: 34
Saad: 50 (seems low, but not by much)
Schmaltz: 55 (seems high)
Sharp: 37
Toews: 63

Forsling: 19
Keith: 45
Murphy: 23
Rutta: 20
Seabrook: 43

Crawford: 30 wins
Forsberg: 10

Edit: As a point of interest here are some former Blackhawks:

Motte: 31 points
Panarin 62
Hjalmarsson: 15
Kruger: 16
Teravainen: 57
TvR: 24
Darling: 34 wins
- DarthKane

Kempny not projected?

Kempny not projected?
- breadbag

Kempny's season projection....

Kempny's season projection....


- EnzoD

If AA has only 39 pts on the season and Kane finshes with 25 pts more than the next Hawk they are in serious trouble.

I don't think forward depth is the issue, our top 2-3 lines should be just fine. As some others have said...if Rozy is dressing (at all in my opinion) and Kempny, Ruuta, or Forsling poop the bed, this team will be in a world of hurt. I hope they use Hoss' cap $ to get a competent 3 or 4 D to play with Keith or Seabs.
Keith - Murphy
Seabs - (New Guy)
Kempny- Forsling - Ruuta - bag of pucks, I mean Rozy.
- Murph76

Sorry Murph but I'm going to have to disagree with you. The top 6 has plenty of questions as well. The only 2 consistent performers are Kane and Saad. Who knows which Toews will show up, Sharp is old, oft-injured, and most likely not a top 6 guy any longer, AA is slow and terrible at the dot and without Panarin on his flank, who knows what he'll bring this year, and Panik is a coin flip on what he's going to be like this year. IF all 4 question marks perform well, then we may be alright, but just like the defense, lots of questions.

I'm more confident that the young D core will perform better than expected and hope that they spend that Hossa money on a top 6 guy. Can't win scoring 2 goals a game and that may be what's in site this year. Last year's D core was horrific with off years from Keith and Seabrook, Campbell and TVR bad, Hjalmarsson just ok on his off side, Kempney seldom used, and Oduya a trainwreck. I can't imagine the youngsters being worse...... if they are, then we're in big trouble.

I kind of think that they have something already planned out for that money..... at least a GREAT organization would have. If they're planning on the wait and see approach....... I'm not confident in that one bit. They can not wait and see too long or they'll find themselves out of playoff contention by Christmas.

Kempny not projected?
- breadbag

They either missed him or think he won't score enough to make their report. I think that if he plays a full season he'll get 15-20 points easily.

Just picked up this year's Sports Forecaster hockey pool magazine. I know its just for fun, but it's always interesting to see what is predicted for the Blackhawks.

Overall Finish: 3rd in Central (behind the Preds and Wild)

Anisimov: 39 points (seems low)
Hartman: 43
Hayden: 22
Hinostroza: 24
Kane: 88
Kero: 24
Panik: 34
Saad: 50 (seems low, but not by much)
Schmaltz: 55 (seems high)
Sharp: 37
Toews: 63

Forsling: 19
Keith: 45
Murphy: 23
Rutta: 20
Seabrook: 43

Crawford: 30 wins
Forsberg: 10

Edit: As a point of interest here are some former Blackhawks:

Motte: 31 points
Panarin 62
Hjalmarsson: 15
Kruger: 16
Teravainen: 57
TvR: 24
Darling: 34 wins
- DarthKane

If Teravainen hits 57 points I'll eat my hairplugs

If Teravainen hits 57 points I'll eat my hairplugs
- Stan_Bowman

Who will get more points this season, Teravainen or Schmaltz?