The young guys need to play and not sit on their butts so the Hawks will justify some of their decisions based on that.

Competition in Rockford should be excellent.

My thinking is Debrincat is making this team as the 13th forward and PP specialist.
- RickJ

Debrincat needs to play, if he’s not playing every night in Chicago he’ll be playing every night in Rockford.

at least for 9 games prior to the 1st year of contract being eaten up
- bogiedoc

I don’t think that applies to Debrincat, the first year of his contract will be burned in Chicago or Rockford.

I don't think Forsling is NHL ready. I like him offensively. But defensively.... sheesh. He is out of position and floating a lot. Then there is no urgency to his game when he gets caught floating. He needs to play in Rockford under Colliton to try and get his confidence back and his game trending up again. Also when forwards try to beat him on his left side it seems his transition from skating backwards toward his own goal line to turning and riding his man out of the play is slow and cumbersome.

IMHO
Dmen
Keith, Seabs, Murphy, Kempny, Rutta, Franson break camp with the team. Maybe Pokka and Oesterle are 7 and 8.

Fowards
8 locks- Toews, Kane, Sharp, Panik, Saad, Anisimov, Hartman, Schmaltz.
3 probables - Kero, Wingels, Hayden
2???? Jurco (Bowman favorite), Tootoo (press box player rotated in occasionally).
That would leave one spot. Debrincat? Bouma? Hino?
Dark Horse / Long Shot ... Kampf

Tootoo making the team - for what reason? No team will claim him on waivers so shipping him to Rockford is no risk. Q can bring him up for games where they need some fisticuff toughness in the lineup.

Same with Bouma, if he doesn't fit there's no real risk to be waiver claimed.
- RickJ

I would have no problem with either/both player being waived and sent down or shipped off for some other teams 14th forward (who could play in Rockford). Preferably someone who can win draws (in case Toews goes down with an injury).

I would have no problem with either/both player being waived and sent down or shipped off for some other teams 14th forward (who could play in Rockford). Preferably someone who can win draws (in case Toews goes down with an injury).
- -Doh-

It was only a few months ago when all of the observers remarked on how slow and old the Hawks looked vs the Preds. I'm sure Bowman hasn't forgotten what he saw and as much as Q likes his veteran experience I can't see the 2 of them agreeing to keep all of Franson, Tootoo, Bouma etc. on the NHL roster. They may start the season there, but it won't last long if things don't go well early season.

I'm hoping they want to play an extremely fast, up tempo brand of game with speed as an important attribute for a roster spot, especially at forward. Its one of the reasons Schmaltz is currently sitting in the spot AA used to occupy.

Were Debrincat's two giveaways in his own end early on, one of which led to a goal, enough to warrant starting the season in Rockford, or were they considered errors that are easily overcome as training camp goes on? Q has been less forgiving for defensive miscues, it seems. What's the thinking out there on this?

It was only a few months ago when all of the observers remarked on how slow and old the Hawks looked vs the Preds. I'm sure Bowman hasn't forgotten what he saw and as much as Q likes his veteran experience I can't see the 2 of them agreeing to keep all of Franson, Tootoo, Bouma etc. on the NHL roster. They may start the season there, but it won't last long if things don't go well early season.

I'm hoping they want to play an extremely fast, up tempo brand of game with speed as an important attribute for a roster spot, especially at forward. Its one of the reasons Schmaltz is currently sitting in the spot AA used to occupy.
- RickJ

Tbf as ineffective as Bouma has been in the role he's been asked to play the last few years, he's not one you can call old or slow as he's only 27 and he's pretty speedy. Just a year older than Panik, year younger than Kane. See, I can say something kind of nice about Bouma.

I get what you're saying, though. The idea of playing two of Wingels, Bouma, and Tootoo at any given time seems like it's going to be a bit of a drag on the lower lines. And I'm still mixed on Franson (my opinion will be shaped by how much his cap hit is tbh).

I don't think Forsling is NHL ready. I like him offensively. But defensively.... sheesh. He is out of position and floating a lot. Then there is no urgency to his game when he gets caught floating. He needs to play in Rockford under Colliton to try and get his confidence back and his game trending up again. Also when forwards try to beat him on his left side it seems his transition from skating backwards toward his own goal line to turning and riding his man out of the play is slow and cumbersome.

IMHO
Dmen
Keith, Seabs, Murphy, Kempny, Rutta, Franson break camp with the team. Maybe Pokka and Oesterle are 7 and 8.

Fowards
8 locks- Toews, Kane, Sharp, Panik, Saad, Anisimov, Hartman, Schmaltz.
3 probables - Kero, Wingels, Hayden
2???? Jurco (Bowman favorite), Tootoo (press box player rotated in occasionally).
That would leave one spot. Debrincat? Bouma? Hino?
Dark Horse / Long Shot ... Kampf
- -Doh-

Remember that sides matter for d-men unless they're comfortable playing both. So far, Oesterle is the only player listed that has said they're good on either side (though who knows how good). Here are the natural sides of the guys you listed:

LD: Keith, Kempny, Oesterle
RD: Seabrook, Murphy, Franson, Rutta, Pokka

Unless one of the latter group can also play on the left, they're not likely to keep 5 RDs up. That would mean a lot of sitting for some guys. Only Rutta is waiver exempt.

Tbf as ineffective as Bouma has been in the role he's been asked to play the last few years, he's not one you can call old or slow as he's only 27 and he's pretty speedy. Just a year older than Panik, year younger than Kane. See, I can say something kind of nice about Bouma.

I get what you're saying, though. The idea of playing two of Wingels, Bouma, and Tootoo at any given time seems like it's going to be a bit of a drag on the lower lines. And I'm still mixed on Franson (my opinion will be shaped by how much his cap hit is tbh).
- L_B_R

What's your $ number on Franson? I don't think he plays for a dime under $2M. And I think there is a deal in place already or the Hawks would have released him from the PTO so he could find work elsewhere.

that TD play should have been call back...obvious holding on the dback to get him into the corner of the endzone...

- bogiedoc

The refs saved Tomlin's a$$ after the botched TD and the end of the half. Once they determined that there was 1 play left they should have spotted the ball at the 1 and started the play clock. There was no need to wait for the Steelers to come back out from he locker room.
But to be truthful, that entire sequence was a disaster. Should have been a safety. How was Pit considered the defensive team when they were kicking the FG?

I don’t think that applies to Debrincat, the first year of his contract will be burned in Chicago or Rockford.
- DarthKane

Can't his contract slide a second year? Since he signed his ELC when he was 18 and he doesn't turn 20 before Sept 15th of this year, his contract can slide a second year as long as he hasn't played 10 NHL games.

http://www.colliganhockey...ry-level-contracts-slide/

What's your $ number on Franson? I don't think he plays for a dime under $2M. And I think there is a deal in place already or the Hawks would have released him from the PTO so he could find work elsewhere.
- RickJ

I'd love if it was exactly the amount that can be buried, but at most I'd go $1.5m, Campbell's last cap hit (not his salary). Franson has a similar reward/risk that Campbell did - they're both good statistical d-men (Soup was better) but who looks shaky based on the eye test. Campbell was older, but Franson skates like he's old as dirt. The risk is a little higher with Franson though because the Hawks don't have the proven top 3 to fall back on that they did last year with Hjammer gone. And if they want to make another move, for 4D or 2LW in-season, they'd have less cap room to do so if they signed Franson for too much.

I don't mind Franson as a signing, I'm just wary of his potential cap hit and it possibly tying the Hawks' hands later if he doesn't work out. They've not had much luck with vet d-men acquisitions as of late (by trade or signings).

I'd love if it was exactly the amount that can be buried, but at most I'd go $1.5m, Campbell's last cap hit (not his salary). Franson has a similar reward/risk that Campbell did - they're both good statistical d-men (Soup was better) but who looks shaky based on the eye test. Campbell was older, but Franson skates like he's old as dirt. The risk is a little higher with Franson though because the Hawks don't have the proven top 3 to fall back on that they did last year with Hjammer gone. And if they want to make another move, for 4D or 2LW in-season, they'd have less cap room to do so if they signed Franson for too much.

I don't mind Franson as a signing, I'm just wary of his potential cap hit and it possibly tying the Hawks' hands later if he doesn't work out. They've not had much luck with vet d-men acquisitions as of late (by trade or signings).
- L_B_R

If I'm Cody Franson's agent I tell Stanbo to look up what Ron Hainsey, Dan Girardi, Clayton Stoner and Brooks Orpik are making - my guy must be worth at least $2M because he's almost as good or in some comparisons better.

If I'm Stanbo I tell him to look up what Eric Gryba, Luke Schenn and Greg Pateryn make, happy to pay your guy an average of those 3 because I've got Oesterle, Rutta, Pokka, Snuggerud etc available.

However, Stan usually pays at the upper end of the range.

Tootoo making the team - for what reason? No team will claim him on waivers so shipping him to Rockford is no risk. Q can bring him up for games where they need some fisticuff toughness in the lineup.

Same with Bouma, if he doesn't fit there's no real risk to be waiver claimed.
- RickJ

I think the reason why the Blackhawks get veterans like Tootoo to play for them is that they treat them well when they are in the organization. I doubt they'd bounce him back and forth like that.

Can't his contract slide a second year? Since he signed his ELC when he was 18 and he doesn't turn 20 before Sept 15th of this year, his contract can slide a second year as long as he hasn't played 10 NHL games.

http://www.colliganhockey...ry-level-contracts-slide/
- L_B_R

If I'm Cody Franson's agent I tell Stanbo to look up what Ron Hainsey, Dan Girardi, Clayton Stoner and Brooks Orpik are making - my guy must be worth at least $2M because he's almost as good or in some comparisons better.

If I'm Stanbo I tell him to look up what Eric Gryba, Luke Schenn and Greg Pateryn make, happy to pay your guy an average of those 3 because I've got Oesterle, Rutta, Pokka, Snuggerud etc available.

However, Stan usually pays at the upper end of the range.
- RickJ

Man, there are some bad contracts out there for terrible d-men.

And tbf none of those first few guys who were FA had to wait until the last minute to get a contract, though, so hopefully Franson'll be happy with Luke Schenn money.

What's your $ number on Franson? I don't think he plays for a dime under $2M. And I think there is a deal in place already or the Hawks would have released him from the PTO so he could find work elsewhere.
- RickJ

I would hate to pay him that much when we have young, cost controlled, RH defensemen. 1 million or below...fine. But 2 million seems really high to me with our cap situation.

Remember that sides matter for d-men unless they're comfortable playing both. So far, Oesterle is the only player listed that has said they're good on either side (though who knows how good). Here are the natural sides of the guys you listed:

LD: Keith, Kempny, Oesterle
RD: Seabrook, Murphy, Franson, Rutta, Pokka

Unless one of the latter group can also play on the left, they're not likely to keep 5 RDs up. That would mean a lot of sitting for some guys. Only Rutta is waiver exempt.
- L_B_R

Thank you for that.
I think Rutta makes the team.
If you had the choice of signing Franson for 1 year for $1.75mil to $2mil deal (as a 2nd or 3rd pair defender) or releasing him and keeping Pokka (as a 7th dman) which would you choose?
If you had to choose two of the three Oesterle, Forsling and Gustafsson as the 3rd pairing and extra left dmen which would you choose?
Do you think that once they have Hossa and Rosival on LTIR one or two of these dmen is part of a package for a solid #4 defender?

I think the reason why the Blackhawks get veterans like Tootoo to play for them is that they treat them well when they are in the organization. I doubt they'd bounce him back and forth like that.
- matt_ahrens

This. I think they keep him on the NHL roster or try to move him to a team that would keep him on their NHL roster. They have a history of doing the right thing by veterans.

This. I think they keep him on the NHL roster or try to move him to a team that would keep him on their NHL roster. They have a history of doing the right thing by veterans.
- -Doh-

If you look at the list of players on PTOs this year there are quite a few guys with legitimate NHL resumes looking for contracts or are going to Europe to play, a bunch of whom are better hockey players than Tootoo.

So in my mind the Hawks have already done the 'right thing' by signing him to another contract for this year. He's going to get his money no matter where he plays. Don't want to sound like a hard ass, but as a fan who buys tickets or pays to watch the games, I want to see the Hawks keep the 23 best players they have and can use at the NHL level. At best, Tootoo is their 23rd best player.

Remember that sides matter for d-men unless they're comfortable playing both. So far, Oesterle is the only player listed that has said they're good on either side (though who knows how good). Here are the natural sides of the guys you listed:

LD: Keith, Kempny, Oesterle
RD: Seabrook, Murphy, Franson, Rutta, Pokka

Unless one of the latter group can also play on the left, they're not likely to keep 5 RDs up. That would mean a lot of sitting for some guys. Only Rutta is waiver exempt.
- L_B_R

Thats a thin L-D group.

Thats a thin L-D group.
- BlazinMike

Also Forsling, Gustafsson, Snuggerud, Svedberg.... So yeah. Thin. Weak. Inexperienced. Etc....

Saad Towes Panik
Hayden Smaltz Kane
Hartman AA Sharp
Bouma Kero Hinistrosa
- Colbyboy

What has Bouma done to show he deserves to make the team over other guys? Dauphin and Kampf have looked better. ADB has looked better. Wingels has looked better. I know he got a million per year, but that can almost all be buried. He's not useful and hasn't looked useful.

tracey myers post:
lines, assuming who's going to boston
saad-kamp-hartman
bouma-hino-jurco
ADB-Kero-Hayden
Wingels-Dauphin-22

Towes, panik, schmaltz in stalberg whites this morning
kane, sharp, aa, keith, seebs not present

crow/dellia
murphy, fanson, forsling, rutta, pokka, sved, gus, oseterle going to boston

Saad Towes Panik
Hayden Smaltz Kane
Hartman AA Sharp
Bouma Kero Hinistrosa
- Colbyboy

I like your top 3 lines but not to sure about your fourth line.