Combinations that work or do not work.

What was that GOG line with Goldsworthy

The famous French Connection line

Trottier, Bossy, Giles

The two chaps who played along side Gretzky. Oh Kurri but someone else too. Now along comes McDavid. MacKinnon ain't shabby either. I beg my omission, Crosby and Malkin cry.

In Chicago D Savard. Makita, Roenick centered some top lines

Bernie Nichols one year had 150 pts with Gretzky

Resurrect the old 1800 railroad line sing-a-long if you can find a middle piece for Atkinson (sic/railroad) _________ & Panarin.

The Atkinson, Topeka and the Santa Fe line.

Combinations that work or do not work.

What was that GOG line with Goldsworthy

The famous French Connection line

Trottier, Bossy, Giles

The two chaps who played along side Gretzky. Oh Kurri but someone else too. Now along comes McDavid. MacKinnon ain't shabby either. I beg my omission, Crosby and Malkin cry.

In Chicago D Savard. Makita, Roenick centered some top lines

Bernie Nichols one year had 150 pts with Gretzky

Resurrect the old 1800 railroad line sing-a-long if you can find a middle piece for Atkinson (sic/railroad) _________ & Panarin.

The Atkinson, Topeka and the Santa Fe line.
- jhawk59

From the movie The Harvey Girls and sung by Judy Garlard. Filmed in Las Vegas NM....

Combinations that work or do not work.

What was that GOG line with Goldsworthy

The famous French Connection line

Trottier, Bossy, Giles

The two chaps who played along side Gretzky. Oh Kurri but someone else too. Now along comes McDavid. MacKinnon ain't shabby either. I beg my omission, Crosby and Malkin cry.

In Chicago D Savard. Makita, Roenick centered some top lines

Bernie Nichols one year had 150 pts with Gretzky

Resurrect the old 1800 railroad line sing-a-long if you can find a middle piece for Atkinson (sic/railroad) _________ & Panarin.

The Atkinson, Topeka and the Santa Fe line.
- jhawk59

Atchison.

Not to be an anal Richard, but....

My way of thinking about a consolation prize is to draft those backchecking more highly rated forwards than Tzachuk. I might take one of those first couple rated forwards IF Tzachuk goes before them. Walstrom next then one of the defensemen. The forwards just look so attractive to select. The forwards will all help turn back a tide so strong against us as far as possession time. The backchecking earliest top rated forwards would help - but only so much. Bouchard and Dobson over Hughes - stirs a conversation.

If Hughes is so great in some areas, is he going to be any less a rag doll than Gus. Better defensively than our bottom third pair depth guys....okay, maybe but not until he plays a year NHL ......even then he will not win any physical puck battles so to protect him you need a strong checking partner.

You can.dream he works out and one day can dish out a thunderous check like Keith can do. Where do you get that. You need to leave Murphy on third pair where he can match well enough with our latest flavor of an offensive dman.

There is good reason why Bowman may trade for a dman..Hopefully one who checks an opponent down to the ice. Even then i really hope Carlsson comes over and can be a second pair. If Hillman is ok maybe he would be someone who takes Murphy's job. I have no reason to believe Hillman has a higher ceiling, though would be glad to be wrong.

Forsling and Jokiharju have the task of eventually showing well enough to be a second pair. Possible maybe but believe when you see it. Just how good is Tuulola? Will see. Another lefty i am.afraid avoids physical play. But maybe he engages but just is not going to battle tooth and nail. Gilbert?
We shall see..
- jhawk59

J, gotta think all of this " trade Murphy " talk is nonsense, Bowman didn't give up a good D man for this kid only to unload him in a year, totally different than Quinten Daley. Daley already reached his ceiling and much to our dismay didn't fit Q's system. They will work with Murphy, he'll turn out to be solid. JMO.

J, gotta think all of this " trade Murphy " talk is nonsense, Bowman didn't give up a good D man for this kid only to unload him in a year, totally different than Quinten Daley. Daley already reached his ceiling and much to our dismay didn't fit Q's system. They will work with Murphy, he'll turn out to be solid. JMO.
- wonthecup10

I think he will settle in as a third pair once other defensemen come along who will play first and second pair. Unless someone better who can lend some muscle is brought in, Murphy will keep a job. His skating makes him less than ideal though i suspect that their was hope he could play second pair

I am hoping the hawks can get to the number 4 pick or higher. I know they will have to lose the rest of there games and get some luck in the lottery but this team need to get some life in it for next year. If they come back with a similar group I do not see any improvement from this year. ( by similar I mean just adding 1 or 2 new role players or just shuttle up the Rockford prospects) If you can add either Dahlin, Svechnikov, Zardina, or Tkachuk then you would be adding some life. Any player below that would not be in the league for a year or 2.
- Rayipsd

Just so you know the Hawks cannot select 4th unless they execute a trade. They can move up to 1 through 3 via the lottery or somewhere 7-10.

Just so you know the Hawks cannot select 4th unless they execute a trade. They can move up to 1 through 3 via the lottery or somewhere 7-10.
- riozzo

The Hawks will win the draft lottery.

The Hawks will win the draft lottery.
- DarthKane

You are jinxing it...

Article that tries to get into McD's head re: his likely moves this offseason:

https://theathletic.com//...n-mcdonough/?redirected=1

McDonough saw firsthand with the Cubs how the wrong hires could send an organization down a grim path for many years. When he joined the Blackhawks, he sought a different plan.

“I mean, I was around a lot of managers with the Cubs, a lot of managers with the Cubs, and a lot of regimes,” McDonough told The Athletic in November. “And what we were striving for here was continuity, but not continuity for continuity sake. That continuity tethered to success and hiring the right people. Joel was the right hire, in my opinion. Stan was the right hire. We're all flawed. We all make mistakes. We all make big mistakes. We all have bumps. We all have challenges. We all battle. But they, in my opinion, were the right people at the right time. Joel was the right guy to coach this team. Stan was the right guy to take the baton from Dale, who had given him a really good product, a solid foundation of good players. But Stan was the guy to take it from there.”

McDonough takes pride in that continuity. The Blackhawks have won consistently with a lot of the same people from top to bottom. That matters to him, and that is likely weighing on him as he decides what to do now.

“He is a loyal person,” said a former McDonough employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “He expects the same from you. It's a family atmosphere there. I've never worked in an environment like that.”

Just so you know the Hawks cannot select 4th unless they execute a trade. They can move up to 1 through 3 via the lottery or somewhere 7-10.
- riozzo

Rarely does even sensible trades fans construct occur.

I hear and feel the pain, wanting to see the team add toughness and skill from a draft choice. And from a trade

For curiosity sake a trade might be how you could move up and it may be only two spots. It will cost you, but a fair offer could be presented. Bowman probably holds dearest grabbing two prospects from first round choices, so i would really be surprised if he traded a first round choice. Which is heartbreaking if you wanted a forward at #4 or #5) and you anteed up your second first and a prospect (to swap the early first round picks how many teams could make this offer other than Vegas).

The second talented but tough enough forward comes via swapping one of our top forwards for their forward.

Additional toughness may be provided by Martinsen and possibly Samuelson. Samuelson's kid is reportedly givingBowman pause to consider. You would have a greater amount of physical presence throughout
a lineup.

Next: the defense

Combinations that work or do not work.

What was that GOG line with Goldsworthy

The famous French Connection line

Trottier, Bossy, Giles

The two chaps who played along side Gretzky. Oh Kurri but someone else too. Now along comes McDavid. MacKinnon ain't shabby either. I beg my omission, Crosby and Malkin cry.

In Chicago D Savard. Makita, Roenick centered some top lines

Bernie Nichols one year had 150 pts with Gretzky

Resurrect the old 1800 railroad line sing-a-long if you can find a middle piece for Atkinson (sic/railroad) _________ & Panarin.

The Atkinson, Topeka and the Santa Fe line.
- jhawk59

Rob Brown had 115 pts one year and 80 the next playing mostly with Mario Lemieux. The next highest he ever got in pts without playing with Mario was 42.

Agree to a point but need a legit top 6 scoring player towes saad kane smaltz dcat then who is the other top 6 foward skiura no. If tkachuck happens to land right where the hawks pick no matter what take him or if that walhstom kid also load up on offense with speed size and skill put more pressure in the other teams d zone so the hawks don't have to defend as much add a couple big wingers create a line that just gives the other team fits martiesson wingles hayden just for example hope crawford can get back to 100% and sign john moore in the offseason. Then maybe the hawks can contend to get the playoffs.
- Scott1977

I think they can make a top 6 out of this with the emerging young players. I removed the guys who didn't play many games yet or who are traded away or ultimately gone.



Both Hinostroza and Duclair have demonstrated top 6 ability.

TRANSACTIONS: The @NHLBlackhawks have recalled goaltender Collin Delia from the #IceHogs and assigned goaltender J.F. Berube to Rockford Delia is unbeaten in regulation over his last nine games with the IceHogs. Berube went 2-5-1 with the Blackhawks ➡️bit.ly/2usO5TZ

TRANSACTIONS: The @NHLBlackhawks have recalled goaltender Collin Delia from the #IceHogs and assigned goaltender J.F. Berube to Rockford Delia is unbeaten in regulation over his last nine games with the IceHogs. Berube went 2-5-1 with the Blackhawks ➡️bit.ly/2usO5TZ
- jt19

I thought hey were out of call-ups?

Lots of bubble forwards in the bottom six that while they don't (typically) hurt you, they don't help you as often as needed to be an Elite team. Unlike with the forwards, the NHL bubble players in Oesterle, Gustafson, Rutta, Forsberg, Berube and Glass REALLY impact the team's results. Forwards are not the biggest flaw in the this roster. They need 2 all-star quality defensemen and a better backup goalie added to be a contending team again.
- EnzoD

Great point Enzo. There are a whole bunch of forwards on this team that realistically would not be a regular part of a team with championship expectations.

Duclair and Jurco just need to go. The momentary flashes they may show are just not worth giving them regular shifts. Hinostroza is a great story. A local kid, who hustles and works his butt off. He does what is asked of him. Like you posit above, he doesn't typically hurt you, but he just doesn't offer enough in any particular part of his game to make a difference. He is not big enough, strong enough or good enough on the defensive end to be a shutdown guy, and while his hustle and speed generate offensive chances sometimes, he can't carry a line, make the players around him any better per se, or really be a contributor on an elite offensive line.

Jury is still out on Hayden. I would like to see him get a consistent spot on ANY line and see if he can give you what you need. Whether it be on the 4th line, or as a power forward on line 1 or 2. Pick a lane and see if he can do it. Kampf can fill the Kruger role and maybe even give you a bit more offense than Kruger ever did.

If you aren't going to go out and try and add am NHL caliber d-man, then at the very least you need to change the style of play.

Blackhawks lines
Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
DeBrincat-Ejdsell-Sikura
Sharp-Kampf-Hinostroza
Jurco-Anisimov-Martinsen

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) March 28, 2018

Blackhawks lines
Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
DeBrincat-Ejdsell-Sikura
Sharp-Kampf-Hinostroza
Jurco-Anisimov-Martinsen

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) March 28, 2018

- DarthKane

With defensemen:

#Blackhawks lines and pairings:
Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
Sikura-Ejdsell-DeBrincat
Jurco-Anisimov-Martinsen
Sharp-Kampf-Hinostroza

Keith-Seabrook
Gustafsson-Murphy
Hillman-Oesterle-Rutta (all rotating)

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 28, 2018

I think they can make a top 6 out of this with the emerging young players. I removed the guys who didn't play many games yet or who are traded away or ultimately gone.



Both Hinostroza and Duclair have demonstrated top 6 ability.
- breadbag

At no point are Hinostroza or Duclair top 6 talent. With the roster at this point your top 6 are Kane, Toews, Saad, Schmaltz, DeBrincat and Anisimov. If Schmaltz is a C then slide AA down and put Hayden in there

Lots of Blackhawk stuff in Friedman's new 31 Thopughts, including Blackhawks playing for CAN in the upcoming World Championship.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...-bowman-stanley-cup-runs/

Some interesting insights about the Blackhawks in this edition of 31 Thoughts by Elliotte Friedman.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...-bowman-stanley-cup-runs/

Lots of Blackhawk stuff in Friedman's new 31 Thopughts, including Blackhawks playing for CAN in the upcoming World Championship.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...-bowman-stanley-cup-runs/
- scottak

Ha!

With defensemen:

#Blackhawks lines and pairings:
Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
Sikura-Ejdsell-DeBrincat
Jurco-Anisimov-Martinsen
Sharp-Kampf-Hinostroza

Keith-Seabrook
Gustafsson-Murphy
Hillman-Oesterle-Rutta (all rotating)

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 28, 2018

- DarthKane

In addition to Sikura, happy to see Hillman get his cup of coffee to show what he can bring to the team and hopefully be a part of the youth movement going forward. Not saying either of them will set the world on fire and be instant impacts, but for Hillman at least, he is touted to be a defensive defenseman who plays the body and we could use a few of those on the back end.

At no point are Hinostroza or Duclair top 6 talent. With the roster at this point your top 6 are Kane, Toews, Saad, Schmaltz, DeBrincat and Anisimov. If Schmaltz is a C then slide AA down and put Hayden in there
- TheTrob

Anismov is not a top 6 player on a good team. He can imitate a 2C when he has 2 of the top scoring wingers in the NHL on his wing, but he is 3rd line talent. You put AA with typical 2nd line players and he struggles to contribute and his d game is soft. That is when he is healthy, which seems to be like 75-80% of the time and approaching 30 I wouldn't be surprised to see him wear down more.

I just think the Hawks have a better shot with guys who are on the right side of age 25, have their better years to come and have shown they can contribute offensively in their more limited minutes.

Lots of Blackhawk stuff in Friedman's new 31 Thopughts, including Blackhawks playing for CAN in the upcoming World Championship.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...-bowman-stanley-cup-runs/
- scottak

'One year ago, Florida’s coaching search came down to Bob Boughner and Denver’s Jim Montgomery. Boughner won the job, and he’s got the Panthers on the brink of a marvellous in-season comeback. A day after the NCAA Pioneers’ attempt at a championship repeat was derailed, Montgomery answered the phone by laughing and saying, “We’ve got five minutes to talk before I start the barbecue.” I had a simple question: Will he try again?

“I’d never say never,” he answered. “But it would have to be a perfect opportunity for me and my family…. Denver is a great place to live, and I work for great people.”'

Possible new Hawks coach if Q is let go, seems like a natural fit with the Denver prospects we have and increasing youth movement.

In addition to Sikura, happy to see Hillman get his cup of coffee to show what he can bring to the team and hopefully be a part of the youth movement going forward. Not saying either of them will set the world on fire and be instant impacts, but for Hillman at least, he is touted to be a defensive defenseman who plays the body and we could use a few of those on the back end.
- AEL_Fox

Might as well see what we have with Sikura, Hillman and Ejdsell. Hopefully Delia gets a game or two as well. I'd also give guys like Hinostroza, Hayden (when healthy), and Kampf bigger roles to see what they can do.