NOON UPDATE
There were some whispers yesterday and this morning that the Hawks might have a move or two left, but as 3PM Eastern approaches that looks less and less likely. I would put a 50/50 chance at some kind of move to trim salary or a contract or two happening right around the actual clock deadline this afternoon. But it might be something involving a draft pick as compensation, as opposed a rostered NHL player or significant prospect. If any "current" Hawk player gets moved, it will likely be goalie Antti Raanta, who i snow in the AHL anyway.
TONIGHT’S GAME
Carolina Hurricanes (24-30-7) at Chicago Blackhawks (37-21-5) 8:30 Eastern/7:30 Central CSN Chi/FSCR
CHICAGO LINEUP
Versteeg Toews Hossa Sharp Vermette Saad Bickell Richards Shaw Nordstrom Kruger Smith
Timonen Seabrook Keith Rozsival Hjalmarsson Rundblad
Crawford
THE BUZZ
Tonight, we get our first taste of the revamped, Patrick Kane-less Blackhawks.
I’m not sold on the lines, but the defensive pairings (even strength and and power play) look improved already. I’m a believer in (a healthy) Kimmo Timonen. And I like him on the top power play unit. This, in turn, puts Duncan Keith with Michal Rozsival and Niklas Hjalmarsson with David Rundblad. Hjalmarsson is known for a steadying, solidifying effect on partners—and boy does his fellow Swede Rundblad need that.
Maybe these forward lines click, but my belief is ultimately, Joel Quenneville may be forced to split up his two best offensive players, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa, until Kane returns.
Hossa really just needs someone to get him the puck, and preferably a lefty pivot. Richards would seem to be the choice there. His results with Kane thus far this year show that he can still make plays and set up a productive scoring RW. Put Brandon Saad on their left wing.
I would actually then try Sharp on Toews’ left wing (they’ve had chemistry in the past), with Kris Versteeg on the right.
Or flop Sharp and Saad (Saad to 1LW, Sharp to 2LW).
And put Antoine Vermette between Bryan Bickell and Andrew Shaw.
But that’s just my .02 and this is Quenneville, so any and all combos will likely be tried.
JJ
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