I'm hoping the Hawks can do what Carolina did with their d-man prospects over the past 3-4 years. They had 4-5 NHL caliber d-prospects matriculate to the NHL over a 2-3 year period and now they have one of the best young d-corps in the league, even to the point where they're looking to move Faulk and recently traded one of those young d-men (Hanifan) to improve their team.
- EbonyRaptor

A model like Carolina's would be nice and the Hawks have prospects in the pipeline to gravitate towards that.

Thanks for the observation on Gilbert's skating. Always great to get someone's first hand look at players.

I'm hoping the Hawks can do what Carolina did with their d-man prospects over the past 3-4 years. They had 4-5 NHL caliber d-prospects matriculate to the NHL over a 2-3 year period and now they have one of the best young d-corps in the league, even to the point where they're looking to move Faulk and recently traded one of those young d-men (Hanifan) to improve their team.
- EbonyRaptor

I hope so to, but if we could just get 4 top 4 dmen out of all this, that would be fantastic.

So if nothing else is done, do you think this is what the lineup will look like opening night?

Saad Toews Cat
Nick AA Kane
Hayden Kruger Sikura
Kunitz Kampf Idk


Keith Jokiharju
Rutta Murphy
Manning Seabs

Crow
Ward

So if nothing else is done, do you think this is what the lineup will look like opening night?

Saad Toews Cat
Nick AA Kane
Hayden Kruger Sikura
Kunitz Kampf Idk


Keith Jokiharju
Rutta Murphy
Manning Seabs

Crow
Ward
- SoftServe

We’re at that point in the summer where we’re speculating on line combinations (I’m as guilty as anyone). I still think there are a couple moves to be made that will change the landscape of the team, but until then:

Saad - Toews - DeBrincat
Kahun - Schmaltz - Kane
Hayden - Anisimov - Sikura
Kunitz - Kruger - Edjsell
Kampf

Keith - Murphy
Forsling - Rutta
Gustafsson - Seabrook
Manning

Crawford
Ward
Forsberg

Notes:

1. Kahun has a breakout camp and makes the team
2. Jokiharju is close but I think he starts the season in Rockford
3. Unless Forsberg is deal I believe the Blackhawks carry 3 goals (which is don’t promote or approve of)

I suspect Soderlund will be over in Rockford by the end of his SHL season in the spring.

He will be 21 at that time and have 3 seasons/130+ games of SHL under his belt playing against men.
- Justin Lowe

This guy always stands out for me. Just his +++ speed/edge work and forecheck he can't go unnoticed and this was live with Dahlin and Co on the ice at the WJSS. The hands/dangles he's showing in these clips shows me he took a jump.

Would love to see him in Rockford on the smaller surface, the sooner the better. I hate to speak in absolutes but he's looking more and more like a bottom 6 can't miss especially if he has PK abilities.

We’re at that point in the summer where we’re speculating on line combinations (I’m as guilty as anyone). I still think there are a couple moves to be made that will change the landscape of the team, but until then:

Saad - Toews - DeBrincat
Kahun - Schmaltz - Kane
Hayden - Anisimov - Sikura
Kunitz - Kruger - Edjsell
Kampf

Keith - Murphy
Forsling - Rutta
Gustafsson - Seabrook
Manning

Crawford
Ward
Forsberg

Notes:

1. Kahun has a breakout camp and makes the team
2. Jokiharju is close but I think he starts the season in Rockford
3. Unless Forsberg is deal I believe the Blackhawks carry 3 goals (which is don’t promote or approve of)
- DarthKane

With the serious health concerns of CC, you might have to carry 3.

We’re at that point in the summer where we’re speculating on line combinations (I’m as guilty as anyone). I still think there are a couple moves to be made that will change the landscape of the team, but until then:

Saad - Toews - DeBrincat
Kahun - Schmaltz - Kane
Hayden - Anisimov - Sikura
Kunitz - Kruger - Edjsell
Kampf

Keith - Murphy
Forsling - Rutta
Gustafsson - Seabrook
Manning

Crawford
Ward
Forsberg

Notes:

1. Kahun has a breakout camp and makes the team
2. Jokiharju is close but I think he starts the season in Rockford
3. Unless Forsberg is deal I believe the Blackhawks carry 3 goals (which is don’t promote or approve of)
- DarthKane

To me, the issue is that 3rd line. Two young guys and a boat anchor in the center. I can't see them shutting anyone down or generating much offense. AA has been offensively anemic without Kane/Panarin or Hossa on his wings. Sikura would have to really hit the ground running to carry that line.

With the serious health concerns of CC, you might have to carry 3.
- z1990z

I think i might rather have 3 goalies than 8 defensemen though

What would it take to trade for Panarin this summer? EK reported AGAIN today that the Hawks are aggressively pursuing Bread Man.....

To me, the issue is that 3rd line. Two young guys and a boat anchor in the center. I can't see them shutting anyone down or generating much offense. AA has been offensively anemic without Kane/Panarin or Hossa on his wings. Sikura would have to really hit the ground running to carry that line.
- breadbag

Well Toews has been anemic without Hossa/Kane carrying him either

Anisimov plays a very good 2 way game. Nothing flashy but consistently goes to the net, scores 20g, plays very responsible defensively

And no one player shuts down another player or line

What would it take to trade for Panarin this summer? EK reported AGAIN today that the Hawks are aggressively pursuing Bread Man.....
- EnzoD

Will this be before or after they get that e5 trade of Malkin done?

Well Toews has been anemic without Hossa/Kane carrying him either

Anisimov plays a very good 2 way game. Nothing flashy but consistently goes to the net, scores 20g, plays very responsible defensively

And no one player shuts down another player or line
- PatShart

AA plays soft defense and his line has consistently been dominated in their own end. I'd love for him to step up his 2 way game because right now all he can do is stand in front of a goalie.

AA plays soft defense and his line has consistently been dominated in their own end. I'd love for him to step up his 2 way game because right now all he can do is stand in front of a goalie.
- breadbag

If he played soft defence, theres no way Q or Torts would like him

He plays a very responsible game

Will this be before or after they get that e5 trade of Malkin done?
- PatShart

After they trade for Malkin and before they trade for Erik Karlsson

What would it take to trade for Panarin this summer? EK reported AGAIN today that the Hawks are aggressively pursuing Bread Man.....
- EnzoD

I'm curious as well, as to what it would take. What do you think?

If he played soft defence, theres no way Q or Torts would like him

He plays a very responsible game
- PatShart

Seriously, he is not hard to play against. He is big, but lacks grit. He doesn't hit. He doesn't get his stick in there and steal pucks and win battles. He just kinda tries to keep people to he outside and not get beat to the outside. If they keep him, they'll likely need to keep him away from the defensive responsibility and play him with Kane.

Seriously, he is not hard to play against. He is big, but lacks grit. He doesn't hit. He doesn't get his stick in there and steal pucks and win battles. He just kinda tries to keep people to he outside and not get beat to the outside. If they keep him, they'll likely need to keep him away from the defensive responsibility and play him with Kane.
- breadbag

Ok

After they trade for Malkin and before they trade for Erik Karlsson
- EnzoD

That's going to be so sweet!

What would it take to trade for Panarin this summer? EK reported AGAIN today that the Hawks are aggressively pursuing Bread Man.....
- EnzoD

I don’t see that happening.

I'm curious as well, as to what it would take. What do you think?
- SoftServe

Anisimov + Seabrook

After they trade for Malkin and before they trade for Erik Karlsson
- EnzoD

Where do the Duchene and Boedker trades fit into this timeline?

To me, the issue is that 3rd line. Two young guys and a boat anchor in the center. I can't see them shutting anyone down or generating much offense. AA has been offensively anemic without Kane/Panarin or Hossa on his wings. Sikura would have to really hit the ground running to carry that line.
- breadbag

I'm thinking something similar: the question mark is building an effective 3rd line as I think creating 2 top scoring lines shouldn't be difficult at all and a 4th line that can play big minutes and shut down the other team's top players with Kruger, Kunitz, and whoever the RW would be.

1st: Saad - Toews - Sikura
2nd: DeBrincat - Schmaltz - Kane
4th: Kunitz - Kruger - Martinsen/Hayden

IMHO, that 3rd line should be a hybrid of lines 1/2 and line 4: some scoring punch but defensively responsible and even called upon to take on some tough defense assignments if called upon. The 3C needs to be able to win draws and the wingers need to be able to forecheck like their hair is on fire (as Rico said earlier, Soderlund is destined for a spot like this).

Possible 3rd line with current players and Hog prospects:

Anisimov - Johnson - Hayden
(assuming Martinsen is 4RW)

Not ideal since Anisimov isn't a forechecking machine and Johnson may be slotted one line too high, at least to start his NHL career. But you never know how effective (or ineffective) they will be.

Hinostroza would have been an option but not anymore of course. There's also Kahun, Nilsson, and Highmore as well as possibly Fortin.

Anisimov + Seabrook
- EnzoD

Duchene - Malkin - Kane
Panarin - Schmaltz - Boedker
Simmons - Toews - Skinner
DeBrincat - Wilson - Saad

Duchene - Malkin - Kane
Panarin - Schmaltz - Boedker
Simmons - Toews - Skinner
DeBrincat - Wilson - Saad
- DarthKane

I cannot wait until October

I'm thinking something similar: the question mark is building an effective 3rd line as I think creating 2 top scoring lines shouldn't be difficult at all and a 4th line that can play big minutes and shutdown the other team's top players with Kruger, Kunitz, and whoever the RW would be (Hayden?).

1st: Saad - Toews - Sikura
2nd: DeBrincat - Schmaltz - Kane
4th: Kunitz - Kruger - Martinsen/Hayden

IMHO, that 3rd line should be a hybrid of lines 1/2 and line 4: some scoring punch but defensively responsible and even called upon to take on some tough defense assignments. The 3C needs to be able to win draws and the wingers need to be able to forecheck like their hair is on fire (as Rico said earlier, Soderlund is destined for a spot like this).

Possible 3rd line with current players and Hog prospects:

Anisimov - Johnson - Hayden
(assuming Martinsen is 4RW)

Not ideal but you never know how effective (or ineffective) they will be. Hinostroza would have been an option but not anymore of course. There's also Kahun, Nilsson, and Highmore as well as possibly Fortin.
- AEL_Fox

I'm very glad I don't have to decide. I also wonder if possibly they will put Kruger back into 3rd line duty. He essentially played 3C with Hossa/Hartman his last season with the Hawks. Not saying they will, but they could go Toews, AA, Kruger, Kampf down the middle and put Schmaltz on that LW side.

Many possibilities. Maybe even balance it out and slide Saad down to that 3rd line.

Schmaltz - Toews - Sikura
Debrincat - AA - Kane
Saad - Kruger - Hayden
Kunitz - Kampf - Martinsen