Opposite of Toews. He was good till he became a borderline poophead.
- busmaster

Not the hippy diet kinda poophead, i meant dirty SOB kinda poophead.

Every mgt around the league is going to try to pull a Las Vegas attitude. The decimated dispirited Hawks really have their work cut out for them.
- Savoy

If only we had the heartbeat of the Columbus Blue Jackets back on our side.

Not the hippy diet kinda poophead, i meant dirty SOB kinda poophead.
- BlazinMike

Hippy diet? Is it September yet?

A possible option for middle 6 LW is Fortin. He's far from a lock but you have to love the renewed energy he brought to his 3rd prospect camp and desire to impress Hawks brass again. I can see him being a finalist to break the lineup this fall. Let's say he does earn a spot, a possible lineup could be:

Saad - Toews - Sikura
DeBrincat - Schmaltz - Kane
Fortin - Anisimov - Hayden
Kunitz - Kruger - Martinsen

One or two blogs ago, I remember someone else proposing that Toews have DeBrincat and Sikura as his linemates. If that's the case:

DeBrincat - Toews - Sikura
Saad - Schmaltz - Kane
Fortin - Anisimov - Hayden
Kunitz - Kruger - Martinsen

Not sure how that would play out, though, having Toews without a power winger as one of his linemates.
- AEL_Fox

I think we are going to see a lot of Hayden in the top 6, or at least he will get a shot.

Agreed. The Schmaltz-AA-Kane line isn't my preferred option, I would rather see #8 playing centre. Schmaltz was third in the league at takeaways last year with much fewer giveaways than the other guys at the top of the list. Moving Debrincat to 2LW works for that line, but it shifts the void to 1RW.

Saad - Toews - ???
DeBrincat - Schmaltz - Kane
- DarthKane

True - but that's what happens when you have only 5 top-6 guys. Ideally Sikura gets a fast start to his career and plays 1RW. He is more of a distributor than shooter and I think he could work well with Saad-Toews. If Sikura doesn't grab the 1RW spot - maybe Kahun or Ejdsell or Hayden? I think there are two pairs of forwards that should play together and not be subject to the inevitable Q blender spasms - Toews/Saad and Kane/DeBrincat. Let Q play the mad scientist with everything else but leave those two pairs alone.

Sure you guys have seen this, but some great insight (albeit curated) on the Boquist pick, especially the reaction when Arizona goes "off the board".


https://www.nhl.com/black...ck/t-277437096/c-60806103

Saad-Toews- Schmaltz (I would like to see a table setter opposite Saad and Toews)
Debrincat-AA-Kane (I would like to see a shooter opposite Kane)
??? - ??? - ???
Kunitz-Kruger-Hayden (I like this line)

I would like to see the final rosters spots won in training camp. I would have to think Ejdsell, Kampf, Sikura, Martinsen are the popular names right now for the last 4 forward roster spots. But guys like Fortin, Kahun, Nilsson, Highmore and Johnson have a shot too.)

Keith-Jokiharju
Manning-Murphy
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Rutta

Crawford
Ward

Saad-Toews- Schmaltz (I would like to see a table setter opposite Saad and Toews)
Debrincat-AA-Kane (I would like to see a shooter opposite Kane)
??? - ??? - ???
Kunitz-Kruger-Hayden (I like this line)

I would like to see the final rosters spots won in training camp. I would have to think Ejdsell, Kampf, Sikura, Martinsen are the popular names right now for the last 4 forward roster spots. But guys like Fortin, Kahun, Nilsson, Highmore and Johnson have a shot too.)

Keith-Jokiharju
Manning-Murphy
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Rutta

Crawford
Ward
- -Doh-

#embracethetank

Schmaltz played a lot of those minutes with a guy named Kane. Something to consider.
- John Jaeckel

Didn't Landeskog play some of his with Stasny or Duchene?

#embracethetank
- Return of the Roar

Hopefully there is no thought of tanking, at least until they're eliminated from the playoffs (if that should happen) - but there will be some pretty good players at the top of the 2019 draft, probably led by Jack Hughes who would be a pretty nice consolation prize for missing the playoffs. I know it would be long odds but imagine the top-9 in a couple years if the Hawks win the draft lottery next June.

Saad-Toews-Schmaltz
DeBrincat-Hughes-Kane
Soderlund-Wise-Sikura

I, for one, would love to see them sign Nash, and I really don't care if they overpay as long as it's only one year. My main reason is that I don't want Stan to trade high picks or top prospects in season, so even if they use up all their cap room for Nash, they still have flexibility to sign players next off season. Not having space to add a player at the TDL would be a good thing this season, IMO. I don't think many here consider the Hawks a good enough team to really compete for the Cup, but I could easily see Stan overpaying at the deadline if we were in the hunt for the playoffs.

As long as they have Brandon Manning, they will win nothing.

Talon was not fired for the Hossa contract. One of the reasons he was "reassigned" was because he missed the filing deadline for qualifying offers to Versteeg, Bickell, Cam Barker, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Troy Brouwer, Aaron Johnson and Corey Crawford, which in effect made them UFA's. They subsequently resigned all of the players, but the contracts to Versteeg and Barker wound up at 3 years $9.25 mil, which was considered to be higher than market value and inflated because they were UFA's instead of RFA's.
- TheTrob

Don't bet against Scotty "leaning" on others in a management position to help them forget to make the Q Os. He wanted his son Stan in the GM slot after Talon put most of the talent together that lead to the first 2 of the 3 cups that the Hawks won. What you have seen since is what Stan is capable of.

As long as they have Brandon Manning, they will win nothing.
- jmatchett383

Have you seen the rest of the Hawks' defenseman? Manning might be their #2 next year

Zucker isn't a close comparable for Schmaltz - he is 4 years older, he had a bridge deal between ELC/new contract, and it took his 5 seasons to get over 50 points for the first time. When looking at comparables, go by the reported arbitration case rule: they are supposed to be within two years in age or within 70 games played.

Schmaltz's comparables are going to be in a younger range - his closest are Drouin and Landeskog rn.
- L_B_R

Landeskog signed for 8.6% of the cap, Drouin for 7.5% of the cap. If you assume Schmaltz goes for the lower of your two comparables, and the cap only goes up 2m next summer, that's still a 6m+ contract.

I would not get caught up in the numbers .... number one D ..... number one winger .... number two center. Look at the Vegas Golden Knights. Before last year, NONE of these guys were top defensemen, most of them were "number 4" defensemen tops, with primarily many "number 5 and 6". The only "top six" forward was James Neal. William Karlson scores 40 goals and all of the sudden he is a "number one" center They proved that a deep, if not overly talented team and go far if they play the system hard and compliment one another.

At the moment, it does sure look like the Hawks need another "top six winger" or "top four defenseman" but MAYBE - not saying it will - but MAYBE some of these young guys can fill that role and COMPLIMENT the defensive pairing ... or ... COMPLIMENT the line. For example, John Hayden right now is probably not a "top six winger" but MAYBE he can compliment a line of Schmaltz and Kane, for example, with his size .... opening things up around the perimeter for these guys and picking up some garbage inside with tips and rebounds. Anything is possible .. we just have to wait and see how things pan out

True - but that's what happens when you have only 5 top-6 guys. Ideally Sikura gets a fast start to his career and plays 1RW. He is more of a distributor than shooter and I think he could work well with Saad-Toews. If Sikura doesn't grab the 1RW spot - maybe Kahun or Ejdsell or Hayden? I think there are two pairs of forwards that should play together and not be subject to the inevitable Q blender spasms - Toews/Saad and Kane/DeBrincat. Let Q play the mad scientist with everything else but leave those two pairs alone.
- EbonyRaptor

I believe Toews and Saad need a playmaking linemate, too, and the best options outside of Kane (aka the "nuclear" option) are Schmaltz and Sikura. If Schmaltz is almost defaulted to be with Kane, then that leaves Sikura. Lot of pressure on a youngster with only 5 NHL games under his belt, but he is the only top 6 forward prospect closest to making the team. My gut is he earns a spot out of camp this fall. Where he plays remains to be seen, but 1RW with Toews and Saad is worth considering.

Sure you guys have seen this, but some great insight (albeit curated) on the Boquist pick, especially the reaction when Arizona goes "off the board".


https://www.nhl.com/black...ck/t-277437096/c-60806103
- Revco38

Watching that Video you really get the sense that Mark Kelley is running the show not Bowman.

Now we know McDonuts plan,
Chicago Blackhawks
‏
Verified account

@NHLBlackhawks
More
CONFIRMED: Legendary emergency backup goaltender Scott Foster is coming to the #Blackhawks Convention! #FosterOfThePeople

Complete #BHC2018 schedule: http://onego.al/9vWH30l8wYT

Now we know McDonuts plan,
Chicago Blackhawks
‏
Verified account

@NHLBlackhawks
More
CONFIRMED: Legendary emergency backup goaltender Scott Foster is coming to the #Blackhawks Convention! #FosterOfThePeople

Complete #BHC2018 schedule: http://onego.al/9vWH30l8wYT
- riozzo

UPDATED: Convention tickets SOLD OUT 8 minutes after Scott Foster is announced as guest!!!!!!

CH.com: What's been the main focus?

Darling: Overall health. I've focused a lot on my diet, too. My girlfriend has been great. She's a vegetarian and eats really healthy, so she's been teaching me how to eat healthy, which I had no idea how to do. She's been helping me a lot with that, and then training six days a week with Bill, just trying to lose some weight and body fat and work on a little bit of everything. I'm doing Pilates for flexibility and range of motion. I'm doing boxing classes for cardio. That's more of a fun way to work out. It can get old riding an assault bike or running on a treadmill. It's been fun to mix in some boxing. Just trying to do everything we can to be ready for the season.

https://www.nhl.com/hurri...d-a-interview/c-299597278

Does anyone here know if diet was an issue for Darling before? Seems like he's had to renew some focus on that.

Based on what you've seen to date, would you sign Schmaltz at 5yr/$6m per? Not saying I wouldn't, but I would have to think hard about it for sure.
- John Jaeckel

Saving all the cap space to resign Kruger?

How is it possible you can advertise another site in your location without being banned?

Saving all the cap space to resign Kruger?

How is it possible you can advertise another site in your location without being banned?
- dpard

Gonna need it after Krugs finally breaks out as an offensive juggernaut this year

Well Justin, I understand buddy, you’re caught between a rock and a hard stone here having the task of being the BLACKHAWKS blogger, let’s put it this way, and I probably speak for a lot of other season-ticket holder‘s, that if what you have written is how it turns out and that is the lineup they go with for the next two years, then the biggest investment that I will have in the Chicago Blackhawks will be two AA batteries for my remote. Because looking at those young guys there’s nothing there to get excited about, I can go watch guys like that at some of the no check Sunday morning elite league’s. And I would not bet against Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane asking for a trade out of here.
I am still sticking to my thought that Chris Chelios was not brought back here just to be an ambassador. Just like Joel Quennville was not brought here in 2009 just to be an advisor.

Gonna need it after Krugs finally breaks out as an offensive juggernaut this year
- BlazinMike