Watch the lightning. They have many "undersized" players, who like Kruger win most board battles. They take advantage of speed and arrive faster and dictate the play. Their guys have more skill then Kruger.... Gourde, Point, Johnson, Cirelli, Joseph...

The lightning control the puck= to and likely more than the Hawks used to. 4 lines of speed, grit and talent. Very tough to beat, but a lot of fun to watch. 3 times this year on 5 on 3s they not only scored on 5 on 3, but the power play right after.

I believe SB is building his roster similarly. Right now, obviously, we do not have the talent up front and back end....but that is the goal...
- TrueGrit

Maybe. Don't know as much about TBL as you, but I do think their is an actual plan in place vs. the rudderless ship as some here would have it.

You and others have mentioned building from the goalie and the defense out, which you can already see, as dmen typically take longer to develop.

Hawks may have found their goalie of the future in Delia and Stan has been adding goalies the last few years to address an organizational weakness.

I think one of the biggest tips or tells was signing the players he did this season to the deals he did.

There were no guarantees that any of the Core or Saad would have bounce back years, so why sign players to money and term when you're not quite sure what you have with the current team.

Toews bouncing back and Saad playing more typical of what he's capable, are hopefully signs for Stan to address some holes in the offseason through free agency.

It truly is.

It'll be even funnier if the Hawks can take advantage of teams in cap hell now that CHI has some space.
- Justin Lowe

Crossed fingers for a great tdl and July 1st.

Zing!!!!
- BGKarras

Hahaha, thanks.

Watch the lightning. They have many "undersized" players, who like Kruger win most board battles. They take advantage of speed and arrive faster and dictate the play. Their guys have more skill then Kruger.... Gourde, Point, Johnson, Cirelli, Joseph...

The lightning control the puck= to and likely more than the Hawks used to. 4 lines of speed, grit and talent. Very tough to beat, but a lot of fun to watch. 3 times this year on 5 on 3s they not only scored on 5 on 3, but the power play right after.

I believe SB is building his roster similarly. Right now, obviously, we do not have the talent up front and back end....but that is the goal...
- TrueGrit

One thing you left out - incredible drafting under the stewardship of Yzerman and his scouting staff.

Some cap issues on the horizon tho.

Where is the great Tomas Jurco that Bowman protected in the expansion draft?

Anthony DeAngelo for 42

Anthony Mantha for 20

Saad is useless at 6 mill

19 has had 0 decent wingers past 3 years

Where is the great Tomas Jurco that Bowman protected in the expansion draft?

Anthony DeAngelo for 42

Anthony Mantha for 20

Saad is useless at 6 mill

19 has had 0 decent wingers past 3 years
- Goalie-33

lol He is being groomed to be the next coming of Jesus.

It truly is.

It'll be even funnier if the Hawks can take advantage of teams in cap hell now that CHI has some space.
- Justin Lowe

Maybe I missed it but has drake cleared up his visa issues and reported yet?

Maybe I missed it but has drake cleared up his visa issues and reported yet?
- Taylorst1

Don't think so, possibly having something to do with the Government shutdown/strike.
I really want to see how he will fit in with the bottom six.

God I loved Ben Eager that entire season. That was what Blackhawk toughness was all about. Not just in that one clip but he played like NAILS all year round.
Thanks AEL
- Hawkytalk

I wouldn't define ben eager as toughness. If you want to talk toughness , Grimson,,,Manson,Marchment, Smith,Graham Peluso.

Those were some tough players loved the probie domi fights or grimson,and probert match ups

Entwistle traded:

Confirmed: MacKenzie Entwistle (F) | Hamilton Bulldogs -> Guelph Storm | https://t.co/MQpuUcgWv4 #OHL

— EP Transfers (@ep_transfers) January 5, 2019

- DarthKane

I was about to be really mad, but saw the whole thing. Saw what beach bear said, and share his feelings. Ikeane did the same exact thing with Murphy traded, but it was some Anaheim and Arizona trade. I don't like being scared like that, haha.

Don't think so, possibly having something to do with the Government shutdown/strike.
I really want to see how he will fit in with the bottom six.
- BGKarras

Ok Thanks for the update, Yeah I'm curious as well to see how he fits in and if he actually performs.

What is his natural position ?

Ok Thanks for the update, Yeah I'm curious as well to see how he fits in and if he actually performs.

What is his natural position ?
- Taylorst1

Man I may be wrong but I believe he plays L- Wing.

Entwistle traded:

Confirmed: MacKenzie Entwistle (F) | Hamilton Bulldogs -> Guelph Storm | https://t.co/MQpuUcgWv4 #OHL

— EP Transfers (@ep_transfers) January 5, 2019

- DarthKane

Still Hawks property. Just traded to a different OHL team.

I wouldn't define ben eager as toughness. If you want to talk toughness , Grimson,,,Manson,Marchment, Smith,Graham Peluso.

Those were some tough players loved the probie domi fights or grimson,and probert match ups
- Taylorst1

That's great. Remind me again about all the Cups those guys won while Hawks.

Smith (Steve I assume), Manson and Graham were all guys I enjoyed watch playing. Also enjoyed Manson in some of his fights with various Blues and N Stars...but I'll take Ben Eager, his perceived lack of toughness and the first Cup win in 49 years, thanks.

That's great. Remind me again about all the Cups those guys won while Hawks.

Smith (Steve I assume), Manson and Graham were all guys I enjoyed watch playing. Also enjoyed Manson in some of his fights with various Blues and N Stars...but I'll take Ben Eager, his perceived lack of toughness and the first Cup win in 49 years, thanks.
- HawkintheD

Checkmate!

Man I may be wrong but I believe he plays L- Wing.
- BGKarras

Think he can play them all, versatile guy who needs to find consistency in his game .Has the tools will be a bit of a project ,just what JC good at .

Drake Caggiula is in Chicago and at practice

Sikura is not at practice

Maybe I missed it but has drake cleared up his visa issues and reported yet?
- Taylorst1

With Martinsen going down that would signal that the Drake is close to joining.

I like Kadri, too. He embraced an evolution of his role in the NHL from a projected top 6 scoring center to a middle 6 checking center who loves to agitate the crap out of the opponent. Tough as nails with scoring punch (not just 10-15 goals but 20+ or even upwards of 30 with the right linemates). Could be wrong but he's good on defense, too.
- AEL_Fox

Kadri is the Maple Leafs Dave Bolland, a bottom six guy who can do anything asked of him, power play, shutdown, penalty killing, can sub into the top six on occasion and who has some offensive upside. BUT Kadri is 28 years old and the last thing the Hawks need to do is start trading for guys who are at the peak of their careers. Should the Hawks start moving the core guys it should be for the future, roster players about 24 or younger, blue chip prospects and draft picks.

Drake Caggiula is in Chicago and at practice

Sikura is not at practice
- pdx2ord

Great, thanks, pd. I'm excited to see what he brings to the table as far as bottom 6.

Great, thanks, pd. I'm excited to see what he brings to the table as far as bottom 6.
- I Am The Breadman

np - just happened to catch it right when tweeted - the resulting lines

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis

#Blackhawks lines and pairings:
Saad-Toews-Kahun
Anisimov-Strome-Kane
DeBrincat-Kampf-Perlini
Kunitz-Kruger-Caggiula

Keith-Gustafsson
Forsling-Seabrook
Dahlstrom-Murphy

ETA: Powers has Caggiula on the LW Cagguila-Kruger-Kunitz

Drake Caggiula is in Chicago and at practice

Sikura is not at practice
- pdx2ord

Hopefully Sikura is on his way back to Rockford with a good understanding on what he needs to work on before he gets another shot.

Don't expect much from Caggiula but excited to see how he does. Wasn't Caggiula the 3rd guy on the line with Schmaltz and Boeser when North Dakota won the NCAA?

Hopefully Sikura is on his way back to Rockford with a good understanding on what he needs to work on before he gets another shot.

Don't expect much from Caggiula but excited to see how he does. Wasn't Caggiula the 3rd guy on the line with Schmaltz and Boeser when North Dakota won the NCAA?
- EbonyRaptor

Yes

I wouldn't define ben eager as toughness. If you want to talk toughness , Grimson,,,Manson,Marchment, Smith,Graham Peluso.

Those were some tough players loved the probie domi fights or grimson,and probert match ups
- Taylorst1

You want toughness? Hjalmerson is tougher than all the ones you mentioned. He willingly stood in front of pucks many times a game, how many times did he leave the ice in obvious pain not missing a shift and then standing in front of more shots, he was willing to take huge hits to make plays and unlike the players you talk about he could play hockey at a high level.

Happy New Year Justin and Hawks fans!

Frequent reader/lurker, so I thought I'd contribute more to the discussion....

Who is the Most Improved Skater on this year's roster?

My vote hands-down is Murphy. The defense is still atrocious but much moreso prior to #5's reentry to the lineup. His physical play and smarts have been good, as has a pairing with a heady Dahlstrom that doesn't get pushed off pucks too easily.