If any defenceman gets moved it should be Gus. I’d keep Murphy over de Haan and Maatta too.
- DarthKane

Always a good demand for RD.

I would be ok with moving Gus if what we got in return was pretty high. Of course the same is true for Murphy, DeHaan, and Maatta.

And the same is true for Seabs (if you could find someone to take his contract). But I do not see that happening because of his contract and everyone (teammates, front office, not sure about the coach) on the Hawks loves him.

My guess is they wait to see more of Boqvist and the other young defenders before making a move.

Fair enough. I guess my point is that I wouldn’t be so quick to move Murphy.

I’m starting to wonder if the Hawks will re-sign Gus. Maybe a 4 X $4 million kind of deal. The thought of Gus and Boqvist on the team together is scary.
- DarthKane

Scary for the Hawks in the D zone. Scary for the opponent in the Offensive zone.

Will we be seeing Patrick Kane moved to left wing?
- Rota's Rooter

no, to Strome line

Will we be seeing Patrick Kane moved to left wing?
- Rota's Rooter

no, to Strome line

Will we be seeing Patrick Kane moved to left wing?
- Rota's Rooter

no, to Strome line

no, to Strome line
- wiz1901

Do you think they will put him on the Strome line?

Jesus, I hit it once three replications of the same post?

Bowman FAIL

Do you think they will put him on the Strome line?
- PatShart

I am just thankful DeBrincat still has a head after Dylan McIlrath last night, lol!

Do you think they will put him on the Strome line?
- PatShart

DeBrincat-Strome-Kane would obviously be the team’s shut-down line.

So when does everyone expect the 1st culling of the herd? Tomorrow? Friday?

DeBrincat-Strome-Kane would obviously be the team’s shut-down line.
- DarthKane

Yep. They would rather shut down then play in our D Zone.

Seriously I would be ok with that line. It would draw the opponents shut down line and Dmen off of Toews line. You could make the Toews line and the 4th line be good 200' lines. The 3rd line could be tilted to offense or tilted to a 200' line, depending who you put on it.

So when does everyone expect the 1st culling of the herd? Tomorrow? Friday?
- Rota's Rooter

Yes. Either or both.

It’s a damn shame that Kubalik is only signed to a one-year deal.

He’s going to get a nice raise next offseason. He’s just a really, really good player.

Excited to see what the team looks like when it’s at full strength.

If Shaw ends up centering the third line at some point, I really don’t see holes on this team.

Side note: didn’t watch the entire game; but Strome’s skating is noticeably improved. Thought he did a better job in the defensive zone than what we saw last season.

My point being (which you ignored) that Toronto is too cap heavy on their forwards and in dire need of upgrading their defense.

I take it you disagree?
- hereismike1

My point was totally about posters getting hung up here on wins/losses during pre-seasonj, not on the construction of the Toronto roster.

It’s a damn shame that Kubalik is only signed to a one-year deal.

He’s going to get a nice raise next offseason. He’s just a really, really good player.

Excited to see what the team looks like when it’s at full strength.

If Shaw ends up centering the third line at some point, I really don’t see holes on this team.

Side note: didn’t watch the entire game; but Strome’s skating is noticeably improved. Thought he did a better job in the defensive zone than what we saw last season.
- TommyHawk

That is GREAT to hear about Strome.

It’s a damn shame that Kubalik is only signed to a one-year deal.

He’s going to get a nice raise next offseason. He’s just a really, really good player.

Excited to see what the team looks like when it’s at full strength.

If Shaw ends up centering the third line at some point, I really don’t see holes on this team.

Side note: didn’t watch the entire game; but Strome’s skating is noticeably improved. Thought he did a better job in the defensive zone than what we saw last season.
- TommyHawk

He will be an RFA after this year. So not terrible. Look how many RFA's signed offer sheets this season. Some signed team friendly deals, some teams overpaid, a few are still unsigned. It should be interesting. Let's have a good year and then worry about signing our players.

Having 3 really good RFA's after this year is better than not having anyone of that talent/skill level.

Saad-Shaw-Kane
ADB-Strome-Perlini
Nylander-Toews-Kubalik
3 of the remainder

Then everyone can complain that our 6th/7th defeseman and third line center make $17.4 mil. combined.

Dave Stubbs
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Happy 86th birthday to Scotty Bowman @coachwsb, the greatest coach in hockey history. Never more energetic, Scotty is soon headed back to Florida from Buffalo, eager to scout games in Tampa, new book out soon. I've written much about Scotty.

That is GREAT to hear about Strome.
- 35Tony0

Indeed. If he is stronger and more explosive he will be a tough big body center to play against. Big lanky kid. I could see him put up 70-80pts regularly if that is the case. He's only 22 years old.

If Dach pans out as a top 6 center this team has a good foundation for the next 8-10 years.

Two 6'3" top 6 centers

And that Toews guy too!

And with Tavares and Marner in the line-up last night they lost to Ottawa, I guess their season is lost too. Also Thomas Jurco scored a goal fro Edmonton, another Bowman fail.
- LAHawk

Duclair scored last night also - Ottawa - why the heck did we not resign him?

Saad-Shaw-Kane
ADB-Strome-Perlini
Nylander-Toews-Kubalik
3 of the remainder

Then everyone can complain that our 6th/7th defeseman and third line center make $17.4 mil. combined.
- LAHawk

Not feeling those combinations. But I feel that we have at least 2 centers (Toews Strome) and 4 wingers (Kane, Saad, ADB, Shaw) that can make a pretty decent top 6. Not that they all will play on the top two lines. I think it is pretty likely Nylander and Kubalik play somewhere in the top 9. So that makes 8 players likely in the top 9. It should be interesting who the other player in the top nine will be. Sikura? Perlini? Dach? Kampf? Caggiula,?Wedin? Kurashev? Highmore? Saarela? With some of these players dropping to the 4th line, that too should be way better than what we started with last year.

Duclair scored last night also - Ottawa - why the heck did we not resign him?
- glennjpawlak22

Bowman fail. But don't worry Stan will trade for him or sign him somewhere down the line.

Saad-Shaw-Kane
ADB-Strome-Perlini
Nylander-Toews-Kubalik
3 of the remainder

Then everyone can complain that our 6th/7th defeseman and third line center make $17.4 mil. combined.
- LAHawk

Can we complain that you think Perlini belongs anywhere in the top 9?

Season opens in 16 days, for Dach to have a serious chance at making this team, I would say he needs to be cleared within the next 3-5 days. I do not want to hurry the process with him because concussions are very scary, but I do think his time is running short if he hopes to play in the NHL this season.

Can we complain that you think Perlini belongs anywhere in the top 9?
- PatShart

I hated putting him there, but I wouldn't put Smith or Carpenter their either.