OK, so what do we know, what do we think we know, and under the best of circumstances what will the Hawks team be next season? Will it be a contender? How many of the requisite pieces of a champion team is in place? We may not know the answer to those last two questions but the objective is to get closer to knowing.

What the 2020/21 lineup could be given the best case scenario of winning the draft lottery and selecting Lafreniere and signing Ian Mitchell and having Lafreniere and Mitchell both be not only ready for the NHL but both be in the running for Calder. But even then - will this lineup be enough to win the Cup?

Saad-Toews-Kubalik
Lafreniere-Dach-Kane
Cat-Strome-Nystrom
Kampf-Carpenter-Highmore

Keith-Boqvist
deHaan-Murphy
Koekkoek-Mitchell
Carlsson-Seabrook

Crawford
Delia/???
- EbonyRaptor

Dont worry, literally no one is expecting this team to win or even contending for the cup next season.

#2022cupwinner

The more you look at this in retrospect, the more clear 'the plan' becomes. The front office knew they would be a bubble team at best during Colliton's tenure.

Sure seems like the intent all along was to develop young players while also saving cash on a cheap HC? Colliton's 3 year deal (soft rebuild time) is only around 1.7 mil in total. Q was making around 5-7 per million per year.

Then after Colliton's contract expires, go out and find a better coach to hopefully coach a more competitive young team into the playoffs. Seems about right, no?
- catrisc

If the goal is to develop young players then why is Carpenter playing 2C? Why is Strome at wing? And why are the Hawks letting the young D that are up play every game? Sitting Carlsson last night was pointless.

I am with you.
Lafreniere is a kind of dream.
Caggiula instead of Kampf (Kampf as 13th forward -unless Shaw is healthy enough to play )
Nylander instead of Nystrom
No K4 (only 7 defenders)
Let Subban, Delia, Lankinen battle for the back up role.
- -Doh-

More likely to draft 10th than 1st... That line up is much worse than the line up we began with this year.

Dont worry, literally no one is expecting this team to win or even contending for the cup next season.

#2022cupwinner
- squishy24

The Wings?

Anyone else get a pit in their stomach when Kane responded "I don't know" to if he's interested in rebuilding with the Hawks. Boy if they trade Kane/Toews that would truly be the end of an era.

OK, so what do we know, what do we think we know, and under the best of circumstances what will the Hawks team be next season? Will it be a contender? How many of the requisite pieces of a champion team is in place? We may not know the answer to those last two questions but the objective is to get closer to knowing.

What the 2020/21 lineup could be given the best case scenario of winning the draft lottery and selecting Lafreniere and signing Ian Mitchell and having Lafreniere and Mitchell both be not only ready for the NHL but both be in the running for Calder. But even then - will this lineup be enough to win the Cup?

Saad-Toews-Kubalik
Lafreniere-Dach-Kane
Cat-Strome-Nystrom
Kampf-Carpenter-Highmore

Keith-Boqvist
deHaan-Murphy
Koekkoek-Mitchell
Carlsson-Seabrook

Crawford
Delia/???
- EbonyRaptor

I don't know about it being a Cup-contending roster, but if (again, IF) Cat and Strome can come back to last year's production (not even looking for 41 from AdB - 30 would be fine), and if (again IF) Nylander can show some consistent top-9 production, and even not including LaFreniere, they have the makings of a quality top-9 roster, with a good 4th of your three, Caggiula, and Smith. (As long as you don't need to play Carpenter and Caggiula up top. If you do, all bets are off.)

That is close to describing Bill Belicheck before New England except he had some NFL experience...
- rpeters01

You really need to look at Belicheks history before NE (1996)

He started at the bottom in 1976 and worked his way up for 20yrs

A little different resume, dont ya think?

Anyone else get a pit in their stomach when Kane responded "I don't know" to if he's interested in rebuilding with the Hawks. Boy if they trade Kane/Toews that would truly be the end of an era.
- catrisc

And if they don't and Stan doesn't trade them, are they going to retire? Sit out and get suspended without pay?

I don't know about it being a Cup-contending roster, but if (again, IF) Cat and Strome can come back to last year's production (not even looking for 41 from AdB - 30 would be fine), and if (again IF) Nylander can show some consistent top-9 production, and even not including LaFreniere, they have the makings of a quality top-9 roster, with a good 4th of your three, Caggiula, and Smith. (As long as you don't need to play Carpenter and Caggiula up top. If you do, all bets are off.)
- StLBravesFan

Is Lafreniere any sort of 200 ft. player? If not lines 2 and 3 are a disaster defensively.

Yeah idk how accurate that is. I think you're seeing some posturing on both sides.

Lehner needs to save some face for how his comments were perceived about taking a "discount" to stay with the team.

Stan is trying to save face for trading a Top 10 Goalie and not getting a contract done.

Idk wtf Stan's plan is. My best guess at this point is that Stan wants to get (or possibly has a something in place) to get Ilya Sorokin from the Islanders and he's gonna either sign Crow to a one year deal to split time and help him with his transition over OR sign a veteran FA to a one year deal.

The question is: what is the price to get him?

Perhaps Stan thought he had a deal in place to trade Lehner and Gus to Carolina for a 1st and he then planned on flipping that to the Islanders to get Sorokin, but Carolina backed out once they began talks with their three other big deals they pulled off. Hence why the reports started leaking about him being traded to the Hawks, but it had to be backtracked due to the CHI-CAR deal not being completed yet. Who know's on that front. Time will tell what Stan's plan is going to be...if he's still around to make it happen.
- Savetheembers33

Some strange comments in this interview:
“hearing from a few teams, then Vegas comes from out of nowhere”!

https://www.nbcsports.com...ing-traded-blackhawks?amp

And if they don't and Stan doesn't trade them, are they going to retire? Sit out and get suspended without pay?
- LAHawk

they could also show up and suck. You know, stay away from the board battles so they dont get hit and injured. Coast and dont listen to coaches, not help the team, tons of stuff they can do or not do

Some strange comments in this interview:
“hearing from a few teams, then Vegas comes from out of nowhere”!

https://www.nbcsports.com...ing-traded-blackhawks?amp
- walleyeb1

Why doesn't Stan just be honest, we signed him to flip him at the TDL, and that is what we did.

they could also show up and suck. You know, stay away from the board battles so they dont get hit and injured. Coast and dont listen to coaches, not help the team, tons of stuff they can do or not do
- squishy24

This isn't basketball, I have known of players boycotting training camp or holding out (Marner), but once on the ice, I have never heard of a hockey player purposely not trying.

Is Lafreniere any sort of 200 ft. player? If not lines 2 and 3 are a disaster defensively.
- LAHawk

I'm just praying that they start putting Dach in a position to succeed. Whether it is between Kane and Saad, fine, but get him away from Cat and Strome. That line is lost on the ice.

Ideally you try and build some continuing chemistry in the lines.

they could also show up and suck. You know, stay away from the board battles so they dont get hit and injured. Coast and dont listen to coaches, not help the team, tons of stuff they can do or not do
- squishy24

Drew Doughty said he wouldn't sign with the Kings unless they are Stanley Cup contenders, the Kings threw $88 million at him and now he and Kopitar are OK with the Kings rebuild?

I don't know very much, but i'd be very willing to bet a lot of money that the answer to this would be a resounding...……..NO
- BobP.

Maybe not. But it might be a best case scenario and it would be more fun to watch than the teams the last 3 years.

Not his fault on 3 of those.

complete breakdowns in front of him. it was gross.
- BINGO!

Which could be why they decided not to give up picks for a goalie. Maybe they know even adding a goalie like Lehner wouldn’t be enough to give them a realistic run at the cup.

Is Lafreniere any sort of 200 ft. player? If not lines 2 and 3 are a disaster defensively.
- LAHawk

Really. If we win the lottery and draft you are worried about LaLafreniere's 200' game. That is like winning the lottery and worrying about all the taxes you are going to have to pay on the millions of dollars.

Anyone else get a pit in their stomach when Kane responded "I don't know" to if he's interested in rebuilding with the Hawks. Boy if they trade Kane/Toews that would truly be the end of an era.
- catrisc

$10.5 cap hits won't trade easily.

This isn't basketball, I have known of players boycotting training camp or holding out (Marner), but once on the ice, I have never heard of a hockey player purposely not trying.
- LAHawk

Im not advocating for them to do or not do anything, just pointing out that they have a lot of options. I mean, where was Toews the first dozen of games or so? That could be replicated to last a whole season, especially intentionally

Maybe not. But it might be a best case scenario and it would be more fun to watch than the teams the last 3 years.
- -Doh-

I could have swore this was said last offseason and two offseasons ago

No more FREE Jeremy Morin


The hawks are the youngest forward group in the league and one of the most youthful rosters...

let the rebuild continue.

Anyone else get a pit in their stomach when Kane responded "I don't know" to if he's interested in rebuilding with the Hawks. Boy if they trade Kane/Toews that would truly be the end of an era.
- catrisc

Who can blame him. The team is going nowhere right now. Stan can fix a big part of this and remove JC at the end of the season. This will be 3 years in a row with no playoff appearance. The team has zero identity. Something has to change besides the roster.

Really. If we win the lottery and draft you are worried about LaLafreniere's 200' game. That is like winning the lottery and worrying about all the taxes you are going to have to pay on the millions of dollars.
- -Doh-

Doesn't change the fact that you lose if you score 5 and give up 6

Really. If we win the lottery and draft you are worried about LaLafreniere's 200' game. That is like winning the lottery and worrying about all the taxes you are going to have to pay on the millions of dollars.
- -Doh-

Actually LaFrenierre is got lots of edginess and plays the sport for/with contact.

He is never going to be a burner but he is simply a advanced hockey smart player who can help anywhere in the line-up.

Here is my profile on him on DraftSite.com:
Off the charts hockey sense and imagination on offense starting with the 2018 World U-18s where he surprised his linemates with passes that could have been coming from a seasoned NHL pro. Fluid and fearless going inside the circles in the attack zone, where he steps out front to screen and set up for tip ins. Will be a solid attacking wing but might also find a home as a NHL centre with the way he easily makes his way inside. A smooth high speed heads up player who moves effortlessly through the attack zone with such good confidence and presence. Doesn't necessarily fit the category of a blazer as he uses his hands more than blades to elude checkers.There is no denying how quickly he lets the puck fly, and how decisive he is while possessing it. Will fire cutting towards the net, and always has his stick down looking for the puck. Strong and difficult to move and not adverse to giving as well as submitting. Although he must improve his first step, he still manages to keep churning when carrying in the high traffic areas. It is his all around hockey abilities that round him as a guy who will build chemistry quicky with good NHL players and improve the attasck of whichever team selects him early in the first.