I like Highmore but I think Caggiula gives you a bit more offense...at least right now anyway.

So I think I'd flip them on the 3rd and 4th lines.
- HawkintheD

I like Cags but if his ask is at or over his present $1.5M then we need to walk away especially if we can get Highmore at a number that can be buried. If not for Cag's concussion history my thinking might be different.
Therefore I would like to see Highmore get a good look in that 3rd line role.

I like Highmore but I think Caggiula gives you a bit more offense...at least right now anyway.

So I think I'd flip them on the 3rd and 4th lines.
- HawkintheD

I can see that.

I really like Highmore as a bottom 6 guys. Ever since I watched him in Rockford, I always thought, "that's a guy I would want on my line" because the guy is relentless and hunts pucks down like a mofo.

To be honest, I think he replaces Caggiula next year as that ball of energy (although I wouldn't be opposed with both of them on the roster).

What's wrong with you? There is a narrative, follow it! All coaches are morons. If Q matched ines he was an idiot. If JC doesn't match lines he is an idiot. Is it really so hard to follow?
- paulr

I am a moron level fan.

Would like to see these lines consistently the rest of the way. Let Strome and Highmore go back n forth at C.

Kubalik/Toews/Nylander
Saad/Dach/Kane
ADB/Strome/Highmore
Kampf/Carp/Caggs
Smith
- Assman22

Not bad...would rather see Hagel or Kurashev get a look on that top unit instead of Nylander. He's too much of a liability right now to play top minutes. Rest of the lines look promising.

Yep. Agreed.

DeBrincat as a "net-front presence" is quite funny.

My decision would be:

PP1
Keith-Kane-Dach-Toews-Kubalik

PP2
Boqvist-Nylander-Saad-Strome-DeBrincat


Do it, JC.
- Tyler Cameron

Funny - but it's worked, no?

I think they have 4 PP goals since putting him in that position - one by him (or off of him) - he's one of the few Hawks who understands that going to the net means getting in front of the goalie, not standing to the side so the goalie gets a good view of the shot.

I think from that position, he can slide up and down the slot - providing an alternative for Kane in the position where (IMO) his best shot has always been.

I like Highmore but I think Caggiula gives you a bit more offense...at least right now anyway.

So I think I'd flip them on the 3rd and 4th lines.
- HawkintheD

I like Caggs more too but we know what Caggs can do already. Let’s see what Highmore can do on the checking line with a couple other high motor guys.

I like Cags but if his ask is at or over his present $1.5M then we need to walk away especially if we can get Highmore at a number that can be buried. If not for Cag's concussion history my thinking might be different.
Therefore I would like to see Highmore get a good look in that 3rd line role.
- 67hawks

Exactly how I see it.

I think it depends how much Caggiula wants to stay with the Hawks. I'm not sure if this is right, but I just did the exercise on CapFriendly for Caggiula and Highmore for their QOs this offseason.

Caggiula's was the same = $1.5M
Highmore's was = $761k


Not sure what the Hawks end up doing this summer (I have no idea what they are doing in general) but will be interesting to see how Caggiula's contract shakes out.

While I wouldn't want to see it on a regular basis, ADB as a net front presence is something I’d like to see more of to change things up. Dino Ciccerelli was one of the best net front guys I have ever seen, he wasn’t a tall guy but he was solid and he played in an era where defenders could get away with pretty much anything short of homicide. ADB doesn’t have to deal with allot of physicality and if he’s in front of the net there should be a defender there too creating a disturbance for the goalie. The last game I saw a number of changes to the powerplay, most notably Kane not standing stationary by the sideboards but instead playing the opposite side and playing less statically. This opened up a lane for Keith to walk into to score. ADB playing in front of the net once in a while or playing the left side hashmarks keeps the opposition guessing.
- paulr

Dino Ciccarelli
Position: RW • Shoots: Right
5-10, 185lb (178cm, 83kg)
Born: February 8, 1960

Funny - but it's worked, no?

I think they have 4 PP goals since putting him in that position - one by him (or off of him) - he's one of the few Hawks who understands that going to the net means getting in front of the goalie, not standing to the side so the goalie gets a good view of the shot.

I think from that position, he can slide up and down the slot - providing an alternative for Kane in the position where (IMO) his best shot has always been.
- StLBravesFan

Yep. It's working for sure. Just don't see him as a long-term solution there. He should be firing shots from the left dot on PP2, IMO.

Also, I think the Kane shift to the left and Kubalik on the right circle is the true factor for turning the PP around lately.

Not bad...would rather see Hagel or Kurashev get a look on that top unit instead of Nylander. He's too much of a liability right now to play top minutes. Rest of the lines look promising.
- catrisc

For what they gave up for him, they really gotta give him top 6 mins the rest of the way consistently to see what he has. Hagel and Kurashev are bottom 6 ceiling at best imo and haven’t exactly earned a call up either. I am glad they finally brought Carlsson up and he shined right away.

For what they gave up for him, they really gotta give him top 6 mins the rest of the way consistently to see what he has. Hagel and Kurashev are bottom 6 ceiling at best imo and haven’t exactly earned a call up either. I am glad they finally brought Carlsson up and he shined right away.
- Assman22

Imo, Nylander is a kid who needs immediate feedback if he's ever going to develop. I'd keep trying him on the top six, but I wouldn't hesitate to drop him again if he's not bringing it.

Imo, Nylander is a kid who needs immediate feedback if he's ever going to develop. I'd keep trying him on the top six, but I wouldn't hesitate to drop him again if he's not bringing it.
- mohel

The problem with Nylander is that he teases the average fan with his obvious skills in open ice. However as soon as he gets into tight quarters he plays like a 160 pounder instead of the 190+ pounder that he actually is and that frustrates me.
So if you put him with top 6 guys you want him to be able to at least maintain possession for his linemates but he fails at that.

Lots of Tank points available tonight if we lose.

NYR at MTL
MIN at DET
NJD at SJS

and OTT plays at home

Well, that's when the games mattered.

Now, we put him back there and give him another run in the top 6. If he's not working over a span after 8-10 games, I wouldn't reward him by keeping him there, but this team would severely benefit by Nylander "figuring it out" more "consistently".

It would make this offseason easier for Stan / New GM.
- Tyler Cameron

Did the games matter then Colliton kept putting Kubilak with Kampf...and even healthy scratching him early in the year?

Colliton is a clown. As is Brookbank and that other "guy" they found Mitell as a coaching staff

They kept making Q fire assistant coaches he liked working with - and those guys all had long coaching resumes (like then, or not). And I have a longer coaching resume (and it isn't that impressive, so I'm not 'bragging') than the 3 guys coaching the NHL franchise

Toews, Kane and Keith get rewarded for the decade of winning to have to follow these 3 jamokes

Lots of Tank points available tonight if we lose.

NYR at MTL
MIN at DET
NJD at SJS

and OTT plays at home
- 67hawks

Did the games matter then Colliton kept putting Kubilak with Kampf...and even healthy scratching him early in the year?

Colliton is a clown. As is Brookbank and that other "guy" they found Mitell as a coaching staff

They kept making Q fire assistant coaches he liked working with - and those guys all had long coaching resumes (like then, or not). And I have a longer coaching resume (and it isn't that impressive, so I'm not 'bragging') than the 3 guys coaching the NHL franchise

Toews, Kane and Keith get rewarded for the decade of winning to have to follow these 3 jamokes
- PatShart

Agreed. Mitel looks clueless and Brookbank is okay.

When they interview them during the game, they look like they won the lotto and don't know how to act. Maybe their shy and not used to the publicity but its also possible they're not qualified for their role.

I would like to get a look at Marc Crawford as the HC.

How about Chelios as the GM and Crawford or Roenick as the HC.

I like these lines a lot.

I think Caggiula has done great on that top line, but the reality is, I'm not sure they can keep him for next year (depending on his ask) and Nylander needs to play it out in the top 6 IMO.
- Tyler Cameron

The third line makes me think of Handzus playing with two Smurfs.

I am a moron level fan.
- mohel

Heads I win, tails you lose.

The problem with Nylander is that he teases the average fan with his obvious skills in open ice. However as soon as he gets into tight quarters he plays like a 160 pounder instead of the 190+ pounder that he actually is and that frustrates me.
So if you put him with top 6 guys you want him to be able to at least maintain possession for his linemates but he fails at that.
- 67hawks

So far and it's happened a few times, he shows he can use his better skills against bottom 6 and disappears top 6. You'd think he learned something from playing against his brother by now? I admit I haven't seen the compete like Highmore has, but I keep going back to he's only 21 and next year he will still be only 22. I think next year if the light doesn't go on he needs to go to Rockford but I wouldn't give up then either.

For what they gave up for him, they really gotta give him top 6 mins the rest of the way consistently to see what he has. Hagel and Kurashev are bottom 6 ceiling at best imo and haven’t exactly earned a call up either. I am glad they finally brought Carlsson up and he shined right away.
- Assman22

Boston showed us the last exhibition game of the season what happens when NHL players play AHL players. The coaches and management know who are legitimate NHL prospects they don't need to keep trying people.

Tyler i posted this in last blog about a rumor i heard on the score from jay zwaski that the hawks management, rocky and mcduff, quietly gave bowman an extension. Have you heard anything on this through your sources verifying this. And if so is true hawks will not see the playoffs again under bowman being a gm imo.

Tyler i posted this in last blog about a rumor i heard on the score from jay zwaski that the hawks management, rocky and mcduff, quietly gave bowman an extension. Have you heard anything on this through your sources verifying this. And if so is true hawks will not see the playoffs again under bowman being a gm imo.
- Scott1977

I did a Google search of jay zwaski and Bowman and nothing came up. Can you provide a link? It's unlikely the team would give him an extension and not have a press conference.

Agreed. Mitel looks clueless and Brookbank is okay.

When they interview them during the game, they look like they won the lotto and don't know how to act. Maybe their shy and not used to the publicity but its also possible they're not qualified for their role.

I would like to get a look at Marc Crawford as the HC.

How about Chelios as the GM and Crawford or Roenick as the HC.
- catrisc

No.

Boston showed us the last exhibition game of the season what happens when NHL players play AHL players. The coaches and management know who are legitimate NHL prospects they don't need to keep trying people.
- rpeters01

Yep exactly. Hoping they buyout Smith as he’s taking up a roster spot for someone like Highmore/Wedin(if he comes back) or then be able to retain Caggs. Caggs > Smith

How about Chelios as the GM and Crawford as the HC.
- catrisc

Crow will be in net, no? Lol