Don't know if Bowman could swing it, but adding Faulk without giving up AA or Murphy makes them a better team doesn't it? Who ya gonna plug in as the second line center, because I pretty much think Q has AA playing there and Schmaltz on the wing somewhere. Unless your getting Rask back also , AA is a pretty solid #2 center at this point.
And ya gotta think the league will adjust to little kitty boy and pound the body on him every chance they get. He'll be up to the task but Schmaltz will turtle or pull up and let an opponent get the puck. Hopefully Saad puts his big 220 lb.ass to work . Cause right now they're pretty small.
I would like Faulk without having to give up AA. If ya trade Murphy , your stuck with that stiff aoesterle probably then.
- wonthecup10

I don't even know what to say...other than please keep posting.

I get why people are talking about Faulk because he is RD and available but does he solve the problem we are looking to solve on the back end?

I could be out to lunch on this but I feel like the problem is not having enough Dmen who can actually defend well, because we've got dmen who can produce offense. Faulk isn't a shutdown guy or a guy who IMO excels at preventing goals. I really hope he isn't the trade target for the Hawks. They need someone better at defense.

With the current stable of Hawk forwards, how about the following line-up. The first 3 lines have skill and some grit while the fourth line can actually intimidate the other teams D for once.


DeBrincat - Toews - Hayden

Saad - Schmaltz - Kane

Kunitz - Anisimov - Hinostroza

Martinsen - Kampf - Bouma

First 3 lines fairly well balanced. The 4th line can hit.

Sikura and Hightower and Ejdsell can develop in the Rock.
- Gary0301

I like the idea of 3 lines with skill and a gritty banger line. Though, I would prefer that the 3rd line be a checking line (with skill) to help take pressure off of Toews to lead both a checking line and try to score as a top-6 unit.

Don't think Bouma returns but I get what you are getting at with the type of wingers should be on the 4th line. Wingels would be nice but someone else wondered if he's not 100% from the head injury he suffered in the playoffs, so maybe teams are wary of signing him at this point in time.

As for Hightower, I think you meant Highmore. Hightower from Police Academy would kick ass, though.



Sign Zed to add some crazy, put him and Hightower together on that 4th line, then let them loose. Heck, they wouldn't even need a 3rd linemate.

I get why people are talking about Faulk because he is RD and available but does he solve the problem we are looking to solve on the back end?

I could be out to lunch on this but I feel like the problem is not having enough Dmen who can actually defend well, because we've got dmen who can produce offense. Faulk isn't a shutdown guy or a guy who IMO excels at preventing goals. I really hope he isn't the trade target for the Hawks. They need someone better at defense.
- breadbag

That's my take as well. If more blueliners are being added, the Hawks need ones who can play solid defense on a consistent basis. If they can be a puck carrier, too, then even better. But we have way too many offensively-minded D-men who either can't play defense well or just don't care to defend if they had their druthers.

My guy de Haan gooooonee!

Knew the Hawks weren't going to sign him.

Nice signing for the Canes. Their D is looking great.
- Justin Lowe

Canes lost Hanifin but are even stronger on defense with the additions of Hamilton and de Haan to an already young solid core of Slavin, Pesce, Fleury, Bean, and van Riemsdyk. Faulk, too, but the writing may be on the wall that he's on the outs to another team.

I like the idea of 3 lines with skill and a gritty banger line. Though, I would prefer that the 3rd line be a checking line (with skill) to help take pressure off of Toews to lead both a checking line and try to score as a top-6 unit.

Don't think Bouma returns but I get what you are getting at with the type of wingers should be on the 4th line. Wingels would be nice but someone else wondered if he's not 100% from the head injury he suffered in the playoffs, so maybe teams are wary of signing him at this point in time.

As for Hightower, I think you meant Highmore. Hightower from Police Academy would kick ass, though.



Sign Zed to add some crazy, put him and Hightower together on that 4th line, then let them loose. Heck, they wouldn't even need a 3rd linemate.


- AEL_Fox

LeBron and Hightower!

Don't know if Bowman could swing it, but adding Faulk without giving up AA or Murphy makes them a better team doesn't it? Who ya gonna plug in as the second line center, because I pretty much think Q has AA playing there and Schmaltz on the wing somewhere. Unless your getting Rask back also , AA is a pretty solid #2 center at this point.
And ya gotta think the league will adjust to little kitty boy and pound the body on him every chance they get. He'll be up to the task but Schmaltz will turtle or pull up and let an opponent get the puck. Hopefully Saad puts his big 220 lb.ass to work . Cause right now they're pretty small.
I would like Faulk without having to give up AA. If ya trade Murphy , your stuck with that stiff aoesterle probably then.
- wonthecup10

Saad is listed 6’1” 205lbs on nhl.com

Saad is listed 6’1” 205lbs on nhl.com
- EnzoD

Amero-smurf or is that a reasonably pallatable amount of size?

Amero-smurf or is that a reasonably pallatable amount of size?
- HawkintheD

Puny by Canadian standards.

Canes lost Hanifin but are even stronger on defense with the additions of Hamilton and de Haan to an already young solid core of Slavin, Pesce, Fleury, Bean, and van Riemsdyk. Faulk, too, but the writing may be on the wall that he's on the outs to another team.
- AEL_Fox

I'm wondering if TvR is the odd man out, not Faulk.

I'm wondering if TvR is the odd man out, not Faulk.
- DarthKane

Stan's big trade...the move we have all been waiting for...

#TVRtime

Puny by Canadian standards.
- DarthKane

Now is this rugged hard nosed western standards or the girly man eastern standards?

Stan's big trade...the move we have all been waiting for...

#TVRtime
- frafra

He'd be an upgrade over most of the current defensemen on the roster.

Now is this rugged hard nosed western standards or the girly man eastern standards?
- Beaver-Warrior

Rugged Western standards....is there any point in making any other comparison?

Rugged Western standards....is there any point in making any other comparison?
- DarthKane

Point taken.

Amero-smurf or is that a reasonably pallatable amount of size?
- HawkintheD

Belgian at best.

I'm just waiting for a day this summer like June 23, 2017 where Stan drops a couple bombshells and makes some major moves.

That's my take as well. If more blueliners are being added, the Hawks need ones who can play solid defense on a consistent basis. If they can be a puck carrier, too, then even better. But we have way too many offensively-minded D-men who either can't play defense well or just don't care to defend if they had their druthers.
- AEL_Fox

You saying the Hawks couldn’t use a true top 4 (likely top pairing on this D) Dman who can QB the PP? I think Faulk would work out just fine. Not like they have a whole lot of choices either.

I'm wondering if TvR is the odd man out, not Faulk.
- DarthKane

Quite possible. If so, I would be open to reacquire van Riemsdyk as he's more defensively minded and sound so fills the more pressing need.

Faulk would be a good add if the overall team defense improves since he is a great PP quarterback and may be the spark plug needed to rejuvenate the man advantage. But is there enough cap space to to beef up the defensive talent and add a player of Faulk's caliber? That doesn't even count the need to ideally acquire a checking center.

He'd be an upgrade over most of the current defensemen on the roster.
- DarthKane

Agreed, and that would even count newly acquired Manning.

You saying the Hawks couldn’t use a true top 4 (likely top pairing on this D) Dman who can QB the PP? I think Faulk would work out just fine. Not like they have a whole lot of choices either.
- Marlowe

Definitely would like to add a PP specialist in Faulk who is a top 4 talent. He would jump start the woeful PP to at least get to middle of the pack. In an ideal world, having Faulk plus a top-4 defensive defensemen would be killer but not sure if there's enough money to do both and fill needs at forward.

If I had to choose, though, between a top-4 defensive defensemen and a top-4 offensive defensmen, I'd go with the former because the Hawks don't have anyone in the system who fits that bill (at least not someone who is ready to step in this fall). The team could potentially fill the latter in house with Gustafsson or Oesterle even.

Amero-smurf or is that a reasonably pallatable amount of size?
- HawkintheD

Puny by Canadian standards.
- DarthKane

https://www.nytimes.com/2...-cold-war-got-colder.html

sorry if you're offended, but the NY Times agrees with my sentiment yesterday regarding "Canadian-style hockey"

From the NYT....

"two hockey styles clashed: the swift, precise and contact-averse game of the Soviets against the dogged, rugged, punishing game of the Canadians."



EDIT: My point was that the Canadian style of play has always been viewed as the more physical to the US and especially Euro style. Look at the physicality/fighting in the CHL vs cages, and no fighting in Euro Jr and USA College hockey.

https://www.nytimes.com/2...-cold-war-got-colder.html

sorry if you're offended, but the NY Times agrees with my sentiment yesterday regarding "Canadian-style hockey"

From the NYT....

"two hockey styles clashed: the swift, precise and contact-averse game of the Soviets against the dogged, rugged, punishing game of the Canadians."


- EnzoD

Don't let Drago read that article.

https://www.nytimes.com/2...-cold-war-got-colder.html

sorry if you're offended, but the NY Times agrees with my sentiment yesterday regarding "Canadian-style hockey"

From the NYT....

"two hockey styles clashed: the swift, precise and contact-averse game of the Soviets against the dogged, rugged, punishing game of the Canadians."



EDIT: My point was that the Canadian style of play has always been viewed as the more physical to the US and especially Euro style. Look at the physicality/fighting in the CHL vs cages, and no fighting in Euro Jr and USA College hockey.
- EnzoD

The story in this article is just a wee bit out of date.

Canadians are all about skilled hockey and an entertaining game. Guys like McDavid and Crosby are on the top of the must see list, not guys like Lucic or Matt Martin.