There is no one guy who can stop cheap shots, and those guys ruin hockey. To a certain extent, Keith is a dirty player. Didn't he swing his stick at Dumba's mouth? Leave out feelings of Dumba, it is still an unacceptable play, especially because we were starting the playoffs after that. But I also believe that the guys who don't retaliate give hockey a bad name, just a different, softer bad name. The cheap shot artists shouldn't walk scott-free off the ice after skating like it is open season. We have players that fight: Toews, Seabs, Hayden, Martinsen ... now out of that list, who is good at fighting?I love Hayden's punch, but it was lucky and he was losing that fight up until he threw a punch that started in Louisiana and stopped in Mississippi. When we had Shaw, Carcillo, and Bickell, the thug line, who was good at fighting? Maybe Shaw, he pounded Marchand? Shaw still is way too little. Blame Q or blame Bowman, our guys don't stand up for each other, but I highly doubt we are the only team that is individualized, every man for himself. We see players stick up for one another, right thing to do, but when we see it, our first thoughts are, "no one on the Hawks does that." I don't think there is a way to get cheap shot artists out of the NHL and the league barely punishes them, to make matters and their behaviors worse. Just done be found with a billionth of ped in your system.

No they mostly just shoot left, a few forwards shoot right.
- walleyeb1

It's about 70/30 left to right.

Hawks just had more options last year with Sharp, Hinostroza, Wingels and Hartman.

It's not detrimental that they have that many but gives Q options as Kane specifically prefers having a least 1 RW on his line.

Funny i was thinking that last night, is everyone on this team left handed
- BetweenTheDots

That's gotta be the reason they traded Panarin for Saad...LOL.
The Hawks are hell- bent on following the Red Wing's model of all lefties.
Call it The Scotty Effect.

It's about 70/30 left to right.

Hawks just had more options last year with Sharp, Hinostroza, Wingels and Hartman.

It's not detrimental that they have that many but gives Q options as Kane specifically prefers having a least 1 RW on his line.
- Justin Lowe

The bounce around boys. The line you start on is not where you will finish, and you won't start the next game where you left off last. If you can't follow then you're gone, good strategy for young players. As long as Q has his options I guess.

I’d rather not see Martinsen make the team, there are better short-term and long-term options.

Sikura - Toews - DeBrincat
Saad - Schmaltz - Kane
Kahun - Anisimov - Kampf
Johnson - Kruger - Hayden (I might have been wrong about him)
Kunitz
- DarthKane

I like those lines and think that's as close as it's going to get to what we may see.

1) The Toews line gives him a playmaker and a shooter. The criticism I've heard is that puts the onus on Toews to do all the heavy lifting. Sikura and DeBrincat are no Saad and Hossa when it comes to board battles but it's not like they'll just sit back and wait for Toews to do all the dirty work. They will contribute to their line in productive ways.

2) If not Sikura on the 1st line, then Kahun. Both are playmakers with speed.

3) Similarly, if not Johnson on the 4th line, then it's Highmore. Those two plus Kampf are having strong camps and developing well so it's almost "pick your poison" at that point. One of them likely isn't going to make the cut but that would be more a numbers game rather than they couldn't cut the mustard. The one who gets cut will be a top liner in Rockford.

So would you agree with someone like Kayun possibly getting a shot with Toews and Cat as the playmaker?
- SoftServe

Kahun or Sikura.

I think you answered your own question. The "need" for fighting has absolutely nothing to do with 'policing' the ice, it's cultural in that some people just love it as part of the game and will do anything to justify its acceptance.

I admit I enjoy it, but its time has passed. Fighting makes hockey look like a joke sport. You want to police dirty hits? Actually punish guys for doing those dirty hits. Time away from the game, lost money will clean up the sport much faster than any goon will.

It was a "great time" in hockey when fighting ruled the world, but some traditions have and should be encouraged to die.
- kwolf68

100% agreed! All the that is revisionist history. Like you stated, the game has changed drastically from the clutch n' grab dead-puck era where those tactics weren't just part of the game but essential to it, to protect the likes of Gretzky, Lemeiux, Yzerman, our own Savvy, etc. Why do you think the NHL came up with the Instigator, third player in, time frame late in game, etc? Don't get me wrong I am all for physicality (right way) and sticking up for your teammate (right time and place)! And yes the hit on Kane from the Panther D Alex ? was cheap but also caught Kane off-balance, far from and run or dirty heavy shot!

I like those lines and think that's as close as it's going to get to what we may see.

1) The Toews line gives him a playmaker and a shooter. The criticism I've heard is that puts the onus on Toews to do all the heavy lifting. Sikura and DeBrincat are no Saad and Hossa when it comes to board battles but it's not like they'll just sit back and wait for Toews to do all the dirty work. They will contribute to their line in productive ways.

2) If not Sikura on the 1st line, then Kahun. Both are playmakers with speed.

3) Similarly, if not Johnson on the 4th line, then it's Highmore. Those two plus Kampf are having strong camps and developing well so it's almost "pick your poison" at that point. One of them likely isn't going to make the cut but that would be more a numbers game rather than they couldn't cut the mustard. The one who gets cut will be a top liner in Rockford.
- AEL_Fox

100% agreed and yet again with you Mr. Fox! The Sikura/Kahun combo switcharoo is right on. Also, I thought Kampf was impressive last year showing is willingness to battle but more importantly knowing/awareness of defensive responsibilities in all three zones especially being 3F and high-man. However, I also believe he has more to contribute on the offensive end as he was very cognizant (Q eyes) on his D responsibilities.

I like the idea of AA moving up on the wing in the top two lines ,with the progression of Kamph and Kurger presence I think it do able . He is a solid net front presents

100% agreed and yet again with you Mr. Fox! The Sikura/Kahun combo switcharoo is right on. Also, I thought Kampf was impressive last year showing is willingness to battle but more importantly knowing/awareness of defensive responsibilities in all three zones especially being 3F and high-man. However, I also believe he has more to contribute on the offensive end as he was very cognizant (Q eyes) on his D responsibilities.
- D2D

It was discussed on these boards earlier in the summer how fit and solidly built Kampf is but seeing him in game action this preseason has shown how strong he really is. Although far from the talent level as Hossa, I'd venture to say Kampf is close to that level of strength when fighting for pucks and through checks. You gotta like that in a bottom 6 forward, especially a natural center when in the faceoff circle.

pack it in boys. Tanner has spoken

But it is scary, because in the NHL where 26 of 31 teams have a half-way decent shot at the playoffs (Only Chicago, Detroit, New York, New York and Ottawa truly have no chance) injuries matter

And Raanta a legit vezina candidate.

The Chicago Blackhawks have made the following roster moves today:


The following players were assigned to Rockford (AHL): D Andrew Campbell, D Dennis Gilbert, F Matheson Iacopelli (MA-thuh-suhn ah-koh-PEHL-ee), F Graham Knott, F Anthony Louis (LOO-ihs), F Jordan Schroeder (SHRAY-duhr), F Tyler Sikura (sih-KYUR-uh) and D Luc Snuggerud (LEWK SNUH-guh-rood).

The following players were released from their PTO's and will report to Rockford (AHL): F Radovan Bondra (RA-doh-vawn BAWN-druh), F Terry Broadhurst and G Matt Tomkins.

With these moves, the Blackhawks training camp roster currently stands at 33: 17 forwards, 12 defensemen and four goaltenders.

The Chicago Blackhawks have made the following roster moves today:


The following players were assigned to Rockford (AHL): D Andrew Campbell, D Dennis Gilbert, F Matheson Iacopelli (MA-thuh-suhn ah-koh-PEHL-ee), F Graham Knott, F Anthony Louis (LOO-ihs), F Jordan Schroeder (SHRAY-duhr), F Tyler Sikura (sih-KYUR-uh) and D Luc Snuggerud (LEWK SNUH-guh-rood).

The following players were released from their PTO's and will report to Rockford (AHL): F Radovan Bondra (RA-doh-vawn BAWN-druh), F Terry Broadhurst and G Matt Tomkins.

With these moves, the Blackhawks training camp roster currently stands at 33: 17 forwards, 12 defensemen and four goaltenders.
- glennjpawlak22

I would have given Gilbert and Snuggerud another opportunity, I had no problem with their games. Manning on the other hand.....

pack it in boys. Tanner has spoken

But it is scary, because in the NHL where 26 of 31 teams have a half-way decent shot at the playoffs (Only Chicago, Detroit, New York, New York and Ottawa truly have no chance) injuries matter

And Raanta a legit vezina candidate.
- glennjpawlak22

I thought we were given decent odds about 1-2 months ago. They weren't awesome odds, but we tied with LA for something like 10th best in the league. That falls under better than no shot at all.

Kahun's women

It's about 70/30 left to right.

Hawks just had more options last year with Sharp, Hinostroza, Wingels and Hartman.

It's not detrimental that they have that many but gives Q options as Kane specifically prefers having a least 1 RW on his line.
- Justin Lowe

That’s correct, however some don’t realize there’s a difference between shooting left and being left handed.

I’d rather not see Martinsen make the team, there are better short-term and long-term options.

Sikura - Toews - DeBrincat
Saad - Schmaltz - Kane
Kahun - Anisimov - Kampf
Johnson - Kruger - Hayden (I might have been wrong about him)
Kunitz
- DarthKane

Toews be worn out by x mass by doing all the heavy lifting . maybe try hayden with toews and dcat.

Toews hayden sikrua/dcat
Saad smatlz kane
AA Kampf sikrua
Kauhn kruger /johnson /martinsin

Toews be worn out by x mass by doing all the heavy lifting . maybe try hayden with toews and dcat.

Toews hayden sikrua/dcat
Saad smatlz kane
AA Kampf sikrua
Kauhn kruger /johnson /martinsin
- Scott1977

I know I'm starting to sound like a Kahun homer, but he has top 9 maybe even top 6 skill. He shouldn't be wasted on the 4th line. He should be playing with skilled forwards.

It's about 70/30 left to right.

Hawks just had more options last year with Sharp, Hinostroza, Wingels and Hartman.

It's not detrimental that they have that many but gives Q options as Kane specifically prefers having a least 1 RW on his line.
- Justin Lowe

Kane IS a right winger

I like those lines and think that's as close as it's going to get to what we may see.

1) The Toews line gives him a playmaker and a shooter. The criticism I've heard is that puts the onus on Toews to do all the heavy lifting. Sikura and DeBrincat are no Saad and Hossa when it comes to board battles but it's not like they'll just sit back and wait for Toews to do all the dirty work. They will contribute to their line in productive ways.

2) If not Sikura on the 1st line, then Kahun. Both are playmakers with speed.

3) Similarly, if not Johnson on the 4th line, then it's Highmore. Those two plus Kampf are having strong camps and developing well so it's almost "pick your poison" at that point. One of them likely isn't going to make the cut but that would be more a numbers game rather than they couldn't cut the mustard. The one who gets cut will be a top liner in Rockford.
- AEL_Fox

You need to build your top 2 lines around excellent players. These are not mucker lines, defensive lines. The idea is that these lines should play at lot of the time in the offensive zone. Wingers should play their off-wings. Q is stubborn as heck. DeBrincat should NEVER play Right Wing as a Right Shot. NEVER. His natural position is Left Wing as a Right Shot, just like Panarin. DeBrincat is a tremendous finisher and the team’s leading goal scorer - acknowledge this and let him open up for passes on his off-wing. At least Q seems to at least now accept that DeBrincat is top 6.

Also have always wanted Saad to play his off-wing Right Wing as a Left Shot. Would let him use his size and athleticism more with better angle to the net. When Saad plays with Kane as a Left Wing with a Left Shot it can still work as both handle the puck a lot, are both fast and play more like rovers. The problem is an aggressive, hard-nosed Center works best with them to apply offensive pressure and get the puck for them. Shaw was brilliant at this in one play-offs where the Saad, Shaw, Kane line was unstoppable. Q, of course, went away from this line as an option after those play-offs. Whether Schmaltz can compliment Kane AND Saad remains to be seen. We know that Schmaltz can compliment Kane and it may be that he can also compliment Saad but can he compliment both on the same line.

Panarin and Kane both on their off-wings were great together, with Anisimov a lesser piece. The difficulty is that Schmaltz is not a lesser piece - he is an elite player in his own right. Lots of moving parts in a successful line. Face-off percentage also plays a part. Kane can’t do anything in the offensive zone if his Center constantly loses face-offs. This is one of the arguments for playing Kane with Toews.

Regardless of the final shakedown these should ALWAYS be givens in creating the top 2 lines. Kane Right Wing shooting Left and DeBrincat Left Wing shooting Right. If Saad plays with Toews away from Kane it should be as a Right Wing shooting Left like Kane. Saad can play Left Wing shooting Left only if he is playing with Kane but then may need special Center. There is also hard decisions to be made concerning the Center position as you simply can’t have Centers that cannot win face-offs. It may be that Schmaltz would make a great Left Wing shooting Right.

Kane IS a right winger
- tim62b

Sorry.. Kane prefers at least one RH (right handed shot) on his line.

The Chicago Blackhawks have made the following roster moves today:


The following players were assigned to Rockford (AHL): D Andrew Campbell, D Dennis Gilbert, F Matheson Iacopelli (MA-thuh-suhn ah-koh-PEHL-ee), F Graham Knott, F Anthony Louis (LOO-ihs), F Jordan Schroeder (SHRAY-duhr), F Tyler Sikura (sih-KYUR-uh) and D Luc Snuggerud (LEWK SNUH-guh-rood).

The following players were released from their PTO's and will report to Rockford (AHL): F Radovan Bondra (RA-doh-vawn BAWN-druh), F Terry Broadhurst and G Matt Tomkins.

With these moves, the Blackhawks training camp roster currently stands at 33: 17 forwards, 12 defensemen and four goaltenders.
- glennjpawlak22

Standard moves and a lot of those guys went right from OTT to Rockford last night after the game.

That lineup the Hawks iced in last night's win was scary young and inexperienced. Even though they won, I wasn't a fan as there are so many question marks still it would have been nice to see more vets.

Based on today's cuts it was more about getting guys some gametime before they went back to the AHL.

I understand it's a process and they were on the road but hope the next 3 games they start to ramp up with lineups closer to opening night.

You need to build your top 2 lines around excellent players. These are not mucker lines, defensive lines. The idea is that these lines should play at lot of the time in the offensive zone. Wingers should play their off-wings. Q is stubborn as heck. DeBrincat should NEVER play Right Wing as a Right Shot. NEVER. His natural position is Left Wing as a Right Shot, just like Panarin. DeBrincat is a tremendous finisher and the team’s leading goal scorer - acknowledge this and let him open up for passes on his off-wing. At least Q seems to at least now accept that DeBrincat is top 6.

Also have always wanted Saad to play his off-wing Right Wing as a Left Shot. Would let him use his size and athleticism more with better angle to the net. When Saad plays with Kane as a Left Wing with a Left Shot it can still work as both handle the puck a lot, are both fast and play more like rovers. The problem is an aggressive, hard-nosed Center works best with them to apply offensive pressure and get the puck for them. Shaw was brilliant at this in one play-offs where the Saad, Shaw, Kane line was unstoppable. Q, of course, went away from this line as an option after those play-offs. Whether Schmaltz can compliment Kane AND Saad remains to be seen. We know that Schmaltz can compliment Kane and it may be that he can also compliment Saad but can he compliment both on the same line.

Panarin and Kane both on their off-wings were great together, with Anisimov a lesser piece. The difficulty is that Schmaltz is not a lesser piece - he is an elite player in his own right. Lots of moving parts in a successful line. Face-off percentage also plays a part. Kane can’t do anything in the offensive zone if his Center constantly loses face-offs. This is one of the arguments for playing Kane with Toews.

Regardless of the final shakedown these should ALWAYS be givens in creating the top 2 lines. Kane Right Wing shooting Left and DeBrincat Left Wing shooting Right. If Saad plays with Toews away from Kane it should be as a Right Wing shooting Left like Kane. Saad can play Left Wing shooting Left only if he is playing with Kane but then may need special Center. There is also hard decisions to be made concerning the Center position as you simply can’t have Centers that cannot win face-offs. It may be that Schmaltz would make a great Left Wing shooting Right.
- Z3Hawk

Cat Toews Saad
Schmaltz AA Kane
Kunitz Kahun Sikura

This would theoretically be the best top 9 they could have on the ice then right?

Standard moves and a lot of those guys went right from OTT to Rockford last night after the game.

That lineup the Hawks iced in last night's win was scary young and inexperienced. Even though they won, I wasn't a fan as there are so many question marks still it would have been nice to see more vets.

Based on today's cuts it was more about getting guys some gametime before they went back to the AHL.

I understand it's a process and they were on the road but hope the next 3 games they start to ramp up with lineups closer to opening night.
- Justin Lowe

I think debrincant would be bettered served playing with Kane, I also think sikura is not ready to play top 6 role he would be better playing with anisomov to grow and learn.



I'm also surprised Hillman was not given more opportunity ?


What would it take for Chicago and would this be a great move to go after Stone ? He is young great 2 way forward can score also I think having him ,toews and saad would be a very productive line ? Your thoughts ?

You need to build your top 2 lines around excellent players. These are not mucker lines, defensive lines. The idea is that these lines should play at lot of the time in the offensive zone. Wingers should play their off-wings. Q is stubborn as heck. DeBrincat should NEVER play Right Wing as a Right Shot. NEVER. His natural position is Left Wing as a Right Shot, just like Panarin. DeBrincat is a tremendous finisher and the team’s leading goal scorer - acknowledge this and let him open up for passes on his off-wing. At least Q seems to at least now accept that DeBrincat is top 6.

Also have always wanted Saad to play his off-wing Right Wing as a Left Shot. Would let him use his size and athleticism more with better angle to the net. When Saad plays with Kane as a Left Wing with a Left Shot it can still work as both handle the puck a lot, are both fast and play more like rovers. The problem is an aggressive, hard-nosed Center works best with them to apply offensive pressure and get the puck for them. Shaw was brilliant at this in one play-offs where the Saad, Shaw, Kane line was unstoppable. Q, of course, went away from this line as an option after those play-offs. Whether Schmaltz can compliment Kane AND Saad remains to be seen. We know that Schmaltz can compliment Kane and it may be that he can also compliment Saad but can he compliment both on the same line.

Panarin and Kane both on their off-wings were great together, with Anisimov a lesser piece. The difficulty is that Schmaltz is not a lesser piece - he is an elite player in his own right. Lots of moving parts in a successful line. Face-off percentage also plays a part. Kane can’t do anything in the offensive zone if his Center constantly loses face-offs. This is one of the arguments for playing Kane with Toews.

Regardless of the final shakedown these should ALWAYS be givens in creating the top 2 lines. Kane Right Wing shooting Left and DeBrincat Left Wing shooting Right. If Saad plays with Toews away from Kane it should be as a Right Wing shooting Left like Kane. Saad can play Left Wing shooting Left only if he is playing with Kane but then may need special Center. There is also hard decisions to be made concerning the Center position as you simply can’t have Centers that cannot win face-offs. It may be that Schmaltz would make a great Left Wing shooting Right.
- Z3Hawk

I agree with you to a certain extent and prefer that wingers play their off wing but it has been shared on these boards that some wingers who don't play their off wing prefer their on wing (or whatever the term is for the opposite of off wing). So in many cases, it's not a matter of Q being stubborn but more so the preference of the winger as well as where they have played throughout their career.

As for Schmaltz not being the best center for Kane, while I agree that it would be ideal if Schmaltz was stronger at the dot and physically stronger in general, others on these boards have shared that Kane actually wants him as his center. So while we as fans may disagree with that, I personally would defer to Kane on who he wants as linemates.

The same goes for Kane being upset about losing Panarin. He lost arguably the best linemate he's ever had and would love to have him back. So shouldn't that same sentiment apply to Kane wanting Schmaltz on his line?