The Who and Catch 22.......and the Hawks.
- eagle50

Definitely a top 10 for me, maybe 5

Kotkaniemi makes the Habs roster. I assume Dahlin and Svechnikov will make the Sabres and Canes rosters soon if they have not already yet.

Tkachuk and Bouchard still on their rosters.

The rest of the 1st rounders are back with their junior, college, or European teams.

Kotkaniemi makes the Habs roster. I assume Dahlin and Svechnikov will make the Sabres and Canes rosters soon if they have not already yet.

Tkachuk and Bouchard still on their rosters.

The rest of the 1st rounders are back with their junior, college, or European teams.
- AEL_Fox

Zadina might be in the AHL for the wings I think I read.

Sounds pretty certain that Sikura is heading to Rockford tomorrow.

We'll see what happens once the season gets going.

As constructed now, the Hawks bottom 6 is going to have a hell of a time scoring goals.

The Hawks really NEEDED Sikura to be a top 9 player after dealing Hinostroza in the Hossa deal.

I said I would wait until the final roster was decided to have my final thoughts on Stan's offseason, Coach Q's plan and my prediction on the Hawks season...

... all that will be coming on Monday. Spoiler alert: it may not be pretty.
- Justin Lowe

Thank you for your insights. The bolded part is my perspective, too. Of the final cuts at forward, Sikura was most needed. Not Martinsen with Hayden and Kunitz on the team. Althouh I really like his game, not really Johnson either with Kampf and Kruger.

That isn't to say just give Sikura the job immediately if he's going to sink. Put him in a situation to get his bearings as well as motivation to get to the big show sooner than later. He'll be back this season and likely rather quickly.

Zadina might be in the AHL for the wings I think I read.
- I Am The Breadman

Zadina and Veleno are no longer in Wings camp.

Thank you for your insights. The bolded part is my perspective, too. Of the final cuts at forward, Sikura was most needed. Not Martinsen with Hayden and Kunitz on the team. Althouh I really like his game, not really Johnson either with Kampf and Kruger.

That isn't to say just give Sikura the job immediately if he's going to sink. Put him in a situation to get his bearings as well as motivation to get to the big show sooner than later. He'll be back this season and likely rather quickly.
- AEL_Fox

He didn't look good with his brother and worse without him. I knew he wouldn't last. Only so many rookies can make it, but out of necessity, like joki. He's not ready yet.

Saad out of hibernation. Must feel good against his old team. 3-0

Not that I don't like the hockey talk and sarcasm, I know I'm the new guy, but I just want to pose a question to all who want to answer, Justin included. If you don't, that's fine, I'll just look stupid, and I accept that. Not that I'm looking for friends or anything, just discussion. What's your favorite band/solo artist? Movie and TV show to those who answer.
- I Am The Breadman

Alice in Chains. Office Space. Seinfeld.

Alice in Chains. Office Space. Seinfeld.
- tvetter

I can get behind all three. I've listened to A.I.C's new album like 4 times already. It's great.

Kaner, 4-0

Hawks had a chance to reinvigorate this team by canning Q last spring.

Instead, it will be ground hog day....every day....until they finally figure that out.

Please save all the player polls on Q's popularity etc...

It is time for a new voice...
- TrueGrit

What a crappy situation to throw a new coach into: Patrick Kane, a bunch of declining overpaid veterans, and inexperienced young guys. Poor goaltending, poor defense, at least one short of a top six, and weak scoring on the bottom six.

By the end of the season, or maybe even by the TDL, the Blackhawks should have a few more answers:

- Does Crawford have anything left? Can he come back to form this year? Can he be the guy next season (his last under contract)? Or is he a LTIR guy / retirement candidate?
- Are Keith and Seabrook still top 4 players on a Cup contender? Do one or both have trade value?
- Is Toews who he was last season or is he finally over whatever has been ailing him?
- Are DeBrincat & Schmaltz able to take another step?
- Are any of the other young guys going to reach their potential?
- Who gets traded?

Answer those questions this year and if a regime change is needed, they'll be better positioned for success.

(Personally, I'd sign Q to an extension and keep him another 4 or 5 years.)

Man o man does the bottom 6 on paper look distrusting...

Keep Saad with Schmaltz and Kane get him some easy pts and goals. Get his mojo back.

Toews moving a lot better this year but still can’t stay on his feet and gets pushed around. If he’s going to play lighter and faster I don’t want him being the one to dig out pucks and work the cycle down low.

D is meh. When they have bad games this year they are gonna be really bad.

Most excited to see Kahun. He’s got some nice edge work and is quick with and without the puck. Good two way game too. Has a few nifty moves in his game too.

4-1 on the pk. Ward seems to have been better this game

Zadina and Veleno are no longer in Wings camp.
- AEL_Fox

Did Zadina get sent down today because he played in Toronto last night.

I heard a little of the game, tail end of the 2nd, over the radio and last half of the 3rd on tv. The stand outs seemed to be the top 2 lines. Anyone have any different/conflicting/agreeing thoughts to share?

Even if not against a full "A-Squad" this has been a pretty decent tuneup game. Some of the D had a shaky start in their first pre-season game of the year, but as the rust has come off, they are looking better.

Toews seems to have his two way play going, looks like he might get some PP production and normalize his numbers.

Kane is starting to get into gear and hopefully can get back to elite scoring levels.

Saad/Schmaltz/DeBrincat not quiet clicking yet, but I don't think there is anything to panic about from any of them. Saad/DeBrincat usually score in bunches when they do, some chances are there. Schmaltz I think isn't going 100% full speed yet.

The jury is still out about Kahun being a top 9 guy in the NHL. He has shown flashes and hopefully he can keep getting more comfortable. Honestly, he looks like he pretty much replaces Hinostroza. The one thing I haven't been impressed with is his defensive game, but maybe that will come.

AA is moving better, but might need a bit of support on that 3rd line. Kunitz has been slowly improving, maybe he will go a bit better as the season starts.

The 4th line looks good, something that hasn't been the case for a couple seasons. I know a lot of fans like Wingels/Bouma/Hayden as a line, but there were kinda weak in their end.

From where we started last year, we lost Sharp, Panik, Kero, Bouma, Wingels up front. I don't particularly miss any of them.

On the blueline Kempny and Franson are gone. No big loss with either guy really.

Ward is no allstar and Forsberg is trying to find his way. Crawford being slowly brought closer to returning and that is looking to be sooner rather than later.

I heard a little of the game, tail end of the 2nd, over the radio and last half of the 3rd on tv. The stand outs seemed to be the top 2 lines. Anyone have any different/conflicting/agreeing thoughts to share?
- I Am The Breadman

4th line was really decent again. They aren't flashy, but doing their job well. Helps to have Kruger being much like his old self and two guys with size that can help him do the hard work.

Did Zadina get sent down today because he played in Toronto last night.
- KMFDMLight

Not sure actually. Zadina isn't on the official roster but I don't see any reports of him being cut either.

Besides Saad moving back to the second line, what did the other lines look like tonight?

I heard a little of the game, tail end of the 2nd, over the radio and last half of the 3rd on tv. The stand outs seemed to be the top 2 lines. Anyone have any different/conflicting/agreeing thoughts to share?
- I Am The Breadman

The Jackets roster tonight seemed to be mostly role/fringe players and prospects. No Panarin, Atkinson, Dubois, Jenner, Foligno, or Anderson. Wennberg was the only top 6 player and Nutivaara was the only likely defenseman to be a starter for Columbus. Plus, they played their backups in Korpisalo and Berube.

The Jackets roster tonight seemed to be mostly role/fringe players and prospects. No Panarin, Atkinson, Dubois, Jenner, Foligno, or Anderson. Wennberg was the only top 6 player and Nutivaara was the only likely defenseman to be a starter for Columbus. Plus, they played their backups in Korpisalo and Berube.
- AEL_Fox

Don't taint the victory. We couldn't beat Ott, we better beat a team of kids.

So did anyone catch Eddie O say panarin had an amazing playoff last year. WHAT!!!!!?

So did anyone catch Eddie O say panarin had an amazing playoff last year. WHAT!!!!!?
- glennjpawlak22

Singular. There was one game where he was really good. The ot snipe.

Singular. There was one game where he was really good. The ot snipe.
- I Am The Breadman

Sikura just sent down

4th line was really decent again. They aren't flashy, but doing their job well. Helps to have Kruger being much like his old self and two guys with size that can help him do the hard work.
- breadbag

I'm not sure how facing the lowest QOC among a bunch of AHL players is doing much of any job. Great, they took the defensive zone starts against bums, yay?

A team has not been successful with a grinder 4th line that cannot face even just 2/3L quality of players in years and it's not about to work for a team that only has offense realistically coming from two lines.