Looks like the Hawks will open the year with a lineup as such:

DeBrincat-Toews-Kahun
Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
Kunitz-Anisimov-Kampf
Kruger-Johnson-Martinsen

... a little surprised that Hayden is looking like the scratch. He's had a solid camp.
- Justin Lowe

That is surprising. Unless Kunitz can show something in the first 5 games, he should be the one sitting.

My guess, AA with the first goal.

Manning if he plays opening night a whopping 8 minutes of ice time, oh he's going to be bad

Ok ok I'll be nice.....

I say Saad!
- Hawkster

Kunitz--just because I think he should sitting

That is surprising. Unless Kunitz can show something in the first 5 games, he should be the one sitting.
- RaleighHawk

Agreed here. Not sure why Hayden is the odd man out.

Agreed LBR.

It's going to be a grind for those guys to produce goals.

A guy like Hinostroza would look nice on that 3rd line to provide a spark offensively.
- Justin Lowe

Exactly. That's why I'm hoping Sikura's stint in Rockford is brief so he can inject some offense into the 3rd line (or flip flop him with Kahun on the 1st line). Anisimov needs support.

Because he scored so much
- Scott1977

He was a 0.5 PPG player who was all over the lineup. I’m not saying he is the second coming, but he definitely contributed to the offense.he also knew how to come out of a scrum, or off the wall with the puck.

Because he scored so much
- Scott1977

To be fair, Hinostroza was on pace for 0.5 PPG which is good for a 3rd liner. He'd be good for 15-20 goals if able to play an entire season in a defined role in the middle 6.

EDIT: Chunk, you beat me to the punch!

So which is it people? Do players win or lose games? Or do coaches? Or do GMs?

Because there are so many different thoughts on this, sometimes in the same post, that I don't know which one to believe.

Personally, I have two thoughts about this year:

One, everyone is 0-0-0 right now. Every year there's a team that shoots out of the gate and fades and a team that is slow out of the gate and makes a late run. There are some surprises where teams are winning when they should be losing and losing when they should be winning. I'm not going to make grand predictions because honestly, I have no idea.

Two, with the way this team is being rebuilt, softly or if they start to tank, they are going about it the same way the Red Wings did and the Blackhawks did before 2010, from the D out (yes, I know they also drafted Toews and Kane, but Keith, Seabrook and Hammer were first). Get a bunch of young guys who grow up together, learn tendencies together.

In conclusion, I am moderately optimistic this year, but am more excited to start the season and I think the Blackhawks are grooming the next generation in a decent way. It's going to be painful at times, but so was 2005 to 2009.

My guess, AA with the first goal.

Manning if he plays opening night a whopping 8 minutes of ice time, oh he's going to be bad
- BetweenTheDots

Let's be logical here, Ward. The first goal will be against.

As usual, you missed my point.

I did not say the Hawks won because of Q. My examples showed that teams with great talent can and will fail with the wrong coach behind the bench.

But thanks for playing. Keep trying, one day you might get it.
- dahawks8819

[i

Teams with great talent do not fail because of the coach, they often fail because there are other teams with great talent that often work harder and beat them.

Q looked like a genius for 5 years because 14 of his 18 skaters were olympic players. How hard is it to get it wrong? But I am the one who might get it one day....

I thought it was 2015 where they weren't close and all the other teams had caught the Hawks and passed them by.




- HawkintheD

I have always lacked patience and been ahead of my time.

To be fair, Hinostroza was on pace for 0.5 PPG which is good for a 3rd liner. He'd be good for 15-20 goals if able to play an entire season in a defined role in the middle 6.

EDIT: Chunk, you beat me to the punch!
- AEL_Fox

Just playing devil's advocate a little bit to add some additional color.

He had 25 points in 50 games, but 5 of those were on the PP and 40% of his EV strength scoring happened while playing in the top 6.

IMO, His scoring in a 3rd line role probably lies somewhere in between the .29 ppg and the 0.5 ppg he had in his first two seasons when playing a full 82 game schedule. He got some extra opportunity that helped elevate his numbers a bit.

Just playing devil's advocate a little bit to add some additional color.

He had 25 points in 50 games, but 5 of those were on the PP and 40% of his EV strength scoring happened while playing in the top 6.

IMO, His scoring in a 3rd line role probably lies somewhere in between the .29 ppg and the 0.5 ppg he had in his first two seasons when playing a full 82 game schedule. He got some extra opportunity that helped elevate his numbers a bit.
- breadbag

Good perspective about where Hinostroza got his points last season. For the Coyotes, at least from the various articles I've read, he is penciled in as a 2nd liner so I expect him to get around 40 points if he plays a full season.

The 1st line is expected to be Stepan centering Keller and Panik while the 2nd line is slated as Galchenyuk centering Perlini and Hinostroza. There's also Strome, Dvorak, and Fischer who could play top 6.

Canucks have loaned Gagner to the AHL Marlies.

Garrison and Chiasson have signed one-year deals with the Oilers.

The Lightning are open to trading either Coburn or Koekkoek. Definite no to Coburn but Koekkoek would be interesting to explore with TB.

once again the cubs fall behind early...they must lead the league in 1st inning runs allowed...a leadoff walk usually leads to runs scored...good have been worse

i know hockey blog....

I've been dogging Toews as much as anyone, but there is an interesting stat related to his shooting percentage.
He's consistently been a 14% shooter in his career, and the last two years he's been 10% and 9%. If he ticks that up even 2 or 3% he'd have many more goals. I don't expect him to get back to 30 goals, but high 20's isn't out of the question.

With the number of shots he took last year (211) times his career shooting percentage (14%) he would've had 29 goals. I expect a surprising uptick in his production this year, same with Saad. Saad was 7% last year while he's a career 10% shooter. Hopefully Saad can eclipse his career high point total this year of 53.
- ObeseOprah

So - for both, but especially Toews - was the drop in shooting % just lack of puck luck - or something in their games that may or may not be correctable?

So Barrett Hayton made the Yotes roster, the jab at the hawks has to come in somewhere, I just don't know where.

once again the cubs fall behind early...they must lead the league in 1st inning runs allowed...a leadoff walk usually leads to runs scored...good have been worse

i know hockey blog....
- bogiedoc

Hockey blog but:

Happ, Schwarber, Contreras, Bryant - all had more Ks than hits; Baez and Russell came close.

A problem with the game - a problem with the Cubs.

Hockey blog but:

Happ, Schwarber, Contreras, Bryant - all had more Ks than hits; Baez and Russell came close.

A problem with the game - a problem with the Cubs.
- StLBravesFan

indeed...have read alot about that...its all or nothing with hitters today...hr or k...

bryant has had a huge K problem since last year...

indeed...have read alot about that...its all or nothing with hitters today...hr or k...

bryant has had a huge K problem since last year...
- bogiedoc

Add Bote to the K>Hits list.

Any coach who cares about their team would be upset when their GM punted two trades in a row. Hammer for Murphy is only trumped by Panarin for Saad. We lost both of those trades, badly. Murphy is a 5/6 Dman, and Saad is maybe half the player Panarin is. I think Q should've probably been cut loose after the sweep or last season. He's a phenomenal coach and getting 3 Cups in 6 years is a nearly impossible task, I can't believe someone on here honestly thinks he should have more, getting one cup has escaped plenty of teams in this league. Q is a great coach, but the mojo is gone and we need a new system that will hold everyone accountable and emphasize speed.
- ObeseOprah

I’m confused. I thought According to the Gospel of JJ, that Stan only makes trades if he can win them?

Just a guess as to ETAs for college draftees. Sorry if I'm missing anyone. Note that there are no goalie prospects in college.

FORWARDS

Evan Barratt, Penn State
Sophomore
At least 1 more year in college then 1-2 years in Rockford
NHL projection: bottom 6 agitator with some offensive punch

Mikael Hakkarainen, Providence College
Freshman
At least 2 years in college then 1-2 years in Rockford
NHL projection: checking center

Josiah Slavin, Colorado College
Starts freshman year in 2019
At least 2 years in college then 1-2 years in Rockford
NHL projection: 3rd line winger

Jake Wise, Boston U
Freshman
1-2 years in college then 1-2 years in Rockford
NHL projection: top 6 center, likely 2nd line

DEFENSEMEN

Chad Krys, Boston U
Junior
Last year in college then 1-2 years in Rockford
NHL projection: offensive d-man with decent defense (4-5-6 spot)

Ian Mitchell, Denver
Sophomore
Last year in college then 1 year in Rockford
NHL projection: offensive d-man with solid defense (top 4)

Likely not going to be an impact prospect but you never know:

Joshua Ess, D (Wisconsin), sophomore
Parker Foo, F (Union College), sophomore
Jack Ramsey, F (Minnesota), senior
Ryan Shea, D (Northeastern), senior
Beau Starrett, F (Cornell), senior
Fredrik Olofsson, F (Nebraska Omaha), senior

EDIT: I added projections on what each prospect could be at the NHL level.
- AEL_Fox

The 2 kids from B U , I am intrigued by.

Canucks have loaned Gagner to the AHL Marlies.

Garrison and Chiasson have signed one-year deals with the Oilers.

The Lightning are open to trading either Coburn or Koekkoek. Definite no to Coburn but Koekkoek would be interesting to explore with TB.
- AEL_Fox

Why would they be willing to trade a descent drgenceman prospect, especially after a couple years pro experience,? If he was an attractive enough commodity, they would find a way to keep him

both pitchers are nailing the corners and getting some generous strike calls...cub bats have gone into hibernation...very few balls hit hard...

both pitchers are nailing the corners and getting some generous strike calls...cub bats have gone into hibernation...very few balls hit hard...
- bogiedoc

Cubs given a gift - can’t do anything with it.