Justin Lowe: A New Season Begins…
Ok, can we all just chill on the playoff talk now? I'm looking at you, John McDonough and Stan Bowman.

As it stands today, here are the Wild Card standings in the west.

9 points out of the last playoff seed with 16 games left. Sorry, let me rephrase that: 7 points out of last place in the Western Conference with 16 games left. Now, my hope is that Colliton puts those remaining games to good use with his roster. What am I talking about? See below:

It's not like the Hawks have a ton of NHL ready forwards in RFD or elsewhere. Perlini may be this year's Duclair but I'd sign him on a show me deal for one more year.

The contract won't break the bank and can likely be stashed in RFD. If he hasn't shown much, gets sent down or claimed on waivers, then no big loss...but I'd give him one more season to figure it out.

Apples to oranges but if the coaching staff can assign him a role that he buys into and excels at, it's a win. Thinking of how Frolik bought into a bottom 6 and PK role.

Ejdsell, Highmore, Carlson, others - who goes down when they come up - singly or as a group - who’s not subject to waivers....

Really need to get below Vancouver. And maybe Anaheim, who has won 2 in a row after losing to the Hawks.

5th or 6th for #KaapoKakko

Even when the hawks were in the midst of their dreadful losing streak and getting bombed regularly; they didn't quit and came back in many of those games.

With nothing to get "excited about" for the rest of the year and playing alot of teams in playoff contention I suspect the hawks mojo might head south and more bad starts and losing will be the norm for the rest of the year.

Kane playing 20 plus minutes a night has to end. He looked gassed on that western trip after carrying this team for the last months at almost a 2 pt/game rate.

Get joki back up here...limit craws games and have delia play the majority.

I would like to see some changes to the defensive scheme but I don't think it will change things all that much.

Really need to get below Vancouver. And maybe Anaheim, who has won 2 in a row after losing to the Hawks.

5th or 6th for #KaapoKakko
- scottak

the bottom 3 in the league appear a lock: sens, wings and kings. They appear destined to finish between the 4th and 7th spot.

Really need to get below Vancouver. And maybe Anaheim, who has won 2 in a row after losing to the Hawks.

5th or 6th for #KaapoKakko
- scottak

Thank you, but I'd rather see the team play hard and let the chips fall where they may than see a team intentionally try to lose.

Thank you, but I'd rather see the team play hard and let the chips fall where they may than see a team intentionally try to lose.
- paulr

Agree, absolutely. But being basically out of it, and playing teams still in the hunt, losses will happen organically.

the bottom 3 in the league appear a lock: sens, wings and kings. They appear destined to finish between the 4th and 7th spot.
- bogiedoc

Although odds are slim, there's always the chance they could move up to the 1,2 or 3 spots.

Ejdsell, Highmore, Carlson, others - who goes down when they come up - singly or as a group - who’s not subject to waivers....
- StLBravesFan

From the cap friendly site. Green arrows next to the player's name indicate waiver exempt.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/blackhawks

The key standings now are not the Wild Card. The key standings are now the race to the bottom and a good draft pick. Hawks could still get pick #5.

I am not saying the Hawks should lose the games intentionally, but they should roll 4 lines and 3 pairings on defense with fairly even TOI. No use playing Toews, Kane, Keith, Crow a ton of minutes when you know the playoffs are out of reach. By playing the bottom six and 3rd pairing more minutes you get a better look at Perlini, Hayden, Sikura, Dahlstrom, Koekkoek, Forsling, Delia. No use playing Kunitz and Ward at all.

I am thinking the Hawks might still sign Kruger to a cheap 1 year contract for depth at the center position. Not sure I like that. But it could happen late in the Summer, depending on their other moves.

If you want to improve team defense you move Kane off of Toews line. Reunite the rejuvenated Toews, with Saad, and the #5 pick in the draft. Expect less offense and more of a 200' game (I know that is expecting a lot from a draft pick).

Reunite Kane with Streom and ADB. Expect all offense and hope they can score enough to have a decent plus minus.

If you cannot move AA he plays LW on the 3rd line. Kahun on the RW. Sign a really good 3C with a 200' game, can win faceoffs, bring some offense to play between them.

The 4th line would be Kampf, Caggiula and then either sign a veteran or have a competition for the 4th spot. Perlini (if signed), Hayden, Highmore, Kruger (if signed) could be in the mix. But they have to contribute some offense and be defensively responsible.

I think Colliton gets the rest of this year, training camp and through year end to prove he can put together a defense. Maybe they bring in an assistant coach that is a seasoned defensive specialist. They also need to sign or trade for a stud defender to play in the top 4 pairings. (new stud, Keith, Joki, Gus, Seabs, Murphy) If they are still giving up goals and losing games in December his job will be in jeopardy.

Then when the Toews line isn't scoring we can read sooooome posters female doging about that.

I think Colliton gets the rest of this year, training camp and through year end to prove he can put together a defense. Maybe they bring in an assistant coach that is a seasoned defensive specialist. They also need to sign or trade for a stud defender to play in the top 4 pairings. (new stud, Keith, Joki, Gus, Seabs, Murphy) If they are still giving up goals and losing games in December his job will be in jeopardy.
- -Doh-

Id get either Doughty or Hedman.

Id get either Doughty or Hedman.
- mohel

Did Elbows approve that suggestion?

Did Elbows approve that suggestion?
- paulr

Yes. He also wants Peter Regin back.

Then when the Toews line isn't scoring we can read sooooome posters female doging about that.
- mohel

So true. As Roseanne Roseannadanna said "It's always something".

But it is possible a Kakko/Podkolzin, Toews, Saad line could score some too.

I think Colliton gets the rest of this year, training camp and through year end to prove he can put together a defense. Maybe they bring in an assistant coach that is a seasoned defensive specialist. They also need to sign or trade for a stud defender to play in the top 4 pairings. (new stud, Keith, Joki, Gus, Seabs, Murphy) If they are still giving up goals and losing games in December his job will be in jeopardy.
- -Doh-

If you look at the dmen UFA's...none of these look to be immediate help and the price tag maybe to much for what you get. it would seem the only way to get those dmen is through trade and they will require a premium trade package

https://www.spotrac.com/n...l/free-agents/defenseman/

Id get either Doughty or Hedman.
- mohel

Are you serious about Doughty?
The Doughty who turns 30 next season on a new $11M contract that runs forever. I don't think that this is the direction the Hawks should be heading.

can't you send Kruger down and buyout kunitz?

Yes. He also wants Peter Regin back.
- mohel

That's only cuz he has Regin's white and red jerseys. He also has a Jeremy Morin jersey, so he'll want Morin back too.

If you look at the dmen UFA's...none of these look to be immediate help and the price tag maybe to much for what you get. it would seem the only way to get those dmen is through trade and they will require a premium trade package

https://www.spotrac.com/n...l/free-agents/defenseman/
- bogiedoc

Trades of top tier defensemen are also rare.

can't you send Kruger down and buyout kunitz?
- kmw4631

What would be the purpose of buying out a guy with about 20 games left in his contract?

can't you send Kruger down and buyout kunitz?
- kmw4631

Both of their contracts expire at the end of this season. They’re gone unless resigned.