Speculation: 2019-20 Expected Blackhawks Roster Part 4 - To Eberle or Not to Eberle - that is the question..

[AmericanDream]

Here are the projected contracts for all upcoming UFAs and RFAs.

Should give us an idea of who would be smart to acquire.

God, I would love to get Pavelski, but I can't see a team giving him $7mil for 3 years...possibly a 2 year deal at thtat price tag, but can't see 3 years...

Brock Nelson 4 years at $4.5 mil - yes please!!!

 

[AmericanDream]

if the Hawks and especially Bowman are looking/thinking big picture here, Byram has to be the pick at #3...just look at the free agent class, you can get 2-3 legitimate top 6 forwards- there are a lot available. now how many defenders are available that are true top 4 dmen?? maybe 2-3 total, and each one has issues and flaws. you can draft Byram and know you have anchored your top 4 for a decade and then go out and pick up two of these free agent forwards like Nelson, Duchene, whoever...that is where you can spend some money and make our top 9 the best in the game...knowing we have the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse on their way soon for our defense...(Byram, Boqvist, Mitchell and Joker)

 

[RememberTheRoar]

DeBrincat-Toews-Kubalik
Caggiula-Strome-Kane
Saad-Anisimov-Kahun
FA-Kampf-FA

Keith-Jokiharju
Gustafsson-Murphy
Byram-Boqvist

Seeing Makar and Girard working as a third pair in the playoffs, I say f*** it and let’s throw the kids in there in a heavily sheltered role. If they grow during the season, move them up. If not, lean hard on the top-4. Also, how much bigger of a defensive negative can Boqvist really be compared to Seabrook?

Also, DeBrincat worked well with Toews on the first line, and that whole third line did well together. So I guess I’ll put Kubalik next to Toews and DeBrincat to start, and let Caggiula keep doing the dirty work for Kane. In this scenario, only the second line needs to be sheltered.

 

[featherhawk]

DeBrincat-Toews-Kubalik
Caggiula-Strome-Kane
Saad-Anisimov-Kahun
FA-Kampf-FA

Keith-Jokiharju
Gustafsson-Murphy
Byram-Boqvist

Seeing Makar and Girard working as a third pair in the playoffs, I say **** it and let’s throw the kids in there in a heavily sheltered role. If they grow during the season, move them up. If not, lean hard on the top-4. Also, how much bigger of a defensive negative can Boqvist really be compared to Seabrook?

Also, DeBrincat worked well with Toews on the first line, and that whole third line did well together. So I guess I’ll put Kubalik next to Toews and DeBrincat to start, and let Caggiula keep doing the dirty work for Kane. In this scenario, only the second line needs to be sheltered.

That third line is not potent enough and AA should be gone in the off-season. Also what do you think seabrook will be doing?

I am all for the d you have posted there not sure that would happen though. Perhaps seabrook and boqvist should split games until the latter makes the former a permanent fixture in the press box.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

That third line is not potent enough and AA should be gone in the off-season. Also what do you think seabrook will be doing?

I am all for the d you have posted there not sure that would happen though. Perhaps seabrook and boqvist should split games until the latter makes the former a permanent fixture in the press box.

I guess you could platoon Boqvist and Seabrook. That would allow you to really ease Boqvist along while allowing him to practice with/against NHLers, which Mark Eaton said on the Hawks Talk podcast is really important for development.

As for the third line, how much do you think an NHL third line should score? Both those wingers produced 5v5 at a second line rate, and Anisimov produced at a high third-line/low second-line rate.

In fact, that third line is the only line I feel like deserves to stick together heading into next year, assuming Anisimov isn’t moved of course.

 

[featherhawk]

I guess you could platoon Boqvist and Seabrook. That would allow you to really ease Boqvist along while allowing him to practice with/against NHLers, which Mark Eaton said on the Hawks Talk podcast is really important for development.

As for the third line, how much do you think an NHL third line should score? Both those wingers produced 5v5 at a second line rate, and Anisimov produced at a high third-line/low second-line rate.

Saad and Kahun produced at decent levels but a great portion of that production was with the likes of toews, Kane, cat and strome.

Anisimov is too slow for JC’s style of play and he ain’t going to get any faster and his salary and roster spot should be spent elsewhere IMO

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Saad and Kahun produced at decent levels but a great portion of that production was with the likes of toews, Kane, cat and strome.

Anisimov is too slow for JC’s style of play and he ain’t going to get any faster and his salary and roster spot should be spent elsewhere IMO

You may be right on the production part, but Saad and Kahun are still second-line quality wingers.

As for Anisimov, I agree you look for an upgrade if it’s out there. If Anisimov isn’t moved, I think you put him back on that line.

 

[featherhawk]

Saad-toews-sikura
Kubalik -fa center- Kane
Cat -strome- cagguila
Kahun-kampf-fa/kid

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Saad-toews-sikura
Kubalik -fa center- Kane
Cat -strome- cagguila
Kahun-kampf-fa/kid

I’d definitely swap Kahun and Sikura in this scenario, then swap Sikura again to Rockford.

If we’re going to roll a spread out lineup like that, Toews definitely needs a good FA winger addition, maybe someone like Anders Lee.

Saad-Toews-Lee
DeBrincat-Strome-Kane (no other way to effectively shelter them all if Toews and Saad are together)
Kahun-Anisimov/FA-Kubalik
??-Kampf-??

 

[featherhawk]

I’d definitely swap Kahun and Sikura in this scenario, then swap Sikura again to Rockford.

If we’re going to roll a spread out lineup like that, Toews definitely needs a good FA winger addition, maybe someone like Anders Lee.

Saad-Toews-Lee
DeBrincat-Strome-Kane (no other way to effectively shelter them all if Toews and Saad are together)
Kahun-Anisimov/FA-Kubalik
??-Kampf-??

The hawks big needs are a d man and a C that can play with Kane then you have three lines that can score and a dynamite 4the line

Saad-toews-?????
Kubalik-????-Kane
Cat-strome-????
Kahun-kampf-????

?????= cagguila sikura Hayden highmore entwhistle kurashev fa’s

 

[RayP]

The hawks big needs are a d man and a C that can play with Kane then you have three lines that can score and a dynamite 4the line

Saad-toews-?????
Kubalik-????-Kane
Cat-strome-????
Kahun-kampf-????

?????= cagguila sikura Hayden highmore entwhistle kurashev fa’s

You want a 40+ goal scorer on the third line?

 

[RememberTheRoar]

The hawks big needs are a d man and a C that can play with Kane then you have three lines that can score and a dynamite 4the line

Saad-toews-?????
Kubalik-????-Kane
Cat-strome-????
Kahun-kampf-????

?????= cagguila sikura Hayden highmore entwhistle kurashev fa’s

If you don’t think Saad is good enough to carry a scoring third line, why do you think he’s a good enough offensively to play with Toews?

Unless someone else better than Saad is signed to join that line, I think you need to play either Kane or DeBrincat with Toews. I don’t think your ? guys will cut it next to Saad and Toews. Saad needs to be that lines third wheel, I think.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

You want a 40+ goal scorer on the third line?

It’s not preposterous based on how Colliton showed he wants to roll the three of them spread out.

It’s either DeBrincat or Kane there, but’s it’s not really a third line. It’s just three scoring lines.

 

[JaegerDice]

Honestly, down the stretch, Saad was playing well enough that would have bumped him up to the top line with Toews.

He was entering the zone with possession and speed, driving to the net, creating his own chances.. everything that made him so effective when he was at his best. I would have given him more talented players to help him at that point.

But I can also understand JC wanting to spread the threats out over multiple lines.

My point is, I think Saad is still a legit top 6 player when he's on his game.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Honestly, down the stretch, Saad was playing well enough that would have bumped him up to the top line with Toews.

He was entering the zone with possession and speed, driving to the net, creating his own chances.. everything that made him so effective when he was at his best. I would have given him more talented players to help him at that point.

But I can also understand JC wanting to spread the threats out over multiple lines.

My point is, I think Saad is still a legit top 6 player when he's on his game.

I do as well. I just think he should be the third wheel on the Toews line.

I would like to see Saad-Toews-Kane and see that line used like a traditional Toews line as opposed to splitting the difference between a Toews line and sheltered Kane line.

I’d then use the DeBrincat line the same way as those sheltered Kane lines.

This would require Kane giving at least half a f*** more about defense though.

 

[RayP]

It’s not preposterous based on how Colliton showed he wants to roll the three of them spread out.

It’s either DeBrincat or Kane there, but’s it’s not really a third line. It’s just three scoring lines.

Kane with Toews. Strome with Cat.

Fill in the rest from there.

 

[featherhawk]

I think Saad can anchor a good 3rd line scoring line however he won’t be able to do that if anisimov and Kahun are his linemates....

My lineups above that see theee solid lines would get enough time on ice to be effective.

Think of it as

1a
1b
1c
4th line....

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Kane with Toews. Strome with Cat.

Fill in the rest from there.

I don’t disagree necessarily, but that Toews line can’t be a sheltered scoring line like a traditional Kane line. It has to be used more like a Toews line than a Kane line.

That will require more defensive effort from Kane that may result in a little less scoring, but then I’d pound the offensive zone with a ultra-sheltered Strome and DeBrincat line.

 

[RayP]

I don’t disagree necessarily, but that Toews line can’t be a sheltered scoring line like a traditional Kane line. It has to be used more like a Toews line than a Kane line.

That will require more defensive effort from Kane that may result in a little less scoring, but then I’d pound the offensive zone with a ultra-sheltered Strome and DeBrincat line.

Ultimately I’d prefer Saad as the anchor of a 3rd line but I’d settle for him on the top line if it was a Saad-Toews-Kane line.

So then I guess we just have to sign Duchene and draft Byram.

Saad-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Duchene

Nasty.

 

[featherhawk]

That’s ok if you have a 3 C not named anisimov or kampf.

Been indifferent on duchene as an fa but he would be the perfect 3 c for Saad

Kubalik-toews-Kane
Cat-strome-????
Saad-duchene-????
Kahun-kampf-????

????= cagguila perlini, Hayden, kurashev, highmore entwhistle, fa, etc

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Ultimately I’d prefer Saad as the anchor of a 3rd line but I’d settle for him on the top line if it was a Saad-Toews-Kane line.

So then I guess we just have to sign Duchene and draft Byram.

Saad-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Duchene

Nasty.

That would be a nasty top-6, and Duchene is good-to-great at face offs which could lead to more quick scoring chances off the face off for DeBrincat.

 

[JaegerDice]

I don’t disagree necessarily, but that Toews line can’t be a sheltered scoring line like a traditional Kane line. It has to be used more like a Toews line than a Kane line.

That will require more defensive effort from Kane that may result in a little less scoring, but then I’d pound the offensive zone with a ultra-sheltered Strome and DeBrincat line.

Yep.

Interested to see how Colliton uses Kampf next season. That will have a large impact on how tough the matchups the top 6 receive are.

Colliton obviously likes and trusts Kampf a lot, and he should, I'm just interested in how he deploys him. If he's the 3rd line scoring option, or the Kruger replacement with full dungeon stars.

He strikes me more as the latter, but the organization is talking more like they view him as the former.

 

[featherhawk]

Kane with Toews. Strome with Cat.

Fill in the rest from there.

Ultimately I’d prefer Saad as the anchor of a 3rd line but I’d settle for him on the top line if it was a Saad-Toews-Kane line.

So then I guess we just have to sign Duchene and draft Byram.

Saad-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Duchene

Nasty.

Duchene needs to play c if he is here IMO

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Yep.

Interested to see how Colliton uses Kampf next season. That will have a large impact on how tough the matchups the top 6 receive are.

Colliton obviously likes and trusts Kampf a lot, and he should, I'm just interested in how he deploys him. If he's the 3rd line scoring option, or the Kruger replacement with full dungeon stars.

He strikes me more as the latter, but the organization is talking more like they view him as the former.

Seems like Colliton likes him in either role, which is a bit interesting. I’m curious to see how he uses him going forward as well.

If he thinks of Kampf as the Anisimov replacement, they will need to go out and sign a new Kruger.

 

[RayP]

Duchene needs to play c if he is here IMO

I don’t disagree with that. Which is also exactly why it’s not realistic. He’s not going to come here as a 3C, but I also don’t see Strome as a 3C.