2024-25 Roster…too soon?

[BobbyJet]

Exactly. We don't even know if Nazar is going to be an NHLer, or if he is, how effective he will be. I don't see why he can't be a bottom 6 player if the offense doesn't come.

If it were to be asked of him, Nazar would not be the first player who needed to adapt his game from an offensive guy to a two-way responsible player playing mstly in the bottom-6. However, from the little I have seen of his play, I don't think he is anywhere close to the ideal candidate for that.

On the topic of Nazar: I'm a bit concerned about his skating. Not his straight line speed. It's fine but he tends to lose his edges and/or fall a lot when not going north/south. Hopefully, that is just part of the growing pains of transitioning to the NHL but it has been quite noticeable.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Question for everybody;

Do you think it is feasible to roster all 3 of Bedard, Nazar, and Kantserov in the top 6 of our lineup?

I ask this because there has not been a single team in the history of the NHL that has had success rostering more than 2 under 5'10" players in their top 9 and none of these 3 are 3rd line players. Nazar and Bedard are top 6 or bust types. Kantserov is too talented for the 3rd line.

Then you factor in the size of the Hawks other top forwards sizes and you might realize the Hawks have a size issue in their roster construction. Building your team around small forwards can be dangerous

I really hope Dach becomes a top 6 guy or else this rebuild will heavily rely on free agents/trades for talented players with size that don't come around often

its about how they play, plenty of guys play smaller than their size and vice versa, what made the Hawks cup run teams so special is they could play any game the opponent wanted to and they need that balance again, for too long they've been a one dimensional, soft, slow, unskilled team

 

[belfour30]

Question for everybody;

Do you think it is feasible to roster all 3 of Bedard, Nazar, and Kantserov in the top 6 of our lineup?

I ask this because there has not been a single team in the history of the NHL that has had success rostering more than 2 under 5'10" players in their top 9 and none of these 3 are 3rd line players. Nazar and Bedard are top 6 or bust types. Kantserov is too talented for the 3rd line.

Then you factor in the size of the Hawks other top forwards sizes and you might realize the Hawks have a size issue in their roster construction. Building your team around small forwards can be dangerous

I really hope Dach becomes a top 6 guy or else this rebuild will heavily rely on free agents/trades for talented players with size that don't come around often

This has been my argument for a while.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Its a real concern that Bedard game might not translate to the playoffs where space is a little less and everything is more chip and chase, he doesn't have the burner speed and he doesn't create consistently on his own yet off the rush, they have so much work to do surrounding him with the talent to let him maximize his offensive production like Kane was afforded in the playoffs by having a half dozen elite forwards to draw matchups away from him and let him do his thing

 

[Pez68]

Its a real concern that Bedard game might not translate to the playoffs where space is a little less and everything is more chip and chase, he doesn't have the burner speed and he doesn't create consistently on his own yet, they have so much worked to do surrounding him with the talent to let him maximize his offensive production like Kane was afforded by having a half dozen elite forwards to draw matchups away from him

Flash back to 2007 right here.

 

[Kevin Musto]

FINALLY

 

[Hawkaholic]

FINALLY

Pretty sure I saw Nazar and Bedard together for quite a few shifts last game.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Pretty sure I saw Nazar and Bedard together for quite a few shifts last game.

Yeah, Sorenson tried it out midway through last game.

I'm glad to see he's giving them a proper chance to practice and start together.

 

[Kevin Musto]

full lines

 

[GIADF]

Yeah, Sorenson tried it out midway through last game.

I'm glad to see he's giving them a proper chance to practice and start together.

It was the most energetic I’ve seen Bedard on the ice in a while when they got paired up, and the game was basically decided already too.

 

[BHawk21]

Love it. That 3rd line is actually the 2nd line.

 

[Kevin Musto]

It was the most energetic I’ve seen Bedard on the ice in a while when they got paired up, and the game was basically decided already too.

Yeah they were connecting and finding each other on plays right away.

They just need time to refine it now.

 

[GIADF]

Yeah they were connecting and finding each other on plays right away.

They just need time to refine it now.

Wouldn't mind seeing Dach flipped with Bert at some point when he has his next cold streak.