2025 26 Roster…too Soon

[Hattrick Kane]

Don’t really know which of these rookies break camp on the big club, but I do know it will be a much more exciting season. Going to be exciting watching them.

Levshunov and Rinzel have guaranteed their spots. This was their audition and now they’re going to make up out top 4 RHD. Murphy should be scared with the way he’s playing. Crevier probably 7th.

Left side is Vlasic and Kaiser since he won’t be waiver eligible. Last spot will be between EDM, Korchinski and Allan.

No idea about the forwards, you might see Moore and Greene go down, or Reichel traded. Slaggert hasn’t impressed, and Dach can’t stay healthy. But then this team doesn’t miss Dickinson at all and Teuvo has forgotten how to play hockey. So lots of decisions up front.

 

[pvr]

Levshunov and Rinzel have guaranteed their spots. This was their audition and now they’re going to make up out top 4 RHD. Murphy should be scared with the way he’s playing. Crevier probably 7th.

Left side is Vlasic and Kaiser since he won’t be waiver eligible. Last spot will be between EDM, Korchinski and Allan.

No idea about the forwards, you might see Moore and Greene go down, or Reichel traded. Slaggert hasn’t impressed, and Dach can’t stay healthy. But then this team doesn’t miss Dickinson at all and Teuvo has forgotten how to play hockey. So lots of decisions up front.

Yeah…was referring to the forwards. The team is much more exciting though.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Levshunov and Rinzel have guaranteed their spots. This was their audition and now they’re going to make up out top 4 RHD. Murphy should be scared with the way he’s playing. Crevier probably 7th.

Left side is Vlasic and Kaiser since he won’t be waiver eligible. Last spot will be between EDM, Korchinski and Allan.

No idea about the forwards, you might see Moore and Greene go down, or Reichel traded. Slaggert hasn’t impressed, and Dach can’t stay healthy. But then this team doesn’t miss Dickinson at all and Teuvo has forgotten how to play hockey. So lots of decisions up front.

Was really hoping Dickinson would push the needle this year. Him at his best every game would help the depth chart in terms of defensive matchups (not saying he'd be used properly).

 

[Taze em]

Slaggert, Dach, Greene, Moore will all be down. Veleno in the danger zone. Kurashev gone. Dickinson danger zone. Reichel danger zone but cheap so he'll likely stick.

Best chance to stick from there are Dickinson then Moore, Dach, and Reichel.

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

Levshunov and Rinzel have guaranteed their spots. This was their audition and now they’re going to make up out top 4 RHD. Murphy should be scared with the way he’s playing. Crevier probably 7th.

Left side is Vlasic and Kaiser since he won’t be waiver eligible. Last spot will be between EDM, Korchinski and Allan.

No idea about the forwards, you might see Moore and Greene go down, or Reichel traded. Slaggert hasn’t impressed, and Dach can’t stay healthy. But then this team doesn’t miss Dickinson at all and Teuvo has forgotten how to play hockey. So lots of decisions up front.

I think Moore, Greene, Thompson, and hopefully James all go to Rockford for half a season at least. Hopefully they come back up with a lightning bolt up their butts like Frankie,

 

[kmwtrucks]

I think slaggert probably is more of a AHL player then NHL on a good team. IMO. he did have a nice assist yesterday.

 

[MicronMega]

I think Moore, Greene, Thompson, and hopefully James all go to Rockford for half a season at least. Hopefully they come back up with a lightning bolt up their butts like Frankie,

James is probably a goner. If he didn't sign at the end of the season, he probably wanted to burn a year like the rest of these guys and the Hawks said No. He can't go back to NCAA and he should be in Rockford right now like Harding

 

[EbonyRaptor]

I have my doubts KD will convince a difference making free agent to sign with the bottom dweller Hawks - Mitch Marner won't be riding his white steed into town to save the day. So who is out there in free agency that makes sense to acquire? And don't say Boeser - he can score in a half court game but the Hawks are building a speed team which is not what Boeser provides.

What I DON'T want to see is a journeyman brought in unless he brings the physical toughness to replace Maroon in the lineup.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

I have my doubts KD will convince a difference making free agent to sign with the bottom dweller Hawks - Mitch Marner won't be riding his white steed into town to save the day. So who is out there in free agency that makes sense to acquire? And don't say Boeser - he can score in a half court game but the Hawks are building a speed team which is not what Boeser provides.

What I DON'T want to see is a journeyman brought in unless he brings the physical toughness to replace Maroon in the lineup.

The only one I think might make some sense is Bennett since he brings a completely different element that the forward group is lacking. But it seems like a lot of people think that’s a bad idea.

Maybe Marchand on a short term, highly-paid deal?

I don’t know, but I agree with you that Marner is unlikely.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I think Slaggert and his 1-way deal makes the team. Not a big scorer but he does things well. C. Dach is still waiver-exempt on his ELC and wasn't as good, so I think he goes down. Greene and Moore should pretty easily be in the AHL.

Teravainen-Bedard-Mikheyev
UFA-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Dickinson-UFA
Slaggert-Veleno-Reichel
UFA

I think probably 3-4 UFAs and adjust lines as needed (someone like Veleno is easily 13th forward if necessary), if Hawks are picking top 2 then potentially the '25 Draft pick as well, Kurashev not qualified, Reichel very possibly traded out as well. Possible Donato is or isn't one of those UFAs. Leaves some room for callups as well assuming some/all of the UFAs are on the underwhelming side and then you have multiple expiring deals in Mikheyev, Foligno, Dickinson, Veleno who could be traded or exiled as necessary.

1 05 (Bedard)
1 04 (Nazar)
possibly 2 02s (Slaggert, Reichel)

AHL Forwards:
Moore
Greene
Dach
Lardis
Hayes
Savoie
Ludwinski
Misiak
Thompson
Anderson (waiver-eligible, possibly a 14th forward option as well)
fill out with veterans as needed

 

[WarriorofTime]

James is probably a goner. If he didn't sign at the end of the season, he probably wanted to burn a year like the rest of these guys and the Hawks said No. He can't go back to NCAA and he should be in Rockford right now like Harding

Guessing James was offered 2-year ELC beginning 2025-26 and then ATO to end the season.. which is exact deal Aidan Thompson got, and said no.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Slaggert, Dach, Greene, Moore will all be down. Veleno in the danger zone. Kurashev gone. Dickinson danger zone. Reichel danger zone but cheap so he'll likely stick.

Best chance to stick from there are Dickinson then Moore, Dach, and Reichel.

Dickenson is no where near the "danger zone"

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

Dickinson will be stuck here to start next season. Injury riddled season and he just flat out wasn't good when he was playing. Even at max retention and cutting his cap hit down to 2.1M he didn't justify that number this year when he was playing.

Just need to hope for a rebound and maybe you can get a piece for him at the TDL next year.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

I have my doubts KD will convince a difference making free agent to sign with the bottom dweller Hawks - Mitch Marner won't be riding his white steed into town to save the day. So who is out there in free agency that makes sense to acquire? And don't say Boeser - he can score in a half court game but the Hawks are building a speed team which is not what Boeser provides.

What I DON'T want to see is a journeyman brought in unless he brings the physical toughness to replace Maroon in the lineup.

I doubt he’s adding much value if anything via free agency. That was the whole point of the Weber trade. Get to the floor so you can make the moves you want instead of having to panic sign guys to bloated contracts.

 

[MHO]

I have zero issues with Dickinson starting the season next year as the clear 3rd line center behind some combination of Bedard, Nazar, or someone they sign. It's funny with Nazar as his center/forward versatility reminds me of Patrick Sharp that could do both but I always thought Sharp was much better on the wing. With Nazar, I'm starting to really want him at center.

I think Slaggert could definitely be a 4th liner on a good team but I don't see much more with him at this point. Still a valuable piece though. Kurashev is definitely gone and Reichel is very likely to not be here next year. It'll be interesting what the new coach thinks of him and his game and I find a potential 4th line of Veleno, Slaggert, and Reichel to be appealing with all of that speed.

If a team decides to blow it up this offseason and enter the McKenna sweepstakes, I could see Reichel and Allan packaged together for someone. Allan is a nice young D but he has clearly been passed by too many guys.

 

[giza]

Dickinson will start the year in his normal 3rd line center role. He's the best in the organization to do it and he's pretty good at it. .....hoping he's healthy and comes back to last season's form. Foligno is the one who should be on the 4th line with Slaggert and Veleno......I really don't see Reichel surviving on the Hawks ....might even be a draft move up deal inclusion. Something tells me Leafs will let Tavares go and use those funds to lock in Marner. Would love to get Sam Bennett here----Hawks desperately need that kind of physicality.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Do other teams even want Reichel? If he's not being added in on top/as a roster replacement for someone better, why don't Hawks just keep him around and see if he has an age 23 breakout and then probably just not-qualify a year from now?

 

[Taze em]

I donno I think we’re underrating how bad Dickinsons season went. Lowkey he had a shouting match with foligno in a practice. Left a practice early and was pretty vocal Jones style about the season. There was no real follow up on either with our “beat reporters”.

Last year he was amazing. This year was bad bad bad. They have guys for be a 3C and they also now have substantially better options on the PK.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I donno I think we’re underrating how bad Dickinsons season went. Lowkey he had a shouting match with foligno in a practice. Left a practice early and was pretty vocal Jones style about the season. There was no real follow up on either with our “beat reporters”.

Last year he was amazing. This year was bad bad bad. They have guys for be a 3C and they also now have substantially better options on the PK.

if he's bought out, you'll know why

if not, the org thinks he'll bounce back

 

[Hawkaholic]

I donno I think we’re underrating how bad Dickinsons season went. Lowkey he had a shouting match with foligno in a practice. Left a practice early and was pretty vocal Jones style about the season. There was no real follow up on either with our “beat reporters”.

Last year he was amazing. This year was bad bad bad. They have guys for be a 3C and they also now have substantially better options on the PK.

You're overexaggerating it, big time. He wasn't that bad, was he as good as last year? Of course not, but he was fine if he is a 3rd liner. He wins 1/2 of his faceoffs, and starts only 1/3rd of the time in the offensive zone. He also plays too much for what he is, he should be around 13-15mins a game, not close to 16 or 17mins a game. I wouldn't say there are substantially better PK players available, yes, we have some good Pk players, but not one of them are as good at faceoffs as he is.

I couldn't care less about his shouting match, or leaving practice early, or whatever minor issues you have raised.

 

[u2wojo]

Do other teams even want Reichel? If he's not being added in on top/as a roster replacement for someone better, why don't Hawks just keep him around and see if he has an age 23 breakout and then probably just not-qualify a year from now?

This. The value of riding Reichel to the finish line and seeing if something maybe clicks for him has got to be greater than adding a 2nd or 3rd round pick we already have to many of. As is we are opening up 3 F roster spots in Athanasiou, Maroon, and Kurashev (can't see us even giving him a qualifying offer and a season removed from 54 pts, we are going to have less interst in what an arbitrator will award him). There is no one in our prospect grouping at F other than Nazar commanding NHL icetime that would be hurt by splitting time in Rockford waiting for injuries or others to underperform.

 

[WarriorofTime]

You're not going to get a Dickinson level player available on a 1-year deal, and you want both the flexibility to not throw any of Moore/Greene/Thompson to the wolves if they're not up for it but also the ability for a spot to be there in the future. I don't see a point in buying Dickinson out or dumping him as there's already available spots for UFAs, and if too many prospects are forcing their way onto the roster, you can make that decision mid-season which is super easy when you have vets on expiring deals.

 

[TheFridge]

Dickinson isn't being bought out. Come on folks.

The only guy getting bought out this off-season is Brodie.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Marner is leaving Toronto, passing on other teams, and choosing to sign with Chicago to play on the second line with two guys that are maybe/probably second liners?

Agree MM signing is unlikely, but he'd have to do that before Misa would play a NHL game and McKenna is even draft eligible. Doubt MM would be worried about those guys stealing his ice time.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

don't step on any landmines this summer in ufa etc and this teardown is bound to end organically, please KD avoid the inevitable tragic max term/max aav deal for a good but not great player that we see year after year