Offseason Roster Discussion part 3

[Blackhawkswincup]

What exactly makes him useful? His play on ice does not fit the description of "Useful"

 

[BobbyJet]

I still don't get why people seemed to ignore, not see, or recall the success Nylander had when on the 4th line.

Playing Nylander on the 4th line equates to trying to put a square peg in a round hole and I doubt very much that that will ever change. He simply doesn't have the work ethic or defensive game needed to play in that role.

 

[crazyhawk]

I am optimistic about the new season with guys like Nylander ( healthy and hopefully motivated ), Gaudette ( healthy, heavier and stronger ) and Borgstrom ( unknown but again hopefully motivated ) whom may all come into their own so to speak. That's maybe three top six potential guys ( top 9 for sure ) coming into the lineup.

 

[RayP]

Nylander did admittedly have a good and brief stretch at one point on the 4th line…. But I don’t see that as a role he can have long term success in.

 

[Muffinalt]

I just hope we try to roll 4 lines at some point. I'll be a little disappointed if it's the usual grinder 4th line + multiple of young guys exchanging each other for spots combo (although im fully expecting that to happen).

Our forward group is almost set up for it. Bunch of players who are not the typical 4th line type, but we could create two 3rd lines that way.

Have them all kind of capable defensively and don't hunt matchup and I think it works.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

I haven't officially terminated in my Strome Fan Club membership yet but it's become increasingly more difficult to find a spot for him in the lineup. The locks for the lineup are Toews, Kane, DCat, Dach, Kubalik, Johnson, and Hagel - that's 7 of the 12 starting positions. Kurashev should be in the lineup unless they need a waiver exempt player to send to Rockford. After a year or rehab Nylander should be in the lineup until he proves he shouldn't. Borgstrom was the key piece in the trade with Florida so I have to think he will be in the starting 12. That makes 10 of the 12 starters. The last 2 spots will be filled from among the following NHL roster players: Gaudette, Carpenter, Connolly, Khaira and Strome; and from several prospects from the Rockford roster: Reichel, Hardman, Entwistle and maybe one or two others. Of that group, I would take Gaudette and any of the 3 Rockford guys, if they're ready, ahead of Strome.

Another strike against Strome's inclusion into the lineup is he is not a plug & play player - his limitations make him unfit for a defensive/grinder role and he has not shown the ability to play on the wing. Therefore he is not competing for one of the 12 forward spots, per se, he is competing for one of the (3) top-9 center spots with his competition being Toews, Dach, Johnson, Kurashev, Gaudette, and Borgstrom with the first three in that list demonstrably a better fit than Strome and the last 3 with more promise than the pigeonholed Strome.

I liked the 51 points in 57 games Strome - too bad he's apparently not able to be that guy anymore.

 

[Muffinalt]

I haven't officially terminated in my Strome Fan Club membership yet but it's become increasingly more difficult to find a spot for him in the lineup. The locks for the lineup are Toews, Kane, DCat, Dach, Kubalik, Johnson, and Hagel - that's 7 of the 12 starting positions. Kurashev should be in the lineup unless they need a waiver exempt player to send to Rockford. After a year or rehab Nylander should be in the lineup until he proves he shouldn't. Borgstrom was the key piece in the trade with Florida so I have to think he will be in the starting 12. That makes 10 of the 12 starters. The last 2 spots will be filled from among the following NHL roster players: Gaudette, Carpenter, Connolly, Khaira and Strome; and from several prospects from the Rockford roster: Reichel, Hardman, Entwistle and maybe one or two others. Of that group, I would take Gaudette and any of the 3 Rockford guys, if they're ready, ahead of Strome.

Another strike against Strome's inclusion into the lineup is he is not a plug & play player - his limitations make him unfit for a defensive/grinder role and he has not shown the ability to play on the wing. Therefore he is not competing for one of the 12 forward spots, per se, he is competing for one of the (3) top-9 center spots with his competition being Toews, Dach, Johnson, Kurashev, Gaudette, and Borgstrom with the first three in that list demonstrably a better fit than Strome and the last 3 with more promise than the pigeonholed Strome.

I liked the 51 points in 57 games Strome - too bad he's apparently not able to be that guy anymore.

Absolutely agree with everything. The way it's going, I think he's going to be given a chance in camp/early to carve himself a position as either a C or try him at W again with guys who can cover for him... But then ultimately be traded at some point for a pick/better fit coz he can't make it work.

 

[Teemu]

Poor Scott

 

[ColbyChaos]

Shalunov is going to be 50 before he comes to the NHL im sick of hearing about him

 

[Caser]

Shalunov is going to be 50 before he comes to the NHL im sick of hearing about him

To be fair, this time he actually came to the NHL, but it's the NHL who wasn't interested in him.

 

[Space umpire]

It appears any of the 31 other teams could have had him for future considerations or a 7th rd pick and nobody wants him.

 

[giza]

Shalunov will never play a game in the NHL----probably hoping some sucker would overspend on him and it didn't happen. I'm sure he's fine either way....never got the impression he had a burning desire to play here.

 

[Caser]

It appears any of the 31 other teams could have had him for future considerations or a 7th rd pick and nobody wants him.

Exactly. Not like I'm too surprised after the kind of World Championships that he had. The issue with him is that the only thing that he undoubtfully has on the NHL level is his shot - it is high-end, but everything else is doubtful.

Another issue is that he is 28 now, which adds to the risk and also doesn't benefit much the team that would've given him a chance, since he will be an UFA immediately after his ELC. So if the Blackhawks would be in the full rebuilding/tanking mode than they'd lose nothing by signing him, but they're not and most of the other teams aren't either.

 

[DesperateBeliever]

It appears any of the 31 other teams could have had him for future considerations or a 7th rd pick and nobody wants him.

 

[GaryU]

Shocking that Shalunov still isn't coming...

 

[Brightwing]

He doesn't really want to play in the NHL.

 

[Giovi]

An NHL team expressed interest, and he turned them down. Shocking.

He was never interested in coming over.

 

[Caser]

An NHL team expressed interest, and he turned them down. Shocking.

He was never interested in coming over.

I think that is what the agent said, so I don't really buy it. I mean, he couldn't say that "No one wanted to sign my client even for ELC money and we just wasted two months on waiting."

 

[ColbyChaos]

I’m holding out a lot more hope for Kayumov than Shalunov

 

[pvr]

Gave up on Shalunov years ago. His NHL last chances passed him by when the Hawks could really have used him 2-4 years ago. Never really wanted it, and now there are younger and hungrier players filling rosters around the league. Nyet!

 

[Caser]

I’m holding out a lot more hope for Kayumov than Shalunov

Safonov

Gave up on Shalunov years ago. His NHL last chances passed him by when the Hawks could really have used him 2-4 years ago. Never really wanted it, and now there are younger and hungrier players filling rosters around the league. Nyet!

That's actually a right approach imo. I think if a Russian prospect doesn't sign until he is 24 then the chance of success is falling down to something like 40% and if he isn't there by the time he is 26 it falls down to like 5% (also because he doesn't hold any RFA years as the business value for the managament anymore). With that being said I'm also not a fan of rushing them, it should be not too early, but also not too late.

 

[Brightwing]

If anyone wants to take The Athletic's fan survey: 2021 Blackhawks fan survey

 

[Hawkaholic]

If anyone wants to take The Athletic's fan survey: 2021 Blackhawks fan survey

Imagine only being able to select one option for the question "What has been the biggest reason for the Blackhawks' struggles in recent seasons?"

 

[Brightwing]

Imagine only being able to select one option for the question "What has been the biggest reason for the Blackhawks' struggles in recent seasons?"

I mean the word "biggest" implies one answer. There could be other factors, but it's asking which is the biggest. It's a survey for fun, so whatever.

 

[AmericanDream]

I guess I will continue to stand out on this ledge with the following things:

I am a firm believer that Borgstrom is going to get a legit shot to succeed here. How legit? I again will say I think he starts off with Kane to see what he can do. I like his size, his hands, his creativity as well as his left shot. In order to really make that click, you need a puck hound on that line- enter Hagel. Fresh off a nice 3 year deal, what better way to earn in than doing the dog shit work on a line with HOFer Kane! Hagel would work well on this line as he would create enough havoc on the ice to help create space for Kane...plus, Hagel is more offensively gifted than many give credit for, he could really perform well here.

Hagel - Borgstrom - Kane

Next up is the Dach line. As much as I want Kane and Cat and was a big proponent of both together despite many bitching on here over 2 top 10 scoring wingers in the game, setting him with his futre might make the most sense. We have to imagine Cat and Dach will be our future 1-2 punch once Kane is reduced in a role (who the hell knows when that will be, Kane might play forever!). But, it still make sense to put these two together. Now, you have a couple options here with who to work with them. Johnson is my logical choice (Kurashev the other) since he could provide that two way support those 2 would really need. I also like Johnson with Toews, but if a healthy Toews out the gate, I say line him up with these 2 and watch him produce some numbers.

DeBrincat - Dach - Johnson

This third line or however you want to deploy them would allow Toews some time to get back and get acclimated again to the speed of the game. Taking an entire year off isn't easy to come back at 33 years old. I like the combo of Kubalik and Toews and think they could do very well together here. The other side is the wild card for me- Nylander/Strome. If we don't trade Strome away, he has to be in the lineup somewhere, and playing here might be his best bet. I really want Nylander to get a solid 20-30 games playing top 9 to see what he can do...If anyone can get Nylander to play consistent, maybe the Captain can...either way I like the line and what it could do.

Kubalik - Toews - Nylander/Strome

And that 4th line is what it is- pretty solid if Kurashev is truly on that line. Both he and Carps can play center, and another wild card Gaudette can play center as well, but I believe is best suited for the wing. This line could be something, spark starting kind of line. They have skill, won't be terrible in their own zone as well. Hardman is the other wild card here that might force his way onto this line. If Strome makes the team, then I can't see Nylander dropping down to here like he did before, we have too many bodies as is..but I like this line and what it is capable of.

Kurashev - Carpenter - Gaudette/Hardman

Overall, I have tweaked my lines up a bit, we all know nothing is static, but the below lines I would like to see out the gate and will stand firm on the belief that if these are the guys we are icing, this is the best option for them.

Hagel - Borgstrom - Kane
DeBrincat - Dach - Johnson
Kubalik - Toews - Nylander/Strome
Kurashev - Carpenter - Gaudette/Hardman/Khaira