Joakim is a smart defensive player who plays real hard. Unfortunately he just doesn't seem to follow the play well in the offensive zone. Seems like a good teammate, really good on the PK, but he just never seems to be in the right spot on the offensive side of the puck.
- BINGO!

He's the anti-Ovechkin

I agree. Good players win championships. Not young players and not old players, usually a blend. Pittsburgh had 6 players 32 or older in the playoffs, including a 40 year old, a 39 year old and a 37 year old. Nashville also had 6 players 32 or older. The 2015 Blackhawks 7 players 32 or older.
- -Doh-

Their best players were also their best players. Keith and Toews especially were not for the Hawks. Add Panarin to that mix and wuddyagonnado

Their best players were also their best players. Keith and Toews especially were not for the Hawks. Add Panarin to that mix and wuddyagonnado
- fattybeef

Trade out Panarin for Saad (two birds, one stone), and get Keith a new D partner?

My guess is with Dauphin and Fortin that unless they are really good in camp they start in Rockford. Bouma, wingles, Jurco are all out of waivers so then it comes down to Tootoo. Who I would send to Rockford.

SAAD-T-PAN
Sharp-AA-Kane
Hart-Schmatlz-Jurco
bouma-Kero-wingels.

I would like to keep 1 more young player and bouma, Wingels, Jurco, Sharp some nights off. Tootoo just is not good enough to get Minutes on a team that wants to go deep in the playoffs, better to find a young guy and get him up to NHL speed and D.
- kmw4631

Well, except Tootoo is a better hockey player than Bouma. Who cares if you lose either for nothing though. I hope some young guy makes both irrelevant.

I still wonder how much having Hossa on the other side helped, too. That was a player you had to cover. Is that R side being weaker going to be an issue, or will Panik rise to occasion? We'll see!
- resqmed99

Good question. I'm not one of the ones who counted Saad as much of a playmaker the 1st time he was here. He did get a little better as he went on but I think Hossa was more the reason for that than Toews. He's going to need to be this time around. I'm not convinced he will be, but I am open minded and optimistic.

Couple other things that were noticeable to me about Alex DeBrincat. He liked to sit at the red line along the boards and wait for the long pass. Also, while I'm not saying he is Patrick Kane, he seemed to have a similar tendency in terms of turning back against the grain, buying time and trying to hit the trailing dman with a pass.
- breadbag

As soon as he crosses the blue line with the puck DinkyCat is looking for options. That is something that Kane does.

Good question. I'm not one of the ones who counted Saad as much of a playmaker the 1st time he was here. He did get a little better as he went on but I think Hossa was more the reason for that than Toews. He's going to need to be this time around. I'm not convinced he will be, but I am open minded and optimistic.
- 6628

It may be why Saad ends up playing with Kane and Schmaltz stays on the left side with Toews and Panik. Those 3 played very well together in the 2nd half.
Tends to get lost in the PO performance.

It may be why Saad ends up playing with Kane and Schmaltz stays on the left side with Toews and Panik. Those 3 played very well together in the 2nd half.
Tends to get lost in the PO performance.
- TTtime

Good point.

It may be why Saad ends up playing with Kane and Schmaltz stays on the left side with Toews and Panik. Those 3 played very well together in the 2nd half.
Tends to get lost in the PO performance.
- TTtime

Where is Sh rp in this scenario?

Schmaltz
Wingels
Hayden

Are Locks

Where is Sh rp in this scenario?
- Ogilthorpe2

Ideally? Anchoring a 3rd line with Hartman and a center to be determined. Think Hartman could really benefit from playing with a guy like Sharp. Hartman has a great shot and Sharp can teach him to shoot early and often.

How you boys liking my draft pick "The Cat" now?

JJ I think it's a bit presumptuous to assume that Kane will simply get his points regardless of who is on the other wing. Keep in mind he never scored more than 30 goals until the last two years when he had 46 and 34. Sure he will still get points but it will be very difficult for him to maintain those career numbers with a more average skilled winger instead of Panarin. Those two chewed teams up over the last two years with the cross ice feed, at least during the regular season.

Ideally? Anchoring a 3rd line with Hartman and a center to be determined. Think Hartman could really benefit from playing with a guy like Sharp. Hartman has a great shot and Sharp can teach him to shoot early and often.
- TTtime

I'm still predicting Sharp sees significant time at 2 or 3C. Maybe he anchors that 3rd line as the pivot?

[quote=Ogilthorpe2]
Don't think Sharp will be used a C. He will take FO along the way but I think his centering days are done. Especially since Q didn't play him there when he was younger. Aside from 2010.

"In my last blog, I tried to keep it in perspective—and stay cynical. But that’s getting a little harder to do. As has been pointed out elsewhere, DeBrincat is overwhelming prospect tourney defensemen with his moves and creativity from the blueline in, and goalies with the release and speed of his shot. There’s a reason for that: those are NHL caliber skills."

Respectfully JJ you have done that in spades for the last few yrs concerning the prospects. Sometimes I think Dan Bernheim hijacks your blogs for a paragraph or two.

I think you underestimate the knowledge of the majority of your readers on this account, prospects, at times.

Nothing has changed with DeBrincat. The kid has an NHL release and vision and is an average skater at best. Besides those two attributes what I like best so far is the kid went back to jrs after not making the NHL roster and instead of sulking had his best season racking up 127 points on 65 goals..... That says much to me.

All ADB has proven is the right to climb his next mountain in Rockford.

JJ I think it's a bit presumptuous to assume that Kane will simply get his points regardless of who is on the other wing. Keep in mind he never scored more than 30 goals until the last two years when he had 46 and 34. Sure he will still get points but it will be very difficult for him to maintain those career numbers with a more average skilled winger instead of Panarin. Those two chewed teams up over the last two years with the cross ice feed, at least during the regular season.
- fattyboubatty

Kane has a career year two seasons ago because he had something to prove. His career in Chicago was almost done because of what happened off ice. (his fault or not) Last year was his lowest goals per game in 5 seasons. Not that it is was really low, but he was just marginally above his career average. The reason he scored more than 30 last season had more to do with him playing a full 82 games, something he didn't do during the lockout season (obviously) where he still scored 23 goals in 47 games, or in the two seasons after where he only played 69 and 61 games due to injury. Kane has done well recently, but it helps that his line was often the only one really clicking (increased opportunity) while getting a bit more icetime (last season his 21:24) 10% more than his career average. Kane can score with or without Panarin and the numbers do back that up.

Schmaltz
Wingels
Hayden

Are Locks
- Colbyboy

You might be right on about Schmaltz and Wingels unless they both play worse than they have been when the season ended last year. The spots should be theirs to lose at this point. Hayden will have a good chance if he plays physical and engaged like he did last season and shows progress the coaches want.

Schmaltz
Wingels
Hayden

Are Locks
- Colbyboy

As much as I'd like to see Hayden make the team and as much as I think the team could use a forward like him he's far from a lock. I think he'll play with the big club at some point, he just may not start the season in Chicago. That being said, the opportunity is there if Hayden can take advantage of it.

Please, please, pleeeeeease let Chicago sign Stuart and not Franson. I would absolutely love that. Stuart-Seabrook would get hilariously manhandled in every game.

ZERO chance Sharp plays center. He hasnt played center since 2010 and if Q refused to play him there in 2015, he wont do it again almost 3 years later as he is on the verge of turning 36

Sharp was playing 3rd line minutes all of 2015 and if he was such a viable option at center, they would have never traded for vermette and would have addressed other needs at that trade deadline with Kanes LTIR (namely trading for someone better than the ghost of Timonen)

Injuries have riddled sharp in recent years and most guys dont move back to center when they are moved off it in the twilight of their career.

Please, please, pleeeeeease let Chicago sign Stuart and not Franson. I would absolutely love that. Stuart-Seabrook would get hilariously manhandled in every game.
- Rexypoo

My guess is with Dauphin and Fortin that unless they are really good in camp they start in Rockford. Bouma, wingles, Jurco are all out of waivers so then it comes down to Tootoo. Who I would send to Rockford.

SAAD-T-PAN
Sharp-AA-Kane
Hart-Schmatlz-Jurco
bouma-Kero-wingels.

I would like to keep 1 more young player and bouma, Wingels, Jurco, Sharp some nights off. Tootoo just is not good enough to get Minutes on a team that wants to go deep in the playoffs, better to find a young guy and get him up to NHL speed and D.
- kmw4631[/quote
Wingles is out for the beginning of the year. Tootoo makes it because we need someone with sandpaper then wingles comes back jurco will probably show what everyone already knows he's a career ahler.

Why can't bouma and Wingels be those guys? they are younger and bigger and are 4th line players maybe Wingels can play some 3rd line. I would rather have a guy that can skate and hit instead of going out and start a fight. Fights in the NHL 80% are a joke. I know if it was me having tootoo start a fight with me for hitting kane is not a deterent. Having Murphy, SAAD, SEABS, Wingels, bouma, kempny Blow me up in the middle of the ice or smash me into the boards would be a much bigger concern.
- kmw4631

You don't play hockey and when have seabs and saad blown anyone up.