Just to be clear: those stat positions are among Flyer defensemen?

If there are 7 defensive positions on the team, he's at the bottom of them in 3 of the 7 catagories - with an average position of between 5th and 6th on the team.

Better him than giving experience to a younger skater? I don't know - if it keeps a player in Rockford who should be in Rockford gaining experience, ok, I guess.
- StLBravesFan

Yes, among Flyer defensemen. That´s the role he could, should and would be on the Hawks. I´m going to give him a chance and see what he is made of.

Technically it already is, they can ask for his 10 team list, if they wanted to.
- walleyeb1

Even better. I assumed it was day one of the season before it kicked in. Thanks for the correction.

Someone else mentioned this in the last blog, but Powers has an Athletics article about Q possibly having a line composed of Kane, Saad, and Schmaltz. If that plays out, who plays with Toews? One option:

DeBrincat - Toews - Sikura
Saad - Schmaltz - Kane

Maybe swap out Sikura for Hayden? I think Sikura has top 6 potential while Hayden's water line is bottom 6, ideally 3rd line but can play in the top 6 for brief spells here and there.

Or bump Anisimov to LW with Toews and move DeBrincat over to RW. However, that would necessitate a new 3C. Does Q trust the likes of Kampf, Highmore, or Johnson? There's always Kruger who Q definitely trusts so maybe make him the 3C and one of those 3 Hog prospects the 4C.
- AEL_Fox

I think the Hawks should use a power forward on the lines, unless certain game matchups give you an advantage in "going small". I think Sikura eventually will be a top six forward but might develop better starting out on third line. Another scenario that I saw was:

Saad .... Toews .... Debrinkat
Ejdsell ... Schmaltz ... Kane

This is providing that Ejdsell can make it. This gives you a bigger body on each line to create space for the smaller skill guys. Another player who is center, is Dominik Kahun, who is small but very fast and skilled. Third line of Kahun --- Anisimov -- Sikura gives each line a bigger body, with Ejdsell and Kahun, also part time centers and can take draws if need be. We will have to wait and see. I can almost guarantee you that whatever lines start the season, will not finish the season.

I think the Hawks should use a power forward on the lines, unless certain game matchups give you an advantage in "going small". I think Sikura eventually will be a top six forward but might develop better starting out on third line. Another scenario that I saw was:

Saad .... Toews .... Debrinkat
Ejdsell ... Schmaltz ... Kane

This is providing that Ejdsell can make it. This gives you a bigger body on each line to create space for the smaller skill guys. Another player who is center, is Dominik Kahun, who is small but very fast and skilled. Third line of Kahun --- Anisimov -- Sikura gives each line a bigger body, with Ejdsell and Kahun, also part time centers and can take draws if need be. We will have to wait and see. I can almost guarantee you that whatever lines start the season, will not finish the season.
- chuckdahammer

I’d bet the lines that start game 1 of the season don’t finish the 2nd period before Q’s line blender is on LOL

It's kinda funny. The Hawks are pretty stacked on D, it's just the D the Hawks have are at all different levels of development.... I think the Hawks have more than plenty top 4 defenseman in the system, and more than a handful of viable #5's but they're still a year or more away..

Let's just hope that the vets have a rebound season and that the kids used last season as a learning experience, have more confidence and are better, because if so - I think this season won't be anything like last season....

Either way, the Hawks 2-3 years from now will have one of the most dynamic, youthful and deep defenses in the league.. The Hawks could end up with (2) top paring's and (2) 2nd paring's and a slew of guys that could play #4-5 on any team in the league.

So in the long run it will be interesting to see what happens to Keith, Seabrook and Murphy - especially Keith and Seabrook because they still have 4+ years on their deals and by that time all these kids should be more than NHL ready and both could be just taking up roster spots that belong to younger players....

I think the Hawks should use a power forward on the lines, unless certain game matchups give you an advantage in "going small". I think Sikura eventually will be a top six forward but might develop better starting out on third line. Another scenario that I saw was:

Saad .... Toews .... Debrinkat
Ejdsell ... Schmaltz ... Kane

This is providing that Ejdsell can make it. This gives you a bigger body on each line to create space for the smaller skill guys. Another player who is center, is Dominik Kahun, who is small but very fast and skilled. Third line of Kahun --- Anisimov -- Sikura gives each line a bigger body, with Ejdsell and Kahun, also part time centers and can take draws if need be. We will have to wait and see. I can almost guarantee you that whatever lines start the season, will not finish the season.
- chuckdahammer

Most lines wont finish the game the way they started most nights..

Remember, Q is still the coach and he loves to change up lines, get the right matchups by at least the end of the first period .... I mean he changes up skaters like Keenan changed up goalies..

This is why I don't put too much into "set lines" and put more into "skill set"....

Eric


Jordan


Marc


Jared

- BINGO!

Was on break at work didn't think it through, love the response funny as hell!!

Skinner and Dcat the same player?
- 6628

I think Skinner is better skater.

Debrincat should be playing on Kane's left so he can bang in one timers from the circle like Patrick Sharp made a very good career for himself doing.

I'd also prefer to see Saad on the RW so he can make a power move towards the goal when moving up the ice in transition.

Stone arbitration will be the test case for my theory that the arbitration just splits the difference in what the player rep asks for and the team offers.
Ottawa Senators offer Mark Stone 4 million, then Stone's representation asks for a whopping NINE million....lets see if he gets half....6 million.

Debrincat should be playing on Kane's left so he can bang in one timers from the circle like Patrick Sharp made a very good career for himself doing.

I'd also prefer to see Saad on the RW so he can make a power move towards the goal when moving up the ice in transition.
- fattybeef

That is going to put lots of pressure and a change in the way the centre for that line plays because Kane will always be lagging behind by virtue of his attack skills and the 'cat just isn't a speed demon.

So I am not sure if that is the best use of personal if you aren't on the PP.

dub

dub
- wiz1901

?

Stone arbitration will be the test case for my theory that the arbitration just splits the difference in what the player rep asks for and the team offers.
Ottawa Senators offer Mark Stone 4 million, then Stone's representation asks for a whopping NINE million....lets see if he gets half....6 million.
- wiz1901

Senators offered $5mil, not $4

Half looks north of $7MM per

I think the Hawks should use a power forward on the lines, unless certain game matchups give you an advantage in "going small". I think Sikura eventually will be a top six forward but might develop better starting out on third line. Another scenario that I saw was:

Saad .... Toews .... Debrinkat
Ejdsell ... Schmaltz ... Kane

This is providing that Ejdsell can make it. This gives you a bigger body on each line to create space for the smaller skill guys. Another player who is center, is Dominik Kahun, who is small but very fast and skilled. Third line of Kahun --- Anisimov -- Sikura gives each line a bigger body, with Ejdsell and Kahun, also part time centers and can take draws if need be. We will have to wait and see. I can almost guarantee you that whatever lines start the season, will not finish the season.
- chuckdahammer

As much as I’d like to be wrong I still don’t think Ejdsell starts the season in Chicago.

https://www.instagram.com...heet&igshid=1qw27g0fnllt3

Schmaltz’s arms are toothpicks and that’s a pic from this week @ LBR

As much as I’d like to be wrong I still don’t think Ejdsell starts the season in Chicago.
- DarthKane

I think it will be Fortin. He has NHL speed and size he proved he could finish in the preseason Two years ago. I think he must have been hurt last year. He is my pick to click!

Senators offered $5mil, not $4

Half looks north of $7MM per
- Stan_Bowman

Sens are really low balling Stone even at $5m after he put up .87 PPG on his bridge.

Two of his more recent comparables are guys like Johansen who got $8m after .79 PPG and Kuznetsov who $7.8m after .82 PPG. Johansen gets a bit more because his bridge was higher and his position is more important. Stone like should get at least $7m, if not more.

Manning is a 6/7 who really should not play more than 40-50 games

That doesn't make him bad player. He tries hard, competes. There are worse guys

But if you play him for 82 games because you have nothing better, then he is being exposed

Manning is a 6/7 who really should not play more than 40-50 games

That doesn't make him bad player. He tries hard, competes. There are worse guys

But if you play him for 82 games because you have nothing better, then he is being exposed
- AllInForFlyers

Jeez-a-lou, you're like about the 4th or 5th (or more) Phily fan that has dropped in here and told us how disappointed we will be with Manning. So I guess the best we can hope for is the ole "change of scenery" effect, eh?

Skinner and Dcat the same player?
- 6628

Yes in that they score goals but Skinner has proven that over time. I think Dcat will too and thus is Hawk drafted and much younger so if that came down to it, stay with Dcat

Sens are really low balling Stone even at $5m after he put up .87 PPG on his bridge.

Two of his more recent comparables are guys like Johansen who got $8m after .79 PPG and Kuznetsov who $7.8m after .82 PPG. Johansen gets a bit more because his bridge was higher and his position is more important. Stone like should get at least $7m, if not more.
- L_B_R

I know your comparables are best on metrics and pure numbers but that's where the comparison ends. Kuzy is way better than Johansen and Johansen is way better than Stone and they are both centers. But like I always say numbers are only good at negotiation time!

Debrincat should be playing on Kane's left so he can bang in one timers from the circle like Patrick Sharp made a very good career for himself doing.

I'd also prefer to see Saad on the RW so he can make a power move towards the goal when moving up the ice in transition.
- fattybeef

They played really well together at Worlds, I do not see why Q is so opposed to it.

How about the following:

Debrincat--Toews--Kane
Saad--Schmaltz--Sikura
Kunitz--Anisimov--Edjsell
Pick 2 wingers for the 4th line with Kruger

Jeez-a-lou, you're like about the 4th or 5th (or more) Phily fan that has dropped in here and told us how disappointed we will be with Manning. So I guess the best we can hope for is the ole "change of scenery" effect, eh?
- EbonyRaptor

idk whats lower, my expectations of the Hawks overall record, or my expectation of Manning's individual play

https://www.instagram.com...heet&igshid=1qw27g0fnllt3

Schmaltz’s arms are toothpicks and that’s a pic from this week @ LBR
- EnzoD

SERIOUSLY ABOUT HIS ARMS

ITS ABOUT PRODUCTION

AGAIN LAUGHABLE