Toews is one of the best in the league at faceoffs, so I think he'll still take the big, late in the game, defensive zone faceoffs, but he should be better because he won't have to do so much earlier.
- tvetter

Great points.

I’m excited to have Kruger back, assuming he’s healthy for this reason and an improved PK. Kruger’s cap hit might be a tad high but that’s really not a problem anymore. Kruger brings an eliment to team that was missing last year. Johnson may be air apparent to Kruger but I might be more ideal to have them both (again, assuming Kruger’s healthy). Just blue-skying here, but wouldn’t it be nice for a Kruger-Johnson combo to perform like the Kruger-Frolik combo.
- DarthKane

There's being pessimistic about the team's chances and then there's sounding like you're looking forward to the potential of empty seats just to be able to be like "see, I told you".

I don't understand how any fan can poop on their team as much as some of you guys do before you've even seen them play together. Don't have to be all happy sunshine or anything, but maybe add something to discussion beyond creating hate-lists for the team. Idk just a thought.
- L_B_R

My optimism is the $15,000 we just sent them for this year's tickets, I guess I'm one of those guys it's best to see it first before I believe. I just feel that most of these guys that everybody's hyped about, probably wouldn't even make any other team. I understand it is the price of success so just happy we got the 3 cups. I will just roll the dice and see what happens until the opening night.

I’m excited to have Kruger back, assuming he’s healthy for this reason and an improved PK. Kruger’s cap hit might be a tad high but that’s really not a problem anymore. Kruger brings an eliment to team that was missing last year. Johnson may be air apparent to Kruger but I might be more ideal to have them both (again, assuming Kruger’s healthy). Just blue-skying here, but wouldn’t it be nice for a Kruger-Johnson combo to perform like the Kruger-Frolik combo.
- DarthKane

If Freddy plays well, I could see him resigning for 1.5-2 AAV for a couple years...again, IF he plays well.

Toews is one of the best in the league at faceoffs, so I think he'll still take the big, late in the game, defensive zone faceoffs, but he should be better because he won't have to do so much earlier.
- tvetter

I think the operative word "is" should maybe be changed to "was". Without looking up last year's FO numbers, my optics recalled that he was not as dominating as he was in the past (kicked out of the circle a lot) due to the new rules of defensive team putting down stick first. Don't misconstrue this as Tazor is still very good but not as dominant!

I think the operative word "is" should maybe be changed to "was". Without looking up last year's FO numbers, my optics recalled that he was not as dominating as he was in the past (kicked out of the circle a lot) due to the new rules of defensive team putting down stick first. Don't misconstrue this as Tazor is still very good but not as dominant!
- D2D

He was fifth in the league at 58%. He was kicked out a lot because of the new rule, but he is still dominant.

ETA: he was 8th in total faceoffs.

I think the operative word "is" should maybe be changed to "was". Without looking up last year's FO numbers, my optics recalled that he was not as dominating as he was in the past (kicked out of the circle a lot) due to the new rules of defensive team putting down stick first. Don't misconstrue this as Tazor is still very good but not as dominant!
- D2D

It's still "is": Toews took the 8th highest faceoffs in the league, so even if it seemed like he was thrown out a lot, he was still top 10 for the league and right around where he's been the last several years (he's hasn't been above 6th for half a decade but I didn't look back farther). Toews also then won the 6th most faceoffs last season with the second highest faceoff win percentage of the top 20 amount (behind O'Reilly) and was ultimately 5th higher FO% (out of guys who took at least 500 faceoffs - and 3 of the guys above had 800 or less faceoffs).

Being thrown out because of a rule change doesn't take away from how absolutely dominant Toews was at the dot. Mike Kelly mentioned the guys impacted the most by being thrown out of the circle in like Feb and Toews wasn't in the top 20 then, so I doubt he moved up so much by the end of the year (guys like Bergeron, Giroux, Backstrom were on the list).

It probably seemed like a lot because Toews is the number 1 faceoff guy on the team, he's in that dot a lot more than anyone else. It's like how great possession players often have more giveaways than some lower end guys even though they're obviously better - they have the puck more, so of course they'll have a larger quantity of mistakes tracked.

For those interested in stuff like this, here are the top 25 prospects by Second City Hockey (completed their list yesterday) and Scott Powers (did his list earlier this summer). SCH's pick at each # is listed 1st, then Powers is listed 2nd.

1: Schmaltz, Sikura
2: DeBrincat, Jokiharju
3: Jokiharju, Boqvist
4: Boqvist, Mitchell
5: Sikura, Forsling
6: Forsling, Beaudin
7: Ejdsell, Kayumov
8: Mitchell, Wise
9: Beaudin, Ejdsell
10: Wise, Shalunov
11: Hayden, Altybarmakyan
12: Delia, Krys
13: Krys, Hayden
14: Carlsson, Nordgren
15: Kayumov, Kahun
16: Altybarmakyan, Carlsson
17: Kampf, Kampf
18: Hillman, Delia
19: Highmore, Highmore
20: Soderlund, C Dahlstrom
21: Kahun, Soderlund
22: Fortin, Hillman
23: C Dahlstrom, Gilbert
24: Nordgren, Johnson
25: Gilbert, Fortin

SCH's list was top 25 under 25 and included players on the Hawks roster already (so not necessarily prospects anymore). I don't think Powers' list limited age but didn't include Schmaltz and DeBrincat since they're Hawk starters already.

If Freddy plays well, I could see him resigning for 1.5-2 AAV for a couple years...again, IF he plays well.
- tvetter

Kruger was an AHLer last year for a reason.

Kruger was an AHLer last year for a reason.
- EnzoD

Ya because it is tough to play with a hernia.

It's still "is": Toews took the 8th highest faceoffs in the league, so even if it seemed like he was thrown out a lot, he was still top 10 for the league and right around where he's been the last several years (he's hasn't been above 6th for half a decade but I didn't look back farther). Toews also then won the 6th most faceoffs last season with the second highest faceoff win percentage of the top 20 amount (behind O'Reilly) and was ultimately 5th higher FO% (out of guys who took at least 500 faceoffs - and 3 of the guys above had 800 or less faceoffs).

Being thrown out because of a rule change doesn't take away from how absolutely dominant Toews was at the dot. Mike Kelly mentioned the guys impacted the most by being thrown out of the circle in like Feb and Toews wasn't in the top 20 then, so I doubt he moved up so much by the end of the year (guys like Bergeron, Giroux, Backstrom were on the list).

It probably seemed like a lot because Toews is the number 1 faceoff guy on the team, he's in that dot a lot more than anyone else. It's like how great possession players often have more giveaways than some lower end guys even though they're obviously better - they have the puck more, so of course they'll have a larger quantity of mistakes tracked.
- L_B_R

I stand corrected! It just seemed like for whatever reason he was down, maybe comparing to yester year where it was a forgone conclusion that Tazor was going to win it. Also his demeanor after losing it or being kicked out probably stuck in my mind more.

Exactly. With a deep prospect pool at defense and knowing not all of them will make it or at least won't have a spot due to a numbers game even if they are viable NHLers, some of them can be flipped to stock the prospect pipeline at other positions like forward and goal. Or include them as part of larger deals to acquire NHL-ready players who can fill immediate needs in the lineup.
- AEL_Fox

Agree, it's great to have the depth. The challenge will be to find a way to assess all of them and keep the right ones. They are going to need to move several in the next year because more are coming.

Keith - Seabrook
B. Manning - Murphy
Gustaffson - Rutta
Davidson
------------
Forsling - Jokiharju
Gilbert - Hillman
Dahlstrom - Carlsson
Snuggerud - Tuulola
N. Manning - Raddysh
McArdle
------------
Possibly Coming 2019
Krys - Boqvist
Shea - Mitchell
Ryczek
------------
Possibly Coming 2020
Beaudin - Laavainen
Massie - Ess
Galvas

Just don't reply instead of posting this dahawks.

Thanks!
- Justin Lowe

If all mr 33 does is start nonsense why isn’t he just banned?

If all mr 33 does is start nonsense why isn’t he just banned?
- Abadseed

he probably is banned. then comes back when it ends. only one person responds to it.

truthfully, they deserve each other.

If Cam Ward is your starting goaltender for more than 30 games this year you're in trouble.
- PepinoPamplemousse

Even worse. You will keep showing up.

Even worse. You will keep showing up.
- Elbows15

Right?

Agree, it's great to have the depth. The challenge will be to find a way to assess all of them and keep the right ones. They are going to need to move several in the next year because more are coming.

Keith - Seabrook
B. Manning - Murphy
Gustaffson - Rutta
Davidson
------------
Forsling - Jokiharju
Gilbert - Hillman
Dahlstrom - Carlsson
Snuggerud - Tuulola
N. Manning - Raddysh
McArdle
------------
Possibly Coming 2019
Krys - Boqvist
Shea - Mitchell
Ryczek
------------
Possibly Coming 2020
Beaudin - Laavainen
Massie - Ess
Galvas
- totem

And of these guys, how many project as your next Toews, Kane or Keith?

Im going to go with.....none of them.

And of these guys, how many project as your next Toews, Kane or Keith?

Im going to go with.....none of them.
- Return of the Roar

For all you guys that like to keep it real, it's kind of odd how you deny the reality of not having a pick in the top 5 as a result of the price of success. Shocker that none of the Hawk forwards are the heir apparent to 88 or 19.

Also, I don't recall all the predictions of Keith projecting as a mult-Norris/CS winning dman when he was drafted so let's maybe give the current crop a chance to disappoint before proclaiming them disappointments or nothing special.

Pretty sure there's no heir apparent to Sid or Geno on the Pens either.

Right?
- Ogilthorpe2

At least he didn't post freaking line combos.

Kruger was an AHLer last year for a reason.
- EnzoD

If you think that'll stop StanBow from overpaying for an extension with a full NTC, think again

Agree, it's great to have the depth. The challenge will be to find a way to assess all of them and keep the right ones. They are going to need to move several in the next year because more are coming.

Keith - Seabrook
B. Manning - Murphy
Gustaffson - Rutta
Davidson
------------
Forsling - Jokiharju
Gilbert - Hillman
Dahlstrom - Carlsson
Snuggerud - Tuulola
N. Manning - Raddysh
McArdle
------------
Possibly Coming 2019
Krys - Boqvist
Shea - Mitchell
Ryczek
------------
Possibly Coming 2020
Beaudin - Laavainen
Massie - Ess
Galvas
- totem

What did you do with Forsling? Cause he is already better than Manning, Davidson and prolly Gustafsson.

Khalil Mack is a Bear, wow.
- SoftServe

Yep!!!!!,good job Ryan Pace, just like he had some balls to trade up and snag possibly the Best QB for the next 10 years, unlike someone else that couldn't get it done or didn't have the balls to. Tkachuks kid would have been an absolute stud here had Bowman had a set and make an equally bold move instead of adding to his desk top smurf collection .
Most of the shine is off Dale Tallons work and now the team is left with a rusty beater given some of the moves or non moves in the last 2-3 years.
Hate to say it , but it looks like all the other Chicago sports teams GM's are blowing right past Bowman in popularity and aggressiveness, ......keeping the GM's seat warm for Chris Chelios ???

For all you guys that like to keep it real, it's kind of odd how you deny the reality of not having a pick in the top 5 as a result of the price of success. Shocker that none of the Hawk forwards are the heir apparent to 88 or 19.

Also, I don't recall all the predictions of Keith projecting as a mult-Norris/CS winning dman when he was drafted so let's maybe give the current crop a chance to disappoint before proclaiming them disappointments or nothing special.

Pretty sure there's no heir apparent to Sid or Geno on the Pens either.
- HawkintheD

Yeah, but Stan Blows and McD meddles, so......

What did you do with Forsling? Cause he is already better than Manning, Davidson and prolly Gustafsson.
- Elbows15

Once Forsling is healthy I’d expect him to play 10-20 games in Rockford then be in the Hawks top 4 to finish the season.

And of these guys, how many project as your next Toews, Kane or Keith?

Im going to go with.....none of them.
- Return of the Roar

Hmmm, probably because of the fact that none of them was drafted at 1 or 3. I also hate the fact that we won the 3 cups, so we couldn't draft in the top 10 every year... Probably I should root for the Oilers.

And why can't one of the D turn out to be Keith-like in a couple of years? Such players don't grow on trees and did you expect DK to be the player he got, being drafted at that position? Stupid question, of course you knew...