I would love Duchene and Panarin, so that's who I hope Stan targets. Not against Stone or Eberle.

Karlsson, I see TB. Bob I think resigns as well as Simmonds and Nyquist.

Just because players aren't hyped or are hyped doesn't set their future in stone. Joki is making a name for himself. Wasn't Wise just drafted, sorry he hasn't made headlines yet. Those guys haven't signed/played in Rockford yet. I'm not going to write guys off yet until I see some play.
- I Am The Breadman

I'm not writing anyone off, just keeping a level head about expectations because most franchises have 1 or 2 forward prospects that are a 'whoa he could be great' type of kid.
AZ has Strome, Hayton
ANA has Steel and Terry
BUF has Mittelstadt, Nylander
CAL has Tkachuk, and not much else
CAR has Svechnikov, Necas
COL has Kaut, and the kids who are already there (Kerfoot, Jost)
CBS has Dubois, Foudy
DET has Zadina, Rasmussen, Svechnikov

My point is that nearly every franchise has a guy you can name off the top of your head as 'he's their big hope for the next wave'. The Hawks have Sikura, and a mixed bag of NHL tweeners in Ejdsell, Johnson, Louis, Highmore, and the rest of our college/junior/overseas kids.

When the Hawks signed him, I saw some Oiler fans in the comments who seemed to feel he's pretty solid, but kind of got dogged by EDM. So I'm curious to see how he is.

Some of my favorite Genesis songs are their weird ones like "Ballad of Big", "Snowbound" and "The Carpet Crawlers."
- Hank3Henshaw

Genesis hasn't been the same since Hackett left. Pretty much downhill after that. If you're really looking for the classic version - the recent stuff by Hackett and his group on the Genesis revisted CDs DVDs is absolutely fantastic stuff.

onto the Hawks - Ward looks done. But ole Stan gave him 3 mil and an NMC, hoping that CC is back - but what if that doesn't work out? Where does that leave the Hawks? The defense meanwhile is continues to be a trainwreck and Stan brought everyone back and more, but having 7 number 5-6 dmen isn't going to cut it. We'll see how the kids come along.

Will the Hawks keep scoring tonight? Pretty sure they're going to give up a bunch again tonight...so hopefully they're going to put it in the net as well at the other end.

I'm not writing anyone off, just keeping a level head about expectations because most franchises have 1 or 2 forward prospects that are a 'whoa he could be great' type of kid.
AZ has Strome, Hayton
ANA has Steel and Terry
BUF has Mittelstadt, Nylander
CAL has Tkachuk, and not much else
CAR has Svechnikov, Necas
COL has Kaut, and the kids who are already there (Kerfoot, Jost)
CBS has Dubois, Foudy
DET has Zadina, Rasmussen, Svechnikov

My point is that nearly every franchise has a guy you can name off the top of your head as 'he's their big hope for the next wave'. The Hawks have Sikura, and a mixed bag of NHL tweeners in Ejdsell, Johnson, Louis, Highmore, and the rest of our college/junior/overseas kids.
- ObeseOprah

Strom has been given multiple chances and can't stay up. Hayton could be good, but I won't hold my breath. You said previous post of good d prospects then leave all of them out in this assessment. Joki and Boq can change our d core, pk and pp with their skill. Plus we could have good goalies. I'm fine with you looking ahead in our future, but me, I will keep my mouth shut until I see them on the ice. I don't care what reporters say or don't say about the hawks. A lot of people think it is cool just to rag on the hawks. Yeah, really cool.

Genesis hasn't been the same since Hackett left. Pretty much downhill after that. If you're really looking for the classic version - the recent stuff by Hackett and his group on the Genesis revisted CDs DVDs is absolutely fantastic stuff.

onto the Hawks - Ward looks done. But ole Stan gave him 3 mil and an NMC, hoping that CC is back - but what if that doesn't work out? Where does that leave the Hawks? The defense meanwhile is continues to be a trainwreck and Stan brought everyone back and more, but having 7 number 5-6 dmen isn't going to cut it. We'll see how the kids come along.

Will the Hawks keep scoring tonight? Pretty sure they're going to give up a bunch again tonight...so hopefully they're going to put it in the net as well at the other end.
- DK002

I love when Gabriel was with them, definitely odd and not for everyone, but Collins is the face of the band to me. I'm much younger and was exposed to Collins and found Gabriel on my own musical exploration. I will look for Hackett. My favorite song is Domino.

Strom has been given multiple chances and can't stay up. Hayton could be good, but I won't hold my breath. You said previous post of good d prospects then leave all of them out in this assessment. Joki and Boq can change our d core, pk and pp with their skill. Plus we could have good goalies. I'm fine with you looking ahead in our future, but me, I will keep my mouth shut until I see them on the ice. I don't care what reporters say or don't say about the hawks. A lot of people think it is cool just to rag on the hawks. Yeah, really cool.
- I Am The Breadman

Reread my post, I said forward prospects. I think Jokiharju and Boqvist are our future top dmen. I'm not certain who of our forward prospects will even make the NHL.

@ByScottPowers
Johnson and Davidson appear to be the scratches tonight. Quenneville confirmed Manning and Rutta would be a pairing.

Really wanted to see Davidson in there for Rutta tonight.

Rutta needs to be better. Let's see how he and Manning work together.

Reread my post, I said forward prospects. I think Jokiharju and Boqvist are our future top dmen. I'm not certain who of our forward prospects will even make the NHL.
- ObeseOprah

I did overlook that, sorry. But still, I'm going to wait optimistically until I see we are in trouble. I dont care if teams say we have "blah blah blah" they could be a bust. A lot of people are saying we will get Hughes .... if true, there's your forward of the future.

@ByScottPowers
Johnson and Davidson appear to be the scratches tonight. Quenneville confirmed Manning and Rutta would be a pairing.

Really wanted to see Davidson in there for Rutta tonight.

Rutta needs to be better. Let's see how he and Manning work together.
- Justin Lowe

Thanks for the update. I won't shoot the messenger, but crap, I wanted to see Davidson.

@ByScottPowers
Johnson and Davidson appear to be the scratches tonight. Quenneville confirmed Manning and Rutta would be a pairing.

Really wanted to see Davidson in there for Rutta tonight.

Rutta needs to be better. Let's see how he and Manning work together.
- Justin Lowe

This could be uh...interesting?

This could be uh...interesting?
- Rota's Rooter

I will be clutching my pearls harder than 2015 when the non-2/7 4/27 pairing was on the ice.

Manning has been turnstiled a ton already, just too slow. Rutta I just don't know, sometimes he looks moderately fast and has decent hands, other times he looks like the ghost of Roszival during his last year.

If Stan truly understands the long game and expects us to be re-entering Cup contention after this year, who do you think he adds that puts them back in the mix?

Karlsson
Stone
Panarin
Bobrovsky
Duchene
Eberle
Skinner
Stralman
Simmonds
Donskoi
Brassard
Nyqvist

After these guys there are few difference makers. Just goes to show that you have to grow your own talent or make some great trades to markedly improve your team.

I think the D pipeline is decently stocked, one of the better D pipelines in the league. Our forward pipeline is pretty poor still: Kayumov, Wise, Shalunov, Altybarmakyan, Nordgren, and Soderlund are all mid-level prospects. All of them COULD make the NHL, but none of them are getting hyped by media other than the Blackhawks, and none of them are being touted as the next
- ObeseOprah[insert good player] of the Blackhawks.

It's a side effect of not having any first round forward picks that aren't already playing for the team (Schmaltz).

I would rather Stan build the team from within, rather than signing big free agents. I believe you are more likely to win with homegrown talent than trying to piece together a roster of free agents. Especially with all major sports going younger and younger. Typically free agents are going to be older.

I would rather Stan build the team from within, rather than signing big free agents. I believe you are more likely to win with homegrown talent than trying to piece together a roster of free agents. Especially with all major sports going younger and younger. Typically free agents are going to be older.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Kempny-Washington. Daley-Pittsburgh, twice. Hahaha
No, I can agree with you up to a point. I like knowing what we have and can instill into them. There are some interesting names there that will make you wonder .... what if they were in a hawks sweater.

I would rather Stan build the team from within, rather than signing big free agents. I believe you are more likely to win with homegrown talent than trying to piece together a roster of free agents. Especially with all major sports going younger and younger. Typically free agents are going to be older.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Agreed.

Stan needs to build a strong foundation from within, then supplement the team through a strategic free agent signing. Exactly like the Hawks did with Hossa and the Leafs have done with Tavares.

I don't think the Hawks are in the position to do that this season, maybe next season or the year after.

Kempny-Washington. Daley-Pittsburgh, twice. Hahaha
No, I can agree with you up to a point. I like knowing what we have and can instill into them. There are some interesting names there that will make you wonder .... what if they were in a hawks sweater.
- I Am The Breadman

Both Washington and Pitt had strong cores, these guys were just add-ons to improve the team.

Anyone know Rockford's depth chart? I'd be interested to see who's getting playing time with our D logjam.

In other news, Boqvist has 2 assists in 4 games so far in London.

Laurent Dauphin as placed on waivers by Arizona... come on Stan, make a move!!

lets say Fortin could stay what about this for the second and third lines?

Schmaltz Amnisamov Kane
Saad Kampf\Johnson Fortin

Kunitz should rotate in and out of the 4th line.

Let me know what you guys think. I just feel there is not enough speed on the bottom six.

How would everyone set the defense up once Forsling and Murph are cleared to play?

Who do you think will be traded/released/ or sent to rockford?

Both Washington and Pitt had strong cores, these guys were just add-ons to improve the team.
- DarthKane

I was just joking, but pit had a crap defense. There core was/is good, but it was the system they deployed that made them a threat with good goalies in their net. Those guys I said weren't even free agent signings.

Laurent Dauphin as placed on waivers by Arizona... come on Stan, make a move!!
- DarthKane

I don't know if you're serious about getting him, but I liked him here.

I would rather Stan build the team from within, rather than signing big free agents. I believe you are more likely to win with homegrown talent than trying to piece together a roster of free agents. Especially with all major sports going younger and younger. Typically free agents are going to be older.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Agree. Darth made a good point as well with signing free agents strategically to build around a homegrown core.

Anyone know Rockford's depth chart? I'd be interested to see who's getting playing time with our D logjam.

In other news, Boqvist has 2 assists in 4 games so far in London.
- ObeseOprah

Hog D pairings, at least for their first 2 games:

Campbell - Dahlstrom
Snuggerud - Raddysh
Carlsson - Tuulola

Hillman and Gilbert have been healthy scratches so far. I'd like to see them slot in for Campbell and Tuulola. Campbell is a career minor leaguer so he is what he is. His veteran presence and leadership are key, though, for the young Hogs blueline. Tuulola was the sloppiest of the starters.

Laurent Dauphin as placed on waivers by Arizona... come on Stan, make a move!!
- DarthKane

Interesting. Dauphin was recently recalled by the Coyotes so that's odd that they recalled him to then place him on waivers. Or is that technically how it works?

Doubt he'll have a similar fate, but makes you wonder if Fortin is being recalled to just place him on waivers especially since many had Highmore and Sikura pegged higher on the depth chart for recalls from Rockford.

Agreed.

Stan needs to build a strong foundation from within, then supplement the team through a strategic free agent signing. Exactly like the Hawks did with Hossa and the Leafs have done with Tavares.

I don't think the Hawks are in the position to do that this season, maybe next season or the year after.
- DarthKane

Exactly! Most of your top 6 forwards (maybe even top 9 now) and top 4 D should be home grown. Then, as you said, supplement with free agents/trades that fit the team to fill in the holes.

Interesting. Dauphin was recently recalled by the Coyotes so that's odd that they recalled him to then place him on waivers. Or is that technically how it works?

Doubt he'll have a similar fate, but makes you wonder if Fortin is being recalled to just place him on waivers especially since many had Highmore and Sikura pegged higher on the depth chart for recalls from Rockford.
- AEL_Fox

I thought they had to be up for a certain number of games (10?) before they had to pass through waivers again. So if Fortin doesn't get the number of games in, then he can be sent down without going through waivers. Is he not waiver exempt anyway?

lets say Fortin could stay what about this for the second and third lines?

Schmaltz Amnisamov Kane
Saad Kampf\Johnson Fortin

Kunitz should rotate in and out of the 4th line.

Let me know what you guys think. I just feel there is not enough speed on the bottom six.

How would everyone set the defense up once Forsling and Murph are cleared to play?

Who do you think will be traded/released/ or sent to rockford?
- Hawks_For_Life

Agree that the 3rd line at least needs more speed and offense. I personally would keep the top 2 lines intact as they have been clicking so far. Maybe forward lines like this:

DeBrincat - Toews - Kahun
Saad - Schmaltz - Kane
Fortin - Anisimov - Sikura
Hayden - Kruger - Kampf
Kunitz

Highmore and Johnson are also available but ideally I wouldn't want both of them plus Kruger and Kampf all playing at the same time. They are all optimally 4Cs. Need to diversify the bottom 6.

For the defense once Forsling and Murphy are back, I agree with what Justin proposed:

Keith - Jokiharju
Gustafsson - Seabrook
Forsling - Murphy
Manning

Rutta gets traded for a draft pick or prospect. Davidson gets sent down or waived.