If the Hawks don't end up making any deals at the deadline, this is the lineup I would like to see them ice the rest of the way.

Caggiula Toews Kane
Cat Strome Kahun
Saad AA Sikura
Kruger Kampf Hayden
Kunitz

Keith Joki
Murphy Dal
Gus Seabs
Koek

Crow (fingers crossed)
Ward
Delia? Seriously have no idea what they do with the back-up goalie situation if/when Crow comes back this season.

That's a most misleading stat. The last 10 cup winners include The Penguins and Hawks with 3 apiece and the Kings with 2. Thats 8 of those Cups. These teams and the Caps were also bad enough at the time that they had multiple top draft picks over a few years. Toews/Kane, Crosby/Malkin, Ovechkin/Backstrom.

Taking only those 10 years is cherry picking. Spread it out longer and see what you get. How about include all the teams that have had multiple #1-5 picks and haven't won anything.

Sure getting a high pick or a "generational talent" is important, but it takes a whole lot more than that to be a contender or win a cup.
- TheTrob

Yep!

You need good impact players (which we have) but the other part is the coaching, adding depth, and managing the cap. Some of the best individual players or biggest Impact NHL players have not won a cup. Up until 2018 Ovie was one of them. The best goal producing player of this generation (maybe ever) and it took a long time to reach the top of the mountain.

Honestly, a lot of it is goalies getting hot at the right time. Holby was outstanding last year. Matt Murray was amazing for the Pens. Crawford huge for the Hawks. Quick was a beast for LA.

If the Hawks don't end up making any deals at the deadline, this is the lineup I would like to see them ice the rest of the way.

Caggiula Toews Kane
Cat Strome Kahun
Saad AA Sikura
Kruger Kampf Hayden
Kunitz

Keith Joki
Murphy Dal
Gus Seabs
Koek

Crow (fingers crossed)
Ward
Delia? Seriously have no idea what they do with the back-up goalie situation if/when Crow comes back this season.
- SoftServe

I would go with that lineup as well. Kunitz in for Kampf while he is injured but 64 slots back in once healthy. Even if he doesn't suit up, Kunitz's experience and leadership will be helpful and invaluable to complement what the core brings.

Just want to add a different perspective to the discussion about the importance of #1's and top draft picks to field a Cup contender.

Of course, it would be nice to have these types of draft picks and hope they reach potential, but isn't it best to just field the best roster no matter whether players were 1st overall, picked absolutely last in the 7th round, not drafted at all, free agent, trade acquisition, or PTO signee?

Ironically, like the draft where a prevalent strategy is to take the best player available at each pick, building a Cup contender simply requires icing the best players available no matter their origin or path to get to the squad.

If they are so bad and make you so miserable why do you watch?

I think most here are in agreement that this team is not good defensively and inconsistent in goal. There are pieces missing in order for them to be considered contenders, but they also still have a number of vets such as Kane, Toews, Saad and young players with more upside such as ADB, Strome, Cagguila, Joki, Murphy and some upcoming young D-talent that may make it possible for a quick turnaround.

Does getting the top pick, or even a top-5 pick put you any closer to contention? Do Huges, Kakko, Dach, Podkolzin or Cozens all of a sudden make you a contender? Is any D-man you draft, even at the top of the draft, going to be ready sooner or be better than the 4-6 prospects you already have in the pipeline.

Since the early season disasters and losing streaks, the Hawks have looked better. Kane , Toews, ADB and even the much maligned Saad are having good if not great seasons. Strome and Caggiula are contributing, Kampf and Kahun show they can play in the NHL.

Sorry, at this point, Tanking is just not a thing in the NHL. Please name a team that has done it successfully.
- TheTrob

Patrick Kane is very entertaining and I'm curious to see how Strome, ADB and some of the other guys develop.

Buffalo, Colorado, Edmonton has done it a few times.

The time table on any of their prospects is two to three years before they're contributing probably. The jump right to the NHL has worked so well for how many B level prospects or college signings? DeBrincat? Saad struggled straight away.

Adding a top 4 pick gives them a now NHL player, especially the first two, for cheap. More money to buy or it makes another asset expendable to get a top pairing defender. This is much better then a 3 to 4 years from now player.

Getting that type of player has a much bigger impact on the Toews and Kane window then a medicore showing in the playoffs.

Id like to see 4-5 years of a good team rather then 4-5 of whatever Detroit was while their guys aged.

The question I have is, will they get another 'Best of the West in the Regular Season' participation banner again?
- CamRusselsJock

Hell, you can get one of those in. box of Cracker Jacks..

If the Hawks don't end up making any deals at the deadline, this is the lineup I would like to see them ice the rest of the way.

Caggiula Toews Kane
Cat Strome Kahun
Saad AA Sikura
Kruger Kampf Hayden
Kunitz

Keith Joki
Murphy Dal
Gus Seabs
Koek

Crow (fingers crossed)
Ward
Delia? Seriously have no idea what they do with the back-up goalie situation if/when Crow comes back this season.
- SoftServe

Sikrua is not ready for the nhl let him play out the Rockford season and come to camp next season bigger and stronger and has a one year of pro hockey to work off of. Hawks will make a move or two but nothing big. Stay the course if nothing makes sense then do nothing hawks still have major holes to fill if they want to compete for the Stanley cup again. Top 4 d man top 6 forward depth scoring address the lack of physicality, it matters in the playoffs, and the Crawford situation. IMO HAWKS need to finish in the bottom 5 of the league and get a top 5 pick who ever that is for long term future and big picture perspective. Its nice to see them coming together as a team but lets not kid ourselves this is not a playoff team but a foundation is being set this year who knows with creative moves hawks could be contending next year.

Question
How many nfl kickers could hit the uprights 4 times in a row out of 100 kicks?
None, so
Can we stop this ‘can’t win th cup mentality?’
Fact is - if you can beat a team once you CAN beat them 4 out of 7
Find a team we CANNOt BEAT and lets talk

And for all you tankers out there- there’s a thing called the integrity of the game
You heard it here first:
Hawks will win the cup this year

That is just incorrect. It's just as incorrect as all the statements over that last 2 years that had Toews dead, buried, done. No Player, especially those in their 30's will still play the same physical game they did when they are younger. Toews still plays along the boards, in front of the net and will put a body on someone. He is not a point per game player this year because he has only played weak teams.

In terms of being one concussion away from the end of his career, that statement applies to EVERY player in the league.
- TheTrob

Ok I am somewhat overboard but i did not say that he wad dead in the water. If he continued playing the same way I do believe he would be much more likely to suffer a concussion. I suspect that he has taken too much abuse and mugging over the years and now has a bad back or a back which he has to be careful with..Henceforth i just wonder how effective and if he had weak moments in some especially physical games as the team tries to stay in playoff contention

Yes you are missing something. Crosby was draft before Kane. So that would make Kane the most recent #1 to win a cup.
- -Doh-

Got it now. It also makes the fact is was even referenced very suspect. An irrelevant statement meant to deceive. Fact is #1 picks have been VERY instrumental in Cups over the years and even most #1s who haven't won the Cup are still very successful, just haven't had the support (NcJesus).

Sikrua is not ready for the nhl let him play out the Rockford season and come to camp next season bigger and stronger and has a one year of pro hockey to work off of. Hawks will make a move or two but nothing big. Stay the course if nothing makes sense then do nothing hawks still have major holes to fill if they want to compete for the Stanley cup again. Top 4 d man top 6 forward depth scoring address the lack of physicality, it matters in the playoffs, and the Crawford situation. IMO HAWKS need to finish in the bottom 5 of the league and get a top 5 pick who ever that is for long term future and big picture perspective. Its nice to see them coming together as a team but lets not kid ourselves this is not a playoff team but a foundation is being set this year who knows with creative moves hawks could be contending next year.
- Scott1977

Sikura turns 24 this summer. Shouldn't he be filled out by now?

For anyone interested the Mighty Chicago Steel are at Sioux Falls, 7:05 puck drop. Game is free in HD at Hockey TV. https://www.hockeytv.com/#/schedule

SF averages about 6,500 and has 5-6-7 HD cameras and replays. If you tune in choose the SF feed so you'll get their PBP man. Trust me on that.

As mentioned the Steel traded for Hawk draft pick Josia Slavin and he hit the ground running. 4 games played, 3 goals, 2 assists. Sioux Falls with a .684 win percentage, Steel on a just broken 7 game win streak and an 8-2 run last 10 have a .654 win percentage.

Sikura turns 24 this summer. Shouldn't he be filled out by now?
- mohel

Maybe he can go to wherever it was JJ said Kruger and TT were going to put on 20 lbs of muscle?

Question
How many nfl kickers could hit the uprights 4 times in a row out of 100 kicks?
None, so
Can we stop this ‘can’t win th cup mentality?’
Fact is - if you can beat a team once you CAN beat them 4 out of 7
Find a team we CANNOt BEAT and lets talk

And for all you tankers out there- there’s a thing called the integrity of the game
You heard it here first:
Hawks will win the cup this year
- Kewl1

Are you going to fly out to Vegas and put money on that?

Are you going to fly out to Vegas and put money on that?
- Dieselhead

No but if I’m wrong I’ll buy everyone on this board a virtual beer

Maybe he can go to wherever it was JJ said Kruger and TT were going to put on 20 lbs of muscle?
- paulr

Wasn't that a program of lifting coffee cans filled with cement while drinking raw eggs and wheat germ?

No but if I’m wrong I’ll buy everyone on this board a virtual beer
- Kewl1

Sweet, we can all get virtually drunk!

Wasn't that a program of lifting coffee cans filled with cement while drinking raw eggs and wheat germ?
- mohel

Maybe? Can't remember what "source" JJ said it was that told him?

Maybe he can go to wherever it was JJ said Kruger and TT were going to put on 20 lbs of muscle?
- paulr

Sammy Sosa's personal trainer, goes by "Needles"

I would guess that just about every roster has some 1,2, and 3s on it, no?
- LaheysBRandy

I meant overall picks, not rounds. Sorry that wasn't clear.

Sweet, we can all get virtually drunk!
- mohel

Off of 1 beer? Low tolerance?

Off of 1 beer? Low tolerance?
- I Am The Breadman

Virtual beers are 240 ounces.

I doubt the Blackhawks do much at the TDL as buyers or sellers.

Seabrook? I think they're hoping for a lockout and compliance buyouts before next season starts. Buy him out, get special permission from the league to resign him to a 1 day contract. He retires a Blackhawks and gets a final shift next year.

AA? Probably hard to move with the NMC, wait until summer.

Saad? Maybe but he'll probably get more of a return next TDL.

Keith? Maybe. Could get something in return. I think the team is better with him but if he wants to go and a team he wants to be with wants him, that seems reasonable. I just doubt it happens.

Kruger? I could see him getting moved for not much. Kunitz too.

Hayden? Maybe the most likely guy to go.

Crawford? Unlikely given his concussion issues.

Maybe they get involved to talk on short term salary in return for picks or something like that.

Ho-hum, not much to see here.

Maybe? Can't remember what "source" JJ said it was that told him?
- paulr

It was one of the best sources - the guy sent that poop through the gmail!

Virtual beers are 240 ounces.
- mohel

Alright alright alright!