Hey TC, any word on how long Caggiula is going to be out? I like what he brings to the lineup.

Outside of Hughes and Kakko, are there any draft eligible forwards that possibly can be NHL ready?

Not that early. At 8 one of these 4 should be around..Turcotte, Boldy, Zegras or Byram.

One of those 4 is the guy to get. Broberg is a reach at 8. So is Newhook especially he plays in a league a tier below junior A
- Elbows15

I would be pleasantly surprised if Turcotte was still available when the Hawks draft. I would put him as the next guy to draft after Hughes/Kakko.

Cole Caufield
- DarthKane

A guy who can look up to the Cat.

There is a lot of movement after the top 2 in this draft. Seems Cozen and Dachs are falling a bit. Zegras seems to rising. The Russian isn't coming over right away and I think that may drop him.

I would be thrilled with Boldy or Turcotte.

Zegras is producing no matter where they play him or with who.
- Elbows15

Hey TC, any word on how long Caggiula is going to be out? I like what he brings to the lineup.
- matt_ahrens

I have not heard. I asked a couple people his status though as I am curious how he's doing.

It would be great to have him back soon.

Secretariat, but he'll be gone by then.
- mohel

I’ll take John Henry. Geldings keep their head in the game. Stallions are busy trying to line things up after the game.

If the season ends today, Hawks without taking in account the lotto ball drop would be slotted in at pick #8...Who's your horse?
- Beaver-Warrior

Turcotte, Zegras or Krebs.

I skipped the game and went to Geneva to see the Steel take on the USA U17 team.

I think you’re going to like Hawk draftee Josiah Slavin. He’s off to Colorado College next year. Not sure how/why Stan’s scouts found him, as he doesn’t fit the typical Blackhawk profile. He’s 6’ 3” 190, hits and goes to the net.

Hey TC, any word on how long Caggiula is going to be out? I like what he brings to the lineup.
- matt_ahrens

The Hawks look much weaker without Caggs and Kampf in the lineup. In the losses to the Kings and Sharks, they were noticeably worse without both of them.

That Kunitz, Kruger, Kampf line was effective on Saturday.

I have not heard. I asked a couple people his status though as I am curious how he's doing.

It would be great to have him back soon.
- Justin Lowe

Thanks. I'm looking forward to watching him play again.

Not been a huge fan of Bowman moves in recent years, but Strome was a huge get, Perlini was icing on the cake. The Hawks have been so weak up the middle the last few years. With Toews, Strome and Kampf, it feels as though 3 slots are spoken for. Need to find a quality 3C (preferrably with some size and grit) if Anisomov is moved this offseason and probably still need one if he isn't moved.
- ChiTownHawkFan

I would agree that the Hawks seem set with at least 3 centers (Toews, Strome, Kampf) with the missing link being 3C. Anisimov is the default. Serviceable but not necessarily ideal. Could be fine depending on who his wingers are. A possibility is keeping tandems together for the top 9:

Toews + Kane
DeBrincat + Strome
Saad + Anisimov

A pivotal factor is who the other winger is on each line and that may dictate whether a 3C is acquired over the summer. Upgrading the 3C as well as 1-2 wingers would be ideal but tough given the team's pressing priority to strengthen the blueline.

So would it be okay to retain Anisimov as 3C as long as he is flanked by solid wingers? Or a related question: is it easier to acquire a winger than a center?

Outside of Hughes and Kakko, are there any draft eligible forwards that possibly can be NHL ready?
- LAHawk

Hard to say, but I still think when they are seven points out of the last wild card spot and nine points out of the cellar in the Western conference, it is still in their long term best interests to NOT finish strong.

Like last year. When they played themselves out of the #4 pick

To miss the playoffs AND miss a chance at a high draft pick for the second year in a row qualifies the FO for the 2018-19 Dunce Cap Award.

Couldn't get to the game, so was watching the local home TV, and Razor kept going on about the 'Hawks transition game. He said that both the fore & back-checking was giving them more opportunities for transition. Is it possible that JC is preaching that to shore up the shaky defense. That seems to be something the team could buy into, as much as they like the offensive side of the game. Maybe a building block JC can incorporate in the offseason, to his defensive scheme?
- Acur81

Thank you for sharing that comment by Razor. He brings up a good observation on a strategy that will pay dividends if the Hawks consistently and relentlessly forecheck and backcheck.

I generally see that as doing whatever possible to retrieve and keep the puck which includes shrinking the ice in order to flip it in your favor no matter where the play is across 200 feet.

This requires not just instincts and quick thinking but also good skaters who are agile, use their edges well, and can make tight turns and quick starts and stops.

I’ll take John Henry. Geldings keep their head in the game. Stallions are busy trying to line things up after the game.
- scottak

But they don't have the balls to go into the corners to battle for the puck.

From today’s ‘The Athletic’

Surprisingly to me, Connor Murphy and Carl Dahlstrom (!) have been playing a lot against the opposition’s top players. In addition to them, Jeremy Colliton seems to have given Duncan Keith and Henri Jokiharju a bit of a run there. That leaves Erik Gustafsson, Gustav Forsling and Brent Seabrook playing the more sheltered minutes in Chicago.

I skipped the game and went to Geneva to see the Steel take on the USA U17 team.

I think you’re going to like Hawk draftee Josiah Slavin. He’s off to Colorado College next year. Not sure how/why Stan’s scouts found him, as he doesn’t fit the typical Blackhawk profile. He’s 6’ 3” 190, hits and goes to the net.
- scottak

They found him because his older brother is Jaccob Slavin.

Depending on Lottery Results and how the Scouting Dept views the guys ranked 3-10, I like JHawks proposal to try and move up in the draft. Though, looking at Tankathon.com it looks like StanBo can get his little man at #7 with the 5'11" 159lb Trevor Zegras

I have not heard. I asked a couple people his status though as I am curious how he's doing.

It would be great to have him back soon.
- Justin Lowe

Rakell says he is concussed!

Depending on Lottery Results and how the Scouting Dept views the guys ranked 3-10, I like JHawks proposal to try and move up in the draft. Though, looking at Tankathon.com it looks like StanBo can get his little man at #7 with the 5'11" 159lb Trevor Zegras
- EnzoD

I'd bet the 5'6" Cole Caufield would be available then too.

Rakell says he is concussed!
- powerenforcer

Who is Rakell?

I would agree that the Hawks seem set with at least 3 centers (Toews, Strome, Kampf) with the missing link being 3C. Anisimov is the default. Serviceable but not necessarily ideal. Could be fine depending on who his wingers are. A possibility is keeping tandems together for the top 9:

Toews + Kane
DeBrincat + Strome
Saad + Anisimov

A pivotal factor is who the other winger is on each line and that may dictate whether a 3C is acquired over the summer. Upgrading the 3C as well as 1-2 wingers would be ideal but tough given the team's pressing priority to strengthen the blueline.

So would it be okay to retain Anisimov as 3C as long as he is flanked by solid wingers? Or a related question: is it easier to acquire a winger than a center?
- AEL_Fox

Why not lines 2a

Saad Anisimov Kane

2b

ADB, Strome Kahun

2c

Toews, Cagiulla, ???

4

Perlini, Kampf, Kreuger

From today’s ‘The Athletic’

Surprisingly to me, Connor Murphy and Carl Dahlstrom (!) have been playing a lot against the opposition’s top players. In addition to them, Jeremy Colliton seems to have given Duncan Keith and Henri Jokiharju a bit of a run there. That leaves Erik Gustafsson, Gustav Forsling and Brent Seabrook playing the more sheltered minutes in Chicago.
- scottak

There are decent charts over on Hockeyabstract, like this one that show the usage pretty well. This I think is up to the end of Feb for the Hawks season, D usage.



You can definitely see Murphy and Dahlstrom taking the defensive load, guys like Gus/Keith the offensive chances.

Who is Rakell?
- EbonyRaptor

The one who caused it.

I'd bet the 5'6" Cole Caufield would be available then too.
- EbonyRaptor

Looking at the standings, it seems like OTT(Avs), Wings, Kings, and Devils are going to lock down the Top(last?) 4 spots. With the amount of games left and with how mediocre ALL the teams in range 5-14 are, Hawks could end up anywhere as good (Bad?) as 5th in the lottery to 14th. I see Tankathon also now has a Dman Bowen Byram at #5. Everything I have read and watched, I dream of adding the skilled, strong, nasty, and versatile Dylan Cozens to the Hawks top 6 forward group.


Does Pick #7-10 and Gustafson get the Hawks to #4 overall??