Wait, wait, wait....just the other day the league was speed, speed, speed. Now we're back to the Broad Street Bullies? Wtf?
- mohel

Whatever the Hawks aren't currently doing is the way to go.

Whatever the Hawks aren't currently doing is the way to go.
- DarthKane

I keep forgetting that....

Whatever the Hawks aren't currently doing is the way to go.
- DarthKane

If Colorado wins tonight, the league is getting faster, If San Jose wins tonight, the league is getting bigger (at least for tomorrow).

I don't have a problem with a lot of what you say here, but I have a couple questions:
1) Do you consider Saad a gritty player?
2) I noticed you don't have AA listed. Wouldn't he provide grit on one of those lines (best guess is 3C?).
3) Do you not expect any growth from our younger D (Forsling, Dahlstrom, even Gilbert)?

I was thinking similarly today that it would be great to have at least one "gritty" player on each line. Would AA as 1LW provide that? He could free up Toews and Kane to work a little more cleanly. Just some ideas kicking around.
- Chunk

Saad is not a gritty player. His strength is north south speed and pursuit. He also backchecks well. Drake plays tough but hes got hands too. It would be nice to get a true banger to play with them. Saad did his best offensive numbers playing with Drake.

AA....if they cant get draft picks back for him to create cap space, they should keep him, and yes, maybe he best slots at 3C with Saad and Drake until his deal is up. I dont know if AA can play top six minutes at the level he can play a more sandpapery game at.

Younger D development - maybe, but they are ALL lightweights. Joki is the best of the bunch, and hes more of a puck mover. They need puck separators - a guy or two who can win board battles and clear the crease. I see absolutely zero D prospects in the system that fit that description.

Team needs to get tougher - not goon tougher - just harder to play against on the boards, in the NZ, and around the net.

I'm saying thanks to AEL & jhawk for answering my question last night. It was very much appreciated. I've been slow on news & not catching up at all on reading posts. I've missed a lot of playoffs games, more than I'm used to ...

I'm saying thanks to AEL & jhawk for answering my question last night. It was very much appreciated. I've been slow on news & not catching up at all on reading posts. I've missed a lot of playoffs games, more than I'm used to ...
- I Am The Breadman

You need to stop working on school stuff, and start paying attention to what's really important...

You need to stop working on school stuff, and start paying attention to what's really important...
- tvetter

Hahahahaha!!! 5 more days then I just might agree with you. Just maybe.

Saad is not a gritty player. His strength is north south speed and pursuit. He also backchecks well. Drake plays tough but hes got hands too. It would be nice to get a true banger to play with them. Saad did his best offensive numbers playing with Drake.

AA....if they cant get draft picks back for him to create cap space, they should keep him, and yes, maybe he best slots at 3C with Saad and Drake until his deal is up. I dont know if AA can play top six minutes at the level he can play a more sandpapery game at.

Younger D development - maybe, but they are ALL lightweights. Joki is the best of the bunch, and hes more of a puck mover. They need puck separators - a guy or two who can win board battles and clear the crease. I see absolutely zero D prospects in the system that fit that description.

Team needs to get tougher - not goon tougher - just harder to play against on the boards, in the NZ, and around the net.
- Return of the Roar

Thanks for the insight. I view it a little different. I think Saad plays very well on the boards and muscles through opponents while maintaining the puck.

I also personally think that Dahlstrom and Gilbert can at least be short term solutions to the "tough blueliner" question. As you noted in your original post, we have a number of guys locked up on the blueline. I'm more bullish on Keith that you are apparently (I'm assuming that you were lumping him into that 13-15M comment). I also think Joki is a bit more physical than you say.

As I noted before, it will be a fun couple of months to see what they do.

Whatever the Hawks aren't currently doing is the way to go.
- DarthKane

The funny thing is that if you watched the DAL/STL game last night, the Stars tried to forecheck hard, but the goalie was so active with the puck that he thwarted a lot of those attempts.

I think we all get a little too hung up on playing one type of style.

Given that Strome has publicly stated he wants to be a Blackhawk for his entire career, one would think he would be open to a bridge deal then get his big pay day afterward. Let's hope that is the case.
- AEL_Fox

Brandon Saad said "there are more important things than money" when being interviewed on ice after the 2015 cup win. Words don't mean poop. Actions do. I wouldn't believe any player and they should all try get as much as they can. It's smart business for them.

I really don't think Perlini has proven that he can consistently play in the top 6. He seems to disappear in some games, then plays great the next.
- Boisy12

Like most 22 years olds?

Doubtful but, he could.

Heck, not many here thought an undersized, 2nd round pick in Alex DeBrincat would not only make the team out of camp but, score goals and stay healthy enough to play 2 complete 82 game seasons.
- Rota's Rooter

Or the skinny Fin in Montreal last year too. Anything can happen.

Agree with the various points in your post. With what you laid out, I'm thinking the following as far as forwards:

- Toews and Saad's linemate option could be filled internally with Kahun or Sikura.
- Similarly with Strome and DeBrincat's line filling internally with Perlini or Kubalik.
- For the 4th line, start with Kampf and Caggiula and find them a gritty, quick, and defensively sound linemate via free agency.
- Kane's line is the one where either a high-end free agent whether UFA or RFA or a trade may be in the cards.
- Assuming Anisimov is still on the team, pair him with Kane and get them a scoring winger.
- AEL_Fox

Why is everyone so intent on splitting up Kane and Toews? They both just had career seasons playing together. Kane with ADB and Strome was a nightmare last year.

Like most 22 years olds?
- GPHawksfan

I wouldn’t give up on Perlini just yet, I’d re-sign him to a 1-2 year deal around $1 million per. Worst case scenario is he’s the 13th forward, but Stan could trade a contract like that if needed. I’d like to see what he can go with a full training camp and season with Chicago.

I wouldn’t give up on Perlini just yet, I’d re-sign him to a 1-2 year deal around $1 million per. Worst case scenario is he’s the 13th forward, but Stan could trade a contract like that if needed. I’d like to see what he can go with a full training camp and season with Chicago.
- DarthKane

Just qualify him. It's only a 10% raise from his previous contract. I think.

The funny thing is that if you watched the DAL/STL game last night, the Stars tried to forecheck hard, but the goalie was so active with the puck that he thwarted a lot of those attempts.

I think we all get a little too hung up on playing one type of style.
- Chunk

Dallas had trouble forechecking because by the time they got the puck out of their zone and into the o-zone, it was time for a line change.

I wouldn’t give up on Perlini just yet, I’d re-sign him to a 1-2 year deal around $1 million per. Worst case scenario is he’s the 13th forward, but Stan could trade a contract like that if needed. I’d like to see what he can go with a full training camp and season with Chicago.
- DarthKane

I think he showed last season that he could be (COULD be) top-6 in the Show - IF....

They seem to not have many of those in the system.

I wouldn’t give up on Perlini just yet, I’d re-sign him to a 1-2 year deal around $1 million per. Worst case scenario is he’s the 13th forward, but Stan could trade a contract like that if needed. I’d like to see what he can go with a full training camp and season with Chicago.
- DarthKane

Just make him watch that documentary every Monday.

Hahahahaha!!! 5 more days then I just might agree with you. Just maybe.
- I Am The Breadman

How those single moms doing?

Just make him watch that documentary every Monday.
- tvetter

Just lock him up for 3 years first.

How those single moms doing?
- boilermaker100

Judging by his recent absence, I'd say pretty good!

How those single moms doing?
- boilermaker100

I didn't miss this!

The more I watch - the more I want the Hawks to have nothing to do with Karlsson as a UFA signing.

MacKinnon hurt... no bueno.

... and its 2-0 Sharks.

Hey - howza bout signing Zuccarello to play RW with Cat and Strome. He shouldn't cost too much and I know he's small but he scores and plays with plenty of grit.