The Drake - Kampf - Tanev has the potential to be a fantastic 4th line.
- DarthKane

I'm down for that!

I'm down for that!
- I Am The Breadman

Tanev is a hit monster and has 5 shorties in the last 2 seasons. Great 4th line/PK guy. Would be a huge jolt of energy for this team.

There you go!
- walleyeb1

I reallly like these lines very much. There is not a drastic drop from first line to the third line. And I read somewhere, that last year, Kahun was playing with Toews on the first line, early in the season, to get him more comfortable in the scheme of things. I could see them doing the same with Kubalik. There is size, speed and playmaking on each of the three lines and Cags and Tanev play similar.
Let's send this one to Stan

But they would also be "sticking it" to themselves - they would be giving up however-many-years of actual cash payments, however much below their cap hits.
- StLBravesFan

Agreed, but look at Hossa, he got 93% of his salary the first 8 years of his 12 year contract. If the other contracts were set up similarly, I could see someone walking away with a year or 2 left.

I like Sikura a lot (though he was a quick study away from the puck) but they're forward heavy. If Perlini doesn't cut it, Kahun had good chemistry with Debrincat-Strome so Sikura could slide with Saad.
- L_B_R

I think there is a chance that Sikura could surprise people. Last off season I know folks often slotted him all over the lineup and I thought that was premature. Personally, I'm not too concerned that he didn't bury the puck considering how he played away from the puck. I'd like to see him have a good off season and maybe he will become a PK option with a bit of offensive upside.

I think there is a chance that Sikura could surprise people. Last off season I know folks often slotted him all over the lineup and I thought that was premature. Personally, I'm not too concerned that he didn't bury the puck considering how he played away from the puck. I'd like to see him have a good off season and maybe he will become a PK option with a bit of offensive upside.
- breadbag

His first goal is only a matter of time, nbd, but I loved his game, smarts, and willingness to throw a check. I was one of his few supporters.

This.

The mistake many fans make is looking at the list of scoring leaders and declaring them the best players. The guys you mention above (and others going back in time) do so many of the subtle things that help a team win but are not captured statistically.

I'm hoping Dylan Strome can develop into one of these kind of players with the proper coaching and personal effort.
- RickJ

This is SO freaking true!
Remember a few years ago when big Buff was scoring goals / points at a crazy pace? The media made him in to a "Norris trophy candidate" despite the fact he STILL has a bigger predilection for the offense end and not locking down his end.

Brandon Tanev is the type of UFA I’d like to see Stan pursue.
- walleyeb1

100%. He best be on their list.

I think there is a chance that Sikura could surprise people. Last off season I know folks often slotted him all over the lineup and I thought that was premature. Personally, I'm not too concerned that he didn't bury the puck considering how he played away from the puck. I'd like to see him have a good off season and maybe he will become a PK option with a bit of offensive upside.
- breadbag

My friend had this conversation with Kevin Dineen and he said everyone just felt that all Sikura needed was to score ONE goal and he would gain the confidence to blossom as a scorer as opposed to a generator.

It takes lots of different type toolboxes players to win consistently, but all the players have to be consistent too.

This is SO freaking true!
Remember a few years ago when big Buff was scoring goals / points at a crazy pace? The media made him in to a "Norris trophy candidate" despite the fact he STILL has a bigger predilection for the offense end and not locking down his end.
- wiz1901

Hey Wiz, not factoring in the teams or chatter or anything, what is your ranking of the top ten players in the draft?

Did I see that turd Marchand crying when the game ended? Think I saw that...

That alone was worth it...
- mike7076

I think I saw that too.

I refuse to congratulate the enemy. GO HAWKS
- BlackhawkMike

My man!!! Phuck the Blows

Blackhawks Draft Resume: Alex Turcotte

https://www.nhl.com/black...alex-turcotte/c-307839428

This is SO freaking true!
Remember a few years ago when big Buff was scoring goals / points at a crazy pace? The media made him in to a "Norris trophy candidate" despite the fact he STILL has a bigger predilection for the offense end and not locking down his end.
- wiz1901

Wiz,

Did you watch last night? At one point with the Blues up, ROR is skating back through the neutral zone as Boston is breaking out of their end. A pass starts from the far wall near their blueline headed to the near wall (as you look at the tv) where another Bruin is streaking. ROR picks the pass out of mid air, corrals it just past the red line and bring it back the other way, allowing them to get the puck deep again and burn more time.

This, imho, is one of those subtle plays that lead to winning. They don't show on the scoresheet other than maybe a takeaway but they directly contribute to winning.

I was catching up on the last blog this morning, and there was a conversation about the cap recapture penalty contracts. If Luongo retires, Vancouver gets hit with the penalty. Same with Weber in MTL, Nashville would get the penalty. I think most players that have those contracts will either play them out for the team that signed them, or go on LTIR, but I wonder if the players who were traded will retire to stick it to their old team.
- tvetter

He won't retire and lose the money. He'l go on LTIR like every other cap circumventing contract signed before the newest CBA.

Did I see that turd Marchand crying when the game ended? Think I saw that...

That alone was worth it...
- mike7076

For your viewing pleasure - https://twitter.com/agrab...39004861285064704/video/1

I'm down for that!
- I Am The Breadman

No on Kampf he is not a checking center or all that physical or that good on faceoffs to me he is an extra forward or ahler on a contending team. Just my opinion.

Usually I pick the teams I want to win and I lose. So this year I decided to do the Costanza reverse logic method. So unfortunately the only reason I won is because I picked the two teams I least wanted to see in the final.


- Ogilthorpe2

100%. He best be on their list.
- Tyler Cameron[/quote

Acciari also imo and checking 4th line center not named kampf. I know people will compare kampf to kruger I get the argument I just not very high on kampf that other people are, hopefully I m proven wrong.

Glad the Blues won....welcome back to Earth Boston.

Now time to think about next weekend and hopefully a solid pick, and more importantly ground work laid to acquire somebody via trade or talks to acquire or talks with agents to improve this team.

Sorry....Im not drinking the kool aid that this team can contend as is, but props to you eternal optimists.

Finally the real season starts for the Hawks that Ive been waiting for since they fired Q.....

No on Kampf he is not a checking center or all that physical or that good on faceoffs to me he is an extra forward or ahler on a contending team. Just my opinion.
- Scott1977

You don't have to be that physical to be a good checking line center, but just to note, physicality shows up in places other than like hits. For example, Kampf has really strong puck recovery numbers, which means he wins board and in-traffic battles regularly.

Kruger was an exceptional shutdown/checking center for years and he wasn't all grrr hitz physical. The two biggest areas to look for in a checking center is: can they transition the puck / flip the ice, puck recovery, and optimal shot suppression in key areas. Kampf is good for 2 of those, and while the team as a whole was poopty on general shot supp, Kampf was better at preventing slot shots than almost anyone else on the team (Kruger was actually still top, Saad was slightly better as well).

Glad the Blues won....welcome back to Earth Boston.

Now time to think about next weekend and hopefully a solid pick, and more importantly ground work laid to acquire somebody via trade or talks to acquire or talks with agents to improve this team.

Sorry....Im not drinking the kool aid that this team can contend as is, but props to you eternal optimists.

Finally the real season starts for the Hawks that Ive been waiting for since they fired Q.....
- SteveRain

That's the best part. They aren't going into next season as is. No reason to make any declarations (positive or negative) on next season yet with so many unknowns. Draft, FA, trades, full camp with JC(and new assistants), injuries, new EU addition, etc.

I would much rather the Hawks go after Bellmare from Vegas as UFA than Tanev

Bigger, can play wing or center(and is good on faceoffs). Very good character guy as well

You don't have to be that physical to be a good checking line center, but just to note, physicality shows up in places other than like hits. For example, Kampf has really strong puck recovery numbers, which means he wins board and in-traffic battles regularly.

Kruger was an exceptional shutdown/checking center for years and he wasn't all grrr hitz physical. The two biggest areas to look for in a checking center is: can they transition the puck / flip the ice, puck recovery, and optimal shot suppression in key areas. Kampf is good for 2 of those, and while the team as a whole was poopty on general shot supp, Kampf was better at preventing slot shots than almost anyone else on the team (Kruger was actually still top, Saad was slightly better as well).
- L_B_R

What is the stat called that measures shot suppression (and if it is called "shot suppression", I'm done trying to figure out these dang stats)?

You don't have to be that physical to be a good checking line center, but just to note, physicality shows up in places other than like hits. For example, Kampf has really strong puck recovery numbers, which means he wins board and in-traffic battles regularly.

Kruger was an exceptional shutdown/checking center for years and he wasn't all grrr hitz physical. The two biggest areas to look for in a checking center is: can they transition the puck / flip the ice, puck recovery, and optimal shot suppression in key areas. Kampf is good for 2 of those, and while the team as a whole was poopty on general shot supp, Kampf was better at preventing slot shots than almost anyone else on the team (Kruger was actually still top, Saad was slightly better as well).
- L_B_R

Pfffffffft......Saad. If he’s not scoring 35 goals, what good is he?