Not in this hypothetical lineup but I bet Nylavendar edges him out cause he’s Stan’s shiny new penny.
- HawkintheD

Excellent work on the name. Could be true that he's Stan's new essential oil.

Probably, but a lot of options on that list who haven't played a minute in the league.

Lets hope you are still saying that in December.
- vabeachbear

My biggest fear is Strome turns into "year two Richard Panik."

Yes then flying to London for bears game in london

I know I’m sounding like a broken record here, but my thought is that if Dach isn’t the answer at 3C, then there’s still a gaping hole in the roster. Got a bunch of guys who CAN play there, but all are better suited elsewhere.

We got better on D, and deeper in the bottom 6, but lost a proven 3C. That’s two steps forward, one back by my count. Hope the kid can bring it...soon.
- Ogilthorpe2

I would agree that this is a hole on the roster, I'd argue the only real glaring hole on the team, but they can plug with guys to make it work where I don't think it will be an issue. The only way it becomes an issue is if the Hawks are in the thick of things come the new year and no one has stepped up (if Dach hasn't already taken the reigns on that role) or fits the role with the guys he's playing with but at that point you can look at the deadline to get someone on an expiring contract to help the team with the Playoff push. I'm not worried about this right now. I wanna see how the pieces of the puzzle fit together first. No team goes into the season with a complete roster in place and usually the ones that do are set up to fail already

Where's Sikura?
- mohel

Rockford or on another team

Where's Sikura?
- mohel

Arizona for a Zamboni tire

Arizona for a Zamboni tire
- riozzo

With Kane as the sweetener.

John Quenneville is not waiver exempt. Keep not seeing him in lineups

But does Dach have the strength right now?

How much of his success down low has been because he is just bigger than the other 17-18-19 year olds he has gone up against?

Size is one thing - good to have it - but it also takes strength the get to, take, and hold a position in the Show.

Let's see what happens when he goes up against experienced, skilled players the same size (or bigger) in the NHL.
- StLBravesFan

Kotkaniemi did it last year for 79 games and I'm somewhat sure he was quite a bit weaker than Dach is now... Anyways, Dach put up good numbers as a 17-18 year old (Jan. birthday). We know how the Hawks brass are and they want to win now. They aren't going to lose Dach for a year just for more confidence or seasoning or filling out in Saskatoon. For how he is seeming with his confidence, work ethic, attitude, size, smarts, etc., I don't see the Hawks letting a whole season go on with him ride busses in Western Canada all winter when he could be critical in creating match up problems every night in Chicago. We need him now. Another year of the Kane and Toews era and the Hawks are not going to be patient letting him get more seasoning if he can help now. I'm at 80/20 he is here to stay

John Quenneville is not waiver exempt. Keep not seeing him in lineups
- ikeane

That doesn't mean he makes the roster. If Quenneville is waived and claimed it's not a significant loss.

Excellent work on the name. Could be true that he's Stan's new essential oil.
- mohel

Lol...wow. Yowzers

That doesn't mean he makes the roster. If Quenneville is waived and claimed it's not a significant loss.
- DarthKane

I'm leaning towards him being the 14th forward on the roster in case of emergency to start the year and then they go from there. Especially because his salary is so low. Seems like a perfect last guy on the roster to start the year and then ends up on waivers at some point

Kotkaniemi did it last year for 79 games and I'm somewhat sure he was quite a bit weaker than Dach is now... Anyways, Dach put up good numbers as a 17-18 year old (Jan. birthday). We know how the Hawks brass are and they want to win now. They aren't going to lose Dach for a year just for more confidence or seasoning or filling out in Saskatoon. For how he is seeming with his confidence, work ethic, attitude, size, smarts, etc., I don't see the Hawks letting a whole season go on with him ride busses in Western Canada all winter when he could be critical in creating match up problems every night in Chicago. We need him now. Another year of the Kane and Toews era and the Hawks are not going to be patient letting him get more seasoning if he can help now. I'm at 80/20 he is here to stay
- just69sayin

I'm leaning more this way as well. Whether it's the right call or not no one will really be able to tell for a few years from now, but the kid definitely looks like he has the poise to handle playing in the NHL. Whether or not his body and game can hold up is yet to be seen. I think a third line of Saad-Dach-Shaw would be a hell of a third line to go into the season with if he does make the roster

But does Dach have the strength right now?

How much of his success down low has been because he is just bigger than the other 17-18-19 year olds he has gone up against?

Size is one thing - good to have it - but it also takes strength the get to, take, and hold a position in the Show.

Let's see what happens when he goes up against experienced, skilled players the same size (or bigger) in the NHL.
- StLBravesFan

One of the main reasons I don't think they plan on sending him back to Saskatoon. Doesn't his team kind of suck as well?

My biggest fear is Strome turns into "year two Richard Panik."
- rpeters01

Better this year than next

Better this year than next
- vabeachbear

$5.9x7 still boggles my mind for Schmaltz.

$5.9x7 still boggles my mind for Schmaltz.
- rpeters01

Chicken fat was always used as a cheap replacement for butter.

Not any more, I guess.

$5.9x7 still boggles my mind for Schmaltz.
- rpeters01

Stan would have given him $7 million x 8 years and a full NMC.

One of the main reasons I don't think they plan on sending him back to Saskatoon. Doesn't his team kind of suck as well?
- vabeachbear

Dach not being able to go to Rockford is my only issue with him not making the team.

There is stuff he can work on in Saskatoon - with the right coaching (and I don't know that it exists in Saskatoon) - but would it move him forward enough - more than if he were in Chicago.

Where's Sikura?
- mohel

Sikura who? Never heard of him

I'm leaning more this way as well. Whether it's the right call or not no one will really be able to tell for a few years from now, but the kid definitely looks like he has the poise to handle playing in the NHL. Whether or not his body and game can hold up is yet to be seen. I think a third line of Saad-Dach-Shaw would be a hell of a third line to go into the season with if he does make the roster
- Savetheembers33

Yes and it isn't like we are so thin that he needs to feel the weight of the world on him... we have Smith and Shaw and Carpenter who can play center I think. He's a young strong guy his body can probably bounce back pretty quick from fatigue. Of course he'll learn not to let himself get crushed too much and hopefully he'll survive and do relatively well.

John Quenneville is not waiver exempt. Keep not seeing him in lineups
- ikeane

13th forward all season. Either Nylander or Dach won’t be on the big club.

Dach not being able to go to Rockford is my only issue with him not making the team.

There is stuff he can work on in Saskatoon - with the right coaching (and I don't know that it exists in Saskatoon) - but would it move him forward enough - more than if he were in Chicago.
- StLBravesFan

What kind of stuff does he need to work on there

What kind of stuff does he need to work on there
- just69sayin

Fighting

Yes and it isn't like we are so thin that he needs to feel the weight of the world on him... we have Smith and Shaw and Carpenter who can play center I think. He's a young strong guy his body can probably bounce back pretty quick from fatigue. Of course he'll learn not to let himself get crushed too much and hopefully he'll survive and do relatively well.
- just69sayin

Exactly. He doesn't need to play exclusively at Center. He can bump out to the wing at times and let one of those guys play C for a few games as well. I think the Hawks have done a lot of their moves to help him make the team (not just because they want him to but because they do feel he can make the jump) but also to help cushion the transition for him as well