I've only seen a little of the games so far. Does anybody have a Lavender Sniffer report so far? How soft will this team be?

I've only seen a little of the games so far. Does anybody have a Lavender Sniffer report so far? How soft will this team be?
- mohel

1-1-1 in preseason, doesn't that just reek of lavender sniffers? Coached by the Earl of lavender sniffers.

They seem to playing Sikura more at wing than at center. I am not particularly a Sikura fan, but I could see him centering the 3rd line until Dach is ready (by ready I mean healthy and it is decided he is NHL ready). That would give the 3rd line more offense than with Kampf or Highmore. Although his weakness at the dot is an issue.
- -Doh-

I was thinking about that a few days ago when another poster suggested having Shaw center the 3rd line with Saad and Sikura. A 3rd line with these guys would be fairly strong, IMO.

The main question would be who plays center between Shaw and Sikura. I'd opt for Sikura given his vision, passing ability, and giddyup to get up and down the ice. Let Shaw slay in the corners and crash the net.

This lets Kubalik play RW with DeBrincat and Strome and Nylander to play LW with Toews and Kane.

Not an expert but I really liked what I saw from Nylander as far as puck possession in the o-zone. Nice pivots and uses his size to shield the puck. Obviously he has a nice shot and hands. He has been hanging around the net too.

Haven't seen him doing that much "floating". At least not anymore than a usual offensive minded top 6 forward.

Panarin did his fair share of that. Kane does. So did the older version of Sharp. Not every top 6 forward is going to be a two way beast like Toews, Hossa or the good version of Saad.

Question is can the Hawks be a serious contender with that type of offensive minded player when they already have Dcat and Kane in the top 6?

It will be a different brand of hockey than the cup winning teams that could absolutely smother other teams once they took a lead.
- bhawks2241

All good points. I don't mind a floating forward as much if his linemates play solid D. So if Nylander plays with Toews and Kane, the question is if the captain is okay carrying the defensive load for their line.

I guess you could say the same thing about the DeBrincat-Strome line. The other winger needs to be defensively sound to give that line some semblance of a defensive conscience. DeBrincat and Strome are still young so they could always improve their D as well.

They do during the year when there is injuries also. Remember last year our forward call-ups were Fortin, Martinson, Luke Johnson
- LAHawk

Yep i agree with that as well, Q and Bowman taught me if you can tilt the ice with your 3rd and 4th lines you go deep into the playoffs. That Boston series was a heavy weight battle, 2 deep teams waiting for the other team to make 1 mistake.

Yep i agree with that as well, Q and Bowman taught me if you can tilt the ice with your 3rd and 4th lines you go deep into the playoffs. That Boston series was a heavy weight battle, 2 deep teams waiting for the other team to make 1 mistake.
- BetweenTheDots

Definitely agree. A bottom 6 like this has the potential to tilt the ice in a consistent manner while also providing a strong forecheck once play goes the other way.

Saad - Sikura/Dach - Shaw
Smith/Caggiula - Kampf - Carpenter

Other extra forwards to consider: Highmore

All good points. I don't mind a floating forward as much if his linemates play solid D. So if Nylander plays with Toews and Kane, the question would is if the captain is okay carrying the defensive load for their line.

I guess you could say the same thing about the DeBrincat-Strome line. The other winger needs to be defensively sound to give that line some semblance of a defensive conscience. DeBrincat and Strome are still young so they could always improve their D as well.
- AEL_Fox

I expect big things from Strome this year. Especially hearing that he is stronger and more explosive.

You are a pathetic troll. I come back to the board with the season starting and I am immediately attacked with clear violations of the HockeyBuzz Code of Conduct.


Reported
- EnzoD

God you're a crybaby

Good thing the Hawks won last night before the preseason got away from them.

Great write up as always TC. Saw a tiny bit of the Caps game from a link someone here posted but didn't see either Wings game. Figured one of them might be on locally but, oh well.

You mentioned Shaw playing with 12 and 17 which is where I see him possibly playing and performing a role similar to the one Caggiula did with 88 and 19, though with potentially more scoring.

Speaking of, do you have any thoughts on Strome?

Saw a couple posters comment positively about his skating. That would be big if he is better defensively this season and stronger on his skates while still providing offense.
- HawkintheD

Skating looks good. He looks solid. I am looking forward to his season this year.

A reasonable and balanced take. You have no place here with that crap....
- mohel

touche

You should add Hagel into the 2. of. the guy works his tail off and has some offensive talent.
- LAHawk

I think it's fair to include him in that group as well. He's been impressive as well. I just think he's set for a Top 6 role in Rockford to continue to grow his game

I think you'd have to consider also Quenneville and Saarela both being in the mix as well. I know Quenneville is banged up, but might be one of those extra forwards.

Just to note, the following players fighting for spots are not waiver exempt.

Perlini
Quenneville
Nilsson
Dahlström
Koekkoek
Holm

Seems likely that at least Nilsson, and two of the dmen will have to likely clear waivers.
- breadbag

Hmm I didn't realize that Holm would have to go through waivers. If he continues to play well be might make the opening night roster as I'd be surprised if Dahlstrom or Koekkoek get claimed as much as it would help elevate some cap and glut on the backend (queue rim shot lol)

Blackhawks first practice group:

Beaudin
Boqvist
Carlsson
Delia
Entwistle
Fortin
Hakkarainen
Highmore
Holm
Johnson
Knott
Krys
Kurashev
Lankinen
McLaughlin
Noel
Nilsson
Ramsey
Ryczek
Saarela
D. Sikura
T. Sikura
Soderlund
Tomkins
Tuulola
Versteeg

Via Ben Pope:

Colliton said the makeup of the "B" group today (incl. Boqvist, Sikura, Saarela) doesn't 100% foreshadow the cuts to come.

"There's still battles to be had. There'll be guys in that group who play in the next few games."

(Still, I bet they all do get sent to AHL eventually)

Hawks win !!!! Great job Tyler summing things up.
Last night was a great team effort of the past 3 games, and defensively outstanding performance.

Maatta and Seabrook looked like they played for years together.

Tyler in your opinion do you think Dach makes the team even though he missed a few preseason games he did play in the tournament recently and looked great.

With that in mind could Stan and JC have him penciled in in their minds and just being a bit cautious with his concussion protocol?


How about boqvist putting on a show, wow that kid has some great slick skills, the way he undressed their d and his shot ?
- Taylorst1

Dach is a long-shot at this point IMO.

He would need to come in and perform really well and produce to make the Hawks think about keeping him on the roster.

First things first, he needs to get healthy.

That all sounds pretty accurate to me.

At forward, IMO, Kubalik is a lock but not Nylander so 92 is in that list of bubble forwards.

On the blueline, Gilbert is stating his case. Doubt he beats out Koekkoek but think he may be eclipsing Dahlstrom with his play. Holm is definitely staking his claim, too.
- AEL_Fox

I think Nylander is going to be given the shot to start the year with the team on the top line to show he deserves it and also to justify the Joki trade. Looks bad if Joki is starting the year playing Top 4 minutes for Buffalo and Nylander is playing in the AHL. Not saying it's right but I'm just saying it puts a bad start to the kids career when he's looking for a fresh start. Not to mention you could do A LOT worse to start off playing with Toews and Kane. Even if he can be just solid it just adds more depth to the lineup having him there and bumping everyone down a spot

If I had to rank it for the final spot I'd go with...

Dahlstrom
Holm
Gilbert
Koekkoek

I think Nylander is going to be given the shot to start the year with the team on the top line to show he deserves it and also to justify the Joki trade. Looks bad if Joki is starting the year playing Top 4 minutes for Buffalo and Nylander is playing in the AHL. Not saying it's right but I'm just saying it puts a bad start to the kids career when he's looking for a fresh start. Not to mention you could do A LOT worse to start off playing with Toews and Kane. Even if he can be just solid it just adds more depth to the lineup having him there and bumping everyone down a spot

If I had to rank it for the final spot I'd go with...

Dahlstrom
Holm
Gilbert
Koekkoek
- Savetheembers33

Joki might get top 4 minutes because Montour just broke his hand and is out until the season starts. On the right side, Colin Miller and Roustelanen are still ahead of him, Dahlin and Macabe are the top left side defeseman.

Dach is a long-shot at this point IMO.

He would need to come in and perform really well and produce to make the Hawks think about keeping him on the roster.

First things first, he needs to get healthy.
- Tyler Cameron

Yeah, hard to see Dach making the roster at this point. The case was there for him to make it was IF he kept playing well all off-season building momentum for them to feel they have no choice but to keep him on the roster and see how he would handle it. Unfortunately, being put into concussion protocol put a dead stop to that. If he goes back to Juniors and just utterly dominates while someone is struggling then the case can be made to bring him up for a nine game tryout and see how it goes. No need to rush him if the depth is there for the team this year

Powers:

Blackhawks combinations in practice
Nylander-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Shaw
Saad-Kampf-Kubalik
Caggiula-Carpenter-Smith

Keith-Gustafsson
Maatta-Seabrook
Koekkoek-Murphy
Dahlstrom-de Haan

Perlini and Wedin also rotating in among the forwards.

Joki might get top 4 minutes because Montour just broke his hand and is out until the season starts. On the right side, Colin Miller and Roustelanen are still ahead of him, Dahlin and Macabe are the top left side defeseman.
- LAHawk

My assumption is that Ristolainen will be gone at some point after requesting a trade this offseason. Winnipeg could be a fit for him with the hits they've taken to their RHD depth this offseason...perhaps Ristolainen for Connor? Something interesting to keep an eye on. Anyways, my point is that he's likely gonna get some top tier minutes for Buffalo and even if he's still playing a 3rd pairing role and Nylander is in the minors its gonna look bad on the Hawks in the short term

Powers:

Blackhawks combinations in practice
Nylander-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Shaw
Saad-Kampf-Kubalik
Caggiula-Carpenter-Smith

Keith-Gustafsson
Maatta-Seabrook
Koekkoek-Murphy
Dahlstrom-de Haan

Perlini and Wedin also rotating in among the forwards.
- walleyeb1

Ha besides de Haan with Murphy I had that pretty spot on from earlier today

curious to see what Saarela does if he gets sent down. He got all pissy about not getting called up this summer, which is why he got traded.
- BINGO!

I thought he looked ok last night.

Ha besides de Haan with Murphy I had that pretty spot on from earlier today
- Savetheembers33

There is your opening night roster. Dahlstrom will be joining the Sikura's at Rockford. 68 will be the 7th D man

Ha besides de Haan with Murphy I had that pretty spot on from earlier today
- Savetheembers33

Barring a big change... probably your line-up game 1. Just put in De Haan if he is ready for KK.

I thought he looked ok last night.
- SaskHawkFan

He did, its just a numbers thing.

He did, its just a numbers thing.
- LAHawk

It’s also a waivers thing.

I've only seen a little of the games so far. Does anybody have a Lavender Sniffer report so far? How soft will this team be?
- mohel

Unless every player hits and fights they will be classified as lavender sniffers, you know that.

It’s also a waivers thing.
- walleyeb1

Does the NHL waivers work somewhat like MLB, that if someone puts in a claim you can recall the waiver?