Kubalik-Toews-Saad/Caggiula/Shaw/prospect

Nylander-Dach/Strome-Kane

DeBrincat-Dach/Strome-Saad/Caggiula/Shaw/prospect

That would be my formula for the top 9 looking forward to next season and beyond.
- SimpleJack

Way to nail it down.

I've thought he would be a 4th line force also.

Though I wonder, if he was that good, shouldn't he be able to beat out the folks on the 4th line this upcoming year?

Get that players develop in the A, and prefer this route and have always female doged when they didn't follow it, but man, the 4th line really sucks.

Highmore, Hagel and Entwhistle should be the 4th this year.
- vabeachbear

With a great 4th line for 8 minutes a game we will be the better team...

You draft the best player available regardless of position. If you have a strength at one position, you can always use that to trade, and improve a weakness.
- LAHawk

Like the Jokiharju deal?

Thanks for sharing that tidbit about Strome's advanced metrics.

So with the scenario being to either re-sign Strome to a bridge deal to see how he develops or trade him to gain something in return, what are the center options to replace him if the latter happens?

Kurashev is at least a year away, IMO. Same with Barratt.

Entwistle would thrive as a kickass 4th liner before seeing if he elevate his game to 3C.

Could Strome be traded for another center? On CapFriendly, I see countless trade proposals from Sabres fans trading Mittelstadt for Strome. Not saying that's the deal to take but that could be a template to consider, i.e. another 1st round reclamation.

Or could a new center be had in another deal? Consider the center depth on the Habs and the fact that Bergevin highly covets Beaudin. Others have suggested trading Beaudin for one of Suzuki, Poehling, or Kotkaniemi (as part of a larger deal with other assets).

Then there's this year's draft as a possible solution, i.e. Lundell.
- AEL_Fox

My prediction - Strome will play 3C at $3.5 for two years and he'll like it.

I am not moving Beaudin as of right now. For years people have complained about the Hawks not developing D-men. Now, some are trowing them in deals.
- Elbows15

Agreed, I’d keep Beaudin for a while. He’ll likely spend another season in Rockford then move to the big club.

Even if you are correct, I don't care what any of you say, if Stan had given Nick the contract he got in AZ, they'd both be annihilated here every day.
- vabeachbear

Totally into oblivion. That deal is worse than the Saad deal everyone wants to dump Saad over.

I don't like that 2nd line you listed at all. I thought Nylander and Kane were starting to find something before the season ended.
I really would like one of the young guys to step up and snag one of the 3rd line wing spots.

Caligula is another question mark for me. He is useful and can plug and play anywhere, but he also has some concussion concerns. A healthy Shaw would be a nice asset but man, I kinda hope he hangs them up for his long term health.
- Elbows15

I was just proposing those forward lines as an example of spreading out the talent with Toews, Dach, and Kampf each centering a line with varying degrees of defensive consciousness and 3-zone play.

This would then leave Kane, DeBrincat, and Strome to just focus on high-octane offense. However, this would necessitate favorable matchups or else they'll be pinned in their own end way too much.

My preference is this instead:

Saad - Toews - Kubalik
Nylander - Dach - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Caggiula/Shaw/RW
Carpenter - Kampf - Highmore

I am not moving Beaudin as of right now. For years people have complained about the Hawks not developing D-men. Now, some are trowing them in deals.
- Elbows15

Me neither. The future of the team hinges on a new up-and-coming D corps that is solid across all 3 pairs and even the 7th man. Lots to like and work with if the youngsters continue to develop:

Boqvist, Beaudin, Carlsson, Mitchell, Krys, Regula, Vlasic, Moberg, Demin, Galvas

Sooner or later a numbers game results where not all of them will have a spot at the time they are ready to come out of the oven.

At that point you trade the ones you don't have room for with the hopes that they still developed into a reliable defender that another team could use.

And some just won't reach potential so cut bait with them when that is realized.

My prediction - Strome will play 3C at $3.5 for two years and he'll like it.
- rpeters01

Possibly. I’d expect a three year deal for Strome and 2 for Kubalik.

My prediction - Strome will play 3C at $3.5 for two years and he'll like it.
- rpeters01

That sounds about right if the cap is lower. I could see him getting $3.5-$4.0 for 2-3 years if the cap remains the same.

It also depends on where Kubalik and Crawford land. Hopefully back with Chicago and at reasonable cap hits.

Bridge deals for Strome and Kubalik. At most a 2-year deal for Crawford but would prefer year to year.

Possibly. I’d expect a three year deal for Strome and 2 for Kubalik.
- DarthKane

I don't think Strome will sign for three years, he'll want to see where the cap goes after two and settling for less than he expected?

I don't think Strome will sign for three years, he'll want to see where the cap goes after two and settling for less than he expected?
- rpeters01

They both have produced at pretty much the same rate in their careers. Saad gets an advantage because he has done it fairly consistently for longer. Plus better health.
I don't think Schmaltz' deal is all that horrible. The term is too long for me.

Way to nail it down.
- Elbows15

/anyone on skates with a stick

With a great 4th line for 8 minutes a game we will be the better team...
- rpeters01

It was a point on Entwhistle and would or should he be ready for the big club, not on the merits of whether a 4th line should be good.

That 4th line in '13 made the Hawks a pretty great team

It was a point on Entwhistle and would or should he be ready for the big club, not on the merits of whether a 4th line should be good.

That 4th line in '13 made the Hawks a pretty great team
- vabeachbear

4th line only matters if your other 3 lines are good. I don't think we are there yet in relation to where we need to be. It's not the 4th line making St Louis better than us. Obviously it's our defense as well.

Way to nail it down.
- Elbows15

The one guy off the 2010 team I am surprised never had much of a career is Hendry. He was pretty decent on that team and should have found a home as a 3rd pairing guy on some team.
- Elbows15

I agree with you on this. Perhaps his injury took the edge off his mobility.

4th line only matters if your other 3 lines are good. I don't think we are there yet in relation to where we need to be. It's not the 4th line making St Louis better than us. Obviously it's our defense as well.
- rpeters01

If only we could find that Hossa tree and pluck another one of those. Man, that guy almost single handedly balanced out the roster.

Thanks for sharing that tidbit about Strome's advanced metrics.

So with the scenario being to either re-sign Strome to a bridge deal to see how he develops or trade him to gain something in return, what are the center options to replace him if the latter happens?

Kurashev is at least a year away, IMO. Same with Barratt.

Entwistle would thrive as a kickass 4th liner before seeing if he elevate his game to 3C.

Could Strome be traded for another center? On CapFriendly, I see countless trade proposals from Sabres fans trading Mittelstadt for Strome. Not saying that's the deal to take but that could be a template to consider, i.e. another 1st round reclamation.

Or could a new center be had in another deal? Consider the center depth on the Habs and the fact that Bergevin highly covets Beaudin. Others have suggested trading Beaudin for one of Suzuki, Poehling, or Kotkaniemi (as part of a larger deal with other assets).

Then there's this year's draft as a possible solution, i.e. Lundell.
- AEL_Fox

Wasn't part of the reason Schmaltz was traded due to the fact he was going to need a new contract? And the prior season he put up 52 pts. He was going to get paid after the 18/19 season and the Hawks did not want to give him a big contract.

If only we could find that Hossa tree and pluck another one of those. Man, that guy almost single handedly balanced out the roster.
- Chunk

I think we're short two "A" level Forwards and that's including Nylander making it.

I think we're short two "A" level Forwards and that's including Nylander making it.
- rpeters01

My guess is they draft a forward. I like the idea of grabbing Drysdale. But don't think they would even if he is available. As well I yhink they would pass on Askarov.. This goaltender might be available.

I am no fan of Strome due to his defensive game. But since I am clearly biased, I am not going to get caught up in tearing him down or getting rid of him. I do suspect though that once Barrett is ready to take someone's job, it could be Strome who looses out. Due to the fact both are slow skaters.

I think we're short two "A" level Forwards and that's including Nylander making it.
- rpeters01

On ELC's...

NBC Sports (the national network) will show game 6 of the 2010 Cup final series (Hawks vs Flyers) at 8 pm Central. Today is the ten year anniversary of that game. Spoiler alert Kaner scores in OT.

Game 1 of that series is on now and game 3 will be on at 6 pm.
- boilermaker100

Several things that I noticed watching that game last night:
1. Damn that team was FAST in all facets of the game
2. Keith was AMAZINGLY GOOD - fast, great puck handler,
3. Hossa was just so good in all three zones
4. Seabs was also really good

Great memories

*NEW* blog up: https://bit.ly/3h9QsPT

My choices for Black Aces for the Blackhawks.

Enjoy!