He will put up at least 30 points, so , yeah, he is.
- Elbows15

I do think he's a solid contributor. To his credit he's got the quick twitch ability in tight places, it's why i think he did so well around the front of the net. Smaller guy but willing to go to the front of the net, you can never have enough of those guys.

I do think he's a solid contributor. To his credit he's got the quick twitch ability in tight places, it's why i think he did so well around the front of the net. Smaller guy but willing to go to the front of the net, you can never have enough of those guys.
- BetweenTheDots

i go even simpler than that.

Strome, Connelly and Suter are all making roughly the same amount. Who do you prefer of that trio?

I know who I pick.

i go even simpler than that.

Strome, Connelly and Suter are all making roughly the same amount. Who do you prefer of that trio?

I know who I pick.
- Elbows15

That's a good point, i guess he's got his fingers crossed with Strome.

i go even simpler than that.

Strome, Connelly and Suter are all making roughly the same amount. Who do you prefer of that trio?

I know who I pick.
- Elbows15

None of them.

That's a good point, i guess he's got his fingers crossed with Strome.
- BetweenTheDots

Yeesh.

None of them.
- Angotti

Yeah, cause the Hawks have an abundance of useful players. At some point, they are going to have to sign some useful players to a 2nd contract.

Suter isn't a gamebreaker by any means, but who currently is a better option on the 3rd line?

All I see is a bunch of IFs there. Hagel? Suter had better numbers and I like Hagel a lot.

I am not sure what some fans think 3rd liners costs.

Course none of this matters if JC is going to juggle lines constantly like he did last season. It was maddening. No wonder their D coverage was mass confusion at times.


Also, I guess Tyler Johnson. I keep forgetting he is on the team.

I'd like to see more of Kalynuk, and less of Murphy. Murphy has been a liability from day one and hasn't really shown any progress. Not impressed by his shooting and passing either. I think he'd still be able to disguise as a good prospect to trade though. It does seem he has leadership qualities though, but that can only go so far.

Yeah, cause the Hawks have an abundance of useful players. At some point, they are going to have to sign some useful players to a 2nd contract.

Suter isn't a gamebreaker by any means, but who currently is a better option on the 3rd line?

All I see is a bunch of IFs there. Hagel? Suter had better numbers and I like Hagel a lot.

I am not sure what some fans think 3rd liners costs.
- Elbows15

I liked Suter, I just expected him to be more defensively responsible, unfortunately I also didn’t see him win many board battles, that’s not exactly a recipe for the 3rd line. They have Hagel and Johnson(you mentioned) for the third line, maybe Kurashev is the center.

I liked Suter, I just expected him to be more defensively responsible, unfortunately I also didn’t see him win many board battles, that’s not exactly a recipe for the 3rd line. They have Hagel and Johnson(you mentioned) for the third line, maybe Kurashev is the center.
- Angotti

Two guys who started off strictly as one way offensive forwards, ABD and Kubalik both showed they were working on the defensive side of the game last year. I was wondering if we’d see Suter bring that side of his game this year. I guess if he does Chicago won’t be the beneficiary. That said he wasn’t going to be a difference maker anyway.

I liked Suter, I just expected him to be more defensively responsible, unfortunately I also didn’t see him win many board battles, that’s not exactly a recipe for the 3rd line. They have Hagel and Johnson(you mentioned) for the third line, maybe Kurashev is the center.
- Angotti

Very fair points but it was his first year and it seemed like JC kept adjusting his defensive scheme.

The Leaves look more stupid then ever. They hired Dusty Imoo as a goalie coach for their minor league team. After some people questioned his Twitter activity he’s fired the next day. What a joke of an organization.
- paulr

You are calling the the team from the hockey capital of the world a joke organization?? Shame on you, can't possibly be. Shanahan said it was just a mistake that sliipped thru their system - just like the Stanley Cup has been slipping thru their fingers for 54 years in a row.

But Dusty Imoo will be OK - the Leafs probably gave him 5 years severance pay for that one day he spent in their employment.

Two guys who started off strictly as one way offensive forwards, ABD and Kubalik both showed they were working on the defensive side of the game last year. I was wondering if we’d see Suter bring that side of his game this year. I guess if he does Chicago won’t be the beneficiary. That said he wasn’t going to be a difference maker anyway.
- paulr

You are probably right, maybe he would have adapted his game to be more defensively responsible, it’s just that I didn’t see him battle. He does have an offensive game, which should improve as he spends more time in NA.

Very fair points but it was his first year and it seemed like JC kept adjusting his defensive scheme.
- BetweenTheDots

Good point as well. Maybe he becomes a good top six forward. I just like 200’ players, #81 spoiled us Hawk fans. Now I want my forwards putting up points, or score 15-18 goals and win board battles. That is my recipe for success as far as forwards are concerned, at least for the top nine.

I'd like to see more of Kalynuk, and less of Murphy. Murphy has been a liability from day one and hasn't really shown any progress. Not impressed by his shooting and passing either. I think he'd still be able to disguise as a good prospect to trade though. It does seem he has leadership qualities though, but that can only go so far.
- Zapur

This is incorrect.

This is incorrect.
- mohel

Are you sure! He says it’s so. Dots agrees with him. Maybe you’re wrong.

I liked Suter, I just expected him to be more defensively responsible, unfortunately I also didn’t see him win many board battles, that’s not exactly a recipe for the 3rd line. They have Hagel and Johnson(you mentioned) for the third line, maybe Kurashev is the center.
- Angotti

He was fine defensively for a rookie in the NHL. Honestly, none of us know who was responsible for who in the Hawks d system. LBH about it. lol

I saw him win some battles in front of the net and too few Hawks venture there. He wins more of those battles than Strome and Connelly. lol

Johnson also cost 2M more. I don't think we will see much difference in production between the two.

Oh well, this bunch of stiffs is here now. Let's hope they shock us.

I'd like to see more of Kalynuk, and less of Murphy. Murphy has been a liability from day one and hasn't really shown any progress. Not impressed by his shooting and passing either. I think he'd still be able to disguise as a good prospect to trade though. It does seem he has leadership qualities though, but that can only go so far.
- Zapur

Murph is far beyond a prospect.

Two guys who started off strictly as one way offensive forwards, ABD and Kubalik both showed they were working on the defensive side of the game last year. I was wondering if we’d see Suter bring that side of his game this year. I guess if he does Chicago won’t be the beneficiary. That said he wasn’t going to be a difference maker anyway.
- paulr

He can't be too bad if Yzerman found a purpose for him.

He can't be too bad if Yzerman found a purpose for him.
- Elbows15

He isn’t too bad but I dsee him as a difference maker. Do you?

He isn’t too bad but I dsee him as a difference maker. Do you?
- paulr

Called him useful. You need some of those guys, too. I don't see a lot of useful players on the roster at the moment. Guess we will find out come camp

Are you sure! He says it’s so. Dots agrees with him. Maybe you’re wrong.
- paulr

Crap, I haven't been wrong in hours.

He isn’t too bad but I dsee him as a difference maker. Do you?
- paulr

Compared to say whom - Strome? If so, yes.

Otherwise, the Hawks were just not going to pop for the salary Detroit was willing to pay.

Compared to say whom - Strome? If so, yes.

Otherwise, the Hawks were just not going to pop for the salary Detroit was willing to pay.
- RickJ

It should have read I don’t see him as a difference maker. He looked ok last year but he was expendable.

Are you sure! He says it’s so. Dots agrees with him. Maybe you’re wrong.
- paulr

I do feel the same way. He's mentally not very good. Great effort player, always working out, great company rah rah man. He would really benefit from a smarter player like Kalynuk or if what they say about McCabe is true, then McCabe.