Justin Lowe: Will He Make the Team: David Kampf Obviously, last year's Chicago Blackhawks team had a lot of ups-and-downs. More downs than ups, which provided a lot of opportunities for younger players to get into the lineup and show management what they were capable at the NHL level.

David Kampf was the beneficiary of this, and due to the lack of centre depth within the organization had a rather unexpected 46-game stint with the big club.

Good work JL!
FIRST!!!!... LOL

Nice blog, Justin. Yes, I think Kampf makes the team as a bottom 6 forward. Assuming Kahun makes the team and either he or Anisimov center the 3rd line with Kruger being 4C, then Kampf is RW on one of those lines.

No matter what position he plays, he gives Q a strong faceoff taker, penalty killer, and tenacious forechecker. Plus he's stronger than he looks. All of these qualities you described well in your blog.

I remember last summer after the Hawks acquired Murphy, many people including me Googled "Connor Murphy" and web search hits came up with a body builder by the same name who was freakishly huge in pictures. It helped to add "Connor Murphy NHL" to the search terms.

I remember last summer after the Hawks acquired Murphy, many people including me Googled "Connor Murphy" and web search hits came up with a body builder by the same name who was freakishly huge in pictures. It helped to add "Connor Murphy NHL" to the search terms.
- AEL_Fox

Ha. I made that mistake as well when the Hawks traded for him.

Big signing for WIN.

@DarrenDreger
41m41 minutes ago
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Sounds like a big signing about to be announced in Wpg. Blake Wheeler agrees to 5yr, $41.25 mil extension. AAV $8.25 million.

Nice job JL! I like Kampf's game a lot and can see an increased role for him this season with him and Hayden fighting for 3rd vs 4th line duties on right wing. On a side note, I just finished reading Scott Power's article on the state of the Hawks organization and the upcoming season in the Athletic - a really good read. Between you and Scott, I get my hockey fix every morning! Keep up the great work and thanks!

"I envision a line of Kunitz-Kruger-Kampf (K3 line)...."

Careful with those initials there - especially with no players of colo(u)r on the roster.

While everyone is expecting (or hoping for) comebacks from the core - Toews, Saad, Seabrook, Keith - I'm looking for a big comeback (to his past standards, certainly not into a top-six scorer) from Kruger - at 28, I'm assuming he's "cured" from his wrist and hernia issues, and will reclaim his hold position on the team.

But I do think your K3 line is reasonable and that Kampf makes the squad.

Big signing for WIN.

@DarrenDreger
41m41 minutes ago
More
Sounds like a big signing about to be announced in Wpg. Blake Wheeler agrees to 5yr, $41.25 mil extension. AAV $8.25 million.
- Justin Lowe

His assists dramatically improved last season - from an average of 40 per season over the previous six years to 68 last season (with his goals remaining at his prior levels): who was he feeding? Thirty-two now - if Stan had done a 5-year-$8.25 with a 32 year old, he'd be run out of town by his critics.

The Peg has a lot of their core signed up long-term now with what looks like decent room remaining to sign their RFAs after this season - Laine, Connor, Trouba....

Very incitefull blog Justin ! Does Hayden make the team or get traded ? He has been up for a year and a half and has been more disappointing in his play? Or would he be relegated to riding the pine?

They also have Kahun who might make waves, in the last name beginning with a "K" department.
C'mon October!

Very incitefull blog Justin ! Does Hayden make the team or get traded ? He has been up for a year and a half and has been more disappointing in his play? Or would he be relegated to riding the pine?
- Taylorst1

Hayden makes my team.

He has a very reasonable 750k contract for the next couple of years. He could put up anywhere from 7-10 goals with 200 hits - at that price, he has a lot of value.

He will make the team out of "Kampf"!

I would not be surprised if they end up playing Schmaltz on the Wing, AA at 2C and left Kampf and Kruger centre the bottom 6. Time will tell.

Hayden makes my team.

He has a very reasonable 750k contract for the next couple of years. He could put up anywhere from 7-10 goals with 200 hits - at that price, he has a lot of value.
- Justin Lowe

Great work as always JL! Have enjoyed all the write ups on the hopefuls for this season. I’d like to see Kampf and Hayden make it too.

Hayden makes my team.

He has a very reasonable 750k contract for the next couple of years. He could put up anywhere from 7-10 goals with 200 hits - at that price, he has a lot of value.
- Justin Lowe

He is one of few with size on this team. He has to make the team on this basis alone.

Great work as always JL! Have enjoyed all the write ups on the hopefuls for this season. I’d like to see Kampf and Hayden make it too.
- HawkintheD

Moving forward, Nick Schmaltz is a centre.

That is what I have heard from a source. They cannot afford to have him move to wing.

I can't argue with them either - outside of faceoffs and overall strength... he has all of the skills as a pivot in the NHL. He plays better when he can move with speed through the neutral zone.

His assists dramatically improved last season - from an average of 40 per season over the previous six years to 68 last season (with his goals remaining at his prior levels): who was he feeding? Thirty-two now - if Stan had done a 5-year-$8.25 with a 32 year old, he'd be run out of town by his critics.

The Peg has a lot of their core signed up long-term now with what looks like decent room remaining to sign their RFAs after this season - Laine, Connor, Trouba....
- StLBravesFan

Wheeler has always had high quantity and quality of shot asset / pass rates, but last year is when he was combined with shooters that cashed in on those assists at a higher rate than ever before: Kyle Conner at 5v5 and then Laine on the PP (34 of Wheeler's assists came on the PP). There should be some concern that Conner's sh% will regress a bit but Laine now had two seasons of elevated sh% so that might just be his norm.

Wheeler has always had high quantity and quality of shot asset / pass rates, but last year is when he was combined with shooters that cashed in on those assists at a higher rate than ever before: Kyle Conner at 5v5 and then Laine on the PP (34 of Wheeler's assists came on the PP). There should be some concern that Conner's sh% will regress a bit but Laine now had two seasons of elevated sh% so that might just be his norm.
- L_B_R

I really think anyone who can distribute the puck to Laine will enjoy some great assist totals. I think he will keep scoring at an elite rate. What a player Winnipeg got with him.

JL- Nice Write up as always!

so where do we stand for opening day lineup? based on your K3 Line...

Saad/Toews/DCat
???/Schmaltz/Kane
???/AA/???
Kunitz/Kruger/Kampf

3 holes with Hayden and Sikura likely locked into 2 of those spots.

1 magic roster spot left right?

YES KAMPF SHOULD MAKE THE TEAM. Last years experience with the Hawks, should only help him moving forward. He is probably going to wind up on the fourth line with Kruger and Kunitz and that's fine. Pretty good on face offs, he still might wind up on the wing but Q at times likes to employ two centers on the line with one playing the wing and Kampf provides him with that option. Kahun plays center and we will have to see how he is on the draws. The more flexibility, the better

Wow - Connor/Laine/Wheeler....

6'1"/6'5"/6'5" respectively.

Do the Hawks even have any random three guys that could match up with that line??? Shows how far behind the curve they are now.

As for Schmaltz at center...if he can't win faceoffs, and is most effective when he can motor through the neutral zone, yet lacks overall strength....how exactly is he a lock as a center? I am guessing most guys with good hands and speed would play a better game if no one touched them.

Put the names Kampf, Kahun, Highmore and Johnson in a hat and pick two.

Or, considering Kahun has an out clause to return to Europe if he doesn't make the Hawks - put the names Kampf, Highmore and Johnson in a hat and pick one.

JL- Nice Write up as always!

so where do we stand for opening day lineup? based on your K3 Line...

Saad/Toews/DCat
???/Schmaltz/Kane
???/AA/???
Kunitz/Kruger/Kampf

3 holes with Hayden and Sikura likely locked into 2 of those spots.

1 magic roster spot left right?
- gnosox1986

I've played around with many combinations but landed on:

Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
Hayden-Toews-Debrincat
Kahun-AA-Sikura
Kunitz-Kruger-Kampf

ex: Martinsen, ?

I will have an explanation on these, as well as some other potential winning combinations in my upcoming blog series.

His assists dramatically improved last season - from an average of 40 per season over the previous six years to 68 last season (with his goals remaining at his prior levels): who was he feeding? Thirty-two now - if Stan had done a 5-year-$8.25 with a 32 year old, he'd be run out of town by his critics.

The Peg has a lot of their core signed up long-term now with what looks like decent room remaining to sign their RFAs after this season - Laine, Connor, Trouba....
- StLBravesFan

But no cups

But no cups
- vabeachbear

Well, no STANLEY CUPS!