I think the Hawks GA will be drastically reduced. Their GF may suffer a bit as a result but they'll have a positive differential. I think the additions of de Haan and Maatta have been understated. While they may not be super stars they are solid verteran d-men who know their role. During the last 2 Cup runs Oduya and Hjalmarsson were just as important as Keith and Seabrook. #4 and #27 certainly were not flashy players but they got the job done.

Note: I am not directly comparing de Haan and Maatta to Hjalmarsson and Oduya, this comment was for illustration purposes only.

Plus, adding Smith and Carpenter should help make the forward group better defensively (and Shaw to a lesser degree).

Lehner is head an shoulders above Ward and Delia. He might even be better than Crawford at this point (as a big #50 fan that takes a lot for me to say).

Sometimes the best moves aren't the biggest most popular moves.
- DarthKane

THIS. Been saying this all offseason.

Best legit post I've seen from ya in awhile bro (aka not dripping in sarcasm lol). Spot on.

[quote=DarthKane]I got THN annual pool guide, here are their predictions for the Blackhawks:

Kane 94 points
Strome 75
DeBrincat 70
Toews 67
Saad 50
Gustafsson 47
Shaw 41
Keith 36
Perlini 31
Smith 31
Seabrook 27
Kubalik 25
Cagguila 25
Kampf 20
Määttä 19
Nylander 18
Koekkoek 18
Sikura 18 (I think they mean 81)
Wedin 18
de Haan 16
Boqvist 16 (maybe in Rockford)
Carpenter 15
Murphy 14

Crawford 28 wins
Lehner 14

No Dach!!!....damn, guess he didn't make the team!!
- hawk35

If Määttä gets more points than Nylander I'm going to be disappointed. I'm not expecting greatness from Nylander, but he should be able to get more than 20 points this year IF he makes the team which I expect the Hawks will do especially because it would likely be in a Top 6 role

Hey guy your barking up the wrong tree here. If what your claiming to be true, I for one would not have shot you down. Here's my take on toews , he received his big pay day and went MIA with everyone making excuses for him as well as him. So on his 8 year contract year 4 he finally lives up to his 10.5 million dollar a year payday.

At 31 I wouldn't hold my breathe that toews will be the same player he was 5 or 8 years ago, he is most likely going to underperform.


Now with that said I'm not personally attacking him, just his performance for what he is being paid. We can argue semantics and say that's Stans fault he offered that to him, but their was a time where toews produced and his new contract was offered when he was 26 years old still young.
- Taylorst1

Toews was injured, with back problems after the worlds, and then he said himself that he concentrated too much on strength, and couldn't move as well or as fast. So, being the ultimate competitor and always wanting to be his best, he retooled his workouts to get more agility and speed into his game which we saw last season. I really don't think he is suddenly going to regress...

THIS. Been saying this all offseason.

Best legit post I've seen from ya in awhile bro (aka not dripping in sarcasm lol). Spot on.
- Savetheembers33

I apologize, I'll do better next time.

What nobody is saying is how much 75 points will cost trying to sign Strome that's a very high number. Higher than Toews usually gets...

- rpeters01

That’s why I think he’s resigned before mid season.

That’s why I think he’s resigned before mid season.
- walleyeb1

If Strome gets 75 points he prices himself out of Chicago and he'll be on a plane to Columbus in no-time.

If Strome gets 75 points he prices himself out of Chicago and he'll be on a plane to Columbus in no-time.
- DarthKane

He'll be traded to Ottawa in return for Anisimov.

If Strome gets 75 points he prices himself out of Chicago and he'll be on a plane to Columbus in no-time.
- DarthKane

Even better, he can get a bidding war going with Carolina and AZ.

He'll be traded to Ottawa in return for Anisimov.
- mohel

(frank)ing Bowman!!

(frank)ing Bowman!!
- paulr

Trade Strome and DeBrinket to Seattle for all their expansion picks!! #cap space, #depth

I think the Hawks GA will be drastically reduced. Their GF may suffer a bit as a result but they'll have a positive differential. I think the additions of de Haan and Maatta have been understated. While they may not be super stars they are solid verteran d-men who know their role. During the last 2 Cup runs Oduya and Hjalmarsson were just as important as Keith and Seabrook. #4 and #27 certainly were not flashy players but they got the job done.

Note: I am not directly comparing de Haan and Maatta to Hjalmarsson and Oduya, this comment was for illustration purposes only.

Plus, adding Smith and Carpenter should help make the forward group better defensively (and Shaw to a lesser degree).

Lehner is head an shoulders above Ward and Delia. He might even be better than Crawford at this point (as a big #50 fan that takes a lot for me to say).

Sometimes the best moves aren't the biggest most popular moves.
- DarthKane

Who are you and what did you do to Darth?????????

Who are you and what did you do to Darth?????????
- Abadseed

It's just his 13th post. He's back on track again.

Not saying he was a top six power forward, but I am saying I’m not sure we win the Cup 2015 without him.
- walleyeb1

That I agree with. Everyone else complained about Bickell, now all of a sudden they want to put him up on a pedestal and argue . His numbers quite frankly sucked. I'm not taking away his rock solid performance in the 2013 finals.

But anything more is just looking to argue when the numbers don't lie

If Strome gets 75 points he prices himself out of Chicago and he'll be on a plane to Columbus in no-time.
- DarthKane

If Strome posts 75 we are in deep sh--!

That I agree with. Everyone else complained about Bickell, now all of a sudden they want to put him up on a pedestal and argue . His numbers quite frankly sucked. I'm not taking away his rock solid performance in the 2013 finals.

But anything more is just looking to argue when the numbers don't lie
- Taylorst1

His numbers are meaningless he was sick and not the same player. The Bickell discussion is a waste of space

Toews was injured, with back problems after the worlds, and then he said himself that he concentrated too much on strength, and couldn't move as well or as fast. So, being the ultimate competitor and always wanting to be his best, he retooled his workouts to get more agility and speed into his game which we saw last season. I really don't think he is suddenly going to regress...
- ToewsdNKanefusd

The problem with that reason , he was 26 years old he just started his 8 year 10.5 million dollar contract , he still had hossa as his wingman and for the next 3 seasons he went into decline.

Now at 31 years old I wouldn't expect Toews to play lights out again.

That's not to say he won't play well , it's just having higher expectations, based on his last 4 years and being 31 years old , he might put up a respectable 60 to 66 point season and not 82 plus points.

If Strome posts 75 we are in deep sh--!
- rpeters01

I second that. If some of these 1 year newbies have any type of breakout year Stans screwed with trying to retain any of them.

The problem with that reason , he was 26 years old he just started his 8 year 10.5 million dollar contract , he still had hossa as his wingman and for the next 3 seasons he went into decline.

Now at 31 years old I wouldn't expect Toews to play lights out again.

That's not to say he won't play well , it's just having higher expectations, based on his last 4 years and being 31 years old , he might put up a respectable 60 to 66 point season and not 82 plus points.
- Taylorst1

Did you not read what I wrote...He was injured with a back issue...that is when his "decline" supposedly started...my argument is that he wasn't declining. Rather, he was injured...then when he got better, he stated HIMSELF, that he got away form the speed and agility because he thought he needed more strength. He has now corrected that, and that is why I don't agree that he will do worse this year. I think he will be as good, maybe even better this year. Especially considering most are not rating him very highly anymore. That alone will light a fire under him to show all of his naysayers that he is not done.

and 31 is not old...

If Strome posts 75 we are in deep sh--!
- rpeters01

I hope he posts 100.

Even better, he can get a bidding war going with Carolina and AZ.
- Chunk

Maybe Stan could get Schmaltz back?

That I agree with. Everyone else complained about Bickell, now all of a sudden they want to put him up on a pedestal and argue . His numbers quite frankly sucked. I'm not taking away his rock solid performance in the 2013 finals.

But anything more is just looking to argue when the numbers don't lie
- Taylorst1

Telling Taylor you disagree means you're dishonest or stupid. This we learned yesterday. Today we add argumentative to the list. The Most Interesting Man in the World has opinions so correct that they are really facts!

Where's Ogi with that troll flowchart?

His numbers are meaningless he was sick and not the same player. The Bickell discussion is a waste of space
- rpeters01

Did you not read what I wrote...He was injured with a back issue...that is when his "decline" supposedly started...my argument is that he wasn't declining. Rather, he was injured...then when he got better, he stated HIMSELF, that he got away form the speed and agility because he thought he needed more strength. He has now corrected that, and that is why I don't agree that he will do worse this year. I think he will be as good, maybe even better this year. Especially considering most are not rating him very highly anymore. That alone will light a fire under him to show all of his naysayers that he is not done.

and 31 is not old...
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I did take the time and read what you wrote. And yes back injuries are very tricky. I also said if you look at his age and the last 4 years as a snapshot , it's highly unlikely he will reproduce the same or similar numbers as he did last year.

Could he sure anything is possible, but taking into account his age , and all the hockey he has played in such a short period of time I think he will put up a respectable season 60 to 66 points but not a 78 to 84 plus season.

That I agree with. Everyone else complained about Bickell, now all of a sudden they want to put him up on a pedestal and argue . His numbers quite frankly sucked. I'm not taking away his rock solid performance in the 2013 finals.

But anything more is just looking to argue when the numbers don't lie
- Taylorst1

There is more to hockey than goals and assists...

And I am sure that his MS was starting to affect his game before anyone even realizes...which would explain why he wasn't playing as good as time went on.