Chicago Blackhawks Offseason Thread

[biittner77]

Now that the roster is more or less set for the time being (I can't see how the Hawks could sign any of the remaining UFAs) we can start looking at what the lines look like and what moves maybe still could be made.

 

More than last year, the line blender will be in full effect. The difference this season is that it might not cause nearly as much outrage.

 

Bickell-Toews- Kane: They're will be a lot of pressure on Bickell to score. Putting him here will help.

 

Sharp-Kruger-Hossa: This line will get the assignment of matching up with the other team's top offensive line. These are 3 defensively responsible forwards who can also put up some offense. I don't love Kruger in that role but unless Danault makes the team he's the 2nd best defensive center the Hawks have.

 

Saad-Pirri-Morin: This line has a nice balance of offense and defense. This is not a traditional checking line but ought to be able to hold their own.

 

The 4th line will be a mix of Either Handzus or Shaw at Center, Bollig when they need a staged fight, and one of the other forwards. For example, with Zus at Center, Shaw probably plays RW on the 3rd line, Morin and Smith/ Bollig are on the wings.

[biittner77]

So who makes the Hawks roster? Here's how I see it:

 

Obvious choices:

Forwards: Bickell, Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Shaw, Saad, Kruger, Handzus

Defense: Keith, Seabrook, Leddy, Hjammer, Roszival, Oduya*

Goalies: Crawford, Khabibulin

 

Likely:

Bollig-The Ryan Reeves' of the world aren't going to fight themselves

Pirri- He led the AHL in scoring and this team really needs him to show some of that at the next level

Smith- was the 1st choice to play of the Black Aces and is versatile. His abaility to kill penalties will be important.

Morin- decent size, can score and is not afraid to get physical

Brookbank-uinless he gets traded, the 7th defenseman spot is his to lose.

 

Decent chance:

Ryan Stanton: could beat out Brookbank for that 7th defense spot. I wouldn't be surprised if management wanted to work him in by splitting time with Roszival the same way Brookbank did last year

Jimmy Hayes: He has size but seems afraid to use it. He lacks the speed to keep up with some of the top forwards.

 

Outside chance:

Philip Danault: he's a defensively sound center that can win face offs. He looked good at prospect camp. He may need a year in the AHL before he's ready. He's part of the reason why they traded Bolland.

Dillon Olsen: he had a terrible year at the Rock last season but he was a high round pick and offers size on the back end.

Drew Leblanc: Mr. White, as I will insist on calling him, is in the same boat with Danault and McNeil.

 

Long shots:

Kyle Beach: The Hawks gave him a new contract. He could beat out Bollig for the designated goon role, presumably with more talent.

Mark McNeil: Another center that works hard in his own end but needs more time.

 

*At some point, I wonder if they might trade Oduya to make room for a younger player and to get get some room under the cap to make a bigger move at forward.

[Banedon]

Now that the roster is more or less set for the time being (I can't see how the Hawks could sign any of the remaining UFAs) we can start looking at what the lines look like and what moves maybe still could be made.

 

More than last year, the line blender will be in full effect. The difference this season is that it might not cause nearly as much outrage.

 

Bickell-Toews- Kane: They're will be a lot of pressure on Bickell to score. Putting him here will help.

 

Sharp-Kruger-Hossa: This line will get the assignment of matching up with the other team's top offensive line. These are 3 defensively responsible forwards who can also put up some offense. I don't love Kruger in that role but unless Danault makes the team he's the 2nd best defensive center the Hawks have.

 

Saad-Pirri-Morin: This line has a nice balance of offense and defense. This is not a traditional checking line but ought to be able to hold their own.

 

The 4th line will be a mix of Either Handzus or Shaw at Center, Bollig when they need a staged fight, and one of the other forwards. For example, with Zus at Center, Shaw probably plays RW on the 3rd line, Morin and Smith/ Bollig are on the wings.

 

CBS has it like this...

 

Bickell - Toews - Kane

Sharp - Handzus - Hossa

Saad - Shaw - Smith

Bollig - Kruger - Hayes

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/depth-chart/CHI/chicago-blackhawks

[kujay]

One of Morin or Pirri will be in there I think.

[biittner77]

CBS has it like this...

 

Bickell - Toews - Kane

Sharp - Handzus - Hossa

Saad - Shaw - Smith

Bollig - Kruger - Hayes

 

I'll be shocked if Handzus winds up playing more than 50 games next season. Not that Q won't throw him in on the 2nd line some but it's pretty clear that Pirri is going to get every chance to win that #2 C job.

[biittner77]

Hawks sign Winchester. That should probably send the go ahead and retire message to Mayers. It would be great if they could bring him back as a coach in some capacity.

[Banedon]

Stephen Walkom is no longer an on ice official. Going back to being the NHL Director of Officiating.

[UMFan83]

Stephen Walkom is no longer an on ice official. Going back to being the NHL Director of Officiating.

 

I'm gonna pretend that it's because he almost screwed us out of the Stanley Cup.

[Pushfrog98]

Speaking of the Stanley Cup, I'm hearing word that it WILL be at the Danver's Days parade again. Danvers is just outside blo-no for those not familiar.

[biittner77]

Speaking of the Stanley Cup, I'm hearing word that it WILL be at the Danver's Days parade again. Danvers is just outside blo-no for those not familiar.

 

Is this code for something?

[Banedon]

Speaking of the Stanley Cup, I'm hearing word that it WILL be at the Danver's Days parade again. Danvers is just outside blo-no for those not familiar.

 

Is this code for something?

 

Danvers is a town outside Bloomington-Normal. They have a parade/festival called Danvers Days. When the Blackhawks won the last championship, the SC was at the parade. Apparently it will be again.

[kujay]

I don't feel like digesting this right now. At least they are talking about hockey in August, I guess.

 

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9538380/how-fix-nhl/

[Banedon]

I don't feel like digesting this right now. At least they are talking about hockey in August, I guess.

 

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9538380/how-fix-nhl/

 

Yeah, and the article is written by @DownGoesBrown. And there's a corresponding post of things that shouldn't change:

 

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/70866/how-wed-keep-it-the-same-15-things-that-should-never-change-in-the-nhl

[dcvalpo]

The title of the article is an immediate fail. Why would the most exciting sport on the planet need to be fixed?

[Banedon]

The title of the article is an immediate fail. Why would the most exciting sport on the planet need to be fixed?

 

Yeah, I initially thought that. Some of his points I agree with, some I don't. I admit, I skimmed most of it, because it's rather lengthy. But I don't think it's as bad as you'd think from the title alone.

[UMFan83]

The title of the article is an immediate fail. Why would the most exciting sport on the planet need to be fixed?

 

Fixed to gain more national appeal I'd guess.

 

Anyways, some of the suggestions were ok, a lot I think terrible

[kujay]

I'll give it a fair shake since I respect DGB. I'll read it later.

[NewUserName]

The title of the article is an immediate fail. Why would the most exciting sport on the planet need to be fixed?

 

Fixed to gain more national appeal I'd guess.

 

Anyways, some of the suggestions were ok, a lot I think terrible

I am all for either getting rid of OT/shootouts or extending OT to 10 mins with no points to the loser. Calling obstruction would go along way to increasing scoring if that is what he really thinks will improve the game. I am not sure 80s level of scoring makes the game better for me to watch though.

[UMFan83]

I don't mind the all or nothing thing but completely against the idea of shootouts determining whether you get 2-3 points or 0 points.

[NewUserName]

I don't mind the all or nothing thing but completely against the idea of shootouts determining whether you get 2-3 points or 0 points.

I think all the solutions have problems. I hate shoot outs, but I understand those who want the game to resolve somehow. To me just calling it a tie is fine. My biggest fear is that shoot outs will eventually become part of playoff hockey. I think those who dismiss this as a possibility under-rate how dumb the NHL can be sometimes.

[biittner77]

I don't mind the all or nothing thing but completely against the idea of shootouts determining whether you get 2-3 points or 0 points.

I think all the solutions have problems. I hate shoot outs, but I understand those who want the game to resolve somehow. To me just calling it a tie is fine. My biggest fear is that shoot outs will eventually become part of playoff hockey. I think those who dismiss this as a possibility under-rate how dumb the NHL can be sometimes.

 

I doubt it would ever come to that (shoot outs in playoffs). If you're going to eliminate loser points than get rid of the shoot out too. 3 points for regulation win. 2 points for OT win and each side gets 1 for a tie game. That's plenty of incentive to win the game in OT.

[Banedon]

So Nashville really doesn't like Chicago fans buying tickets in Nashville...

 

So Nashville is getting creative. This season, for the first time, you will not be allowed to buy single game tickets for the November 16, December 17 and April 12 home dates against the Blackhawks. In order to get tickets to those games, you’ll be required to purchase a second game as well.

 

And (for the pre-sale) only those in the zip codes that we unlock can buy the Blackhawk game and a second game.

 

http://www.section303.com/preds-getting-creative-to-keep-the-red-out-sorry-chicago-fans-51051

[UMFan83]

So Nashville really doesn't like Chicago fans buying tickets in Nashville...

 

So Nashville is getting creative. This season, for the first time, you will not be allowed to buy single game tickets for the November 16, December 17 and April 12 home dates against the Blackhawks. In order to get tickets to those games, you’ll be required to purchase a second game as well.

 

And (for the pre-sale) only those in the zip codes that we unlock can buy the Blackhawk game and a second game.

 

http://www.section303.com/preds-getting-creative-to-keep-the-red-out-sorry-chicago-fans-51051

 

Who cares? They'll probably be cheaper on Stubhub anyways.

[Banedon]

So Nashville really doesn't like Chicago fans buying tickets in Nashville...

 

So Nashville is getting creative. This season, for the first time, you will not be allowed to buy single game tickets for the November 16, December 17 and April 12 home dates against the Blackhawks. In order to get tickets to those games, you’ll be required to purchase a second game as well.

 

And (for the pre-sale) only those in the zip codes that we unlock can buy the Blackhawk game and a second game.

 

http://www.section303.com/preds-getting-creative-to-keep-the-red-out-sorry-chicago-fans-51051

 

Who cares? They'll probably be cheaper on Stubhub anyways.

 

Right, seems like a lot of hoops to jump through when the secondary market is gonna be where I imagine most visiting fans get their tickets anyway.

[Banedon]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/9231f5a0568516cf2aae76ee3183918e/tumblr_mnzm1jXJ0w1sp0wbko1_400.png

 

EDIT: Oops, apparently this is from last year's Halloween. Oh well, still funny.