Blackhawks 2016-17 Season Thread

[anotheridiot]

Brad Richards retired, so thats one less old guy to block some youth this season.

 

[anotheridiot]

Hawks announce their 21 game national TV regular season schedule. I actually thought they were limited to 12 last year by league rules.

Blackhawks announce 2016-17 national television schedule

 

[JBM73]

According to the rumor mill Jimmy Vesey is the Hawks Plan A and Jiri Hudler is Plan B, if the Hawks miss on Vesey and Hudler hasn't signed elsewhere by then.

 

[JBM73]

Sounds like Nick Schmaltz has the inside track on the 3C spot.

 

[Eco]

Welcome home Brian, it'll be great to have him back as our defense will need it.

Looking forward to this year - I think we are looking really solid, assuming we can stay healthy.

What do you guys think about totally mixing up the lines this year and having it look like..?

Panik - Toews - Kane
Panarin - Anisimov - Schmaltz
Desjardins - Kruger - Hossa
Motte - Hinostroza - Hartman

 

[anotheridiot]

I hate Kruger on the third line, I know the mentality is earn your spot on the 4th line and move up when your salary increases, but Kruger is perfect as the 4th line center.

Schmaltz or Ryan Hartman should get the 3C job.Hartman is not afraid to mix things up like Shaw did. I dont like Hoss down on the third line either though. Really waiting til next week to see if they get Vessey because thats going to shake up the left side.

 

[JBM73]

Welcome home Brian, it'll be great to have him back as our defense will need it.

Looking forward to this year - I think we are looking really solid, assuming we can stay healthy.

What do you guys think about totally mixing up the lines this year and having it look like..?

Panik - Toews - Kane
Panarin - Anisimov - Schmaltz
Desjardins - Kruger - Hossa
Motte - Hinostroza - Hartman

Welcome aboard, Lucas! This isn't the most active board, but a.i. gives it a good go and I chime in when I can.

I do think there's a realistic chance we see Toews and Kane reunited. They have to find a way to create at least 2 balanced scoring lines. I think the Hawks clearly see Schmaltz as a center, and I agree with ai that Kruger is a 4th line player, perhaps an overpaid one. I also don't think there's any way Q rolls out an all-rookie line, that just doesn't seem his style. I think we'll see one of Vesey or Hudler join the mix, which probably bumps Panik down to the 3rd line. Probably something like:

Vesey/Hudler-Toews-Kane
Panarin-Anisimov-Hossa
Desjardins-Schmaltz-Panik
Rookie-Kruger-Tootoo

 

[Eco]

That works. I've spent about 5 years and countless hours on HFboards for the Hawks...so it's alright if it's not the busiest.

 

[JBM73]

There's also some added benefit to spreading out the scoring in terms of Panarin's contract. If points are shifted away from his line the cost of his new contract after this season drops a bit...

 

[anotheridiot]

There's also some added benefit to spreading out the scoring in terms of Panarin's contract. If points are shifted away from his line the cost of his new contract after this season drops a bit...

I dont know about that, he will still get his points because of that release on one timers. Just gotta go back to Saad and playing for 800K then going into the real negotiations feeling both under appreciated and under paid when the hawks were looking for a bridge. Panarin might never have another year like this one, he is playing alot of hockey really not recovering, but that can go both ways, he may exceed his production next year. The biggest thing I saw in his maturity was getting that Hossa mentality of getting the puck back if he was the one that created the turnover. I would rather they work in a bridge now because he is not going to accept one later. The team does not look at it like they got the production of a 5 million dollar player last year and try to make up for it since they cannot stay away from veteran players in free agency or deadline deals.

 

[JBM73]

Who do you think are the most likely prospects to make the team this year? My guesses:

1) Schmaltz
2) Motte
3) Hartman

I think 2 of those guys make the team.

 

[anotheridiot]

Hartman has already been here and the back and forth travels pretty much show if there is not major consistency this year he will always be a floater for Q. I think Hartmans battle is with Hinistroza, who Q really likes. Danault should have had that spot in all honesty, it was alot to give up for Ladd.

I think Schmaltz is a shoe in, but we still need to wait for the Vessy sweepstakes. Pretty good chances, other than not getting 19 here. The rest of the teams he is talking to are all in the east with what is usually referred to as a more physical game. PRetty sure that would drop this list of 3 to 1, Schmaltz.

Hawks missed out on Hayes due to guarantee on playing time, I am pretty sure its the same boat with Vessy.

 

[JBM73]

Hartman has already been here and the back and forth travels pretty much show if there is not major consistency this year he will always be a floater for Q. I think Hartmans battle is with Hinistroza, who Q really likes. Danault should have had that spot in all honesty, it was alot to give up for Ladd.

I think Schmaltz is a shoe in, but we still need to wait for the Vessy sweepstakes. Pretty good chances, other than not getting 19 here. The rest of the teams he is talking to are all in the east with what is usually referred to as a more physical game. PRetty sure that would drop this list of 3 to 1, Schmaltz.

Hawks missed out on Hayes due to guarantee on playing time, I am pretty sure its the same boat with Vessy.

Even with signing Vesey or Hudler, there still seem to be 2 spots open. Here's what I suggested earlier:

Vesey/Hudler-Toews-Kane
Panarin-Anisimov-Hossa
Desjardins-Schmaltz-Panik
Rookie-Kruger-Tootoo

Am I missing anyone?

 

[anotheridiot]

Just Manshinter, and Rasmussen, who they figure is really just going to play center. Only 10 forwards on the roster now. Something tells me they will try for Hudler even if they get Vesey.

 

[JBM73]

Just Manshinter, and Rasmussen, who they figure is really just going to play center. Only 10 forwards on the roster now. Something tells me they will try for Hudler even if they get Vesey.

Well, looks like they had better get moving on Hudler.

 

[JBM73]

Hudler signs with Dallas. I wonder if Alex Tanguay has enough left in the tank to at least serve in a platoon situation at 1LW?

 

[anotheridiot]

Blackhawks statement on Duncan Keith

Guess that miracle pace recovery time for Duncan is still causing him trouble, and was a thorn all last year too.

 

[Eco]

I'm rather relieved to know he's not playing in the Hockey World Cup. I just hope that he comes back 100%

 

[JBM73]

Yeah, I agree. I really don't care about the world cup. Would rather see him healthy and rested for the pursuit of the Cup that really matters...

 

[anotheridiot]

Been announced the Hawks are staying in chicago this year instead of heading out to ND. They said it was because so many were going to be missing time from the world cup. I thought they just added to the building with an outdoor rink, so it would make sense to stay here, other than the bonding in a college.