Thats just pre-posting shape.
I called Bickell when others were calling for his head among some other things on that rant from the ether clouds.
I am now sensing the lines are shaping up.
Game 1.
Dano-Toews-Hossa
Bickell-AA-Kane
Garbutt-Teuvo-Shaw (some guys more than able to take some faceoff pressure off Teuvo)
Desjardins-Kruger-Baun
Panarin, Tikhonov, Paille, Mashinter, Hartman (how many bench do I get? Comiskey, Kopecky, Rasmussen other tough players to consider)
I think Panarin plays his way into Bauns spot eventually. It won't be long before we see a strong winning streak hunker down with
Dano-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-AA-Kane
Bickell-Teuvo-Garbutt
Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw
Imo- This team has 15 NHL starting caliber players who would play in most teams first 3 lines, those 12 plus Tikhonov, Baun, Paille. Though...Hobgoblin might be a stretch at more than a 4th liner, Kruger too.
Thats what I would go with. I think Hobgoblin is in real trouble. I like the skill set and mature play, but the speed, physicality, and conditioning seem lax. I think I have seen enough to know his hockey ability deserves to make the team, but do I think he is the type of guy Q wants on his bench? Him and Panarin both seem to ruffle Q a bit when questioned about it in Blackhawk site interviews. They are loose, jolly guys with great hockey sense, but not the scrappiness Q likes. He is looking at several young North American and Swedish players that are showing they want it bad. These two seem a bit more entitled, and is that going to be enough to secure a bench spot for Q? I hope its not up to him, because they both play hockey above the level of those scrappers around them, and they create chances for others. Its kind of unfair to judge them with lower tier talent around them, as I think Hobgoblin especially is best paired with high caliber athletes and scrappers around him he can create for.
I think they make it in the end, but if Tikhonov gets passed for a scrappy, or Panarin cuz of $, I understand!
