Blackhawks 2015-16 Team Discussion Thread

[BlackHawkPaul]

Is he opening a club?

I'll take a healthy Rosy and Keith for 1000, Alex.

 

[DMelt36]

Shaw on the top line, eh?

 

[HawkWriter]

Shaw on the top line, eh?

Played his best game of the season last game and has showed that he can play in the top 6 at times before. It isn't ideal but I really don't know where else the Blackhawks can look at this time...no one that has been given a shot on the top line has grabbed it and run with it.

 

[ClydeLee]

He may of trimmed his hair a bit, perhaps not trying to be Sharp now will do him well. Besides if he's not going to go the full way again, don't bother.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Shaw on the top line, eh?

Yeah....damnit I signed in because I am so disappointed in this. Shaw is such a godforsaken hack. I love the guy, but when we ask too much of him it turns our chemistry to shit. Why stick a hack up with the beauty of Toews/Hossa he is just going to muck up all their incredible passes. The same problem exists with Garbutt, and unfortunately Dano may take some time to develop his skill level to be good enough even if he can.

I don't know that there is a great answer on the roster or in the organization and we may just be throwing player after player all year there. It doesn't matter because Q goes Pan-Toews-Kane already when he needs a goal. That might clearly be the true "first" line.

Leaving us to imagine who the true second and third line is may be more informative. TT-AA-Hossa?

or Dano-TT-Hossa as a third line makes some sense. With Garbutt-AA-Tikhinov if you want to see AA swear a lot in Russian.

Dano-Toews-Hossa
Pan-AA-Kane
Garbutt-TT-Tikhinov
Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw

I'm telling you guys. Its our best 12 in their logical chemistry formation. If we don't make trades, or Kero/Baun can't break in past Hobgoblin or Garbutt (Kero is an inch ahead right now due to position).

Or Bigfoot can find his equilibrium and stop eating the forest mushrooms. Or injuries.

I expect to see that 12 eventually. Its possible they don't think Dano has "earned it", and so its a matter of throwing everyone who has at the position before they give it to him for the next 2 years, and can say to the guys...you had your chance.

Shaw has earned it. Maybe its him who has to accept his role. I am just getting frustrated with him mucking up the beauty of the blackhawks when put out there with the skill guys. Thats not what he is.

By god he is beloved. Who wanted love that little scrapper? But he shouldn't be paired with Garbutt, and neither should be allowed to stop the puck on the top 6.


TT-Toews-Kane
Pan-AA-Tikhinov
Dano-Kero-Hossa (let the old man bring up the pups)
D-K-S

is another favorite of mine. The countryman line.

But

Kane-Toews-Hossa
Pan-AA-Tikhinov
Dano-TT-Garbutt serves a better 12.

 

[The Hawk]

There isn't a guy on this team who goes to the net like Shaw. He also screens well and is tough as nails. He should thrive on that line.

 

[ClydeLee]

I'm surprised Rask isn't keen onto the hype of Mashinster getting the call up and joining the 4th line next game. He was all into him during the preseason because of his physical nature.

If Shaw plays like he did vs Edmonton he can play well in the lottery role this 2nd go around, he looked his best all year when he was with Dano-Kero... though that leads me to question why not keep that line in tact because it played well.

Speaking of which, I'm curious to know what type of ice time or partners Kyle Baun has got in Rockford because he has yet to do anything there. Still has no points as a professional hockey player.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Oh yeah, I got so distracted by misuse of Shaw I forgot. Thanks. I'm glad the Rockford Captain is getting the ice he earned in preseason, the team has rewarded most of the guys who did already in this young season. Congrats to Mashinter and I hope he plays well enough to get something back in a trade or be remembered in case of a couple injuries.

 

[DMelt36]

I remain unconvinced that Mashinter is anything other than another Brandon Bollig.

 

[ClydeLee]

I remain unconvinced that Mashinter is anything other than another Brandon Bollig.

He's been a far better offensive player at every single level. Bolig was just a tall clog that somehow had a good run of time playing beside Kruger-Smith that 1 season but never was anything of a talented player at any point.

From what I've seen of Mashinter at Rockford, he does know how to have some net presence, and had scored quite a bit on the PP because of it.

 

[DMelt36]

He's been a far better offensive player at every single level. Bolig was just a tall clog that somehow had a good run of time playing beside Kruger-Smith that 1 season but never was anything of a talented player at any point.

From what I've seen of Mashinter at Rockford, he does know how to have some net presence, and had scored quite a bit on the PP because of it.

Perhaps the Bollig comparison was harsh. But I just never thought much of Mashinter. He's a bottom-6 guy at best and the Hawks have enough bottom-6 forwards already.

 

[HawkWriter]

I'm not a fan of Mashinter but he is going to be playing the fourth line and likely will try to dance with Farnham and Reaves (if he makes it to Saturday, which I don't think he will). The move makes sense at this time because this is going to be the last time for a little while that the Blackhawks get to take a look at a player from the AHL without truly needing them. Both Keith and Rozsival are about to come off LTIR and have their money working against the cap again.

 

[ClydeLee]

Perhaps the Bollig comparison was harsh. But I just never thought much of Mashinter. He's a bottom-6 guy at best and the Hawks have enough bottom-6 forwards already.

That's all he is, he's a Rob Klinkhammer at the best, and there is reasons team after team move on from that kinda guy but other teams bring them in because they have size and a tinge of something of skill.

Hell, I remember when my expectations for Kyle Beach were that he'd be at least that, now he's not even a productive player in the Austria league

 

[HawkWriter]

Rozsival and Keith expected to play on Saturday night. Gus sent down.

 

[ClydeLee]

Rozsival and Keith expected to play on Saturday night. Gus sent down.

They have to send more down to cover Keith's cap back. And I know when Keith was up it was a tight fit to have called up Dano, because he is a price range around 800k while the other rookies are under 600k it could be him.

Though maybe with Bickell down with his 950K savings that covers and allows them to keep Dano and they'll just send down Mash or Svedberg... It's a pipedream that they'd waive or trade Rundblad though.

Update: Svedberg was also sent down with the announcement of Keith's activation. So it's back to that, for now. Hopefully Gus will return not too long away to spell Rozi.

 

[HawkWriter]

They have to send more down to cover Keith's cap back. And I know when Keith was up it was a tight fit to have called up Dano, because he is a price range around 800k while the other rookies are under 600k it could be him.

Though maybe with Bickell down with his 950K savings that covers and allows them to keep Dano and they'll just send down Mash or Svedberg... It's a pipedream that they'd waive or trade Rundblad though.

Update: Svedberg was also sent down with the announcement of Keith's activation. So it's back to that, for now. Hopefully Gus will return not too long away to spell Rozi.

Sooner or later, Stan is going to have to waive (or somehow trade) Rundblad. By doing so, he is probably acknowledging that he made a bad trade, and he likely doesn't want to do that. I'd actually be surprised if Rundblad makes it through waivers, some team will think there is untapped offensive potential. I don't see it and I don't see how he fits with the Blackhawks.

I do think you are right...when the Blackhawks are home, Rockford is home, there is a good chance that Gus will be making the drive to take over the #6 duties for one night at a time.

I'd be really, really surprised to see Rundblad get another chance...or maybe that is just wishful thinking on my part.

 

[Bigfoot]

Good to see Keith back, and not sure if T-Roz would be an upgrade over Gus at this point. Was really liking Gus play. Have to agree HH, think a decesion on Rundblad is coming.

 

[Tater]

Good to see Keith back, and not sure if T-Roz would be an upgrade over Gus at this point. Was really liking Gus play. Have to agree HH, think a decesion on Rundblad is coming.

I was liking it too.

 

[HawkWriter]

http://www.csnchicago.com/blackhawks/marko-dano-gets-another-shot-blackhawks-top-line

Dano back with Toews/Hossa

 

[Raskolnikov]

Good to see. Q finally getting the top 2 lines right. I really think Dano/Hossa should be on the same line. It lets Dano come off the ice and sit next to his countrymen and get developed the right way. It gives him that motivation of playing with his hero and national legend. It gives him somebody to protect and use that hits effectively. Lets cross our fingers and hope either Q has some patience or we get one or two goals in time from this line. At this point, a single goal should buy you 3 games to find another.

Whats wrong with the fourth line that ended last year guys?

I still think the magic button for the third line is going to be Tikhinov-TT-Garbutt/Shaw Hobgoblin strikes me as someone that can set up TT with spacing and passes, while Garbutt would give them both a speed weapon to utilize and some toughness on the line. Shaw would be a different type of toughness.

I like Kero...its just not working that great. I thought even the goal he scored he had an incredible amount of time and took too long. It was lucky from the time perspective. You aren't going to have that but a couple times a season. Hobgoblin and TT make other guys better. And Shaw in a different way.

That bottom six needs to be shuffled until something clicks, and I really hope those top 2 lines settle in until TT is asked to shake it up at some point.