Hawks Lineup 2013

[puckjim]

Any lineup with Frolik in it blows.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Stalberg was awesome with Toews last season... I don't see how he can't hang with the top line (if Pirri can make an impact, I'd like to see Sharp moved up to 1st line LW and Stalberg bumped to 2nd line LW). Saad isn't much of a top six forward even on Rockford...I'd rather see Shaw or Smith given the opportunity first, Saad should develop in Rockford, Morin might even be a better fit. I like Pirri over Kruger but Pirri isn't a 4th line center and unless the Hawks bring him up as the 2nd line center I would rather him be on the IceHogs. I don't mind Shaw in the line-up but I think they will give Bickell every opportunity.



Our slots at LW suck, outside of Stalberg we don't have another top six LW unless one of our youngsters can claim that spot or if Sharp is moved there.



Bickell should get a chance until he proves he isn't cut out for it. He had one good year and last year was a bad year, we'll find out if he can bounce back.

He was far from awesome with Toews from what I remember. I understand their friends, but his game doesn't particularly elevate, he still plays his extremely one dimensional game, where if he hit (like he's done in the playoffs) and used his big frame with that speed, he might be very dangerous. He had his 22 goals, I understand that, but I'm in the boat where he is not what this team needs.



A week or so I re-watched the Winter Classic on my DVR along with a few other snippets of random games saved from those years and really saw how flat our team has become. For those two years, the drive for excellence every night, playing to prove something, prove they were the class of the NHL, there was undeniable chemistry and fire under our team for 2 seasons that seems to have gone out since the Cup victory. Is it the fact that with the victory we proved we were the class of the league and belonged with the big guns? I don't truly think so, but it has crept into my mind when watching our team these past two seasons. Obviously the departures of key guys, guys who were the glue and key to a fully successful defensive team, PP, PK and one that played as a complete unit like no team I've ever seen before.



In all I'm not sure what it is that bothers me about this years roster. The center problem is just beating a dead horse at this point, and our total forwards defense is pathetic at times. Throw in the odd signings of Brookbank, Rosival, Oduya when Leddy played 82 games last year, there is just little that sticks out to me saying, well we solved this problem from last year. But I am hoping for the best.

 

[Ton]

He was far from awesome with Toews from what I remember. I understand their friends, but his game doesn't particularly elevate, he still plays his extremely one dimensional game, where if he hit (like he's done in the playoffs) and used his big frame with that speed, he might be very dangerous. He had his 22 goals, I understand that, but I'm in the boat where he is not what this team needs.



A week or so I re-watched the Winter Classic on my DVR along with a few other snippets of random games saved from those years and really saw how flat our team has become. For those two years, the drive for excellence every night, playing to prove something, prove they were the class of the NHL, there was undeniable chemistry and fire under our team for 2 seasons that seems to have gone out since the Cup victory. Is it the fact that with the victory we proved we were the class of the league and belonged with the big guns? I don't truly think so, but it has crept into my mind when watching our team these past two seasons. Obviously the departures of key guys, guys who were the glue and key to a fully successful defensive team, PP, PK and one that played as a complete unit like no team I've ever seen before.



In all I'm not sure what it is that bothers me about this years roster. The center problem is just beating a dead horse at this point, and our total forwards defense is pathetic at times. Throw in the odd signings of Brookbank, Rosival, Oduya when Leddy played 82 games last year, there is just little that sticks out to me saying, well we solved this problem from last year. But I am hoping for the best.

I disagree about Stalberg 100%. We saw a different player last year compared to his first year in terms of development, improving his two-way ability, and sticking to his strengths. He went from a one-dimensional 4th line change of pace player, to a top-six forward in one off-season. There's no reason to believe he can't improve upon that and his potential is too high to let him go any lower than the top two lines.



I agree that the Blackhawks are not a Cup team on paper. Although you never know what can happen -- especially in a shortened season. If they can get on a roll they are just as good as anyone else.



I don't have much of a problem with stocking on defense -- but when it's neglecting obvious needs such as center/left wing like you stated, I am beginning to have a problem with it.

 

[the canadian dream]

ohhh please dont start the Stalberg slamming right now. This guy needs way more time than any negative fan have given him. he did really well last season and as far as I was seeing he was having a solid season in Europe this year also. This guys a player. You NEVER throw out a 20 goal scorer and 20 assist guy no matter who plays with or how he got those points. 3 years at the NHL does not make a career. He has earned all the rights in the world to show if he can get even better and improve on his weaker sides.



I bet he comes out flying early in the season and one of the best in shape players on the Hawks.

 

[Ton]

ohhh please dont start the Stalberg slamming right now. This guy needs way more time than any negative fan have given him. he did really well last season and as far as I was seeing he was having a solid season in Europe this year also. This guys a player. You NEVER throw out a 20 goal scorer and 20 assist guy no matter who plays with or how he got those points. 3 years at the NHL does not make a career. He has earned all the rights in the world to show if he can get even better and improve on his weaker sides.



I bet he comes out flying early in the season and one of the best in shape players on the Hawks.

Hit the nail on the head. I would argue outside of Kane and Toews, Stalberg has the most potential out of any current Hawk or even most prospects in the system. So far the best deal Bowman made the off-season after winning the Cup was Versteeg and Sweatt for Stalberg and Jimmy Hayes. I can see Stalberg being a 50-60 point guy in a full season.



You can't teach that speed. It's special, it's now up to the training staff and coaching staff to hone the rest of his game before that speed burns out as Stalberg isn't a generational talent (although last season I think his hands and head made great strides to catch up to his feet). But the combination of size and speed alone is enough to take a flyer on that project.

 

[the canadian dream]

I dont see why Leddy would stay in the AHL. I know he hasn't had a strong season there this year and he def had to work on his own zone game but the Hawks committed to him last season and I don't think keeping him on the farm to finish off this season sends a very positive message to him and his development. This is also a shortened NHL season which a lot of fans are not going to take as serious as they would a full season and its also going to be a short season focussing more on damage control and winning some fans back. It's not going to be a pretty season around the league as far as hockey goes. Excuses for poor play are going to be like a skipping record. There is actually no better scenario for Leddy and no better time for the Hawks to further develop him by giving him NHL ice. This is a dream scenario for all younger players who need more development time at the NHL level.



I also don't think I have ever seen a guy who put up 34 assists on the Blueline one year ever be placed back on the farm the following season when it started. I almost want to face palm the idea. But if the Hawks would rather have Rozival play than Leddy more power to them...huge waste too me though...and incredibly stupid.



I agree with you 100% on Stalberg Ton. We have agreed on him since last season on all aspects of his game. He also fits into the category of players who are going to benefit from a shortened NHL season as far as more development time goes.

 

[Ton]

Yeah I think it would be a shame if Leddy was stuck in the AHL. Then again he hasn't exactly lit up a lower league... I don't like any of our current defenseman enough to take his ice time away -- if the Blackhawks are going to give up on Leddy then it's time to give Clendening a shot. I think Clendening will eventually be the superior player anyway, but is it the right time to make that change? I say no. Bring back Leddy.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

ohhh please dont start the Stalberg slamming right now. This guy needs way more time than any negative fan have given him. he did really well last season and as far as I was seeing he was having a solid season in Europe this year also. This guys a player. You NEVER throw out a 20 goal scorer and 20 assist guy no matter who plays with or how he got those points. 3 years at the NHL does not make a career. He has earned all the rights in the world to show if he can get even better and improve on his weaker sides.



I bet he comes out flying early in the season and one of the best in shape players on the Hawks.

We'll save Stalberg for another day, I guess I have a Maiden on Barker opinion on him. But TCD, NEVER, say Never... Don't you listen to your Canadian superstar Bieber.



I would just like to see a complete unit, a team identity and something to grasp in this shortened season. But all I see coming is literally every player playing with every other player, revolving door on defense and in net, and people calling for Q's head when things are going bad.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Yeah I think it would be a shame if Leddy was stuck in the AHL. Then again he hasn't exactly lit up a lower league... I don't like any of our current defenseman enough to take his ice time away -- if the Blackhawks are going to give up on Leddy then it's time to give Clendening a shot. I think Clendening will eventually be the superior player anyway, but is it the right time to make that change? I say no. Bring back Leddy.

If Leddy is kept in the AHL it will prove Bowman is an incompetent GM. I highly doubt he would, but the same logic would HAVE to apply to Kruger if Leddy is kept down.

 

[the canadian dream]

We'll save Stalberg for another day, I guess I have a Maiden on Barker opinion on him. But TCD, NEVER, say Never... Don't you listen to your Canadian superstar Bieber.



I would just like to see a complete unit, a team identity and something to grasp in this shortened season. But all I see coming is literally every player playing with every other player, revolving door on defense and in net, and people calling for Q's head when things are going bad.

yah I understand where you are coming from totally with the revolving door stuff and agree 100%. I honestly don't have high hopes of this short season being a very entertaining hockey season anyways. Honestly I see it as 20 games for teams to come together in proper fashion as it usually takes that anyways. That leaves just over 20 games to actually get some real hockey at the highest level and to see where this team actually stands. Not a lot of games. I really think this is going to be an excuse filled season for everyone who doesn't hit expectations which are probably going to be too high to begin with. It's actually going to be a very big challenge for coaches and Q is probably going to get yet again a fair share of insults and slams. I also think it's going to be a tough season for GM.s who will probably be focusing more on figuring out CBA loopholes etc preparing for the offseason and the next season. This feels to me like a season where the league is going to be playing the damage control game while team owners and managers and players are going to be dwelling on more than just on ice performance.



For that reason I am going a different road than I usually do in a season. Im taking this shortened season as a means to get to the next season stronger and using it to see the fat clearer so it can be trimmed in the offseason under what ever confusing CBA rules will allow. I hope the coaching staff and management actually use it that way also thus playing Leddy the entire season and even Kruger who I don't like at all. I really don't care about overall team success this season but will welcome it if it comes of course. I think this is an invaluable opportunity for developing players that need it more so than focussing on the stars. Not sure if that is going to translate well with other fans or even make much sense.

 

[roshinaya]

With the the three stooges behind the bench, I doubt any line combinations will get the job done.

 

[winos5]

Latest jackass rumor is Leddy and Hammer are trade bait while Stanton and Johns from the Hogs are poised to make the jump to the NHL.



We have a surplus of Defense which is always in demand. Don't see Leddy in the AHL. If he's not on the roster he gets traded IMO.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

With the the three stooges behind the bench, I doubt any line combinations will get the job done.

gees I almost forgot that we got that assistent from L.A.

 

[phranchk]

It will be interesting to see what happens after the CBA is ratified on Saturday. Could see a bunch of trades go down league wide on Sunday, especially with the new rule allowing teams to pick up half the salary.

 

[MassHavoc]

I would like to see Saad in the big boy league please.

 

[bookjones]

Latest jackass rumor is Leddy and Hammer are trade bait while Stanton and Johns from the Hogs are poised to make the jump to the NHL.



We have a surplus of Defense which is always in demand. Don't see Leddy in the AHL. If he's not on the roster he gets traded IMO.

Johns? Has he left Notre Dame in the last 24 hrs.?

 

[LordKOTL]

IMHO outside of the #2C issue (which has been there for years), the biggest, most glaring hole has been on defense. In spite of his potential, last year Leddy was the weakest link in terms of +/-. Our D, outside of Monty and Seabrook, has no righties, and outside of Seabrook, no one would hit.



The Oduya signing was a headscratcher, he is what Keith, Leddy, & Hammer are--a poke-checking d-man that hits seldomly--and really, only Keith is good at that game (When he's not the inspiraion for the NHL 11 pass-to-nowhere™). Leddy has potential but it seems to me that he needs a Seabrook-type player paired opposite of him to thrive, since Hammer and Keith eren't working. Oduya with him was marginally better and Oduya wasn't that good. The net result from re-watching some games was d-men playing their off-hand making bad, bad outlet passes that were intecepted, and let's not forget the attacking players on Craw/Razor's doorstep taking up to 5 whacks at the puck and no one (Except Seabs when he was out) giving them reason not to.



Thus, the Brookbank/Rosival signings make a shit-ton of sense. Starting with Rosival, I don't know much of his game, but he is a rightie. As for Brookbank, he is what we desperately needed: A hitting d-man who can kill penalties, is not afraid to clear the crease, and is a rightie. He was also a definite + last year. He may not have Hammer, Leddy, or Oduya's offensive flair, but being near the top in team O I think that loss will be mitigated.



Thus, It can be argued that Monty is all but done. Exit one rightie.



Brookbank would be great as a 5-6 and a PK'er. Ideally, I'd love to see that pairing be Hammer/Brookbank, It may not do much for offense but somehow Hammer ended up a solid + last year in spite of Leddy dragging him down; couple that with Brookbank and I think you have a solid defensivly-sound 3rd pairing that can kill penalties and ensure that Craw/Emery have breathing room. However, That would necesitate one of the other lefties (Leddy or Oduya) leaving or being AHL'ed. In spite of his sub-par year, I don't think we should close the book and AHL Leddy (although he should be on a shorter leash this year), and Oduya was a Bowman acquisition, so IMHO the odd man out might be Hammer (even though I'd keep Hammer and ditch Oduya). That being the case, I think a Leddy/Brookbank pairing might be a good pairing in terms of balance. Rosival might also be a good vet presence for him.

 

[supraman]

He was far from awesome with Toews from what I remember. I understand their friends, but his game doesn't particularly elevate, he still plays his extremely one dimensional game, where if he hit (like he's done in the playoffs) and used his big frame with that speed, he might be very dangerous. He had his 22 goals, I understand that, but I'm in the boat where he is not what this team needs.



A week or so I re-watched the Winter Classic on my DVR along with a few other snippets of random games saved from those years and really saw how flat our team has become. For those two years, the drive for excellence every night, playing to prove something, prove they were the class of the NHL, there was undeniable chemistry and fire under our team for 2 seasons that seems to have gone out since the Cup victory. Is it the fact that with the victory we proved we were the class of the league and belonged with the big guns? I don't truly think so, but it has crept into my mind when watching our team these past two seasons. Obviously the departures of key guys, guys who were the glue and key to a fully successful defensive team, PP, PK and one that played as a complete unit like no team I've ever seen before.



In all I'm not sure what it is that bothers me about this years roster. The center problem is just beating a dead horse at this point, and our total forwards defense is pathetic at times. Throw in the odd signings of Brookbank, Rosival, Oduya when Leddy played 82 games last year, there is just little that sticks out to me saying, well we solved this problem from last year. But I am hoping for the best.

PSR I feel your pain, the cup year and the year prior even the hawks were must see TV. The last two seasons however they have been so damn boring. I used to love it when it was the night of a hawks game, instead I started dreading it. For me if they are boring this year, ****'em until the playoffs I'm going to watch the Cats or Bolts or both.

 

[whiteevo]

holy shit i forgot we even signed rosival. i'm outta the loop.

 

[bookjones]

I would like to see Saad in the big boy league please.

Well I certainly hope he would finally bring some mojo then because he hasn't carpe'ed the fucking diem out of the opportunity to really shine for the Hogs so far. Since his early season injury I still see his Pro game as inconsistent---all the talent, all the IQ, all the physique---they're all there but not motivation every game. Nothing in his game has regressed but I expected more than what I have seen. I was hoping to see if he could shine in the AHL. Nevertheless, he does have a .500 PPG pace which is respectable for a rookie technically and more importantly I am sure the Hawks will give him every opportunity to make the team though there's been other Hogs who have been consistently better than him so far but unfortunately for them, they aren't what I see as projected Top 6 help so he has that edge on them from the get-go.