One comment I found interesting (don't know which thread), was about the centers.
It was stated in incredulity that Toews, Smaltz, AA, Edjsell, Kampf would not be the answer at center next year in our plans?
Where is that other center going to come from? How will that be fixed and with our cap is that the area we need to spend resources fixing?
I am comfortable with Crawford/Forsberg/(Delia with Hogs as 3rd) next season. Not only did we spend 2018 vetting our goalies and gaining valuable experience for the one that stepped it up to at least an NHL back-up level, but we were able to expose ourselves, drop our pants down around the ankles, bend over and really expose ourselves and all the other issues on this team.
The Panarin move was first about his next contract. In hindsight we shipped him a year too soon if we wanted full value. Saad's struggles began in Columbus where he was sometimes sent to 4th line, and it is my opinion had we just waited them out Saad could have been re-acquired for far less, or with them paying us to take him back.
One of my initial reactions was why do we have to give up Panarin when they don't even want Saad?
I don't think the theory that Saad translates to the playoffs a little better than Panarin is completely insane...its just Panarin is so good now its kinda like...yeah but how could that guy NOT be a game changer?
For the second year in a row Panarin disappeared while his team lost 4 straight games. He started well, but that did happen in fairness. You could make up a narrative that Nashville knew how dangerous Panarin was being from our division and focused on him from the start.
Washington experienced what he was capable of but were able to shift strategy and take him out, ending Columbus's run despite them perhaps having the best goalie in the tourney. If I could pick one goalie for the future of Hawks it might well be Bob. (Vas or I have this theory that if they expand the goal size that Allen of the Blues will be the man in the league). Allen did not look as quick in 2018 playoffs as he did in 2017. In 2017playoffs Allen showed me some of the best goaltending I have ever witnessed. He was so quick and cat like accurate I actually suspected performance enhancing drugs, but when that hulk of a man is on fire there is no more imposing netminder, imo.
The skill sets of Crow and Vas suit the Lightning/Hawks style quite well. The back and forth wait for break out stuff we employ requires goalies who excel in the real time penalty shot situation. How many times have we seen Keith show up just in time with the tip of a stick to interfere with the process? This was the year losing that single step meant the tip of that stick was a tip short, and Crow wasn't there either...so doom.
I hope they bring in some fresh perspective and ideas for the coaching box, and also some fresh minds in the training staff.
Saad-Toews-Cat
Smaltz-Edjsell-Kane
-AA-Sikura
Kampf-Hino
Other than Edjsell I could see our core slotting this way. Who knows about him but he is still an unbalanced player who hasn't had time to upgrade his weaknesses. His strengths are impressive.
haha...in building lines it sucks not to have the fill all guy Hartman. You could just slot him anywhere and the versatility of his game had something to compliment everyone.
Am I remembering rightly that we have 2 first round picks? About 7 and 28? and 37?
For us, even the 37th pick is higher than our first dip half the time.
I'm not that worried about the defense, I think they filtered through a bunch of issues and development in 2018 season and our top 7-8 guys should know whats up in addition to having a couple young guys getting close. These guys are young and have potential to take steps. Gus I thought became a valuable player toward the end and won a top 6 role and powerplay time next season. That was my take on his last 10 games. At times he was actually the most dangerous offensive player on the ice not named Kaner. He broke out a couple highlight moves too, absolutely dusted several NHL players making them look stupid and silly and crowned them with heat on the net or his one track mind to get the puck to Kane. LOL....almost comical like his stick has GPS tracking of Kane, every pass he makes....kane....lol....
I blame Q for this because he doesn't reward "scoring chances" created...only production. The only way for Gus to make the team he decided is to get the puck to Kane and gather an assist. So every pass...another chance Kane will make the winning pass and he gathers an assist.
You can't run a team this way, it never makes sense to me and is the reason Hino kept getting sent down...simply because other guys couldn't finish his passes. He has been a creator every time he came up here, but until the hockey gods opened the gates he would just get sent down and this is something we have seen over and over. Guys come up, create chances...they don't finished and despite looking legit and playing well if the points aren't there for 3 games see ya.
wtf is that?