Someone had mentioned Boyle, I'm not going to search for it. But I think looking at the #'s that is one of the best moves available.
Improve defense by adding a physical checking forward at 2,000,000 cap hit. We can do that. Cost probably not terrible. He fits Tampa the same reasons he fits the Hawks and would be used to the speed around him and filling in his role. We could use a Boyle.
Q could then continue to try the Kruger/Hossa pairing if he wanted, and form a checking line around Boyle, or he could go Boyle-Hossa which I think could be lethal. You might want to give them Hino's wheels which would be 3 guys with a centers sensibility on 1 line, but who knows...that would be fun. And leave a
Des/Ras-Kruger-Hartman option.
We have to decide whose offense we are going to screw at some point...
Hartman Hino or Hossa....and I swear the answer is just to play them all together. Then go Des-Kruger-Ras in the playoffs. Whatever, it will get sorted out.
Smaltz-Toews-Panik
superPAK
Hino-Kruger-Hossa
Hartman-Boyle-Des/Ras
So while I like the Boyle move....I'm not sure another Kruger...another checking line makes this team better if we go away from the Hartman-Hino-Hossa line. I think they are all too offensively gifted (Hartman just barely) but its true...you shouldn't screw any of those 3 on the checking line with Kruger.
Its Desjardins-Kruger-Ras also....that makes a reliable veteran and physical fit.
The only reason is to keep Kruger on the 3C line, to maybe get Desjardins off the ice if he can't find his game, but you end up putting Hino or Hartman on the checking line with Boyle.
We are better off with Kero/Hayden duking it out down the home stretch to see who can form some offensive chemistry with Hossa best.
If Hossa is going to be a third liner, we better do everything we can to make that a winning line. If we wanted to go all in we look pretty nasty now.
Smaltz-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Duchene-Hayden/Kero/Hino/Kruger-Hossa
Des/Ras/Hino/Hartman-Kruger/Boyle/Hayden/Kero/Hino-Hartman/Hino/
I love that you can just put Hino anywhere like with Teuvo and he has some skill that makes it work. Energy, center, offense, forecheck...lol...he makes everything we try work basically. Has shown mega chemistry with Hossa. And Hartman has as well whether on the first or the third line.
I think we can just stay pat. Maybe barter a McNeil/Baun/Tuilila/Dahlstrom/Svedstein deal with Vegas or something....send them an edible trash package. Nothing crazy...just a better deal for them then taking on Krugers contract or TVR as a top 4 guy.
They might be considering those things...but I think they would be on the fence about it where we can bribe them with some old first round trash not working out in our system, a developing defender or two from our plethora, and help stock up their farm teams and foreign talent a bit.
Even Shalanouv may be the prospect that they would take and get over the edge...
The Blackhawks should only do that if Shalanouv isn't a viable top 6 guy. If Hayden were top 6, and Shalanouv was nearly that quality....this would be us next year.
A stronger Smaltz-Toews-Panik (with extended chemistry)
Panarin-AA-Shalanouv If this line can win their shifts decisivly, do you know what it means? lol!!!!!!!!!!! It means death to all.
(Shal is a specifically right wing only which makes it tempting to have a Soviet line, at 24 you can plug him in)
Hossa-Hayden/Hino-Kane
Hartman-Kruger-Hino/Motte/Forslin
I mean thats why its like **** it. Vegas would help us by taking Kruger, because we could have Hayden and Hino centering 3rd and 4th lines that can score. With Hayden maybe being more the new Kruger. That holds true whether Shalanouv can play in the bottom 6 or not at all.
Of course, keeping Kruger/Hayden allows Hino to be an even bigger asset on the wing. I believe we are fine no matter what we do.
I'm just not sure who we can trade for that makes us any better?
I think they fear what happened last year, with Weise-Fleshman not fitting into the system right away, and it slowing us down and making us lethargic, rather than let the players who are comfortable with their responsibilities and just trust the system to do its thing.
Thats where adding a Boyle is dangerous.
I'm excited about Hayden...but realize that is probably optimistic.
I think there is a good chance he is the best 3C very soon, but maybe not this playoffs. Or that he is more of a future Kruger guy, than an offensive force 3C.
And it maybe be he is too slow and another Baun/Hayden.
