Who Is This Years X-Factor?

[tbo41fan]

Pretty simple...

We all know that Kane, Toews, Hossa, etc are the big guns on the team. What I want to know is who will be the not so big name who will have the most impact on the team this year?

 

[tbo41fan]

I say Frolik.

The guy was absolutely killer in the playoffs last year and I think he will break out this year.

We saw in the postseason that he can play both ways, as he along with bickell and bolland SHUT DOWN vancouver....he also has a history of putting up good point totals.

I see Frolik as one of those players who Q shifts around alot from lines 1-3, and I think his offense and defense will be an important aspect on this team

 

[Jntg4]

I thought this thread was about the CCS member at first...

but I'd say Ben Smith

 

[LonghornBob]

That's a tough call. To a degree I can see it being Brunette. I think we're all expecting 15 and 20 from him, but if he can go 22 and 25 that would be a huge lift and a bit of an X-factor. You can't really count him as an x-factor though because we already expect something.

As far as breakouts, I'm going with Smith or Frolik. I think Smith will peter out towards the end of the year. It's going to be a long season and with the two tough road trips I think we'll see Smith eat it. My guess is that he'll start off slowly, get into a groove before the break, and then shit the bed in the last 20 games.

Frolik is going to be a nice steady performer in my opinion, and depending on what line he's on I think he gets something like 15 and 15.

The wild card to me is Olesz. If we get anything out of him I'll shit a kidney and dance naked in the backyard.

 

[Diehardfan]

That's a tough call. To a degree I can see it being Brunette. I think we're all expecting 15 and 20 from him, but if he can go 22 and 25 that would be a huge lift and a bit of an X-factor. You can't really count him as an x-factor though because we already expect something.

As far as breakouts, I'm going with Smith or Frolik. I think Smith will peter out towards the end of the year. It's going to be a long season and with the two tough road trips I think we'll see Smith eat it. My guess is that he'll start off slowly, get into a groove before the break, and then shit the bed in the last 20 games.

Frolik is going to be a nice steady performer in my opinion, and depending on what line he's on I think he gets something like 15 and 15.

The wild card to me is Olesz. If we get anything out of him I'll shit a kidney and dance naked in the backyard.

My new favorite Hawk just became Olesz. If he pops for 15-20 goals we're gonna want pics of the above.

Or maybe not..........:nervous:

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

Brunette will be a huge help on the PP. I think that will give the Hawks 2 lines to mix against teams trying to figure which line they should pit their #1 PK'ers against.

Hossa is a huge X-factor. This is a player that went to the finals 3 years in a row, and now had an off season to actually let his body recuperate.

I think we all saw Keith's weakest season to date last year. There's really nothing but an up side to his play for the new season.

Carcillo is a huge wild card. You can position him on any line. He has skill, speed, and decent hands. Q has always liked having the Twist/Chase players on the team, but Carcillo is more like Tyson Nash (who also played under Q) with the scoring touch.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

idk..poster of the year will probably be uman..



oh wait..you're talking about hockey

 

[TheChicagoFan]

I'm going to say Ben Smith. Not only because he is my favorite player, but for other reasons.

He is very hockey smart and actually works hard. In my opinion, he is like a hard-working Patrick Kane. He works hard, is smart, and executes on the ice.

In the playoffs last year he was on fire and if he continues to play with Hossa and possibly Sharp on the second line (only if they decided to have Sharp be 2C) he will be very productive. He has a lot of talent and I think he's ready to show that off.

 

[DewsSox79]

Brunette

 

[X]

me.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

It's an easy pick, but I have to go Little Ben Smith. He plays hard.

Runner up goes to Bickell. He's going to pot 20.

 

[derosabomb]

stalgod. 80+ points

:yeah:

 

[nwfisch]

Adam Dyson
Seriously, the production of 2-3 lines will determine how far Blackhawks go.

 

[ClydeLee]

Hjalmarsson! He will step up to be more solid and physical without the irk of feeling like he has to be the only physical D man or have to just rely on Campbell anymore.. He'll step up to me and make the D more than a 1 pairing unit.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Hjalmarsson! He will step up to be more solid and physical without the irk of feeling like he has to be the only physical D man or have to just rely on Campbell anymore.. He'll step up to me and make the D more than a 1 pairing unit.

Almost more than anything else- I hope this is right. ray:

 

[icehogfan08]

Brunette

Not to old?

It's an easy pick, but I have to go Little Ben Smith. He plays hard.

Runner up goes to Bickell. He's going to pot 20.

I'm with you those were the 1st 2 that popped in my head. Stalberg is a huge sleeper, but that depends on what role he'll have

 

[tbo41fan]

Good responses boys...



I agree with Bickell...he needs to have a BIG season offensively and throw his size around. He can be a very dangerous player if he could just refine some things in his games (sounds like every player right?)

Stalberg I agree is a sleeper, but we all know my thoughts already on him


Ben Smith and Frolik seem to be the leaders so far, and I completely agree....key components in the playoffs, and if they play to that level this year, we could see another deep run

 

[southern_cross_116]

Dave Bolland, if he stays healthy (and produces as he has in the past when healthy) you've all of a sudden got 3 offensively effective lines, and the pressure is off of the top 2 ... makes the team that much tougher to match up against, as most teams have more offensively oriented guys than they do effective checkers.

Runner up - Corey Crawford- looking forward to seeing what he can do with 6 NHL calibre defensemen in front of him as opposed to the 3 or 4 he had last season night in and night out.

 

[icehogfan08]

Steve Montador has potential as well

 

[DewsSox79]

Not to old?



I'm with you those were the 1st 2 that popped in my head. Stalberg is a huge sleeper, but that depends on what role he'll have

If he is in the top 6, Brunette is an X Factor. If you want to discount age and forget about regression, by all means keep thinking that.

Stalberg is not a HUGE sleeper because of his role. If he is on the 4th line, that is where he belongs. You seem to think he deserves this "bigger" role.