Brandon Saad 2018-19 expectations

[featherhawk]

Coach q has to change the deployment of Saad/toews if either is going to perform offensively like they should or need to.

Short of q doing that Saad needs to get off toews line, he belongs on kanes line IMO.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I guess some forgot how good Saad was in 2015. They would have paid him the 6x6 if they had the money to do so.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

I hope he can return to form and get to those numbers but the truth is Hawks fans have overrated Saad since he was first drafted. Stan was right by not giving in to his salary demands a few years back thus freeing him to sign elsewhere ...... but later the GM was desperate to get Hawks back on track when he traded for Saad to return. To date, it is one of the worst deals Stan has made as GM.

I still think Saad can be effective when the wick gets turned up in the playoffs, but playoffs are a pipe dream right now for this team under Q. Honestly, I wouldn't be the least bit disappointed if Stan traded Saad away this summer.... preferably for top 4 Dman or a real power forward.

Unless Saad really takes off, it’s going to be his Hall for Larsson.

 

[featherhawk]

I guess some forgot how good Saad was in 2015. They would have paid him the 6x6 if they had the money to do so.

2015 was three years ago and he played with at that time one of the best 3 all round centres in the NHL and one of the best two way wingers in NHL history that was also a dynamic offensive player at one point in his career.

fast forward now and Saad is playing with if lucky a top 15 -20 centre in the NHL and who knows who in the other spot.

huge difference and Saad had plenty of opportunity to show some things last season and he was only slightly better than the best AHL players last year.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Coach q has to change the deployment of Saad/toews if either is going to perform offensively like they should or need to.

Short of q doing that Saad needs to get off toews line, he belongs on kanes line IMO.

How would you deploy the lines? What C would you put in a major defensive role against the opps best? I know which ones I wouldn't, and it's pretty much every C except Toews.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

How would you deploy the lines? What C would you put in a major defensive role against the opps best? I know which ones I wouldn't, and it's pretty much every C except Toews.

I feel like a lot of Hawks fans are stuck on this idea that you need your two-way center taking on a major defensive role.

We were incredibly spoiled to see it work so wonderfully during Hossa’s time with the Hawks, but Hossa is gone, and it’s not going to work like that again (unless you can accept second line level offensive production).

Patrice Bergeron is the best defensive center in the league, and plays on one of the highest scoring lines over the last three seasons. The Bergeron line plays defense by kicking the shit out of teams offensively.

Simply put, we don’t have the pieces to play the Toews line how it was played during the Hossa years. It’s time to shift philosophy because Saad =/= Hossa and this shit isn’t working anymore.

If you don’t want to change the philosophy, then quit bitching when Toews and Saad once again put up second line offensive numbers. (Not directed at you, this is directed at the collective you).

 

[featherhawk]

How would you deploy the lines? What C would you put in a major defensive role against the opps best? I know which ones I wouldn't, and it's pretty much every C except Toews.

I don't think you have to have Toews play that role, in fact the best thing likely for him is to get away from that role. However if it must be; I don't care if the C is Toews but if it is Saad should not be on his wing. Saad will be wasted in that role with the current Toews and Hossa (who ever that turns out to be)

Saad can be a dynamite,dynamic winger that can got the net and score.

Saad-?????-Kane
Debrincat-Schmaltz-Sikura
Hayden-Toews-????

????= AA/kahun/edjsell/Hinostroza/

 

[Rolo]

Kunitz-Kampf-Hayden could be a solid line that eats tonsss of defensive minutes.

 

[BK]

21 and 22 and another disappointing season. Demoted to 3rd line half way through the year.

What gives you this feeling? Just honestly curious.

 

[DontToewzMeBro]

His expectations = 15 less points than Panarin .

Same goals.

 

[Blackhawks]

Realistic expectation of what he is gonna produce or what should be expected of him at his pay grade?

He’s probably gonna get 40 points

He should be at 60 points at his pay and what he was traded for

It just seems like these guys have given up and are just riding their contracts (Saad, Toews and Seabrook). They don’t give a flying tentacle right now...

 

[Kevs Security]

No expectations, tbh. 20 goals 45 points.

 

[ChiHawk21]

What gives you this feeling? Just honestly curious.

I dunno, just the way hes played the last year and i dont believe he has the skill to carry any line except maybe if hes bum slaying. We dont have the offensive defensman to push him up on the rush. I see him as a straight line player and if he doesnt get the puck with speed he will struggle. I am giving him almost 10 more points then he had last year when he played a full 82.

 

[ChiHawks10]

I dunno know, just the way hes played the last year and i dont believe he has the skill to carry any line except maybe if hes bum slaying. We dont have the offensive defensman to push him up on the rush. I see him as a straight line player and if he doesnt get the puck with speed he will struggle. I am giving him almost 10 more points then he had last year when he played a full 82.

So you think his regular 50-55 points or so is not his norm, but the new norm is now 35-40 points, at 25 years old? That he has already declined at 25 to that extent? That his career shooting % that has always been roughly between 11-13%, and was 7% last year, is the new norm? Did the skill he always had just completely go away?

Last year was a career bad season, and an outlier. He'll be right back around his usual 50+ point mark, and I'll guarantee that. Save the quote.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

So you think his regular 50-55 points or so is not his norm, but the new norm is now 35-40 points, at 25 years old? That he has already declined at 25 to that extent? That his career shooting % that has always been roughly between 11-13%, and was 7% last year, is the new norm? Did the skill he always had just completely go away?

Last year was a career bad season, and an outlier. He'll be right back around his usual 50+ point mark, and I'll guarantee that. Save the quote.

I think that as well, but I also thought Toews would return to being a 60+ point center. His numbers just kept falling.

So I’m cautiously optimistic.

 

[ChiHawks10]

I think that as well, but I also thought Toews would return to being a 60+ point center. His numbers just kept falling.

So I’m cautiously optimistic.

Which is fine. That's different than outright saying "The skill isn't there." like was said. That he has basically turned into a 35-40 point player at 25 years old. Toews's decline hasn't been as pronounced as some make it out to be.

Toews's point totals the past 5 seasons(basically his aged 25-29 years)
G A P
25, 40, 68 - 25 years old
28, 38, 66 - 26 years old
28, 30, 58 - 27 years old
21, 37, 58 - 28 years old
20, 32, 52 - 29 years old

The past two seasons, he played 72, and 74 games.

His goals are down, which is directly impacted by his shot, IMO. His shot looks weaker and his release isn't as sneaky/quick as it once was. He needs to improve that, and he'll be right around a 60-65 point player, IMO. Also, his points totals are better this past season if Saad doesn't have an absolutely horrendous shooting % in comparison to his career norm. Toews likely has 10 more points, or more, if Saad has even his career average 11% SH%.

 

[Hawkaholic]

I don't think you have to have Toews play that role, in fact the best thing likely for him is to get away from that role. However if it must be; I don't care if the C is Toews but if it is Saad should not be on his wing. Saad will be wasted in that role with the current Toews and Hossa (who ever that turns out to be)

Saad can be a dynamite,dynamic winger that can got the net and score.

Saad-?????-Kane
Debrincat-Schmaltz-Sikura
Hayden-Toews-????

????= AA/kahun/edjsell/Hinostroza/

Ok, so we don't play Toews in that role, who palys that role? That's my question.

Every successful team has a line that can shut down the other teams best players. Who will be doing that if Toews isn't?

 

[Hawkaholic]

I feel like a lot of Hawks fans are stuck on this idea that you need your two-way center taking on a major defensive role..

I'm not stuck on the idea that you need a two way C in this role, I'm stuck on the idea that you need a really good defensive player to take on that role, so who is that going to be if not Toews?

 

[RememberTheRoar]

I'm not stuck on the idea that you need a two way C in this role, I'm stuck on the idea that you need a really good defensive player to take on that role, so who is that going to be if not Toews?

Washington had Jay Beagle do it, Boston had Schaller/Riley Nash do it (not the Selke winner), and the Hawks used to have Marcus Kruger to do it.

Defensive faceoff specificalists aren’t as rare as a good two-way center.

You either go get a new specialist, or let Kampf develop into that role.

Also, don’t get this confused with me saying they’re better defensive players than Toews. I’m saying you need Toews’ offense more than you need Toews to limit his game and act like a grinder. Schaller and Nash obviously aren’t better defensively than Bergeron, but they still played that role.

 

[piteus]

Speaking of Saad, he needs to get in front of the net and be the power forward that we need. He got his money. It's time to give up his body. He's also fast enough to score off the rush ... which makes him a hard match up.

If Saad does the dirty work, his counting stats will follow. If Saad continues to stay on the perimeter, he's just wasting our time. That's why I thought Saad could fit well with Kane and Schmaltz if he's willing to do the dirty work ... including playing tough D.

 

[BK]

Speaking of Saad, he needs to get in front of the net and be the power forward that we need. He got his money. It's time to give up his body. He's also fast enough to score off the rush ... which makes him a hard match up.

If Saad does the dirty work, his counting stats will follow. If Saad continues to stay on the perimeter, he's just wasting our time. That's why I thought Saad could fit well with Kane and Schmaltz if he's willing to do the dirty work ... including playing tough D.

100%.

 

[ChiHawk21]

So you think his regular 50-55 points or so is not his norm, but the new norm is now 35-40 points, at 25 years old? That he has already declined at 25 to that extent? That his career shooting % that has always been roughly between 11-13%, and was 7% last year, is the new norm? Did the skill he always had just completely go away?

Last year was a career bad season, and an outlier. He'll be right back around his usual 50+ point mark, and I'll guarantee that. Save the quote.

Your just arguing to argue. Im saying he will get 7 less points then you are predicting and 8 more points then he had last year. Its interesting you give the benefit of the doubt on bad seasons to some people but not to others.

Also i do have to give you credit i did not think they were gunna go into a rebuild and they were going to try to win this year but after this last few weeks it looks like they are.

 

[BK]

I dunno, just the way hes played the last year and i dont believe he has the skill to carry any line except maybe if hes bum slaying. We dont have the offensive defensman to push him up on the rush. I see him as a straight line player and if he doesnt get the puck with speed he will struggle. I am giving him almost 10 more points then he had last year when he played a full 82.

Fair enough. I expect him to bounce back and have a good season.

I do agree that if the Hawks continue Q's anti-skate the puck system we will see much of the same as they are much easier to defend. My hope is the the kids on D are allowed to open it up.

 

[ChiHawks10]

Your just arguing to argue. Im saying he will get 7 less points then you are predicting and 8 more points then he had last year. Its interesting you give the benefit of the doubt on bad seasons to some people but not to others.

Also i do have to give you credit i did not think they were gunna go into a rebuild and they were going to try to win this year but after this last few weeks it looks like they are.

I'm not, I just don't believe his 35 points from last season is the new norm. I expect he'll be right back around the 50-55 point mark, and look like a much better player this upcoming season. Who do I give the benefit of the doubt to on some players but not others, though? I think Toews will also be better this upcoming season. I hope both are much improved from last year's performance. This team is in the lotto again, if not. Which may not necessarily be a bad thing. I just want them to be more fun to watch this season, which they should be.

And thanks.

 

[bwana63]

I'm not stuck on the idea that you need a two way C in this role, I'm stuck on the idea that you need a really good defensive player to take on that role, so who is that going to be if not Toews?

You're not wrong, lol. Some are so disgruntled with Toews' performance over the last few seasons that they're grasping for straws. Hawks have only one solution, short term anyway, and that's Toews lifting his game.