etherialone
dialed in your mom
Why do you assume that we need another top 6 scoring forward to take us to where you think we need to be to be able to beat the Hawks in 7 games?
I mean we have the lowest GA in the NHL but some think we need another top 4 dman and other think that we only need one if we have an injury to one of our own. Some see us needing another true top 6 LW to add to the team but we have Brown often playing on our bottom 6 and he has more than proven that he can turn it on and be a very effective top 6 LW during the playoffs so adding another top 6 lw might seem like a good idea but I believe that we have what we need either on the team today or down on the farm getting better with every game.
To me what we need is time for our coaching to catch up with what the BlackHawks are doing that makes them such a challenge for us and that has nothing to do with adding the perfect LW to our team.
We match up line to line with the BlackHawks exceptionally well for the most part. Our top 6 is as good as their top 6 or it is as good as it is going to be unless we make a move that puts King down on our 3rd line or moves one of our established top 6.
1st line
Kopitar V Toews
Regardless of how they match up we aren't likely to move Kopitar.
Carter V kane
Apples and Oranges and if you don't think so there isn't another Kane out there to get so it is mute.
King V Bickell
I'll take King
2nd line
Brown V Sharp
Lets face it when the time comes you won't see DS putting Lewis or Clifford on LW in our top 6. It may happen during the reg but it won't come playoff time. Sharp is a more prolific scorer but that is in their system. I am not saying Brown would do as well Sharp on the Hawks, just saying that we aren't devoid of a top notch player who can match up against Sharp during the playoffs. Sharp is a much less effetive two way player than Brown sort of thing.
Richards V Zuess
Not even worth going into. Richie 100% of the time.
Hossa V Toffoli
Tricky and of course Hossa is Hossa but then Toffoli isn't exactly a can of beans in comparison.
I would say our 2nd line matches up to the Hawks perfectly well.
3rd line
Saad V Clifford
I have to go with Saad but a healthy Clifford would't be terrible either.
Shaw V Stoll
I have to go with Stoll and by a margin
Hayes V Williams Lewis/Frattin etc
Hayes isn't anything special and if they play Bollig etc we match up just fine with our multi headed 3rd RW and believe that Nolan will be our 3rd RW full time for the playoffs. in fact I would be willing to bet that Versteeg V Nolan will be the 3rd line RW match up come playoff time and we will come out on top of that one. but it is still too early to tell.
So our 3rd V their 3rd is at least comparable if not better.
Bottom 6 V bottom 6 is equal all things considered as well imo.
Adding to this we have Pearson who is close enough to ready to where I believe he will be come playoff time along with Vey and Andy all very solid young players who will be able to step in and give us the ability to provide a different look then the Hawks have seen during the regular season as well as the depth needed in case of injury.
To me, if we are to add anyone at or near the deadline I would be looking for someone who can step in and play our system that can skate and has the size needed to punish our opponents regardless of who we are facing.
I see our true need being our coaching staff developing a way to slow the hawks down and to help us better establish our checking system.
I don't think the Hawks beat us due to our players and only think our coaching staff needs the time to keep building our system to be able to adapt to speed teams and we will be fine.
Would it be nice to add a high scoring two way players who can not only fit into our system but be good enough at it to be able to replace King or Brown? Absolutely.
Go out and find one that is available for trade that we would be willing to pay the high price that it will take to get them and let me know who it is because I don't see anyone out there who is capable of doing so.
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