Speculation: Hawks Wishlist

[RememberTheRoar]

Unfortunately, Hawks currently don't have the personnel, especially on the blue line, to ice such and be a contender.

Can you make one and plug in the holes with the type of player you think is needed?

 

[Toews2Bickell]

What would that balanced lineup look like for you?

I know what my forward group would like.

Saad-Toews-Hinostroza
Wahlstrom-Anisimov-Kane
DeBrincat-Schmaltz-Sikura
Hayden-Edjsell-Duclair

With JvR

JvR-Toews-Saad
Wahlstrom-Anisimov-Kane
DeBrincat-Schmaltz-Sikura
Hinostroza-Edjsell-Hayden

Thats a balanced, very deep/good 12. That third line would be a problem for opponents. Would just need to fix the D somehow.

 

[BK]

I know what my forward group would like.

Saad-Toews-Hinostroza
Wahlstrom-Anisimov-Kane
DeBrincat-Schmaltz-Sikura
Hayden-Edjsell-Duclair

With JvR

JvR-Toews-Saad
Wahlstrom-Anisimov-Kane
DeBrincat-Schmaltz-Sikura
Hinostroza-Edjsell-Hayden

Thats a balanced, very deep 12. Would just need to fix the D somehow.

Putting Schmaltz in the bottom 6 is a waste imo.

20-19-12
OW-8-88
48-15-95
40-VE-64

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Putting Schmaltz in the bottom 6 is a waste imo.

20-19-12
OW-8-88
48-15-95
40-VE-64

Totally agree. Was for sake of discussion. Lines you propose make a lot of sense.

But I wouldn’t necessarily give the DeBrincat-Schmaltz-Sikura line bottom 6 minutes. Likely 2nd line minutes. Its just a combination that would be nasty.

You could give the Toews line less minutes. Yeah, it sucks to do that because of how much money would be spent on that line but its about winning games.

It would create some serious matchup problems. If you put your top pair on Kane then Cat/Schmaltz/Sikura are gonna light you up.

If Toews/Saad/JvR are getting easier matchups then their production should be better than last year.

And that 4th line would hold its own against most matchups.

Also, Anisimov’s best years in Chicago were with 88, so if he’s still in the plans then they need to get more out of him for his cap hit.

And Wahlstrom/Kane could be a nice combo.

 

[BK]

Totally agree. Was for sake of discussion. Lines you propose make a lot of sense.

But I wouldn’t necessarily give the DeBrincat-Schmaltz-Sikura line bottom 6 minutes. Likely 2nd line minutes. Its just a combination that would be nasty.

You could give the Toews line less minutes. Yeah, it sucks to do that because of how much money would be spent on that line but its about winning games.

It would create some serious matchup problems. If you put your top pair on Kane then Cat/Schmaltz/Sikura are gonna light you up.

If Toews/Saad/JvR are getting easier matchups then their production should be better than last year.

And that 4th line would hold its own against most matchups.

Also, Anisimov’s best years in Chicago were with 88, so if he’s still in the plans then they need to get more out of him for his cap hit.

And Wahlstrom/Kane could be a nice combo.

Here is my logic.

20-19-12: 200 ft line with 3 potential 30g scorers.

OW-8-88: Scoring line. OW has an elite shot that can be fed by 8 and 88, their speed with also create space and time for OW. OW has size to go to the net as well.

48-15-95: 48 and 95 are both fast and shifty which will allow 15 to get to the net and do what he does best. 48 can be a shoot first player on this line with 95 playing more of a playmaker role.

40-VE-64: Meat and potatoes.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Here is my logic.

20-19-12: 200 ft line with 3 potential 30g scorers.

OW-8-88: Scoring line. OW has an elite shot that can be fed by 8 and 88, their speed with also create space and time for OW. OW has size to go to the net as well.

48-15-95: 48 and 95 are both fast and shifty which will allow 15 to get to the net and do what he does best. 48 can be a shoot first player on this line with 95 playing more of a playmaker role.

40-VE-64: Meat and potatoes.

That lineup is very likely what we’ll see opening night if they make no significant moves at forward.

A Wahlstrom-Anisimov-Kane line would sort of be similar to Panarin-Anisimov-Kane. Anisimov just seems lost since he was split from Kane.

DeBrincat showed he can drive his own production last year, which is why its enticing to make him our Phil Kessel of 2016.

Doubt it will ever happen with Q though. He’s not putting the Toews line in a 14-15min checking/shutdown role.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

That lineup is very likely what we’ll see opening night if they make no significant moves at forward.

A Wahlstrom-Anisimov-Kane line would sort of be similar to Panarin-Anisimov-Kane. Anisimov just seems lost since he was split from Kane.

DeBrincat showed he can drive his own production last year, which is why its enticing to make him our Phil Kessel of 2016.

Doubt it will ever happen with Q though. He’s not putting the Toews line in a 14-15min checking/shutdown role.

That should happen, unless the Toews line starts scoring in the 60+ point range. Both the Kane and DeBrincat lines are capable of scoring like that.

 

[Hawkaholic]

In what world is putting your best C on the ice 14-15min/gm, a smart thing to do?

 

[ChiHawks10]

That should happen, unless the Toews line starts scoring in the 60+ point range. Both the Kane and DeBrincat lines are capable of scoring like that.

Disagree. His icetime isn't an issue, his point production is. And putting him in a 14-15min checking role deployment is not going to do anything for that...

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Disagree. His icetime isn't an issue, his point production is. And putting him in a 14-15min checking role deployment is not going to do anything for that...

It will if teams have to split their D between a Kane line and DeBrincat/Schmaltz line. And if they pick Toews/Kane lines with their top4 D then DeBrincat/Schmaltz will be feasting.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

You can double shift Toews. I don't really care what "line" somebody is on I care about minutes.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Disagree. His icetime isn't an issue, his point production is. And putting him in a 14-15min checking role deployment is not going to do anything for that...

I’d rather see a Kane line rotate offensive zone starts with a DeBrincat/Schmaltz line.

Toews taking fewer offensive zone starts allows players who can actually create and score to get more of an offensive opportunity.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

In what world is putting your best C on the ice 14-15min/gm, a smart thing to do?

In what world does it make sense to play your top goal scorer 14-15 min/gm?

 

[Hawkaholic]

In what world does it make sense to play your top goal scorer 14-15 min/gm?

I don't see anyone advocating on here to do that.

 

[Hawkaholic]

I’d rather see a Kane line rotate offensive zone starts with a DeBrincat/Schmaltz line.

Toews taking fewer offensive zone starts allows players who can actually create and score to get more of an offensive opportunity.

Fun Fact, Toews finished 4th on the team in goals last year, only 4 ES goals behind Kane.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I don't see anyone advocating on here to do that.

Do you think Chicago becomes a more difficult team to match up with if they give Cat his own line with actually talented linemates?

 

[ChiHawks10]

I’d rather see a Kane line rotate offensive zone starts with a DeBrincat/Schmaltz line.

Toews taking fewer offensive zone starts allows players who can actually create and score to get more of an offensive opportunity.

I get that. I just don't see how giving Toews a purely defensive role makes this team any better is all.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Do you think Chicago becomes a more difficult team to match up with if they give Cat his own line with actually talented linemates?

Maybe, but they become a worse team with Toews only playing 14-15mins a night instead of 19-20.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

I don't see anyone advocating on here to do that.

Q did that...

 

[dk2k]

not worth it.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Maybe, but they become a worse team with Toews only playing 14-15mins a night instead of 19-20.

I don’t think Toews should play 14-15 minutes a night, I think DeBrincat should get more ice-time and more offensive zone opportunity.

If that comes at the expense of Toews getting fewer offensive zone starts, I’m okay with that.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Q did that...

What does that have to do with anything? Is anyone supporting that?

If you want to spread out Toews, Kane and Dcat, then Dcat will be the one getting the least amount of time, because he is the lesser player of the 3.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Wish list...This team...100% playoff team, potential for a ton more

 

[Bubba88]

The article was about hockey.

I know, but does the Writer?
This is NBA strategy with the star Player being 90+% on the court.

If we learned anything from the past and Vegas, depth matters for sure.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Putting Schmaltz in the bottom 6 is a waste imo.

20-19-12
OW-8-88
48-15-95
40-VE-64

I think this is a good way to do it. It accomplishes the goal of getting DeBrincat more than 14-15 minutes a game, while not dropping Toews’ 5v5 icetime.

Seems like a good compromise.