What about C Henrik Borgström, where does he fit in next season?

[featherhawk]

Play him with Kane..

Kane made Michal f***ing Handzus look decent out there for God's sake...

may very well be the best place for him and you know if the line of Cat-?-Kane continues to get O zone starts then the line gets sheltered, may want to just plunk him there and see how he works in that spot. The only other scenario I see him playing C (3rd line) is if Toews returns, one of Toews/Dach Centre Kane and TJ plays 4th line C...

Cat-Borgstrom-Kane
Kubalik-Toews-Hagel
Gaudette/Nylander-Dach-Kurashev
Gaudette/Nylander-Johnson-Carpenter/JK

Cat-Toews-Kane
Kubalik-Dach-Gaudette/Nylander
Hagel-Borgstrom-Kurashev
Gaudette/Nylander-Johnson- Carpenter/JK

 

[Northernhawk]

Play him with Kane..

Kane made Michal f***ing Handzus look decent out there for God's sake...

And did make Anisimov score 20+ a season

 

[giza]

I'm keeping my expectations very low here.....not totally excited about the 1 way contract in this case.

 

[bwana63]

Remarkable how certain everyone is about how he’ll fit in without having seen him play.

lol, you must be new here.

Which you obviously are not. Very strong sarcasm game. Well played.

 

[AmericanDream]

And did make Anisimov score 20+ a season

This is again truth!!!

Borgstrom is 6'4 with soft hands, can skate pretty decently out there- I honestly can't see a better starting spot for him to earn than with Kane if the Hawks really want to give him that chance. Up to the kid to earn it, but his skillset could work really well with Kane as like you just pointed out, plugs have produced with Kaner the past decade and this kid at least has some upside here offensively.

We need 1-2 of these wild card younger players to really stand out for us this year..

 

[kmwtrucks]

I'm keeping my expectations very low here.....not totally excited about the 1 way contract in this case.

the one way or 2 way means he will be paid the same in the NHL and AHL? 2 way contracts after ELC are generally for super fringe NHL players. IE were you are 90% sure they are only going to be AHL. he is not waiver exempt, there is no way he would clear waivers at least at the start of the year. the only thing the 1 way or 2 way effects is Wirtz paying his full saalry in the AHL. he would not count against Cap space ETC.

 

[bwana63]

We need 1-2 of these wild cards younger players to really stand out for us this year.

Yeah, we do. 2 out of Borgstrom, Nylander and Gaudette should be the bar. Expecting Kurashev to take a step forward too.

Will be interesting to see if Hagel can take a step, given that he shot out of a cannon last season. I'd definitely "settle" for a similar performance.

 

[Kevin Musto]

This is again truth!!!

Borgstrom is 6'4 with soft hands, can skate pretty decently out there- I honestly can't see a better starting spot for him to earn than with Kane if the Hawks really want to give him that chance. Up to the kid to earn it, but his skillset could work really well with Kane as like you just pointed out, plugs have produced with Kaner the past decade and this kid at least has some upside here offensively.

We need 1-2 of these wild card younger players to really stand out for us this year..

Kubalik-Toews-Strome
DeBrincat-Borgstrom-Kane
Kurashev-Dach-Nylander
Hagel-Johnson-Carpenter

Would you have the lines look something like this?

 

[Hawkaholic]

And did make Anisimov score 20+ a season

Anisimov did score 20 before coming to the Hawks.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Kubalik-Toews-Strome
DeBrincat-Borgstrom-Kane
Kurashev-Dach-Nylander
Hagel-Johnson-Carpenter

Would you have the lines look something like this?

That's dumb.
Johnson 4th line C? lol no.

Borgstrom will start on the wing most likely, unless Toews isn't a go, then he'll be the 3rd line C to start.

 

[featherhawk]

That's dumb.
Johnson 4th line C? lol no.

Borgstrom will start on the wing most likely, unless Toews isn't a go, then he'll be the 3rd line C to start.

Why is Johnson 4C dumb?

 

[Pertti]

Middle six, not sure if at wing or center; we have a lot of guys who can play down the middle already.

I like a lot about Borgstrom. Tall guy with a long reach. Good hands for his size. Skating is NHL quality. But one thing I keep thinking about is Panthers fans saying he was slow mentally for them. Hopefully he's improved in that regard and can be at least a real solid middle sixer for his career.

I hope this wasn't the problem because Liiga isn't very fast or high quality league which you need to improve that.

 

[Pertti]

Play him with Kane..

Kane made Michal f***ing Handzus look decent out there for God's sake...

Handzus is still best center Kane has had because Zeus went in places where Kane won't go. D-zone, front of the goal and in the corner, there was Handzus.

 

[AmericanDream]

Kubalik-Toews-Strome
DeBrincat-Borgstrom-Kane
Kurashev-Dach-Nylander
Hagel-Johnson-Carpenter

Would you have the lines look something like this?

I am fine with most of it but Johnson on the 4th line- switch him to Strome's spot

 

[CallMeShaft]

I hope this wasn't the problem because Liiga isn't very fast or high quality league which you need to improve that.

It was more in regards to his time as a Florida Panther. He may have just not been ready for the NHL at that time.

He had an injury this past season and took a bit of time to get going, but I do know that by year's end, his Liiga coach had plenty of nice things to say (might've even called him their best forward, though I don't remember for certain).

 

[Hawkaholic]

Why is Johnson 4C dumb?

Because he is too talented for a 4th line role. He is our 3rd best C. (with Toews)

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

And did make Anisimov score 20+ a season

Anisimov scored 22 goals with Jackets before coming to Hawks (His high with Hawks was 22)

Anisimov had a 44 pt season with Rangers before coming to Hawks (His high with Hawks was 45)

LOL at this nonsense that Kane made Anisimov

AA production with Hawks was not all that off from his production with Rangers/Jackets so really laughable stuff here

By this logic was AA the reason Kane lead the league in scoring?

 

[bwana63]

Kubalik-Toews-Strome
DeBrincat-Borgstrom-Kane
Kurashev-Dach-Nylander
Hagel-Johnson-Carpenter

Would you have the lines look something like this?

If Toews is healthy, your guy is gone. Gaudette will be in.

 

[nmgrbhfn]

Kubalik-Toews-Strome
DeBrincat-Borgstrom-Kane
Kurashev-Dach-Nylander
Hagel-Johnson-Carpenter

Would you have the lines look something like this?

Nylander - Dach - Johnson
Cat - Borgstrom (Strome, Gaudette)- Kane
Kubalik - Toews - Kurashev (Hagel)
Hagel (Kurashev, Connolly) - Gaudette (Khaira) - Carpenter
Scratches: Khaira, Strome (Borgstrom, Gaudette)
Waiver/Rockford: Connolly (Kurashev)

Borgstrom competes with Strome (and possibly Gaudette) for 2C, Gaudette with Khaira for 4C and Hagel and Kurashev compete for slots on 3rd and 4th lines. If Kurashev looks to regress he is sent down and Connolly penciled in on 4th line

If Toews is washed up ltir him and move Kubalik to first, Johnson to third playing with Kurashev and Hagel.

If Nylander doesn't deliver move him and slot Kubalik in his place, with Kurashev and Hagel playing with Toews.

If Reichel is ready relatively soon slot him with Dach and bump Johnson down to Toews line and Hagel or Kurashev to fourth line. If Dach is playing 1C minutes and Reichel stumbles a bit but is still NHL ready bump him down to Toews line and Johnson back to Dach line.

 

[featherhawk]

Because he is too talented for a 4th line role. He is our 3rd best C. (with Toews)

so you have who playing 4C then?

Carpenter?

 

[Hawkaholic]

so you have who playing 4C then?

Carpenter?

Most likely, or Entwhistle, and I think they brought in Khaira for depth there as well.

 

[RayP]

so you have who playing 4C then?

Carpenter?

Yes, pretty sure he played C quite a bit in Vegas.

 

[featherhawk]

Most likely, or Entwhistle, and I think they brought in Khaira for depth there as well.

I know entwhistle plays C, did not know JK played C?

Yes, pretty sure he played C quite a bit in Vegas.

yes he did play C in Vegas

if Toews plays from the get go and Johnson plays C then Borgstrom must play the wing then

Toews
Dach
Johnson
Carpenter/Entwhistle/JK

 

[mattihp]

Only his 24th birthday today. Feels like he's been in the fold for ages!

 

[Hawkaholic]

I know entwhistle plays C, did not know JK played C

he took close to 400 faceoffs for Edmonton last year (3rd most on their team behind McD and Drai). He was only 45% at the dot, but between him and Carpenter, I think they can handle it.