Speculation: What is/are our opening night roster/lines looking like?

[LBS8844]

Bollig is dinosaur thinking at its worst. We won the Cup without any significant contribution from him. We didn't need him then and we don't need him now. The only reason he is in the lineup at all is to draw a certain population of cementheads who only actually watch hockey for the fights.

Um, no. Bollig is inserted into the lineup strategically to provide an element of protection for the organization's more valuable assets. Sometimes that strategy backfires when game situations (close games) dictate that he keep the mitts on after he scores a goal. The cement heads are the guys out there taking run after run at the heads of irreplaceable players (happened as usual to Toews again last night). Within the context of the current rules and officiating, this is the NHL planet that we live on.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Um, no. Bollig is inserted into the lineup strategically to provide an element of protection for the organization's more valuable assets. Sometimes that strategy backfires when game situations (close games) dictate that he keep the mitts on after he scores a goal. The cement heads are the guys out there taking run after run at the heads of irreplaceable players (happened as usual to Toews again last night). Within the context of the current rules and officiating, this is the NHL planet that we live on.

Even though there is nothing to suggest he is actually effective at that role. He's not an intimidating guy and he's not a good fighter either.

 

[LBS8844]

Even though there is nothing to suggest he is actually effective at that role. He's not an intimidating guy and he's not a good fighter either.

Not the point. The point is that every team needs an enforcer that is paid and willing to do the dirty work. Stan - given the team's structure - has identified Bollig as the best option for this role at this point; Q will use him or not as he sees fit. I agree, it was nicer when John Scott was bloodying people all over the place, but Scotty wouldn't be playing for $575,000, and frankly, he was an OTC (orange traffic cone) out there.

 

[RayP]

Not the point. The point is that every team needs an enforcer that is paid and willing to do the dirty work. Stan - given the team's structure - has identified Bollig as the best option for this role at this point; Q will use him or not as he sees fit. I agree, it was nicer when John Scott was bloodying people all over the place, but Scotty wouldn't be playing for $575,000, and frankly, he was an OTC (orange traffic cone) out there.

But my problem with this thinking is that, I just don't see anyone being scared of the big bad Brandon Bollig out on the ice. At least with a guy like Cooke, and even Carcillo, you knew that if you took a run at one of their teammates, there was a great chance that they're coming at your with their elbows nice and high and going headhunting.


What does Bollig do? Oh, that's right, staged fights off a face-off, that he is lucky to even win... but to your point, yeah, he is our enforcer. Our enforcer that no one is scared of.

 

[Kurtosis]

Yeah, it's not like he is a Thornton or Orr type player that intimidates the other side.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Geez, the way you guys talk about this, you'd think Hawks 2013-14 season rests on the shoulders of none other than Brandon Bollig.

4th like players are 4th line players. Bollig is an adequate guy for our lineup. We're not missing the playoffs or losing the cup because Bollig is our 4th line winger

 

[Crazy_Ike]

Um, no. Bollig is inserted into the lineup strategically to provide an element of protection for the organization's more valuable assets.

Keep on pushing that long-debunked line of pro fighter propaganda. Fact is goons don't protect anyone from jack poop.

Fun fact: when Hossa was blown out of the playoffs in 2012, Bollig was in the lineup. Torres sure looked intimidated, didn't he?

The cement heads are the guys out there taking run after run at the heads of irreplaceable players (happened as usual to Toews again last night).

So basically you admit Bollig didn't protect anything.

Guess he's there for goal scoring.

 

[HockeySauce]

Having to potentially answer to someone is more of a deterrent than having to answer to absolutely no one - well, other than Seabrook or perhaps Bickell.. and then that teams grunt has potentially taken out two of the Hawks better players with one hit.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Having to potentially answer to someone is more of a deterrent than having to answer to absolutely no one - well, other than Seabrook or perhaps Bickell.. and then that teams grunt has potentially taken out two of the Hawks better players with one hit.

a staged fight after the whistle between two goons isn't a deterrent to anyone on either team.

whoever said above that guys like matt cooke were a better deterrent than guys like bollig raised a good point. and, at the same time, the existence of guys like cooke, torres, kaleta, etc. show that guys like bollig really aren't much of a deterrent at all.

 

[RayP]

Geez, the way you guys talk about this, you'd think Hawks 2013-14 season rests on the shoulders of none other than Brandon Bollig.

4th like players are 4th line players. Bollig is an adequate guy for our lineup. We're not missing the playoffs or losing the cup because Bollig is our 4th line winger

I want to watch the best possible Blackhawks team we can ice, and I don't see us at our best with Bollig playing regularly. Am I going to lose any sleep over it? No, absolutely not, but that doesn't mean I can't prefer a guy like Smith or Morin on the roster in his place.

 

[Crazy_Ike]

a staged fight after the whistle between two goons isn't a deterrent to anyone on either team.

This isn't even a theory, it's proven fact backed by the evidence of what actually happened.

But you hear the cheers and the people standing up when a couple cementheads go at it at center?

That's the entire reason they are in the lineup. Sell a few more tickets and jerseys to people who have hockeyfights.com in their browser quicklinks.

 

[Illinihockey]

This isn't even a theory, it's proven fact backed by the evidence of what actually happened.

But you hear the cheers and the people standing up when a couple cementheads go at it at center?

That's the entire reason they are in the lineup. Sell a few more tickets and jerseys to people who have hockeyfights.com in their browser quicklinks.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Yeah, it's not like he is a Thornton or Orr type player that intimidates the other side.

He is also a better hockey player than either of those 2.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Geez, the way you guys talk about this, you'd think Hawks 2013-14 season rests on the shoulders of none other than Brandon Bollig.

4th like players are 4th line players. Bollig is an adequate guy for our lineup. We're not missing the playoffs or losing the cup because Bollig is our 4th line winger

For the thousandth time, criticizing Bollig isn't doubting that this team is stacked. The fact that an adequate fourth liner draws such attention is a testament to how good this club is.

Outside of itsmyfault, nobody thinks this team isn't poised to make a deep run. If conversation about the makeup of the Blackhawks roster irks anyone, a Chicago Blackhawks forum probably isn't the place for you.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

He is also a better hockey player than either of those 2.

wrong

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Bollig and Thornton are close. Orr isn't. Bollig is also just about as good a fighter as Thornton.

 

[Hawkaholic]

wrong

Orr is terrible. No argument even needed.

Thornton used to be decent, but is pretty terrible now.

Bollig is better defensively, and if his recent offensive output is any indication, he will be better offensively too.

 

[HockeySauce]

a staged fight after the whistle between two goons isn't a deterrent to anyone on either team.

whoever said above that guys like matt cooke were a better deterrent than guys like bollig raised a good point. and, at the same time, the existence of guys like cooke, torres, kaleta, etc. show that guys like bollig really aren't much of a deterrent at all.

If you ask the players, they want fighters on their team. There's a reason why the NHLPA has always been outspoken about keeping fighting in the game, and it's not because the NHLPA is concerned about Brandon Bollig keeping his job in the NHL.

The players know it has an effect on how certain things play out. And considering, as Corey Pronman put it this morning, there is no data to support either side of the fighting debates argument, I'll take that of the players'.

You can point to Torres hit on Hossa, but we all know Torres is a gutless punk, so what does that prove?

Team toughness is more important than one individual, that I won't deny and firmly do believe.. but I also believe the Brandon Bollig's of the world have a place in hockey and they serve a purpose far beyond "jersey sales". You think an NHL coach is concerned about merchandise sales? Uhh.. no.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Orr is terrible. No argument even needed.

Thornton used to be decent, but is pretty terrible now.

Bollig is better defensively, and if his recent offensive output is any indication, he will be better offensively too.

Orr is terrible, but Bollig isn't better. And Orr is probably slightly better offensively than Bollig. You are talking about someone who scored his first regular season goal - in fact, his first regular season point - yesterday...and all you want to use that as some indication of offensive ability

As far as Thornton, even last year, with his injuries, he was still far better than Bollig.

...and as fighting goes, Bollig is horrible at it.

There is really no reason for him ever to play except for some reason Q likes him. Even when you look at the role he is supposed to play, he is not good at it.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Orr is terrible, but Bollig isn't better. And Orr is probably slightly better offensively than Bollig. You are talking about someone who scored his first regular season goal - in fact, his first regular season point - yesterday...and all you want to use that as some indication of offensive ability

As far as Thornton, even last year, with his injuries, he was still far better than Bollig.

...and as fighting goes, Bollig is horrible at it.

There is really no reason for him ever to play except for some reason Q likes him. Even when you look at the role he is supposed to play, he is not good at it.

Orr is not even close to the hockey player Thornton and Bollig are. Not even going to bother arguing it because it's a waste of time. And as far as Bolligs offensive indication...I am talking about what he did in the pre-season this year, where he scored a few goals and made some nice set-ups. He has the potential to be a better offensive player than either of those guys, whether he get's the opportunity is another story. It took Colton Orr 66 NHL games to score his 1st goal.

Thornton is not far better than Bollig, you are either really underrating Bollig, or severely overrating Thornton.

Bollig may not be the enforcer those guys are, but he is not a horrible fighter.

Maybe Q likes him because he thinks he's a decent hockey player?

Bollig is a decent 4th line energy player. He can cycle, shoot, skate and lay hits. He may not be the best option, but he isn't horrible.

 

[HockeySauce]

Bollig has the best shot of the three players, but IMO Thornton's the best player of the three.

I like Bollig. I think he'll put up some points and score a few goals this year. I mean, nothing crazy, but certainly not zeros across the board.

 

[Illinihockey]

Orr is terrible, but Bollig isn't better. And Orr is probably slightly better offensively than Bollig. You are talking about someone who scored his first regular season goal - in fact, his first regular season point - yesterday...and all you want to use that as some indication of offensive ability

As far as Thornton, even last year, with his injuries, he was still far better than Bollig.

...and as fighting goes, Bollig is horrible at it.

There is really no reason for him ever to play except for some reason Q likes him. Even when you look at the role he is supposed to play, he is not good at it.

That was Bollig's 44th regular season game. Orr didn't score his first goal until his 67th game. Thornton didn't score more than 2 goals in a season until he was 30.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Orr is not even close to the hockey player Thornton and Bollig are. Not even going to bother arguing it because it's a waste of time. And as far as Bolligs offensive indication...I am talking about what he did in the pre-season this year, where he scored a few goals and made some nice set-ups. He has the potential to be a better offensive player than either of those guys, whether he get's the opportunity is another story. It took Colton Orr 66 NHL games to score his 1st goal.

Thornton is not far better than Bollig, you are either really underrating Bollig, or severely overrating Thornton.

Bollig may not be the enforcer those guys are, but he is not a horrible fighter.

Maybe Q likes him because he thinks he's a decent hockey player?

Bollig is a decent 4th line energy player. He can cycle, shoot, skate and lay hits. He may not be the best option, but he isn't horrible.

Bollig is far closer to Colton Orr's skill level than Shawn Thornton's (who is no great hockey player himself). If you honestly believe that Brandon Bollig is "a decent hockey player" than there's really nothing more to say to you.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

If you honestly believe that Brandon Bollig is "a decent hockey player" than there's really nothing more to say to you.

I think you're blind if you think otherwise.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Bollig is far closer to Colton Orr's skill level than Shawn Thornton's (who is no great hockey player himself). If you honestly believe that Brandon Bollig is "a decent hockey player" than there's really nothing more to say to you.

No, he isn't. he is much closer to Thornton as a player, and has surpassed him IMO. Thornton has gone downhill big time in recent years, he still may be better offensively, but Bollig has the better shot, cycle game, and defensive play.

It all depends what you consider decent, but I said decent 4th liner, which he is. If you think Orr is even close to either player, there isn't much more to say to you.