Speculation: Who Will Play the Most # of Games Next Year As Our 2c?

[Bubba88]

3rd best if you include Saad and only b/c he led the AHL in scoring last year. Very few had him rated highly prior to this current polling.

if you hate him, you don't vote for him. Simple as that.

he isn't even disliked...

 

[ChiHawk21]

I think pirri will get the 2C spot and thrive and put up 40-50 points and be fine on D and people will still complain

 

[committedindian86]

Pirri. /thread

 

[IU Hawks fan]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=678080&navid=DL|NHL|home

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Brian Hedger ‏@BrianHedger 4m
So, @ESPNChiPowers and I asked Q about Saad maybe playing C, and it looks like he's got first dibs on second line center role. #Blackhawks

interesting

 

[RedBaronIndian]

Brian Hedger ‏@BrianHedger 4m
So, @ESPNChiPowers and I asked Q about Saad maybe playing C, and it looks like he's got first dibs on second line center role. #Blackhawks

interesting

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Saturday he planned to give Saad a chance to win the spot when training camp begins in September.

“[Saad] is probably the guy we’re thinking maybe grab that spot, would be an option,” Quenneville said while talking to the media during the Blackhawks convention. “It’s something we talked about as a staff late in the year. It’s something going into the season we could be exploring.
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bla...6619/saad-to-get-chance-at-second-line-center

Pirri should be given a fair shot at 2C. I trust Q but I dont get the rationale behind this. If Q doesn't see Pirri as a viable option for whatever reason, Hawks should trade him.

 

[ReLyT]

Coach Q... urgh

 

[EbonyRaptor]

Q talking about Saad at 2C may just be nothing more than convention blather or maybe now that Q has his new paper he's feeling a little frisky and tweaking StanBo about his Pirri talk.

But, the idea is intriguing. Saad showed last season that he is a pretty good defensive player, and he has pretty good size and the speed to play a 200 foot game. Of course, just because Q said they are thinking about trying him there doesn't mean he gets the job. Saad will compete in training camp with Pirri and others, but if he wins the job - that would be great for the Hawks.

It doesn't mean Pirri goes back to Rockford either because maybe Pirri wins a roster spot as a wing. Pirri may be better suited as a wing anyway if he is weak defensively. Or maybe he plays 3rd or 4th line center until he becomes a better two way player.

The bottom line is that if Saad can play center adequately, it gives Q more options which is a good thing, and one of those options is getting the best offensive players in the top-6 and putting the best playmakers (Toews and Kane) on separate lines - something Q may be leery to do with Pirri playing 2C:

Bickell-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Saad-Kane

 

[Bubba88]

This would give Morin a roster spot for sure...

Rather give Pirri the chance with Saad as Top9 LW

 

[MadhouseOnMadison]

Hopefully it's Pirri which means he's playing well enough to stay in the lineup. I have a feeling it's going to be a revolving door at that position all year though.

 

[LarmerSavardSecord]

Despite the recent talk-up of Pirri by Bowman, I never got the sense they believe in the guy. It seems like they really want someone, anyone, to beat him out for the the 2C role.

Never thought about Saad at 2C, but I can see why they might want to give it a try. Assuming Bickell is a top-6 forward now, it's a way to get more ES minutes to the Hawk's most talented young player. Probably won't happen, but the hawks are in the position to experiment.

I'm going to vote for LeBlah. Seems like he's similar to Pirri in talent/skill-set, but is a Bowman/current scouting staff find. He's their guy, and when it's close, the current regime goes with their guy most of the time.

 

[Bubba88]

some food for thought

LeBlanc has a 2Way Contract 13/14 and a 1Way contract for 14/15

LeBlanc will get Pirris spot in RFD while Pirri plays in the NHL - for the Hawks or he will get traded

 

[Buckst3r]

Pirri. I hear they're trying Saad at the spot however it would be better to keep him at left wing with Handzus centering the 4th line. Then again it could be the other way around. We'll see how Handzus recovers from his surgeries.

 

[Kathryn Tappen]

What happens to Zus if Pirri takes 2C? Will Shaw be moved to the wing?

 

[Any Colour You Like]

This had better not turn into another Kane-esque failed experiment.

 

[Bubba88]

What happens to Zus if Pirri takes 2C? Will Shaw be moved to the wing?

thats possible... or Krüger moves to Wing or Zeus is the healthy scratch

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

It just makes little sense. The kid would have a rookie transition year all over again. Let Saad settle as a wing rather than jerk him around.

 

[Sevanston]

Q gets another "honeymoon" period where I'm not going to complain about the things he tries because he just brought us a 2nd Cup.

But for the life of me I can't see much benefit to this "Saad at C" experiment.

 

[massivegoonery]

Saad is basically a Patrick Marleau clone, he has all the tools to be a very successful center.

 

[madgoat33]

Saad is basically a Patrick Marleau clone, he has all the tools to be a very successful center.

wut....

 

[chicagoskycam]

More I think about it I like Shaw getting a shot there.

 

[BobbyJet]

Despite the recent talk-up of Pirri by Bowman, I never got the sense they believe in the guy. It seems like they really want someone, anyone, to beat him out for the the 2C role. Never thought about Saad at 2C, but I can see why they might want to give it a try. Assuming Bickell is a top-6 forward now, it's a way to get more ES minutes to the Hawk's most talented young player. Probably won't happen, but the hawks are in the position to experiment.

I'm going to vote for LeBlah. Seems like he's similar to Pirri in talent/skill-set, but is a Bowman/current scouting staff find. He's their guy, and when it's close, the current regime goes with their guy most of the time.

My thoughts as well.

I hope I’m wrong on this but Pirri, it seems, has already been tried and judged by Q… and it’s not favourable. We’ve seen this before from Q: On one hand we have Saad and Kruger, who were pencilled into the line-up before they proved anything at the NHL level, and on then there’s the likes of Stalberg, Jayes and possibly Pirri now, non of whom gets much respect from the head coach.

That said, I’ll stay tuned in to see how it unfolds. It occurs to me that Saad is a winger, but must admit the prospect of Saad at 2nd or 3rd line center is an intriguing one…. for a few reasons, especially his hockey smarts, good size and 2 way game.

As for your thoughts on LeBlanc. You could have something there as well. Pirri needs to do something special early this fall, I reckon or he could get shuffled back down (or even traded) before Christmas.

 

[AvsRobin]

Didnt know where to post this. But since Kruger is in the 2C discussion.

Re-draft from 2009.
http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2009/
I love him to death, but even I can feel that 15th for Kruger is a bit high. Silfverberg went after him.

 

[Hawkaholic]

If Saad can show he can handle C, there is no reason not to try him.
I think it should go to 1 of Kruger, or Pirri though. Outside chance of LeBlanc.

 

[Sevanston]

Saad is basically a Patrick Marleau clone, he has all the tools to be a very successful center.

I love me some Patrick Marleau, but even he's better as a winger. It's easier to burn past defenders on the outside than it is in the middle.

I think Saad has all the tools to succeed as a center, but I just don't see the need to try him there right now. I'd be much more interested in seeing Pirri, Drew Loblaw, or Kruger try to center the 2nd line.

Whatever. I guess some extra competition for the job won't hurt.