Via Chris Kuc and Chicagotribune.com

Barring any last-minutes changes, here is the Hawks' roster to start the season:

FORWARDS: Bryan Bickell, Dave Bolland, Brandon Bollig, Daniel Carcillo, Michael Frolik, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Marcus Kruger, Jamal Mayers, Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp, Andrew Shaw, Viktor Stalberg and Jonathan Toews.

DEFENSEMEN: Sheldon Brookbank, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Duncan Keith, Nick Leddy, Steve Montador (injured), Johnny Oduya, Michal Rozsival and Brent Seabrook.

GOALTENDERS: Corey Crawford and Ray Emery.


Gentlemen, engage

I'm guessing we'll be doing the Rockford Shuffle a lot this year. We'll see Hayes and Pirri eventually, though I guess they're trying to move Hayes to center? Why?

If I had to put together the depth chart I would guess

Sharp - Toews - Kane
Stalberg - Kruger - Hossa
Bickell - Bolland - Shaw
Carcillo - Mayers - Frolik
Keith - Seabrook
Oduya - Hjalmarsson
Rozsival - Brookbank
Crawford
Emery

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They've been talking a lot about moving Bolland to the #2 center , which is cutting off your nose to spite your face.


Forgot Nick Leddy in your breakdown CH

Keith-Seabrook
Leddy-Brookbank
Hammer-Oduya/Rosival

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Team Cutler.

I saw Leddy starting the year as a #7 because Q loves his old defensemen. He'll be cycled in plenty, though, of course. That's the kind of year it'll be.

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Before Hossa signed with the Hawks he averaged 36 goals a season (seasons he played 60+ games). It'd be nice if Bowman attempted to maximize Hossa before he breaks down. Instead he sticks him with Bolland and Kruger.

If the motivated Bickell shows up this season (contract year...) then the 3rd line has the possibility to be great.

The 4th line is probably one of the strongest in the NHL. Frolik adds the threat of scoring (but never actually will).

Kruger is the key to our lineup this year. If he fails might as well put the players in a blender and see what line combinations get shat out.

Isnt this the same team as last year that wasnt good enough to beat the Coyotes?

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Mostly. They've improved defensively by adding Brookbank and Rosival. Bigger tougher bodies which won't get consistently obliterated by a strong forecheck like Oduya and Leddy were last year. Which means reduced minutes for Hammer who likely won't be here after this year.


I'm excited to watch the development of Brandon Saad this season. Appears he's going to be on the 23 man to start the season although he is likely to be riding the Rockford shuttle

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Team Cutler.

Thanks, now that the season has been reduced I'm going to make an effort to watch more regular season than in years past.

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Could be worse I guess.

You can't put Hossa with Toews and Kane or else you're too top-heavy. And Bolland is no slouch. The Committed Indian had a good piece that showed just how much Bolland improves his linemates and makes the most of tough minutes (even though he can't win a faceoff for shit).

Kruger, though, like you said, is in a make-or-break year. God help us all if he's still a pushover. I don't care about his upside or hockey IQ. We need some modicum of size.


Yeah, I don't know what you're going to do with that system, other than beat them at their own game like the Kings did, and frankly, not many teams have the personnel to do that. Even the Predators couldn't. The sad thing is that with obvious obstruction/restraining calls made against the Coyotes, their vaunted "system" breaks down. If they can't trip, hook, and hold with impunity, they're nothing. We can either be better than them at it or just chuck so many shots past them and their phalanx that enough go in, and even that seems to take at least 70 shot attempts.

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Yea Hossa has to anchor the 2nd line as Sharp can't carry a line alone. It's just too bad that Stalberg and Kruger are his linemates when neither can finish.

There are some intriguing players who will be free agents and might be on the trade block.

Jarome Iginla, Patrick Elias, Nik Antropov and Brenden Morrow are players I'd be interested in bringing to supplement the 2nd line.

Were Hossa and Kane on the same line a lot last year?

Crawford & Emery? They couldn't improve in this area?

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

All you fans sign up here. Very cool give away

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=85880

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

The Hawks did not address their two biggest needs.

1 Second Line Center

2 Number One Goaltender

peggy kusinski ‏@peggykusinski

#Blackhawks acquired G Henrik Karlsson from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 7thround draft pick in 2013 NHL Entry Draft

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

They're still scrubbing all that puppy shit in front of Emery's crease. So basically what Stan Bowman is saying here is that virtually anyone has to be better than Emery.

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From what I witnessed last night he is right.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

CBS Sports web has him listed as a Shark with only 1 year of experience. I still want Tim Thomas.

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Elections have consequences.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Youtube the Ice Hogs fight on the 19th. Carton Hutton beats the shit out of the Grand Rapids goalie.

Not sure why it took this long to make a move on Emery. It's the same game from last year. No lateral movement and plays most of the time like he has a trampoline under his jersey.

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Team Cutler.