Congrats JJ on being correct on Hossa ,that was a real scoop . I am happy with the moves the HAWKS made over the summer ,said Panarin and Hammer would be the two most likely to be moved along with Crow . Two out of three ,still believe Crow will be moved before the end of his contract , may depend on Forsberg plays . This team was good enough to win the west last year ,and are again . If teams play the HAWKS in the manner they did last year in the playoffs, clogging up the middle. And Q has no adjustment's in his hall of fame coaching bag, expect a shocker
- oldduffman

Thx Duffman

@MarkLazerus
Joel Quenneville said Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook likely will be paired together to start the season. #Blackhawks

Rozsival 2.0. Done and done.
- John Jaeckel

And, actually an improvement over 2016-17 Rozy ....

@MarkLazerus
Joel Quenneville said Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook likely will be paired together to start the season. #Blackhawks
- JRoenick97

Interested to see how long that lasts.

Almost every pre season pundit has Hawks missing the playoffs
- Hope the Boys prove them wrong
- Colbyboy

Thats just out of town stupid. I love how the Hawks Patriot traded Hammer. I love Saad is back over bread man. Hawks will push possession more than they have the past 2 seasons. They will be fun to watch and they will win a lot of games , especially when they spend the Hossa money

Canucks acquire Pouliot from Penguins

...in exchange for Andrey Pedan & 2018 4th round pick
- JRoenick97

Pouliot was doing alright under Johnson, but never clicked with Sullivan so it makes sense they'd finally cut. I thought the Pens were dangling him+ to try to get a center, though. Didn't get much for Pouliot either - AHL d-man and a 4th.

Interested to see how long that lasts.
- DarthKane

Second period of the Pens game after Dmen #'s 3-6 give the puck away 5 times in the first

Second period of the Pens game after Dmen #'s 3-6 give the puck away 5 times in the first
- vabeachbear

You think the Keith/Seabrook pairing will last that long?

Interested to see how long that lasts.
- DarthKane

First time Murphy turns the puck over.

That's honestly cheaper than I thought it would be. I thought he'd get a Campbell deal.
- JRoenick97

Maybe Stan learned a lesson with Campbell?

Not surprised with Wingels and Bouma making the team. That's why they went out and got them.

I'm pleasantly surprised that Jurco didn't make the team. I was worried it'd be Rundblad 2.0.

A little surpized DeBrincat made the team, even though he's been trending that way. Him, along with Forsling and Hayden are getting a long look. I wouldn't be surprised to see any or all of them traded early this season.

Rutta was a nice find. He, Forsling, Oesterle, Kempny, and Murphy all need some ice time to continue developing. Five guys for four spots, and that isn't counting Franson. Not a bad problem to have but are any of them legit 2nd pair?

Preseason polls and predictions are just an indication and cannot be taken seriously. No one knows if a rookie will shine or a trade is made.

Let's look at Chicago. What about Toews. Ruuta. How good will they be. Is DeBrincat going to be helping the offense? Schmautz better? Oh, how could the team improve now that Stan can spend more
- jhawk59

Debrincat needs to play with Kane to maximize his scoring potential. Putting him on the 3rd line will be a waste of time. He's a scorer with great hands and skills similar to Panarin. You might as well put him in Rockford if you're not going to utilize his skills.
Ideal line ???? Kane and Debrincat with Duchene in the middle.
Would Sakic really turn down Anisimov, Hartman and Forsling ???? I think that's an over pay myself but it sure would make us more of a contender these next 2 years while the window is still open.

Not surprised with Wingels and Bouma making the team. That's why they went out and got them.

I'm pleasantly surprised that Jurco didn't make the team. I was worried it'd be Rundblad 2.0.

A little surpized DeBrincat made the team, even though he's been trending that way. Him, along with Forsling and Hayden are getting a long look. I wouldn't be surprised to see any or all of them traded early this season.

Rutta was a nice find. He, Forsling, Oesterle, Kempny, and Murphy all need some ice time to continue developing. Five guys for four spots, and that isn't counting Franson. Not a bad problem to have but are any of them legit 2nd pair?
- matt_ahrens

I didn't see what happens to Jurco. He passed waivers? Is he going to the Rock or now a Free Agent?

Debrincat needs to play with Kane to maximize his scoring potential. Putting him on the 3rd line will be a waste of time. He's a scorer with great hands and skills similar to Panarin. You might as well put him in Rockford if you're not going to utilize his skills.
Ideal line ???? Kane and Debrincat with Duchene in the middle.
Would Sakic really turn down Anisimov, Hartman and Forsling ???? I think that's an over pay myself but it sure would make us more of a contender these next 2 years while the window is still open.
- Hawkytalk

If so, then I think you need AA between them. You need a space creator and down low/corner guy to go get pucks for those guys. Some say Schmaltz is that guy now based on a very small, preseason sample size.

The quality of defensemen who will roll out against Kane (and whoever he plays with) the first ten games or so will be a full notch or two above what these guys faced in the preseason.

That will separate the men from the boys.

@DhaliwalSports
Hearing Cody Franson deal in Chicago is 1 year and 1 million dollars.


If accurate, this is a good amount - easy to bury, easy to trade, no risk.
- L_B_R

Love it. Hope he amounts to more than Soupy did

@MarkLazerus
Joel Quenneville said Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook likely will be paired together to start the season. #Blackhawks
- JRoenick97

Well, Kempny/Murphy will likely be a bit mistake prone (at first anyway), but two athletic guys guys who can skate and hit

Part of me is hoping the team starts off like 0-2 just to see the panic around here, but I can't see them dropping off that much in the regular season. They seem to have filled the biggest hole which to me was created when Darling was traded. He played 32 games last year and was so steady. The difference between a great backup and a bad one could be the difference between playoffs and golfing early.

While it is still early, Forsberg seems to have stabilized that 2nd goalie position, so the Hawks should have capable goaltending after Crawford, otherwise it was looking ugly.

I think Sharp still has a lot left in the tank and that first PP unit won't miss Panarin with Sharp/Saad added to the mix. Nobody should be shocked to see improvement from Schmaltz, based on how he played last year and considering he did that right from college, he should just get better as he continues to become a pro.

Well, Kempny/Murphy will likely be a bit mistake prone (at first anyway), but two athletic guys guys who can skate and hit
- John Jaeckel

I hope Seabs looks a lot better can can skate 24 Mins a night. He has looked AVG at best the last 2 years. I know people say he gets paired with Bums but Hammer and Keith did it at times as well and you did not see that kind of drop off.

Glad Tootoo got sent to the Rock. I'm also glad Jurco cleared more then anything he needs to play allot and he will get a chance this year to play 70 games which he has not done in a long time.

I think Hino deserved it more then Bouma but I'm Ok with him making it. Would really prefer him as 13th forward and Wingels-Kero-Hayden. Kero and Hayden are not guys that can pull guys up to them (Kane, Keith ETC) they are guys that can be effective with AVG off players. Put them with below AVG and I think the line will not really create scoring Op's. I think Wingels would add way more.

If it was me for game 1:
Keith-Murph
Ost-Seabs
kemp-Rutta.

I'm not a fan of rearranging d pairs every 3 shifts with this many new guys.

I think this team is better then last year. Maybe not more wins but could be more dangerous. both 3rd lines and the 4th line has more talent and more options.

I also was not a debinct fan (I am now shot generator) but nobody said Pan would have a impact and remember if debrinct is replacing Pan and you talk about his D being below AVG you must have forgotten and the D Effort pan gave at times.

Rozsival 2.0. Done and done.
- John Jaeckel

Except that Roszival was once good, Franson never has been.

Not buying DeBrincat, Forsling and/or Hartman being here all year with the latest news re: Hossa. I think some portion of the preseason was posturing and showcasing tradeable parts.

Forwards Tomas Jurco and Alex DeBrincat, defenseman Gustav Forsling and goaltender J.F. Berube have been assigned to Rockford. #Blackhawks

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 3, 2017

22 to LTIR? why?

Forwards Tomas Jurco and Alex DeBrincat, defenseman Gustav Forsling and goaltender J.F. Berube have been assigned to Rockford. #Blackhawks

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 3, 2017

- DarthKane

wow that clears it up a bit

22 to LTIR? why?
- jt19

Stan pulling a Theo and stashing him would be my guess

Forwards Tomas Jurco and Alex DeBrincat, defenseman Gustav Forsling and goaltender J.F. Berube have been assigned to Rockford. #Blackhawks

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 3, 2017

- DarthKane

Is this just to get under at the beginning of the season?