#16 and #17 both need to be on the fourth line.
- Angotti

Kaiser - been pretty impressive lately, especially his skating

You can pretty much say that about all the players on this team. I think the moment Nazar understands exactly what he can and can't get away with at this level, he's going to explode.

Not trying to dig you too much here Dots, but for a guy who preaches patience so much, you seem to nag on specific details a lot (Bedard's slapper, Nazar can't handle a backhand pass, etc). You're well within your right to do so, and not really wrong, but it's an odd dichotomy to read.

Have a great weekend everyone!
- Chunk

It's things i hope they improve over time. Is it really nagging or an observation.

I guess if you think it's nagging I guess it is then.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Blackhawks' lines in practice today, shuffled again:

Mikheyev-Nazar-Bedard
Teravainen-Richardinson-Foligno
Veleno-Donato-Bertuzzi
Slaggert-Reichel-Maroon

Vlasic-Kaiser
Del Mastro-Murphy
Martinez-Levshunov
- LAHawk

I like that top line. Speed. Bedard won't be waiting for his linemates to catch up.

He’s 19, go back and watch Crosby at 19 he was constantly on his ass. Crosby made it worse by whining all the time, something Bedard is doing too. Crosby got stronger, was able to stay on his feet better and stopped whining, Bedard will too.
- paulr

Thanks. Wasn't sure if it was skating thing v. simply strength. Didn't watch him much in JRs so did not know if he was regularly blowing edges there too.

I like that top line. Speed. Bedard won't be waiting for his linemates to catch up.
- bhawks2241

So they might be together for 2 periods instead of one?

It's things i hope they improve over time. Is it really nagging or an observation.

I guess if you think it's nagging I guess it is then.
- BetweenTheDots

Obviously, you hope they improve over time. That's kind of my point. You keep preaching patience and then seem to get frustrated with things that will be improved with patience.

Like I said, not really trying to take a dig at you, just sort of an opposing approach Patience for some things, but not for others.

Or.... I could just be taking everything too seriously because I think i broke my toe yesterday and am just irritated in general at the moment. That's a thing too.

So they might be together for 2 periods instead of one?
- LAHawk

Yeah, considering Sorenson said that they were trying to find "pairs" to play together on each line and then fill in the third forward, there has been no consistency with that approach at all. Dach being injured may have something to do with it, but it's just strange how there is almost no rhyme or reason to the lines.

Side note: I've been happy with what Veleno has brought so far. I didn't expect much at all, and he's been pretty reliable and smart with his play.

Yeah, considering Sorenson said that they were trying to find "pairs" to play together on each line and then fill in the third forward, there has been no consistency with that approach at all. Dach being injured may have something to do with it, but it's just strange how there is almost no rhyme or reason to the lines.

Side note: I've been happy with what Veleno has brought so far. I didn't expect much at all, and he's been pretty reliable and smart with his play.
- Chunk

I think Bedard’s unpredictable style of play requires cohesion with his linemates who can try to understand how Bedard plays. Constantly changing his wingers is counter productive. I’d like to see Sorensen keep his line together for a number of games to see if they can gel.

Kaiser - been pretty impressive lately, especially his skating
- glennjpawlak22

I like Kaiser, agree.

I think Bedard’s unpredictable style of play requires cohesion with his linemates who can try to understand how Bedard plays. Constantly changing his wingers is counter productive. I’d like to see Sorensen keep his line together for a number of games to see if they can gel.
- paulr

F'n A

Obviously, you hope they improve over time. That's kind of my point. You keep preaching patience and then seem to get frustrated with things that will be improved with patience.

Like I said, not really trying to take a dig at you, just sort of an opposing approach Patience for some things, but not for others.

Or.... I could just be taking everything too seriously because I think i broke my toe yesterday and am just irritated in general at the moment. That's a thing too.
- Chunk

Ouch, that makes more sense

#16 and #17 both need to be on the fourth line.
- Angotti

I'm still good with #16 being played higher than 4th line. The guy has been struggling a bit, but he isn't a 4th line plug.

I'm still good with #16 being played higher than 4th line. The guy has been struggling a bit, but he isn't a 4th line plug.
- breadbag

I’m not sure about that bread, he had never scored more than 9 goals in a season until last year, had a career year and cashed in. Most here including myself like what Donato has accomplished this year, again, you have to be careful paying for a career year.

I’m not sure about that bread, he had never scored more than 9 goals in a season until last year, had a career year and cashed in. Most here including myself like what Donato has accomplished this year, again, you have to be careful paying for a career year.
- Angotti

While not great at retrievals or board battles, D!ckinson does an admirable job against the other teams' top lines. He's quite good defensively and will occasionally pop with some offense. He's not without his merits. His contract is a little high for his role, but not horrible even on a good team. I think Donato's performance will be slightly easier to sustain. He did most of his damage playing in a 3rd line role with TT and Mikheyev. If they have enough other talent to push those guys to a line of Donato - D!ckinson - Mikheyev, I think that would be the ideal.

Donato is going to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 3X$4M. It's actually pretty good for what he will provide - around 40 pts per year, and responsible play.

Salary cap in danger of stalling .Trump !! . Real glad we got rid of Jones now ,although that 2,5 mil may lock a little bigger in the rear view mirror . Still got that 1st .

I’m not sure about that bread, he had never scored more than 9 goals in a season until last year, had a career year and cashed in. Most here including myself like what Donato has accomplished this year, again, you have to be careful paying for a career year.
- Angotti

Oh I know that, just saying he is a 15-16 minute a night guy usually, as he has been most seasons since really breaking into the league. He hasn't been getting much opportunity to utilize his shot this season and while that is on him to find himself in those scoring areas, I think partially it's the chemistry of his line.

There has been a real lack of chemistry on the forecheck/cycle with him and the other forwards he is paired with. Seen a lot of times where goes in, but doesn't have support or vice versa, where last year, the synergy seemed to be there with guys like Anderson. I just feel like to get the most out of him, keep him with the 3rd line types who can dive into those board battles.

He can be very effective defensively and to me, should just stay stapled as 3C. I still think he is an NHL 3rd line player because of his 2 way game and probably only dropped to 4th line if the team is deep.

TODAY'S TANKATHON

Big jumps as NYR and CLB move to #1 and #2. CHI drops to #4. Trade or take the last available of the top 3 forwards?

10 NY Rangers
12 Columbus
1 San Jose
2 Chicago
3 Nashville
4 Buffalo
5 Philadelphia
6 Seattle
7 Pittsburgh
8 Anaheim
9 Boston
11 Detroit
13 Utah
14 NY Islanders
15 St. Louis
16 Vancouver

#16 and #17 both need to be on the fourth line.
- Angotti

Which 4th line?

So they might be together for 2 SHIFTS instead of one?
- LAHawk

Fixed.

While not great at retrievals or board battles, D!ckinson does an admirable job against the other teams' top lines. He's quite good defensively and will occasionally pop with some offense. He's not without his merits. His contract is a little high for his role, but not horrible even on a good team. I think Donato's performance will be slightly easier to sustain. He did most of his damage playing in a 3rd line role with TT and Mikheyev. If they have enough other talent to push those guys to a line of Donato - D!ckinson - Mikheyev, I think that would be the ideal.

Donato is going to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 3X$4M. It's actually pretty good for what he will provide - around 40 pts per year, and responsible play.
- Chunk

Take with a big grain of salt, but I heard a rumor that there is a contract offer to Donato from the Hawks in the 3 year - under 4 Mil range. I wouldn't be surprised to see him somewhere near that 4M mark, hopefully nothing north of it.

Salary cap in danger of stalling .Trump !! . Real glad we got rid of Jones now ,although that 2,5 mil may lock a little bigger in the rear view mirror . Still got that 1st .
- oldduffman

Yet still not as big as half retained ... All good- makes life tighter on way more teams that have less flexibility.

Oh I know that, just saying he is a 15-16 minute a night guy usually, as he has been most seasons since really breaking into the league. He hasn't been getting much opportunity to utilize his shot this season and while that is on him to find himself in those scoring areas, I think partially it's the chemistry of his line.

There has been a real lack of chemistry on the forecheck/cycle with him and the other forwards he is paired with. Seen a lot of times where goes in, but doesn't have support or vice versa, where last year, the synergy seemed to be there with guys like Anderson. I just feel like to get the most out of him, keep him with the 3rd line types who can dive into those board battles.

He can be very effective defensively and to me, should just stay stapled as 3C. I still think he is an NHL 3rd line player because of his 2 way game and probably only dropped to 4th line if the team is deep.
- breadbag

That’s fair, you like him on the 3rd line, unless you have a deep team. I think that we both agree that he shouldn’t be on the top six( even on this team). I lean more as a fourth liner because I want guys like Slaggert and Reichel to play top nine, especially Reichel. With Dach out, looks like we get Maroon again and I don’t like that combination, Maroon is just too slow.

Salary cap in danger of stalling .Trump !! . Real glad we got rid of Jones now ,although that 2,5 mil may lock a little bigger in the rear view mirror . Still got that 1st .
- oldduffman

Be a shame if Hawks had a lot more cap space then all the other teams this offseason

TODAY'S TANKATHON

Big jumps as NYR and CLB move to #1 and #2. CHI drops to #4. Trade or take the last available of the top 3 forwards?

10 NY Rangers
12 Columbus
1 San Jose
2 Chicago
3 Nashville
4 Buffalo
5 Philadelphia
6 Seattle
7 Pittsburgh
8 Anaheim
9 Boston
11 Detroit
13 Utah
14 NY Islanders
15 St. Louis
16 Vancouver
- totem

If I told you at the beginning of the season Hawks would be guaranteed Hagens or Martone, most would have been very happy.

Salary cap in danger of stalling .Trump !! . Real glad we got rid of Jones now ,although that 2,5 mil may lock a little bigger in the rear view mirror . Still got that 1st .
- oldduffman

The cap stalling would actually benefit the Hawks, it would facilitate trading for a RFA, or even an offer sheet.