Quoting: Hockeyplayer1
Yeah. Thanks, because Hossa is going to be the teams 6th line center behind Overages Bonus. Come on, man.
As stated they can still add a middle six-bottom 6 forward. They have plenty of money to do so.
You should expect DeBrincat, Schmaltz, Duclair, Hinostroza, Hayden, Kampf, Oesterle, and Forsling to all take a step forward in their development. Sikura should help offensive depth. Crawford should be back holding down the fort (remember they had a very winning record with him in goal this season). Holden fills a shutdown defenseman role that they are desperately missing.
I don't see how someone can call this a "sorry ass team". There is a ton of talent on this roster. Their defense is still not great but its improved even with some of the players getting more experience.
I do expect them to have a very similar salary. As far as Duclair getting more I just figured this is his 3rd full season in the league compared to Hinostroza's second, half season. Duclair is also 2 years younger and has a 20 goal season already. But, again I don't see there being much difference in their pay.
As far as Holden goes, I chose him because he has played mostly a shutdown role with the Rangers. The Hawks are in desperate need of a shutdown defenseman since losing Hammer. He has played 19-21 minutes a night since establishing himself in the league. Solid second pairing numbers. As far as his salary goes, he will definitely get an increase from what he is currently making so I figured he'd get somewhere around the $3-4M range as an UFA.
This team needs experience, this team needs vets that can win faceoffs, this team needs guys that know how to kill penalties and grind it out..
I think the kids are doing great...... Schmaltz and Debrincat are certainly part of the future core, but the bottom 6 needs some work....
The Hawks need a Bozak, a Vermette a Dominic Moore - guys that can win draws - because you know that's how you take possession of the puck..... Those guys are also excellent two-way players.....
The Hawks need 2-3 UFA's that fit that criteria, BUT they also need a top 4 defenseman and (2) #5-6 defensemen..... Now, Bowman should be able to use Anisimov as trade bait to acquire a top 4 defenseman then sign the other 2 as UFA's...
So ideally the UFA signings would look like this (and this is what the Hawks need at the bare minimum):
#5 D: John Moore
#5 D: Trevor van Riemsdyk (RFA rights via trade)
#3-4 Grinder: Tommy Wingels
#4 C/depth player/PK specialist: Antoine Vermette
#4 C/depth/PK specialist: Dominic Moore
That's not much - those 5 players can be signed for a combined 7 million.
The Blackhawks have the foundation to be a contender next season, they just need the supporting cast to do it..... The top 6 is excellent - the Hawks could use a long-term solution at #2 LW but other than that it's looking good with Schmaltz & Debrincat playing a huge role there. But the bottom 6 needs improvement as well as the D..
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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