Team: 2018-19 Chicago Blackhawks

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 13, 2018

Published: Feb. 17, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Crow's vertigo thing is concerning, and the longer he's out the more skeptical I become. Vertigo is a very inconsistent ailment - it comes and goes without notice and it can last for days or years. So if Crow is out indefinitely I think Bowman should really look at other options. Unfortunately teams aren't selling goalies as capable as Crawford, because if you have a gem you keep him, however there are some 1B options out there and that led me to the idea of bringing Darling back.. He hasn't worked out very well in Carolina so perhaps they would be open to trading him back to the Hawks?

Also, I think getting a backup regardless of Crawford's situation would be ideal and I think Hutton is the perfect guy for that role if St. Louis doesn't resign him.

As far as other issues I addressed: The Hawks really have lacked defensive forwards this season. They've been awful without the puck - not only that but awful at the dot,- so I brought Kruger back along with Bozak and Vermette - three players I think can help this team tremendously. All three players are excellent defensively, they're responsible, can kill penalties and are superb a the dot. Bozak and Vermette can also score as well..... A team can never have enough players like that.. And like I said it's obvious the Blackhawks have really been hurt this season by their lack of defensive forwards and I think those three solves that problem -perhaps it's even overkill.

Another area of concern that needs to be addressed this summer is the lack of experience on the blue line.. The Hawks need a couple of experienced guys on the back end that can be relied upon to play 18-22 minutes a game. Obviously Moore & Hamhius are no spring chickens and there are far better defensemen out there but both are a solution to the Hawks experience issues... It's nothing fancy, but it doesn't need to be fancy.....In the summer of 2019 Doughty, Karlsson and Hjalmarsson (mong other defensmen) will be UFA's - and that class is far superior to this class of UFA defensemen.. So I think if the Hawks are going to make a splash on the back end and commit to a #1-3 defenseman they should wait until next summer when there are more and better options...

I also think van Riemsdyk would be a perfect solution at 2nd line LW, he would fit this team like a glove, and I could really see Bowman making a push for JvR come July 1st... The only reason why he wouldn't in my opinion is that he may be thinking a year ahead when Panarin is a UFA and if that's Bowman's agenda I think it's a good agenda - however if he has no plans on bringing Panarin back then he may as well jump on JvR.. JvR would also be cheaper than Panarin - not by a whole lot - perhaps 1.5 million but in a cap era every penny counts.

Alright, go ahead and criticize my team... One thing is certain - a team like this is way better than what the Hawks presently have.... This team is pretty deep in all areas, and I really think a team like this can win a Stanley Cup.