As an oilers fan this team was more scary with Toews Dach and Strome down the middle, but idk much about chicago's lines

Trying something new? If colliton did move Dach to wing I'm pretty sure we'd see carpenter move up the lineup before kampf like we saw earlier in the season.

I think we're better off with Dach down the middle, however colliton loves Kampf so i could see this happening. I don't think its smart to split debrincat and strome. and i think I would rather have kubalik and saad with toews and let those guys try to slow down McDavid rather than putting two less responsible defenders up with toews.

This would be a lot more threatening if you guys still had Lehner

Hopefully the hawks win edm with a top 10 pick this year would be huge

Cat has not business on the first line. He's never been successful on the 1st...just doesn't have the size and strength to play against the opposing team's first lines.

I get why you are suggesting that 2nd line as they had some success early in the season but that was more a result of Saad and Kubalik playing together and in spite of Kampf. Kampf is a 3rd or 4th liner and really shouldn't be playing 2nd line. When Kubs and Saad Father were moved up to the first with Toews, that line was the best line all season if you look at advanced stats and goals for vs. goals against. I would suggest sliding Dach in the middle, moving Caggs to the 3rd line wing and Kampf back to his rightful spot on the 4th. A few ideas

Kubs - Toews - Saad
Cat - Dach - Kane
Caggs - Strome - Nylander
Highmore - Kampf - Carps

OR

Kubs - Toews - Kane
Nylander - Dach - Saad
Cat - Strome - Caggs
Highmore - Kampf - Carps

OR

Kubs - Toews - Kane
Cat - Strome - Dach
Caggs - Kampf - Saad
Highmore - Carps - Nylander

Bottom line, trying to balance at least one two way defensive forward with each line.

Regarding defense, we need Keith and Murphy going up against the McDavid and LD line. If we can shut down that line, we will win. Keith and Murphy are far and away are best pairing. The only reason BoQ played on the first line with Keith was because we needed balance with the lines, not because BoQ is better then Murphy. With De Haan back and he is our best or 2nd best defensive defender, BoQ should play with him. Asking BoQ to cover McDavid and LD is too much. Keith purely defensive speaking, IMO is not as good as De Haan. Keith is a better all around player but stay back defense, De Haan I think is better. BoQ would benefit from having him as a pairing. That leaves Maatta and Keokko together which as you know was a pretty decent 3rd line pairing.

Anyway, I hope they invert the lines so we loose. I want us in the lottery obviously. Hawks have no chance making it past St. Louis, Avs, and Vegas. Let's not blow our chances at a top 12 pick as another top 10 such as Lundell, Sanderson, etc. would be a difference maker for this team. After the 14th or 15th pick, there is a drop off in talent in the draft and it becomes more of a standard draft versus a loaded top 14 or 15 this year.

Couldn't agree more. If we are going to break up that successful line, at least have Caggs in there to be a pest versus Cat. Cat has never played well on the first line anyway.

Pretty sure the Hawks can't beat Edmonton and also grab a top 10. The losers in the qualifying round are the only teams that can get a top 10.

Think he meant edmonton would benefit from a top 10 pick.

My bad, thank you for pointing that out!

It won't be top-10 unless they win the lottery. It can be 1-3, 12-15, 20 or (if the go to the finals) 30 or 31.

There is no "McDavid and LD line." They play on different lines and have since Christmas. Why do you think the Oilers have been one of the best teams in the league in the second half?

The Nugent-Hopkins- Draisaitl- Yamamoto line is the best in the league this year.

Time for a new plan...

This was my attempt at a fully JC inspired lineup. I agree with many of your suggestions.

I want the hawks to lose to ensure a top 12 pick. However, we did perfectly fine against the oilers and shut down McDavid this season so I'm actually fearful the Hawks will win; needless to say no plan needed from my perspective guy

I hope the series goes to 5 games, getting some playoff intensity games will be good for both the young and old core.

Does that hurt our lottery chances though? Pretty sure if there isn't a 2nd round of lottery and goes right to the 3rd round, it impacts are ranking no?

I’m not exactly sure what your asking, but here’s my understanding of how the lottery affects the hawks.

If they lose in the play in they have a 12.5% chance to win any pick not awarded in the first phase of the draft lottery (this 12.5% chance figure is equal for all of the play-in losers)

Play in loser picks (if not determined to be top 3 by lottery) are ordered in inverse of regular season standings.

As far as I know, losing in the play in round could have the hawks have any of the top 3 picks (via lottery)

Pick 8 (if MTL wins we have the worst record remaining) (Also assuming no one else behind us wins)
Pick 9(If no one moves past us)
Pick 10(if a team passes us)
Pick 11(if two teams pass us)
Pick 12(if three teams pass us)

Pick 16 (If we win the play in and are lowest seed) (Assuming team is out in first two rounds)
Pick 17(If MTL and us win play in) (Assuming team is out in first two rounds)

You know the rest based on if we make a run.

Thank you, that helps clarify the question I had!