Thursday, August 1, 2013

Predicting the Chicago Blackhawks Forward Lines Next Season


I know it’s a bit early, but I’ve been thinking about how the reigning Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks forward lines could look next season without any injuries.

The first line will look almost entirely the same from the cup run this past year.  On the wings I have Conn Smythe winner Patrick Kane and breakout playoff performer Bryan Bickell.  These exceptional wings are centered by one of the best two-way forwards in the league in captain Jonathan Toews.  The main reason for this pairing was that when the three played together in games 4, 5, and 6 against Boston they combined for 13 points. 

Next comes the second line, I think this line will be the most important if they want to repeat.   In the middle is rookie sensation Brandon Saad, who looks to have a breakout season after his phenomenal rookie season.  On the wings are veteran wingers Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa.  Saad’s job is not guaranteed as Brandon Pirri who led the Rockford IceHogs in scoring last season.

The third line will also have to be effective.  With Andrew Shaw, Michael Handzus, and Jimmy Hayes two out of three of those players got second line time last season.  Shaw had many big goals at big times in the postseason.  Handzus also had a solid postseason.  And with big-man Jimmy Hayes there will be no shortage of toughness on this line. 

The fourth line will only have one returning member from the cup-winning fourth line in Marcus Kruger.  This line has a little bit of everything.   It has the checker that a fourth line needs in Brandon Bollig.  A playmaker in Marcus Kruger and an offensive skill player in Ben Smith could be the missing piece on the line.  With all the pieces in place Kruger could have a breakout season.

The Hawks only lost one major offensive player in Dave Bolland but knowing how good of a coach Joel Quenneville is….the Hawks are poised for a repeat.

 

Bickell                                                   Toews                                                   Kane

 

Sharp                                                    Saad                                                      Hossa

 

Shaw                                                     Handzus                                               Hayes

 

Bollig                                                     Smith                                                   Kruger






THE 2013 STANLEY CUP CHAMPION CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS





 

No comments:

Post a Comment