The Hawks have always had great depth and support pieces, but below are the 7 main stays (or "core") through their 3 Finals appearances, with ages in brackets for each of their Cup Final years.
Jonathan Toews (21, 24, 26)
Patrick Kane (20, 23, 25)
Marian Hossa (30, 33, 35)
Patrick Sharp (27, 30, 32)
Heck of a core to build around, but Bowman has done a great job building around it.
Really speaks how great Toews is considering most recent cup winning teams have done it on the strength of having two top line centers in their core group. The Hawks haven't really had a clear cut #2 center in and when they do, it's not a guy who can take top line duties.
As for a Hossa type player, I love Hudler and can see him having a place here when the Flames are a contender but I don't see him in that role. He's a guy who stirs the drink offensively but he doesn't have Hossa's two-way ability, strength/size, and top line experience playing against top players deep in the playoffs.
Watching the way Keith performs makes me confident that Gio won't decline too much either. Especially since he is a late bloomer.
Last edited by mile; 05-30-2015 at 09:58 PM.
The Following User Says Thank You to mile For This Useful Post:
Just for sharts and giggles, I looked at the 2009/10 Hawks team, and then took all the players from that team that are still around in the NHL and added their cap hits up starting next season, just to see what that team would cost today if it was kept together.
Just for sharts and giggles, I looked at the 2009/10 Hawks team, and then took all the players from that team that are still around in the NHL and added their cap hits up starting next season, just to see what that team would cost today if it was kept together.
9 forwards, 5 defensemen, 1 goalie for a total cap hit of $85,723,004
Haha. Only 14 million over the projected CAP with 8 players to sign.
The Hawks' drafting has been really good. When the players outside that core seven you talked about have expiring contracts and are looking at a big pay raise, that team always seems to have players in the system ready to step in. It doesn't take very long for them to reload. Saad and Shaw are examples of that. Teravainen looks like he'll be a player.
The Following User Says Thank You to mile For This Useful Post:
One thing the Flames don't have and desperately need, is that shut down defenseman who has the rare combination of size, mobility and and can move the puck.
Niklas Hjalmarsson.
What an under rated guy he is.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Roof-Daddy For This Useful Post:
Right now I see the Flames core seven going forward as
Monahan, Bennett, and Gaudreau, with one forward spot remaining. Preferably a big top line winger. From within the system, Poirier is a candidate (I'm leaning more towards him being a top support player though). Klimchuk could be a dark horse - might not have the offensive upside of a Patrick Sharp but like him, he can play anywhere in the lineup.
Giordano and Brodie, with one defenseman spot remaining. Defense is our biggest weakness. Giordano could very well be out of this mix in 4-5 years. Ideally the guy filling the third spot has size and shutdown ability with decent skating/puck-moving ability to balance out the other two, making our defense tougher to play against. Love Russell and Wideman, but I don't see either of them in that spot and more as top support players.
One thing the Flames don't have and desperately need, is that shut down defenseman who has the rare combination of size, mobility and and can move the puck.
Niklas Hjalmarsson.
What an under rated guy he is.
Agreed, Hjalmarsson is excellent. That said though we don't really know exactly what we have in a lot of guys IMO. A lot of wild cards in the system that can skate, move the puck, and have decent size - the question is if they can defend.
I do know Wideman / Russell are not the solution for that role, one lacks the awareness and mobility while the other lacks the size. Can't get caught up in offensive production, it's all about limiting time and space.
__________________
"May those who accept their fate find happiness. May those who defy it find glory."
Last edited by GranteedEV; 05-30-2015 at 11:08 PM.
The Following User Says Thank You to GranteedEV For This Useful Post:
My guys didn't touch it in 2010 or 2013...worked out for 'Hawk fans!
So had they touched it they would have lost? All I am saying is that it makes no difference obviously. Teams that have touched it have won and teams that haven't have lost
Location: Chicago Native relocated to the stinking desert of Utah
Exp:
Dino...it was a statement by Toews, in particular, that the Campbell was just an intermediate goal, and the job isn't finished...the REAL prize is Lord Stanley's Cup.
__________________ "If the wine's not good enough for the cook, the wine's not good enough for the dish!" - Julia Child (goddess of the kitchen)
Location: Chicago Native relocated to the stinking desert of Utah
Exp:
Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
Agreed, Hjalmarsson is excellent. That said though we don't really know exactly what we have in a lot of guys IMO. A lot of wild cards in the system that can skate, move the puck, and have decent size - the question is if they can defend.
I do know Wideman / Russell are not the solution for that role, one lacks the awareness and mobility while the other lacks the size. Can't get caught up in offensive production, it's all about limiting time and space.
More than just defend, but, to have the willingness to throw themselves into the shooting lane, and finish shifts with the welts growing!
__________________ "If the wine's not good enough for the cook, the wine's not good enough for the dish!" - Julia Child (goddess of the kitchen)
Dino...it was a statement by Toews, in particular, that the Campbell was just an intermediate goal, and the job isn't finished...the REAL prize is Lord Stanley's Cup.
And yet they took the unusual step of all gathering around and getting a team picture with the trophy.
