I Don't Want To Get Ahead Of Myself, But The Hawks Are Going To Be Dangerous
So…we are two preseason games in and I can’t help it. I feel great about the Blackhawks. Not Stanley Cup great, perhaps, but not like this little bitch ass Tiny Tim type of team trying to scrape and claw their way into the playoffs. No, no. This team is better than that and they’re going to be fun. The whole off-season the question was about filling those top 6 wing spots around Toews, Kane, Strome, and Debrincat. Uhh…well, they might be filled.
I love a guy who can drift the puck from the tops of the circles and Kubalik looks like he can do just that. He’s listed as a LW but with a one-time bomb like that, I have getting all hot and bothered thinking about him and Debrincat on opposite sides and Strome just drooling over his options. I mean good fucking luck. Kubalik also potted a decent little backhand in front of the net.
Can fire pucks from anywhere, goes to the net, works pretty hard…sign me up. He’s not a burner, but he skates well enough. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Kubalik score 20 goals this year. That’s probably a more conservative estimate than most. He looks like a player to me though. This is not a Victor Ejdsall situation 2.o. Anyone with eyes knew that guy sucked. Kubalik is a nice looking player who can do more than one thing on the ice.
The next most impressive guy…Alex Nylander. The Blackhawks play tonight and it seems like they’re giving him a legit shot here to earn a top 6 role
You only have like 6 of these pre-season games total and probably three max with 19 and 88 in the lineup. You’re not going to burn one on a guy who has no chance of making the team and if Nylander is on the team then he’s probably in the top 6. It’s top 6 or bust for him and if he has chemistry with Toews and Kane then it could be off to the races. Another great top 10 talent reclaimation project. The knock on Nylander has been his focus and work ethic. You CAN’T slack when playing with Toews and Kane. They’re two of the hardest working guys not only on the team, but in the league. Not to mention two of the most accomplished. If you can’t give max effort playing with them well then FUCK you. I think Nylander will bring and the light will turn on. You can fuck around in Buffalo. You can’t be a selfish dickhead playing with two sure-fire hall of famers. Feet better keep moving all the time. Win races, win battles, and do things worthy of playing with them. And if you do then guess what…the Hawks are good and Nylander will be rich. Seems like a good formula.
So if your top 6 is
Nylander-Toews-Kane
Debrincat-Strome-Kubalik
Now you have some reallllllll nice options for your third line. I like Shaw better as a wing, but I also think David Kampf has next to zero offensive ability. If Kampf is the 3C all year then that is a problem. If you slide Shaw over there then your 3rd line could be
Saad-Shaw-Perlini/Sikura
4th line looks like
Smith-Carpenter-Cagguila or Kampf mixed in. I don’t know. It doesn’t really matter to be honest because whatever combination the Blackhawks go with is better than throwing Fortin, Kunitz, Andreas fucking Martinsen, Marcus Kruger. I mean how the fuck did the Blackhawks get in the race with those guys playing a combined 178 games?
And that is the point. The Blackhawks had 4 guys last year who could provide any sort of offense. It was 19,88,12, and 17. That’s it. Saad had a decent bouceback year too. This team though…this team on paper if Nylander and Kubalik are capable then watch out. That’s a deep team. It’s a team that can light up the scoreboard. It’s a team that can get in your face. Everyone is doubting this team and I am starting to love that. The Hawks are officially the team nobody wants to play. Feels great to feel dangerous.