Even Steven

The Hawks weren't even out of the off-season transactions period when we learned that a guy we just signed to the biggest deal in franchise history - Hossa - would miss a significant chunk of the season. I think right then we all should have guessed what kind of year it would be.

I don't mean that in terms of success, just that this year will, among other things, be remembered for a string of injuries providing new and unique challenges to the Hawks skaters and coaches.

Given how healthy the Hawks were last year, it's little surprise the law of averages would lead to a rash of injuries this season. We all know that few things in the world are more powerful than the concept of Even Steven. And I don't think we appreciated it enough last year, but the overall team health was unworldly. Besides Sopel (whose injury was a godsend), the only other players to miss significant time were Sharp, Burish, Wisniewski, and Khabi. Sharp still managed 61 games and Burish 66, while Khabi racked up 42 appearances in net. Between Chicago and Anaheim, Wisniewski played 48 games.

I wouldn't have guessed it possible to get through an entire season where the "big" injuries to all the 20+ players who filled out your top 4 lines, top 6 defenders, and two goalies cost you one guy for 35 games, one for 20, another for 15, and maybe 5-10 starts in goal.

But it's all evening out this year. Hossa still hasn't played a minute in a Hawks uni (lookin at around 20+ games missed before he does). Burish will be out almost the entire regular season (playing 10+ games this year will be a success). Eager (out 13 games) and Toews (6 games) have already missed more time than they did last season. So when Bolland was shelved for 3-4 months due to back issues that have been around for a while, was anyone shocked?


My first reaction was actually happiness. I didn't like the initial "day-to-day" prognosis, as it seemed pretty clear Bolland would be out for a while. So I was glad that the powers that be on Madison decided to just go ahead and order the necessary surgery for Bolland. This will get him back in time to be at full speed come the post-season, while also allowing the team to begin making plans for his absence.

That led to my second reaction - what now? Toews' recent return and Hossa's impending one become all the more important, as the Hawks were running out of legit Top 6 forwards and out of NHL-caliber skaters. Kane, Versteeg, and Sharp are proven front-liners, but a contending team has the likes of Ladd and Buff as plus checking line types or complimentary scoring line guys, not the #4 and #5 scoring/playmaking options. But w/o Toews, Bolland, and Hossa, that was the role those guys were forced into.

And the 4th line, such an asset for the Hawks last year, was being filled out with the likes of Frasier, Hendry, and Ebbett. Could all of those guys contribute at the NHL level? Maybe. But for Hendry, it wouldn't be as a forward, for Frasier, it wouldn't be as the top guy on a line, and for Ebbett, it wouldn't be as a winger. Yet, again, those were the roles those guys were being asked to fill.


So let's be happy that Toews is back already (notching a goal in his first game and a nasty shoot-out tally in his second) and that Hossa isn't too far behind (he'll begin contact practices and could re-join the team on the Circus Trip). With those two (and Eager) all back and both Bolland and Burish out, what exactly can we expect to see out of the Hawks lines? It's always impossible to tell the actual set-up JQ will roll out each night, but let's start up the middle and try to figure out a vague overview from there.

Toews will center the 1st line and Madden will take the checking line. From there, it starts to get more uncertain.

Early reports had Versteeg moving over to center (as he did immediately following Bolland's injury), but then last night Ebbett moved up to center the 2nd line, allowing Versteeg to remain on a wing. Based on Ebbett's solid numbers as the #2 center for the Ducks last year (8 G, 24 A in only 48 games as a rookie), it seems that he could be a capable centerman when surrounded by the right guys.

However, JQ seems to like the Versteeg and Kane combo, which when centered with Ebbett, creates a very, very small line. Versteeg and Kane are listed at the same height and weight, making all 5-10, 180 of Ebbett the "size" on the line. That's a little bit scary.

Plus, when Hossa returns, someone has to become the healthy scratch. The heavy odds are Frasier or Ebbett, with the superior player getting the nod as the 4th line centerman. Now it is possible that Ebbett remains on the 2nd line, Frasier is the scratch, and Kopecky centers the 4th line. And I'm glad to see that JQ is giving Ebbett a chance to show himself capable in that alignment.

But, relating back to my early post about the Hawks' lack of a fighter, I don't see Frasier getting scratched. I think he's seen the writing on the wall and understands that if everyone's healthy for the playoffs, he'd again be the odd man out (possibly not even being on the active roster). So in the meantime, he's doing what he can to up his value - namely, filling the fighter role. At 6-1, 190, Frasier won't ever be the heavyweight Eager was, but he does seem to have the chops to at least fill the scrapper role Burish did, which should be enough for the Hawks.

Hence, once Hossa returns, I see the Hawks going with Versteeg centering the 2nd line and Frasier centering the 4th, while Ebbett serves as the healthy scratch. Because Ebbett can play center on a scoring line, the Hawks will have some nice flexibility to deal with the occasional injuries that surface throughout the year.


In looking at the center alignment, I would have guessed I'd be firmly against trying a winger out of position, as the Hawks did with both Versteeg and Sharp for significant stretches last year. Both were capable enough, but neither did nearly as well up the middle as they do on a wing. But the reality is that no one else quite fits. As I mentioned, Ebbett is the victim of the numbers game (and a bit underwhelming so far), Madden is firmly entrenched on the checking line (he's been damn good at a crucial spot - no reason to change that) and neither Kopecky nor Frasier really have the skills to center a scoring line.

So, it's up to Versteeg to again adjust to a new role, new linemates, and new expectations, something he's already done many a time in his year plus career with the Hawks. But I have faith he's up to it, especially if JQ puts the right guys around him. That means players with the hockey sense and physical skills necessary to profit from the often amazing playmaking Versteeg provides (although I've also noticed that Versteeg often tries to do too much, and gets himself into trouble - for him to truly elevate to star status, he's going to have to cut down on those overly aggressive errors).

One name I wouldn't have guessed as a good fit for The Steeg - Kane. It's always a fun idea to imagine two great playmakers on the same line, but that generally means you've left the other lines too weak and not provided those playmakers with the compliments they need.

However, in seeing the way Kane and Versteeg have clicked, I'm kinda hoping JQ keeps these two together. Aside Toews (and probably, we'll soon find out, Hossa), no one on the Hawks has the feel for the ice and ability to move with or without the puck that these two have. That allows them to play a nasty two-man game that creates a ton of pretty scoring chances.

I also don't think the Hawks balance would be effected by skating those two together on a single line. A top line featuring Toews and Hossa certainly wouldn't be lacking much of anything, as those guys bring playmaking, goal-scoring, size, and speed. And a third line featuring Madden winged by some combination of Sharp, Brouwer, Kopecky, Ladd, and/or Buff would be capable of both checking the top line and creating some offense itself.

So where's that leave things? I'm seeing Toews and Hossa up top, with Sharp on the wing. The other options here are Ladd, Brouwer, or Buff, but those guys all provide size, which isn't needed alongside Toews (6-1, 195) and Hossa (6-1, 210). Sharp's uncanny ability to snipe goals would play great alongside all the attention Toews and Hossa will command.

Although both Sharp and Hossa are big goal-scorers, so it's possible JQ puts a pure grinder like Brouwer up there to do the dirty work instead. While I'm still not sold on Brouwer, he has definitely been playing better than last year and might finally be getting his role. He's one of the tops in the NHL in checks and seems to understand that energy and all-out physicallity are his two main responsibilities. And when you throw in that the guy did score 41 goals in only 66 AHL games in 06-07, Brouwer might just develop the offensive touch to profit from skating with Toews and Hossa (something he failed at miserably last year).

Or Ladd could get the nod, as a guy capable of scoring when the opportunity presents itself, playing strong defense, and bringing a bit of size and grind alongside two stars. Ladd has really developed into a well-rounded compliment and probably could fit well on any Hawk line. That's a nice bit of flexibility, especially as JQ deals with the loss of his #2 center and plays the line merry-go-round game he loves so much.

On the Versteeg and Kane line, as mentioned above, size would seem to be the primary need out of their other winger. Obviously those two bring all the scoring and play-making you need, and in Versteeg even have some solid defense and grind. If JQ can live with a smallish line and doesn't use him with Toews and Hossa, Sharp could be a beautiful fit with Versteeg and Kane. Again, the value Versteeg and Kane both bring is setting up plays every time they touch the puck. And no one on the team (except maybe Hossa) is better suited to capitalize on great play-making than Sharp. He's made a hell of a career banging home the opportunities others create.

However, if JQ does want to ensure a bit of size and balance on his lines, anyone in the Ladd-Brouwer-Buff group can capably provide some beef and grit alongside Versteeg and Kane. Buff is frustrating for all the chances his stone hands and iffy skating blow, but he also is an absolute horse and has shown an ability to score in bunches. And his big body camped out in front of the net would draw defenders, creating space for Kane and Versteeg to work in. My one fear - skating Buff and Kane together puts the team's two most likely skaters to take a shift off on the same line, which could mean a lot of chances the other way.

However the Scoring lines shake out, we've got a third line featuring Madden alongside two wingers out of the Sharp-Buff-Brouwer-Ladd group. No matter who that is, you're gonna have size, the ability to grind, and most important, the ability to play some defense against the other team's top line every night. A 30+ goal scorer like Sharp wouldn't seem like the right fit on a checking line, but he's long been a good defensive winger and Madden's speed and tenacity do create a lot of chances Sharp could capitalize on. And as the Hawks found last year, getting consistent scoring from three lines makes you hard to beat.

Finally, the fourth line would feature Frasier in the middle, winged by Kopecky and Eager. It's really encouraging to lay that out, as it shows that the Hawks again will be skating one of the more talented energy lines you'll find. Kopecky is solid defensively and can move well, Eager is a high motor behemoth who skates surprisingly well and can score, and Frasier won't hurt you as a guy looking to earn his stripes by defending his teammates. Sounds like a nice 4th line mix to me.


Having said all that, losing everything Bolland brings is definitely a major blow to the Hawks - don't believe anything else. My point with the above is just to lay out that the Hawks still have enough capable players to remain a strong top-to-bottom team until Bolland comes back. And when he does return, the extra ice time that Brouwer, Buff, Ladd, Kopecky, and even Frasier and Ebbett get in the meantime will only strengthen the Hawks' depth for a playoff run.


Final point, related to our blueline (which I believe is set at the Top 4 - Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, and the Hammer are all legit top flight defenders). I don't know if Hendry is any good, but I do know that Sopel is terrible and only going to get worse as he continues to age and get slower. While he hasn't been as horrible as last season, Sopel is definitely slow and completely mismatched with Barker, himself not terribly fleet of foot defensively and prone to mistakes.

The Hawks need a defender next to Barker who can move enough to cover Cam's occasional lapses and doesn't make many himself. They don't need this guy to have any offensive skills - Barker has more than enough for both of them, especially given that this is our third D pairing. This blueliner just has to hold down the fort and clean up Barker's messes. Sopel makes too many mistakes of his own and certainly has no make-up speed or innate defensive ability to help out enough with Barker.

So I just don't get why the Hawks can't see that Sopel should be your regular healthy scratch on the blueline, while the Hawks go about seeing if Hendry or someone else down at Rockford (or off waivers) can be a capable 6th defenseman. And there's no time like the present, because if they can't find a viable option (a very likely possibility), then the Hawks need to be ready to make a move before the trade deadline - no easy task given their salary cap issues.

Especially because this off-season the Hawks will need to farm out Sopel (thus eliminating his salary from their cap), why waste any more time before you start looking for a replacement?