OffThePost.org

Well, since playoffs are just around the corner, and Chicago likely facing either Vancouver or Calgary, I figured some people might want to know just what they're looking at here.

Here were Chicago's lines for their most recent win vs. LA, with Patrick Sharp returning and recently acquired Sammy Pahlsson trying to fit in:

Sharp - Toews - Brouwer
Versteeg - Pahlsson - Kane
Havlat - Bolland - Ladd
Burish - Fraser - Byfuglien

Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Campbell
Hendry - Johnson

Khabibulin
(Huet)

Notable in their absence were blueliners Cam Barker and Matt Walker. It's also worth mentioning that the Hawks feel they can go at least 8 deep before flipping Byfuglien from a 4th line PP specialist forward to a D, even after trading James Wisniewski in the Pahlsson deal. And actually, Brent "Samson" Sopel is also close to returning, but that is yet to be considered a good thing.

What having Sopel and Barker back could do is eat up a bunch of PP time (along with Campbell), giving the Keith-Seabrook pairing the ability to be on pretty much every second shift for even strength and PK situations.

Obviously, Quennville is trying to spread the O around, and add defensive responsibility to all lines, but you have to wonder if he'll try and put Toews and Kane back together at some point. Are you getting the most out of your team by putting Pahlsson and Kane together? Quennville has always been a big believer in putting all his eggs in one great defensive pairing, but not as much on the forward lines.

In case you're wondering, Jack Skille and Ben Eager were the healthy scratches.

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

Whoa...Pahlsson setting up Kane?

And Havlat is getting the tough defensive assignments!

At least the Havlat part seems to be working.

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

Sheeeeit... Byfuglien on the 4th line? Holy crap... I do NOT want to see this team in the first round. I'd pick a healthy Chicago club over the a healthy Cannots club in a seven-game series - too much speed and skill; Havlat on the 3rd line?

Any room for me here?

The Bolland line would likely get the Sedins, and the Pahlsson line would go up against the Sundin line, I think. The Canucks aren't easy to match up against. How the Hawks get Toews enough minutes will be interesting.

Byf is mainly just a PP specialist at this point. He'll likely be trade bait this offseason.

_________________
Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

Hey Nuckers...sure you don't want this team in the first round?

Yeesh. Q needs to get this postseason monkey off his back, lest he be known as the Marcel Dionne of coaches.

Mojo, Av.

Given a choice, it might be better for the Canucks to meet the 'Hawks in the first round; CBJ and STL are exceptionally well - CHI may be the lesser of three evils...


Fuh Q.

I meant Quenneville.