Line combos really won't make much of a difference, whatever the blender spits out just won't cut it when the Cap has left us with 2 lines of roles players and a massive void at 1LW. Depth is poor, there aren't any elite prospect talent in the wings, and we don't have the resources necessary to add anything but a broken, old Vet at the trade deadline (e.g., Iginla).
The Hawks have won their last two cups with three legit forward lines and then a fourth shutdown/checking line. That fourth line is typically centered by Kruger, who is one of the best defensive centers in the NHL. I think you can put a ton of different guys on his wings and that line will get the job done. May not score a ton (if at all) but in the playoffs, if it can contain another team's top line, it's a lethal weapon.
Outside of that, you have the 72-15-88 line that is one of the best in hockey. I'd argue that 1LW is not the issue on this team, thanks to the revelation of Ryan Hartman this season. Not really a Saad comparison because he's far more physical and not as fast. But Hartman has shown some nifty hands and a pretty good shot at times this season. I think you can slot him in at LW on the top line with Toews and Hossa. You have a revitalized Hossa this year. Complete that trio with Toews figuring out whatever the fuck it is that's hampering him, and I love the top six.
But that third line is the issue.
In 2015, it was Sharp-Vermette-Teuvo.
In 2013, it was often comprised of Saad and Shaw, IIRC. Think the third spot was frequently Stalberg.
LA had Toffoli-Carter-Pearson in 2014 and the Pens had Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel last year. Third lines have to be pretty damn good.
Right now it's got some combination of Schmaltz/Hinostroza/Panik/Motte. That's probably not enough. Hino is about the only one of those guys that I'm really confident in providing competent third-line play.
But the good news is that the Hawks roster as currently constructed is almost certainly not going to be the one that will play in the playoffs. There are going to be trades. No, there aren't a ton of options out there. But I don't think anyone had the Hawks landing Andrew Ladd last year, either. The cupboard doesn't strike me as totally bare, either. I think Schmaltz and/or Forsling could yield a decent return, as each player has decent potential. I think what you're looking for is a quality LW that can either fit in with Toews/Hossa to bump Hartman down to the third line, or you get a top-6 quality forward to beef up the Hawks current third line.
It was the run of my hockey lifetime, but i do recognize the current team far more resembles a 1st-round playoff victim than a Cup contender. And the arrow is not pointing north for the future. I foresee a few years as as "good-not-great team" followed by years of bottoming-out before a reload is feasible.
I'd disagree for a few reasons. First, as I mentioned above, I don't think the Hawks are without young talent. DeBrincat is torching the juniors right now, at a level that rivals few others in OHL history (I believe he's up near Connor McDavid's numbers). There's also been a lot of talk about Maxim Shalunov coming over to the states next year, and he's starting to sound like a poor man's Artemi Panarin. Do they have another Kane/Toews in the system? No. But they also haven't been picking in the Top 3 for the last decade.
Second, the Western Conference kinda sucks this season and it may not get much better. The Pacific division is a joke, mostly. San Jose had their shot last year and blew it, the Ducks/Kings are nowhere near as good as season's past. Edmonton has its moments but still can't play defense or make saves.
In the Central, the Blues are just like the Sharks. Nashville seemed like they'd be a threat but right now they'll be lucky just to make the playoffs. Minnesota? I'm still not sold. They've won 17 of 19 but that run is going to end eventually. They're coached by Bruce Boudreau who's good at winning the President's Trophy and losing Game 7s at home. They have a ton of depth scoring but no guys like Panarin or Kane or Tarasenko that scare the hell out of you whenever they have the puck. And Dubnyk had numbers like this last season (2015/16 - .936 and 1.78; 2016/17 - .940 and 1.78) before completely shitting the bed in the playoffs (.877 and 3.34). I'll believe they're good when they prove they can do it in the playoffs.
I'd agree the window is closing for the Hawks. But I still think they've got a few more legit cracks at the Cup before we have to talk about a rebuild.
(Can you tell I'm not working today?)