Honestly...I think Q can finally do what he probably always wanted to do. Total line madness. That is to our advantage. Let them guess and shuffle...we can go rotation madness and just throw that wrinkle at people. We will be used to playing that way...whereas they either have to just accept differing matchups or change what they are doing to match us.
With Hayden/Smatz/Hino/Ras/Des having centering experience, it just makes it crazier when a center goes down and I feel like we win most of these line jumble games (to be fair we win most games)
So the new line science...is controlled chaos. We have Q's fav's, and at this point with the youth its just kinda exciting to meet the new line, the new girl and play and have fun. Making the playoffs that much more interesting when the stakes take decision making to legit tactical levels rather than playing around.
Rather than trying to find the 4 best lines, as others have pointed out previously, where we are headed as a club is multiple in game adjustments to fuck with the other team, shake Kane free of matchups and use some of our other strengths like speed and endurance in multiples and to greater ice time effect. We have so many players who turn the ice as either passers, handlers, skaters, or defenders. We don't care how you do it, just that you do it. Turn the ice. After points, turning the ice has to be the next asset. Even a target like Vermette....ice turner. faceoffs. What skill do you have that turns the ice?
Desjardins- passing and stealing. working the boards.
Hossa- God. Every way.
Toews- Faceoffs, defense, skating, stealing, finishing, handling,
Kane- handling, finishing, passing, skating,
Hino-skating, passing, handling
I mean I'm sure every team trys to get them. But it just seems the Blackhawks love guys that have multiple ways to turn the ice. we play on a tilted rink and we are nearing a point where we have 12 guys who are all ice turners individually. Even Haydens college tape...he turns the ice all by himself. Hossa. Toews. Kane. Panarin. AA. Hino.
