Chicago Blackhawks: Projecting lineup after free agency Day 1
The Chicago Blackhawks are going to look different in 2019-20. They are likely going to be an improved hockey team looking to get back to the playoffs.
The Chicago Blackhawks are looking like they are going to be a better team in 2019-20. They were a team that missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and were missing a lot of things that made them so successful during their dynasty.
They seem to have addressed some of those issues since the end of this last season and look like a team that could be head to the postseason once again. They obviously will need the same production from their top guys, but there isn’t much worry that that will happen. Everyone should be confident in guys like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, and Dylan Strome. It is the depth scoring and defense that needed help.
They have addressed that depth scoring and defense to some degree with additions like Olli Maatta, Calvin de Haan, John Quenneville, Andrew Shaw, and Robin Lehner. There are still trades and signings that could be made, but these are what I think the lines would be if the Blackhawks were to be starting the season tomorrow:
Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat – Dylan Strome – Andrew Shaw
Dominik Kubalik – Artem Anisimov – Brendon Perlini
David Kampf – Ryan Carpenter – Dylan Sikura
Duncan Keith – Erik Gustafsson
Calvin de Haan –Brent Seabrook
Olli Maatta – Connor Murphy
Corey Crawford
Robin Lehner
As previously mentioned, this can all change with other signings and potential trades. There are also guys that will be given a chance to get into the lineup at some point like Kirby Dach, Adam Boqvist, and John Quenneville. These guys are all going to try and make an impact this season and there will also be injuries at different times as there always are. Either way, this is a much improved lineup from the one that was there last year.
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The hope is that this lineup can defend better while still having the ability to score goals. Based on past performances of these guys it appears they will be able to. This might be an exciting time for optimistic Blackhawks fans. The Central Division is awesome so you never know how it is going to go, but their chances are much improved after this offseason.