I think it's a bit optimistic to have Nylander on the 2nd line and Boqvist on the top pair. Don't be me wrong, I like Boqvist a lot. He hasn't had to play defense against real men yet. DeHaan to IR yeah, but move Gus to the right and Slater with either Murphy or Seabook. Dahlstrom backing him up. I hear ya though.

This is just for the first 9 games. I think Boqvist ends up going back to the AHL, Dach I'm less sure about. I really don't believe the Hawks traded for Nylander to not give him that shot - if he struggles there i imagine him going to play on the top line in Rock Vegas with Sikura.

That has to be the cheapest 2nd line in the league. It is too bad Saad has dropped his $6m self to 3rd line status. I think he never got over being traded the 1st time to Columbus.

Did you see the report coming out of the final prospect camp day with the scrimmage? Nylander was cited as playing poorly, running out of gas and not playing hard in the D zone....all criticisms that have plagued his career. He has 3 pro years of experience and should be skating circles around all these kids with not one of them having even one pro year under their belts. Nylander is going to be on a short leash hopefully as he should. If Nylander doesn't step up and show he's worthy of a top 6 slot, this trade will go down as one of the worst trades in a couple years the Blackhawks have done in recent memory and if so, should be the end of bowman's career here. I have a very hard time with anyone thinking Jokiharju isn't a lock as a top 4 player in the league so Nylander better be a 20g, 45point player if Jokiharju becomes what most of us expect him to become.