This looks pretty much spot on. If the Hawks do carry 14 forwards, I think Katchouk gets the last spot over Reece. Just because Katchouk is a guy Kyle from Chicago traded for. I'd also like to see Phillips at 3RD instead of Zaitsev - who was just awful in pre-season. But I think what you have is how they go initially.

This line up will be close.

I missed last nights preseason game, did Kurashev play? he might be IR to start the season as well?

I am on the same page as Hawksguy, I'd rather see a young guy get a chance over Zaitsev, hell even Tinordi.

My only issue with playing Phillips on the third pairing RD is that he does not look good at RD. Maybe it'll grow on him with time, but I thought he looked dominant in the game against Detroit playing LD, but then last night playing RD he looked confused and was constantly scrambling. I think an important part of getting guys comfortable with playing their off side is preaching some aspects of a "position-less hockey" mentality. Know where your teammates are, where the other team is, where the puck is, and where the play is going, and those things will tell you where you need to be.

In fairness, the Hawks D as a group looked discombobulated last night. Guess I'm all for playing the young guys. Phillips will end up on the left side eventually whenever Korchinski goes back to Seattle. Rather have Phillips get NHL experience, even on the right side, then watch Zaitsev and Tinordi screw up game after game.

I do have to say, after watching the preseason, I have changed my opinion and believe Korchinski will head back to the juniors after playing 9 games or more. I don't think the Hawks care about burning his ELC, so he may play 20 games or more.

Zaits needs to be on the waiver wire....he's terrible but I suspect they won't as at least he can provide protection on the ice. The other issue is throwing a LHD prospect on the right side is not ideal and we don't have a RHD prospect ready. At the end of the day, we aren't trying to win games so I guess who cares.

Entwistle has done everything well to be on the team...have always liked him as a 4th liner and think he's proven he belongs.

Zaitsev wasn't put on waivers today so he's staying. Could have grabbed a vet like Fitzgerald (FLA) or Bogosian (Tampa) off waivers to replace him. Just don't get it.

Oh yeah. I'm not saying Phillips shouldn't play. I've been high on him for a couple years now. I love the way he plays and I think he's got what it takes to have a solid NHL career and could probably play right now, this season. I'm just not sure, specifically, about playing him on the right side.

Yeah. Like, the offense is great, and he probably could stay and do just fine. He might even be able to stay and develop into a well rounded all zones dman. But, chances are, he will have big defensive blunders that will get in his head and the coaching staffs head, and then over time they will start ONLY using him in the offensive zone and he will just get used to not having to play defense. He is a 7th overall pick that we gave up DEBRINCAT for. So, we need him to be a big piece of CHI's future, not a Gus or a Barrie, not another all offense dman. He seemed fine in his own end as camp went on, though. I think some of his shakiness early on was nerves. Even so, he could be, and needs to be, a lot better in his own end to be that future number one defenseman for CHI, "fine" isn't good enough.

Yep, this looks good to me too. Kurashev is hurt, so opening night will probably look a bit different.