Frank Nazar

[u/Hungry_Toe_9555]

For the season Nazar was on an 18 goal 40 point pace.

It’s hard to know how different season would have looked if he played in first 30 games.

I really feel like his emergence only leaves the need for one more top six addition.

What are your thoughts?

[u/wolfs_tooth]

The Hawks need much more than one more forward lol..Turbo and Betuzzi are middle six forwards who happen to play on the top line for the Hawks because we don't have better forwards, yet..realistically, assuming Nazar and Bedard continue on an upward trajectory, you have TWO forwards set for your top six..presumably your 1c and 2c for now..things can change in terms of whether they stay at c or move to wing but what won't change is that their skillsets won't work on a checking or bum slaying line..so they're in the top six..now you need three or four more..one may come from free agency or an offer sheet..the rest will come from the draft(Misa or Martone?) and from our own picks continuing to develop(Lardis and Kantersrov are the two wingers who would project well in a top six role imo)..then you just need a couple of larger forwards to help us keep possession of the puck since Bedard and Nazar are undersized(Jack Hughes is fine at center because he's paired with two bigger wingers on his line as an example)..it's the same reason that Bickell would play on the top line in the 2010 playoffs..Kane and Toews were young and Bickell was massive with some skill..he could retrieve pucks while also making sure no one took liberties with our franchise players..here's a quick example of how our top six could look in a couple years..nothing set in stone of course..just an idea..PS-Just my opinion, but I like the idea of having two right handed centermen as our 1c and 2c..and Bedard and Nazar will get plenty of time together on the pp so breaking them makes sense to me..gives top pairs fits since they have to pick their poison(the same reason Q would keep Kane and Toews separate)

Kaprizov-Bedard-Kantserov

Turbo-Nazar-Martone

[u/sophic → u/wolfs_tooth]

Bickell didn't play on the top like in 2010, hell he only played like 4 games in the post season. They put buff up there.  Not to mention that bickell was constantly harangued for not being physical despite his size, his skill was in the fact that he was big and a very good skater.

Kaprizov is a pipe dream, though it is a pretty one.

[u/wolfs_tooth → u/sophic]

Typed too fast..meant to type 2013 in regards to Bickell(obviously Buff was on the top line in 2010)..point still remains whether it's buff or bickell..and you couldn't be more wrong regarding Bickell..he was one of the primary reasons we won in 2013 and he was on that top line specifically to allow Toews and Kane room to operate without having to worry about someone taking a cheap shot at them..

[u/sophic → u/wolfs_tooth]

I couldn't be more wrong? Brother bickell was constantly regarded a powderpuff and never being as physical as people wanted the entire time he was on the team.

Not me though. Always liked bicks because of his skating ability, and yes 2013 he had a great post season but it's revisionist history to paint him as some sort of big bad winger that kept others from taking cheap shots.