Blackhawks: Way too early lineup predictions for next season

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Nicolas Beaudin #74, Chicago Blackhawks (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

The Chicago Blackhawks 2020-21 season is months away, but still what is the off-season all about if not predicting the future lineup?

At the start of each month, I think it will be fun to give my best prediction of what the lineup will look like not only to laugh at myself for being completely off when the season begins but to see how things change throughout the next couple of months.

Because the season was just a few days ago, the lineup might look pretty similar to what we saw the last time the Hawks played at the United Center. But it will also include a few players that did not play this season because of injuries in the lineup.

So without further ado here is what the Blackhawks lineup could look like on opening night when they play an opponent not yet named.

Alex DeBrincat – Kirby Dach – Patrick Kane

I think this line is the one lock everyone expects to see. Dach hopefully will be ready to go next season after the summer is used to get back to full health and improve. DeBrincat should have no problem picking up right where he left off, and Kane is Kane.

Dominik Kubalik – Jonathan Toews – Vinnie Hinostroza

This second line is pretty good on paper. Kubalik and Hinostroza had some success together for a few games this season, and Kubalik and Toews had success in 2019-20. This new line will let Hagel play a third-line role something he might strive in.

Alex Nylander – Pius Suter – Brandon Hagel

Suter is one of the most reliable players the Hawks added this past season. He had a great season and showed that he belongs in the NHL. While maybe being thrown into a top-line role was a bit much, he rose to the occasion. With Nylander back and hopefully better than ever, the Hawks third line would not be playing the best opponents in the league and might be able to have some success.

Brett Connolly – Philipp Kurashev – Mike Hardman

The fourth line was hard to put together. I want Kurashev to be involved somewhere in the lineup and the style of play doesn’t really match a fourth-line role. Right now I did not include David Kampf because I want to wait for him to get his contract. Assuming he re-signs sometime during the off-season I think he would slot in at center and Kurashev would move to the wing.

Notes:

This does not include Ryan Carpenter, Henrik Borgstrom, Dylan Strome, Adam Gaudette, and MacKenzie Entwistle. There is still a lot of uncertainty revolving around the team and who stays and who goes. So honestly by the time the June edition of our way too early lineup prediction, this could already look really different.

Riley Stillman #61, Malcolm Subban #30 Chicago Blackhawks (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Here is what the defense and goaltending could look like next season. There are a lot of ifs involved here.

The only defenseman that does not have a contract right now on the blue line is Nikita Zadorov. I think he is a player that fans have a lot of mixed reviews on. Personally, I believe the team will re-sign him this off-season as long as he takes a pay cut from what he is making now.

Similar to David Kampf, I am not including him on the roster right now until he has a contract. Not only because who knows if he will sign, but also because this defense has a TON of potential players.

Riley Stillman – Connor Murphy

Stillman I think is an ideal candidate to play with Connor Murphy. The two spent some time together in the last two games of the season, and Stillman played okay. Stillman had 37 hits over the course of 13 games this season. Compared to some of the other young guys he really plays physical which is why he is with Murphy and not further down in the lineup.

Duncan Keith – Adam Boqvist

This pairing has potential. If Keith can stop being relied upon every minute of every game, and Boqvist can take his play to the next level this could be a really solid pairing. I do not think the Hawks have an actual top four like they used to. Instead, all three of these pairings could be used at any time in my opinion. Obviously, they would not be splitting ice time down the middle, but all three of these pairings can play in any situation.

Wyatt Kalynuk – Calvin de Haan

This is another interesting pairing. Kalynuk had a great end of the season but his overall sample size was not that big. After getting in the lineup it just seemed like he played well enough to force the coaching staff to keep him in the mix. That is a good thing. de Haan on the other hand missed some time with an injury, and if he is not taken by Seattle would be a reliable defenseman to play next season. However, it would take a spot away from another young player.

Notes:

The combination of youth and veterans on the blue line looks like a team trying to compete for the playoffs. If the Blackhawks want to retool their team they might want to focus their attention to players like Nicolas Beaudin and Ian Mitchell. Both might benefit from more time in Rockford but it would be kind of hard to go back after just spending a season with NHL time.

Kevin Lankinen and Malcolm Subban

Collin Delia showed up to play during his final few games of the season, but honestly, that seems like too little too late with this team. Maybe the Hawks now have a little bit more to market in a trade involving Delia, or they just want him to boost his confidence before going back to Rockford.

Blackhawks Reportedly Sign Henrik Borgstrom To Two Year Contract

The goaltending problem in Chicago is back to square one because of the way the season ended, but I still would guess that Lankinen starts the year as the top guy with Subban backing him up.

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The Chicago Blackhawks 2020-21 season is months away, but still what is the off-season all about if not predicting the future lineup?

Here is what the defense and goaltending could look like next season. There are a lot of ifs involved here.

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