What are your Top 10 Predictions for the Hawks this Season?.........

I like to visit this Forum from time-to-time just to check up on what the Hawks' fans think and have to say about their favorite NHL team...............What are your Top 10 Predictions for the Hawks this Season?.........

I wouldn't say any of these are really bold, but I'll toss a few thoughts out there. LOL probably a few of them will be proven wrong in the first month or so! Oh well. Discuss.

Zhamnov is traded at the deadline. Arnason and Ruutu will play well this year and Yakubov gets his head straight in Norfolk. Smith won't want Zhamnov on a long contract and he also hasn't been signing people past the year due to the CBA. We get a young defenseman and a pick.

Ruutu may not win the calder but he establishes himself as a solid center with 15 goals and 40 points.

T-bo has a repeat performance of last year. He'll slump a little, but on the whole he'll be fresh since our young backup will need more games.

Leighton will start as the backup but will be sent down around December. It will only last for a month. Smith will cite him needing to get quality playing time. Anderson will come up and play ok but Leighton will finish the year out as a back up.

Daze has a thirty goal year but still gets criticized because everyone wants him to be Bertuzzi. (what a shock)

Quint and Dempsey bomb this year. Smith tries to get rid of them but can't. Instead he sits them for long stretches with "injuries" and calls up a kid or two.

Babchuk makes the roster and is on the team the whole year. He's not spectacular and looks pretty bad for stretches but survives the year playing with Karpotsev (when he's not hurt).

Only one of Radulov or Vorobiev makes the team out of camp. Smith tries to play Nieminen on the third line instead of having both kids. Nieminen plays ok, but can't hold off a young russian and both are on the team by the end of the year with Nieminen on the fourth line.

Though it may not look like it now, our power play will be in the top ten in the league. Our penalty killing will suck however. This is to maintain the trend that only one can be good and that it switches every year.

Hawks only get 75 points and finish out of the playoffs. We start out a little inconsistent due to quite a few rookies. They catch on and we all get optimistic. Hawks then implode because an injury or two, we have no depth, and other teams learn which of our rookies to watch out for.

hmm....

Daze will score 35 goals. no one outside of chicago will notice. again.

Yakubov cleans it up this season, and is called up midway through the season.

Zhamnov is traded for basically nothing at the trading deadline. nevertheless, we win the deal.

Thibault will have another great season, but not great enough to carry the whole team into the playoffs

Leighton and Andersson will be riding the Norfolk Shuttle all season

Ruutu will spend time on all 4 lines. Hell, all of our players will. Thats how sutter's mind works.

Fleury is never reinstated.

eh... ill think of the rest later

Ruutu - 20 goals
Daze - 30 goals

Steve McCarthy - 40 points

Thibault - 70 games.

Hawks miss the playoffs.

Unbiased Canadian

Daze will be traded at the deadline.

My one prediction and worry for the team is if Leighton is as good as I think he is, how will Tbo play with a solid young goalie pushing him?

Sometimes playing with a backup like Passmore can be a blessing for the No.1 as you know you'll get your games in cause he isn't going to challenge you. I think if Tbo hits a bad stretch Leighton could challenge already...but then again having 2 good starters ain't bad is it?

Side note : Teemu 08 I love that Dylan quote off of his Blonde on Blonde CD, brilliant album!