If the Hawks tell him to do another year, it is a SURE sign that next season will be another tank year, Chief.
- mohel

I don't see a tank year again next year unless their are major injuries to key players. I can see them building toward a respectable team. Think 2006/07 Hawks.
71 points.

Thought it was the case but they just mentioned it was Kurashev's 50th point this season. 👏🏻
- HawkintheD

I think Kurashev has taken a big step this year. But he is really benefiting from playing with Bedard. I still see him as a middle 6 or 3rd liner. I hope I am wrong and he is a top liner. That would be sweet.

Stan....I mean, KD, should've signed him to an eight year deal last summer. Stupid.
- mohel

I'm not stealing Darth's line...

I think Kurashev has taken a big step this year. But he is really benefiting from playing with Bedard. I still see him as a middle 6 or 3rd liner. I hope I am wrong and he is a top liner. That would be sweet.
- Ztra

Not only is Kurashev producing but he’s showing confidence carrying the puck, making good passes, getting his nose dirty digging for pucks. Now let’s see if Reichel can figure it out, because I think he has more raw talent than Kurashev.

I think Kurashev has taken a big step this year. But he is really benefiting from playing with Bedard. I still see him as a middle 6 or 3rd liner. I hope I am wrong and he is a top liner. That would be sweet.
- Ztra

Think you're right on this and not wrong on the other parts. I see him more as a middle 6 than top 6 but you can see he's showing more than just flashes here and there.

I don't see a tank year again next year unless their are major injuries to key players. I can see them building toward a respectable team. Think 2006/07 Hawks.
71 points.
- Ztra

I would argue that this year wasn't a tank year either. They didn't actively sell anything they could for assets this season, they added some vets to help the kids, played the kids more and moved on from their former Franchise players. This was a progress season IMO.

I would argue that this year wasn't a tank year either. They didn't actively sell anything they could for assets this season, they added some vets to help the kids, played the kids more and moved on from their former Franchise players. This was a progress season IMO.
- breadbag

Barring all the injuries I think that was the plan. There's no depth this year as most of them are still just prospects playing in Jr's. I agree this is a progress season getting a number of young players playing time.

Think you're right on this and not wrong on the other parts. I see him more as a middle 6 than top 6 but you can see he's showing more than just flashes here and there.
- HawkintheD

Just to add.

I like that he was playing hard right from the start when he came in off the season opening injury. I think the determination, confidence and consistency has been improving. He isn't able to carry a line on his own, but he can play with skilled players and fit in.

I think he can definitely be a complimentary top 6 piece IMO. In my mind, I think of it this way most teams have like 3-4 maybe 5 guys who are legit top 6, and then a couple guys who are able to fill the role and play with the guys who drive the line shift after shift.

Kind of like all those years we had Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp as real legit top 6 guys, and then the complimentary parts like Saad, Bickell, Ladd, Bolland, Brouwer, Versteeg, Shaw, etc.. We need guys in that roll, who can play with the superstars but aren't necessarily a star on their own. As long as Kurashev doesn't try to price himself out of town and if he can keep working on the defensive side of the puck, he should be a good piece to retain.

https://www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks/2024/04/02/foligno-at-center-defensive-zone-Richardinson-guttman-honored-imanagas-dagger-and-other-blackhawks-bullets/

Anaheim is sprinting to the bottom right now; they’re 1-8-1 in their last 10 games. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are 6-4-0 in their last ten and are now three points “ahead” of Anaheim for second-to-last in the NHL in points percentage and the Hawks have one game in-hand on the Ducks.
- Mr Ricochet

I’m ok with the Hawks passing the Ducks, it doesn’t change the odds of drafting #1 overall that much - 13.5% vs 11.5%. 2nd worst has an ~70% chance of drafting 3rd or 4th, 3rd worst has an ~70% chance of drafting 4th or 5th. Worst case scenario is the Hawks dropping to 5th, which isn’t the end of the world with this year’s draft.

Barring all the injuries I think that was the plan. There's no depth this year as most of them are still just prospects playing in Jr's. I agree this is a progress season getting a number of young players playing time.
- HawkintheD

Yeah the injuries were brutal for a team that wasn't deep. If we didn't lose Hall most the year and maybe keep Perry out of trouble, might have been made a difference in some close games. It wouldn't take much to have had a handful more wins in those close games where we just couldn't score.

Barring all the injuries I think that was the plan. There's no depth this year as most of them are still just prospects playing in Jr's. I agree this is a progress season getting a number of young players playing time.
- HawkintheD

Agreed. The Hawks are likely drafting #1-#5 this year, the plan was likely to draft #6-#10. So no matter what happens with the draft lottery the Hawks are getting a better pick than expected at the beginning of the season.

Not a lot of NHL coaches leave guys on the ice for 4 minutes shifts when the need a goal to tie.

Not a lot of NHL coaches leave guys on the ice for 4 minutes shifts when the need a goal to tie.
- stevefrmglencoe

Probably why he called the timeout.

Probably why he called the timeout.
- Chunk

With 16 seconds to go.

That was just another example of how slow our team is. Almost all the forwards had a guy in their hip pocket.

Hey Boilermaker,

Good luck for your Purdue Boilermakers. To get to the final you must beat an 11th seed which might be the doable first act.

Win the championship and while that would be a big thrill for you - right with Blackhawks Cup - I just have one question:

What kind of boilermaker would you be drinking? Sounds rough drinking a shot and a beer together!

Think you're right on this and not wrong on the other parts. I see him more as a middle 6 than top 6 but you can see he's showing more than just flashes here and there.
- HawkintheD

Ok, here's my age showing....

The term "middle six" really grinds my gears!!!!!!

Can we please just move forward with players being either top six, or bottom six??

There is no middle six. That would mean there are 18 forwards, not 12.

Ok, here's my age showing....

The term "middle six" really grinds my gears!!!!!!

Can we please just move forward with players being either top six, or bottom six??

There is no middle six. That would mean there are 18 forwards, not 12.
- dahawks8819

Middle six is the term people use to polish the garbage in the bottom six.

Just to add.

I like that he was playing hard right from the start when he came in off the season opening injury. I think the determination, confidence and consistency has been improving. He isn't able to carry a line on his own, but he can play with skilled players and fit in.

I think he can definitely be a complimentary top 6 piece IMO. In my mind, I think of it this way most teams have like 3-4 maybe 5 guys who are legit top 6, and then a couple guys who are able to fill the role and play with the guys who drive the line shift after shift.

Kind of like all those years we had Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp as real legit top 6 guys, and then the complimentary parts like Saad, Bickell, Ladd, Bolland, Brouwer, Versteeg, Shaw, etc.. We need guys in that roll, who can play with the superstars but aren't necessarily a star on their own. As long as Kurashev doesn't try to price himself out of town and if he can keep working on the defensive side of the puck, he should be a good piece to retain.
- breadbag

Been saying this awhile, Bedard aside, Kurashev and Vlasic have been the best Hawks this yr. Guess I'd have to throw D!ckenson in the mix too but Kurashev has always had flashes where his skill shows but he's taken another step. Much more consistent, motor is always running, his reads are good all 200 ft allowing his skill to make him dangerous pretty often.

Being married to Bedard sure helps but Kurashev is making a lotta plays and has been all yr.

You know Rico i didn't think Demidov was this good, i think i may be wrong he may not make it out of the top 10 picks.

https://twitter.com/Byron...Psw-RgUoeJZxDOgn8lLA&s=19
- BetweenTheDots

Dots, I'm not sure I've ever seen Demidov play a game. Behind the iron curtain the last 2 yrs meant no international play so all anyone had was his Hlinka tournament as a 16 yr old where he impressed all of the hockey world.

But all the top evaluators have held him in high regard the last couple yrs and his numbers are fantastic playing Jrs in Russia, he's at 2 pts per game. Most have him top 5 but with the Russian factor who knows but it's very doubtful he falls outa the top 10 where the draft starts to thin.

Ok, here's my age showing....

The term "middle six" really grinds my gears!!!!!!

Can we please just move forward with players being either top six, or bottom six??

There is no middle six. That would mean there are 18 forwards, not 12.
- dahawks8819

Which Roosevelt was president?

Hey Boilermaker,

Good luck for your Purdue Boilermakers. To get to the final you must beat an 11th seed which might be the doable first act.

Win the championship and while that would be a big thrill for you - right with Blackhawks Cup - I just have one question:

What kind of boilermaker would you be drinking? Sounds rough drinking a shot and a beer together!
- jhawk59

Good morning jhawk. Thanks for the well wishes for ole Purdue this weekend.

Unfortunately my boilermaker drinking days are over. Back in the day it used to be a Crown Royal followed by a cold one. When the Hawks won the draft lottery last year I broke open a bottle of 10 year old single malt Scotch. I still have a wee bit left. So when the Boilermakers win the championship, I'll have some of that.

Which reminds me. I should go out and get another bottle of that to have some on hand when the Hawks win the lottery again.

Good morning jhawk. Thanks for the well wishes for ole Purdue this weekend.

Unfortunately my boilermaker drinking days are over. Back in the day it used to be a Crown Royal followed by a cold one. When the Hawks won the draft lottery last year I broke open a bottle of 10 year old single malt Scotch. I still have a wee bit left. So when the Boilermakers win the championship, I'll have some of that.

Which reminds me. I should go out and get another bottle of that to have some on hand when the Hawks win the lottery again.
- boilermaker100

Don't they need the #1 pick in 2026?

Ducks finally won a game last night, so up 5 points on the Hawks. The Hawks have 7 games left and the Ducks have 6. Either way they’re getting a good prospect.

You know Rico i didn't think Demidov was this good, i think i may be wrong he may not make it out of the top 10 picks.

https://twitter.com/Byron...Psw-RgUoeJZxDOgn8lLA&s=19
- BetweenTheDots

Was hoping for a Kantserov comparison, not Mitchov