How's the Hawks' list of potential elite players coming along? I don't mean league average Top Six forwards or Top pair defensemen. I mean potential stars who can hold their own against the best players of elite teams.

Bedard, for sure. If we're being generous...Vlasic, too.

Who else?
- mohel

Right now just Bedard I think. Can Nazar, Moore, Vlasic, Korchinski or perhaps another player or a 2024 draft pick one day get there? KD has lots of work ahead of him.

Was really impressed by Del Mastro, especially for that only being his second NHL game. Kid's got some smarts.
- BINGO!

You've got a strong team over there BINGO. They'll be fun to watch in the playoffs. Nice to see them pick up Guentzel. We're still over here hoping to get some more pieces to be excited about in a few years.

Right now just Bedard I think. Can Nazar, Moore, Vlasic, Korchinski or perhaps another player or a 2024 draft pick one day get there? KD has lots of work ahead of him.
- paulr

It will be interesting to see which 2nd/3rd/4th rounder ends up punching above his weight. Typically there are one or two that end up surprising over a 3-4 year period. There will certainly be guys they need to fill in around the draft picks. I'm almost more interested to see how he fares in this area than with the draft. By the sheer numbers and type of players they are targeting, they should hit on a good percentage. It's the need players that will be important to find.

You've got a strong team over there BINGO. They'll be fun to watch in the playoffs. Nice to see them pick up Guentzel. We're still over here hoping to get some more pieces to be excited about in a few years.
- Chunk

Going to be a lot of turnover this summer and a year or so of growing pains as the team transitions, but with Jackson Blake, Scott Morrow, Brad Nadeau and Alexander Nikishin filling those holes the next two seasons should be able to keep it rolling and challenge for the cup again in two or three years.

Watching del Mastro and Nazar arrive the last two games has been very encouraging. Del Mastro has been safe, reluctant to pinch but he’ll learn to pick his spots. Their arrival gives us hope and options for the future. Having talented players start to take spots will free up matchups in other spots.

We haven’t had a logjam on the powerplay since Hossa was being displaced by Shaw in the glory days. Some combination of Bedard, Nazar, Hall, Jones, and Korchinski with either Foligno, Richardinson, or Reichel might actually be a decent threat.


Looking ahead to potential UFAs or trade partners in a cap strapped team: Reinhart, Guentzel, Montour, Lindholm, Stamkos, Marchessault, Duchene, Pesce, TT, Toffoli, DeBrusk, Domi, Stephenson, Wennberg, Skjei.

Teams who will be having cap issues: Florida, Carolina, NYR, LAK, Tampa, Colorado, Vegas.
- ObeseOprah

i think the term "cap strapped team" is so overblown. You don't think by now that the teams you have mentioned, the GM's know exactly who they will sign, and who they will trade/let go via free agency?

Do you think McCrimmon traded for and signed Hertl/Hannifan long term without knowing what he is going to do about Marchisseault?

Do you think Boston really shed a tear giving the Hawks Hall and Foligno? Or Ottawa Zaitsev? or even Vancouver and Richardinson?

The salary cap is not new anymore. I am sure teams don't just fritter away players that they truly want to keep based on the salary cap.

i think the term "cap strapped team" is so overblown. You don't think by now that the teams you have mentioned, the GM's know exactly who they will sign, and who they will trade/let go via free agency?

Do you think McCrimmon traded for and signed Hertl/Hannifan long term without knowing what he is going to do about Marchisseault?

Do you think Boston really shed a tear giving the Hawks Hall and Foligno? Or Ottawa Zaitsev? or even Vancouver and Richardinson?

The salary cap is not new anymore. I am sure teams don't just fritter away players that they truly want to keep based on the salary cap.
- LAHawk

There are going to be players available due to cap problems. Instead of taking on bad contracts for futures I’d like to see Davidson see if he can find a player or two who can make the club better next season and perhaps beyond.

There are going to be players available due to cap problems. Instead of taking on bad contracts for futures I’d like to see Davidson see if he can find a player or two who can make the club better next season and perhaps beyond.
- paulr

You can probably sign the Skjei-Pesce pairing and instantly have a pair that can reliably eat 22 minutes every night against anyone.

It will be interesting to see which 2nd/3rd/4th rounder ends up punching above his weight. Typically there are one or two that end up surprising over a 3-4 year period. There will certainly be guys they need to fill in around the draft picks. I'm almost more interested to see how he fares in this area than with the draft. By the sheer numbers and type of players they are targeting, they should hit on a good percentage. It's the need players that will be important to find.
- Chunk

I think there’s a very good chance that a number of the Hawk draftees have a good chance at making the team one day. Ludwinski, Savoie, DelMastro and possibly others look to have NHL potential but I don’t see star in that group. Obviously depth and tole players are vital to the make up of the team, but right now I get Mohel’s point that there’s no obvious star or impact player which are needed.

You can always have one of those guys that is predominately on the third line but is capable of filling in on the top two lines if needed.

2-2-3-4-3
- paulr

What would you call a guy who can play on the 2nd or 3rd line on a good team? Hmmmm…nothing comes to mind. 😉

What would you call a guy who can play on the 2nd or 3rd line on a good team? Hmmmm…nothing comes to mind. 😉
- HawkintheD

It’s not a middle six like you want to say Bub. It’s the top six or bottom six. You were already told this very thing.

Am I the only one who thinks Reichel has been much improved over the last 5-7 games? He's back to attacking the middle of the ice (and getting rewarded for it), more aggressive along the boards, and winning more battles. Not perfect by any stretch, but he's been one of the more noticeable (in a good way) forwards recently.
- Chunk

Well, he’s not playing with Reese Johnson and Entwistle anymore. Although AA is not top end(not even close)he’s a legitimate NHL forward with great speed, unlike the other sieves that Reichel has played with. It’s very hard to judge some of these young guys, when they’re playing with AHL type talent. Next year I’d like to see an NHL caliber defenseman paired with Korchinski as well.

Richardson on Nazar:

[With] his positioning and his hockey knowledge, he can read plays as they happen. Vlasic’s very good at that on the defensive side. [Nazar], as a forward, is very good at that. He gets to people very quick and probably surprises them. I liked when he came out of our zone once in the 3rd period; he used his body as a shield and stretched that puck out and protected it. That’s a hockey player. Not everybody just does that. He knows how to play.”

Well, he’s not playing with Reese Johnson and Entwistle anymore. Although AA is not top end(not even close)he’s a legitimate NHL forward with great speed, unlike the other sieves that Reichel has played with. It’s very hard to judge some of these young guys, when they’re playing with AHL type talent. Next year I’d like to see an NHL caliber defenseman paired with Korchinski as well.
- Angotti

Couldn't have said it better myself. Ideally, KK gets paired with Murphy for the last two, with Tinordi and Zaitsev just hanging on for dear life. I don't know how many times I whispered under my breath, "wow Tinordi is bad".

The funny thing is that guys like Tinordi and Megna would absolutely embarrass the vast majority of players you could throw at them that aren't in the NHL. But... you put them against the best in the game and you get what we watched this season.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Ideally, KK gets paired with Murphy for the last two, with Tinordi and Zaitsev just hanging on for dear life. I don't know how many times I whispered under my breath, "wow Tinordi is bad".

The funny thing is that guys like Tinordi and Megna would absolutely embarrass the vast majority of players you could throw at them that aren't in the NHL. But... you put them against the best in the game and you get what we watched this season.
- Chunk

I’m sure there’s a poster, or maybe two, who thinks Korbustsky is holding Tinordi, Megna or Zaitsev back.

Yeah. Bedard is great and he will be a force, just so young. For next season I just hope someone else steps up to the next level to help carry more load.
- breadbag

Draisaitl!

What would you call a guy who can play on the 2nd or 3rd line on a good team? Hmmmm…nothing comes to mind. 😉
- HawkintheD

Jonathan Toews obviously.

I’m sure there’s a poster, or maybe two, who thinks Korbustsky is holding Tinordi, Megna or Zaitsev back.
- paulr

Elbows...

i think the term "cap strapped team" is so overblown. You don't think by now that the teams you have mentioned, the GM's know exactly who they will sign, and who they will trade/let go via free agency?

Do you think McCrimmon traded for and signed Hertl/Hannifan long term without knowing what he is going to do about Marchisseault?

Do you think Boston really shed a tear giving the Hawks Hall and Foligno? Or Ottawa Zaitsev? or even Vancouver and Richardinson?

The salary cap is not new anymore. I am sure teams don't just fritter away players that they truly want to keep based on the salary cap.
- LAHawk

There's always Vegas's way, stash them on LTIR and get rid of nobody.

https://twitter.com/gambo...tatus/1779921582519107839



I'm calling it now. Since Bettman hates the Hawks, SLC (x-Arizona) moves up and gets #1 pick in the lottery.

There's always Vegas's way, stash them on LTIR and get rid of nobody.
- rpeters01

Chicago started, exposed and took advantage of that loophole, Tampa also took advantage of it and now Vegas is.

This website becomes increasingly unusable on mobile. The ads are beyond intrusive. Tiny X marks to close the ads, immutable audio. I’d ask if there’s an app but I think I already know the answer.
- ObeseOprah

You are correct I have been hampered while typing with my typed 9n part is frozen and you have to try and type in several more time b/c the incursions simply stop y7our typing at som e point, so you go back, go back.

I tried google over safari and it worked slightly better.

https://twitter.com/gambo...tatus/1779921582519107839



I'm calling it now. Since Bettman hates the Hawks, SLC (x-Arizona) moves up and gets #1 pick in the lottery.
- Rota's Rooter

You literally just won the last draft lottery.

Chicago started, exposed and took advantage of that loophole, Tampa also took advantage of it and now Vegas is.
- paulr

And after hearing the comments the GMs have made concerning thither are fine with it loophole, it seems they are fine with it.

You literally just won the last draft lottery.
- BINGO!

Hey, if the league is going to rig the system so EDM and PIT can draft their core, no reason they can't do it for Chicago, too (again).

Chicago started, exposed and took advantage of that loophole, Tampa also took advantage of it and now Vegas is.
- paulr

And they did it for Antoine Vermette of all people.

Stanfail