It's not unpopular. It's flat out wrong Fatty.

Raddysh barely looked like he belonged in the NHL this year and even last year, it wasn't like he was driving play in the Ozone. He has a decent shot and a lot of his goals were more of the opportunistic variety.

Think Kurashev is more skilled. Yes, playing with Bedard helps but Kurashev is also helping drive play on that line.

That said, and I don't care what the one guy who keeps female doging about it says...he's a middle 6 player on a decent team and he'd be a good third liner on a contender.
- HawkintheD

And I believe 15 of his 37 points last year came on the PP where he was this year relegated to the less used second unit.

Are there 34 more points next year when you add in improved play from the younger players, maybe a key FA acquisition or two, and fewer injuries than this season?

I envision the first pair of 4/72 will be quite good. Korchinski should continue to improve, and hopefully he gets a better partner than Megna next year. If we're lucky, Bedard will have a healthy Taylor Hall on the left side. And if we're really lucky, they get Celebrini. I look forward to a full season from Nazar. And it should be interesting to see who makes it out of camp. Maybe they get lucky on another salary dump trade.
- 333inthe3rd

Can Mrazek have a good a year as he had this year? Can you count on him for 56 games again next year? IMO he made the defense look a lot better than they actually were.

Looks like most of the 1st round playoff matches are set. There are some good ones.

TB vs FLA Must see
If FLA prevails the TB pick will be 19th overall. Same as last year I believe.

TOR vs BOS Must see
WSH vs NYR Meh
NYI vs CAR Meh
COL vs WPG Good one

Up in the air
LA vs EDM ? Good one
NSH vs VAN ? Meh
VGK vs DAL ? Good one

Really enjoyed being at the game tonight.
My thoughts for what its worth.
Nazar is noticeably fast, Bedard is a non factor for large parts of the game, but the team really battled hard.
Bedard needs some muscle on his line, Vegas just shut him down really quickly, he had no clear ice around him.
Looked like they couldn't slow the Knights through the middle most of the game, especially the 2nd period.
The AA, Reichel,Donato line looked like our strongest.
Vlasic was the best Hawk for me, seemed to have the time the others didn't. He skated well, and had good hands when needed.
Our forwards always seemed to be on the wrong side of the defender when try to recieve a pass. Then aside from Richardenson, Foligno Donato and Johnson, the rest would get outmuscled.
Vegas just seemed physically stronger across the ice.
Lots of Vegas fans around me were impressed with the Hawks.
Murphy looked ok, Jones got better as the game went on, KK was a mixed bag, Tinordi and Megna didn't actually look that bad aside from that one stuff up.
- NZBlackHawk

Thank you!! Travel safely and go All Blacks......

Can Mrazek have a good a year as he had this year? Can you count on him for 56 games again next year? IMO he made the defense look a lot better than they actually were.
- LAHawk

I think if you put a Mrazek, who has confidence that his groin issues are no longer an issue, behind a team that has a year older Bedard, some other forward improvements, and a D-corp sans Megna, Tinordi and Zaitsev, you will get the same or better performance.

If he has any sort of injury setback, that's where you have to worry. I see KD getting an experienced backup for next year - at least for competition for Soda.

Are there 34 more points next year when you add in improved play from the younger players, maybe a key FA acquisition or two, and fewer injuries than this season?

I envision the first pair of 4/72 will be quite good. Korchinski should continue to improve, and hopefully he gets a better partner than Megna next year. If we're lucky, Bedard will have a healthy Taylor Hall on the left side. And if we're really lucky, they get Celebrini. I look forward to a full season from Nazar. And it should be interesting to see who makes it out of camp. Maybe they get lucky on another salary dump trade.
- 333inthe3rd

As LAHawk suggests, some current players will take a step back. Maybe Kurashev, Mrazek. I personally don't expect a ton from Hall; the injuries are adding up.

To get that much improvement, they'll need a lot more talent. The few kids already up should get better - some more than others. But, I don't see them signing high end UFA's. I can see some of the type that Detroit nabbed last summer; I just have a hard time envisioning that much improvement in the standings.

I think they're doing this the right way; I just don't think enough of the kids will be ready to make that large an impact next year (almost all the new core will still be in the minors, juniors, or school).

Just my take.

There's an interesting proposal over on the Sabres board. One fan wants to sign Q as coach and knowing Q loves his vets, have them sign Kane and Stamkos. Then he suggests dumping Skinner (retaining a bit of his 9M) and using their 2024 1st as a sweetener. I like that last part. 3 years of Skinner and something like the 12th overall for nothing? KFC should be on the line now with Adams. I would even throw in Phillips or Crevier.
- boilermaker100

Man that’d be awesome for the Sabres and hawks.

One silver lining about Korchinski is that he’s the youngest defenseman in the league this year. His skating, quickness, and hands are already apparent. Before anyone labels him a bust, remember that 99% of defensemen hadn’t played a single NHL game at his age. Hall of famers like Keith, Josi, and others hadn’t played an NHL game at his age.
None of the great Dmen of this generation were phenoms in their first year. We see the tools that Korchinski possesses, but he future is very bright.

One silver lining about Korchinski is that he’s the youngest defenseman in the league this year. His skating, quickness, and hands are already apparent. Before anyone labels him a bust, remember that 99% of defensemen hadn’t played a single NHL game at his age. Hall of famers like Keith, Josi, and others hadn’t played an NHL game at his age.
None of the great Dmen of this generation were phenoms in their first year. We see the tools that Korchinski possesses, but he future is very bright.
- ObeseOprah

It’s been established, Korbustky is a bust. No amount of excuse making and apologetics is going to change that.

It’s been established, Korbustky is a bust. No amount of excuse making and apologetics is going to change that.
- paulr

He'll never be anything more than he is now and his ceiling is a 7th dman on a good team.

He'll never be anything more than he is now and his ceiling is a 7th dman on a good team.
- HawkintheD

I hope he the 7th dman on Chicago next year......

He'll never be anything more than he is now and his ceiling is a 7th dman on a good team.
- HawkintheD

poop, he won't even be as good as Ian Orr Mitchell!

One silver lining about Korchinski is that he’s the youngest defenseman in the league this year. His skating, quickness, and hands are already apparent. Before anyone labels him a bust, remember that 99% of defensemen hadn’t played a single NHL game at his age. Hall of famers like Keith, Josi, and others hadn’t played an NHL game at his age.
None of the great Dmen of this generation were phenoms in their first year. We see the tools that Korchinski possesses, but he future is very bright.
- ObeseOprah

I wouldn't be shocked if KK gets the Vlasic/Kaiser treatment next year, with Kaiser being paired with Murphy, one new veteran D as the 6th/7th defensemen, and Phillips/Crevier/del Maestro and possibly Allen rotating in and out and up and down to the Rock.

Thank you!! Travel safely and go All Blacks......
- Mr Ricochet

Go All Blacks!!! My roommate in Japan for 3 years was a Kiwi. He gave me an All Blacks banner and I gave him a Hawks' shirt. The Kiwi was the first person to congratulate me when the Hawks won it in 2010.

There's an interesting proposal over on the Sabres board. One fan wants to sign Q as coach and knowing Q loves his vets, have them sign Kane and Stamkos. Then he suggests dumping Skinner (retaining a bit of his 9M) and using their 2024 1st as a sweetener. I like that last part. 3 years of Skinner and something like the 12th overall for nothing? KFC should be on the line now with Adams. I would even throw in Phillips or Crevier.
- boilermaker100

I assume with the Wings not making it, Kaner moves on? Buffalo is his hometown, but I assume he'll chase another Cup?

So funny. I love that Tom Wilson is the Washington representative for the King Clancy award. Either, he's actually a decent person, or the rest of that team is a bunch of jerks.

So funny. I love that Tom Wilson is the Washington representative for the King Clancy award. Either, he's actually a decent person, or the rest of that team is a bunch of jerks.
- Chunk

I'm still surprised that Tom Wilson was an All-Star representative for the Caps. He wasn't even in the top 200 for scoring at the time.

Okay, let's say we get insanely lucky and win the Lotto again. I know, unlikely, but ....stay with me here....

Canucks fans already hate that we have Bedard because he is from Vancouver. Now I'm just thinking how salty they might be if we added another Vancouver born star player.

Okay, let's say we get insanely lucky and win the Lotto again. I know, unlikely, but ....stay with me here....

Canucks fans already hate that we have Bedard because he is from Vancouver. Now I'm just thinking how salty they might be if we added another Vancouver born star player.
- breadbag

Screw that. The Hawks did them a solid years ago when they took McCabe and a future first for Chicago's #4 pick that helped them get the Sedins. They got over 2000 combined points out of those two. VAN can pound sand if they want to piss and moan.

Makes it even better that the Hawks routinely beat them in the playoffs. Well, except for 2011. Dammit Campoli!!!

On a garbage team someone is gonna score 20. It was him last year. It's an unpopular opinion but I think it was Kurashev's turn this year and with more talent in the line up he shuffles down and is forgotten.
- fattybeef

Agreed. In basketball if you play you get points. It doesn't mean you're good. Somebody has to get them.

Looks like most of the 1st round playoff matches are set. There are some good ones.

TB vs FLA Must see
If FLA prevails the TB pick will be 19th overall. Same as last year I believe.

TOR vs BOS Must see
WSH vs NYR Meh
NYI vs CAR Meh
COL vs WPG Good one

Up in the air
LA vs EDM ? Good one
NSH vs VAN ? Meh
VGK vs DAL ? Good one
- boilermaker100

I never thought I'd be a Vancouver fan.

poop, he won't even be as good as Ian Orr Mitchell!
- mohel

He reminds me of Cam Barker.

Screw that. The Hawks did them a solid years ago when they took McCabe and a future first for Chicago's #4 pick that helped them get the Sedins. They got over 2000 combined points out of those two. VAN can pound sand if they want to piss and moan.

Makes it even better that the Hawks routinely beat them in the playoffs. Well, except for 2011. Dammit Campoli!!!
- Chunk

Was amazing how the Hawks climbed back into the heads of the Nucks when Bolland came back.

The Hawks looked terribly overmatched at times in that series but Bolland coming back totally turned the tide.

That Toews SHG to send the game into OT let the air out of Rogers Arena.

If Sharp had only been able to get that one by Luongo....

Was amazing how the Hawks climbed back into the heads of the Nucks when Bolland came back.

The Hawks looked terribly overmatched at times in that series but Bolland coming back totally turned the tide.

That Toews SHG to send the game into OT let the air out of Rogers Arena.

If Sharp had only been able to get that one by Luongo....
- HawkintheD

It would have been hysterical. To be fair, VAN did have a very good team. I was actually surprised that Boston won the Cup Final. I thought they had better depth and Bieksa played over his head that entire playoffs.

Jack Edwards, Bruins play by play guy, is retiring. He's had some health problems recently. Watching Boston games may be more bearable next season unless Vosters gets the job.