Precisely why they shouldn’t wait until all their rookies come to fruition to add around them. I’m not going to repeat all of what Fatty just posted, but it’s shortsighted to hope all of the rookies come in and create your contending team out of the blue.

Put the kids in a good position to grow.
- Chunk

What free agents (names, or at least skill level) need to be added to make this roster an 85 point team? Remember, KFC isn't adding the top end UFA's for long term and big money. I'd be curious to see who he can add (given his stated plan) to speed up the process that much.

Again, I'm all for them being an 80+ point team; I just don't see it happening next season. I'll be happy to be wrong.

Toronto looks to be in typical playoff form.

Toronto looks to be in typical playoff form.
- mohel

Their regular season superstars are done for the season.

What free agents (names, or at least skill level) need to be added to make this roster an 85 point team? Remember, KFC isn't adding the top end UFA's for long term and big money. I'd be curious to see who he can add (given his stated plan) to speed up the process that much.

Again, I'm all for them being an 80+ point team; I just don't see it happening next season. I'll be happy to be wrong.
- mohel

Oh you’re gonna be wrong! 😂😂

Lottery scheduled for either May 6 or 7.

https://www.prohockeyrumo...ry-playoffs.html#ref=home

If Larkin plays 80 games they are probably a playoff team.
- fattybeef

This!

Demidov in this Elite Prospects video look, and I like this vid’s evaluator, & he mentions his outside edges too but isn't worried about them. Honestly, until the vid mentions his outside edges I had never heard the term... As for me, if this kid was playing Major Junior, he'd be in the conversation for 1st overall all the way to draft day.
- Mr Ricochet

Ric: As one evaluator said he reminds me of Jack Hughes in the Ozone.
stop yah here…using you skate edges, begin,
To use your reference to NJ Jack Hughes-inside your comment on great edge work, it’s the family trademark where all three brothers can position their skate angle, and power to use of the other skates next touch to the ice, to exert push that increases SAID HUGHES at a higher propelled thrust. Hughes can then use the other outside skate edge side to re-direct his flight plan, alluding opposing guys, and who uses his edges to reposition or room to find a friendly passing lane.
Demidov skates knee knocked, and if he had better control over his movements, I see him in the NHL , although welcomed to the NHL baptism confronted by the East-West puck & player movements, on a smaller offensive zone. Demidov can skate well enough to carve out a decent career, but you gotta close that straddle his skating as if he is not riding on a horse, and once your legs are stretched, it isn't easy to pull your boots together ankle to ankle.

Freakish hands and vision. To me elite IQ in every single phase of most everything that occurs on a sheet of ice.
Watch the kid's cruise/think/attack mentality and the endless set of tools he displays, many times in 1 shift. And take a look at his skating and judge for yourself. While I'd agree he has hunched over choppy stride along with fantastic ability to transition from backward to forward skating his skating doesn't keep him from getting anywhere on time.
- Mr Ricochet

I have been giving a lot of thought on who we should take with our first pick. Fonally, i asked myself if i would want caulfield on the hawks. My answer is yes i would. Shortcomings being equal, i would take eiserman.

This!
- wiz1901

And if my aunt had nuts she'd be my uncle!

How many teams points total would be different if no one got injured?

How many more goals and assists would Bedard have had if his 1st line partner played 80 games?

And if my aunt had nuts she'd be my uncle!

How many teams points total would be different if no one got injured?

How many more goals and assists would Bedard have had if his 1st line partner played 80 games?
- vabeachbear

Yep. Corey Perry distraction aside, what if the Hawks had gotten full seasons from Bedard, Hall, AA and Murphy?

Not talking playoffs or even knocking on the door really but I think it's safe to say they wouldn't be sitting at 51 pts with one game left.

Yep. Corey Perry distraction aside, what if the Hawks had gotten full seasons from Bedard, Hall, AA and Murphy?

Not talking playoffs or even knocking on the door really but I think it's safe to say they wouldn't be sitting at 51 pts with one game left.
- HawkintheD

Go ahead, Pallie, drink the Kool-Aid the Hawks marketing machine feeds you!

I'm all for that happening next year, but I think next year's growth won't be that strong.

Let's look at Detroit's progress the past five years:

2020...39 points in 71 games. Worst
2021...48 in 56 games. 5th worst
2022...74 in 82 games. 8th worst
2023...80 in 82 games. 8th worst again.
2024...91 in 82 games. 16th worst.

Things stagnated for the middle three years until some kids reached the bigs, and got comfortable there. Then an 11 point jump after adding Kane, Cat and several retreads. It's not the quickest process, imo.

I agree completely that Detroit's rebuild is a bit hampered by their best players not approaching elite status.
- mohel

And you're probably more right in that regard.

What free agents (names, or at least skill level) need to be added to make this roster an 85 point team? Remember, KFC isn't adding the top end UFA's for long term and big money. I'd be curious to see who he can add (given his stated plan) to speed up the process that much.

Again, I'm all for them being an 80+ point team; I just don't see it happening next season. I'll be happy to be wrong.
- mohel

Marchessault 20 million over 2 years. Toffoli 7 million for one year. Tanev 6 million for one year. One of Debrusk or TT for long-term but a reasonable yearly average. I like Debrusk because I think he's one of those hard working hard on the boards guys that Chicago fans love even if they've underachieved offensively.

Now you have one top 6 spot that Nazar, Reichel and Kurashev are fighting over - get that competition everyone talks about. An insurance policy for Murphy and upgrade from Tinordi and Megna.

If hall plays 60 games you figure him + those adds give the Hawks around a net +50 GF conservatively or maybe 75 if were being optimistic scoring wise and if they can improve enough defensively to reduce the goals coming in by around 30 then theyre in a similar spot gf\ga as a Philly or Washington which should about put them in that range of +80 points.

Doesn't do anything to impact anything long term.

Marchessault 20 million over 2 years. Toffoli 7 million for one year. Tanev 6 million for one year. One of Debrusk or TT for long-term but a reasonable yearly average. I like Debrusk because I think he's one of those hard working hard on the boards guys that Chicago fans love even if they've underachieved offensively.

Now you have one top 6 spot that Nazar, Reichel and Kurashev are fighting over - get that competition everyone talks about. An insurance policy for Murphy and upgrade from Tinordi and Megna.

If hall plays 60 games you figure him + those adds give the Hawks around a net +50 GF conservatively or maybe 75 if were being optimistic scoring wise and if they can improve enough defensively to reduce the goals coming in by around 30 then theyre in a similar spot gf\ga as a Philly or Washington which should about put them in that range of +80 points.

Doesn't do anything to impact anything long term.
- fattybeef

I cant't believe you didn't mention throwing a contract at Kane.

If Larkin plays 80 games they are probably a playoff team.

Getting their younger core into games that mattered at the end of the season was important but they had below average goaltending which killed their margin of error for not being a dominating possession team.

They have a lot of guys who project as NHL talent but Raymond has been the only top 5 pick and it kinda shows.
- fattybeef

The thing is this is a depth issue, players get hurt all the time.

You say below average goaltending? I say below average defense

If we're being honest - the Leafs have been plagued by bad goaltending and a lack of push from the blue line. Other than Reilly they have zero push from the back end and Reilly is no Adam Fox (or Duncan Keith). And the guys they have, other than maybe McCabe aren't really shutdown specialists either or "tough to play against" or whatever platitude makes sense.

Aside from the 17-18 season - Matthews has been a PPG player in the playoffs. Nylander the last 4 years has been a PPG player in the playoffs and pretty decent before that. Marner has 47 points in 50 playoff games.

It's confusing to me what the realistic expectation there is for those guys.

Toews was 119 over 137 playoff games. Kane 138 over 143. Hossa was 149 over 205.

Their top 3 seems to be in alignment with the top 3 of the Hawks during the glory days except they don't have a competent blue line (probably 1 elite forward too many) and that team composition isn't really their fault.
- fattybeef

I think like the Wings they've been plagued by bad defenseman. They really don't have any shut down defenseman.

I think like the Wings they've been plagued by bad defenseman. They really don't have any shut down defenseman.
- BetweenTheDots

Well they do have some nice D propsects. Evidsson got hurt at the start of the year, so he only played 16 games, they have Pellikka, and Buium in the system to go along with Seider.

I set up a nil bracket challenge if you want to play:


https://bracketchallenge.nhl.com/en/leagues/23738

Marchessault 20 million over 2 years. Toffoli 7 million for one year. Tanev 6 million for one year. One of Debrusk or TT for long-term but a reasonable yearly average. I like Debrusk because I think he's one of those hard working hard on the boards guys that Chicago fans love even if they've underachieved offensively.

Now you have one top 6 spot that Nazar, Reichel and Kurashev are fighting over - get that competition everyone talks about. An insurance policy for Murphy and upgrade from Tinordi and Megna.

If hall plays 60 games you figure him + those adds give the Hawks around a net +50 GF conservatively or maybe 75 if were being optimistic scoring wise and if they can improve enough defensively to reduce the goals coming in by around 30 then theyre in a similar spot gf\ga as a Philly or Washington which should about put them in that range of +80 points.

Doesn't do anything to impact anything long term.
- fattybeef

These guys are not currently top 6 NHL players in any remote way.

For me going through a rebuild is more about goals scored and goals against. Blackhawks i believe will set the lowest season scoring total for previous Blackhawk teams since the 82 game schedule.

They actually have given up less goals this year than last year which is an improvement. Goals against have more value to me. I think its great that we've had 2 rookies played virtually every game and 3 other rookies in and out of the lineup.

Draft best available and i believe the scoring will begin to take care of itself. For me if Eiserman can skate and is a bull on them but may lack some offensive hockey IQ but has such a great shot and can score anywhere between 25 and 60 goals I've got to draft him. Those sharp shooters just don't grow on trees.

I think next season we'll see more goals for but less against, at least i hope so.

I wonder if KD will have a post season press conference and, if so, what if anything he reveals about the plans for the summer. He'll probably remain vague and non-committal and repeat what he's always been saying about how allowing the prospects to develop and see where that takes them.

Beat writer Ben Pope reported attendance was up at the UC this season (Bedard effect) so I don't think he's under any pressure from the business side to improve the on ice product.

Fatty and others have outlined some quality free agent signings, but I have a feeling Davidson will nibble around the edges when it comes to signings or trades. Probably guys like Wennberg, Roslovic, Foegele upfront and Justin Schultz, Ian Cole types on D.

For me going through a rebuild is more about goals scored and goals against. Blackhawks i believe will set the lowest season scoring total for previous Blackhawk teams since the 82 game schedule.

They actually have given up less goals this year than last year which is an improvement. Goals against have more value to me. I think its great that we've had 2 rookies played virtually every game and 3 other rookies in and out of the lineup.

Draft best available and i believe the scoring will begin to take care of itself. For me if Eiserman can skate and is a bull on them but may lack some offensive hockey IQ but has such a great shot and can score anywhere between 25 and 60 goals I've got to draft him. Those sharp shooters just don't grow on trees.

I think next season we'll see more goals for but less against, at least i hope so.
- BetweenTheDots

A lot of that could be attributed to a healthy Mrazek standing on his head more often than not. With that said young defenseman Vlasic, KK, and Kasier have made strides this year, and coupled with the fact Tinnordi, Zaitsev and Megna won't be around next season bodes well for a better goals against. (As longs as Mrazek stays healthy.)

I think like the Wings they've been plagued by bad defenseman. They really don't have any shut down defenseman.
- BetweenTheDots

I’d love the Hawks to be plagued by Seider.

Marchessault 20 million over 2 years. Toffoli 7 million for one year. Tanev 6 million for one year. One of Debrusk or TT for long-term but a reasonable yearly average. I like Debrusk because I think he's one of those hard working hard on the boards guys that Chicago fans love even if they've underachieved offensively.

Now you have one top 6 spot that Nazar, Reichel and Kurashev are fighting over - get that competition everyone talks about. An insurance policy for Murphy and upgrade from Tinordi and Megna.

If hall plays 60 games you figure him + those adds give the Hawks around a net +50 GF conservatively or maybe 75 if were being optimistic scoring wise and if they can improve enough defensively to reduce the goals coming in by around 30 then theyre in a similar spot gf\ga as a Philly or Washington which should about put them in that range of +80 points.

Doesn't do anything to impact anything long term.
- fattybeef

Sounds like a good plan to me; that team would probably have a good shot at 85 points.

The downside is the lower draft placement next year. The concern is to not become Detroit; a team with some very good players but not enough stars. Stars sometimes come from lower in round one and in later rounds, but most often they come from near the top of round one. And it is my opinion that they don't have enough star level prospects.

I set up a nil bracket challenge if you want to play:


https://bracketchallenge.nhl.com/en/leagues/23738
- wiz1901

What is the password?