Of course it helps. It strengthens the roster so they are in the playoff discussion and playing games that at least mathematically matter if not realistically which is more important for the younger players on the roster now then being trash again and having zero of the games matter in any sense.
- fattybeef

We've seen plenty of good players develop on non-playoff teams and plenty of good players fail to get opportunity to flourish on playoff teams who only hit their stride when traded to a less crowded roster where they can showcase their ability. Teams spend a few seasons outside the playoff picture all the time during rebuilds and come back strong. It doesn't really matter.

I think the team will add some players, but I don't think they need to go crazy. spending It won't make Bedard, Nazar, Korchinski, Vlasic any better.

We've seen plenty of good players develop on non-playoff teams and plenty of good players fail to get opportunity to flourish on playoff teams who only hit their stride when traded to a less crowded roster where they can showcase their ability. Teams spend a few seasons outside the playoff picture all the time during rebuilds and come back strong. It doesn't really matter.

I think the team will add some players, but I don't think they need to go crazy. spending It won't make Bedard, Nazar, Korchinski, Vlasic any better.
- breadbag

How would you define "go crazy"? I'm saying 1-2 years, at most 3 year contract if the player is young enough. With those contract lengths, it almost doesn't matter what the money is since the Hawks have plenty of space.

Adding more draft picks at this point in time is a diminishing return. They won't have enough room for all of the prospects and you are still just throwing darts.

I would say that is precisely why you don't wait around for all of these kids to mature. They can sign or trade for guys on 2-3 year deals max and get them used to being competitive. Then when the plethora of prospects are ready for the big time to show their stuff they can step in.

No one is going to be able to tell you who will be an NHL star. the first overall pick in the draft isn't even guaranteed.

Are Dahlin and Power stars, or just really good players? RNH? Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier? Taylor Hall? Lafreniere? Slafkovsky?
- Chunk

I'm not waiting around for them to mature. I'm asking what the plan is to get 3-4 high end stars. Your position is they are in house or not needed. My position is they are needed and that there's not evidence yet that anyone in the pipeline already has people saying "man, the Hawks look have a future star in player X".

The draft is where you generally go to get stars; the higher, the better your odds. Getting good (as opposed to organically better) for next year will impact who is available to draft a year from now. I'm for getting another couple guys on short term deals so Bedard and KK have a representative player to match with.

Of course, KFC has to spend a bunch this summer; so we'll get several overpaid old guys who won't make them an 85 point team.

How would you define "go crazy"? I'm saying 1-2 years, at most 3 year contract if the player is young enough. With those contract lengths, it almost doesn't matter what the money is since the Hawks have plenty of space.

Adding more draft picks at this point in time is a diminishing return. They won't have enough room for all of the prospects and you are still just throwing darts.
- Chunk

And who would these players be?

I would say that is precisely why you don't wait around for all of these kids to mature. They can sign or trade for guys on 2-3 year deals max and get them used to being competitive. Then when the plethora of prospects are ready for the big time to show their stuff they can step in.

No one is going to be able to tell you who will be an NHL star. the first overall pick in the draft isn't even guaranteed.

Are Dahlin and Power stars, or just really good players? RNH? Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier? Taylor Hall? Lafreniere? Slafkovsky?
- Chunk

Some of those guys are really underrated. Dahlin is great.

But you are right, we don't know who will be a star or not, but should we not make hay while the sun in shining and we have all these draft picks? The GM gutted the team to get all these choices, and we are only part way through that. We don't know yet if we have more than 1 or maybe 2 star players. Why spend all the dollars we can to just be "okay" when we are still building? Once we have the core to around, that's a really different story, but are we there? Even Bedard, as good as he is isn't close to ready for NHL playoff hockey. Nazar will take time, Slaggert maybe closer, but still clearly has learning to do.

Why put the cart before the horse? I'm not saying don't add some players, but unlikely we'll really get much in the solid top 6 forward department.

Some of those guys are really underrated. Dahlin is great.

But you are right, we don't know who will be a star or not, but should we not make hay while the sun in shining and we have all these draft picks? The GM gutted the team to get all these choices, and we are only part way through that. We don't know yet if we have more than 1 or maybe 2 star players. Why spend all the dollars we can to just be "okay" when we are still building? Once we have the core to around, that's a really different story, but are we there? Even Bedard, as good as he is isn't close to ready for NHL playoff hockey. Nazar will take time, Slaggert maybe closer, but still clearly has learning to do.

Why put the cart before the horse? I'm not saying don't add some players, but unlikely we'll really get much in the solid top 6 forward department.
- breadbag

What he said.

How would you define "go crazy"? I'm saying 1-2 years, at most 3 year contract if the player is young enough. With those contract lengths, it almost doesn't matter what the money is since the Hawks have plenty of space.

Adding more draft picks at this point in time is a diminishing return. They won't have enough room for all of the prospects and you are still just throwing darts.
- Chunk

I think it's crazy to go tossing out 20 million dollars for a couple years of one player right now. I was replying to the idea of just using up most of our open cap space on 3-4 players because we can. Why spend so much money on a team that isn't ready?

I don't think we'll ever have a problem with room for our prospects. The team doesn't need to keep the ones who aren't panning out. It's not like we don't have dead weight in the system right now. We don't have to resign RFA who are awful.


I'm just saying, throw those darts right now, while we have a better chance of them landing, and be patient.

I'm not waiting around for them to mature. I'm asking what the plan is to get 3-4 high end stars. Your position is they are in house or not needed. My position is they are needed and that there's not evidence yet that anyone in the pipeline already has people saying "man, the Hawks look have a future star in player X".

The draft is where you generally go to get stars; the higher, the better your odds. Getting good (as opposed to organically better) for next year will impact who is available to draft a year from now. I'm for getting another couple guys on short term deals so Bedard and KK have a representative player to match with.

Of course, KFC has to spend a bunch this summer; so we'll get several overpaid old guys who won't make them an 85 point team.
- mohel

I do agree that KD will probably add a couple more guys to the team. He might even sign a younger guy or two to some term greater than 2 years. I'm just saying, IMO I don't see a point in going all in spending big money right now.

I think it's crazy to go tossing out 20 million dollars for a couple years of one player right now. I was replying to the idea of just using up most of our open cap space on 3-4 players because we can. Why spend so much money on a team that isn't ready?

I don't think we'll ever have a problem with room for our prospects. The team doesn't need to keep the ones who aren't panning out. It's not like we don't have dead weight in the system right now. We don't have to resign RFA who are awful.


I'm just saying, throw those darts right now, while we have a better chance of them landing, and be patient.
- breadbag

And what do the prospects/players think when they are trying to be the best they can be, and it doesn't matter because management is not?

What playoff or contending teams are at the cap, have a useful veteran who has a large contract, preferably with little term, and younger RFA or UFA’s that need to be signed? I bet KFC will be looking long and hard in that direction.
- paulr

Rangers? Barclay Goodrow has 3 years left at 3.6M. They have to sign RFA's Kakko and Lindgren and a few others to fill out the roster. Goodrow with either Cuylle, Rempe, or Othmann thrown in as a sweetener for future considerations.

Penguins? Will they retool? Reilly Smith one year left at 5M. The two Kyles, have dealt before. PIT doesn't have much to offer in terms of prospects though.

Panthers may make Evan Rodrigues available (3 more years at 3M) to free up some cap space to sign Reinhart. Don't know much about their prospect pool.

Islanders could make Cizikas, Palmieri, or Pageau available. Again, don't know what they could offer up to take on their cap hits. Wahlstrom?

Vancouver? Will Connor Garland be on the block? They have only 2 d-men signed next year and also RFA Hronek to sign.

I do agree that KD will probably add a couple more guys to the team. He might even sign a younger guy or two to some term greater than 2 years. I'm just saying, IMO I don't see a point in going all in spending big money right now.
- breadbag

Guys can't be a UFA until 28 (generally). If they're really good players and between 28-30ish, they'll get long term deals at big money. KD isn't going to do that yet because he doesn't know yet what spots he will need to fill when the kids develop, and because he doesn't want to box himself in with the cap.

If they're not good enough or are too old to demand a long term deal, the Hawks could sign them to short term deals. But they're not going to be around when most of the kids are on the scene. What's the benefit? Help the first group of kids develop? Probably to a degree. Make fans feel better in the short run? Definitely.

He'll need to add a couple to get to the floor.

Rangers? Barclay Goodrow has 3 years left at 3.6M. They have to sign RFA's Kakko and Lindgren and a few others to fill out the roster. Goodrow with either Cuylle, Rempe, or Othmann thrown in as a sweetener for future considerations.

Penguins? Will they retool? Reilly Smith one year left at 5M. The two Kyles, have dealt before. PIT doesn't have much to offer in terms of prospects though.

Panthers may make Evan Rodrigues available (3 more years at 3M) to free up some cap space to sign Reinhart. Don't know much about their prospect pool.

Islanders could make Cizikas, Palmieri, or Pageau available. Again, don't know what they could offer up to take on their cap hits. Wahlstrom?

Vancouver? Will Connor Garland be on the block? They have only 2 d-men signed next year and also RFA Hronek to sign.
- boilermaker100

Lots of teams lots of options, it goes with KD’s MO, no loss of assets, it potentially gets a return of a useful veteran who can help the team and rookies improve while being a short term solution. And Davidson can possibly get more draft picks. There are also some bottom six UFAs who may be better than what the Hawks have who may be available.

And what do the prospects/players think when they are trying to be the best they can be, and it doesn't matter because management is not?
- LAHawk

When has that ever been the case? Management hasn't been sending the team backwards. Everyone knows this is a process and not a 2 year plan and we are done.

The players/prospects aren't stupid, they know it's a rebuild. They know the team isn't going to lift the cup next year, they aren't that short sighted. The young players, they want their shot. They want to get their ice time. Of course everyone wants to win and they will work towards that. They also don't want to be constantly stuck behind vets who are only there because they were grossly overpaid. Adding some vets to the roster is fine, but filling it out in that fashion would suck.

Management has also been smart about surrounding players with character, which is way more important right now than just trying to gain 10-20 points in the standings.

When has that ever been the case? Management hasn't been sending the team backwards. Everyone knows this is a process and not a 2 year plan and we are done.

The players/prospects aren't stupid, they know it's a rebuild. They know the team isn't going to lift the cup next year, they aren't that short sighted. The young players, they want their shot. They want to get their ice time. Of course everyone wants to win and they will work towards that. They also don't want to be constantly stuck behind vets who are only there because they were grossly overpaid. Adding some vets to the roster is fine, but filling it out in that fashion would suck.

Management has also been smart about surrounding players with character, which is way more important right now than just trying to gain 10-20 points in the standings.
- breadbag

Or did KD have to bribe veterans to sign here by giving them contracts they would get nowhere else in the league?

Or did KD have to bribe veterans to sign here by giving them contracts they would get nowhere else in the league?
- LAHawk

That theory is bogus, Foligno would have clubs lining up to give him more.

That theory is bogus, Foligno would have clubs lining up to give him more.
- paulr

Lokomotiv? Spartak? CSKA?

The what Kyle should or should not do this summer discussion can be continued on the new blog

I'm not waiting around for them to mature. I'm asking what the plan is to get 3-4 high end stars. Your position is they are in house or not needed. My position is they are needed and that there's not evidence yet that anyone in the pipeline already has people saying "man, the Hawks look have a future star in player X".

The draft is where you generally go to get stars; the higher, the better your odds. Getting good (as opposed to organically better) for next year will impact who is available to draft a year from now. I'm for getting another couple guys on short term deals so Bedard and KK have a representative player to match with.

Of course, KFC has to spend a bunch this summer; so we'll get several overpaid old guys who won't make them an 85 point team.
- mohel

Cosa?

I'm not saying either of those things. I'm saying the Hawks have a crap ton of prospects - many of them drafted in the first two rounds that we don't know how good they will be. No one knows who will rise to the top (whether the Hawks picks or someone else's). Some look really good. Others look like they need work. The league is littered with guys who needed a few years to get going, but then were great. Draisaitl, Nylander, Rantanen, Pavelski, numerous defensemen. I fully agree those players are needed.

If you don't see any stars in your prospect pool, is the plan then to keep playing for higher draft picks? At what point as a GM do you start making moves to put your team in a position to improve or challenge for the playoffs?

I've been all in on the process that KD is taking. As I've repeated numerous times, my viewpoint changed when I saw the sheer volume of top 64 draft picks the Hawks have already made and will in the next three years. I think it is a better strategy to start putting your young players in a position to win (or at a minimum improve) earlier so that they realize what it takes to be competitive.

You are said you are for getting a couple guys on short term contracts for KK and Bedard to play with. This is literally what I am advocating for. My only stipulation/hope is that they get players who move the needle a bit more. Marchessault would be great - have no idea what it would take to get him. I think Necas could/would be a target. They don't have to go trading an entire draft for a guy or splurge on an 8 year max contract.

Maybe I'm just too long winded and am horrible at making my point?

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.
- wiz1901

Hey Wiz, great time of the yr!! ...... Kinda smallish guys without plus skating scares people and it should. Demidov is a guy I'm not over thinking. This kid weaves, shifts, contorts, zigs thru the Ozone with a + motor and then has crazy creativity, IQ, hands and vision that makes him crazy dangerous. .... Will that translate? The $64,000 question but if he was in the OHL I'd swing at #2. But he's not so moot point in my pickled mind.

On the subject of skating I missed DelMastro's first game but caught his second. I was taken aback at how heavy his feet were. Almost to a point it's a deal breaker...... Now I like this kid a lot, a bunch, at 2 WJC's and junior and as a skater!!. Haven't seen enough to comment on him in the AHL but was struck by his restrictive heavy feet.

Is he dinged? Was my initial evaluation on his skating over a TWO yr period, big sample size, wrong? .... You could chart this kid's movements with a sun dial.

What he said.
- mohel

I can make this same post 10 times a day and 90% of the time could also post, "what he said" to the other guy's counter argument!

Some very solid opinions flyin around the joint. ......... Me? My simple mind has been in do know harm mode at the big league level since KD took over. Agree, get the NHL level competitive if only for developmental sake. Like it or not the Hawks are developing at the NHL level, so add enough to the NHL roster so the developing kids can do just that.

What yr is "go mode". For me difficult at best to say cuz nothing is linear with young players but I like to think I'll know it when I see it.

On that note, as taken aback as I was by DelMastro's heavy feet, I was nearly blown away by Nazar. I've seen this kid live a good bit since he was 16 at the NTDP so his skill and skating is nothing new to me. He's on L1 at the NTDP, they all go to the NHL..... His IQ, hockey sense in all 3 zones and polish was excellent. His coaching at Little Ceasers, Honeybaked, NTDP and U of MI really showed making him appear seasoned.

How could I have missed that at U of MI??? .. Is he a case of he's better at higher levels? Even though the athletes are better he seems to be a guy who thrives with positional certainty that higher levels provide? ........ A guy who's better in college than junior, better in the AHL than the NCAA, better the NHL than the AHL kinda guy?

I'm a Nazar guy and always have been but I missed how much IQ he has in all 3 zones.

Because some fans have grown tired of the process already.
- mohel

Exactly, thank you. Enough already. Let’s gooo