Jared Verse because he is Richard Butkus MEAN!
- bjphawkfan

I really wouldn't be surprised if they draft Bowers.

I'm thinking there's a poop ton of them.

I was really hoping for the Skinwalker suggestion made on here the other day

- vabeachbear

That was me. The Skinwalkers is such an obvious choice, I'm shocked the topic even needs to be discussed.

I really wouldn't be surprised if they draft Bowers.
- BetweenTheDots

3rd best football player in the draft, they should take him

You take the best player available regardless of position when you are rebuilding. Don't be stupid, take the best player.

good lesson for KD as well

I'm one of those that is watching and comparing rebuilds under Poles and KD

That was me. The Skinwalkers is such an obvious choice, I'm shocked the topic even needs to be discussed.
- MartiniMan

think how cool the jerseys would be

3rd best football player in the draft, they should take him

You take the best player available regardless of position when you are rebuilding. Don't be stupid, take the best player.

good lesson for KD as well

I'm one of those that is watching and comparing rebuilds under Poles and KD
- vabeachbear

Because of the age of when NFL vs NHL are drafted NFL GMs have a huge advantage. They see a player as close to the finished product as possible, not to mention they’ve finished growing physically, mentally and emotionally. KD not only has to consider best available, he has to project who he feels will be the better player in X years.

IMO you can add Dakota Joshua as a forward I would like to see KD add to the forward ranks as a UFA next year.

Do not trade down, getting worried they are taking Murphy from TX
- vabeachbear

LOL I love Bryon Murphy!
I was talking Ozume, Alt, off the board.

How about the newest wrinkle Atlanta may lose pick 8 making the Bears 9 then 8th.


https://www.si.com/nfl/fa...hment-severe-kirk-cousins

IMO you can add Dakota Joshua as a forward I would like to see KD add to the forward ranks as a UFA next year.
- LAHawk

Let's get the top six pumping on all cylinders and then figuring out the playoff thickening players.

Someone sent me this link yesterday;

https://www.usatoday.com/...ks-celebrini/73400282007/

Article today, Vlasic is looking long term no bridge deal. This could actually be to our benefit and he will cost less in three years.
- rpeters01

I think he's a kid you just pay.

Let's get the top six pumping on all cylinders and then figuring out the playoff thickening players.
- wiz1901

Hmmm, sounded like Foligno /Jones were saying the Hawks need identity players. I guess I misrread/heard.

While some want a Karlsson type of defenseman, I’ll take the all round Morrissey, and man do I hope that Korchinski becomes a Morrissey clone. No sense in wishing for a Makar type, that guy is on a different planet.
- Angotti

Agree with you, all round defenceman like Morrissey, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan McDonagh when he was a little younger are so valuable to a team. Can play them in every situation.
- RickJ

Hey Rick, or Lou, any thoughts on Del Mastro's skating while he was up for 2 games?

IMO the most complete Dmen in this draft today is Zev Buium. Could not have been more impressed with the kid thru the NCAA tournament as a true freshman. 1st pairing, 1st PP unit, 2 way Dman for national champion U of Denver. As a freshman vs plenty of 21-22-23 yr olds!

His calling card is IQ. No doubt he's a plus skater and at least NHL average hands but his calling card is IQ, exceptional IQ. The true freshman was able to control the game with his smarts vs NCAA competition on their way to becoming champs.. ..... I would have no problem drafting him 2nd.

Rick, saw you asking Wiz for thoughts on the Dmen. No matter where they draft between 2 and 4 if they are going BPA that would be a Dman IMO assuming they pass on any Russians with their first pick. Unless they have Lindstrom squeezed in there but 75% chance they have a Dman ranked between 2 and 4 as the BPA.

Excluding Russians I'd be ok with any of the Dmen at 2. Buium is a kinda Josi but looks like he'd be more complete without quite the offensive prowess but I hesitate to put and cap on his ceiling. ..... His IQ is that crazy.

Parekh, right shot. Pure offense but not as bad defensively as you read. His Memorial Cup playoffs will se a Game 7 on Tuesday. He was hit hard in the 3rd a couple games back and didn't return and was a scratch the next game. IMO he does not look right and I think he's playing dinged. No doubt NHL pt per game skill, shot, skating, vision and above all he too has crazy IQ.

D!ckenson outa London. Kid is 6ft 3in and finished 2nd in the skating competition for best skater at the CHL Prospect game!! No small feat. Fantastic combination. I see a Shea Weber. A 50 pt guy who controls a game like Weber did. Born to play NHL playoffs.

Levshunov, right shot. The youngest player in the NCAA this yr and is already 6ft 2in over 200 lbs. I read first half of the season he had trouble with decision making but improved a good bit by yrs end on that account. My eyes see a big mobile Dman who takes his zone seriously and skates well enough to join the rush. I see a Doughty type player.

Silayev. He's a Russian and I could see this dude at 3 or 4 on some boards. There simply is no comparable for this freak. 6ft 7in and skates like a 6 footer and combined with his reach he can cover one half the ice. Kid has some explosion in his feet at 6ft 7in!! No idea on IQ or offensive ability cuz I have only seen clips on account of Putin but there isn't a scout on earth that looks at this kid and says never saw anything like this and it wouldn't be hyperbole.

I've seen the NCAA tournament and am 2 rds into the Memorial Cup so I'm close to satisfied and honestly believe all these Dmen will be NHL difference makers in their own way...... Would have no problem taking any of them 2nd, excluding the Cossack.

Unless it's Lindstrom they covet as they watch Byfield play like a beast in the playoffs.

Because of the age of when NFL vs NHL are drafted NFL GMs have a huge advantage. They see a player as close to the finished product as possible, not to mention they’ve finished growing physically, mentally and emotionally. KD not only has to consider best available, he has to project who he feels will be the better player in X years.
- paulr

Agree that KD's is tougher that way, but Poles has to put together a team of 53 players deep, so while not totally comparing apples and oranges, i think it is pretty cool that they started their rebuild roughly the same time, and they both started about the same with total tear downs.

KDs rebuild was always going to take longer than Poles', or at least it should if they both do a good job.

LOL I love Bryon Murphy!
I was talking Ozume, Alt, off the board.

How about the newest wrinkle Atlanta may lose pick 8 making the Bears 9 then 8th.


https://www.si.com/nfl/fa...hment-severe-kirk-cousins
- wiz1901

Believe they'll get Odunze or Alt if ATL loses pick.

Many like Murphy, so I won't be too upset, but I've been a Brock Bowers fan for 3 years.

A Tommy Harris clone with Sweat coming off the Edge would make them one of the top Ds in the league.

Just think in the NFL with the current rules, you draft you opportunities at Blue Chip players on Offense, as the rule are so weighted towards offense, and you need to outscore opponents most weeks.

Someone sent me this link yesterday;

https://www.usatoday.com/...ks-celebrini/73400282007/
- wiz1901

Very nice, Wiz. Congrats...........

https://twitter.com/Buffa...tatus/1782517265956573577

Lindy Ruff hired as Sabres new head coach. Isn't this a bit like a dog returning to eat its own vomit?

Hmmm, sounded like Foligno /Jones were saying the Hawks need identity players. I guess I misrread/heard.
- LAHawk

Here is Jones' quote:

"We need some identity pieces I think,” Jones said. “We need guys that want to play 10-12 minutes on a fourth or third line, go out there, do his job, be happy that the team won without scoring a goal or getting a point. He does a good job, gets off, doesn’t complain about his ice time — he doesn’t care about that, he just wants to see the team win. We call them ‘identity pieces,’ guys like that that will bring different guys into the fight in those situations.”

Someone sent me this link yesterday;

https://www.usatoday.com/...ks-celebrini/73400282007/
- wiz1901

Very nice Wiz

Let's get the top six pumping on all cylinders and then figuring out the playoff thickening players.
- wiz1901

Watching the new NHL I agree with this. Skill/skating/goal scoring is the hardest thing to acquire. Use your top choices on skill at premium positions then fill in as needed......... But what about Lindstrom? He checks all those boxes and is 6ft 4in 220lbs!!!

https://twitter.com/BuffaloSabres/status/1782517265956573577

Lindy Ruff hired as Sabres new head coach. Isn't this a bit like a dog returning to eat its own vomit?
- MartiniMan

I liked everything they were doing until today, yuck.

No Nylander again for Game 2.

Lots of talk here lately about KFC's end-of-season comments. To me, he said demo is done, and the building is underway. To that end, I'd expect trades to be "hockey trades" rather than financial trades. Players who leave now are likely to be traded for a similar level player, or to open a path for a kid who is ready.

I don't think he will tie himself up financially with long-term UFA signings until he has a better idea of what holes he will have to fill. I believe he would commit to a longer deal if he can find a younger (RFA) player to trade for. I'm not confident that will occur, though. I can also see some prospect-for-prospect trade (most likely a Phillips type for a forward prospect).

Should be a fun summer.
- mohel

I would just add that just because the teardown phase is done, doesn't mean we won't see KD take advantage of an opportunity. If we get closer to the TDL next year and we aren't in the playoff picture, still expect the Hawks to sell where it makes sense or take on a "short term" cap dump until they are starting to need that cap space.

Kurashev isn't top 6 on a good team. Bolland would have taken his lunch and then shoved it back down his throat.
- rpeters01

He isn't any worse than some of the guys who played in our top 6 at times when we were a good team. He's shown this season that he can play in the top 6. He isn't without deficiencies but he also has a lot of positives and ability to play with skilled players.

Watching the new NHL I agree with this. Skill/skating/goal scoring is the hardest thing to acquire. Use your top choices on skill at premium positions then fill in as needed......... But what about Lindstrom? He checks all those boxes and is 6ft 4in 220lbs!!!
- Mr Ricochet

Lindstrom is interesting, I think that maybe his offensive upside isn't as impressive? Maybe he has the game that translates better to the NHL?

I'm not sure who the Hawks will pick, but I think a big factor (aside from the lotto) will be the interviews at the combine which is hard to judge from the outside.

He isn't any worse than some of the guys who played in our top 6 at times when we were a good team. He's shown this season that he can play in the top 6. He isn't without deficiencies but he also has a lot of positives and ability to play with skilled players.
- breadbag

Bedard and Kurashev get criticized for their defense sure, so you have one kind of top 6 line on this team and they have to face the best players every game vs every opponent. I think its remarkable that Bedard ended up with a many points as he did and Kurashev did as well. Kurashev wasn't a passenger he contributed. Curious to see if they can continue their chemistry next season.