True statement.

Tampa Bay as one of the best examples - Point 79th overall, Kucherov 58th, Cirelli 72nd, Palat 208th, Yanni Gourde (undrafted).

Anybody can draft 18 year olds off the multiple lists compiled by the "experts". The real skill is finding untapped talent in later rounds who get developed over time and under excellent minor league coaching.

And the scouting birddogs that find these type of players are invaluable, especially when the GM will listen to them.
Do the Hawks have that type of Hockey Ops Dept?
- RickJ

One of those potential gems could be Cole Beaudoin of the Barrie Colts, ranked to go late in the second to mid third round. Decent size, a Good not great skater, a very good shot, plays a solid two way game, he is a hard nosed kid and apparently will do anything asked of him. He looked really good for the Canadian U18 team last week. And there’s allot of talk that he’s a beast physically in the gym, which will be confirmed at the combine. If the Hawks have him in their sights they may be able to snag him with one of their second round picks.

One of those potential gems could be Cole Beaudoin of the Barrie Colts, ranked to go late in the second to mid third round. Decent size, a Good not great skater, a very good shot, plays a solid two way game, he is a hard nosed kid and apparently will do anything asked of him. He looked really good for the Canadian U18 team last week. And there’s allot of talk that he’s a beast physically in the gym, which will be confirmed at the combine. If the Hawks have him in their sights they may be able to snag him with one of their second round picks.
- paulr

The Athletic had an article about him recently - "fittest, strongest player in the 2024 Draft"

Indeed, you will need some of the 2nd/3rd/4th rounders to turn into good/great players. The problem is that most of those guys don't show they are great until about 3-4 years after they are drafted. You've asked a few times "how many stars do you see in the pipeline?". There are a bunch of guys that show tons of promise, but we won't know for sure for a few more years. This is why, I think, the move to begin improving now is a good one. You can't just wait around for these prospects to become good then fill in around them. Provide a competitive environment for them and have them raise their level of play to that of the team.
- Chunk

Wasn't Bufyglien a 7th rounder?

Drafting for need gets you Erik Johnson instead of Toews, or Olli Juolevi instead of Matthew Tkachuk.

Identify the best player available, draft them. The Blackhawks are so bereft of NHL talent right now that it is impossible to saturate one position in the course of a few drafts.
- ObeseOprah

Totally agree. Get the best and figure out how to fill some depth via Free agency and trades.

I think Seabrook was very underrated. I know he was always considered part of the core, and rightfully so, but his impact on the Cup runs was massive. He may not have had the points Keith did, but the timing of Seabrook's offense was up their with Kane. Plus, Seabrook played a physical game and was always a leader in the dressing room (even when he didn't wear a letter).

Seabrook's style led to a quicker deterioration of his game, but at his prime Seabrook was a beast.
- DarthKane

By far my favorite player of the Cup era. You described him perfectly. I saw him in Jr with Lethbridge a few times after we drafted him and got really excited.

I read an interesting Rumor today about Montreal looking to move up to #2 as they Covet Demidov.

the Trade was

#5 + #27 + Owen Beck

if KD is targeting a Dman this would work.

I read an interesting Rumor today about Montreal looking to move up to #2 as they Covet Demidov.

the Trade was

#5 + #27 + Owen Beck

if KD is targeting a Dman this would work.
- SaskHawkFan

Interesting. I bet KD will be getting some phone calls.

I read an interesting Rumor today about Montreal looking to move up to #2 as they Covet Demidov.

the Trade was

#5 + #27 + Owen Beck

if KD is targeting a Dman this would work.
- SaskHawkFan

Unless KD also covets Demidov he’d be crazy not to. With number 5 he should be able to get one of D!ckinson, Lindstrom, Catton or Buium.

Edit … or Eiserman

That's a bummer as I wanted to watch Bedard with Celebrini.
- Popsghostly

It almost looked like Celebrini wanted to watch Bedard with Celebrini....

Unless KD also covets Demidov he’d be crazy not to. With number 5 he should be able to get one of D!ckinson, Lindstrom, Catton or Buium.

Edit … or Eiserman
- paulr

.
Should be a fun few weeks of speculation!

Lafreniere coming into his own this season. Be nice if Reichel follows the same path.

Lafreniere coming into his own this season. Be nice if Reichel follows the same path.
- boilermaker100

Those 2 players are a good example of why they should let 19 year old players into the AHL. Not quite good enough for the Nhl but too good for the Jr league. If you put them both in the Ahl a year earlier they are much better players now IMO.

I am glad we all were able to conjure the many unspoken thoughts of Kyle Davidson.

It makes for more discussion.

I heard,

"Well, we (Blackhawks) basically have no areas of weakness in our prospect pool....no needs.'

To me, the imaginaery unspoken sentence is, "so, basically we can pick whomever we want, with not regard to draft lists, Central Scouting old people rankings or even our own.

If we want to think Zanye Parehk is a future scoring defenseman, we can take him and wait and see.

If we think Grand Prarie scouting service says the Russian kid is the next bold legged wonder, we can take him.

If we think Eiserman is a goal scorer and we would love that, take him.

If want a future big guy, Cayden Lindstrom.

If Tig Iginla is a better force out there, so we take him,


Oh, big Carter Yakemchuk needs time , but won't he be fun when he replacedone of our RD?


I think Kyle feels no pressure to take anybody but there true best player.
- wiz1901

IIRC the Hawks have a Russian scout on the ground in Russia and again IIRC KD says we trust him....... So as much as you ain't diggin Demidov it ain't like the Hawks farmed out scouting the kid or any other in Russia/Europe.

I like it when you're objective as you usually are but you are an outlier on Demidov. I like that too and that you stand by your conviction and don't follow the pack. But you are an outlier on Demidov.

If KD ain't ascared of drafting Russians Demidov is a Hawk in 5-6 weeks.

Did they not sign Hossa and Campbell as free agents?

Hanafin is a very good defender and he was traded.

Sergachev was acquired with a trade. Fox was a trade. Toews was a trade. Faber was a trade. Buff was traded to Winnipeg.

Maybe a different tier but Trouba was a trade. Everyone on the Canucks blue line not named Hughes was a sign or trade. The Oilers got Ekholm in a trade. Everyone on the Panthers not named Ekblad was a sign, trade or waiver pick up.

There's clearly deals out there to be made for high end talent other than the draft.

Just about every one of consequence on the Rangers, Vegas, was a sign or trade. Krieder I think was drafted and so was Miller.
- fattybeef

This is what I was asking for that my horrid memory is no use for. Impact players traded or sigened as a FA. Add Tkachuk to your list....... As you point out there are deals to be made for high end talent but it ain't that often or easy. Tkachuk wanted out. Fox wanted out and had tey to establish himself. Toews was a cap thing, Faber had yet to play an NHL game IIRC. Hyman was not close to what he is with TOR.

Deals are out there but they're rare and gotta be in the right spot at the same time. LVG got Pietroangelo but that was some poor evaluating by STL. LVG also got Eichel but took a good bit of risk on his health.

But no one like Doughty, Crosby, Josi, Svechnikov, Draisatl being moved. You gotta draft those differdence making elite/borderline elite Dmen, centerman being available. You gotta draft those kinds, no?

Those 2 players are a good example of why they should let 19 year old players into the AHL. Not quite good enough for the Nhl but too good for the Jr league. If you put them both in the Ahl a year earlier they are much better players now IMO.
- SaskHawkFan

Same with Korchinski, the AHL would have been perfect for him, and just think, we would have had the pleasure of seeing more of Megna snd Tinordi. Yeah, the latter would not have been good…

Same with Korchinski, the AHL would have been perfect for him, and just think, we would have had the pleasure of seeing more of Megna snd Tinordi. Yeah, the latter would not have been good…
- Angotti

True, but a little more of Megna and Tinordi, and we would be drafting first overall again this year. 10 games more from each should have been good enough for 4 more regulation losses.

This is what I was asking for that my horrid memory is no use for. Impact players traded or sigened as a FA. Add Tkachuk to your list....... As you point out there are deals to be made for high end talent but it ain't that often or easy. Tkachuk wanted out. Fox wanted out and had tey to establish himself. Toews was a cap thing, Faber had yet to play an NHL game IIRC. Hyman was not close to what he is with TOR.

Deals are out there but they're rare and gotta be in the right spot at the same time. LVG got Pietroangelo but that was some poor evaluating by STL. LVG also got Eichel but took a good bit of risk on his health.

But no one like Doughty, Crosby, Josi, Svechnikov, Draisatl being moved. You gotta draft those differdence making elite/borderline elite Dmen, centerman being available. You gotta draft those kinds, no?
- Mr Ricochet

I believe that the Hawks just drafted one of those Rico, add five picks in the first two rounds this year, and a minimum of four in the first two rounds next year. That’s quite a few opportunities to find a Robin for Bedard. Let’s not forget that they already have other young talent in the system, probably not elite, but two or three could turn out to be all stars, TBD.

Same with Korchinski, the AHL would have been perfect for him, and just think, we would have had the pleasure of seeing more of Megna snd Tinordi. Yeah, the latter would not have been good…
- Angotti

You can add Dach to list as well.

We have one vet worth the 11th pick, a 2nd year guy next season.
- rpeters01

Jeff skinner and 11th for a 2nd would the Hawks do this. It be a cap dump and skinner has 3 years left bur buy him out in the last year imo.

Wiz: IIRC the Hawks have a Russian scout on the ground in Russia and again IIRC KD says we trust him....... So as much as you ain't diggin Demidov it ain't like the Hawks farmed out scouting the kid or any other in Russia/Europe.

I like it when you're objective as you usually are but you are an outlier on Demidov. I like that too and that you stand by your conviction and don't follow the pack. But you are an outlier on Demidov.

If KD ain't ascared of drafting Russians Demidov is a Hawk in 5-6 weeks.
- Mr Ricochet

I don't want KD to be scared of drafting the second best player in the draft.

But I am going to think a player who plays on the back heels of his boots and lacks strong edging doesn't go second overall in the NHL or is considered by NHL clubs a top pick besides what the draft prognisticaters say.
Don't think any of the draft lists on the internet with an opinion of the Russian, or a list whether be the top 15 or the top seven rounds have any opinion of who the team drafting second takes.
It didn't when Montreal by-passed Shane Wright for Juraj Slafkovsky. It didn't when all the lists had Matvei Michkov rated so much higher than the 7th slot he was taken in, or Matthew Berniers taken second overall, imo, a reach., or Nail Yakupov taken first

You know what?
I really don't have to an outlier, because if that Russian player agent Dan Milstein’s Red Star event happens, a Russian prospect dog and pony show the week of June 18th here in Florida, everyone sees every russians weaknesses up close.
I will try to be there and since NHL scotting staff hasn't seen any of an entire group of draft eligible class of 24 kids, KD will get an up front and personal with his staff, not the Hawk scout in Russia.
THE LARGER ISSUE IS RED STAR event is if he even is well enough to be ON THE ICE at the event, since Milstein said earlier this week Demidov's knee didn’t require surgery and should be fully recovered in 6-8 weeks.

Show me a current NHL organization who is going to take a player second overall and who scouting director has never seen him live.

(Maybe i would feel assured, if that Hawk Russian scouts name was Pavel Datsyuk, or Igor Larionov, not Joe kshmoo-ski)

And by the way, I think each team's scouting stafff sees each and every current mock draft or pick by pick ranks as the outliers.

They are not going by all our lists and opinions.

and I am all in for any swing for the fences on any kid in that top ten group as soon as the hawks see that prospect that is going to give them more to turn the decline around.

I won't look back after night one of the 2024 Draft, 50 days from today.


Below average skaters that will probably be drafted in the first three rounds:

Ivan Demidov
Liam Greentree


Cole Beaudoin
Adam Jecho
Adam Kleber

I read an interesting Rumor today about Montreal looking to move up to #2 as they Covet Demidov.

the Trade was

#5 + #27 + Owen Beck

if KD is targeting a Dman this would work.
- SaskHawkFan

Only way Hawks would do that is if ghule be included imo then draft Lindstrom at five. So 5th 27th and Thule for 2

Wasn't Bufyglien a 7th rounder?
- rpeters01

16th pick of the 8th round and 245 overall.

Jeff skinner and 11th for a 2nd would the Hawks do this. It be a cap dump and skinner has 3 years left bur buy him out in the last year imo.
- Scott1977

These rumors are fun this time of year. I would definitely take Skinner and #11 for #34.

So combine today's rumors, and I will add another, we get:

1) #2 for #5, #27, and Owen Beck
2) Then trade #5 to Calgary for #9 and #29 (so Calgary can draft T. Iginla)
3) #33 for #11 and Skinner

So that is:
Out:
#2
#34

In:
O. Beck
J. Skinner
#9
#11
#27
#29

Round 1 Picks:
#9
#11
#20
#27
#29

And still 2 in Round 2 and 2 in Round 3. That would certainly be a crazy day. Good value, but no idea what to do with all those picks.

Demidov and the outlier Wiz.
- Mr Ricochet

Ric, love you now and always.

You will have to a subscriber of The Athletc (or PM me and I will give one of my ONE MONTH FREE things), to understand this one from me.

When you called me an outliner, before putting my feet back in the heels, i went back and checked the entire year of bhoth Wheeler and Pronmans Draft coverage,mocks and rankings and they get paid a nice salary to be considered the sites resident experts.

So I went back through their Athletic posts as i would like you all to do.
Tell where Demidov was throughout the process.
Not october but even less tha two months ago, and you will see demidov is a prodpect they saw as the seocnd best forward or even PLAYER most of the year.

And now they suddenly both changed their evaluations and he is the SECOND player, eh?

Ir sounds like they got on the band wagon, because they didn't want to be outliers?
(like when Corey had two players in his first tier, Celebrini and Carter Yakemchuk.)

I always amazes me and I know you can change an opinion, and right now it looks like EVERY BODY has superior opinion on Demidov, except an outlier because I never had him there yet.

This is what I was asking for that my horrid memory is no use for. Impact players traded or sigened as a FA. Add Tkachuk to your list....... As you point out there are deals to be made for high end talent but it ain't that often or easy. Tkachuk wanted out. Fox wanted out and had tey to establish himself. Toews was a cap thing, Faber had yet to play an NHL game IIRC. Hyman was not close to what he is with TOR.

Deals are out there but they're rare and gotta be in the right spot at the same time. LVG got Pietroangelo but that was some poor evaluating by STL. LVG also got Eichel but took a good bit of risk on his health.

But no one like Doughty, Crosby, Josi, Svechnikov, Draisatl being moved. You gotta draft those differdence making elite/borderline elite Dmen, centerman being available. You gotta draft those kinds, no?
- Mr Ricochet

If you look at the top two guys from each playoff team:

Avalanche: Drafted \ Traded
Oilers: Drafted \ Traded
Dallas: Drafted \ Drafted
Winnipeg: Drafted \ Traded
Vancouver: Drafted \ Traded or signed depending on who you consider 2
LA: Drafted \ Drafted
Florida: Waiver \ Trade
Toronto: Draft \ Trade
Boston: Draft \ Trade
Rangers: Trade \ Trade
Carolina: Draft \ Trade (Burns still playing top minutes and putting up points but debatable)
NYI: Drafted \ Drafted
Tampa: Drafted \ Trade

Vegas is kinda weird with the expansion draft but they didn't develop any of them but Hanafin and Pietrangelo were pretty much one and two and that was a trade and sign.

It's a lot of mixing.

If you believe any of the more nuanced metrics, Alex Vlasic was at the top of the NHL in terms of defensive play. With someone to actually pass the puck to and finish chances - I think you see his point totals increase as well as all the fancy stuff.

Korchinski probably has another year of struggling but hopefully will see some signs of life there. Definitely has the talent and athletic ability just needs to figure it out between the ears.

Nazar I think will hit his ceiling or close to it and it won't take long. Point totals will depend on who he plays with but 15-20 goals and 20-25 assists not an unreasonable expectation.

I think Gavin Hayes will be a pleasant surprise and may leapfrog Reichel if he's willing to go to the middle of the ice.

They have Bedard now and have had some good opportunities to draft a lot of first and second rounders with a bunch of picks this year and next. But they can't afford to miss with this 2 pick.

So Bedard + Vlasic + Nazar + Korch + whoever at 2 has the potential to be a really nice group and should be the core that this leadership group goes to bat with. Being overly patient is going to cause as many problems as being overly aggressive.