Zach Jarom: One More Time Hawks vs Kings

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


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

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 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?

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 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?
- Chunk

Nah!

Interesting to see how Arizona/SLC spends it's $40 mil. in cap space

Interesting to see how Arizona/SLC spends it's $40 mil. in cap space
- LAHawk

Their new owner is rumored to be willing to open up the purse strings. If they still had the same old management, I'd expect them to trade for AA.

Interesting to see how Arizona/SLC spends it's $40 mil. in cap space
- LAHawk

I too think the new owner will open up the purse strings and want to put a winner on the ice ASAP. They also have a lot of draft capital that can be used in trades.

And if the above happens, not that Arizona is no longer in the picture, there is one less team around that is way under the cap that trades for bad contracts.

I too think the new owner will open up the purse strings and want to put a winner on the ice ASAP. They also have a lot of draft capital that can be used in trades.

And if the above happens, not that Arizona is no longer in the picture, there is one less team around that is way under the cap that trades for bad contracts.
- boilermaker100

Don't the Hawks have enough of those for next year and beyond already?

One last time eh?
Not quite one last time just yet as far as Rockford Icehogs games remaining

Twice more against the Wolves with Sunday’s tilt at The Horizon. See some prospects sprinkled into the lineup. There is one game against the Wolves home and away with one contest also vs Grand Rapids so they have the docket filled this weekend as a sort of final preparation for the playof

One last time eh?
Not quite one last time just yet as far as Rockford Icehogs games remaining

Twice more against the Wolves with Sunday’s tilt at The Horizon. See some prospects sprinkled into the lineup. There is one game against the Wolves home and away with one contest also vs Grand Rapids so they have the docket filled this weekend as a sort of final preparation for the playof
- jhawk59

Just read that Reichel will be heading down there for the playoffs as well. Good for him to keep working. Wondering if Lardis might get in a game or two before the end of the regular season. Ludwinski has looked pretty good in his short stint.

Don't the Hawks have enough of those for next year and beyond already?
- LAHawk

Haven't you in the past advocated for weaponizing cap space? Maybe it was someone else.

Just read that Reichel will be heading down there for the playoffs as well. Good for him to keep working. Wondering if Lardis might get in a game or two before the end of the regular season. Ludwinski has looked pretty good in his short stint.
- Chunk

Didn’t know that was allowed but good on Reichel. Hope he goes off.

Haven't you in the past advocated for weaponizing cap space? Maybe it was someone else.
- boilermaker100

Not me, I am done with the Zaitsev's of the world. Richardinson trade would of worked out if the Hawks would of flipped him at the deadline because IMO he had a career year, first time in double digits in goals. If they wanted to resign him, they could of done it again after the season. Now he also has an untradeable contract.

Didn’t know that was allowed but good on Reichel. Hope he goes off.
- ObeseOprah

i think Reichel was sent down before the TDL so he is eligible for the AHL playoffs.

Just read that Reichel will be heading down there for the playoffs as well. Good for him to keep working. Wondering if Lardis might get in a game or two before the end of the regular season. Ludwinski has looked pretty good in his short stint.
- Chunk

You know i was reading the last blog and i think it's you who says we have plenty of draft picks. I also keep hearing from guys like Paul you'll be lucky to get 1 NHL player in a draft year.

It's allowing KD to have first crack at signing players by drafting them. Not all draft picks get a contract. That's why I'm really optimistic about this, he's hoarding as many draft picks as he can so the ones he's right on he can sign and bring into the system.

I understand that KD and Ryan Poles of the Bears bounce things off each other. As much as many didn't like the Foligno or the Perry, to bad it didn't work out, signing, it was done for a specific purpose. It wasn't just a whim it was strategically planned. As they go into free agency I believe each one they target will be for a specific reason and watching what Poles is doing for the Bears it's really impressive.

We have to keep in mind it's faster in football because those kids are 21, 22, 23 years old, again hockey is like baseball you get them at 18 and it takes a wee bit.

I understand the desire for this team to be good, but like a fine wine it's going to take a little longer than a heartbeat.

Not me, I am done with the Zaitsev's of the world. Richardinson trade would of worked out if the Hawks would of flipped him at the deadline because IMO he had a career year, first time in double digits in goals. If they wanted to resign him, they could of done it again after the season. Now he also has an untradeable contract.
- LAHawk

He is someone that they need going into next year unless they find someone else to actually take faceoffs and play defense at Center.

Didn’t know that was allowed but good on Reichel. Hope he goes off.
- ObeseOprah

Too bad he couldn’t take AA with him, he’d be a superstar in the playoffs.

He is someone that they need going into next year unless they find someone else to actually take faceoffs and play defense at Center.
- breadbag

As I said they could of resigned him on July 1, who else would pay him $ 8.5m over 2 years?

Too bad he couldn’t take AA with him, he’d be a superstar in the playoffs.
- paulr

That's one player I wish they would have only resigned for only 1 year (or 0 years) during the last off season. I know he adds more or less the same offense as some of the other placeholder vets, but he doesn't add much else IMO. Fast, not that physical, not that great defensively and just kind of takes up a spot. He does get us closer to the floor. Personally, I don't see him bringing much leadership or mentorship, just from the outside looking in, I could be wrong.

That's one player I wish they would have only resigned for only 1 year (or 0 years) during the last off season. I know he adds more or less the same offense as some of the other placeholder vets, but he doesn't add much else IMO. Fast, not that physical, not that great defensively and just kind of takes up a spot. He does get us closer to the floor. Personally, I don't see him bringing much leadership or mentorship, just from the outside looking in, I could be wrong.
- breadbag

I was being somewhat facetious, I would rather AA wasn’t on the team. But for some reason he makes Reichel play better.

As I said they could of resigned him on July 1, who else would pay him $ 8.5m over 2 years?
- LAHawk

Oh I know, he probably would have gotten a bit less for sure. Maybe 3.5 a year. He has shown to be a decent 3C. 30 points last year, 35 this year and more goals because he apparently worked on his shooting extensively.

Just read that Reichel will be heading down there for the playoffs as well. Good for him to keep working. Wondering if Lardis might get in a game or two before the end of the regular season. Ludwinski has looked pretty good in his short stint.
- Chunk

Love this news. Getting Reichel into meaningful games is a good thing, and yea man if Ludwinski and Lardis, even Misiak, gets AHL games it's a good thing.

Then Reichel will go to Worlds? Bedard too. ....... Silver lining to sucking and not making the playoffs.

Wiz, I responded late to the interchange about Demidov and his skating from the last blog. Also curious on anyone's take on Del Mastro's skating while he was up with the Hawks. ...... My thoughts from last blog.


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.

And, am I wrong now on Frankie or missed the kid's nuance/IQ/pedigree at U of MI?


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.

Just started reading an article by Laz and Powers talking about the rebuild and where it's going as far as next yr. Thought I'd add this paragraph from the piece. ... Your eyes are correct, Hawks have been "good" the last month.


But the Blackhawks believe they’re closer to relevance than a minus-110 goal differential and franchise-record 53 losses (with one game left in Los Angeles on Thursday) would suggest. Hey, they beat Toronto twice this year. They beat Vegas. They beat Florida and Tampa Bay. They beat Colorado and Winnipeg. And while their current five-game losing streak is putting a damper on things, they looked downright competitive from March 5 to April 6, going a perfectly respectable 8-6-0.

They’re holding on to that solid month as proof of concept, that this seemingly endless rebuild really is going somewhere.