Someone you didn't expect to, is going to drop to #19.

I am strongly encouraging them to not trade away any of the 2nd rounders, and let the draft fall to them.

If he doesn't want to use that many picks and trade 4th for 3rds next year, fine, but use all your lottery tickets for the next 3 drafts, build one hell of a farm system that is the envy of every team in the league.

That farm system can be used to get that top guy you need, when it makes sense to add him. Its not now, its two years from now.
- vabeachbear

KD and team seem to have good insight into what other teams are looking to do at the draft. I’d bet he has a good idea of the 2-3 players on his list that could be available at #19. The same goes for the 2nd round picks, especially #35.

I’ve heard in interviews with KD and his scouting staff that it’s unlikely that the Hawks use all 8 picks in the first 3 rounds. Some could be used to move up in the first round, they could be used for immediate help or they could be used to acquire picks in future drafts. But it seems unlikely at this point that the Hawks will draft 4 players in the second round.

As much as I’d like to see the Hawks move up from #19 I don’t know if it’s possible. I know KD is more than willing to trade, but he needs a second team to work with. Which team would be willing to part with a top 15 pick? Maybe St Louis or Buffalo, but I’d see Buffalo moving their pick for immediate help and Chicago doesn’t have the assets to accommodate that. Maybe St. Louis is willing to move one of their later first round picks and KD can use a combination if second and third round picks in a deal?

KD and team seem to have good insight into what other teams are looking to do at the draft. I’d bet he has a good idea of the 2-3 players on his list that could be available at #19. The same goes for the 2nd round picks, especially #35.

I’ve heard in interviews with KD and his scouting staff that it’s unlikely that the Hawks use all 8 picks in the first 3 rounds. Some could be used to move up in the first round, they could be used for immediate help or they could be used to acquire picks in future drafts. But it seems unlikely at this point that the Hawks will draft 4 players in the second round.

As much as I’d like to see the Hawks move up from #19 I don’t know if it’s possible. I know KD is more than willing to trade, but he needs a second team to work with. Which team would be willing to part with a top 15 pick? Maybe St Louis or Buffalo, but I’d see Buffalo moving their pick for immediate help and Chicago doesn’t have the assets to accommodate that. Maybe St. Louis is willing to move one of their later first round picks and KD can use a combination if second and third round picks in a deal?
- DarthKane

Don't forget PIT. They have no 2nd and a weak farm system. They may trade down 5 spots in order to get a 2nd.

KD and team seem to have good insight into what other teams are looking to do at the draft. I’d bet he has a good idea of the 2-3 players on his list that could be available at #19. The same goes for the 2nd round picks, especially #35.

I’ve heard in interviews with KD and his scouting staff that it’s unlikely that the Hawks use all 8 picks in the first 3 rounds. Some could be used to move up in the first round, they could be used for immediate help or they could be used to acquire picks in future drafts. But it seems unlikely at this point that the Hawks will draft 4 players in the second round.

As much as I’d like to see the Hawks move up from #19 I don’t know if it’s possible. I know KD is more than willing to trade, but he needs a second team to work with. Which team would be willing to part with a top 15 pick? Maybe St Louis or Buffalo, but I’d see Buffalo moving their pick for immediate help and Chicago doesn’t have the assets to accommodate that. Maybe St. Louis is willing to move one of their later first round picks and KD can use a combination if second and third round picks in a deal?
- DarthKane

That's a good idea. But I have read here that 2nd round (and later) picks are useless, so why would St. Louis do such a thing?

Great article by Bleacher Nation just came out!

https://www.bleachernatio...rt-ii-potential-partners/

Part 2 of their moving up in the draft piece.

Worth the read!

That's a good idea. But I have read here that 2nd round (and later) picks are useless, so why would St. Louis do such a thing?
- mohel

We can hope the 2nd round is like 2015 but would be a dissapointment if it is anything like 2014, 2013 or 2012 10 years from now.

1-1-1-1-1

Don't forget PIT. They have no 2nd and a weak farm system. They may trade down 5 spots in order to get a 2nd.
- boilermaker100

That’s a possibility. #14 for #19, #44, and a 3rd (2023 or 2024).

1-1-1-1-1
- rpeters01

Never going to happen.

Never going to happen.
- DarthKane

Correct, the league hates the Hawks.

Great article by Bleacher Nation just came out!

https://www.bleachernatio...rt-ii-potential-partners/

Part 2 of their moving up in the draft piece.

Worth the read!
- Backbone25

Didn't really care for the Pit trade, the other two are fine.

Someone you didn't expect to, is going to drop to #19.

I am strongly encouraging them to not trade away any of the 2nd rounders, and let the draft fall to them.

If he doesn't want to use that many picks and trade 4th for 3rds next year, fine, but use all your lottery tickets for the next 3 drafts, build one hell of a farm system that is the envy of every team in the league.

That farm system can be used to get that top guy you need, when it makes sense to add him. Its not now, its two years from now.
- vabeachbear

Great post.

I cringed when I read Davidson is going to be aggressive in the draft. Which is what I feared will happen as I am on record of NOT being a fan at all of Faulkner. We saw this with McDonough. They are going to push hard to speed up this rebuild as much as possible to appease their new sponsors and season ticket holders. I am jaded and hope to god they stay the course. If I see them trade up and you'll never convince me that marketing isn't a loud voice in the hockey ops room.

You hit it exactly how it should go....They have 2 1sts, 4 2nds, 2 3rds....They have 2 picks in each of the next 3 rounds next year, and 2 1sts, and 2 2nds in 2025. Stockpile that system. Max it out....not all these kids will hit. WE have seen it. Impossible to figure out where a 17-18 yr old will be 4-5 years from now. Work ethic, filling into his body, does he get lazy, etc....sell high on the kids you internally know are plateauing and use that to buy assets when you need them to fill out your team. Exactly what the braves did all those years, and how many came back to bite them? Key to the Hawks now, will be having the right guys internally making those decisions on where a kid is trending and when is the time to sell high on him.

That's a good idea. But I have read here that 2nd round (and later) picks are useless, so why would St. Louis do such a thing?
- mohel

Same and since many are giving self appreciating reach arounds......

While I was dead wrong about Carolina making a run, I did say Kane should have looked at Dallas as the west was WIDE open. His tunnel vision on NYC and his dad's hatred of flying impeded his and the Hawks ability to find the best suitor for him.

Further Dallas goes, and more Domi makes an input.....find it hard to figure out many think Domi is going to take another bridge deal after having a breakout year, and having bet on himself the last few years on lesser term. Think this guy isn't ready to cash in and settle in somewhere? 100%

Great post.

I cringed when I read Davidson is going to be aggressive in the draft. Which is what I feared will happen as I am on record of NOT being a fan at all of Faulkner. We saw this with McDonough. They are going to push hard to speed up this rebuild as much as possible to appease their new sponsors and season ticket holders. I am jaded and hope to god they stay the course. If I see them trade up and you'll never convince me that marketing isn't a loud voice in the hockey ops room.

You hit it exactly how it should go....They have 2 1sts, 4 2nds, 2 3rds....They have 2 picks in each of the next 3 rounds next year, and 2 1sts, and 2 2nds in 2025. Stockpile that system. Max it out....not all these kids will hit. WE have seen it. Impossible to figure out where a 17-18 yr old will be 4-5 years from now. Work ethic, filling into his body, does he get lazy, etc....sell high on the kids you internally know are plateauing and use that to buy assets when you need them to fill out your team. Exactly what the braves did all those years, and how many came back to bite them? Key to the Hawks now, will be having the right guys internally making those decisions on where a kid is trending and when is the time to sell high on him.
- SteveRain

he has been saying he is sticking to the plan and that he does not want to add Long term contracts. I think getting bedard or Mickov or smith does move the rebuild time frame a year sooner. but that is not this year or next.

he has been saying he is sticking to the plan and that he does not want to add Long term contracts. I think getting bedard or Mickov or smith does move the rebuild time frame a year sooner. but that is not this year or next.
- kmw4631

Yeah but I also said he doesn't think they;ll be using all their picks in the 1st, 3 rounds. Which to me is a mistake. They'll need to make those savvy trades that net you the Versteegs, Sharps, and Ladds of the world.

Yeah but I also said he doesn't think they;ll be using all their picks in the 1st, 3 rounds. Which to me is a mistake. They'll need to make those savvy trades that net you the Versteegs, Sharps, and Ladds of the world.
- SteveRain

A Cup contender typically has a few great players and several who are just under that. So far they have one (Bedard). If he sees a guy at 15 he thinks can be a cornerstone, he must get him, imo. Otherwise, keep all the picks.

I don't have a subscription to the athletic and don't plan on getting one either.
I don't expect for someone to copy paste the article either,but does anyone have a summary of this q&a Powers did with Doneghey?

https://theathletic.com/4...source=emp_shared_article

Yeah but I also said he doesn't think they;ll be using all their picks in the 1st, 3 rounds. Which to me is a mistake. They'll need to make those savvy trades that net you the Versteegs, Sharps, and Ladds of the world.
- SteveRain

Well exactly and more than one way to skin a cat. I don't think trading up to get a guy they want speeds up the rebuild either.

We'll see how it all plays out but I don't have an issue with him packaging a 2nd (would prefer it not be their 1st 2nd round pick at 35) to move up to get someone they are really high on.

Davidson did a lot of good work last Summer I think, trying to restock the pond and so far, he and Ryan Poles have proven to be the anti-Ryan Pace when it comes to team building models.

Who needs draft picks/


Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Rockford signs UDFA forward Ryan Gagnier. 20-year-old center led OHL Oshawa in scoring last season (69 points in 66 games) and was one of the league’s best defensive forwards.

It’s a 1-year AHL contract; he seems like an NHL contract candidate down the road if he performs well.

Yeah but I also said he doesn't think they;ll be using all their picks in the 1st, 3 rounds. Which to me is a mistake. They'll need to make those savvy trades that net you the Versteegs, Sharps, and Ladds of the world.
- SteveRain

What if the cost of acquiring a sleeper like
a Versteeg, a Sharp, or a Ladd is a 2nd round pick?

I don't have a subscription to the athletic and don't plan on getting one either.
I don't expect for someone to copy paste the article either,but does anyone have a summary of this q&a Powers did with Doneghey?

https://theathletic.com/4...source=emp_shared_article
- captainserious

Most of the article devoted to Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson and the type of players they are.

Hockey IQ, speed and competitiveness are traits the whole amateur scouting staff are focused on.

Looking to surround Bedard with players with similar traits as he has - hockey smarts and competitiveness.

As I start looking at guys expected to go in the late teens, like Honzek and Barlow, on YouTube the reality of how deep the draft is hits home. Makes one think staying put and having multiple picks is wise. Nothing is a sure thing but with 6 picks in the first 2 rds the chances of getting a few NHLers is very good.

I've posted I'm alright keeping the picks or moving up too and still feel that way. I'm also wondering if KD will trade a 2nd rd pick this yr for a 1st next yr to spread the arrival of possible NHLers out a bit.

I love the ability to be flexible and having numerous options. I think KD can be flexible enough to exploit opportunities as they present and still keep the big picture plan in place.

Simply said the draft is deep and KD has a lot of options with cap space, numerous picks and is not backed into a corner having to do anything. We know KD isn't afraid to be bold, he showed that as a rookie GM last yr, so anything is possible if not probable.
- Mr Ricochet

So this starts for me almost three years ago with a "what if we get Connor" thoughts and as I start spending time watching last season's players, there was a significant amount of spectacular junior kids not available run til 2023.
So I jot down what I think and find out I am fairly correct in my assessments but while in the midst of it I suddenly start watching OTHERs merge, first all over the dub (WHL and the OHL, but then the international tourneys (some that are even events either USA/Canada send teams, Euro kids emerge, and they don't even have notes on them until then, examples would be RHLW Jesse Kiiskinen, LC-W Otto Stenberg, and David Edstrom and Denmark's Oscar Fisker Mølgaard.

The Russian class starts to become much larger than the past ones b/c their kids are really good too.

The BCJHL adds another high end attacker in Bradley Nadeau, who I put in my first round reluctantly because he neglects part of the ice in his game, (but he can skate!)

I never had an early draft board where the top guys got pushed up into the second w/o doing a whole lot to negate their chances to go quickly!

So I fall in like and then flip back and forward as to WHO drops?

The hawks say they must skate...other teams will be looking for dynamic in their offensive sides.

When I start this call list, Ryan Leonard looked like a physical kid who was playing LW
and was just "put" with Will Smith & Gabriel Perreault to adda non-dynamic mucker. But he can score and play anywhere. Charlie Stramel goes from a mid first rounder to a question mark with the dismal year Wisconsin had.

Theo Lindstein becomes a great LD prospect who is not a certain first rounder.

Nicholas Lardis comes out and makes himself a solid top 50 pick.

Koehn Ziemmer fits somewhere in the mix.

How about Riley Heidt? I dunno who and when he gets picked but it has to be in the first right?

and all the gloom and doom about Kasper Halttunen?- doesn't have me seeing the potential, because he shows it every outing.

And I totally understand that there ARE teams with weak systems in so far their defensive prospects have stalled; so, yes they will lock and grab earlier than expected, but I just see the payoff at Dee can come from a busload of defenseman who will be around in the second/third.

I haven't seen enough of RD David Reinbacher make him a want, and the talk is Montreal will reach for him, as they are looking for a top pair / top four looking guy who has some guarantee in his positional play in three zones. I cannot verify or dismiss it but my eyes cannot go off of the forward class in the top half of the 2023 talent show. My first defender Axel Sandin Pelikka will continue to be the guy who defies the "small defender fails" adage after the teams went offense men and the pooped the bed.
I hope he is there for the Hawks at some point especially if he is dropping.
(I just don't see any team draft Russian defenders in even the late first b/c of ...everything.)
The rest of the North American defenseman class is simply not there yet, and riddle with armor chinks.

You like Tom Willander? just don't expect Seabrook or Keith.
Lukas Dragicevic? Oh, big and has chops and will learn to be better defensively? Not in the first round.
Oliver Bonk early? Nope, sure he is good in his end, but he is not gonna be a dynamic offensman like Axel Sandin Pelikka.

Teams picking defenders in the mid second and third are going to open some chances of the Blackhawks swooping in on a bunch of developmental guys with upside.

I am not "trading pieces for nest years picks.

Does the farm we currently have plus the mid second players we draft ENOUGH to quit trying for talent?
Granted the Hawks scouts will know when they feel the talent drops and they can decide.
Me I like a lot of players, but my mock doesn't necessarily push prospects out iff my late first because I think their water level mark lower than the hype.

This is a heavy deep class that cannot be ignored.

It would be foolish to assume that teams with salary cap issues will be practically giving away good players. Boston with T Hall is a good example Coincidentally Hall is a player Blackhawk fans would love to see enjoy a break out season scoring wise with Bedard. The price tag and interest of KD is unknown, and Boston would be nuts to not try very hard to find even a creative way to retain Hall.

A big IF KD top priority now is to find an acceptable one forward to play on Bedard line, the #19 overall could be in play. But I am not going to believe that Boston will accept a buyers market valuation on Hall

Most of the article devoted to Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson and the type of players they are.

Hockey IQ, speed and competitiveness are traits the whole amateur scouting staff are focused on.

Looking to surround Bedard with players with similar traits as he has - hockey smarts and competitiveness.
- boilermaker100

So pretty much every forward that was drafted last year.

Yeah but I also said he doesn't think they;ll be using all their picks in the 1st, 3 rounds. Which to me is a mistake. They'll need to make those savvy trades that net you the Versteegs, Sharps, and Ladds of the world.
- SteveRain

I get your concern, I'm of the belief they will draft Bedard, and be smart draft day or days before the draft. This is the direction KD wanted to go and so far it sure seems like we've had no front office interference. If he makes an idiotic move like signing Matthews, hahaha just teasing, then I'll be concerned but as of now it sure seems like things are falling the Blackhawks way to build a monster roster over the next few years.

I see it like Bears fans crying for an edge rusher, and Poles is like nope the time isn't right yet.

A Cup contender typically has a few great players and several who are just under that. So far they have one (Bedard). If he sees a guy at 15 he thinks can be a cornerstone, he must get him, imo. Otherwise, keep all the picks.
- mohel

Thats always the exception to the rule.....if somebody starts falling who they have rated HIGH internally.....go for it depending on the cost. They are set up nicely next 3 years of the draft and odds are they'll sell on some veterans at the upcoming deadline and accumulate more.