Absolutely no. If the Hawks don’t want to end up like Edmonton or Toronto where the top players earn so much they can’t build any depth they have to convince Bedard and subsequent players to leave something on the table in an effort to win. If Bedard, Vlasic, Korchinski want to win they will have to take less otherwise they’ll be talking about how Chicago, Edmonton and Toronto had the best players in the game but were unable to win championships with them.
- paulr

After his Bedard,'s ELC, a bridge deal 9M @ 5 or 6 years, whatever takes him to maintain RFA status at its expiration. Then 8 years @ 16M.

He talked about the team speed the Avs have and my response was that I'm looking forward to the players KD drafted to start coming up, i meant the forwards, sorry for the confusion
- BetweenTheDots

Ok Dots. Thanks for the clarification. I'm looking forward to the new forwards too.

It is interesting to look back - here are the D prospects from 2018-19:

Forsling, Gustav 6-0 186 22
Jokiharju, Henri 5-11 188 19
Beaudin, Nicolas 5-11 172 18
Boqvist, Adam 5-11 165 17
Mitchell, Ian 5-11 173 19
Carlsson, Lucas 6-0 189 20
Gilbert, Dennis 6-2 201 21
Galvas, Jakub 5-11 165 19
Tuulola, Joni 6-2 180 23
Hillman, Blake 6-1 180 23

A lot of them played but didn't reach the heights that you might have thought. This looked like a really deep list and I was wondering what they would do with all these guys. But this logjam was broken up pretty quickly.

Still think the current list looks better (and definitely the players are bigger). Can't know how they will turn out but history says this new logjam will break up fairly soon. Drafting another guy or two this year would be OK - just refilling the pipeline.

Vlasic, Alex 6-6 198 22
Korchinski, Kevin 6-2 185 19
Kaiser, Wyatt 6-0 172 21
Phillips, Isaak 6-3 194 22
Crevier, Louis 6-7 216 22
Allan, Nolan 6-2 195 20
Del Mastro, Ethan 6-4 209 20
Rinzel, Sam 6-4 181 19
Harding, Taige 6-7 236 21
Kelley, Connor 6-1 190 21
Peltonen, Janne 6-3 174 18

Kept it to 23 or younger (Roos is 24).
- totem

Nice work here, totem. Thanks for sharing............ You're right, the players themselves will resolve the logjam. And even with the benefit of hindsight a Hawk's fan has to admit the current list looks much more talented and, especially important, they are being developed properly as opposed to the back then list.

Yes the players will decide, but the current list looks to have 6-7ish players who will play NHL games. Untangling the 1st list was easy cuz the players weren't good, in hindsight. The current list not so much and will probably need managements help to solve it.

After his Bedard,'s ELC, a bridge deal 9M @ 5 or 6 years, whatever takes him to maintain RFA status at its expiration. Then 8 years @ 16M.
- boilermaker100

As to the most hyped up rookies I've seen, here are the results so far:

Lindros- No Cup
Daigle- No Cup
Crosby- Cup
Ovechkin- Cup
McDavid- No Cup*
Matthews- No Cup*
Bedard- No Cup*

Obviously the bottom three* can still win it. The top 2 were in an era with no salary cap.

Both the Leafs and Oilers have very impressive top 6 forwards.

If the Leafs were able to trade Nylander for another solid defenseman, they'd be that much closer to the Cup, their forwards are solid enough to have Domi, Jarnok, Knies (entry level) and Kampf in the bottom 6.

More than McJesus + the German, the Oilers are in crappy situation due to the 9.5 they gave Nurse, the 5.1 for Kane and the 3.35 for Ceci plus a completely ineffective bottom 6. If they could get effective entry level deal players in the bottom six it would go a long way.

I think success depends on the core built around.

Obviously a Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Fleury core and an Ovechkin, Backstrom, Oshie, Carlson, Wilson core got it done.

So far a McJesus, German, Nugent-Hopkins, Nurse core and a Tavares, Matthews, Nylander, Marner, Reilly core haven't been enough to get it done.

To win it all, it'll depend on who Bedard is surrounded with as his core i.e., who the big money goes to. Will KK and Vlasic be part of that core? Will our next year's pick or Moore or Nazar be part of that core? Or even might Nylander or another long term deal be part of that core? Or maybe even Jones?

After his Bedard,'s ELC, a bridge deal 9M @ 5 or 6 years, whatever takes him to maintain RFA status at its expiration. Then 8 years @ 16M.
- boilermaker100

Haven’t you heard? Bedard is fleeing to Vancouver to play for his hometown Canucks as soon as possible. At least that’s what everyone in Vancouver says so it must be true.

As to the most hyped up rookies I've seen, here are the results so far:

Lindros- No Cup
Daigle- No Cup
Crosby- Cup
Ovechkin- Cup
McDavid- No Cup*
Matthews- No Cup*
Bedard- No Cup*

Obviously the bottom three* can still win it. The top 2 were in an era with no salary cap.

Both the Leafs and Oilers have very impressive top 6 forwards.

If the Leafs were able to trade Nylander for another solid defenseman, they'd be that much closer to the Cup, their forwards are solid enough to have Domi, Jarnok, Knies (entry level) and Kampf in the bottom 6.

More than McJesus + the German, the Oilers are in crappy situation due to the 9.5 they gave Nurse, the 5.1 for Kane and the 3.35 for Ceci plus a completely ineffective bottom 6. If they could get effective entry level deal players in the bottom six it would go a long way.

I think success depends on the core built around.

Obviously a Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Fleury core and an Ovechkin, Backstrom, Oshie, Carlson, Wilson core got it done.

So far a McJesus, German, Nugent-Hopkins, Nurse core and a Tavares, Matthews, Nylander, Marner, Reilly core haven't been enough to get it done.

To win it all, it'll depend on who Bedard is surrounded with as his core i.e., who the big money goes to. Will KK and Vlasic be part of that core? Will our next year's pick or Moore or Nazar be part of that core? Or even might Nylander or another long term deal be part of that core? Or maybe even Jones?
- Popsghostly

Very interesting post here, Pops. I gotta think on it a bit but as I was reading I'm wondering if/when I'll get to a common denominator as to what kind of core worked or didn't. ....... I guess if you knew that you'd be drawing an NHL paycheck.

But, as you thought your post out as you made it do you see any specific does and don'ts about the build of the core and supporting cast? ...... Give KD some advice??

Waaaaay too early, but is Reichel part of the core or a support player?

Very interesting post here, Pops. I gotta think on it a bit but as I was reading I'm wondering if/when I'll get to a common denominator as to what kind of core worked or didn't. ....... I guess if you knew that you'd be drawing an NHL paycheck.

But, as you thought your post out as you made it do you see any specific does and don'ts about the build of the core and supporting cast? ...... Give KD some advice??

Waaaaay too early, but is Reichel part of the core or a support player?
- Mr Ricochet

Hey Rico- I wish I could answer this question.

There are so many variables there.

One thing that stands out about the core is having at least one stud defenseman, Norris trophy candidate or winner- Keith/Seabrook, Carlson, Letang, Doughty, Makar/Toews, Hedman, Theodore/Pieterangelo (for the Blues too) & Chara.

If the McDavid/Draisaitl had a Keith in his prime, would they have won the Cup by now?

Of all the teams though, the Pens have had the weakest D- Letang/Daley/Maata/Cole and compensated it with firepower and 4 solid lines. Or it could and might be that Crosby and Malkin are just two of the greatest.

Reichel has really impressed me these past two games. It's like he's a different player. He's going into the corners like a possessed man and not shying away. Bedard factor? If he keeps it up definitely top 6 not sure he has the potential to be core though.

Hey Rico- I wish I could answer this question.

There are so many variables there.

One thing that stands out about the core is having at least one stud defenseman, Norris trophy candidate or winner- Keith/Seabrook, Carlson, Letang, Doughty, Makar/Toews, Hedman, Theodore/Pieterangelo (for the Blues too) & Chara.

If the McDavid/Draisaitl had a Keith in his prime, would they have won the Cup by now?

Of all the teams though, the Pens have had the weakest D- Letang/Daley/Maata/Cole and compensated it with firepower and 4 solid lines. Or it could and might be that Crosby and Malkin are just two of the greatest.

Reichel has really impressed me these past two games. It's like he's a different player. He's going into the corners like a possessed man and not shying away. Bedard factor? If he keeps it up definitely top 6 not sure he has the potential to be core though.
- Popsghostly

And then thinking about your post and following one, can you even plan it? Plan you need xyz to win a cup, draft that way then it turns out x and y didn't pan out but e f and g did!?!?

Can a plan be too rigid or is it flexible enough to adapt to which of your prospects develop into a core player? ..... Was Hammer a core player and would they have won all 3 cups without a Hammer type?..... Did the Hawk's plan require an elite 3rd line centerman and Bolland ended up being that guy?

In 5 yrs will the forward core ends up Bedard, Moore, Nazar, Lardis, Kancerov and Reichel that's smallish, is that ok? Do you pay em all or say, no, even though they can all play and help win big series you let 1 or 2 go and find a different type player for the top 6?

I think you just draft and develop well, with lotsa darts thrown, and let the cards play out....... A big [problem is obviously the cap and who do you pay, and WHEN. Looking at Capfriendly you gotta be envious of the elite looking talent signed younger and longer to get em cheaper like NJ and BUF did. BUT, you miss and you affix one anchor to your cap.

I'm hopin the evaluators identify the core, and NOT, early and sign em long term or let em go instead of paying them. Next I guess is how many can a core be?

And can this be parsed out in a pre-planed way? .... Just get good hockey players no matter their size, style of play or position and let er rip?

And then thinking about your post and following one, can you even plan it? Plan you need xyz to win a cup, draft that way then it turns out x and y didn't pan out but e f and g did!?!?

Can a plan be too rigid or is it flexible enough to adapt to which of your prospects develop into a core player? ..... Was Hammer a core player and would they have won all 3 cups without a Hammer type?..... Did the Hawk's plan require an elite 3rd line centerman and Bolland ended up being that guy?

In 5 yrs will the forward core ends up Bedard, Moore, Nazar, Lardis, Kancerov and Reichel that's smallish, is that ok? Do you pay em all or say, no, even though they can all play and help win big series you let 1 or 2 go and find a different type player for the top 6?

I think you just draft and develop well, with lotsa darts thrown, and let the cards play out....... A big
- Mr Ricochet[problem is obviously the cap and who do you pay, and WHEN. Looking at Capfriendly you gotta be envious of the elite looking talent signed younger and longer to get em cheaper like NJ and BUF did. BUT, you miss and you affix one anchor to your cap.

I'm hopin the evaluators identify the core, and NOT, early and sign em long term or let em go instead of paying them. Next I guess is how many can a core be?

And can this be parsed out in a pre-planed way? .... Just get good hockey players no matter their size, style of play or position and let er rip?

I always thought the Blackhawks were so good during their Cup runs because of their top 3 d-men.
Keith,Seabrook and Hammer were a great top 3. I liked Oduya a lot as well,but I always thought you could pencil in at least a dozen other d-men in that spot and the Blackhawks wouldn't miss a beat.

Right now,it seems like Vlasic is top 3 worthy,on a lot of NHL teams. And it looks like Kaiser and Philips could be solid #5/6's.
98 looks like a keeper and 27 might be a top 9 forward. Gonna be watching the world juniors this year like every year,but will have more of an eye on Nazar/Moore/Hayes etc..
In the end , 1 or 2 of those 3 might be your Bolland/Ladd/Shaw/Bickell types that are basically 3rd line players that can rotate in the top 6 here and there.

They should get the better Nylander imo,he'll be good for the next 4-5 years

And remember that besides drafting and striking out on small defenders, they still managed to take Phillips, Crevier, and then basically target Nolan Allen, and call him future Seabrook type in their reach in the first round.
- wiz1901

Just think if bowman drafted some decent forwards instead of the midget defenders, and he had a lot of them

Just think if bowman drafted some decent forwards instead of the midget defenders, and he had a lot of them
- LFS

Bowman traded away picks trying to get to the top of the mountain, and they did three times, twice under Bowman, so he didn’t have the picks for top six forwards. Look at teams like Carolina and the Preds, they didn’t take those risks, and guess what? No cups. Now look at his picks on defense from the end of his tenure, not too shabby. I don’t know if they’ll get to the top of the mountain again, but they’ll sure as heck eventually have a better defensive group than the current Leafs and Oilers teams, which up to now has contributed to their lack of success in the playoffs.

Scott Powers wrote this about Nazar this morning.

There will be plenty of Chicago Blackhawks prospects to watch in the upcoming World Junior Championship. They’ll have six players in the tournament and would have had more if Kevin Korchinski and Connor Bedard were allowed to play for Canada.

But of the six, Frank Nazar is easily the most intriguing prospect. The tournament will be another proving ground for Nazar as he looks to establish himself again as one of the world’s top players in his age group. Since returning from hip surgery late last season, Nazar has been working his way back to that form and has been one of the University of Michigan’s top players this season.

Over the coming months, the Blackhawks will be gauging whether Nazar is ready to turn pro after this season. His play at Michigan has been encouraging for them and world juniors will be another measuring stick. Late in the season, Big Ten competition and the NCAA tournament will help determine that, too.

Talking to Blackhawks assistant general manager of player development Mark Eaton on Wednesday, he believes Nazar is heading in the right direction as he continues to compile competitive games.

“If you add them all up, he’s probably at the 30-game mark or so, still not even a full college season,” Eaton said. “I think it was good the games he played last year. A lot of it helped him kind of manage his expectations. He’s hard on himself, which is a great thing. We love that he expects a lot from himself. So just being able to have that smaller experience last year to help him gauge that, hey, NCAA hockey, it’s some good hockey and there’s a lot of good players in college has helped him step in this year and kind of find his groove.

“I think he’s 100 percent pain-free. Hip’s feeling good, and it shows up with his skating. The biggest asset he has is his skating. So it’s just making sure those feet are always going. Because when those feet are going, he’s hard to even contain, let alone stop, and that’s when he’s at his best. I think that has showed up a lot more in the last month and a half or so. It’s just that constant movement, that constant speed, and I think that’s resulting in better offensive production.”

As stated above, he only has played 30 NCAA games with maybe 25 regular season, Big 10 tourney and NCAA tourney games left this year. Also several WJC games. It will be interesting to see if he signs after the season, or if he and the organization decide to let him stay at Michigan.

And then thinking about your post and following one, can you even plan it? Plan you need xyz to win a cup, draft that way then it turns out x and y didn't pan out but e f and g did!?!?

Can a plan be too rigid or is it flexible enough to adapt to which of your prospects develop into a core player? ..... Was Hammer a core player and would they have won all 3 cups without a Hammer type?..... Did the Hawk's plan require an elite 3rd line centerman and Bolland ended up being that guy?

In 5 yrs will the forward core ends up Bedard, Moore, Nazar, Lardis, Kancerov and Reichel that's smallish, is that ok? Do you pay em all or say, no, even though they can all play and help win big series you let 1 or 2 go and find a different type player for the top 6?

I think you just draft and develop well, with lotsa darts thrown, and let the cards play out....... A big
- Mr Ricochet[problem is obviously the cap and who do you pay, and WHEN. Looking at Capfriendly you gotta be envious of the elite looking talent signed younger and longer to get em cheaper like NJ and BUF did. BUT, you miss and you affix one anchor to your cap.

I'm hopin the evaluators identify the core, and NOT, early and sign em long term or let em go instead of paying them. Next I guess is how many can a core be?

And can this be parsed out in a pre-planed way? .... Just get good hockey players no matter their size, style of play or position and let er rip?

One thing all of these player/teams had in common with winning a cup was that things came together at the right time for their organizations. The same will have to happen for the Hawks again. The Hawks have their generational talent. They have a ton of defensive prospects (who could be their future). They have a loaded system, a ton of draft capital, and will be massive spenders when the time is right. There are going to be players in the Hawks system that nobody is counting on to come out of nowhere and be contributors (Andrew Shaw/Marcus Kruger).

I am hoping that KD has learned something from every top team/dynasty over the last twenty years and can use all of his assets to put together a ridiculously competitive team in the coming years.

One thing all of these player/teams had in common with winning a cup was that things came together at the right time for their organizations. The same will have to happen for the Hawks again. The Hawks have their generational talent. They have a ton of defensive prospects (who could be their future). They have a loaded system, a ton of draft capital, and will be massive spenders when the time is right. There are going to be players in the Hawks system that nobody is counting on to come out of nowhere and be contributors (Andrew Shaw/Marcus Kruger).

I am hoping that KD has learned something from every top team/dynasty over the last twenty years and can use all of his assets to put together a ridiculously competitive team in the coming years.
- frafra

If he can fully recover from his injury Sam Savoie may be similar to Andrew Shaw, a feisty, hard nosed, physical, puck battling retrieval, nose over the puck kind of player with some offensive ability.

Of all the things KD has to learn the most important are not getting into cap hell especially early on and trying to figure out how Boston was/is able to get players to sign contracts that are favorable to the team.

After his Bedard,'s ELC, a bridge deal 9M @ 5 or 6 years, whatever takes him to maintain RFA status at its expiration. Then 8 years @ 16M.
- boilermaker100

Saad's father was right, go for the money when you can, he never got more money after his second contract.

Saad's father was right, he never got more money after his second contract.
- rpeters01

Bottom line, does Bedard want to max out his earnings or win? If he wants to max out his salary the Hawks risk being another Edmonton or Toronto, teams unable to build the necessary depth to become champions.

One thing all of these player/teams had in common with winning a cup was that things came together at the right time for their organizations. The same will have to happen for the Hawks again. The Hawks have their generational talent. They have a ton of defensive prospects (who could be their future). They have a loaded system, a ton of draft capital, and will be massive spenders when the time is right. There are going to be players in the Hawks system that nobody is counting on to come out of nowhere and be contributors (Andrew Shaw/Marcus Kruger).

I am hoping that KD has learned something from every top team/dynasty over the last twenty years and can use all of his assets to put together a ridiculously competitive team in the coming years.
- frafra

This is why I think it is short sighted to wait until all of your draft picks "make it" to the NHL. You have no idea how many or which ones will be the ones that stick. You also have no control over injuries, or bad behavior (Perry), etc.

I'm not saying spend all available cap space to try and ice a SC competitor next year, but they've added more than three years worth of draft picks in the last two years, and more than half of those picks were in the first three rounds. They've also go 4-5 1st and 2nd rounders already stashed in each of the next three years. First of all, you don't really have enough room on the roster for all of those players. second there will inevitably be a player type missing from what has been drafted.

I'm aware enough to realize that this likely won't happen (or begin to happen) this year. The team is bad and will likely be out-bid by more desperate teams. However, KD will need to start adding more competitive/long term pieces to the roster, otherwise you are simply wasting time.

Bottom line, does Bedard want to max out his earnings or win? If he wants to max out his salary the Hawks risk being another Edmonton or Toronto, teams unable to build the necessary depth to become champions.
- paulr

Who knows. Maybe he takes a page out of the Tom Brady/Steven Stamkos playbook and takes a slight haircut to help out. He seems to be picking up endorsements left and right, so money likely won't be too much of a problem. He seems to really want to win, so maybe he understands that he needs help around him to do so.

Who knows. Maybe he takes a page out of the Tom Brady/Steven Stamkos playbook and takes a slight haircut to help out. He seems to be picking up endorsements left and right, so money likely won't be too much of a problem. He seems to really want to win, so maybe he understands that he needs help around him to do so.
- Chunk

That, keeping the cap under control, will be KFC’s biggest challenge. I think if he can get Bedard on board leaving money on the table he’ll have a better chance convincing subsequent players doing the same. If the top players all want to max out the Hawks will be another top heavy team will a smaller chance to build a supporting cast and winning anything other than personal awards.

That, keeping the cap under control, will be KFC’s biggest challenge. I think if he can get Bedard on board leaving money on the table he’ll have a better chance convincing subsequent players doing the same. If the top players all want to max out the Hawks will be another top heavy team will a smaller chance to build a supporting cast and winning anything other than personal awards.
- paulr

As a first test, if he plays out the rest of the year like he has these last few games, Reichel's next contract will be interesting to use as a benchmark of KD's plan. Do you give him a two year bridge like Kurashev, or go longer at a reasonable number?

As a first test, if he plays out the rest of the year like he has these last few games, Reichel's next contract will be interesting to use as a benchmark of KD's plan. Do you give him a two year bridge like Kurashev, or go longer at a reasonable number?
- Chunk

As Rico likes to say, “GMing is hard” so my answer as a hi skool drop out and professional burger flipper is I don’t have a (frank)ing clue. I just know there has to be available cap to sign the bottom part of the roster.

One thing all of these player/teams had in common with winning a cup was that things came together at the right time for their organizations. The same will have to happen for the Hawks again. The Hawks have their generational talent. They have a ton of defensive prospects (who could be their future). They have a loaded system, a ton of draft capital, and will be massive spenders when the time is right. There are going to be players in the Hawks system that nobody is counting on to come out of nowhere and be contributors (Andrew Shaw/Marcus Kruger).

I am hoping that KD has learned something from every top team/dynasty over the last twenty years and can use all of his assets to put together a ridiculously competitive team in the coming years.
- frafra

Fra- this is totally correct. The Hawks core and supporting cast all came together at the right time. Good contributing ELC players are so important here for the cap. Once you become good enough, you pick lower and likely have traded away draft capital to keep up in the arms race. If star players take up too much cap space, you're praying the ELCs can fill the holes.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Blackhawks lines in practice:

Reichel-Bedard-Donato
Kurashev-TJohnson-Raddysh
Foligno-Richardinson-Blackwell
Beauvillier-Entwistle-RJohnson

So Beauvilier already finding himself as a 4th liner. That was fast.

Ok Dots. Thanks for the clarification. I'm looking forward to the new forwards too.
- boilermaker100

Nazar, Moore, Misiak, Kantserov, Lardis, Greene, Ludwinski

and Rinzel

They all have above average skating quality to elite

So yea it'll be fun to see those kids come up and fly around on the ice, I'm sure this upcoming draft we will see a few more kids who can skate, drafted.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Blackhawks lines in practice:

Reichel-Bedard-Donato
Kurashev-TJohnson-Raddysh
Foligno-Richardinson-Blackwell
Beauvillier-Entwistle-RJohnson

So Beauvilier already finding himself as a 4th liner. That was fast.
- LAHawk

I think LR is trying to find anyone to get Tyler Johnson and Raddysh going, those 2 have been vanilla so far this season. Have to admit Beau is an effective forward so far. I think it also leads to more quality talent playing with Bedard because he takes longer shifts than other forwards