https://twitter.com/CZpro...rjYiqs2-PKEreH4CbfiQ&s=19

Public statement by Jiricek not understanding why he's not playing in the NHL. Looking at Chicago thinking i want to go there.

Interesting thing is he's played 36 games this year, are they going to keep him under 40 so he's RFA for another year longer? This is what i mean by poverty franchise.

Maybe we can trade Seth Jones back to them

https://twitter.com/CZprospects/status/1751693276925620397?t=OBrjYiqs2-PKEreH4CbfiQ&s=19

Public statement by Jiricek not understanding why he's not playing in the NHL. Looking at Chicago thinking i want to go there.

Interesting thing is he's played 36 games this year, are they going to keep him under 40 so he's RFA for another year longer? This is what i mean by poverty franchise.

Maybe we can trade Seth Jones back to them
- BetweenTheDots

Jiříček

Doubtful. I don't think Danny Wirtz wants to pay the seamstress for all those extra symbols above the letters in his last name. Frugal genes die hard in the Wirtz family.

https://twitter.com/CZprospects/status/1751693276925620397?t=OBrjYiqs2-PKEreH4CbfiQ&s=19

Public statement by Jiricek not understanding why he's not playing in the NHL. Looking at Chicago thinking i want to go there.

Interesting thing is he's played 36 games this year, are they going to keep him under 40 so he's RFA for another year longer? This is what i mean by poverty franchise.

Maybe we can trade Seth Jones back to them
- BetweenTheDots

Trade him for Reichel and Raddysh

Scott Wheeler released his mid-season rankings today:

Tier 1:

1. Macklin Celebrini, C1

Tier 2:

2. Artyom Levshunov, RHD1
3. Cole Eiserman, LW1
4. Ivan Demidov, RW1

Tier 3:

5. Anton Silayev, LHD1
6. Zayne Parekh, RHD2
7. Zeev Buium, LHD2
8. Sam Richardinson, LHD3
9. Berkly Catton, C2
10. Konsta Helenius, C3
11. Cayden Lindstrom, C4


Interesting to see that he's much higher on Eiserman and much lower on Lindstrom relative to others.
- TommyHawk

I am sure most is based on Cayden is a one season wonder.

Not a bad list but my top is better

1 Macklin Celebrini [x]
2 Cayden Lindstrom [x]
3 Cole Eiserman [x]
4 Artyom Levshunov [x]
5 Anton Silayev [x] <--u know why
6 Sam Richardinson [x]
7 Ivan Demidov [x] <--ditto
8 Tij Iginla [x] <--this is a clear reach many more skilled,but none more able
9 Zayne Parekh [x]
10 Trevor Connelly [x] <--Anahiem native with lots of speed & goals and Qs
11 Konsta Helenius [x]<--showed my little in the Worlds but possible potential later
12 Carter Yakemchuk [x] <--The wild colt may a lot higher
13 Zeev Buium [x]
14 Berkly Catton [x]
15 Adam Jiricek [x]
16Igor Chernyshov [x]
17Ryder Ritchie [x]
18 Terik Parascak [x]
19 Liam Greentree [x]
20 Emil Hemming [x]
21 Michael Hage [x] <---I moved him here as we don't know when the Lightning will pick if they are in the play-off, but I would wait and hope he drops top the second round. Plant the tentpole, as he is the real deal with real upside.

I think there are detail profiles up for all but the Russians on my site.

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts

I am sure most is based on Cayden is a one season wonder.

Not a bad list but my top is better

1 Macklin Celebrini
- wiz1901[x]
2 Cayden Lindstrom [x]
3 Cole Eiserman [x]
4 Artyom Levshunov [x]
5 Anton Silayev [x] <--u know why
6 Sam Richardinson [x]
7 Ivan Demidov [x] <--ditto
8 Tij Iginla [x] <--this is a clear reach many more skilled,but none more able
9 Zayne Parekh [x]
10 Trevor Connelly [x] <--Anahiem native with lots of speed & goals and Qs
11 Konsta Helenius [x]<--showed my little in the Worlds but possible potential later
12 Carter Yakemchuk [x] <--The wild colt may a lot higher
13 Zeev Buium [x]
14 Berkly Catton [x]
15 Adam Jiricek [x]
16Igor Chernyshov [x]
17Ryder Ritchie [x]
18 Terik Parascak [x]
19 Liam Greentree [x]
20 Emil Hemming [x]
21 Michael Hage [x] <---I moved him here as we don't know when the Lightning will pick if they are in the play-off, but I would wait and hope he drops top the second round. Plant the tentpole, as he is the real deal with real upside.

I think there are detail profiles up for all but the Russians on my site.

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts

I’ve been watching Luke Misa the last two weeks. More of a playmaker than scorer. He’s incredibly fast, can play at speed and something unusual for a guy who can put up points he’s very good defensively. Like Lindstrom, Misa’s numbers took a jump this season from last year. Why isn’t Misa ranked higher?

Luke is the older brother of Michael Misa who’s expected to go top five in the 2025 NHL draft.

I am sure most is based on Cayden is a one season wonder.

Not a bad list but my top is better

1 Macklin Celebrini
- wiz1901[x]
2 Cayden Lindstrom [x]
3 Cole Eiserman [x]
4 Artyom Levshunov [x]
5 Anton Silayev [x] <--u know why
6 Sam Richardinson [x]
7 Ivan Demidov [x] <--ditto
8 Tij Iginla [x] <--this is a clear reach many more skilled,but none more able
9 Zayne Parekh [x]
10 Trevor Connelly [x] <--Anahiem native with lots of speed & goals and Qs
11 Konsta Helenius [x]<--showed my little in the Worlds but possible potential later
12 Carter Yakemchuk [x] <--The wild colt may a lot higher
13 Zeev Buium [x]
14 Berkly Catton [x]
15 Adam Jiricek [x]
16Igor Chernyshov [x]
17Ryder Ritchie [x]
18 Terik Parascak [x]
19 Liam Greentree [x]
20 Emil Hemming [x]
21 Michael Hage [x] <---I moved him here as we don't know when the Lightning will pick if they are in the play-off, but I would wait and hope he drops top the second round. Plant the tentpole, as he is the real deal with real upside.

I think there are detail profiles up for all but the Russians on my site.

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts

Hey wiz, Do you see any players in this draft projecting to be a Bergeron/Kopitar type. I'm always interested in the players that play a more complete game vs great at any one thing.

@DhaliwalSports
Friedman on Chicago after Andrie Kuzmenko : Blackhawks need scoring and they have the cap space. #Canucks are also trying to free up cap space. Chicago has looked into Kuzmenko, they don't want term and Kuzmenko has just 1 year left after this season.

I’m not Chunk, those are big shoes to fill but here is my take from my eyes. KK has improved defensively from the start of the season(not a high bar), especially the last 15-20 games. Once they add more offensive talent he will put up some points as well. All you can ask from a young player is to trend in the right direction, KK is doing that. Unfortunately Reichel is not, but again, let’s see what happens when he plays with a more talented group, he’s too young and too skilled to give up on.
- Angotti

As usual I agree with 95% of your observations, Lou, and this post is no different. .... Guys like Reichel I guess is the most fun for an evaluator. This kid has every evaluator scratching his head. How many show all the skills he has to enter the Ozone thru multiple defenders McDavid like like Reichel does? ..... Why he goes from kinda floating and stick waving in a game then next game you see a high energy, aggressive dangerous Reichel?

Yea he's just 21 but I slot him as a riddle.

And back to the KK-Phillps comparison. Listening to the Score an ex-football player spoke a phrase that fits me like a glove. Said, "make mistakes at full speed". Indeed, that's a big thing that draws me to Phillips, and Kaiser too..... Phillips reads a play and reacts at full speed, right or wrong. Same with Kaiser.

I like that kinda mental foundation to build on.

@DhaliwalSports
Friedman on Chicago after Andrie Kuzmenko : Blackhawks need scoring and they have the cap space. #Canucks are also trying to free up cap space. Chicago has looked into Kuzmenko, they don't want term and Kuzmenko has just 1 year left after this season.
- DarthKane

The Canucks want to go all in this season so the Hawks taking on Kuzmenko would be doing them a favour. The Canucks can then use that $5.5M they save on Kuzmenko’s salary to get more help at the TDL. Hopefully any trade like that includes something to make it worthwhile for KD.

@DhaliwalSports
Friedman on Chicago after Andrie Kuzmenko : Blackhawks need scoring and they have the cap space. #Canucks are also trying to free up cap space. Chicago has looked into Kuzmenko, they don't want term and Kuzmenko has just 1 year left after this season.
- DarthKane

Kuzmenko is exactly the kinda player the franchise needs today. A 27 yr old middle 6 guy with skill whose offense would give them a win or over the last 5 game stretch when they can't score, a legit player to line up with Bedard and the club is not locked in for term but with the ability to extend that player if he fits.

And the acquisition cost, and risk, is minimal. ...... They need guys like this.

The Canucks want to go all in this season so the Hawks taking on Kuzmenko would be doing them a favour. The Canucks can then use that $5.5M they save on Kuzmenko’s salary to get more help at the TDL. Hopefully any trade like that includes something to make it worthwhile for KD.
- paulr

What happened to him this year? Standard sophomore regression, or something else?

What happened to him this year? Standard sophomore regression, or something else?
- 333inthe3rd

Haven't seen a bunch of VAN games but the last game a week ago I understand it as Kuzmenko falling out of the top 6 and is not a bottom 6 type player. So he's struggling.

He played a bunch of KHL games and is 27 so the context of looking at players with few NHL games is different with him.

https://www.hockeydb.com/...s/pdisplay.php?pid=180618

Kuzmenko is exactly the kinda player the franchise needs today. A 27 yr old middle 6 guy with skill whose offense would give them a win or over the last 5 game stretch when they can't score, a legit player to line up with Bedard and the club is not locked in for term but with the ability to extend that player if he fits.

And the acquisition cost is minimal. ...... They need guys like this.
- Mr Ricochet

Hawks can take Kuzmenko and DK's guy Aatu Raty for Blackwell to eat up the 12:00 per night that AK is currently getting. I'd prefer Lekkerimaki, but don't see that happening.

Haven't seen a bunch of VAN games but the last game a week ago I understand it as Kuzmenko falling out of the top 6 and is not a bottom 6 type player. So he's struggling.

He played a bunch of KHL games and is 27 so the context of looking at players with few NHL games is different with him.

https://www.hockeydb.com/...s/pdisplay.php?pid=180618
- Mr Ricochet

Tocchet is not enamored with his defensive game and thus demoted him.

What happened to him this year? Standard sophomore regression, or something else?
- 333inthe3rd

He was flying high with Boudreau coaching, but when Tocchet arrived, he cut his ice time a bit. Seemed to only be playing about half to 2/3 of the ice.

To Rico's point, it might do the team a little good to have a couple guys who are strictly offense.

He was flying high with Boudreau coaching, but when Tocchet arrived, he cut his ice time a bit. Seemed to only be playing about half to 2/3 of the ice.

To Rico's point, it might do the team a little good to have a couple guys who are strictly offense.
- Chunk

No doubt Kuzmenko doesn't fit under Tocchet, good point....... But I'm not willing to say he's a defensive liability, I just haven't seen enough of him to say other than he has some offense and plays at a high pace.

He's a good fit for the Hawks IMO in a bunch of different way.

Tough to say they have regressed. On most nights your starting defense has 3 or 4 rookies along with a veteran who has played only 180 games across 10 seasons. Pair that with injuries to forwards Athanasiou, T. Johnson, Hall, Beauvillier and the loss of Perry, and you have a lineup made up of mostly career fringe/4th line players and maybe a few who realistically are 3rd liners. Not exactly a formula for consistently putting pucks in the net, which is exactly what you see.

D.ickinson has played well, Kurashev has flashed, Raddysh has maybe regressed. Foligno and Donato are solid vets, but they are 25-35 pt/year guys, not big difference makers in terms of production. A bunch of others are filler, Blackwell, Anderson, Katchouk, Gutman, etc. have all had a few nice games or moments, but reality says they are what they are, dime a dozen try hard guys.

You get examples each and every game, regardless of whether the opponent is EDM or CGY. Sat. night they had multiple breakaways or high-danger scoring chances and they converted, let me check my sheet, exactly NONE.

So i don't think they've regressed. They just lack the finishing talent needed at least pot a few goals each night.
- TheTrob

I agree with you, I don't think the organization has regressed.

The points in the standings this year to last year, pretty much just the same, but the fact that we moved on from long term vets and have more kids playing bigger roles is progress.

Minutes that used to go to Kane, Toews, McCabe, Jack Johnson, Caleb Jones to name some examples, those minutes are being played by some younger players. That is progress, moving minutes to guys on the right side of age 25. Not to mention just how much healthier the prospect pipeline has become year over year with a few more pieces.

The product on the ice has yet to realize the improvement, but the team as an organization has progressed more than regressed IMO.

I agree with you, I don't think the organization has regressed.

The points in the standings this year to last year, pretty much just the same, but the fact that we moved on from long term vets and have more kids playing bigger roles is progress.

Minutes that used to go to Kane, Toews, McCabe, Jack Johnson, Caleb Jones to name some examples, those minutes are being played by some younger players. That is progress, moving minutes to guys on the right side of age 25. Not to mention just how much healthier the prospect pipeline has become year over year with a few more pieces.

The product on the ice has yet to realize the improvement, but the team as an organization has progressed more than regressed IMO.
- breadbag

I completely agree, to go from one of the worst farm systems to one of the best in 2 years is amazing, but wait there's going to be more quality picks entering the fold, but wait last year we got the privilege to draft most likely a generational talent, and it took a bold no name general manager to do it.

Yea we look bad, but on the flip side those top 4 picks this year all look good. For me the most fortunate part is we had drafted some quality dmen, thank you Bowman, that are paying off now.

Even on that show they were like can you imagine if the Blackhawks get that 1st pick?

I agree with you, I don't think the organization has regressed.

The points in the standings this year to last year, pretty much just the same, but the fact that we moved on from long term vets and have more kids playing bigger roles is progress.

Minutes that used to go to Kane, Toews, McCabe, Jack Johnson, Caleb Jones to name some examples, those minutes are being played by some younger players. That is progress, moving minutes to guys on the right side of age 25. Not to mention just how much healthier the prospect pipeline has become year over year with a few more pieces.

The product on the ice has yet to realize the improvement, but the team as an organization has progressed more than regressed IMO.
- breadbag

This. Is What. Matters!!! NHL minutes are the most valuable asset in the sport and as you post those minutes are going to young guys/rookies. Those minutes not wasted and instead given to KK, Phillips, Vlasic, Kaiser, Crevier, Kaiser will be seen in a mature NHLer 3 yrs from now. ... And soon, Del Mastro and Allen will follow and starting next yr forward prospects will begin to trickle up to the big club and in a couple yrs goalies.

All the injuries are really unfortunate but a yr out from the total teardown I'm very satisfied with the process and where the organIzatin is in it. They have 3 yrs of multiple 1st and 2nd rd picks picks ahead to add to what the Hawks in the system today.

Now, get the picks right and develop/evaluate them properly.

Haven't seen a bunch of VAN games but the last game a week ago I understand it as Kuzmenko falling out of the top 6 and is not a bottom 6 type player. So he's struggling.

He played a bunch of KHL games and is 27 so the context of looking at players with few NHL games is different with him.

https://www.hockeydb.com/...s/pdisplay.php?pid=180618
- Mr Ricochet

I believe WE sort of expect that KD wants to draft his own players, maybe down the road a free agent sign - a player of high end ability and having success in the league. Doubtful he would trade for anyone and what would he barter? Not a draft choice. Not a top prospect. If you suggest one struggling prospect for another, I veto even that. Reichel had the skating skill and KD probably wants to hang on to him, Ser what he does with better skill linemattes in a common refrain on this board…..and I couldn’t agree more

Now if you want an idea somewhat plausible and keep in mind just an idle thought where top few players this year in the say 3-5 or possibly 3-6 range

A team wants to draft a dman. But the player they like they fear is taken before their turn So what if they offer a top young forward for the right to draft a dman. Because they have a lot of good forwards (even young guns) and going forward they want a certain style dman

So just to pick a team out with emerging forward plus lots of guns up front already

Buffalo says Petetka or Thompson for that dman Buffalo is lacking something. They are predominantly young and maybe Granato is not the right coach to mold the team. But maybe they want a certain type forward or with a top pick. They have the wherewithal to wheel and deal

Sigh. Yes I know these sort of trades not common

I believe WE sort of expect that KD wants to draft his own players, maybe down the road a free agent sign - a player of high end ability and having success in the league. Doubtful he would trade for anyone and what would he barter? Not a draft choice. Not a top prospect. If you suggest one struggling prospect for another, I veto even that. Reichel had the skating skill and KD probably wants to hang on to him, Ser what he does with better skill linemattes in a common refrain on this board…..and I couldn’t agree more



- jhawk59

Not sure why you're tagging me with an inference of trading Reichel for Kuzmenko. Nowhere did I say. or infer, that and that was not the question.. The question was would the Hawks take him to give VAN 5 mil of cap relief so they could fill a hole or two for the playoffs?

In that context I say yes and also in the context doubtful he'd be around in 3-4-5 yrs when the Hawks start making runs. In the meantime it infuses MUCH needed skill for a team devoid of it thru next yr.

@DhaliwalSports
Friedman on Chicago after Andrie Kuzmenko : Blackhawks need scoring and they have the cap space. #Canucks are also trying to free up cap space. Chicago has looked into Kuzmenko, they don't want term and Kuzmenko has just 1 year left after this season.
- DarthKane

Think about it.
He arrives from Russia, starts scoring while Bruce Boudreau is the coach and the management thinks that his scoring is the answer and the they sign Kuz to a longer contract.

Demko sinks, then Boudreau sinks and the TNT analyst Tocchet is hired, molds the team into one were everyone plays with accountability both ways.
...Boesner wakes up this year on the first line, and Demko returns to health and spectacular results.
Kuzmenko's interest only lie between the circles and the goal line, and even there he basically avoid physical contact.

So now they need $ and Cap space to deepen the roster for a Cup run, and he is their discard.

Keeping him, may be easier, but someone out there will bite, but I hope the Hawks show a lack of interest.

Because Coack Luke will have finally need a doghouse .

Think about it.
He arrives from Russia, starts scoring while Bruce Boudreau is the coach and the management thinks that his scoring is the answer and the they sign Kuz to a longer contract.

Demko sinks, then Boudreau sinks and the TNT analyst Tocchet is hired, molds the team into one were everyone plays with accountability both ways.
...Boesner wakes up this year on the first line, and Demko returns to health and spectacular results.
Kuzmenko's interest only lie between the circles and the goal line, and even there he basically avoid physical contact.

So now they need $ and Cap space to deepen the roster for a Cup run, and he is their discard.

Keeping him, may be easier, but someone out there will bite, but I hope the Hawks show a lack of interest.

Because Coack Luke will have finally need a doghouse .
- wiz1901

What if the Canucks throw in a 2nd round pick in 25 or 27?

Especially since we took Beau off their books already. I think KD will make that deal.

Man, not exactly sharpshooters on this team, but if we look at the roster… I’m going to bring up team defense. In the month of January the Hawks have played 14 games and have given up 40 goals, and four have been scored against them on empty nets. So basically their GAA is 2.58, that’s darn good in my book. LR and his coaching staff are setting a tone, that bodes well for their future. Imagine how much better their defense will be when Allan, Del Mastro, Kaiser, and/or Phillips become the replacements for guys like Megna and Tinordi. Always draft BPA, but if all things are equal, they have to draft forwards with their first two picks.

Man, not exactly sharpshooters on this team, but if we look at the roster… I’m going to bring up team defense. In the month of January the Hawks have played 14 games and have given up 40 goals, and four have been scored against them on empty nets. So basically their GAA is 2.58, that’s darn good in my book. LR and his coaching staff are setting a tone, that bodes well for their future. Imagine how much better their defense will be when Allan, Del Mastro, Kaiser, and/or Phillips become the replacements for guys like Megna and Tinordi. Always draft BPA, but if all things are equal, they have to draft forwards with their first two picks.
- Angotti

What about a defenseman like Cale Makar? Like say a defenseman who plays for Saginaw in the OHL who has .5 goals and 1.5 points a game this season?