The Hawks are only 2 points behind San Jose (with 1 more game played), that gap needs to significantly increase.
- DarthKane

Problem is sharks cant best anybody

Talking draft picks.
We know that KD is loathe to trade draft picks. At least not any time soon if ever.

Of course the Penguins might just ask for a first round pick for Guentzal. The offer after Penguins finish a short playoff run. There might be a short period - of - time whereas Guentzsl could sign or become a free agent


The Penguins would accept any first round choice. Any
- jhawk59

Trading a first round pick, specifically Tampa's or Toronto's, makes sense if the Hawks get a player in his early 20s that would be part of the team's long-term future. I don't see many teams wanting to part with a player who's in their early 20s and isn't a bust.

Talking draft picks.
We know that KD is loathe to trade draft picks. At least not any time soon if ever.

Of course the Penguins might just ask for a first round pick for Guentzal. The offer after Penguins finish a short playoff run. There might be a short period - of - time whereas Guentzsl could sign or become a free agent


The Penguins would accept any first round choice. Any
- jhawk59

Guentzel makes no sense for CHI. He's too old. Moreover, Friedman already said Dubas can get a Giroux type package for him. So a 1st, a B prospect, and another mid round pick.

Official:
https://x.com/CHGO_Blackh.../1758224844720619917?s=20

Trading a first round pick, specifically Tampa's or Toronto's, makes sense if the Hawks get a player in his early 20s that would be part of the team's long-term future. I don't see many teams wanting to part with a player who's in their early 20s and isn't a bust.
- DarthKane

I’d love to see KD try to pry Mason McTavish out of Anaheim.

I’d love to see KD try to pry Mason McTavish out of Anaheim.
- paulr

Several prospects helping Milwaukee AHL it everyone since New Year’s Day do it is just a matter of how soon they next start to impact the Nashville Preds. Two prominent names: Askarov and Le’Heroux

Will Stan get interviewed for the Blue Jacket GM gig?
- mohel

If bowman gets the gig Davidson calls reichel enwhistle for fantillia and 1st fleece bowman again

I’d love to see KD try to pry Mason McTavish out of Anaheim.
- paulr

One guy that hasn’t proven himself in the NHL as of yet that I like is Holloway in Edmonton, but not sure what KD can offer to pry him away.

One guy that hasn’t proven himself in the NHL as of yet that I like is Holloway in Edmonton, but not sure what KD can offer to pry him away.
- Angotti

Wonder what losing Jack Campbell’s $5M contract would be worth to Edmonton?

Next expansion franchise will have Stan Bowman as President of Hockey Ops with Jarmo as his GM.
- boilermaker100

Will they still be able to trade with each other???

Talking draft picks.
We know that KD is loathe to trade draft picks. At least not any time soon if ever.

Of course the Penguins might just ask for a first round pick for Guentzal. The offer after Penguins finish a short playoff run. There might be a short period - of - time whereas Guentzsl could sign or become a free agent


The Penguins would accept any first round choice. Any
- jhawk59

If you saw the game the other night when he was on with the bad announcer and Pang, he said just the opposite

If you saw the game the other night when he was on with the bad announcer and Pang, he said just the opposite
- vabeachbear

Unfortunately we get a narrative going on here and some of us start running with the narrative as fact. KD would be negligent in his duties as GM if he did or didn’t make moves based on stringent rules he placed on himself, or rules we believe he has placed on himself. If the right deal came up I would hope he would make it to improve the team, be it move a draft pick or trade a prospect.

Unfortunately we get a narrative going on here and some of us start running with the narrative as fact. KD would be negligent in his duties as GM if he did or didn’t make moves based on stringent rules he placed on himself, or rules we believe he has placed on himself. If the right deal came up I would hope he would make it to improve the team, be it move a draft pick or trade a prospect.
- paulr

Yeah, I don't get it. The guy has presided over exactly two drafts and the team's in the early stages of a rebuild.

Yet somehow people are attributing behavioral traits and tendencies to him like he's been in the chair for a decade or more.

If you saw the game the other night when he was on with the bad announcer and Pang, he said just the opposite
- vabeachbear

I'm sure he would move a pick or two for the right deal, the question is if those deals are there and are they "realistic". I think KD weighs everything out in a case by case basis and ultimately does it fit into the plan outside the next couple seasons. It should get easier once the Hawks have another bonified star player or two or three, because we only really 1 confirmed future star (but a good one) right now.

Yeah, I don't get it. The guy has presided over exactly two drafts and the team's in the early stages of a rebuild.

Yet somehow people are attributing behavioral traits and tendencies to him like he's been in the chair for a decade or more.
- HawkintheD

Some of us like to think we’re the smartest guy in the room.

Unfortunately we get a narrative going on here and some of us start running with the narrative as fact. KD would be negligent in his duties as GM if he did or didn’t make moves based on stringent rules he placed on himself, or rules we believe he has placed on himself. If the right deal came up I would hope he would make it to improve the team, be it move a draft pick or trade a prospect.
- paulr

Hard to see anyway out of this debacle without signing 5+ quality free agents over the next 2 years. They have to spend to the floor and he's proven that he will over pay by $3 million per year for average players, now he should overpay a handful of great players to play with Bedard. Bedard will need to get paid after 2 more years. Sounds like Vlasic is going to be an 8x$5 million. Korchinski, Kurashev and Reichel aren't breaking the bank with their next deals so the money is available.

Would love to see Moore, Nazar or any of the young guys jump in and dominate but this league is too tough and unless the Hawks load up with some real talent, the results aren't going to change much.

He has 17 picks in the first 3 rounds stockpiled in the next 3 years. 60% of 1st rounder in the last 10 years have played 300 games. 25% of 2nd and 3rd rounders have played 300 games. Don't see being able to turn any of this roster into extra first rounders anytime soon.

Hate hearing him say they aren't going to be active in the summer. Make Reinhart the highest paid player in the league for the next 4 years. Vegas can't match a big money deal for Marchessault. Hanifin wants out of Calgary.

Hawks under Bowman pulled some quality free agents out of Europe, hope Davidson can do the same.

Trading a first round pick, specifically Tampa's or Toronto's, makes sense if the Hawks get a player in his early 20s that would be part of the team's long-term future. I don't see many teams wanting to part with a player who's in their early 20s and isn't a bust.
- DarthKane

Yep, just look at folks mentioning Boldy and Pinto recently as possible targets. Boldy has gone off the last few weeks and Pinto has taken a 1st unit PP spot from STUTZLE. Those guys aren't gonna be available and if they are you might have to pay for potential and not results ..... The only hope on getting a good young player is to insist on having a Faber into a trade and you've evaluated him properly and he's the real deal.

Maybe you get a Tippet type player in a salary dump but other than that it seems it's free agency and the development of drafted players to fill the talent void the NHL rosters suffers from.

Hard to see anyway out of this debacle without signing 5+ quality free agents over the next 2 years. They have to spend to the floor and he's proven that he will over pay by $3 million per year for average players, now he should overpay a handful of great players to play with Bedard. Bedard will need to get paid after 2 more years. Sounds like Vlasic is going to be an 8x$5 million. Korchinski, Kurashev and Reichel aren't breaking the bank with their next deals so the money is available.

Would love to see Moore, Nazar or any of the young guys jump in and dominate but this league is too tough and unless the Hawks load up with some real talent, the results aren't going to change much.

He has 17 picks in the first 3 rounds stockpiled in the next 3 years. 60% of 1st rounder in the last 10 years have played 300 games. 25% of 2nd and 3rd rounders have played 300 games. Don't see being able to turn any of this roster into extra first rounders anytime soon.

Hate hearing him say they aren't going to be active in the summer. Make Reinhart the highest paid player in the league for the next 4 years. Vegas can't match a big money deal for Marchessault. Hanifin wants out of Calgary.

Hawks under Bowman pulled some quality free agents out of Europe, hope Davidson can do the same.
- stevefrmglencoe

I’m not going to pretend I know what free agent the Hawks should sign, when the prospects should be brought up, or what anyone should be paid. Davidson has a plan non of us are privy to. I’m sure that plan has short and long term considerations and I’m sure he would move anyone, except Bedard, to improve the team. I’d like to see a gradual improvement until the prospects are ready but I don’t want to see an older player signed to a long term deal.

Unfortunately we get a narrative going on here and some of us start running with the narrative as fact. KD would be negligent in his duties as GM if he did or didn’t make moves based on stringent rules he placed on himself, or rules we believe he has placed on himself. If the right deal came up I would hope he would make it to improve the team, be it move a draft pick or trade a prospect.
- paulr

He specifically called the picks assets to be used in many different ways

Talking draft picks.
We know that KD is loathe to trade draft picks. At least not any time soon if ever.

Of course the Penguins might just ask for a first round pick for Guentzal. The offer after Penguins finish a short playoff run. There might be a short period - of - time whereas Guentzsl could sign or become a free agent


The Penguins would accept any first round choice. Any
- jhawk59

I don't think he's scarred to trade picks I think they need to target the right player or just sit on them. Seems like they tried to move up to take Moore last year but no one bit. I'd imagine that happens more often than not with these deals.

The Senators are a cap team and have Stuztle (probably not gonna move), Norris, Pinto and Greig that all play up the middle. Probably can't keep all of them with the cap structure. Someone there should be available but they may want to make a hockey trade and bring in a veteran to help steady that group though theoretically that was Girioux's job.

Panthers probably need to move someone and could be interested in reclaiming some picks. Bennet or Veraeghe may be guys they could pry out for some picks and would be really nice additions.

Maybe a player like Necas is available. He's fast and stuff.

Zegras could be available just because he seems like an extra body at this stage but I would think they would use him if they use him to make a hockey trade to add a solid veteran not named Ryan Strome.

Kappo Kakko may be worth taking a look at if he's available and relatively cheap. The Rangers may be interested in recouping futures.

The hard cap and most of hockey's desire to maintain the status quo with how watered down the league is makes some of these deals kind of tough. Catching a team that wants to retool on the fly and willing to part with a very good player would be ideal since they're one of the few teams with the draft capital to outbid anyone.

He specifically called the picks assets to be used in many different ways
- vabeachbear

As they should be. Didn’t he move one of the team’s second picks during the last draft?

Yeah, I don't get it. The guy has presided over exactly two drafts and the team's in the early stages of a rebuild.

Yet somehow people are attributing behavioral traits and tendencies to him like he's been in the chair for a decade or more.
- HawkintheD

This is yr 1 from the complete teardown. What can we say for sure about KD?..... He likes speed, seems not to care about size in Rd 1, believes locker rooms need Folignos, is patient with prospects (Vlasic/Reichel Exhibit A), ain't scared to play 18/19 yr olds in the Bigs.

Did I miss anything? We are scratching the surface on KD's MO.

I'm sure he would move a pick or two for the right deal, the question is if those deals are there and are they "realistic". I think KD weighs everything out in a case by case basis and ultimately does it fit into the plan outside the next couple seasons. It should get easier once the Hawks have another bonified star player or two or three, because we only really 1 confirmed future star (but a good one) right now.
- breadbag

I really believe he, like his counterpart with the Bears has a plan, and will stick with it at least in the early stages.

Time will tell if either is correct, but I like laying out a strategic plan and implementing it. I learned a long time ago, if I'm going to get fired, its because I went with my instincts and did what I thought was right.

As they should be. Didn’t he move one of the team’s second picks during the last draft?
- paulr

Yes for a 2nd this year, he also talked about using the assets for future picks and spreading out the flow of players.

I know some think he's too young and not that smart, I've never listened to him when I thought he was naïve, dumb, or in over his head.

Hard to see anyway out of this debacle without signing 5+ quality free agents over the next 2 years. They have to spend to the floor and he's proven that he will over pay by $3 million per year for average players, now he should overpay a handful of great players to play with Bedard. Bedard will need to get paid after 2 more years. Sounds like Vlasic is going to be an 8x$5 million. Korchinski, Kurashev and Reichel aren't breaking the bank with their next deals so the money is available.

Would love to see Moore, Nazar or any of the young guys jump in and dominate but this league is too tough and unless the Hawks load up with some real talent, the results aren't going to change much.

He has 17 picks in the first 3 rounds stockpiled in the next 3 years. 60% of 1st rounder in the last 10 years have played 300 games. 25% of 2nd and 3rd rounders have played 300 games. Don't see being able to turn any of this roster into extra first rounders anytime soon.

Hate hearing him say they aren't going to be active in the summer. Make Reinhart the highest paid player in the league for the next 4 years. Vegas can't match a big money deal for Marchessault. Hanifin wants out of Calgary.

Hawks under Bowman pulled some quality free agents out of Europe, hope Davidson can do the same.
- stevefrmglencoe

I don't think there are 5 quality free agents available...

A piece or two this summer would be nice to help take some pressure off Bedard and insurance incase hall goes down but other than that - probably gotta see what the lottery results are before pulling the trigger on what kind of player they need to add.