He is, and IIRC before he got hurt he was top 10 in the NHL in entries. As an 18 yr old!

Question Fatty, Bedard will win scoring titles but are you hoping he sacrifices some offense like instead of 160 pts he'll settle for 150 to get back and help his team prevent some goals?

To be a better mate, a hockey player instead of a scoring machine?
- Mr Ricochet

If I was KD I would spend some really significant draft capital to bring #87 over from Pittsburgh to play with #98 for a couple of years. What a tutor he would be. Unfortunately, Sid is a lifer in Penguinville.

That thought had crossed my mind as well. You hardly notice him at all this year and I seem to recall a fair amount of the goals he got last year being the in close variety.

This season he get knocked off the puck pretty easily.
- HawkintheD

He missed some time with a groin strain at the end of Dec. I've read that he's still struggling with that a bit (but not bad enough to keep him out). That said, 7 of his 20 goals and 15 of his 37 pts last year were on the PP where he has had very little time comparatively (not to mention lower quality teammates on the PP).

I guess Chelios son had to ask his KHL for a suit form their lost n found. for the celebration

Do they have to? No, but drafting a forward is definitely a more significant need. Eiserman, Demidov and Lindstrom would be my choices if the Hawks don't draft #1 overall. It's likely, maybe almost a certainty (knock on wood) that the Hawks will draft in the top 5, even if they lose the lottery. With Celebrini going #1 I think there's a real solid chance they get one of the other guys listed.
- DarthKane

Kaner, where do you stand on taking a Russian in the top 5/10?

Not sure if any of you have seen this list:

https://twitter.com/Scouc...14RoQiepKkhp2qXc5AXg&s=19

Another look at teams and their prospect rankings.
Prospect meaning is a bit different here though. I believe 98 is still considered a prospect in his rankings.
Still not sure how Toronto would be 9 and Seattle and Minny at 2 and 3 ?

Not sure who'd want him. Forgot about Beauvlier's contract so maybe next TDL
- HawkintheD

Beauvillier's contract expires this year, so unless they sign him again, that's it. Putting him on Bedard's line is their last chance to get a return on him.

I can't predict who would want Raddysh, either. His contract is cheap enough, and he's RFA this summer. So who thinks they have a chance at reviving his career? Even with the diminished scoring, would anybody want him as a penalty killer?

Do they almost have to draft a forward? To try and surround 98 with some more talent?

I'm not saying the D is set,but they do seem a bit ahead of the fwds with Vlasic looking really good and Korch looking solid for a 19 year old.

If the Blackhawks get 2nd pick do they force a fwd? Or do they take Levshunov or Silayev if they are ranked higher on their board?
- captainserious

I'd imagine no franchise has to do anything come draft day but for me the tried and true route is to take the best player available and fill in future gaps with trades and free agency.

That is maybe over simplified and easier said than done but to my simple mind gathering the very best hockey players and sort out it out as you go is the way to go.

I'm wondering if Raddysh is playing hurt. I know he doesn't have an extensive NHL resume, but he dropped off from being a 20 goal scorer to a 5 goal scorer (he's on pace for 7 goals this season). To your point, I don't think anyone will want him, at most he might be a throw-in in a hockey trade.

Beauvillier is going nowhere, I doubt the Hawks could get the coveted "future considerations" if they retained 50%.

I think there's a real short list of which Hawks could be traded at the TDL. T Johnson is likely gone (with 50% retained) for a mid-round pick or C-level prospect. Blackwell could be detail too, for minimal return. Maybe Tinordi goes, I could see the Hawks willing to part with him but unless a team is decimated with injuries who would want Tinordi?
- DarthKane

I'll say it again, John Scott got a fifth at the deadline in 2012. Anything is possible at a given deadline.

I know this team is rock bottom, and it is easy to wonder how anybody is tradable. But this place has probably sucked the life out of a few players, and the question then is who would make the most of a new lease on life in the NHL? That one is beyond my pay grade, but I'm sure there are a few front offices who can make educated guesses on that.

Ric, I have been waiting for criticism or kudos on the USHL kids in my mid draft assessments - profiles.
- wiz1901

Wiz, I'm not that guy anymore. This is a transition yr for me going from watching 5-6 USHL games a week, a bunch live, including every time the NTDP comes to play the Steel, evaluating everything I see, going to every Steel tryout camp for 10-15 yrs to having only watched 2-3 games this yr that Gajun played.

No longer the ability to talk to billets, scouts and management types. On a side note there are no secrets in jrs which amazes me that Richie played hurt all last yr and it wasn't known, at least publicly.

My watching habits remind me of walking my dog. He does as he wants when he wants and I do too watching parts of an OHL, WHL, Q, NHL game all in one night.... I will say this. Watched a period of a Q game to see Savoie and thought the level of play was the USHL 10 yrs ago. ...... The Q is way way behind any of the jr leagues of significance.

Board favorite Cayden Lindstrom is still out week-to-week with wrist injury, although he is near his expected return date.

https://medicinehatnews.c...broncos-in-home-and-home/

The Tigers will remain without forward Cayden Lindstrom, who is still listed as week-to-week and is in week five of a 4-6 week recovery timeline from surgery on a wrist injury.

Beauvillier's contract expires this year, so unless they sign him again, that's it. Putting him on Bedard's line is their last chance to get a return on him.

I can't predict who would want Raddysh, either. His contract is cheap enough, and he's RFA this summer. So who thinks they have a chance at reviving his career? Even with the diminished scoring, would anybody want him as a penalty killer?
- 333inthe3rd

Beauvillier had some jump last night, might think about re-signing him for one year and start him in the bottom 6 - he could fill in top 6 if there is the seemingly inevitable Hall injury. Could be part of the needed depth that is just not there this year due to all the injuries.

I don't know if Johnny is having some mental health issues or took his ball and has gone home.....but as I recall he wasn't at the Rocky services and then last night the only comments we got were from a beat writer who got a hold of him via text.....for the face of the franchise for over 16 years.....last night was a tough one to miss.

I was there in my old section with our son, who is 8. Getting to see his reaction to guys like Chelios, Belfour and Roenick who knows through NHL94 on the old genesis was a riot. What a great tribute and speech by Chelios, and I am not a Chelios fan.

I disagree with those saying you shouldn't retire a number. It's an honor that is most of the time well deserved where fans, and even generation of fans, onlly recognize said player with said number. Hawks only have what.....9? We aren't talking about the Bears here who retire a number for anyone who can breathe.

Again all for the tank.....but dear lord.....Davidson needs to get some talent to play with Bedard. This is a team full of 9-12 forwards outside of him. Hell, some of these guys shouldn't even playing on this team let alone a contender.

Megna.....I guess he's a place holder but he's timid, rarely uses his size, and just makes more moronic decision than Jones.

Jones....I chuckle when he's in the starting lineup and you hear the smattering of boos when he's announced. Reading his quotes looks like he's getting frustrated. Maybe he;ll ask out. Not a fan....tried to give him the benefit of the doubt since he got here....but OT winner....Kurashev was open down below and even had Bedard back door....knowing both his forwards were down low he takes a shot that had 0.0001% of succeeding and then forced a rebound.....and Kane called game. Selfish move from a selfish player who 1000% thinks he's better than what he is. If they launched him tomorrow.....it would be a blessing.
- SteveRain

I'm a huge Chelios fan, was at the game last night wearing a Chelios jersey that I have had since '92 or so. I think the honor of retiring numbers should always be there, and in someone like Chelios, a Chicago born, hall of famer, arguably one of the greatest American born players ever and while may not have won a cup in a Hawks uniform, his time here and his whole career definitely deserves the honor.

In terms of the Hawks defense, Megna and Tinordi are just brutal, out of position, poor passers, etc, etc. Not much to be said about them other than hopefully they are just placeholders and will never be seen in a Hawks uni again after this season.

Vlassic and Korchinski are fine, yes both make mistakes (Korchinski more than Vlassic), but both are young and more than holding their own. Vlassic for most os the season has rated out as one of the best defensively in the league (even saddled with major minutes next to Jones).

That brings us to Jones. Anyone on this board should know my opinion of him. For a long time I argued that he was never a #1, but benefit of the doubt he's a #2. I was wrong, he is clearly neither. If I had to slot him I would say that he is a 4th D-man, maybe a #3 if he is playing well (which we rarely see). At 6'4" he is Charmin soft along the boards and loses most puck battles along them. He resorts to weak wrist shots even when he has time and space for something harder. He is not a good passer, and I would guess he wraps a whole lot more passes along the boards than directly to someone. Mostly though he is, as many here have said, hockey dumb. His positioning is horrible, his situational awareness is horrible, he has no feel for the game. Have you ever seen Jones take over a game like you do other #1 Dmen?

In regards to the OT play, he skates a puck in, has Bedard open with a wide open side of the net, and Kurashev also as an option. On a chance that probably 20 or more D men in the league finish, he can't find either of the upper corners, cant bury the rebound, or stop the breakout pass......game over. He's brutal. Forget $9.5M, he would be overpaid at $7M. There are plenty of bad Dmen that can skate 25mins a night if you let them, that shouldnt be a justification aor a reason to call him a #1.

If I was KD I would spend some really significant draft capital to bring #87 over from Pittsburgh to play with #98 for a couple of years. What a tutor he would be. Unfortunately, Sid is a lifer in Penguinville.
- RickJ

It's really remarkable he, Bedard, has done as well as he has given his talent pool to play with him. To me that speaks volumes and I have ZERO concerns that this kid won't sniff his potential.....Plus you add a summer where he can add some meat as he matures and some of these 50/50 plays he loses because hes a boy amongst men and we will see a large jump.

I get the Crosby sentiment but if they wanted that....they would have resigned Kane.

Hopefuly Hall can stay healthy next year, as best that he can...but that's a big IF....

If I were KD, I would really look at what you have internally after this draft and were ceilings could hit.....and if you are short a top F....and the PERFECT situation came to be like Hossa, I wouldn't be afraid to sign a guy in his mid-late 20s to a max term deal to help get Bedard a true compliment vs playing the long game. Again, all for the rebuild and the likely time frame, but this example of a top player to play with him would have to be a perfect fit and Im sure said player isn't available coming up.....

Just sitting there live and watching these teams collapse on him constantly and pairing his line up with crap defensemen were they get pinned in their own zone for long periods of time.....doesn't seem to be really be accomplishing much.

My whole goal this year for this team was the progress of kids we thought could have a chance to be identifiable pieces for the long term

Korchinski
Reichel
Bedard
Vlassic
Soderbloom
Kaiser

Zero concerns for me on Bedard
Vlassic....I think will be a stud and if Jones is going to play like the incompotent meatball he is.....might as well pair Vlassic with KK and let them bond and maybe Seth gets his briefs in a bunch and requests out......
Reichel....good god. At this point I just hope he has some value at some point for a trade or can be a reliable 7-9 F.
Soderbloom....will he regain his confidence? I mean they are riding Mzarek to death because Soderbloom is an automatic L every time out.

I hope the kids I saw in WJC pan out.....but way early there.

I'm a huge Chelios fan, was at the game last night wearing a Chelios jersey that I have had since '92 or so. I think the honor of retiring numbers should always be there, and in someone like Chelios, a Chicago born, hall of famer, arguably one of the greatest American born players ever and while may not have won a cup in a Hawks uniform, his time here and his whole career definitely deserves the honor.

In terms of the Hawks defense, Megna and Tinordi are just brutal, out of position, poor passers, etc, etc. Not much to be said about them other than hopefully they are just placeholders and will never be seen in a Hawks uni again after this season.

Vlassic and Korchinski are fine, yes both make mistakes (Korchinski more than Vlassic), but both are young and more than holding their own. Vlassic for most os the season has rated out as one of the best defensively in the league (even saddled with major minutes next to Jones).

That brings us to Jones. Anyone on this board should know my opinion of him. For a long time I argued that he was never a #1, but benefit of the doubt he's a #2. I was wrong, he is clearly neither. If I had to slot him I would say that he is a 4th D-man, maybe a #3 if he is playing well (which we rarely see). At 6'4" he is Charmin soft along the boards and loses most puck battles along them. He resorts to weak wrist shots even when he has time and space for something harder. He is not a good passer, and I would guess he wraps a whole lot more passes along the boards than directly to someone. Mostly though he is, as many here have said, hockey dumb. His positioning is horrible, his situational awareness is horrible, he has no feel for the game. Have you ever seen Jones take over a game like you do other #1 Dmen?

In regards to the OT play, he skates a puck in, has Bedard open with a wide open side of the net, and Kurashev also as an option. On a chance that probably 20 or more D men in the league finish, he can't find either of the upper corners, cant bury the rebound, or stop the breakout pass......game over. He's brutal. Forget $9.5M, he would be overpaid at $7M. There are plenty of bad Dmen that can skate 25mins a night if you let them, that shouldnt be a justification aor a reason to call him a #1.
- TheTrob

Well said.

I rewatched that OT shift a few times and I just can't imagine how that film breakdown goes. Does Dean just sit in the dark at home and pound a 12 pack as I am sure he can handle the ups/downs of younger kids, but your veterans? Guys who SHOULD know better but don't, and or even worse...do know better but give ZERO Fs?That's where I lump in Seth.

Had a prime to chance to win the game and Reimer made a decent save....for an offensive defensemen or what he's supposedly billed as.....he should finish that.

There are men's league players that where when you get a F loafing around the blue line in 3 on 3 (Kane didn't even try to skate down)..as soon as Jones made that turn if he has supposedly above average skills he slides that over to Bedard and it's game. Or if he doesn't' trust that he pushes it down to Kurashev, stays high...and maybe you get a goal or at worst an offensive zone draw.

Instead Jones played that as bad as you can.....and I just dont' see how this is a good thing for young kids watching this clown every night, shift by shift and where if ever is he penalized for his idiotic plays? NEVER. And this idiot wears a letter?

I tried to give Jones a pass as I never really watched him closely in Nashville or Columbus but I can see why 2 teams have traded him off at a young age, and a 3rd will soon enough....and if he was THAT good....he wouldn't be about to be on his 4th organization because there are a ton of crap D men out there already. Including Seth.

Sure. I'll even grant you all of this. He's still the best overall defenseman on the team at this point.

Contract: sucks

Play: above average (looking at the total picture of usage, fancies, and the eye test)

Verdict: everyone hates him because he's overpaid for what he provides on a bad team. Seth Jones is at the low end of this team's worries right now.
- Chunk

Disagree Chunk.

His play on his best nights is average. The best Defenseman on this team right now is Vlassic.

While his salary is obviously a component of why everyone hates him, there are enough other reasons. 1) Not a leader 2) bad at actual defense 3) average at best offensively 4) low hockey IQ 5) below average passer......should I continue.

If i'm GM he is definitely becoming a worry, because while KFC may not have signed him to that stupid deal, it DOES come with some expectations that at the very least if you are not contributing offensively or defensively, you need to do more than just eat minutes. Be a leader, set an example for the young players, play with a little heart.show in some way the $'s are deserved for something.

It's really remarkable he, Bedard, has done as well as he has given his talent pool to play with him. To me that speaks volumes and I have ZERO concerns that this kid won't sniff his potential.....Plus you add a summer where he can add some meat as he matures and some of these 50/50 plays he loses because hes a boy amongst men and we will see a large jump.

I get the Crosby sentiment but if they wanted that....they would have resigned Kane.

Hopefuly Hall can stay healthy next year, as best that he can...but that's a big IF....

If I were KD, I would really look at what you have internally after this draft and were ceilings could hit.....and if you are short a top F....and the PERFECT situation came to be like Hossa, I wouldn't be afraid to sign a guy in his mid-late 20s to a max term deal to help get Bedard a true compliment vs playing the long game. Again, all for the rebuild and the likely time frame, but this example of a top player to play with him would have to be a perfect fit and Im sure said player isn't available coming up.....

Just sitting there live and watching these teams collapse on him constantly and pairing his line up with crap defensemen were they get pinned in their own zone for long periods of time.....doesn't seem to be really be accomplishing much.

My whole goal this year for this team was the progress of kids we thought could have a chance to be identifiable pieces for the long term

Korchinski
Reichel
Bedard
Vlassic
Soderbloom
Kaiser

Zero concerns for me on Bedard
Vlassic....I think will be a stud and if Jones is going to play like the incompotent meatball he is.....might as well pair Vlassic with KK and let them bond and maybe Seth gets his briefs in a bunch and requests out......
Reichel....good god. At this point I just hope he has some value at some point for a trade or can be a reliable 7-9 F.
Soderbloom....will he regain his confidence? I mean they are riding Mzarek to death because Soderbloom is an automatic L every time out.

I hope the kids I saw in WJC pan out.....but way early there.
- SteveRain

Which one do you put on their off-side?

Disagree Chunk.

His play on his best nights is average. The best Defenseman on this team right now is Vlassic.

While his salary is obviously a component of why everyone hates him, there are enough other reasons. 1) Not a leader 2) bad at actual defense 3) average at best offensively 4) low hockey IQ 5) below average passer......should I continue.

If i'm GM he is definitely becoming a worry, because while KFC may not have signed him to that stupid deal, it DOES come with some expectations that at the very least if you are not contributing offensively or defensively, you need to do more than just eat minutes. Be a leader, set an example for the young players, play with a little heart.show in some way the $'s are deserved for something.
- TheTrob

So does KFC have the cajones of Guerin and just buys him out ?

Which one do you put on their off-side?
- Chunk

If that is the way they were to go I think at this point Vlassic would be the one to play his off side. Big, long reach, solid defensively would seem to be the more logical pick to play on his off side, while you let Korchinski carry the play more offensively as he develops.

Disagree Chunk.

His play on his best nights is average. The best Defenseman on this team right now is Vlassic.

While his salary is obviously a component of why everyone hates him, there are enough other reasons. 1) Not a leader 2) bad at actual defense 3) average at best offensively 4) low hockey IQ 5) below average passer......should I continue.

If i'm GM he is definitely becoming a worry, because while KFC may not have signed him to that stupid deal, it DOES come with some expectations that at the very least if you are not contributing offensively or defensively, you need to do more than just eat minutes. Be a leader, set an example for the young players, play with a little heart.show in some way the $'s are deserved for something.
- TheTrob

I think Vlasic is the best defensively and easily looks the most comfortable on the ice right now... in his own zone. The second he crosses center ice (especially with the puck on his stick) he has no clue what to do.

Jones is not great at anything. He's a "good" defenseman that is overpaid, overplayed and has a spotlight on him that magnifies any mistake because of those facts. He makes just as many good plays as bad. That's not forgiving the bad plays, but he's not all garbage as some here say.

He won't raise the play of those around him, but I don't have any concerns about him long term. As the talent around him gets better, he will make less mistakes (and have his minutes reduced).

If they want/need to move him, I have no doubt they will. The only person to blame here is Bowman, and he's no longer employed, so you (collective you) better just make the best of it.

It kinda depends on how the rest of the team is comprised. If they have a bunch of guys like him on the team (mostly offense) then he'll have to change otherwise they won't win much. If you look at some of the other high end scorers taken recently they weren't great at preventing goals.

McJesus was better 1 PPG and a -1 his first year. Matthews scored 69 in 82 and was a +2. Both of these were on VASTLY better teams than whatever the Hawks put on the ice each night. Not to mention, the guy who scored the game-winner last night has never been known as much of a defensive player. Didn't seem to hurt his team too much while winning cups.

I really don't think it matters much as long as the Hawks surround him with teammates that have more diverse games. Having him is better than not having him. They need defensemen that can complete passes and play well positionally, forwards that can read off of him and have the skill to take advantage, and a goalie or two that isn't shell-shocked.
- Chunk

Chunk, a really good post. I can type 15 paragraphs and dilute my point but IMO the point is Bedard is 18 yrs old...... I have to take myself aside and tell myself that. What does that mean?

I went to Steel tryouts for a decade, tryouts, took notes. Me, their scared to death parents who see what kind of fruit their 150k investment has borne and 3 other fans. So many times I saw a kid barely make the squad and when he left 3-4 yrs later a kid was often times unrecognizable they improved so much in so many phases.

Bedard will fit into that description one way or another and I know that cuz I saw it hundreds of times. But in the meantime like an unfiltered 5 yr old I can't control myself when the kid takes a 2 minute shift, skates into 4 opponents (he's improved on that already as he dumped 2 shifts in back from injury, a beauty that was away from the goalie and the D had to turn and make a play) or doesn't understand (or care?) there are times he and his team wins if he simply plays high in the Ozone once in awhile... Simply said, hit the mother humpin cutoff man.

And, it could be my fault expecting, hoping, the kid will play the game like Crosby. One of the best ever "hockey players" who could no doubt be a scoring machine had he chose to be less a hockey player.

Kid is 18, but him being surrounded by AHLers has nothing to do with not playing high in the Ozone, flying his own zone, skating into 4 opponents or taking 2:00 shifts. Being surrounded by AHLers is more reason to hit the cutoff man.

Too early to say anything definitively cuz he's 18 other than he'll be a scoring machine and he might, probably, never reach the level of being a hockey player like Crosby.

So does KFC have the cajones of Guerin and just buys him out ?
- LAHawk

My exact thought, LA.

I'm a huge Chelios fan, was at the game last night wearing a Chelios jersey that I have had since '92 or so.
- TheTrob

Cheli jersey a Nike? Ccm? Starter?

So does KFC have the cajones of Guerin and just buys him out ?
- LAHawk

Why would he? There is no need to. Did buying out Parise and Suter really help MN? They are still on the hook for almost the same cap hit on both for the same amount of time, and they still don't have any cap room to help the club. They simply opened up two roster spots. Plus they are on the hook for $1.6M for the following 4 years after the 24-25 season.

Not to mention, Suter has been very solid for Dallas the last 2+ years.

Why would he? There is no need to. Did buying out Parise and Suter really help MN? They are still on the hook for almost the same cap hit on both for the same amount of time, and they still don't have any cap room to help the club. They simply opened up two roster spots. Plus they are on the hook for $1.6M for the following 4 years after the 24-25 season.

Not to mention, Suter has been very solid for Dallas the last 2+ years.
- Chunk

To satisfy the mob.

Actually his cap hit during the years he is contracted for is less, and the cap hit in future years is only $1.5 Mil., so not at all the same situation as the Wild.

https://puckpedia.com/player/seth-jones/buyout

But I agree with you as it currently stands with all his warts, he is still the Hawks best defenseman, and keeps Vlasic and KK shielded from duty that would probably overwhelm them right now.

If I was KD I would spend some really significant draft capital to bring #87 over from Pittsburgh to play with #98 for a couple of years. What a tutor he would be. Unfortunately, Sid is a lifer in Penguinville.
- RickJ

If I were at the arena I'd watch every shift to see if, and how much, Bedard watches Crosby from the bench. ....... As much as Crosby schooled Bedard on that first goal and Vlasic on the 2nd I couldn't have been happier. Like a mathematician being allowed in the same room as Einstein, invaluable.

And as a fan of the sport before any sweater seeing Crosby in any other jersey than a Pens' just ain't right, but yea man, I'm all for KD checking in to see if there is any way Crosby would be interested.