I'm kind of hoping that the Hawks end up with the best defense by committee rather than have one or two outstanding ones and a bunch of guys you have to pull through.
- Chunk

Doesn't a team need a defensive pairing good enough to at least offset an outstanding team's top players?

Doesn't a team need a defensive pairing good enough to at least offset an outstanding team's top players?
- mohel

Sure. While l'd like the whole team to be involved in the defense, I was actually just referring to the D-pairs here. Let's say the Hawks find a right handed version of Vlasic, and Vlasic himself keeps improving upon this first year. I'd think that would be good enough to shut down just about anyone, but not necessarily have either guy in the Norris discussion, or mentioned among the best defensemen in the league. Basically, I'm saying in lieu of finding a Hedman, I'd be very happy with a blueline full of above average guys. Some can be a bit more offensive minded, and others more defensive, but less of a drop off from 1-6.

Let's be honest here. It's not like I've thought this through very well.

I see you're posting more and more prospect stuff, Capn, and IMO they are solid posts.

Firstly, evaluating skating is subjective so you'll get plenty of deviance from one evaluator to another. For me a balanced skater is a good skater, or at least average, and go from there. Edge work, speed, explosion and on but to me balance is the foundation. These kinds are strong on their skates.

If a kid/player has a funky stride do you say he's less than average? Or, despite his funky stride he has good speed, is balanced, works his edges well enough and his stride does not prohibit him in any way even though it's not visually appealing... One guy says below average another says his skating is fine.

I've read Pronman say he evaluates a prospect's skating by how his skating rates in the NHL right NOW. Prospect A is a good or bad skater as if he were in the NHL TODAY. Many, like me, evaluate their skating for where they are now....... So, in Pronman's evaluation Eiserman and Levshunov are average NHL skaters today. By extension any improvement they would become good skaters.

Love the variance from the evaluators. OrganIzations will get a kid at 10 they rate as the 4th-5th best prospect. ...... This sets up for organIzations to move up to 10ish to get a kid they have ranked 5th. We just might see more moving up activity on draft day than usual.

I mean some have Eiserman at 13 others at 4 and there's at least a handful of prospects like Eiserman's projection. That's a ton of variance and that leads to opportunities to get some fantastic value if you're evaluation proves correct.
- Mr Ricochet

Not sure if you saw his list or not,but he had both of them as "average" skaters. Not sure what you grade their skating as?
He had grades on shot,hockey sense, puck skills,skating and compete for his entire list.

Any current NHLer that you can think of that has improved his skating from when he was a prospect to now when he is a pro? I'm sure a lot of them improve a little, I mean someone that has made a noticeable improvement?

Trying to get a read on this year's draft, looks like it is D heavy.
I'm wondering if the Blackhawks don't get 1 would they maybe settle for a Catton? Or do they go Levshunov/Silayev/Richardinson at pick 2 or 3?

Not sure if anyone saw Pronman's 2024 prospect rankings?
#1 a no brainer,but his list is interesting starting at #2

Tier - elite NHL player
1.Celebrini

Tier - NHL all star
2. Silayev
3. Richardinson
4. Yakemchuk
5. Levshunov

Tier - bubble nhl all star top of the lineup player
6. Catton
7. Demidov
8. Lindstrom

Tier 4 - top of the lineup player
9. Parekh
10. Buium
11. Helenius
12. Jiricek
13. Eiserman

Has Eiserman and Levshunov as "average" skaters.

I'm pretty sure Wiz said Eiserman's skating is fine,and I thought I read at multiple places that Levshunov was actually a real good skater,so that part seems a bit weird,but I guess each of these guys see what they want to see.
- captainserious

If the Hawks draft 2-4 I'd go with Eiserman or Demidov, the Hawks need a goal scorer.

They KD chooses to draft a defenseman I'd go with Levshunov, as much as I like some of the other d-men the Hawks need a RHD.

Not sure if you saw his list or not,but he had both of them as "average" skaters. Not sure what you grade their skating as?
He had grades on shot,hockey sense, puck skills,skating and compete for his entire list.

Any current NHLer that you can think of that has improved his skating from when he was a prospect to now when he is a pro? I'm sure a lot of them improve a little, I mean someone that has made a noticeable improvement?

Trying to get a read on this year's draft, looks like it is D heavy.
I'm wondering if the Blackhawks don't get 1 would they maybe settle for a Catton? Or do they go Levshunov/Silayev/Richardinson at pick 2 or 3?
- captainserious

Indeed, it will be interesting to see how high teams have these D-men ranked vs the forwards outside of Celebrini. I do really like what I've seen from Lindstrom if the Hawks don't get 1. I've not really seen much if anything on any of the D-men.

Sure. While l'd like the whole team to be involved in the defense, I was actually just referring to the D-pairs here. Let's say the Hawks find a right handed version of Vlasic, and Vlasic himself keeps improving upon this first year. I'd think that would be good enough to shut down just about anyone, but not necessarily have either guy in the Norris discussion, or mentioned among the best defensemen in the league. Basically, I'm saying in lieu of finding a Hedman, I'd be very happy with a blueline full of above average guys. Some can be a bit more offensive minded, and others more defensive, but less of a drop off from 1-6.

Let's be honest here. It's not like I've thought this through very well.
- Chunk

Sort of like the way Hammer and Oduya were deployed.

Not sure if any of the D men other than Silayev are that type D man in this year's draft.

Doughty was the best all around defenseman in the league for a few years there, if Rinzel can be half as good the Hawks will be a lucky franchise.
- Angotti

He killed us in 2014.

Indeed, it will be interesting to see how high teams have these D-men ranked vs the forwards outside of Celebrini. I do really like what I've seen from Lindstrom if the Hawks don't get 1. I've not really seen much if anything on any of the D-men.
- Chunk

I'm not sold on Lindstrom yet.
A year ago in juniors he was basically a nobody.
This year he started off really good,but has been injured for a while. Some sites have him at #2 and the guy played at a high level for about half a season.
Maybe that is enough for some scouts to figure out if he is a good player,but I'd be a bit cautious.

He killed us in 2014.
- rpeters01

He was a stud, still reliable but Father Time is catching up. That contract will not end well, but we know all about that, the price of winning is not cheap.

He was a stud, still reliable but Father Time is catching up. That contract will not end well, but we know all about that, the price of winning is not cheap.
- Angotti

he is averaging the same amount of ice time as he did in 2014. 4 years left on the contract after this.

So not calling Nazar a bust, however, does anybody think that maybe they should have kept Dach instead. Sure Dach has been unlucky with injuries, but maybe that changes going forward. TBH, I’m on the fence on this one, as Nazar hasn’t been 100% healthy either. Dach did have 38 points in 58 games last year as a 22 year old.
- Angotti

A fair question, Lou...... Remember though Dach put up those 38 in 58 playing wing. If he had done so playing center it would have carried more weight.

The Hawks retarded Dach's growth bringing him up right after they drafted him. It was also whispered he wasn't taking to coaching. Seems like a classic case of needing a new envioronment and easily argued they got a premium price for him as he was probably at his lowest value and KD still got the 13th(?).

Then add Nazar's skating/speed game fit how KD wants his club to play.

All said and done I think moving Dach was the right thing to do. Another middling or injury filled yr and his value is jack, he didn't fit how KD wants to play, he most likely was frustrated with the organIzation and as mentioned getting the 13th pick for him represented more value than his play as a pro warranted.

And think for a second how lost he'd seem sometimes, floating, skating into a cul-du-sac. Imagine him with THIS club the last 2 yrs. .... After that he'd get you a 4th.

Not sure if you saw his list or not,but he had both of them as "average" skaters. Not sure what you grade their skating as?
He had grades on shot,hockey sense, puck skills,skating and compete for his entire list.

Any current NHLer that you can think of that has improved his skating from when he was a prospect to now when he is a pro? I'm sure a lot of them improve a little, I mean someone that has made a noticeable improvement?

Trying to get a read on this year's draft, looks like it is D heavy.
I'm wondering if the Blackhawks don't get 1 would they maybe settle for a Catton? Or do they go Levshunov/Silayev/Richardinson at pick 2 or 3?
- captainserious

I'd might be willing to say at least 50% of jrs players skating improves from 18 to 19 yrs old and 70ish percent of kids drafted skating improves from the day they were drafted to the day they turn pro. ...... Unless the kid is just a flat out bad skater but even they improve.

But just cuz a kid improves his skating it doesn't mean he'll even be avarage. ... IMO skating improves more from 16 to 20 yrs old than from 20 to 35 yrs old.

If the Hawks draft from 2nd to 4th I like Lindstrom, Eiserman then Dmen, in no particular order, D!ckinson, Levshunov, Parekh. .... From what LITTLE I've seen Silayev is a better skating more explosive Vlasic. But I would not take a Russian top 5 maybe not even top 10.

Still studying up on Catton but after the two forwards mentioned I'm going Dman.

Not sure if anyone saw Pronman's 2024 prospect rankings?
#1 a no brainer,but his list is interesting starting at #2

Tier - elite NHL player
1.Celebrini

Tier - NHL all star
2. Silayev
3. Richardinson
4. Yakemchuk
5. Levshunov

Tier - bubble nhl all star top of the lineup player
6. Catton
7. Demidov
8. Lindstrom

Tier 4 - top of the lineup player
9. Parekh
10. Buium
11. Helenius
12. Jiricek
13. Eiserman

Has Eiserman and Levshunov as "average" skaters.

I'm pretty sure Wiz said Eiserman's skating is fine,and I thought I read at multiple places that Levshunov was actually a real good skater,so that part seems a bit weird,but I guess each of these guys see what they want to see.
- captainserious

I think they had Bedard listed as an OK skater. Not sure how they judge it. Seems kind of arbitrary.

Bedard straight-line I guess isn't very impressive but man is he good moving laterally.

I'd rather have a guy that can move in all directions fluidly and explosive laterally (like Panarian, Kane, Bedard, etc) than straight north south speed.

I think they had Bedard listed as an OK skater. Not sure how they judge it. Seems kind of arbitrary.

Bedard straight-line I guess isn't very impressive but man is he good moving laterally.

I'd rather have a guy that can move in all directions fluidly and explosive laterally (like Panarian, Kane, Bedard, etc) than straight north south speed.
- fattybeef

I know. I miss Stalberg too.

Let's remember that Slaggert isn't among the top 10 or 12 prospects in the system, so IMO, it's doubtful if he'll be a difference maker. Maybe he'll project out a a 3rd or 4th liner. Yes, you need those types of players on the roster, but it seems as if the Hawks have about a dozen of those types. But I'm looking to forward to see him play against NHL competition. It's a good opportunity for him to show what he has and earn a future roster spot.
- boilermaker100

If he can skate good and finish in front of the net reasonably well that would be an upgrade in some respects.

He killed us in 2014.
- rpeters01

I know Rinzel is a bust, but he was only 10 back in 2014 and not yet drafted by the Hawks. There's no way he could have killed the Blackhawks. Don't you think you're being a bit to hard on the poor kid? That's rough, even for here.

Let's remember that Slaggert isn't among the top 10 or 12 prospects in the system, so IMO, it's doubtful if he'll be a difference maker. Maybe he'll project out a a 3rd or 4th liner. Yes, you need those types of players on the roster, but it seems as if the Hawks have about a dozen of those types. But I'm looking to forward to see him play against NHL competition. It's a good opportunity for him to show what he has and earn a future roster spot.
- boilermaker100

I don't think anyone believes Slaggert will become the next Patrick Sharp (he's not that handsome). If he can develop into a solid bottom 6 forward that's a win for the team. Every contender needs quality depth, maybe Slaggert can bring that to the Hawks.

So not calling Nazar a bust, however, does anybody think that maybe they should have kept Dach instead. Sure Dach has been unlucky with injuries, but maybe that changes going forward. TBH, I’m on the fence on this one, as Nazar hasn’t been 100% healthy either. Dach did have 38 points in 58 games last year as a 22 year old.
- Angotti

No. Nazar has a higher ceiling for offensive output and not dissimilar to Bedard is a rink and gym rat. He's a strong kid.

Also much more dynamic player.

Kind of the difference between a gentle giant like Zacha who plays a responsible defensive game and will score 45-60 points no one will ever remember and an animal like Brayden Point who is smaller but an absolute handful to deal with and more entertaining to watch.

Will Nazar be a producer like Point? That is hugely debatable but looking at ceilings I think that is where you get based on size, skill, ect.

I think you need both types of players fwiw but if I had to pick one or the other then I'd go with the upside for a player like Nazar every time.

New blog up.