I think the Hawks need to add as much talent as they can this year. They have a ton of draft capital over the next few years. They need to start adding through the draft more immediately. Unless they get the moon as a return, they need to start taking talent. Just my opinion.
- frafra

What do you mean by this? Do you mean they should draft older players that are closer to being NHL ready? Mostly that only happens at the very top of the draft. By definition, the draft is taking talent.

Just trying to figure out the direction you are going.

I'm on record saying I wouldn't mind using SOME of their draft capital to pry out younger, NHL talent that might be available.

Totem’s post on page 4? Sam DeAngelo, senior at W. Michigan. ANA'S pick from a few years ago, but will be a free agent if he doesn't sign with them this summer.
- boilermaker100

Thanks as my eyes are ...going.
oh...it is supposed to be Sam Colangelo
You do not end up finding anything out we these guys until they sign after their season or wait until August and sign with other teams.

He IS a big body player who uses it and had a really nice year.

The issue becomes when these "Massachusetts Hayes" guys get to their 4th year intent on playing "back home."
and if the Ducks cannot sign him, they will want a pick.

I like Dylan Wendt, RW, better at Western Michigan. He finished with the same number of goals and one more point than Colangelo.
He is a FREE AGENT.He has quick feet, plays aggressive on the forecheck and plays with pace and jam.

I can bet the entire league will be bidding to try and sign the two Quinnipiac 22 yr olds, LC Jacob Quinllan, 6’ 0 196, and RW Collin Graf 6’1” 194 .
They both has girth aren’t under 6 foot and have deft hands and scoring punch, although Graf is more of a complementary piece.

Trading into the top 10 is harder than it sounds. Let's say the 2nd tier goes down to 10. After Celebrini, the next 9 look something like in no order Levshunov, Lindstrom, D!ckinson, Silayev, Eiserman, Catton, Demidov, Parekh and Yaremchuk. All these guys are likely contributors in a few years. Why would a team trade out of a spot in the top 10 and miss out on one of them for God knows what at 18-20 and 34? I think I would want a bird in the hand versus two in the bush.

As an opposing GM, if I were to move out of the top 10 I would want a decent prospect instead of the 2nd to know that I am getting a guaranteed NHLer. If Parekh or Eiserman is available at 9 or 10, would anyone here give up the TB 1st and a Vlasic/Kaiser/DelMastro/Allen type prospect?
- boilermaker100

Moving up would be great, but as we saw last year it's not and easy thing to do. KD might be able to move from 18-20 to 14-17, he'd have to seriously believe in a specific prospect to make a move like this, rather than take who's available with Tampa's pick.

I wonder if KD will move Toronto's pick next year for immediate help, somebody who fits the rebuild and will be in Chicago for the long term. Something like the Toronto/Washington trade from 2023 - #28 for Rasmus Sandin.

Where would you like to see Vlasic improve?
- paulr

1. Defense
2. Offense
3. Skating
4. Hockey IQ
5. Passing
6. Puck handling
7. Physicality
8. Sense of style
9. Taste in music
10. Choice of stick tape colour

1. Defense
2. Offense
3. Skating
4. Hockey IQ
5. Passing
6. Puck handling
7. Physicality
8. Sense of style
9. Taste in music
10. Choice of stick tape colour
- DarthKane

His home address to somewhere around RFD.

Moving up would be great, but as we saw last year it's not and easy thing to do. KD might be able to move from 18-20 to 14-17, he'd have to seriously believe in a specific prospect to make a move like this, rather than take who's available with Tampa's pick.

I wonder if KD will move Toronto's pick next year for immediate help, somebody who fits the rebuild and will be in Chicago for the long term. Something like the Toronto/Washington trade from 2023 - #28 for Rasmus Sandin.
- DarthKane

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Blackhawks lines tonight at Kings:

TJohnson-Bedard-Kurashev
Foligno-Athanasiou-Reichel
Blackwell-Richardinson-Anderson
Slaggert-Donato-Raddysh

Vlasic-Jones
Korchinski-Megna
Kaiser-Zaitsev

Mrazek starting in goal

Tinordi, Entwistle scratched

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Blackhawks lines tonight at Kings:

TJohnson-Bedard-Kurashev
Foligno-Athanasiou-Reichel
Blackwell-Richardinson-Anderson
Slaggert-Donato-Raddysh

Vlasic-Jones
Korchinski-Megna
Kaiser-Zaitsev

Mrazek starting in goal

Tinordi, Entwistle scratched
- LAHawk

This team will be markedly better once they’re not starting TJohnson, Anderson, Megna, and Zaitsev.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Blackhawks lines tonight at Kings:

TJohnson-Bedard-Kurashev
Foligno-Athanasiou-Reichel
Blackwell-Richardinson-Anderson
Slaggert-Donato-Raddysh

Vlasic-Jones
Korchinski-Megna
Kaiser-Zaitsev

Mrazek starting in goal

Tinordi, Entwistle scratched
- LAHawk

Why do I think Kaiser has the better partner?

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Blackhawks lines tonight at Kings:

TJohnson-Bedard-Kurashev
Foligno-Athanasiou-Reichel
Blackwell-Richardinson-Anderson
Slaggert-Donato-Raddysh

Vlasic-Jones
Korchinski-Megna
Kaiser-Zaitsev

Mrazek starting in goal

Tinordi, Entwistle scratched
- LAHawk

While I think he was sent down to work on his positioning, I hope Kaiser handles the physical aspect of the game better than he did earlier in the year. He is the smallest Dman on the team and it was noticeable at times when he would get manhandled a bit.

Why do I think Kaiser has the better partner?
- Chunk

I know Murphy has been the whipping boy du jour around here for a while but I think Megna is a perfect example of careful what you wish for.

The Devils were the latest team that had to do salary cap gymnastics because they had to have Meier.

Look how quick it escalated for Ottawa
- BetweenTheDots

They had some pretty serious injury issues this year and abhorrent goaltending.

Unlike Ottawa - Jersey has at least won a playoff round with their current group and unlike Ottawa they probably won't have to move on from major core pieces to shake stuff up in the room.

At least theyre trying to win.

Interesting article from Powers today:

Blackhawks free agent targets: 12 forwards Chicago could sign to play with Connor Bedard

Unlikely tier

Reinhart and Guentzel

Next tier
Marchessault

The Teuvo tier
Teravainen

Physical winger tier

Bertuzzi
Noesen
Mantha

The offensive winger tier
Sprong
Toffoli
DeBrusk
Drouin

Patrick Kane in his own tier as well

If they sign 1 of Marchessault or Teravainen + 1 of DeBrusk,Sprong,Noesen or Mantha I'd be happy. Drouin,Bertuzzi and Toffoli - I think it would be better to avoid.
2 of those guys + a healthy Hall would give Richardson options to mix with 98. And I think they'd be good for his overall production.

4-3-4-2-3
- captainserious

Debrusk + TT makes them competitive. Players have to want to sign here and they shouldn't recklessly throw money around but those two for 15ish millions between the two of them is probably fine. Can argue about term if you want.

Much more competitive team. Bedard has some help and imagine all the points he'll score not by himself.

Debrusk + TT makes them competitive. Players have to want to sign here and they shouldn't recklessly throw money around but those two for 15ish millions between the two of them is probably fine. Can argue about term if you want.

Much more competitive team. Bedard has some help and imagine all the points he'll score not by himself.
- fattybeef

Works for me, or at the very least I hope that they sign Teravainen, he will be a good addition. Unless they get lucky and draft Celebrini, they’ll need to sign another forward besides TT to replace Tyler Johnson, but it doesn’t need to be Debrusk, it could be another middle six forward.