The word around the Tribute Centre in Oshawa was Parekh had a concussion, but who knows? D!ckinson is an absolute beast physically and is a really good skater. What I like about him is he’s really good defensively, has some offensive upside and makes very few mistakes.
- paulr

You see the kid flip pass outa his zone 50 feet up the ice? Kids hands are really skilled with touch, looks like he's pitching quarters. He is a beast, and he did finish 2nd in the skating competition of the CHL Prodspects Tournament, he is big, he does take D seriously, he is chippy/mean, he does control pace slowing it down and spoeeding it up, he can carry the thing end to end. He checks Every. Single. Box...........

Those jrs arenas are filled with folks who know what's going on with the kids. Many are billets or know billets and they know everything. Same with arena staff. Ice cleaners, guys who work in the scoring and penalty boxes.

You see the kid flip pass outa his zone 50 feet up the ice? Kids hands are really skilled with touch, looks like he's pitching quarters. He is a beast, and he did finish 2nd in the skating competition of the CHL Prodspects Tournament, he is big, he does take D seriously, he is chippy/mean, he does control pace slowing it down and spoeeding it up, he can carry the thing end to end. He checks Every. Single. Box...........

Those jrs arenas are filled with folks who know what's going on with the kids. Many are billets or know billets and they know everything. Same with arena staff. Ice cleaners, guys who work in the scoring and penalty boxes.
- Mr Ricochet

Imagine a top pairing of D!ckinson and Vlasic, especially if Vlasic developed a mean streak.

Love Demidov. Can you just imagine and Bedard on the same line with Demidov for 10 yrs on a line with a beefy winger to get em the puck although Demidov is a first rate puck hound? ....... But he is a Cossack and I just can't live with the risk inside the top 5.

At 10, sure at 2-3-4 no, especially with at least one of Buium, D!ckenson or even Levshunov or Lindstrom available. ....... I do think KD and Crew go Dman. IMO an NHL 1st pairing guy will be available when they pick and those kinds are damn near impossible to pass on.
- Mr Ricochet

Interesting to see how far Demidov falls in the draft (if at all) considering Mitckov fell all the way to 8th.

Woll injured, Samsanov starting.

Yo Chunk, you paid for the RKF stream? I can't find a stream but did for the 2nd period of their win in Game 2. Was ecstatic when Commesso was in goal. All I needed to see was how he moved, positioned himself, tracked the puck, controlled his crease.

Love the kid's foundation. Played his jrs at the NTDP just like Holl and Oettinger. .... Kid looked smooth, confident, tracked nicely, was in control and quick to spare. A fine efficient style with athleticism to stay with the play when it gets funky. Just like Holl.

I was very pleased with Commesso. In 2-3 yrs we're gonna see what he's got in the Bigs. ....... Gajun, drafted in his draft +1 yr when he was 19, went backwards a bit. With an .893 SPG he lost a bunch of starts to his backup who had 22 games to Gajun's 43 and threw up a .900 SPG. Love he's going the NCAA route and will be with MN Duluth next yr. https://www.eliteprospect.../player/690368/adam-gajan

Woll injured, Samsanov starting.
- LAHawk

Oh shi@!!! Damn what a bummer. Kid is a player and damn fun to watch.

Imagine a top pairing of D!ckinson and Vlasic, especially if Vlasic developed a mean streak.
- paulr

That sounds pretty damn good.

Interesting to see how far Demidov falls in the draft (if at all) considering Mitckov fell all the way to 8th.
- LAHawk

It will be interesting. AZ/Utah ain't scared of drafting Soviets so I don't think Demidov falls past them.

Imagine a top pairing of D!ckinson and Vlasic, especially if Vlasic developed a mean streak.
- paulr

To my eye towards the end of the season Vlasic showed some irritations with bs and pushed back a tad. 6ft 6in guys are strong and if he develops some push back even a little bit he'll be even better than we hoped.

As mentioned, I get a helluva dopamine hit when I watch D!ckinson play and imagine him a Hawk. .......

That sounds pretty damn good.
- Chief4Feathers

I wonder what direction, forward or defence is Davidson thinking? Of course winning the lottery makes his decision easy …

I wonder what direction, forward or defence is Davidson thinking? Of course winning the lottery makes his decision easy …
- paulr

BPA… right now the Hawks can’t be picky. The roster needs more blue chip players - regardless of position.

BPA… right now the Hawks can’t be picky. The roster needs more blue chip players - regardless of position.
- Chief4Feathers

Always BPA but I suspect after Celebrini the next four or five are more or less equal.

Always BPA but I suspect after Celebrini the next four or five are more or less equal.
- paulr

Right… so your scouting staff has to figure out which prospect has the highest ceiling. Position and roster fit don’t really matter when you’re dealing with the Hawks current situation.

Right… so your scouting staff has to figure out which prospect has the highest ceiling. Position and roster fit don’t really matter when you’re dealing with the Hawks current situation.
- Chief4Feathers

I’ll stick to flipping burgers.

I’ll stick to flipping burgers.
- paulr

Yep, I’m with ya. I was certain Kirby Dach was a can’t miss pick… and before that I also thought Mark McNeil was going to slot in as 2C behind Toews. So… yeah… it’s good thing I don’t try to make a living picking hockey prospects.

Yep, I’m with ya. I was certain Kirby Dach was a can’t miss pick… and before that I also thought Mark McNeil was going to slot in as 2C behind Toews. So… yeah… it’s good thing I don’t try to make a living picking hockey prospects.
- Chief4Feathers

Should have been Danault. I was all aboard when they drafted him. And then they pissed him away for a couple of useless plugs.

Chatfield or Carrier seem to fit the salary and term Kd has mentioned. Both would big upgrades over Megna, Tinordi and Zaitsev. I like Chatfield given all things considered.
would love Pesce and would give him a 4-5 year deal but I doubt he wants to be on a rebuilding team.
- Elbows15

You're not setting a very high barre there.

Should have been Danault. I was all aboard when they drafted him. And then they pissed him away for a couple of useless plugs.
- Elbows15

Danualt AND a 2nd round pick for Weise and Fleischmann. Arguably Stan’s worst trade ever.

You're not setting a very high barre there.
- rpeters01

I did say big upgrade.

and maybe those 3 should try ballet.

Danualt AND a 2nd round pick for Weise and Fleischmann. Arguably Stan’s worst trade ever.
- Chief4Feathers

Nothin will be worse than trading and then signing Jones.

Danualt AND a 2nd round pick for Weise and Fleischmann. Arguably Stan’s worst trade ever.
- Chief4Feathers

There a lot more to pick from Seth Jones comes to mind.

Nothin will be worse than trading and then signing Jones.
- Elbows15

Yeah… but at least Jones is a serviceable defenseman. Weise and Fleischmann were crap from the get go.

Saad and spare parts for Panarin and spare parts was pretty awful. doesn't even matter if Panarin walked as a UFA - Saad was ... ineffectual, despite 'the cost controlled certainty' that Bowman blathered on about.

Even worse -- Saad was boring.

Saad and spare parts for Panarin and spare parts was pretty awful. doesn't even matter if Panarin walked as a UFA - Saad was ... ineffectual, despite 'the cost controlled certainty' that Bowman blathered on about.

Even worse -- Saad was boring.
- SC116

So many bad trades in the Stan era. Some he had to do for cap reasons. Others I was wondering what he was thinking

Yep, I’m with ya. I was certain Kirby Dach was a can’t miss pick… and before that I also thought Mark McNeil was going to slot in as 2C behind Toews. So… yeah… it’s good thing I don’t try to make a living picking hockey prospects.
- Chief4Feathers

To be fair, Dach has been injury prone, but would not be surprised if he became a very good power forward one of these years, he’s still young.