Maybe I'm a bit naive but, and it is a big but, if Hall plays 60 games this season. Perry doesn't get launched,and the Hawks aren't killed by injuries,I'd figure they'd have an extra 10-15 points in the standings this year.

I figure a 20pt improvement next year is the least we should expect,unless they are decimated by injuries again
- captainserious

I once did some research on hockey reference.com. Historically to get out of the bottom 10 in the standings you need about 82 points. So about a point per game. Coincidentally during the covid shortened season when 52 games were played something like 55 points got you 10th from the bottom.

Next season even a 20 point improvement would give the Hawks 75 or so points. Could be 7th or 8th worst record.

I think he could be considered there depending who is taken before that pick. Hemming is a big winger who has really good shot. I see he could have a breakout season in Liiga next year if he can be more consistent. He is really good skater too for his size.
- MjulQvist

Hemming jumped out to me at The Worlds. NHL body and speed already IMO. With his size, skating, shot he's got a shot at being a power winger in the NHL. A nice part it seems he may have a floor like NYR's Will Cuylle. A big, strong, physical, high compete/hungry, plays in the dirty areas 3rd liner.

I was curious about how much a team "typically" improves from a bottom 3 position and I looked at all the bottom 3 teams of the last 30 seasons (excluding cancelled seasons and adjusted for 82 games). The average improvement was about 13 points and the mean 12 points, but it was a pretty wide spread and not the most huge sample size. Just if anyone is curious.

14.4% of teams lost points (just like we did this season)
35.6% of teams gained points but less than 12.
24.4% of teams gained 12 to 20 points
14.4% of teams gained 21 to 30 points
11.1% of teams gained more than 30 points

This isn't a prediction and doesn't take into account how many years a team was near the bottom, but just a representation of how often teams have climbed and how fast from the bottom 3 on the list.
- breadbag

Good stuff. For context, the Hawks finished a mere 46 points from a playoff berth this season. A 24 point improvement would allow them to pass exactly ONE team in the West. So, for those hoping to get to the last week or so in contention.......good luck. Prolly need to take a breath, there's a long way to go.

Not directed at you, Bread.

LA posted this in the last thread and I wanted to make sure it was seen. Injury concerns to his knees due to his skating style:

"On The Hockey Prospects show last weekend on NHL radio they said Demidov’s skating style is a knee injury in the making, especially cause he does not have Mitchkov’s build".

Who was making that statement LA, were there multiple guys saying it and did all of the people agree?
- Mr Ricochet

Don't remember who made the comment. Here is a link to the show's contributors. I listen occasionally on weekends when I am in the car.

https://www.hockeyprospectradio.com/about

Yup! Pretty funny,looks like it was destined to be San Jose at #1 this year.
At least the Blackhawks didn't lose a spot or two.
- captainserious

There was almost a 75% chance that the Hawks dropped to 3 or 4, while I wanted #1, I'm more than happy with #2.

On paper anyway. Didn't register a point in half the games so it was very much in bunches.
- fattybeef

Half a point a game would have kept him in Chicago not that I was being serious.

Yeah I'm feeling this way too about Leyshunov. Nice Michigan State connection!!!

If not Leyshunov, dare I dream about trading up for #1? Bedard and Celebrini are on the same Canada team...

Wonder if our #2 plus next year's Blackhawks' 1st, our 25-26 2nd round pick, one of our promising D Men prospects and one of our forward prospects (Moore) would do it.

Imagine that Carolina gave up 2 Firsts, a Second and Moore for Bryce Young and we could do the same for Celebrini.
- Popsghostly

This isn't that crazy. Putting aside the political factor, the Sharks can wait on Demidov. It probably depends most on the evaluation gap between Celebrini and Demidov. If it isn't big in their scouts' view, then this might be attractive. I'd love to see that deal go down as an outside fan and watch Bedard and Celebrini cook.

Hey Wiz!
Just out of curiousity...if Oliver Moore was in this draft class,where would he be ranked? Top 10?15?20?
- captainserious

Probably in the 40-50 range.

My guess is that he's be in about the same place. I'd guess 15-20.

Still, I think he could be one of the best value picks in the first 2-3 rounds of the 2023 draft.

I can agree...

Bob Pulford told me at the Terry Ruskowski press signing that in 1979 draft he thought Gartner's bent over skating would be the reason the Blackhawks would not take him.

I think I recollect him having more than a few 40 & 50 goal seasons with Washington skating bent over.
- wiz1901

After two torn labrums in my 60's, an Orthopedist told me my hip joints are not normal and that is why I walk with my feet turned out. To make my feet straight my knees nearly touch not that I could ever walk that way.

In a recent Powers article, he wrote "I don’t think Scott Wheeler’s top three draft prospects in his latest rankings are far off the Blackhawks’ thinking."

Those three are Celebrini, Demidov, Levshunov. A lot of other writers are running with that thought.

But notice the ambiguity in Powers' statement. "I don't think", "not far off".

Who really knows what KD and staff are thinking? Could be someone else. 7 weeks or so until we find out.
- boilermaker100

BM, thought I read yesterday either in his article or the comments that Powers said "you'll have to trust me on this" concerning his comment about the Hawks having it down to Levshunov or Demidov. ...... If I read the comments over there I don't usually get too far before it starts going sideways but it might have been there I read Powers "explain" his comment.

I'm sure Powers has some folks with the Hawks who will feed him some scoop and he's not a blowhard and feels himself important so I give his stuff more credence than most..... And even if he did get that scoop from a high upper in the organIzation this info comes before the organIzational meetings where the sharp ones go to bat for their guy and the prospects get scrubbed up and down.

So, that feeling/scoop of it's either Demidov or Levshunov can very easily change as the process plays out and especially in this draft where there doesn't seem to be loads of daylight between the 2 and 8 pick.

That said you can sell me on either in 5 minutes but I could say that about 5-6 more guys too.

Any thoughts on the big strong Finnish winger Emil Hemming at #20, MjulQvist?
- Mr Ricochet

HEAVY boots

That is pure speculation and not an issue atm. Sure anything can happen with crazy s**t going on around the world. There is also possibility that Levshunov doesn´t want to sing with the Hawks if drafted by them and goes somewhere else.

What we know now from Demidov´s agent Dan Milstein is that his client wants to come to NA after his contract is up. But of course a lot can happen in a year.
- MjulQvist

Nothing a lot of cash can't take care of, Look how Philly got their goalie into the states. I think teams just have to make a little donation is all.

HEAVY boots
- wiz1901

So Wiz do you think Eiserman is the best available player at 2? If he's not and you were starting a team who would it be?

Once Hawks know who they are picking will also determine if any D prospects are sent in a trade.
- RaleighHawk

Do you think the Hawks are satisfied with the conclusions they've drawn, good or bad, on Kaiser, Del Mastro, Allen, Rinzel, Phillips even Crevier and KK too, to move one?...... Moving a prospect before the league sees he's not gonna be an NHL player is really helpful but you wanna make sure you give a kid the time to develop at the same time.

I do hope the apparent depth of Dmen in the pipeline can be used to fill holes I just don't know when that time is on a case by case basis.

HEAVY boots
- wiz1901

If Beckett Sennecke is available at 20 he’d make a nice addition. Although I’m not biased for him I admittedly have seen him play live probably 30 or 40 times and in the last three months and especially the OHL playoffs he’s really come into his own. A really good skater, good hands plays in the dirty areas of the ice. Tall 6’2” skinny kid who apparently was 5’8” two years ago so he’s managed to avoid the clumsy uncoordinated stage as he’s grown.

RE: Oliver Moore


My guess is that he's be in about the same place. I'd guess 15-20.

Still, I think he could be one of the best value picks in the first 2-3 rounds of the 2023 draft.
- DarthKane

Last year was #24-27 was when the regular first round drop off occurred, with players there being more secondary support players, but good ones nonetheless.

This year I would say 21 and that is leaving Adam Jiricek, Aron Kiviharju, Jett Luchanko, Russian wing Igor Chernyshov, Matvei Gridin, Emil Hemming, Linus Eriksson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Andrew Basha....agian all ok but not dominant future additions.
#20 ends the round this year for me with Michael have, but Yegor Surin and Terik Parascak are somewhat personal reaches on my board, so let's say #18.

I like Hage more than Moore in this bunch, so you Moore would go in the early 20's this draft.

If Beckett Sennecke is available at 20 he’d make a nice addition. Although I’m not biased for him I admittedly have seen him play live probably 30 or 40 times and in the last three months and especially the OHL playoffs he’s really come into his own. A really good skater, good hands plays in the dirty areas of the ice. Tall 6’2” skinny kid who apparently was 5’8” two years ago so he’s managed to avoid the clumsy uncoordinated stage as he’s grown.
- paulr

For sure.

his skating continues be better from his days as a midget defenseman!

So Wiz do you think Eiserman is the best available player at 2? If he's not and you were starting a team who would it be?
- BetweenTheDots

I live Cayden Lindstrom and Eiserman for the Hawks situation at forward.

A new team see Sam Di ckinson as a greta spokesperson and future captain...

BM, thought I read yesterday either in his article or the comments that Powers said "you'll have to trust me on this" concerning his comment about the Hawks having it down to Levshunov or Demidov. ...... If I read the comments over there I don't usually get too far before it starts going sideways but it might have been there I read Powers "explain" his comment.

I'm sure Powers has some folks with the Hawks who will feed him some scoop and he's not a blowhard and feels himself important so I give his stuff more credence than most..... And even if he did get that scoop from a high upper in the organIzation this info comes before the organIzational meetings where the sharp ones go to bat for their guy and the prospects get scrubbed up and down.

So, that feeling/scoop of it's either Demidov or Levshunov can very easily change as the process plays out and especially in this draft where there doesn't seem to be loads of daylight between the 2 and 8 pick.

That said you can sell me on either in 5 minutes but I could say that about 5-6 more guys too.
- Mr Ricochet

Could be Powers has inside info, or is reading between the lines as to what he's been told or heard. The organization doesn't strike me as the type that leaks info to reporters though. The Hawks can draft any one of several players and those internal meetings should be interesting.

If KD likes Demidov and Levshunov equally he could draft Levshunov and start a run on defensemen, leaving some better forwards available at #20.

Has any one seen if he has used his legs and cross overs?

(Demidov/former Hawk Nylander hav skating issues?)
- wiz1901

Yes. In a few of the highlights he's more upright and closes his hips. But a vast majority has him open. I think the bigger part is not being able to watch him in a whole game.

lol really got me looking at this poop now. It's kind of interesting how some other evaluators really like his footwork.

Honestly he looks like Crosby who often seems to drive forward with open hips and near the goal and behind the net is low and open more than anything else. Kinda gliding rather than cutting.

Very different from someone like Panarin who is upright and crossing over to cut. Crosby gets low and pushes through a glide while the bread man is more of an active cut.

I think he'd need to make some adjustments coming over here but I dunno. If it's just a little bit of clean up work I don't know that if that is enough reason not to draft the kid.

It's really interesting how opinions differ related to these players and how different people see different stuff. Really not a way to quantify it.

Here's another take fwiw:

https://sammcgilligan.sub...midov-a-dynamic-superstar

LA posted this in the last thread and I wanted to make sure it was seen. Injury concerns to his knees due to his skating style:

"On The Hockey Prospects show last weekend on NHL radio they said Demidov’s skating style is a knee injury in the making, especially cause he does not have Mitchkov’s build".

Who was making that statement LA, were there multiple guys saying it and did all of the people agree?
- Mr Ricochet

Probably Shane, my buddy...I will email him.
(He's the one at the Kane draft ion Columbus, placed a 3rd mic set up and suddenly w/o warning handed me the show to talk Blackhawks hockey.

Good to know there several detractors of Demidov's skating.

NONE of the Chicago beat writers or their "insider" would ever be told what the team's inclination is.

These teams are totally freaked out that their lists, discussions concerning the prospects are super closed doors.

They do not in any way have guys they curry favor to.

They actually hold a tight grip over their media outlest and slap them if they make contrary assumptions.

This isn't that crazy. Putting aside the political factor, the Sharks can wait on Demidov. It probably depends most on the evaluation gap between Celebrini and Demidov. If it isn't big in their scouts' view, then this might be attractive. I'd love to see that deal go down as an outside fan and watch Bedard and Celebrini cook.
- Only_A_Ladd

Unless Bedard moved to wing at 5 on 5 him and Celebrini would not see the ice together except for the PP. Celebrini as a centerman in the Toews mold and is as serious about all 3 zones as a heart attack... To this point Bedard not so much.

Interesting though about ranking Celebrini and Demidov. If Demidov was a centerman I think there would be a debate but as it is Celebrini playing center, being bigger and having proven himself at much higher levels seals his #1 ranking.

Good stuff. For context, the Hawks finished a mere 46 points from a playoff berth this season. A 24 point improvement would allow them to pass exactly ONE team in the West. So, for those hoping to get to the last week or so in contention.......good luck. Prolly need to take a breath, there's a long way to go.

Not directed at you, Bread.
- mohel

Honestly for me, I have a hard time guessing what the standings are going to look like at this point. I think there are a lot of unknowns, especially until the team gets in camp and we see who is on the team, who is healthy and playing well vs who is not. I do think it's possible for them to take a bigger than average jump, if things line up.

I think goaltending will be a big big factor in the standings. I mean, Mrazek played some of his best of his career this season. Will we get that Mrazek again or the Mrazek of the previous year who left a lot to be desired? Even at his best he is good but not elite, and our backup goaltending is a problem area until proven otherwise.

Defense we will likely have a couple/few new names in the mix and it should overall be better, but how much is yet to be determined.

At forward there is probably the biggest room for improvement, but I still really think the next season will hinge on depth at C. Until that improves, we rely really heavily on Jason D!ckinson , and if he goes down with injury without us getting much more depth down the middle, that's gonna potentially be an issue. I would feel a lot more confident about the team making a jump in the standings if we get a very solid 2 way C to help boost the forward group.

I like the unknowns and I'm pretty excited to see what changes during this offseason. I hope Kyle makes some good moves for the future.