Ok what’s going on today? Jhawk59 says he has something to say then says he’s not saying what he had to say, now you aren’t making player comparisons and you compare two players in the same post.

- paulr

I am not using older NHL star defenseman as my comps, that's all.

I think that comps are kinda like a worm on a fish hook, that bait grabs you and you are disappointed by the result when you get reeled in, hook line and sinker....

Appears most are dismissing Demidov's leg injuries, but Lindstrom became a do not touch because of his back
- LAHawk

I dont think anyone is dismissing either of their injuries. We dont know what demidov’s injury is but we know lindstum’s.

He’s right, if there’s a number one defenseman in the draft and you don’t have one it’s a direction you have to really consider. Especially considering that Levshunov is BPA, after Celebrini, on many draft lists.

Not sure what the Toews or Kane drafts have to do with it?
- paulr

I have seen levshunov listed as bpa on very few draft lists. But if he’s the second bpa after celabrini then this is a very weak draft indeed.

I have seen levshunov listed as bpa on very few draft lists. But if he’s the second bpa after celabrini then this is a very weak draft indeed.
- LFS

Sure but Vegas has him as the odds on favorite to be the 2nd OA pick now.

I'm fine with whoever they draft, if he turns out to be a good RDman, KD has taken a huge question mark and turned it into a strength.

S Jones. Vlasic
Levshunov Korchinski
Murphy. Kaiser

Ethan Allan
Rinzel

Not to shabby

D's take longer to develop into strong NHL players, I think Chi goes with the D (just my guess). They also saw him multiple times this season, they know the player very well vs Demidov. Chi will be able to draft another top 5 pick next season where a few forwards will be great. Need to build the right hand D side sooner than later.
- Symba007

You can reverse that and say they could draft another top defenseman next year with another top 5 pick

Won't the Hawks have to sign Victor Tikonov to be a chaperone again?
- LAHawk

Kurashev speaks Russian -or rather I read that -so doubt there is much of a need for an import chaperone, they've already got someone imbued in the team culture around.

Going to post my WHL draft sheet (5 pages) here with some player comments.

NHL Entry Draft 2024 - WHL Prospects List - Page 1 of 5

Columns: CS Rank - Wiz Rank - Name - Height - Weight - Position - Team - Reg Season Gms-Goals-Asst-Pts - Playoffs Gms-Goals-Asst-Pts

R1, #2 - BLACKHAWKS
3 8 Lindstrom, Cayden 6-4 204 C Medicine Hat 32-27-19-46 4-1-1-2
8 10 Catton, Berkly 5-11 163 C Spokane 68-54-62-116 4-0-4-4
9 9 Iginla, Tij 6-0 180 C Kelowna 64-47-37-84 11-9-6-15
11 13 Yakemchuk, Carter 6-2 194 RD Calgary 66-30-41-71 5-0-3-3
15 19 Parascak, Terik 5-11 174 RW Prince George 68-43-62-105 12-6-8-14
18 63 Miettinen, Julius 6-3 203 C Everett 66-31-36-67 9-2-2-4
R1, #18 - BLACKHAWKS
19 26 Ritchie, Ryder 5-10 157 RW Prince Albert 47-19-25-44 5-3-4-7
22 74 Jecho, Adam 6-5 198 RW Edmonton 54-23-24-47 0-0-0-0
26 29 Basha, Andrew 5-11 173 LW Medicine Hat 63-30-55-85 5-3-2-5
31 46 Elick, Charlie 6-3 189 RD Brandon 65-4-23-27 4-0-3-3


We have talked over the top 4 here quite a bit. Lindstrom has injury issues, but he is big, hits like a truck, and scored at 1.5 ppg when he was in the lineup. Catton is one of my favorites to watch, and only one of a few who have gotten over 50 goals and 100 points in a WHL season. He is thin, though, and I think there is a good chance he starts to slide, as teams look for size; he could get into the teens, but Chicago would have to work a trade up to get him. Yakemchuk has size and great offensive skills, and might look good on a trade up as well. Iginla likely has a ticket for Calgary if he gets to #9.

I have been pounding the table for Paraczak most of the year. He is another reedy guy, and he was injured in the Western finals series that Prince George lost. I think he will slide due to durability concerns, and might drop far enough (maybe R2 or R3) where he is a steal at the spot. Miettenen is all over the board, I didn't see Everett this year - good size and good scoring, not sure what the concerns might be with him. Ritchie has top-notch offensive skills, but needs to engage on the boards and learn defense. Basha had a big scoring year as Lindstrom's wing man, but also scored without him - could be good value late 1st. Did not see Jecho this year; size looks impressive, not sure how physical he is.

Charlie Elick is another favorite - he has good size and plays a good all-around game with a few correctable faults. He is Yakemchuk size but does not have the same upside. He could be a solid NHL defenseman, but might take an extra year to hit his stride.

See all pages at:
https://www.hockeybuzz.co...post_id=23452773#23452773

NHL Entry Draft 2024 - WHL Prospects List - Page 2 of 5

Columns: CS Rank - Wiz Rank - Name - Height - Weight - Position - Team - Reg Season Gms-Goals-Asst-Pts - Playoffs Gms-Goals-Asst-Pts

R2, #34 - BLACKHAWKS
36 56 Roberts, Colton 6-4 183 RD Vancouver 62-7-20-37 5-0-1-1
38 84 Smith, Tarin 6-1 175 LD Everett 67-8-36-44 8-1-4-5
40 133 Josephson, Ollie 5-11 176 LW Red Deer 68-12-35-47 0-0-0-0
41 51 Howe, Tanner 5-10 182 LW Regina 68-28-49-77 7-2-2-4
50 64 Wetsch, Carson 6-2 185 RW Calgary 67-25-25-50 5-1-0-1
R2, #50 - BLACKHAWKS
52 45 Brunicke, Harrison 6-2 185 RD Kamloops 49-10-11-21 14-0-2-2
53 47 Marquez, Miguel 5-10 170 RW Lethbridge 67-28-46-74 2-0-1-1
58 107 Curran, Maximillian 6-3 179 C Tri-Cities 40-5-27-32 0-0-0-0
63 108 Gojsic, Hiroki 6-3 198 RW Kelowna 68-21-29-50 11-0-5-5
64 73 Mrsic, Tomas 5-10 154 C Medicine Hat 63-23-30-62 5-0-1-1

Roberts has nice size and decent scoring, did not see him this year. Howe is Bedard's old running mate and scored a bunch, at 182 pounds it looks like he has some thickness also. Brunicke has been discussed here on the board as another RD with some upside. I liked Gojsic in the games I saw - he is very active and always around the puck. Marquez was a good scorer for Lethbridge. Curran was previously more highly ranked but did not have a good year.

See all pages at:
https://www.hockeybuzz.co...post_id=23452773#23452773

NHL Entry Draft 2024 - WHL Prospects List - Page 3 of 5

Columns: CS Rank - Wiz Rank - Name - Height - Weight - Position - Team - Reg Season Gms-Goals-Asst-Pts - Playoffs Gms-Goals-Asst-Pts

R3, #67 - BLACKHAWKS
69 NR Becher, Ondrej 6-1 184 C Prince George 58-32-64-96 15-5-14-19
R3, #72 - BLACKHAWKS
77 88 Caswell, Clark 5-10 164 C Swift Current 68-26-51-77 9-2-7-9
84 168 Jamieson, Eric 6-2 199 LD Everett 66-10-22-32 9-0-1-1
86 197 Laing, Hunter 6-5 205 C Prince George 66-11-14-25 10-1-0-1
89 127 Misskey, Nate 6-3 210 RD Victoria 44-7-27-34 4-1-2-3
93 147 McIsaac, William 6-3 192 RD Spokane 67-6-21-27 4-0-1-1
107 NR Mayes, Nathan 6-4 194 LD Spokane 68-1-15-16 4-0-0-0
111 NR Thorpe, Tyler 6-4 209 RW Vancouver 51-23-21-44 4-0-0-0
112 NR Alcos, Parker 6-2 180 RD Edmonton 67-1-14-15 0-0-0-0
119 225 Mistelbacher, Luke 6-0 195 RW Swift Current 64-20-33-53 9-4-5-9

Becher is another favorite and was entertaining in the games I saw, another very active winger always in the middle of the play, he did a lot of scoring but he was also on a loaded team. He turned 20 in February - past his draft year and playing his first WHL season. Caswell is a smaller center but did a lot of scoring in Swift Current. McIsaac is a big, stay at home defenseman, if you don't hear his name called he is probably having a good game. Laing is a big center on the loaded Prince George team.
See all pages at:
https://www.hockeybuzz.co...post_id=23452773#23452773

Yes on hockey prospects radio with Shane Malloy. This was about 3 weeks ago. I caught only some of it. I guess Mitchkov has the same type of style, but he said Mitchkov is built differently and is less prone to a leg injury.
- LAHawk

So now its not skating style but build that is the issue?

NHL Entry Draft 2024 - WHL Prospects List - Page 4 of 5

Columns: CS Rank - Wiz Rank - Name - Height - Weight - Position - Team - Reg Season Gms-Goals-Asst-Pts - Playoffs Gms-Goals-Asst-Pts

134 154 Buttazoni, Diego 5-9 183 C Portland 67-29-26-55 18-3-6-9
136 172 Heslop, Jesse 5-9 141 LW Everett 61-19-35-54 6-1-0-1
138 165 Fawcett, Keets 5-10 167 RW Calgary 65-19-26-45 3-2-1-3
141 155 Cooper, Miles 5-9 163 C Wenatchee 65-18-28-46 6-0-5-5
146 NR Pederson, Rhys 6-4 194 LD Edmonton 50-2-10-12 0-0-0-0
150 NR Vaughan, Jaxsin 6-1 206 RW Regina 59-15-10-25 4-0-0-0
R5, #151 - BLACKHAWKS
155 NR Vaughan, Corbin 6-0 205 LD Regina 33-4-4-8 4-0-0-0
157 156 Zakreski, Josh 5-10 188 LW Portland 68-21-28-49 18-2-6-8
160 NR Lovsin, Simon 6-0 162 RW Seattle 52-16-9-25 0-0-0-0
161 NR Smith, Shane 6-0 194 C Medicine Hat 64-29-22-51 5-0-2-2
R6, #163 - BLACKHAWKS
170 NR Edwards, Brayden 6-1 175 LW Lethbridge 66-31-39-70 4-2-0-2

Buttazoni was very active during the Portland playoff run; good scorer but he is small so not sure how he would project to higher levels. Heslop looks similar, did not see him this year. Edwards is a 19 year old who went undrafted, but was over a point per game for Lethbridge.

NHL Entry Draft 2024 - WHL Prospects List - Page 5 of 5

Columns: CS Rank - Wiz Rank - Name - Height - Weight - Position - Team - Reg Season Gms-Goals-Asst-Pts - Playoffs Gms-Goals-Asst-Pts

202 184 Pickford, Bryce 6-0 160 RD Seattle 65-2-15-17 0-0-0-0
212 177 Hadland, Caleb 5-10 174 LW Brandon 68-12-27-39 4-1-0-1
223 162 Hodnett, Gavin 5-6 158 C Edmonton 61-23-47-70 0-0-0-0
NR 220 Doyle, Tristen 5-9 180 RD Lethbridge 68-5-20-25 4-0-2-2

Pickford had a good year last year and I thought he would move up the rankings, but he really had a down year and was just traded away from Seattle. Still think there is some potential there but he may drop all the way through the draft this year. Hodnett had impressive scoring but it looks like size is the question for him.

Goaltenders:

Columns: CS Rank - Wiz Rank - Name - Height - Weight - Position - Team - Reg Season Gms-GAA-SvPct - Playoffs Gms-GAA-SvPct

3G 117 Matecha, Lukas 6-2 193 G Tri-Cities 35-3.42-0.901 0-0-0
5G 153 Cowan, Dawson 6-2 185 G Spokane 43-3.59-0.899 3-5.84-0.847
7G 76 Gardner, Evan 6-0 175 G Saskatoon 30-1.91-0.927 15-2.33-0.910
NR 181 Meneghin, Harrison 6-3 164 G Lethbridge 53-2.59-0.919 4-4.00-0.887
NR NR Spunar, Jan 6-3 185 G Portland 35-2.12-0.913 18-2.63-0.914

Gardner seems to be the best of the goalies this year, as he backstopped Saskatoon to the conference finals. Impressive GAA and save percentage for the regular season and reliable in playoffs. Spunar showed well in the playoffs as Portland made it to the finals, he is a 20 year old but still draft eligible.

See all pages at:
https://www.hockeybuzz.co...post_id=23452773#23452773

You can reverse that and say they could draft another top defenseman next year with another top 5 pick
- LFS

Yeah, but they get to decide which guy in this class is the best defenseman.


As much as RD Logan Hensler
Next year i would say I would prefer a shot at Porter Matone, Micheal Misa or my fav non superstar, Malcolm Spence.

If the Hawks draft him, maybe that'll mean they passed several pallets of vodka to his Russian team and that he can start next year on The Rock.
- mohel

That and a few brown paper bags of US currency in the right hands and he'll be bunking with Foligno and Bedard by middle of next week.

Probably Philly like last year
- Symba007

Montreal

That and a few brown paper bags of US currency in the right hands and he'll be bunking with Foligno and Bedard by middle of next week.
- Rota's Rooter

The Wirtz family has lots of vodka and lots of $$$$. We're in!

So now its not skating style but build that is the issue?
- LFS

I am just posting what I heard on Hockey Prospects Radio. They guy has been on the air and doing this for like 20 years, He rates Demidov the 7th best prospect this year. He isn't the only blogger who does this for a living concerned about Demidov cutting into the middle skating 10-2. I would hate to see him do that and have Trouba lining him up.

I personally have no clue who the BPA is after Cellebrini. The only reason I believe Cellebrini is BPA is that it appears to be a unanimous choice, like Bedard last year. I will leave the analysis of who the Hawks draft to the bloggers that do the research, and have seen a lot of the prospects in person.

Totem,

Ithink your lists don't account for the aditional second rounder given to Philly, so the numbers are one off.

Here are my personal Blackhawk picks on my mock:

#
162. the human stork, LC-w Miroslave Satan

131. Russian RCentre Matvei Korotkly

72. Big Swedish RC Simon Zether

67. Derek's son, LW Max Plante

50 USA LW John Mustard

34. The best player who drops in their laps after the first round, and

2. ...whomever they choose to select.

The Wirtz family has lots of vodka and lots of $$$$. We're in!
- mohel

Gazprom doesn't need vodka; I'm sure they'd prefer lucre instead. Which means I imagine a modest release fee could possibly be arranged. Not actually joking, I imagine since business being business, it could get done if all parties are agreeable to the outcome of negotiations. SKA can pretty much get any player they really want anyways; it is one of, if not -the, highest profile playing destinations in the KHL. Not getting into the St Petersburg/Moscow debate and picking a side.

Am confident that the Hawks have done their due diligence.

Totem,

Ithink your lists don't account for the aditional second rounder given to Philly, so the numbers are one off.

Here are my personal Blackhawk picks on my mock:

#
162. the human stork, LC-w Miroslave Satan

131. Russian RCentre Matvei Korotkly

72. Big Swedish RC Simon Zether

67. Derek's son, LW Max Plante

50 USA LW John Mustard

34. The best player who drops in their laps after the first round, and

2. ...whomever they choose to select.
- wiz1901

Thanks, Wiz. Think I have that fixed now.

I don't know the medical details of it, but I honestly still wonder to myself if Murphy will be able to play out the rest of his contract or if he will just be on LTIR pretty much from now on. His problems last year seemed to be worrisome IMO. If things are the same this year, I wouldn't be shocked to see him become the next Hawk to retire due to injury.
- breadbag

Sports hernia is a weird one. Took 2 years of an intense yoga practice to work that out for me. A professional athlete with more resources may do better but it's a pretty frustrating thing to have to deal with.

Almost game time. I hope it's a good one.

Gotta think the Oilers finish it tonight. Panthers havn't done much the last 3 games. Final hasn't been the best watch.

Gotta think the Oilers finish it tonight. Panthers havn't done much the last 3 games. Final hasn't been the best watch.
- SaskHawkFan

Well i think the Oilers came in the past few games, well we have nothing to lose, tonight will be different for them, i think both teams are going to start out tight and conservative.