i could care less a about pro football nor the Bears, looks like the Cubs are going to have to rebuild their rebuild, and the jury is definitely out on the Hawks rebuild. Weren't the Sox a few years ago with the green shoot future with all the young stars they had coming in?
- LAHawk

Jerry Reinsdorf (frank)ed it all up hiring his drinking buddy in LaRussa and his unwillingness to sign any premium free agents.

Cubs are just fine, they had the taste of some success last year and early this year which is a blessing because the thing that hurts your franchise is when you are a pretender. Everything is in place including the very good manager they hired.

So you don't think the Blackhawks are in a better spot today then they were 5 years ago. I think it was you 3 to 4 years ago talking about how great the Kings farm system was and how bad we were. We could agree before KD took over we had one of the worst prospect pools in the league. Look at it now LA you can't tell me it's at least not in the top 5.

Question for the panel would give either the 18th overall pick or Toronto 2025 1st for rugter mcgoarty?
- Scott1977

Nope, neither, we traded McCabe and Lafferty and ate half of McCabes salary. Give up a 1st round pick for a kid who doesn't want to play for Peg because they didn't make him feel special.

Jerry Reinsdorf (frank)ed it all up hiring his drinking buddy in LaRussa and his unwillingness to sign any premium free agents.

Cubs are just fine, they had the taste of some success last year and early this year which is a blessing because the thing that hurts your franchise is when you are a pretender. Everything is in place including the very good manager they hired.

So you don't think the Blackhawks are in a better spot today then they were 5 years ago. I think it was you 3 to 4 years ago talking about how great the Kings farm system was and how bad we were. We could agree before KD took over we had one of the worst protect pools in the league. Look at it now LA you can't tell me it's at least not top 5.
- BetweenTheDots

In LA’s defense, that was before the Kings gave up a bunch for PLD and gave up Faber for Fiala. Turcotte ended up not panning out so far, but Byfield and Clarke will eventually take the torch from Kopitar and Doughty.
Hawks are in infinitely better shape than they were five years ago, when our hope hinged on Boqvist and the core turning back time. Having Bedard, #2, Moore, Nazar, Korchinski, and Vlasic is a great start.

In LA’s defense, that was before the Kings gave up a bunch for PLD and gave up Faber for Fiala. Turcotte ended up not panning out so far, but Byfield and Clarke will eventually take the torch from Kopitar and Doughty.
Hawks are in infinitely better shape than they were five years ago, when our hope hinged on Boqvist and the core turning back time. Having Bedard, #2, Moore, Nazar, Korchinski, and Vlasic is a great start.
- ObeseOprah

Help me out here, were some of those picks in the top 10?

Yea they are, unless they move up from 18 they ain't giving that one up either, for Kakko, or McGoarty, or Necas, that's not a realistic offer for those players. It's funny how teams trade away their 1st round picks and all of a sudden here's the draft and they are trying to get back into or move up in the 1st round. There's no way i would trade the 2nd pick just because what if Celebrini isn't the Sharks pick? I've seen crazier poop
- BetweenTheDots

Celebrini is a 100% lock to be the Sharks pick. There is no way it won't be him. They've already said they are drafting him. The Hawks won't trade the #2 pick unless a team gives them a literal offer they can't refuse. If we were two years from now and if the Hawks hold the 2nd overall pick, that might be a different story, but the Hawks are happy to take the prospect they want at 2nd overall.

Talk about screw ups… let me tell you about a guy named Connor Murphy. Guy shows up, takes the place of a great defender, and we proceed to have one of the worst seven year stretches in franchise history.
Every year he packs his golf clubs and Superman spandex to go play for USA in the World Cup of Nothing games. He displays ‘great leadership’ while leading the team with zero points and a minus four rating.
He gets an A on his chest for the spandex, and his nhl squad doesn’t sniff relevance until he’s finally gone.
- ObeseOprah

Sounds like you think he's a keeper.

Jerry Reinsdorf (frank)ed it all up hiring his drinking buddy in LaRussa and his unwillingness to sign any premium free agents.

Cubs are just fine, they had the taste of some success last year and early this year which is a blessing because the thing that hurts your franchise is when you are a pretender. Everything is in place including the very good manager they hired.

So you don't think the Blackhawks are in a better spot today then they were 5 years ago. I think it was you 3 to 4 years ago talking about how great the Kings farm system was and how bad we were. We could agree before KD took over we had one of the worst prospect pools in the league. Look at it now LA you can't tell me it's at least not in the top 5.
- BetweenTheDots

LaRussa got a terrible team to at least play .500.

i could care less a about pro football nor the Bears, looks like the Cubs are going to have to rebuild their rebuild, and the jury is definitely out on the Hawks rebuild. Weren't the Sox a few years ago with the green shoot future with all the young stars they had coming in?
- LAHawk

Then why name them along with all the other teams in Chicago if there are only a few you care about? Seems odd.

Also, as long as we're being nit picky here, the Hawks dark days that followed after trading Roenick, Belfour and eventually Chelios didn't yield a Connor Bedard or anything close in the drafts that followed up until Kane and Toews over a decade later. The one draft they were picking that high Bob Murray traded the pick for Brian McCabe.

The jury is still out on the Hawks rebuild because it's still in its initial stages whether you and some others care to acknowledge it or not. I don't think I'm putting on rose colored glasses but I still see more to get excited about than mope over.

Then why name them along with all the other teams in Chicago if there are only a few you care about? Seems odd.

Also, as long as we're being nit picky here, the Hawks dark days that followed after trading Roenick, Belfour and eventually Chelios didn't yield a Connor Bedard or anything close in the drafts that followed up until Kane and Toews over a decade later. The one draft they were picking that high Bob Murray traded the pick for Brian McCabe.

The jury is still out on the Hawks rebuild because it's still in its initial stages whether you and some others care to acknowledge it or not. I don't think I'm putting on rose colored glasses but I still see more to get excited about than mope over.
- HawkintheD

Mope is a quality word. 👍🏻

Jerry Reinsdorf (frank)ed it all up hiring his drinking buddy in LaRussa and his unwillingness to sign any premium free agents.

Cubs are just fine, they had the taste of some success last year and early this year which is a blessing because the thing that hurts your franchise is when you are a pretender. Everything is in place including the very good manager they hired.

So you don't think the Blackhawks are in a better spot today then they were 5 years ago. I think it was you 3 to 4 years ago talking about how great the Kings farm system was and how bad we were. We could agree before KD took over we had one of the worst prospect pools in the league. Look at it now LA you can't tell me it's at least not in the top 5.
- BetweenTheDots

Prospects are definitely thought better of by those that are more qualified to comment on them than me. I only see prospects in tourney's on TV. I did go to a lot of Coachella Valley games out in the desert, and some Ontario Reign games. Would feel more excited if the prospects have success in the pro's. Hopefully Rockford has more true prospects and the team does better than get bounced in the first round of the playoffs, by prospects from the Wild.

Question for the panel would give either the 18th overall pick or Toronto 2025 1st for rugter mcgoarty?
- Scott1977

For me the 2025, but what happens if the leafs plummet out of the playoffs?

No...I cannot think that way.

That pick in two drafts in the future should be thought of as pocket change to get a quality kid, not any malcontent in McGroaty.

They won't get super offers because of the slumped over skating style he has. (there he goes again...critizing a players skating and he wears double runners...)

I honestly thought the Jets wanted Nazar but the Balckhawks took him with the pick before and they subtitued with McGroaty.
I didn't feel like he was an "A" prsoepct and but was going in the first but later.
He was the USA captain, and that counts for me, a lot.
He is a fierce competitor along the boards. He fights through opposing sticks to win pucks, protect them, and move them to teammates.
He is carrying 225 pounds now not 2025 and he is listes as an inch taller (but you cannot count on accuracy in that area...)
I think no NHL team will doubt his ablity to be a middle six winger.
He gets up the ice. In the USA program he saw first line play.
His wrist shot is a good one, and his short area play is excellent, his defensive pay is above average and his spacing defensively away from the puck.
I haven't gone back to read my written stuff from 2022, , but out-muscles his man on faceoff, wins the battle below the goal line on the retrieval, executes behind the back pass, and shifts to the far- boards to support the cycle, before finally planting in the hash marks with his stick set. His play under sustained pressure was really good, but we it isn't as if Winnipeg is raffling off Alexis Lafrenière, or something.

NOW I just did go back and read my draft evaluation in 2022 and confess I haven't watched enough to see if it has changed much, but pretty much what I wroite before reading it above:\A powerful man mountain of a physique whose ability to score goals is already established. He can fire the puck and is a consistent offensive producer. Has a pro caliber release and the accuracy to target the top corners with little space or time to shoot it. Has a high hockey IQ…among the best in the class. The negative is he has no separation gear and lacks foot speed. Also there is a concern that his inconsistent effort where he displays an uneven compete level (he seems like an entire different player if the scoring chances are scarce). He doesn’t score much at all when not with a playmaker for a lineman. Although skating can always be improved, will his inability to get his heavy boots going topple him into the second round?

So there is my added part to the discussion

I find it linda weird this rumor about the Rangers launching Kakko and trading for Zervas....

Just when I thought there was couple of days of breathing room with me changing / adding trades to my board, and I go through my almost final check and find that two 5th Rd. picks realted in some way to the Blackhawks 131 and 138 are incorret and it took me hours to find the errors in the trade section and fix the multiple team flips on thos picks...I realized it the other day when I listed my favorite guys I had the draft spots and thought, hey I didn't have matvei Korotkly as a future hawk.

Help me out here, were some of those picks in the top 10?
- BetweenTheDots

The Kings traded Villardi, a #11 pick who can't play a full season (even last year) due to back issues, Iafallo, a college free agent pick-up that was replaced by Trevor Moore who scored 30 goals and had 50 points last year. Kupari was a late first round pick that like Faber was down on the pecking order, and I think he got 1 point in like 20 games for the Peg last year. If the trade never happened, the Kings would of been looking to move out those players anyway. They had no future with the Kings anyway.

First are you going to guarantee him a spot on the roster? Seems he doesn't want to sign if he has to play in the minors?
- LAHawk

And that was why I went in depth about the lad.

Hawks may be one of the only teams with the luxury of carry one of their kid forwards so does McG pass Notre Dame Slaggert?

Prospects are definitely thought better of by those that are more qualified to comment on them than me. I only see prospects in tourney's on TV. I did go to a lot of Coachella Valley games out in the desert, and some Ontario Reign games. Would feel more excited if the prospects have success in the pro's. Hopefully Rockford has more true prospects and the team does better than get bounced in the first round of the playoffs, by prospects from the Wild.
- LAHawk

Sure but 5 forwards that KD drafted just signed their ELCs looks like some of them will play for Rockford, looks like 3 more maybe 4 of his draft picks will be playing in the NHL this season. His 3rd season as GM starts this fall.

Help me out here, were some of those picks in the top 10?
- BetweenTheDots

Interestingly only Turcotte and Byfield were. Vilardi was 11. Kip Ari was 20. They snuck in the playoffs once or twice during their ‘retool’.

Sure but 5 forwards that KD drafted just signed their ELCs looks like some of them will play for Rockford, looks like 3 more maybe 4 of his draft picks will be playing in the NHL this season. His 3rd season as GM starts this fall.
- BetweenTheDots

Bedard, Nazer and ????

KK also, i thought you were only talking forwards.

Bedard, Nazer and ????
- LAHawk

Korchinski and the number 2 pick

For me the 2025, but what happens if the leafs plummet out of the playoffs?

No...I cannot think that way.

That pick in two drafts in the future should be thought of as pocket change to get a quality kid, not any malcontent in McGroaty.

They won't get super offers because of the slumped over skating style he has. (there he goes again...critizing a players skating and he wears double runners...)

I honestly thought the Jets wanted Nazar but the Balckhawks took him with the pick before and they subtitued with McGroaty.
I didn't feel like he was an "A" prsoepct and but was going in the first but later.
He was the USA captain, and that counts for me, a lot.
He is a fierce competitor along the boards. He fights through opposing sticks to win pucks, protect them, and move them to teammates.
He is carrying 225 pounds now not 2025 and he is listes as an inch taller (but you cannot count on accuracy in that area...)
I think no NHL team will doubt his ablity to be a middle six winger.
He gets up the ice. In the USA program he saw first line play.
His wrist shot is a good one, and his short area play is excellent, his defensive pay is above average and his spacing defensively away from the puck.
I haven't gone back to read my written stuff from 2022, , but out-muscles his man on faceoff, wins the battle below the goal line on the retrieval, executes behind the back pass, and shifts to the far- boards to support the cycle, before finally planting in the hash marks with his stick set. His play under sustained pressure was really good, but we it isn't as if Winnipeg is raffling off Alexis Lafrenière, or something.

NOW I just did go back and read my draft evaluation in 2022 and confess I haven't watched enough to see if it has changed much, but pretty much what I wroite before reading it above:\A powerful man mountain of a physique whose ability to score goals is already established. He can fire the puck and is a consistent offensive producer. Has a pro caliber release and the accuracy to target the top corners with little space or time to shoot it. Has a high hockey IQ…among the best in the class. The negative is he has no separation gear and lacks foot speed. Also there is a concern that his inconsistent effort where he displays an uneven compete level (he seems like an entire different player if the scoring chances are scarce). He doesn’t score much at all when not with a playmaker for a lineman. Although skating can always be improved, will his inability to get his heavy boots going topple him into the second round?

So there is my added part to the discussion

I find it linda weird this rumor about the Rangers launching Kakko and trading for Zervas....

Just when I thought there was couple of days of breathing room with me changing / adding trades to my board, and I go through my almost final check and find that two 5th Rd. picks realted in some way to the Blackhawks 131 and 138 are incorret and it took me hours to find the errors in the trade section and fix the multiple team flips on thos picks...I realized it the other day when I listed my favorite guys I had the draft spots and thought, hey I didn't have matvei Korotkly as a future hawk.
- wiz1901

No separation gear or foot speed? If thats the case KD won't have any interest.

So he wanted to turn pro and have the Jets insert him into their lineup immediately during a playoff race so he could burn a year off his ELC. Screw him - let him go back and play in the 35 game a year league with his college buddies. What would anybody in the NHL be missing anyway - a clone of Jimmy Vesey?

@PierreVLeBrun
Blackhawks getting calls on the No. 2 pick but they’re telling teams they’re keeping the pick.
- DarthKane

I would surmise those calls are from teams 6 or beyond. KD may be willing to move down a few spots for the right return but not that far. On the flip side, teams 3 through 5 or 6 know they'll land a decent prospect so they won't be trading away capital to move up a spot or three.

I bet Philly was making a call. They would probably love to have 2 Ruskis on their 1st line.

Interestingly only Turcotte and Byfield were. Vilardi was 11. Kip Ari was 20. They snuck in the playoffs once or twice during their ‘retool’.
- ObeseOprah

You're missing Clarke i think he was 7 or 8 but these are the guys expected to be the difference makers. 3 years of sucking. Tallon said in an interview you have to draft your core. I think he's more right than wrong.

Just for shots and giggles in that 3 year span LA drafted 2, 5, 8, 22, 33, 35, 42, 45, 50

Chicago 1, 2, 7, 13, 18, 19, 25, 34, 35, 39, 44, 50

Thanks OO

You're missing Clarke i think he was 7 or 8 but these are the guys expected to be the difference makers. 3 years of sucking. Tallon said in an interview you have to draft your core. I think he's more right than wrong.

Just for shots and giggles in that 3 year span LA drafted 2, 5, 8, 22, 33, 35, 42, 45, 50

Chicago 1, 2, 7, 13, 18, 19, 25, 34, 35, 39, 44, 50

Thanks OO
- BetweenTheDots

Ah you’re right. Thank you. Having that 1 is such a difference vs a 5 or 8.

Question for the panel would give either the 18th overall pick or Toronto 2025 1st for rugter mcgoarty?
- Scott1977

Toronto 2025 probably, 18 probably not unless it's part of bigger package.

They'll allegedly settle for a 2nd and 3rd as well. I think a second and 4th is more reasonable but what do I know.

You're missing Clarke i think he was 7 or 8 but these are the guys expected to be the difference makers. 3 years of sucking. Tallon said in an interview you have to draft your core. I think he's more right than wrong.

Just for shots and giggles in that 3 year span LA drafted 2, 5, 8, 22, 33, 35, 42, 45, 50

Chicago 1, 2, 7, 13, 18, 19, 25, 34, 35, 39, 44, 50

Thanks OO
- BetweenTheDots

Yes and no. It's probably the favorable path, but Vegas and FLA have won the last two years with a majority of their cores not drafted. Let's be honest, goalie play has a lot to do with team success - especially in the playoffs.

Looks like FLA only had Barkov, Lundell, and Ekblad as drafted players that played in the playoffs. Obviously Barkov and Ekblad are two key pieces, but those were literally the only drafted players on their team.

Yes and no. It's probably the favorable path, but Vegas and FLA have won the last two years with a majority of their cores not drafted. Let's be honest, goalie play has a lot to do with team success - especially in the playoffs.

Looks like FLA only had Barkov, Lundell, and Ekblad as drafted players that played in the playoffs. Obviously Barkov and Ekblad are two key pieces, but those were literally the only drafted players on their team.
- Chunk

Like you said though those are 2 big pieces just like McDavid and Draisaitl.

Also look how long it took both those teams to get to the SC finals because they drafted poorly but the key is 2 first OA, 2nd OA and i think a 3rd OA

No separation gear or foot speed? If that's the case KD won't have any interest.
- RickJ

I am not sure how much his skating has come;he got 52 points,16 goals in 36 college games, and 18 goals the season before, so I wouldn't dismiss him as a rral heavy boot kid. KD still has Colton Dach in his farm and he is far from a pace player.

[quote=RickJSo he wanted to turn pro and have the Jets insert him into their lineup immediately during a playoff race so he could burn a year off his ELC. Screw him - let him go back and play in the 35 game a year league with his college buddies. What would anybody in the NHL be missing anyway - a clone of Jimmy Vesey?

Let's not paint him into a corner as douche; he doesn't want to stay in school, wants his next career to start, and he told them so. They disagreed. (Philly told Cutter they had no $ to sign him and wait a year.)
You noticed the Hawks took their kid's decision easily, said they let late second rounder Ryan Greene decide school or pro.

This kid is alos from the Oakland area so maybe San Jose will be interested.at this years' #14, a pick earlier tahn he was slected in 2022?

Vesey waited until his fourth college season to gain uFA status to sign anywhere, with some team (NY?) who PAID the Predators a pick to talk to him first before he was August offically UFAed.