Looks like we drafted some players who can skate, have skill and play with an edge (BOD keeps crying about sandpaper)

Wheeler’s assessment Boisvert

It’s not easy to score 30 goals in the USHL in your draft year, let alone 35-plus, and this year’s Muskegon team has had two players do that in Boisvert and Matvei Gridin. It’s even harder to do as a center who is counted upon and keyed in on. But as one rival USHL coach put it to me: "Sacha Boisvert is a really good player.” Boisvert, a top prospect in Quebec growing up who was a first-round pick into the QMJHL even after he’d gone to the U.S. for the final two years of his minor hockey, is a North Dakota commit who was named to the USHL’s All-Rookie Second Team last year after he finished third on the Lumberjacks in scoring as a 16-year-old. As a 17-year-old, he was named an alternate captain for Muskegon and has played big minutes, often playing 20-24 in the second half of the season before finishing fifth in the league in goals (36) and 11th in points (68 in 61).

Boisvert’s got desired height and position on his side, room to fill out his once-wiry frame (which he already added a bunch of muscle to last summer; he still looks lean with further growth to come), and NHL skill and competitiveness. Intangibles come up a lot when you speak to people about him (he even dropped the gloves a few times this year, including in the playoffs). The skill includes a quick and accurate NHL-level release, good instincts on and off the puck, above-average feet (he's a decent skater, even if a little upright in his stance), a developing power game and great feel with the puck on his stick both at speed and in slowing the game down (though a high grip and long stick can occasionally limit him with the puck so far out in front of his body). Add in his impressive work ethic and a two-way commitment and there’s a lot to like. He’s got to put some more weight on and improve in the faceoff circle (which will come with more strength) but there’s a projectable game there with the right development/refinement and I’m confident the staff at North Dakota will do a good job with him. He’s got middle-six upside and there was some top-15 chatter about him late in the year, but after struggling to be a game-changer in tighter playoff games, I wonder if that has softened.

Wheeler’s assessment of Vanaker
Vanacker is a player who, after he impressed me in an early season live viewing, I immediately made time for on tape and asked around about. Since then, I've become more and more of a fan. After a good showing in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game's combine testing, he found another level in the second half to finish as Bulldogs’ leading scorer after Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis went down with an injury in January, with 36 goals and 82 points in 68 games at season’s end (while playing through a shoulder injury that he has now had surgery on). I’m not reading too much into a quiet U18s, as he was really banged up by then, too.

Vanacker showed real confidence on the attack this season with the puck in his hands, building on his strong foundation of tools and habits to really develop his game offensively. There's a lot to like. He's got size, he's a really strong skater, he'll take pucks to the net, he protects and shields the puck well, he knows where to be and go on the ice, he's got a solid two-way game and he works to get the most out of his above-average skill. He's got the makings of a complementary winger and he knows who he is and what he's going to have to be up levels. He’s just a good hockey player who will be a good pro. He was my final cut at forward for this list.
- Revco38

Shocked that KD drafted another kid with a letter on his sweater. NOT

i really appreciate KD being aggressive in this draft.

So we went from 2, 20, 34, 54, 61
2, 18, 34, 50
2, 18, 27

So 1, 2, 7, 13, 18, 19, 25, 27, 35, 39, 44

Damn that's some quality draft picks over a 3 year span.

Shocked that KD drafted another kid with a letter on his sweater. NOT

i really appreciate KD being aggressive in this draft.

So we went from 2, 20, 34, 54, 61
2, 18, 34, 50
2, 18, 27

So 1, 2, 7, 13, 18, 19, 25, 27, 35, 39, 44

Damn that's some quality draft picks over a 3 year span.
- BetweenTheDots

I totally agree, but now the picks have to start hitting.

For fun everyone should recheck selections in each spot over the decade and you have to estatic with his abilirty to talk draft pick for us....

Dots, I expected each players name after the draft slot # in a repost...

Paul doesn't know that you didn't see the Sportsnet photo of Vanacker helping his father plant and pick watermelons on the family farm. And he had to lift watermelons instead of tobacco because nobody smokes anymore.
- RickJ

Paul didn't realize I just thought it was funny at that moment considering what he weighs rn. I am aware he is going to add weight and that he is probably farm strong. i also mentioned it was a guy I am sure they saw him play plenty of times as they kept tabs on Lardis.

So everyone is a bust and you would rather have 34 and 50 vs an additional 1st.

Got it. Looking forward to when you take over as GM.
- SteveRain

Show me where I said any of the picks were busts.

I'll wait.

I totally agree, but now the picks have to start hitting.

For fun everyone should recheck selections in each spot over the decade and you have to estatic with his abilirty to talk draft pick for us....

Dots, I expected each players name after the draft slot # in a repost...
- wiz1901

Hahaha, giving me homework Wiz
1Bedard, 2Levshunov, 7Korchinski, 13Nazar, 18Boisvert,19 Moore, 25 Rinzel, 27Vanacker, 35 Gajan 39 Ludwinski, 44 Kansterov

That trade with the Bolts might turn into something really good.

I'm still thinking (frank)ing Blues.

Overall on paper seems like a solid draft and we went back and forth with the risk averseness or whatever and they went after the guys they wanted so good for Kyle and team.

Tab reported that Kyle tried to package a few picks, including an unprotected first next year, to get the 4th from Cbus.

I refreshed the first round trades and placed all selections in the correct team / slots.

The other rounds 2-7 are in the exact form as my best player. So, if you are watching the second round flying and are wondering which prospects are still on the board, take a gander.

You let that Habs take the Demigod!! who was 2 on most of the lists. But so did Anaheim and Columbus lol I can understand Columbus if Lindstrom is over his back issues though
- QuickSCF

Sportsnet said KFC won this draft, and won last year as well. Demi dropped to 5. There may be some other issues on the go that we don't know, but Chicago and 2 other teams figured out. How was Ottawa's draft? Yakemchuck? A lot of teams had him MUCH lower than where you got him.

Pierre LeBrun
35m ago
Pierre LeBrun
·
Senior Writer, NHL


What could've been on draft night?
Could have been fireworks at the top of the draft tonight. Hearing that the Blackhawks offered next year’s first-round pick, unprotected, plus another pick, in return for the fourth overall pick.

Believe it came pretty close but the Blue Jackets passed. They really love Cayden Lindstrom and couldn't pass up taking him.

I refreshed the first round trades and placed all selections in the correct team / slots.

The other rounds 2-7 are in the exact form as my best player. So, if you are watching the second round flying and are wondering which prospects are still on the board, take a gander.
- wiz1901

Lots of depth in the system now and going forward. Just matter of time to see who hits and who doesn't but having all.these prospects gives the Hawks better odds of hits than misses imo. Not expect slot in free agency maybe tevo ans carrier on defense and backup goalie.

Good quality over quantity for the first two rounds this year

So what happened to Eiserman? There has to be something we’re not hearing about. A pure scorer who can play in the tough areas doesn’t have to have a two way game as a 18 year old. It’s something he can learn. Like Connolly is there something he’s done off ice that made him drop so drastically? I mean every team needs goal scoring.

Sportsnet said KFC won this draft, and won last year as well. Demi dropped to 5. There may be some other issues on the go that we don't know, but Chicago and 2 other teams figured out. How was Ottawa's draft? Yakemchuck? A lot of teams had him MUCH lower than where you got him.
- wizardofi

Wheeler listed Hawks as one of the winners for round 1 and loved their selections


https://www.nytimes.com/a...ound-winners-losers-2024/

Good quality over quantity for the first two rounds this year
- wizardofi

Technically the 1st RD. They no longer have any 2nd RD picks.

Technically the 1st RD. They no longer have any 2nd RD picks.
- Elbows15

Exactly, the best in the Hawks first two rounds of picks since we don't have a 2nd round pick

So what happened to Eiserman? There has to be something we’re not hearing about. A pure scorer who can play in the tough areas doesn’t have to have a two way game as a 18 year old. It’s something he can learn. Like Connolly is there something he’s done off ice that made him drop so drastically? I mean every team needs goal scoring.
- paulr

No clue but I was worried that we’d take Connolly when we had 18. Kid has nothing but issues and we don’t really need that circus around our rebuild.

Nothing wrong with the Fins....take them over the Russians all day long.
- SteveRain

Agreed but KD’s pattern in his first 3 drafts does not

So what happened to Eiserman? There has to be something we’re not hearing about. A pure scorer who can play in the tough areas doesn’t have to have a two way game as a 18 year old. It’s something he can learn. Like Connolly is there something he’s done off ice that made him drop so drastically? I mean every team needs goal scoring.
- paulr

Well, all I'll say is the analysts on the draft talked about many things in his game which weren't goal scoring took a step backwards.

Technically the 1st RD. They no longer have any 2nd RD picks.
- Elbows15

Right now, but there might be more trades tomorrow.

Pierre LeBrun
35m ago
Pierre LeBrun
·
Senior Writer, NHL


What could've been on draft night?
Could have been fireworks at the top of the draft tonight. Hearing that the Blackhawks offered next year’s first-round pick, unprotected, plus another pick, in return for the fourth overall pick.

Believe it came pretty close but the Blue Jackets passed. They really love Cayden Lindstrom and couldn't pass up taking him.
- Mr Ricochet

I am thinking we still would have the # 2 overall plus the 4th overall. I would be really curious who KD wanted at #4 overall. Could be Drminiv or Silayev. Don’t think it was Catton. Maybe he was enamored with (______) you fill in the blank

I am thinking we still would have the # 2 overall plus the 4th overall. I would be really curious who KD wanted at #4 overall. Could be Drminiv or Silayev. Don’t think it was Catton. Maybe he was enamored with (______) you fill in the blank
- jhawk59

Demidov 100%. War room was torn between the two the entire evaluation process and knew Habs would take him at #5

Right now, but there might be more trades tomorrow.
- breadbag

I’d be surprised if there wasn’t.

Demidov 100%. War room was torn between the two the entire evaluation process and knew Habs would take him at #5
- Assman22

I’m glad we didn’t give up two firsts for Demidov, we’re not out of the basement yet.

So what happened to Eiserman? There has to be something we’re not hearing about. A pure scorer who can play in the tough areas doesn’t have to have a two way game as a 18 year old. It’s something he can learn. Like Connolly is there something he’s done off ice that made him drop so drastically? I mean every team needs goal scoring.
- paulr

Picking 17/18 year old kids is a crapshoot. Who know what Eiserman will become. The Leafs drafted Trevor Johansen 3 spots ahead of Mike Bossy. Thats a few years after they took Jack Valiquette 9 spots before Bryan Trottier.

If Eiserman becomes an annual 40 goal man a lot of GM's will have egg on their face.

I’m glad we didn’t give up two firsts for Demidov, we’re not out of the basement yet.
- ObeseOprah

In 2022 KD focused on skilled defense. This made sense with the likes of Allan, EDM and Kaiser already in the pipeline. He also added a skilled forward.

In 2023 he focused on skilled, fast forwards - Bedard and Moore.

In 2024 KD added a cornerstone RHD and 2 gritty forwards with skill.

KD has taken what he’s wanted from the past 3 drafts and he’s building a well-rounded team.