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 Getty forwards with skill.

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

Agreed

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

Montreals head scout has family involved with SKA. Who owned rights to both Michkov and Demidov. If there was another issue, he would be the first to know

The fact that Nick Bobrovs father works for SKA and passed on Michkov, while picking Demidov tells you all you need to know about the Blackhawks (frank) up

Imagine a world where Kirby Dach avoids those injuries. If ever lolol .. but if this Dach Demidov duo becomes a big thing then it’s all on Davidson

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.
- DarthKane

Safe to say thru 3 drafts that in the first 2 rounds each yr KD has taken BPA regardless of size or position?

https://www.capfriendly.c...ort/marek-vanacker-425877

Written in April.

Vanacker slowly built his game at the U18 Worlds for Team Canada.
Started the tournament averaging far less ice time than he is accustomed, in a depth role.
Once settled in, he battled adequately in traffic and showed off his fantastic 'catch and release' offensively.
Pucks, in scoring areas, are on and off his stick with authority. Shoots the puck hard and accurately.
Body of work wins out over the course of the entire season.
Plays with pace, generally sound three zone compete and detail, and impact offensively.

Interesting how someone's 'concern' for Davidson 'missing' on a guy, doesn't seem to motivate same 'concerned person' to post that the GMs for Anaheim, or Columbus, didn't also whiff on that same 'unmissable opportunity'.

You know what they call 'focused concern' like this? Aren't we so lucky to have this???

https://www.capfriendly.c...ort/sacha-boisvert-425801

Written in March.

Boisvert continues to play to his offensive identity.
Remains one of, if not the, top NHL draft prospect playing in the USHL
Leans goal scorer more than playmaker ... but he's become more creative off the rush as the season rolled along.
Great stick in small areas. Makes plays close to his body. Elusive coming off the wall and around the crease.
Averages over 18:00 per game TOI playing in Muskegon. Bulk of his TOI comes at ES and PP
Solid stride. Tall and lean at this stage of his development. Loads of room for more weight and strength. Second line NHL forward on projection. Element is offense.

https://www.capfriendly.c...t/artyom-levshunov-425621

Written in February.

Another interesting viewing of Levshunov at the University of Michigan vs the Wolverines - February 9th - 2024
Used in all situations. Even more active offensively. Jumped down to extend plays in the offensive zone almost every shift. Literally calls for the puck all night long. Wants to make an impact offensively.
Great jump. Skating is fantastic. Great first three strides. Outstanding feet overall.
Used in all situations. Like any young defenceman playing at the college level he had a few shifts that lacked some detail. He found himself on the wrong side of his man out front his crease and on the back check with some late zone exits.
Overall - can't teach offense / size / puck touch and compete. He wants to be a difference maker and also adds a physical element.
Easily logging over 22:00 TOI per game. 29GP - 8G-20A and a fantastic (+24) defensively.

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

Actually I expect Zach will have a comment or a column on the report that KD and staff were trying to obtain the fourth overall and select .Deminov. Moreover Assman claims the war room was divide between the dman Leveshunov or Deminov at #2

Either selection we probably find many who will second guess the selection over the next few years. So KD played it safe or played it smart. Both is true as far as I am concerned. I would have been willing to draft Deminov and roll the dice hoping he doesn’t have leg or knee injuries ahead of him. Disappointed somewhat but Leveshunov is a good choice. Scouting reports say he could be a first pair if he hits his ceiling On RD position no less

Montreals head scout has family involved with SKA. Who owned rights to both Michkov and Demidov. If there was another issue, he would be the first to know

The fact that Nick Bobrovs father works for SKA and passed on Michkov, while picking Demidov tells you all you need to know about the Blackhawks (frank) up
- QuickSCF

Demi is just a knee damage waiting to happen... again.

Go back to your own board and complain about your draft.. or do I need to go over there and add more fuel to the fire? Ottawa and their shytty drafts/trades. Always missing the playoffs.

Also, why care other than you team may have to deal with Demi a lot more than we will? Sucks to be a Senator and missing the playoffs for at least one more year, more than likely 5 more years

Safe to say thru 3 drafts that in the first 2 rounds each yr KD has taken BPA regardless of size or position?
- Mr Ricochet

Lol. I love it when its obvious levshunov was not bpa but then some on forum well bpa according to kfc. I think hans had a really good draft.

Interesting how someone's 'concern' for Davidson 'missing' on a guy, doesn't seem to motivate same 'concerned person' to post that the GMs for Anaheim, or Columbus, didn't also whiff on that same 'unmissable opportunity'.

You know what they call 'focused concern' like this? Aren't we so lucky to have this???
- SC116

Has it occurred to you that those teams drafted on need?

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.
- RickJ

From all the descriptions of the guy he sounded a bit like Patrick Laine to me.

Lol. I love it when its obvious levshunov was not bpa but then some on forum well bpa according to kfc. I think hans had a really good draft.
- LFS

The Habs did have a good draft. As did Chicago.

And unfortunately you don’t understand that there is no official BPA. Best player available is determined by every person who creates a draft ranking. Demidov is a good player no doubt, but Chicago felt Levshunov was more valuable based on criteria determined by the scouting staff. Remember teams aren’t just looking at players now but at how they think they will project. Then maybe the most important consideration, assuming Demidov and Levshunov were ranked very close in ability. When building a team the most important positions are goalie out and the middle of the ice. Demidov plays a secondary position. Levshunov, if he proves to be a first pair defenseman plays arguably the most important position on the team. And yes Levshunov may not live up to his draft promise, as will every kid in the draft, yes including Demidov.

From all the descriptions of the guy he sounded a bit like Patrick Laine to me.
- 6628

It’s now up to Eiserman to prove the GMs who passed on him were wrong. Hopefully, for him, he can.

Has it occurred to you that those teams drafted on need?
- LFS

It occurred to me that having an overly focused fixation on a single player, considering that those other teams' 'needs' are exactly the same as Chicago's with regards to 'BPA' -that the altruism is literally off the charts. So yeh, nah... don't think so.

Am reasonably certain that Sens guy is more along the lines of a sock puppet variety, as one might expect posts to show up on the Sens boards - but -given an avatar - pretty easy to see - nope, nothing in their last 3 blogs, nothing on the Rangers (Quick's current team), and -well no one really currently comments on the Kings' blogs -but not there either.

I mean I am not unaware that there was a fair amount of trolling going on here for weeks and maybe months about the player that was the Canadiens' first choice. Some of it didn't just stretch the bounds of credibility, but it was shark jumping territory.

I'm just happy that none of the Blackhawk draftees are engaged to their ex-babysitter who is 8 years older.

https://www.facebook.com/...286537&id=100064711147580

I'm just happy that none of the Blackhawk draftees are engaged to their ex-babysitter who is 8 years older.

https://www.facebook.com/...286537&id=100064711147580
- scottak

Yeah...just awful. What's he thinking??? (Red Font)

It's his babysitter not his cousin or sister for that matter, since we're talking Bammy.

Plus if you're a South Park fan you'll recall Mormon was the correct religion.

The Habs did have a good draft. As did Chicago.

And unfortunately you don’t understand that there is no official BPA. Best player available is determined by every person who creates a draft ranking. Demidov is a good player no doubt, but Chicago felt Levshunov was more valuable based on criteria determined by the scouting staff. Remember teams aren’t just looking at players now but at how they think they will project. Then maybe the most important consideration, assuming Demidov and Levshunov were ranked very close in ability. When building a team the most important positions are goalie out and the middle of the ice. Demidov plays a secondary position. Levshunov, if he proves to be a first pair defenseman plays arguably the most important position on the team. And yes Levshunov may not live up to his draft promise, as will every kid in the draft, yes including Demidov.
- paulr

Levbustonov, Bustvert, and Buster Vanbusteker

Levbustonov, Bustvert, and Buster Vanbusteker
- HawkintheD

I can’t believe didn’t review his draft list with the posters here.

I can’t believe didn’t review his draft list with the posters here.
- paulr

A shame really.

Here's Wheeler's write up on the Hawks from last night. He included them in the "Winners" part of his column as he liked their draft.
Pick No. 2: Artyom Levshunov
My ranking: No. 3

Pick No. 18: Sacha Boisvert
My ranking: No. 24

Pick No. 27: Marek Vanacker
My ranking: No. 35

The Blackhawks had a really good day.

I think Levshunov has been underrated in recent weeks, because of the presence of Demidov, in the view of many fans. But make no mistake: Levshunov is a stud. He has been phenomenal the last two seasons in North America, and has taken off along a steep trajectory that doesn’t feel anywhere close to the finish line. He’s an exciting talent with real first-pairing upside who had a tremendous age-adjusted two years in the USHL — and especially in college at Michigan State this year. When he’s on, he’s all over the ice and he’s a force of nature. Plus: You’re going to love the kid, Blackhawks fans.

I liked the Boisvert pick for the Blackhawks as well. He perhaps doesn’t have the premium speed they’ve focussed on in the past, but he’s a good skater and he certainly checks the character, intangibles and competitor boxes that they also covet. He gives their admittedly small forward group some size, too. I’m high on all of Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar, Nick Lardis, and others, but they skew smaller. It’s not hard to imagine Boisvert being the Blackhawks’ 3C of the future and the kind of player who can play higher in the lineup and with a variety of linemates when needed. I’m a fan. He’s a great kid, too (a theme with many prospects they’ve picked in recent years).

Vanacker is an awesome player who is going to be a good pro winger and could play alongside Boisvert some day and work well off of him. He’s got size, he can skate, he knows what he is, and he’s got a well-rounded offensive game. He’ll be out until December after shoulder surgery but he looked like a first-rounder this year and he would have been in the mix for me at No. 27.

A shame really.

Here's Wheeler's write up on the Hawks from last night. He included them in the "Winners" part of his column as he liked their draft.
Pick No. 2: Artyom Levshunov
My ranking: No. 3

Pick No. 18: Sacha Boisvert
My ranking: No. 24

Pick No. 27: Marek Vanacker
My ranking: No. 35

The Blackhawks had a really good day.

I think Levshunov has been underrated in recent weeks, because of the presence of Demidov, in the view of many fans. But make no mistake: Levshunov is a stud. He has been phenomenal the last two seasons in North America, and has taken off along a steep trajectory that doesn’t feel anywhere close to the finish line. He’s an exciting talent with real first-pairing upside who had a tremendous age-adjusted two years in the USHL — and especially in college at Michigan State this year. When he’s on, he’s all over the ice and he’s a force of nature. Plus: You’re going to love the kid, Blackhawks fans.

I liked the Boisvert pick for the Blackhawks as well. He perhaps doesn’t have the premium speed they’ve focussed on in the past, but he’s a good skater and he certainly checks the character, intangibles and competitor boxes that they also covet. He gives their admittedly small forward group some size, too. I’m high on all of Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar, Nick Lardis, and others, but they skew smaller. It’s not hard to imagine Boisvert being the Blackhawks’ 3C of the future and the kind of player who can play higher in the lineup and with a variety of linemates when needed. I’m a fan. He’s a great kid, too (a theme with many prospects they’ve picked in recent years).

Vanacker is an awesome player who is going to be a good pro winger and could play alongside Boisvert some day and work well off of him. He’s got size, he can skate, he knows what he is, and he’s got a well-rounded offensive game. He’ll be out until December after shoulder surgery but he looked like a first-rounder this year and he would have been in the mix for me at No. 27.
- HawkintheD

Wonder how much KFC paid Wheeler to write that?

I'm just happy that none of the Blackhawk draftees are engaged to their ex-babysitter who is 8 years older.

https://www.facebook.com/...286537&id=100064711147580
- scottak

What does it matter to you or me or anyone what someone else does?

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

Expanding on this a bit. This from cap friendly.
https://www.capfriendly.c...aff/kyle-davidson/drafted

A total of 18 picks in the first 3 rounds the past 3 years (with one more to come today).

13 North Americans
2 Czechs
1 Slovak
1 Russian
1 Belarussian

14 forwards
3 defensemen (all in the 1st round)
1 goalie

Links to the Hawks web site with comments about the picks.

https://www.nhl.com/black...ay-about-artyom-levshunov

https://www.nhl.com/black...-say-about-sacha-boisvert

https://www.nhl.com/black...-say-about-marek-vanacker