Just curious, if the Hawks were offered Boldy/Tkachuk/J. Hughes/Stutzle/etc (all 25 and under and established) would you change your tune?
- Chunk

Yes I would, but those teams aren’t getting rid of such players. The aforementioned are the cream of the crop of 25 and under, as well as Celebrini, and maybe Fantilli, Kent Johnson, and maybe a couple of others. However while I’d love a Knies or some of the others mentioned earlier, the top three pick should not be in play for them.

Travel this week to Chicago, landed on Wednesday mid morning as snow started, poop show driving by 2 in the afternoon, get up for a 8 am flight this morning (after too much Moretti's thin crust and IPA last night) and it 3 freaking degrees outside!

I love the city, and love my sports teams, but could never live there again, holy Sheet that was cold!


- vabeachbear

I’m with you there, and I have grandkids there as well, however no way I’m going up there in the winter.

I’m with you there, and I have grandkids there as well, however no way I’m going up there in the winter.
- Angotti

Back in NC since Noon, just thawing out now

Lardis 2G 54 now
Vanacker 1G

Yes I would, but those teams aren’t getting rid of such players. The aforementioned are the cream of the crop of 25 and under, as well as Celebrini, and maybe Fantilli, Kent Johnson, and maybe a couple of others. However while I’d love a Knies or some of the others mentioned earlier, the top three pick should not be in play for them.
- Angotti

Looking at the history of trading top 10 picks, they don't seem to end well for the one trading the higher pick.

Fleury for Nathan Horton (2003) and it seems every team that received the higher pick out of the top ten ( https://www.sportsnet.ca/...g-top-10-nhl-draft-picks/ )

Includes McCabe for a Sedin for those that want their day ruined.

Dach. https://www.yardbarker.co...agement/s1_17452_41747960

Back in NC since Noon, just thawing out now



- vabeachbear

I was just telling the good woman, when we retire I've got to go somewhere south for January and February, she said what if we have grandkids, I'm like I'll miss them those 2 months.

Dach. https://www.yardbarker.co...agement/s1_17452_41747960
- glennjpawlak22

I'm thinking he doesn't like hearing that if he's going to play in the NHL he needs accept a role as a bottom 6 forward.

If there is any truth to the Canes shopping Rantanen that's crazy.

Lardis and Vanacker with hat tricks.

2-14-25

BNT Lardis 3G 1A
BNT Vanacker 3G 1A
ERE Henry ---
ERE Misiak ---
KIT Pridham ---
WIN Spellacy ---
SUD Pharand ---

OHL 2025 Eligible
SAG M. Misa 1G
BNT J. O'Brien 1G 3A
ERE M. Spence 1A
SOO T. Hayes 2A
SOO B. Martin 2G
WIN J. Nesbitt ---

Lardis and Vanacker with hat tricks.
- paulr

I don't expect him to be right about any draft picks outside of the 1st round, realistically of the 8 1st round picks the odds say 75%, that would be incredible if he hit on 6 quality pros. But if he has an eye for later round picks like Lardis it would blow the lid off this rebuild.

If there is any truth to the Canes shopping Rantanen that's crazy.
- BetweenTheDots

How much of this stuff is just front offices having contingency discussions that get blown up into "trade rumors?"

How much of this stuff is just front offices having contingency discussions that get blown up into "trade rumors?"
- 333inthe3rd

That's a good point, i suppose until/if Raty gets a new contract the rumors will run wild.

Lardis and Vanacker with hat tricks.
- paulr

Can't wait to read that here in two to three years.

I don't expect him to be right about any draft picks outside of the 1st round, realistically of the 8 1st round picks the odds say 75%, that would be incredible if he hit on 6 quality pros. But if he has an eye for later round picks like Lardis it would blow the lid off this rebuild.
- BetweenTheDots

I'd love for KD to hit on 75% of his first round picks, however I'll take 50% if they become good NHL players. Counting the upcoming draft he will have picked ten first rounders. The Hawks also have Allan, Reichel, and EDM from Bowman picks that have an opportunity to make a difference. I did not count Vlasic as he's already making a difference.

That's a good point, i suppose until/if Raty gets a new contract the rumors will run wild.
- BetweenTheDots

Maybe Teravanien is recruiting him...

Maybe Teravanien is recruiting him...

- Angotti

I know he's a top 6 forward and all, but I'm always leery of a guy who's played along side one of the best hockey centers in the league. I wonder how much his scoring production will drop off now that he's with the Canes.

Maybe Teravanien is recruiting him...

- Angotti

Rough start in Carolina thus far too - 6 games 1 goal 1 assist. New mates and coaching takes time to get used to and this 4 Nations break doesn't help that but for Rantanen it's extremely sub-par. Sure he's frustrated and ready to boom

The Hockey News is touting Misa as the Hawks first round pick. 100 points in 47 games. Then he goes out and gets a hat trick in the next game. Bedard-Misa-Lardis?
No defense but a lot of offense.

Rough start in Carolina thus far too - 6 games 1 goal 1 assist. New mates and coaching takes time to get used to and this 4 Nations break doesn't help that but for Rantanen it's extremely sub-par. Sure he's frustrated and ready to boom
- Assman22

Necas 9 points in 8 games with the marvelous center?

The Hockey News is touting Misa as the Hawks first round pick. 100 points in 47 games. Then he goes out and gets a hat trick in the next game. Bedard-Misa-Lardis?
No defense but a lot of offense.
- bjphawkfan

It's funny how many of these pundits who do these mock drafts have the Blackhawks drafting some reach in the top 4. You can read between the lines their hate for what the franchise is building.

It's funny how many of these pundits who do these mock drafts have the Blackhawks drafting some reach in the top 4. You can read between the lines their hate for what the franchise is building.
- BetweenTheDots

I think the hate has more to do with conspiracy theories that Bettman somehow fixed the draft so they could draft Bedard.

Profile
The OHL’s eighth exceptional status player, Misa drew headlines when he broke Connor McDavid’s OHL Cup scoring record with 20 points in eight games while playing up a year with the Mississauga Senators in what became his final year of minor hockey. He then followed that up with an impressive 15-year-old season in the OHL, missing 20 games after fracturing the top of his tibia in a knee-on-knee collision and still leading the Spirit in scoring. If not for the injury, he might have broken John Tavares’ exceptional status year scoring record of 77 points. Last season, in what should have been his rookie year in the OHL, he finished second to Zayne Parekh on the Spirit in regular-season scoring and finished the year with 91 points in 89 combined regular-season, playoff and Memorial Cup games on the would-be Mem Cup champs. Two summers ago, he also played his way up Team Canada's lineup at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and registered eight points in five games as an underager (he skipped last summer’s tournament while dealing with some back tightness). Entering this season, scouts wanted to really see him take charge more and take over as the guy for the Spirit and that’s exactly what he has done, answering the questions some had of him with an emphatic draft year in which he has been the league’s leading scorer basically from start to finish and arguably the league’s top player (I think it’s between him and Calum Ritchie, who played in the NHL to start the year). I also thought he was one of the standouts of the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge. A natural center coming up, Misa played mostly the wing in his first two seasons but has taken off in the move back to the middle this year, playing to nearly a goal per game and over two points per game (a pace that might finish as one of the most productive draft-eligible OHL seasons of all-time).

Misa is a beautiful skater with some quiet explosiveness and a real knack for weaving, cutting, turning and spinning in control of the puck to either shake defenders under pressure in the offensive or defensive zone or slip past them in transition with his speed and agility. He’s also a very smart player who makes his linemates better with his playmaking, vision and ability to execute while tightly covered. Off the puck, he’s willing to track, stick with plays and compete (I’ve seen him sacrifice the body to block shots, etc.), hallmarks of his game in minor hockey that have also been more consistent this year — though I’d argue they were always present and he played a more well-rounded game last year than he was given credit for by some. He finishes his checks and has good defensive instincts on interceptions and support. He gets the puck a lot and then protects it beautifully. There are times when he’ll turn over pucks, or when I’d like to see him work to get open and glide less, but he has done a nice job cutting back on both of those this season and has been a top player in the OHL at five-on-five, on the penalty kill (he leads the league in short-handed points), and on the power play.

Misa’s a slippery player in the offensive zone. He’s a weaving skater in transition. He has developed more of a scorer’s mentality and started to look for his own looks more, using his natural curl-and-drag wrister more intentionally and getting to the guts of the home plate area with more consistency. And there’s natural skill and playmaking layered in, which lights up when he gets the puck inside the offensive zone.

The move back to center has really involved him in more plays and highlighted the value of his skating (his skating is most useful when he’s getting touches lower in the zone). He’s also now almost 6-foot-1 (up from 5-foot-11 in his exceptional status season). I projected his production to jump to the 90-to-100-point range in his draft year, and for him to climb back into the top-five mix, but he has taken it to another level altogether and has shown some real star quality this year. He has a strong case to be the first forward picked in the draft.

I’m with you there, and I have grandkids there as well, however no way I’m going up there in the winter.
- Angotti

I make sure we see the grandkids four times a year, and the Texas kids are due here in March. Those tow are going to be 8 & 13 , so I need to see them before they are not bothering to talk to me.
The LA clan is more touching as my daughter just booked weekend gig sandwiched around when we were gonna fly them out for their Spring break.
My Favorite grankid is California's Zoë Dylan
, who told us in facetime this week that when she is grown she going to live by or with us. (To me this is the ultimate compliment, as my wife has trouble commiting to tho this!, lol)
I held back in replying when you are old enough to make your own living choices, we will be the prefect age to need someoen to change our diapers.
I think the biggest reason we were ablbe to go to the warmth of St. Pete, is that they weren't boarn when we we did, and they weren't goibg toi be in the Chicago area if we still were.

On to hockey:
I am taking a break as the mock draft is still a work in progress but everyday it gets a bit more structured.

I haven't read that article on Micheal Misa, but I am starting to see how his versatility is the biggest plus.
I mean he is the guy I would be happy to see there at slot #3, and would have no problems if the Hawks took him #2 3, or 4 ... but I will be looking in the rear view mirror from that day one at Martone and Hagens.

There is little to not like about his all around game, period.

I think they are in a terrific spot wheter the win or lose the lottery be casue all can help the Blackhawks.

And I am not trading out of #1 or #2 is no one jumps up and wins - so those of you who want to send this #4 overall for Zegrass no-way!