Of all games to miss, listened to the 1st and 3rd on the radio, it had to be Levshunov's first NHL game vs the roadrunners that are COL on the road and without the last change. Will say Murray was very impressed with Artie, and said so more than once and in the postgame, and McConnell and the Charlie too.

Scoured the internets since I didn't see the game and Laz was best, he even had short clips. .......... To me this was a bigger game than Bedard's first or even what Knight has done as a Hawk. I say that cuz this Cossack kid tracks to be a blood and guts, heart and soul, refuse to lose, gets two surgeries after the playoffs end, can carry teams thru playoff series like a Doughty, Messier, all 3 Tkachuk's kinda player at as an important position as there is...... In other words one of the rare humans with the ability to go beast mode vs the NHL's best.

Tracking the Bears FA stuff today they had sound of a guy talking about O lineman. He said, "before you go to the toy store you go to the hardware store"!

Indeed. Of course, you never know but I was pretty sure KD would draft Artie 2nd once they did the lottery. Thought, and posted, KD will draft Artie cuz it's the right thing to do (go to the hardware store). ......

Truth be told after seeing Artie a good 3-4 games, and just tracking him on his shifts, early in the yr thought it's gonna take 2 yrs minimum. Until I read Powers and he had clips of Artie in a few recent games once I heard Artie was coming up. ........ Chunk, and others, has said numerous times Artie has improved a good bit from the start of the yr in RKF. And this tracks.

This is Artie's MO. Going from Belarus jrs to the USHL is a huge jump. I was given a heads up by a coach/GM in the USHL on Artie so I tuned in early to some of his USHL games. Big kid, can flat out skate but man he has a long ways to go. Late in the yr his play improved dramatically.

Then another really big jump, from the USHL to NCAA as a true freshman. Artie was born in October so he started with MSU as a 17 yr old! Kid was sloppy early with MSU but by yrs end kid had improved a bunch.

Next yr a big jump to the AHL. Again, starts slow and makes big strides by yrs end....... I knew this, should expect this as I saw it close up since he was 16 for a month his first yr in the USA with USHL Green Bay. Reason would have it Artie would level off at some juncture, some level, I thought. They all do but Artie still hasn't and he's in the Bigs as a 19 yr old!!

Next a huge jump to the NHL in the same yr, no benefit of an offseason, and the kid was excellent as reported by the media and the fancies say he was fantastic as he put up a 51.51 corsi in his first game that his D partner got hurt early in the 1st and he skated just short of 22:00.

For the first time in months I went to Natural Stat Trick. I scrubbed Arties numbers and they're excellent. He skated the most minutes with Vlasic and their CF was 73.33!!! Take a look if you have the 3-4 hours to spend down the NST rabbit hole. https://www.naturalstattr...eason=20242025&game=21023

A big night for the organIzation and I bet KD and Crew were giddier after this tilt than in Bedard's first. .... Their 19 yr old left tackle (hardware store purchase), against most odds, cleared another hurdle, and this was probably his biggest yet. As he always does!!

1-1-4-4-2
And I'm reliably informed the Arty NHL Party began last night out west.

Of all games to miss, listened to the 1st and 3rd on the radio, it had to be Levshunov's first NHL game vs the roadrunners that are COL on the road and without the last change. Will say Murray was very impressed with Artie, and said so more than once and in the postgame, and McConnell and the Charlie too.

Scoured the internets since I didn't see the game and Laz was best, he even had short clips. .......... To me this was a bigger game than Bedard's first or even what Knight has done as a Hawk. I say that cuz this Cossack kid tracks to be a blood and guts, heart and soul, refuse to lose, gets two surgeries after the playoffs end, can carry teams thru playoff series like a Doughty, Messier, all 3 Tkachuk's kinda player at as an important position as there is...... In other words one of the rare humans with the ability to go beast mode vs the NHL's best.

Tracking the Bears FA stuff today they had sound of a guy talking about O lineman. He said, "before you go to the toy store you go to the hardware store"!

Indeed. Of course, you never know but I was pretty sure KD would draft Artie 2nd once they did the lottery. Thought, and posted, KD will draft Artie cuz it's the right thing to do (go to the hardware store). ......

Truth be told after seeing Artie a good 3-4 games, and just tracking him on his shifts, early in the yr thought it's gonna take 2 yrs minimum. Until I read Powers and he had clips of Artie in a few recent games once I heard Artie was coming up. ........ Chunk, and others, has said numerous times Artie has improved a good bit from the start of the yr in RKF. And this tracks.

This is Artie's MO. Going from Belarus jrs to the USHL is a huge jump. I was given a heads up by a coach/GM in the USHL on Artie so I tuned in early to some of his USHL games. Big kid, can flat out skate but man he has a long ways to go. Late in the yr his play improved dramatically.

Then another really big jump, from the USHL to NCAA as a true freshman. Artie was born in October so he started with MSU as a 17 yr old! Kid was sloppy early with MSU but by yrs end kid had improved a bunch.

Next yr a big jump to the AHL. Again, starts slow and makes big strides by yrs end....... I knew this, should expect this as I saw it close up since he was 16 for a month his first yr in the USA with USHL Green Bay. Reason would have it Artie would level off at some juncture, some level, I thought. They all do but Artie still hasn't and he's in the Bigs as a 19 yr old!!

Next a huge jump to the NHL in the same yr, no benefit of an offseason, and the kid was excellent as reported by the media and the fancies say he was fantastic as he put up a 51.51 corsi in his first game that his D partner got hurt early in the 1st and he skated just short of 22:00.

For the first time in months I went to Natural Stat Trick. I scrubbed Arties numbers and they're excellent. He skated the most minutes with Vlasic and their CF was 73.33!!! Take a look if you have the 3-4 hours to spend down the NST rabbit hole. https://www.naturalstattr...eason=20242025&game=21023

A big night for the organIzation and I bet KD and Crew were giddier after this tilt than in Bedard's first. .... Their 19 yr old left tackle (hardware store purchase), against most odds, cleared another hurdle, and this was probably his biggest yet. As he always does!!
- Mr Ricochet

He was meh. Good stuff Rico! I know some have penciled Lev onto the big club starting next season and if he keeps playing like last night, there’s no reason not to…or Brodie is signed for one more season.

I know you mentioned no benefit of an offseason but he also started the year hurt and on the sideline IIRC.

Sophomore seasons can be challenging. Plus who is he getting paired with most nights?
- 333inthe3rd

They also have film on him and were able to study his tendencies in the off season, i just don't see the same regression. Here's a kid who's getting half of what Jones was getting paid and doing a better job. I don't see many unforced errors from this kid as i do from the guy that was traded. I'm sure he's tired as well getting all the top matchups and being on the ice over 23 minutes a game from 21 minutes is a big difference in the best league in the world.

He was meh. Good stuff Rico! I know some have penciled Lev onto the big club starting next season and if he keeps playing like last night, there’s no reason not to…or Brodie is signed for one more season.

I know you mentioned no benefit of an offseason but he also started the year hurt and on the sideline IIRC.
- HawkintheD

I forgot about that, D. Yep, to make Artie's big jump from the NCAA to pro even bigger, he busts his foot up in the preseason and has to start the yr without the benefit of some of the preseason.. As I posted, the most unreasonable fan would even say Artie has got to level off at some point but the kid just keeps knocking down barriers no matter how difficult.

And, has Brodie dressed since "The Distraction" has been traded? ........ Good Lord, I thought sure they'd dress 7 Dmen with Artie making his first NHL start as a 19 yr old along with 4 other Dmen that are 23 or younger on the roster but they roll the dice and come up snake eyes less than 10:00 gone in the 1st and have to play with 5 Dmen, four 23 yrs old or under and get outshot by ONE shot vs the hair on fire, warp speed, legit cup contenders COL on the road without last change!

COL only had 2 more scoring chances and the Hawks had a 10-7 advantage in high danger chances! And this was with only 5 Dmen, four 23 or under and one a 19 yr old making his first NHL start.... If I were still drinking I might go on a 2 day bender.

Let's start with seeing what the SJ game brings but going by usage last night along with Sorensen knowing Artie from coaching him some at RKF The Cossack may be up for awhile, maybe even until Game 1 of the AHL playoffs.

And speaking of fancy stats anyone know the whereabouts of fatty beef? A fine hockey mind who shares his work here at HB and is a fancy stat guy posting fancies after most every game.

Where's the beef?

I don't think Brodie has dressed since the cancer surgery --- if he did it was the first game after but none since. Or at a minimum since Knight started playing.

However still uncertain what the deal with swapping Nazar and 16 was - if Sorensen really doesn't want the job here (or even in the Rock) - wouldn't it just be simpler to just mention it - instead of coming up with whacky-assed line combinations?

He was meh. Good stuff Rico! I know some have penciled Lev onto the big club starting next season and if he keeps playing like last night, there’s no reason not to…or Brodie is signed for one more season.

I know you mentioned no benefit of an offseason but he also started the year hurt and on the sideline IIRC.
- HawkintheD

Arty started this year a bit slow after recovering from the foot injury. His first 10-15 games he was a bit unsure and just relied on his skating to get him out of any dangerous situation. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't great. They started stressing his gap control and using his frame to his advantage, and that is where things started to take off.

He's been at or near the top of the entire team in SOG all year. That's I think his biggest advantage. Not only his willingness, but his ability to put shots on net.

KD is going to have a lot of hard decisions to make on the back end. Vlasic already signed to a good deal. EDM, Kaiser (RFA), Lev, Crevier (RFA), Allan, KK, eventually Rinzel. That's 8. Kaiser is a really interesting one. He's been up and down, but when he's up, he's really good.

I don't think Brodie has dressed since the cancer surgery --- if he did it was the first game after but none since. Or at a minimum since Knight started playing.

However still uncertain what the deal with swapping Nazar and 16 was - if Sorensen really doesn't want the job here (or even in the Rock) - wouldn't it just be simpler to just mention it - instead of coming up with whacky-assed line combinations?
- SC116

I was listening to some recaps this morning and one theory was that Sorenson wanted at least one defensively responsible player on each line against COL. I guess I can see that, but who really knows.

https://www.bleachernatio...ct-rankings-march-update/

All i know is I'm so looking forward to the prospects that are here and the ones that are coming. It makes absolutely no sense to give up KK, and 3 1sts to slam the brakes on this rebuild.

And speaking of fancy stats anyone know the whereabouts of fatty beef? A fine hockey mind who shares his work here at HB and is a fancy stat guy posting fancies after most every game.

Where's the beef?
- Mr Ricochet

He’s been MIA since this place shutdown the first time.

Arty started this year a bit slow after recovering from the foot injury. His first 10-15 games he was a bit unsure and just relied on his skating to get him out of any dangerous situation. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't great. They started stressing his gap control and using his frame to his advantage, and that is where things started to take off.

He's been at or near the top of the entire team in SOG all year. That's I think his biggest advantage. Not only his willingness, but his ability to put shots on net.

KD is going to have a lot of hard decisions to make on the back end. Vlasic already signed to a good deal. EDM, Kaiser (RFA), Lev, Crevier (RFA), Allan, KK, eventually Rinzel. That's 8. Kaiser is a really interesting one. He's been up and down, but when he's up, he's really good.
- Chunk

Vlasic makes nine and all 23 and under. Pope wrote about that today that essentially there will be 9 guys vying for 7 spots.

Edit - my bad, Pope counted Murph in his 9 guys vying for 7 spots on D.

KD is doing the same thing that the Oklahoma City Thunder is doing, and now they have the best record in the west and have the most amount of draft picks

AI, The Oklahoma City Thunder have a significant number of future draft picks, including five first-round picks and one second-round pick for the 2025 NBA Draft. Overall, they possess 32 total draft picks through 2031, with 15 being first-rounders and 17 second-rounders, providing them with ample opportunities for trades or to draft new talent.


Keep in mind NBA teams only get 2 draft picks per year.

It would not surprise me if they won the lotto they would actually try to trade that pick to SJ and get extra picks or prospect or 2 out of it.

https://www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks/2025/03/11/bn-blackhawks-top-20-prospect-rankings-march-update/

All i know is I'm so looking forward to the prospects that are here and the ones that are coming. It makes absolutely no sense to give up KK, and 3 1sts to slam the brakes on this rebuild.
- BetweenTheDots

I’d hardly call getting a guy like Pasta, slamming the breaks on the rebuild. Also, unless I read it wrong the offer was an either/or on the picks being offered which in the end equated to two firsts and KK.

I get your point though and if they are offering that I’d like to get a younger version of Pasta.

As much as I’d like to see them draft Marone or Misa, winning the lottery and drafting Schafer would be pretty awesome too.

I’d hardly call getting a guy like Pasta, slamming the breaks on the rebuild. Also, unless I read it wrong the offer was an either/or on the picks being offered which in the end equated to two firsts and KK.

I get your point though and if they are offering that I’d like to get a younger version of Pasta.

As much as I’d like to see them draft Marone or Misa, winning the lottery and drafting Schafer would be pretty awesome too.
- HawkintheD

I believe he said it starts with this year's 1st, Tor 1st, Florida 1st and KK? Sweeney would say would you like the deal to be made with or without ky jelly

https://www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks/2025/03/11/bn-blackhawks-top-20-prospect-rankings-march-update/

All i know is I'm so looking forward to the prospects that are here and the ones that are coming. It makes absolutely no sense to give up KK, and 3 1sts to slam the brakes on this rebuild.
- BetweenTheDots

Elbows said he "thinks" the conversation starts with the Hawks 1st, but that he would offer the TOR and FLA 1sts and KK for Pasta in a heartbeat (paraphrasing there). I 100% agree with Elbows (not sure how I feel about that personally).

There’s a cohesiveness with the group. We’ve gotten rid of some distractions, so to speak, and now there’s a group that’s trying to get better… Sometimes when you make hard decisions, they end up benefiting the group, and you’re seeing that.”

Nick Foligno

Everyone who thinks Seth Jones is a good guy. There you have it.

Elbows said he "thinks" the conversation starts with the Hawks 1st, but that he would offer the TOR and FLA 1sts and KK for Pasta in a heartbeat (paraphrasing there). I 100% agree with Elbows (not sure how I feel about that personally).
- Chunk

Hahaha, i do recognize you guys are struggling with the rebuild. If we trade for Pasta what does that get us? Nothing maybe some more scoring. All these kids need games to get better at their craft and become pros. By the time Pasta would be a difference maker for this team he'd be 30 maybe 31 years old? And please don't compare him to Hossa.

Right now you have your goalie and defenseman of the future gaining valuable experience, forwards haven't even trickled in yet other than Bedard and Nazar. It's too soon.

Vlasic has no business on the PP.
- Chunk

Yeah that sure was awful. Keep him in his lane, which is NOT the PP

The West bracket is going to be amazing to watch. COL, DAL, EDM, VGK, and WIN.
- Chunk

This year CUP playoffs are gonna be Must SEE TV

Hahaha, i do recognize you guys are struggling with the rebuild. If we trade for Pasta what does that get us? Nothing maybe some more scoring. All these kids need games to get better at their craft and become pros. By the time Pasta would be a difference maker for this team he'd be 30 maybe 31 years old? And please don't compare him to Hossa.

Right now you have your goalie and defenseman of the future gaining valuable experience, forwards haven't even trickled in yet other than Bedard and Nazar. It's too soon.
- BetweenTheDots

Hypothetical: three years go by. No moves are mode other than placeholders waiting for the kids to develop. Nazar is the same guy he is right now. Moore replaces Reichel as the BOD and coaching staff whipping boy, Lardis can't translate his scoring to the bigs, Savoie can't make it out of Rockford, Kantserov decides to stay in Russia, Spellacy is a newer version of Marcel Marcel, and Vanacker can't stay healthy. Do you still think waiting for all the kids is the best move.

This is obviously extreme and not highly likely, but the point is that the Hawks simply cannot just wait for all the kids to get experience and hope that they all turn into this great team. No team is built that way. Some of these guys will be traded (as they should) for better and established players. For one, not all of them will pan out, and two they don't have space for all of them.

The Hawks have the foundation set. They have a stocked blue line, a plus goale, and a star forward. They also have a ton of F prospects. Now is the time to get the team actually competitive so that the younger guys have something positive to step into instead of asking a 20 year old to try and drag the team into contention.

Hypothetical: three years go by. No moves are mode other than placeholders waiting for the kids to develop. Nazar is the same guy he is right now. Moore replaces Reichel as the BOD and coaching staff whipping boy, Lardis can't translate his scoring to the bigs, Savoie can't make it out of Rockford, Kantserov decides to stay in Russia, Spellacy is a newer version of Marcel Marcel, and Vanacker can't stay healthy. Do you still think waiting for all the kids is the best move.

This is obviously extreme and not highly likely, but the point is that the Hawks simply cannot just wait for all the kids to get experience and hope that they all turn into this great team. No team is built that way. Some of these guys will be traded (as they should) for better and established players. For one, not all of them will pan out, and two they don't have space for all of them.

The Hawks have the foundation set. They have a stocked blue line, a plus goale, and a star forward. They also have a ton of F prospects. Now is the time to get the team actually competitive so that the younger guys have something positive to step into instead of asking a 20 year old to try and drag the team into contention.
- Chunk

Also (from Pope's article):

Among that group of youngsters, Kaiser and Crevier are pending restricted free agents, but they almost certainly will receive qualifying offers in June and be re-signed — unless they’re traded.

And getting traded is a genuine possibility for them and for several others in that group because the Hawks have entered the stage of their rebuild in which Davidson intends to get aggressive with bolstering the NHL roster. If he can convert two guys with third-pairing upside into one proven top-four guy, he will do it.

Last summer, Davidson’s quantity-over-quality approach to free agency (after striking out on dream signing Jake Guentzel) failed decisively. This summer, focusing on the trade market and packaging ‘‘future assets’’ — picks, prospects and/or young pros — for needle-moving NHL players might be a smarter approach. He acknowledged that Friday.

In the meantime, Kaiser and his cohorts have five weeks left to jockey for position before the offseason arrives.

Hypothetical: three years go by. No moves are mode other than placeholders waiting for the kids to develop. Nazar is the same guy he is right now. Moore replaces Reichel as the BOD and coaching staff whipping boy, Lardis can't translate his scoring to the bigs, Savoie can't make it out of Rockford, Kantserov decides to stay in Russia, Spellacy is a newer version of Marcel Marcel, and Vanacker can't stay healthy. Do you still think waiting for all the kids is the best move.

This is obviously extreme and not highly likely, but the point is that the Hawks simply cannot just wait for all the kids to get experience and hope that they all turn into this great team. No team is built that way. Some of these guys will be traded (as they should) for better and established players. For one, not all of them will pan out, and two they don't have space for all of them.

The Hawks have the foundation set. They have a stocked blue line, a plus goale, and a star forward. They also have a ton of F prospects. Now is the time to get the team actually competitive so that the younger guys have something positive to step into instead of asking a 20 year old to try and drag the team into contention.
- Chunk

They have a stocked blue line because they drafted and developed them, not one of them were traded for. The goalie was traded for with a 1st, Soda a urfa?

There is nothing to say that the forwards they have drafted are busts as of yet other than Elbows saying so.

If they sign 2 quality free agents this year and draftc2 first round picks this year

Then next year sign 2 quality free agents and draft 2 first round picks

The team will begin filling in naturally without it costing young players because of being impatient.

Also (from Pope's article):

Among that group of youngsters, Kaiser and Crevier are pending restricted free agents, but they almost certainly will receive qualifying offers in June and be re-signed — unless they’re traded.

And getting traded is a genuine possibility for them and for several others in that group because the Hawks have entered the stage of their rebuild in which Davidson intends to get aggressive with bolstering the NHL roster. If he can convert two guys with third-pairing upside into one proven top-four guy, he will do it.

Last summer, Davidson’s quantity-over-quality approach to free agency (after striking out on dream signing Jake Guentzel) failed decisively. This summer, focusing on the trade market and packaging ‘‘future assets’’ — picks, prospects and/or young pros — for needle-moving NHL players might be a smarter approach. He acknowledged that Friday.

In the meantime, Kaiser and his cohorts have five weeks left to jockey for position before the offseason arrives.
- Chunk

IMO KD' biggest task for the offseason is his next head coach hire. Under his tenure there has been
Colliton (inherited)
King
Richardson
Sorenson..

From listening to KD's interview with Freidman, IMO I think KD is going to keep Sorenson. However, if KD decides to go outside the organization, ,that means the team again needing to learn new systems, etc.

Also IMO, the new coach (if not Sorenson, needs to have had prior NHL coaching experience. First time college coaches haven't lasted too long, especially in their first hire. i think the Hawks need a coach that isn't entirely new to the NHL, and learning on the job.

Who that is I have no clue. Who would of thought that Dean Evason would do such a great job in Columbus.

Of all games to miss, listened to the 1st and 3rd on the radio, it had to be Levshunov's first NHL game vs the roadrunners that are COL on the road and without the last change. Will say Murray was very impressed with Artie, and said so more than once and in the postgame, and McConnell and the Charlie too.

Scoured the internets since I didn't see the game and Laz was best, he even had short clips. .......... To me this was a bigger game than Bedard's first or even what Knight has done as a Hawk. I say that cuz this Cossack kid tracks to be a blood and guts, heart and soul, refuse to lose, gets two surgeries after the playoffs end, can carry teams thru playoff series like a Doughty, Messier, all 3 Tkachuk's kinda player at as an important position as there is...... In other words one of the rare humans with the ability to go beast mode vs the NHL's best.

Tracking the Bears FA stuff today they had sound of a guy talking about O lineman. He said, "before you go to the toy store you go to the hardware store"!

Indeed. Of course, you never know but I was pretty sure KD would draft Artie 2nd once they did the lottery. Thought, and posted, KD will draft Artie cuz it's the right thing to do (go to the hardware store). ......

Truth be told after seeing Artie a good 3-4 games, and just tracking him on his shifts, early in the yr thought it's gonna take 2 yrs minimum. Until I read Powers and he had clips of Artie in a few recent games once I heard Artie was coming up. ........ Chunk, and others, has said numerous times Artie has improved a good bit from the start of the yr in RKF. And this tracks.

This is Artie's MO. Going from Belarus jrs to the USHL is a huge jump. I was given a heads up by a coach/GM in the USHL on Artie so I tuned in early to some of his USHL games. Big kid, can flat out skate but man he has a long ways to go. Late in the yr his play improved dramatically.

Then another really big jump, from the USHL to NCAA as a true freshman. Artie was born in October so he started with MSU as a 17 yr old! Kid was sloppy early with MSU but by yrs end kid had improved a bunch.

Next yr a big jump to the AHL. Again, starts slow and makes big strides by yrs end....... I knew this, should expect this as I saw it close up since he was 16 for a month his first yr in the USA with USHL Green Bay. Reason would have it Artie would level off at some juncture, some level, I thought. They all do but Artie still hasn't and he's in the Bigs as a 19 yr old!!

Next a huge jump to the NHL in the same yr, no benefit of an offseason, and the kid was excellent as reported by the media and the fancies say he was fantastic as he put up a 51.51 corsi in his first game that his D partner got hurt early in the 1st and he skated just short of 22:00.

For the first time in months I went to Natural Stat Trick. I scrubbed Arties numbers and they're excellent. He skated the most minutes with Vlasic and their CF was 73.33!!! Take a look if you have the 3-4 hours to spend down the NST rabbit hole. https://www.naturalstattr...eason=20242025&game=21023

A big night for the organIzation and I bet KD and Crew were giddier after this tilt than in Bedard's first. .... Their 19 yr old left tackle (hardware store purchase), against most odds, cleared another hurdle, and this was probably his biggest yet. As he always does!!
- Mr Ricochet

I thought Lev was the best Hawk on the backend last night. He's got nasty in his game, is not going to back down from anyone, and he seems to have a whole lot of confidence.

The only negative was that he floats a bit in the Dzone and stops moving his feet. He's such a good skater that he gets away with it most of the time though. Also seemed like it took him a second to process some plays but again he is such a good skater it did not hurt his play overall.

Already the best passer and best shot on the current blueline. Look out when he fully adjusts to NHL speed. He gets the puck in the Dzone with any kind of space and his first instinct is to head up ice with the puck. All the tools to be a top 5 dmen in the league are there.