Serevelli on the Hawks pregame;

Rinzel will not play a game in the AHL

Boisvert may transfer to an eastern team when the portal opens tonight

Thompson not signing, going back, and may become a FA after next year.

I guess its to be expected with so many draft picks that someone may not sign sighting no path to get to NHL
- vabeachbear

I haven't read or heard anything about KK, Lev, Rinzel, Moore, or anyone else, going down to RKF for the playoffs. I just assumed, of course you'll send your kids down to get experience playing pro playoff hockey. ...... I mean why wouldn't you? Rinzel will get more outa playing 8 NHL games or playing a few regular season AHL games then at least a round of AHL playoffs?

Have I missed any reporting on this, besides what the well connected Seravell reported?........ That is one helluva resource Hawk fans have on that Hawk pregame with Donato and Seravelli. I'd imagine Seravelli ain't cheap either.

It was in response to people being disappointed in his college career. I don't for a minute think we will know what he is for several years.
- rpeters01

I agree with the bolded. Like KK I think it'll take Moore longer to develop than most of the blue chippers.... I do feel safe thinking Moore's floor is a + 3rd line player who's speed will always be a problem for any opponent.

I think most players drafted #12 or 13 or later in rd 1 the hope is they develop into top 6 guys with the assumption of an L3 floor and Moore fits that profile.

Martone is a big unit, a north south player, he’s a strong skater, not exceptionally fast, average edges really good balance. He battles everywhere and always goes straight to the net. He’s always jabbing, slashing, punching guys during play and after the whistle. Third time I’ve seen him live this year. He’ll make the NHL because he’s huge and he’s physical and does have some skill but I’m not sure about his ceiling.

The guy I left the game really impressed with was Brampton’s goalie Jack Ivankovic. He’s not tall, but extremely athletic, excellent on his feet, he moves side to side and in and out of his crease effortlessly. After a save he’s always ready for subsequent shots. He covers his angles really well and he baits players by keeping his glove low only to snag a shot directed to the top corner. Or he gives them the five hole only to close it when a Gens player shoots. I’ve never really paid attention to him before. He’s ranked to go mid second round. I wonder how many teams will be reluctant to draft him because of his height?
- paulr

How bout this then. Hawks end up drafting 3rd and Schaeffer and Misa are off the board. Who would you take 3rd, Hagens or Martone?

Yep, Martone is definitely engaged and at his size he's really effective that way. No doubt an interesting player especially for organIzations that are smallish in their top 6.

I agree with the bolded. Like KK I think it'll take Moore longer to develop than most of the blue chippers.... I do feel safe thinking Moore's floor is a + 3rd line player who's speed will always be a problem for any opponent.

I think most players drafted #12 or 13 or later in rd 1 the hope is they develop into top 6 guys with the assumption of an L3 floor and Moore fits that profile.
- Mr Ricochet

I think KK will be a late bloomer. He will all of a sudden be a stud when he's 25. We'll blink and WTF he's really good. Let's hope he's still a Blackhawk.

I think with Donato it’s more about term. I believe that the offer on the table is for three years, and with the prospects that will be here by then, that term is about right. I like Donato, but let’s not forget that this is his 9th year and 5th team and he’s having a career year.
- Angotti

Really missed the point about Bertuzzi eh?! Lol

I think KK will be a late bloomer. He will all of a sudden be a stud when he's 25. We'll blink and WTF he's really good. Let's hope he's still a Blackhawk.
- rpeters01

Can’t wait for Elbows response to this

Really missed the point about Bertuzzi eh?! Lol
- Assman22

Not really, while I’m not a big fan of Bertuzzi, I can see why he was signed, just don’t like the term, the salary was in line with his production.

If Florida resigns Bennett (and maybe Marchand), it’s going to be difficult for them to justify carrying Lundell at $5 a year to play 3rd line center. He is a responsible 2-way center with some offensive pop. Think he would look good on line #2

What would it take to pry him loose? Reichel + 2nd? Maybe more?

Not much out there on the UFA market so will probably take moves like this to grab anyone that moves the needle at all.

Thoughts?

Not really, while I’m not a big fan of Bertuzzi, I can see why he was signed, just don’t like the term, the salary was in line with his production.
- Angotti

For me it's only 3 more years and he typically gets dinged and misses some games, kind of perfect for all the kidies coming up real soon.

I haven't read or heard anything about KK, Lev, Rinzel, Moore, or anyone else, going down to RKF for the playoffs. I just assumed, of course you'll send your kids down to get experience playing pro playoff hockey. ...... I mean why wouldn't you? Rinzel will get more outa playing 8 NHL games or playing a few regular season AHL games then at least a round of AHL playoffs?

Have I missed any reporting on this, besides what the well connected Seravell reported?........ That is one helluva resource Hawk fans have on that Hawk pregame with Donato and Seravelli. I'd imagine Seravelli ain't cheap either.
- Mr Ricochet

I think i heard on CHGO that Moore and Rinzel can't go down to Rockford for the playoffs, and that they were locked into their position, so that thought that KK, Lev, and anyone who played there would go down when its time, but stay up until then as their playoff spot is determined.

How bout this then. Hawks end up drafting 3rd and Schaeffer and Misa are off the board. Who would you take 3rd, Hagens or Martone?

Yep, Martone is definitely engaged and at his size he's really effective that way. No doubt an interesting player especially for organIzations that are smallish in their top 6.
- Mr Ricochet

Hagens

Can’t wait for Elbows response to this
- Assman22

Like I tell my wife, "it's not my fault you're wrong."

Like I tell my wife, "it's not my fault you're wrong."

- rpeters01

If you admit that you’re wrong, I’ll admit that I’m right.

How bout this then. Hawks end up drafting 3rd and Schaeffer and Misa are off the board. Who would you take 3rd, Hagens or Martone?

Yep, Martone is definitely engaged and at his size he's really effective that way. No doubt an interesting player especially for organIzations that are smallish in their top 6.
- Mr Ricochet

Best available, if that’s Martone or Hagens I can’t say as if seen very little of Hagens. Or you try to trade to get the first or second pick. Or trade out and try to get a young established NHL player.

You know after the signing of Moore and Rinzel the Blackhawks might now be fielding the youngest team in the NHL at 25.38 years of age now.

You know after the signing of Moore and Rinzel the Blackhawks might now be fielding the youngest team in the NHL at 25.38 years of age now.
- BetweenTheDots

Wouldn’t that be icing the youngest team?

Wouldn’t that be icing the youngest team?
- paulr

Well played, i have to say i feel like it's 2005 all over again.

Knight enough to answer...

see aspects of his game that keep him from being a consistent top 1/3 NHL goalie....... He's losing positioning getting too deep in his net. Why is he getting beat glove side high on shots he sees from distance? A concentration issue? A technical issue? A weight adjustment issue?
- Mr Ricochet

I would like to if his inabilty to be consistent in his firts AHL & NHL games are what got him in the NHL to work on OCD like issues in games?

Left The Program, that churns out NHL goalies, with the highest save percentage until a kid named Commesso took that honor of best save percentage earned at The Program!!

Huge fan of goalies outa The Program. Huge fan of goalies going the NCAA route then plying their trade and developing in the AHL and the Hawks have two of them!!!! Big fan of Commesso and always have been cuz of his quiet technical style backed up by athleticism with ......... Still can't believe Knight is a Hawk but we all see he's not a finished product and has been traded in season to the worst team he's ever been on, is the #1 goalie on his NHL team for the first time and he's got Soderblom and soon enough Commesso to fight off.

- Mr Ricochet

Hey!, my 2025 mock big board is adjusted and always in flux.

All these worries they are getting a really talented forwardwhen they pick with lottery losses for Ducks & Blackhawks. That early 1st Rder is gold in every one of Kyle's GM chats until here and the lottery -> Draft.

Whether Kyle & staff see cool head Sam as the cool new toy, with Vlasic the friendly left side giant, and ALSO see call up current PP point attacker 55 ,the big roving ad libber, I am telling you Matt Schaefer is faster, as high IQhockey mind as you'll find, and his speedy regular shifts see him in all zones, defensive phases
along with his quick carries and dishes.
He's faster than any Blackhawk defender.

Some Blackhawk back-liner may own a better than Schafer long pass, and more than one can hammer shots. The passing on the attack is not lacking smart ideas but each 23 and under is showing strides, DelMastro Crevier, Kaiser, Korchinski, Allen, so it wouldn't be unfait to add the next first over-all lottery win in Schaefer,

I think there are better chances it does happen, but if it did, it opens a more Kyle looking to send some of his defensive pen elswhere for scoring.

The certainly do not want to trade any of the kid dee-men until they know exactly where they jell and fit. No Rush. (Even if you "have" to pick the bpa, cleariy Schaefer.

I like Misa, maybe more than I have let on.

I think that there will be no lowered Hawk brass chins if the Hawks get out of the early first round with the US kid, the Swedish kid, or the other Canadien kid, Porter.
(Oh, you thought i meant Caleb Desnoyers, maybe I did...)

Just think of the bright side of winning the lottery.
You finish last you go first and no one can take who you want.

Just think of the bright side of ONE outsider franchise winning the lottery.
The Hawks finish last, get the best forward at #2.

The top half dozen are in line to go there by the team scouts, and not changing from that perch that hold EIGHT high draft selections.

I an not going to Tier off the 7 forwards and I defender in that top 8.

I think it comes down to considering 5 things for Donato.

1) Opportunity - Is he getting increased opportunity with Chicago? Not really. He has received significant ice time at Even Strength and the PP before. He has gotten only a little bit more this year in Chicago, but it has been 100% deserved.

2) Line mates - He has gotten it done with pretty much everyone this year, so it's not so much about who he is playing with. He has played with talented players before.

3) Drive the net/Shoot first mentality - His strategy on the ice has been very direct this year. He isn't doing anything very fancy or extremely "high skill". He driving the puck to the net into dirty areas or putting pucks on net from everywhere. He doesn't hesitate, everything is towards the net.

4) Motivation - This is a big contract year for him, probably his best chance at the biggest contract he will ever get in his career. I think this is the biggest factor, he has been showing up game after game from the pre-season onward. (I remember many comments about how he was solid in effort right from camp)

5) Luck - With his shooting % some of it is luck/chance, but with his effort and focus this year he is also kind of making his own luck. I think it's not fully sustainable.

The Hawks should reward Donato with a new contract within limits. If he is asking for larger than $4M, then make it 1-2 year max so that he can demonstrate that he will continue his level of play into next year. If he is looking for more term, then the price has to be at most near that $4M range. The Hawks have to expect some regression in his production until he proves otherwise or they have to go short term while they have the cap space available.
- breadbag

Playing for the next contract is a good point. But damn, a doubling of his previous career point high is still insane. It's not just the goals. He has 30 assists now. D*ckinson didn't do much assists-wise last year. And while Kurashev did, he was almost always on a line with Bedard. Donato also has the distinction of being a coach's son, for whatever that's worth.

It seems like there's another intangible at work besides the contract year phenomenon. We crap on Maroon, but a lot of the early success came when they were together on that fourth line. I suspect he had a real positive effect on Donato here. if that's the case, there's a better chance he carries the success forward instead of being a one hit wonder.

I see Ek is featuring our new Head Coach on the front page.

Could see comparisons to the NHL's version of Ben Johnson, these two rebuilds have a lot of similarities.

I see Ek is featuring our new Head Coach on the front page.

Could see comparisons to the NHL's version of Ben Johnson, these two rebuilds have a lot of similarities.
- vabeachbear

As i said earlier, all this guy seems to do is win.

Hagens
- vabeachbear

Agreed and he'll play top 6 center. Really really really need to add a top 6 power forward via trade/FA like really really really badly.

I see Ek is featuring our new Head Coach on the front page.

Could see comparisons to the NHL's version of Ben Johnson, these two rebuilds have a lot of similarities.
- vabeachbear

The similarities stop when you realize the Bears have a great FO and the Hawks do not. Coaches maybe but even the players roster, the Bears have a lot of solid vets to pair with young guys whereas the Hawks do not.

The similarities stop when you realize the Bears have a great FO and the Hawks do not. Coaches maybe but even the players roster, the Bears have a lot of solid vets to pair with young guys whereas the Hawks do not.
- Assman22

I would not call the Bears FO great. Took them too long to realize they needed on OLine and coach.

I would not call the Bears FO great. Took them too long to realize they needed on OLine and coach.
- powerenforcer

Poles tried to build the O line on the cheap. Swing and miss. Ir regardless what's been said, I don't think the coach was his choice. Firing him earlier meant the owner eating a lot of his choices salary. No way Poles would have gotten the budget to hire Johnson without Warren telling George he had to spend more for a coach.