I think it would be an surprise, but since the Hawks scouting loves them the speed, that they select Victor Eklund, who is 7 on my board.

I can find reasons that would justify selecting any of that top 7, where Misa fits very well (since he can play can stay at centre or move that to wing), how Krugers big centre Anton Frondell is so strong two ways and can score, Caleb Desnoyers all aroung compete and tools, and lastly the much maligned Porter Martone who is an NHL player with nice future too.

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts/2025

James Hagens may not be an outlier with most teams selecting early on in the draft. He just seems have less characteristics the Blackhawks may want to have in this early pick, as they "think" they are not going to be a high % lottery team in 2026 draft

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts/2026
- wiz1901

My draft order, regardless of where the Hawks draft:

Misa
Schaefer
Desnoyers
Hagens
Martone

For the Hawks second first round pick I’m hoping for Horcoff, Moore, or Zonnon.

My draft order, regardless of where the Hawks draft:

Misa
Schaefer
Desnoyers
Hagens
Martone

For the Hawks second first round pick I’m hoping for Horcoff, Moore, or Zonnon.
- DarthKane

Schaefer
Misa
Frondell
Desnoyers
Hagens
Martone

Second first round pick Fiddler. Can never have enough centers or RD’s.

Isaac Howard isn’t signing with the Bolts. KD needs to make a call to Brisebois and see what it takes to get him.

If Howard goes to free agency Tampa gets the 63rd pick in 2027 as compensation. KD can offer Toronto’s first or one of their second round picks this year. I’d offer the Hawks second (34th overall) and a young player the Hawks can part with, maybe a Crevier or Reichel. If it’s Toronto’s 1st round pick I could live with that too.

Another option is to trade one of the young d-men the Hawks have. Allan, Kaiser, or Del Mastro. There isn’t enough roster space for all the young defensemen so this option makes the most sense.

Isaac Howard isn’t signing with the Bolts. KD needs to make a call to Brisebois and see what it takes to get him.

If Howard goes to free agency Tampa gets the 63rd pick in 2027 as compensation. KD can offer Toronto’s first or one of their second round picks this year. I’d offer the Hawks second (34th overall) and a young player the Hawks can part with, maybe a Crevier or Reichel. If it’s Toronto’s 1st round pick I could live with that too.

Another option is to trade one of the young d-men the Hawks have. Allan, Kaiser, or Del Mastro. There isn’t enough roster space for all the young defensemen so this option makes the most sense.
- DarthKane

Mentioned this earlier, but how does the Howard situation compare with the situation the Hawks had with Kevin Hayes? The Hawks let him go to free agency. Did they even try to move him prior? I saw that their college stats were somewhat comparable. I'm wondering how many inquiries Tampa has received, and also what his rights are really worth.

Mentioned this earlier, but how does the Howard situation compare with the situation the Hawks had with Kevin Hayes? The Hawks let him go to free agency. Did they even try to move him prior? I saw that their college stats were somewhat comparable. I'm wondering how many inquiries Tampa has received, and also what his rights are really worth.
- 333inthe3rd

https://thehockeynews.com...go-blackhawks-do-about-it

Here is one from June of that year. Looks like everyone knew that Hayes wouldn't sign before the deadline so not sure why Stan didn't trade him. The article mentions that the return for his rights should be a 2nd rounder, maybe no one would offer that.

According to the article, Hayes wouldn't sign because he was blocked by Ryan Hartman, Mark McNeill, and Jeremy Morin. Guess Hayes didn't have as much to worry about as he thought he did.

EDIT: CHI got the 24th pick in the 2nd round in 2015. They picked Graham Knott. Pretty much a fail all around.

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois confirmed on Friday that head coach Jon Cooper will be back behind the bench next season.

TODAY'S TANKATHON

Finally got a CHI jump to #1. NYR moves up 9 spots to #2.

2 Chicago
11 NY Rangers
1 San Jose
3 Nashville
4 Philadelphia
5 Boston
6 Seattle
7 Buffalo
8 Anaheim
9 Pittsburgh
10 NY Islanders
12 Detroit
13 Columbus
14 Utah
15 Vancouver
16 Calgary (to MON)

NYR might really want the #1 to take Schaefer. What would it take for CHI to swap picks and move down to #2?

https://thehockeynews.com/news/where-is-kevin-hayes-going-and-what-can-the-chicago-blackhawks-do-about-it

Here is one from June of that year. Looks like everyone knew that Hayes wouldn't sign before the deadline so not sure why Stan didn't trade him. The article mentions that the return for his rights should be a 2nd rounder, maybe no one would offer that.

According to the article, Hayes wouldn't sign because he was blocked by Ryan Hartman, Mark McNeill, and Jeremy Morin. Guess Hayes didn't have as much to worry about as he thought he did.

EDIT: CHI got the 24th pick in the 2nd round in 2015. They picked Graham Knott. Pretty much a fail all around.
- totem

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I would think nobody is going to trade for Howard's rights unless he signs a contract as part of the trade. As Tampa is getting a late 2nd in compensation, any team is going to have to beat that if they want his rights. Aside from the Lindros trade, how many of these situations drew better than a 2nd round return?

Not surprised by Bedard - I felt he got a pretty raw deal on that team after he was doing pretty well the first couple of games...

TODAY'S TANKATHON

Finally got a CHI jump to #1. NYR moves up 9 spots to #2.

2 Chicago
11 NY Rangers
1 San Jose
3 Nashville
4 Philadelphia
5 Boston
6 Seattle
7 Buffalo
8 Anaheim
9 Pittsburgh
10 NY Islanders
12 Detroit
13 Columbus
14 Utah
15 Vancouver
16 Calgary (to MON)

NYR might really want the #1 to take Schaefer. What would it take for CHI to swap picks and move down to #2?
- totem

I just did one Tankathon spin:

Chicago
NYI
SJ
Nashville
Philly

If the Hawks are trading Reichel and Kurashev they better be getting Point in return.
- DarthKane

Been out of town for a few and backreading.



I was watching one of the Lightning/Panther games and was watching Point buzzing around controlling play in the Ozone.

I’ve seen some suggest that could be Frankie’s (Nazar) ceiling. Even if he becomes a poor man’s Point I’ll take it.

Cooper to Utah, when he is redy to move on, next.

I would hire jay Woodcroft with Andres and regular bench guys, so expand the bench size.
- wiz1901

The Athletic keeps throwing his name out there as a. possible.

Been out of town for a few and backreading.



I was watching one of the Lightning/Panther games and was watching Point buzzing around controlling play in the Ozone.

I’ve seen some suggest that could be Frankie’s (Nazar) ceiling. Even if he becomes a poor man’s Point I’ll take it.
- HawkintheD

I’ve been watching a lot of hockey since I retired in ‘22, if Nazar comes close to Brayden Point, that’s a home run, and if any of the bigger guys can become a Boldy, that’s a grand slam.

Montreal will be a team to be reckoned with in a season or two. The Habs have allot of prospects to add to an already strong lineup. Reinbacher, Mailloux, Hage, Roy, Fowler, Arber’s brother Florian Xhekaj, Protz, Sawyer. And the core currently on the Habs are young and good.
- paulr

Time will tell, I'm curious to see how the Habs pan out. I wonder if they might become a regular season darling like Minnesota, Kings, Winnipeg, what the Bolts have become, or real contenders.

Way to early to project on the goalie but the others you point out are very late 1st round picks or later (other than Reinbacher) and they already hit on their 2nd round pick in Hutson and they didn't have any 2nd round picks in the last 2 drafts.

And i think it's fantastic how we have 3 picks in the top 50, 1 in the top 4, this year, and then the following year another 2 first round picks and 3 second round picks, this is really developing nicely. I guess the message I'm trying to share is when you see all these rebuilds of other teams, there is big gaps in the top 50 to 100 picks, KD has zero gaps and just keeps loading them as close as he can to the first round.

They can speculate who has the best farm system all they want but by the numbers the Blackhawks do by a country mile

God bless you, Wiz. Still getting to places that matter for the umpteenth yr. Keep on keepin on, old boy!!

Just popped in to post that today, Friday the 2nd, is the U-18 Semi Finals, the Final 4. CAN v SVK at 3:00 and USA v Sveden at 7:00. It's on NHL Network and SN. These clubs are loaded with kids that will be drafted this yr and a handful of 16 yr olds gonna get drafted next yr......

This tournament at the end of the yr where kids are so much more developed from the beginning of the yr is a perfect setting for evaluating these draft eligibles.
- Mr Ricochet

When Steve from Glencoe and his son were at the draft, they talked to the Stenberg family and the younger brother to Blue's draftee Stenberg, told them he was going in the firdt round in his drfat year. Well he certainly isn't a scrub, so maybe...

Isaac Howard isn’t signing with the Bolts. KD needs to make a call to Brisebois and see what it takes to get him.

If Howard goes to free agency Tampa gets the 63rd pick in 2027 as compensation. KD can offer Toronto’s first or one of their second round picks this year. I’d offer the Hawks second (34th overall) and a young player the Hawks can part with, maybe a Crevier or Reichel. If it’s Toronto’s 1st round pick I could live with that too.

Another option is to trade one of the young d-men the Hawks have. Allan, Kaiser, or Del Mastro. There isn’t enough roster space for all the young defensemen so this option makes the most sense.
- DarthKane

he is a really good friend of our Frankie Nazar.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/where-is-kevin-hayes-going-and-what-can-the-chicago-blackhawks-do-about-it

Here is one from June of that year. Looks like everyone knew that Hayes wouldn't sign before the deadline so not sure why Stan didn't trade him. The article mentions that the return for his rights should be a 2nd rounder, maybe no one would offer that.

According to the article, Hayes wouldn't sign because he was blocked by Ryan Hartman, Mark McNeill, and Jeremy Morin. Guess Hayes didn't have as much to worry about as he thought he did.

EDIT: CHI got the 24th pick in the 2nd round in 2015. They picked Graham Knott. Pretty much a fail all around.
- totem

That was a pretty poor draft class, but the Hawks thought Knott could improve his skating and get to be a pro...didn't happen.

Johnny Toews for Head Coach!!!

Johnny Toews for Head Coach!!!
- mohel

No to Towes Maybe to Seabrook And big Yes to Tocchet

Johnny Toews for Head Coach!!!
- mohel

No to Towes Maybe to Seabrook And big Yes to Tocchet

If Hawks get the number one overall pick as much as I would like Misa I m drafting Shaffer. Hawks d core would be elite. Plus Hawks could try and tease back into top ten with the draft capital they have and prospects. Kinda like last year.. if you can get the next makar then you draft. Imo

If Hawks get the number one overall pick as much as I would like Misa I m drafting Shaffer. Hawks d core would be elite. Plus Hawks could try and tease back into top ten with the draft capital they have and prospects. Kinda like last year.. if you can get the next makar then you draft. Imo
- Scott1977

Getting back into the top 10 would cost way too much.

I always go back to you can't control anything other than drafting the best available. So if it's Schaefer than it's Schaefer.

Vlasic, Schaefer, Korchinski, EDM and Allan. Let the competition begin for playing time.

There's no doubt the Blackhawks would be like the Preds 10 years ago with a stacked and probably the best blue line in the league.

Develop and play them and hold onto to them as long as you can so you get maximum value for any of them.

Some one somewhere sometime asked me about him and his profile was not displayed, as another with his name was there with no content:

Brady Martin

https://www.lines.com/nhl...player/brady-martin-40687

Some one somewhere sometime asked me about him and his profile was not displayed, as another with his name was there with no content:

Brady Martin

https://www.lines.com/nhl...player/brady-martin-40687
- wiz1901

Wiz, there are all kinds of concerns about Roger McQueen’s health. If he should slide to Toronto’s pick do you take a chance on him?

I’ve watched Jack Ivankovich a few times this year. He’s a technically sound goalie, he’s very athletic, he moves incredibly well, his positioning is good but he’s 5’11. In the age of huge goalies how does he project?

The Athletic keeps throwing his name out there as a. possible.
- HawkintheD

Nobody is talking about how many coaches KD is going to get to pick? They probably aren't good enough to attract their "final" coach. That means it's likely the next coach won't make their full contract. Hopefully, we can get a Savard type to move at least from "point C to point B."