Also KK gave up the puck being pressured on the Admirals second goal.
- LAHawk

Trade bait

I have no idea why they picked him to be the GM of such an iconic franchise. I am underwhelmed.

The on-ice product under Davidson has been horrid. His coaching decisions have been franchise altering bad. He’s traded away several proven NHLers for picks. His trade record is underwhelming. The contracts have been head scratchers.

The next 15 years of Chicago hockey revolves around his ability to identify talent in the draft. That is alot of pressure on a young guy who was not a scout or GM of any other team.

On-ice record speaks for itself. They are 51 games under .500 in the last 3 seasons.
He fired Colliton, who was 5 games under NHL .500 in over 200 games, and replaced him with Richardson, who was over his head from Day 1. Sorensen is still interim. Next hire is crucial.
Most of the trades are TBD because the best players in the deal went out and draft picks came back.
Made an impactful NHL trade early in Lafferty for Nylander. Wish there were more.
Got a haul for Hagel but the NHL players, Katchouk and Raddysh were not good. Will Oliver Moore ever be anything like Hagel? Boisvert is the other piece that will be linked. Lots riding on him. Hagel is top 10 scorer who does a lot more.
Fluery for the pick that turned into Greene is still TBD.
Traded Debrincat whose totals would have led the Hawks in scoring each of the past 3 years. Korchinski is still learning his position. Ludwinski TBD.
Traded Dach for the picks that begat Nazar and Hayes will be determined how Nazar pans out.
Paying Mrazak salary and getting the pick that landed RInzel looks great. Toronto drafted Minten with the Hawks pick who is also a solid prospect.
Eating Richardinson’s salary let to a 2nd rounder that helped get Boisvert.
Eating Zaitsev’s salary begat Kantserov but watching Ziatsev caused stomach aches.
Traded McCabe(retaining 50%) and Lafferty for Toronto’s 1st this year and 2nd next year. Lots riding on a late first and 2nd here. McCabe can play.
Traded Domi for a 2nd rounder this June. TBD. Domi can play.
Traded Mitchell and Regula for Hall and Foligno. Has overpaid Foligno by 4X. Wish he was off the ice and an assistant coach.
Traded a 7th for Perry. Did not help the franchise.
Traded a 5th for Beauvillier got a 5th back From Nashville.. He’s playing in the playoffs.
Traded away a 2nd round pick to move up for Boisvert.
Traded 2 2nd round picks to move up 7 spots to pick Vanacker.
Traded Hall for a 3rd. Hurricanes signed him for 3 years.
Traded Jones and 4th for Knight and a 1st rounder at Florida’s discretion. TBD.
Traded Mrazek and Smith for Valeno.

Everything revolves around prospects panning out. My friends in Buffalo are getting their "May Day" tattoos removed because waiting for a rebuild while other teams retool is too painful.
- stevefrmglencoe

KFC has an ego and will do exactly what you don't think he will do. This is going to be his team, for better or for worse, and no part of the past will infringe on that. He didn't trade Kane to be a nice guy. He got rid of Toews because he was the past. When you least expect it, he will do something you didn't expect. I look forward to draft day just to say: "I didn't see that coming!"

KFC has an ego and will do exactly what you don't think he will do. This is going to be his team, for better or for worse, and no part of the past will infringe on that. He didn't trade Kane to be a nice guy. He got rid of Toews because he was the past. When you least expect it, he will do something you didn't expect. I look forward to draft day just to say: "I didn't see that coming!"
- bjphawkfan

This is really nitpicky, but KD didn't "get rid" of Toews. Toews was broken down and his contract wasn't renewed. He's been out of hockey since then and only now is trying to get back in which is certainly no guarantee. If anything, I'd say that KD absolutely did what was best for the Hawks.

This is not taking anything away from what Toews did for the Hawks. They did the exact same with Seabrook (after giving him a ridiculous contract). Both were the correct moves.

KFC has an ego and will do exactly what you don't think he will do. This is going to be his team, for better or for worse, and no part of the past will infringe on that. He didn't trade Kane to be a nice guy. He got rid of Toews because he was the past. When you least expect it, he will do something you didn't expect. I look forward to draft day just to say: "I didn't see that coming!"
- bjphawkfan

Kane had a surgery that had a near zero success rate. Part of why he's stuck signing one year deals now. But he would have been good for Bedard, and vice versa.

I feel like I've got to say this out loud, there's no reason to trade our prospects with the most upside.
- BetweenTheDots

Does KK have the most upside vs EDM, Kaiser, Rinzel, Arty? Point being that just because he was drafted high, doesn't mean he's better.

Furthermore, if you are going to use the argument with Stevefromglencoe that you need to take context into consideration when talking about the Hawks record under KD, you also need to do the same when looking at how and when trades are made (LA Kings). You've railed for months that trading Faber was a mistake, but they have Doughty signed (who is still a tier defenseman when healthy) and didn't have enough room for all of Faber, and Clarke and Anderson, etc. They moved out a good piece and got a top point producer (on their team) back, while still having good pieces left for the back end. If the return is worth it and the team is better for it in the end, it really is not a problem.

This is a laughable trade rumor (but one I would jump at in a second:

Chicago and Buffalo

Chicago receives. Bowen Byram, JJ Peterka, 2025 1st round (9th) pick

Buffalo receives: Reichel, Allan, Broissant and 2025 1st round pick (3rd)

Have no idea what Chicago fan cooked this up, but if this is real, KD should jump at this (Will Broissant even play again?).

More realistic is JJ Peterka for Reichel, 2025 1st round (3) + 2026 2nd round. But I do not see Buffalo trading Peterka, and not for picks (and we really do not have the players to trade as they seem set at D). They are looking for players (like us) who can push their infinite rebuild across the finish line.


https://www.sportsmockery...g-up-a-blockbuster-trade/

I think trading back to #5-6 and Kyle’s still in tier 1. Earlier, I floated the trade back with Preds scenario of 3 and 34 for 5 and 21.
One of Lakovic, Bear, Carbonneau, or Spence could fall there with the plethora of d-men in tier 2 plus the possibility of Ravensbergen going before 21. I think Kyle may have Spence high on his draft board given Kyle’s type and he’s essentially Martone-light. I’d like to see them go for a true scorer with the TOR pick and roll the dice on Ryabkin and have him start the season in Rockford with Levshunov.
If Hawks end up with Martone, Spence, and Ryabkin in the 1st, they immediately get bigger and nasty plus a true scorer who also likes to get chippy.
- Assman22

Sorry for the delay in responding to a really interesting and prescient topic. 94 yr old mother in law scratched open her stitches and bled like a stuck pig. ... So, a wonderful afternoon spent in the ER.

Two things. Firstly, you don't have Scheafer and Misa alone in tier 1 and don't think KD does either? You posted 5-6 guys as being in KD's tier 1 of the draft.

Second, if the Hawks drop down to 5-6 in your scenario to move up later in the 1st rd highly unlikely Martone is available.

Go over drafts, I am from memory, and you can snag some damn fine players around 20 but you are projecting hard. If KD has Frondell or Desyorners rated with Martone and Hagens yes, drop down. But, if he doesn't, like a trade, I wanna come out of the draft with the best player and that would be Hagens or Martone if I don't have Frondell or Desyorners in the same tier.

Let's say he likes Spence but has Martone and Hagens alone in tier 2 use other draft/prospect capital to move up or outright trade for the 17-20 pick to grab Spence.

But if he has Frondell and Desyorners rated with Hagens and Martone, hell yea trade down and add assets and STILL get your guy... That's just good GMing and hope he scrubs that possibility with every pick.

Watching the Rockford Icehogs and their defense wasn't like their youngsters didn't have hockey strengths that could elevate them to the bigs.

KK really is an accurate passer.

DelMastro is a hockey player and without trying to pigeon hole him in an NHL role, the more he plays in the AHL, the better he becomes defensively and all-around.

...and Arty is bigger and faster than most players out there. So much in the toolbox, and now has to apprentice in the AHL to learn to use them properly.

Remember when former Hawk head scout said the selected Mark Kelley, justified the the late first selection with "...we need to try to find our next Brent Seabrook..."
He has really has good balance and feet to engage and play the entire ice with really good decision-making and a smidgeon of dirty girt under the veneer.

This is a laughable trade rumor (but one I would jump at in a second:

Chicago and Buffalo

Chicago receives. Bowen Byram, JJ Peterka, 2025 1st round (9th) pick

Buffalo receives: Reichel, Allan, Broissant and 2025 1st round pick (3rd)

Have no idea what Chicago fan cooked this up, but if this is real, KD should jump at this (Will Broissant even play again?).

More realistic is JJ Peterka for Reichel, 2025 1st round (3) + 2026 2nd round. But I do not see Buffalo trading Peterka, and not for picks (and we really do not have the players to trade as they seem set at D). They are looking for players (like us) who can push their infinite rebuild across the finish line.


https://www.sportsmockery...g-up-a-blockbuster-trade/
- Revco38

The real question is: will Reichel play in the NHL again?🤭

Does KK have the most upside vs EDM, Kaiser, Rinzel, Arty? Point being that just because he was drafted high, doesn't mean he's better.

Furthermore, if you are going to use the argument with Stevefromglencoe that you need to take context into consideration when talking about the Hawks record under KD, you also need to do the same when looking at how and when trades are made (LA Kings). You've railed for months that trading Faber was a mistake, but they have Doughty signed (who is still a tier defenseman when healthy) and didn't have enough room for all of Faber, and Clarke and Anderson, etc. They moved out a good piece and got a top point producer (on their team) back, while still having good pieces left for the back end. If the return is worth it and the team is better for it in the end, it really is not a problem.
- Chunk

We'll revisit this in a couple of years, 35 Doughty and 22 Faber

The Kings one and done how many years in a row.

Watching the Rockford Icehogs and their defense wasn't like their youngsters didn't have hockey strengths that could elevate them to the bigs.

KK really is an accurate passer.

DelMastro is a hockey player and without trying to pigeon hole him in an NHL role, the more he plays in the AHL, the better he becomes defensively and all-around.

...and Arty is bigger and faster than most players out there. So much in the toolbox, and now has to apprentice in the AHL to learn to use them properly.

Remember when former Hawk head scout said the selected Mark Kelley, justified the the late first selection with "...we need to try to find our next Brent Seabrook..."
He's really has good balance and feet to engage and play the entire ice with really good decision-making and a smidgeon of dirty girt under the veneer.
- wiz1901

This doesn't fit the KK is a bust and Arty is slow narrative. I don't think people here realize a lot is being asked of KK. Offensive D man, Defensive D man, be the main puck handler, captain the power play.

Watching the Rockford Icehogs and their defense wasn't like their youngsters didn't have hockey strengths that could elevate them to the bigs.

KK really is an accurate passer.

DelMastro is a hockey player and without trying to pigeon hole him in an NHL role, the more he plays in the AHL, the better he becomes defensively and all-around.

...and Arty is bigger and faster than most players out there. So much in the toolbox, and now has to apprentice in the AHL to learn to use them properly.

Remember when former Hawk head scout said the selected Mark Kelley, justified the the late first selection with "...we need to try to find our next Brent Seabrook..."
He's really has good balance and feet to engage and play the entire ice with really good decision-making and a smidgeon of dirty girt under the veneer.
- wiz1901

So let’s just say Levshunov, Rinzel and KK are the top tier of the young backend, then EDM, Allan, Crevier and Kaiser are the next tier. To me, EDM will be the best of that second tier, that’s just my gut feeling after watching these guys last season. EDM could turn out to be Seabrook lite, just not as much offense but a rock defensively, and after watching these playoffs, every single contender could use that type of defenseman on their backend.

This is a laughable trade rumor (but one I would jump at in a second:

Chicago and Buffalo

Chicago receives. Bowen Byram, JJ Peterka, 2025 1st round (9th) pick

Buffalo receives: Reichel, Allan, Broissant and 2025 1st round pick (3rd)

Have no idea what Chicago fan cooked this up, but if this is real, KD should jump at this (Will Broissant even play again?).

More realistic is JJ Peterka for Reichel, 2025 1st round (3) + 2026 2nd round. But I do not see Buffalo trading Peterka, and not for picks (and we really do not have the players to trade as they seem set at D). They are looking for players (like us) who can push their infinite rebuild across the finish line.


https://www.sportsmockery...g-up-a-blockbuster-trade/
- Revco38

One of Eklund's trades obviously.

So let’s just say Levshunov, Rinzel and KK are the top tier of the young backend, then EDM, Allan, Crevier and Kaiser are the next tier. To me, EDM will be the best of that second tier, that’s just my gut feeling after watching these guys last season. EDM could turn out to be Seabrook lite, just not as much offense but a rock defensively, and after watching these playoffs, every single contender could use that type of defenseman on their backend.
- Angotti

Vlasic? Keep in mind, you can't pay 6 good established defenseman.

This is a laughable trade rumor (but one I would jump at in a second:

Chicago and Buffalo

Chicago receives. Bowen Byram, JJ Peterka, 2025 1st round (9th) pick

Buffalo receives: Reichel, Allan, Broissant and 2025 1st round pick (3rd)

Have no idea what Chicago fan cooked this up, but if this is real, KD should jump at this (Will Broissant even play again?).

More realistic is JJ Peterka for Reichel, 2025 1st round (3) + 2026 2nd round. But I do not see Buffalo trading Peterka, and not for picks (and we really do not have the players to trade as they seem set at D). They are looking for players (like us) who can push their infinite rebuild across the finish line.


https://www.sportsmockery...g-up-a-blockbuster-trade/
- Revco38

Bamford has a few trade scenarios, too.

https://www.bleachernatio...ks-2025-nhl-draft-trades/

We'll revisit this in a couple of years, 35 Doughty and 22 Faber

The Kings one and done how many years in a row.
- BetweenTheDots

Doughty has only two years left on his contract, and is a better defenseman than Faber right now (and LA is trying to win right now).

Would Faber have made any difference to the outcome of the series against EDM? He didn't against VGK. The Kings not advancing has no real bearing on the validity of that trade.

Watching the Rockford Icehogs and their defense wasn't like their youngsters didn't have hockey strengths that could elevate them to the bigs.

KK really is an accurate passer.

DelMastro is a hockey player and without trying to pigeon hole him in an NHL role, the more he plays in the AHL, the better he becomes defensively and all-around.

...and Arty is bigger and faster than most players out there. So much in the toolbox, and now has to apprentice in the AHL to learn to use them properly.

Remember when former Hawk head scout said the selected Mark Kelley, justified the the late first selection with "...we need to try to find our next Brent Seabrook..."
He has really has good balance and feet to engage and play the entire ice with really good decision-making and a smidgeon of dirty girt under the veneer.
- wiz1901

Give Arty another full year in the pros to understand what he can get away with and you'll see a different kind of beast. His growth in each league followed the same path. Slow to begin, but once he figured it out he was amazing.

KFC hasn't done anything egregious, like Bowman's trading of Danault, poor drafting, trading for Jones or the Jones contract. Any issues right now are pretty nit picky and at worst are minor. He has been decent drafting with his first draft setting a high bar. His trades have been fine. Nothing that makes me think "why the f'k did he do that?". Long term signings have been ok. Vlassic, TT and Bertuzzi, no real complaints in term or time.

His next issue will be how attached to his picks he is. Would he trade a KK if he had to to get a piece the team needs? We will find out in the next couple of years on that one. He's shown no issue with trading players he inherited or got from other teams.
- wizardofi

Agree with all of this in spades. Well said......... Rubber is about to hit the road where there will be loads of KD's decisions to critique. Decisions made at the big league level when it's win time.

3 yrs in from a total teardown it's still an incomplete project.

Doughty has only two years left on his contract, and is a better defenseman than Faber right now (and LA is trying to win right now).

Would Faber have made any difference to the outcome of the series against EDM? He didn't against VGK. The Kings not advancing has no real bearing on the validity of that trade.
- Chunk

The Kings not advancing have everything to do with it otherwise they wouldn't of fired their coach, gotten rid of their GM. Top 4 RD who play a really good 2 way game are very rare.

Faber could of as easily lost in the playoffs like Doughty did.

Agree with all of this in spades. Well said......... Rubber is about to hit the road where there will be loads of KD's decisions to critique. Decisions made at the big league level when it's win time.

3 yrs in from a total teardown it's still an incomplete project.
- Mr Ricochet

As many have said, this offseason will likely determine how much time KD remains in this position. This is his last shot at hiring a longer term coach. He needs to find some sort of forward help as well. I don't think he's timid at all, but I do think he needs to have something on this ice that resembles a competitive team otherwise he'll be out in short order.

As many have said, this offseason will likely determine how much time KD remains in this position. This is his last shot at hiring a longer term coach. He needs to find some sort of forward help as well. I don't think he's timid at all, but I do think he needs to have something on this ice that resembles a competitive team otherwise he'll be out in short order.
- Chunk

KD got bold and creative trading Jones. This off season he’s going to have to try to get an established forward or two either through a trade(s) or Free agent signing.

The Kings not advancing have everything to do with it otherwise they wouldn't of fired their coach, gotten rid of their GM. Top 4 RD who play a really good 2 way game are very rare.

Faber could of as easily lost in the playoffs like Doughty did.
- BetweenTheDots

Stop ignoring the circumstances and context of the trade. Clarke did as much or more than Faber did this season (in less time on ice). Fiala had seven points in six postseason games. Clarke (the replacement they had in house for Faber) had a pair of goals. Not to mention Kuemper didn't play well.

One trade does not alter the results of a postseason series.

KD got bold and creative trading Jones. This off season he’s going to have to try to get an established forward or two either through a trade(s) or Free agent signing.
- paulr

I'll surely give him his flowers for the Jones trade, but I think the Mrazek trade is just as impressive. He moved a guy with very little demand who was logjammed at the position, and another guy blocking kids, and returned a 25 year old 4C from the Great and Powerful Yz.

I'll surely give him his flowers for the Jones trade, but I think the Mrazek trade is just as impressive. He moved a guy with very little demand who was logjammed at the position, and another guy blocking kids, and returned a 25 year old 4C from the Great and Powerful Yz.
- Chunk

Agreed, but my point was he has to try and acquire a forward or two or three to improve the team next season.