He'd have to be a starting QB at a major D1 school to get NIL $.
- rpeters01

Yeah, and quite frankly, do we know if QB West iS a kid who is THAT good at the football QB game?

Hawks traded Safonov to Canucks for Future Considerations 🙌

I am gonna say I like this draft, in totality, and so many of those early picks were guys I liked for them, which in other years, there were no favorites of mine (except Bedard and Nazar) like these take a chance guys taken late in the first.

When you strip a team down to it's skeleton, you do not have the luxury of swing for the fences with players like the big Czech & the QB.
And I like Behn a lot.
And the older German kid will be in Rfd next year and start his developmental path in October.

Yeah, and quite frankly, do we know if QB West iS a kid who is that good at the football QB game?
- wiz1901

He might be good enough to be a back-up to the back-up at a MAC school. Considering he just committed to MSU to play hockey just 4 days ago. I would say the chances of him changing his mind is like 1%

You know.
- HawkintheD

Ya that argument of BPA....blah blah blah. He's the best fit for the team and the BPA at that time

A few months ago I saw Cumby KO some guy in a YouTube video. So I watched a couple Seattle games, he’s a beast when he’s throwing bombs but he can’t play hockey to save his life. I guess you sign him to play in Rockford and hope someone can teach him how to play.

His fighting style reminds me of Link Gaetz the way he just attacks and overwhelms his opponent by throwing punch after punch.
- paulr

Gaetz - saw some of him in KC -- he could play, though ... and opposing players wet themselves when he looked their way (think once it was Ciccone -think that was the last name -- Enrico. Played some with Chicago).

Cumby has been with Seattle WHL for two years, and I have seen lots of Seattle games, but honestly couldn't remember who he was.
- totem

KD must have seen Jerry Korab and Dan Maloney in the archives somewhere with the Cumby and Holmes picks.

TRADES

1. Domi for DAL #2 2025 - Became part of the trade for Mason West.

2. McCabe trade to TOR update:
To CHI - Nestrasil, 2026 2nd, Anderson, Gogolev
To TOR - McCabe, Lafferty, M. Holinka, 2025 5th
- totem

TRADE UPDATES

1. Domi for DAL #2 2025 - Became part of the trade for Mason West.

2. McCabe trade to TOR update:
To CHI - Nestrasil, 2026 2nd, Anderson, Gogolev
To TOR - McCabe, Lafferty, M. Holinka, 2025 5th (traded)

3. Kane trade complete:
To CHI - Misiak, Holmes, Saarijarvi, Welinski
To NYR - P. Kane, Zech

4. Soderstrom trade update:
To CHI - Mast, 2026 7th (FLA)
To BOS - Soderstrom

He might be good enough to be a back-up to the back-up at a MAC school. Considering he just committed to MSU to play hockey just 4 days ago. I would say the chances of him changing his mind is like 1%
- Elbows15

I agree.

I had Nathan Behm going early 2nd.

This was after I took in account that he doesn't have astrong power off the push-off, little extensions, and a low-to-medium pace operator.

But there is so much in place in his game offensively, he is going to score wherever his high water mark is.

He probably should be in taken in the 3rd.

So did they draft for tall or did they draft for talent? Inquiring minds want to know.

So did they draft for tall or did they draft for talent? Inquiring minds want to know.
- bjphawkfan

This was the big man draft. the skill draft is next year

You're a beauty, Dots. A few days back I told you I like, even love, Frondell but don't think he is a top 5 pick due to a lower ceiling. I buy that but it in no way means this great sized nose over the puck kid won't end up in the top 6, for sure top 9, on a cup winner. .... Love these semi skilled, 3rd line mentality, with great size types.

But top 3 picks should only come around once in a blue moon and you ideally wanna come out with a Toews, Doughty or Demidov type.

Anyway, that'll be the narrative, did KD specifically draft size this yr. Fair question but if it's a simple yes or no question I say no. Yes, these kids can play and happen to be big........... But, that doesn't mean they didn't have it down to 2 similar players and went with the bigger one because of his size. Might have, and to me that's good GMing. If there was any compromise to get size it wasn't skating. West and Nestrasil can skate.

Somehow this draft seems anticlimactic but like all KD's drafts I like this one at first glance. Big, skilled players who he might not have enough of who can skate. ...
- Mr Ricochet

That's fine Rico, i just disagree with you. Even before they picked Frondell i said the Hawks might have benefited from him being injured because to my eye in all the highlights, lowlights i saw of all the players even Misa he stood out. Many times they have to highlight players but in the case of Frondell i knew who he was on the ice just by the style of play because he stood out.

My big issue with Desnoyer is he didn't stand out on tape, he looked pretty vanilla to me on the ice, and the parting of the seas passing lanes in the league he plays in is ridiculous. And what's with his inability to shoot the puck unless he sets himself, that ain't gonna fly in the NHL.

Honestly Hagens played like a wimp in college, too much tape on him giving up the puck, falling down and not trying to get the puck back. No thanks

No tin foil cap here i truly believe he drafted the best available player in this draft, on top of it i think he may be the best forward in this draft and I'm including Misa in that conversation.

The only thing anticlimactic is he didn't draft the players you wanted him to draft.

This was the big man draft. the skill draft is next year
- wizardofi

The year of the CENTER, hardly any D-Men drafted.

Here's a good read and i do appreciate the philosophy of why they draft players. If they didn't approach it this way we would of never drafted Rinzel, pick in which was criticized at the time, just like this year's picks are.

https://chicago.suntimes....-nestrasil-mason-west-nba

I had Nathan Behm going early 2nd.

This was after I took in account that he doesn't have astrong power off the push-off, little extensions, and a low-to-medium pace operator.

But there is so much in place in his game offensively, he is going to score wherever his high water mark is.

He probably should be in taken in the 3rd.
- wiz1901

Elite prospects agreed with you Wiz

https://www.sportsmockery...he-drafts-biggest-steals/

So now it's onto free agency
2 days from now

So now it's onto free agency
2 days from now
- BetweenTheDots

Knies is still not signed. He’d look OK patrolling Bedard’s left side.

I find it interesting they jumped in front of SJ, Phi, and Calgary who had multiple picks in the 1st round to draft that kid. Wonder if KFCs spidey senses were going off
- BetweenTheDots

Donaghey stated they had intelligence that West was gone before pick 34, KD admitted he overpaid and with all he built up, he was OK with it for this guy.

After the Rinzel pick, they get the benefit of the doubt from me until proven wrong.

HAWKS #66 - NATHAN BEHM - good scorer, needs to add physical play
- totem

Wasn't Lardis the #66th pick?

After thoughts;

1. After watching interview with West, liking the move and pick.

2. Hagens was my guy over Frondell, hopefully i'm wrong and i'll be happy to be wrong. Can understand why they did it.

3. My only question to KD, NM and MD is could they have taken West at #25, and still gotten Nestrisil at #34 and kept the late 2nd rounder?

I don't doubt someone would have taken West before #34, but would they have Nestrisil?

Donaghey stated they had intelligence that West was gone before pick 34, KD admitted he overpaid and with all he built up, he was OK with it for this guy.

After the Rinzel pick, they get the benefit of the doubt from me until proven wrong.
- vabeachbear

Amen, VA.

Also, I've seen some lamenting the taking of two projects in the low first round. This seems borne out of being tired of losing. I understand that, but low 1st rounders rarely play in The Show for at least two years. I like them taking a chance on guys who have high upside - the need more stars.

Imo, KFC is sticking to his plan, and they are starting to look like they are drafting AND developing pretty well. Stay the course!

Amen, VA.

Also, I've seen some lamenting the taking of two projects in the low first round. This seems borne out of being tired of losing. I understand that, but low 1st rounders rarely play in The Show for at least two years. I like them taking a chance on guys who have high upside - the need more stars.

Imo, KFC is sticking to his plan, and they are starting to look like they are drafting AND developing pretty well. Stay the course!
- mohel

Drinking the Kool Aid are we Mo?

Seattle buying out Veleno:
https://x.com/mario_tirab.../1939356183350956140?s=61

Update on Isaac Howard situation.

Sure the hawks checked in. Wonder which camp we are in?


https://thehockeywriters....-to-isaac-howard-dilemma/