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

There were only 30 or so players under 6’ drafted this year, and none were Defensemen.

Seattle buying out Veleno:
https://x.com/mario_tirab.../1939356183350956140?s=61
- 35Tony0

Veleno, a traits pick. Kid went 30th overall in 2018 outa the Q where he put up 79 in 60 in the Q and put up 3 in 4 for the Canadian WJC squad. Played on TWO Hlinka clubs. Went 1st overall in the QMJHL Entry Draft....... I loved his traits as much as his fine resume. Nose over the puck type and was fast and 6ft 1in 190ish pounds but his offensive skills were average. Grit/hunger/compete, speed and size AND a centerman who produced his draft yr with 3 best on best tournaments already under his belt .

My kinda guy all day long. .... Big debate back then whether his skills would translate, that he'd top out as a middle 6er if he hit his ceiling. It showed where he was drafted, 30th overall, and I guess in hindsight that was correct although he's just 25.

I liked him more than most, probably middle of the 1st cuz if he didn't hit his ceiling, (I had as a 2C) he had all the traits needed for a floor of a top 1/2 of the league 3C.

A great swing at 30........ But, if you have 4 of those types in your pipeline in theory , and I agree, one will hit to some degree.

There were only 30 or so players under 6’ drafted this year, and none were Defensemen.
- Chunk

That’s crazy, although some of those boys need some meat and potatoes. If you’re 6’5” and 185 like Nestrašil, you’ll get knocked on your arse in the NHL. Nestrašil needs to add at least 25-30lbs in the next 2-3 years. Kirby Dach is now 215 and I thought he was playing his best hockey before his last injury. If that kid ever stays healthy, the Habs will have a nice power forward, the key word being IF.

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?
- vabeachbear

They took Nestrisil before West?

I haven't watched a minute of Frondell live at all. Just watched some highlights.

I've seen a few places mention his skating isn't great,while others (even Wiz) mention he has such a powerful stride, and moves well.

So which is it? Good/bad/average/great skater?

@PuckReportNHL
BREAKING: Alex Pietrangelo to undergo multiple major surgeries this summer, will miss entire 25-26 season “at least” per @TheFourthPeriod #VegasBorn

Gone for an entire season? Feel bad for the guy.

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?
- vabeachbear

I'm a strong believer in you make up your own best available board and you draft in that order. I think you get burned making assumptions those players will still be there. Once they are gone then what.

I used to play fantasy football all the
time and one of the quickest things i learned was don't listen to what the mouthpieces are saying. I found a certain scouting book i trusted meshed my beliefs and did really really well for years until i decided okay I'm done with this.

When you really step back and look at the NHL draft picks, so few are top 6 forwards if you get 1 in the draft you are doing great, 2 is fricking incredible.

With so many prospects a year or two away from the NHL, I wonder if KD didn’t take a little more risk with the late first round picks thinking that if they took 3 or 4 years to develop the timing might be right for them to contend for a roster spot.

I'm a strong believer in you make up your own best available board and you draft in that order. I think you get burned making assumptions those players will still be there. Once they are gone then what.

I used to play fantasy football all the
time and one of the quickest things i learned was don't listen to what the mouthpieces are saying. I found a certain scouting book i trusted meshed my beliefs and did really really well for years until i decided okay I'm done with this.

When you really step back and look at the NHL draft picks, so few are top 6 forwards if you get 1 in the draft you are doing great, 2 is fricking incredible.
- BetweenTheDots

Good comment.
It's also the reason I think the 2022 draft is already a Win for Kyle.
Both Nazar and Rinzel looked good. I know it is limited action etc...but it looks like something is there. Now,if that wad because other teams were a bit disinterested,it was the end of the season etc... donno..we'll find out by Christmas what we have in those two.

And if Korch somehow hits and becomes a good #4, that draft was a huge Win for Kyle and the Hocks.

So, does Howard's contract demand make him a problem child? Even if he becomes a free agent, will anyone be able to sign him? Don't you need to prove yourself first before asking for Matthew's money? Maybe he needs a different agent.

So, does Howard's contract demand make him a problem child? Even if he becomes a free agent, will anyone be able to sign him? Don't you need to prove yourself first before asking for Matthew's money? Maybe he needs a different agent.
- bjphawkfan

Rookie contracts are set. Probably arguing over playing time/years as well as bonus. Rumor was a disagreement with Tampa was on roster spot and playing time as he wanted to play this year (end of the season) to burn a year off of his ELC.

@MarkDivver
Hearing Julius Sumpf, drafted in 4th round by Chicago Blackhawks yesterday, is committed to Providence College for '25-26

6-foot-2 center had 26-39-65 for Moncton then added 10 goals in postseason as Wildcats advanced to Memorial Cup

Led Germany with 7 pts in 5 games in WJC

Was hoping to see him in Rockford,not college

The year of the CENTER, hardly any D-Men drafted.
- rpeters01

Well, according to the talking heads on Sportsnet who had to discuss over 180 players during rounds 2-7 of the draft, they called it the big man draft. The first round had a few centers near the top, but that wasn't the case for the bottom 6 rounds.

Rookie contracts are set. Probably arguing over playing time/years as well as bonus. Rumor was a disagreement with Tampa was on roster spot and playing time as he wanted to play this year (end of the season) to burn a year off of his ELC.
- Revco38

Same reason McGroaty wouldn't sign with Winnipeg. KFC had no qualms burning that first year, keeps the NCAA kids happy.

@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing the Toronto Maple Leafs and Matthew Knies are making progress on a contract extension…great for team and player, big bit of business done.

Well. Looks like Knies will be Matthews wingman for the forseeable future.

@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing the Toronto Maple Leafs and Matthew Knies are making progress on a contract extension…great for team and player, big bit of business done.

Well. Looks like Knies will be Matthews wingman for the forseeable future.
- captainserious

6 years $7.75 mil per

6 years $7.75 mil per
- BetweenTheDots

Under 8 good signing… if he fulfills his potential

Under 8 good signing… if he fulfills his potential
- Revco38

Nice thing about a guy like Kniess is as a big, physical, nose over the puck good motor player he checks a lotta boxes making his floor high if he never gets to his offensive ceiling.

Kinda like Bennet in FLA, Kniess is a guy TOR had to get signed.

The year of the CENTER, hardly any D-Men drafted.
- rpeters01

Lotta centers went but 3 of the first 4 taken are being questioned amongst enough that you hear Misa, Frondell and Hagens may not play center in the Bigs! .... You draft that high you gotta come out with a 1 or 2C.

Lotta centers went but 3 of the first 4 taken are being questioned amongst enough that you hear Misa, Frondell and Hagens may not play center in the Bigs! .... You draft that high you gotta come out with a 1 or 2C.
- Mr Ricochet

Not if there was never one available, look at 2022. Cooley and Wright were basically the best centers available and from what I can tell they are both playing wing in the NHL.

Plus if you already got your centers set and you need to fill in around them. I’m not going to pretend to know what the Hawks are really thinking about Bedard and Nazar, but it seems like the goal of this draft was to add complementary pieces. That’s not a knock on Frondell - who I really like - it’s just that outside of Schaefer and maybe Misa that’s basically all that is/was theoretically available. They are still just drafting kids, so you can draft someone with the best intentions and all of the best scouting and intel, but it is a very inexact science.

@PuckReportNHL
BREAKING: Alex Pietrangelo to undergo multiple major surgeries this summer, will miss entire 25-26 season “at least” per @TheFourthPeriod #VegasBorn

Gone for an entire season? Feel bad for the guy.
- captainserious

Sounds like what Seabs went through.

Not if there was never one available, look at 2022. Cooley and Wright were basically the best centers available and from what I can tell they are both playing wing in the NHL.

Plus if you already got your centers set and you need to fill in around them. I’m not going to pretend to know what the Hawks are really thinking about Bedard and Nazar, but it seems like the goal of this draft was to add complementary pieces. That’s not a knock on Frondell - who I really like - it’s just that outside of Schaefer and maybe Misa that’s basically all that is/was theoretically available. They are still just drafting kids, so you can draft someone with the best intentions and all of the best scouting and intel, but it is a very inexact science.
- Chunk

I remember someone saying the NHL draft is like hiring kids that graduated high school hoping they do well in college before joining the company.

Ha! Only guy on the camp roster under 6’ is Lardis.

https://x.com/CHGO_Blackh...tatus/1939496620908777613

“But they’re all small guys”. 😂

Ha! Only guy on the camp roster under 6’ is Lardis.

https://x.com/CHGO_Blackh...tatus/1939496620908777613

“But they’re all small guys”. 😂
- Chunk

Even the woman from Finland is 6'3".

Ha! Only guy on the camp roster under 6’ is Lardis.

https://x.com/CHGO_Blackh...tatus/1939496620908777613

“But they’re all small guys”. 😂
- Chunk

Figures, KFC overcompensates, now he has a ton of behemoths and no smaller skill guys.


Wonder why Vanacker’s name isn’t on this camp list?