So if no other moves are made then Davidson and company are just running it back like last year. Ok top 5 pick again. Maybe a 10 point improvement, alot of ifs going in to the thus upcoming season. One positive is coaching staff will be better.

Looking forward to October and the increased team speed.

So if no other moves are made then Davidson and company are just running it back like last year. Ok top 5 pick again. Maybe a 10 point improvement, alot of ifs going in to the thus upcoming season. One positive is coaching staff will be better.
- Scott1977

I have reserved optimism about next year. Granted some teams took their foot off the brake, the current squad less Burakovsky and Lafferty went 5-5-2 in the last 12 games playing a rookie/young player heavy line-up.

Given a coaching change and perhaps a top 6 acquisition (hello Reichel/defensive prospect/26 Florida 1st Rd pick trade for cap space casualty (VGK, EDM, TOR)), I think we'll do well enough to be in the 8-15 draft pick range.

This reminds me of Kane/Toews rookie year where we had Havlat (TT), Lang (Bert) and LaPointe (Foligno) as our veterans when Q (Blaishill) took over for Savard. More so than the forwards, the D will improve enough bolstered by above average goaltending to keep us in most games. We didn't cut it on 5x5 play and these two factors will improve as well as forwards with more experience. We were killed by ENG- the Hawks were 3rd most in the NHL last year at 23. We flip a few of those games and get 10 more points there.

Our metrics for PK were good (14th) and it is the same squad plus Lafferty this year. Our PP was good too (7th) with the same squad returning.

I think a key here is we didn't sign a UFA to an albatross contract that'll impede our future.

So if no other moves are made then Davidson and company are just running it back like last year. Ok top 5 pick again. Maybe a 10 point improvement, alot of ifs going in to the thus upcoming season. One positive is coaching staff will be better.
- Scott1977

I think it depends how we start the season.

KD said by their internal info they are ahead of schedule? My guess is they like where several young men are at. I think they liked their picks but i bet Rinzel, Greene are very nice surprises. I wonder if they believe Moore is ready a well?

The wonderful thing is there's going to be a lot of internal competition which bodes well for the future

I am bummed they couldn't get a top 6 forward. I do get it though they are old and expensive.

Of course this will change significantly like this year with the slim pickings we had yesterday, but the 26 UFA class is nice:

McDavid
Panarin
Eichel
Kaprizov
Ovie
Makar
Connor
Malkin

with Robertson and Necas as RFA

I am bummed they couldn't get a top 6 forward. I do get it though they are old and expensive.
- BetweenTheDots

Off season is not over yet. There could be as many as 10 teams needing to make moves to get under the cap. Unfortunately there are also 14 teams with more than $10 mil in cap space. But you never know if the Hawks might be able together a package for a pretty good forward.

Of course this will change significantly like this year with the slim pickings we had yesterday, but the 26 UFA class is nice:

McDavid
Panarin
Eichel
Kaprizov
Ovie
Makar
Connor
Malkin

with Robertson and Necas as RFA
- Popsghostly

I'd be amazed if anyone other than Connor, and Panarin are actually available. If Necas really doesn't want to re-sign or Dallas needs to crate a ton more space, then I think those two are the most reasonable options.

Trade two guys, the rest play NHL, eazy peazy.
- rpeters01

Agreed. This first half of the season should let us know who likely gets moved.

I have reserved optimism about next year. Granted some teams took their foot off the brake, the current squad less Burakovsky and Lafferty went 5-5-2 in the last 12 games playing a rookie/young player heavy line-up.

Given a coaching change and perhaps a top 6 acquisition (hello Reichel/defensive prospect/26 Florida 1st Rd pick trade for cap space casualty (VGK, EDM, TOR)), I think we'll do well enough to be in the 8-15 draft pick range.

This reminds me of Kane/Toews rookie year where we had Havlat (TT), Lang (Bert) and LaPointe (Foligno) as our veterans when Q (Blaishill) took over for Savard. More so than the forwards, the D will improve enough bolstered by above average goaltending to keep us in most games. We didn't cut it on 5x5 play and these two factors will improve as well as forwards with more experience. We were killed by ENG- the Hawks were 3rd most in the NHL last year at 23. We flip a few of those games and get 10 more points there.

Our metrics for PK were good (14th) and it is the same squad plus Lafferty this year. Our PP was good too (7th) with the same squad returning.

I think a key here is we didn't sign a UFA to an albatross contract that'll impede our future.
- Popsghostly

Same. Definitely adding 15 wins over last season. Let the kids play by mid/late December December

Same. Definitely adding 15 wins over last season. Let the kids play by mid/late December December
- Assman22

Who of the kids, if anyone, do you think makes the team or gets a chance to start the season on the Hawks? Not including guys who’ve already played for the big club.

I think Frondell starts in Chicago and I’m going out on a limb and think Lardis makes the team out of camp.

Same. Definitely adding 15 wins over last season. Let the kids play by mid/late December December
- Assman22

15 wins??? Hell, that's almost a playoff spot.

Who of the kids, if anyone, do you think makes the team or gets a chance to start the season on the Hawks? Not including guys who’ve already played for the big club.

I think Frondell starts in Chicago and I’m going out on a limb and think Lardis makes the team out of camp.
- paulr

Would love it if both of those happen. I'm going to go with Spellacy as a dark horse.

Of all the prospects, I think Moore and Greene will force their way into the lineup.

15 wins??? Hell, that's almost a playoff spot.
- Chunk

I'm thinking 35 wins is my over under.

At this point I want to see the youth playing . Think though ,not trying to be a Debbie Downer, we will be battling Pittsburgh for the bottom

I don't understand the expectations of a teenager who's never played against men, to be the best all around hockey player in the NHL?

I think statistics have their place but as you said before it's not a one man show.

Bedard wants to win, wants to be the best hockey player in the world and he just did a Captain move, instead of playing for the world he went to Vancouver and started training for next season.

I don't see Connor for what he is now i see him for what he's going to be at 22, 23, 24 years old.

For his rookie season with literally no one on his team he scored almost a point per game, that's special to me more so than McDavid or Crosby coming into the league and having legitimate top line forwards.
- BetweenTheDots

Maybe Blashill is the right guy to help Bedard take the next step as a pro. I think maybe he won't give him as much leniency with his game.

Who of the kids, if anyone, do you think makes the team or gets a chance to start the season on the Hawks? Not including guys who’ve already played for the big club.

I think Frondell starts in Chicago and I’m going out on a limb and think Lardis makes the team out of camp.
- paulr

I think AJ Spellacy maybe had a chance, he seems really mature to me.

You know looking at the roster there really is little space for the kids.

My dark horse is the tenacious kid from Denver, Aiden Thompson

15 wins??? Hell, that's almost a playoff spot.
- Chunk

I could see a 15 point improvement, 15 more wins is very unlikely.

Rico is going to love this. The Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL just drafted 17 year old 7’0 270 lb Russian defenceman Alexander Karmanov. I can’t imagine he’ll be very good but if he comes to the Bulldogs I’ll definitely see as many of his games as possible. He’s also committed to Penn State in 26-27.


https://share.google/o9ImJroZ8wyNaUZ80

Rico is going to love this. The Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL just drafted 17 year old 7’0 270 lb Russian defenceman Alexander Karmanov. I can’t imagine he’ll be very good but if he comes to the Bulldogs I’ll definitely see as many of his games as possible. He’s also committed to Penn State in 26-27.


https://share.google/o9ImJroZ8wyNaUZ80
- paulr

They needed to replace Parker Holmes.

Might want to take a look at the organizational depth chart for D-men before trading them. well, aside from Korchinski cause after some of the contracts handed out yesterday, there are at least 2-3 GMs that still believe the scouting reports on KK

Might want to take a look at the organizational depth chart for D-men before trading them. well, aside from Korchinski cause after some of the contracts handed out yesterday, there are at least 2-3 GMs that still believe the scouting reports on KK
- Elbows15

I watched quite a few Ranger games last year, can’t believe they got a first for K Miller, and can’t believe what Carolina signed him for, just crazy.

Might want to take a look at the organizational depth chart for D-men before trading them. well, aside from Korchinski cause after some of the contracts handed out yesterday, there are at least 2-3 GMs that still believe the scouting reports on KK
- Elbows15

Sign them all to reasonable bridge deals and they'll all be that much more valuable.

I watched quite a few Ranger games last year, can’t believe they got a first for K Miller, and can’t believe what Carolina signed him for, just crazy.
- Angotti

An offer sheet for Miller would have been a 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd. Rangers got a 1st, a 2nd, and Morrow (equal to a 3rd?)