Kaiser is a guy you win with. He also is better than EDM, KK and Allan rn. Skates better than all of them, too. He's a bulldog.

When KK plays to his scouting report, I will give him a chance. RN, he is not that player. I would trade him ASAP before he loses more value.
- Elbows15

Agreed but think Kyle will hold KK too long due to sentimental reasons of being his first pick and being apart of the healing process with his dad passing away. KK for Peterka would've been nice.

Totally agree and was going to post something similar. Other than Seabrook Smith’s other 1st round picks were busts.

Sounds like a similar approach to what KFC is currently doing (boom or bust) landed hits with Keith and Byfuglien.

Pulford had one final spin at the GM wheel and landed Bolland and Bickell in 2004. Can’t recall if Brouwer was that draft or 2003.

Tallon chose correctly in 2006 and again in 2007 but about the only other picks he made that did anything were Hammer and Kruger. The rest is history but agree I think this was more luck than some grand plan.

The only thing well orchestrated by the Wirtz in charge at that time was the effort expended on the level of difficulty passed down to the fan in terms of accessing the on ice product. Who knew that televising home games could actually promote your team and sport?
- HawkintheD

This game is so hard because picks take 3-5 years to develop. May times GMs are out the door before we can determine whether their picks are booms or busts.

Agreed but think Kyle will hold KK too long due to sentimental reasons of being his first pick and being apart of the healing process with his dad passing away. KK for Peterka would've been nice.
- Assman22

The first part is possible but who knows. Korchinski wasn’t going to get you Peterka. BUF was reportedly looking for players not prospects or picks and prospects and that’s how it bore out.

Listening to NHL radio yesterday while on our way back to Illinois, and both hosts were saying that they like the Sharks rebuild so much better than the Hawks. I know that they have some good young forwards, however I’m not sure about their defensive prospects other than Sam D!ckinson.

The first part is possible but who knows. Korchinski wasn’t going to get you Peterka. BUF was reportedly looking for players not prospects or picks and prospects and that’s how it bore out.
- HawkintheD

Too soon. When will we start calling KK Boquist v2?

If KK doesn't turn out to be a serviceable DMan, and Nazar turns out to be a good pick or vice versa, shows how valuable multiple picks are.

Smith did fail with the two Russians at 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 though. Likewise when Boston drafted 13,14 and 15...

Listening to NHL radio yesterday while on our way back to Illinois, and both hosts were saying that they like the Sharks rebuild so much better than the Hawks. I know that they have some good young forwards, however I’m not sure about their defensive prospects other than Sam D!ckinson.
- Angotti

Yeah- forward picks are so much more flashy than D picks.

Keith, Seabrook and Hammer with just as important as Toews, Kaner, Sharp and Hossa.

Kaiser is a guy you win with. He also is better than EDM, KK and Allan rn. Skates better than all of them, too. He's a bulldog.

When KK plays to his scouting report, I will give him a chance. RN, he is not that player. I would trade him ASAP before he loses more value.
- Elbows15

I don't know if Kaiser is a guy you win or lose with, i know Vlasic is. Not taking anything away from Kaiser, but he's been able to work on his craft at 5 years now, he's 2 years older than Korchinski. He's done a real nice job so far.

It's funny you say when KK plays to his scouting report, but his scouting report is all about offense. So you would rather he just work on his offense and not his defense?

I've seen both players live and i can't give up on the athleticism Korchinski has. Whats a reasonable time table for a kid who had to have his defensive game torn down and built back up? What i see is he wants to be a better defender so i wait patiently.

That athleticism isn't going away and if the hockey brain and the man bod develops he's going to a really good player. If he's brain dead than he'll have a nice career bouncing around the league.

Yeah- forward picks are so much more flashy than D picks.

Keith, Seabrook and Hammer with just as important as Toews, Kaner, Sharp and Hossa.
- Popsghostly

Seabrook was, by far, my favorite player of the cup teams. However, I think Keith was the single most important player for those teams. Between total time on ice, and how he affected games, just a monster.

Too soon. When will we start calling KK Boquist v2?

If KK doesn't turn out to be a serviceable DMan, and Nazar turns out to be a good pick or vice versa, shows how valuable multiple picks are.

Smith did fail with the two Russians at 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 though. Likewise when Boston drafted 13,14 and 15...
- Popsghostly

It really is a numbers game. More dice rolls means more winners (and more losers). There will be high draft picks that don't make it or vastly underperform their draft rank, in case anybody is still wondering. Look at any team's draft record. Evaluating 18 year old hockey players is the toughest job in pro sports. I think of the Moneyball scene, where Beane recalls his head scout telling kids' parents when he knows he knows, then Beane telling him "and you don't."

Listening to NHL radio yesterday while on our way back to Illinois, and both hosts were saying that they like the Sharks rebuild so much better than the Hawks. I know that they have some good young forwards, however I’m not sure about their defensive prospects other than Sam D!ckinson.
- Angotti

Isn't it though they have the flashy forwards in Celebrini, Misa, Chernyshov, Smith, Eklund

It's like Wheelers prospect rankings, Rinzel was always between 4 to 8 and now he has him ranked as the top prospect for the Blackhawks

Another forward I'm intrigued about is Ryan Greene. Our buddy Colby Cohen loves his game and kept saying the Blackhawks really got themselves a good NHL player?

It'll be interesting to see if our defense gets better with the addition of Burakovsky, Lafferty, Greene and Moore for now.

Kaiser is a guy you win with. He also is better than EDM, KK and Allan rn. Skates better than all of them, too. He's a bulldog.

When KK plays to his scouting report, I will give him a chance. RN, he is not that player. I would trade him ASAP before he loses more value.
- Elbows15

Before we classify kk as a bust let's see how he does this season. Agree a on Kaiser wasn't sold on him at first but the work he put in to be better has made him opening day starter. Pair him with levashov Vlasic with rinzel Murphy with Edm Allen kk. Imo Edm and Allen are very similar defense man. I do believe on if Kaiser Allen kk or Edm will be traded at some point. For what don't know. What teams that don't have a slim defensive pool in their system would be obvious trade partners.

Isn't it though they have the flashy forwards in Celebrini, Misa, Chernyshov, Smith, Eklund

It's like Wheelers prospect rankings, Rinzel was always between 4 to 8 and now he has him ranked as the top prospect for the Blackhawks
- BetweenTheDots

As always, it will come down to how well the pieces fit together. Do they (will they) have the right coaches in place? How willing are the players to work as a unit? I'm sure the Sharks will be good, but like any rebuild, they could turn into the Sabres.

The Wings and Sens are the cautionary tales.

As Popsghostly mentioned, the Sharks look better because forwards are easier to tell if they are good or not - especially ones that are chosen at the top of the draft. KD has built up a really strong d-corp with 3 first round picks to round out some guys that were in the system that he inherited. In my mind, that's a better recipe for longer term success. Look at the struggles of the Leafs and Oilers.

It's good that KD has just loaded up on 1st rounders. You obviously have a better shot at hitting with those. He's taken some projects, but at least he's sticking to a plan.

My concern is - and will continue to be - that expecting kids to just learn how to win on their own without any frame of reference around them will needlessly prolong their path to success, but that's obviously my issue and not theirs.

Another forward I'm intrigued about is Ryan Greene. Our buddy Colby Cohen loves his game and kept saying the Blackhawks really got themselves a good NHL player?
- BetweenTheDots

I love Greene's game. I think he breaks camp as the 4C, and will ultimately replace D!ckinson. He's fast, smart, defensively responsible, and can also add offense.

If I had to handicap it now, I think he'll end up a 35-40pt player.

Back then, bridge deals were very common for all players.
- vabeachbear

Matthews ended the bridge deal era. I was never convinced why?

Totally agree and was going to post something similar. Other than Seabrook Smith’s other 1st round picks were busts.

Sounds like a similar approach to what KFC is currently doing (boom or bust) landed hits with Keith and Byfuglien.

Pulford had one final spin at the GM wheel and landed Bolland and Bickell in 2004. Can’t recall if Brouwer was that draft or 2003.

Tallon chose correctly in 2006 and again in 2007 but about the only other picks he made that did anything were Hammer and Kruger. The rest is history but agree I think this was more luck than some grand plan.

The only thing well orchestrated by the Wirtz in charge at that time was the effort expended on the level of difficulty passed down to the fan in terms of accessing the on ice product. Who knew that televising home games could actually promote your team and sport?
- HawkintheD

Was probably a condition of McD taking the job.

Too soon. When will we start calling KK Boquist v2?

If KK doesn't turn out to be a serviceable DMan, and Nazar turns out to be a good pick or vice versa, shows how valuable multiple picks are.

Smith did fail with the two Russians at 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 though. Likewise when Boston drafted 13,14 and 15...
- Popsghostly

Easy, when KK gets his 19th concussion.

Matthews ended the bridge deal era. I was never convinced why?
- rpeters01

He only went 5yr then 4 yr though. Big dollar for sure, but shorter term.

I don't know if Kaiser is a guy you win or lose with, i know Vlasic is. Not taking anything away from Kaiser, but he's been able to work on his craft at 5 years now, he's 2 years older than Korchinski. He's done a real nice job so far.

It's funny you say when KK plays to his scouting report, but his scouting report is all about offense. So you would rather he just work on his offense and not his defense?

I've seen both players live and i can't give up on the athleticism Korchinski has. Whats a reasonable time table for a kid who had to have his defensive game torn down and built back up? What i see is he wants to be a better defender so i wait patiently.

That athleticism isn't going away and if the hockey brain and the man bod develops he's going to a really good player. If he's brain dead than he'll have a nice career bouncing around the league.
- BetweenTheDots

It is not like Kaiser was a stud all of last season. He was bad and got sent down and had a strong end to the season. Writing off 21 year old KK is nice. Leddy was brain dead and it worked out pretty well for him

It is not like Kaiser was a stud all of last season. He was bad and got sent down and had a strong end to the season. Writing off 21 year old KK is nice. Leddy was brain dead and it worked out pretty well for him

- bhawks2241

Leddy always had the look like you were talking to your dog when it tilts its head at you.

It is not like Kaiser was a stud all of last season. He was bad and got sent down and had a strong end to the season. Writing off 21 year old KK is nice. Leddy was brain dead and it worked out pretty well for him

- bhawks2241

I think the thing about Kaiser is just expectations. He is probably 3rd pair and it's not likely you'd see him play above 5th or 6th man on a good team. He doesn't seem to have the offensive upside to be a top guy but more a guy that chips in a little . He battles hard and has improved his positioning that was bad at times, but the real concern I'd have, is come playoff time (eventually) is he gonna win many battles as one of the top 5-7 smallest dmen in the NHL. He engages and is doing the right things, but he does get bounced by some of the larger forwards already. When space and time are at a premium and the ref puts the whistle away, how much effectiveness does he lose?

I think the thing about Kaiser is just expectations. He is probably 3rd pair and it's not likely you'd see him play above 5th or 6th man on a good team. He doesn't seem to have the offensive upside to be a top guy but more a guy that chips in a little . He battles hard and has improved his positioning that was bad at times, but the real concern I'd have, is come playoff time (eventually) is he gonna win many battles as one of the top 5-7 smallest dmen in the NHL. He engages and is doing the right things, but he does get bounced by some of the larger forwards already. When space and time are at a premium and the ref puts the whistle away, how much effectiveness does he lose?
- breadbag

If the comparison is between Kaiser and KK who in your scenario do you think will prevail?

If the comparison is between Kaiser and KK who in your scenario do you think will prevail?
- paulr

For me, while they are both LD, I don't think they are too tightly in competition for playing time. By that I mean, Kaiser will (I think) get slotted more for the defensive/make the safe play minutes. I think Korchinski will end up more of the push the offense/join the attack deployment. Just playing to their strengths.

I guess it comes down to what you define as prevail?

For me, I think Korchinski is going to score more points because he is a little bit better skater/passer and has more of the join the rush offensive instinct. I think Kaiser, while definitely a good skater/passer is more balanced, he is tenacious and works hard, I just think he seems closer to his ceiling. Which makes sense, he is 2 years older.

When I look at the Hawks D, after Korchinski, I don't see a lot of offensive potential from the back end on the left side. I mean, Rinzel/Levshunov are pretty promising on the right, but I don't personally expect Vlasic or Kaiser or Edm or Allan to really break out offensively on the left. I know, offense isn't the only thing, but man it sure helps the forwards when you can have the offensive push from the back end.

I think there is a spot for both of them to find success on the team. I get that a lot of fans are okay with trading Korchinski to get more forward help, but I think his value is going to increase a fair bit still. It would be different if he stalled out or took a step backward, but by all accounts we just keep hearing that he is improving. Even if he ends up being the odd man out, trading him a year or two from now might very well results in a bigger return.

I think the thing about Kaiser is just expectations. He is probably 3rd pair and it's not likely you'd see him play above 5th or 6th man on a good team. He doesn't seem to have the offensive upside to be a top guy but more a guy that chips in a little . He battles hard and has improved his positioning that was bad at times, but the real concern I'd have, is come playoff time (eventually) is he gonna win many battles as one of the top 5-7 smallest dmen in the NHL. He engages and is doing the right things, but he does get bounced by some of the larger forwards already. When space and time are at a premium and the ref puts the whistle away, how much effectiveness does he lose?
- breadbag

The Colorado Avalanche had both Sam Girard (5-10 170) and Cale Maker (6' 187) playing big minutes and no one had a problem. I think it all depends on what the player can do and the rest of the team around them. By all accounts, if he makes the team, he'll be surrounded by redwoods.

If he can quickly close down plays and transition the puck the other way like he did at times last year, then he'll make a spot for himself (especially if he doesn't necessarily command a big contract).

If size was really that big of an issue, guys like Kane, Versteeg, T. Johnson, Sheary, Marchesseault, etc. wouldn't be effective in the PO's. Guys who are good enough to play find ways to be effective in any situation. Those who don't get traded or are left unsigned.