We were already past Brodie without re-signing Louis to a guaranteed spot on the NHL roster. Too many better d-men to keep him up.
- Assman22

Maybe he’s insurance on the right side if they want to send Lev down for a bit, but I don’t think they’re handing him a spot cause they signed him for $900k.

Sturm
Muse
Foote
Tocchet
Gulutzan
Lambert

He's got a better resume than all of these guys and yet his name wasn't even mentioned as rumored to be in the running with these teams. What does that tell you about how the league views the guy?

Regardless of which coach is demanding better players, KD isn't going to change his plan. Like it or not, he's sticking to it (which should be commendable considering how detrimental scrapping a rebuild midway through is to the long term future).

I don;'t like that KD didn't get some notable help (yet) for Bedard. I've been female doging about this for months (just ask Dots). That said, it's not like we don't have a crystal clean view of what the plan for the team is this year. KD flat out stated to the medial that they want to make room for some of the kids that are showing they are ready. That's the plan - full stop. There is no way in hell Blashill didn't know about this coming in and he still said thet Chicago was the job that he personally wanted and turned down the Kraken interview so that he could take it.

I like this coaching staff better than any of them in the last six years. Not a high bar at all, but the minds they have leading the team are top notch. Bedard has two almost full seasons, Nazar looks like he's poised to break out, and the back end has some actual blue chip talent. The kids have to learn somehow and this this team, this is the only way.
- Chunk

I get it, however the light is at the end of the tunnel. With so many darts, they’re going to end up with some really good NHL players, I can see some taking a step up this year. They have about $14M coming off the books at the end of the season from the forward vets, then KD needs to make that move for a star player next offseason. The 2026 team will have Bedard, Nazar, Moore, Greene, Dach, and maybe Frondell, Lardis, Boisvert, Spellacy, Vanacker, and others.

I get it, however the light is at the end of the tunnel. With so many darts, they’re going to end up with some really good NHL players, I can see some taking a step up this year. They have about $14M coming off the books at the end of the season from the forward vets, then KD needs to make that move for a star player next offseason. The 2026 team will have Bedard, Nazar, Moore, Greene, Dach, and maybe Frondell, Lardis, Boisvert, Spellacy, Vanacker, and others.
- Angotti

I can only assume you didn't forget McKenna, and included him as the others

Maybe he’s insurance on the right side if they want to send Lev down for a bit, but I don’t think they’re handing him a spot cause they signed him for $900k.
- HawkintheD

Yes, this signing gives them more flexibility on being able to send guys down to Rockford for seasoning if need be. There will be three defensemen here who can't be sent down - Vlasic, Murphy, Crevier. And there will be six who can still be sent down - Levshunov, Rinzel, Korchinski, Kaiser, EDM, and Allen.

As for Crevier being traded, I would guess they want to max out his development, and/or get enough other prospects to the point where they are established NHLers before that happens.

Maybe he’s insurance on the right side if they want to send Lev down for a bit, but I don’t think they’re handing him a spot cause they signed him for $900k.
- HawkintheD

It's possible he doesn't clear waivers so I doubt KFC risks losing him for nothing. I think he stays and becomes the 3 RD behind Rinzel and Murphy , or the 7D. Once Murphy gets his annual injury Lev called up.

Yes, this signing gives them more flexibility on being able to send guys down to Rockford for seasoning if need be. There will be three defensemen here who can't be sent down - Vlasic, Murphy, Crevier. And there will be six who can still be sent down - Levshunov, Rinzel, Korchinski, Kaiser, EDM, and Allen.

As for Crevier being traded, I would guess they want to max out his development, and/or get enough other prospects to the point where they are established NHLers before that happens.
- 333inthe3rd

Pretty sure Kaiser is no longer waivers exempt. He won't be in Rockford.

I get it, however the light is at the end of the tunnel. With so many darts, they’re going to end up with some really good NHL players, I can see some taking a step up this year. They have about $14M coming off the books at the end of the season from the forward vets, then KD needs to make that move for a star player next offseason. The 2026 team will have Bedard, Nazar, Moore, Greene, Dach, and maybe Frondell, Lardis, Boisvert, Spellacy, Vanacker, and others.
- Angotti

I can see Mikheyev being re-upped, especially if Kantserov comes over. Possibly Lafferty too since KD has such a hard on for him.

But, agree they'll have a lot to spend next year just to get to the cap floor and a big signing is possible. Remember Weber and possibly Murphy contracts are gone, too. On the other hand Bedard and Nazar need new paper.

Maybe he’s insurance on the right side if they want to send Lev down for a bit, but I don’t think they’re handing him a spot cause they signed him for $900k.
- HawkintheD

He could be improving and he's got a big shot.

There's a glut of prospects on D and I'm sure KD doesn't want to be one that traded Chara, Burns, Faber, etc., but I'm sure after a decent amount of games, someone will be moved.

Same goes for Reichel. Seems to be in KD's doghouse but maybe he'll do better with top six minutes this year.

We were already past Brodie without re-signing Louis to a guaranteed spot on the NHL roster. Too many better d-men to keep him up.
- Assman22

I don't agree. I think Crevier made some nice strides last year, he was more physical, the feet were quieter in his own end, he's got a really good sneaky shot for a dman, if i recall correctly he had at least one maybe 2 called no goals because of off sides.

I think many playoff teams would love to have this kid as their 6th defenseman. He's up and staying because i think they are taking the Vlasic approach to develop KK and Arty. An extra year will not hurt either one of those 2 in rounding or their game.

So you have the best of both worlds especially if Kaiser, Crevier, Allan and Del Mastro elevate their games to the next level in the NHL.

Pretty sure Kaiser is no longer waivers exempt. He won't be in Rockford.
- boilermaker100

Wouldn't it be after 160 NHL games played?

It's possible he doesn't clear waivers so I doubt KFC risks losing him for nothing. I think he stays and becomes the 3 RD behind Rinzel and Murphy , or the 7D. Once Murphy gets his annual injury Lev called up.
- boilermaker100

That’s what I was thinking too, or like Rpeters suggests “he’s improving”. Either way like I said several posts back, you could do worse for 6 or 7D.

Point well taken. Gallant has a short shelf life. He had the reputation of being all motivation and very little x and o's.

They all have short shelf lives. The average tenure is something along the lines of 2.1 years and that was with Sullivan and Cooper's years. Sullivan is back to 0.

Red Wings were very patient with Blashill.

Bedard is now starting his 3rd season with his 3rd head coach. Not sure if that hurts his development or enhances it by having had the opportunity to learn the game from 3 coaches instead of just hearing the same things over and over.

I am afraid that Blashill is set up to fail. The summer isn't over but the roster is very weak. The NHL is not forgiving to young players and "play the kids" sounds great till they lose 5-1 game after game. Perhaps this is the plan. Keep losing and drafting high for a few more seasons and with just average drafting there should be a handful of top 50 type players eventually.

Unlike Gallant or any of the really accomplished retreads, it is hard to picture Blashill marching into Davidson's office and demanding better players or going public with complaints about the roster construction. They have a guy who lost for years and seemingly was content on the 1st and 15th to do it.
- stevefrmglencoe

Coaching is about getting the best out of your players to work as one unit. Talent wins more games than less.

Why did DeBoer get fired? He fricking benched Oettinger in an elimination game. He's got a great record but boy you talk about poopting the bed in a huge moment.

I believe in today's NHL to be a good coach you need to know hockey but you have to have an honest respectful relationship with your players, you can't show them up in public either that's the kiss of death for the old school coaches.

Wouldn't it be after 160 NHL games played?
- 333inthe3rd

There's a table in puckpedia defining how waivers length is determined. In Kaiser's case since he signed his ELC at 21 years old, he's exempt for 3 years or only 80 games. This will be his 4th season and he's played in about 90 games.

I can only assume you didn't forget McKenna, and included him as the others

- vabeachbear

Ha, don’t think they’ll get McKenna, however they’ll probably add another top ten pick, hopefully the last one for awhile.

Interesting at the 41:00.

A guy who thinks like me.......(and KD)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sURNng7VCgQ

[url]

Interesting at the 41:00.

A guy who thinks like me.......(and KD)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sURNng7VCgQ


- vabeachbear[url]

So you’re thinking Sid gets traded. Didn’t realize KFC had weighed in on that.

Yes, this signing gives them more flexibility on being able to send guys down to Rockford for seasoning if need be. There will be three defensemen here who can't be sent down - Vlasic, Murphy, Crevier. And there will be six who can still be sent down - Levshunov, Rinzel, Korchinski, Kaiser, EDM, and Allen.

As for Crevier being traded, I would guess they want to max out his development, and/or get enough other prospects to the point where they are established NHLers before that happens.
- 333inthe3rd

Arty and KK both need to start in Rockford. Issue is they can't be paired together so one won't get 1st pairing mins.

Interesting at the 41:00.

A guy who thinks like me.......(and KD)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sURNng7VCgQ


- vabeachbear[url]

Man i get so tired of that narrative if they keep losing aren't you afraid they are going to develop a losing mentality.

Oh i don't know when the teams I've seen from other sports tear it down like the Blackhawks did and build it back, the accumulated talent is so good it becomes hard for that franchise to lose for years.

The only way this happens is if KD drafted a bunch of kids with no compete, it's the only way

That's the brilliance of how many draft picks KD is accumulating, if one kid slacks there's going to be 3, 4, 5 kids competing for those minutes

Arty and KK both need to start in Rockford. Issue is they can't be paired together so one won't get 1st pairing mins.
- Assman22

What if our top 4 all play the same amount?

Arty and KK both need to start in Rockford. Issue is they can't be paired together so one won't get 1st pairing mins.
- Assman22

Why couldn't they be paired together? KK is a LD, and Arty plays the right side.