Zach Jarom: Could Ehlers Fit in Chicago?

First....
I am not sure i would package that much for Ehlers. I am sure for that package you might be able to snag someone younger and maybe cheaper?

Second by a nose, closer than the Derby............

In my mind, that's a lot to give up for Ehlers. If I'm giving a first, its gotta be for a guy younger than 30. Also, not sure I want to give a 4 year extension to a 30 yr old at this point of the rebuild.

I would probably give up one of the two's this year, though I'd need to see what else is available.

He has a 10 team no trade list, according to CF. An extension would be more expensive than with a playoff team, as we already know. Winnipeg has 6 spots open, and about $13 mill in cap space, and a ton of contracts coming off the books after next season. That will be an interesting time for them. Before considering trading for Ehlers, figure out which teams have bad cap situations and shake the trees accordingly. And of course, figure out who can be signed in free agency. Hockey trades are for what can't otherwise be done by the other means.

Ehlers has always been a kid who showed upside, of what could be and every coming out was derailed with yet another injury.

You be paying him 6 mil for two more years when this prospect turns 30; yeah the thing is, is going to resign for 6 million or tell his story walking?

To me he is playoff team acquistition where you hop he clicks and stays healthy.

The Draft, part twelve hundre and eight:
If the hawks see something, I don't think they will see whomever that is as a detriment if they need lots of developmental time; they went long wait on Minnesota's Sam Rinzel, when they could have added a "ready quicker" forward there but didn't.

I just think that the Hawk scouting staff is going to feel comfortable in the research...NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A LIST AND GET THE LEFT-OVERS TO DECIDE FROM. They KNOW WHO GOES ONE AND THEY HAVE THE TIME & LUXURY TO GO THROUGH ALL THE PROSPECTS.
Get to see the guys with the most positives, whatever negatives their selection brings, and most of all how they can eventually impact this club 's basement standings.

The Blackhawks have less work there, more time to concentrate on pick #20 and beyond.

I still like Lindstom and Eiserman, but they will get to interview them without a translator and see if they move the needle in ways others do not.

I just think that this isn't a 2 horse race at slot#2 and more of a 6 guy carousel.

I just cannot see ANY of the teams selecting in the top ten are trading out.
I don't see slot#20 and other draft selections and any young Hawk surplus off-sets the message of any team trading out.

Even Calgary!
Let's say that they never get a shot at Tig Iginla because he goes EARLIER than #9 leaving at least two highly regarded rearguards...you think that they can go to the fan base (who expect more departures / rebuilding) and say, "Well we got Kaiser and another Rockford defender an LATE first and MORE picks to aid the rebuild...when the pick at #9 is the keystone to rebuilding?

So unless the Blackhawks see a weapon in the backline prospects wouldn’t the best route be to shuffle through the forward prospects and take a RD like Harrison Brunicke in the second round?
You know he plays rugged, shortens attackers time and space and you have much more time to develop him and doesn’t cause you a logjam at D.
It just makes sense to get the most out of slot #2 overall and I am all for the hawks deciding and sticking to a forward.

The point is the young man you pick and his starting floor counts in deciding his ceiling, for Ivan Demidov, Artyom Levshunov, or each and every one of that top 13 premium selections.

So unless the Blackhawks see a weapon in the backline prospects wouldn’t the best route be to shuffle through the forward prospects and take a RD like Harrison Brunicke in the second round?
You know he plays rugged, shortens attackers time and space and you have much more time to develop him and doesn’t cause you a logjam at D.
It just makes sense to get the most out of slot #2 overall and I am all for the hawks deciding and sticking to a forward.

A few months ago, when I initially wrote the Tig Iginla profile, I said “excellent in so many areas but not great in any.” Just when I say he has elevated his game with the skills to his disposal and he elevates his game in the World Junior U-18 to yet another higher level.
I thought that Calgary would be in a tough position of taking a future NHL Defenseman prospect OR Tig ; now I am not sure if he is on the board at Calgary’s slot #9…

Ehlers makes little sense for CHI.

From the last blog:

If Lindstrom’s back issues are a serious problem every NHL team will know about it. If it’s a minor problem I expect he’ll be in the top five mix. If it’s a chronic or unknown issue his stock will probably drop. We don’t have any insight on this board, none of us have a clue about his, or any other player’s health.

From all I’ve read I think Lindstrom, if healthy, is the top forward available. I’d steer clear of Demidov because of the uncertainty of his availability, the Russian factor. Unless of course he is able to show he can come to North America immediately. If he doesn’t show for the combine or draft don’t touch him. Eiserman is between 6 and 11 on all the prognosticators lists. It seems Iginla has worked his way into many top ten lists ahead of Eiserman.

Levshunov looks to be the top defenseman, his size, two way play and right shot would interest most teams. Having seen D!ckinson allot, he’s an absolute beast, but he’s a left shot and doesn’t seem to have the all round game Levshunov does. But I have no way to compare them.

The one guy who could prove to be the best player in the whole draft, including Celebrini, is Zayne Parekh. But it’s very possible he becomes the next Erik Karlsson a one way offensive defenseman who puts up so many points he commands a huge contract but his defensive game is so bad he’s not really a top pair defenseman because he can’t play in all situations. If he’s able to bring his defensive game up to an above average standard, he can be the best player in the draft.

There’s also rumours Travis Konecny could be available in a trade. He’s a guy, depending on what would be required in a trade, who could be interesting. A feisty two way forward who can put up some decent offensive numbers.

Nikolaj Ehlers wouldn't be a bad pickup but I think the price would need to be low-ish since he is essentially just a 1 year pickup rental. I wouldn't part with more than a 2nd round pick and a B-tier prospect for 1 year of Ehlers.

He will be probably going to test UFA market. At his age, what you see if what you get and there won't be any improvement in his game, only small decline as he ages here. I do think he is good in the neutral zone and good at gaining the offensive zone with control. He has skill, no doubt, he just seems very short term if we picked him up.

But it’s very possible he becomes the next Erik Karlsson a one way offensive defenseman who puts up so many points he commands a huge contract but his defensive game is so bad he’s not really a top pair defenseman because he can’t play in all situations. If he’s able to bring his defensive game up to an above average standard, he can be the best player in the draft.
- paulr

Karlsson was elite in PIT at his old age when he played with Pettersson. Nobody was good with Graves because Graves is a horrible mismatch in the system. Karlsson's not good defensively, but he isn't nearly as bad as you make him out to be and he handles the puck better than anyone other than Makar. Bad cap hit sure, but thinking he wouldn't be a top pairing RD on most teams is inaccurate.

Karlsson was elite in PIT at his old age when he played with Pettersson. Nobody was good with Graves because Graves is a horrible mismatch in the system. Karlsson's not good defensively, but he isn't nearly as bad as you make him out to be and he handles the puck better than anyone other than Makar. Bad cap hit sure, but thinking he wouldn't be a top pairing RD on most teams is inaccurate.
- jfkst1

I’ve watched Karlsson since his days in Ottawa. He was a top pairing defenseman only because of his insane contract. His defensive abilities were average, at best. Give me a real top pairing guy like Keith, Doughty of Letang over Karlsson any day.

Speaking of Karlsson, are you happy with that terrible acquisition by the GM who (frank)ed up the Leaves and is now happily working on messing up the Penguins?

I am watching London Oshawa and Oshawa and Toronto’s late round selection Eason Cowan can be the poster boy for using his year back in junior to improve your edging.
He now has a faster straight line speed too. I thought I could watch Beckett Sennecke, but he is injured.

I bet Philly would love it is Bonk’s defensive partner lasted to slot #12.

I am watching London Oshawa and Oshawa and Toronto’s late round selection Eason Cowan can be the poster boy for using his year back in junior to improve your edging.
He now has a faster straight line speed too. I thought I could watch Beckett Sennecke, but he is injured.

I bet Philly would love it is Bonk’s defensive partner lasted to slot #12.
- wiz1901

Cowan has proven to be a great selection by the Leafs, my god that hurts to say! He was rated far lower than the Leafs picked him. He’s the perfect example of a team doing their homework and finding a gem later than he was ranked.

Karlsson was elite in PIT at his old age when he played with Pettersson. Nobody was good with Graves because Graves is a horrible mismatch in the system. Karlsson's not good defensively, but he isn't nearly as bad as you make him out to be and he handles the puck better than anyone other than Makar. Bad cap hit sure, but thinking he wouldn't be a top pairing RD on most teams is inaccurate.
- jfkst1

He is kind of an outlier as a dman, because he is very great at moving the puck but very much not ideal in his own end. I think it depends on what you consider a top pairing RD IMO. You don't want to play him in all situations, but he is great offensively.
Ideally you top pair can play PP/PK and be above average in those areas. It was interesting that with essentially adding Karlsson to the mix on the Powerplay, the Pens powerplay was almost worst in the league. I wouldn't have thought it would have been so much worse, but it was.

Cowan has proven to be a great selection by the Leafs, my god that hurts to say! He was rated far lower than the Leafs picked him. He’s the perfect example of a team doing their homework and finding a gem later than he was ranked.
- paulr

His play in the OHL lately has been outstanding.

I like Ehlers but I would pass. There are some free agents this summer that KD can sign without giving up assets. I can see Roslovic being near the top of KDs UFA list. He doesn't play the same game as Ehlers, but he could fit in here.

I am watching London Oshawa and Oshawa and Toronto’s late round selection Eason Cowan can be the poster boy for using his year back in junior to improve your edging.
He now has a faster straight line speed too. \
Seennekke is out hurt.

I bet Philly would love it is Bonk’s defensive partner lasted to slot #12.

Second year eligible Russian LHRW Gazizov scored and so did San Jose giant Finn (who I wanted as a Blackhawk), Kasper Halttunen scored too.
The hawks took Gajan.)

Oshawa has the big Finnish cnetre Rasmus Kumpulainen playing...the hawks could have drafted him with the selection the hawks chose to trade to philly for 2024 draft slot #54.

I like Ehlers but I would pass. There are some free agents this summer that KD can sign without giving up assets. I can see Roslovic being near the top of KDs UFA list. He doesn't play the same game as Ehlers, but he could fit in here.
- DarthKane

I like jack also.

Late 1st, late 2nd and a B- prospect for Ehlers?
Holy crap 😂😂😂😂😂😂

If the Hawks select demiov at which I think they will andhawks then need to select a rd dman next. Trade the 20th pick to Buffalo for skinner and 1million retained and 11th overall pick yakemchuk at 11 then use next years Toronto's pick and this year's 34th and a 5th for necas from Carolina or different player but with the same Permanenters of draft picks. In the second round 54th trade that and another draft pick and move up and select Ej emery rd. Now Hawks have bolster their right of the defense for the future. In the 3rd round select Beaudoin.
If the Hawks select Levshunov then trade the 20th and the lowest of the second rounders to Detroit or sanjose and select either senncke or greentree. Same idea with 34th pick as before and ej emery and Beaudoin. If the Hawks pick either Demidov or Levshunov and keep the 20th pick then one of these players jiracek Hage paracak surin. Hawks have only so many slots for player between the NHL and ahl that they can sign so Davidson and company need to weaponize there cap space and draft capital to obtain more high talent for the future. Time will tell what happen. Thoughts and opinions are welcome or what would your draft look like.

Rather koneckey over ehlers

I’ve watched Karlsson since his days in Ottawa. He was a top pairing defenseman only because of his insane contract. His defensive abilities were average, at best. Give me a real top pairing guy like Keith, Doughty of Letang over Karlsson any day.

Speaking of Karlsson, are you happy with that terrible acquisition by the GM who (frank)ed up the Leaves and is now happily working on messing up the Penguins?
- paulr

He is below average defensively, but he is still a top pairing dman as he handles the puck better than anyone other than Makar. And Makar is already one of the best ever at the position. So by your standards, the only top pairing dmen are Orr, Lidstrom, Bourque, Coffey, etc.
The only issue I have with Dubas is not firing the coaching staff in season for having the league's worst PP unit. Not even sure if he has control over that or if FSG is not allowing it. His roster transactions have been fine. Definitely huge upgrade over Hextall and Burke.

He is below average defensively, but he is still a top pairing dman as he handles the puck better than anyone other than Makar. And Makar is already one of the best ever at the position. So by your standards, the only top pairing dmen are Orr, Lidstrom, Bourque, Coffey, etc.
The only issue I have with Dubas is not firing the coaching staff in season for having the league's worst PP unit. Not even sure if he has control over that or if FSG is not allowing it. His roster transactions have been fine. Definitely huge upgrade over Hextall and Burke.
- jfkst1

Why would moving/handling the puck be the only criteria for who is a top pairing D, that makes no sense at all. If you want to top about moving the puck, not just Makar, but Hughes, Josi, Hedman, Fox, Rielly, Heiskanen and Dahlin have been just as good if not better than Karlsson over the last 3 seasons.

Top pairing Dmen is/should all about who you put on the ice first and especially in big situations both offensively and defensively. The guys who get the extra shifts when you are behind and pressing for a goal or when you are trying to defend a lead. Ideally the guys who can play in the PP and PK as well as their regular shifts on ice.

He is below average defensively, but he is still a top pairing dman as he handles the puck better than anyone other than Makar. And Makar is already one of the best ever at the position. So by your standards, the only top pairing dmen are Orr, Lidstrom, Bourque, Coffey, etc.
The only issue I have with Dubas is not firing the coaching staff in season for having the league's worst PP unit. Not even sure if he has control over that or if FSG is not allowing it. His roster transactions have been fine. Definitely huge upgrade over Hextall and Burke.
- jfkst1

I would think the top pairing guys should be able to play in all situations last minute up or down a goal, penalty killing or power play and be able to be out against the opponents top line. And while Karlsson is a top pairing guy on the teams he played on, none were successful. But C'est la vie, if you think differently that’s fine.

KFc needs to aim higher than Roslovic.