Nhl network is showing a bunch of U.S. Games from this year's World Juniors so you can see Hartman
- tomcat24

Yeah you don't need to know his number he is the guy running full speed into every one else...with a bum shoulder...

At that time, I wanted the Hawks to take Ladd.
- John Jaeckel

Ladd was not in this draft...he was in the Bickell Carolina draft....

At that time, I wanted the Hawks to take Ladd.
- John Jaeckel

Olesz was in that draft year too.

Yeah you don't need to know his number he is the guy running full speed into every one else...with a bum shoulder...
- wiz1901

Yeah he was nuts. That whole line was really good. Playing all the hard shifts, too. I really would like to see a Shaw-Danault-hartman line. They could be as effective as Ladd-Bolland-Havlat\Versteeg

Ladd was not in this draft...he was in the Bickell Carolina draft....
- wiz1901

In the 2004 draft Barker was drafted 3rd, Ladd 4th.

Wow I am in error ...going to change that right NOW
ouch!
- wiz1901

Damn. That wasn't my intention. I was hoping you saw that much in Pirri/Morin future.

I still thank my lucky stars every day that St. Louis picked Erik Johnson.
- FredoXV

Wiz, you're the best. Love your website and hockey draft info. So while essentially whiffing on Barker at #3 overall, you still feel the Hawks ended up drafting 3 of the top 20 players in that draft! Brouwer, Bickell, Bolland. Helluva draft, frankly
- Cmonalready

That did end up a pretty good draft class for The Hawks. Those 3 were big for us. Not to mention how important Ladd was after we acquired him. Then barker got us leddy. So while most agree that draft year was bad, it did give us some key pieces

That did end up a pretty good draft class for The Hawks. Those 3 were big for us. Not to mention how important Ladd was after we acquired him. Then barker got us leddy. So while most agree that draft year was bad, it did give us some key pieces
- tomcat24

Looks as if the 2011 draft class may be shaping up the same way.

And I can't wait to see your redrafts of 2010 and especially 2011 as to how the Hawks fare.
- Cmonalready

The thing is I don't want a new job of going back and re-arranging these besides trying to watch the 2014, 2015 classes and gte that stuff ready...
and the big thing is
it is very very difficult to pass judgement on these classes from just a few years ago...

if I had done the redraft for 201o last year, would I have had habs Brendan Gallagher there? Or Jason Zucker
(My reluctance is directly related to the MANY USA developmental player like Wild's Jason Zucker, hawks Stephan Johns and others who just need time before theya re givena chance, and guys Detroit's Calle Jarnkrok and the up and coming Jarred Tinordi, Nashville's Austin Watson, the emerging Panther Nick Bjugstad....etc.

If I do a redraft NOW, than the season begins and I end up doing more re-arranging, so I will add 2010 next summer, 2011, the summer after just so we get a bit more .

Just bringing it up you may compel me to do os, but I am trying to add players I think are gonna get selected in the draft next year...and it is a job, getting them up...I am into the fifith round of names. I hit a snag in the program for the really strong 2015 draft, and I think I only have a dozen of the really good players in the database.

Yeah he was nuts. That whole line was really good. Playing all the hard shifts, too. I really would like to see a Shaw-Danault-hartman line. They could be as effective as Ladd-Bolland-Havlat\Versteeg
- tomcat24

and remember Hartman was made the winger with top picks MacKinnon & Drouin in the prospects game.

First time poster here, but long time reader and older than most of you. I saw Bobby and Stan will their cup. Just a note to Wiz on the 2009 redraft. If I am not mistaken ANDREW SHAW was eligible for that draft. Knowing what they know now, do you real think Chicago would have drafted Pirri rather than shaw.

First, I am not in total disagreement with you, however, lets cut down a few of the platitudes. No country spends more on education for NOTHING. Education and the oft forgotten Opportunity, go hand in hand. Without the opportunity to use and education for more than some blowhard advocacy cause, the carrot does not exist.

Second, it is only a recent phenoma that the government should actually INVEST in anything. Yes they have done so in certain respects of national security etc.. But the whole idea that they should steer the economy is something that is a modern assumption. Police and public service are funded from tax dollars. That is sales tax, property tax, and state local income tax. Those taxes increase and decrease with activity and growth. In reality, government should be allowed to grow/shrink/expand with the local economy. With that said, the next logical thought would be, how do we promote/sustain economic activity? The government SHOULD be in the business of figuring out how to most effectively provide an environment where business and economic activity can thrive.

Third, infrastructure is huge no doubt. Totally agree. What many do not realize and just assume, is that there are no funds for it, or that people do not want it. In reality, from New Orleans on to all major cities. Billions of dollars are earmarked every year for improvements, but end up pilfered off in side deals and overpriced contracts. This issue goes to the efficacy of the government as a functioning entity, not a lack of funds. That is not a political critique, just an assessment of reality.

Fourth, the assumption that owners can self finance these places is nuts. Local governments want pieces of these places to use them for civic activities. People who work there from ushers, to concessionairs to security do not work for the teams, they work, often for the city. These buildings are huge assets to their communities and are net positive economically. Tip your hats to Wings and city for taking steps to keep the Wings in the city proper.

Lastly, economics and public finance rely on the velocity of money to grow. Spending funds, as you indicated, and I do not think your ideas are bad, without the prospect of any new net positive cash flow impacts is just wasted money.

The economic impact of bringing people downtown in Detroit, the money they spend, the businesses that will be spawned to service those people will produce sales tax and other tax revenue that can be used for the causes you mention above.

People go nuts when a company gets tax breaks to bring in a business to a location. Reactionaries will curse rich/corporate side. Do those people ask the value a business brings when it employs 50 to 100 people? Utilizes idol land? What will the effects of the business bring to the surrounding community, in traffic and commerce? Those are huge net positives.

I know its a bit off of hockey, but I enjoy the healthy debate on this issue as well.
- TrueGrit

Governments need to invest in places that individuals and / or businesses won't: education, safety, infrastructure - these are investments with no direct and calculable return.

Businesses will flee locations that have higher tax rates that other locations, and go to locations giving tax and other incentives, but they will also flee areas that do not have the government services required for their businesses: a useful workforce, phsyical and property safety, transportation and other infrastructure improvements.

If the capitalistic owners of the Wings think that they can make money moving into a new facility, let them pay for it, NOT rely on socialistic government ownership to bail them out - ESPECIALLY when other government activities providing services to citizens will be dramatically reduced. If they want to move, let them move: Detroit - and ALL cities - would be better off with an environment that real businesses want to invest in, not hundreds of millions of dollars for limited-purpose toys for the (and I'll say it again) RICH owners who could afford to do for themselves.

Amazing how these limited-government business people want government to do for them but no one else.

EDIT: to say, back to hockey - or, actually, back to work. I've said all I can on this subject.

Love your website and hockey draft info. So while essentially whiffing on Barker at #3 overall, you still feel the Hawks ended up drafting 3 of the top 20 players in that draft! Brouwer, Bickell, Bolland. Helluva draft, frankly
- Cmonalready

But with every success you see the potential and non-successes

Ryan Garlock a 2 way centre, Jakub Sindel another centre, and wing Adam Berti (who may thought was a better long range prospect than Bickell) were alll picked inside of SEVENTEEN slots from where Bickell was...

but didn't put it together.

I know some are already looking at many of the two way deals the Bowman has played signed to where the second year is NHL only deal.

That tells me that they are figuring they will KNOW if the player stays or goes by them...kinda like Matt Blunden (selected 43rd overall 2005?)
By 2009 they made a decision and gave him a chance to catch on in Columbus (and now with the habs...)

First time poster here, but long time reader and older than most of you. I saw Bobby and Stan will their cup. Just a note to Wiz on the 2009 redraft. If I am not mistaken ANDREW SHAW was eligible for that draft. Knowing what they know now, do you real think Chicago would have drafted Pirri rather than shaw.
- henryc32

You guys!

You are playing with my head!

Keep it up -
I never thought of it!


I just scanned the drafted list...

I guess the same would be true for Jimmy Howard who I had a a middle pick a draft or so before he was eventually picked.

You convinced me...I am going back and adding Shaw any more before I go out ?


Here is the NEW REdraft for that year:

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2009/

First time poster here, but long time reader and older than most of you. I saw Bobby and Stan will their cup. Just a note to Wiz on the 2009 redraft. If I am not mistaken ANDREW SHAW was eligible for that draft. Knowing what they know now, do you real think Chicago would have drafted Pirri rather than shaw.
- henryc32

Hey now, its not every day you can draft the AHL scoring champion

You guys!

You are playing with my head!

Keep it up -
I never thought of it!


I just scanned the drafted list...

I guess the same would be true for Jimmy Howard who I had a a middle pick a draft or so before he was eventually picked.

You convinced me...I am going back and adding Shaw any more before I go out ?


Here is the NEW REdraft for that year:

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2009/
- wiz1901

Have to figure if Tampa Bay were looking D in the draft, and they knew what kind of dman OEL would turn out to be, they would take him over Duchene, Duchene has kind of had a roller coaster career

Hey now, its not every day you can draft the AHL scoring champion
- FourFeathers773

I will reserve final judgement on Pirri, but he is a whole lot physically stronger and quicker!
When he can in he was this gifted scorer passer with little power in his stride and more jump.

When the got him out of the CC he hadn't played against OHL type competitors and I think he was kinda taken back and frustrated as a new pro and it really took a while because to me he has all thi skill but looked slower than an old Alex Delvecchio (boy, am i old and no one is gonna get that referennce to Fats...) and he wasn't a hayes type newbie slug, but I just kept thinking why did tallon take him with ethe speed of the game on the back end changing the emphahsis....
I think Pirri has really caught up.
We will see just how much dash and skill he adds...i know one thing I also thought he was a lightweight on the wall, and this agin proves whey you draft and develop them...he has pretty much bcome a complete player albeit at this point AHL player...

Have to figure if Tampa Bay were looking D in the draft, and they knew what kind of dman OEL would turn out to be, they would take him over Duchene, Duchene has kind of had a roller coaster career
- FourFeathers773

I love Duchene but in my original Draft I was the first you predicted Oliver Eckman Larson would be THE guy to trade up for...

I wrote the Hawks email obver and over....you think I just waste my time here...I try to encourage them at every chance!

This is my first round mock from around Thanksgivng before everybody started getting on the OEL bandwagon...

15/ Anaheim Ducks - Oliver Ekman Larsson, left defense, 6 foot one 1/2, 175 lbs.
This IS the wild card of this draft. If he lasts THIS long this pick's value goes up and up with other GMs. One of the best skaters, and although not the finished product at his present size, displays the abilities to be as dynamic a player as ANY defenseman in this draft. Every team is looking for an ice dancing rover who can thread the needle on the stretch if his rushing lane closes. Super creative, poised, and has really good vision. He is already growing into his frame. His point shot is developing and he already can get the puck to anybody on the ice. Displays a long stick and breaks up developing plays. Has had problems in the past with larger forwards who attack with power, but he will add size and weight and nullify much of that. Some will say that even though his upside may be equal to Hedman, he may be a little bit riskier pick with bust written on him. Others are convinced he is already a better prospect than Ottawa's recently signed Erik Karlsson, and bigger and better defensively. I think there will be more than a few NHL teams interested in moving up to the middle of the draft if he lasts this long.


I really think he is the real deal....and one of the reason that Swedish team defense in the olympics will go up ice and attack really well on the bigger ice...

I love Duchene but in my original Draft I was the first you predicted Oliver Eckman Larson would be THE guy to trade up for...

I wrote the Hawks email obver and over....you think I just waste my time here...I try to encourage them at every chance!

This is my first round mock from around Thanksgivng before everybody started getting on the OEL bandwagon...

15/ Anaheim Ducks - Oliver Ekman Larsson, left defense, 6 foot one 1/2, 175 lbs.
This IS the wild card of this draft. If he lasts THIS long this pick's value goes up and up with other GMs. One of the best skaters, and although not the finished product at his present size, displays the abilities to be as dynamic a player as ANY defenseman in this draft. Every team is looking for an ice dancing rover who can thread the needle on the stretch if his rushing lane closes. Super creative, poised, and has really good vision. He is already growing into his frame. His point shot is developing and he already can get the puck to anybody on the ice. Displays a long stick and breaks up developing plays. Has had problems in the past with larger forwards who attack with power, but he will add size and weight and nullify much of that. Some will say that even though his upside may be equal to Hedman, he may be a little bit riskier pick with bust written on him. Others are convinced he is already a better prospect than Ottawa's recently signed Erik Karlsson, and bigger and better defensively. I think there will be more than a few NHL teams interested in moving up to the middle of the draft if he lasts this long.


I really think he is the real deal....and one of the reason that Swedish team defense in the olympics will go up ice and attack really well on the bigger ice...
- wiz1901

dont disagree at all, good eye wiz

Olesz was in that draft year too.
- DarthKane

Rusty!

I am getting homesick--- for seeing Andrew Shaw before faceoff, or after a whistle, looking up inot the eyes of the Wild, Detroit, King and Boston defenders eye to eye, sort of sayingm without speaking, "I am here and going to be here...", as he did repeatedly to Ericksson and company with the wings, Greene and company with the Kings and all those big bad Bruins...

Rusty!
- EKolb13

and you will notice he is not prominent in the redraft....

You guys!

You are playing with my head!

Keep it up -
I never thought of it!


I just scanned the drafted list...

I guess the same would be true for Jimmy Howard who I had a a middle pick a draft or so before he was eventually picked.

You convinced me...I am going back and adding Shaw any more before I go out ?


Here is the NEW REdraft for that year:

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2009/
- wiz1901

Glad I could help.javascript:emoticon('') Your site and you are great. I really enjoy your posts.

The one thing that the Hawks have done well is that they have found some players from some drafts over a 7 year time frame (2003-2010) that they have been able to develop into a Stanley Cup team twice over the last four seasons. Considering not all players develop at the same rate, as it usually takes defensemen a little longer to make it to the show, I feel the Hawks have done very nicely. Look at the current roster and there is a lot of homegrown talent on this team. More so now than I can ever remember. Keith, Hjalmarsson, Seabrook, Leddy (not drafted by the Hawks but they have developed him), Kruger, Toews, Saad, Bickell, Shaw, Crawford, and Kane; all but one being Leddy were drafted by the Blackhawks. That is over half the NHL roster, which is pretty impressive. I do not exactly know how other teams stack up in terms of how many of their rosters are homegrown talents, but fact is the Hawks have used pieces over those 7 drafts to put 2 Stanley Cup teams together. Not every drafts are going to be home run ones, but if you can add pieces over time how the Hawks have done, then you are definitely doing something right.