I am surprised by the lack of trades. For instance, buffalo gm Tim Murray said he wanted to trade 2nd round picks to get another 1st rounder. Nashville's gm said the same thing. But just very little in terms of movement.

It is a matter of him developing a 60 minute game.

The fact he can keep pucks by stickhandling in a phone booth, and is a terrific possession player.

Just because I judged him how I did I still had someone taking him in the first because you don't get a lot of chances getting the kind of ability he has.
Urgency in games is something that players develop, coaches help develop. North Dakota is top program and if the kid wants to stay there four years he only gets better, but if he gets better fast he will come out before that and be a pro.
- wiz1901

Sounds like he has all the physical tools, just needs to keep it together between the ears. Plus, you gotta think that kids at this age might not have fully developed the killer instinct, especially if he's been playing on talent alone. Maybe some real competition lights his fire.

BTW, thanks for the draft site. I had it all printed out and will be following the draft with it. You did pretty dam good on your predictions.

They tried Leddy with Seabrook or Hammer for 20 games? Really? I missed that.
- 6628

They could try Nick Leddy with Nik Lidstrom and Leddy will still be a horrible d-man in his own zone. Who is covering the damn slot while he's melted down on the boards aint gonna change that fact.

Well, there is always tomorrow.
To not unload verstunk and rosi at a minimum is disappointing. To go forward with no legit 2c and the usual 175lb fringe suspects masquerading as top tier players is a joke. But hey, the hawks were only a "lucky bounce" away from cup.........In the words of Steven tyler....dream on
- dpard

Well said, you just have to wonder or some of us realize that the rest of the league realizes that those guys you mentioned, have minimal value.

While Q may love them, nobody else wants any part of them. At least at this point.

Thanks.
- EKolb13

@NHLBlackhawks: That's it for the first round of the #NHLDraft! Round 2 begins tomorrow at 9 a.m. CT. The #Blackhawks' next scheduled pick is 88.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas makes this day slightly less sucky...

The ridiculous level of whining, female doging and crying on this board tonight caused me to think I'd stumbled onto a soccer board; or even worse, a Canuncks board. Christ, get a (frank)ing grip people.

They tried Leddy with Seabrook or Hammer for 20 games? Really? I missed that.
- 6628

Before they traded for Oduya. Not sure how many games but he made Hammer look terrible.

And why saddle those guys with Leddy? And again. How does that make him better? Will he win board battles. Figure out what to do when the puck goes behind the net? Not skate up the ice and hammer the puck around the boards and watch it leaving his partner up to dry?

The truth is his skating is the only reason he is in the NHL. And that is over rated. His lateral agility is average. Cripes his pivots are slow. And no matter who you put him with his decision making is so slow its painful.

Like this comment a lot.
- 6628

Ditto. Some other kids to watch? Maybe Fournier?

If they think the kid has a little DATSYUK in him, that ability to come through traffic and you think you are taking it from him, and beats you with either the pass or the stick...I say I am perfect willing to see him develop.

The thing is he is highly skilled and got 190lb. on the weights pretty fast.This kid is bigger framed.

If I had to bet they would have the balls to actually go up and make a move and have convictions about his upside that they were willing to trade.....when have they doen that?

That tells you they figured they could move up and get a special player, and I respect that enough to see the outcome....
- wiz1901

Agreed. Kid wasn't a reach either...I think CSS had him at 19th or something along those lines? He's going to a good college program to develop as well. For me, there are bigger worries than this.

Would like to see a good goalie prospect in the system though

I'm depressed. What a poop day!
- z1990z

I am to... we lose one C and are back to cap (frank) up......and "we like our team"...is what we get...

The ridiculous level of whining, female doging and crying on this board tonight cause me to think I'd stumbled onto a soccer board; or even worse, a Canuncks board. Christ, get a (frank)ing grip people.
- mohel

Its an appropiate level.

There was very very high expectations todY from me.

Stan had 1 team to beat for Kesler and lost. It can still be remedied if he finds a center but doesnt look good.

Secondly the Cap is a lot lower than expected .

Today didnt go very well.

Hot of the press......teams will now be allowed to changed their rosters all the way up to the beginning of next season. Film at eleven on this momentous change....

I still think the hawks wind up with mikael grabovski, on a one year deal. Obviously all the sharp trade talk is nonsense or he likely would have been moved tonight for draft picks and cap relief.

I'll wait until July 2nd to say that. The team is still about half a million dollars over the cap ceiling. Bowman is going to have to make a move or two before July 1st.
- EKolb13

Exactly

Its an appropiate level.

There was very very high expectations todY from me.

Stan had 1 team to beat for Kesler and lost. It can still be remedied if he finds a center but doesnt look good.

Secondly the Cap is a lot lower than expected .

Today didnt go very well.
- mrpaulish

Not at an appropriate level - go back and read the past hundred pages..... Embarrassing.

Before they traded for Oduya. Not sure how many games but he made Hammer look terrible.

And why saddle those guys with Leddy? And again. How does that make him better? Will he win board battles. Figure out what to do when the puck goes behind the net? Not skate up the ice and hammer the puck around the boards and watch it leaving his partner up to dry?

The truth is his skating is the only reason he is in the NHL. And that is over rated. His lateral agility is average. Cripes his pivots are slow. And no matter who you put him with his decision making is so slow its painful.
- Elbows15

his mental ability and hockey IQ are the biggest reasons he should be traded ASAP!!!

I still think the hawks wind up with mikael grabovski, on a one year deal. Obviously all the sharp trade talk is nonsense or he likely would have been moved tonight for draft picks and cap relief.
- Omahawk

Eh...Bowman can wait to move Sharp. I wouldn't trade him to load up on picks in this draft.

Not at an appropriate level - go back and read the past hundred pages..... Embarrassing.
- mohel

The Hawks didn't win the Cup .


The Hawks are standing still .

The Hawks have to shed salary now .

How is this awesome ?

Hot of the press......teams will now be allowed to changed their rosters all the way up to the beginning of next season. Film at eleven on this momentous change....
- mohel

Maybe Stan can bring skille back as his big move this year? Is that enough change for a team one lucky bounce away from a cup????

Maybe Stan can bring skille back as his big move this year? Is that enough change for a team one lucky bounce away from a cup????
- dpard

This

No kidding. The season's over already.
- Elbows15

Today was very disappointing . Maybe the Hawks will have a better day tomorrow or even a better summer ahead but the cap being 60m really really sucks.

The Hawks didn't win the Cup .


The Hawks are standing still .

The Hawks have to shed salary now .

How is this awesome ?
- mrpaulish

Take a deep breath, then go back to my posts and show me where I said "awesome". I'll await the answer.....

The Hawks didn't win the Cup .


The Hawks are standing still .

The Hawks have to shed salary now .

How is this awesome ?
- mrpaulish

No one said it was awesome, but there is no need for such hysteria. They're a good team and have the room to make the adjustments needed still. Kesler would have been a homerun in a lot of ways, but they're still set up to be great.

Why does the NHL wait to the last minute to announce what the cap will be?