Blackhawks select Nick Schmaltz, C, from Green Bay (USHL) with the 20th overall selection.
- L_B_R

I guess we are out of the Spezza running if we drafted someone like him

Chicken fat.

Another college guy - sign him before he talks to Hayes.

McKenzie called him an in & outer....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat
- philco28

You're obviously thrilled by this one.

He would not have been there at 27????

Another small forward...
- EKolb13

Yes but good from the three-point line, can guard twos or fours.

Blackhawks select Nick Schmaltz, C, from Green Bay (USHL) with the 20th overall selection.
- L_B_R

there you go...2nd center problem solved....

Stan saw his guy was there and traded to get him....all right!!

Blackhawks select Nick Schmaltz, C, from Green Bay (USHL) with the 20th overall selection.
- L_B_R

Where is Mr. Ricochet, our resident USHL expert?

Another small forward...
- EKolb13

Wasn't that a comment from last night's draft?

I guess we are out of the Spezza running if we drafted someone like him
- wizardofi

Why?

He would not have been there at 27????
- mvp0207

You know bowman will say he was in their top 10 and couldn't believe he wasn't picked yet so had to jump up to get him.

Strategic move. Trade with San Jose right after pick 19 so St. Louis can't get in and grab Scmaltz

The st louis table looks stunned and p1ssed

Why?
- mvp0207

Can we afford Spezza either with the cost or the cap hit?

From Hockey's Future:

Not the absolute quickest, but maybe one of the shiftiest players available in this year’s NHL Draft. A bit of a magician with the puck when it comes to stick-handling, deking, and ragging it all around, Schmaltz didn't necessarily have the type of year folks expected of him this past winter. An incomplete player in that he’s not yet going to be your team’s top defensive forward, Schmaltz is as dangerous as they come in the offensive zone and has an uncanny ability to control the flow of play. In addition to a good shot that isn’t used enough, Schmaltz has established himself as a bit of playmaker and he is very good at finding and setting up teammates. His biggest attribute is his ability to keep and move with the puck in tight quarters, rarely losing it before he’s made a pass or play. He does this despite hardly featuring the optimal bodyweight. But he is aware what’s expected of him and has already got a good idea of the business as his brother Jordan was already a first round pick of the St. Louis Blues.

After putting up five goals and eight points in five games for the USA at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament last August, Schmaltz headed off to Green Bay for his second full season of USHL play. There he proceeded to put up 18 goals, 63 points, and a -3 rating in 55 games after having put up 52 points in 64 games the season before. He then added a goal and three points as well as 17 penalty minutes in just four playoff games.

All in all, it wasn’t necessarily the type of season Schmaltz was hoping to have, but the scouting community has little doubts about his actual skillset. He still needs to work on and improve on a number of things in the next few seasons if he plans on having a successful NHL career.

A Wisconsin native, Nick is headed to the University of North Dakota in the fall.

Wasn't that a comment from last night's draft?
- powerenforcer

I was waiting for someone to catch that.

From Wiz: "some question his comittment."

Hope your off on that one.

You're obviously thrilled by this one.
- EKolb13

looks like a project who lacks fire and consistency and that was playing in GB. But then again....we got McNeill

Strategic move. Trade with San Jose right after pick 19 so St. Louis can't get in and grab Scmaltz
- paulr

Maybe the will turn around and trade Schmaltz for Jayden Schwartz

If they were gonna go small Hawks should have picked Fabrrri I just dont get it

Strategic move. Trade with San Jose right after pick 19 so St. Louis can't get in and grab Scmaltz
- paulr

Maybe we can trade Versteeg for his brother...like we did with the Hayes kids...

I was waiting for someone to catch that.
- EKolb13

So - you missed my take on humor there?

Maybe we can trade Versteeg for his brother...like we did with the Hayes kids...
- TrueGrit

THAT would be funny.

Edit: Then trade away his brother just before he finishes college.

Can we afford Spezza either with the cost or the cap hit?
- wizardofi

Nothing to do with the pick though. They can still move someone or sometwo

So - you missed my take on humor there?
- StLBravesFan

No, that was a good catch, and you got in before me.

He would not have been there at 27????
- mvp0207

Yeah that's what I don't get. I bet he would have been there at 27