1-4-3-2-3

It looks like the Tampa pick will be #20 with the Islanders out and Vegas all but eliminated.
- DarthKane

Should we keep 20 this year or trade it for a future #$1 from another team, say 2-3 years out?

I don't think we need to sign one RD, we need to sign 2.

So if KD is serious about winning more games as a GM i would bring in 2 RD vets to have experienced solid vets playing alongside my green LD.

I would also sign at least 4 good hockey forwards. There are so many injuries on this team and I agree, all the the UFA are not resigned, the only RFA forward that would get a contract from me would be Reichel.
- BetweenTheDots

In general, 2 D-men probably isn't a bad idea, but I think it would be difficult to implement considering the number of young D they want to bring into the fold. Anyone good enough to make a difference would likely want/need more years than KD is likely to be willing to stomach.

Forwards... who knows? I have no idea why, but I think KD might try to move AA. Just taking in the comments from the end of the year and the fact they want to be more competitive next year. I think he could pretty easily dump him with 1/2 retained to get a better player in the fold.

Should we keep 20 this year or trade it for a future #$1 from another team, say 2-3 years out?
- glennjpawlak22

If depends who's available at #20 and what the other team includes with their future #1 pick. My guess is that KD keeps #20 and does his best to move up.

An excellent evaluator, Tony Ferrari, has a good piece on the U-18 Worlds as they enter the quarterfinals at The Hockey News. Talks about the teams and top prospects. https://thehockeynews.com...spects-and-what-to-expect

Interesting that Satan's bot is 6ft 7in with a big motor. .... And getting a look at Canada you'll notice Dman Scheafer. He stood out to me for Erie in the OHL playoffs. 2025 draft eligible.
- Mr Ricochet

I love that I can watch all these 2025 sprinkled in with thsi upcoming drafts nucleus in this tournament.

Jame Hagens is not the biggest kid at present but he certainly knows where to advance the puck.

I just like Porter Martone and Spence so much I wish they were in this draft.

yeah, big Miro Satan II is gonna have to develop in baby steps, but he is intriguing.


That Canadien kid Tony Ferrari, who still cannot push enough hairs under his nose to grow a proper mustache, made me laugh when he said "Can Porter Martone be the next Matthew Knies?

It is more like "Can Matthew Knies become the same level of dominant physical precense that Martone brings to his teams every night?"

I see much higher point totals than Knies 15 goals and 35 points.

Maybe I am missing this high amonnt of edge he thinks Knies has added to the Maple Leafs...

I just see the long term projection of Martone is a lot higher.

I love that I can watch all these 2025 sprinkled in with thsi upcoming drafts nucleus in this tournament.

Jame Hagens is not the biggest kid at present but he certainly knows where to advance the puck.

I just like Porter Martone and Spence so much I wish they were in this draft.

yeah, big Miro Satan II is gonna have to develop in baby steps, but he is intriguing.
- wiz1901

I’m hoping the Hawks can get one of Martone or Spence next draft. Both are skilled and great skaters. Is Martone the next Tom Wilson?

3-4-4-3-2
Tuesday can’t get here soon enough. Also, I would consider trading Tampa’s pick for a blocked young forward. I would include Phillips in that trade, of course it depends on player coming back.

I’m hoping the Hawks can get one of Martone or Spence next draft. Both are skilled and great skaters. Is Martone the next Tom Wilson?
- paulr

Well, they would probably have to finish 2nd overall post 2025 Lottery drawing and LOSE this year for that to even be a possibility.

(EACH NHL team gets only two first or second place lottery wins, with the Hawks having the biggest lottery win last seaosn with Bedard.)

3-4-4-3-2
Tuesday can’t get here soon enough. Also, I would consider trading Tampa’s pick for a blocked young forward. I would include Phillips in that trade, of course it depends on player coming back.
- Angotti

Yeah, I agree that they have from now until late June to see if there is a team dangling a 20 - 21 year old prospect looking to bolster their backline with Phillips and that #20 slot....

I am still torn on how I feel about my accepting slot three or four and the consulation of a chance to draft top two next seaan(s)- (hopefully the Balckhawsk win the second or first over-all in 2025 by way of a lottery win as they will not be in the last two spots due to their improved record.

Celebrini is just closer in terms of helping an NHL club, and Hagens (Porter Martone, Michael Misa, Malcolm Spence right after Hagens goes) will need time and the next draft gift in 2026, Gavin McKenna might be worth not "winning" 2nd slot or 1st slot now and in 2025....

0 for 1.
- Chunk

Will be interesting to see what the Kings do going forward. They have some work to do if they want to get over the bubble team hump, considering that guys like Kopitar and Doughty are aging. They don't have bad players but do they have the top end talent to make them really dangerous? Kind of wild to realize they have a longer playoffs series winning drought than we do.

I’m hoping the Hawks can get one of Martone or Spence next draft. Both are skilled and great skaters. Is Martone the next Tom Wilson?
- paulr

I think not, but Spence is intense!

I think Martone plays to win but with no dirty chip on his shoulder, those pims are hard fought territorial results.

Now Spence internationally is playing with a chip, as if the OHL player sees this tourney as higher level competition, where it will put his team at an advantage if he causes panic in the minds of the opposing defenders, so besides his offensive side, this new physically engagement side to his play adds to Team Canada offensive looks.

Blackhawks need to sign or trade for two power forwards. One to play on first line and one to play on the second line. Not enough forwards this year were willing to go to the "greasy areas". Power forwards with speed and good hands that will open up the perimeter to skilled players like Bedard. Also some of these guys will need to be signed to two way contracts or AHL contracts. Some kids could surprise in training camp while other kids expected to start the year with the Hawks, might go to Rockford to start the year but come up later in the year, possibly to never return back to Rockford. More competition up front this year

I think not, but Spence is intense!
- wiz1901

Spence sure is and he’s incredibly skilled. But Martone is a (frank)ing nasty beast. When Mississauga rolled in earlier this year he was very noticeable. He must have laid out 6 or 7 Gens players with devastating body checks . He absolutely annihilated 6’7” Ranger draft pick Dylan Roobroeck three or four times with huge hits. And in a scrum Roobroeck wanted nothing to do with him. And the incredible thing for how physical he is, Martone doesn’t take dumb penalties.

Will be interesting to see what the Kings do going forward. They have some work to do if they want to get over the bubble team hump, considering that guys like Kopitar and Doughty are aging. They don't have bad players but do they have the top end talent to make them really dangerous? Kind of wild to realize they have a longer playoffs series winning drought than we do.
- breadbag

The PLD deal has not worked out for the Kings at all. Lets see if it costs Blake his job.

Next year Turcotte, and Clarke will be regulars. They need a #1 goalie above all. Interesting to see if they have a new GM, and in any case who the new Coach will be.

Spence sure is and he’s incredibly skilled. But Martone is a (frank)ing nasty beast. And the incredible thing for how physical he is, Martone doesn’t take dumb penalties.
- paulr

And this is why I have trouble calling him a "Tom Wilson."

I dunno.

I scratched my head when Ottawa was able to select Brady Tkackuk due to Montreal and Carolina passing.

And this is why I have trouble calling him a "Tom Wilson."

I dunno.

I scratched my head when Ottawa was able to select Brady Thacuck due to Montreal and Carolina passing.
- wiz1901

Freudian slip?

Blackhawks need to sign or trade for two power forwards. One to play on first line and one to play on the second line. Not enough forwards this year were willing to go to the "greasy areas". Power forwards with speed and good hands that will open up the perimeter to skilled players like Bedard. Also some of these guys will need to be signed to two way contracts or AHL contracts. Some kids could surprise in training camp while other kids expected to start the year with the Hawks, might go to Rockford to start the year but come up later in the year, possibly to never return back to Rockford. More competition up front this year
- chuckdahammer

There's precious few of those guys in the league. There's gonna be some competition for their services.

Yeah, I agree that they have from now until late June to see if there is a team dangling a 20 - 21 year old prospect looking to bolster their backline with Phillips and that #20 slot....

I am still torn on how I feel about my accepting slot three or four and the consulation of a chance to draft top two next seaan(s)- (hopefully the Balckhawsk win the second or first over-all in 2025 by way of a lottery win as they will not be in the last two spots due to their improved record.

Celebrini is just closer in terms of helping an NHL club, and Hagens (Porter Martone, Michael Misa, Malcolm Spence right after Hagens goes) will need time and the next draft gift in 2026, Gavin McKenna might be worth not "winning" 2nd slot or 1st slot now and in 2025....
- wiz1901

Sure I’d like to have the Hawks pick two or three this year and then win the lottery in the next two years, however they will not have these same odds to win the lottery in the next three years as they do this year, so might as well win it next week and get Celebrini.

And this is why I have trouble calling him a "Tom Wilson."

I dunno.

I scratched my head when Ottawa was able to select Brady Thacuck due to Montreal and Carolina passing.
- wiz1901

I was talking more of his approach than him being stupid, like Wilson. If, at 17, he has the discipline to stay away from dumb Penalties but still be a force physically and intimidate 19 and 20 year olds plus be a point a game player, he’s going to be highly sought after for the 2025 draft.

1-3-3-2-1

Will be interesting to see what the Kings do going forward. They have some work to do if they want to get over the bubble team hump, considering that guys like Kopitar and Doughty are aging. They don't have bad players but do they have the top end talent to make them really dangerous? Kind of wild to realize they have a longer playoffs series winning drought than we do.
- breadbag

We won in the bubble. * win at best since we normally would have missed the playoffs.

What I’d like to see is KD take on a short term veteran contract from a team in cap trouble and target a young blue chip prospect or young NHL player, as compensation. Someone mentioned Jack Quinn in Buffalo, Easton Cowan in Toronto, Cal Ritchie in Colorado are some examples. Guys ready to step into the NHL in the next year or three.

We won in the bubble. * win at best since we normally would have missed the playoffs.
- rpeters01

Yeah I wasn't counting that extra play in series. It wasn't the real playoffs and we didn't deserve the shot IMO.

We haven't really won a series since the Cup in 2015 and the Kings since their cup in 2014. To think back to 2014 and the series between the two teams being the crazy good hockey it was, both teams playoff success dropped off pretty quickly. We have technically missed the playoffs 6 of the last 7 or 7 of the last 7 if we don't count the league giving us a chance with the bubble qualifier.

We missed 9 of 10 playoffs (plus one cancelled season for lockout) before the Kane/Toews Era. Let's hope it's only another season or two before we get back to playoff appearances.

What I’d like to see is KD take on a short term veteran contract from a team in cap trouble and target a young blue chip prospect or young NHL player, as compensation. Someone mentioned Jack Quinn in Buffalo, Easton Cowan in Toronto, Cal Ritchie in Colorado are some examples. Guys ready to step into the NHL in the next year or three.
- paulr

I like that idea. We have enough draft picks some almost ready prospects would greatly help in getting us better in the next few years.

I still think we win the Lotto and are set at centre for the next 10+ years

Will be interesting to see what the Kings do going forward. They have some work to do if they want to get over the bubble team hump, considering that guys like Kopitar and Doughty are aging. They don't have bad players but do they have the top end talent to make them really dangerous? Kind of wild to realize they have a longer playoffs series winning drought than we do.
- breadbag

There's not much they can do now other than throw money at players to fill positions, or give away draft capital and have a team retain half their salaries for a few years.

It will be interesting to see the Oilers vs whichever team i think they will beat either team. I see an Avs Oilers series in the near future.

I like that idea. We have enough draft picks some almost ready prospects would greatly help in getting us better in the next few years.

I still think we win the Lotto and are set at centre for the next 10+ years
- SaskHawkFan

If we managed the first overall pick again, the fanbases around the league will hate us for 20+ years.

If we managed the first overall pick again, the fanbases around the league will hate us for 20+ years.
- breadbag

(frank) em!