Disagree, Karlsson has been a huge shot blocker, and can skate the puck out of trouble better than anyone.

People on the Kings board have long lamented the patented Doughty spin move, which half the time leads to a turnover.
Doughty is the best traditional defenseman in the league, but then there's Karlsson. He's just on another plane of hockey talent to me. Crosby, McDavid, Karlsson.... bunch of great players... Doughty... more great players.
- ObeseOprah

Having his worst offensive season in a few years, -25, and coming off a serious foot injury last summer. He is a great player, without a doubt, but there are durability concerns with him where Doughty is just a reliable 27 minute 200ft rock back there. I take Doughty, but the Hawks will likely get neither one LOL

Your second question, yes. When they first drafted him he was not bad, now he has shown that he can be somewhat of an impact player offensively. He has gradually gone from 'hope this kid pans out after another year in college' to 'we have to sign him before he hits Hayes territory'.

I don't think he'll be the end all be all, but he could be a nice top 9 guy with upside.

- ObeseOprah

Thanks guys.

Can someone please educate me? If this Sikura is all that, why did he fall to the 6th round? Someone recently showed a pie chart that depicted draft rounds and the percentage in the NHL . 6th round picks making it to the NHL were at best a long shot based on what that had shown.

Has he somehow blossomed into something more since he was drafted?

Thanks.
- BobP.

Sometimes you get lucky and they as you say “blossom”. Sometimes being in a good system enhances that blossoming process:

http://northeasternhockey...raft-huskies-hobey-baker/

Sometimes you get lucky and they as you say “blossom”. Sometimes being in a good system enhances that blossoming process:

http://northeasternhockey...raft-huskies-hobey-baker/
- walleyeb1

Can someone please educate me? If this Sikura is all that, why did he fall to the 6th round? Someone recently showed a pie chart that depicted draft rounds and the percentage in the NHL . 6th round picks making it to the NHL were at best a long shot based on what that had shown.

Has he somehow blossomed into something more since he was drafted?

Thanks.
- BobP.

Probably still a long shot - but with more and more players going to college, perhaps more lower round picks will improve their game enough to be quality NHL players.

https://theathletic.com/276913/2018/03/17/ranking-the-blackhawks-top-25-prospects/

According to a Blackhawkup.com article today, they referenced a recent Powers article on the Atlantic where he ranks the Hawks top 25 prospects. I don't have the subscription but here are a few rankings:

3rd: Mitchell
7th: Krys
10th: Gilbert
11th: Hillman
- AEL_Fox

It 's all subjective. How or what was the basis for ratings. Skill level. Closeness to NHL. Their ceiling.....must read what each player's strength and weaknesses are. Factor in their likely AHL time - maybe Mitchell will bypass whenever he turns pro. Examine. For example:

Kyrs - gets pushed off puck. Can get poke checked, loose puck on up ice foray. So despite certain superior skills, he always gets left off WJC roster. This is someone who might become weak to acceptable defensively but could also be a great weapon on a third pair. You might in two years see him.compete against Snuggerud for that third pair spot. Snuggerud is very heady, very good offensively but he is D Keith size and is learning/working on defense this season. He previously studied mounds of D Keith film footage before turning pro.

Just from the offensive angle, you have Tuollola, Forsling, Jokiharju whom each could prep for one AHL season but one of them would hopefully be able to one day play second pair. It is too early to say with any degree of certainty whom might advance to second pair. A lot of guys sure could start out third pair.

I expect most of the current third pair group in Chicago to eventually be moved for picks. I am most hopeful that Mitchell and Carlsson become our better dmen.

Sometimes you get lucky and they as you say “blossom”. Sometimes being in a good system enhances that blossoming process:

http://northeasternhockey...raft-huskies-hobey-baker/
- walleyeb1

And sometimes predicting 18 year old hockey players development is kind of hard. Why didn´t Scott Glennie become a star since he was drafted 8th overall by Dallas but Stars got lucky with couple of 5th rounders (Jamie Benn and John Klingberg)?

Why haven´t Mark McNeill played more than two NHL games and he was drafted in first round? Now Victor Ejdsell will probably have more NHL games after this season than McNeill and Ejdsell was never drafted.

- DarthKane

While nice not quite the type of blossoming I had in mind.

Boothby said Northeastern invested about $30,000 in equipment over the past several years.

“We are looking at squeezing more athletic ability out of them,” Boothby said from his office overlooking the weight room. “If we can see the diagnostics...we now know where we can improve.”

https://www.idg.tv/video/...ns-more-powerful-athletes

Probably still a long shot - but with more and more players going to college, perhaps more lower round picks will improve their game enough to be quality NHL players.
- StLBravesFan

To witness: a lot of collegiate players have signed after playing further year(s) at that level. Not just over weekend, but in last few weeks. A few received the immediate nhl roster spot so they will burn a yesr off entry contract. I look at tsn.ca hockey transactios each day to see the latest.

Interesting trade proposal. If a feasible trade could be had, who would you rather have: Karlsson, Carlson, or Doughty?
- AEL_Fox

Doughty, Karlsson, Carlson

There is never enough good two way tough dmen around. I admit a bias toward Doughty type. Karlsson with that bad injury.....yes, he appears all fine again.....but i wonder all the mileage adds up and how his foot or acillies tendon holds up.

Doughty, Karlsson, Carlson

There is never enough good two way tough dmen around. I admit a bias toward Doughty type. Karlsson with that bad injury.....yes, he appears all fine again.....but i wonder all the mileage adds up and how his foot or acillies tendon holds up.
- jhawk59

Matt Cooke should have been permanently banned from the league after intentionally stepping down on Karlsson's Achilles.

Doughty, Karlsson, Carlson

There is never enough good two way tough dmen around. I admit a bias toward Doughty type. Karlsson with that bad injury.....yes, he appears all fine again.....but i wonder all the mileage adds up and how his foot or acillies tendon holds up.
- jhawk59

I wonder if this guy is available.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=112749

I wonder if this guy is available.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=112749
- DarthKane

Hawks can't afford a guy of his skill.

Hawks can't afford a guy of his skill.
- breadbag

113 games in the 'show'. only 137 until he figures it out

It 's all subjective. How or what was the basis for ratings. Skill level. Closeness to NHL. Their ceiling.....must read what each player's strength and weaknesses are. Factor in their likely AHL time - maybe Mitchell will bypass whenever he turns pro. Examine. For example:

Kyrs - gets pushed off puck. Can get poke checked, loose puck on up ice foray. So despite certain superior skills, he always gets left off WJC roster. This is someone who might become weak to acceptable defensively but could also be a great weapon on a third pair. You might in two years see him.compete against Snuggerud for that third pair spot. Snuggerud is very heady, very good offensively but he is D Keith size and is learning/working on defense this season. He previously studied mounds of D Keith film footage before turning pro.

Just from the offensive angle, you have Tuollola, Forsling, Jokiharju whom each could prep for one AHL season but one of them would hopefully be able to one day play second pair. It is too early to say with any degree of certainty whom might advance to second pair. A lot of guys sure could start out third pair.

I expect most of the current third pair group in Chicago to eventually be moved for picks. I am most hopeful that Mitchell and Carlsson become our better dmen.
- jhawk59

I don't have an Atlantic subscription so I wasn't able to view the full top 25 rankings or read any of the descriptions.

Along with Jokiharju, Mitchell and Carlsson are also my guess as to which blueline prospects may eventually be top-4 material.

Darth mentioned it yesterday but he's hoping Soderlund is the next prospect to sign on with the Hawks. I hope so, too. I could see Bowman pining to ink Jokiharju and Carlsson within the next few months. Also maybe either of the Russian draft picks Altybarmakyan and/or Kayumov.

I think Darth also posted a tweet that Hillman is likely to sign soon. I'd prefer he and Gilbert play through senior year to get maximum development in the NCAA. Same with Mitchell and Krys, although I could see them signing a year from now.

Interesting that NHL.com does not have Sikura's signing on the front page. Every other signing is.

Interesting that NHL.com does not have Sikura's signing on the front page. Every other signing is.
- riozzo

Hawks are old news in 2018.....

Hawks are old news in 2018.....
- EnzoD

Canucks signing Gaudette is more news worthy?

Canucks signing Gaudette is more news worthy?
- riozzo

I guess so....the news I really need to hear is regarding Toews for the rest of this week/season. $1000 fantasy hockey championship prize is on the line and if he's "Day-to-Day" I'm playing one roster spot down.....

Tuulola agrees to 2yr contract with Blackhawks.

OK - Mea Culpa. Yeah! We signed a sixth rounder to a contract!

We are a deeper team now - deep in low drafted undersized players.

Awesome

OK - Mea Culpa. Yeah! We signed a sixth rounder to a contract!

We are a deeper team now - deep in low drafted undersized players.

Awesome
- Return of the Roar

This will only get better after the Hawks draft Quinton Hughes (5'9") in the 2018 draft and Cole Caufield (5'6") in 2019.

This will only get better after the Hawks draft Quinton Hughes (5'9") in the 2018 draft and Cole Caufield (5'6") in 2019.
- DarthKane

But they all can be the next Theo Fleury or Martin St Louis......

Cubs start 3/29. Wake me when the Hawks have a team again.

But they all can be the next Theo Fleury or Martin St Louis......

Cubs start 3/29. Wake me when the Hawks have a team again.
- Return of the Roar

You plan on sleeping until 2025...wow, that's dedication.

You plan on sleeping until 2025...wow, that's dedication.
- DarthKane

1994-2009 was my last hockey sleep, so this is just a nap.