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Forums :: Blog World :: Justin Lowe: Fast Five: Make St. Louis Sing the Blues
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Popsghostly
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Wheaton, IL
Joined: 08.11.2017

Apr 5 @ 11:10 AM ET
I wish that was the case, but with Bettman the hockey god (not my belief) the ping pong balls will go in the order he wants.
- powerenforcer


Which means the Hawks will get a top 3 pick lol. The NHL needs a strong Hawks team.
RaleighHawk
Joined: 03.29.2016

Apr 5 @ 11:29 AM ET
Forward group next season.

5 Artem Anisimov - Maybe, only because he might get dealt
12 Alex Debrincat - Yes
91 Anthony Duclair - Maybe No
14 Victor Ejdsell - Stint in Rock/depends on AA situation?
40 John Hayden - Yes Maybe
48 Vinnie Hinostroza - Maybe
13 Tomas Jurco - No
64 David Kampf - Yes No
88 Patrick Kane - Yes
29 Andreas Martinsen - Yes Maybe
20 Brandon Saad - Yes
8 Nick Schmaltz - Yes
10 Patrick Sharp - Maybe
95 Dylan Sikura - Gets a shot, might get a stint in Rock Yes
19 Jonathan Toews - Yes

Bring in maybe a FA forward or 2/center


D group next year.

Bring in a top 4 Dman

5 Connor Murphy - Yes to Maybe No
82 Jordan Oesterle - No
44 Jan Rutta - No
56 Erik Gustafsson - Yes
55 Blake Hillman - Maybe
7 Brent Seabrook - Yes
2 Duncan Keith - Yes
42 Gustav Forsling - Yes Maybe
Henri Jokiharju - seasoning in Rock/maybe late call up

Goalie Group.

34 J-F Berube - No
50 Corey Crawford - Yes (hopefully healthy)
30 Jeff Glass - No
31 Anton Forsberg -Yes, but with a vet goalie brought in

- SoftServe
No
ObeseOprah
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 01.17.2014

Apr 5 @ 11:29 AM ET
Here are the draft rankings according to an aggregate of 6 sources (ISS Hockey, Marek, Hockeyprospect.com, Scott Wheeler, Dobber, McKenzie)
1. Rasmus Dahlin, D
2. Andrei Svechnikov, RW
3. Filip Zadina, LW
4. Brady Tkachuk, LW
5. Adam Boqvist, D
6. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW
7. Evan Bouchard, D
8. Quinton Hughes, D
9. Noah Dobson, D
10. Joe Veleno, C
11. Joel Farabee, LW
12. Barret Hayton, C

I'll be posting a few write-ups on each guy so we can have a sense of what each guy brings to the table, and who they might compare to. If anyone wants to take a crack at any of them, let me know.


9. Noah Dobson, D, 6'3", 179 lbs.
Another defenseman in a D-heavy draft, Noah Dobson is a right-shooting Canadian defenseman currently playing in QMJHL for Acadie-Bathhurst Titan. Dobson might be the first defenseman we've covered who has his defensive ability actually touted. Most of the others have been highly dynamic offensive threats, with varying degrees of vulnerability on protecting their own end.
Dobson's height and positioning have caught the eye of scouts in several reports, and this should bode well for a team looking for a reliable two-way dman.

Dobson's offensive abilities are not lacking, he has a bomb of a slap shot and a serviceable wrist shot. He walks the line well in the offensive zone, and can be creative to keep the play alive when pinching. He looks comfortable on the left or right point when the forecheck is established. His one-timer has helped him pot 17 goals this last season. His 69 points in 67 games translates to 21 points in the NHL, using Vollman's .25 conversion factor extrapolated over an 82 game span. This seems misleading for a dman though, as their point totals are highly correlated to the amount of PP time they receive.

Dobson's deadliness from the point and top of the dots is readily apparent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZFszNblc-I

Dobson is willing to block shots, and his long reach and active stick give him a leg up on some of the other shorter defenseman in the category of 'hard to play against'. He's willing to be physical, but at 179 pounds stretched out on a 6'3" frame, there will need to be some significant bulking up to keep any aspect of that game feasible. Dobson's biggest critique is his slightness of frame, but that should be improved over the next couple of years.

While Noah is less of a superstar defenseman than some of the previous entries, he might be the most likely outside of Dahlin to become an everyday NHL defenseman.

Best case scenario: Alex Pietrangelo, Seth Jones
Worst case scenario: Jonas Brodin, Andrew MacDonald
Plausible scenario: Colin Miller, Jeff Petry
jhawk59
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 02.15.2013

Apr 5 @ 11:42 AM ET
Wjen Keith can get a shot unloaded like last night then he might score more goals.
Rota's Rooter
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.23.2017

Apr 5 @ 11:43 AM ET
Here are the draft rankings according to an aggregate of 6 sources (ISS Hockey, Marek, Hockeyprospect.com, Scott Wheeler, Dobber, McKenzie)
1. Rasmus Dahlin, D
2. Andrei Svechnikov, RW
3. Filip Zadina, LW
4. Brady Tkachuk, LW
5. Adam Boqvist, D
6. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW
7. Evan Bouchard, D
8. Quinton Hughes, D
9. Noah Dobson, D
10. Joe Veleno, C
11. Joel Farabee, LW
12. Barret Hayton, C

I'll be posting a few write-ups on each guy so we can have a sense of what each guy brings to the table, and who they might compare to. If anyone wants to take a crack at any of them, let me know.

- ObeseOprah


That is the guy. Perfect size. Tale of the tape has him at 5'11", 161 lbs.
6628
Joined: 08.24.2009

Apr 5 @ 11:51 AM ET
Wjen Keith can get a shot unloaded like last night then he might score more goals.
- jhawk59



Yup, one timed it. Didn't look left and then right, back up 1/2 way to the opposite side, wind up way too long and then hit a dude in the leg who had all day to get in position.
Return of the Roar
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Solidly grounded in reality, IL
Joined: 07.27.2009

Apr 5 @ 11:59 AM ET
The Bears 2.0

Yeah!!! We knocked the Blues out of the playoffs!!!

Victories in the name of false pride get them two slots lower in the draft than two weeks ago.

OUTSTANDING work Hawks front office. OUTSTANDING.

riozzo
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Cornwallis Island
Joined: 06.17.2014

Apr 5 @ 12:02 PM ET
I agree about Sharp.
- The guy is making $800,000 per year.
- List the better shooters/snipers on the team. Kane, Debrincat. How many shooters/snipers in the system.
- List the better LW's on the team. Saad, Debrincat (I know DB has played both wings)
- Why give a young guy his spot to gain experience. Let them win the spot through their play or hone their game in Rockford.
- Sharp still has enough speed, plays with passion and some physicality.
- plays up and down the line up and will play both wings or center if needed

If he played on a decent line every game with the same linemates he would score 20+ goals with 50 points.

If he does not come back to the Hawks I hope he goes to a good team that gives him a fair shake. He can still play.

- -Doh-

there is a lot of truth to this statement.
-Doh-
Location: VA
Joined: 10.05.2015

Apr 5 @ 12:19 PM ET
No No No I will not be saying that . I kept my silence for sometime on this topic . And then could no more ,he must go ,Like I say he has lost his passion IMO for the game .And down the stretch was pulling names out of a hat by the look of some of his line -ups ..

Must admit as much as I wanted the HAWKS to lose for the draft ,I still jumped when Keith scored (Suck it Blues ) .The hockey gods and ping pong balls will decide our fate at the draft . GO HAWKS !

- oldduffman


We can agree to disagree.

IMHO Q did not lose his passion this year.

What he lost this year:
1) His elite #1 goalie for half of the season (and given horrible replacements)
2) His HOF RW (Hossa) (and given no replacement)
3) His highest scoring LW (Panarin 74 points)
4) His best stay at home defender (Hjalmarsson a plus 12)

What he was given:
1) 15 players who were new to the Hawks this year. Most of them new to the NHL and/or North America.
2) a collection of young forwards, defenders and goalies who may be good to great NHL players some year, but it can be argued as to if and when.
kwolf68
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Mt. Lebanon, PA
Joined: 12.18.2010

Apr 5 @ 12:25 PM ET
The Bears 2.0

Yeah!!! We knocked the Blues out of the playoffs!!!

Victories in the name of false pride get them two slots lower in the draft than two weeks ago.

OUTSTANDING work Hawks front office. OUTSTANDING.


- Return of the Roar



Ya know, this is true. The Bears always had a tendency to win a couple late meaningless games to lose position in the draft.

However, I am glad the Hawks played to win because that shows character. Teams that lay down I have no respect for. What Pittsburgh did in the days leading up to taking Mario was bush league...that said they got 2 Cups out of it. So not sure where they fall, but...

I am optimistic what I've seen from Sikura and Hillman,really like his composure. And Martinsen could be a late bloomer...man he was all over the ice last night. Two more games then we shut it down. Losses in both games wouldn't hurt my feelings, but it's also pretty cool to see the boys win...build for next year.
-Doh-
Location: VA
Joined: 10.05.2015

Apr 5 @ 12:26 PM ET
Yup, one timed it. Didn't look left and then right, back up 1/2 way to the opposite side, wind up way too long and then hit a dude in the leg who had all day to get in position.
- 6628



Maybe that's a novel idea the Hawks should try on the powerplay. Have players that are in position to shoot, ready to shoot and willing to shoot. Like left handed shots that can one time the puck in the right circle and right handed shots that can one time the puck at the left circle. Not to mention someone standing in front of the net.

It drives me crazy when players have to receive the puck on their back hand, are not ready or willing to shoot the puck. Next year the first pp line should be Kane, Debrincat, AA, Gus and Seabs. Debrincat may not be Panarin, but with some practice I am pretty sure he can one time passes from Kane to the back of the net.
333inthe3rd
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 02.04.2015

Apr 5 @ 12:30 PM ET

Eric Lear
‏Verified account @BHTVeric

John McDonough tells the media that Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville will remain in their current positions. #Blackhawks
11:21 AM - 5 Apr 2018
kwolf68
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Mt. Lebanon, PA
Joined: 12.18.2010

Apr 5 @ 12:31 PM ET
Eric Lear
‏Verified account @BHTVeric

John McDonough tells the media that Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville will remain in their current positions. #Blackhawks
11:21 AM - 5 Apr 2018

- 333inthe3rd


Smart move. Give them another year. No progress then clean house.

You know damn well St. Louis was sitting there dreaming the Hawks would dump Q.
Rota's Rooter
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.23.2017

Apr 5 @ 12:33 PM ET
Eric Lear
‏Verified account @BHTVeric

John McDonough tells the media that Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville will remain in their current positions. #Blackhawks
11:21 AM - 5 Apr 2018

- 333inthe3rd

Fake news?
Chunk
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Why did I move back here again?, IL
Joined: 11.06.2015

Apr 5 @ 12:36 PM ET
The Bears 2.0

Yeah!!! We knocked the Blues out of the playoffs!!!

Victories in the name of false pride get them two slots lower in the draft than two weeks ago.

OUTSTANDING work Hawks front office. OUTSTANDING.


- Return of the Roar


What the heck does the front office have to do with the win last night? We are literally playing the only guys available, and several of them are barely good enough to play in the NHL right now (Sikura, Jurco, Edjsell, Hillman, Rutta, Martinsen). Jurco is still in the lineup for crying out loud!! We were out shot, only 33% at the dot, and gave up at least 7 odd-man/breakaway rushes.

Maybe the Blues just sucked last night...
oldduffman
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 11.06.2013

Apr 5 @ 12:37 PM ET
Eric Lear
‏Verified account @BHTVeric

John McDonough tells the media that Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville will remain in their current positions. #Blackhawks
11:21 AM - 5 Apr 2018

- 333inthe3rd

Kiss of death
Chunk
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Why did I move back here again?, IL
Joined: 11.06.2015

Apr 5 @ 12:38 PM ET
Maybe that's a novel idea the Hawks should try on the powerplay. Have players that are in position to shoot, ready to shoot and willing to shoot. Like left handed shots that can one time the puck in the right circle and right handed shots that can one time the puck at the left circle. Not to mention someone standing in front of the net.

It drives me crazy when players have to receive the puck on their back hand, are not ready or willing to shoot the puck. Next year the first pp line should be Kane, Debrincat, AA, Gus and Seabs. Debrincat may not be Panarin, but with some practice I am pretty sure he can one time passes from Kane to the back of the net.

- -Doh-


This, and pray that Schmaltz realizes he has a plus shot. Man, he passes up a lot of prime chances.
RaleighHawk
Joined: 03.29.2016

Apr 5 @ 12:39 PM ET
We can agree to disagree.

IMHO Q did not lose his passion this year.

What he lost this year:
1) His elite #1 goalie for half of the season (and given horrible replacements)
2) His HOF RW (Hossa) (and given no replacement)
3) His highest scoring LW (Panarin 74 points)
4) His best stay at home defender (Hjalmarsson a plus 12)

What he was given:
1) 15 players who were new to the Hawks this year. Most of them new to the NHL and/or North America.
2) a collection of young forwards, defenders and goalies who may be good to great NHL players some year, but it can be argued as to if and when.

- -Doh-


Spot on
oldduffman
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 11.06.2013

Apr 5 @ 12:42 PM ET
We can agree to disagree.

IMHO Q did not lose his passion this year.

What he lost this year:
1) His elite #1 goalie for half of the season (and given horrible replacements)
2) His HOF RW (Hossa) (and given no replacement)
3) His highest scoring LW (Panarin 74 points)
4) His best stay at home defender (Hjalmarsson a plus 12)

What he was given:
1) 15 players who were new to the Hawks this year. Most of them new to the NHL and/or North America.
2) a collection of young forwards, defenders and goalies who may be good to great NHL players some year, but it can be argued as to if and when.

- -Doh-


We sure can ,and those are very valid points . My problem is I have not like his player deployment for more then this year .And have felt he got away with bad coaching decisions even when we were winning cups .. I do believe the core has tuned him out .One great game followed by two or three god awful ones looks suspicious to me .We will see GO HAWKS !
z1990z
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: NW USA
Joined: 02.09.2012

Apr 5 @ 12:46 PM ET
Eric Lear
‏Verified account @BHTVeric

John McDonough tells the media that Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville will remain in their current positions. #Blackhawks
11:21 AM - 5 Apr 2018

- 333inthe3rd



Chunk
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Why did I move back here again?, IL
Joined: 11.06.2015

Apr 5 @ 12:47 PM ET
Per Lazerus:

John McDonough said he's "very optimistic" that Corey Crawford will be good to go for next season.

McDonough says any staff changes will be up to Joel Quenneville.

IMO - this means we are going to be spending some money on an experienced goalie. I also think they may be saying to Stan "you get the players, let Q figure out what to do with them."
z1990z
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: NW USA
Joined: 02.09.2012

Apr 5 @ 12:50 PM ET
Per Lazerus:

John McDonough said he's "very optimistic" that Corey Crawford will be good to go for next season.

McDonough says any staff changes will be up to Joel Quenneville.

IMO - this means we are going to be spending some money on an experienced goalie. I also think they may be saying to Stan "you get the players, let Q figure out what to do with them."

- Chunk



Well the 4th line is set. Martinsen Kampf Wingels

Just have three more lines to figure out. And that D issue. And the goal tending issue.
kwolf68
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Mt. Lebanon, PA
Joined: 12.18.2010

Apr 5 @ 1:00 PM ET
Well the 4th line is set. Martinsen Kampf Wingels

Just have three more lines to figure out. And that D issue. And the goal tending issue.

- z1990z


Details, details. I am sure Stan is on the job.
ObeseOprah
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 01.17.2014

Apr 5 @ 1:03 PM ET
Here are the draft rankings according to an aggregate of 6 sources (ISS Hockey, Marek, Hockeyprospect.com, Scott Wheeler, Dobber, McKenzie)
1. Rasmus Dahlin, D
2. Andrei Svechnikov, RW
3. Filip Zadina, LW
4. Brady Tkachuk, LW
5. Adam Boqvist, D
6. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW
7. Evan Bouchard, D
8. Quinton Hughes, D
9. Noah Dobson, D
10. Joe Veleno, C
11. Joel Farabee, LW
12. Barret Hayton, C

I'll be posting a few write-ups on each guy so we can have a sense of what each guy brings to the table, and who they might compare to. If anyone wants to take a crack at any of them, let me know.


10. Joe Veleno, C, 6'1", 194"
The first center we've covered, somehow it's taken to the tenth spot for us to get to a true center. Joe Veleno is likely the most controversial prospect in the top 15, he swings wildly between different scouts and services, but his average between the 6 sources I use had him at 10.
Joe Veleno was the first Quebec kid to be granted exceptional status to enter Major Junior as a 15 year old. He joins a nearly elite group of prospects who have achieved exceptional status (Tavares, Ekblad, McDavid, and... Sean Day). Veleno has been playing above his age group for a lot of his pre-NHL career. Some say he didn't deserve exceptional status, others say that he's a top 3 pick.

Veleno's strongest abilities are his playmaking and two-way play. He is tenacious on the backcheck, and has worked hard to gain his two-way reputation as a kid playing with older teens. He's been quoted that his favorite way to play is to draw defenders to him while setting up teammates, and this is readily apparent in his highlight videos. Veleno has good speed, and better feet. He's shifty and agile through all three zones.

The biggest knock on Veleno has been his pass-first mentality, and his inconsistency when a forecheck falls apart. Both of these things are coachable, but put question marks where others don't have them.

Veleno doesn't have an extremely high offensive ceiling, but his two-way play has lead to comparisons to Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron. It's quite unusual to see any draft of the last ten years where a center isn't featured in at least the top five. The last time there was only one center in the top ten was in 2012 when Alex Galchenyuk went number 3.

Joe Veleno has been around a point per game in most of his QMJHL career, some of that has been on some pretty bad teams. It's still unusual to see someone so highly touted not put up astronomical numbers in a major junior league, 48 in 33 doesn't scream 'franchise center'.

Veleno is 6'1", but looks and plays somewhat smaller. The tape on him shows great playmaking ability, but it's harder and harder for centers that aren't 6'2" and above to become franchise centers.

With this being a relatively weak center draft, perhaps a team would shy away from the best center available simply because this isn't a McDavid/Eichel/Strome free-for-all. Veleno's draft position could end up anywhere from 5 to 20.

Best case scenario: Claude Giroux, Logan Couture
Worst case scenario: Sam Bennett, JG Pageau
Plausible scenario: Mikael Backlund, Tyler Bozak

z1990z
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: NW USA
Joined: 02.09.2012

Apr 5 @ 1:05 PM ET
Details, details. I am sure Stan is on the job.
- kwolf68



Maybe we get lucky and 2, 7, and 19 return to form next year. Even so, its a limited time for them based on age/mileage. I'm not sold on Q coming back. The bulk of his WTH decisions come with playing D on their off side creating issues for them.

Either way, they need a legit top 4 D and another C who can win draws. And a healthy CC. Geezus
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