Tankathon confirms we draft 7th. Seabrook isn’t going anywhere. The team sees him as very valuable and doesn’t wish to trade him, and his contract has too much term to move in any event.

There are many players in this year’s draft who have big holes in their profiles. Tkachuk, for one, is a very dangerous pick as he has given no indication that he has any elite offensive skill. Can’t potentially waste a high pick on him. The insanely high skilled sleeper in the draft is Merkley. First draft choice of OHL - Rookie of the Year OHL. Stock has fallen because he might be cocky and may try to take over games because his team is bad. Holy a very young teen-ager with a few issues - staggering. The ONLY draft list to follow is Bob McKenzie’s from TSN. He talks to elite scouts. He ranked Merkley high saying has top 5 skill. I would never draft someone whose given skill level I wondered about. You can teach many things you can’t teach given skill level. DeBrincat had skill level that should have easily placed him in Round 1. Thankfully other teams just stupid - lunkheads saying at meetings “he too small”.
- Z3Hawk

Do you have a link for McKenzie’s ranking?

Tankathon confirms we draft 7th. Seabrook isn’t going anywhere. The team sees him as very valuable and doesn’t wish to trade him, and his contract has too much term to move in any event.

There are many players in this year’s draft who have big holes in their profiles. Tkachuk, for one, is a very dangerous pick as he has given no indication that he has any elite offensive skill. Can’t potentially waste a high pick on him. The insanely high skilled sleeper in the draft is Merkley. First draft choice of OHL - Rookie of the Year OHL. Stock has fallen because he might be cocky and may try to take over games because his team is bad. Holy a very young teen-ager with a few issues - staggering. The ONLY draft list to follow is Bob McKenzie’s from TSN. He talks to elite scouts. He ranked Merkley high saying has top 5 skill. I would never draft someone whose given skill level I wondered about. You can teach many things you can’t teach given skill level. DeBrincat had skill level that should have easily placed him in Round 1. Thankfully other teams just stupid - lunkheads saying at meetings “he too small”.
- Z3Hawk

Looking forward to another year of zero system on D. Pinch, turnover, goal!!!!
And repeat!!



Well that would be a system. Its the WTF D scheme by Ulf.

I fully expect the Hawks to move at least one of their first round picks for more draft picks. The Nashville pick (plus a little extra) might be enough to move Hossa’s contract.

In the 0.000000001% chance the Blackhawks don’t win the draft lottery I could see them packaging their pick for multiple picks. The Rangers, Flyers and Islanders all have multiple first round picks after the Hawks. The Rangers and Islanders are only a couple picks down so depending on how the draft goes it’s certainly possible.
- DarthKane

I don't understand this? The Yotes traded for Pronger and Grossman to reach the salary cap floor? Prongers contact was worth 600k at the time but his cap hit was $5 mil, i believe it was the Yotes who gave up draft picks, and Grossman was nothing special. The Yotes will be at 50 mill to sign 7 players and if people are right the cap floor will be ay 65 mil? The only way the Hawks throw a 1st round pick in there is if Seabrook goes with Hossa's contract especially since Hossa's pay out is 1 mil a year with a wonderful $5 mil cap hit

What if the Hawks signed Cam Ward?

[quote=DarthKane]Do you have a link for McKenzie’s

Article is Welcome to the Rasmus Dahlin Draft by Bob McKenzie - TSN - tried to copy citation for you but just said “TSN.com”.

I don't understand this? The Yotes traded for Pronger and Grossman to reach the salary cap floor? Prongers contact was worth 600k at the time but his cap hit was $5 mil, i believe it was the Yotes who gave up draft picks, and Grossman was nothing special. The Yotes will be at 50 mill to sign 7 players and if people are right the cap floor will be ay 65 mil? The only way the Hawks throw a 1st round pick in there is if Seabrook goes with Hossa's contract especially since Hossa's pay out is 1 mil a year with a wonderful $5 mil cap hit
- BetweenTheDots

I agree with you. Sending a first with Hossa's contract is an overpay unless there is something else involved or coming back. His contract has value to any cash strapped teams. Even some that can reach the floor would look at the money they can save by moving a larger real contract for one that just gets them to floor.

Looking forward to another year of zero system on D. Pinch, turnover, goal!!!!
And repeat!!



Well that would be a system. Its the WTF D scheme by Ulf.
- z1990z

I have called it the “Reckless Offensive Defensive System”. The silver lining is our D-Men potentially looked far worse than they actually were because they were set up to fail. Kempny doesn’t look like a clueless imbecile with Washington.

What if the Hawks signed Cam Ward?
- BetweenTheDots

I'd answer your question with another...when was the last time Cam Ward posted a SV% like a #1 goalie?

I think they'd be better off just playing Forsberg if the other option was Cam Ward.

I agree with you. Sending a first with Hossa's contract is an overpay unless there is something else involved or coming back. His contract has value to any cash strapped teams. Even some that can reach the floor would look at the money they can save by moving a larger real contract for one that just gets them to floor.
- breadbag

You don’t give up anything to move Hossa’s contract. You move his contract for convenience and an asset back maybe because it just makes dealing with the Cap easier. However, while the Hawks have Hossa’s contract they will always be right at the Cap on the day it counts and consequently his entire contract will have no affect the Cap.

Another goal for Henri Jokiharju with Finland´s national team. This time againts Sweden. Haven´t seen any of these games but what I´ve heard he has been really impressive.

What if the Hawks signed Cam Ward?
- BetweenTheDots

If he's extremely discounted... he could he an option.

I would keep an eye on Philly this offseason. They have Mrazek (RFA), Elliott and Neuvirth as options next year.

Neuvirth could be a solid option with 1 year left @ 2.5M after this season.

Another goal for Henri Jokiharju with Finland´s national team. This time againts Sweden. Haven´t seen any of these games but what I´ve heard he has been really impressive.
- MjulQvist

I wouldn't be surprised to see him opposite of Duncan Keith come October.

As a young ladd, I still remember a scene from the movie " The Great Race" where she leaped from a tower and fell in a guy's arms (Tony Curtis?) and her gorgeous coconuts nearly popped out of her dress....
- FourOrr

Seems like half of us on this board have “young lad” memories of Natalie. This they should rename this to the NatalieBuzz blog!

No. Look at the play-offs this year. There are teams that seem to have the following combination of positives game in game out - free flowing aggressive team offence without ever giving up odd-man breaks against. Other teams still do idiotic pinching and give up odd-man breaks. You can be one of the good teams simply by eliminating idiotic, untimely pinching. Under Ulf last year the team basically had no D Plan. Pinching, joining the play, creating an additional outlet - all D strategies that only work if they are done in a safe, timely matter not stupidly. Seabrook had to be at odds with Ulf all year, as he tried to mind the D end first. He actually got benched for not pinching blindly. Next game when he was put back in the line-up where was Seabrook - well he was crazily pinching down deep in front of the other teams goal. For sure Seabrook was thinking “this is insane”.

How Ulf is still a Coach with the team I have no idea. Just as he was as a player he is dumber than a bag of pucks. That Q went along with this idiocy was equally ridiculous. The Hawks gave up more odd-man breaks per game than other properly responsible teams were giving up in weeks, months.

To play stupid by design is the definition of insanity.
- Z3Hawk

To accept anything you say is irresponsible because you do not look at both sides of an issue. Why is Ulf's system used widespread - maybe with some modifications - throughout various levels of hockey including NHL. Going by what you say, there must be a lot of dumb people.

I will agree though to the extent that if you do not have the correct personnel, then do not use this system. And Q needs to go

Tankathon confirms we draft 7th. Seabrook isn’t going anywhere. The team sees him as very valuable and doesn’t wish to trade him, and his contract has too much term to move in any event.

There are many players in this year’s draft who have big holes in their profiles. Tkachuk, for one, is a very dangerous pick as he has given no indication that he has any elite offensive skill. Can’t potentially waste a high pick on him. The insanely high skilled sleeper in the draft is Merkley. First draft choice of OHL - Rookie of the Year OHL. Stock has fallen because he might be cocky and may try to take over games because his team is bad. Holy a very young teen-ager with a few issues - staggering. The ONLY draft list to follow is Bob McKenzie’s from TSN. He talks to elite scouts. He ranked Merkley high saying has top 5 skill. I would never draft someone whose given skill level I wondered about. You can teach many things you can’t teach given skill level. DeBrincat had skill level that should have easily placed him in Round 1. Thankfully other teams just stupid - lunkheads saying at meetings “he too small”.
- Z3Hawk

MacKenzie borrows others hard work in scouting, then talks to people and crafts his own lists. Do you know who has consistently had more correct in the draft order each year.....you guessed wiz correct.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him opposite of Duncan Keith come October.
- Justin Lowe

Their style match mix well together?

Seems like half of us on this board have “young lad” memories of Natalie. This they should rename this to the NatalieBuzz blog!
- Spec41971

But how many remembe4 the little girl in “Miracle on 34th Street”?

Or even “Rebel” or “Splendor in the Grass”?

I'd answer your question with another...when was the last time Cam Ward posted a SV% like a #1 goalie?

I think they'd be better off just playing Forsberg if the other option was Cam Ward.
- breadbag

Then I'd say this with a quality defense in front of Darling he did very well here? He goes to Carolina and turns into a pumpkin?

906-910 save% for the last 4years is really good for a back up goalie

Anyone who watched either or both Rockford playoff tilts-

Interested in your observations. Not to debate. Just to see what you noticed, your opinion. Thanks in advance. Today's contest is a matinee affair in Rockford @ 4pm.

Getting late in period three and Flyers are ahead, 4-3. Philly can knot the series at three apiece with a victory. Philly with that young defense and mercurial sort of weak goaltending. Amazing.

Getting late in period three and Flyers are ahead, 4-3. Philly can knot the series at three apiece with a victory. Philly with that young defense and mercurial sort of weak goaltending. Amazing.
- jhawk59

My bad, only period two. Anyone want to predict who wins this game today before they start the final stanza?

Anyone who watched either or both Rockford playoff tilts-

Interested in your observations. Not to debate. Just to see what you noticed, your opinion. Thanks in advance. Today's contest is a matinee affair in Rockford @ 4pm.
- jhawk59

Anyone have a link to tjoin days game? Not on the channel game 1 was on

Anyone who watched either or both Rockford playoff tilts-

Interested in your observations. Not to debate. Just to see what you noticed, your opinion. Thanks in advance. Today's contest is a matinee affair in Rockford @ 4pm.
- jhawk59

In addition, I'd be curious to hear more about a couple guys who haven't been talked about much lately. Raddysh? Fortin?

Anyone have a link to tjoin days game? Not on the channel game 1 was on
- Abadseed

It's on NBC proper, tv-wise.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him opposite of Duncan Keith come October.
- Justin Lowe

Justin here are couple questions:
Any idea what defense manthe would be looking at in free agency or through trades any been metion that maybe heard being discussed?

Say hawks pick 7th and walhstom boqvist hughes tkachuck hawks go with offense or defense who would you pick?