We are just one week out from the franchise-altering NHL Entry Draft, and to say the excitement level for the first sight of Bedard in a Hawks sweater is high would be a gross understatement. On the latest episode of the WCBPodcast, we talked about which was the bigger first overall pick between Kane and Bedard, and we pretty much came to the instant conclusion that Bedard is absolutely the bigger deal. For those who don’t remember, back in 2007, Patrick Kane wasn’t seen as the clear-cut 1st overall pick, and there were questions about who the Hawks were going to take almost right up to the point the pick was made. With Connor Bedard, there is no question about whether this is the right choice or not. This kid is special, and even if he only lives to generate half of the hype he is generating, we are in for some special times here in Chicago. Key Dates June 28–27 Entry Draft This is going to be an interesting second draft for Kyle Davidson, and with 11 picks (9 coming in the first 100 picks), it is going to be a huge opportunity to add to an already improved prospect pool. I am very curious to see what moves he makes, as I do not expect him to use all these picks and use them more as trade bait to possibly move up in the first round or even score a third first-round pick. Could we see more Mrazek-type trades this year? June 30 Buyout Window Closes and Qualifying Offer Deadline I do not believe the Hawks will be using any buyouts this offseason; given their cap space and the timeline of the rebuild, it just doesn’t make much sense right now. The important thing to watch here is the qualifying offer deadline, as there are a few interesting names that have become RFAs. I believe Kurashev, Wagner, Bjork, and Mitchell will get qualified. Caleb Jones is one I hope they let walk and give his spot to some of the younger defensemen in Rockford to start getting more NHL experience. July 1: Free Agency Opens This is when things will start to get interesting, as the Hawks need to spend a little bit of cash to reach the salary cap floor. As of this writing, they are $15,794,877 away, according to CapFriendly. I think the Athanasiou contract is a good bar for what to expect in free agency signings; however, don’t expect any big names or game changers to be brought on this year. Think more of last offseason, when Domi and Athanasiou signed their one-year "prove it" deals. I believe a lot of this cap gets used at the draft via trades to hopefully move up in the 1st round or even score another 1st for future drafts. Despite the fact that we are not going to be competitive next season, we are in for a very exciting offseason. I see this as the official start of the rebuild, and KD will now slowly put his plan into motion to make the Hawks a Cup contender once again. I know I have been saying this a lot, but good things are on the horizon for this franchise, and it’s just a matter of time before we are a force in the NHL again.
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