I don’t see it as a PR stunt, I really doubt they have settled on who they want at #3 yet. So there’s really no reason for them to be hyping one player in particular. Unless you want to consider it a stunt just to stay relevant in the Chicago sports media.
- walleyeb1

I think it could be that if the Hawks have 2 or 3 guys who are "even" or "tied" in terms of how they feel about them, the PR aspect could end up being a "tie-breaker" of sorts. There is no question people like to root for the local guy when all other things are equal. I'm not saying this will be a factor, but there are benefits to drafting a guy who is hometown. He will likely want to stay there when contract time comes around and he already has a connection to the local fans that build the brand further.

100% agreed.

Avs, Blues, Jets, Preds…..are teams the Hawks are chasing in the central.

Stars don't scare me as much, and Wild are just a horribly run franchise.

There is no one I want more than the player Bowman and team decide is the best prospect with the most upside. I'm hoping it turns out to be a defenseman because to me that is the most important position to build a team.
- paulr

I agree on who the Hawks deem the right one.....However, they have a lot of defensive prospects already, unless they decide to move on or are already seeing 1 isn't going to project where they initially thought.

100% agreed.

Avs, Blues, Jets, Preds…..are teams the Hawks are chasing in the central.

Stars don't scare me as much, and Wild are just a horribly run franchise.
- SteveRain

And...IMO...the Preds are looking like they are on the downturn as well...they don't scare me like they did a couple years back. I see some major changes going to happen there.

And...IMO...the Preds are looking like they are on the downturn as well...they don't scare me like they did a couple years back. I see some major changes going to happen there.
- hawk35

Very possible.....Pollie could blow that team up like Armstrong did....

No!!!

I thought this Marketing Guru narrative was behind us with little to no evidence to support it?

Did it occur to you that Bowman wants to succeed more than you do?? His job is to make the playoffs next season, to ensure he has a solid group of prospects for the next few seasons and to balance his salary cap, all at the same time.

Going all in for next year is a huge gamble because injuries and unforeseen situations can derail the season leaving the Hawks even worse long term. Slow, deliberate and steady are the only ways to go when building a team. Draft the player they see as having the most upside, not the biggest or the most ready. Bring prospects into the lineup when they are ready to play in the NHL. Don't get into cap hell signing UFAs as stop gap solutions. Yes, next season is important but not as important as the next 5 seasons.
- paulr

The question is what is the expectation internally at 1901 w Madison? The hawks are extremely fortunate that the Bulls are a disaster. The discretionary dollars from Jan-Apr are arguably still going to the Hawks, but the resale market is no where near as strong as it was 3 years ago.

So how much patience does Wirtz and McDonough have with Bowman and the "retooling" they need to get back into the conversation? To others points....there is no dismissing the proven NHL assets are in RAPID decline (Keith and Seabrook) so they need their defensive prospects to start hitting soon. Or they have to spend money in UFA to fill those gaps.

To me it's simple.....

Knights, Flames, Sharks
Blues, Avs, Preds, and Jets

Those 7 teams are ahead of the Hawks by a decent margin. SO that leaves the Hawks trying to beat out the Stars, Coyotes, Oilers, Ducks, Kings, Wild, and Canucks.

My concerns are 3 fold...…

1. You had a lot of guys have "bounce back years" Can they do it again to prove it wasn't a fluke?

2. You have health concerns with arguably your 2nd most important player on your team injury wise impact and that's Crawford......Kane is #1

3. You have aging players being slotted well above where they should be because the team doesn't have the caliber of player to be in that spot.....thus increasing the regression quicker with more minutes....See Seabrook and Keith

Those are 3 legit concerns. IMO...all 3 HAVE To go in the Hawks favor for them to make the playoffs this upcoming year. Unless Bowman makes smart hockey trades for today and tomorrow....

According to the Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, Patrik Laine wants out of Winnipeg after contract talks are leading nowhere and Laine will seek every potential option.

Still, I keep reading "local product","Illinois native" and the like as one of the reasons to draft Turcotte..
- Beaver-Warrior

I count it as one of the reasons NOT to take him. Too much extra pressure and distraction on a young kid.

You missed injury Prone .Hockey news and other sites
- oldduffman

He was injured this past season but I'm not aware that he had injuries other seasons. I may be wrong but as far as I know the only injury was the one this past season and if that is true that would hardly be considered injury prone.

There are various prospect analysts giving different assessments on the same player - my understanding of Turcotte based on as many analyses as I could find, as well as the eyeball test from seeing him play, informs me that he projects to be a Patrice Bergeron type center - which is certainly 1st line and 200' center.

According to the Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, Patrik Laine wants out of Winnipeg after contract talks are leading nowhere and Laine will seek every potential option.
- walleyeb1

He is Alex Ovechkin with a serious compete level issue....

He was injured this past season but I'm not aware that he had injuries other seasons. I may be wrong but as far as I know the only injury was the one this past season and if that is true that would hardly be considered injury prone.

There are various prospect analysts giving different assessments on the same player - my understanding of Turcotte based on as many analyses as I could find, as well as the eyeball test from seeing him play, informs me that he projects to be a Patrice Bergeron type center - which is certainly 1st line and 200' center.
- EbonyRaptor

Wow that is some high projections .If that was true I would think he would go 1 or 2 . .I don't see it ,as I said I see 5 or 6 players I would chose ahead of him .

Wow that is some high projections .If that was true I would think he would go 1 or 2 . .I don't see it ,as I said I see 5 or 6 players I would chose ahead of him .
- oldduffman

He had a hip injury this year (which was apparently healed enough to participate in the combine) and Mono. The main reason he was second line this year was because Jack Hughes was first.

As many others have said, StanBow, Kelley and Co have been pretty strong recently. I have a lot of faith in them. As far as the Illinois connection thing goes. I don't think it will have all that much influence. Stan has shipped out every significant local product in the past two years. If they draft Turcotte, it will be because they view him as the best prospect.

He is Alex Ovechkin with a serious compete level issue....
- nickmo2699

I haven't really paid all that much attention to Laine (aside from hearing that he can normally score a lot of goals). Is he just a bigger version of DeBrincat? I know last year was down for him, but does he have a decent defensive game? I don't see the Hawks going after him, but just curious about the player.

Can't disagree with a word of this. And whether the player is from Island Lake or Malaysia should not matter one bit.

One player who seems to have helped himself immensely by putting to rest doubts about his "floor" at the combine was . . . Vasili Podkolzin.

Seems like he and Caufield are two wildcards who legitimately could go anywhere from 3-10 and upset most draft boards.
- John Jaeckel

Those two could wind up as good as anyone and i say this only should they become everyhing wiz report cites.....

According to the Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, Patrik Laine wants out of Winnipeg after contract talks are leading nowhere and Laine will seek every potential option.
- walleyeb1

Woah. Dave is legit, so interesting to see him reporting that.

It's about to get real messy in Winnipeg.

Laine and Trouba with 7+ RFAs and 7+ UFAs to deal with.

Good luck, Chevy!

He had a hip injury this year (which was apparently healed enough to participate in the combine) and Mono. The main reason he was second line this year was because Jack Hughes was first.

As many others have said, StanBow, Kelley and Co have been pretty strong recently. I have a lot of faith in them. As far as the Illinois connection thing goes. I don't think it will have all that much influence. Stan has shipped out every significant local product in the past two years. If they draft Turcotte, it will be because they view him as the best prospect.
- Chunk

I can agree with that Stan has shipped out some local boy's of late .I hope you are right about it not being a consideration in drafting Turcotte . I still see much more upside in other prospects Cozens Byram Dach .

Pagnotta also with comments on Taylor Hall.

@TheFourthPeriod

Told that, as of now, Taylor Hall is not interested in signing an extension with the NJ Devils. He has 1-year left on his contract. More here:

He had a hip injury this year (which was apparently healed enough to participate in the combine) and Mono. The main reason he was second line this year was because Jack Hughes was first.

As many others have said, StanBow, Kelley and Co have been pretty strong recently. I have a lot of faith in them. As far as the Illinois connection thing goes. I don't think it will have all that much influence. Stan has shipped out every significant local product in the past two years. If they draft Turcotte, it will be because they view him as the best prospect.
- Chunk

Turcotte played 1st line center when Hughes missed some games and had a higher point per game average while playing 1C than Hughes had.

I haven't really paid all that much attention to Laine (aside from hearing that he can normally score a lot of goals). Is he just a bigger version of DeBrincat? I know last year was down for him, but does he have a decent defensive game? I don't see the Hawks going after him, but just curious about the player.
- Chunk

I would rather have Caufield then Laine .Think he would have more passion for the game .

Turcotte played 1st line center when Hughes missed some games and had a higher point per game average while playing 1C than Hughes had.
- EbonyRaptor

That's great, but it the competitions those players face and schedule they play . Don't seem to match the hard grind game and pressure they face day to day in the CJHL .Just my 2 cents .

He is Alex Ovechkin with a serious compete level issue....
- nickmo2699

He has but ONE OV attribute, the ability to fire the puck. Outside of that NOTHING like OV.
OV hits...hard....has desire, heart, will to win. Laine has none of that. Stay away. He is a good goal scorer, but will want way too much, and would live to regret the long term and high cost it would take. Not to mention what the Jets would want back in a trade or compensation.
A definate "No" from me. (Not that I get a vote, mind you...)

Pagnotta also with comments on Taylor Hall.

@TheFourthPeriod

Told that, as of now, Taylor Hall is not interested in signing an extension with the NJ Devils. He has 1-year left on his contract. More here:
- Tyler Cameron

For as dynamic as Hall is - he misses too much time to be relied upon. Aside from the 2012/13 lockout season - here are the games he played in the other 8 seasons: 65, 61, 75, 53, 82, 72, 76, 33. And, he'll want more than his current $6M AAV.

Pass.

That's great, but it the competitions those players face and schedule they play . Don't seem to match the hard grind game and pressure they face day to day in the CJHL .Just my 2 cents .
- oldduffman

There's a point of agreement between us - I think the CHL is tougher competition than the USHL and the teams the USNDTP play.

He has but ONE OV attribute, the ability to fire the puck. Outside of that NOTHING like OV.
OV hits...hard....has desire, heart, will to win. Laine has none of that. Stay away. He is a good goal scorer, but will want way too much, and would live to regret the long term and high cost it would take. Not to mention what the Jets would want back in a trade or compensation.
A definate "No" from me. (Not that I get a vote, mind you...)
- hawk35

Laine is a weird player or he was injured or something doesn't add up. I don't recall the exact numbers but it was something ridiculous like 15 out of his 30 goals were scored in November meaning he averaged only 3 goals in each of the other 5 months of the season. What could that be attributable to?