I really think the plan is to draft another dman (BB) and use young d prospects as capital and ufa's to fill ot the rest.
Bowman has said it several times, dman are valued higher so why not use that leverage?

He may still go after panman bc he loves to remind people of his awesome moves and then trade a pic/prospect for talent.

2008 Datsyuk/Lidstrom
2009 Crosby/Letang
2010 Toews/Keith
2011 Bergeron/Chara
2012 Kopitar/Doughty
2013 Toews/Keith
2014 Kopitar/Doughty
2015 Toews/Keith
2016 Crosby/Letang
2017 Crosby/Letang (maybe Schultz this year)
2018 Backstrom/Carlson (?)

Off the top of my head.
- KINGS67

I know Kempny was much better on Wash than he was here, but Carlson is light years better.

So, just a hypothetical ... if the Rangers do the unthinkable and take Byram at #2 leaving Kakko there for the Hawks to take at #3 - is there even a moments hesitation to consider Turcotte over Kakko?
- EbonyRaptor

Doesn’t matter, they’re drafting Cole Caufield.

Great article Tyler. You made a lot of great points and room for debate.



Chicago has multiple issues , a aging core , a lack of depth , 2 aging core defenseman who are locked in for 5 more years.

- Taylorst1

Just to note about the aging core - we need only look to the Bruins to see quality older players can still carry a team to success but only if the team around them is built properly. There are enough similarities between the Hawks-Bruins that we could look to them for ways the Hawks could succeed sooner rather than later.

Bruins' original core is actually older than the Hawks; Kane is better offensively than any of their core; Toews had a resurgent year that is on par with Bergeron so we have to hope that continues; and Keith is at least as good as 40+ Chara (I will fight people on this). The Bruins even have a bad contract with Backes like the Hawks do with Seabrook and an aging goalie but who is still great. Bruins missed the playoffs two seasons sandwiched by 1 and then 2 years of early exits from the post-season, so like the Hawks currently, they went through some trying years.

So, what did the Bruins do to be successful? They built around their core primarily through young players they developed themselves (forward and defense), key minor role position adds (off seasons and TDL), and they have a great 1-3 offensive line + checking line that seems to be the most successful line roll-out in recent years.

The Hawks have been going the rebuild on the fly method for a few years now, so it's good to have examples of it working out for a team. The Pens and Caps also did this in some regard, just less missing playoffs and more 1st/2nd round exits. Not a lock, but possible.

I know Kempny was much better on Wash than he was here, but Carlson is light years better.
- Chunk

And Orlov and Niskanen, both of whom were the team leaders at 5v5, tops on PK, and got the toughest defensive assignment. That Caps team was really a top 3 (Carlson, Orlov, Niskanen) followed by a 4-5 twosome (Kempny, Orpik) and then a 6th who got 10-12 min. Kempny may have been paired with their top d-man, but he wasn't a top pairing d-man himself. Even this past season, he's #4 - solid, more minutes due to Orpik further decline.

There's an article on SecondCityHockey that Jay Zawasaki WSCR hockey "expert" said on a podcast this afternoon that he heard from a Hawk source that they re leaning toward taking a center.

It also said that Mark Kelley is a big fan of American players so Turcotte and Zegras are the likely candidates.

There's an article on SecondCityHockey that Jay Zawasaki WSCR hockey "expert" said on a podcast this afternoon that he heard from a Hawk source that they re leaning toward taking a center.

It also said that Mark Kelley is a big fan of American players so Turcotte and Zegras are the likely candidates.
- boilermaker100

It's not surprising Kelley is a fan of this particular batch of US players - they were on a dream team/program. That said, I wouldn't take any insider info on these types of things. Last year there were rumors the Hawks wanted Hughes only for d-men and would go forward if they didn't get him and we see how that went.

There's an article on SecondCityHockey that Jay Zawasaki WSCR hockey "expert" said on a podcast this afternoon that he heard from a Hawk source that they re leaning toward taking a center.

It also said that Mark Kelley is a big fan of American players so Turcotte and Zegras are the likely candidates.
- boilermaker100

I’m just tuning out all that noise.

Sorry to interrupt - just want to note that Dr. John has died at 77.

A truly great NoLa piano player, songwriter, personna - a classic. Dr. John Creaux - The Night Tripper.

Alef ha-shalom.

Blows strike first...

Blows strike first...
- BGKarras

Their biggest need and biggest eye sore has been their d, all of these prospects look very good, but none have been tested yet, but Byram looks a notch above all of them and seems to be game ready now, you build championship teams on solid d, seems like a no-brainer to me, but we'll see.

I think rangers take bryam at 2 and Hughes or Kappo drops to the hawks. Bryam Cozens( my pick) or turcotte hughes kappo no matter what hawks are getting a very good player for years to come.
- Scott1977

if Hughes or Kappo dropped to the Hawks, plan the next parade now!!

So, just a hypothetical ... if the Rangers do the unthinkable and take Byram at #2 leaving Kakko there for the Hawks to take at #3 - is there even a moments hesitation to consider Turcotte over Kakko?
- EbonyRaptor

If by some miracle, one of Hughes or Kakko fell to the Hawks and they took somebody else, fire all involved in that move immediately!

Doesn’t matter, they’re drafting Cole Caufield.
- DarthKane

Clearly you have convinced Craig Button. He just came out with his final draft rankings and this little twerp is all the way up to #4, right behind Byram.

Cozens all the way down to #14.

Clearly you have convinced Craig Button. He just came out with his final draft rankings and this little twerp is all the way up to #4, right behind Byram.

Cozens all the way down to #14.
- RickJ

And in my non-expert opinion rightfully so. Easily the greatest bust potential, and IMO would be the worst of the potential #3 draft picks.

Clearly you have convinced Craig Button. He just came out with his final draft rankings and this little twerp is all the way up to #4, right behind Byram.

Cozens all the way down to #14.
- RickJ

I was very surprised by this list. Three top center prospects falling significantly in Cozens, Dach & Turcotte. Seems like all that has happened since his last mock up was the combine, and it doesn’t seem like any of those guys did anything to fall so drastically.

Clearly you have convinced Craig Button. He just came out with his final draft rankings and this little twerp is all the way up to #4, right behind Byram.

Cozens all the way down to #14.
- RickJ

It's interesting to see Cozens drop, not only on Button's list but others I've seen as well.

And in my non-expert opinion rightfully so. Easily the greatest bust potential, and IMO would be the worst of the potential #3 draft picks.
- TommyHawk

Who really knows with 18 year olds. There will be busts in the 1st round and overachievers who make it from the 3rd round.

Turcotte revised downward to #10.

It's interesting to see Cozens drop, not only on Button's list but others I've seen as well.
- Tyler Cameron

What’s happened to cause the drop - only the Combine In the past couple of weeks, and didn’t Cozens miss it?

What’s happened to cause the drop - only the Combine In the past couple of weeks, and didn’t Cozens miss it?
- StLBravesFan

He was there, and put up better power output numbers than Dach, who is a man-child at 6’4 200.

Their biggest need and biggest eye sore has been their d, all of these prospects look very good, but none have been tested yet, but Byram looks a notch above all of them and seems to be game ready now, you build championship teams on solid d, seems like a no-brainer to me, but we'll see.
- Butcherboy66

Jokiharju was tested for a bit and looked very good. Not to be a complete contrarian, but what about Byram is a notch above the others in the system? None of these guys can look game ready now until they skate with NHL players.

What’s happened to cause the drop - only the Combine In the past couple of weeks, and didn’t Cozens miss it?
- StLBravesFan

No he actually had a great combine. I’m really skeptical of these so called experts making these big changes.

There's an article on SecondCityHockey that Jay Zawasaki WSCR hockey "expert" said on a podcast this afternoon that he heard from a Hawk source that they re leaning toward taking a center.

It also said that Mark Kelley is a big fan of American players so Turcotte and Zegras are the likely candidates.
- boilermaker100

When you say SCORE sports radio, all I can think of is my call to there some time before 2010, after the hawks draft that year, and basically was pumped, had my usual breakdown of the guys they took, and was cut short by Bernstein (sp? don't fracking care) who basically said, who cares? No hockey draft player impacts a team for a couple years, and continued with the second level sport degradation.
Funny how after a run with many of those very same players they didn't want to waste time talking about helped their radio station suddenly become "hockey lovers."

They even have an analyst/draft expert and is talking about the very same entry draft where you wait for the talent, that Bernstein was so flippant about, basically insulting me after I was shut off.

So funny, and pathetic.

JUST LIKE That UNCALLED TRIP! Holee?

Just to note about the aging core - we need only look to the Bruins to see quality older players can still carry a team to success but only if the team around them is built properly. There are enough similarities between the Hawks-Bruins that we could look to them for ways the Hawks could succeed sooner rather than later.

Bruins' original core is actually older than the Hawks; Kane is better offensively than any of their core; Toews had a resurgent year that is on par with Bergeron so we have to hope that continues; and Keith is at least as good as 40+ Chara (I will fight people on this). The Bruins even have a bad contract with Backes like the Hawks do with Seabrook and an aging goalie but who is still great. Bruins missed the playoffs two seasons sandwiched by 1 and then 2 years of early exits from the post-season, so like the Hawks currently, they went through some trying years.

So, what did the Bruins do to be successful? They built around their core primarily through young players they developed themselves (forward and defense), key minor role position adds (off seasons and TDL), and they have a great 1-3 offensive line + checking line that seems to be the most successful line roll-out in recent years.

The Hawks have been going the rebuild on the fly method for a few years now, so it's good to have examples of it working out for a team. The Pens and Caps also did this in some regard, just less missing playoffs and more 1st/2nd round exits. Not a lock, but possible.
- L_B_R

Watching this game, I reallllly don’t think you are going to have to fight anyone about Chara. I know he is injured, but he’s a shell of his former self. The 11F 7D concept is just silly. Just screws everyone up.