Now that you don't like Dach I like him more. He'll likely go on to a Hall of fame career
- GPHawksfan

Have to agree with you Dach is a solid pick. Z3 you need to relax and let it play out before passing such harsh judgement.

While I wanted B.B. I don't understand why they took this guy over Alex T. Turcotte is a vastly superior skater. In this day and age, premium value has to be placed on skating ability. That's just my take. I know it's heresy to question the Bowman cabal, but I did it.
- kwolf68

Aren't you the guy that said Hayden should be in the top six?

Have to agree with you Dach is a solid pick. Z3 you need to relax and let it play out before passing such harsh judgement.
- SaskHawkFan

No I don't. I don't like that moron and I'll continue to rip on all of his moronic comments

One skill Dach has that hasn't been discussed or highlighted is his ability to follow the play out of the opponents end and strip the puck carrier or pick off a transition pass. There was another Blackhawk who did this very well.
- paulr

Jaeckel would be proud of this question... How is Dach on faceoffs? He will be asked to do that right?

No I don't. I don't like that moron and I'll continue to rip on all of his moronic comments
- GPHawksfan

I'm not going to stand in your way or anything but to be fair, I think SaskHawkFan was asking Z3 to be calm and let the pick of Dach play out.

With the drafting of Dach, it would seem Anisimov needs to be moved out of the 3C spot but the Hawks are kind of in a bind because if they trade AA and Dach isn't ready to play in the NHL - then they don't have a 3C and going out and acquiring one would then clog up the 3C spot so Dach wouldn't be able to play there. I suppose they could keep AA for this season and if Dach makes the team AA can play wing and be traded at a later time.
- EbonyRaptor

If Dach forces his way onto the roster next yr good chance he'll play wing to ease him in. He can and has played wing, think he played wing for CAN in the U-18 WJC......

But as Al tweeted where would he slot? 3RW?

I'm not going to stand in your way or anything but to be fair, I think SaskHawkFan was asking Z3 to be calm and let the pick of Dach play out.
- HawkintheD

LOL. I realized it asoon as I posted again. Sorry Sask

There sure are a lot of posters knowing this or that about what Dach can and can't do, about how he's not ready to play in the NHL and may not be for a couple years, about how he doesn't score enough to be worthy of the #3 pick, about how he's too slow to be worthy of the #3 pick, etc, etc. The thing about all these "opinions" is that they are stated as not merely opinions, but as certainties. These statements are not couched with "I think" or "I don't think" or "it's doubtful" type modifiers which place their statements into the "opinion category" - no, they're stated as if they know with 100% certainty that this or that is true and any counter opinion is false.

I'm thinking that for those of you who have the super powers to divine what will and won't happen to an 18 year old hockey player, maybe those super powers could be put to better use.

No I don't. I don't like that moron and I'll continue to rip on all of his moronic comments
- GPHawksfan

GP cool it. This post has been reported.

Dach is a year away & a nice pick. Byram would be a great pick & easily better than any in the pipeline. It came down to position & Scotty Jr took need.
- Nighthawk

If you were in Stan's shoes you might have really wished to roll dice on any of the players down through Boldy. I bet even the Phoenix choice works out fine. You would be excited to see Podzlinski join the ranks too. They each have a bright future.

The future of the Blackhawks has to mirror the growth in their prospects. To that end i am not saying growth be exactly equal players to team success. But making the post regular season sure buys you appreciation from Rocky.

Rocky can see the team is not a total teardown. He needs to see improvement each season. So with that thought in mind i suggest our big four defenseman prospects + Carlsson will be ready and able to play as good or bettet defence sooner than Byram. After all, it is in their favor beinf a year farther along in the development curve and their age being older as well.

How the heck would you be able to break in all these rookies on defense? A veteran to play in each pair? The math doesn' t work and one or more dmen would suffer

Aren't you the guy that said Hayden should be in the top six?
- GPHawksfan

If you wish to discuss what I thought or think of John Hayden we can do that, your red herring otherwise won't be responded to.

And also show me to the memo that states if someone is wrong about something in the past, then they can never be right about anything in the future.

My point stands, There was no differentiation between picks 3 and 9 (the guy took 9th was also rumored to possibly be 3) and Dach could have been taken later and maybe we pick up an extra pick. I will admit that does ignore 2 points: 1) Bowman tried to do this, but didn't get a deal he wanted, 2) The Hawks desperately wanted Dach.

I am satisfied with either 1 or 2 if that is what occurred. Which we'll never know so all these discussions are just speculative in nature, but that's 90% of what is discussed here anyway.

I guess what is most disappointing to me is the Hawks lucked into the 3rd pick and really got nothing better than had they picked 9th. All these guys are a crapshoot. Only 1 and 2 look like surefire stars. So close, yet so far. I still maintain to be great, as the Hawks were for a long time, it takes great leaders in the Front Office, but you know what else it takes:

A HELL OF A LOT OF LUCK. J.Toews could have been taken by Pittsburgh. They passed, we got him. Cups get raised. Tons of other examples from Hawks folklore.

I think the notion of CHI trading down was easier said than done.

The word out of last night was due to the compressed talent and degree of difference of team's draft list it was highly unlikely that trading up and down was going to happen. There was just too much unpredictability amongst teams.

The Coyotes and Flyers swung a small move... but that was it.

The Hawks wanted Dach and there was no guarantee he would be there at 5, 7 or 10.

So do you risk the guy really want and think can be an impact player for your team as soon as next year for what? An additional 2nd round pick?

It doesn't seem worth it at that point.
- Tyler Cameron

Agree on all counts and would add that Detroilet who needs D in a big big way may have Seider ranked ahead of Byram!

My guess is StanBow did look to move down a spot or two or he had Dach as his target all along and wasn't gonna risk losing him for a 2nd rd pick.

GP cool it. This post has been reported.
- Tyler Cameron

Devilish flagged your title post, you have to watch your back as well, potty mouth. (Red font)

I’m happy the Hawks selected Dach. I believe he has the skill sets to fill a need for the Hawks in the years to come. But, that isn’t guaranteed... nor is it guaranteed that Byram or Zegras or whomever was a better pick. It’s ALL a speculative process. You do your homework and then make an educated guess.

If your a hockey fan, you should be able to reference at least one draft pick (Hawks or otherwise) that you were certain was a “home run, can’t miss” pick that later only fizzled out in the minors somewhere. That’s part of being of fan.

So yes, today I’m happy about Dach, but I was happy about Mark McNeil too... you just never know for certain.

I’m happy the Hawks selected Dach. I believe he has the skill sets to fill a need for the Hawks in the years to come. But, that isn’t guaranteed... nor is it guaranteed that Byram or Zegras or whomever was a better pick. It’s ALL a speculative process. You do your homework and then make an educated guess.

If your a hockey fan, you should be able to reference at least one draft pick (Hawks or otherwise) that you were certain was a “home run, can’t miss” pick that later only fizzled out in the minors somewhere. That’s part of being of fan.

So yes, today I’m happy about Dach, but I was happy about Mark McNeil too... you just never know for certain.
- Chief4Feathers

Very good post.

It is inevitable that the Dach pick will be compared to the other players who were thought to be seriously considered at #3 - Byram and Turcotte mostly. The thing to keep in mind is team circumstances will influence the early comparisons.

Colorado just broke in Makar in the playoffs after his NCAA season concluded and they already had another inexperienced d-man in Girard who just finished his 2nd year in the NHL. They may feel having Byram play for the Avalanche in 2019/20 would be too many inexperienced d-man in the lineup and therefore Byram goes back to the WHL for the 2019/20 season - not because he isn't ready to play in the NHL but because team circumstances dictate it.

Turcotte's situation is the opposite because LA is not going to be in a playoff run and there is no reason Turcotte couldn't take a roster spot and learn on the job. He may not even be ready physically but team circumstances allow him to start his NHL career in 2019/20.

We all know that unless Dach comes out and is an instant HOF super star, all the second guessers and Stan bashers will be crawling out of the wood work to cry their discontent. Expect a lot of unjustified ugliness on Hawks blogs. Ain't life grand.

It's funny... the Hawks draft big, talented centre... people lose their sh*t.

Hawks draft a small kid named Alex DeBrincat a few years ago... people lose their sh*t.

Can't make everyone happy.

The reality is that we truly won't know if Davh was the right pick years to come.
- Tyler Cameron

I m very happy with the pick sounds like a shutdown center with skill like couturier in phily be my comp. Put speed winger with him and a tenacious forechecking forward and dach at center with his skill set a line that would give teams fits and depth for the hawks. Bowman looked at the big picture imo regular season and playoffs. Tyler any chance hawks use the 2nd pick ti get a established player like maybe johnson from Toronto?

Dach’s back checking has been described as tenacious & elite. One of his comps was Hossa. If he comes anywhere near the future HOFer, it’s a home run for Stan,

Plenty of D I the pipeline, 1 or 2 should hit, this was the correct pick.
- scottak

This.

I guess what is most disappointing to me is the Hawks lucked into the 3rd pick and really got nothing better than had they picked 9th. All these guys are a crapshoot. Only 1 and 2 look like surefire stars. So close, yet so far. I still maintain to be great, as the Hawks were for a long time, it takes great leaders in the Front Office, but you know what else it takes:

A HELL OF A LOT OF LUCK. J.Toews could have been taken by Pittsburgh. They passed, we got him. Cups get raised. Tons of other examples from Hawks folklore.
- kwolf68

Hello, Wolfie. Respectfully, I'm not sure how we can determine right now that they got nothing better than the 9th pick. The draft was yesterday. I'll hold off on that determination until the kid (and the others) plays a shift.

Don’t worry, I’ll keep my tremendous and crippling grief internalized.

Although Dach wasn’t my first choice I am interested to watch his development. If he develops into his potential this will be a home run for Stan. We’re likely a few years away from having any idea though.
- DarthKane

Hey Darth Still have Judd Caulfield out there ,it close .Still a decent prospect

I haven’t seen him play but what I read is his skating lacks explosiveness...not that he has a bad stride. Maybe the Hawks think they can improve his explosiveness? Look at how much more explosive D-Cat was this year. It’s not like Dach is Strome level as far as skating. If Dach and Strome can lock down 1C 2C (in 3-4 years) and the D prospects hit then this team has a great foundation for another 10 year stretch of dominance.

Team drafts size at C and people on here just complain!
- bhawks2241

Dach is a skater that borders on elite. His balance and edge work are excellent and work in tandem with his mind which processes quickly. His mind, hands and feet work uniformly that's why he looks so smooth and effortless.

As far as his first 2-3 steps, or acceleration, he's 18 yrs old 6ft 4in and 200lbs. Ask yourself if a Wheeler, Getzlaf, Nash or Thorton has + acceleration? ....... I'd add that Dach, and ++++ skaters with size, makes up for a lack of acceleration with his reach, heavy frame that wins a leverage battle and IQ (paths he takes/reads a play). Yea a Zegras would get a step or two on him but his reach makes up for that more times than not.

Well sadly I was right
- Z3Hawk

The only sure thing going into last night, no?

We all know that unless Dach comes out and is an instant HOF super star, all the second guessers and Stan bashers will be crawling out of the wood work to cry their discontent. Expect a lot of unjustified ugliness on Hawks blogs. Ain't life grand.
- EbonyRaptor

EVERY GM gets questioned, in every sport. Why should Stan be immune from the criticism that naturally accompanies the position he is in?

There are clearly things he has done that WARRANT scrutiny. Either deal with it or find a new job. People should be free to bash him when it is earned. I also admit the same people should give him credit where we see a nice move.

That's my only take, to be consistent. I don't like the "scrutinize scrutiny" attack you demonstrate here as I believe people should express themselves accordingly. If you think an "attack" on Bowman is ill-founded I appreciate you challenging that poster, but just a blanket complaint about Stan being bashed is weak.

Hello, Wolfie. Respectfully, I'm not sure how we can determine right now that they got nothing better than the 9th pick. The draft was yesterday. I'll hold off on that determination until the kid (and the others) plays a shift.
- mohel

mohel-I agree, any of those 3-9 players could be great, OK, or duds. Most likely will be duds. MY point was simply that there is really no differentiation between them. So the Hawks likely had just as much a chance to get "that guy" at 9 as they did at 3. Players 1 and 2 are clearly head and shoulders above the rest. That's my take. The Hawks gained almost nothing in terms of projectable talent by picking 3 v. picking 9.

The "wait and see" approach is what everyone picking 3 on down is taking. Picking 2 would have been more a "where do you think he slots this year in the lineup" in terms of projection.