"and felt the 6-foot-4, 197-pound Dach separated himself from the rest because he plays the kind of style that wins games in both the regular season and playoffs."

That's why they took him, and I for one, am happy they are thinking this way.

For 10 years I've heard folks here female doging about Stan and his smurfs, now they take a guy who they believe will be a beast and has an NHL body already, and its a huge mistake.
- vabeachbear

But Stan did stay true to form, he took the most skilled guy on the board in his estimation, just happens he's a big kid. ........ Dach and Zegras are more skilled than all the forwards left on the board at #3 and he went Dach.

Really if he wasn't going with Byram we shouldn't be surprised as Hawks fans. He took skill, skill, skill over all other things one might have on a checklist.

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.
- kwolf68

Agreed Paul.

Dach's numbers don't jump out at you but his overall game is really good.

Also, the intangibles that he brings.

Stan brought it up and I've heard it elsewhere as well that Dach's ability to take his team on his back and play big, meaningful minutes is something that shouldn't go overlooked.
- Tyler Cameron

Reading around pre draft it has been said when Dach is on his game he is unstoppable due to his size skill combo. Few would disagree the rub is how often that will occur.

Rarely rarely read or listen to StanBow cuz usually it's nonsense but did see a quote where he mentions Dach in this last post season. Said the kid showed huge compete, was targeted physically and gave back as good as he got. ......... Seems to me if they questioned him at all it was his ability to have some push back and the playoffs showed he does.

- I Am The Breadman

It's ugly out there.

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.
- kwolf68

There's no real differentiation that we can see. Pro scouts increase the odds, imo.

Confused and still concerned with management. So let's just say that Dach is the chosen one...which we obviously know he is since the hawks picked him. Are you going to tell me that Colorado wouldn't offer ANYTHING to swap picks with the Hawks? How difficult would it have been to "pretend" that you are taking Byram, who we all know Colorado really wanted...at some point, if you offered to swap picks I'm sure the Hawks could have got at least another pick somewhere in the draft...wouldn't have lost their actual choice and would have gained another body.

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.
- kwolf68

The big issue with all of the scrutiny is that we had the #3 pick with no obvious choice. If we stayed at #12, we take who falls to us (Caufield ?).

I think if the other teams were at 3, they have the same problems deciding, although maybe Byram is more the choice for most because D seemed to be at a premium early in the draft.

Most posters agreed that it was a (throw 6-8 names in a hat) and get any one of them. They chose Dach... he was always in that hat if players. He has his strengths and weaknesses like they all do. We just have to hope he is not a complete bust.

I am fine with the pick. He certainly has some great leaders to learn from on the team (Toews, Keith, Kane). Let’s all be patient and see what happens.

So Bowman said Dach has a legitimate chance to make the team out of camp. If he expects to slot at center, then that tells me Anisimov is certainly trade bait.

So Bowman said Dach has a legitimate chance to make the team out of camp. If he expects to slot at center, then that tells me Anisimov is certainly trade bait.
- kwolf68

He was before we drafted Dach, wasn’t he?

Confused and still concerned with management. So let's just say that Dach is the chosen one...which we obviously know he is since the hawks picked him. Are you going to tell me that Colorado wouldn't offer ANYTHING to swap picks with the Hawks? How difficult would it have been to "pretend" that you are taking Byram, who we all know Colorado really wanted...at some point, if you offered to swap picks I'm sure the Hawks could have got at least another pick somewhere in the draft...wouldn't have lost their actual choice and would have gained another body.
- Chisoxhawk

It seems like the same points have to be made over and over.

How do you know Colorado wanted Byram as their #1? For instance, LA was #5 and it was reported that Blake went to see Dach play in person. After Hughes and Kako, an argument could have been made that the next 7-8 picks were justified as being selected at #3. Given that, why should a team give up assets to get a guy who isn’t head-and-shoulders above what would be available to you a pick later?

He was before we drafted Dach, wasn’t he?
- slarm

I dunno. Lots of speculation in here about it, but I've seen nothing "official". And honestly, do they have the depth at center to trade him? If Dach is that close (I kinda doubt it, but who knows) then maybe they do have the depth.

He was before we drafted Dach, wasn’t he?
- slarm

At least on this board.....

But Stan did stay true to form, he took the most skilled guy on the board in his estimation, just happens he's a big kid. ........ Dach and Zegras are more skilled than all the forwards left on the board at #3 and he went Dach.

Really if he wasn't going with Byram we shouldn't be surprised as Hawks fans. He took skill, skill, skill over all other things one might have on a checklist.
- Mr Ricochet

That quote I posted was from Stan. He talked a lot about a player who could play in the regular season and succeed, but also come playoff time.

We all saw what happened against trashville. Maybe they learned a lesson. Again, I'm happy with the thought process going forward.

And I'll just add this about Button and his Byram love, I believe he used to be a GM, I believe he failed, and hasn't been rehired since.

At least on this board.....
- mohel

Yep, Anisimov and Saad are as good as gone... on this board.

Confused and still concerned with management. So let's just say that Dach is the chosen one...which we obviously know he is since the hawks picked him. Are you going to tell me that Colorado wouldn't offer ANYTHING to swap picks with the Hawks? How difficult would it have been to "pretend" that you are taking Byram, who we all know Colorado really wanted...at some point, if you offered to swap picks I'm sure the Hawks could have got at least another pick somewhere in the draft...wouldn't have lost their actual choice and would have gained another body.
- Chisoxhawk

Maybe they considered Byram and Dach interchangeable

That quote I posted was from Stan. He talked a lot about a player who could play in the regular season and succeed, but also come playoff time.

We all saw what happened against trashville. Maybe they learned a lesson. Again, I'm happy with the thought process going forward.

And I'll just add this about Button and his Byram love, I believe he used to be a GM, I believe he failed, and hasn't been rehired since.
- vabeachbear

Yes, for Calgary... and he’s been nothing but a talking head on sports programs since.

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.
- Mr Ricochet

there was crickets chirping on teams looking to move up from commentary from stan and other gm's...

gotta give up to much to do that and its risky for both trading partners...

From the Hawks web site.

https://www.nhl.com/black...ice-for-weeks/c-307984148

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.
- kwolf68

I didn't say Stan should be immune from scrutiny. I said there will be a lot of it and much of it will be unjustified because it is too early to know if the criticism is justified or not.

I don't care for your scrutinizing my scrutinized scrutiny. Furthermore, if you haven't noticed there has been a lot of unjustified Stan bashing over the years, then you must have missed the posts I read. This being a Hawks blog, bashing the Hawks GM is to be expected, and I do expect a lot of it in the near future.

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

so it goes

And I'll just add this about Button and his Byram love, I believe he used to be a GM, I believe he failed, and hasn't been rehired since.
- vabeachbear

Button did say something I found helpful last night, think it was concerning Kaliyev. Said this guy scored 50 this yr, 30ish as a 16 yr, you can find a lot of reasons to not like a player while ignoring what he does well.

True, we pick these guys apart, and should, but like a Caufield 72 goals is 72 goals man.

The expectation is that he goes back to Saskatoon, but StanBo himself today looked pretty optimistic about his ability to make the Big Club this fall. Time will tell, but it's exciting to think about the potential with Dach on a line with Debrincat or Kane.

Alex Vlasic as the big body defense first guy to partner with Boquist in the future??
- EnzoD

Have to wonder if part of the vetting process they inquired about what his plans were for the off season in terms of training/conditioning.

Confused and still concerned with management. So let's just say that Dach is the chosen one...which we obviously know he is since the hawks picked him. Are you going to tell me that Colorado wouldn't offer ANYTHING to swap picks with the Hawks? How difficult would it have been to "pretend" that you are taking Byram, who we all know Colorado really wanted...at some point, if you offered to swap picks I'm sure the Hawks could have got at least another pick somewhere in the draft...wouldn't have lost their actual choice and would have gained another body.
- Chisoxhawk

Well, let's say you're the Avs GM. You call the team ahead of you to trade for a guy. Why trade up one spot? Because you're concerned that team will take your guy. Since we all knew CO wanted BB - heck, even you did - there is no incentive for the Avs to give up an asset once the Hawks show a willingness to move down because it means they want someone else.

Confused and still concerned with management. So let's just say that Dach is the chosen one...which we obviously know he is since the hawks picked him. Are you going to tell me that Colorado wouldn't offer ANYTHING to swap picks with the Hawks? How difficult would it have been to "pretend" that you are taking Byram, who we all know Colorado really wanted...at some point, if you offered to swap picks I'm sure the Hawks could have got at least another pick somewhere in the draft...wouldn't have lost their actual choice and would have gained another body.
- Chisoxhawk

What if the Avs first choice was Dach as well?

LOL DraftSite.co is so overload with traffic, I could get the lastv two picks in for 15 minutes, itv was kicking me out.

Yeah, too bad Tracey was off the board but there are lots of intriguing players IF they still have the pick.

(This Subban to Leafs trade means lots of bodies and changes so I wouldn't be surpirsed if the hawks used the second rounder in a trade)

I got wind on Dach after they had him in privately to Chicago and Turcotte said he was going top 3 or 4 so that signaled that he saw the writing on the wall, but then in Vancouver, but obviously the hawks had L_B_R stats and watched the Cup finals and saw that take overs and big men with poise and vision are rare beside Paul Coffey beiong there for your team...and I dont think they try and rush Dach...but a lot of in the know people are saying he has the correct make-up to succeed early...YOU simply dont want to rush things where he loss confidence...let's wait until traioning camp to gauge his timetable

I hope the Edmionton defenseman is there for the hawks...Matthew Robertson

https://www.draftsite.com.../matthew-robertson/30047/
- wiz1901

Funny I noticed the same thing, some had him going to the Blackhawks, because of his comments after the combine. Supposedly a tell, the I’m going three or four was the tell.