How's Mitchell's skating and foot speed? I haven't seen any of his college games.
- bhawks2241

Elbows will know for sure because he's seen him play but from what I have read about him, Mitchell is a very good skater, great edges, good speed, good use of change of speed but lacks elite speed.

How's Mitchell's skating and foot speed? I haven't seen any of his college games.
- bhawks2241

It's hard to get a good comparison specifically since, I've only seen him play once and it's comparing against college players. That said, he looks pretty impressive. Not a true burner, but looks very well balanced and is very difficult to "fool" with dekes on an oncoming rush. He walks the line very well in the o-zone and has improved both his D and offensive contributions.

Elbows will know for sure because he's seen him play but from what I have read about him, Mitchell is a very good skater, great edges, good speed, good use of change of speed but lacks elite speed.
- paulr

I like the sound of all of that. This team will start to look a lot better once it has some legit NHL D-men (hoping Mitchell becomes a top 4 mainstay) on the back-end that can move without the puck and move the puck once in transition.

Thanks for answering my question Tyler.

I just fear that he will want to go back to college for his senior year since he didn't get to lead his team to that championship this year...then he would have the option of just going to free agency and signing with anyone...unless the Hawks can convince him that they will be contenders sooner than later, then maybe he will want to jump on board next year...but can they convince him?

I really hope he signs, though, as I have been waiting for him to make his NHL debut for a couple of years now.

I like the sound of all of that. This team will start to look a lot better once it has some legit NHL D-men (hoping Mitchell becomes a top 4 mainstay) on the back-end that can move without the puck and move the puck once in transition.
- bhawks2241

Keep in mind he isn't a big player. He will not be hitting guys like Chris Pronger. He will be similar to Keith defensively, taking away shooting and pssing lanes, good gap control and getting to loose pucks. I belive Mitchell patterns his game after Tyson Berry which I hope is only the offesnive said of his game.

Thanks for answering my question Tyler.

I just fear that he will want to go back to college for his senior year since he didn't get to lead his team to that championship this year...then he would have the option of just going to free agency and signing with anyone...unless the Hawks can convince him that they will be contenders sooner than later, then maybe he will want to jump on board next year...but can they convince him?

I really hope he signs, though, as I have been waiting for him to make his NHL debut for a couple of years now.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

The Rangers!

Keep in mind he isn't a big player. He will not be hitting guys like Chris Pronger. He will be similar to Keith defensively, taking away shooting and pssing lanes, good gap control and getting to loose pucks. I belive Mitchell patterns his game after Tyson Berry which I hope is only the offesnive said of his game.
- paulr

I know Vlasic is really the only big prospect on D. I'd love a big mobile D with some nasty to his game.

Berry on offense yes but nothing else because I am not sure Berry knows how to even play D.

Regarding Nylander, years 1&2 probably should not have happened...

Yep (especially at his cap hit).

The Chunk Question#2 posed an interesting question (paraphrasing) how would you feel about Boqvist if he were basically the same player in year #3? (implies Nylander hasn't made much improvement by (this) his 3rd year).

It's an interesting way to look at the question of how long do you give a player before moving on. It takes the analysis out of the vacuum of one by providing a comparative. It's still supposition but it's another data point to have.

In Nylanders case I don't know when the "pull the plug" date is but I'm pretty sure we haven't gotten there yet. Also, regarding the comparison with Boqvist in year #3 - I think Boqvist has already made improvements through his first half season to the point where I would be disappointed if he didn't get even better - but - I think he is already consistently good enough to hold down a top-4 job in the NHL whereas I do not think Nylander, in year #3, is consistently good enough to hold down a top-6 NHL job.
- EbonyRaptor

Hey ER. The one distinction that I want to make is that I actually think that Boqvist has contributed more this year than I expected, and I think he has played at a borderline top 4 level. That said, if he is virtually the same player two years later, is that a win (for a #8 overall pick)?

Obviously, there are considerations to be made regarding D-man vs Fwd, but Nylander has admittedly struggled to break into the NHL. He shows very high end skill, but the consistency and production are just not quite there yet.

I guess is all goes to asset value and management in the end.

Nice perspective on Nylander.

He frustrates the hell out of me but there is something there that the Hawks have to keep exploring.

I was the one who wanted to see him in the top 6 for the rest of the year and Colliton put him there shortly after. He had some good games and some "meh" games. If he can find some consistency and bring more of those good games, that would help the Hawks out big time.
- Tyler Cameron

I think for Nylander, it is the once a game act that leaves you wondering what the heck he was thinking. THe kid is uber talented but sometimes he does things like he is at Sunday morning rat hockey. He is young and will continue to get better but these mental lapses are what make this a perplexing situation.

Canada is closing it's borders to non citizens. Man this Covid-19 is getting creepy crazy. It's like living in that movie contagion. Keep safe everyone!

I think for Nylander, it is the once a game act that leaves you wondering what the heck he was thinking. THe kid is uber talented but sometimes he does things like he is at Sunday morning rat hockey. He is young and will continue to get better but these mental lapses are what make this a perplexing situation.
- nickmo2699

Many posters are all over Bowman to make a move, seemingly expecting star talent will somehow drop into his lap. The only way Bowman will get a young star is either through the draft, from europe ie: Kubalik or by taking a gamble. Nylander is a gamble, he may or may not work but he the closest thing Bowman will get to to star talent falling into his lap.

I know Vlasic is really the only big prospect on D. I'd love a big mobile D with some nasty to his game.

Berry on offense yes but nothing else because I am not sure Berry knows how to even play D.
- bhawks2241

Alec Regula is like 6'4" I think.

I know Vlasic is really the only big prospect on D. I'd love a big mobile D with some nasty to his game.

Berry on offense yes but nothing else because I am not sure Berry knows how to even play D.
- bhawks2241

Demin fits that description as a big mobile D prospect who plays with an edge physically. His head coach at Denver says he is the best skater on the team and has gotten more engaged physically during his first two years of college.

Regula and Moberg have some size. Moberg is the more likely of the two to be a physical presence with decent skating.

IMO, at least from scouting reports on these 4, ranking them from most physical to least: Demin, Moberg, Vlasic, Regula. Not sure the order for most defensively sound.

Then there's Gilbert, too, of course.

Many posters are all over Bowman to make a move, seemingly expecting star talent will somehow drop into his lap. The only way Bowman will get a young star is either through the draft, from europe ie: Kubalik or by taking a gamble. Nylander is a gamble, he may or may not work but he the closest thing Bowman will get to to star talent falling into his lap.
- paulr

Problem is, you had what seemed to be an NHL defensman you moved for this "Gamble". That can be hard for a fan base to buy into.

Problem is, you had what seemed to be an NHL defensman you moved for this "Gamble". That can be hard for a fan base to buy into.
- nickmo2699

An "NHL" defenseman that probably would of spent most of the season in Rockford, or as the 6th, seventh defenseman. Just because he is playing top 4 minutes with the Sabres (who have a worst defensive record than the Hawks) does not mean he would be a top 4 here. Not with starting with Murphy, Keith, DaHaan, Gus (I know, but he still would of played ahead of Joki), and you still had Maata and Seabrook and KK without waivers. Then they probably would of liked to have given Bovquist some minutes at some point during the year, and hopefully convince Mitchell not to sign with the Rangers.

Canada is closing it's borders to non citizens. Man this Covid-19 is getting creepy crazy. It's like living in that movie contagion. Keep safe everyone!
- BGKarras

NJ is instituting an 8 PM - 5 AM travel curfew.

You just wish the various states and Federal governments could come up with a comprehensive plan instead of putting all of theses restrictions in piecemeal - what has change since yesterday or two or three days ago that they couldn’t figure out that a travel curfew would be advisable?

Problem is, you had what seemed to be an NHL defensman you moved for this "Gamble". That can be hard for a fan base to buy into.
- nickmo2699

This fan base is so fickle they'll buy into very little. Remember, many in this fan base were whining about the GM, Team President and the (frank)ing goal song in 2010, 2013 and 2015. My guess is the Hawks have so many defensive prospects Bowman felt this gamble was worth the risk.

An "NHL" defenseman that probably would of spent most of the season in Rockford, or as the 6th, seventh defenseman. Just because he is playing top 4 minutes with the Sabres (who have a worst defensive record than the Hawks) does not mean he would be a top 4 here. Not with starting with Murphy, Keith, DaHaan, Gus (I know, but he still would of played ahead of Joki), and you still had Maata and Seabrook and KK without waivers. Then they probably would of liked to have given Bovquist some minutes at some point during the year, and hopefully convince Mitchell not to sign with the Rangers.
- LAHawk

So everyone was pissed about this trade when it happened, now they are defending it? My goodness....

Canada is closing it's borders to non citizens. Man this Covid-19 is getting creepy crazy. It's like living in that movie contagion. Keep safe everyone!
- BGKarras

The border is closed to everyone but Americans.

So everyone was pissed about this trade when it happened, now they are defending it? My goodness....
- nickmo2699

I wasn't pissed, and still am not for the reason's I stated.

I wasn't pissed, and still am not for the reason's I stated.
- LAHawk

Fair enough!

Nice perspective on Nylander.

He frustrates the hell out of me but there is something there that the Hawks have to keep exploring.

I was the one who wanted to see him in the top 6 for the rest of the year and Colliton put him there shortly after. He had some good games and some "meh" games. If he can find some consistency and bring more of those good games, that would help the Hawks out big time.
- Tyler Cameron

If Bowman and Colliton continue to follow what this blog is telling them we might be ok. But it takes weeks/months for them to listen and act on what this blog is telling them.
1) Put Kubalik in the 6.
2) Put Kubalik on the 1st PP unit
3) Trade Gus
4) Take your shortest player from in front of the net on the PP (ADB) and put your tallest guy there (Dach)
5) Give Nylander some quality minutes in the top 6
6) etc...

Just my 2 cents on the Joki/Nylander trade - I wasn't sad to see Joki go because I thought he would end up being behind Boqvist and at best equal to Mitchell and since they all 3 play RD, and since it's unlikely all 3 young d-men would be in the lineup because one or both of Seabrook and Murphy would be playing. I was intrigued with the potential of Nylander, and still am.

However, since Joki established himself a starter in the NHL, the bar has been set. If Nylander can be a consistent top-9 winger that scores well - then the Hawks won the trade. If Nylander never gets consistently better - than hang the loss on Stan.

Demin fits that description as a big mobile D prospect who plays with an edge physically. His head coach at Denver says he is the best skater on the team and has gotten more engaged physically during his first two years of college.

Regula and Moberg have some size. Moberg is the more likely of the two to be a physical presence with decent skating.

IMO, at least from scouting reports on these 4, ranking them from most physical to least: Demin, Moberg, Vlasic, Regula. Not sure the order for most defensively sound.

Then there's Gilbert, too, of course.
- AEL_Fox

Which are legit NHL prospect? I know Regula has huge point totals but he has been net front presence on the PP. I am pretty high on Vlasic. Don't know much about the other 2.