You are questioning the Hawks development system. I'm saying the AHL spawns many very good defenceman and that will continue.

BTW where did Buff and Hammer start their pro careers? And remember during the 2013 lockout Saad and Shaw and Leddy playing big minutes in the AHL.

The biggest issue currently is this NHL team has a General Manager who wants or needs a player he drafts in June playing in the NHL by October. That isn't development, it's rushing a kid to play against men in the best league in the world.
- RickJ

I’m saying Rockford May be the ONLY place to start, but recent history says it may not be a good one. AHL being able to develop defensemen seems not to have transferred into Rockford.

Buff and Hammer were 15 years ago. Saad had been two years in Chicago before his lockout stint in the A, Shaw and Leddy had 1/2 season each in Rockford before coming up. And the two “S” players are forwards - you referenced defensemen originally.

Development in Rockford in total - and certainly of blue liners - has not been very good.

Really, who? None of the kids in Rockford are NHL quality. Nalimov isn't anything special, Gravel as regressed big time, Basse is too far away from playing pro and his first year USHL numbers aren't great. I think goaltending is Hawks weakest position in the prospect pipeline.

I don't like losing Mitchell either, but the Hawks still have Boqvist, Beaudin, Carlsson, Vlasic and Krys (maybe Regula) as young solid/decent prospects. Plus, I question if Mitchell classifies as blue chip prospect, he's certainly not up there with the likes of Hughes and Makar.
- DarthKane

Gravel is on a terrible team this season. He is still only 19. The only one of those D-men you listed that will be better than Mitchell is Boqvist.

Trading Mitchell for a totally unproven goalie? Huge pass.

Is Mitchell a stronger D prospect and does he have greater potential than the Isles top D prospects in Noah Dobson and Bode Wilde?
- AEL_Fox

Dobson may be considered a stronger prospect. Mitchell and Wilde are prolly considered the same.

Have to side with DK on this one.

If I was able to see more of Lankinen or Delia at the NHL level, I might feel better about the position, however, if they go with Crawford with Delia/Lankinen/Subban next year, they are putting way too much risk in Crawford's health IMO.
- Tyler Cameron

What have you seen from Sorokin at the NHL level?

What have you seen from Sorokin at the NHL level?
- Elbows15

Sorokin isn't a sure thing, but by that line of thinking neither is Mitchell or any of the current goalie prospects. Sorokin has performed better at a higher level of hockey than any of the current Blackhawks goalies, with the exception of Crawford.

I’m saying Rockford May be the ONLY place to start, but recent history says it may not be a good one. AHL being able to develop defensemen seems not to have transferred into Rockford.

Buff and Hammer were 15 years ago. Saad had been two years in Chicago before his lockout stint in the A, Shaw and Leddy had 1/2 season each in Rockford before coming up. And the two “S” players are forwards - you referenced defensemen originally.

Development in Rockford in total - and certainly of blue liners - has not been very good.
- StLBravesFan

Then the problem has been identified - inability to develop personnel in the minors. Last I checked Mr. Stanley Bowman is responsible for overseeing that part of the organization.

Maybe he should hunker down in Winnipeg and learn how they have done it after their blueline got wiped out in the off-season and thru injuries.

The Hockey News continues its series on projecting World Cup of Hockey rosters if they had to be cap compliant. Next up is Sweden.

Gustafsson makes it. Lehner does not. Neither does our Nylander; older brother Willie does.

Forwards

Gabriel Landeskog – Mika Zibanejad –Elias Pettersson
Andre Burakovsky – Nicklas Backstrom – William Nylander
Filip Forsberg – William Karlsson – Rickard Rakell
Victor Olofsson – Mikael Backlund – Elias Lindholm
Jesper Bratt

Defense

Victor Hedman – Mattias Ekholm
Oscar Klefbom – Rasmus Dahlin
Erik Gustafsson – Rasmus Andersson
Erik Brannstrom

Goalies

Jacob Marsktrom
Linus Ullmark
Marcus Hogberg

Total cap hit (Per CapFriendly): $80,692,739

What have you seen from Sorokin at the NHL level?
- Elbows15

The obvious answer is I haven't seen him at the NHL level.

My response you're quoting was about the current Blackhawks goaltending situation.

I don't feel overall that it's a position of depth.

I do like Sorokin over anyone else the Hawks have in the minors though.

What he is is a player coming out of college hockey, aka the 30 game a year league.

He may turn out to be a great pro over a period of time. More likely he is going to need time to adjust to going up against men who play hard every night. Rockford isn't a bad place to start. The AHL has always graduated many defenceman to the big time
- RickJ

You'll never find me disagreeing with this. I expect Mitchell, like Keith, will need time in the AHL. Because he's older coming into pro hockey, hopefully less time than Keith. But my point is more, is Mitchell projected to be a first pairing defenseman or a second or third pairing defender? If he is projected to be a top guy it will take a very special player to trade him for.

Sorokin isn't a sure thing, but by that line of thinking neither is Mitchell or any of the current goalie prospects. Sorokin has performed better at a higher level of hockey than any of the current Blackhawks goalies, with the exception of Crawford.
- DarthKane

I am not giving up my 2nd best RHD prospect for a goalie. Lankinen was the best goal at last year's WC and huge reason why the Finns won the gold.

Sorokin also plays on one of the two teams in Russia that has all the best players.

It is a huge pass for me.

You'll never find me disagreeing with this. I expect Mitchell, like Keith, will need time in the AHL. Because he's older coming into pro hockey, hopefully less time than Keith. But my point is more, is Mitchell projected to be a first pairing defenseman or a second or third pairing defender? If he is projected to be a top guy it will take a very special player to trade him for.
- paulr

On this board Mitchell will come in projected to be Bobby Orr #2 and within 3 months trashed as a David Rundblad clone.

You'll never find me disagreeing with this. I expect Mitchell, like Keith, will need time in the AHL. Because he's older coming into pro hockey, hopefully less time than Keith. But my point is more, is Mitchell projected to be a first pairing defenseman or a second or third pairing defender? If he is projected to be a top guy it will take a very special player to trade him for.
- paulr

It would be a 1 year age difference between when Keith turned pro and when Mitchell would turn pro if he signs this off-season. Mitchell is projected to be a Top 4 D-man.
IMO, he will be a better pro than college player. Even though he has been very good at the NCAA level. My reasoning is his hockey IQ will mesh with better players around him.


EDIT: I am huge Mitchell guy and even I think he would benefit from some time in the A.

I welcome the other side of the conversation! Thanks putting your thoughts down.

I hear what you're saying, we will continue to aggree to disagree ( ) as I think the Hawks need a fresh set of eyes on this thing.

However, given the latest news that everyone is staying, I hope you are right and I am wrong!
- Tyler Cameron

To be clear Tyler, Colliton has only missed the playoffs one year, Q put him in a huge hole last year. Gallant seems to have a two year shelf life wherever he goes and was even more misaligned with his GM in Florida than Q was with Bowman.

On this board Mitchell will come in projected to be Bobby Orr #2 and within 3 months trashed as a David Rundblad clone.
- RickJ

2 months?? One bad game!!

On this board Mitchell will come in projected to be Bobby Orr #2 and within 3 months trashed as a David Rundblad clone.
- RickJ

I'm setting my sights much higher I hope he's as good as Leddy!

2 months?? One bad game!!
- paulr

One bad game?? One bad shift!!

One bad game?? One bad shift!!
- DarthKane

One bad shift? One bad rush.

(What’s more elemental than a rush...?)

One bad shift? One bad rush.

(What’s more elemental than a rush...?)
- StLBravesFan

If he doesn't start the opening shift of his first game he was obviously overrated.

Well I might have let Stan go after 3 straight playoff misses ,three strikes your out is for me usually a pretty good rule of thumb , but Rocky is paying the bills . I am glad he spoke out and silenced that narrative .So for me my focuses is on the Draft and were we sit at 9th place .That still a good spot 16% chance at top 3 is better odds then any lottery I ever play . Some nice players in the Draft ,Lundell looke like a very safe pick at 9, or do take a walk on the wild side and snag Askarov the hot shot Russian goalie if available .If Rossi slip maybe because of size ,he could be right up Stan's MO . And a 5 % chance at 1 and Lafranieve who I believe we will here about for sometime . Would like to have Ottawa problem, 2 picks in the top 3 as it stands

Well I might have let Stan go after 3 straight playoff misses ,three strikes your out is for me usually a pretty good rule of thumb , but Rocky is paying the bills . I am glad he spoke out and silenced that narrative .So for me my focuses is on the Draft and were we sit at 9th place .That still a good spot 16% chance at top 3 is better odds then any lottery I ever play . Some nice players in the Draft ,Lundell looke like a very safe pick at 9, or do take a walk on the wild side and snag Askarov the hot shot Russian goalie if available .If Rossi slip maybe because of size ,he could be right up Stan's MO . And a 5 % chance at 1 and Lafranieve who I believe we will here about for sometime . Would like to have Ottawa problem, 2 picks in the top 3 as it stands
- oldduffman

3 years a long time to miss? Be glad you don't live in Detroit, LA, Buffalo, Edmonton and a few others. If we're back in 3 years from now that would be better than many will end up.

3 years a long time to miss? Be glad you don't live in Detroit, LA, Buffalo, Edmonton and a few others. If we're back in 3 years from now that would be better than many will end up.
- rpeters01

oh I not that hung up on missing 3 years ,I rather be a top or very bottom no middle ground . But for a GM doing the job ,missing 3 straight seems like a fire able offence ,I don't have any stats but how many of those teams you mentioned went missing the playoffs three straight without firing the GM . Like I say the buck stops at Rocky

oh I not that hung up on missing 3 years ,I rather be a top or very bottom no middle ground . But for a GM doing the job ,missing 3 straight seems like a fire able offence ,I don't have any stats but how many of those teams you mentioned went missing the playoffs three straight without firing the GM . Like I say the buck stops at Rocky
- oldduffman

They all fired GM's which got them nowhere. Will be interesting to see how Pitt does when Crosby is done.

HAs anyone told Rocky that Mark and Dale Hunter are proven winners and probably available for the right $. most likely see better results in the future.

They all fired GM's which got them nowhere. Will be interesting to see how Pitt does when Crosby is done.
- rpeters01

Give it a few years after he is gone, cry poor, folding up the team, then Bettman(or the next commish) will fix the next lottery when the next gen player is ready to be drafted.

I'm setting my sights much higher I hope he's as good as Leddy!
- rpeters01

He's better than Leddy.

He'll best dman since Keith.