Rangers trading up for LaPierre?
- vabeachbear

Lapierre to Lafreniere!

This is no time for logic and reason.

Pitchforks and Torches time!
- Ogilthorpe2

I just jumped on Cheiffy for the same thing.

Boy, the commentators just drooling over Mercer....
- Matt_Foleys_bro

That was the same thing last year, just drooling over Byram, and going crazy that we didn't pick him with the 3rd pick

Players picked in the bottom half of the first round aren't usually first line players. There are exceptions
- GPHawksfan

No need for 1st line talent at 17 but most scouts have him as a 3rd line player. Others available are projected as 2nd line.

All speculation but there were more talented (at this stage in their careers) players available

He was my "left field" pick from this morning. Interesting pick. Cue the inevitable comparisons of him vs. Mercer, Lapierre, et al for the next four years (until Stan trades him).

I like it.
- Chunk

I don't mind the pick disappointed on some fronts but got to give this kid a look .He been putting up points playing against men . Like was said Euro scouts are very capable . Good luck kid your going to need it around here

Bowman needs to be chartered on a jet to the center of the sun... what a joke.... quote... “a guy that won’t be a top end forward but a good two way player”.... with your first pick?!?!?!?!? Are you f****** serious? How much longer do we have to live with incompetence? At least draft a guy with a higher ceiling than that. Unbelievable.
- bigfly46

Say like Kyle Beach or Jack Skille? You were probably pissed at the Dach pick last year too.

That’s a fair point but your the god damn gm of the team... YOU make the decisions.. if blowman had any balls he’d stand up for his decisions, etc. another busted pick and terrible decision that all but sets the pattern of mediocrity at best over the last few years
- bigfly46

Maybe, just maybe, the Hawks brass actually collectively liked Reichel better than Mercer and Lapierre. You have no idea who is going to be better. Remember when everyone castrated CBJ for passing on Puljuljarvi for Dubois? Didn't work out so bad for the Jackets.

I’ll admit that this pick took me by surprise and I don’t know much about the kid. The pick doesn’t seem that surprising based on what’s being reported about him.
- DarthKane

Every year Mel Kiper and a few other geniuses predict how the first round of the NFL Draft is going to fall and they're never even in the same zip code.

Why should the NHL be any different?

That’s a fair point but your the god damn gm of the team... YOU make the decisions.. if blowman had any balls he’d stand up for his decisions, etc. another busted pick and terrible decision that all but sets the pattern of mediocrity at best over the last few years
- bigfly46

Ya but any good manager trusts and empowers his employees to do their job.

I'm usually not upset about picks and think you wait to at least see him once. He's playing against men now, so I'm going to wait and see.

Then when the others turn out to be better, I'll torch them.

I didn't like Bovquist pick at the time, and still don't. But am being paitient. he seems the second coming of Forsling to me.

That was the same thing last year, just drooling over Byram, and going crazy that we didn't pick him with the 3rd pick
- BetweenTheDots

Yep, Buttons basically said the Hawks were wrong to not take Byram.

I wanted the Hawks to take Dach, they did, and the kid has been awesome.

No need for 1st line talent at 17 but most scouts have him as a 3rd line player. Others available are projected as 2nd line.

All speculation but there were more talented (at this stage in their careers) players available
- Revco38

Reichel is a pro-ready player and the maturity in his game shows. A very good skater, he is a treat to watch gliding all over the ice with a fast-top speed as well as very solid mobility. Smooth overall skater who re- lies on his solid skating tech- niques with very fluid strides. Possesses silk-smooth hands and can handle the puck very nicely, constantly putting the effort in to get to the tough parts of the ice and battle for puck pos- session. He displays great hockey sense and he always seems to be in the right place, getting to where he needs to be just slightly ahead of the play. He is strong along the boards, often coming out with the puck because of his excellent puck skills and tenacity. Didn’t find himself overwhelmed in this regard when faced with older, stronger, competition. He can use his quickness in small spaces to evade opposing players and find open space for himself. He has a good shot, and it is more effective because of the shot locations that he finds. If he isn't getting himself to the front of the net, he is camping out on the backside of the play, waiting for a pass to one-time into the back of the net. In the defensive zone, he plays a solid positional game and clogs passing lanes, not afraid to get in front of a shot. His excellent board play aids him in puck battles but he needs to try to stay on the inside of the puck in defensive zone so he doesn’t get turned around as frequently. Overall, a smart playmaker with high compete level. Future considerations

You know how everybody was downing Alex Nylander for not being able to cross over on his skates...this kid certainly can...

Thinking the Rangers just snaked the Devils 3rd pick at 20

Every year Mel Kiper and a few other geniuses predict how the first round of the NFL Draft is going to fall and they're never even in the same zip code.

Why should the NHL be any different?
- rpeters01

Time will tell

Thinking the Rangers just snaked the Devils 3rd pick at 20
- BetweenTheDots

They knew Jersey was going to take Schneider and now they reached for Russian defender.

I don't mind the pick disappointed on some fronts but got to give this kid a look .He been putting up points playing against men . Like was said Euro scouts are very capable . Good luck kid your going to need it around here
- oldduffman

Hey Duff. I admire the never-ending support for Askarov. Good on ya for never wavering.

The good news for him is that he doesn't have to answer to any of us. Just a GM, some coaches and his teammates.

That’s a fair point but your the god damn gm of the team... YOU make the decisions.. if blowman had any balls he’d stand up for his decisions, etc. another busted pick and terrible decision that all but sets the pattern of mediocrity at best over the last few years
- bigfly46

Expound please...and remember, to this point the only busted first round pick they've made in his tenure is Mark McNeil.

Whether they are still with the team or not, every other first round pick has so far played NHL games and most proven to be NHL'ers...so not busts.

Say like Kyle Beach or Jack Skille? You were probably pissed at the Dach pick last year too.
- HawkintheD

I wasn’t.... thanks

Reichel is a pro-ready player and the maturity in his game shows. A very good skater, he is a treat to watch gliding all over the ice with a fast-top speed as well as very solid mobility. Smooth overall skater who re- lies on his solid skating tech- niques with very fluid strides. Possesses silk-smooth hands and can handle the puck very nicely, constantly putting the effort in to get to the tough parts of the ice and battle for puck pos- session. He displays great hockey sense and he always seems to be in the right place, getting to where he needs to be just slightly ahead of the play. He is strong along the boards, often coming out with the puck because of his excellent puck skills and tenacity. Didn’t find himself overwhelmed in this regard when faced with older, stronger, competition. He can use his quickness in small spaces to evade opposing players and find open space for himself. He has a good shot, and it is more effective because of the shot locations that he finds. If he isn't getting himself to the front of the net, he is camping out on the backside of the play, waiting for a pass to one-time into the back of the net. In the defensive zone, he plays a solid positional game and clogs passing lanes, not afraid to get in front of a shot. His excellent board play aids him in puck battles but he needs to try to stay on the inside of the puck in defensive zone so he doesn’t get turned around as frequently. Overall, a smart playmaker with high compete level. Future considerations

You know how everybody was downing Alex Nylander for not being able to cross over on his skates...this kid certainly can...
- wiz1901

Thanks Wiz, hope it translates too the NHL

How does experience in the German pro league translate at this age, compared to either college or juniors here?

Time will tell
- Scott1977

No need to wait for time....lots of experts here already know.
#StanBlowman

How does experience in the German pro league translate at this age, compared to either college or juniors here?
- 333inthe3rd

I'm sure it's got to be reassuring that he's playing against men and isn't intimidated by it and is willing to compete everywhere on the ice.

How does experience in the German pro league translate at this age, compared to either college or juniors here?
- 333inthe3rd

Pretty sure he played in the same league as Stutzle and compared well (not the same, but well).

Expound please...and remember, to this point the only busted first round pick they've made in his tenure is Mark McNeil.

Whether they are still with the team or not, every other first round pick has so far played NHL games and most proven to be NHL'ers...so not busts.
- HawkintheD

Fair point again and I may be out of the scope... then why aren’t they still on the team in some fashion or another? I think I probably more pissed about the terrible decisions blowman has made.. if it isn’t his fault, the whose? It’s a roller coaster now with the cap in all that but since 15–

another Russian Reach but was an improved player

Reichel is a pro-ready player and the maturity in his game shows. A very good skater, he is a treat to watch gliding all over the ice with a fast-top speed as well as very solid mobility. Smooth overall skater who re- lies on his solid skating tech- niques with very fluid strides. Possesses silk-smooth hands and can handle the puck very nicely, constantly putting the effort in to get to the tough parts of the ice and battle for puck pos- session. He displays great hockey sense and he always seems to be in the right place, getting to where he needs to be just slightly ahead of the play. He is strong along the boards, often coming out with the puck because of his excellent puck skills and tenacity. Didn’t find himself overwhelmed in this regard when faced with older, stronger, competition. He can use his quickness in small spaces to evade opposing players and find open space for himself. He has a good shot, and it is more effective because of the shot locations that he finds. If he isn't getting himself to the front of the net, he is camping out on the backside of the play, waiting for a pass to one-time into the back of the net. In the defensive zone, he plays a solid positional game and clogs passing lanes, not afraid to get in front of a shot. His excellent board play aids him in puck battles but he needs to try to stay on the inside of the puck in defensive zone so he doesn’t get turned around as frequently. Overall, a smart playmaker with high compete level. Future considerations

You know how everybody was downing Alex Nylander for not being able to cross over on his skates...this kid certainly can...
- wiz1901

Thanks Wiz. I wasn't able to get into your site earlier today when I was looking for info on him.