I asked, Bob doesn’t know.
- paulr[/quote

Bob’s COVID testing today

Maybe this year our prospects will be rated higher than the bottom third of the league by almost all prognosticators. Until then, I am not as up on the prospects as some on the board. Other teams have a way stronger pipeline than the Hawks.
- LAHawk

Yeah, but your not factoring in that JC will be "coaching them up"

Thank you, Theo.
A couple great video clips these last two days.
Let's get a win tonight.
And there's nothing wrong with Mitchell and Beaudin playing so well this time around they stick!!
- 35Tony0

You're welcome, Tony.

One thing that stands out in that clip is the more exuberant celebrations of many 1st round draft picks like Reichel when their names were called. Much easier to do that when at home (or restaurant in Reichel's case) versus in an arena.

I recall Lafreniere having the most bland and stoic celebration with his parents and sister sitting in a pristine living room. Kind of eerie.

IMO to be considered a team with a good or excellent talent pipeline, the NHL team has to deliver a Cup or at least some strong playoff runs.

Ron Hextall built a real ggod farm system in Philly and what have they done since? Same with Nashville - drafted well and patiently developed guys in the AHL - no Cups. Same with Winnipeg. And for all of the great kids Ottawa supposedly has in their system, they are still near the bottom.

Lots of times the NHL GM or Owner get in the way by being impatiient or getting sucked in by free agency or trading away too many draft picks for an NHL ready player.

Boston seems near the best at getting their pipeline to produce players that support their established core. If the Hawks can graduate 2 good contributing players a year thats is about as good as it gets.
- RickJ

A pipeline, by definition, is all about potential. Having all that potential is far better than not having it, but at the end of the day, it doesn't do a damn thing if it doesn't eventually produce in the NHL. EDM probably had one of the best pipelines in history for a while there, and they are barely making the playoffs most years.

Not to mention, guys that aren't showing much right now could turn into major players down the road with more development.

Maybe this year our prospects will be rated higher than the bottom third of the league by almost all prognosticators. Until then, I am not as up on the prospects as some on the board. Other teams have a way stronger pipeline than the Hawks.
- LAHawk

L.A and Ottawa are loaded. Colorado Tampa are top systems that come to mine. Hawks have 3rd and 4th line prospect at forwards and 2 through 6 defensive prospects but no high end talent. For the top 6 in forwards with the exception of reichel and no number 1 potential d man. Goaltending is still suspect. But time will tell with devlopmental and opportunities who is a nhl player and who is not.

Thank you Theo for the rundown of the past drafts. I do like that there is an abundance of NHL talent in those players (maybe not super high end) that will at least compete. As much as GM's are there for fans to love and hate, I do hope Stan can finally prove his worth, without McD getting most of the credit.

Just wondering, do you have any insight on some of the Euro or Russian players the scouting team is looking at?
- powerenforcer

You bet, PE.

I haven't seen any recent news of the Hawks pursuing certain Euro or Russian players but sure the rumor mill will pick up in the offseason.

There were earlier rumors that the Hawks were interested in Swedish goalie Arvid Soderblom and Russian winger Damir Zhafyarov.

I can't remember but there may have been one more Euro free agent they were looking at.

Theo, time to add a prospect:

Rockford IceHogs
@goicehogs
Welcome, Champ: We have signed 2021 NCAA champion Carson Gicewicz through the 2022-21 season.

Good analysis, Ted. Appreciate it. Looking forward to these upcoming formative years for the young & upcoming players.

I thought there was an article recently that mentioned the status of Lank. He might be injured. I'll update - I wasn't able to find anything. I have no clue. Maybe Delia isn't cutting it?
- I Am The Breadman

Thanks, Breadman.

We'll see if there's any goalie news today. Just doesn't make sense to have 4 goalies on the expanded roster especially when the Rockford goalies are quite inexperienced and not particularly strong to begin with.

L.A and Ottawa are loaded. Colorado Tampa are top systems that come to mine. Hawks have 3rd and 4th line prospect at forwards and 2 through 6 defensive prospects but no high end talent. For the top 6 in forwards with the exception of reichel and no number 1 potential d man. Goaltending is still suspect. But time will tell with devlopmental and opportunities who is a nhl player and who is not.
- Scott1977

Prospect pool is like draft picks, don't mean Jack until they actually do something. I heard how great the Wings prospect pool was for years and how they are developing them the right way? Well we're still waiting.

Thanks for the update Theo!

Will be interesting to see if Reichel makes the jump next year. If he and Borgstrom can round out the top 6 next year, the Hawks could have a pretty potent offense.

Looking at the Wing lineup, I'm surprised Yzerman wasn't more active at the deadline. I know he dealt a few dmen and got a haul for Mantha, but I figured Helm, Glendenning and Filpula would all be gone.
- HawkintheD

Of course, D.

Agree, hoping that Reichel and Borgtrom prove to be top 6 material even if one or both is a winger. With Dach playing center, only one center is needed yet would be nice to have both be flexible to play W and C.

I was also surprised the Wings didn't move more of their players particularly Glendening and Bernier. Both were rumored to be shopped. Bertuzzi was supposedly on the market, too.

The Hawks aren't buyers but Bertuzzi is a young power forward I'd love on the team assuming he can get back to full health again.

He's doing well. He has since mastered falconry in Inner Mongolia and found enlightenment with the Sadhguru yogi. He is currently embarking on a deep water dive to the Mariana Trench.
- Rota's Rooter

Maybe Toews can say hi to Megatron in the Mariana Trench. At least that's where I recall the military dumping him after Optimus Prime beat him.

I think Megatron can play center and play physical.

Colliton says De Haan, Boqvist OUT tonight. Zadorov, Mitchell in for them.

Rest of lineup the same. Lankinen starts again.

Hopefully Mitchell can get his pinches under control.

Theo, time to add a prospect:

Rockford IceHogs
@goicehogs
Welcome, Champ: We have signed 2021 NCAA champion Carson Gicewicz through the 2022-21 season.
- Chunk

Gicewicz looks like a power forward: 6'3" 215 pounds. Around 0.50 PPG his first 3 seasons at St. Lawrence University then a PPG player after transfering as a senior to UMass-Amherst.

Yet another NCAA free agent to add to the mix with McLaughlin, Wilkie, Fossier, and Morrison (he was at least drafted just not signed by the Avs).

Prospect pool is like draft picks, don't mean Jack until they actually do something. I heard how great the Wings prospect pool was for years and how they are developing them the right way? Well we're still waiting.
- BetweenTheDots

That is right only time will tell if any of the prospects turn into nhl players that contribute on a consistent level.

@CarterBaum

Kevin Lankinen starts again for the #Blackhawks in Detroit. Nikita Zadorov and Ian Mitchell both draw back in for Calvin de Haan (hip pointer) and Adam Boqvist (concussion protocol).

Colliton says De Haan, Boqvist OUT tonight. Zadorov, Mitchell in for them.

Rest of lineup the same. Lankinen starts again.

Hopefully Mitchell can get his pinches under control.
- Chunk

Hopefully Keith can get his pinches under control. How many 2 on 1's does Bovquist face because Keith is getting caught. I thought the rookie is supposed to make those kind of mistakes, not the veteran.

Gicewicz looks like a power forward: 6'3" 215 pounds. Around 0.50 PPG his first 3 seasons at St. Lawrence University then a PPG player after transfering as a senior to UMass-Amherst.

Yet another NCAA free agent to add to the mix with McLaughlin, Wilkie, Fossier, and Morrison (he was at least drafted just not signed by the Avs).
- Theo Fox

More on Gicewicz:

@ColbyCohen36

Just watched Carson play a handful of games in the NCAA Tournament and Hockey East playoffs- he's a big, strong guy who plays north south heavy hockey, and has a nack for scoring around the net. Not a bad guy to get into your mix in the
@NHLBlackhawks organization. #Blackhawks

Prospect pool is like draft picks, don't mean Jack until they actually do something. I heard how great the Wings prospect pool was for years and how they are developing them the right way? Well we're still waiting.
- BetweenTheDots

Plus some of the Hawks top prospects are in the NHL already and showing they belong.

Plus some of the Hawks top prospects are in the NHL already and showing they belong.
- bhawks2241

Indeed. I think this part is grossly disregarded when looking at “prospect pools”. Look at LA. Turcotte is a good looking prospect, but Dach is playing. Vilardi is a good looking 1st rounder, but Kurashev is doing about the same - as a 4th rounder. Bjornfort has played about half the games, Boqvist has played all of them. Kupari has played in 3 NHL games, etc.

Indeed. I think this part is grossly disregarded when looking at “prospect pools”. Look at LA. Turcotte is a good looking prospect, but Dach is playing. Vilardi is a good looking 1st rounder, but Kurashev is doing about the same - as a 4th rounder. Bjornfort has played about half the games, Boqvist has played all of them. Kupari has played in 3 NHL games, etc.
- Chunk

And then the Kings have Byfield, Kaliyev, Fagemo, Kupari,Thomas at forward, Anderson-Dolan, Anderson on defense,

And then the Kings have Byfield, Kaliyev, Fagemo, Kupari,Thomas at forward, Anderson-Dolan, Anderson on defense,
- LAHawk

They are just names until they start doing something in the NHL. Yes, many of these are highly regarded prospects, but so were Dylan Strome,Alex Nylander, Nolan Patrick, Samuel Morin, Nail Yakupov, etc. There are plenty of guys with high pedigree that turn into so-so pros, and vice-versa. Do Huges, Kakko, LaFreniere look like the "generational" talents they were hyped to be, they sure haven't looked like it so far.

They are just names until they start doing something in the NHL. Yes, many of these are highly regarded prospects, but so were Dylan Strome,Alex Nylander, Nolan Patrick, Samuel Morin, Nail Yakupov, etc. There are plenty of guys with high pedigree that turn into so-so pros, and vice-versa. Do Huges, Kakko, LaFreniere look like the "generational" talents they were hyped to be, they sure haven't looked like it so far.
- TheTrob

True, but the upside is top 6/top 4, not 3rd line maybe second liners.

And you can say about Hughes, Kakko, LaFrieniere that we are saying about Dach, he is only 20, give him time. Do you see Dach as a generational talent?

True, but the upside is top 6/top 4, not 3rd line maybe second liners.

And you can say about Hughes, Kakko, LaFrieniere that we are saying about Dach, he is only 20, give him time. Do you see Dach as a generational talent?
- LAHawk

Maybe maybe not, i don't think anyone thought Kubalik was going to be top 6, just saying

Maybe maybe not, i don't think anyone thought Kubalik was going to be top 6, just saying
- BetweenTheDots

Kubalik is also 26 years old. I hope I am wrong. Probably not living in Chicago tempers my enthusiasm for the Hawks pipeline of forwards. I hope Bornstrom (?) is a miss for Florida like Kubalik was for the Kings. I can see Hagel becoming Iaffalo for the Kings (undrafted, but fits on the first line perfectly with Kopitar). I actually can see Hagel becoming a top 6. His goal in OT last game shows he does have a scoring touch.

Kubalik is also 26 years old. I hope I am wrong. Probably not living in Chicago tempers my enthusiasm for the Hawks pipeline of forwards. I hope Bornstrom (?) is a miss for Florida like Kubalik was for the Kings. I can see Hagel becoming Iaffalo for the Kings (undrafted, but fits on the first line perfectly with Kopitar). I actually can see Hagel becoming a top 6. His goal in OT last game shows he does have a scoring touch.
- LAHawk

Henrik Borgström or The Borg.