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

I don't see Dach as a generational talent, and I don't think anyone ever tagged him as one. As the 3rd pick in the first round his expectation and upside would hopefully be top 6, if not top line. In regards to Hughes, Kakko, Lafreniere I was referencing that they were tagged as generational talents, the "next McDavid", "next Crosby". True generational talents tore it up in their first seasons, and every season since. Even guys like Kane, Matthews, RNH, Hall, etc. who were not labeled as generational have put up decent numbers from the get go.

All of them may turn out to be exactly what was expected given their draft position, but my whole point is not to place so much faith in what the "experts" say and where they rank franchises and players. They are wrong as often as they are right. Too many variables.

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

LA, while I too love Hagel, I’m not sure he’s a top 6 on a contender. I would have Hagel in the bottom six, but you never know, he could prove me wrong, sort of like I proved many of my teachers wrong.

A team that makes playoffs and can go to war along the boards in the cycle game, has not been an apt description of Blackhawk hockey in recent years.

That should be changing

I realize Theo predicts that the timeline for Barret and Altybarmaken is the year after next. I will make the bold prediction that their combative style will have a positive effect on the entire roster. Their disruptive, agitating in your face style really stands out. Teams will hate those players; Blackhawk fans will be giddy

There also appears a role for Slaggert and Slavin plus Entwhistle. Entwhistle could slot on the fourth line although he may eventually be a third line staple. Slaggert, Slavin and Entwhistle are going to battle for pucks and are rugged, physical players.

All these newbies help transform the team into a physical force and probably result in four lines being rolled confidently. Kampf could still be the #4 center; Re Johnson is depth; and Soderlund has to prove he can fit as a 4th line or with Barret and Alty.
It would appear that Slaggert or Slavin would be due second line duty due to a numbers game although one could complete a third line and the other situated on fourth line with Entwhistle.

Due to the responsible play of Entwhistle, Slaggert, and Slavin I imagine they fit anywhere. I project Suter and Toews would score if they had these type linemattes.

A mobile defense with lots of kids also appears to be in the works.
- jhawk59

I'd like to see them win a few AHL games before getting too excited about them being "confident" against NHL players.

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

He's climbing MT. Everest next month.

Kings, Senators, Canadiens, Avs to name 4 better pipelines.
- LAHawk

Edmonton and Buffalo have had great pipelines for 10 years.

LA, while I too love Hagel, I’m not sure he’s a top 6 on a contender. I would have Hagel in the bottom six, but you never know, he could prove me wrong, sort of like I proved many of my teachers wrong.
- Angotti

Hagel is one of those players that could move up in the top 6 if needed due a injury but more suited as a 3rd line player imo.

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

Tampa has been good forever why are they so loaded?

LA, while I too love Hagel, I’m not sure he’s a top 6 on a contender. I would have Hagel in the bottom six, but you never know, he could prove me wrong, sort of like I proved many of my teachers wrong.
- Angotti

My point is if you mesh with the right linemates, you can play top 6, although in theory not top 6 talent. Look at 5th rounder Zach Hyman with the Leafs. Going to be one of the top FA after this year because the Leafs can't afford him, but they sure miss him when he is out injured on LW with Matthews.

My point is if you mesh with the right linemates, you can play top 6, although in theory not top 6 talent. Look at 5th rounder Zach Hyman with the Leafs. Going to be one of the top FA after this year because the Leafs can't afford him, but they sure miss him when he is out injured on LW with Matthews.
- LAHawk

I hear he is an awesome guy off the ice. An upstanding man. Would be nice to see him in a hawks sweater.

My point is if you mesh with the right linemates, you can play top 6, although in theory not top 6 talent. Look at 5th rounder Zach Hyman with the Leafs. Going to be one of the top FA after this year because the Leafs can't afford him, but they sure miss him when he is out injured on LW with Matthews.
- LAHawk

Sometimes draft position means nothing. Look at Joe Pavelski. A scouting team would look great if all of their 7th round picks turned out like him.

Tampa has been good forever why are they so loaded?
- rpeters01

Are we asking why their NHL team is loaded or their prospect pool?

In terms of their prospect pool, they are not loaded at all. They have the same issue every team in the league that doesn't make the draft lottery has in that drafting in the later half of rd. 1, or trading first round picks for deadline deals leaves you with at best mid-range prospects. They have had very little contribution from their drafts over the last five years. I didn't realize that they had drafted both of Adam Foote's kids til just now.

In terms of their NHL team, they built a solid team from picks and trades and were able to compete at a high level while many of them were still on reasonable deals. They have also been able to sign guys at seemingly below market value because of favorable FL tax laws. In addition they have been able to use LTIR for a number of high priced contracts to keep under the cap, and have moved some high cap hits when needed. Put Kucherov's 9.5mil back into the mix and a few guys would need to go.

Are we asking why their NHL team is loaded or their prospect pool?

In terms of their prospect pool, they are not loaded at all. They have the same issue every team in the league that doesn't make the draft lottery has in that drafting in the later half of rd. 1, or trading first round picks for deadline deals leaves you with at best mid-range prospects. They have had very little contribution from their drafts over the last five years. I didn't realize that they had drafted both of Adam Foote's kids til just now.

In terms of their NHL team, they built a solid team from picks and trades and were able to compete at a high level while many of them were still on reasonable deals. They have also been able to sign guys at seemingly below market value because of favorable FL tax laws. In addition they have been able to use LTIR for a number of high priced contracts to keep under the cap, and have moved some high cap hits when needed. Put Kucherov's 9.5mil back into the mix and a few guys would need to go.
- TheTrob

Tyler Johnson will be a Kraken next year, they probably will still need to get rid of either Killorn or Palat as they both will be past 30.

Sometimes draft position means nothing. Look at Joe Pavelski. A scouting team would look great if all of their 7th round picks turned out like him.
- powerenforcer

Cherry picking certain players like Pavelski, Datsyuk, Hornqvist, Byfuglien, Gilmour, Hull, etc and saying draft position means nothing is kind of a strawman argument. Sure, you can go thru history and pick out players that have exceeded their draft position, just as you can find a great team of guys who were never drafted. Fact is draft position means odds are much better indicators of success such that 80 percent of first-round picks become at least low-level NHL players, while 44 percent of those players selected in the second round make the NHL a career, and just 30 percent of third-round picks become NHL players, the numbers keep dropping from there.

So, 10 guys on average of the 30 drafted in round 3 become NHL players (not stars necessarily), declining for each round after. Overall, most drafts average around 45-50% of all players drafted that year ever playing in the NHL, with most careers being 200-250 games, and most scoring around 100pts total or less.

Tampa has been good forever why are they so loaded?
- rpeters01

Scouting find players that contribute when brought up. If teams not just Tampa can find in late round picks that can make impact consistently then the nhl team will be good for along time. Ala blackhawks shae 5th round kruger 6th round hammer 4th round buff 7th round and i m sure missing some players. Good scouting and development equals sustain success imo.

Scouting find players that contribute when brought up. If teams not just Tampa can find in late round picks that can make impact consistently then the nhl team will be good for along time. Ala blackhawks shae 5th round kruger 6th round hammer 4th round buff 7th round and i m sure missing some players. Good scouting and development equals sustain success imo.
- Scott1977

Byfuglien - 8th, Brower - 7th, Kruger - 5th, Kurashev - 4th, Wisnewski - 5th, Hinostroza - 6th, Ben Smith - 6th,

Byfuglien - 8th, Brower - 7th, Kruger - 5th, Kurashev - 4th, Wisnewski - 5th, Hinostroza - 6th, Ben Smith - 6th,
- TheTrob

Forgot Shaw 5th.

BTW, anyone see this as a trap game for the Hawks. Have 3 with Nashville after the 2 games with the Wings, and the Wings have been playing well lately.

Sometimes draft position means nothing. Look at Joe Pavelski. A scouting team would look great if all of their 7th round picks turned out like him.
- powerenforcer

True but considering 40% of the league is made of 1st round picks....

Forgot Shaw 5th.

BTW, anyone see this as a trap game for the Hawks. Have 3 with Nashville after the 2 games with the Wings, and the Wings have been playing well lately.
- LAHawk

I see it's a glass is half empty kind of day today.

True but considering 40% of the league is made of 1st round picks....
- BetweenTheDots

No wonder Stan always finds first round reclamation projects.

Cherry picking certain players like Pavelski, Datsyuk, Hornqvist, Byfuglien, Gilmour, Hull, etc and saying draft position means nothing is kind of a strawman argument. Sure, you can go thru history and pick out players that have exceeded their draft position, just as you can find a great team of guys who were never drafted. Fact is draft position means odds are much better indicators of success such that 80 percent of first-round picks become at least low-level NHL players, while 44 percent of those players selected in the second round make the NHL a career, and just 30 percent of third-round picks become NHL players, the numbers keep dropping from there.

So, 10 guys on average of the 30 drafted in round 3 become NHL players (not stars necessarily), declining for each round after. Overall, most drafts average around 45-50% of all players drafted that year ever playing in the NHL, with most careers being 200-250 games, and most scoring around 100pts total or less.
- TheTrob

But in the same breath you can look at teams like Edmonton and Buffalo who have had greater % of #1 picks, and the team is still bad. All I am saying is that sometimes it takes a player time to develop into a solid NHLer. And you need many types of players to be successful in the NHL.

Byfuglien - 8th, Brower - 7th, Kruger - 5th, Kurashev - 4th, Wisnewski - 5th, Hinostroza - 6th, Ben Smith - 6th,
- TheTrob

My point i was trying to make

Forgot Shaw 5th.

BTW, anyone see this as a trap game for the Hawks. Have 3 with Nashville after the 2 games with the Wings, and the Wings have been playing well lately.
- LAHawk

Laughed my ass when Kane referred to Shaw as a 19th round draft pick as he went undrafted the first two years he was eligible.

Forgot Shaw 5th.

BTW, anyone see this as a trap game for the Hawks. Have 3 with Nashville after the 2 games with the Wings, and the Wings have been playing well lately.
- LAHawk

Yes thinking same thing earlier today must win tonight and at least split against Nashville.

I see it's a glass is half empty kind of day today.
- BetweenTheDots

Your kind of day!

Laughed my ass when Kane referred to Shaw as a 19th round draft pick as he went undrafted the first two years he was eligible.
- 6628

Beat me to it. Crazy to think he missed two drafts, got drafted later in his third year and had a decent career.