You just when I start to think all is going to above board with the Blackhawks and their man in CHARGE" Kyle Davidson, we hear this idea that Derek King might be back as an assistant.

I don't know if this was claptrap to show him backhanded respect, but if I am Luke Richardson, my first thought is how short my puppet string is that I have to consider it.




I think I am about ready to settle in on my draft board at this point.

I just know that after last year, that the teams all have different wants of priorities of what they see are th over riding characteristic on the prospects in this draft class.

I see all the predicting on each teams “needs” like the individual teams will go for a need over what their board says, but after last year, I am not sure if that isn’t the case.

I put myself through enough Blackhawk draft simulations everyday, and still am clueless as to what they will do starting with #38 and #57, let alone when the pickens go slim at #81, #90 and #94.

I see Pronman calling defenseman a need, but I see a stable of them.
Granted there is no pair guy about to emerge, but I don’t see that happens at #38 either.

I have thrown up a player evaluation for all of the players in the first tow rounds, all the Blackhawk slots and a few of the slots round those later prospects.

I, at this moment, feel like I do not know who anyone is going to pick except for the first Shane Wright.

I go so far as to say the no team is showing their preferences or hinting any negatives on anyone, so the mock drafts you see everywhere may be full of hype.

I have spent so much of my Blackhawk energy with lists that reflect players I like in that first selection, and keep thinking there is NO way it anything but a forward. Then I fear there will be an ample number of dropping defenders, so many that they line up as if they can ONLY be considered the best available at that juncture, and start scratching my head.

I have some strong Blackhawk player selections if they were able to move up into the first, but I will rtell you who I am selecting if they get New Jersey or Seattle’s choice as we have heard through the rumor mill.
For now I am happy with this mock.
Just remember after clicking on the name inserted in any Blackhawk draft slot, you have to then scroll down past the 150 plus “versions” crap to the WRITTEN Player Scouting report.
https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts
I have taken a lot of time and care to with these long descriptions and the website has still not moved the player scouting report to the top where it should be.
And I am far from done, but I have already expounded on the 2023 draft player scouting reports if you are still wondering why we all can’t stop talking about THAT draft class:
https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts/2023
- wiz1901

I share your opinion that Hawks biggest need probably isn't defense. IMO, I look at the Hawks prospects and I don't see a lot of goal scoring talent that can help the top 6 or top 9 down the road. The kind of player that puts the puck on net from anywhere and can slip some of those in as a result or at least keep goalies honest.

I share your opinion that Hawks biggest need probably isn't defense. IMO, I look at the Hawks prospects and I don't see a lot of goal scoring talent that can help the top 6 or top 9 down the road. The kind of player that puts the puck on net from anywhere and can slip some of those in as a result or at least keep goalies honest.
- breadbag

Interesting trade proposal I saw on YouTube deal no deal.
Carolina gets Debrincat
Chicago gets necas Suzuki 2023 1st 2024 2nd with the condition of if Debrincat signs with the canes it becomes a 1st in 2024. So that would 3 1st round picks in 2023 and 2024. Imo I would rather have their best d prospect instead if the 2024 pick. But very inticing proposal but that most likely be what is needed to land Debrincat.

This is good analysis, thanks for writing this up. I was poking through these old records yesterday but didn't really get to any conclusions.

The win totals are interesting from 2003 to 2010 - wins by year are 20, 26, 31, 40, 46, 52 (Champions). The current club took a step back this year and had 28 wins. So is this year equivalent to 2003, or is there another step back in store before starting to move up?

Regarding the drafts/players, the current analogs might be something like this. Some of these are obvious mismatches on playing style and/or talent level.

Keith - Mitchell
Seabrook - S. Jones
Crawford - Commesso/Soderblom
Buff - Vlasic
Bolland - 2022 2nd or 3rd?
Bickell - K. Dach
Brouwer - C. Dach
Hjalmarsson - Allan
Toews - 2023 or 2024 1st?
Kane - DeBrincat

Lots of holes and needed upgrades, but the cupboard isn't completely bare. There are some decent prospects but many of them are a couple of years away.
- totem

Thanks for the feedback Totem. Way too early to guess how some of the prospects develop. It was probably unfair of me to compare several 2 or 3 Cup winning players to the stable of youths in the system. We're in the early stages of a rebuild and many players who will be part of a playoff team much less a contender probably aren't in the system yet.

I share your opinion that Hawks biggest need probably isn't defense. IMO, I look at the Hawks prospects and I don't see a lot of goal scoring talent that can help the top 6 or top 9 down the road. The kind of player that puts the puck on net from anywhere and can slip some of those in as a result or at least keep goalies honest.
- breadbag

I have some ideas I will share IF there is a chance we move to #4 or #2...I don't want to call the prospects reaches but there is really a lot to like, when you get to pick from the tier two litter..

Interesting trade proposal I saw on YouTube deal no deal.
Carolina gets Debrincat
Chicago gets necas Suzuki 2023 1st 2024 2nd with the condition of if Debrincat signs with the canes it becomes a 1st in 2024. So that would 3 1st round picks in 2023 and 2024. Imo I would rather have their best d prospect instead if the 2024 pick. But very inticing proposal but that most likely be what is needed to land Debrincat.
- Scott1977

You try to avoid teams who are picking alter in the rounds, and I am not convinced Carolina dangles REAL prospects (that they believe in as future impact guys in any deal) just cast-offs.
Look who is there at about where YOU think Carlina's DeBrincat team will draft....

Interesting trade proposal I saw on YouTube deal no deal.
Carolina gets Debrincat
Chicago gets necas Suzuki 2023 1st 2024 2nd with the condition of if Debrincat signs with the canes it becomes a 1st in 2024. So that would 3 1st round picks in 2023 and 2024. Imo I would rather have their best d prospect instead if the 2024 pick. But very inticing proposal but that most likely be what is needed to land Debrincat.
- Scott1977

Pass. Conditions on trades not allowed. Necas and Suzuki not exactly lighting things up in their brief careers.

Pass. Conditions on trades not allowed. Necas and Suzuki not exactly lighting things up in their brief careers.
- boilermaker100

Just passing along what I saw and heard. Personally it wasn't a bad proposal but if the Hawks are going to trade dcat they need to get a top ten pick and blue chip prospects and if not met then no deal. Still think he is going to new jersey and Seth Jones is 50/50 to Ottawa.

I thought Regula was paired with McCabe.
- BetweenTheDots

He was. Vlassic played with Seth Jones

Just passing along what I saw and heard. Personally it wasn't a bad proposal but if the Hawks are going to trade dcat they need to get a top ten pick and blue chip prospects and if not met then no deal. Still think he is going to new jersey and Seth Jones is 50/50 to Ottawa.
- Scott1977

Jones wouldn't approve a trade to Ottawa

Jones wouldn't approve a trade to Ottawa
- GPHawksfan

Why not?

This is good analysis, thanks for writing this up. I was poking through these old records yesterday but didn't really get to any conclusions.

The win totals are interesting from 2003 to 2010 - wins by year are 20, 26, 31, 40, 46, 52 (Champions). The current club took a step back this year and had 28 wins. So is this year equivalent to 2003, or is there another step back in store before starting to move up?

Regarding the drafts/players, the current analogs might be something like this. Some of these are obvious mismatches on playing style and/or talent level.

Keith - Mitchell
Seabrook - S. Jones
Crawford - Commesso/Soderblom
Buff - Vlasic
Bolland - 2022 2nd or 3rd?
Bickell - K. Dach
Brouwer - C. Dach
Hjalmarsson - Allan
Toews - 2023 or 2024 1st?
Kane - DeBrincat

Lots of holes and needed upgrades, but the cupboard isn't completely bare. There are some decent prospects but many of them are a couple of years away.
- totem

I see 3 1st ballot HOFers on the left side of the equation, plus 2 in the border line HOF (or hall of very good). Other than possibly DCat, the next Blackhawk HOFer is likely not yet in the organization.

Jones wouldn't approve a trade to Ottawa
- GPHawksfan

It's been rumored Ottawa has interest where it goes from there is anyone's guess.

17 wasn't square one because they clearly tried to win last year.

And they don't have nearly the talent in their org that they did the first 5 years of the resurgence.

This year would be year one at this stage.
- fattybeef

Every team is in denial when their rebuild really starts.

I share your opinion that Hawks biggest need probably isn't defense. IMO, I look at the Hawks prospects and I don't see a lot of goal scoring talent that can help the top 6 or top 9 down the road. The kind of player that puts the puck on net from anywhere and can slip some of those in as a result or at least keep goalies honest.
- breadbag

The Hawks need help at all positions. Here is my mock draft:

#38: Lane Hutson
#57: Seamus Casey
#81: Antonin Verreault
#90: Hunter Haight
#93: Nicholas Moldenhauer
#167: Ilya Kovchko
#173: Brayden Schuurmann
#199: Ryan Abraham

Worst to first in 5 years. Hellava job.
- 6628

Yes it is. And it sure helps when you already had Nathan MacKinnon (1st pick oa), Gabriel Landeskog (2nd pick oa) and Mikko Rantanen (10th pick oa) in your team. I sure everyone was pretty upset in Colorado 2017 when they finished rock bottom but got only fourth overall pick in first round. Well that didn´t turn out that bad..

Another article about Richardson and his communications skills

https://ontariohockeyleag...s-natural-ability-to-lead
- LAHawk

Nice find, LA. Thanks for posting............. Sure looks like a helluva hire on paper. So much there to get excited about but for me near the top is his instance on structure. For me an essential foundation no matter the style played or talent on the roster.

Dobber mentioned that his Binghamton club led the league in goals and was 4th in another during his 4 yrs as a head coach. Now we know he runs the D side of things so he delegated offensive responsibilities so in his systems that insist on structure it still produced offense. I like that foundation.

I'm most looking forward to how Dach responds. Kid already has the D side of things in his DNA so it would seem he fits in a Richardson system. With all the that has gone on in Dach's mind and LR's ability to communicate/develop I'm guessing LR will get the best out of the kid. If nothing else this will be the first time Dach has ever had a legit NHL coach.

Curious what this does for Slavin too. Kid showed 3 zone awareness and solid poise/IQ with a big body that as a centerman would find his ceiling in a structured system. ...... Same for Borgstrom. If Johnson is still here I'd guess he'd be given a role he could do well in.

And of course as a Dman with the 4th most games played in the NHL at the position his ability to develop and communicate bodes well for every Dman especially bigger ones like himself not known for offense like Vlasic, Phillips, Crevier, Allen and even Regula who does have offensive upside.

Add he is fresh eyes on what has essentially been a yrs long riddle there is a whole bunch to like and look forward to. If they get the scouting/evaluating right looks like the development side is in good hands.

Another article about Richardson and his communications skills

https://ontariohockeyleag...s-natural-ability-to-lead
- LAHawk

Just thinking of the differences between the resumes of Colliton and Richardson.

Colliton - Played 67 NHL games and a few hundred in the AHL and Europe
Richardson - Played 1417 NHL games

Colliton - Coached 1 year in the AHL and 4 seasons in Sweden
Richardson - Coached 4 years as HC in the AHL and 8 years as a NHL assistant

What a vast difference in experience. Poor JC was in over his head the moment Stan plucked him from Rockford to take over for Q. Paraphrasing Al Cimaglia's opinion from on a recent podcast - Bowman wanted a yes man as coach to replace Q and the JC hiring subsequently set the organization back 3 years.

Edit - I'm looking forward to the Luke era and wish him much success.

Just thinking of the differences between the resumes of Colliton and Richardson.

Colliton - Played 67 NHL games and a few hundred in the AHL and Europe
Richardson - Played 1417 NHL games

Colliton - Coached 1 year in the AHL and 4 seasons in Sweden
Richardson - Coached 4 years as HC in the AHL and 8 years as a NHL assistant

What a vast difference in experience. Poor JC was in over his head the moment Stan plucked him from Rockford to take over for Q. Paraphrasing Al Cimaglia's opinion from on a recent podcast - Bowman wanted a yes man as coach to replace Q and the JC hiring subsequently put the organization back 3 years.

Edit - I'm looking forward to the Luke era and wish him much success.
- boilermaker100

Derek King 14 years NHL player, 10 year assistant in the AHL, 3 years head coach in the AHL. Not that dissimilar from Richardson, yet the BOD says King was way over his head.

How would Richardson look if he was told by his GM not to make any changes ride out the season, and you can't pick your bench coach or your other assistant? Unless King figured he was through with the organization after the year, KD did him no favors, as a matter of fact made him a sacrificial lamb. I think KD only said King was up for the head coaching job was in case all the other candidates he offered the HC job to told him no.

I think the BOD doesn't like C. Jones for the same reason they don't like S. Jones, it is more about S. Jones contract than the player(s).
- LAHawk

I just don't think he's very good.

Derek King 14 years NHL player, 10 year assistant in the AHL, 3 years head coach in the AHL. Not that dissimilar from Richardson, yet the BOD says King was way over his head.

How would Richardson look if he was told by his GM not to make any changes ride out the season, and you can't pick your bench coach or your other assistant? Unless King figured he was through with the organization after the year, KD did him no favors, as a matter of fact made him a sacrificial lamb. I think KD only said King was up for the head coaching job was in case all the other candidates he offered the HC job to told him no.
- LAHawk

Good points I agree with your take on King regarding his previous experience and the fact his hands were tied to a degree last season. And I didn't ever think about the bolded above.

My original post was a shot at Stan for the JC hire. King with all that experience was at Rockford and available to be elevated to replace Q, maybe as an interim, until Stan did a more thorough coaching search. But no, Stan promoted JC and gave him a three year contract right off the bat.

Water over the dam at this point. Time to look forward.

I'm willing to bet that Vlasic starts with the Hawks next season.
- GPHawksfan.
- Angotti

Vlasic can play both sides.

Derek King 14 years NHL player, 10 year assistant in the AHL, 3 years head coach in the AHL. Not that dissimilar from Richardson, yet the BOD says King was way over his head.

How would Richardson look if he was told by his GM not to make any changes ride out the season, and you can't pick your bench coach or your other assistant? Unless King figured he was through with the organization after the year, KD did him no favors, as a matter of fact made him a sacrificial lamb. I think KD only said King was up for the head coaching job was in case all the other candidates he offered the HC job to told him no.
- LAHawk

I never understood the bolded, unless it was to try and ensure that they finished as low in the standings as possible. King's main contribution was reduced to telling the players to have fun again. Not much else you can accomplish.

Good points I agree with your take on King regarding his previous experience and the fact his hands were tied to a degree last season. And I didn't ever think about the bolded above.

My original post was a shot at Stan for the JC hire. King with all that experience was at Rockford and available to be elevated to replace Q, maybe as an interim, until Stan did a more thorough coaching search. But no, Stan promoted JC and gave him a three year contract right off the bat.

Water over the dam at this point. Time to look forward.
- boilermaker100

I know your post was a shot at Stan, and I hope Richardson is the right hire. I am just trying to point out to those that said King didn't change the system, he wasn't allowed to.

It's been quiet on possible extensions to RFA's Dach, Strome, Kubalik, C. Jones and Kurashev. Maybe there are negotiations going on behind the scenes, but nothing has been leaked. Or possibly Davidson has decided to move on from some of them. I would think Richardson would be asked his opinion if they would fit his style and whether he could work with them to improve aspects of their games. RFA tender offers due July 12, only 2 weeks ago.

KD and LR press conference at 11 am Central.

https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/