I promised I would come back so here I am.
Well it looks like there are plenty of developmental defenseman left but beside Lane Hutson, I like the following forwards on my board for slot #39 tomorrow:

(And I really was hoping Edmonton wouldn’t take Reid Schaefer, but the Kraken probably would have scooped him at #35)


The Blackhawks pick in seven slots…here are, in my opinion the best forwards, and there is always super midget defender Lane Hutson…. or reach for a goalie

LC Luca Del Bel Belluz is forward I had in my late first, I( thought the Leafs might take him, because he has two way game ) He is currently a toppling centre on a good Mississauga team with change of pace gears and projects as a 2nd line centre with two way game.

Everybody loves RW-C Jagger “Circus” Firkus with his high motor and skills, although he is as skinny as they come/ high motored, sneaky creative skater and a finisher, and top notch set up man.

Owen Beck is a quality right handed centre who contributes in all ways and has a 200 ft game.he is built strong and is great in the dot

Rieger Lorenz one of my favs and he’ll project as a 2nd line centre too, he has great anticipation and is still growing into his larger frame.

Jack Hughes needs time and muscle but I really thunk he will be a pro in a few.

Luca Del Bel Belluz
In November 2021, I had him pegged as a late second rounder about on par with the plethora of OHL graduating centres. The fact that he was playing with a talent laden Mississauga and I don't think he was thought of as a possible top future NHL prospect his entire career, but his play with the steelheads as a top line centre displayed his hockey smarts, good vision, quick feet and hands. His confidence level and the way he uses his feet allows him to deceive defenders to set up looks. He has good size, a lean frame, quick hands and feet. Is light on his edges and will make sharp cuts and changes in direction. He is a deceptive puck carrier who isn't always in top gear crossing the blue line; he will change his pace and look over his options. before committing to distribution. A good decision-maker who can fight off checks and score with a man on his back. A surprise package who will get his name called quicker than the late second I had him in. 
Jagger Firkus
Undersized lightweight winger with a great nose for the net and big time motor and compete level, and big league shot. He generates speed off hard fast pivots, and leans on his edges harder than expect and drives in and out of with power in his stride. Creative skater who takes unexpected routes, weaving into vertical skating lanes toward the net at the last second. He a dangerous guy out there due to the fact you don’t know if he is going to try a behind the net lacrosse goal, an impossible gift wrapped pass to a line mates stick or just crash looking creatively for an option on the way. He was the MVP of the CHL prospects game.
Owen Beck
It is not that this sturdily built right centre was under-rated, as much as he spent the over performing his expectations. His Mississauga veteran team has benefited him well, but his success has bloomed through his hard work and abilities. Displays breakaway speed to separate in the neutral zone, and pulls away from defenders. To get dangerous looks. He uses his frame to leverage defenders off the puck, winning battles. A strong skater with balance and speed, who can make tight turns while in possessing the biscuit in small areas. Is possibly the face-off man in the entire draft. Shows superb body control in getting his shots away when off-balance. He has been excellent on both the penalty-kill and the power play. He aggressively causes turnovers with his speed. 
Rieger Lorenz
On the radar since his midget days, when he was clearly one of the undersized talented kids on the ice, and Lorentz was a hard working, strong-wristed speedster centre who has sprouted much longer legs and at least four inches in height. He displayed high end scoring ability back then and all-around commitment and smarts. His new size had him needing time to add the co-ordination to play with a bigger trunk. In is an usual route for this type of athlete goes the Tier 2 route, but isn’t that where we saw Cole Makar before college? Even by the end of 2021, you saw he was still learning to play a bigger man’s game. By the end of this season, he clearly showed he had control of his longer legs, and was adjusting  to again play at pace, and still make himself small in traffic areas. This kid was a wizard in his traffic, and that is going to re-emerge has a big man. He comes back hard on trailing forwards. Has an ability to anticipate and cut off passes.  A better prospect than Dylan Holloway was when he played at the same age for Okottoks. He has always crashed the net, had good timing, know when to slow it down and also when to ramp it up. Flicks firm passes of his strong wrists. He will force defenders in compromising positions and then quickly takes the puck from them. We he is completely comfortable with his feet, watch his take off when he adds the crash he should when he was smaller. There is a very good chance that when we all look back at the redraft of this class and wonder why he wasn’t the top half of the first round or close. Very under-rated Alberta Junior league.  He is committed to the University of Denver. 
Jack Hughes
Play making left handed centre who happens to share his name with former NJ first over-all selection, he is a playmaking centre-wing with off-the-charts hockey IQ, natural instincts as an attacker, and excellent puck skills. A tape to tape passer, and the smarts to take over a game. Not a speed demon, but a strong lateral skater who creates time and space because of his attributes and anticipation. His daddy is Montreal’s GM, who has already drafted his big brother. No relation top his namesake who was drafted first overall. He currently is the youngest player in the NCAA  Hockey division at Northeastern University. He is six foot, and a thin 168lb. two-way centre with good jump, vision, hockey IQ, and excellent distribution skills. Makes his line mates better with his poise and ability to skate and create, and fearlessness in the heavy traffic areas. He’s an accurate passer and skater at top speed. He is more of a pass first centre buy, he catches goalie with his sneaky release. Has a high worth ethic and the points will start to come based on his skill and smarts. He is growing but his present build, and lack of physical maturity worked against his production, and he is a projection on being a point producer is based on him playing comfortable with a veteran team. A prospect you let develop in college and hope he gets even faster and thicker. Needs more consistency, muscle and time. Has experience playing all forward positions, so his versatility will come into play as a guy who you can move up and down you forward units, IF he progresses the way everyone would like.
- wiz1901

Zhilkin and Del Bel Belluz would be good options at #39.

At #57 and #66 (if KD doesn’t move up) Beck and Lorenz would be solid picks.

On my b card at #25 I would have taken Jiri Kulich. or if I knew Edmonton was going to reach on Schaefer, I would have taken him....
- wiz1901

Meh. Kulich is a low ceiling pick. He is a 3C at best. Lambert would definitely be a boom or bust pick but on a team that has nothing in the forward department, the risk is worth taking. If a team has some patience with him, he could be the Pasternak of this draft.

They already are in the best position to draft Bedard. They will end up with Fantilli at worst.

This one of the 3 worst rosters in the NHL. Mrazek won't be healthy enough to matter. Guy has the groins of an 80 year old
- Elbows15

Mrazek will be an EXCELLENT tank commander for us.

I'm going to suggest that Kane be traded at the right time to best put us in position to draft Bedard. Is this something KD has on his mind?
- jhawk59

Me thinks Patrick Kane is going to decide when he wants to try and win a Cup, this year or in 2033, and most teams that will pay fro Kaner are going to contenders who don't have lottery picks...

and NO contender have any other teams lottery picks...most do not have their OWN picks next year....

Meh. Kulich is a low ceiling pick. He is a 3C at best. Lambert would definitely be a boom or bust pick but on a team that has nothing in the forward department, the risk is worth taking. If a team has some patience with him, he could be the Pasternak of this draft.
- Elbows15

I never look at it like that - He fast plays wing.

I understand your thought swing for the fences....

I never look at it like that - He fast plays wing.

I understand your thought swing for the fences....
- wiz1901

I would have taken Howard before Kulich, too.

Elite Prospects thoughts

Kevin Korchinski 6 2 185. LD
Most prospects use the middle lane sparingly. Korchinski attacks it every touch with unwavering confidence. Once he gets the first forechecker chasing, he skates directly at the next one. Sometimes, he fakes them out with handling skill and dekes around them. Others, he passes under their stick for a long-range breakout pass. If neither is an option, he encourages the forechecker to reach, then he cuts back away from them before moving play to the inside. Either way, the result is the same: he’s beat two players, meaning there’s an open teammate up the ice. -

Frankie Nazar. 5 10 186. C-RW
Nazar makes subtle, almost im- perceptible plays at every corner of the ice to create advantages for his linemates – little things like dragging defenders toward him on entries to create half-ice 2-on-1s or driving the net off-the-puck to give his linemate more runway. The more attention you pay to Nazar, the more you appreciate his offensive genius.

Sam Rinzel 6 4 181. R
A projectable, top-arm flared release, combined with synced weight-transfer and an immense amount of downforce, Rinzel has all the mechanics to be a shooting force on the blue line. Combine that with angle-changing inward drags, high placements, and a penchant to eat up available space, all while pushing free range activations, the dominance that permeated across his game created significant intrigue across the Elite Prospects scouting team.

I would have taken Howard before Kulich, too.
- Elbows15

Howard has a great gam, but no physicality.

With the 7th pick in the 2022 NHL draft the Chicago Blackhawks select Kyle Beach.
- rpeters01

😆

Howard has a great gam, but no physicality.
- wiz1901

Daze was in the draft?

Elite Prospects thoughts

Kevin Korchinski 6 2 185. LD
Most prospects use the middle lane sparingly. Korchinski attacks it every touch with unwavering confidence. Once he gets the first forechecker chasing, he skates directly at the next one. Sometimes, he fakes them out with handling skill and dekes around them. Others, he passes under their stick for a long-range breakout pass. If neither is an option, he encourages the forechecker to reach, then he cuts back away from them before moving play to the inside. Either way, the result is the same: he’s beat two players, meaning there’s an open teammate up the ice. -

Frankie Nazar. 5 10 186. C-RW
Nazar makes subtle, almost im- perceptible plays at every corner of the ice to create advantages for his linemates – little things like dragging defenders toward him on entries to create half-ice 2-on-1s or driving the net off-the-puck to give his linemate more runway. The more attention you pay to Nazar, the more you appreciate his offensive genius.

Sam Rinzel 6 4 181. R
A projectable, top-arm flared release, combined with synced weight-transfer and an immense amount of downforce, Rinzel has all the mechanics to be a shooting force on the blue line. Combine that with angle-changing inward drags, high placements, and a penchant to eat up available space, all while pushing free range activations, the dominance that permeated across his game created significant intrigue across the Elite Prospects scouting team.
- wiz1901

This whole thing with kd wanting Kane and towes to build around and set an example doesn't make any sense imo. So imo the hawks got more in essence fir dach than dcat. Kd really drop the ball on that one. He caved at the last minute instead of holding fir at the least the 1st in 2023 or top prospect. Then at 25 again needing forward drafts a d man instead of lambert or Howard not a good start overall. So hawks trade a 21 dach 23 Hagel 24 Debrincat and want to build around Kane and towes and Jones. Grade c- imo

KD….

Tic-toc

Why? These moves almost make it a certainty that he’ll play on the NHL next year.
- DarthKane

He was drafted by Stan.

He was drafted by Stan.
- mohel

Everything Stan must burn!!!! BURN!!!

@MarkLazerus

Kyle Davidson said he wants Kane and Toews to be a part of this going forward, to "set the bar." But he said there's a conversation that'll need to be had now. Said he's been open with both of them about the plan, but that "It's real now." Needs to see where their heads are at.


hmmm
- pdx2ord

My guess is that Davidson plabs to add a couple veterans and try to be somewhat competitive. If Tiews and Kane put on a smiling face and will compete, then they aren't being traded for the time being. At next trade deadline maybe they are traded.

We’re not going to know how well this turns out for another 4-5 years.

The only thing we know if that KD is sticking to his plan.
- DarthKane

His plan sucks.

... won't be healthy enough to matter. Guy has the groins of an 80 year old
- Elbows15

Don't do that... the visuals ... they're killing me now.

His plan sucks.
- Ogilthorpe2

As of now, I have to agree.

Elite Prospects thoughts

Kevin Korchinski 6 2 185. LD
Most prospects use the middle lane sparingly. Korchinski attacks it every touch with unwavering confidence. Once he gets the first forechecker chasing, he skates directly at the next one. Sometimes, he fakes them out with handling skill and dekes around them. Others, he passes under their stick for a long-range breakout pass. If neither is an option, he encourages the forechecker to reach, then he cuts back away from them before moving play to the inside. Either way, the result is the same: he’s beat two players, meaning there’s an open teammate up the ice. -


- wiz1901

That's kind of what I noticed - granted a really really small sampling size - but it was a bit Keith like - but the sampling was also not at the NHL level. I guess it ends up being does that translate (ever) with NHL players?

His plan sucks.
- Ogilthorpe2

Maybe he's going for the Beavis and Butthead model of sucking where it can suck but since it sucks in a different way, it makes it cool ?

As of now, I have to agree.
- I Am The Breadman

I get the distinct feeling that in about three or four years we’re all going to be here talking about how this team is a scoring winger and a second line center with size away from being a a contender.

Friday resumption of the Entry Draft begins at 11am EST.

Fun and folly..

Some of both

The potential of the third pick, gained from the Toronto trade, smacks of McIver influence. He who wanted Byram over Dach

We already have a prospect like this bit he wasn't a first round selection. Targe Thompson I believe is his name. Trabsferred to Providence college.

According to Wiz scouting report this kid was a reach. Ranked #59.

There is no mistaking the emphasis on speed skill but maybe smarts is lacking with thus kid and this pick. He coukd develop but he has to learn the basics. Sort of reminds me of what was said about the Flyers' Ellis the year he was drafted.

I want to see if Wiz feels we could have plucked some better choice here

New blog! Thoughts on the Blackhawks trio of trades to ship out Alex DeBrincat + Kirby Dach and bring in Petr Mrazek and trio of 1st round picks in Kevin Korchinski, Frank Nazar, and Sam Rinzel.

https://bit.ly/3ykJi4C

Well I’m going to go lock myself in a room and drink heavily if that’s the case. Christ.
- SteveRain

Howie from bench warmers? The sun!!!