"We thank Alex for his tireless dedication to the Blackhawks organization over the last five seasons and wish him the best in Ottawa," GM Kyle Davidson said in a statement. "It was an incredibly difficult decision to trade a player of Alex’s caliber. We feel as if this move sets the Blackhawks up for future success by giving us additional flexibility and future talent. Securing this early of a first-round pick for tonight and an additional second-round selection tomorrow allows us to fortify our prospect base with high-end players who we expect to be a difference makers in the coming years.

"Although we didn’t have a first pick in the draft until today, our scouting staff has been anticipating this scenario. I have been clear in my desire to move into the first round, and we are excited to move up and make a pick this evening.

My guess the flexibility part is we do not want to pay D Cat more than $9 mil. per because we are still going to suck.

Crap, that was an underwhelming and disappointing trade.

I'll have a new blog in tomorrow morning with thoughts on the DeBrincat trade and a recap of the 1st round now that the Hawks have the 7th overall and who knows maybe another pick if more trades go down today.
- Theo Fox

His qualifying number and the likelihood that he probably won't resign for long-term in Ottawa is what likely drove this price down

Hmmm... Totally underwhelming given the weak draft and unpredictability of the 7th pick.

Let's look at #7 picks:

2003- R. Suter
2004- R. Olesz
2005-J. Skille
2006- K Okopso
2007- J. Vorachek
2008- C. Wilson
2009- N. Kadri
2010- J. Skinner
2011- M. Scheifle
2012- M. Dumba
2013- D. Nurse
2014- H. Fleury
2015- I. Provorov
2016- C. Keller
2017- L. Anderrson
2018- Q. Hughes
2019- D. Cozens
2020- A. Holtz
2021- W. Eklund

CBJ got much more for Jones. What makes it worse is we didn't get a 2023 pick.
- Popsghostly

OLESZ!!!!!

So is the three first's was what the media was asking? I hope we got more than two picks.
- bjphawkfan

It was also reported KD turned down two 1sts plus for Dcat. Didn't specify where in the 1st rd though.

There goes this genius prediction
- GPHawksfan[/quot

Don't need to be a Richard. History has shown the nhl likes this stuff at the draft

"We thank Alex for his tireless dedication to the Blackhawks organization over the last five seasons and wish him the best in Ottawa," GM Kyle Davidson said in a statement. "It was an incredibly difficult decision to trade a player of Alex’s caliber. We feel as if this move sets the Blackhawks up for future success by giving us additional flexibility and future talent. Securing this early of a first-round pick for tonight and an additional second-round selection tomorrow allows us to fortify our prospect base with high-end players who we expect to be a difference makers in the coming years.

"Although we didn’t have a first pick in the draft until today, our scouting staff has been anticipating this scenario. I have been clear in my desire to move into the first round, and we are excited to move up and make a pick this evening.

My guess the flexibility part is we do not want to pay D Cat more than $9 mil. per because we are still going to suck.
- LAHawk

Sounds to me like KD was going to trade Cat today for the highest bid on the table. All that stuff about not having to trade him if his price wasn't met was just air.

OLESZ!!!!!
- DarthKane

Saw that too. Miss good ol' Rusty

With the 7th overall pick, here is what I wrote in today's blog on possible candidates to pick:

But if the Hawks somehow have the honor to pick 5th or 7th -- and presuming that Slafkovsky is gone by then -- either defenseman David Jiricek or Simon Nemec could be the one to call. Both are projected to have 1st pair potential as both are solid in all zones and can generate offense but may not pile up points.

However, neither Jiricek nor Nemec may be #1 material like Victor Hedman (2nd overall in 2009) or Aaron Ekblad (1st in 2014). Then again, people laughed at the Red Wings when they took this year's Calder Trophy winner Moritz Seider at 6th in 2019. Seider may be in Hedman/Ekblad territory. Who's laughing now?

If not Jiricek or Nemec, then one of centers Matthew Savoie or Marco Kasper or wingers Cutter Gauthier or Frank Nazar may be worth a top 10 selection. Savoie is the most offensively gifted and electrifying. Kasper is an impact three-zone pivot pegged for a scoring line. Gauthier and Nazar are high-energy spark plugs.
- Theo Fox

Neither Nemec, nor Jiříček will be there at #7. Truly underwhelming trade. I really hope KD has a solid plan who he wants to pick and didn’t make the trade just to put his stamp on this lineup early in his tenure as GM.

[quote=GPHawksfan]There goes this genius prediction
- SaskHawkFan[/quot

Don't need to be a Richard. History has shown the nhl likes this stuff at the draft

In the '90s maybe or before Twitter

At #7 my lock for the Hawks to pick is....

Conor Geekie.

In the '90s maybe or before Twitter
- GPHawksfan

So then say that don't attach the Richard statement to it.

It was also reported KD turned down two 1sts plus for Dcat. Didn't specify where in the 1st rd though.
- Mr Ricochet

So Hagel gets you 2 players and 2 firsts, Cat gets you no players one 1st and a 2nd not even in next years draft. Jerry Krause slide over

I imagine the Cat family is very very very unhappy today, and it'll be fun to see Ottawa flip him for more next year.

Now package the #7, a 2nd or two, and Murph to move up to 2nd.

Well not a whole lot there but out with anything from the Stan man .Savoie sounds like he maybe the guy they want ,that's what my scouts tell me . I still like Geekie .Not terrible the money was not going to work .Time to play to fail next year .
Rebuild in full swing, bold move fasten your seatbelts here we go !!

Said it earlier, no doubt the lofty trade return expectations would not be met. High draft picks are high value to GMs in the flat cap. Now we get to evaluate the new hockey ops sooner rather than later.

Would love to see a package of second rounders to move up. But, with this draft who knows where the best players will be selected. Good to have as many higher lotto tickets.

At #7 my lock for the Hawks to pick is....

Conor Geekie.
- DarthKane

If he’s available I’m hoping that too. But KD just took what some posters claim was the lowest offer for ADB so we have to assume KD will (frank) up the pick.

So Hagel gets you 2 players and 2 firsts, Cat gets you no players one 1st and a 2nd not even in next years draft. Jerry Krause slide over

I imagine the Cat family is very very very unhappy today, and it'll be fun to see Ottawa flip him for more next year.
- BetweenTheDots

KD is clearly a moron.....

Strap yourself in, Dots, you're not going to enjoy the next few years, Chief.

It was also reported KD turned down two 1sts plus for Dcat. Didn't specify where in the 1st rd though.
- Mr Ricochet

Friedman stated "fairly high" in his report the other day, whatever that means.

So Hagel gets you 2 players and 2 firsts, Cat gets you no players one 1st and a 2nd not even in next years draft. Jerry Krause slide over

I imagine the Cat family is very very very unhappy today, and it'll be fun to see Ottawa flip him for more next year.
- BetweenTheDots

179/122 and it’s not even hockey season.

"

My guess the flexibility part is we do not want to pay D Cat more than $9 mil. per because we are still going to suck.
- LAHawk

Danny and Pops told KD ok you can tank but you better get rid of lots and lots of salary??........... Kaner to BUF for two 1sts? To NJ for the 2nd overall?.... Love to be a fly on the wall at Tazer's house!

At #7 my lock for the Hawks to pick is....

Conor Geekie.
- DarthKane

I like it !!he been my favorite all along .

Danny and Pops told KD ok you can tank but you better get rid of lots and lots of salary??........... Kaner to BUF for two 1sts? To NJ for the 2nd overall?.... Love to be a fly on the wall at Tazer's house!
- Mr Ricochet

I'm sure Kane is saying some choice words right now

Now package the #7, a 2nd or two, and Murph to move up to 2nd.
- mohel

Yep, maybe more trades tonight.

And we all thought Stan was bad,what a joke.

I'm sure Kane is saying some choice words right now
- BetweenTheDots

See my earlier post..

No Debrincat + No Strome = Kane waiving his NMC