I said yesterday that I’ll have the entire 320 section to myself for $15 next year.

I’d like to revise:

I’ll have the entire 319 / 320 / 321 sections to myself for the next few years.

Ala circa 2008.

Exhale
- mike7076

You'll have a lot of room to breathe.

A whopping 150 games played, but that's all right when he's playing really well, the same crowd will say oh the Blackhawks didn't know how develop him and so on. When the actual development is playing in NHL games.
- BetweenTheDots

Like I said at the end of the last thread…I have a feeling 3 years from now everyone here will be talking about how the Hawks are a just a first line winger and a 2nd line center with size away from being contenders.

There’s no denying that the man picked a lane, and it took some baxxx to go that route. Do I like the moves that he made? At this time no I don’t, but in reality we will not know for three to four years how this will turn out.

Reprinting this form late last night


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

Adding on since these names are mention by some here today:

David Goyette. 5 10. 174
Speedy skilled and and offensive scorer who likes the puck on his stick and mostly his stick. (puck hog). Slick four direction skating undersized centre with smooth puck skills and feet. Rarely turns of pucks and shows nice recognition on the rush with his passes. Supports his teammates carrying the puck on the attack by double teaming the opposition, by getting to open space, or in the seams for passes. Highly instinctive and productive player who does attempt to be selfish in his carries, thinking he is always the best option over passing.
Danny Daniil Zhilkin
Born in the Russia, but is a dual Canadien citizen as his father moved her for work when he was ten years and has been in the Toronto area youth hockey program since. 2021-22 season was his first in the OHL. . He was relied on form the beginning to be a guy who could be moved up and down the line-up due to his high hockey IQ. and Zhilkin’s first full one in the OHL. He is a hard working center who good thickness and dangle who is very good on entires and his transition exits are a tribute to the strengths of his skill set. He is long strider who keeps his low center of gravity and his high hockey IQ help to create and use his best options. He shoots the puck very well, but his best attribute is his puck carrying that with his precision cuts/edge control allow him in all situations to feel comfortable with the biscuit on both sides of his stick blade. He has good feet, but is not really explosive, but has good short area burst, and he has the ability to drive the play, because his confidence in his hands makes him seem selfish, and the best option. He is very difficult to get a read on when carrying, changing puck placement, and speed. Has good defensive awareness and the ability to commit to a 200 foot game. Has developed his face-off skills through hard work. Has a slick toe drag, and good timing on his passes. He is a pass and shoot threat and plays a smart. Plays on his teams penalty-kill.mature game for a junior player. I am not sure if he has enough upside to be called a solid second ;one centre prospect, but he certainly could play up and down a team’s line-up and his team could feel he will play in a bottom six role, hoping he continues the hard work he has put in to become the prospect he has become. Needs a bit more agility and it would be great to see his great skills working with a bit more commitment. The team selects him is looking to secure an NHL player, not a projection with huge upside as much as a safe selection that looks to eventually play in the bigs. (NOW, Elbows this is a 3rd line centre, but good hard working one.)

Matthew Seminoff RW
He is mid-sized has a great motor.

Fun fact the 1st 3 Blackhawk seasons of TT, solid defensively scored at about a .382 per game clip

Kirby Dach 1st 3 seasons solid defensively scored at .383 per game clip

Good morning, what did I miss?
- Angotti

Either Davidson is the 2nd coming of Stan Bowman or the 2nd coming of Theo Epstein, with the Bowman comparison far in the lead.

Wings trade a 3rd round pick to Blues for rights to goalie Ville Husso.
- boilermaker100

Sounds like DET is re-signing him ASAP - 3 years at $4.75 million AAV.

Like I said at the end of the last thread…I have a feeling 3 years from now everyone here will be talking about how the Hawks are a just a first line winger and a 2nd line center with size away from being contenders.
- Ogilthorpe2

Funny to watch the new gm make the same mistakes the old gm made. Meet the new boss same as the old boss

Good morning, what did I miss?
- Angotti

Nothing, it’s status quo.

Either Davidson is the 2nd coming of Stan Bowman or the 2nd coming of Theo Epstein, with the Bowman comparison far in the lead.
- boilermaker100

Overrated!

A whopping 150 games played, but that's all right when he's playing really well, the same crowd will say oh the Blackhawks didn't know how develop him and so on. When the actual development is playing in NHL games.
- BetweenTheDots

I thought Keith said the NHL isn't a development league?

I thought Keith said the NHL isn't a development league?
- LAHawk

Keith didn't realize the salary cap changed all that.

https://twitter.com/markl...&t=Y-bBCiKITSXdeRiCTDUBEA

No disrespect to Tristan Luneau, but a 3rd defenseman?
- wiz1901

1st round talent til the injury put him on the shelf early this season, no? Would love to hear your thoughts on him tho Bill! Big fan!

Not only is the NHL GM's risk adverse, so is this BOD. KD is taking the Theo Epstein approach, burn it down, take no prisoners and start at the foundation. Do you think if Stan was still GM he would of traded to get 3 first round picks? Nope, his rebuild would of been trading for Eric Cernak, and JC would still be coach as he preached "patience".

I agree, it appears ADB was an underpay, but haven't heard who had a better offer on the table. Looks like to KD, it was more important getting a high first round pick, then having ADB be wingman to Kane and whoever at center.

BTW, at #6, didn't everyone think Mo Seider was a reach?. If Korchinski turns out to be another Brian Campbell, that would be all right. My guess is he had some input in the pick.
- LAHawk

Excellent post, LA.

Funny to watch the new gm make the same mistakes the old gm made. Meet the new boss same as the old boss
- BetweenTheDots

have to disagree here, at least making his own mistakes. I think it was Kissinger when Nixon came into office said "we wont repeat the same mistakes as our predecessor, we'll make our own"

Stan never did embrace and do the right thing with the rebuild. Gotta believe if Stan did a tear down when he should have, they'd be in a much better position today. (Though they'd probably just have picked the wrong guys...........)

Don't mind Seth Jones at all, but that trade, and what Stan gave up, and more importantly at that point in time of the "rebuild" will go down as one of the worst organizational ideas since the Phil Esposito trade.

My questions for day 2:

Does KD offload Strome and Kubalik for additional draft capital today or will we finally see a player come back to Chicago?

Does Kane say he wants out and is dealt today? If so, I am wondering if the Devils might be a destination to play with Hughes. They have the assets to get him if Kane would wave. The Rangers seem to be the common sense destination and I would hope that Schneider would be part if the return

Is Murphy the first player dealt today?

With the Flyers needing cap space, could Konecny be a possibility?

Off to drown my sorrows in coffee now so I can figure out who our 2022 ABC line will be. Go Hawks!
- ikeane

For all of you complaining about the return for Debrincat you might want to temper your expectations in any trade return for Kane. It will be similar

https://twitter.com/marklazerus/status/1545405697126440961?s=21&t=Y-bBCiKITSXdeRiCTDUBEA


- Ogilthorpe2

You lost me at Lazarus

I'm included in those disappointed by the return that we got for the Cat. But, clearly Davidson had shopped him around to several teams and this was the best return he could get for him. Maybe other team aren't valuing him as high, because so much of his production has been with Kane. Don't Panarin me.

I also think our expectations might be warped by the great return we got for Hagel and the massive overpayment Stan made for Seth Jones.

With that being said, I am not willing to write off Davidson and I like the direction of the team. Unlike under Stan at least we have a direction. Plus the Mrazek trade was savvy.

Now lets get Bedard in 2023

https://twitter.com/marklazerus/status/1545405697126440961?s=21&t=Y-bBCiKITSXdeRiCTDUBEA


- Ogilthorpe2

Hard salary cap is a real rhymes with witch.

For all of you complaining about the return for Debrincat you might want to temper your expectations in any trade return for Kane. It will be similar
- GPHawksfan

Yes, no doubt expectations will be Fantasyland level.

He didn’t have 3 full seasons. In terms of games played he’s at about 1.5 seasons.
- Ogilthorpe2

Due to injury however still showed nothing offensively playing mostly top 6 with HOF linemates in what amounts to 2 full seasons if we’re going this route.

Fun fact the 1st 3 Blackhawk seasons of TT, solid defensively scored at about a .382 per game clip

Kirby Dach 1st 3 seasons solid defensively scored at .383 per game clip
- BetweenTheDots

Definitely a risk trading Dach. Cat, too. But KD was charged with accomplishing a burn it down rebuild. He is maximizing picks to try to get as many good players as he can in a short amount of time. Will it work? None of us know.

Theo, I want go back to something about the big high school kid, Sam Rinzel.

There is something you said that I kinda wanna refute.

This kid gets tremendous torque when he shoots.

He will start shooting more the more comfortable he is with the speed and flow of things all over the sheet.

Seider-esque in many ways and the upside is truly there, but he really plays slow in his head right now...takes far to much time offensively and it ends up in turnovers. As I said in that prospects game he was unable to handle the speed the other kids were playing at.
He can and has played there left side and does so as well as his regular right side.Besides the obvious need for catch tor speed time, he does show significant offensive prowess. Attacking hemoves the puck into the slot and eats up the available space to get deeper, higher-danger shots.
He is an above average shooter and as he adds muscle will improve.
The thing is, how many prospective NHL players do you remember who had great guns, but didn't make it because they couldn't get the entire package together.
I hope he succeeds.

Ok I have to go...whenever a trade goes through I have to add it and then franking system doesn't show success for maybe 5 minutes so I end up checking, the rechecking.

I will try and come back at different times....bye , all.

Overrated!
- vabeachbear

Theo orchestrated 2 WS wins in Boston, and 1 with the Cubs. Not many GMs with that resume in any sport.