The Hawks don't need luck, the league is fixing it so they get Bedard next year.
- GPHawksfan

And here we have PE thinking Bettman hates the Hawks.

Good thing Ogi not a Canes fan, they keep drafting Russians

According to who? They have their board, and are making picks based on what they find most important. What does it matter that others "rated" different players higher?
- Chunk

When their board repeatedly differs significantly from the general consensus I start to worry. It’s one thing to reach a little for a guy you like every now and then, but going “off the board” with every pick seems pretty risky. If they think they are the smartest people in the room, so be it. They’d better be right.

When their board repeatedly differs significantly from the general consensus I start to worry. It’s one thing to reach a little for a guy you like every now and then, but going “off the board” with every pick seems pretty risky. If they think they are the smartest people in the room, so be it. They’d better be right.
- Ogilthorpe2

Or it could be a good thing. They are staying on point, continuing to draft speed

Or Toronto who is over the half century mark in its rebuild.
- LAHawk

Well yeah that's always a possibility, only one team can win, but at least they're a very entertaining team to watch and they had a legitimate chance.

They ran into a similar problem to the Oilers where their top guys were accosted heavily in the neutral zone and they got only OK goaltending.

I'd prefer to see those penalties called and the playoffs opened up a bit but there's a generation of fans the NHL seems to want to appease that get off on watching guys getting dry humped up and down the ice. Which is a separate discussion.

BUT - from when Morgan Reilly was drafted or even if you say Kahdri it was 5 or 7 years to be back in the playoffs and 10 to be considered a top team in the league.

Thats just the reality of the timeline especially since the Hawks have pissed away assets or managed them poorly the last 5 years.

Or it could be a good thing. They are staying on point, continuing to draft speed
- BetweenTheDots

Jack Skille had speed.

Time to take a shot on a goalie?

Jack Skille had speed.
- Ogilthorpe2

Agreed, so time will tell

Jack Skille had speed.
- Ogilthorpe2

Former size and speed
Stahlberg
Panik

Time to take a shot on a goalie?
- boilermaker100

I think they will with one of their 3rd round picks

Former size and speed
Stahlberg
Panik
- resqmed99

Looks like they are focusing on speed and hands though

Oh horrors. Gavin Hayes ranked at 84 by Wiz, taken at 66.

Yeah it can take 5 years. Took 5 years with Tampa Bay.

But NYR already had Krieder and Zib. Fox really completed things there along with some solid trades and FA signings.

They also were fairly ruthless moving assets. And exceptional goaltending masks a lot of their problems.

The lightning when they had the opportunity drafted Stamkos and Hedman when they bottomed out. And found some gems in the later rounds. They were also fairly ruthless moving out pieces that didn't fit.

If the Hawks get top 3 picks in 2023 and 2024 and don't miss then yeah maybe they're in the mix in 5 years. If the stars do not align that perfectly then they are probably tracking more like the AVs where it took them 7 years to be in the mix and 11 to win a cup if you count the draft of Landeskog as year one. Or even the Flames where its taken them quite a bit of time as well.
- fattybeef

I think we have to consider also, the Rangers had a good season, but we will know more a few seasons from now, if they continue to surpass expectations.

There are teams like Buffalo, who have been rebuilding for more than a decade too. The Maple Leafs rebuilt and have a good team but haven't won a playoff series in nearly 20 years.

There isn't one road to success or a single formula. The point I think we need to hold onto is that the Hawks are following through on their plan and hopefully they do stick to it top to bottom.

Missed on Zhilkin, if he was even on their radar screen.

So is it official? We are done taking small, timid, supposed puck moving defenseman? Want to make sure that Stan’s strategy is finally over.

So is it official? We are done taking small, timid, supposed puck moving defenseman? Want to make sure that Stan’s strategy is finally over.
- Beaks99

Did Stan have a coherent strategy?

I'm seeing a pattern going on all of these picks. Nice to see they are sticking to plan.
- Chunk

I think another part of the pattern is to draft North American players.

I think another part of the pattern is to draft North American players.
- boilermaker100

Strong forecheckers as well

I don't see Savoie on Wiz's board at all

Did Stan have a coherent strategy?
- jrsamu

1 shot bourbon followed by a beer. Is how he rolled.

I think another part of the pattern is to draft North American players.
- boilermaker100

I'm waiting for them to pick a sold defensive guy out of Sweden.

Gotta love the confidence of kids who've always been the best at the thing they do where they've done it

@CRoumeliotis
45s
Gavin Hayes on his game: “I’d say I’m a smart player, 200 foot, good without the puck, also my shot is key.”

He said Blake Wheeler is a player comparable, but “more skilled than him.”

====
Always interesting to watch how they react once they enter the league and realize they have to work really hard and who responds in that way (DBC) vs with frustration (Dach?).

I think another part of the pattern is to draft North American players.
- boilermaker100

Yes. I was about to comment on the fact that so far no Europeans. Planned or coincidence?

And here we have PE thinking Bettman hates the Hawks.
- BGKarras

Bedard to Arizona! The new stadium......it all falls into place. Hawks end up with Fantilli.

Davidson will be to GMing what Colliton was to coaching.