MRAZEK?????????????? Where’s this headed?

You have to hand it to Chicago’s scouts this years draft picks have a huge upside.



John Tonelli for HOF
- Tee56

Mrazek is almost the perfect goalie for the Hawks situation. He’s good enough to be an NHL netminder, but not a true #1. He won’t win the Hawks many (if any) games and should be too embarrassing.

I liked the Nazar, Ludwinski and Greene picks. I’m on the fence about Korchinski, but the reality is that we won’t know how any of these picks will work out for another 3-5 years.

Losing DeBrincat sucks, the Hawks didn’t get nearly enough for a 40 goal scorer. I have absolutely no issue trading #12, as long as the return was worth it. But it wasn’t.

However, I see what KD is trying to do. He’s building a stable of fast, energetic and hungry prospects. The prospect pool was extremely shallow going into the weekend and it improve significantly. The on-ice team got weaker, but the prospect pool got stronger.

Carolina took a chance on Deangelo (and it was not that big a gamble) after he was bought out by the Rangers last summer. A year later they move this asset which cost them nothing for a 2nd, a 3rd, & a 4th round draft pick.

The kind of team management exemplified by Carolina makes me envious.

Carolina took a chance on Deangelo (and it was not that big a gamble) after he was bought out by the Rangers last summer. A year later they move this asset which cost them nothing for a 2nd, a 3rd, & a 4th round draft pick.

The kind of team management exemplified by Carolina makes me envious.
- 67hawks

Didn’t the Hawks pick up Hagel as a free agent on a minimum contract because Buffalo didn’t sign him. That return turned out all right.

Sorry, I wasn’t hear for much of the fun.
I was working through issues on the Lines site and still have two trades that simply don’t show up after checking and re-checking…went past midnight to get where it now and I am going back at in a bit.
I did get various texts, emails and calls about a significant whining here on Buzz about “what the Hawks did” and how they “only” acquired second line and bottom six players.
I find that humorous.

I never try and tag most draft able prospects with, “This line or this pair” tags, because you simply don’t know if in two years if they improve, level off or fail from the short window of drafting 18 year old is (especially with that Covid-19 limited hockey year.)
After hearing the TV announcers ( I will watch all of that today,lol) saying the goalie class isn’t ranked high, I thought it was funny that after the top couple went off the board, it seemed ike the entire league drafted one in the final two rounds no matter if they played like octopi or jellyfish.

Hilarious that so many her wanted the hawks to find “first line players / first pair defenders IN THIS DRAFT!

And anyway, how many freaking times have we hear THIS kid is top pair or first liner before playing g a game and then isn’t? EVERY YEAR, so take it easy if Corey Pronman riled your butt with his views or anybody else including me…THE KIDS MAKE THEIR FUTURE, and that means the club around the are part of their success.
So when I say how I love Ludwinski but he really hasn’t scored much, or when I say that the Blackhawks drafted Nick Bonino (LC Ludwinski) and Frank Vatrano (RW Gavin Hayes) that is no reason to start whining as it is the start to winning…they added speed but more so, very strong forecheckers who put defenses on alert they are coming for the pucks through contact.
You cannot have scoring looks if you can’t get the puck back.

I know you wanted the quality of this 2022 draft class to be like 2023 but IT SIMPLY WASN’T…and Davidson didn’t want to wait a year to get his new, quicker troops. (There may be room for a slower Teply’ or Colton Dach, but we all saw the Stanley cup and the way there is no longer a “top six” but a top nine and a checking line who also can score.

I will be happy to go through the upside of they guys they picked…I talked here all year about Korchinski and Nazar (and how I loved the power wing Reid Schaefer and Rieger Lorenz but we didn’t draft them)

I will go into each player at length later since I am not trying to break my own record for longest post, but

Kevin Korchinski is different in he transports so well and passes so well, but he gets to the middle with his feet (almost as close as where a PP bumper plays, makes the pass and then makes himself available.

Frank Nazar can play any position anywhere is high risk / high reward on the sheet, because he might be accused of poor puck management, because he plays at such high speed and skill at top gear never slowing, he loses some because he is super unpredictable as an attacker, He makes room for his teammates. And well he turns it overshoe shocks the opponent with how quick he is on their body to get it back.

Sam Rinzel is huge fluid for his size, and has a cannon, but more over he is a true mailman who transports with big strides and and soft hands, a freaking cannon. He has to adjust to higher competition, quicker pace, use his size more and improve his pivots (He does have nice edging and is a good stickhandler who will need time but the payoff of yet another giant defender in the farm was just to tantalizing, I guess.

Paul Ludwinski plays centre or anywhere and is always highly involved, with a fluid stride and a separation gear. He is a smart playmaking centre and strong forechecker. Really good stop/starts. I apologizer in advance that he isn’t Auston Matthews

Ryan Greene is a kid with much upside too, a skilled centre makes defender miss and can push the pace. A well-rounded centre with quick hands and can use them at top speed. He distribute the puck well all over, and can thread the needle. His play way from the puck needs work. He needs time but I think he plays in the bigs. Should I call him a JoelEriksson Ek clone or will you tell he is a 3rd line Centre?

Gavin Hayes only started his journey of improvement half a season in. Her follows plays to the net, can funnel his passes through traffic and has high level skill set and keeps moving. Tall lightweight winger who blossomed in the second part of the season. He is a crease crashing power wing type who started playing more intensely and scoring because he was engaging on all of his shifts. See had the high skill set but the light just had to turn on, and when he started playing a more physical game and was involved, he created turnovers it gave his teammate and him more time and space. Has good vision, a power stride and projects a 3rd line power wing at this juncture. His feet are always moving and he is excellent skater with jump.

Sam Savovie is a kid I took off my board completely, mostly because I didn’t see Gatineau but once and he honestly didn’t impress except that he was fast and physical. He was a thick fireplug who had no problem sticking his nose in. In the first three rounds, I would think this was Hawk scouting staff favorite pick maybe a little rich this early. He is 5’ 10” and basically Bobby Hull size.(For now that is far as the comparison goes)

Aiden Thompson is a good kid about 5” 10.5 “ 180 and going to Denver University year. He had a really good year as a third year eligible, so they will see how he fares improving his wares here.

Dominic James is a 5’ 11 168 lb. C-entre winger (unless he struck to the 148lbs. NHL.com has) for the Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth who also a third year eligible that the hope gets stronger and develops.
RW Nils Juntorp (Sweden) 6’ 1” 185. & Centre Riku Tohila (finland) 6’ 5” 190
Are not guys anyone saw unless they went to Scandinavia. My color-blind ass does want to get their to see the Northern Lights before I croak, but I like the heat. Pool Time is now!

But...naybody curious about sending that late draft pick for the rights to Princeton's Liam Gorman?

It's not like the guy tore up the Ivy League during his career...I am really curious...

https://www.eliteprospect...player/364228/liam-gorman

Carolina took a chance on Deangelo (and it was not that big a gamble) after he was bought out by the Rangers last summer. A year later they move this asset which cost them nothing for a 2nd, a 3rd, & a 4th round draft pick.

The kind of team management exemplified by Carolina makes me envious.
- 67hawks

They have an excellent analytics guy for all phases of their operations...

Dach reps thought the hawks would give him 6 million re-up

Watch the Hawks get Bedard and sign UFADeBrincat.

(In your dreams, Wiz, go in the pool!)

Wiz, Thanks for the recap on the Hawks' picks. I read the other bloggers on Hockeybuzz and it's safe to say no other board has a contributor who is as knowledgeable about draft prospects. We're fortunate to have you here. Stay safe and healthy so you can continue to contribute.

And maybe the Hawks can draft the next Auston Matthews next summer.

I hear remlioutis mention something about a conversation he had with the Hawks scouting director, where he said we are getting close to our limit on draft picks.

Remilioutis asked on the podcast "Is there a limit on the number of picks you can make in any one draft?"

Not ever heard that, but maybe that's why??
- vabeachbear

Maybe the thinking is there will be too many guys that need to sign pro contracts all at the same time?

This draft was not an epic failure. But if you don't examine the purpose of the choices closely, sure you want to jump off a bridge you are so mad with Davidson

I will agree however that they should have got more for ADB. Guess what, they will get less for Kane too

Davidson knows the '23 draft is deep and good..The top six are darn good even if you don't get Bedard.

If you think you can increase the odds of being in position to draft Bedard = wrong. The teams that would trade for Kane aren't going to finish as the lottery teams. You get a #1 '23 and hopefully a good prospect from their stable.

Re: The reason Davidson started now wheeling and dealing. Well I cannot say yet whether paying ADB plus Kane and Jones adds up to = too much toward salary cap. Then you pause, and consider that if Kane is moved, it is only two big contracts denting the salary cap

Anyway if you noticed commentary in the televised playoffs especially did you hear it more than once as applies to various teams: the teams doing well and winning are employing top 9 and a checking line. Scoring coming from three lines. Colorado and NYR went out and added a few forwards. The NYR also had the kid line break out

Will top 9 become a new trend? I don't know. I see where having smallish or below average size dmen is ok if they are good puck movers. That has been trending But also trending is having more big size dmen who can play. Chicago has that coming along. Even if each is not really physical as in beasts, they have that size. Allen, DelMaestro, Regula, Vlasic, Crevier. Mitchell will be here, Galvas is ready and flys under the radar in more ways than just his size.

They see Korchenski as being a PP Qb and really good. They are all about quickness, speed, taking pucks away. Compete..Davidson drafted that way purposely.. Next year will be a forward heavy draft BTW. That is based on availability, not on teams need

Well I got off on tangents to some extent. But Korchenski is going to be one of our top guys. No he is not Cal Maker but first of all, Korchenski will get better defensively. Secondly, Maker is not a stud defensively. Simply put Davidson loves what he projects Korchenski becomes

What he becomes is a better model eventually playing a style with ALL the things he does. Sure lots of guys niw and in '22 draft are bottom line, but at same time qualify as top nine. Speed quickness, take away pucks....feed someone who could score like our second #1 '22 selection

So you were hoping to draft ppyrnyI tobunch of not yet showing they might be offensive studs. In middle rounds. And one Breaks out as a stud. Good luck on a liquid percentage happeninstance.

You know ow getting less for ADB and probably Kaner, too, is alarming. But I see what Davidson is doing .

And Mrzak plus Laakinen is better than last season duo in net

Oh hey Scott let us keep an eye on Kaiser as he returns from major surgery
- jhawk59

I think you may be buying into some false narrative, possibly promoted by the analytics community and all their numerology. Or people who look at Tory Krug, Ryan Ellis, Jared Spurgeon, Quinn Hughes and a few others who move the puck well on regular season nights and think they are a trend.

Do you know how many defenceman 5'8" - 5'10" in height are playing in the NHL currently? Exactly 11, that's it. About 5-6% of the total.

The NHL is a big man's game, especially with good teams -at both the forward and defence positions. And when the playoffs start, guys like Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnnon, Tom Wilson, Chris Kreider just lick their chops waiting to pound these little defenceman into submission.

At least the Hawks have been drafting defenceman with some size and ultimately we might see more NHL games out of those guys and Vlasic, Nolan Allan, Isaac Phillipps than we ever do out of Ian Mitchell, Nik Beaudin and Jacob Galvas.

I am still puzzled by the no name that we gave up a 2023 pick for to the Pens. Has anyone seen a club explanation for that move?
Seems like a wasted pick for us and Pens fans were pleased with that deal. Most of them did not know who the guy was.
- 67hawks

Davidson doing Hextall a favor or developing a relationship? Maybe unwritten "future considerations" coming back to the Hawks some day.

Looking at the current roster you are more optimistic than I am, but being a Hawks fan I will continue to watch. I do believe that Toews will be more Toews like this year, we’ll see whether in Chicago or not. Kane is a goner, most likely will get a young prospect( hopefully a good one)and a late 1st round pick from a contender.

It’s pizza night
- Ogilthorpe2

Do you ever pick up pizza from Dead End Bar?

Looking at the current roster you are more optimistic than I am, but being a Hawks fan I will continue to watch. I do believe that Toews will be more Toews like this year, we’ll see whether in Chicago or not. Kane is a goner, most likely will get a young prospect( hopefully a good one)and a late 1st round pick from a contender.
- Angotti

I think it would be very neat watching Kane for a year playing on a line with Crosby and Guentzel or with Zibanejad and Panarin or with Barkov and Huberdeau.

Solid logic and i can't argue with any of that. I didn't take into consideration the $9m qualifying offer.

My thinking is more along the lines that 40g scorers don't grow on trees and the Blackhawks were lucky to have one in his prime. Paying him $9m+ wouldn't be an issue when the Toews and Kane contracts come off the books. Granted, not sure exactly how or when that will happen, but I suspect both will be gone pretty soon, especially Kane.

If anything, you get rid of Jones now to make room for Cat. Jones was a bad deal the day it was signed and the Hawks will have to retain some salary to move that contract, but it would be worth it to keep a legit sniper in his prime.

As a Tampa fan, I see what's happening to the Hawks now as a preview of the Lightning's future - a deep dynastic team transitioning into full rebuild mode.
- GalacticStone

You guys did a good job recovering after the Torts era Cup. Bottomed out to Stamkos and Hedman and that really set the stage. Took 6 years after Stamkos being drafted to get back into the mix. 10 years after that cup.

Not a horrible timeline. The Hawks are in a much worse state. Rather than bottoming out they floundered in mediocrity and here we are starting a 6-10 year project.

When rebuilding, having as many changes to draft high end talent as possible is important. Missing out on a top 10 pick, even if it is in an "off year" is still a big impediment to that process. They ended up with 2 top 15s at the end of the day which was really what they needed.

Yes Debrincat is an outstanding player and was a fun guy to bump into when we lived in the same neighborhood. Yes the return was disappointing BUT having more shots at talented futures is more valuable then banking on a player producing at the same rate at 31 when they are ready to compete again.

The veterans on the Lightning are the guys who were drafted first after bottoming out, Stamkos and Hedman rather than Richards or Vinny and you could argue that Richards was young enough to have "led the next group" kinda thing. In fact, Richards himself was on the Hawks team that beat the Lightning in the cup finals. Kane can play the Martin St Louis role if he wants to stay here.

Anyway, if the org continues to be ruthless and manage assets well it should hopefully minimize the down time.

Mrazek is almost the perfect goalie for the Hawks situation. He’s good enough to be an NHL netminder, but not a true #1. He won’t win the Hawks many (if any) games and should be too embarrassing.

I liked the Nazar, Ludwinski and Greene picks. I’m on the fence about Korchinski, but the reality is that we won’t know how any of these picks will work out for another 3-5 years.

Losing DeBrincat sucks, the Hawks didn’t get nearly enough for a 40 goal scorer. I have absolutely no issue trading #12, as long as the return was worth it. But it wasn’t.

However, I see what KD is trying to do. He’s building a stable of fast, energetic and hungry prospects. The prospect pool was extremely shallow going into the weekend and it improve significantly. The on-ice team got weaker, but the prospect pool got stronger.
- DarthKane

The comments on Korchinski's skating are super encouraging. The thing that stood out the most is the scouting report that mentioned he doesn't hesitate on outlet passes. Makes extremely fast decisions to get the puck moved from the D zone up which is something the team has sorely missed since Seabrook fell apart.

I'm really intrigued with the other dman as well, teams with a defenseman who can blast a shot from the point are so effective once in the offensive zone.

You guys did a good job recovering after the Torts era Cup. Bottomed out to Stamkos and Hedman and that really set the stage. Took 6 years after Stamkos being drafted to get back into the mix. 10 years after that cup.

Not a horrible timeline. The Hawks are in a much worse state. Rather than bottoming out they floundered in mediocrity and here we are starting a 6-10 year project.

When rebuilding, having as many changes to draft high end talent as possible is important. Missing out on a top 10 pick, even if it is in an "off year" is still a big impediment to that process. They ended up with 2 top 15s at the end of the day which was really what they needed.

Yes Debrincat is an outstanding player and was a fun guy to bump into when we lived in the same neighborhood. Yes the return was disappointing BUT having more shots at talented futures is more valuable then banking on a player producing at the same rate at 31 when they are ready to compete again.

The veterans on the Lightning are the guys who were drafted first after bottoming out, Stamkos and Hedman rather than Richards or Vinny and you could argue that Richards was young enough to have "led the next group" kinda thing. In fact, Richards himself was on the Hawks team that beat the Lightning in the cup finals. Kane can play the Martin St Louis role if he wants to stay here.

Anyway, if the org continues to be ruthless and manage assets well it should hopefully minimize the down time.
- fattybeef

Landing Stamkos and Hedman in back to back drafts was a gift. Both of them have a couple more good years left in them, but they are nearing the twilight of their careers. They should get another kick or two at the can, but not many. More troublesome is how the Lightning are bleeding depth - now there is talk that Palat is going to hit the market. No offense to Paul or Hagel, but I haven't seen anything from them yet that suggests they can fill Palat's role (not yet at least). I guess the Lightning's wanna-be dynasty will be cemented if they win another cup (like Chicago did) or it will be buried if Stamkos/Hedman retire or leave without that 3rd cup. Watching to see if Toews and/or Kane leave is like a deathwatch on a dynasty and it must have a bittersweet feel to it. I imagine I will be feeling the same thing about the Lightning in the near future.

No offense, but I hope it kicks in quicker than you think, and they finish with the 11th worse record for the next two years...........
- vabeachbear

I get it. A lot of people agree with you. I imagine it's not unlike Crysby and the Penguins, except it's Ducherov and the Bolts. I honestly think the Lightning will probably follow a similar path as Chicago did - dominance, then a long slow decline into mediocrity, followed by a rebuild. I don't see a sudden crash and burn happening, but a lot of people would love to see that proved wrong and I wouldn't hold that against them.

They have an excellent analytics guy for all phases of their operations...
- wiz1901

What do you think it would take to hire him away

I think it would be very neat watching Kane for a year playing on a line with Crosby and Guentzel or with Zibanejad and Panarin or with Barkov and Huberdeau.
- RickJ

OR with McDavid or zee German.

Landing Stamkos and Hedman in back to back drafts was a gift. Both of them have a couple more good years left in them, but they are nearing the twilight of their careers. They should get another kick or two at the can, but not many. More troublesome is how the Lightning are bleeding depth - now there is talk that Palat is going to hit the market. No offense to Paul or Hagel, but I haven't seen anything from them yet that suggests they can fill Palat's role (not yet at least). I guess the Lightning's wanna-be dynasty will be cemented if they win another cup (like Chicago did) or it will be buried if Stamkos/Hedman retire or leave without that 3rd cup. Watching to see if Toews and/or Kane leave is like a deathwatch on a dynasty and it must have a bittersweet feel to it. I imagine I will be feeling the same thing about the Lightning in the near future.
- GalacticStone

You never know. If they keep finding guys in the second and third rounds then maybe it buys some time.

The Washington Capitals have been a playoff team basically since the 90s and were fortunate enough to get Ovi when they did but sustaining a solid contender is doable just not common.

Should be interesting to see how it all plays out at least.

Dach reps thought the hawks would give him 6 million re-up

Watch the Hawks get Bedard and sign UFADeBrincat.

(In your dreams, Wiz, go in the pool!)
- wiz1901

Can't say I hadn't thought about this. Two years from now, should have a better handle on the pace of the rebuild.

I get it. A lot of people agree with you. I imagine it's not unlike Crysby and the Penguins, except it's Ducherov and the Bolts. I honestly think the Lightning will probably follow a similar path as Chicago did - dominance, then a long slow decline into mediocrity, followed by a rebuild. I don't see a sudden crash and burn happening, but a lot of people would love to see that proved wrong and I wouldn't hold that against them.
- GalacticStone

Na, I don't mind the Bolts, they did it the right way.

I just want those two Hagel picks to be the best they can be...........

Can't say I hadn't thought about this. Two years from now, should have a better handle on the pace of the rebuild.
- vabeachbear

Seems, though, that the BOD has decided these draft picks will be awful. Why sign a high priced wing to a bad team; it is like putting perfume on a pig....

Can't say I hadn't thought about this. Two years from now, should have a better handle on the pace of the rebuild.
- vabeachbear

And in two years they can offer sheet Hagel and have the old band together again.