They teaching that skating move in Russia, nice play by Dadonov

He is only here for one more year. The Hawks will not have a captain for at two seasons is my guess. Just 3 guys wearing A's
- Elbows15

I agree.

Value small, Ric...they need to draft a big goalie prospect one of the four Giant Michael Hrabal (6' 6" 200+), Adam Gajan (6' 3" 186) Carson Bjarnason (6' 3") or Scott Ratzlaff (6' 1").
- wiz1901

Not sure I understand the bolded. If you're asking me if I value small goalies or your making an observation?... I value good hockey players/goalies and like most players all things being equal I take the bigger player.

Tell you what though, I was impressed with Bjarnson in goal for Canada at the WJC. Kid showed nice efficiency of movement, was compact, crisp, nicely balanced on his feet and a nice overall package.

I'm all in on Hrabal but I wonder how you have the top 5 draft eligible goalies ranked and if you have them in tiers?

I think 6ft 1in Trey Augustine climbed some lists as the season went on and his efforts in the WJC. Gajun is real interesting with decent size and passed the eye test internationally but his failure to stick in the USHL might cause him to drop a gtad.

So is Bobrovsky’s contract still considered a bad one?
- LAHawk

Goalies, man. Try and figure them out but unless they win the cup with Bob in goal near impossible to justify 10 mil per for any goalie, especially with lotsa term.

I hope they just leave Korchinski in junior. He has lots to learn and needs to get stronger. Other than a reward for a strong camp there’s no other reason for him not to spend the season in junior. Improve his weaknesses, strengthen his strengths and be an important player in the WJC for Canada.
- paulr

We too we don't need other team's going after him w/o a better framework of scoring lines and attack.
If he comes in with Nazar in a year and they click with Bedard there are less emphasis on killing just one rookie hawk!

Id say yes and no, i remember Reichel coming up and thinking all this talk about him and watching, thinking i must be missing something cause he's ordinary out there, but over time, marinating in the rock the last stint he came up he looked like a difference maker. Credit to the player, and credit to developing the player. So i found it weird when he was struggling in the playoffs in the A, come to find out he was playing through an injury.

I think when it comes to these minor league rankings got to take them with a grain of salt.

For example if LAs minor league system was so stacked why would they trade for Fiala, you know the same could be said of NJ for Meier
- BetweenTheDots

Man, you are gonna double, triple and quadruple down on being wrong ain't you, Dots? What part don't you get about two young 100+ point teams coming out of a rebuild adding to their roster something they do not have in the system YET to take a swing at a deep playoff run??? No matter to you these adds are young and NOT rentals!!!

Now I guess it's time for you to return volley and add a 5th, 6th and 26th post saying how idiotic LA and NJ are.

I hope your correct .I would leave him in Jr. next year let him have a another WJC run .No need to rush any of these kids .
- oldduffman

So Korchinski isn’t all star great in all ways. But it will be him, Kaiser and DelMeastro in two years with S Jones and any veteran. Tinordi could still be here. Eventually C Jones and Murphy they cut. I don’t have faith any other kids break in on defense as regulars except long shot Mitchell and Phillips. Won’t suggest Crevier but see how he develops. Is Roos even here? Eventually Allen could move up but probably AHL bound for two seasons.

LATE ADD Vlasic will be here but likely just an average dman

Goalies, man. Try and figure them out but unless they win the cup with Bob in goal near impossible to justify 10 mil per for any goalie, especially with lotsa term.
- Mr Ricochet

One issue the public can't let Dale off the hook on and blame Stan (fax machine....)

That said, maybe Dale ends up being right in the end, cause I'll tell you, no way FL gets to this point, let alone further, if Bob isn't playing like he is

We too we don't need other team's going after him w/o a better framework of scoring lines and attack.
If he comes in with Nazar in a year and they click with Bedard there are less emphasis on killing just one rookie hawk!
- wiz1901

Look at you, getting a bit cocky with your back to back days of #1s on tank

3-5-5-4-1

They won't have anyone wearing a C for a couple of seasons.
- Elbows15

Tending to agree with you on this one -- they shouldn't --- left Richardson work out who is real leadership material, and in a longer term sense. There will be a lot of placeholder filler guys until that happens - possibly guys brought in to do just that (mentor these guys they might identify).

I mean I can get why Toews had to go, in the sense that there was leadership, sure- not necessarily hungry/frustrated type leadership that never arrived at where they are wanting to go to... No - Toews had already been there.

Interesting stuff.

How come Kucherov was drafted 58th, Point 79th, Cam Berker 3rd and Yakupov 1st, Wiz???
- Mr Ricochet

Your are drafting 18 year olds. Every team has some surprising successes and some epic failures. That is true in any sport. How many 25 year olds outside of hockey exceeded your expectations in life and how many far exceed your expectations?

Out of how many? And the last Russian they drafted worth a damn was Kravchuk.

Another guy they traded, too
- Elbows15

Past Performance Is Not Indicative Of Future Results. New regime in place. I am willing to give them a little time before making this judgement.

Are you not paying attention to what KD is trying to build and the type of players he is drafting?
- Elbows15

I get your point. I have three other ideas.
Skating speed is certainly a factor. Can those players with skating speed make plays at high speed?
Skating speed is important. But their motor is also very important. Hagel is an example. Plenty of players on NJ and Seattle are examples. decent skaters with high revving motors work too.
Skating speed is valuable, but playing positionally, finding open ice, seeing the ice, accurate passing and shooting can make up for some lack of skating speed.

2-4-4-3-5

It’s crazy how few players we have walking this offseason. Toews, Athanasiou, Khaira are the only UFA forwards. Englund is the only UFA D. We could just not qualify Bjork, Wagner, C Jones, and Mitchell. But I want to keep Mitchell and Kurashev. Guys like Blackwell, Richardinson, seem to grow on trees. Every D on the nhl squad aside from Seth Jones could go and I’d be happy. Zaitsev, Murphy, C Jones, Tinordi, Englund are all below average defenseman and most are around 30 years old. Give those spots to some kids and let them learn the speed of the pros. Vlasic, Phillips, and others are knocking on the door but we’re going to let one of the above mentioned bums have their ice time? Come on.

I don’t care if the Hawks stink next year, they will. I will care if I have to hunt and peck for the one or two prospects they’re icing each night like this year. The misfits they iced at the end of this season isn’t really forgivable when there’s youth chomping at the bit and guys who COULD be part of the future here. No one aside from Jones and Kurashev has a high probability of being here in three years. Don’t waste our time as fans holding the kids back so that Jared Tinordi can show other plugs how to leadership qualities.
- ObeseOprah

What kids were they holding back?

Id say yes and no, i remember Reichel coming up and thinking all this talk about him and watching, thinking i must be missing something cause he's ordinary out there, but over time, marinating in the rock the last stint he came up he looked like a difference maker. Credit to the player, and credit to developing the player. So i found it weird when he was struggling in the playoffs in the A, come to find out he was playing through an injury.

I think when it comes to these minor league rankings got to take them with a grain of salt.

For example if LAs minor league system was so stacked why would they trade for Fiala, you know the same could be said of NJ for Meier
- BetweenTheDots

Because they thought they could win it this year with veteran additions? You really can't seem to grasp this concept, can you?

He won't be 19 until August. The notion he has nothing to learn is juniors is crazy to me. If nothing else, physically maturing another year is enough. 19 year old D-men don't fare well in the NHL unless its a player with special talent. Korchinski is not a special talent.

You never hear people saying a player was ruined by spending an extra year in juniors.
- Elbows15

Agreed it's almost cruel to play boys against men.

Agreed it's almost cruel to play boys against men.
- rpeters01

Seriously. There are maybe 4-5 players drafted each year that can actually hack it in the NHL their draft year. Most take time to either fill out, or develop a more well rounded game. No need to force anyone into the lineup at at this point just because "we" want to see if they can cut it against men.

Several here said at the end of last year that Vlasic was good enough to play on the big club. While there may be some truth to that, the better option was to let him develop and find a more complete game in Rockford. There are not that many young players in the system that are ready for the NHL.

Seriously. There are maybe 4-5 players drafted each year that can actually hack it in the NHL their draft year. Most take time to either fill out, or develop a more well rounded game. No need to force anyone into the lineup at at this point just because "we" want to see if they can cut it against men.

Several here said at the end of last year that Vlasic was good enough to play on the big club. While there may be some truth to that, the better option was to let him develop and find a more complete game in Rockford. There are not that many young players in the system that are ready for the NHL.
- Chunk

I would hope Phillips would be ready. Although "only" 22 at the start of next season, he has been a pro for 3 seasons now. He has more pro experience than Ian Mitchell does, that if the Hawks do resign Mitchell will be subject to waivers this year If Phillips is not ready to at least start the season on the club, I don't see how another season in the A is going to make him that much better. The Hawks do not have a very good record of developing any young players on the farm, especially defenseman.

I would hope Phillips would be ready. Although "only" 22 at the start of next season, he has been a pro for 3 seasons now. He has more pro experience than Ian Mitchell does, that if the Hawks do resign Mitchell will be subject to waivers this year If Phillips is not ready to at least start the season on the club, I don't see how another season in the A is going to make him that much better. The Hawks do not have a very good record of developing any young players on the farm, especially defenseman.
- LAHawk

Let’s hope that changes in the next couple of years, otherwise the rebuild will be more challenging than we all hoped for.

Let’s hope that changes in the next couple of years, otherwise the rebuild will be more challenging than we all hoped for.
- Angotti

Hi, Lou.

I'd suggest impossible for the bolded.

2-4-4-3-5
- DarthKane

1-5-4-4-5

Hi, Lou.

I'd suggest impossible for the bolded.
- mohel

Hi Mo, probably, but too many defensive prospects to not hit on two/three of them. My picks to make it are Del Mastro, Korchinski, and Vlasic, all LD and I’m not a strong advocate of playing Dmen on their offside. If we could only add a young Seabrook to these three, the most underrated player of the 2010-2016 core. IMHO.

5-1-4-1-3