We are on the same page Ricco, you know where I am coming from in my semi-rant. This, keep/don't trade your own draft choices even if it will improve your team now and in the long term, and don't bring up your draft choices until they have the service time to draw their pension from the AHL just gives me angina.

I agree, Kaiser could make the opening roster also. It probably comes down to Vlasic/Phillip/Kaiser for 2 LD spots.

Mitchell will be interesting because his next contract he becomes waiver eligible. If he does sign with the Hawks, that means KD is planning on Mitchell playing with the big club, doubt he would sign him an then expose him to waivers. I guess it depends on if they will just send Zaitsev down to the minors to open up the spot for Mitchell.

Plus I think KD found out another thing. He has too good a coach to just assume that if he gives Luke the worst talent in the league, LR will find a way to keep the team competitive/win more games then they deserve.
- LAHawk

If I were in congress I'd vote present on a vote on Mitchell. I'm torn but man he hasn't shown much. I'm gonna defer to KD, his staff and LR and agree with whatever the decide. .... But unlike Kaiser and Phillips it's rare I say nice play when watching Mitchell.

As far as Kaiser, Phillips and Vlasic up at the same time next yr and all being lefthanded I think they rotate in with one being scratched. Don't think handedness will factor in too much but it might. And of course we have to see how many vet Dmen are with the club to start the season.

I do think KD has his ear open to LR. As you mention he showed how well he coached last yr but as an NHL Dman for 1,000 plus games he showed he can handle/develop young/rookie Dmen in the bigs. All the young Dmen did well in their NHL looks save for Mitchell.

If I were in congress I'd vote present on a vote on Mitchell. I'm torn but man he hasn't shown much. I'm gonna defer to KD, his staff and LR and agree with whatever the decide. .... But unlike Kaiser and Phillips it's rare I say nice play when watching Mitchell.

As far as Kaiser, Phillips and Vlasic up at the same time next yr and all being lefthanded I think they rotate in with one being scratched. Don't think handedness will factor in too much but it might. And of course we have to see how many vet Dmen are with the club to start the season.

I do think KD has his ear open to LR. As you mention he showed how well he coached last yr but as an NHL Dman for 1,000 plus games he showed he can handle/develop young/rookie Dmen in the bigs. All the young Dmen did well in their NHL looks save for Mitchell.
- Mr Ricochet

Wasn’t just here LR got praise, just ask that Canadien D corps their thoughts about LR.
https://montrealgazette.c...on-from-canadiens-players

And Kevin Dean has pretty good bona fides also.

I've posted many times IMO the Hawks can safely bring up Vlasic, Phillips and Kaiser next yr. They fit my first "requirement" that it will do their development no harm and in Vlasic and Phillips case they have plenty of AHL games and it's time.

Of all D prospects I was most excited for Phillips and compared him to K'Andre Phillips. Big athletic kid that can skate and has explosive feet in his small area game, especially his first couple steps... As LBR pointed out with her fancies they support the eye test for me. Kid is aware and has the physical attributes to be effective.

That was until I saw Kaiser who quite frankly I was damn near blown away by. Going off of memory he has 100+ NCAA games vs 19-26 yr olds, not like your 20-21 yr old outa jrs. His path/coaching showed up in his late season look with the Hawks. Kid was aware and not overwhelmed at all either mentally or physically. And as each game went on you saw him more and more making plays in the Ozone either from the blueline or joining the rush.

I zeroed in on every one of his shifts and said over and over nice play, nice play. You almost had to nitpick to find errors and this is a kid playing his first NHL games. Great gaps, smart pinches or not, head up, great wall work, always got leverage/body position in the crease, along the walls or small area game, filled lanes, quick smart stick excellent reads, was not thinking just playing (shows coaching/development/video work) and again as a 20 yr old in his first NHL games

Until Korchinski shows me something in the pros Kaiser is my #1 D prospect followed by Phillips and Vlasic who all 3 I'd like to see them up with the Hawks next yr and have posted so many times.

Each player is different though. You mention Pesce and Slavin, who I saw come thru Chicago with the Steel. Great skater with a simple game even back then. But for every Slavin or Pesce you have a Boqvuist. Each player is different as is developing them. .......... But what doesn't change for me is it all starts between the ears, especially Dmen.

To simplify it how many times do you say nice play, nice play, nice play in a game with a young player? If it's often that's a big clue they're not overwhelmed, and the fancies will support what your eyes see, and will develop just fine in the bigs.
- Mr Ricochet

Nice post Rico, but I think you meant Miller. The Hawks have to promote at a minimum two defensive prospects next year, for one it’s time and two, it will be crowded in the backend at the Rock.

Interested to see if Lindy starts 22 yr old Schmid in goal tonight. He pulled him in Game 1 after going down 3-0 but IMO nothing he could have done on 2 of those goals.

Wondering if Lindy thinks the only chance he has in this series is with Schmid in net. Maybe he was just protecting him from a poor NJ start and getting bombed by 5 6 goals and will go back to him in Game 2?

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.
- Mr Ricochet

I get it, i don't agree with it. I went in to it before but not going to bother anymore since I'm so wrong

It worked for all these teams for sure, at least they made the playoffs and surely will the next 8 years.

https://www.archyde.com/t...in-the-stanley-cup-again/

I really believe there are some great questions in here for this org going forward. What is Blake's next move? Give up more draft picks to move Peterson?

I've posted many times IMO the Hawks can safely bring up Vlasic, Phillips and Kaiser next yr.
- Mr Ricochet

In Phillips, I think the hawks were fortunate to have scouted and discovered the rough edges of a excellent skating kid in the OHA, who is still coming into understanding and playing to details on the backline.

Great start in his improvement to gauge what where and use his toughness (that was the first thing they noticed) along with good feet and flow to his defending.

He's smart and knowledgeable of his situations, but he needs time in the AHL to see more of the same with his reactions all positive.

There is no use to taste the NHl right now...he already got a few bites(games) and none were w/o breakdowns. We have the luxury of going slow drafting low w/o a necessary youth dee thinking they can go go go.

We have a former NHL defenseman as the head coach and he is going to know when Phillips is ready by performance. (We are going to see lots of auditions next year.) It's tough for me try and compare the trajectories of a Minnesota HS kid who becomes part of the elite 7 defenders on the US National team (along with Vlasic), who are schooled and savvy in the hockey IQs and a Jamaican kid born in Barrie, Ontario and starts with the non-playoff Sudbury Wolves and needless pics for more than two season while improving.

I guess I start back a few pages when the question was asked about Who's Better?,Lil Mitchell or big Phillips. If the one is in the big leagues that means that player has the teams confidence he can play and learn to improve at the NHL level. (Whether Mitchell does or not doesn't mean being here in Mitchell's slot that Phillips plays better.)
If it was, they would have him here.

btw, I thought K'Andre Phillips was bad against New Jersey, but so was his teams lateral attack, and he and they looked a step behind. Both Vlasic and Kaiser will be here. I always say I cannot tell what he is until we see him in the NHL, and kaiser showed us that he is quick, soldi on his pins, and smart as a two way defender who needs little work on the details as they are there. Sure, it wouldn't hurt him to play some in Rockford. (Remember we have defenders who stay until their deals are up or we find homes elsewhere.)

I said Vlasic should stay last year. He has been seasoned since the USA-NDT time when as a second rounder, we knew a big guy was going to need more agility and no indecision when he arrived. He is far higher a prospect since he signed with Chicago than when they took him. All arrows point up
It is a team game and their team got blown out in the AHL playoffs, so that doesn't bode well to reward them? eh?

Kaiser is not a future goal scoring offesemen, but he may be a strong two way NHLer if he stays on this path, because we saw a lot of good smarts and play all over. His arrow points up.

Isaak Phillips can be a physical, unafraid to drop'em backliner with good feet head and offensive upside in the same way Kaiser will jump up.

Even Allen will start in Rockford where he will quickly learn the nuances of his defensive game and when he gets robust in his aggression inside the AHL against quickness, he will get the call sooner than later. He is a beast defensively and his feet have always been good as his hockey head. I was pissed at the pick mostly because I wanted a forward although I totally understood what head scout and StanBo were doing (They were replacing the type of defender role Seabrook was with a Seabrook-type and were not even thing about his offensive side, just how good he was / is as a defender.)

So I say we see many a defender but Vlasic & Kaiser can take the bunk bed room in Kane's new house.

In Phillips, I think the hawks were fortunate to have scouted and discovered the rough edges of a excellent skating kid in the OHA, who is still coming into understanding and playing to details on the backline.

Great start in his improvement to gauge what where and use his toughness (that was the first thing they noticed) along with good feet and flow to his defending.

He's smart and knowledgeable of his situations, but he needs time in the AHL to see more of the same with his reactions all positive.

There is no use to taste the NHl right now...he already got a few bites(games) and none were w/o breakdowns. We have the luxury of going slow drafting low w/o a necessary youth dee thinking they can go go go.

We have a former NHL defenseman as the head coach and he is going to know when Phillips is ready by performance. (We are going to see lots of auditions next year.) It's tough for me try and compare the trajectories of a Minnesota HS kid who becomes part of the elite 7 defenders on the US National team (along with Vlasic), who are schooled and savvy in the hockey IQs and a Jamaican kid born in Barrie, Ontario and starts with the non-playoff Sudbury Wolves and needless pics for more than two season while improving.

I guess I start back a few pages when the question was asked about Who's Better?,Lil Mitchell or big Phillips. If the one is in the big leagues that means that player has the teams confidence he can play and learn to improve at the NHL level. (Whether Mitchell does or not doesn't mean being here in Mitchell's slot that Phillips plays better.)
If it was, they would have him here.

btw, I thought K'Andre Phillips was bad against New Jersey, but so was his teams lateral attack, and he and they looked a step behind. Both Vlasic and Kaiser will be here. I always say I cannot tell what he is until we see him in the NHL, and kaiser showed us that he is quick, soldi on his pins, and smart as a two way defender who needs little work on the details as they are there. Sure, it wouldn't hurt him to play some in Rockford. (Remember we have defenders who stay until their deals are up or we find homes elsewhere.)

I said Vlasic should stay last year. He has been seasoned since the USA-NDT time when as a second rounder, we knew a big guy was going to need more agility and no indecision when he arrived. He is far higher a prospect since he signed with Chicago than when they took him. All arrows point up
It is a team game and their team got blown out in the AHL playoffs, so that doesn't bode well to reward them? eh?

Kaiser is not a future goal scoring offesemen, but he may be a strong two way NHLer if he stays on this path, because we saw a lot of good smarts and play all over. His arrow points up.

Isaak Phillips can be a physical, unafraid to drop'em backliner with good feet head and offensive upside in the same way Kaiser will jump up.

Even Allen will start in Rockford where he will quickly learn the nuances of his defensive game and when he gets robust in his aggression inside the AHL against quickness, he will get the call sooner than later. He is a beast defensively and his feet have always been good as his hockey head. I was pissed at the pick mostly because I wanted a forward although I totally understood what head scout and StanBo were doing (They were replacing the type of defender role Seabrook was with a Seabrook-type and were not even thing about his offensive side, just how good he was / is as a defender.)

So I say we see many a defender but Vlasic & Kaiser can take the bunk bed room in Kane's new house.
- wiz1901

I'm fine with whatever the org decides to do. I thought Vlasic was ready for the big leagues last season, at the same time perfectly fine with the org saying not so fast. Curious to see what they do with Kaiser and Phillips.

Nice post Rico, but I think you meant Miller. The Hawks have to promote at a minimum two defensive prospects next year, for one it’s time and two, it will be crowded in the backend at the Rock.
- Angotti

Yes, meant to compare K'Andre Miller and the Hawks' Phillips. And yes, Del Mastro and Allen will be up with the Hogs after aging out of jrs.

In Phillips, I think the hawks were fortunate to have scouted and discovered the rough edges of a excellent skating kid in the OHA, who is still coming into understanding and playing to details on the backline.

Great start in his improvement to gauge what where and use his toughness (that was the first thing they noticed) along with good feet and flow to his defending.

He's smart and knowledgeable of his situations, but he needs time in the AHL to see more of the same with his reactions all positive.

There is no use to taste the NHl right now...he already got a few bites(games) and none were w/o breakdowns. We have the luxury of going slow drafting low w/o a necessary youth dee thinking they can go go go.

We have a former NHL defenseman as the head coach and he is going to know when Phillips is ready by performance. (We are going to see lots of auditions next year.) It's tough for me try and compare the trajectories of a Minnesota HS kid who becomes part of the elite 7 defenders on the US National team (along with Vlasic), who are schooled and savvy in the hockey IQs and a Jamaican kid born in Barrie, Ontario and starts with the non-playoff Sudbury Wolves and needless pics for more than two season while improving.

I guess I start back a few pages when the question was asked about Who's Better?,Lil Mitchell or big Phillips. If the one is in the big leagues that means that player has the teams confidence he can play and learn to improve at the NHL level. (Whether Mitchell does or not doesn't mean being here in Mitchell's slot that Phillips plays better.)
If it was, they would have him here.

btw, I thought K'Andre Phillips was bad against New Jersey, but so was his teams lateral attack, and he and they looked a step behind. Both Vlasic and Kaiser will be here. I always say I cannot tell what he is until we see him in the NHL, and kaiser showed us that he is quick, soldi on his pins, and smart as a two way defender who needs little work on the details as they are there. Sure, it wouldn't hurt him to play some in Rockford. (Remember we have defenders who stay until their deals are up or we find homes elsewhere.)

I said Vlasic should stay last year. He has been seasoned since the USA-NDT time when as a second rounder, we knew a big guy was going to need more agility and no indecision when he arrived. He is far higher a prospect since he signed with Chicago than when they took him. All arrows point up
It is a team game and their team got blown out in the AHL playoffs, so that doesn't bode well to reward them? eh?

Kaiser is not a future goal scoring offesemen, but he may be a strong two way NHLer if he stays on this path, because we saw a lot of good smarts and play all over. His arrow points up.

Isaak Phillips can be a physical, unafraid to drop'em backliner with good feet head and offensive upside in the same way Kaiser will jump up.

Even Allen will start in Rockford where he will quickly learn the nuances of his defensive game and when he gets robust in his aggression inside the AHL against quickness, he will get the call sooner than later. He is a beast defensively and his feet have always been good as his hockey head. I was pissed at the pick mostly because I wanted a forward although I totally understood what head scout and StanBo were doing (They were replacing the type of defender role Seabrook was with a Seabrook-type and were not even thing about his offensive side, just how good he was / is as a defender.)

So I say we see many a defender but Vlasic & Kaiser can take the bunk bed room in Kane's new house.
- wiz1901

A lot here, Wiz. But at 21 with 3 yrs and 140 AHL games, good fancies in his 16 games with the Hawks, the size/skating to play NHL I think it's time to bring Phillips up.

Miller had a fine playoffs last yr and not so good, along with Fox, and most all the NYR had a bad playoffs v NJ. Miller is a huge mobile 23 yr old with 200 NHL games. He'll be fine.

I thought the Hawks reached on Allen but I'm ok with it and am a fan. Nice simple game, good skater, good size, accepts his shutdown role and has some nasty in his game...... Look forward to seeing him in RKF next yr.

5-5-5-4-2

5-5-5-4-2
- 35Tony0

4-5-5-4-5

I have to admit i felt like the move for Carolina was to go after Meier since i believe they need secondary scoring and imho a team ready to make a Stanley Cup run with all the pieces they have and playoff experience.

It sure doesn't look like they need Meier, or TT or even Svechnikov. I'll be curious to see if they can keep winning in the playoffs but damn they look good, frustrating the hell out of the Islanders and now NJ.

Which brings me back to the Blackhawks, with the roster they had i thought for sure we would of finished with the best Bedard odds in the league, we had over half a team of AHL players competing night in and night out with NHL teams. It'll be fun to see LR get some fresh NHL talent over time and watch them grow in his system.

Just think. If the Hawks do not beat the Pens in the last week of the season, they would have had the worst record in the NHL AND THE PANTHERS WOULD NOT BE IN THE PLAYOFFS. Ugh!!!!!!!

Just think. If the Hawks do not beat the Pens in the last week of the season, they would have had the worst record in the NHL AND THE PANTHERS WOULD NOT BE IN THE PLAYOFFS. Ugh!!!!!!!
- -Doh-

First part doesn’t really matter all that much. I’m elated at the second. I’d much rather watch FLA’s brand of hockey in the playoffs than PITT’s. Tkachuk out there playing like Bolland with more offense.

Bob McKenzie's top 12 prospects.

Bedard
Fantilli
Smith
Carlsson
Michkov
Dvorsky
Leonard
Benson
Perreault
Reinbacher
Barlow
Wood

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/pl...edition-ranking-1.1956585

Bob McKenzie's top 12 prospects.

Bedard
Fantilli
Smith
Carlsson
Michkov
Dvorsky
Leonard
Benson
Perreault
Reinbacher
Barlow
Wood

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/pl...edition-ranking-1.1956585
- boilermaker100

Thank you, BM. Your links are always helpful.........

Nothing has changed for me as far as the draft goes. From Day 1 I wondered if Michkov would fall and if so how far? Drafting him 3rd or even 4th is scary but each slot he drops less so and if he drops does someone put together a package to move up and get him?

And Hrabal too. Is he the first goalie off the board and if so is it in rd 1? Seems some of these analyst out-think themselves as the draft gets closer and deviate from their assessments (recency bias). I wonder if his strong Worlds jump him up ahead of the rest and into rd 1?

Eddie O on the Ray & Dregs Podcast: https://www.rayanddregs.c...lczyk-previewing-round-2/

Thank you, BM. Your links are always helpful.........

Nothing has changed for me as far as the draft goes. From Day 1 I wondered if Michkov would fall and if so how far? Drafting him 3rd or even 4th is scary but each slot he drops less so and if he drops does someone put together a package to move up and get him?

And Hrabal too. Is he the first goalie off the board and if so is it in rd 1? Seems some of these analyst out-think themselves as the draft gets closer and deviate from their assessments (recency bias). I wonder if his strong Worlds jump him up ahead of the rest and into rd 1?
- Mr Ricochet

Definitely going to be a tough call as to who to pick if the Hawks land the 3,4, or 5 spot. I hope it isn't Michkov. I'm not concerned as much as his KHL contract extending a few more years (the team isn't going anywhere in that time so they can afford to wait for him), but the overall geopolitical climate. I don't think it will get better over the next 3 or 4 years and it may become difficult for him to leave the mother country.

This is a big draft for KD. He can't afford to miss out a top forward. Hopefully he can pick either Carlsson or Smith with the early pick, and find another top 6 forward at 19 or 20.

With 4 2nd round picks, I hope they concentrate on more forwards or a good RD if available. Those to me are a greater organizational need than a goalie.

For dmen particularly it is consistency. No weakness or inability which can be exposed. Allen for example has to graduate to descent grom bad with passing. Phillips is not naturally aggressive so he better be pretty good if he wants to hold down a roster spot. Phillips had come a long way but still has to develop more Unless they see noticeable improvement over a segment like 20 gp, he remains most of next season in AHL

My hope is to see Korchinski, Kaiser DelMaestro become top two pairs Phillips vies with Allen for third pair in two years
- jhawk59

I take a highly analytical and scientific approach to it, keep the MFers from scoring and get the puck out of the zone.

Thank you, BM. Your links are always helpful.........

Nothing has changed for me as far as the draft goes. From Day 1 I wondered if Michkov would fall and if so how far? Drafting him 3rd or even 4th is scary but each slot he drops less so and if he drops does someone put together a package to move up and get him?

And Hrabal too. Is he the first goalie off the board and if so is it in rd 1? Seems some of these analyst out-think themselves as the draft gets closer and deviate from their assessments (recency bias). I wonder if his strong Worlds jump him up ahead of the rest and into rd 1?
- Mr Ricochet

What are the odd that Fantilli doesn’t go at #2? He won’t be there when the Hawks draft at #4, but he could go #3.

Definitely going to be a tough call as to who to pick if the Hawks land the 3,4, or 5 spot. I hope it isn't Michkov. I'm not concerned as much as his KHL contract extending a few more years (the team isn't going anywhere in that time so they can afford to wait for him), but the overall geopolitical climate. I don't think it will get better over the next 3 or 4 years and it may become difficult for him to leave the mother country.

This is a big draft for KD. He can't afford to miss out a top forward. Hopefully he can pick either Carlsson or Smith with the early pick, and find another top 6 forward at 19 or 20.

With 4 2nd round picks, I hope they concentrate on more forwards or a good RD if available. Those to me are a greater organizational need than a goalie.
- boilermaker100

I think the Hawks play it safe at #4 with one of Carlsson, Smith or Benson.

4-5-5-1-2

4-5-5-1-2
- DarthKane

2 days

Luke Hughes straight from the frozen four to the NHL playoffs, damn

Luke Hughes straight from the frozen four to the NHL playoffs, damn
- BetweenTheDots

Knies beat him