Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
·
10h
Rockford swept by Texas in a best-of-5 in the first round of the AHL playoffs (after sweeping Iowa in a best-of-3 in the play-in).

That’s the exact same outcome as last season. Given how much effort the Hawks put into boosting Rockford this year, that’s kind of a disappointment.

There's been a lot of discussion here recently on the Kings. Here's an in-depth article about where they go from here.

https://www.thefourthperi...stmortem-skating-in-place

There's been a lot of discussion here recently on the Kings. Here's an in-depth article about where they go from here.

https://www.thefourthperi...stmortem-skating-in-place
- boilermaker100

Hmmmm

Analyzing the contributions of the top two picks of each draft, it’s there’s more disappointment than achievement, more bottom-six players than goal-scorers, more untapped potential than impact from its high picks.

Draft picks are like new cars once they’re made, they immediately depreciate like your new whip when it hits the pavement just outside the dealership. Four first-round picks from 2018 to 2020 have produced 17 regular-season goals and in classic Monday morning quarterbacking except for Byfield and Brandt Clarke, they wouldn’t be at the top of a prospective trade, so using some if not all those 10 picks for established talent would have been a better bet than the ones they made on those kids as a group.

Surely the draft lottery will be on a few major networks and more The SCORE app, ESPN coverage + hockey games, TSN.CA/NHL should cover it on free app although u can upgrade app cheaply on month or annual basis. Probably 7pm anyone know for sure is it 7pm CST
- jhawk59

Unless my memory is foggy, one year the TSN feed announced the drat winner(s) a tad before the televised channel.

One network ESPN, and unsure that the hockey channel has a feed other than ESPNs...


I am glad that we all get clarity on the league's future star destination, so we can all move on.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
·
10h
Rockford swept by Texas in a best-of-5 in the first round of the AHL playoffs (after sweeping Iowa in a best-of-3 in the play-in).

That’s the exact same outcome as last season. Given how much effort the Hawks put into boosting Rockford this year, that’s kind of a disappointment.
- LAHawk

...and from my perspective, it makes me question if goalie Arvid Söderblom is ready for the NHL, as well as any of the "exciting" future NHLers in the group.

Let all percolate, and go get some kids to hang our dreamcoats on.

But 2 of the 4 were acquired in trade, Florida did not draft Reinhardt and Bennett, they for some reason did not work out in Buffalo nor Calgary.
- LAHawk

The point was the early selected are the best chance to succeed; for all the critics of StanBo for trading for first round selected guy that didn't work out (but it didn't work out).

All the teams in the dance, even the losers, are teams loaded with early drafted guys, at draft day or after they don't work out somewhere else.

I am saying that besides hitting on your picks, there are always "ingredients" found outside the team's guys and when they work out, your team progresses to playoff team, then true contenders.

Never mind the draft, I just would like to be alive in in 2033
- 6628

I will be 83 in 2033 and plan on 17 more after that one (he says on his way to a ENT doctor as his hearing (destroyed from the old barn and beyond) fails and the hearing aids do not help.

I don't think Kane sticks with the Rangers. They need to get faster. Give New Jersey their props. They are a very young team and they were down two zip to a veteran team. I would love to see New Jersey and Seattle in the finals but I am not sure Seattle has the where with all just yet. Go Panthers, three more gets us the 19th pick.
- bjphawkfan

stay withe Rangers?

He cleared out his stall, called the movers to pick up his stuff from Breadman's apt. and is taking calls from Buffalo, and later on the Kraken.

The multimillion dollar house purchase in the Chicago burbs is what throws me for a loop. Is Kane in contention to mentor the tp pick in the class if that happens?

stay withe Rangers?

He cleared out his stall, called the movers to pick up his stuff from Breadman's apt. and is taking calls from Buffalo, and later on the Kraken.

The multimillion dollar house purchase in the Chicago burbs is what throws me for a loop. Is Kane in contention to mentor the tp pick in the class if that happens?
- wiz1901

Ben Pope Retweeted
Rangers Videos

@SNYRangers
Patrick Kane is asked about possibly returning to the Blackhawks in free agency:

"They're rebuilding, so that's never crossed my mind to be honest with you"

Do you consider Toews to have been elite in his prime?
- paulr

I have wrestled with the Toews' elite status during his entire tenure. I think he was an elite face-off man, lhard driving eader and a big time NHL player at his position and scorer too. And he always matched up well.

Are there even a half dozen "elite" centres playing?

That is where I get caught up.

I do too, my next question was going to be Fantilli has been compared to Toews, but with more scoring upside so doesn’t that make him elite?
- paulr

Fantilli has plenty missing in details compared to the Toews who arrived from North Dakota.

Will Korchinski become elite?
- Mr Ricochet

...and if so, how come Simon Nemec (3rd overall before Shane Wright!) and David Jiricek go off the board at slot #2 & #6?

Just a couple weeks ago, I watched him blow his defensive coverage and lead to an invasion by the opposition...there his still work to be done, but the good feet and instincts of the smaller Makar will aid in him getting better in his end. I am glad you all want to see him in Chicago next year, but I want him ready when he arrives to ride the waves of NHL attackers.

Do you think a championship team can be made up of solid depth players in all positions but without elite players? I’d like to think it can be the case but until it’s done I’m not sure.
- paulr

Well, your test subject is the Kraken.

...and from my perspective, it makes me question if goalie Arvid Söderblom is ready for the NHL, as well as any of the "exciting" future NHLers in the group.

Let all percolate, and go get some kids to hang our dreamcoats on.
- wiz1901

It's easy to fall in love with the prospects, but you can't look at all these guys with rose colored glasses and expect a lot of them to be mainstays on the team in a couple of years. Just my 2 cents.

Along the same lines Powers over at the Athletic is doing his countdown on the top 30 prospects. Here's his list so far starting from 30 to 11.

30-26 Teply, Stjernborg, Crevier, Slaggert, Rolston
25-21 Stauber, Roos, Regula, Saarela, James
20-16 Thompson, Hayes, Savoie, Allan, Luypen
15-11 Del Mastro, Commesso, Safanov, Phillips, Rinzel

You would think that several of the this year's 11 picks would be future top 20's, so IMO, the days are numbered for the guys presently ranked 21-30 above and are long, long shots to have any impact on the team. The 11-20 guys still have time to develop and hopefully several can contribute down the road.

Lafreniere was supposed to be a sure thing.
- rpeters01

Well, as a graduation junior he was never a blazer attacker, but always fit no matter where he was placed position line wise.
He was a cut above in junior in terms of physicality, and there still is plenty of upside and time to improve and join the Panthers (like Bennett and Reinhart).

It's not so different than Reichel where you find ways to add to the challenge and look for them being excepted and getting to the next level.

stay withe Rangers?

He cleared out his stall, called the movers to pick up his stuff from Breadman's apt. and is taking calls from Buffalo, and later on the Kraken.

The multimillion dollar house purchase in the Chicago burbs is what throws me for a loop. Is Kane in contention to mentor the tp pick in the class if that happens?
- wiz1901

Wyshynski interviewed Kane yesterday and he gave a hard ‘no’ when asked if he’s going back to Chicago. He said they’re rebuilding, he wants to play on a contender. Didn’t rule out NYR again.

Athletic Scott Wheeler:
Q: Where do you think the top five from last year would go if they were available in this year’s draft? — Steve S.

Going back to where I was at on Shane Wright, Simon Nemec, Logan Cooley, Matthew Savoie, Juraj Slafkovsky and David Jiricek (my top six from 2022) and excluding everything I’ve seen of them since, they each would have ranked in a jumble with the players I have slotted 6-17 in my third tier on this year’s ranking. Wright, Nemec and Cooley would have grouped with Benson, Moore, Perreault, Dvorsky, Wood and Leonard at the front of that group, and Savoie, Slafkovsky and Jiricek would have likely ranked with Eduard Sale, Andrew Cristall, Brayden Yager, David Reinbacher, Sandin Pellikka and Colby Barlow.

Dear Santa,
Can you please get the Blackhawks another early pick or can you let one of the bolded names above drop to slot # 20?

Well, your test subject is the Kraken.
- wiz1901

And it was Vegas before them.

Ben Pope Retweeted
Rangers Videos

@SNYRangers
Patrick Kane is asked about possibly returning to the Blackhawks in free agency:

"They're rebuilding, so that's never crossed my mind to be honest with you"
- LAHawk

It sure took him a long time this past season to decide he didn't want to be part of the rebuild.

Petr Klima - Alef Ha Shalom

I have wrestled with the Toews' elite status during his entire tenure. I think he was an elite face-off man, lhard driving eader and a big time NHL player at his position and scorer too. And he always matched up well.

Are there even a half dozen "elite" centres playing?

That is where I get caught up.
- wiz1901

I think there are: McDavid, MacKinnon, Draisaitl, Matthews, Crosby, Bergeron, and if he’s not already Hughes

Fantilli has plenty missing in details compared to the Toews who arrived from North Dakota.
- wiz1901

I am not a fan of fantilli. I would take the russian or swede before him

Would love to see a recap of what you see tonight, Spud. Especially players that figure to be borderline to play with the big club next yr. Phillips, Reichel, Vlasic, Roos, Soderblom. ...... Anything that jumps out to you.
- Mr Ricochet

Here is what I saw watching the Hogs play in what turned out to be the last game of the season for them:
1) Soderblom is too passive in his net. It seemed like he is always deep in the crease. The 2nd and 3rd goals should have been saves if he is on top of the crease. It is like he lets the puck come to him instead of going to save the puck. Matt Murray was much more aggressive and it really made the difference in some of the IceHogs rushes.
2) The Hawks Organization need to find their next Seabrook, I know that is easier said than done. For having a collection of big Dmen, they play like they are 5'7", 150 lbs. So many times they could wipe their player out on the boards, but they play so passive. I'm not saying they need to headhunt, but just the play along the boards was so weak. Need to be better separating the man from the puck. Lost a lot of puck battles.
3) Reichel...you see the flashes of his talent, great skater. But you would think for the next "star" player for the Hawks, he should be dominating in the AHL...he didn't. I know he scored at the end, but Murray should have save it.
4) Players that stood out:
Joey Anderson just does a lot of things right. Plays on PP & PK. Not going to be a 1st or 2nd line player, but has many usual tools.
Reichel for his speed and stick handling, with better line mates he can certainly drive the play. He played a lot of C, but in my opinion, it seems like a wing is better suited for him.
Teply looked pretty good until he took that stupid crosscheck penalty at the end of the game, that lead to the 4th Stars goal.
Buddy Robinson moves a lot better for being as big as he is. He can't do anything when the puck comes to him, but he is way faster than I would have thought.
Of all the young Defensemen, I would say it was Phillips that looked the best, than maybe Vlasic. The interesting thing is they all seem like the same player. Nothing stood out that makes you say, wow, that guy is the next young 1 pairing, or even 2 pairing to come up next year. They all skate well, just need to get tougher/stronger.
It was a fun game, wish it was a better outcome, but it was nice to see what is in the pipeline for the Hawks. And at $20 a ticket and free parking, totally worth it (except for the idiot fan next to me wearing a Hawks jersey that would stand up and cheer every time the Stars scored)!

Here is what I saw watching the Hogs play in what turned out to be the last game of the season for them:
1) Soderblom is too passive in his net. It seemed like he is always deep in the crease. The 2nd and 3rd goals should have been saves if he is on top of the crease. It is like he lets the puck come to him instead of going to save the puck. Matt Murray was much more aggressive and it really made the difference in some of the IceHogs rushes.
2) The Hawks Organization need to find their next Seabrook, I know that is easier said than done. For having a collection of big Dmen, they play like they are 5'7", 150 lbs. So many times they could wipe their player out on the boards, but they play so passive. I'm not saying they need to headhunt, but just the play along the boards was so weak. Need to be better separating the man from the puck. Lost a lot of puck battles.
3) Reichel...you see the flashes of his talent, great skater. But you would think for the next "star" player for the Hawks, he should be dominating in the AHL...he didn't. I know he scored at the end, but Murray should have save it.
4) Players that stood out:
Joey Anderson just does a lot of things right. Plays on PP & PK. Not going to be a 1st or 2nd line player, but has many usual tools.
Reichel for his speed and stick handling, with better line mates he can certainly drive the play. He played a lot of C, but in my opinion, it seems like a wing is better suited for him.
Teply looked pretty good until he took that stupid crosscheck penalty at the end of the game, that lead to the 4th Stars goal.
Buddy Robinson moves a lot better for being as big as he is. He can't do anything when the puck comes to him, but he is way faster than I would have thought.
Of all the young Defensemen, I would say it was Phillips that looked the best, than maybe Vlasic. The interesting thing is they all seem like the same player. Nothing stood out that makes you say, wow, that guy is the next young 1 pairing, or even 2 pairing to come up next year. They all skate well, just need to get tougher/stronger.
It was a fun game, wish it was a better outcome, but it was nice to see what is in the pipeline for the Hawks. And at $20 a ticket and free parking, totally worth it (except for the idiot fan next to me wearing a Hawks jersey that would stand up and cheer every time the Stars scored)!
- spudrock512

Good recap. Thanks. Sounds as if any of the Rockford players make the Hawks next season, they won't move the needle much. But they are still young and can grow their games and bodies.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
·
10h
Rockford swept by Texas in a best-of-5 in the first round of the AHL playoffs (after sweeping Iowa in a best-of-3 in the play-in).

That’s the exact same outcome as last season. Given how much effort the Hawks put into boosting Rockford this year, that’s kind of a disappointment.
- LAHawk

Your probably right, but the Hawks brought in several players at the end of the season for the playoffs. So the unfamiliarity with each other could be a factor. I would imagine that next year will be a better situation with a more stable group.