Ooh right,the sexual assault scandal.
Good point.
But also,every kid in Canada dreams of wearing that sweater one day. Not sure they dream of wearing the Indian Head.
We'll wait and see I guess. Draft is still a month and a half away!
I'm an idiot for bringing up a "Lindros" situation.
- captainserious

Not sure every kid wants to wear your maple leaf sweater either

Since i get all the questions, i have a question for you, do you think LR handled Reichel the right way?

Personally i think they handled him as well as you can handle a prospect who needed time to develop
- BetweenTheDots

My memory is so poor but IIRC I didn't see a problem. Kid put up 15 in 23 games so the numbers were good but I have not looked at, probably did but don't remember, his fancies, zone starts, TOI, most common linemates.

But the simple numbers say he handled him well. Put him in positions to succeed. .... Honestly there wasn't anything LR did that I did not like. Maybe would have liked to see Phillips and Kaiser play more but again, those kids played well so you'd have to say he pressed the right buttons at the right times with them.

I think they will probably sign a tough guy for the roster as a general deterrent but that really only means they carry a policeman as part of their 23 man roster. Their need is for more size, smarts and skill in players who can actually play with somebody like Bedard. My #1 choice would be Tom WIlson but he would not be cheap to acquire.
- RickJ

Wilson is head and shoulders the best of the face wreckers with size who can skate in a top 6 role, on a cup team!! But he ain't going anywhere.

I'm hoping for UFA Hathaway. Big dude, will fight and is good at it and can skate a bottom 6 role. No, he won't skate with Bedard but good guy to "retaliate" if needed and won't hurt his line.

I think the perfect fit is Domi to skate with Bedard. Can play center or wing, can skate with high end players, can produce at a 50+ pt pace, his career high is 72, and will protect Bedard like a 1st born. At 28 he wants some security, loved Chicago and think he'd bite on a 3 yr 5 mil per offer that doesn't tie the Hawk's hands long term and helps them get to the cap floor.

I'm also ok with UFAs Watson or Reeves but really like Hathaway.

Finally, I am not the only one who see Fantilli with a little less shine like I have:

https://theathletic.com/4...nor-bedard-adam-fantilli/
- wiz1901

Or that those scouts like Carlsson a lot more than is being talked about. One of those scouts thinks any of the top 6 prospects in the 2023 draft would have gone FIRST in last yrs draft!!!!

Validation of the strength of the upcoming draft? Logic would have it then starting with the 7th overall this yr starts a group of some damn fine prospects. Seems if ever there was a yr to move up the 2023 draft is the one to do so.

Also, those scouts would not be surprised to see Michkov drop, even out of the top 5. Lotta risk and they haven't seen the kid play in a yr.

Deep dish isn’t pizza.
- paulr

If you say so

One more..Bedard has an Edge on his game....Kane never had that...Yes, Kane was a perhaps little better in stick handling while passing but Bedard has far better stick handling when shooting.
- shidler

You know everyone is hyped by Bedard, but what if he turns out to be the next Alexander Daigle? Or the next Billy Beane. He sounds really good on paper and in juniors but what if he flops in the NHL?

The NHL has to appease you pathetic fans or else you will take your ball and go home! Disgusting!
- bsw31usa

The Kleenex is in the bottom drawer

You know everyone is hyped by Bedard, but what if he turns out to be the next Alexander Daigle? Or the next Billy Beane. He sounds really good on paper and in juniors but what if he flops in the NHL?
- Hawk4life

What if you stop posting

Remember now, Reichel is only 20 yrs old. Long way to go and a lot of mistakes to be made as he develops. One thing I haven't really read here is how much Bedard makes his teammates better. Kid has elite vision and hits his teammates with passes that allows them to be dangerous...... Bedard will be very good for Reichel.

Still curious if you think a change in coaches in RKF is beneficial for prospects to develop. Indeed, their regular season and playoff record underwhelmed when KD brought in some players to improve the RKF squad.
- Mr Ricochet

Hard to tell. The coach sounds very smart when interviewed. I only saw Rockford play 5 times this year and the roster was completely different 4 times. They don't go the net, but the Hawks have not been drafting hard nosed players. Will no more as the pipeline fills back up.

Or that those scouts like Carlsson a lot more than is being talked about. One of those scouts thinks any of the top 6 prospects in the 2023 draft would have gone FIRST in last yrs draft!!!!

Validation of the strength of the upcoming draft? Logic would have it then starting with the 7th overall this yr starts a group of some damn fine prospects. Seems if ever there was a yr to move up the 2023 draft is the one to do so.

Also, those scouts would not be surprised to see Michkov drop, even out of the top 5. Lotta risk and they haven't seen the kid play in a yr.
- Mr Ricochet

I would if I was drafting the Russian find out as much as I could about his father’s death. Not much is known publicly about it except he was found at the bottom of a pond.

Second morning after, still feeling good!

A couple points so as not to respond to every post for the last 8 pages;

1. I refuse to engage discussion on any silly trade packages for the #1 pick, or KD possibly drafting someone else. This is silly talk and a waste of yours, mine and the rest of the boards time.

2. Lots of names being thrown around for #19 (c'mon Panthers). Many who won't be there, and I don't think many would really trade down with us, (the other teams really hate the Hawks now!). I don't want to lose any of the second rounders in this deep, deep, draft. The prospect pool needs to be built up as much as possible. Realistically, I'm thinking staying at #19 and just take the Tom Wilson like Kasper Halttunen from Finland. He is a beast, can skate, and makes the most sense long term to be Bedard's left wing.

Kasper Halttunen, RW - Finland

Kasper Halttunen has long been considered the top Finn in the 2023 class. The 6-3 power forward is a handful even while playing at the professional level back home. At this event against U18 skaters, he was downright abusive.

The right-winger ended the event with a tidy six goals and 10 points in five games. His efforts weren’t enough to get the Finnish squad out of the quarter-finals, but his improved play throughout the event showcased that he’s got a lot of upside to go with his raw physical tools.

That is all for now.

Over thinking getting competent NHLers to skate with Bedard and a couple guys that can police the ice and skate an NHL shift?

Who right now is their top 6 and who besides Tinordi does a goof on the other team respect?
- Mr Ricochet

There is no way to protect any player, you have to hope a “goof” on another team is intimidated by Chicago’s goon, that Bedard can avoid the contact or your powerplay is the best intimidation. Yes have a goon or tough player but at the end of the day he is there for pay back, not prevention. And as proof Matt Cooke, the ultimate goof, basically ruined Marc Savard’s career with a dirty hit. Chara and Lucic were on the ice at the time and the Bruins also had Boychuck, McQuaid, Shawn Thornton and Marc Stuart in the lineup.

Bedard had great chemistry with Mason McTavish at the World Juniors, I wonder what it would take to pry him out of Anaheim?

Let's get Panarin from the Rags for our #20 pick, then trade him to St. Louis for Saad.
- Dieselhead

But do it only after the Rangers sign Kane to some stupid contract .... love your thinking ... gett'r done KD.

A couple points so as not to respond to every post for the last 8 pages;

1. I refuse to engage discussion on any silly trade packages for the #1 pick, or KD possibly drafting someone else. This is silly talk and a waste of yours, mine and the rest of the boards time.

2. Lots of names being thrown around for #19 (c'mon Panthers). Many who won't be there, and I don't think many would really trade down with us, (the other teams really hate the Hawks now!). I don't want to lose any of the second rounders in this deep, deep, draft. The prospect pool needs to be built up as much as possible. Realistically, I'm thinking staying at #19 and just take the Tom Wilson like Kasper Halttunen from Finland. He is a beast, can skate, and makes the most sense long term to be Bedard's left wing.

Kasper Halttunen, RW - Finland

Kasper Halttunen has long been considered the top Finn in the 2023 class. The 6-3 power forward is a handful even while playing at the professional level back home. At this event against U18 skaters, he was downright abusive.

The right-winger ended the event with a tidy six goals and 10 points in five games. His efforts weren’t enough to get the Finnish squad out of the quarter-finals, but his improved play throughout the event showcased that he’s got a lot of upside to go with his raw physical tools.

That is all for now.
- vabeachbear

I like all of this, completely agree

With lady luck KD gets a chance to really build one hell of a roster.

He got the hardest get in all sports, the generational player

A couple points so as not to respond to every post for the last 8 pages;

1. I refuse to engage discussion on any silly trade packages for the #1 pick, or KD possibly drafting someone else. This is silly talk and a waste of yours, mine and the rest of the boards time.

2. Lots of names being thrown around for #19 (c'mon Panthers). Many who won't be there, and I don't think many would really trade down with us, (the other teams really hate the Hawks now!). I don't want to lose any of the second rounders in this deep, deep, draft. The prospect pool needs to be built up as much as possible. Realistically, I'm thinking staying at #19 and just take the Tom Wilson like Kasper Halttunen from Finland. He is a beast, can skate, and makes the most sense long term to be Bedard's left wing.

Kasper Halttunen, RW - Finland

Kasper Halttunen has long been considered the top Finn in the 2023 class. The 6-3 power forward is a handful even while playing at the professional level back home. At this event against U18 skaters, he was downright abusive.

The right-winger ended the event with a tidy six goals and 10 points in five games. His efforts weren’t enough to get the Finnish squad out of the quarter-finals, but his improved play throughout the event showcased that he’s got a lot of upside to go with his raw physical tools.

That is all for now.
- vabeachbear

Totally agree. You don't pass on the generational player in the draft to accumulate additional lottery tickets. With 5 picks in the top 64, I think that box has been checked.

Totally agree. You don't pass on the generational player in the draft to accumulate additional lottery tickets. With 5 picks in the top 64, I think that box has been checked.
- HawkintheD

What's nice is having all these picks and needs you can take the best available that falls to you.

Finally, I am not the only one who see Fantilli with a little less shine like I have:

https://theathletic.com/4...nor-bedard-adam-fantilli/
- wiz1901

I’m glad the Hawks don’t have to make this decision. Unless one of Carlsson or Fantilli really separate themselves from the pack I could see a debate going on for years.

What's nice is having all these picks and needs you can take the best available that falls to you.
- BetweenTheDots

You can take BPA and it also affords them the opportunity to take someone they like that might be a longer term projection, like they did with Rinzel at last year's draft.

He may not work out but seems like that was their shot at a true boom or bust pick/player.

Totally agree. You don't pass on the generational player in the draft to accumulate additional lottery tickets. With 5 picks in the top 64, I think that box has been checked.
- HawkintheD

There’s risk with any draft pick and the risks only increase the deeper you get into the draft. I agree that you do not pass on Bedard. But it can make for interesting conversation.

In retrospect, would the Oilers have traded the #1 pick in 2015 for 3 first rounders that year? What if those picks turned out to be Mitchell, Barzal and Connor? There’s no guarantee, of course, but there are scenarios where trading the #1 overall might work.

Totally agree. You don't pass on the generational player in the draft to accumulate additional lottery tickets. With 5 picks in the top 64, I think that box has been checked.
- HawkintheD

You’re wrong! Bedard is a Smurf. You take the biggest guy and if he happens to be a face puncher, even better.

What if you stop posting
- LFS

What if we were allowed our thoughts and opinions without some asinine comment?

https://youtu.be/qbjzMPpvnTw

His character sounds an awful lot like Johnathan Toews

Totally agree. You don't pass on the generational player in the draft to accumulate additional lottery tickets. With 5 picks in the top 64, I think that box has been checked.
- HawkintheD

What If that generational talent turns into Alexander Daigle?