Off topic: wasn't JJ at a site called the The-Rink b/c there is nothing withbhis name there...
- wiz1901

You’re correct - and yes, I haven’t seen a post from him in some time and he’s no longer listed as part of the writing staff.

Pouring over all the press about what the Maple Leafs could/should do this offseason… the “Core Four”, GM, President, etc…

My take overall, while I thoroughly enjoy the TOR postmortem, more importantly… it makes so incredibly THANKFUL for what our team accomplished from 2009 to 2015. Our stars and leaders delivered when they were in the spotlight and the pressure was on - producing the golden era for Hawks hockey.

Toews, Kane, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Hjalmarsson, Oduya, Bolland, Bickell, Shaw, Crawford, Saad, et al. There were no passengers, no questions about failing to perform in the post-season… the results were five conference finals appearances and three Cups.

I’m so VERY grateful to have seen all of it.


Edit: Oh, and by the way… we’re drafting a generational talent 1st overall this year.
- Chief4Feathers

Keep reading and listening. The crucifixtion of the Maple Leafs by the media has just begun, nobody in the organization is safe. For a Leaf hater like me, it's an annual rite of spring, just happens to be in early May, usually it occurs in late April.

Ex NHL ref started it with a tweet after the game - never gonna win in the playoffs with Auston Matthews - too soft, got no jam when it gets tough out there.

Others have already taken shots at Mitch Marner (plays scared in the playoffs); Tavares (too slow, stuck with his contract); Coach Keefe (thoroughly outcoached by Maurice); Kyle Dubas-stupid (all bottom 6 forwards are free agents and will be gone, nothing in the minors coming up).

So yes you should appreciate what the Hawks accomplished with 3 Cups that could have been 4 except for that OT loss vs LA. The Leafs have been empty for 57 years.

Off topic: wasn't JJ at a site called the The-Rink b/c there is nothing withbhis name there...

I just went there and read the Hawks Chief scouts comments that, "We don’t know who’s going to be there because I think the board is going to go a little bit wacky after eighth or ninth, depending on if people take defensemen.”

I purposefully had one of my defenseman going off the board until #18, with the possibility that five get lucky enough to be chosen in the first round.
So my mock is loaded with the forward talent that deserves to be off the board before David Reinbacher, and Axel Sandin Pelikka.

I do agree there will be plenty of disparity in many teams top 32 list. There are so many factors that raises many of this year's class as worthy of being selected in the first.

Even if they are insecure at their prospects at defense being high pairing guys, I just don't see the need or value being addressed before you get more forwards.
- wiz1901

Wiz, what do you see from the draft late 2nd round or after in potential NHL goaltender prospects?

Keep reading and listening. The crucifixtion of the Maple Leafs by the media has just begun, nobody in the organization is safe. For a Leaf hater like me, it's an annual rite of spring, just happens to be in early May, usually it occurs in late April.

Ex NHL ref started it with a tweet after the game - never gonna win in the playoffs with Auston Matthews - too soft, got no jam when it gets tough out there.

Others have already taken shots at Mitch Marner (plays scared in the playoffs); Tavares (too slow, stuck with his contract); Coach Keefe (thoroughly outcoached by Maurice); Kyle Dubas-stupid (all bottom 6 forwards are free agents and will be gone, nothing in the minors coming up).

So yes you should appreciate what the Hawks accomplished with 3 Cups that could have been 4 except for that OT loss vs LA. The Leafs have been empty for 57 years.
- RickJ

I’m not sure if it was coaching, the wrong players, or a combination of both - but TOR had no answer to FLA forecheck. It was relentless and TOR rarely could muster a clean breakout from their own zone.

Pouring over all the press about what the Maple Leafs could/should do this offseason… the “Core Four”, GM, President, etc…

My take overall, while I thoroughly enjoy the TOR postmortem, more importantly… it makes so incredibly THANKFUL for what our team accomplished from 2009 to 2015. Our stars and leaders delivered when they were in the spotlight and the pressure was on - producing the golden era for Hawks hockey.

Toews, Kane, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Hjalmarsson, Oduya, Bolland, Bickell, Shaw, Crawford, Saad, et al. There were no passengers, no questions about failing to perform in the post-season… the results were five conference finals appearances and three Cups.

I’m so VERY grateful to have seen all of it.


Edit: Oh, and by the way… we’re drafting a generational talent 1st overall this year.
- Chief4Feathers

Maybe one or two.

That Garland plus 11 OA to the Hawks for 19OA got me thinking.

Let’s assume that happens as it does kind of make sense. Now you have 11 OA.

Michkov miraculously is dropping to say 6AZ or 7PHI.

Would 11OA plus next year’s TB 1st be enough? Heck, throw in one late 2023 2nd.

Walk away with Bedard and Michkov.

We’d really be hated on .

Exhale

I’m not sure if it was coaching, the wrong players, or a combination of both - but TOR had no answer to FLA forecheck. It was relentless and TOR rarely could muster a clean breakout from their own zone.
- Chief4Feathers

The forecheck and a lot of strategic physical play, especially on defenceman like Giordano and Rielly. Sam Bennett really belted Tavares a couple of times in the series. The Leafs have little or no nasty, got have some in the playoffs. Ballerinas like Marner are great until they get scared.

That Garland plus 11 OA to the Hawks for 19OA got me thinking.

Let’s assume that happens as it does kind of make sense. Now you have 11 OA.

Michkov miraculously is dropping to say 6AZ or 7PHI.

Would 11OA plus next year’s TB 1st be enough? Heck, throw in one late 2023 2nd.

Walk away with Bedard and Michkov.

We’d really be hated on .

Exhale
- mike7076

IMO Michkov falling to #6 or 7 is not miraculous. If he falls past WSH at #8 that would be a shock. ........ I do like how you figured out how to get to #11 and then package that pick to get to a falling Michkov.

I think that's reasonable. A PHI or MTL, especially Philly, might like the idea of the quality of player still available at #11 and adding more picks in a deep draft. Safe to assume Bedard, Fantilli, Carlson, Smith are gone by #7 and after those players, besides risky Michkov, players start to get lumped together.

I would agree give back a 2nd and/or 3rd. Package maybe 11th and 19th and move back up into the top 3?
- SteveRain

Not sure if CLB would bite on this cuz they do have quite a few young good players but SJ at #4 does not. Wonder if they would bite on the #11 and #19 for the #4 and the Hawks take Smith?

Wiz, what do you see from the draft late 2nd round or after in potential NHL goaltender prospects?
- RickJ

All I think I know is

I want big Hrabel who can go side to side in a quarter of a move.

Adam Gajan I would take around #51

and Carson Bjarnasson is worth a pick in the late 50's, and Youngstown's
Jacob Fowler around the #60's....and since you were looking for thoughts on him I pulled the stuff I didn't even get time to add for him (too. much playing here). I thought he looked like a guy that could perform to a high level enough to be maybe an NHL back-up, even with the USHL best GAA, SAVE %, and wins, and being from Florida, and being voted his teams VIP, but now I feel after Boston College, he should have enough improvement to develop into a nHL starter.
I have always liked Scott Ratzlaff and he goes before 80, and then Dylan Ernst and USA-NT Trey Austinstine go mid 90's.

The forecheck and a lot of strategic physical play, especially on defenceman like Giordano and Rielly. Sam Bennett really belted Tavares a couple of times in the series. The Leafs have little or no nasty, got have some in the playoffs. Ballerinas like Marner are great until they get scared.
- RickJ

To be fair that forecheck was to much for the Bruins as well. With their team speed and ability to forecheck Carolina is going to have a very tough time with them. At the same time Panthers defenders are going to have a tough time against the Hurricanes, ought to be a good series

IMO Michkov falling to #6 or 7 is not miraculous. If he falls past WSH at #8 that would be a shock. ........ I do like how you figured out how to get to #11 and then package that pick to get to a falling Michkov.

- Mr Ricochet

Asfar as I am concerned Michkov has always been the 2nd best prospect in the class, and is tier 2. The next two are Tier 3, and Tier 4 is Will Smith Perrault and Leonard.
Then Tier 5 is the rest of the almost of the second.

and "If he falls past WSH at #8 that would be a shock" is true.

Why not just leave after Round 1?
- mohel

Verry Funny. My kid is like Wiz and likes to see all 7 rounds. The first night is $90 per ticket. 2nd day $20.

I was curious so i thought i would use your 300 number and prorate it, so 2016 I'll go with 80 less games

7 players in the 2nd, stand out Kyrou and Cat and our very own Raddysh at about 150 games

160 games less 2018 only 4 for now. I also notice a big age for many of the pros who come on later is between 22 and 24 years old.

I also think these numbers are less because of the covid interruption.
- BetweenTheDots

All good points. Going to do much deeper dive here once the playoffs end.

Could it be that 2 out of the past 3 seasons were COVID shortened as to the reason your magical 300 games has not been reached?
- LAHawk

Good point but I've always been amazed at how few picks after the top 15 in the first round turn out to be impact players. Not talking about the past 5 years but the past 30 years.

Did you see him play? {Kidding}
- bjphawkfan

No one did. He only played 22 games over 2 seasons.

To be fair that forecheck was to much for the Bruins as well. With their team speed and ability to forecheck Carolina is going to have a very tough time with them. At the same time Panthers defenders are going to have a tough time against the Hurricanes, ought to be a good series
- BetweenTheDots

Carolina’s forecheck is amazing, I’d say better than Florida, and their defense is better than Florida’s. It should be a great series. People keep forgetting FLA won the President’s Cup last year, and the appear to have won the trade with Calgary.

No matter what happens in the West I think this is Carolina’s year.

Carolina’s forecheck is amazing, I’d say better than Florida, and their defense is better than Florida’s. It should be a great series. People keep forgetting FLA won the President’s Cup last year, and the appear to have won the trade with Calgary.

No matter what happens in the West I think this is Carolina’s year.
- scottak

All things are pretty even but I give the nod to Florida at goaltending and as long as Bob can keep it up they should go all the way .
Toronto went as far as the refs would carry them .

The most fun is when the casual fans leave and you get to saunter up to the likes of bob Mackenzie, Gordie, Burke, and Darryl Sutter and act like one of the Boyz.
- wiz1901

Say hi to Bob. 👋🏻

Last night after the TV broadcast cut away to the EDM-VGK game, this presentation occurred at Scotiabank arena.

Carolina’s forecheck is amazing, I’d say better than Florida, and their defense is better than Florida’s. It should be a great series. People keep forgetting FLA won the President’s Cup last year, and the appear to have won the trade with Calgary.

No matter what happens in the West I think this is Carolina’s year.
- scottak

Fun fact 3 of the 4 last president winners went on to win the Stanley Cup the following year. I still think it might be Dallas, if they make it past Seattle

Good point but I've always been amazed at how few picks after the top 15 in the first round turn out to be impact players. Not talking about the past 5 years but the past 30 years.
- stevefrmglencoe

I hope some of these GM's feel the same way and believe what they hear, don't do the research and give away those picks to the Blackhawks.

Maybe one or two.


- Rota's Rooter

But… didn’t he fulfill a critical role in mentoring fellow Fin Teuvo Teravainen?

At least that was part of the spin when the Hawks gave up a 2nd and 4th for a 40yr old defenseman with a history of blood clots. That happened…

But… didn’t he fulfill a critical role in mentoring fellow Fin Teuvo Teravainen?

At least that was part of the spin when the Hawks gave up a 2nd and 4th for a 40yr old defenseman with a history of blood clots. That happened…
- Chief4Feathers

You think you're making a joke- but you can make a better argument for that then a trio plus of upper echelon paid superstars continuously failing to get results - and that, while a really desperate sounding argument, is still better than none whatsoever. There is that.

The forecheck and a lot of strategic physical play, especially on defenceman like Giordano and Rielly. Sam Bennett really belted Tavares a couple of times in the series. The Leafs have little or no nasty, got have some in the playoffs. Ballerinas like Marner are great until they get scared.
- RickJ

I don’t get to watch a lot of FLA regular season games - but is Sam Bennett always at “Tasmanian Devil” mode? He has been tenacious during these playoffs - and probably should have been suspended for a couple of infractions during that series.