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.
- Chief4Feathers

Last night Bieksa showed clips of Bennett and said he was very unpredictable to defenceman who had to play the puck down below the goal line near the boards or in the corners. Sometimes he goes in and absolutely blasts the Dman and other times he turns away anticipating where the Dman is outletting the puck to his partner,

What's forgotten about Bennett is that he was drafted #4 overall right after Leon Draisaitl. And the guys drafted 1 & 2 that year are his teammates Ekblad and Reinhart. Something happened in Calgary with Bennett for them to let him go as quick as they did.

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.
- wiz1901

Pretty much been a fan of Youngstown's Fowler the first time I saw him last yr. He beat the Steel in the ECF and I'm watching Game 1 of the Clark Cup Finals right now.

Not sure where he'll get drafted but he for sure will. Round 3 or 4? Decent size at 6ft 2in and even though I've seen him 20 times not sure what his style is, he's simply said a puck stopper.

If the Hawks don't take a goalie and it's rd 4 I wouldn't mind them taking a swing. Kid has simply produced everywhere he's been. Fantastic SPG's at every stop. https://www.eliteprospect...layer/603653/jacob-fowler

IMO Bjornson made a good account of himself the Canada WJC games I saw. Kid has a nice foundation.

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

It wasn’t for lack of effort, he took some huge hits to get the puck out, unfortunately he was cooked.

Last night Bieksa showed clips of Bennett and said he was very unpredictable to defenceman who had to play the puck down below the goal line near the boards or in the corners. Sometimes he goes in and absolutely blasts the Dman and other times he turns away anticipating where the Dman is outletting the puck to his partner,

What's forgotten about Bennett is that he was drafted #4 overall right after Leon Draisaitl. And the guys drafted 1 & 2 that year are his teammates Ekblad and Reinhart. Something happened in Calgary with Bennett for them to let him go as quick as they did.
- RickJ

Rick, or you Canadian homies, curious your thoughts on Bieska? He's now my favorite NHL analyst. Points out things I would never see or notice. Dude not only has the x's and o's down pat but understands and can explain the nuances. And I like his sense of humor.

Always have been a Bennet fan. 6ft 2in 200 lbs, nice straight line speed and his hits crumple people. Strong dude. As you mention 4th overall but his high in pts at CAL in 6 yrs was 36 pts his rookie yr.

Not sure if he was mismanaged in CAL, no AHL time, but Q got him playing simple straight line hockey and it clicked in FLA. Him on a line with Tkachuk is simply unfair. Both rugged dudes and although Bennet doesn't have Tkachuk's offensive prowess he can score some goals. 28 last yr and a lotta back class in the OHL.

Rick, or you Canadian homies, curious your thoughts on Bieska? He's now my favorite NHL analyst. Points out things I would never see or notice. Dude not only has the x's and o's down pat but understands and can explain the nuances. And I like his sense of humor.

Always have been a Bennet fan. 6ft 2in 200 lbs, nice straight line speed and his hits crumple people. Strong dude. As you mention 4th overall but his high in pts at CAL in 6 yrs was 36 pts his rookie yr.

Not sure if he was mismanaged in CAL, no AHL time, but Q got him playing simple straight line hockey and it clicked in FLA. Him on a line with Tkachuk is simply unfair. Both rugged dudes and although Bennet doesn't have Tkachuk's offensive prowess he can score some goals. 28 last yr and a lotta back class in the OHL.
- Mr Ricochet

I’m with you, I think Bieksa is excellent, knowledgeable, current, great sense of humour and doesn’t take himself too seriously. Hated him as a Canuck defenseman but a really good commentator.

It wasn’t for lack of effort, he took some huge hits to get the puck out, unfortunately he was cooked.
- Angotti

Actually, valid point too - effort was there, it was just -well, didn't happen.

One thing I have been noticing in the playoffs is the need for a solid back up goalie . I hope we select one with our 3rd or 4th pick really haven't looked at them but Hrabal or Gajan look like they could be good later picks . Was busy trying too decided who we were going to pick a 4th or 5th . What a glories time to be a Hawks Fan .

No one did. He only played 22 games over 2 seasons.
- Elbows15

I think when the Bentley brothers left, the Stadium was empty. They were so bad, the other teams had to give the Hawks players.

Last night Bieksa showed clips of Bennett and said he was very unpredictable to defenceman who had to play the puck down below the goal line near the boards or in the corners. Sometimes he goes in and absolutely blasts the Dman and other times he turns away anticipating where the Dman is outletting the puck to his partner,

What's forgotten about Bennett is that he was drafted #4 overall right after Leon Draisaitl. And the guys drafted 1 & 2 that year are his teammates Ekblad and Reinhart. Something happened in Calgary with Bennett for them to let him go as quick as they did.
- RickJ

Thanks for sharing that. I looked up the trade to Florida in ‘21. Apparently Bennett had a bit of a falling out with former Flames coach Geoff Ward, healthy scratch a few times and then benched another time mid-game. Bennett requested a trade and then Ward was fired and replaced by Darryl Sutter - but that didn’t seem persuasive enough for Bennett to want to stay. Can’t blame him for not seeing Darryl as a “fresh start.”

Rick, or you Canadian homies, curious your thoughts on Bieska? He's now my favorite NHL analyst. Points out things I would never see or notice. Dude not only has the x's and o's down pat but understands and can explain the nuances. And I like his sense of humor.

Always have been a Bennet fan. 6ft 2in 200 lbs, nice straight line speed and his hits crumple people. Strong dude. As you mention 4th overall but his high in pts at CAL in 6 yrs was 36 pts his rookie yr.

Not sure if he was mismanaged in CAL, no AHL time, but Q got him playing simple straight line hockey and it clicked in FLA. Him on a line with Tkachuk is simply unfair. Both rugged dudes and although Bennet doesn't have Tkachuk's offensive prowess he can score some goals. 28 last yr and a lotta back class in the OHL.
- Mr Ricochet

I like Bieksa a lot on the intermissions. He provides the perspective of the player on ice when explaining what went right or wrong in a given situation. He's analytical wihout being too technical and has a good sense of humour.

Second, he's a blue collar guy. Started out playing small town minor hockey around here and then made a Jr.A team right here in Burlington. Then he gets drafted in the 18th round of the OHL draft by the junior team owned by Don Cherry. (18th rounders are bodies used for scrimmages for a few days before they get sent home). But he makes the team out of training camp somehow. At that point he decides to accept some offer to play at Bowling Green and go to school. Don't know for sure but my guess is he didn't have a full ride scholarship.

So he plays at Bowling Green and the Canucks take a flyer on him in the draft - 151 overall. He's just a no name prospect in their system. The Canucks tell him he can try out for their AHL team the Manitoba Moose on an amateur try out deal and he makes that team and stays there for a couple years and eventually gets called up by the Canucks.

Took on quite a few guys in NHL fights - ever seen his one punch TKO's of Radko Gudas & Andy Andreoff? And also good scraps with Mike Richards, Wayne Simmonds and Tom Wilson. He was a tough dude on the ice but not a goon.

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

I'll believe it.

I honestly liked Kimmo. Unfortunately he was well past his shelf life when he got here.

Hawks did him a solid and it all worked out thankfully.

I'll believe it.

I honestly liked Kimmo. Unfortunately he was well past his shelf life when he got here.

Hawks did him a solid and it all worked out thankfully.
- Rota's Rooter

Yep, and I appreciated your humor in response to my original post - he was a passenger on that team.

Yep, and I appreciated your humor in response to my original post - he was a passenger on that team.
- Chief4Feathers

You're welcome.

You have to credit the Flyers org at that time too for getting a warrior like Kimmo one more kick at the can.

I was curious about that 2nd and the best I can figure it ended up with the Leaves (2015, 61st O/A) and they picked a Jeremy Bracco. Never played a game in the NHL and appears to currently be toiling in the KHL.

You're welcome.

You have to credit the Flyers org at that time too for getting a warrior like Kimmo one more kick at the can.

I was curious about that 2nd and the best I can figure it ended up with the Leaves (2015, 61st O/A) and they picked a Jeremy Bracco. Never played a game in the NHL and appears to currently be toiling in the KHL.
- Rota's Rooter

So basically, all’s well that ends well as the Hawks won the cup and so did Timonen. I was happy for him, as he was in the league for 16 years and finally got to hoist the cup.

So basically, all’s well that ends well as the Hawks won the cup and so did Timonen. I was happy for him, as he was in the league for 16 years and finally got to hoist the cup.
- Angotti

Agreed, we’re on common ground there brother.

I think jhawk was asking about Roos recently? Maybe I'm wrong. Anyway here's a link to an article at SecondCityHockey written by L_B_R about him.

A lot of fancy stats based on a small sample size (only played in 17 NHL games) but he's basically no worse or no better that most of the other Hawks D from last year.

He's has one more year left on his ELC than will be a RFA. I can see him along with Vlasic, Phillips and Wyatt being rotated among the open D spots. Have them play some games, receive tutelage from Richardson and Dean while up with the club, then back to Rockford to work on their games.

https://www.secondcityhoc...ports-updates-commentary/

One thing I have been noticing in the playoffs is the need for a solid back up goalie . I hope we select one with our 3rd or 4th pick really haven't looked at them but Hrabal or Gajan look like they could be good later picks . Was busy trying too decided who we were going to pick a 4th or 5th . What a glories time to be a Hawks Fan .
- oldduffman

When drafting, Goalies should be just like Quaterbacks, you draft one every year. Most won't make it, but you'll hit on one.

If not going to research it, but how many starting goalies were drafted in the 1st round. Ottenger, Vas in Tampa, MA Fleury, that's all I can think of

When drafting, Goalies should be just like Quaterbacks, you draft one every year. Most won't make it, but you'll hit on one.

If not going to research it, but how many starting goalies were drafted in the 1st round. Ottenger, Vas in Tampa, MA Fleury, that's all I can think of
- vabeachbear

Never thought of that, great idea.

When drafting, Goalies should be just like Quaterbacks, you draft one every year. Most won't make it, but you'll hit on one.

If not going to research it, but how many starting goalies were drafted in the 1st round. Ottenger, Vas in Tampa, MA Fleury, that's all I can think of
- vabeachbear

KD should take Ian Blomquist in the 5th round.

I was thinking this morning its pretty cool to get the top pick and at the same time drafting as if there is only 10 teams in the league. By pick 67 we will have 7 drafted players if no deals are made.

Teams like Ottawa, Islanders, LA, NJ, Dallas who draft well won't have any picks in the first round.

Last year we drafted 7 players by pick 81. Next year looks like we are position to draft 6 players in the top 90 already. That will probably change, i imagine we may get another 2nd rounder in there somewhere.

Now that we know where the Hawks are drafting it feels like it will be an eternity until June 28th.

The outcome of the Hawks first pick is set (probably), but what will KD do at #19? Draft? Move up? Move down? How will KD use the multiple 2nds?

I don’t like waiting.

Now that we know where the Hawks are drafting it feels like it will be an eternity until June 28th.

The outcome of the Hawks first pick is set (probably), but what will KD do at #19? Draft? Move up? Move down? How will KD use the multiple 2nds?

I don’t like waiting.
- DarthKane

Well when you're old like me time flies. LOL.

Over on the Buffalo board, some fans want to trade their first (no. 13) to get a needed position player. They figure they have 3 2nds to add to their prospect pool. So what does KD have to offer to exchange 1sts or get that pick outright. Sabres want a veteran RD. Hmm.

Also, read that game 7 of the finals is scheduled for June 18. There should be some moves made by some teams beginning shortly afterwards, as they reshape their rosters leading up to the draft and free agency.

Well when you're old like me time flies. LOL.

Over on the Buffalo board, some fans want to trade their first (no. 11) to get a needed position player. They figure they have 3 2nds to add to their prospect pool. So what does KD have to offer to exchange 1sts or get that pick outright. Sabres want a veteran RD. Hmm.

Also, read that game 7 of the finals is scheduled for June 18. There should be some moves made league wide beginning shortly there afterwards, as teams reshape their rosters leading up to the draft and free agency.
- boilermaker100

Friday’s come around every two days it seems, they took forever to come around while I was still working. How about Murphy and 19 for their 1st, I would say about 75% of the BOD would be up for that.

Friday’s come around every two days it seems, they took forever to come around while I was still working. How about Murphy and 19 for their 1st, I would say about 75% of the BOD would be up for that.
- Angotti

It will be interesting for sure, last year we ended up with 3 first round picks, and had none the week before the draft.

I also have to say the way everything turned out we actually won the Seth Jones trade.

Friday’s come around every two days it seems, they took forever to come around while I was still working. How about Murphy and 19 for their 1st, I would say about 75% of the BOD would be up for that.
- Angotti

Murphy is sometimes persona non grata around here, but how do actual NHL GMs value him ?

To me, Buffalo won't accept Murphy alone for the 13th. On the other hand, to me, Murphy and 19 is too much for 13.

Need to find something in the middle. Hawks add a 2nd to Murphy for 13, or Buffalo adds a 2nd with their 13 for Murphy and 19.

Just a whole lot of conjecture on my part.