Looking at a few mock drafts and have seen Reinbacher and Pellikka drafted in the top 15 consistently

Michkov to SJ every time

Riley Heidt is a guy that we seem to keep drafting at 19.

And the more i read of Heidt the more i like
- BetweenTheDots

In every spots there is a player in the draft similar to Heidt, where after a judgement has been made on abilities and value and upside end[/I], then suddenly the shine wears off. In Riley's case, he has played internationally with stars and now his success is being downplayed DUE to his line mates.

I never thought badly of him in any viewing.

He is what I wrote earlier this year on his profile on my mock where he is still in the early 20's:

Hard working centre who is a gifted skater with strong hockey sense and acumen. He keeps involved when off the puck, he battles hard to regain possession and is light on his edges and can get going very quickly from a stand still.Has the ability to be high pace player as he develops fully. Selected 2nd in the 2020 WHL bantam draft after Connor Bedard and before Brayden Yager. Heidt's 58 points in 65 games and a solid scoring performance in 2022-23 will catapult him at a top ten probable. A complete player who can plays in any on-ice situation alway in the middle of puck battles and physical play. Excellent is the face-off circle, very light on his edges, fearless inside the high battle zones near the home plate area, his stick- handling ability and foot & processing speeds high end. Has separation speed and leads many zone entires. His high pace puts the defenders on their heels and is an asset on the attack without the puck, as he continues his repositions looking for a cross ice pass. He is always active down low and in the middle due to his hard working approach, smarts and agility. He can be on your penalty kill or your power play. Has the ability and drive to make an impact in every game that he plays in. In the CHL prospects game, it seemed as if he was on the ice, he was handed a nice scoring chance, but had no puck luck.


Granted he lines up with scorer RW Koehn Ziemmer on the pp if they are not on the line together.

If someone wants top rank Koehn Ziemmer higher someone gets this slightly under 6 foot 18 yr old in the second (at #35).

If he drops, maybe we win.

Unlike the rest of you, I see the board falling my way all seined day.

(You know I started off today think, who freaking cares who we pick later, we get a generation kid with NO chinks FIRT so everything that KD attempts no matter what (failure or not) doesn't impede what is happening here.

In 3very spots there is a player in the draft similar to Heidt, where after a judgement has been made on abilities and value and upside end then suddenly the shine wears off. In Riley's case, he has played internationally with stars and now his success is being downplayed DUE to his line mates.

I never thought badly of him in any viewing.
He is what I wrote earlier this year on his profile on my mock where he is still in the early 20's:

Hard working centre who is a gifted skater with strong hockey sense and acumen. He keeps involved when off the puck, he battles hard to regain possession and is light on his edges and can get going very quickly from a stand still.Has the ability to be high pace player as he develops fully. Selected 2nd in the 2020 WHL bantam draft after Connor Bedard and before Brayden Yager. Heidt's 58 points in 65 games and a solid scoring performance in 2022-23 will catapult him at a top ten probable. A complete player who can plays in any on-ice situation alway in the middle of puck battles and physical play. Excellent is the face-off circle, very light on his edges, fearless inside the high battle zones near the home plate area, his stick- handling ability and foot & processing speeds high end. Has separation speed and leads many zone entires. His high pace puts the defenders on their heels and is an asset on the attack without the puck, as he continues his repositions looking for a cross ice pass. He is always active down low and in the middle due to his hard working approach, smarts and agility. He can be on your penalty kill or your power play. Has the ability and drive to make an impact in every game that he plays in. In the CHL prospects game, it seemed as if he was on the ice, he was handed a nice scoring chance, but had no puck luck.


Granted he lines up with scorer RW Koehn Ziemmer on the pp if they are not on the line together.

If someone wants top rank Koehn Ziemmer higher someone gets this slightly under 6 foot 18 yr old in the second (at #35).

If he drops, maybe we win.

Unlike the rest of you, I see the board falling my way all seined day.

(You know I started off today think, who freaking cares who we pick later, we get a generation kid with NO chinks FIRT so everything that KD attempts no matter what (failure or not) doesn't impede what is happening here.
- wiz1901

Thanks Wiz, i did see your profile of him on your web site, i was curious.

It'd be nice to get a good skating heavy player for sure. I was reading somewhere about Haltunnen having a concussion, was wondering is this just an isolated incident or has he had issues with this?

Seems similar to Nazar and Bedard as far as size. He might in the "can't have to many of the same type" category as mentioned by KD.

Hawks need to find skilled size on the wings/center in this draft, imo. Them being dirty, edgy, whatever you want to call it is all the better.
- Elbows15

Oh for Al Secord and Terry O’Reilly! No doubt on the bolded, but this could happen next year as well, at this point they need to draft BPA.

Thanks Wiz, i did see your profile of him on your web site, i was curious.

It'd be nice to get a good skating heavy player for sure. I was reading somewhere about Haltunnen having a concussion, was wondering is this just an isolated incident or has he had issues with this?
- BetweenTheDots

I don't think that many teams has dimmed then lights on Haltunnen \; he plays chippy every shift and is no where close to a high water mark. If a team can wait, I think he naturally develops into a big time threat all along.

You know I have been doing this really long, but I have always had the balls to say what I THINK I have observed.

This is what I wrote BEFORE Pittsburgh picked Jake Guentzel:
Diminutive centre who has a high hockey IQ and feel for the play. Has always managed to be an offensive threat at each level, due to his tremendous laterally quickness, and edging. Strong snap shot that he lets go at a moment's notice. Strong forechecker who drives possession. Displays good defensive committment. Must get stronger but will probably merit consideration due to his scoring ability.

Didn't go to the the 3rd Round, but I wasn't off.

The thing about this class is I am in need of bifocals and more rose colored glasses, but there are simply so many guys who are appealing as future pros.

Canucks could trade down. But then it won’t be to include a forward like Garland and Boeser to get a second. They would include Myers though.

The thing is Canucks need to solve the 3C and add a top four D and hawks not good trade partner for that.

[quote=wiz1901]I don't think that many teams has dimmed then lights on Haltunnen ; he plays chippy every shift and is no where close to a high water mark. If a team can wait, I think he naturally develops into a big time threat all along.

You know I have been doing this really long, but I have always had the balls to say what I THINK I have observed.

This is what I wrote BEFORE Pittsburgh picked Jake Guentzel:
Diminutive centre who has a high hockey IQ and feel for the play. Has always managed to be an offensive threat at each level, due to his tremendous laterally quickness, and edging. Strong snap shot that he lets go at a moment's notice. Strong forechecker who drives possession. Displays good defensive committment. Must get stronger but will probably merit consideration due to his scoring ability.


Good morning Wiz. I never had the time to study prospects so I'm more of a show me kind of guy. Since the 2015-16 season I've been retired from my game day gig and was able to just watch the whole game instead of having a focus all the time. Three guys have really caught my attention while I was at the game in the stands. My favorite seat is somewhere behind the net above the zamboni tunnel. From that spot I can watch the play develop. Three times I wound up on my phone looking up who is this guy and where did he come from, he's awesome. Those guys were Arvidsson, Hintz, and Guentzal. It was a treat to discover these guys. Arvidsson was all over the place with a real high motor. Hintz could fly and was a constant threat. Guentzal was always around the puck making plays and had a great nose for the net. So I understand your passion for prospects. And since I'm not in attendance very often anymore I don't have much of an opportunity to discover these guys. Just watching the games on tv so much is missed. So having the reviews on these kids that you do helps a guy like me have a cheat sheet on who and what to look for. While we might not always agree, I appreciate your efforts and look forward to seeing the kids you describe. Can't wait for the Wizgasm when draft day rolls around.

FYI. Capfriendly.com has rolled over their team pages to indicate rosters, cap hits, etc. beginning with the upcoming 2023-24 season and beyond.

FYI. Capfriendly.com has rolled over their team pages to indicate rosters, cap hits, etc. beginning with the upcoming 2023-24 season and beyond.
- boilermaker100

Never thought I’d see the Hawks at the bottom of the cap hit page.

FYI. Capfriendly.com has rolled over their team pages to indicate rosters, cap hits, etc. beginning with the upcoming 2023-24 season and beyond.
- boilermaker100

Boston looks to be in maybe the worst shape of anyone? They have seven forwards, 6 d-men, and one goalie under contract for next year and about 6 million in cap space to sign 8-9 players.

Never thought I’d see the Hawks at the bottom of the cap hit page.
- Quicky72

They need to spend a bit over $20M just to get to the cap floor (on about open roster spots), and to top it off, they currently only have two players (Seth and Murphy) signed beyond the upcoming 23-24 season.

They need to spend a bit over $20M just to get to the cap floor (on about open roster spots), and to top it off, they currently only have two players (Seth and Murphy) signed beyond the upcoming 23-24 season.
- Chunk

The flexibility they’ve created is great, it’s such a change from the last decade.

The flexibility they’ve created is great, it’s such a change from the last decade.
- Quicky72

Umm, yes first place to last place is a big change.

They need to spend a bit over $20M just to get to the cap floor (on about open roster spots), and to top it off, they currently only have two players (Seth and Murphy) signed beyond the upcoming 23-24 season.
- Chunk

Time to extend them is now.

The flexibility they’ve created is great, it’s such a change from the last decade.
- Quicky72

As GP pointed out a day or so ago, that flexibility will be notably reduced as soon as they start winning and get closer to contention. The ideal would be that they find a way to continually build up draft capital so that they always have "extra" pieces to deal for "win now" players. Either that, or just continually draft so well that you don't need outside help.

Time to extend them is now.
- rpeters01

All kidding aside, if they could extend Reichel right now for a reasonable deal, I would do it in a minute.

All kidding aside, if they could extend Reichel right now for a reasonable deal, I would do it in a minute.
- Chunk

His deal could look like DeBrinkat's last contract. Not as many $'s but last year loaded.

His deal could look like DeBrinkat's last contract. Not as many $'s but last year loaded.
- rpeters01

I'm not sure he even has the leverage to push for that at the moment. That is why I thought trying to extend him now on a slightly team favorable deal (without trying to be egregious) was a good approach.

They are drafting Bedard, will presumably have another one or two that are expected to be really good players from this draft, and have a number of guys who showed out quite well this year in juniors/college.

I completely understand where the Hawks stand and it’s also fun to see the youngsters coming up, as well as draft speculation and free agency, BTBH, I’d rather win cups and be in cap hell. That being said, history has shown that you need top end talent to win, but cannot be top heavy, at least not in the cap era.

I completely understand where the Hawks stand and it’s also fun to see the youngsters coming up, as well as draft speculation and free agency, BTBH, I’d rather win cups and be in cap hell. That being said, history has shown that you need top end talent to win, but cannot be top heavy, at least not in the cap era.
- Angotti

But look at all that GLORIOUS cap space!!!

I think pretty much everyone here would prefer the same as you. I just think it is kind of fun to be in this position because the Hawks are literally at the ground floor of a rebuild and we get to watch how the whole thing unfolds.

But look at all that GLORIOUS cap space!!!

I think pretty much everyone here would prefer the same as you. I just think it is kind of fun to be in this position because the Hawks are literally at the ground floor of a rebuild and we get to watch how the whole thing unfolds.
- Chunk[/quote]

Hopefully it doesn't blow up like the Leaves.

[quote=Chunk]But look at all that GLORIOUS cap space!!!

I think pretty much everyone here would prefer the same as you. I just think it is kind of fun to be in this position because the Hawks are literally at the ground floor of a rebuild and we get to watch how the whole thing unfolds.
- LAHawk[/quote]

Hopefully it doesn't blow up like the Leaves.

Hopefully it doesn't blow up like Buffalo.

I completely understand where the Hawks stand and it’s also fun to see the youngsters coming up, as well as draft speculation and free agency, BTBH, I’d rather win cups and be in cap hell. That being said, history has shown that you need top end talent to win, but cannot be top heavy, at least not in the cap era.
- Angotti

Part of what makes it fun is that we generally believe this is going in the right direction. Imagine if Bowman was still the GM. No guarantee they still hire LR. An impossible quagmire as they continue to fail at creating a real pipeline. Okay, don't imagine that anymore.

But look at all that GLORIOUS cap space!!!

I think pretty much everyone here would prefer the same as you. I just think it is kind of fun to be in this position because the Hawks are literally at the ground floor of a rebuild and we get to watch how the whole thing unfolds.
- LAHawk
- Chunk

Hopefully it doesn't blow up like the Leaves.

Hopefully it doesn't blow up like Buffalo.
- rpeters01

Hopefully I’m still alive!

But look at all that GLORIOUS cap space!!!

I think pretty much everyone here would prefer the same as you. I just think it is kind of fun to be in this position because the Hawks are literally at the ground floor of a rebuild and we get to watch how the whole thing unfolds.
- Chunk

I for one am excited about the rebuild, to me this is how you do it. The hockey gods were very kind in granting us the first selection of this draft, on top of that we have so many draft picks inside the top 60, last year and the next 3 years.

They need to spend a bit over $20M just to get to the cap floor (on about open roster spots), and to top it off, they currently only have two players (Seth and Murphy) signed beyond the upcoming 23-24 season.
- Chunk

On the 24-25 roster, besides Jones and Murphy, I would expect Bedard, Raddysh, Katchouk, Kurashev, Reichel, Vlasic, Phillips, Soderblum to be on it. Maybe Guttman or Entwistle too. In addition, a couple of free agents signed this summer to 2 to 3 year contracts will be playing. That's about 13-14 players.

Del Mastro, Allan, Korchinski, Nazar probably marinating in Rockford during 24-25 and will get cups of coffee with the big club.

Still a lot of roster spots to fill. Unless someone really surprises, last year's draftees and the remaining 2023 draftees probably won't be playing with the Hawks until at least 25-26 or 26-27.