Brisson, in a statement, says Kane "wants to play for a long time". Laying the groundwork for a long term deal I assume.

Wonder if anyone wants to rake him on long term. I remember after the Hawks signed Hossa, it came out that he had off season surgery too, and didn't join the club until the Thanksgiving western circus trip.
- boilermaker100

Didn’t Seabrook have his hip shaved? Marchand had both hips repaired before last season, he came back just fine.

Talent is normally the trump card and the talent available at # 19 and for earlier selections is too good to pass up in a great draft class. Bedard and the forwards group need a top end talent badly so I would be surprised if the size plus somewhat lesser skill package is the choice. We should expect a second top twenty draft pick to be in the NHL lineup or darn close to sticking within 2-3 seasons for a high end skill prospect but the process of player development is certainly longer for other prospects mentioned as top choices who have the size but not quite the same dynamic skill set

They have Whitelaw at 19 for the Blackhawks
Wiz has him as a 4th round pick in his mock
Weird
- captainserious

Not weird, a oneway wonder who is small, and a liability w/o the puck.

If Cooley is going free agent, the Blackhawks shouldn't hesitate.

I watched him through junior but seeing him in person in the Frozen Four, man, he was incredibly impressive. He was quicker all around, elite in his attack skills and that entire line was dominant. He looked far better than Fantilli.
Of course he is not that big, but he is lightning.

Sold

(And I don't doubt the Hawks have more than one college Kid that was selected elsewhere interested in playing with #98.)

Not weird, a oneway wonder who is small, and a liability w/o the puck.
- wiz1901

I think he meant weird that they had the Hawks taking him at #19

I think he meant weird that they had the Hawks taking him at #19
- vabeachbear

It is a lousy list.

Gracyn Sawchyn first round?

All those defenseman off board in the first three rounds?

Sale really seems to be dropping in many mocks. Never thought 2-3 months ago there was any shot he'd fall to our 2nd 1st rounder.
- vabeachbear

Yeah I don't believe it either -1st round

KD has built up an awful lot of draft capital, is Cooley worth some of that? I’ve read some scouting reports but I’d have to digress to someone who has seen Cooley play.
- paulr

Empty the assets vault for Cooley. To my eye Benson is a player, at any level, who is simply dangerous every damn time in the attack zone and even in his own zone. Kid zooms, zigs, zags, darts with and without the puck head up surveying and always, every time, is a threat, anywhere. It's in his DNA cuz he feels urgency and has the brain, skills, hunger and feet to deliver.

I see Cooley the same way but he's a centerman. If he's available give em what they want. Although it took AZ two yrs to trade Dman Chychrun cuz they were asking for a king's ransom, so we know they can be, and or are, unreasonable in their asks. But if Cooley told em I ain't coming to AZ do what Vegas does and just make it happen.

Next yrs second 1st, a couple 2nd rounders and Rinzel to start the talks? Reichel too, ok! ......... If they redrafted last yrs draft today IMO Cooley goes #1. ..... Berard and Cooley on the PP and down the middle for the next 10 yrs! I'm in.

What an elimination game at the Memorial Cup. Peterborough down 3 pops 3 in the 2nd period to knot it at 4 and scores in OT to win it.

No rooting interest although seeing Zellweger and Stankoven some more would be great Kamloops goalie Ernst was a mess and Pete's goalie Simpson was money. Poised, polished and square with great reads deserved to be in the semis. Happy with the outcome.

Seattle and their 3 Hawk's draft picks v Peterborough for the right to play Roy's Quebec squad for the championship of all of Major Junior.

Sale really seems to be dropping in many mocks. Never thought 2-3 months ago there was any shot he'd fall to our 2nd 1st rounder.
- vabeachbear

Sale came to my attention last yr in the U-18 WJC. Smooth as silk, polished and loads of talent in his hands and feet. A no doubt top 10, or even top 5, pick for the 2023 draft.

This yr .comes and he's inconsistent not showing much hunger. Played the whole yr pro in Czechia and only with his own age group internationally.

At 6ft 1in with plus skating ad loads of skill he has everything the Hawks seem to covet minus the compete. IMO if he's there at 19 Hawks have a big decision to make and it would not surprise me if they took em. ....... Guess it depends on who's available when their turn comes but no surprise at all if they took the skilled/smooth/polished winger.

They have Whitelaw at 19 for the Blackhawks
Wiz has him as a 4th round pick in his mock
Weird
- captainserious

Watched Whitelaw starting last yr in the USHL when I was given a heads up on the kid. Real speed and good puck skills and this yr he developed some nasty. He took a jump this yr but this writer is the only person on earth who saw the 5ft 8in kid going rd 1.

Wiz is right, probably a 3rd rounder.

Maybe that's part of KDs plan, kind of build like an expansion team, get Garland for considerations, keep draft capital, but maintain a healthy bottom line so he's not doing the cap dance sooner than later. It's all very interesting to me Rico
- BetweenTheDots

Yea, man!! And "the interesting era" began last yr when Stanley got fired and the organIzation hired an outside firm to teach them how to search and hire front office types. No surprise, cuz he knows jack about hockey, Danny took the path of least resistance and hired 35ish rookie KD as the top hockey mind in the whole organIzation. ...... Interesting and damn scary. KD fails and we are for sure in a 10 yr rebuild, and maybe longer, cuz Danny Bow showed with Stanley failure gets you an extension and promotion.

Unless I missed something I haven't seen a misstep by KD. And here we are a month from a loaded draft, the Hawks flush with picks, about to add a probable generational talent the season after a total teardown.

Very interesting indeed.

f

Yeah, and even though we keep hearing middle six tagged to that #19 draft area, there is a lot of upside there.

Wood is really quick brained and has a quick stick. He gets knocked for his skating but he will grow into his body co-rdination and is quite a load.

I have watch Honzek and although I flip flop on his skating improvement, he could be a kid whose abilities start raising his upside as he goes on.
- wiz1901

A big kid who simply can not skate putting up a point per game as the youngest player in the NCAA!! What if a franchise takes Wood, is patient in his development and fixes his skating to just below average and you have a power player which every team covets.

Very interesting but for me I don't take that risk at #19.

Been getting ready for the draft watching film and would not be surprised to see Honzek go closer to 10 than 20. That size/speed/skill combo is the reason Slafkovsky went 1st overall last yr to MTL....... I'd be giddy if he fell to 19.

What an elimination game at the Memorial Cup. Peterborough down 3 pops 3 in the 2nd period to knot it at 4 and scores in OT to win it.

No rooting interest although seeing Zellweger and Stankoven some more would be great Kamloops goalie Ernst was a mess and Pete's goalie Simpson was money. Poised, polished and square with great reads deserved to be in the semis. Happy with the outcome.

Pete's and their 3 Hawk's draft picks v Seattle for the right to play Roy's Quebec squad for the championship of all of Major Junior.
- Mr Ricochet

I'm guessing you meant Seattle and their 3 Hawk picks? Don't remember any Hawk picks on Peterborough.

I'm guessing you meant Seattle and their 3 Hawk picks? Don't remember any Hawk picks on Peterborough.
- Chunk

Oooops, yea Chunk, Allen, Korchinski and Dach are with Seattle. ..... Great Memorial Cup for the fan. Lotta skill and hungry hockey being played.

Yea, man!! And "the interesting era" began last yr when Stanley got fired and the organIzation hired an outside firm to teach them how to search and hire front office types. No surprise, cuz he knows jack about hockey, Danny took the path of least resistance and hired 35ish rookie KD as the top hockey mind in the whole organIzation. ...... Interesting and damn scary. KD fails and we are for sure in a 10 yr rebuild, and maybe longer, cuz Danny Bow showed with Stanley failure gets you an extension and promotion.

Unless I missed something I haven't seen a misstep by KD. And here we are a month from a loaded draft, the Hawks flush with picks, about to add a probable generational talent the season after a total teardown.

Very interesting indeed.
- Mr Ricochet

Getting the #1 was lucky, everything else seems to be planned ahead of time. One other "advantage" he had going for him is the or-gan-I-zation's (love how y'all to the North consistently pronounce that) want to purge everyone from plain site who was around in 2010. Made his job of getting rid of the fan favorites much easier.

I also believe he has a great staff, Cubs guy Greenberg, Meghan Hunter both have lots of experience, and I expect both will be GMs themselves one day.

As some point out, the teardown, as long as you have ownership support, is the easy part. So far, you are correct, it seems to have been executed exactly to plan.

What an elimination game at the Memorial Cup. Peterborough down 3 pops 3 in the 2nd period to knot it at 4 and scores in OT to win it.

No rooting interest although seeing Zellweger and Stankoven some more would be great Kamloops goalie Ernst was a mess and Pete's goalie Simpson was money. Poised, polished and square with great reads deserved to be in the semis. Happy with the outcome.

Seattle and their 3 Hawk's draft picks v Peterborough for the right to play Roy's Quebec squad for the championship of all of Major Junior.
- Mr Ricochet

Just don't draft any Pete's dmen. I swear I've never seen so many dman tripping over their own skates reversing direction behind the net.......

I don't usually get to see CHL hockey so its interesting to me. Seems choppy and less smooth of a a game than college.

Just don't draft any Pete's dmen. I swear I've never seen so many dman tripping over their own skates reversing direction behind the net.......

I don't usually get to see CHL hockey so its interesting to me. Seems choppy and less smooth of a a game than college.
- vabeachbear

Junior kids are generally younger than their College counterparts. The average College player is 20.5 years old. The average junior player is 19.3 years old. Also with more practice vs games you’ll see a more structured game. One of the best things about the CHL is the play isn’t as structured as College. But you’re more likely to see more mistakes in the CHL.

Yea, man!! And "the interesting era" began last yr when Stanley got fired and the organIzation hired an outside firm to teach them how to search and hire front office types. No surprise, cuz he knows jack about hockey, Danny took the path of least resistance and hired 35ish rookie KD as the top hockey mind in the whole organIzation. ...... Interesting and damn scary. KD fails and we are for sure in a 10 yr rebuild, and maybe longer, cuz Danny Bow showed with Stanley failure gets you an extension and promotion.

Unless I missed something I haven't seen a misstep by KD. And here we are a month from a loaded draft, the Hawks flush with picks, about to add a probable generational talent the season after a total teardown.

Very interesting indeed.
- Mr Ricochet

Thanks for your informative posts Rico. The only move I would have liked from KD was maybe picking up Tolvanen on waivers from the Preds. Who knows, maybe there was some underlying reason.

Thanks for your informative posts Rico. The only move I would have liked from KD was maybe picking up Tolvanen on waivers from the Preds. Who knows, maybe there was some underlying reason.
- Angotti

Yes, one big underlying reason, he didn't want to improve at all last year, wanted to get worse

So probably New Years before he's ready to play.

that should be an interesting scenario to see if he signs anywhere, or holds off until after he's back in shape.
- vabeachbear

I can see both Toews and Kane waiting to sign until November, December or January unless someone make a fabulous offer before then (which I doubt). Toews is eligible for a 35+ incentive laden contract. I don’t think Kane is old enough.

Oooops, yea Chunk, Allen, Korchinski and Dach are with Seattle. ..... Great Memorial Cup for the fan. Lotta skill and hungry hockey being played.
- Mr Ricochet

I've been impressed with how poised Allan has been on offense. His first goal was kind of off the rush. Skated down the left wing boards and beat the goalie clean with a strong wrister. Second goal he was parked near the left circle, moved in a bit and knocked in a late 3rd period goal.

Both times he made it look like he was going at about 70% effort. Just calmly positioning himself to be effective, using his teammates effectively, or patiently waiting for an opportunity to present itself.

Yes, one big underlying reason, he didn't want to improve at all last year, wanted to get worse
- vabeachbear

I understand, however I don’t think he would have made that much of a difference on last year’s Hawks team, and at 24 he would have fit the narrative, maybe second line for the next couple of years.

I've been impressed with how poised Allan has been on offense. His first goal was kind of off the rush. Skated down the left wing boards and beat the goalie clean with a strong wrister. Second goal he was parked near the left circle, moved in a bit and knocked in a late 3rd period goal.

Both times he made it look like he was going at about 70% effort. Just calmly positioning himself to be effective, using his teammates effectively, or patiently waiting for an opportunity to present itself.
- Chunk

That sounds like Seabrook, if only…

I understand, however I don’t think he would have made that much of a difference on last year’s Hawks team, and at 24 he would have fit the narrative, maybe second line for the next couple of years.
- Angotti

Looking back now, he was a genius, one more win would have made a dramatic difference

That sounds like Seabrook, if only…
- Angotti

Not saying he's Seabrook, but really, he has been a forgotten piece because most thought he was over drafted by Stan and Mark.

He has been very solid in the limited times i've seen him play. Strong, clears people out of front of net, and that has been missing.