4D chess Dots!
- Chunk

I know Chunk, total respect to KD and his foresight.

You look at Ranatnaen in Colorado, and you see how IF the Hawks add a Kasper Halttunen, and he progresses you sort of get that dominant size guy down low, who can score from the flank too.


To keep my brain intact until next 4 weeks, I try and decide if Charlie Stramel gives some of the same with the versatility to play inside too.
The thing about Halttunen: every single time I have seen him, in every game, he hurts somebody with his physicality (or stick), the mean streak is there.

I do like 6' 3" Jakub Stancl, 6' 2" Nico Myatovic, 6' 2 Juraj Pekarcik, 6' 2 Danny Nelson
too,.
- wiz1901

You must really love hockey to be doing all this and racking your brain on the draft and scouting all these kids. I imagine many many many draft rooms are doing the same thing right now. I appreciate all the info you provide, its been educational.

They are having a few draft parties in the area up here already, i already have a standby order for a Bedard jersey, yea i know but I'm excited like a little kid about winning the draft lotto.

Nolan Allen really impressed me. Defensively he got turned around once but quickly recovered, but other than that was solid, positionally and board play. Once he got the puck on his stick, he always made the right play, either off the boards, or I really liked his short outlet passes to his forwards always on the tape.

Korchinski was good also, but nothing he did was exceptional. except some nice setups on the PP

Dach could be Bedards power forward. Very much a straight line player. Uses his size in the corner and getting in front of the net.

Daniel’s name was called a lot. Seemed to have the most trust of all the defenseman by the coach.
- LAHawk

I was going to say something about Dach as well. The power move the other night along with stopping in front of the net to show himself as open to his teammates. Not too many guys on the Hawks who consistently did that in the top six in the last 4-5 years. He's also seems to be very direct and effective in the neutral zone. I've not seen entire games, but in the amounts that I have seen, he seems to not overthink the play and just finds an efficient way to get the puck and move it to the offensive zone whether that is a chip, lob or skating it himself.

I know Chunk, total respect to KD and his foresight.
- BetweenTheDots

This has the makings of a crazy offseason.

1) Considered an historically deep draft.
2) Several teams with Lots of cap space AND draft assets
3) Several aging stars on teams that need a refresh (and some of those with brand new leadership). - PIT, WSH, TB, BOS, WPG
4) AZ being a complete poop show.
5) Both SCF teams seemingly need to do at least a little bit of maneuvering to stay cap compliant and ice a team next year.

I've got my popcorn...

This has the makings of a crazy offseason.

1) Considered an historically deep draft.
2) Several teams with Lots of cap space AND draft assets
3) Several aging stars on teams that need a refresh (and some of those with brand new leadership). - PIT, WSH, TB, BOS, WPG
4) AZ being a complete poop show.
5) Both SCF teams seemingly need to do at least a little bit of maneuvering to stay cap compliant and ice a team next year.

I've got my popcorn...
- Chunk

Add in, Davidson has shown he’s not afraid to make a splash.

You look at Ranatnaen in Colorado, and you see how IF the Hawks add a Kasper Halttunen, and he progresses you sort of get that dominant size guy down low, who can score from the flank too.


To keep my brain intact until next 4 weeks, I try and decide if Charlie Stramel gives some of the same with the versatility to play inside too.
The thing about Halttunen: every single time I have seen him, in every game, he hurts somebody with his physicality (or stick), the mean streak is there.

I do like 6' 3" Jakub Stancl, 6' 2" Nico Myatovic, 6' 2 Juraj Pekarcik, 6' 2 Danny Nelson
too,.
- wiz1901

wiz do you think the big Finn Kasper Halttunen be there at 35. Imo he is my choice at 35 and Richie at 19th. Hawks need some road graters that play the physical nasty mix it up style to complement the skill and speed of the other forwards.

wiz do you think the big Finn Kasper Halttunen be there at 35. Imo he is my choice at 35 and Richie at 19th. Hawks need some road graters that play the physical nasty mix it up style to complement the skill and speed of the other forwards.
- Scott1977

Ritchie isn’t that guy. He’s a big skilled guy who skates well and can play in tough areas but he’s not really a physical player and his biggest weakness is he’s prone to not showing up. I’ve seen him play live 30 or 40 times and he’s the most frustrating guy to watch.

Add in, Davidson has shown he’s not afraid to make a splash.
- paulr

I think I saw that knob doing a cannonball in my neighbor's kid's wading pool....

Mike Babcock to be named coach of the Blue Jackets.
- boilermaker100

Recycling at it's best.

I think I saw that knob doing a cannonball in my neighbor's kid's wading pool....
- mohel

Why are you watching the kids in a wading pool?

Recycling at it's best.
- rpeters01

They should start a streaming service focusing in on Babcock coaching Laine.

They'd make millions

Add in, Davidson has shown he’s not afraid to make a splash.
- paulr

Three draft day trades last year. It will be anti-climatic if he doesn't make at least one or two.

Why are you watching the kids in a wading pool?
- paulr

I thought I saw Bob.

wiz do you think the big Finn Kasper Halttunen be there at 35. Imo he is my choice at 35 and Richie at 19th. Hawks need some road graters that play the physical nasty mix it up style to complement the skill and speed of the other forwards.
- Scott1977

poop if there's a possibility that Halttunen can score even at a .75 per game pace since all the reports i hear of him he sounds like a version of Tom Wilson.

I read he took a viscous hit to the head and suffered a concussion, but it sounds like he had some time off which imo is good so that the brain could heal.

But if we could have the best of both worlds in a Wilson/Rantanen type power forward, and Wiz saying it always seems his hits hurt someone in every game, yea he'd be hard to pass up at 19 for me.

Three draft day trades last year. It will be anti-climatic if he doesn't make at least one or two.
- boilermaker100

I suspect he’ll have a few opportunities to make draft day trades, Vancouver and Toronto are two teams with cap problems. I just hope KD drives a hard bargain and if he’s willing to take on a bad contract for a prospect or good draft pick, he doesn’t give up too much to do it.

I thought I saw Bob.
- mohel

Would that be a man with no arms and no legs bobbing in the pool?

poop if there's a possibility that Halttunen can score even at a .75 per game pace since all the reports i hear of him he sounds like a version of Tom Wilson.

I read he took a viscous hit to the head and suffered a concussion, but it sounds like he had some time off which imo is good so that the brain could heal.

But if we could have the best of both worlds in a Wilson/Rantanen type power forward, and Wiz saying it always seems his hits hurt someone in every game, yea he'd be hard to pass up at 19 for me.
- BetweenTheDots

In Chicago’s current position they have to draft the best available and not draft for a specific need. You’d be the first screaming if they were to draft a guy out of his draft position and miss a better player who was rated more highly.

poop if there's a possibility that Halttunen can score even at a .75 per game pace since all the reports i hear of him he sounds like a version of Tom Wilson.

I read he took a viscous hit to the head and suffered a concussion, but it sounds like he had some time off which imo is good so that the brain could heal.

But if we could have the best of both worlds in a Wilson/Rantanen type power forward, and Wiz saying it always seems his hits hurt someone in every game, yea he'd be hard to pass up at 19 for me.
- BetweenTheDots

only reason I keep wanted a player or players like the big Finn is to balance the lineup especially when it comes to the playoffs when the hawks eventually get there. The perfect example was the Blackhawks 2010 team speed skill size nastiness play anyway the game dictated, minus a second line center but they made it work. Even today with the panthers and Vegas good blend of all those things. Goaltending and putting the puck in the net are essential parts also. So let's see what KD and company does once the finals are done. In my predictions hawks will end with three 1st round picks. 1st overall 19th and one other through a cap dump trade. Also kd will targeted an young up and coming forward that is a RFA.

Thought this was a helpful look at how the Vegas and Florida rosters were built as the Hawks are in the beginning stages of just that. Copy and paste from Sportsnet.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...lt-stanley-cup-finalists/


"Of the 23 players who have suited up for at least one playoff game with Florida this spring, 19 were brought in by general manager Bill Zito since he took over in September 2020 — which includes five acquired via trade, 10 free agency signings, three waiver claims and one draft pick. That’s a lot of turnover in three years.

In Vegas, roster turnover is the name of the Golden Knights’ game, with general manager Kelly McCrimmon — and former GM and current president George McPhee before him — tapped into the trade market, unafraid to make moves (yes, even the unpopular ones). Of the 24 players who have suited up at least once this post-season for Vegas, nine were acquired via trade, nine signed as free agents, four remain after being expansion draft selections, one was claimed on waivers and just one was drafted."

They should start a streaming service focusing in on Babcock coaching Laine.

They'd make millions
- vabeachbear

Interesting times begin in CLB with an even older Babcock. How long before Laine is on the block? Johnny Hockey isn't exactly a 200 ft player either.

I suspect he’ll have a few opportunities to make draft day trades, Vancouver and Toronto are two teams with cap problems. I just hope KD drives a hard bargain and if he’s willing to take on a bad contract for a prospect or good draft pick, he doesn’t give up too much to do it.
- paulr

I think with Dubas calling the shots in PIT and their pledge to compete for the cup, along with no 2nd or 4th in the draft, maybe the #14 is in play to move down and acquire more draft capital?

only reason I keep wanted a player or players like the big Finn is to balance the lineup especially when it comes to the playoffs when the hawks eventually get there. The perfect example was the Blackhawks 2010 team speed skill size nastiness play anyway the game dictated, minus a second line center but they made it work. Even today with the panthers and Vegas good blend of all those things. Goaltending and putting the puck in the net are essential parts also. So let's see what KD and company does once the finals are done. In my predictions hawks will end with three 1st round picks. 1st overall 19th and one other through a cap dump trade. Also kd will targeted an young up and coming forward that is a RFA.
- Scott1977

Unless you are talking about trading for the rights to the RFA then signing him, I think KD will go more for the cap dump with a sweetener attached. Maybe Mantha with a second and Alex Suzdalev. 6’2” 180, 19 yr old and just happened to play on the Regina Pats this past year putting up 86 pts in 66 games. (Yes I just pulled that name out of my ass looking through WSH prospects for a bigger kid).

In Chicago’s current position they have to draft the best available and not draft for a specific need. You’d be the first screaming if they were to draft a guy out of his draft position and miss a better player who was rated more highly.
- paulr

Preach!! And this is the perfect draft to be flush with picks to add a lot of talent drafting the best available player. ....... But, just like any draft this is a good one to have assets to move up for a guy you can't believe fell and just must have. Michkov at #7? Benson at #11 for instance?

In Chicago’s current position they have to draft the best available and not draft for a specific need. You’d be the first screaming if they were to draft a guy out of his draft position and miss a better player who was rated more highly.
- paulr

Well i will be the 1st to admit i know nothing of these draft picks other than what other former scouts, fans, reporters write. I'm not like Rico who is passionate about hockey at all levels.

From what I've read he sure sounds like the type of prospect the Blackhawks desire. My screaming is saved for the games when players make dumb mistakes. Not so much last year since we are rebuilding so please get my screaming right.

I will root for every prospect to succeed and trust the Blackhawks draft room.

And if they do draft Halttunen and he puts up 55-60 points a season eventually and is a nightmare to play against, i wouldn't call him a specific need, I'd call him a top 6 power forward wouldn't you

He even has the late birthday, big body, can skate well.