Yeah, my premise was that they do not win a second lottery drop down, and in my humble opinion, Artyom Levshunov is got in the top half dozen before the hawks pick.

I find the entire idea of defense being the "strength of this 2024 draft as being defenseman" is sort of a misnomer: The class divides between smaller offensive man and larger ones like Sam Richardenson / Arytom Levshunov, and then a grab bag of defender prospects who need much developmental time to reach possible pro level. Some smaller, defensively suspect, others big with little upside as stronger offensive defenders.

That is why I saw the possibility of an F-1 forward in Trevor Connelly, and taking a flyer on Zayne Parekh later with the TB Lightning first rounder.

I want more forwards who can cut through and show fearless to going to the front and actually getting shots off.

Not sure what the hawks management things about their present farmhand forward group or if they think that's still an area you want to find high end players.

Big LD Sam Richardenson may have some offensive chops, but he has a duty to continuing to improve his defensive side before he can relax and think about how to be a better attacker.
RD Levshunov has lots of work to do to be a defender, but shows relative success offensively or defensively.

You can not only not count on inning any more lotteries (after the Hkws won the biggest one in decades) so you cannot count on say in 2025 their record to put them in a position to select a LW Malcolm Spence in the first, because there HAS to be more improvement in the standings by then, right?

So get the best attackers so we have a wave of youngsters who can complement Bedi.
- wiz1901

My belief will always be best available. If you have to much of a good thing in one postion you can always make a trade.

My belief will always be best available. If you have too much of a good thing in one postion you can always make a trade.
- BetweenTheDots

You’re 100% right, you can never go wrong taking the best available.

I believe the magic number was 8 for the Blackhawks
Hossa
Toews
Kane
Sharp
Keith
Seabrook
Hjalmarsson
Campbell/Oduya

Right now
Bedard
Jones


So possible forwards
Nazar
Moore
Reichel


Defenseman
Korchinski
DelMastro
Allen
Rinzel
Vlasic
Phillips
Kaiser

But it all doesn't matter if our 3rd and 4th lines suck, but with so many picks to choose from I'm thinking they will be pretty good compared to other nhl teams once they start to come up through the ranks.

When you look at all these past cup teams sure they've got a great core but they always lose complimentary players, its what does all of them in including us.

IT is Kenny Wharram Day! #17. I give a shout out to Elvis' brother Wayne!

You’re 100% right, you can never go wrong taking the best available.
- paulr

Sure I believe taking the best player available is usually the best strategy. When it is a close call.on who is the best player, you might entertain a trade scenario. Might (add emphasis).

So i am pondering if Chicago would have the draft slot in round one to draft an attack dman. Of course just said, draft best player available

Now suppose the best player available plays the style KD has already chosen a few in last two drafts
Or perhaps those players choosen play a hybrid type style so then MAYBE.there is room to consider a rare type of trade

A trade would depend upon whether the prospect we like is regarded as worth the draft slot we surrender if said prospect was in the '24 draft

And I do not know whether such a dman is qualified but some teams may be interested in our draft choice here....the particular details of a trade may involve other draft choices exchanged, say second round picks or whatever

Wiz you were high on a mobile dman possible consideration for the Blackhawks to draft in the first round '23..Would that dman be worth our first in '24?

While an elite puck moving attack dman may MAY be one of KD's top priorities, naturally he wouldn't overpay - not much anyway - in the renumeration. We are not lacking offensively capable dman prospect, just not quite the elite attack guy you pointed out prior to the '23 draft. Yes I know that we have KK in the pipeline and in at minimum after two seasons Rinzell could be getting much better and closer to NHL

. I would bet it takes two seasons collegiate and one AHL for Rinzell but then again R Ellis came along quickly after drafted by Nashville. Unfortunately Ellis either is retiring or it has been reported he may be thinking such due to bad knees from injuries

https://twitter.com/2ndCi.../1694800571176223204?s=01

IMO there is still plenty of deadwood on this team and I think that is exactly the way KFC wants it. He still wants another crack at the next draft where he can draft at a lower slot for better talent. I think it will be after that draft that he wants to improve and get better talent around his super star. He can't wait much longer than that, though. Like Dennis Miller said; That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

IMO there is still plenty of deadwood on this team and I think that is exactly the way KFC wants it. He still wants another crack at the next draft where he can draft at a lower slot for better talent. I think it will be after that draft that he wants to improve and get better talent around his super star. He can't wait much longer than that, though. Like Dennis Miller said; That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
- bjphawkfan

Colonel Sanders is running the team, who knew?

Wiz you were high on a mobile dman possible consideration for the Blackhawks to draft in the first round '23..Would that dman be worth our first in '24?
- jhawk59

I mentioned the issues I have right now (in my posts above,) with the considered depth at defense of the 2024 class in that there is no Owen Power, Dahlin, Hedman, Simon Nemec, etc. bigger players with excellent feet and two way abilities in place.

If they don't select 5 0r 6 overall I would concentrate on forward again. b/c these two top defenders are not gonna make two way impact either. If you wanna a defender who is a carrier and generator you get one withe the Tampa pick and go forward with the top pick, because you are gonna have a long wait until they are in the league.
if LD Sam Richarderson is what you wait you simply take him and don't worry about the logjam if he is close enough to being an NHLer sooner than some of them.

I need the three forwards I mentioned above, and really really hop they have a crack at Malcolm Spence in 2025.

I mentioned the issues I have right now (in my posts above,) with the considered depth at defense of the 2024 class in that there is no Owen Power, Dahlin, Hedman, Simon Nemec, etc. bigger players with excellent feet and two way abilities in place.

If they don't select 5 0r 6 overall I would concentrate on forward again. b/c these two top defenders are not gonna make two way impact either. If you wanna a defender who is a carrier and generator you get one withe the Tampa pick and go forward with the top pick, because you are gonna have a long wait until they are in the league.
if LD Sam Richarderson is what you wait you simply take him and don't worry about the logjam if he is close enough to being an NHLer sooner than some of them.

I need the three forwards I mentioned above, and really really hop they have a crack at Malcolm Spence in 2025.
- wiz1901

Spence is a good one. Good skater, smart with a good shot.

IMO there is still plenty of deadwood on this team and I think that is exactly the way KFC wants it. He still wants another crack at the next draft where he can draft at a lower slot for better talent. I think it will be after that draft that he wants to improve and get better talent around his super star. He can't wait much longer than that, though. Like Dennis Miller said; That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
- bjphawkfan

I think you might be right. I'll be curious to see what happens with Hall, Perry and Foligno at the trade deadline.

I think you might be right. I'll be curious to see what happens with Hall, Perry and Foligno at the trade deadline.
- mohel

Tyler Johnson is another deadline trade possibility, assuming he is healthy. There are a few other expiring contracts, but I don't expect much for them, if anything. And only two salary retention slots available. Hall has two years remaining at $6 mill per, so I would guess that he's more likely in 2025.

Colonel Sanders is running the team, who knew?
- paulr

Kyle From Chicago. KFC is shorter.

Kyle From Chicago. KFC is shorter.
- bjphawkfan

Good one I thought it was a typo.

After finishing my multiple watches of the Ivan Hlinka-Gretzky Tournament, which so far is the best platform by which to begun to judge 2025 talent, I am gonna suggest these easy favorites of mine for the Hawks.
Hawk first round pick: Trevor Connelly LW-LC Try-City Storm USHL
He was the fastest player at the tournament , a natural sniper with a deadly release, who anticipates his windows for shooting the puck, and is dangerous in his carries as he easily separates or drives through defenders. His edge work and skating is excellent as he seems to can speed out of his cuts and changes in direction.
At the time of the Lightning first rounder is where I gamble…on Zayne Parekh, currently playing with Memorial Cup host Saginaw Gears. When his coach was asked Parekh’s position, he jokingly answered, “Rover.” He is an impressive puck handler in all three zones. He is deliberate in his passes, and his movements in any direction while carrying are instantaneous, and he is so deceptive and eludes defenders with spin moves and then jumps back to full speed. He has the highest upside of any of this defender-rich class of defenseman.

The two above draft selections by me are ones I am making with forwards Ivan Demidov, Berkly Catton, Ryder Ritchie off the board on the first selection, and the second with defenders Sam Richardenson, Artem Levshunov, Adam Jiricek, Tomas Lavoie and Carter Yakemchuk also gone.

The two second rounders which will be around the 40’s and surely big Finn horse Emil Hemming with be off the board late in the first.
So I am selecting USA-NDT RW Waterloo Blackhawk Eero Butella, a Chicagoan in the second, because he has good feet, is physical in the hard areas and wins more 50/50 battles than he loses, and big Calgary RC Carson Wetsch, like Bedard, a North Vancouver native, who was asked to centre the Canadien third line who was given hard minutes to tenderize the opposition for three periods.
- wiz1901

Wiz, I notice you didn't mention two guys I like and could see being Hawks picks. Interested in your thoughts on Helenius (skating, hands, compete) and Hage (skating, skill, two way play).

I hope eventually NHL goes to the split screen where you can watch 4 games at once, really cool feature on Sunday ticket.

Kyle From Chicago. KFC is shorter.
- bjphawkfan

I like it better than KD.

I like it better than KD.
- HawkintheD

What's wrong with Kraft Dinner?

What's wrong with Kraft Dinner?
- wizardofi

Squeezing the cheese out of a shiny silver pouch?

Squeezing the cheese out of a shiny silver pouch?
- HawkintheD

Oooh, rich guy. can afford the deluxe Kraft Dinner

Oooh, rich guy. can afford the deluxe Kraft Dinner
- wizardofi

https://twitter.com/BN_Bl...pPuF9Ar6D_1wlXpTukWA&s=01

I hope eventually NHL goes to the split screen where you can watch 4 games at once, really cool feature on Sunday ticket.
- BetweenTheDots

Isn’t the complaint that the puck is hard enough to follow on TV, and that is why the ratings are so poor in the US?

Isn’t the complaint that the puck is hard enough to follow on TV, and that is why the ratings are so poor in the US?
- LAHawk

Well if anyone is fortunate to have a big screen tv with HD, not so much.

They did a nice job on it, you have a white border on one of the screens that let's you know which game the sound is being broadcasted on, and if you hit enter it broadcasts the one game on your tv, hit back you get the 4 you had on.

I remember in the 80s in my room with my black and white tv watching the Blackhawks, that was brutal, i think it was Channel 44 at the time