Of The Nine, I could see as many as 5 kept around playing exhibitions and team scrimmages until the last possible cut.
It is encouragement and confidence building.

What is there to lose except losing if these your rearguards are part of a losing efforts next season?

We saw how excruciating the now 24 yr. old (25 in January) Ian Mitchell's pro play seemed.
- wiz1901

Even though Mitchell didn't pan out, i am very excited to see the defensive kids finally on the threshold of make it or break it. This is where you get to see what's what. I don't know what to expect but am excited to see which players thrive and which ones don't.

It's like the Bears, the coaching staff is a joke but Poles has drafted some talent and more importantly surrounded the QB with talent to see if he's got the right stuff.

Excited to see Bedard and Reichel. Kaiser looks good but to many times we get that window of looks good and over 30+ games not so good. It's not like we have to hope for 1 prospect to be good either, there's plenty to choose from.

You can always just send Zaitsev to the A, that is what Ottawa did.
- LAHawk

Wouldn't that be nice if the kids were good enough to have KD make that move.

That’s a good skating top pair. Wish Korchinski had someone better to bail out his pinches, but this is what we have. Zaitsev got absolutely roasted by the Athletic today, one of the worst five defenders in the entire league. Rev up that tank baby.
- ObeseOprah

100%..goaltending is bad, depth is still questionable, and still have a few veteran D men who are absolute turds. Perfectly OK, as they still need more HOPEFUL core pieces added through the draft.

Just have the kids progress, and anyone who can be traded maximizes their value like McCabe did last year.

OF course, I am sure this board will burn to the ground by Thanksgiving but that's to be expected for those who can't stomach an actual rebuild.

Even though Mitchell didn't pan out, i am very excited to see the defensive kids finally on the threshold of make it or break it. This is where you get to see what's what. I don't know what to expect but am excited to see which players thrive and which ones don't.

It's like the Bears, the coaching staff is a joke but Poles has drafted some talent and more importantly surrounded the QB with talent to see if he's got the right stuff.

Excited to see Bedard and Reichel. Kaiser looks good but to many times we get that window of looks good and over 30+ games not so good. It's not like we have to hope for 1 prospect to be good either, there's plenty to choose from.
- BetweenTheDots

Same and all due respect for the great prospect evaluators on this board....but I will wait to see what actual NHL employees think of these kids before passing judgement because some kid looked bad in some half @ss prospect game. Whereas veteran who continue to make the same idiotic plays shift after shift, game after game, season after season.....those guys need to be launched to avoid the next wave falling into bad habits or being swallowed up by a cancer in the room.

Should be a fun year.....

Wow, looks like Hinostroza opened up Pens camp on the first line with Crosby and Rust with Guentzel injured. Hey, good for him. I always liked the gummy, but the Pens may struggle even with the big 4.

Along the same lines, if you look at Boston’s available forwards…. Oof.
- Chunk

Think the Pens season is going to live and die on Jarry, followed by the health of 87 and 71.

Bruins...agreed......see how they bounce back after being bounced by Florida....seem pretty thin in a lot of spots and hoping either unproven step in and/or old guys are the patch.

I just do not see anybody wanting him, even at half price; he is here until the season ends.
- wiz1901

What is the story on him? I see that he had a decent rookie year scoring wise, then signed a 7 year deal with the Leafs, never came close to those numbers again, and here we are, in the final year of that deal. I have to wonder what happened over those 7 years?

I just do not see anybody wanting him, even at half price; he is here until the season ends.
- wiz1901

We'll need him in March and April after the sell-off and we fight to lose a couple more games in the race to the bottom.

Then his $4.5m cap comes off the books

I just do not see anybody wanting him, even at half price; he is here until the season ends.
- wiz1901

Unless a team has a rash of RHD injuries and wants to take a chance on him at 50%. I agree it's unlikely, but it's possible.

You don’t think if Kurashev basically stays the same player he is, and Guttman continues playing at the level he was that LR wouldn’t at least switch their spots in the lineup?

I think Guttman was a more effective player than a Kurashev last year.
- Chunk

I'm not ready to write-off Kurashev as an NHLer, but I'm not sold on him being a top 6 forward or even being part of the Hawks future when they are back in contention. On the current roster, I think Raddysh has a better shot at sticking around long-term (assuming no bad news from the Team Canada investigation).

As I said before, I'm not sold on Guttman either. I hope I am wrong but I doubt he'll be anything more than a career AHLer who gets some brief NHL call-ups.

You can always just send Zaitsev to the A, that is what Ottawa did.
- LAHawk

Yeah, true, but he does play the right side.

and I am NOT talking about the last current WHL Seattle Thunderbirds pairings, but Korchinski has lined up on the right side in the past when paired with a solid stay-home.

Do they think enough about Kaiser to line him up on the left with KK on right in exhibitions?

The older Kaiser showed moxy and came back even more ready to play in the NHL. You have to think that a lot can rub off on KK, good & bad with the training starting, and Kaiser can certainly help with advice too.

I hope I'm wrong but I have zero expectations for Guttman, I think he'll be a career AHLer (which isn't a bad thing).
- DarthKane

I think Guttman has some chops, but like I said about the younger baclkiners, you get here in the bigs and you adapt, get paid, or don't make the grade.

Usually securing major league role leads to more opportunities even after a failed opportunity.

Look at Forsling. StanBo steals him from his impatient originally drafted Canucks, then they decide they can do better and as Forsling plays more he adapts more.

(Granted, defensemen who lack the skating do fall to the roadside, but Forsling took the shot, and smarts and made a nice salary so far, and a Cup final appearance.

NBC Sports Chicago announced their new studio analysts for this year's Hawk's telecasts.

No more Scott Darling and Colby Cohen.

Caley Chelios returning. (Wiz will be happy.) Others in the rotation will be Chris Chelios, Tony Granato, John Scott and Denis Savard.

More details on the NBCSC telecasts here:
https://www.nbcsportschic...tarting-next-week/508408/

I think Guttman has some chops, but like I said about the younger baclkiners, you get here in the bigs and you adapt, get paid, or don't make the grade.

Usually securing major league role leads to more opportunities even after a failed opportunity.

Look at Forsling. StanBo steals him from his impatient originally drafted Canucks, then they decide they can do better and as Forsling plays more he adapts more.

(Granted, defensemen who lack the skating do fall to the roadside, but Forsling took the shot, and smarts and made a nice salary so far, and a Cup final appearance.
- wiz1901

I hope you are right

I'm not ready to write-off Kurashev as an NHLer, but I'm not sold on him being a top 6 forward or even being part of the Hawks future when they are back in contention. On the current roster, I think Raddysh has a better shot at sticking around long-term (assuming no bad news from the Team Canada investigation).

As I said before, I'm not sold on Guttman either. I hope I am wrong but I doubt he'll be anything more than a career AHLer who gets some brief NHL call-ups.
- DarthKane

I’m not sold on him either until he can show it for a full season. The thing I liked about him was the same thing I liked about Hagel - he was full bore on every shift in all three zones. There was at least consistency to his effort. I thought he showed what Kurashev was expected to which is why I keep making the correlation. I think the best spot for Kurashev (barring some major epiphany) is versatile 3rd liner.

100%..goaltending is bad, depth is still questionable, and still have a few veteran D men who are absolute turds. Perfectly OK, as they still need more HOPEFUL core pieces added through the draft.

Just have the kids progress, and anyone who can be traded maximizes their value like McCabe did last year.

OF course, I am sure this board will burn to the ground by Thanksgiving but that's to be expected for those who can't stomach an actual rebuild.
- SteveRain

I’ll agree Mrazek is average a best, but we don’t really know what Soderblom is right now. The team last year was laughably bad. Sure he didn’t stand on his head, but he’s put together some nice tape in Rockford. Let’s give him a chance before going all broad brush on him.

I'm not ready to write-off Kurashev as an NHLer, but I'm not sold on him being a top 6 forward or even being part of the Hawks future when they are back in contention. On the current roster, I think Raddysh has a better shot at sticking around long-term (assuming no bad news from the Team Canada investigation).

As I said before, I'm not sold on Guttman either. I hope I am wrong but I doubt he'll be anything more than a career AHLer who gets some brief NHL call-ups.
- DarthKane

It's a good thing if neither of them are good enough.

I’ll agree Mrazek is average a best, but we don’t really know what Soderblom is right now. The team last year was laughably bad. Sure he didn’t stand on his head, but he’s put together some nice tape in Rockford. Let’s give him a chance before going all broad brush on him.
- Chunk

Mzrazek is awful. Average at best is stretching it....3.65 and a .894 is far from average. Canes kicked him to the curb and made him a backup. Leafs tried him and quickly pivoted. He is a place holder.

Soderbloom....fair enough but again...similar stats at 3.45 and a .894. ANything sub .900 in today's NHL is pretty bad, and yes the defense was rough last year but I am all for playing the kids but also realize if the D was bad last year....what has changed personnel wise to make it think it's getting better? Forward group with a few more veterans should help out coming back....but we already know what Zaitsev, Murphy, Jones and Tinordi are. Adding rookies to this group is going to have their ups/down......

IMO...I think they'll be more entertaining to watch, with a little more depth upfront but that backend and goalie situation is going to be rough. Which should lead to another high end pick which this team 100% needs. Far from having enough building blocks.

I think Guttman has some chops, but like I said about the younger baclkiners, you get here in the bigs and you adapt, get paid, or don't make the grade.

Usually securing major league role leads to more opportunities even after a failed opportunity.

Look at Forsling. StanBo steals him from his impatient originally drafted Canucks, then they decide they can do better and as Forsling plays more he adapts more.

(Granted, defensemen who lack the skating do fall to the roadside, but Forsling took the shot, and smarts and made a nice salary so far, and a Cup final appearance.
- wiz1901

You may be right about KK

https://x.com/BenPopeCST/...faNKhNBWFglRRWYSAKvA&s=01

By all accounts they are going to try rolling out....

Hall-Bedard-Johnson

What is going to be line 2?

Reichel, Raddysh, and AA? Does Kursahev push this group?

I saw Richardinson, perry, Foligno.....

Good news on Johnson...as if he can stay healthy and pop some points he could be a coveted asset given his history and if the Hawks retain half his cap hit.

By all accounts they are going to try rolling out....

Hall-Bedard-Johnson

What is going to be line 2?

Reichel, Raddysh, and AA? Does Kursahev push this group?

I saw Richardinson, perry, Foligno.....

Good news on Johnson...as if he can stay healthy and pop some points he could be a coveted asset given his history and if the Hawks retain half his cap hit.
- SteveRain

I’m not sold on that being the top line. My guess:

Hall - Bedard - Raddysh
Kurashev - Reichel - AA
Donato - D!ckinson - T Johnson
Katchouk - Foligno - Perry
Entwistle or R Johnson (not both)

I’m not sold on that being the top line. My guess:

Hall - Bedard - Raddysh
Kurashev - Reichel - AA
Donato - D!ckinson - T Johnson
Katchouk - Foligno - Perry
Entwistle or R Johnson (not both)
- DarthKane

That's what I was thinking for Top 6 too. IMO Guttman makes it over Katchouk. I'm not sold on Katchouk being more than an AHL player at best.

I’m not sold on that being the top line. My guess:

Hall - Bedard - Raddysh
Kurashev - Reichel - AA
Donato - D!ckinson - T Johnson
Katchouk - Foligno - Perry
Entwistle or R Johnson (not both)
- DarthKane

Doesn't seem fair to Reichel. AA has hands of stone and Kurashev, despite flashes of +skill, has never been consistent at this level.

And look at the centers. I could be wrong but I think it's been awhile since 35 yr old Foligno has played center. Two rookie centermen and 35 yr old Foligno in front of a defense that will probably dress 2 rookie Dmen many nights?

But when the Hawks announced Reichel was gonna play C they signed off on 2 rookie centermen and probably 2 rookie Dmen. ,,,,,,,,, I do think we end up seeing a lot of money in the bank Guttman play a good bit of center.

NBC Sports Chicago announced their new studio analysts for this year's Hawk's telecasts.

No more Scott Darling and Colby Cohen.

Caley Chelios returning. (Wiz will be happy.) Others in the rotation will be Chris Chelios, Tony Granato, John Scott and Denis Savard.

More details on the NBCSC telecasts here:
https://www.nbcsportschic...tarting-next-week/508408/
- boilermaker100

I wonder if Tony Amonte got control of HIS weight-hews blimp last time I saw him.

New blog up!

It’s a better conversation than “when’s X gonna be traded. 😂
- Chunk

How about one of the beat reporters, like Charlie R (who might be doing some announcing)- he was on the Tom Kurvers Tournsment broadcast - give us an update or Richardson’s thoughts on Roos