I think he will get better for sure. I think it will help once he gets more of a man body and can win more battles too. I think Kurashev also having some defensive deficiencies in his play hasn't helped. If we had more overall talent, teams won't be able to focus as hard on Bedard, so that is a small part too I'd think.
- breadbag

Yea but i think Hall being out of the line up we got to see Kurashev take a step forward. Whatever we get out of Hall next season will just be a bonus

The stat about how many 1st round draft picks become NHL players (league wide) is why I'm so glad we have/had so many picks, especially many in the upper half of the first round.



2022
Korchinski
Nazar
Rinzel

2023
Bedard
Moore

2024
2 more picks
2025
2 more picks

Just over a year from now, those 2024 and 2025 picks will be made and we probably have our next core really taking shape to start competing for a real chance at the playoffs.
- breadbag

I'm very optimistic, when you do the math from 22 to 26 draft seasons, for first and second round picks and the odds of them being pros, if KD is just average in drafting we will have 9.3 hockey players. Not including rounds 3 and higher. But if he is better than average this could end up being an unbelievably dominant team. Of course it could go the other way but I'm encouraged by his top 2 picks already.

I'm very optimistic, when you do the math from 22 to 26 draft seasons, for first and second round picks and the odds of them being pros, if KD is just average in drafting we will have 9.3 hockey players. Not including rounds 3 and higher. But if he is better than average this could end up being an unbelievably dominant team. Of course it could go the other way but I'm encouraged by his top 2 picks already.
- BetweenTheDots

What is the disclaimer that is put on investment advertisement? Past performance is not indicative of future results?

What is the disclaimer that is put on investment advertisement? Past performance is not indicative of future results?
- LAHawk

Just ask Ken Hollland...

He certainly has volume on his side though. Five first rounders the last two years and four more (at this point in time) in the next two.

What is the disclaimer that is put on investment advertisement? Past performance is not indicative of future results?
- LAHawk

Sure but this goes back to my comment that you can't stand, half the GM's don't have a clue.

Nill just keeps plucking NHL players out of the draft almost every year.

I'm very optimistic, when you do the math from 22 to 26 draft seasons, for first and second round picks and the odds of them being pros, if KD is just average in drafting we will have 9.3 hockey players. Not including rounds 3 and higher. But if he is better than average this could end up being an unbelievably dominant team. Of course it could go the other way but I'm encouraged by his top 2 picks already.
- BetweenTheDots

That's without taking into account the D prospects that he inherited along with a few forwards (Slaggert, Reichel, Dach).

I'm less concerned with his drafting. I'm actually more concerned with how he handles the cap when he isn't overpaying for old guys and how he handles trades and FA when there is a player he wants/needs to obtain.

That's without taking into account the D prospects that he inherited along with a few forwards (Slaggert, Reichel, Dach).

I'm less concerned with his drafting. I'm actually more concerned with how he handles the cap when he isn't overpaying for old guys and how he handles trades and FA when there is a player he wants/needs to obtain.
- Chunk

I'm with you. The cap will always be the issue even though we have tons of money to spend. That will dry up right quick if KD is really good at identifying talent

Here are the top 10 Hawks (for 5v5 goal diff)

Slaggert 62.5%
Anderson 58.14%
Richardson 56%
Kaiser 50%
Hall 50%
Seney 50%
Vlasic 48.31%
Perry 46.67%
Blackwell 44.44%
Jones 44.05%

And the Worst 10

Pitlick 12.5%
Roos 16.67%
Crevier 20.69%
Guttman 22.22%
Phillips 22.92%
Entwistle 24.49%
R Johnson 25%
Reichel 26.92%
T Johnson 28%
Tinordi 30.16%
- breadbag

That also confirms the eye test, although I’m seeing improvement from #27 lately, which is a good thing for the Hawks.

I'm very optimistic, when you do the math from 22 to 26 draft seasons, for first and second round picks and the odds of them being pros, if KD is just average in drafting we will have 9.3 hockey players. Not including rounds 3 and higher. But if he is better than average this could end up being an unbelievably dominant team. Of course it could go the other way but I'm encouraged by his top 2 picks already.
- BetweenTheDots

That is the thing with KD "kick starting" the rebuild. More than half the battle is a numbers game, getting the opportunities to draft a decent volume of picks. The GM still has to draft well and while the jury is still out on that, I would argue they haven't done an awful job based on the prospect performance we've seen. It's not a quick process which is the difficult part for the fans, but it should be worth it to hopefully have more than a middle of the road team.

Oh, we were talking Foligno.

Hall, it's hard to say, without knowing more about his injury. I don't know how bad that will linger. I think they shut him down because they knew he needed time to heal up because they want him to play next year and maybe even beyond. I think we just need to see how he looks once he is back.

Recovery from surgery does seem to be getting better and better all the time, with new technology and techniques, some of the knee injuries aren't so "career ending" as they once were. I do think it is a case by case basis, because look at Kane right now. He is beating the odds on his hip surgery, which multiple athletes failed to come back from. I'm not a doctor and I think we don't get all the info, but hopefully he can come back and play. The Hawks would have been a lot better off this season with him on the ice.
- breadbag

He had the ACL surgery. Someone can correct me if it's changed, but when I had it long ago, they took part of the patellar tendon and grafted it where the ACL was. It's a long road to 100%. Can't imagine how hard it is for a hockey player, because the skating adds even more demand on the knees. Great that he's already skating again. I just remember golfing the summer after, and being afraid to swing through the ball. It took some time to get past that. But I'm not a professional athlete, so I didn't have as rigorous a rehab.

Same way Ludwinski is doing it now (not to mention E del Mastro and Allan before him). The contract just keeps sliding. The only issue is with the NCAA as they don't allow you to make money off of playing your sport and maintain eligibility.
- Chunk

i don't believe that is true, now with NIL? Its totally changing football and basketball, hockey, especially at the big conferences and programs, can't be far behind.

NIL to me could be more damaging to CHL, guys could make big bucks and be free to go pro whenever.

There could be a point where stars can make more in College from NIL than their entry contracts are for in NHL. You don't get closer to your next contract, but i could definitely see a case of more guys staying in college for 4 years.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Connor Murphy says he’s been dealing with osteitis pubis, the same groin injury that has sidelined Logan Couture most of the season.

Couture helped him out with some advice and he’s finally feeling better now. He won’t play this weekend but hopes to return next week.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Connor Murphy says he’s been dealing with osteitis pubis, the same groin injury that has sidelined Logan Couture most of the season.

Couture helped him out with some advice and he’s finally feeling better now. He won’t play this weekend but hopes to return next week.
- LAHawk

Also looks like Blackwell will be in for Raddysh against Dallas. Sucks for Raddysh if he was going to try and impress in these last few games (probably should have started that earlier).

Also looks like Blackwell will be in for Raddysh against Dallas. Sucks for Raddysh if he was going to try and impress in these last few games (probably should have started that earlier).
- Chunk

I think they already have an opinion on Raddysh after 2 full years. My guess is they sign him, he will come very cheap. At worst he will be a 4th liner/13th forward and PK'er.

What is the disclaimer that is put on investment advertisement? Past performance is not indicative of future results?
- LAHawk

That is true, LA. But what else do you have to go on. I would say past performance is not a guarantee of future performance but it is an indication of what is possible. Does this mean we have no use of statistics?

Instead of getting retread defensemen, I think we should bring up Allen and Del Mastro and put their feet to the fire. We are not going to playoff's next year so let's get them started on their merry way. We have Jones and probably Murphy next year.
Reduce Murphy's TOI and maybe the injuries will be less. We have to merge the future with the present to see where we are.

Instead of getting retread defensemen, I think we should bring up Allen and Del Mastro and put their feet to the fire. We are not going to playoff's next year so let's get them started on their merry way. We have Jones and probably Murphy next year.
Reduce Murphy's TOI and maybe the injuries will be less. We have to merge the future with the present to see where we are.
- bjphawkfan

Yeah I’ve seen enough of Megna and Tinordi.

Instead of getting retread defensemen, I think we should bring up Allen and Del Mastro and put their feet to the fire. We are not going to playoff's next year so let's get them started on their merry way. We have Jones and probably Murphy next year.
Reduce Murphy's TOI and maybe the injuries will be less. We have to merge the future with the present to see where we are.
- bjphawkfan

Only problem is that all the rookies are lefties (except for Crevier). If the kids show well in camp and pre-season, I'm sure the FO will find a way to bring them up. Personally, I think EDM is closer than Allan (his recent injury doesn't help that). Allan seemed to catch LR's eye this year in camp, so maybe I'm wrong.

Right now the young guys the Hawks have are:

KK - L
Vlasic - L
Kaiser - L
Phillips - L
Crevier - R
EDM - L
Allan - L
Rinzel - R

And the possibility of drafting another this summer with a high pick.

That's 9 right there and you still have Jones under contract for several years. I know of two that I'm pretty sure they will move on from in relatively short order (Phillips and Crevier). I'm most intrigued to see what Rinzel turns into.

I think they already have an opinion on Raddysh after 2 full years. My guess is they sign him, he will come very cheap. At worst he will be a 4th liner/13th forward and PK'er.
- LAHawk

Raddysh turned 26 in February, has 222 big league games , is 6ft 3in 200 lbs, scored 20 goals last yr and just short of 1/2 per at .47. He's down 1:00 in PP time and 30 seconds at 5 on 5 from last yr and his shooting percentage is a dismal 4.3%.

On next yrs roster I think you can give him the valuable NHL ice time hoping it clicks for him IF he's not in the way of a prospect , a traded for player or a signed UFA.

Why not? Very little risk and a decent enough chance of a good reward.

Tank hard. Not a single victory until next year.

Tank hard. Not a single victory until next year.


- Dieselhead

That’s easy, just healthy scratch Bedard and Vlasic for the rest of the year.

He had the ACL surgery. Someone can correct me if it's changed, but when I had it long ago, they took part of the patellar tendon and grafted it where the ACL was. It's a long road to 100%. Can't imagine how hard it is for a hockey player, because the skating adds even more demand on the knees. Great that he's already skating again. I just remember golfing the summer after, and being afraid to swing through the ball. It took some time to get past that. But I'm not a professional athlete, so I didn't have as rigorous a rehab.
- 333inthe3rd

I had a full ACL reconstruction in 2016, in my 50s after a skiing fall. I like to tell people I was hauling ass at the time, but in reality I was going about 5mph on a mogul when it happened. I asked my surgeon which method would likely have the best outcome and he said "cadaver," so I chose a cadaver graft. He did an amazing job, the rehab was pretty straightforward (much more so than a shoulder) and it is as good as new. We did a difficult 11 mile hike in the Rockies last summer from Crested Butte to Aspen, and the only part of my lower body that didn't hurt at the end was my reconstructed knee.

I see Brock Faber is now third in rookie scoring behind Hughes. I think they should just feed Bedard for the next six games to extinguish any doubt about the Calder. Imagine where he would be if he hadn't lost those 14 games. He needs to score a few more goals.

I had a full ACL reconstruction in 2016, in my 50s after a skiing fall. I like to tell people I was hauling ass at the time, but in reality I was going about 5mph on a mogul when it happened. I asked my surgeon which method would likely have the best outcome and he said "cadaver," so I chose a cadaver graft. He did an amazing job, the rehab was pretty straightforward (much more so than a shoulder) and it is as good as new. We did a difficult 11 mile hike in the Rockies last summer from Crested Butte to Aspen, and the only part of my lower body that didn't hurt at the end was my reconstructed knee.
- MartiniMan

Of course it didn’t hurt, it’s dead.

I do think KD does have a type, didn't realize Ludwinski was rated 2nd by coaches poll in the OHL eastern conference as best skater.

Lardis tied 2nd as most dangerous in goal area, eastern conference