Pretty low, I don't think he was cleared to coach again at this point.
- breadbag

The NHL doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on to keep him from coaching. But does any team want him bad enough to do battle with Bettman?

Just spebt 2.5 hours on the phone with Jhawk59 and we both are applying cream afterward...mine to my ear socket and him to his hHemorrhoids .

We figured out we do not know who thehawks will pick.

I surmised Kyle trying to trade up in the first,

and trying to fill that gap bewteen his first 2nd rounder at #34 and his second 54 2nd rounder.

I could easily see Kyle going to say Seattle and trading for the Kraken's #40 and tarding the hawks' #54 and 72 for it.
- wiz1901

Lots of surmising these days.

He's got plenty of draft capital to spend. I wouldn't be opposed to trading the Blackhawks 2025 or 2026 1st round pick for the right return.
- DarthKane

I’m completely against trading first round picks, unless the team is seriously contending and looking like a 26-31 pick.

Sometimes, simplest is the best. I don't understand why anyone would draft for position in a hockey draft.

Even if you are a player or two away, its not like that guy is going to play right away.

No one ever regretted taking the BPA. Don't F it up, just take the BPA, regardless of position.

Poles took heat from some places for drafting a punter in the 4th round. Many said he should've taken a DE or DT at 9, or trade down, and get the DE or DT and get extra picks instead of taking a WR when they had Moore and Allen. He didn't do it, in both cases, he stayed right where he was, and took the gift that was granted to him, and took the best player available regardless of position.

A year or two from now, he will be a genius, and everyone will be saying of course he took Odunze and Taylor, that was an easy decision anyone would have done that.
- vabeachbear

He took the best punter…not the best player available

Richardson is now the 10th in coaching tenure in the NHL. I still think of him as a rookie as far as coaching in the NHL.

He's got plenty of draft capital to spend. I wouldn't be opposed to trading the Blackhawks 2025 or 2026 1st round pick for the right return.
- DarthKane

I actually think what Kyle meant was he woud trade a pick this year for a replacemnt pick next year like when he gifted that goalie Carson Bjarnason to Philly last year by trading the #51 for a 2024 second rounder from Philly that was originally Los Angeles' second-round pick in 2024 #54th overall

Because he so good and advancing us to higher draft positions!

Richardson is now the 10th in coaching tenure in the NHL. I still think of him as a rookie as far as coaching in the NHL.
- LAHawk

And five of those ahead of him were hired in the same offseason as Luke. NHL coaching is nuts.

I’ll just say it - Demidov is the Russian Caufield and you do NOT pass on a Caufield from any place and that is all I have to say about that. God Bless America 🇺🇸
- Assman22

Take eiserman before demidov

Kantserov up for KHL rookie of the year.

Except Buffalo wants NHL ready talent (most likely at forward). Who do the Hawks have that would fit that description?
- Chunk

Kurashev, reichel

On the Leafs board, the idea went over like a turd in a punch bowl.

I hope he doesn't go there because he could help them.
- mohel

Theyll hire berube

I would think it all depends on how he feels about the prospects he's banked so far. Is he at the point where he knows where the group's deficiencies are and he can and should address them through trading?
- 333inthe3rd

Well all the forwards KD drafted the last two seasons not named Bedard have played a total of 3 NHL games. (Nazar). Tough to evaluate Hayes, Lardis, Ludwinski, Savoie, Moore, Greene, Kantserov at this time. Most of them are still 2 years away from even sniffing the NHL. Then the evaluation really starts IMO.

Kurashev, reichel
- LFS

Are they worth the 11th overall, or are you saying package with #20?

Well all the forwards KD drafted the last two seasons not named Bedard have played a total of 3 NHL games. (Nazar). Tough to evaluate Hayes, Lardis, Ludwinski, Savoie, Moore, Greene, Kantserov at this time. Most of them are still 2 years away from even sniffing the NHL. Then the evaluation really starts IMO.
- boilermaker100

There's also not a lot of talk about any of the kids you mentioned looking yet like potential stars. Still need a couple of those, imo.

Take eiserman before demidov
- LFS

Most places have Eiserman rated after Demidov in the draft. Be interesting to see how Chicago has rated them, although my guess is they’ll draft Levshunov.

It’s hard to get a clear picture of the type of team he’s building. He may not even have a real idea himself at this point. His drafting may make the decision for him as to the identity the team takes on? Some things are very clear, good skaters, some skill, size on the blueline and some roll up your sleeves and get your nose dirty types. Pretty balanced drafting actually.
- paulr

Agree with everything you say here, Paul. Funny how typing something out kinda helps organize thoughts on a topic as layered as this one. At least for me.

I do think KD's vision, backed some by his 2 drafts, is speed, skill, pressure hockey with size seemingly no concern yet still adds good skating bigger skill guys like Hayes and Ludwinski. ..... As you point out he may not have every t crossed and i dotted in his mind but seems to wanna collect mobile skilled players with size not being prohibitive..

So, as you say, he has been balanced in his drafting (shows his flexibility?). To some extent it's outa his control. Yes, he hires the coach but he will be the one to pencil in the lineup and develop the systems he wants to play by players given to him by KD but the coach will determine a lot as far as style of play therefore identity and that helps shape a culture, but of course from players given to him by KD.

I hope KD is flexible and not box himself in when opportunities present that will improve the club with players that don't exactly fit his vision but it seems he leans skill/skating/speed.

Are they worth the 11th overall, or are you saying package with #20?
- Chunk

Im saying they are nhl ready forwards. Nothing more.

We really only know about Bedard upfront. Kurashev is not top 6 on a winner at this point.
- rpeters01

This isn't true at all. Zach Hyman wasn't a first line player when he was drafted but he's gradually gotten better and improved his game. Same as Kurashev is doing. It's not impossible

Take eiserman before demidov
- LFS

That would be moronic

Im saying they are nhl ready forwards. Nothing more.
- LFS

OK, but the discussion was about sending a forward to BUF in order to get the #11 pick.

Most places have Eiserman rated after Demidov in the draft. Be interesting to see how Chicago has rated them, although my guess is they’ll draft Levshunov.
- paulr

Do you think levshunov is the second best player available in the draft? Im not even sure if hes the best dman available.

That would be moronic
- GPHawksfan

Why?

Do you think levshunov is the second best player available in the draft? Im not even sure if hes the best dman available.
- LFS

It doesn't really matter what we think. It matters what the Hawks think.

KD has confirmed they are not drafting based on position/need with the #2 pick. They are going with their assessment of the ceiling and floor of the players available.

He also said they aren't drafting based on how soon the player will be in the NHL. They will pick who they feel is the best player available at #2.
- breadbag

I could use help from folks with good memories. Buddy called after the lottery show and asked who the Hawks drafting and that they gotta get some forward help, he likes Eiserman. This dude follows prospects from 13 yr old tournaments on up so I listen.

I asked how often do top Dmen like Doughty, Hedman, Hughes, top pairing Dmen, become available thru trade or FA compared to wingers? 1st pairing centerman are in that Dmen category too. Hard to impossible to acquire outside the draft Tkachuk, Guentzel types seem to be more available than Hedmans or Doughtys.

You can acquire these guys sometimes before they pop like Karlsson or cap casualties like Pietroangelo, but it's rare.

Even rarer is acquiring elite talent thru trade or FA, you gotta draft them. And most say you gotta have elite players to win a cup and when you have them you keep them. If you're from that camp the Hawks, and their system, to date seems to have one elite player and that's Bedard.

My hope, and KD is "saying" this, is that regardless of position (but in one way or another that skews to some degree to premium positions like Dman and centerman) the organIzation will take the player with the best chance to become elite and that's BPA, especially in the top 5.

And realistically this could be the last chance to draft top 5 in quite awhile. KD needs an elite player to make 2 in the organIzation (Vlasic has a real chance to become elite) and this is the yr to do that with quite a few possibilities there at #2.

If Lindstrom is in that realm for them he might be the pick but I think KD goes Dman cuz that group probably has more chances to get an elite player than other position.

Edit: If the organIzation is not afraid of drafting a Russian for sure I think they go Demidov. Including Celebrini IMO Demidov has the chance to be the most elite player of this draft and I love Celebrini ( tons of Toews traits) and could see 4-5 Dmen having a chance at becoming elite.

Nurse was a top 10 pick. Kelfbom they drafted 19 one of the years and Bouchard was 10 I think. Broberg was a top 10 pick.

Thats between 2010 and 2018. So in 8 years they burnt 4 first round picks on defenders. What should that spread look like?

2012 in general was a very bad draft class.
2011 they took RNH and Adam Larsson went 4, Dougie went 9 and Brodie went 10.
2010 they picked Hall and Gudbranson was the only one picked in the top 10.

Last 5 years only Owen Power has gone in the top 2 spots. Dahlin in the last 10.

Most of the defenders start getting picked up at 4.

It's probably too early to count Luke Hughes - but other than Makar - the top 5 defenders have been pretty underwhelming. Dahlin is very good but not sure how much better he is than Quinn Hughes, Bouchard or Dobson who went later.

Based on historical trends - the 'safer' bet to get full value for that number 2 slot is probably going to be a forward. The mock drafts are all over the place but maybe there is an opportunity to move up and grab someone else they like sooner.
- fattybeef

Could that be that finding impact difference making Dmen are harder to find forwards than can be that?

Also with Buium, D!ckinson, Parekh, Siliyev and Levshunov available it's reasonable to think you can get that impactful Dmen at #2.