I don't know who is Kane's skills coach. Would not surprise me if he is working with multiple guys at different times on different aspects of his game. I think it was Keane at the UC on Thursday.

I will repeat the story of when Blackwell was rehabbing during his season here, his rehab skates mimicked a penalty killer covering the points, stealing the puck and going in on a breakaway. Over and over. It was exhausting watching him. He would go to the bench between reps, catch his breath and look at his phone. I always thought that was odd.

The only 2 first round picks I have seen play live are Misa in Saginaw and Ryker Lee. Misa reminded me of Tavares. My kid thinks he is faster and better than that. We will see. I've watched Lee since he was a little kid. He was at Watts Ice Center in Glencoe working on his game all the time till this past season in the USHL. His mom used to drop him off early and pick him up late. He was tiny but has grown. He used to have my kid feed him one timers. He told me about playing at Shattuck. He wanted to make USA Development didn't make it but killed it in USHL Madison. Daily Faceoff mentioned him as sleeper of the 1st round.

Hagens looked great at WJC. Sounds like there are 5 or 6 top guys. I hope whoever they take goes right back to school or Juniors for another year. I don't want them to rush anyone and I don't want a year of team control burned again.

Heard that it is common knowledge among NHLers that the "victim" of Perry when he was terminated is Caley Chelios.

Also heard that the reason the staff at 5/3rd is turning over and the repairs have slowed is that the Hawks are on an austerity program. No raises, no bonuses, no new hires. The lack of TV revenue and the decline in season ticket sales is impacting the team. I thought it was strange when they sold 535 Cornelia and 535 Stafford Place. What billionaire sells fully paid-off cash-flowing apartments?
- stevefrmglencoe

The properties could be fully deprecated and who knows what their inheritance tax looked like?

Go to Puckpedia, select the team from the team drop down menu along the top banner, select "draft picks" under the team logo, then scroll down to see the pick value and how they were acquired.
- boilermaker100

Yeah, I have played their how much the value draft picks have.

I me, ALL possible trades weigh much more heavily with the picks like the top two seem to be SO much more in value.

I tried to acquire the San Jose pick, and it cost be...#3 and #25 and a future #1.

Considering ANY pick could be come a prospect that doesn't raise his game to impact pro, right?

I think there was a key statement Kyle Davidson made about the "expert rankings" not being the way most of the TEAMS see it, but of course they won't say different.

Did that mean he sees Misa there at slot #3 ?

I really don't think the Isles can/will trade out, PERIOD.

But we also have no true idea where they satnd prior to the Buffalo 2025 draft prsopect camp begins....

Thanks, Chunk. I heard, not read, that you never know who's hurt and that Desnoyers may be dinged........ I watched him closely his last 2 games and he was physically engaged, skating with purpose and his motor was high. .. If he's injured and is playing this way that's impressive. .......

I have never heard the name Keane as a skills coach, not that I follow such things. ... Love hearing Kane was in town in late May and working on his game with a coach. He turned into a hell of a pro besidees being an elite player.
- Mr Ricochet

Yeah, I balsted you yesterday, b/c I felt the other Memorial Cup teams had much more depth older "veteran CHLers" and I saw the speed, intensity of Desnoyers.
A eventual true centre somewhere down the road.
Character.
But a power play gaol and assist in another memeorail Cup loss doesn't convince me that he stands equal the prospects in terms of upside.
When will he be more 178 lbs.?

If I am the Blackhawks, I am looking for a "ryan kesler-type" if my goal is a two way centre.
(Heck, I cannot even let go of the goofy idea that others have perputrated that the centrreposition needs big two guy who can excell in eventaul being a one or two.Believ it would have be Christams if they won last year and acquired Macklin Celebrini.)

I am not sure they see the top guys like (I do) WE DO.

KFC will take whatever prospect they have listed at #3 on the board. He is not giving up those picks to move up two spots. I suspect it's Hagens, but I would love Martone. I believe another forward at #25 unless he packages something to move up. He always surprises us, so buckle up!

This years Selke votes. Mikheyev was the one Hawk to get a vote (5th place vote). All things considered, he probably deserved to be a little higher on the list based on how he performed, but being on a bad team...tough to look good defensively.

Selke is always a bit of a popularity/perception contents more than facts anyway. Barkov won this on reputation more than performance this season IMO.

1. Aleksander Barkov, FLA 1363 (96-31-28-14-4)
2. Sam Reinhart, FLA 837 (29-36-42-24-13)
3. Anthony Cirelli, TBL 828 (29-49-21-25-15)
4. Nico Hischier, NJD 477 (11-19-30-21-21)
5. Jack Eichel, VGK 256 (5-12-12-16-14)
6. Leon Draisaitl, EDM 235 (1-18-11-11-11)
7. Mitch Marner, TOR 177 (3-5-12-10-22)
8. Anze Kopitar, LAK 125 (2-3-7-11-16)
9. Brandon Hagel, TBL 115 (3-5-4-7-9)
10. Adam Lowry, WPG 115 (3-4-4-9-10)
11. Jordan Staal, CAR 108 (5-1-3-8-12)
12. Seth Jarvis, CAR 96 (2-2-3-12-11)
13. Nick Suzuki, MTL 28 (0-1-2-2-5)
14. Auston Matthews, TOR 22 (1-0-2-0-2)
15. Alex Tuch, BUF 20 (0-1-0-3-4)
16. Marcus Foligno, MIN 19 (1-0-1-1-1)
17. Phillip Danault, LAK 17 (0-1-1-1-2)
18. Vincent Trocheck, NYR 13 (0-0-2-1-0)
19. Mark Stone, VGK 11 (0-1-0-1-1)
20. Sebastian Aho, CAR 10 (0-0-2-0-0)
21. Robert Thomas, STL 10 (0-0-1-1-2)
22. Aliaksei Protas, WSH 9 (0-0-0-2-3)
23. Pierre-Luc Dubois, WSH 8 (0-1-0-0-1)
24. Joel Eriksson Ek, MIN 8 (0-0-1-1-0)
25. Claude Giroux, OTT 7 (0-1-0-0-0)
t-26. Warren Foegele, LAK 6 (0-0-0-2-0)
t-26. Dylan Holloway, STL 6 (0-0-0-2-0)
t-26. Brayden Point, TBL 6 (0-0-0-2-0)
t-29. Nathan MacKinnon, COL 5 (0-0-1-0-0)
t-29. Logan O’Connor, COL 5 (0-0-1-0-0)
t-31. Sidney Crosby, PIT 3 (0-0-0-1-0)
t-31. Bo Horvat, NYI 3 (0-0-0-1-0)
t-31. Elias Lindholm, BOS 3 (0-0-0-1-0)
t-31. Sean Monahan, CBJ 3 (0-0-0-1-0)
35. Mikael Backlund, CGY 3 (0-0-0-0-3)
36. Nic Dowd, WSH 2 (0-0-0-0-2)
t-37. Quinton Byfield, LAK 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Roope Hintz, DAL 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Jordan Kyrou, STL 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Anton Lundell, FLA 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Ilya Mikheyev, CHI 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Evan Rodrigues, FLA 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Pius Suter, VAN 1 (0-0-0-0-1)

He surely has flaws as a teenager playing in the best league in the world.

My personal opinion is i see a kid who wants to be the best in the world and is willing to push himself and his body to be that person.

To me he's got captain material written all over him. I for one saw flaws in Toews and Kanes games as teenagers but the Blackhawks were the deepest team in the NHL once they signed Hossa to his contract.

Imagine if Bedard was drafted then, we wouldn't be discussing his flaws and he easily would be scoring near 100 points a season.
- BetweenTheDots

For me the argument that Bedard doesn't have talent around him and that's the problem is beyond old.

If Bedard was flanked by McDavid and Gordie Howe how would that stop him from taking 2 minute shifts, abandon the Dzone like a rat hockey player, have the worst defensive metrics The Athletic's fancy stat guru, Dom, has ever tabulated since he started tabulating his model going back to 2006 or use the useless drive by stick wave forecheck?

Dots, have you ever seen a worse defensive hockey player in your life? Just have you seen, I'm not asking you to name names, any player who was worse?

Respectfully, the lack of talent argument is lazy. Sure, flanked by McDavid he might have had 100 pts the last two yrs but he'd still be the worst defensive player, who wasn't run out of hockey, I've ever seen......... Can you win cups that way, Dots?

Be a Captain??? Even if he still has the worst defensive metrics models have ever recorded??????

And I'll add IMO no hockey player ever should be in the NHL at 18 whether he can put up points or not. Not even McD (I'll try to respond to you when you post, Chunk).

1 or 2 yrs of NCAA or AHL gives a kid the fundamental foundation to build from and a body more developed for the rigors of the NHL. That makes for a better NHLer sooner, a more efficient player, a less confused player, a player that doesn't need shortcuts and is less prone to bad habits learning professional fundamental building blocks at the NHL level.

Imagine if Bedard would have played NCAA his rookie yr at U of MI? How'd that work for Nazar or Rinzel? Safe to assume that would have allowed Bedard to bypass a decent amount of the struggles he has in the NHL?

KFC will take whatever prospect they have listed at #3 on the board. He is not giving up those picks to move up two spots. I suspect it's Hagens, but I would love Martone. I believe another forward at #25 unless he packages something to move up. He always surprises us, so buckle up!
- bjphawkfan

Like last year, KD's more likely to move up from 25 than 3.

For me the argument that Bedard doesn't have talent around him and that's the problem is beyond old.

If Bedard was flanked by McDavid and Gordie Howe how would that stop him from taking 2 minute shifts, abandon the Dzone like a rat hockey player, have the worst defensive metrics The Athletic's fancy stat guru, Dom, has ever tabulated since he started tabulating his model going back to 2006 or use the useless drive by stick wave forecheck?

Dots, have you ever seen a worse defensive hockey player in your life? Just have you seen, I'm not asking you to name names, any player who was worse?

Respectfully, the lack of talent argument is lazy. Sure, flanked by McDavid he might have had 100 pts the last two yrs but he'd still be the worst defensive player, who wasn't run out of hockey, I've ever seen......... Can you win cups that way, Dots?

Be a Captain??? Even if he still has the worst defensive metrics models have ever recorded??????

And I'll add IMO no hockey player ever should be in the NHL at 18 whether he can put up points or not. Not even McD (I'll try to respond to you when you post, Chunk).

1 or 2 yrs of NCAA or AHL gives a kid the fundamental foundation to build from and a body more developed for the rigors of the NHL. That makes for a better NHLer sooner, a more efficient player, a less confused player, a player that doesn't need shortcuts and is less prone to bad habits learning professional fundamental building blocks at the NHL level.

Imagine if Bedard would have played NCAA his rookie yr at U of MI? How'd that work for Nazar or Rinzel? Safe to assume that would have allowed Bedard to bypass a decent amount of the struggles he has in the NHL?
- Mr Ricochet

Bedard would do whatever Gordie told him or Gordie would beat the poop out of him.

This years Selke votes. Mikheyev was the one Hawk to get a vote (5th place vote). All things considered, he probably deserved to be a little higher on the list based on how he performed, but being on a bad team...tough to look good defensively.

Selke is always a bit of a popularity/perception contents more than facts anyway. Barkov won this on reputation more than performance this season IMO.

1. Aleksander Barkov, FLA 1363 (96-31-28-14-4)
2. Sam Reinhart, FLA 837 (29-36-42-24-13)
3. Anthony Cirelli, TBL 828 (29-49-21-25-15)
4. Nico Hischier, NJD 477 (11-19-30-21-21)
5. Jack Eichel, VGK 256 (5-12-12-16-14)
6. Leon Draisaitl, EDM 235 (1-18-11-11-11)
7. Mitch Marner, TOR 177 (3-5-12-10-22)
8. Anze Kopitar, LAK 125 (2-3-7-11-16)
9. Brandon Hagel, TBL 115 (3-5-4-7-9)
10. Adam Lowry, WPG 115 (3-4-4-9-10)
11. Jordan Staal, CAR 108 (5-1-3-8-12)
12. Seth Jarvis, CAR 96 (2-2-3-12-11)
13. Nick Suzuki, MTL 28 (0-1-2-2-5)
14. Auston Matthews, TOR 22 (1-0-2-0-2)
15. Alex Tuch, BUF 20 (0-1-0-3-4)
16. Marcus Foligno, MIN 19 (1-0-1-1-1)
17. Phillip Danault, LAK 17 (0-1-1-1-2)
18. Vincent Trocheck, NYR 13 (0-0-2-1-0)
19. Mark Stone, VGK 11 (0-1-0-1-1)
20. Sebastian Aho, CAR 10 (0-0-2-0-0)
21. Robert Thomas, STL 10 (0-0-1-1-2)
22. Aliaksei Protas, WSH 9 (0-0-0-2-3)
23. Pierre-Luc Dubois, WSH 8 (0-1-0-0-1)
24. Joel Eriksson Ek, MIN 8 (0-0-1-1-0)
25. Claude Giroux, OTT 7 (0-1-0-0-0)
t-26. Warren Foegele, LAK 6 (0-0-0-2-0)
t-26. Dylan Holloway, STL 6 (0-0-0-2-0)
t-26. Brayden Point, TBL 6 (0-0-0-2-0)
t-29. Nathan MacKinnon, COL 5 (0-0-1-0-0)
t-29. Logan O’Connor, COL 5 (0-0-1-0-0)
t-31. Sidney Crosby, PIT 3 (0-0-0-1-0)
t-31. Bo Horvat, NYI 3 (0-0-0-1-0)
t-31. Elias Lindholm, BOS 3 (0-0-0-1-0)
t-31. Sean Monahan, CBJ 3 (0-0-0-1-0)
35. Mikael Backlund, CGY 3 (0-0-0-0-3)
36. Nic Dowd, WSH 2 (0-0-0-0-2)
t-37. Quinton Byfield, LAK 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Roope Hintz, DAL 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Jordan Kyrou, STL 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Anton Lundell, FLA 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Ilya Mikheyev, CHI 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Evan Rodrigues, FLA 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
t-37. Pius Suter, VAN 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
- breadbag

Pius Suter,
#KDfail

For me the argument that Bedard doesn't have talent around him and that's the problem is beyond old.

If Bedard was flanked by McDavid and Gordie Howe how would that stop him from taking 2 minute shifts, abandon the Dzone like a rat hockey player, have the worst defensive metrics The Athletic's fancy stat guru, Dom, has ever tabulated since he started tabulating his model going back to 2006 or use the useless drive by stick wave forecheck?

Dots, have you ever seen a worse defensive hockey player in your life? Just have you seen, I'm not asking you to name names, any player who was worse?

Respectfully, the lack of talent argument is lazy. Sure, flanked by McDavid he might have had 100 pts the last two yrs but he'd still be the worst defensive player, who wasn't run out of hockey, I've ever seen......... Can you win cups that way, Dots?

Be a Captain??? Even if he still has the worst defensive metrics models have ever recorded??????

And I'll add IMO no hockey player ever should be in the NHL at 18 whether he can put up points or not. Not even McD (I'll try to respond to you when you post, Chunk).

1 or 2 yrs of NCAA or AHL gives a kid the fundamental foundation to build from and a body more developed for the rigors of the NHL. That makes for a better NHLer sooner, a more efficient player, a less confused player, a player that doesn't need shortcuts and is less prone to bad habits learning professional fundamental building blocks at the NHL level.

Imagine if Bedard would have played NCAA his rookie yr at U of MI? How'd that work for Nazar or Rinzel? Safe to assume that would have allowed Bedard to bypass a decent amount of the struggles he has in the NHL?
- Mr Ricochet

I think NCAA Hockey is really important. Much closer to AHL than Juniors.

Yeah, I balsted you yesterday, b/c I felt the other Memorial Cup teams had much more depth older "veteran CHLers" and I saw the speed, intensity of Desnoyers.
A eventual true centre somewhere down the road.
Character.
But a power play gaol and assist in another memeorail Cup loss doesn't convince me that he stands equal the prospects in terms of upside.
When will he be more 178 lbs.?

If I am the Blackhawks, I am looking for a "ryan kesler-type" if my goal is a two way centre.
(Heck, I cannot even let go of the goofy idea that others have perputrated that the centrreposition needs big two guy who can excell in eventaul being a one or two.Believ it would have be Christams if they won last year and acquired Macklin Celebrini.)

I am not sure they see the top guys like (I do) WE DO.
- wiz1901

Yea, I saw that post but didn't understand it. ..... Blasted me? Why? Cuz you perceived me disagreeing with you?

I posted Desnoyers ain't on the 1st or 2nd unit PK and wondered why and it might be the team's depth. You responded that his club was full of vets. ... Now you're saying the Wildcats don't have the depth and CHL vets the other Mem Cup teams have.

I love the Kesler comp for Desnoyers. I thought maybe Trocheck but the Kesler comp is very good... Nice mobility, lotta compete, great motor, good pace, secondaryish scoring.

Was Kane ever a center in London or the NTDP? Legit asking. If not that would be the difference.
- HawkintheD

I'm going on a horrid memory but IIRC Kaner was a centerman at London.

Good post Rico. The kid improved his defense and also improved at the dot, and now he wants to improve his skating, and from what I’ve seen and how much he’s improved those other facets of his game, I have no doubts that his skating/speed will also improve. The kid has taken a lot of heat for some reason, yet he’s put up over 60 points a season as a teenager, that’s impressive. I still think that if Teravainen was on his line, the kid would finally break that 30 goal mark.
- Angotti

The national guys don't know the Hawks like people who post here, they just don't. ..... All a sudden the hockey world is aghast by Bedard's "hockey playing" last yr but if they watched like a Hawk's fan he was taking steps to address a load of shortcomings last yr and should have been commended for that. The shock should have been spoken about in his rookie yr, not last yr.

Not that the results of any improvements are near enough the kid is making an effort and we saw that.

I'll add one more thing. His rookie yr they were in EDM and by great luck McD and Bedard had the same play/move/deke to the net and to my eye Bedard's hands were quicker...... Thinking about it since then Bedard's arms are shorter which in theory would be quicker if you weren't comparing him to the most skilled hockey player ever.

besides the best shot I've ever seen IMO Bedard probably has quicker (not saying better) hands than McDavid.

For me the argument that Bedard doesn't have talent around him and that's the problem is beyond old.

If Bedard was flanked by McDavid and Gordie Howe how would that stop him from taking 2 minute shifts, abandon the Dzone like a rat hockey player, have the worst defensive metrics The Athletic's fancy stat guru, Dom, has ever tabulated since he started tabulating his model going back to 2006 or use the useless drive by stick wave forecheck?

Dots, have you ever seen a worse defensive hockey player in your life? Just have you seen, I'm not asking you to name names, any player who was worse?

Respectfully, the lack of talent argument is lazy. Sure, flanked by McDavid he might have had 100 pts the last two yrs but he'd still be the worst defensive player, who wasn't run out of hockey, I've ever seen......... Can you win cups that way, Dots?

Be a Captain??? Even if he still has the worst defensive metrics models have ever recorded??????

And I'll add IMO no hockey player ever should be in the NHL at 18 whether he can put up points or not. Not even McD (I'll try to respond to you when you post, Chunk).

1 or 2 yrs of NCAA or AHL gives a kid the fundamental foundation to build from and a body more developed for the rigors of the NHL. That makes for a better NHLer sooner, a more efficient player, a less confused player, a player that doesn't need shortcuts and is less prone to bad habits learning professional fundamental building blocks at the NHL level.

Imagine if Bedard would have played NCAA his rookie yr at U of MI? How'd that work for Nazar or Rinzel? Safe to assume that would have allowed Bedard to bypass a decent amount of the struggles he has in the NHL?
- Mr Ricochet

*Deep inhale*

1) Your thoughts on Bedard's defense are accurate. He's not good, but he did improve some things last year. The one main thing I'll say about your hypothetical is that in that situation, he would not be the only (or even the main) focus for offense, so he would likely be required to have better defensive responsibility. Not excusing the results at all, but I think one of the major focus points of the coaches the last two years was making sure Bedard was able to generate offense.

2) Off the top of my head, David Rundblad, and Brandon Pirri were at least as bad if not worse.

3) For every guy that went to college, or the AHL first and got better, there are just as many that went there and never got any better. Reichel, Kurashev, Vesey, off the top of my head that never improved. If a guy is ready, and proves it to the team, I don't see any reason he should be held back. I'll always ask the same question in this situation: What proves to you (the collective "you") that a player is ready for the NHL?

4) Kane was never a good defensive player, but he played on amazing teams where his main focus was on generating offense, and as long as he did that, the rest of the year took care of the rest of the heavy lifting. So yes, you can win cups like that - but you need to have the rest of the pieces in place.

Bedard does need to improve in many areas, but to say that you can't win with a guy like him is not really true. You can't win with multiple guys like him on your team because the overall defense isn't good enough to keep score close - just ask Toronto.

Yes, I took the bait. Couldn't resist.

I'm going on a horrid memory but IIRC Kaner was a centerman at London.
- Mr Ricochet

I always thought this was the case as well, but never could find anything to back it up.

For me the argument that Bedard doesn't have talent around him and that's the problem is beyond old.

If Bedard was flanked by McDavid and Gordie Howe how would that stop him from taking 2 minute shifts, abandon the Dzone like a rat hockey player, have the worst defensive metrics The Athletic's fancy stat guru, Dom, has ever tabulated since he started tabulating his model going back to 2006 or use the useless drive by stick wave forecheck?

Dots, have you ever seen a worse defensive hockey player in your life? Just have you seen, I'm not asking you to name names, any player who was worse?

Respectfully, the lack of talent argument is lazy. Sure, flanked by McDavid he might have had 100 pts the last two yrs but he'd still be the worst defensive player, who wasn't run out of hockey, I've ever seen......... Can you win cups that way, Dots?

Be a Captain??? Even if he still has the worst defensive metrics models have ever recorded??????

And I'll add IMO no hockey player ever should be in the NHL at 18 whether he can put up points or not. Not even McD (I'll try to respond to you when you post, Chunk).

1 or 2 yrs of NCAA or AHL gives a kid the fundamental foundation to build from and a body more developed for the rigors of the NHL. That makes for a better NHLer sooner, a more efficient player, a less confused player, a player that doesn't need shortcuts and is less prone to bad habits learning professional fundamental building blocks at the NHL level.

Imagine if Bedard would have played NCAA his rookie yr at U of MI? How'd that work for Nazar or Rinzel? Safe to assume that would have allowed Bedard to bypass a decent amount of the struggles he has in the NHL?
- Mr Ricochet

First of all i am lazy and love it.

2nd i don't understand how you think playing anywhere else would make Bedard a better hockey player?

I see stats of other glorified centers like Jack Hughes, he sucked playing in his teens in the NHL and he's not alone.

They can take their defensive metrics and shove them, i mean goddamit he had more blocked shots and hits than the 2nd OA Leo Carlsson did this past season,

And i know people will say it evens out or you have to play through penalties, but the NHL refs put their whistles away when guys were holding, tripping, slashing the kid, so no offense Rico and i may be lazy but I'm also right on this.

Hawks rights expired on:
Alex Pharand
Marcel Marcel
Milton Oscarson
Victor Stjernborg

Pharand is a little surprising. The others not so much.

Hawks rights expired on:
Alex Pharand
Marcel Marcel
Milton Oscarson
Victor Stjernborg

Pharand is a little surprising. The others not so much.
- Chunk

Pharand is big, but doesn’t use his size much. He has some skill but again doesn’t use it much. He had a reasonably good season this year as a 19 year old but he didn’t show enough. I don’t think he’s as good as MacKenzie Entwistle but there’s an outside chance he’s a late bloomer.

*Deep inhale*

1) Your thoughts on Bedard's defense are accurate. He's not good, but he did improve some things last year. The one main thing I'll say about your hypothetical is that in that situation, he would not be the only (or even the main) focus for offense, so he would likely be required to have better defensive responsibility. Not excusing the results at all, but I think one of the major focus points of the coaches the last two years was making sure Bedard was able to generate offense.

2) Off the top of my head, David Rundblad, and Brandon Pirri were at least as bad if not worse.

3) For every guy that went to college, or the AHL first and got better, there are just as many that went there and never got any better. Reichel, Kurashev, Vesey, off the top of my head that never improved. If a guy is ready, and proves it to the team, I don't see any reason he should be held back. I'll always ask the same question in this situation: What proves to you (the collective "you") that a player is ready for the NHL?

4) Kane was never a good defensive player, but he played on amazing teams where his main focus was on generating offense, and as long as he did that, the rest of the year took care of the rest of the heavy lifting. So yes, you can win cups like that - but you need to have the rest of the pieces in place.

Bedard does need to improve in many areas, but to say that you can't win with a guy like him is not really true. You can't win with multiple guys like him on your team because the overall defense isn't good enough to keep score close - just ask Toronto.

Yes, I took the bait. Couldn't resist.
- Chunk

Tough to have this conversation on the internets as opposed to over a few Blue Moon's for me cuz it's a real good one and you always have good observations on that account IMO....... Lot here for a lazy like me Chunk, but to the bolded, offense on a cup team comes from defense. ...... And yes, Kaner was a bad defensive player, I know well with seasons in row 1 3rd level of the cup yrs. ...... But he wasn't near the worst defensive player I'd ever seen, Bedard is.

If Bedard can get to Kane level defense, get his carcus in the way, he can win a cup on "the right team" who can cover for a forward that gets huge #1 minutes and is bad defensively. ....Bad and worse ever are far apart mind you (work to be done).... Plus Kaner, yea I'll use this term, respected the sport enough to not take 2 minute shifts and fly the zone BEFORE his team gains possession in the Ozone.

Instead of using names like Kurashev, Reichel or KK going thru the AHL let's use McD to further make your case. ...... You'd say he was ready for the NHL. I'd say a yr of McD in the AHL or even the NCAA would see a player come out with some semblence of pro structure, will have played against men, acclimate to pro level coaching, would have been able to work on deficiencies and build on strengths against non-caliber NHLers making for a more efficient, more confident player less likely to build bad habits learning fundamental and pro givens at the NHL level.

That can never be a bad thing and the vast vast vast majority of the time it benefits even a generational talent "ready" for the NHL in his draft +1 yr. ........

OFFSEASON DECISIONS

LW Marcel, Marcel Rights Expiring 6/1/2025
C Stjernborg, Victor Rights Expiring 6/1/2025
C Pharand, Alex Rights Expiring 6/1/2025
RW Oscarson, Milton Rights Expiring 6/1/2025

Signing Rights Expiring - Probably only Pharand has a chance to be signed. Marcel may be back on another AHL contract. Likely no spots for Stjernborg and Oscarson.

LW Luypen, Jalen RFA 6/30/2025
C Saarela, Antti RFA 6/30/2025
RW Kurashev, Phiipp RFA-ARB 6/30/2025
RW Raty, Aku RFA-ARB 6/30/2025
D Kaiser, Wyatt RFA 6/30/2025
D Crevier, Louis RFA 6/30/2025
D Soderstrom, Victor RFA-ARB 6/30/2025
G Soderblom, Arvid RFA-ARB 6/30/2025

RFA - Kaiser, Crevier, and Soderblom should get RFA Qualifying Offers. Think Soderstrom needs an offer to keep his rights. No idea about Kurashev, Raty, and Luypen. Saarela went back to Europe so probably gone.

LW Athanasiou, Andreas UFA 7/1/2025
LW Donato, Ryan UFA 7/1/2025
LW Sanford, Zach UFA 7/1/2025
LW Seney, Brett UFA 7/1/2025
C Guttman, Cole UFA 7/1/2025

UFA - Donato seems like the only potential re-signing. Maybe Seney for Rockford. Figure Guttman will look elsewhere for an opportunity.

LW James, Dominic Rights Expiring 8/15/2025
D Kelley, Connor Rights Expiring 8/15/2025

Signing Rights Expiring - James looking elsewhere, not sure if CHI stll interested. Might be no room for Kelley unless on an AHL contract. G Basse already signed in the ECHL for next year.

EDIT: Ilya Safonov's contract in Russia is expired. Potentially the best time to bring him over is this summer.
- totem

OFFSEASON DECISIONS

LW Marcel, Marcel Rights Expired
C Stjernborg, Victor Rights Expired
C Pharand, Alex Rights Expired
RW Oscarson, Milton Rights Expired

-----------------------------------------

LW Luypen, Jalen RFA 6/30/2025
C Saarela, Antti RFA - Not Returning - Signed - FIN - Lukko
RW Kurashev, Phiipp RFA-ARB 6/30/2025
RW Raty, Aku RFA-ARB - Not Returning - Signed - FIN - Karpat
D Kaiser, Wyatt RFA 6/30/2025
D Crevier, Louis RFA 6/30/2025
D Soderstrom, Victor RFA-ARB 6/30/2025
G Soderblom, Arvid RFA-ARB 6/30/2025

RFA - Kaiser, Crevier, and Soderblom should get RFA Qualifying Offers. Think Soderstrom needs an offer to keep his rights. No idea about Kurashev, Raty, and Luypen. Saarela went back to Europe so probably gone.

LW Athanasiou, Andreas UFA 7/1/2025
LW Donato, Ryan UFA 7/1/2025
LW Sanford, Zach UFA 7/1/2025
LW Seney, Brett UFA 7/1/2025
C Guttman, Cole UFA 7/1/2025

UFA - Donato seems like the only potential re-signing. Maybe Seney for Rockford. Figure Guttman will look elsewhere for an opportunity.

LW James, Dominic Rights Expiring 8/15/2025
D Kelley, Connor Rights Expiring 8/15/2025

Signing Rights Expiring - James looking elsewhere, not sure if CHI stll interested. Might be no room for Kelley unless on an AHL contract. G Basse already signed in the ECHL for next year.

C - Ilya Safonov - Not coming over from Russia - Re-signed AK Bars Kazan

--------------------------------------------

As Chunk mentioned, rights expired on 4 players. 2 RFAs (Raty, Saarela) signed in Finland. Safonov re-signed in Russia, looks like he won't have a spot in the future. With all the high draft picks, very little room for anyone else.

First of all i am lazy and love it.

2nd i don't understand how you think playing anywhere else would make Bedard a better hockey player?

I see stats of other glorified centers like Jack Hughes, he sucked playing in his teens in the NHL and he's not alone.

They can take their defensive metrics and shove them, i mean goddamit he had more blocked shots and hits than the 2nd OA Leo Carlsson did this past season,

And i know people will say it evens out or you have to play through penalties, but the NHL refs put their whistles away when guys were holding, tripping, slashing the kid, so no offense Rico and i may be lazy but I'm also right on this.
- BetweenTheDots

Well, here we have the reason we part ways. I don't need the metrics cuz I eye tested Bedard for 2 yrs and my eye test agreed. Bedard is the worst defensive NHLer I've ever seen.

As stated in other posts I don't think a club can win a cup like that with even a 100 pt player without 7 galaxies' star's aligning.

And I can't state any better how having Howe and McDavid on his flanks would get Bedard to stop taking 2 minute shifts (he has by the way ever since he came back from a broken jaw) or playing rat hockey in his zone and the neutral zone.

Don't be offended by the "lazy take". That was meant for national guys but if you feel that way it's either cuz you are a homer or it's just the way you see Bedard after watching all his games for 2 yrs.

OFFSEASON DECISIONS

LW Marcel, Marcel Rights Expired
C Stjernborg, Victor Rights Expired
C Pharand, Alex Rights Expired
RW Oscarson, Milton Rights Expired

-----------------------------------------

LW Luypen, Jalen RFA 6/30/2025
C Saarela, Antti RFA - Not Returning - Signed - FIN - Lukko
RW Kurashev, Phiipp RFA-ARB 6/30/2025
RW Raty, Aku RFA-ARB - Not Returning - Signed - FIN - Karpat
D Kaiser, Wyatt RFA 6/30/2025
D Crevier, Louis RFA 6/30/2025
D Soderstrom, Victor RFA-ARB 6/30/2025
G Soderblom, Arvid RFA-ARB 6/30/2025

RFA - Kaiser, Crevier, and Soderblom should get RFA Qualifying Offers. Think Soderstrom needs an offer to keep his rights. No idea about Kurashev, Raty, and Luypen. Saarela went back to Europe so probably gone.

LW Athanasiou, Andreas UFA 7/1/2025
LW Donato, Ryan UFA 7/1/2025
LW Sanford, Zach UFA 7/1/2025
LW Seney, Brett UFA 7/1/2025
C Guttman, Cole UFA 7/1/2025

UFA - Donato seems like the only potential re-signing. Maybe Seney for Rockford. Figure Guttman will look elsewhere for an opportunity.

LW James, Dominic Rights Expiring 8/15/2025
D Kelley, Connor Rights Expiring 8/15/2025

Signing Rights Expiring - James looking elsewhere, not sure if CHI stll interested. Might be no room for Kelley unless on an AHL contract. G Basse already signed in the ECHL for next year.

C - Ilya Safonov - Not coming over from Russia - Re-signed AK Bars Kazan

--------------------------------------------

As Chunk mentioned, rights expired on 4 players. 2 RFAs (Raty, Saarela) signed in Finland. Safonov re-signed in Russia, looks like he won't have a spot in the future. With all


the high draft picks, very little room for anyone else.
- totem

Very nice, totem. Thank you.......... Do you have any grasp of how many pro contracts the Hawks have given out, how many are left and will there be a concern moving forward about the amount of contracts available and will there be too many prospects needing one of them?

Tough to have this conversation on the internets as opposed to over a few Blue Moon's for me cuz it's a real good one and you always have good observations on that account IMO....... Lot here for a lazy like me Chunk, but to the bolded, offense on a cup team comes from defense. ...... And yes, Kaner was a bad defensive player, I know well with seasons in row 1 3rd level of the cup yrs. ...... But he wasn't near the worst defensive player I'd ever seen, Bedard is.

If Bedard can get to Kane level defense, get his carcus in the way, he can win a cup on "the right team" who can cover for a forward that gets huge #1 minutes and is bad defensively. ....Bad and worse ever are far apart mind you (work to be done).... Plus Kaner, yea I'll use this term, respected the sport enough to not take 2 minute shifts and fly the zone BEFORE his team gains possession in the Ozone.

Instead of using names like Kurashev, Reichel or KK going thru the AHL let's use McD to further make your case. ...... You'd say he was ready for the NHL. I'd say a yr of McD in the AHL or even the NCAA would see a player come out with some semblence of pro structure, will have played against men, acclimate to pro level coaching, would have been able to work on deficiencies and build on strengths against non-caliber NHLers making for a more efficient, more confident player less likely to build bad habits learning fundamental and pro givens at the NHL level.

That can never be a bad thing and the vast vast vast majority of the time it benefits even a generational talent "ready" for the NHL in his draft +1 yr. ........
- Mr Ricochet

Personally, I'd argue that at the same age/experience Bedard as good or better defensive player than Kane was at the time and he is less allergic to contact. Kane also didn't play in a position where he needed to focus on it as much and played for a more competitive team that helped cover his deficiencies. He was able to cheat on the offensive side more and the Hawks leveraged those stretch pass and had really slick skating D to get out of danger. I think if you put Bedard on the wing with that Hawks team, he wouldn't have people complaining about his defensive play. The expectations and responsibility he has defensively is more than Kane ever had to worry about.

The thing with Bedard is that he is young and still has a lot of growing to do. We don't yet know exactly where he will end up. He is focusing on the right things according to his comments at the year end, working on his skating and explosiveness in his legs.

The fun will be finding out if he lives up the "generational" hype or not. The Blackhawks won't be make or break based on one player. You can have the best player in the world and still be a bad team. You can have the worst player and still win a championship. Bedard will be a piece of the core they are building and hopefully hits that ceiling that sees him compete with the top guys in league scoring on an annual basis.

Very nice, totem. Thank you.......... Do you have any grasp of how many pro contracts the Hawks have given out, how many are left and will there be a concern moving forward about the amount of contracts available and will there be too many prospects needing one of them?
- Mr Ricochet

Right now my count is 36 without RFAs or UFAs.
That included Lardis. Misiak, Spellacy, and Vanacker - I read somewhere that these don't really "count" toward the 50 limit until they play their first pro game. Not sure about that, but will assume.

So guessing...
Current 32.
Lardis and Misiak add 2 on opening night.
4 RFAs (Kaiser, Crevier, Soderstrom, Soderblom)
4 UFAs (2 at least for CHI, a couple vets for RFD)
So about 42 on opening night which seems pretty normal, plus 2 sliding.

Summer of 2026:
Spellacy, Vanacker, Kantserov, Boisvert, 2025 #3
Maybes: 2025 #25, 2025 #34, Henry, Felcman, Gajan

Guess it will depend on how many advance from RFD to CHI to replace the current vets. RFD could easily be overloaded. Anyone who was drafted rounds 4-7 probably doesn't have a spot.

Personally, I'd argue that at the same age/experience Bedard as good or better defensive player than Kane was at the time and he is less allergic to contact. Kane also didn't play in a position where he needed to focus on it as much and played for a more competitive team that helped cover his deficiencies. He was able to cheat on the offensive side more and the Hawks leveraged those stretch pass and had really slick skating D to get out of danger. I think if you put Bedard on the wing with that Hawks team, he wouldn't have people complaining about his defensive play. The expectations and responsibility he has defensively is more than Kane ever had to worry about.

The thing with Bedard is that he is young and still has a lot of growing to do. We don't yet know exactly where he will end up. He is focusing on the right things according to his comments at the year end, working on his skating and explosiveness in his legs.

The fun will be finding out if he lives up the "generational" hype or not. The Blackhawks won't be make or break based on one player. You can have the best player in the world and still be a bad team. You can have the worst player and still win a championship. Bedard will be a piece of the core they are building and hopefully hits that ceiling that sees him compete with the top guys in league scoring on an annual basis.
- breadbag

I don't wanna belabor Bedard's deficiencies but I think all Hawk fans can agree he needs to improve his 2 way game. ......... Glad you weighed in BB cuz I'm curious your thoughts, or anyone's really cuz I haven't read around, on Blashill.

He must have been hired cuz the organIzation thinks he's good for Bedard at this stage of his development and by extensions all the young guys that will be coming up the next 3-4 yrs as well as other reasons.

With that in mind, and having seen Blashill's Indiana USHL squad win a cup and go to the Conference Finals in his 2 yrs I know his team's are really structured/sound, I think the Hawks loved Blashill's floor.

He might not have the chops to get the squad to Point C but Bedard and the other youngsters will at the very least develop properly and learn what a complete hockey player looks like.

Hopefully Blashill will show he can go toe toe toe with heavyweight coaches in the playoffs but if he can't it will have been beneficial for the development of the organIzation's players that he was hired.