Doneghey was referring to the evaluation process of draft picks taking 5 years since they are drafting 17-20 year-olds.
- Chunk

But is isnt that an admission that's the time line for the rebuild in a way.

Are you implying that you are one of the very few that were saying he was a one-dimensional player when he entered the league? Even people who rightfully marveled at his offense admitted that he was a deficit in his own zone. Ask anyone who even had a discussion about the Calder and they had to explain away his poor defense.

He is exceptional in the offensive zone. He was able to make Kurashev look good for a season. He doesn't seem to have any issues playing with Teuvo on the PP for that exact reason. To pretend that you are one of the few to realize he has holes in his game is silly. Most people just concentrate on the high skills because they are easy to see and the Hawks need more scoring. He's carried the offensive load for the team as an 18-19 year old.

He's realized he has things he needs to work on. He's said as much in post-game interviews during both of his seasons. He's not going to become Bergeron overnight, so he's picked a few things to concentrate on improving and as you have noticed, he's gotten better.

I don't understand why all the disdain for people who just point out he's really good at generating points.
- Chunk

Before I type myself into a cul de sac and my point gets buried this is it in a nut shell. Bedard played the worst defense his rookie yr The Athletic's, Dom, fancy stat guy's model had ever seen since its implementation in 2006. Worst EVER. Nobody scored lower. Bedard is below, at the bottom, rock bottom, looking up at 18 yrs worth of tabulation.

During that time the whole of the hockey world was raving the kid is generational as their 1st crew of every network was sent to cover Hawk games and Bedard specifically. Every outlet, and too damn many fans and "writers/experts", sang his praises as he was accumulating 68ish no defense/rat hockey points.

Yr 2 from the first shift of the first preseason game the kid was at his endwall digging for a puck. I posted that day someone got to the kid and he's trying to LEARN the 200 ft game. .....

His 200 ft game was nowhere good enough but for God's sake the kid was trying when the yr before he camped out at the redline. This yr the national guys on tv are all of a sudden aghast at his poor 200 ft game after praising the kid as generational when he was playing rat hockey his rookie yr.

That's it. Yr 1, as bad a defensive player I've ever seen with the fancies to go back 18 yrs to prove that assertion and he was praised. Yr 2 the kid obviously was trying to play 200n ft for his first time EVER and he was knocked by Messier, Biz the Clown and hot take lazy fraud Roenick the narcissist. He deserved praise for yr 2 and honest objective criticism in Yr 1. It's backwards....... That's all. No implying nuttin.

Now, and respectfully to Dots, this is getting to be a failure to communicate conversation and this you can file in the It Don't Mean Jack as I drive into the cul de sac.

Feel free to correct me, Chunk, and anyone reading...Game 25 while the world was praising Bedard Yr 1 I posted, screamed, this kid is playing jr hockey taking 2 God damned minute shifts, coughing 10 times a game and endless odd mans against anytime he's on the ice. ... This kid is playing rat hockey and needs Torts, NOW.

Instead of moving on to real life after I posted as I usually do I readied, for the fan boys and ignorant to respond.. Sure enough 17-20 people quickly are telling me no, you're wrong, you are stupid, you're an idiot Bedard is great. ..... Am I wrong on anything here?

I didn't, and never do without attributing who I read/heard, read or hear that Bedard's game is simply unacceptable anywhere, as I watched the kid accumulate the worst defensive season ever recorded in Dom's fancy stat model, until it was posted at HB by me.

Not his D needs work, not he's young and learning, not he needs better players to "help" him like we may have read/heard at alamingly few places. I posted this is pathetic and unacceptable. ...... Am I the first, and if I was who gives a God damn?

I know I posted in Game 25 of yr 1 what people were saying in yr 2. Am I wrong? I ask that only cuz you asked me, "are you saying you think you're the only one who said/noticed/evaluated Bedard's game is deficient"?....... No, I'm saying I posted in Game 25 TWO seasons ago his game is pathetic, he plays rat hockey, he plays a jrs hockey game, you can't win with that game even if he pots 150 pts.

That wrong, Chunk? I misremembered? I'm walking around like Toe Blake telling you and the world I'm the only guy on earth that "noticed" you can never ever win with a player like that getting the most forward minutes and 9/10ths of the PP skating two minute shifts as Mrazak looked like he was dodging bullets in The Matrix during Bedard's shifts, Chunk?

Two days ago you, I won't say "schooled me", but pointed out to me the difference between getting pts with FLA and getting hollow pts that are empty calorie pts on a weak club. Correct, Chunk? I didn't understand? .......... But now you're asking me why I have "disdain" for people who post that Bedard is good at getting "points" as he plays rat hockey?... What am I missing? .....

Pointing out mt calorie pts is ok but only for selected players, Bedard being one of them?

I can't believe the whining and moaning over on CHGO about the Hawks.

Its like Glencoe Steve took over a program manager.

WTF was KD supposed to do today? There was literally no one left in FA.

And Sam Lafferty being the straw that broke the camels back on the rebuild
- vabeachbear

Hey…Steve’s pissed as he felt those guys weren’t anywhere near as mopey.

It stems from the fact that everyone in the organization has said that a similar result to last year was not acceptable and they've not really made any additions that would move the needle in that direction. Lafferty is kind of viewed as just a guy, and might possibly block a kid from taking a spot on a lower line.

I get the consternation (I'm kind a miffed myself), but also agree that Lafferty is an inconsequential move.

Let's see what turns out with the rest of the offseason and then reconvene.
- Chunk

Free agency isn't how KD is going to move the needle. He's already said, it will come down to trades.

Free agency isn't how KD is going to move the needle. He's already said, it will come down to trades.
- rpeters01

Just watched his presser at the end of the day, i don't know, i kind of think he has a trade in the works and might even have frame work done for Bedard.

Adam Gaudette 2 x $2M. SJS chipping away at the salary cap floor.
- MartiniMan

They should bring back Brent Burns.

We should all be glad KD didn't do anything stupid or set back the rebuild. Lafferty is just short term depth. This UFA/trade market is bad and we do have a boat load of young guys getting really ready to push for spots. I'm glad we get to see the youth really start to drive the team.
- breadbag

Boisvert is the guy I hope gets signed soon!

So, the current roster stands at:

Bertuzzi
Burakovsky
TT
Foligno
Richardinson
Mikheyev
Donato
Lafferty
Reichel
Bedard
Nazar
Slaggert
Dach

That's 13. I'm still at least 50/50 that KD trades D!ckinson, and I think Reichel as well for some team as a consolation prize.

Without those trades, there are two (maybe three with Lafferty) spots open for competition - the Dach and Slaggert spots. It'll be interesting to see how that situation shakes out.

Defense:
Vlasic
Murphy
KK
Arty
Rinzel
Kaiser
Crevier
EDM
Allan

9 guys. If I am handicapping it, I'd say Allan stays in the AHL another year. Crev stays up as the 7th D-man. KK's going to need to show out to make the squad. Then it's between Kaiser and EDM as to who gets the last spot.
- Chunk

I still say two Defense Men need to go. Kaiser, Crevier and Allan make the most sense unless there's a deal for a quality Forward to be made.

The summer isn't over and fans don't know if the Hawks made offers that were not accepted.

It is disappointing to think that as currently constructed Foligno is really the only forward who appears to be a guy who can go get a puck on the forecheck and get it to Bedard. They have not yet given the kid they tanked for the players around him that will compliment his game. He is not complete but they could be helping him more.

Foligno is also the only guy willing to stand up for his teammates on this roster which is not nearly as big of a deal as in the past but certainly something needed on a team that is likely going to lose a ton and get destroyed by the top teams again. They are counting on him to do a lot at an age where injury takes it's toll.

The D core is young and has lots of potential but we can all see that it is just a matter of time until Murphy gets hurt again and the lack of a veteran to play against the big strong players on all the rosters in West is going to be glaring hole. The players they have filled in when the injuries have hit have all been below average. Would have liked one of the solid guys that went elsewhere. Perhaps they tried but were unable to convince them to come here.

Would it have killed them to overpay for a mover of the needle? The top teams now are loaded with Free Agents. It makes sense to add one or two every year. You can't expect a bell to ring and they are all of a sudden going to sign 10 free agents, make amazing one sided trades, gel, and go on a Cup run. I wish they would be acquiring talent now. Not just through the draft but Free Agents and older Europeans.

Trading for Lafferty again is not an exciting and creative move to inspire the masses or the die hards. Feels like going in circles or treading water. Not sure how it makes the team better and does in a small way block one of the young guys from moving up.
- stevefrmglencoe

I think you will see Bedard BEGIN to go get his own pucks this season.

Before I type myself into a cul de sac and my point gets buried this is it in a nut shell. Bedard played the worst defense his rookie yr The Athletic's, Dom, fancy stat guy's model had ever seen since its implementation in 2006. Worst EVER. Nobody scored lower. Bedard is below, at the bottom, rock bottom, looking up at 18 yrs worth of tabulation.

During that time the whole of the hockey world was raving the kid is generational as their 1st crew of every network was sent to cover Hawk games and Bedard specifically. Every outlet, and too damn many fans and "writers/experts", sang his praises as he was accumulating 68ish no defense/rat hockey points.

Yr 2 from the first shift of the first preseason game the kid was at his endwall digging for a puck. I posted that day someone got to the kid and he's trying to LEARN the 200 ft game. .....

His 200 ft game was nowhere good enough but for God's sake the kid was trying when the yr before he camped out at the redline. This yr the national guys on tv are all of a sudden aghast at his poor 200 ft game after praising the kid as generational when he was playing rat hockey his rookie yr.

That's it. Yr 1, as bad a defensive player I've ever seen with the fancies to go back 18 yrs to prove that assertion and he was praised. Yr 2 the kid obviously was trying to play 200n ft for his first time EVER and he was knocked by Messier, Biz the Clown and hot take lazy fraud Roenick the narcissist. He deserved praise for yr 2 and honest objective criticism in Yr 1. It's backwards....... That's all. No implying nuttin.

Now, and respectfully to Dots, this is getting to be a failure to communicate conversation and this you can file in the It Don't Mean Jack as I drive into the cul de sac.

Feel free to correct me, Chunk, and anyone reading...Game 25 while the world was praising Bedard Yr 1 I posted, screamed, this kid is playing jr hockey taking 2 God damned minute shifts, coughing 10 times a game and endless odd mans against anytime he's on the ice. ... This kid is playing rat hockey and needs Torts, NOW.

Instead of moving on to real life after I posted as I usually do I readied, for the fan boys and ignorant to respond.. Sure enough 17-20 people quickly are telling me no, you're wrong, you are stupid, you're an idiot Bedard is great. ..... Am I wrong on anything here?

I didn't, and never do without attributing who I read/heard, read or hear that Bedard's game is simply unacceptable anywhere, as I watched the kid accumulate the worst defensive season ever recorded in Dom's fancy stat model, until it was posted at HB by me.

Not his D needs work, not he's young and learning, not he needs better players to "help" him like we may have read/heard at alamingly few places. I posted this is pathetic and unacceptable. ...... Am I the first, and if I was who gives a God damn?

I know I posted in Game 25 of yr 1 what people were saying in yr 2. Am I wrong? I ask that only cuz you asked me, "are you saying you think you're the only one who said/noticed/evaluated Bedard's game is deficient"?....... No, I'm saying I posted in Game 25 TWO seasons ago his game is pathetic, he plays rat hockey, he plays a jrs hockey game, you can't win with that game even if he pots 150 pts.

That wrong, Chunk? I misremembered? I'm walking around like Toe Blake telling you and the world I'm the only guy on earth that "noticed" you can never ever win with a player like that getting the most forward minutes and 9/10ths of the PP skating two minute shifts as Mrazak looked like he was dodging bullets in The Matrix during Bedard's shifts, Chunk?

Two days ago you, I won't say "schooled me", but pointed out to me the difference between getting pts with FLA and getting hollow pts that are empty calorie pts on a weak club. Correct, Chunk? I didn't understand? .......... But now you're asking me why I have "disdain" for people who post that Bedard is good at getting "points" as he plays rat hockey?... What am I missing? .....

Pointing out mt calorie pts is ok but only for selected players, Bedard being one of them?
- Mr Ricochet

Bedard's defensive stats would have looked a lot better with Sharp and Hossa on his Wings, and Seabs and Keith etc. behind him.

Boisvert is the guy I hope gets signed soon!
- rpeters01

He transferred to BU, will probably sign in the spring after his sophomore season.

Not sure why KD acquired Lafferty? He’s basically the same guy as three or four other veterans already on the team and it clogs the pipeline for young Rockford players. I’d much sooner see Slaggert or Savoie make mistakes than watching veteran forwards making mistakes.
- paulr

Maybe for the same reason that they signed Brodie and Martinez last year, to give kids like Slaggert a bit more time in Rockford. Me thinks that D!ckinson ruffled some feathers last year and is on his way out, good riddance. My favorite non first rounders to make the team are Greene and EDM, I like what they bring. Maybe package Allan, Richardie, and a pick for a forward.

Powers had an article out today,nothing to new in there. Just mentioned that Foligno,Richardinson and a few other vets are most likely traded at the deadline.

He also wrote this little piece that confused me:

Outside of McKenna, Pronman thought the draft could stack up similarly to this year, where there weren’t many sure things. Some of the players who could be in the discussion after McKenna are forwards Ivar Stenberg and Ryan Roobroeck and defensemen Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin. The Blackhawks would probably target another top-six forward. Sternberg plays in the SHL, just as Anton Frondell does; that could be an area to watch next season. McKenna or Stenberg on top of the Blackhawks’ current forward pool would probably be ideal for their rebuild.

I thought next year's draft was supposed to have like 3-4 sure things like the Bedard,Carlsson,Fantili draft?

Powers had an article out today,nothing to new in there. Just mentioned that Foligno,Richardinson and a few other vets are most likely traded at the deadline.

He also wrote this little piece that confused me:

Outside of McKenna, Pronman thought the draft could stack up similarly to this year, where there weren’t many sure things. Some of the players who could be in the discussion after McKenna are forwards Ivar Stenberg and Ryan Roobroeck and defensemen Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin. The Blackhawks would probably target another top-six forward. Sternberg plays in the SHL, just as Anton Frondell does; that could be an area to watch next season. McKenna or Stenberg on top of the Blackhawks’ current forward pool would probably be ideal for their rebuild.

I thought next year's draft was supposed to have like 3-4 sure things like the Bedard,Carlsson,Fantili draft?
- captainserious

I've heard it will be like the Bedard draft but after McKenna there will be a lot of indecision at this point. After the season things should become clearer to where the rest rank

Powers had an article out today,nothing to new in there. Just mentioned that Foligno,Richardinson and a few other vets are most likely traded at the deadline.

He also wrote this little piece that confused me:

Outside of McKenna, Pronman thought the draft could stack up similarly to this year, where there weren’t many sure things. Some of the players who could be in the discussion after McKenna are forwards Ivar Stenberg and Ryan Roobroeck and defensemen Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin. The Blackhawks would probably target another top-six forward. Sternberg plays in the SHL, just as Anton Frondell does; that could be an area to watch next season. McKenna or Stenberg on top of the Blackhawks’ current forward pool would probably be ideal for their rebuild.

I thought next year's draft was supposed to have like 3-4 sure things like the Bedard,Carlsson,Fantili draft?
- captainserious

I would not worry that far ahead about the next draft. The guys like Pronman can make statements but they are just guesses. So much will change with the prospects for next draft between now and then. We really don't know where exactly the Hawks will finish. We don't know who will win the lotto and we don't know who will rise and fall between now and then. There could be guys who raise their stock in a big way or vice versa. The Hawks aren't going into this season thinking about the draft. They are focused on getting the young guys playing and contributing and we will see how far it takes them.

I've heard it will be like the Bedard draft but after McKenna there will be a lot of indecision at this point. After the season things should become clearer to where the rest rank
- wizardofi

But McKenna really can't be a top pick and a star, he's under 6'

Should be an awesome year ...

Gotta Donato, now gotta Toninato, and still gotta Tony Granato as a TV analyst.

Seeing a trend here?

---

Also - yeh, see when you're your team's main offensive threat, and your team is perpetually behind, it's funny how you end up hanging at the red line hoping that maybe you get a break (ok usually it didn't happen) - but I mean fair is fair -- when your team is desperate ... well, it usually doesn't work out so well ... and indeed it didn't -but I doubt it was due to Bedard's defence -not then, at any rate.

Interesting that Pridham decided to go back to Kitchener instead of going to BU. Seems he liked his progression there better and is looking to earn a contract with CHI as soon as possible.
- Chunk

Someone had just posted on BN the other day about how well Pridham did with Kitchener. Now he's heading back

No, it isn't. Kaiser is on the team. The last spot is between KK and EDM. Cause Kaiser is better than both. Plays bigger than both, too.
- Elbows15

Crevier can go to Rockford. Not a fan. KK might be the odd man out.
Rinzel, Vlasic, EDM, Kaiser, Arty, Murphy, Allan

Before I type myself into a cul de sac and my point gets buried this is it in a nut shell. Bedard played the worst defense his rookie yr The Athletic's, Dom, fancy stat guy's model had ever seen since its implementation in 2006. Worst EVER. Nobody scored lower. Bedard is below, at the bottom, rock bottom, looking up at 18 yrs worth of tabulation.

During that time the whole of the hockey world was raving the kid is generational as their 1st crew of every network was sent to cover Hawk games and Bedard specifically. Every outlet, and too damn many fans and "writers/experts", sang his praises as he was accumulating 68ish no defense/rat hockey points.

Yr 2 from the first shift of the first preseason game the kid was at his endwall digging for a puck. I posted that day someone got to the kid and he's trying to LEARN the 200 ft game. .....

His 200 ft game was nowhere good enough but for God's sake the kid was trying when the yr before he camped out at the redline. This yr the national guys on tv are all of a sudden aghast at his poor 200 ft game after praising the kid as generational when he was playing rat hockey his rookie yr.

That's it. Yr 1, as bad a defensive player I've ever seen with the fancies to go back 18 yrs to prove that assertion and he was praised. Yr 2 the kid obviously was trying to play 200n ft for his first time EVER and he was knocked by Messier, Biz the Clown and hot take lazy fraud Roenick the narcissist. He deserved praise for yr 2 and honest objective criticism in Yr 1. It's backwards....... That's all. No implying nuttin.

Now, and respectfully to Dots, this is getting to be a failure to communicate conversation and this you can file in the It Don't Mean Jack as I drive into the cul de sac.

Feel free to correct me, Chunk, and anyone reading...Game 25 while the world was praising Bedard Yr 1 I posted, screamed, this kid is playing jr hockey taking 2 God damned minute shifts, coughing 10 times a game and endless odd mans against anytime he's on the ice. ... This kid is playing rat hockey and needs Torts, NOW.

Instead of moving on to real life after I posted as I usually do I readied, for the fan boys and ignorant to respond.. Sure enough 17-20 people quickly are telling me no, you're wrong, you are stupid, you're an idiot Bedard is great. ..... Am I wrong on anything here?

I didn't, and never do without attributing who I read/heard, read or hear that Bedard's game is simply unacceptable anywhere, as I watched the kid accumulate the worst defensive season ever recorded in Dom's fancy stat model, until it was posted at HB by me.

Not his D needs work, not he's young and learning, not he needs better players to "help" him like we may have read/heard at alamingly few places. I posted this is pathetic and unacceptable. ...... Am I the first, and if I was who gives a God damn?

I know I posted in Game 25 of yr 1 what people were saying in yr 2. Am I wrong? I ask that only cuz you asked me, "are you saying you think you're the only one who said/noticed/evaluated Bedard's game is deficient"?....... No, I'm saying I posted in Game 25 TWO seasons ago his game is pathetic, he plays rat hockey, he plays a jrs hockey game, you can't win with that game even if he pots 150 pts.

That wrong, Chunk? I misremembered? I'm walking around like Toe Blake telling you and the world I'm the only guy on earth that "noticed" you can never ever win with a player like that getting the most forward minutes and 9/10ths of the PP skating two minute shifts as Mrazak looked like he was dodging bullets in The Matrix during Bedard's shifts, Chunk?

Two days ago you, I won't say "schooled me", but pointed out to me the difference between getting pts with FLA and getting hollow pts that are empty calorie pts on a weak club. Correct, Chunk? I didn't understand? .......... But now you're asking me why I have "disdain" for people who post that Bedard is good at getting "points" as he plays rat hockey?... What am I missing? .....

Pointing out mt calorie pts is ok but only for selected players, Bedard being one of them?
- Mr Ricochet

Has anyone EVER said his defense was even remotely acceptable? No. I guess that's what I'm trying to explain. No one has ever thought "Connor Bedard - Selke finalist", or anything even remotely close. He put up almost a point per game as an 18 year old with no one to help him at all. That is why people are excited about him.

Yes you certainly can win with a guy like that, because the Hawks won three with Kane. Look at not only the rosters, but the coaching staffs that Kane played under vs Bedard. I don't care what statistical model you use, you can't take that out of the equation. Regardless of he defensive liabilities, he is phenomenally gifted at generating points.

He's 18. He was thrust into the NHL and relied on the the only real thing he knew how to do to get through. If there is a finger to be pointed, point it at Luke Richardson for allowing him to keep playing the way he did without repercussion. Kane and Sharp got sat early in their careers and they both improved. Kane was never anything close to a defensive star, but that's not anywhere near his most valuable trait. He became acceptable at it, and so will Bedard.

Eventually:
Less 2:00 sifts
Less turnovers
More possession time
Better at face-offs
Better at killing plays in the D-zone.

Until then, he'll continue to be the main offense generator on a team with at best a few 2nd liners, mostly 3-4th liners, and an extremely young D-corps.

Has anyone EVER said his defense was even remotely acceptable? No. I guess that's what I'm trying to explain. No one has ever thought "Connor Bedard - Selke finalist", or anything even remotely close. He put up almost a point per game as an 18 year old with no one to help him at all. That is why people are excited about him.

Yes you certainly can win with a guy like that, because the Hawks won three with Kane. Look at not only the rosters, but the coaching staffs that Kane played under vs Bedard. I don't care what statistical model you use, you can't take that out of the equation. Regardless of he defensive liabilities, he is phenomenally gifted at generating points.

He's 18. He was thrust into the NHL and relied on the the only real thing he knew how to do to get through. If there is a finger to be pointed, point it at Luke Richardson for allowing him to keep playing the way he did without repercussion. Kane and Sharp got sat early in their careers and they both improved. Kane was never anything close to a defensive star, but that's not anywhere near his most valuable trait. He became acceptable at it, and so will Bedard.

Eventually:
Less 2:00 sifts
Less turnovers
More possession time
Better at face-offs
Better at killing plays in the D-zone.

Until then, he'll continue to be the main offense generator on a team with at best a few 2nd liners, mostly 3-4th liners, and an extremely young D-corps.
- Chunk

I don't understand the expectations of a teenager who's never played against men, to be the best all around hockey player in the NHL?

I think statistics have their place but as you said before it's not a one man show.

Bedard wants to win, wants to be the best hockey player in the world and he just did a Captain move, instead of playing for the world he went to Vancouver and started training for next season.

I don't see Connor for what he is now i see him for what he's going to be at 22, 23, 24 years old.

For his rookie season with literally no one on his team he scored almost a point per game, that's special to me more so than McDavid or Crosby coming into the league and having legitimate top line forwards.

I also think this year was good as well Bedard probably lost out on 7 to 12 goals because of his one timer, glad to see they worked on that with him. He did say he felt tired towards the middle to late season admitting that maybe i spend too much time practicing hockey.

I know Michael Jordan said it took him 5 seasons to figure out how to be the best pro athlete he could be for him and his teammates.

Crevier can go to Rockford. Not a fan. KK might be the odd man out.
Rinzel, Vlasic, EDM, Kaiser, Arty, Murphy, Allan
- Assman22

Trade two guys, the rest play NHL, eazy peazy.

Serious question: the players paid into escrow all the years cap calculated revenue was not reached. Are they getting a bonus for the cap going up significantly? I assume, they exceeded revenue expectations last season but don't know?