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Forums :: Blog World :: Justin Lowe: The Great Eight
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Tyler Cameron
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 10.31.2017

Apr 30 @ 1:19 AM ET
Justin Lowe: The Great Eight
dahawks8819
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago, IL
Joined: 10.29.2014

Apr 30 @ 1:25 AM ET
First
MjulQvist
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 04.22.2012

Apr 30 @ 2:04 AM ET
There will be good option left for that pick. Dahlin, Svechnikov and Zadina won´t be there at #8 that´s for sure. Tkachuk and Boqvist might not too. But then it depends what other teams prefer.

I would be happy with either Bouchard or Dobson. Nothing against Hughes and Wahlstrom and wouldn´t rule out Kotkaniemi.
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.18.2016

Apr 30 @ 2:52 AM ET
1) really solid, 2-way defencemen with shut-down capabilities (Bouchard, Dobson)

2) offensive defenceman with the ability to run a PP and take over a game with skating/rushing ability (Boqvist, Hughes)

3) game-changing forward with speed and creative instincts (Wahlstrom)

I would prefer the 1st over 2nd scenario but would love Wahlstrom if he is still available at 8th. We have potential powerplay QBs in the system already in Jokiharju, Forsling, and Krys. While none of them are necessarily the type of blueliners who can take over a game, I don't think that is necessarily needed as opposed to a stronger need for a consistent team game with talented offense balanced with a defense that can lock things down. Talent can only take you so far in the playoffs.

That's where Bouchard or Dobson may fit the bill better than Boqvist or Hughes. Solid, reliable defenders who can shut down the other team are sorely lacking. Puck movers are a plenty in the system whether they're already on the team, in Rockford, or in juniors, college, or Europe.

At the end of the day, I'll take any of Bouchard, Dobson, Boqvist, Hughes, or Wahlstrom if that's who is available at 8th. Not a bad situation to be in. We'll be getting a good if not great player regardless.
ObeseOprah
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 01.17.2014

Apr 30 @ 3:10 AM ET
Can’t emphasize enough: draft best player available.

It’s the difference between 1: Erik Johnson and 3: Jonathan Toews. It’s not always clear, and takes years to fully shake out, but it separates the great GMs from the guys who’s name brings a sour taste to their fan’s mouths years after they’re gone.

Yes our biggest need looks like D. But if your scouts think Wahlstrom or Farabee or Veleno are going to win a Rocket Richard... you draft him. Dobson and Bouchard sound great, but we can’t honestly expect an overnight success with even the best defensemen in the league.

A year from now our team will look very different. There will be two free agent signings at least, an injury scare or two, RFA signings for Schmaltz, Sikura, and others. There will be the satisfaction of making the playoffs again or the complete let down of another miss (which brings a raft of other changes).

The best player available is the best option no matter what. Stan has to do his homework and figure out who will have the most NHL success after the first seven teams have had their picks. We’re not worried about need, we’re worried about nailing our (hopefully) only top ten pick for the next ten years.
Z3Hawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.04.2017

Apr 30 @ 4:50 AM ET
Can’t emphasize enough: draft best player available.

It’s the difference between 1: Erik Johnson and 3: Jonathan Toews. It’s not always clear, and takes years to fully shake out, but it separates the great GMs from the guys who’s name brings a sour taste to their fan’s mouths years after they’re gone.

Yes our biggest need looks like D. But if your scouts think Wahlstrom or Farabee or Veleno are going to win a Rocket Richard... you draft him. Dobson and Bouchard sound great, but we can’t honestly expect an overnight success with even the best defensemen in the league.

A year from now our team will look very different. There will be two free agent signings at least, an injury scare or two, RFA signings for Schmaltz, Sikura, and others. There will be the satisfaction of making the playoffs again or the complete let down of another miss (which brings a raft of other changes).

The best player available is the best option no matter what. Stan has to do his homework and figure out who will have the most NHL success after the first seven teams have had their picks. We’re not worried about need, we’re worried about nailing our (hopefully) only top ten pick for the next ten years.

- ObeseOprah


I have two rules - draft only players that have great skills and great skating and like you draft the very best player available.
Scott1977
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Yorkville, IL
Joined: 08.30.2012

Apr 30 @ 5:55 AM ET
Wahlstrom for me with the league trending towards speed and high end skill and scoring I would pick him. Load up your top 9 with speed size and skill have banger and crasher 4th line. Example pitt their d core isn't special average but they create so much offensive pressure and makes the other team to defend.
MjulQvist
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 04.22.2012

Apr 30 @ 5:56 AM ET
Can’t emphasize enough: draft best player available.
- ObeseOprah


And the tricky part is who´s gonna develop to be best? Now it seems there is consensus top 3 but after that who knows what teams prefer? Do you like more of mobile dmen like Boqvist or dman like Bouchard? We´ll see how this turns out.


MjulQvist
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 04.22.2012

Apr 30 @ 6:11 AM ET
I´ve seen the light and this is the way things turn out in top 10:

1. Buffalo - Dahlin
2. Carolina - Svechnikov
3. Montreal - Zadina
4. Ottawa - Boqvist
5. Arizona - Tkachuk
6. Detroit - Hughes
7. Vancouver - Dobson
8. Chicago - Wahlstrom
9. NYR - Kotkaniemi
10. Edmonton - Bouchard
35Tony0
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Springfield, IL
Joined: 05.10.2015

Apr 30 @ 6:28 AM ET
Put me in the "draft the best player available" camp. If it works out, it opens doors for other moves via trades and free agent signings.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with a late round selection developing into a perennial all-star....lightning in a bottle like that could do wonders for the 'Hawks right now!
Z3Hawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.04.2017

Apr 30 @ 7:35 AM ET
I don’t care how the Hawks do it I want Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Incredibly skilled. Spectacular skater. 6 points in 5 games in Hlinka Tournament for gold-medal Canada as 16 year-old. 3 in 5 in recent U-18s. Canada does better in summer as more players available. Plays for Guelph Storm who have been a very weak team in OHL. Drafted first into OHL. Won Rookie award for OHL as 16 year-old. Has a rep for carrying puck too much and other things. So “bad attitude” but hasn’t had one on International front. Storm bad he may be trying to do too much. Has been named to play for Canada at all major tournaments. Wiz has at 15, Wheeler at 6, McKenzie had at 11 short time ago, now outside top 15, others in 20s, Tankathon at 31, some out of First Round. As I said incredibly skilled and spectacular skater. Thank goodness seen as cocky as makes him an absolute steal. Top of the Draft skill-set. Come-on Hawks.
Marlowe
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Wild Wild West, IL
Joined: 06.29.2014

Apr 30 @ 8:38 AM ET
Z3hawk (quotes not working for me) Maybe Merkley is someone you take a flyer on if he’s there for your end of the 1st round pick? Could be like TT or Saad (or, heck, Debrincat) - someone great who falls to a later slot than they should.
hawks2010
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Madison, WI
Joined: 07.13.2009

Apr 30 @ 9:23 AM ET
MjulQvist, that's EXACTLY the picks I had on my mock!!

I could see the Hawks or Canucks trading down to 9 and gaining a 2nd round pick with the Rangers looking to move up. There will still be quality available. And isn't Edmonton going to be ECSTATIC to get Bouchard at ten!!
MjulQvist
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 04.22.2012

Apr 30 @ 9:45 AM ET
MjulQvist, that's EXACTLY the picks I had on my mock!!

I could see the Hawks or Canucks trading down to 9 and gaining a 2nd round pick with the Rangers looking to move up. There will still be quality available. And isn't Edmonton going to be ECSTATIC to get Bouchard at ten!!

- hawks2010


DarthKane
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: 5.13.4.9
Joined: 02.23.2012

Apr 30 @ 10:51 AM ET
I´ve seen the light and this is the way things turn out in top 10:

1. Buffalo - Dahlin
2. Carolina - Svechnikov
3. Montreal - Zadina
4. Ottawa - Boqvist
5. Arizona - Tkachuk
6. Detroit - Hughes
7. Vancouver - Dobson
8. Chicago - Wahlstrom
9. NYR - Kotkaniemi
10. Edmonton - Bouchard

- MjulQvist


I'd be happy with Wahlstrom or even Kotkaniemi. Boqvist would be my first choice but I doubt he'll be available at #8.
CTblackhawkfan
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Hamden, CT
Joined: 06.14.2013

Apr 30 @ 10:57 AM ET
Can't agree more best player
riozzo
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Cornwallis Island
Joined: 06.17.2014

Apr 30 @ 11:25 AM ET
Can't agree more best player
- CTblackhawkfan


Keep in mind the best player is highly subjective. Our little group here cannot agree on what generational is or who is in that little club. Same goes for the draft.
walleyeb1
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Petersburg, IL
Joined: 09.25.2014

Apr 30 @ 11:27 AM ET
Can’t emphasize enough: draft best player available.

It’s the difference between 1: Erik Johnson and 3: Jonathan Toews. It’s not always clear, and takes years to fully shake out, but it separates the great GMs from the guys who’s name brings a sour taste to their fan’s mouths years after they’re gone.

Yes our biggest need looks like D. But if your scouts think Wahlstrom or Farabee or Veleno are going to win a Rocket Richard... you draft him. Dobson and Bouchard sound great, but we can’t honestly expect an overnight success with even the best defensemen in the league.

A year from now our team will look very different. There will be two free agent signings at least, an injury scare or two, RFA signings for Schmaltz, Sikura, and others. There will be the satisfaction of making the playoffs again or the complete let down of another miss (which brings a raft of other changes).

The best player available is the best option no matter what. Stan has to do his homework and figure out who will have the most NHL success after the first seven teams have had their picks. We’re not worried about need, we’re worried about nailing our (hopefully) only top ten pick for the next ten years.

- ObeseOprah


That’s the problem with the #8 pick there’s really not a consensus best available player at the 8th pick currently.

Now on draft day after the first seven players are selected, a consensus #8 best available player may emerge.
powerenforcer
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Wheeling, IL
Joined: 09.24.2009

Apr 30 @ 11:28 AM ET
Yes, but remember, the team could turn into the Oilers. How many best players have they drafted? I tend to follow, best player that is needed. Makes for a much better team quicker.
Z3Hawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.04.2017

Apr 30 @ 11:37 AM ET
Marlowe (quotes not working for me either). Merkley draft rating all over the map. How much of a “attitudinal problem” can he be if keeps getting named to Team Canada? Scores a point a game as a D-Man in OHL. You can teach many things but you can’t teach high level skill and skating - and he was 16 now 17.
riozzo
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Cornwallis Island
Joined: 06.17.2014

Apr 30 @ 11:41 AM ET
Marlowe (quotes not working for me either). Merkley draft rating all over the map. How much of a “attitudinal problem” can he be if keeps getting named to Team Canada? Scores a point a game as a D-Man in OHL. You can teach many things but you can’t teach high level skill and skating - and he was 16 now 17.
- Z3Hawk


Go to the top, click on the title in red, quotes will then work - happens every blog.
35Tony0
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Springfield, IL
Joined: 05.10.2015

Apr 30 @ 11:46 AM ET
That’s the problem with the #8 pick there’s really not a consensus best available player at the 8th pick currently.

Now on draft day after the first seven players are selected, a consensus #8 best available player may emerge.

- walleyeb1

Exactly.
The draft and free agency this year are just plain incredibly important for the Blackhawks this year. If they do it right, they can be legitimate Cup contenders again in 1-2 years. If not, the likelihood of the current core ever hoisting Lord Stanley again diminishes greatly.
Who is the best UFA d-man the 'Hawks can sign??
Z3Hawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.04.2017

Apr 30 @ 11:56 AM ET
Yes, but remember, the team could turn into the Oilers. How many best players have they drafted? I tend to follow, best player that is needed. Makes for a much better team quicker.
- powerenforcer


That was the misleading thing about the Oilers’ drafts. They didn’t do their homework or they would’ve been able to figure out that high draft choices like RNH and Nail Yakupov were not great choices - were not actually the “best players”. Central Scouting and other services have great limitations. Far more important is a NHL team’s own internal scouting staff - it must be crackerjack and dead-on with player evaluations and this will certainly mean not listening to the general opinions.

I am not an NHL Scout but I knew RNH would be a bust. Didn’t need to watch lots of on-ice video either. If you make the following notes - “seems incredibly frail” and “seems to weigh 98lbs and to be weak” that’s enough.
Z3Hawk
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.04.2017

Apr 30 @ 11:57 AM ET
Go to the top, click on the title in red, quotes will then work - happens every blog.
- riozzo


Thanks riozzo.
riozzo
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Cornwallis Island
Joined: 06.17.2014

Apr 30 @ 12:09 PM ET
Thanks riozzo.
- Z3Hawk

No problem, I suffered through that until someone helped. I think its if you skip the blog and go to the comments...
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