I am not lying when I tell you they are disappointed in Toews on more than three different levels right now.
Sure it is maybe a thought later but what will change later is trouble will be inked or traded before the next season.

They have already said that the nature of the league let's you re-tool and come back...they were talking specifically about the Penguins...it worked, but now...does it still work there. No.

It's tough to see Duncan Keith out of the pairings because you hare basically handing those young left handed defenseman the baton, and looking for that elusive 4th defender with right pp gun too.

If you we are gonna fanatize re-boot add OEL UFA signing with hawks as his replacement.
- wiz1901

and let me take on another area I feel comfortable in;

Trading up

The hawks would have to give up that early third rounder just to move up one spot to Vancouver's 7th overall.

So don't be surprised if they trade OUT if an NHL player is really available who they think very highly off.

They have lower Tv ratings, less ticket requests, and they are feeling the need to do "something."

My take on what Friedman said:

He said league isnt happy at the thought of Hoss as a trade chip. League was good with the deal when it was signed. They changed their mind and put Chicago in this position. If the original deal was accepted was honored, #81 would just retire. Pronger was allowed to do it. Not sure why its an issue now
- ikeane

This is exactly what happened...the hawks found and used the loophole and the league later changed the ruling to punish the Hawks with the idea the front loading of the deal didn't let them easily slip out of the back end, making the average cap hit what was on the books.

I am not a big Elliotte Friedman fan, but he is correct.

and let me take on another area I feel comfortable in;

Trading up

The hawks would have to give up that early third rounder just to move up one spot to Vancouver's 7th overall.

So don't be surprised if they trade OUT if an NHL player is really available who they think very highly off.

They have lower Tv ratings, less ticket requests, and they are feeling the need to do "something."
- wiz1901

The Canucks would have to have at least 2+ guys still left on the board that they value about the same.

or

Have supreme confidence that the Hawks aren't targeting the player they want. But both teams need help down the middle(C/D)

Similar to last year when they tried trading down 1 spot with Vegas because they knew Vegas wanted Glass and not Pettersson. Vegas decided against it, likely because they figured the Canucks aren't taking Glass if they're so willing to trade down.

I am not lying when I tell you they are disappointed in Toews on more than three different levels right now.
Sure it is maybe a thought later but what will change later is trouble will be inked or traded before the next season.

They have already said that the nature of the league let's you re-tool and come back...they were talking specifically about the Penguins...it worked, but now...does it still work there. No.

It's tough to see Duncan Keith out of the pairings because you hare basically handing those young left handed defenseman the baton, and looking for that elusive 4th defender with right pp gun too.

If you we are gonna fanatize re-boot add OEL UFA signing with hawks as his replacement.
- wiz1901

Do you mind sharing, even in generalities, what those three levels are? Don't want to wildly speculate, but that'll probably happen anyway.

Do you mind sharing, even in generalities, what those three levels are? Don't want to wildly speculate, but that'll probably happen anyway.
- pdx2ord

my guess: scoring, leadership and pens (he took alot of penalties last year)

Adam Lowry
- DarthKane

Strange to say but this guy is one of my favorites. 25 yrs old, biiiiig C, very good at the dot, physical (200+ hits) and is learning the offensive zone. Pencil him in at 3C for yrs and lose that worry.

Peg will be in full blown cap hell in 2 yrs and Lowry is an RFA this yr. But they are also losing Stastny and not sure they will let a reasonably priced Lowry as a center go at 3 mil-ish. ...... They have solid prospects in Roslivic who can play center along with Scheifele, Little and maybe Pearrault at center.

They might be over a barrel cap wise but not sure they would let a Lowry go but no doubt a player that would help the Hawks in many many ways.

Who do we have on Defense?? Hawks need everything lol
- EnzoD

The absolute beauty of having the 8th overall. You simply take the best player available and assuming you've scouted well you have a top 6 F or top 3 D for 13-14 yrs.

The absolute beauty of having the 8th overall. You simply take the best player available and assuming you've scouted well you have a top 6 F or top 3 D for 13-14 yrs.
- Mr Ricochet

Poor assumption to make with Stan. He’ll find a way to draft the one guy in the top 10 who doesn’t go on to have an NHL career.

*NEW* blog up: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=93309

There are a few problems I have with Wahlstrom. He hasn’t played a ton of high level hockey and he is committed to BC which may indicate he sees himself as needing much more development before the NHL is a possibility. Wahlstrom says he believes he is competetive with players ranking higher than him but those players will be trying to make their NHL teams.

University is a good place to use for player placement of lower draft choices. I don’t know that it works that well for high draft choices. Toews was already at North Dakota when he was drafted so he is really not a comparable. Have also thought Toews should have been with the Hawks after his draft year just like Kane did.

Is Wahlstrom a year away, 2, 3? Can the Hawks afford to draft a forward they have to wait on? My feeling is if the Hawks are drafting a forward they need someone at 8 who is as close to NHL-ready as possible. Maybe they are nonexistent. If so then draft a highly skilled D-Man that you might have to develop for a bit but who may be a monster on D for 10 years or more.
- Z3Hawk

Don't over think Wahlstrom. Kid has size, skating, +++ shot, IQ, international success. Not a box he doesn't check at this stage not to be a top 3 NHL forward.

As far as him and his peers, you're speaking of Major Junior players, he has taken the best route any player can at this stage, even the Major Junior route.

Here is a U-18 NTDP schedule, Wahlstrom's this past yr. Approximately 40% vs the USHL, 20% international tournaments and 40% vs the NCAA. Yes, the NTDP U-18's play North Dakota, Wisconsin, Boston College, Boston U, U of MN and all top NCAA programs. That is 17yr olds playing top programs comprised of 19, 20, 21, 22 yr olds. IMO there is no better developmental path on earth than to be a 17 yr old on the NTDP. You play men and play internationally as a 17 yr old.

And no NCAA is not for 5th rd picks, Boston College is a top program and has become a 1 or 2 yrs and out program for elite players. IIRC he decommitted from Harvard, should tell you the kid is sharp to be allowed entrance to an Ivy League school, to go to BC with the thought of moving on in a yr or two.

Wahlstrom is taking the Eichel/Mittlestadt/Trouba/Kyle Connor/Werenski/Tchkyuk type path. I have a feeling it won't matter though, probably gone by #8.

IMO at #8 they take the best hockey player available. If it takes an extra yr to wait on him, probably any Dman will, so be it as you're talking about a top 3 F or top 2 Dman for 12+ yrs.

The absolute beauty of having the 8th overall. You simply take the best player available and assuming you've scouted well you have a top 6 F or top 3 D for 13-14 yrs.
- Mr Ricochet

Poor assumption to make with Stan. He’ll find a way to draft the one guy in the top 10 who doesn’t go on to have an NHL career.
- DarthKane

Like he did with
TEUVO TERAVAINEN @ slot 18
RYAN HARTMAN. @slot 20
NICK SCHMALTZ. @slot 30
?

Despite the facts that selecting prospects at age 18 means many will slip through the cracks and become better prop players than many selected before them, the stats show their is a much higher success rate picking this early


Carolina's pair Elias Lindholm & Haydn Fleury, Jake Virtanen Michael Dal Colle, Olli Juolevi and Derrick Pouliot and you can easily argue Lindholm has time to improve, Jake Virtaneneventually is 3rd liner, and Derrick Pouliot might someday make 2nd pair defender, and Olli Juolevi hasn't gotten there yet, and Haydn Fleury still needs more time.
I have had key interest in Michael Dal Colle because the Islanders had to choose in which draft there were keeping the him (and drafting him) and I never liked his upside, and he still maybe a 3rd liner.

Where there is more risk this year is iF the push defenders really are able to somewhat round out defensively...but we have seen a few bigger defenseman selected high fail because of their lack of quick feet and hands, is it works both ways.

I don't think I would worry that there is not only a safe pick, but several if anybody the experts have sitting in slots 1-8 scare them, or have any trouble trading it.
The others we