Of Dobson, Bouchard, Hughes and Bovquist what are you hearing in the great country of Canada, around town and the rinks, as far as ranking and biggest potential for a bust?

Just read a great piece at The Athletic about Bovquist who I was a fan of until reading it. Kid had two concussions last yr alone and they had numerous fancy stat charts that showed this guy is really really flawed on the ice compared to the top 10 D draft prospects....Too many red flags at 8. IMO the best thing that can happen for the Hawks is he's gone before 8 insuring a top prospect is there at 8.

Merkley rated really high by the way in fancy stats but no team will risk a top 10 pick on him. Kid has been uncoachable and blames his teammates for any on ice problems but is still very young with an August birthday. At the very least he's immature. .. Talk to his billets though and they wonder who you are taking about, say the kid is awesome.

As far as forwards I think the best chance they have of a player being there in the 8 slot is Wahlstrom. Don't think Zadina or Tkachuk makes it but maybe just maybe Hughes falls to them and if so IMO they'll take him.
- Mr Ricochet

Merkley is in a bad situation on a bad, poorly run team in Guelph. If he is on the professionally run London Knights bet he has no problems. Interestingly, he has no problems when he plays internationally. Of course his billets love him. The Hawks must draft Merkley somehow. Just read article dated June 17, 2018 saying Merkley is clearly the too playmaker in entire CHL!

I dont understand why so many want Pageau

30pts, small center for 3.1mil per??
- PatShart

Cause Pageau is a Bolland quality checking center and the Hawks could really use someone like that. He faces the highest quality of comp, gets lots of DZS, transitions excellently, great on the PK and even led the league in SHGs couple of seasons ago, and has a career average of .40 PPG which is pretty solid.

Also, Pageau is shorter, but he's pretty much the same weight Bolland was at the same age - around 185. Built thick.

what would be a reasonable offer for matt duchene?

Cause Pageau is a Bolland quality checking center and the Hawks could really use someone like that. He faces the highest quality of comp, gets lots of DZS, transitions excellently, great on the PK and even led the league in SHGs couple of seasons ago, and has a career average of .40 PPG which is pretty solid.

Also, Pageau is shorter, but he's pretty much the same weight Bolland was at the same age - around 185. Built thick.
- L_B_R

It would be great to add someone like that to the lineup. 100%

Does the press release mention that Tallon has found Hoffman's girlfriend a full time job in Cuba?
- RickJ

Hoffman is an extremely hot potato.

DUUUUSHANNEEEEEEEE
- z1990z

More likely Zach Smith

what would be a reasonable offer for matt duchene?
- frafra

Half the team, or at least 6 of the top 10 prospects in the organization, plus a couple or three 1st's. No messing around, get r done Stanley

move Anisimov + Hossa's cap hit, with natural Salary Cap growth and you have room for Artemi at $8-9 mil
- EnzoD

Yea but Artie wants 12 but will settle for 10.

move Anisimov + Hossa's cap hit, with natural Salary Cap growth and you have room for Artemi at $8-9 mil
- EnzoD

What's "natural salary cap growth" - the average of about 2% per year that it went up between 2014-15 and 2017-18? The expected (but not yet locked down) 7% that it MAY go up this year?

what would be a reasonable offer for matt duchene?
- frafra

I don't think the Hawks have the pieces necessary to get Duchene unless they consider the picks on Friday. I'm completely averse to dealing either of those picks.

The more we trade away the future the worse it's going to hurt.

Bolland was highly over rated here. Never hit 40pts, never was 50% on draws. While he may have "annoyed" the Sedins in the playoffs, he didnt "shut them down", as some assume

For 3.1mil, Pageau does nothing for me. If they keep 40-50% and it costs the Hawks nothing (late pick or Hossa's contract only), sure. Or maybe Ruuta or Gus straight up - with them keeping money still

It would be great to add someone like that to the lineup. 100%
- breadbag

Yeah, he'd likely be a good add. He's not the only player that would fit this mold, but he'd be a decent choice.

Also, for those interested in his deployment, here it in comparison to Boston/Chicago the last two seasons. Look at how similar he is to Riley Nash in the first one.

2017-18


2016-17

People think he may drop because 1) other teams will run on defense, 2) Habs may want a center, and 3) his possible commitment to NCAA is souring some on him.
- L_B_R

Also scouts looked at his stats more closely and asked “does that really say only 8 goals in 40 games? I assumed it was a way higher total.”

move Anisimov + Hossa's cap hit, with natural Salary Cap growth and you have room for Artemi at $8-9 mil
- EnzoD

So we want Panarin back at $9M - not happening. Enzo have you been partying with Savoy?

Also scouts looked at his stats more closely and asked “does that really say only 8 goals in 40 games? I assumed it was a way higher total.”
- Z3Hawk

Brady Tkachuk was still the 2nd highest scoring draft eligible player in the NCAA behind only Quinn Hughes, IIRC. Don't worry Z, I doubt he will drop to 8 given that Bobby Mac rated him #3 overall today.....as for reuniting Panarin-Kane..yes, I would give up nearly anything to have the pleasure of watching the magic of 72+88 on the ice together again. What a travesty to trade that player.

Yes I want Hughes. I watched the Memorial Cup. There was lots of scoring so Dobson got some points. However, he was not noticeable - as you’d expect from someone ranked so high. He was just another D-Man on his team. If you didn’t know anything about Dobson you wouldn’t have left saying wow what a prospect. His deep, talented team won. Dobson is not replacing Karlsson - he just isn’t that level of player.
- Z3Hawk

I don't make the rankings, I just repeated what I read from a couple of different scouting reports.

Real hockey men who do this for a living usually can separate the talent with long term potential from the 17 year old kids who gain notoriety over a short period of time. But not always - e.gs. Jared Cowen, Curtis Lazar, Louis Leblanc. And I remember the guy from Central Scouting predicting how Dylan Olsen would turn into a stud on an NHL blueline. And NHL greats like Cody Hodgson, Kyle Beach and Luke Schenn all were picked well ahead of Erik Karlsson in their draft years. Wonder why?

So who knows how Dobson will turn out - he could be another Alex Pietrangelo in a couple years. Or maybe never make the NHL. And Quinn Hughes might get flattened by Tom Wilson or Ovi one night and play scared forever. But I don't have that crystal ball.

He is....this mock is just one of many possibilities, and it is based solely on FOUR DEFENDERS going before the hawks pick...thatbis a lot to ask, and with Bob McKenzie CONTINUING TO SAY THE DEFENDERS HAVEN'T BACK-SLID, BUT THE fact teams like a couple of centers they may sneak in above

So do I.

I just wish the league had a way to unsure a team picking a college bound early first rounder from bolting and the measly compensation is (say the hawks took Brady) would be a the 38th pick...in a future draft...
It just seems like a supplemental pick between the original draft spot of #8 and maybe a mid-round where the league does some sort of lottery ball for the supplemental...so luck decided where the pick lands in the FIRST...this way the other teams won't whine about how they dropped a spot...it os all based on lotto balls too.

- wiz1901

wiz you seem to have some misconceptions concerning how Bob McKenzie at TSN works. McKenzie is extremely well respected and well connected around the NHL. His Draft information is not his own information or his own opinions. When he speaks he is speaking on behalf of a powerful group of top NHL Scouts and Management. Know how I know? He says so. That is why he has been so accurate.

I don't make the rankings, I just repeated what I read from a couple of different scouting reports.

Real hockey men who do this for a living usually can separate the talent with long term potential from the 17 year old kids who gain notoriety over a short period of time. But not always - e.gs. Jared Cowen, Curtis Lazar, Louis Leblanc. And I remember the guy from Central Scouting predicting how Dylan Olsen would turn into a stud on an NHL blueline. And NHL greats like Cody Hodgson, Kyle Beach and Luke Schenn all were picked well ahead of Erik Karlsson in their draft years. Wonder why?

So who knows how Dobson will turn out - he could be another Alex Pietrangelo in a couple years. Or maybe never make the NHL. And Quinn Hughes might get flattened by Tom Wilson or Ovi one night and play scared forever. But I don't have that crystal ball.
- RickJ

Bowman will take another tiny dman in Hughes or Boquist and I will drink myself to sleep on Friday night

Bowman will take another tiny dman in Hughes or Boquist and I will drink myself to sleep on Friday night

- EnzoD

And his reasoning will be that they needed somebody to play with last year's draft selection Roope Laavanen.

Brady Tkachuk was still the 2nd highest scoring draft eligible player in the NCAA behind only Quinn Hughes, IIRC. Don't worry Z, I doubt he will drop to 8 given that Bobby Mac rated him #3 overall today.....as for reuniting Panarin-Kane..yes, I would give up nearly anything to have the pleasure of watching the magic of 72+88 on the ice together again. What a travesty to trade that player.
- EnzoD

Oh I hope that some other team mistakenly takes Brady early. It will take a while to confirm but Brady is going to be a monumental bust. I’ll be nice about it when it happens.

Nobody seems to notice that Panarin is being a complete a$$ to Columbus. For me not a surprise as Panarin is always all about Panarin. That being the case his only concern is $. Such a Leader. Don’t forget that Panarin is older now too. I think the Hawks should either just be all in and pay him more than McDavid or never discuss him again ever. Think they are in the 2nd category.

Have to think on this. Panarin will turn 27 when the season starts. At #3, I think so if I'm Montreal. Not at 1 or 2 but yes at 3 unless MTL thinks Zadina has that 80 point game. .......... As a Jackets fan yes, and that Finn GM takes Tkachuk. He likes big mean players, Jenner, Anderson, Pierre Luc, Dubinsky and hired a coach who plays north-south.

Tough call and who the hell can figure what Bergvin will do anymore.
- Mr Ricochet

Panarin is not the player type I need or most desire if I am in Bergevin's shoes. Also is Paciorety going to be traded? They ne d to bring in players who become a too pair or a producing rman even if he only may reach a second pair ceiling. And they ne r a true center. Just added Domi and subtracted Galyenchuk. If he goes after Panarin I hope Montreal ndia grills him endlessly.

Breadman on the market.

Elliotte Friedman
‏
@FriedgeHNIC

There is word today that Artemi Panarin has told CLB that he is not ready to consider an extension “at this time.” (UFA July 2019.) As a result, the Blue Jackets are testing the market for him.
- breadbag

There's a trade to consider...I was think today that I was Lincoln Ave. eating lunch next to Biograph the trade(s) flashed on the TV screen.
Now I have been around for JR getting bounced, at the game when one my friends talked to old man Wirtz and he was boasting about the great return they just got (during the game, of Dahlin, back up goalie Chris Terreri and the soon to be star defenseman Mickel (sp) Sykora) but seeing that Panarin and Hammer were traded for players far less than them in Saad & Murphy.

I was a sad day, it really closed the era for me.

All this talk about Tavares and these other signings, hell I am hoping the clear space and bread man comes home.

Oh I hope that some other team mistakenly takes Brady early. It will take a while to confirm but Brady is going to be a monumental bust. I’ll be nice about it when it happens.

Nobody seems to notice that Panarin is being a complete a$$ to Columbus. For me not a surprise as Panarin is always all about Panarin. That being the case his only concern is $. Such a Leader. Don’t forget that Panarin is older now too. I think the Hawks should either just be all in and pay him more than McDavid or never discuss him again ever. Think they are in the 2nd category.
- Z3Hawk

I definitely think Panarin is first and foremost about the money. I think that was reason number one he came to North America. I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with it, because it is the business, but I don't think he will be taking any discounts. That said, I don't think it is his only concern. It must be difficult for anyone to go to a different country/culture when you only have basic language skills and be a visible leader. I hope he does well, but I don't think we'll see him back here unless he somehow really likes Patrick Kane that much.

Brady Tkachuk was still the 2nd highest scoring draft eligible player in the NCAA behind only Quinn Hughes, IIRC. Don't worry Z, I doubt he will drop to 8 given that Bobby Mac rated him #3 overall today.....as for reuniting Panarin-Kane..yes, I would give up nearly anything to have the pleasure of watching the magic of 72+88 on the ice together again. What a travesty to trade that player.
- EnzoD

Also the fact that Brady was the 2nd highest NCAA Draft eligible scorer has more to do with there being a lack of other scorers than it does with Brady achieving excellence. Nobody is going to convince me that 8 in 40 represents excellence. In the same way that nobody convinced me that DeBrincat’s skill and production did not immedietely transfer to the NHL - we know how that went.

Bolland was highly over rated here. Never hit 40pts, never was 50% on draws. While he may have "annoyed" the Sedins in the playoffs, he didnt "shut them down", as some assume

For 3.1mil, Pageau does nothing for me. If they keep 40-50% and it costs the Hawks nothing (late pick or Hossa's contract only), sure. Or maybe Ruuta or Gus straight up - with them keeping money still
- PatShart

Makes sense to obtain an offensive type dman from us if Karlsson leaves. They have a hot offensive former $1 dman whom may eventually be the TOI offensive replacement for Karlsson. A Blackhawk dman just eases and helps reduce ofgensive type game lost from Karlsson and this is probably seen as can insurance move to cover as best it can the time before that aforementioned dman would replace Karlsson spot in to their lineup. A useful bottom line center might be the payout.