The imminent Trotz signing on with the NYI is worthwhile to compare to the possibility of what could happen in Chicago if the current young talent in Chicago, in the system and forthcoming in the 2018 and 2019 drafts prove worthy of top performance level.

I mean to explain furthermore, that by retaining Tavarez, adding Carlson plus a coach who can .mold that nice assemblage of talent .....there is reason to believe they could be a serious Cup contender. Fine tune, maybe Lamorello needs one year but the major pieces are there if Carlson, Tavarez and Trotz are all aboard.

I.like the big shot from Pulloch a lot. I see they are suspect in net but Lou will upgrade that position. I imagine Leddy and Pulloch as somewhere between #3-#5 slot. You can blame Leddy, deHahn, Hickey and other lesser lights for their bad defense, but Trotz system and re- emphasis on who slots where on defense is key.

Carlson and Boychuk are in the top two pairs. Whom fits in after them.and where they slot is key, and this may mean both Hickey and DeHahn stay, go, or one remains.

A wild card is the former #1 talented but labeled immature center - the guy with the Korean name.

Now before the 2018 draft you cannot draw a link yet for Chicago to develop it's talent and maybe sign a key f/a. And our next Cup run will be minus Toews and Seabrook, possibly Keith too.

Toews is going to be a deterrent and his salary drags us because he will only regress until he retires. Any rebound this season is temporary as injuries will surely cause him to fall back. How many hits in one or two seasons before injury or greater fear of concussion. I know this is the doomsday attitude rather than optimidtic outlook on Toews. I really wish I could feel the other way. And..nobody wants to seriously discuss this.

Anyway, we first wait and see what additional talent Bownan adds. Including I suspect one top dman maybe that is after this season. I happen to believe that we have enough different style dmen prospects whim have a higher ceiling than the group last season. By 2019 three or more of last year's blueline crew will be either traded for later round picks or part of a trade.

I would be remiss to leave out the coaching part in this. A new system, new approach to defensive coverage help from forwards and get the right approach in pp....will not happen under Q.

I like our team guys (in case you didn't catch my presser)

I like our team guys (in case you didn't catch my presser)
- Stan_Bowman

Hey Stan, how about a fitted hat giveaway?

I like our team guys (in case you didn't catch my presser)
- Stan_Bowman

I am FAR from a Bowman fan, but reading into a pre-draft presser to beat up the guy is hilarious. Lets see how things play out. While Bowman is clearly in a real slump with trades, the Hawks have made some decent recent picks.

I like our team guys (in case you didn't catch my presser)
- Stan_Bowman

https://s-i.huffpost.com/...-POTATO-CHIPS-628x314.jpg

If Boqvist falls to #8 I wouldn't be upset if the Hawks took him. As of two months ago he was a top 5 pick to most scouting boards, and very few prospects have played a single game since then.

He has the skill, just needs to learn to defend better. The talent is undeniable though, he could be the next Keith in terms of flying up the ice with the puck like #2 from 07-15.
He's got great moves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-u6xprcSR0

It's hard to watch that and not get excited. His detractors have merit, but few elite defensemen come into the league with scouts touting their shutdown ability.

I have been out and about and have drank a pitcher of Margauritas...looks like Stanbo might be sending the #8 to a team above him with Anisimov...exceptional!

I don't know that there are 30 centers better than Toews. I'd rather have Toews than RoR though.
- fattybeef

Yeah RoR is good in close along the wall, but hie isn't tows or exceptional in the other parts...if he was his team would have been better...

I have been out and about and have drank a pitcher of Margauritas...looks like Stanbo might be sending the #8 to a team above him with Anisimov...exceptional!
- wiz1901

Oooooo yeahhhhh!!! Atta boy Stanley!!

Pronman to have an opinion other than he's connected. But what I like most about him is he obviously doesn't go with the crowd and gives his "own" opinions on players. ....Refreshing for a nationally known guy.
- Mr Ricochet

yeah, he got "left"in ESPN, and I respect the stands, because I make them too...but he is SO stringent!
No room for movement in his opinion...you know me...I battles the positioning of Boqvist and Bouchard and Dobson with MYSELF for months!

You have to give too.

I am hearing a buzz here...I talk to "people" mention that Stanbob/Halws want to move up and make a move and the "people" I am talking to say the hawks are talking about bigger things than a slot move, but no details...
(DO I sound like JJ?) I can only get what I get, brothers...

I have been out and about and have drank a pitcher of Margauritas...looks like Stanbo might be sending the #8 to a team above him with Anisimov...exceptional!
- wiz1901

Doubtful that Hughes falls to 8 but have said all along if he does and Wahlstrom is also on the board the Hawks take Hughes..
- Mr Ricochet

Agree...and Zadina over Wahlstrom by virtue of his all around movement intensity, skill and away from the puck play....

I have been out and about and have drank a pitcher of Margauritas...looks like Stanbo might be sending the #8 to a team above him with Anisimov...exceptional!
- wiz1901

What's actually in those Margaritas?

You mention his NHL timetable at 2 or 3 years. Boqvist mentioned in an interview I saw that he thought he had much to learn and hoped to challenge for a position in the NHL in 2 or 3 years. Hardly a ringing endorsement of yourself - not very confident. There were some earlier on saying he was close to Dahlin.
- Z3Hawk

As have said here recently, this is all on Craig Button forcing his ascension into the top 5 with his comments...he was incorrect and the kid is gone by ten, BUT....
he has got to develop more defensive tactics, and get stronger...sure...upside...but he probably nEVER belonged in the top seven conversations that Button put him in and the group mind accepted and seconded.

Hawks prospect Mitchell, who has been described as Keith lite due to his similar game, also has the issue of not being able to get his point shots through to the net like Keith..
- AEL_Fox

well I have seen enough of him to know he has the long pass down and is very smart and doesn't need time to diagnose.

I have trouble with critiques that put limitations of upward improvement.

NO ONE KNOWSQUAT until he gets the chance against NHLers....bottom line...

Oooooo yeahhhhh!!! Atta boy Stanley!!
- EnzoD

via GIPHY

Doesn't mean anything. He was a 17yr old playing 4th line minutes on a terrible team. There are rules in Czech extraleague to force teams to include U18 players in the lineup, but most of them don't see much ice in the games because coaches don't trust them in the first place. That is exactly the reason why he left for QMJHL.
- stonefire

.

Zadina came as close as it is possible to having zero production so it means something. He is also an older Draftee 1999. His stock seems to have dropped lately for many although there has been little hockey played as Scouts drilled down and did more comparing. Was average at Combine. There are now some questions being asked. He is a clear example of the volatility that now exists after #1,#2.

Yeah RoR is good in close along the wall, but hie isn't tows or exceptional in the other parts...if he was his team would have been better...
- wiz1901

Wiz first great work on the draft and insight into each player. Do you know this for a fact and if so is this info coming from a solid source or is it your opinion on what will happen?

I have been out and about and have drank a pitcher of Margauritas...looks like Stanbo might be sending the #8 to a team above him with Anisimov...exceptional!
- wiz1901

Wiz - keep the great info coming. Have always wanted Hawks to move Anisimov and his $4M so if do so positively that’s great.

I have been out and about and have drank a pitcher of Margauritas...looks like Stanbo might be sending the #8 to a team above him with Anisimov...exceptional!
- wiz1901

Who's the player they are targeting?

Yeah RoR is good in close along the wall, but hie isn't tows or exceptional in the other parts...if he was his team would have been better...
- wiz1901

I disagree on ROR. Watched Worlds - he was great on big ice. Seemed to be Canada’s leader on a team captained by McDavid. Whole Canadian team disinterested in Bronze Medal game. ROR seems to attract too much of the blame with the Sabres. Isn’t there a “generational” player on the team that is supposed to be doing great things?

I have been out and about and have drank a pitcher of Margauritas...looks like Stanbo might be sending the #8 to a team above him with Anisimov...exceptional!
- wiz1901

AA and #8 to Montreal for #3 get it done Stan!!!


Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin on trading down and acquiring a roster/nhl-ready player for their No. 3 pick.

“As much as a team wants to move back or move up, if there’s no takers or buyers then you just sit where you’re at,” Bergevin said on Saturday.

Yeah RoR is good in close along the wall, but hie isn't tows or exceptional in the other parts...if he was his team would have been better...
- wiz1901

We do have to give him some benefit of the doubt because he's been stuck in Buffalo for three years.

He's an exceptional defensive center. He's above average offensively. I'd say he's a very good 2nd line center. Probably not $7MM a year good, but most teams would love to have him. Can play any forward position (as any Yahoo fantasy player knows), kills penalties, great at faceoffs (not that it means that much), and like I said before is one of the hardest working guys on the team.

If Boqvist falls to #8
- ObeseOprah

I would, given the other players available....

As have said here recently, this is all on Craig Button forcing his ascension into the top 5 with his comments...he was incorrect and the kid is gone by ten, BUT....
he has got to develop more defensive tactics, and get stronger...sure...upside...but he probably nEVER belonged in the top seven conversations that Button put him in and the group mind accepted and seconded.
- wiz1901

wiz - you think Button has that much influence? - as I have never placed him at the top of the hill.