So Wiz, if I read your summaries of the picks correctly, not ONE of these guys has any indication of being able to win board bsttles or go to dirty areas. In fact one of the reviews even says the kid specifically AVOIDS dirty areas, and the #8 pick is regularly a loser of possession because he gets easily roughed up.



How is this a successful draft if all they pick are contact avoidant weaklings?

This folks is what we can expect as the type of players that will be picked during FA as well. The leadership seems to be wedded to skill and speed trumping all other factors.

I am sorry, but I am pretty confident that I could rebuild this roster free of charge with UFAs that would outperform whatever hot garbage they sign for the megabucks they get paid sitting in their offices bent over computers reading fancy stats all day.

I spent two and half hours going back over every set a footage and there is a clear upside, and it was evident in these instances, where he would break, or start to slip in, behind the other teams mid forwards and get down near their defenders so quickly.....BUT, he would initial start with a pass, or see something and sneak down, and HIS TEAMMATES didn't recognize the opportunity, so he was left in low out to dry...he would get back on his horse and actually be back in time to help in the transitions.

I think it is funny how this continual Karlsson comparison comes up, and so many here seem to not embrace what having a Karlsson-lite means to the attack.

And watch his edging on the blades, how he easily rocks to the new destination seam or on dee, to the next guy that is his check.

Also I realized his big brother had grown a couple inches since I saw him in his draft year...so we might see a bigger kid when he arrives.

What does Darlin know? ...when he calls Boqvist play, "sick'...remember that being said about Kaner in his draft year...
- wiz1901

Saw you call him “Dynamic” - I used “Electrifying”. Crazy ceiling. Skates on a dime, incredible edges, slow to fast instantly. Constant motor. Great passer. Gets shot through. Makes team-mates better - even if sometimes they might not follow the upper level moves he’s making. Insane vision of the ice. Great skater. Gets back and cares about defence. Great puck carrier snd wants the pick. I think the Hawks are very, very fortunate to get him at 8.

With the draft the Islanders had and Trotz coming in, I would not leave Long Island if Im Tavares.
- z1990z

The players hated playing in Brooklyn, and I believe this year they are going to be playing a split schedule between Nassau and Brooklyn. And NYC may be the only place in the country with taxes higher than Cook County. Plus Kane. There are some reasons.

All the talk about how crazy this draft was going to be. LOL. More non-sense. Sports writers and bloggers are like weather people over hyping a storm to get people excited.

NOT ONE person stated they thought this would be a very quiet draft with little movement. Everyone was wrong. Although I am sure some thrills and chills will crank up today when a couple 5ths are moved for a 4th. Yawn!!!

I suspect the Hawks HAVE to do something. It would be hilarity to come back with essentially with the same crummy team as last year.
- kwolf68

There may not have been the trades anticipated but the volatility and unpredictability with respect to the Draft positions was certainly there.

Justin or if anyone has sources are the hawks involved in any trade talks? If so if info can be divulge what teams and for who?

I'll be honest, I was taken back because I wanted and heard that Wahlstrom was their pick.

But the more I thought about it... I'm super happy to have a talent like Boqvist now in the system. Even if he is 3 years away. Let him grow, add some muscle and play in Sweden for a few years and then he will be a weapon for them on the backend.
- Justin Lowe

You should not be taken aback by this pick - Boqvist was a very easy choice over Wahlstrom. Much higher ceiling. Potential very elite player versus a player who might not excell at the NHL level. Was concerned that Wahlstrom was too tied to the other Hughes.

It seems that is exactly what they did at a position difficult to find...high end pairing skilled player.

My post above wasn't suggesting much but that he sees the ice and opportunities very very well, and creative attackers are what you look for.

Bouchard may be a fine NHL defender with the ability to defend and use his cannon, Dobson may grow into a big man and by that time be a really effective two way player and anchor a top four pairing, but this is a rock star pick where they are trying to add a weapon that already shows feet, head, shot, and quick pass attacking recognition...more than "able to get the shot through" ability.

Last year I had Henri Jokiharju as a late second rounder at maybe slot 47.
Sure I saw him at the prospects game where he shined, and even though I wrote:
"lessed with great balance and quick feet, he is superb puck mover who advances the biscuit with sharpness and accuracy. Smart with or without the puck, he makes quick decisions and always places it, in the correct spot at the right time when advancing it."

I was still underwhelmed with the views I saw, and you know what?

I still am locked in the old paradigm, that these "undersized" defenseman are not stoppers, deterrents, or punishers, because it is ingrained in my mind of what the position requires...you all are probably feeling that mixed emotion thought when you process the selections.
The Maples Leafs trade down spots to take a chance on Sandin, who willl admit freely he has trouble back there...
but that was clearly their target and man...

so it is difficult to change the mind set...but only TWO defenders went before them, and one was surprisingly similar to Boqvist, and the other and generation anomaly, and he takes up ice chances without thinking twice too.

So instead of firing StanBo or Q, buckle up for what may be an exciting rookie player.
- wiz1901

At 8 I knew there was absolutely no possible way the Hawks would take either Bouchard or Dobson although both were available - no possible way. The Hawks have made it very clear that Kelley and the boys look for high-end skill and high-end skating and high potential ceiling. Was nice that your draftsite was referenced in Sportsnet’s ticker. Congrats. Best info of the night. Miss TSN’s superior coverage..

Both Wise and Nordgren are smallish, but picks with good potential. Not bad.
- stonefire

Wise was rated higher by many than where chosen. An interesting aspect about him was he was only a short time ago considered a possible top FIVE or top TEN in the 2018 Draft. Hawks obviously consulted with wiz who had him projected to be taken by the Hawks at 69.

Agreed...Considering the clear decline of the "core", it's the young players that hold the key to success both in the near future and say 3+ years from now.
- ArlingtonRob

And why we will see more of the same next year. Those counting on a resurgence from the likes of Toews, CC or Seabs are dreaming. This team not going nowhere for many years to come. It's a simple fact. Not until the core is replaced along with the GM And coach will you see changes.

The players hated playing in Brooklyn, and I believe this year they are going to be playing a split schedule between Nassau and Brooklyn. And NYC may be the only place in the country with taxes higher than Cook County. Plus Kane. There are some reasons.
- scottak

The Brooklyn “Hockey Arena” is a freakin’ joke. If I am a player I’m embarrassed. Heck I’m embarrassed for the NHL just watching hockey from there on TV. It is like the NHL is an afterthought. I cannot believe that Brooklyn wasn’t told make the arena hockey-ready or no team. Or better yet the NHL should have long ago said - get a new arena done or Hello New City. Now going to play in 2 places - wonderful solution. I actually feel for Tavares - he is a classy, loyal guy but must think it would be so much easier to play and practice in one city in great facilites.

And why we will see more of the same next year. Those counting on a resurgence from the likes of Toews, CC or Seabs are dreaming. This team not going nowhere for many years to come. It's a simple fact. Not until the core is replaced along with the GM And coach will you see changes.
- Hawkster

Double negative = a positive

So you're really trying to say they are going somewhere...well alrighty then.

I don't know enough about these prospects, and projecting is problematic...time will tell.

My only gripe...would have liked to see the Hawks snag Veleno at 27. Depth down the middle is arguably as poor as the blueline.
- ArlingtonRob

They did grab Wise who is looks like a solid two-way center.



Edit to add some more reporting:

Pronman: "After returning from a first-half injury, he was very good for the USNTDP. To start, he’s quite skilled. He’s coordinated handling the puck and can make defenders miss. He also shows very good two-way IQ. One may even say he’s — Wise beyond his years. I apologize for nothing.

"Wise can set up tough plays and can play center competently in his own end. He’s not an overly physical kind of guy, but he works hard to cover his checks and can PK. Wise has a very good shot, but on a team with Wahlstrom, he’s been delegated as more of a playmaker at the NTDP and stylistically I think he prefers to make a play as opposed to take the shot."

Mark Kelley: "He’s just a really smart two-way centerman. He had a great start to the season and then he missed some times and it was ironic when he came back it was the same time Jack Hughes joined the team and all of a sudden they had a No. 1 and No. 2 center and the team really took off."

Another scout (unaffiliated): "Wise is an excellent pick for the Blackhawks. He’s a good two-way player with a 200-foot game. He’s a great passer with playmaking ability. He has excellent vision and hockey sense. He’s really strong and tough to knock off the puck."

This pretty much sums it up...great - Stan possibly filled some future holes. No draft day deals...which is probably a positive after the 2 trainwreck trades he made last summer. And failed to get an NHL level back up for the season. I'm still not buying on the Crawford situation...meanwhile Stan's new big prize has already had how many concussions...?

Hawks are on the downside at this point. Can Bowman make several deals here to right the ship when we start free agency...? I wouldn't bother getting that Tavares jersey he won't be a Hawk.
Meanwhile he make extend Jurco...well thank goodness for that news flash. Can't wait for the Jurco bobblehead night...

you've got bring a new Pres. of Hockey Ops in...but that's even more concerning after JJ reported that McD had reached out to a search firm a la the Halas hall gang. Also thought it was interesting that Q and Stan made nice at the podium yesterday...we'll see what happens in Free Agency...
- DK002

Hey DK. Most people in the biz, whether it be hockey, football, whatever sport, say it takes a couple years (3 usually) to eveluate a draft...but apparently 24 hours is all it took to label this one a trainwreck...got it.

Bowman may end up doing nothing but I didn't realize his deadline was draft day to complete everything. Agonize on...

So Wiz, if I read your summaries of the picks correctly, not ONE of these guys has any indication of being able to win board bsttles or go to dirty areas. In fact one of the reviews even says the kid specifically AVOIDS dirty areas, and the #8 pick is regularly a loser of possession because he gets easily roughed up.



How is this a successful draft if all they pick are contact avoidant weaklings?

This folks is what we can expect as the type of players that will be picked during FA as well. The leadership seems to be wedded to skill and speed trumping all other factors.

I am sorry, but I am pretty confident that I could rebuild this roster free of charge with UFAs that would outperform whatever hot garbage they sign for the megabucks they get paid sitting in their offices bent over computers reading fancy stats all day.
- Return of the Roar

And why we will see more of the same next year. Those counting on a resurgence from the likes of Toews, CC or Seabs are dreaming. This team not going nowhere for many years to come. It's a simple fact. Not until the core is replaced along with the GM And coach will you see changes.
- Hawkster

If that's the case, what are you upset about? You should be excited for the future with some of those picks.

Just accept your own perception of the team and dont expect them to make the playoffs. Everything they do for the next few years will be for rebuilding, since all those guys are done - by your estimation

Sure, but at any point, did you maybe think to idk wait to see what happens before declaring it a bad off-season? Again, the UFA talking window hasn't even opened, it's just stupid early in the off-season to already be angsting lol.
- L_B_R

I'm with you on this. Besides what you mentioned, just about everything went south this year. It's not like one wheel fell off, all of them did. I can't see our core having another horrible a year across the board as this past one. We get back to some normal production from the core, Crawford staying healthy, the kids having another year under their belts, and having that crappy taste of missing the playoffs, and it's gonna be a better year! An appropriate move or two by Stan and we're back in the mix. Amen.

At 8 I knew there was absolutely no possible way the Hawks would take either Bouchard or Dobson although both were available - no possible way. The Hawks have made it very clear that Kelley and the boys look for high-end skill and high-end skating and high potential ceiling. Was nice that your draftsite was referenced in Sportsnet’s ticker. Congrats. Best info of the night. Miss TSN’s superior coverage..
- Z3Hawk

I was thinking the same thing as I watched this draft.

On another note, this thing with Bettman is getting old to the point where it is an annoying distraction. It is time to grow up and move on. Those so called fans were so hell bent on continuing with this stupidity that they did not realize for a few moments that they were booing during a Broncos team tribute.

So I was looking through the Athletic guy that tracks Q/O/C games feed and he actually has put the info altogether the same way they do for the NHL. Beaudin is considered quite the playmaker and one of the best at zone exits and setting up shots in the trackers data set. Here is Beaudin's graph:



Only 8 games tracked so obvs small sample size but the selection for games is random and spread out so as to not track a hot or cold streak.
- L_B_R

Great pick at #27. High-end Skill, High-end Skating and High Ceiling - the Kelley Doctrine.

No. If the Canes were asking for Saad, then they don't think Anisimov is equal value - maybe if the Hawks added but I think they'll try for a younger or better center.

Now, timing may be an issue - Faulk's NTC kicks in on 7/1 so they'll probably try to trade him before then.
- L_B_R

Faulk is an awful player - can we please stop talking about him.

Thoughts on going after Robin Lehner to back up Crow this year?
- blackhawks30

No. Too risky.

Good thought. I'm not sure AA for Faulk is an even swap because Faulk plays more hockey, AA is more often with the medic.

I'd try to sweeten the deal to get it done and then some more. What would it take to pry away Faulk and Rask? Would AA + Sikura get it done?
- Bjm84

Last three seasons games played:

AA
72
64
77

JF
76
75
64

Faulk is an awful player - can we please stop talking about him.
- Z3Hawk

Nope! Apparently NOT! LOL

Daniel Greenberg
@ChiSportUpdates 1 hours ago
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The Chicago Blackhawks still have interest in defenseman Justin Faulk. (Via @MarkLazerus)

It's strange - I know some are off-put by his own projected timeline to the NHL, but it really will depend on how much he grows in the next year or two. And as for the fact that they have Jokiharju and Mitchell in the pipeline, I'm guessing it's okay to have more than one potential top pair/4 RD in the prospect pool.

With defense being so premium, investing there should be good for the future - either by developing the talent or to use as trade chips.
- L_B_R

I worry more about the three concussions he’s already had. I don’t know enough about to know if he just hasn’t learned to keep his head up or just gets himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I worry more about the three concussions he’s already had. I don’t know enough about to know if he just hasn’t learned to keep his head up or just gets himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- walleyeb1

Is it me or do the number of concussions he's had goes up every few hours?

That's not a knock on you, I just read originally it was one concussion, then some were saying two, and now there's about a handful that have said three.

Please explain to me how Tavares feels he deserves Toew/Kane money? He has won nothing yet!

When will GM's learn - Don't pay players before they prove themselves.