Has anyone seen Andrej Sustr play much? On paper he appears to have the potential to be a decent depth d-man.
- DarthKane

i remember watching him in the 2015 finals as he watched Keith walk in and score.

I can’t say this more strongly. The Hawks had NO interest at all in Bouchard or Dobson. Not enough High-end Skill, High-end Skating or High-end Ceiling. Bouchard and Dobson were both available at 8 and I knew there was no possible way the Hawks chose either. Hawks were very fortunate Boqvist was available at 8. Great pick. Boqvist has the chance to be really something special. He was also one of the youngest in the Draft too - doesn’t even turn 18 until August 15.
- Z3Hawk

Good job in knowing the Hawks. Serious question, I see post draft you are on the Bovquist train, did you mention him pre-draft?

Nice work Justin, only 101, seemed like many many more well written blogs.
- riozzo

Ha. I would have maybe even been able to pump out a couple more if I didn't have a baby along the way.

Thanks for the support and kind words everyone.

Thanks Justin.

Anybody see the trade they made? They traded Tanner Kero to Vancouver for Michael Chaput. Looks like a swap of AHL guys mostly. But Chaput in 135 career NHL games has a FO% of 51.8%. In the last 2 seasons, it's 53.6%. His possession numbers are pretty bad, but Vancouver is terrible. I wonder if he will get a look as 4th line center. Those are pretty good FO numbers. Anybody know if he is on the PK?
- biskit67

I was going to add that trade info in there but it was already pretty jam packed.

Chaput, I have heard will be qualified. If not, they wouldn't have let Kero go for nothing.

They liked Kero but wanted him to get a shot somewhere else as his chance to skate with the Hawks again passed him by.

In Chaput, you get a guy who was formally a 3rd round pick with 135 games of NHL experience. He would be able to play 4C in a pinch but most likely destined to be a veteran leader on that Rockford team.

Wise could be a steal will be a steal Great pick

As I watched the “highlights” of Beaudin the first thing I noticed was how damn good a skater Joe Veleno is (they are teammates)!! I kid……….. Beaudin's quiet feet and hands jumps out and how smoothly he operates. No doubt the kid is poised. But as I got deeper into the highlights it reminded me very very much of what I saw of Merkley on tape.

Only way one could describe how both these players find teammates on the weak side is uncanny. How many times does it show Beaudin finding players thru a maze and the puck ends up buried into a wide open net? IMO that aspect of both top 5 talent Merkley and Beaudin has to be described as elite vision and IQ. Add Beaudin does this effortlessly with his head up and points accumulated in the defense optional QMJHL this is a nice looking player.

I know the new mantra is new age defender, and I reeeeeeally like what I see from the miniscule amount of “offensive” film on Beaudin, but have a hard time getting past not taking Velano in this slot.

Yes a lot of teams passed on Valeno so it’s easy to dismiss overlooking him but the kid plays C and despite taking Wise, a center later, Veleno is what the Hawks covet in that he’s a ++ skater and is anal about his own zone. Tough not to see a 3C floor and 2C ceiling on this kid, a kind of John Madden to me.

Would add McKenzie had Beaudin, who’s rankings are the average of 10 scouts, at #39. So taking him at 27 is not that much of a stretch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_usO7XdaCs

Any word on whether Nalimov will be in camp? I know the agent is trying to force the Hawks hand a bit but hopefully he's in camp competing for a spot.
- HawkintheD

Nope. I haven't heard anything.

Don't be surprised if his rights are included in a deal to someone like the Islanders, Buffalo or Carolina.

Justin, thanks for your hard work to keep things rolling here on Buzz.
Just read this morning that Rocky/Blunk dumped Ogilvy as their (ad) agency of record and have hired a firm that Danny Wirtz has $ invested in as a partner.

Can't wait to see what comes out of this.
I guess they realized that "ONE GOAL" is meaningless these days, what with an 85% (or less) season ticket holder renewal rate.

As many have said, until McDonut, Stan and Q are shown the door and a real hockey guy is brought in to run the business, doubt we're going to see another CUP in our lifetime.
- savvyone-1

Interesting Savvy - thanks for the heads up there. I didn't see that. As someone in the advertising industry, I find this intriguing.

Dobson is as skinny as my arm his legs and will not play for some time...he is on the right track but he's a skinny kid that will need strength/girth to compete later.

Bouchard, well I never doubted his innate talent as a terrific vision and long passer and PP Q /shot, but honestly if he was in this league NEXT year, he would be a bigger fines defender than Carolina's Hamilton.

I put this profiles up very early in the morning, in the last blog with added comments, so I am gonna repeat them here:

Adam Boqvist
This draft will be marked with an unprecedented number of highly sought after skilled attacking defensemen who are average or under-sized with little physicality. This player compensates for it with terrific hands and ability to push the pace, doing a decent job in his own end using his skill set. In the Swedish junior league, Boqvist showcased a nice shot, high end speed, and agility. He may very well be the top finesse and fine-edge-skating defenseman in the draft, displaying great balance and lateral mobility. He is lightning fast and has great vision. He distributes the puck unselfishly and he jumps in on the attack -- sometimes leading it. He opens up and delivers a very accurate one timer. As a slight, smaller player, he gets overtaken, losing puck battles to the bigger players. Does show good vision in both ends but it is a bigger challenge in his own end. His fast feet help negate some of his problems in the defensive zone, but it is difficult to ignore his defensive zone positioning issues. As a lightweight anchor, he needs to fill out, get stronger, and build his defensive game. Another right handed shooting mobile defenseman.
I think we are overlooking the fact that this youngster equals most forward in terms of his skating, balance, agility, ability to back defender in, and accelerates and and shoot or pass the puck. The Erik Karlsson comparison is lofty for now, but the future may end up with him as a first pair offense-man.

Nicolas Beaudin
New age defender with good puck movement skills, nice foot speed, good hands and a good stick. Funnels attackers to the side boards, can make the secure outlet pass in transition. Very smart in all three zones. Has a soft touch, and excellent puck skills. Defensively and offensively aware and stays on the right side of the puck. His foot speed lets him control the speed of the game making nice touch passes. He walks the blue line and uses his deceptive snap passes to provide scoring looks. Sneaks downs and makes things happen. Will need to add strength as he develops.
He has gone through three QMJHL seasons and has rounded into really into an all around there zone player that stays on the right side of the puck with the skill and feet to control play, and rates as one of the better power play QBs in the class. With work he could end up a second part #4 ala Victor Mete.

Jake Wise
Under the radar performer who is a terrific skater with strong skill set. His year was marred by various nagging injuries, including his collarbone. An average skater who is a good two-way player whether lined up at centre or either wing. He is smart on the ice, good in the dot, supports the puck, shows creativity in the attack. Committed to Boston University where he will hone his skills hopefully ascending to a strong third line NHL centre.
Sure, he needs to get stronger and that will add quickness, but already displays good edge work and has jump, and a willingness to get in the dirty areas and exploit coverage weaknesses and getting the puck through to open seam. Has good vision, competitiveness, and might project above the third line tag I put on him.


Niklas Nordgren rhRW
Finnish full speed attacker and set up man who is under 5’ 10 and 170. Plays hard and fast with good smarts for seeing openings and capitalizing. Scored eight goals in the Under-18 World Junior Tournament, more than any other player. Displays really good hands and has the toolbox of a scorer. Has good on-ice vision and drives to the right areas to win pucks. Surprises the opposition with set ups and goals they are unprepared for. Needs to continue to improve his feet, strength and his size. Has played some centre too.
When he said Patrick Kane was his favorite player it is because he likes to score. In the Under-17 he started out really strong and ended really strong…in the middle of the tourney he seemed to go ineffective for the most part and I thought it was because in tight spaces, he doesn’t have that strong skating burst that most smaller players have to show in battle areas…don’t get me wrong, he plays fearless and feisty competing hard for pucks, rarely ruffled or panicked under pressure and he plays strong on the puck and strong on his pins, because his balance and low skating stride. He strong in the neutral zone, real smart I recognizing opportunities, always ready to drive the forward as set-up man or triggerman.If he commits to working on his lower body strength, he gets faster, even more powerful in his strides, I think he could be an NHL sniper. He’s very similar to Mat Zuccarello.

Philipp Kurashev
Smart slick puck-handling centre with decent speed and East-West lateral agility. High hockey IQ and creative instincts as a passer. Sees and anticipates developing plays. Far from ready to be considered NHL worthy, as he has zero interest in getting dirty in physical games. But you cannot argue that he isn't a fine playmaker despite his lack of any grittiness or edge at this juncture. Needs plenty of work in the face-off circle, but I can see him as winger in his present playing style.
Personally if my first name and it’s last letters ended two p’s, I would be concerned I would be called full of peepee would quickly catch on in rival areas. He is an instinctive attacker who is hockey smart, hockey head quick, and high end stickhandler holds the puck, waiting for movement to get it to his line mates for a scoring look, saucing it over. He also displays good edge work, shiftiness and is more of centre looking to score than one who is gun shy. There are areas he needs to build on to help remove the perimeter player tag. He does think the game fast, and can execute at high speed, and will compete in his end, but only to a degree.

Mikail Hakkarainen
Finnish import who is committed to Providence College. Plays both wing and centre.
I went back and tried to pull him out of the Five Nations footage and saw he took some shots, plays two way wing, but again, you wait and see, and maybe you get a NHL winger/centrte sometime later as he grows all around.

Alexis Gravel
He was viewed as the top Q goalie based on is height and long range projection. He olked too heavy and slow at the CHL prospects game. So far he is pegged as an even longer developmental prospect as his game has not progressed as quickly as hoped. That is not to say he can’t progress into a NHL candidate. It is not that he isn't athletic or quick, be cause he is. He is very active on his feet, and when he gives up a rebound, he goes to scramble mode with his movements. When he settles in, improves his glove and his ability to direct shots into the corners with his pads, he will gain confidence. Handles the puck well when goes behind the net to help out...

Josiah Slavin
Brother of Jaccob, he is committed to Colorado College. You let him work on his game, you have his brother as an example of what the process is and the commitment involved...seems like a win / win even if he flops...If he doesn't the parent club got better.

I an not trying to angry.
I do this all year, try and make evaluations see stuff, and it is not my first rodeo.

The one thing I do know is to start burying the Chicago selections before they have a chance to go from 17-19 year olds into accomplished competitive players at higher tiers, without letting them grow their game, seems like foolish impulsive comments
- wiz1901

Thanks for these Bill and thanks for all of your input over the last couple of weeks. I know myself and a lot of posters here enjoy your analysis.

Thanks for sticking around!

Joel Quenneville on @ESPN1000 with @thekapman regarding Corey Crawford: "We're making progress with him. There's lots of time between now and camp. He feels he wasn't that far away last year from coming back."
- walleyeb1

Still does not seem like a sure thing...

Nobody has really talked about Dominik Kahun--could he be in the mix for a bottom 6 spot this season?
- RaleighHawk

Yes. They really like him. He's a speed demon and could surprise at camp. I think that's just it though... they want to see him in camp to see what they have in this young man.

Justin - Congrats on moving past 100. That’s Great. Sportsnet’s coverage was actually awful. I missed TSN. Cosentino is a light weight and has little real insight. Burke is a blowhard who hasn’t won much. Cosentino lost his mind that the Hawks did not take Bouchard or Dobson at 8. I knew there was no chance the Hawks would draft either. They didn’t fit the Kelley Trinity - high-end skill, high-end skating, high-end ceiling.

Burke lost his mind when the Sharks grabbed Merkley at 21. A few teams had him on a No Draft List said Burke. Cosentino piped in to Burke that it was even more teams than you know. Wilson in a post-choice interview basically said we heard the complaints by these “experts” against Merkley and cared...not at all.

Sportsnet had a weird multi-box screen to give information but it rarely had great information. Looked like one of those psycho news channels with boxes all over making the main screen smaller. Where was the highest ranked players left available list? I swear that until Boqvist was actually taken by the Hawks at 8 his name hadn’t been on the screen nor had he been discussed by the neanderthal “experts.”

Best thing about the Sportsnet night. Our boy wiz getting his draftsite referenced on the ticker. Would have been even better if wiz had been on the panel.
- Z3Hawk

Yeah those guys favour the CHL picks as that's who they know the best. I can bet that they didn't watch much on the European leagues and only watched Boqvist's YouTubes.

Has anyone seen Andrej Sustr play much? On paper he appears to have the potential to be a decent depth d-man.
- DarthKane

He would offer some nice size on the backend but he's a RHD. No room there unless someone it moved.

Joel Quenneville on @ESPN1000 with @thekapman regarding Corey Crawford: "We're making progress with him. There's lots of time between now and camp. He feels he wasn't that far away last year from coming back."
- walleyeb1

If the Hawks were playoff bound last year, I bet he would have played.

On record as saying pre-draft after I put together my final wish list my hope is Bovquist goes before 8 and that should insure the Hawks get Wahlstrom but if Hughes falls they have a decision to make. I stand by that.

Post draft reading some say Wahlstrom needed next yrs 1st overall Hughes, a centerman, to really take off. I disagree but if that was true I'd ask does Ovechkin or Laine create their own shot? Sure they have size and can make the occasional dangle and fire but these are world class players with a world class shot and they don't create, they finish. Take away a premier creator and OV and Laine never hit 50 goals. Wahlstrom is in that mold. Ask anyone pre-draft and it was said Wahlstrom has the very best shot in the draft, compared it to Laine's, and if not only behind Zadina. ........ IMO Wahlstrom at 6ft 1in 210lbs as an 18 yr old will be a 1st line player who scores 40 goals in the NHL

Finally, this is my 101st blog here on Hockeybuzz (#centuryclub). My goal was to come in here and provide a consistent number of blogs (I've been averaging 3 per week) as well as a consistent voice in the way I cover the Blackhawks.

I have enjoyed your blogs since the day you became the Blackhawks blogger. My only criticism would be you haven’t written your blogs as frequently as I would have liked. Having said that, I understand how difficult it is to juggle being a new dad with marriage and work and everything else in your life.

Have you become a “fancy” stat guy? Thought you took the lead about a year ago. Wouldn’t that put you at a 2 blog a week average? At 3 a week you should be at 150?

Keep the blogs coming! They are interesting.

Wiz, firstly nicely done during the draft. I know it's a stressful time for an evaluator in normal yrs and with the Hawks in a kind of "transition" of sorts the organIzation having the 8th pick and another in the 1st rd made the angst doubly so. They just can't miss in this draft, can't. Well done, Wiz.

Don't discount Dobson, man. I'm reading a lot of justifying the Bovquist selection from fans who never once said Bovquist is a must get and now devaluing some players as justification. In fact, and I could be wrong, but in the week coming into he draft and a couple hundred pages of comments don't think I heard one fan say the Swede is the guy to get. ........ Comment is not directed at you, just an observation.

Dobson's own coach said he gave him top defensive minutes, 1st unit PP and all the responsibilities of a #1 Dman all as a 17 yr in Major Junior and the killed killed it all the way to a Memorial Cup.

Keep hearing he's built slight and this from others who say Bovquist will fill out and grow a bit. No doubt in my mind Dobson will be +200lbs as a 23 yr old man and he's already 6ft 3in.........I saw Gilbert try out for the Steel and leave the building in shorts and a t-shirt. The kid was a wiry 165-170, 6ft 2in and now as a 21 tips the scales at 220lb. They both had the same builds at 17. If he doesn't reach his ceiling it won't be cuz of his size.

I know you watched film on him and even in the Hlinka tournament before the season started he was strong on the puck. Kid is strong now and will only get a lot stronger.

There are reasons McKenzie's ranking, the average of 10 paid NHL scouts, had their final rankings this way:

14: Veleno
10 Bovquist
9: Wahlstrom
8: Hughes
7: Bouchard
6: Dobson.
- Mr Ricochet

With respect your analysis is off, so was McKenzie’s. Boqvist was seeded very highly only a very short time ago. He was even discussed as possibly being taken second over-all. He maintained his 2 ranking behind only Dahlin on Central Scouting’s International List. As an aside I am NOT a fan of splitting the players like this. Boqvist had also been slotted very highly on McKenzie’s earlier List. Boqvist fell during a time no hockey was being played. McKenzie said it was not on him but maybe movement up for some other players. Boqvist’s concussion issue may also have played a part. However, many assumed that regardless of whether Boqvist had generally fallen in his ranking that he’d still be taken early and would not actually be available at 8.

Dobson won the Memorial Cup but it wasn’t because of Dobson. I watched the Memorial Cup very closely. If I hadn’t known that Dobson was highly rated I wouldn't have taken notice of him at all. Nothing he did would have made me say - wow he is really something. Scored some points but that was a function of many goals being scored. Regardless of the late movement on Lists I knew Bouchard and Dobson would fall like stones at the Draft which they did. I was also 100% certain that the Hawks would NOT chose either of them at 8 even if they were available. They simply didn’t fit the Kelley Trinity of High-end Skill, High-end Skating, High-end Ceiling. Bouchard and Dobson may make their way in the NHL but Boqvist could be a huge star.

I also knew that the Hawks would take Boqvist easily over Wahlstrom and even over Hughes, if both were available. As another aside Hughes seemed so small. The Hawks are so fortunate to have drafted Boqvist at 8 - I could not be happier with this pick.

From Powers:

• The Blackhawks won’t be a part of the John Tavares sweepstakes, multiple sources have said. The Blackhawks are out of the discussions due to cap constraints, a source said.

• The Blackhawks aren’t expected to place qualifying offers on Adam Clendening, Anthony Duclair, Tomas Jurco or Chaput before the deadline Monday afternoon, a source said. The Blackhawks were hoping to move Duclair to another team and had some interest, but nothing had materialized as of Monday morning.

• The Blackhawks are still hoping to move Marian Hossa’s contract but have yet to find a suitor. The Blackhawks hope there will be a team later this offseason in need of Hossa’s cap hit to get to the new cap floor of $58.8 million. The Blackhawks might have to be patient on that.
- L_B_R

Just read JJ's writeup...Hawks are trying to offer Duclair's rights as a sweetener for someone to take Hossa's contract. Good luck probably going to need a bit more there Stan.

Glad to see they've reached out Hutton. Depending on who they end up with should give us an idea of where Crawford is at.

And no Tomas Jurco bobblehead night this year...

Wise could be a steal will be a steal Great pick
- oldduffman

Post draft reading, research and watching film I think you might be right. In fact might have a better chance at making a difference than 1st rounder Beaudin who I also like.

His coaches absolutely rave about his work ethic and character and note that after his injury, collarbone, 2 games in this season that he took the devastating injury and following rehab better than most NCAA players.

Very possible this kid will be one of the steals of the draft and would fill a horrid need at center for the Hawks. Kid looks to have 2C ceiling and 3C floor with PK duties, good at the dot in a stout 5ft 11in 200lb frame with high compete and character. It's also said the kid has a bit of a mean streak too.

His injury in game 2 this yr may have been the best thing that happened to Hawks fans last yr.

With respect your analysis is off, so was McKenzie’s.
- Z3Hawk

Stopped reading right here at your first sentence, but will finish afterwards. That is NOT McKenzie's ranking as you well know. It is the average of 10 paid NHL scouts that McKenzie gathers, does the math and then lists. He does zero evaluating 10 paid NHL scouts do.

I was going to add that trade info in there but it was already pretty jam packed.

Chaput, I have heard will be qualified. If not, they wouldn't have let Kero go for nothing.

They liked Kero but wanted him to get a shot somewhere else as his chance to skate with the Hawks again passed him by.

In Chaput, you get a guy who was formally a 3rd round pick with 135 games of NHL experience. He would be able to play 4C in a pinch but most likely destined to be a veteran leader on that Rockford team.
- Justin Lowe

One thing about Chaput that has not been discussed much is he won the Memorial Cup earlier in his hockey career. He was actually the Memorial Cup MVP.

One thing about Chaput that has not been discussed much is he won the Memorial Cup earlier in his hockey career. He was actually the Memorial Cup MVP.
- Z3Hawk

Well according to Powers they’re not going to qualify him either.

How would we rank our top prospects now?

My first draft list would likely go:
1. Boqvist
2. Jokiharju
3. Beaudin
4. Sikura
5. Barratt

Well according to Powers they’re not going to qualify him either.
- walleyeb1

Saw that. Guess we'll see... I heard they were but things can change very quickly and I'm sure they are looking to do a lot of things these days.

Good job in knowing the Hawks. Serious question, I see post draft you are on the Bovquist train, did you mention him pre-draft?
- Mr Ricochet

I thought there was great volitility after 2. Regardless of what was happening with Boqvist I still thought someone would grab him far earlier than 8. I didn’t like pre-Draft that Boqvist, when talking about himself, thought he was 2 or 3 years away. Then you find out he has battled dyslexia and that likely he deals with life humbly.

I liked Hughes too and said so but it was more a function of the fact that Hughes could actually fall to 8 which he almost did being taken 7. Wahlstrom was also discussed a lot - I had nothing against Wahlstrom but I saw the Hawks taking him at 8 if there was nobody better at 8 that fit the Hawks’ mold. I also thought that some team would jump in on Merkley regardless of the fact that his ranking had plummetted. He was 45,70 all over the place - crazy. Had been ranked high by McKenzie a short time ago even with problems. Merkley taken at 21.

My analysis and my viewing of the Draft had much to do with who I did not want the Hawks to draft at 8. Didn’t want Tkackuk and didn’t want Bouchard or Dobson.