Tyler Cameron: Re-Draft: 2011
The Blackhawks ended up with 11 draft picks in the 2011 draft. After looking at the following, it'll be really difficult to argue with their selections.

These 11 players have combined for:

1,568 games
306 goals
723 points
4 Stanley Cups

… not too shabby.

1st

Mark McNeil is my constant reminder of why I try not to get too excited or confident over any draft pick. On that draft day I was ready to anoint him as the 2C behind Toews. Then as the years went by I held out hope he might turn into an effective bottom six player. Nope, nothing, nada...

What do you think of the Wedin signing?

What do you think of the Wedin signing?
- gmurban

He looks like AHL material to me.

The Hawks have so many forwards in the mix, I think it'll be tough to break through.

Especially considering how Dominik Kubalik is looking right now at the WC + the forwards that Stan has yet to sign after July 1st.

He looks like AHL material to me.

The Hawks have so many forwards in the mix, I think it'll be tough to break through.

Especially considering how Dominik Kubalik is looking right now at the WC + the forwards that Stan has yet to sign after July 1st.
- Tyler Cameron

I wonder what Stan’s plan is for the forward group this summer. To your point, it could be challenging to make room for Kubalik not to mention any other free agents. Maybe Stan’s planning bigger changes than we’re expecting.

He looks like AHL material to me.

The Hawks have so many forwards in the mix, I think it'll be tough to break through.

Especially considering how Dominik Kubalik is looking right now at the WC + the forwards that Stan has yet to sign after July 1st.
- Tyler Cameron

I would have to agree that Wedin is bound for Rockford unless he has a clause that allows him to go back to Europe if he doesn't make the Hawks. He may be Nilsson 2.0, IMO, with less grit but slightly more skill.

1st

Mark McNeil is my constant reminder of why I try not to get too excited or confident over any draft pick. On that draft day I was ready to anoint him as the 2C behind Toews. Then as the years went by I held out hope he might turn into an effective bottom six player. Nope, nothing, nada...
- Chief4Feathers

McNeill is also an example of a draft prospect with great size meaning jack squat. When he was drafted, it was touted that he has "an NHL body already" yet ended up taking quite a while to get his one and only game with the Hawks. Underwhelming in the AHL as well.

In the summer of 2011 I went to see the Prospects games in Oshawa Ontario. The Hawks team played Toronto, Pittsburgh and I think Ottawa. There was this guy on Chicago named Andrew Shaw. I remember telling a buddy this guy is a late pick and an afterthought but as the tournament wore on I was impressed. His nose was always over the puck and he was relentless. He battled any and everyone. He was beating the poop out of Nazem Kadri all night and he fought some Monster the Leafs had and did quite well considering he must have given up a half a foot and 20 or 30 lbs. I heard after wards that when Toews saw Shaw play the first time his reaction was "who is this guy and what is he doing?" He's a guy hockey fans love, a guy who persevered despite limited skill, size, overlooked twice in the draft and picked late in his last year. He was all heart, it's a shame some more skilled guys didn't have the half the heart Shaw has.

Rakell and Gibson and Wild Bill .... pretty Damn pleased with Murray on this one.

I wonder what Stan’s plan is for the forward group this summer. To your point, it could be challenging to make room for Kubalik not to mention any other free agents. Maybe Stan’s planning bigger changes than we’re expecting.
- DarthKane

I believe it is.

I think we see 1-2 forwards moved or not resigned - some that we may not have thought.

It's a very crowded group. They need to find the right mix of forwards so tough decisions are coming for Stan.

In the summer of 2011 I went to see the Prospects games in Oshawa Ontario. The Hawks team played Toronto, Pittsburgh and I think Ottawa. There was this guy on Chicago named Andrew Shaw. I remember telling a buddy this guy is a late pick and an afterthought but as the tournament wore on I was impressed. His nose was always over the puck and he was relentless. He battled any and everyone. He was beating the poop out of Nazem Kadri all night and he fought some Monster the Leafs had and did quite well considering he must have given up a half a foot and 20 or 30 lbs. I heard after wards that when Toews saw Shaw play the first time his reaction was "who is this guy and what is he doing?" He's a guy hockey fans love, a guy who persevered despite limited skill, size, overlooked twice in the draft and picked late in his last year. He was all heart, it's a shame some more skilled guys didn't have the half the heart Shaw has.
- paulr

I was at that tournament too Paul.

I remember Shaw as well as a standout in the games I watched.

McNeill is also an example of a draft prospect with great size meaning jack squat. When he was drafted, it was touted that he has "an NHL body already" yet ended up taking quite a while to get his one and only game with the Hawks. Underwhelming in the AHL as well.
- AEL_Fox

I don’t want to jinx anything, but... every time someone mentions Cozens’ size as an asset, I think to myself “that’s what they said about McNeil...”

You just never know about these draft prospects.

Rakell and Gibson and Wild Bill .... pretty Damn pleased with Murray on this one.
- dozerD10

Yeah, if you’re going to draft a goalie with a 2nd round pick - at least he nailed it with Gibson.

I believe it is.

I think we see 1-2 forwards moved or not resigned - some that we may not have thought.

It's a very crowded group. They need to find the right mix of forwards so tough decisions are coming for Stan.
- Tyler Cameron

The Hogs roster is getting crowded, too, so Stan also can't just conveniently stash youngsters who don't make the Hawks roster down in Rockford either. Agree with you and Darth that some trades are in the works, both big and small.

I love the comment someone made about how this is the reason why I don't get excited about the draft.
Picks like McNeill are exactly why I love trying to delve 10 feet down deep into the waters.

You look at the entire class and 2011 like so many other class looked the true first round was going to drop before pick 20 to where everybody around 20 - 50 very similar in there chances for success.

Before I go on unlike all these other draft prognosticators, who don't leave a paper trail of their draft list /like I leave this internet paper trail:
Here is my Final Mock for 2011
https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2011/s/

But before you go read it and see who I liked I am actually thought could fall to us, I want to again say there were all these kids that were "potentials" in that part, but everybody from Saad to Boone Jenner and even Mark Scheifele didn't looked well rounded finished, and only three players , THREE FOWARDS looked like guys who would be players at higher levels in. some form, so they were more comfortable choices...Sean Couturier was a half empty in every game I saw him, Mika Zibanejad was comer but a raw risky pick to me too.

Remember you can click on each players name and what you see is what I wrote back then.
Before you look at my descriptions on those first couple defenders, remember I was working under the impression that size needed to be a big part of the position.
I would love for you to read them but then read my profile on push defenseman Ryan Murphy.

Anyway back to McNeill.
At the time (when I saw this draft class as full of forwards who were not all finished, McNeill REALLY seemed more physically mature balanced and anchored on his pins and seems to have a hard compete like a Ryan Getzlaf.
Sure, I knew that teams were looking at the long term upside of Mark Scheifele, but I honest in 2011 thought (or wishfully thought as hawk fan) he would slip to #18, because be looked like a Dylan Cozens still not there physically but smooth and good jump with the puck. Cozens has loads more finesse and agility than McNeill.


and

Worst Pick – I have to just say the Toronto Maple Leafs as a whole; Tyler Biggs and Stuart Percy ended up being terrible selections.
- Tyler Cameron
Again, everyone was still looking for athletes with size and snarl and he had family bloodlines that projected him as a pro too...this shows how even in that less than two decade span the thoughts and projections and evaluation "thinking" has altered.


and Danault, well I thought of as a high compete versatile Pk / Botton six forward, but no way was HE gonna get his name called in the first.
In the second round I had the hawks passing on big Adam Lowry to select their goalie of the future John Gibson...after they took Tomas Jurco!
anyway go look at it...the past is fun

Just guessing here, but if the Yotes and Leafs were looking at him too I’d imagine he’d have to have something in his contract to make it worth coming over here.

Worst Pick – I have to just say the Toronto Maple Leafs as a whole; Tyler Biggs and Stuart Percy ended up being terrible selections.
- Tyler Cameron

Not only were the Leafs picks terrible, the 2 picks they traded turned into Rakell and Gibson.

Yeah, if you’re going to draft a goalie with a 2nd round pick - at least he nailed it with Gibson.
- Chief4Feathers

I think the fact Cozens left home to pursue his dream and not only is he getting picked in the top 10 (#3 preferred) but this kid did it by being out in the world far from home and became a top prospect doing so. The mental aspect of this kid is pretty rock solid if you ask me. On top of his play and aspects of his game.

I think the fact Cozens left home to pursue his dream and not only is he getting picked in the top 10 (#3 preferred) but this kid did it by being out in the world far from home and became a top prospect doing so. The mental aspect of this kid is pretty rock solid if you ask me. On top of his play and aspects of his game.
- gifman

Your analysis says a lot. I want to go one step farther but i don't know what the answer is. Maybe wiz or someone else might have an idea. So regarding his physical play- it has been called inconsistent. Evident then disappears rest of game. The reasons for this could be plenty. I think natural aggression is good but maybe the still young kid wants to avoid being injured. Wants to avoid penalties so stops being aggressive all the time
Wants to concentrate on his scoring. Or feels he will be able to perform better if no nagging injuries due to lots of physical checking.

Those thoughts go through the mind of veteran NHL players and some of them were can i say more reckless earlier in their career.

I don't know how we find out about that stuff.

Maybe teams dig deep on the kids at the combine ( or whatever comprises the physical/strength testing and interviews) held i believe in May. So teams get a closer at the character and feel for how a kid competes.

The Hogs roster is getting crowd..ed, too, so Stan also can't just conveniently stash youngsters who don't make the Hawks roster down in Rockford either. Agree with you and Darth that some trades are in the works, both big and small.
- AEL_Fox

My guess is that Stan wants to get a descent reliable dman who may even be more a defensive dman then trade Keith. Stan wants a prospect and a pick for Keith. I cannot fathom trading DeBrincat. No other big name makes much sense. Other than maybe Gus. We know AA doesn't bring much.

I think the fact Cozens left home to pursue his dream and not only is he getting picked in the top 10 (#3 preferred) but this kid did it by being out in the world far from home and became a top prospect doing so. The mental aspect of this kid is pretty rock solid if you ask me. On top of his play and aspects of his game.
- gifman

Yeah that’s why they talk with their billets as part of the vetting process. I bet they glean some interesting information in the process.

Man, that 2011 draft class was a doozy! A LOT of those guys are having good/great NHL careers.

Man, that 2011 draft class was a doozy! A LOT of those guys are having good/great NHL careers.
- 35Tony0

and you notice that the third fouthrand fifth rounds developed some nice guys who are regulars...and then there was Kucherov,

who suffered from being small Russian and basically more one way and he almost didn't get picked in the bottom of the second...

I wanted to reply to ER's suggestion that Hughes drops to us at 3, and we trade him to Vancouver for Pettersson, plus. I would love to see this happen, but I think if Hughes is available at #3, Bowman is making the pick before NY is off the stage.

If the trade were to happen, I would like it to be an exchange of first round picks, plus we get Pettersson. With pick 10, we could take a flyer on Pod, who may be the 3rd best player in the draft (see Tarasenko).

I wanted to reply to ER's suggestion that Hughes drops to us at 3, and we trade him to Vancouver for Pettersson, plus. I would love to see this happen, but I think if Hughes is available at #3, Bowman is making the pick before NY is off the stage.

If the trade were to happen, I would like it to be an exchange of first round picks, plus we get Pettersson. With pick 10, we could take a flyer on Pod, who may be the 3rd best player in the draft (see Tarasenko).
- tvetter

Pretty sure we wouldn't be getting Pettersson plus the 10 but I could definitely see the Canucks making that offer if he slipped to 3 or even 2. GM Benning is on the hot seat having missed the playoffs 4 years straight and with the draft being in Vancouver he could be looking to make a splash. Huge PR move if he were able to unite the Hughes brothers for years to come. Pettersson is the real deal. Battled some injuries this year but the kids a stud.