Theo Fox: Lottery Matching A few perspectives as the Blackhawks head into today's draft lottery and aim for one of the top 2 picks.

Plus, an early look at the shaping of the IceHogs 2021-22 roster with implications for the parent club.

I'm first? Slackers, all of you.

I'm first? Slackers, all of you.
- 6628

You've probably been up since 4:30 but kudos for having the discipline to resist posting til after 7a (EST).

Maybe this is a sign that the Hawks will win the Draft Lottery. If so, we may need to agree to let 66 have the first post all the time.

Nice write up Theo!

Can't believe you're advocating for the release of Cliff Watson!?!?!?

Afa as some of your questions regarding Strome, deHaan, and Z...I'm hoping the answer is they all have new teams next season with the Hawks netting a couple draft picks in return.

I get that Strome's a C on a team with depth issues there, and particularly when your top 2 are down (19, 77). He had some injury issues but was shuffled around and eventually sat for several games at the end of the season.

Idk, maybe it's a pride thing or maybe his exiting comments were edited but wasn't exactly inspiring in terms of what he had to say.

I'd be surprised if he's not aware what Colliton thinks he needs to work on since JC was quoted as saying he needs to work on being tougher to play against and along the boards.

Strome doesn't seem like a bad kid, but when you compare his comments to Dach's it appears one of the former third overall picks gets it and the other not so much.

You've probably been up since 4:30 but kudos for having the discipline to resist posting til after 7a (EST).

Maybe this is a sign that the Hawks will win the Draft Lottery. If so, we may need to agree to let 66 have the first post all the time.
- HawkintheD

Well earlier, I took a few spins of the sim lottery on Tankathon and Dallas took the big jump several times into the 2 spot and Columbus kept coming up 1st OA.

Well earlier, I took a few spins of the sim lottery on Tankathon and Dallas took the big jump several times into the 2 spot and Columbus kept coming up 1st OA.
- Rota's Rooter

I tried that simulator and after 152 attempts the Blackhawks finally got the #1 spot. If that’s not a sign that the Hawks are guaranteed to win the lottery today I don’t don’t what is.

Nice write up Theo!

Can't believe you're advocating for the release of Cliff Watson!?!?!?

Afa as some of your questions regarding Strome, deHaan, and Z...I'm hoping the answer is they all have new teams next season with the Hawks netting a couple draft picks in return.

I get that Strome's a C on a team with depth issues there, and particularly when your top 2 are down (19, 77). He had some injury issues but was shuffled around and eventually sat for several games at the end of the season.

Idk, maybe it's a pride thing or maybe his exiting comments were edited but wasn't exactly inspiring in terms of what he had to say.

I'd be surprised if he's not aware what Colliton thinks he needs to work on since JC was quoted as saying he needs to work on being tougher to play against and along the boards.

Strome doesn't seem like a bad kid, but when you compare his comments to Dach's it appears one of the former third overall picks gets it and the other not so much.
- HawkintheD

Someone here said it best a few weeks ago. If you could instill Debrincat's or Hagel's on-ice compete level into Strome's body you'd have a helluva player.

Someone here said it best a few weeks ago. If you could instill Debrincat's or Hagel's on-ice compete level into Strome's body you'd have a helluva player.
- Rota's Rooter

I think that was Dots.

Someone here said it best a few weeks ago. If you could instill Debrincat's or Hagel's on-ice compete level into Strome's body you'd have a helluva player.
- Rota's Rooter

IF - I could talk my wife into it I'd have a lot different car!

I tried that simulator and after 152 attempts the Blackhawks finally got the #1 spot. If that’s not a sign that the Hawks are guaranteed to win the lottery today I don’t don’t what is.
- DarthKane

Curious because I don't know how it works, what are the odds of us drafting 16th vs. drafting 1st?

Nice write up Theo!

Can't believe you're advocating for the release of Cliff Watson!?!?!?

Afa as some of your questions regarding Strome, deHaan, and Z...I'm hoping the answer is they all have new teams next season with the Hawks netting a couple draft picks in return.

I get that Strome's a C on a team with depth issues there, and particularly when your top 2 are down (19, 77). He had some injury issues but was shuffled around and eventually sat for several games at the end of the season.

Idk, maybe it's a pride thing or maybe his exiting comments were edited but wasn't exactly inspiring in terms of what he had to say.

I'd be surprised if he's not aware what Colliton thinks he needs to work on since JC was quoted as saying he needs to work on being tougher to play against and along the boards.

Strome doesn't seem like a bad kid, but when you compare his comments to Dach's it appears one of the former third overall picks gets it and the other not so much.
- HawkintheD

Was this a surprise?

Counting down the minutes until 6pm. Yeah we could end up at 13 or 14 but when they showed Minnesota at 12 in 2019 instead of us, it was pretty darned exciting. Nothing will speed up the rebuild like getting a 1 or 2.

Yeah, Theo was right about being surprised at seeing Dach at 3 while everyone here expected Byram. Colorado has a deep D, I have a feeling he'd already be a regular if we drafted him.

Curious because I don't know how it works, what are the odds of us drafting 16th vs. drafting 1st?
- rpeters01

I don't think any team can drop more than 2-3 slots.

I do know that if Arizona pops up in the #1 or #2 slot that the NHL takes a mulligan and they fire up the lotto ball machine again.

A throw of the darts has me expecting (with great confidence) the Hawks land the 9th pick. Trade it tonight for Jonesy and rights to Laine. Kaner gets his LW/right shot combo.

Hawks send:
1st pick 2021
Vegas pick 2021
Strome
Murphy

Hawks get:
Jonesy
Rights to Laine

A throw of the darts has me expecting (with great confidence) the Hawks land the 9th pick. Trade it tonight for Jonesy and rights to Laine. Kaner gets his LW/right shot combo.

Hawks send:
1st pick 2021
Vegas pick 2021
Strome
Murphy

Hawks get:
Jonesy
Rights to Laine
- Assman22

Pass.

Problem is you can't and Strome is the guy who has rested on his god given talent to get to where he's at and that's it. Outside of having a small fire lit underneath him when Arizona traded him here, he's essentially what he is.....an enigma and on a team that is in a rebuild he just takes up a spot/ice time from younger players.

hawks need to find a way to move on from Dehaan, Zadorov, and Strome this summer. DeHaan is way too slow.....Strome is what he is....a top 6 player on a bad team, and a player who likely gets scratched on cup contender. Zadorov is just hockey dumb.

As far as the Uncle Dale vs Stan blog.....I don't think it's worth it. One of Dale's biggest issues is he always seemed to develop too close of a personal relationship with his players where Bowman views them as "assets" and I 100% think it helped him navigate the issues the summer of 2010. Not sure what the fax reference is for as much as the infamous mailings of RFA tender sheets that didn't hit the summer of 2009. Water under the bridge and there is really no debate.

The one thing I will say is the Hawks will need to get some bigger size or find some smaller players who play "bigger" Hagel is a good start but they need more....Especially on the back end.

Pass.
- Ogilthorpe2

Reason?

Murphy will never sniff Jones ability
Strome is a turd.

A 1st and 2nd for right to Laine is likely too low of a price in the scheme of the entire deal.......but if anyone passes on this its Columbus. Not Chicago.

Reason?

Murphy will never sniff Jones ability
Strome is a turd.

A 1st and 2nd for right to Laine is likely too low of a price in the scheme of the entire deal.......but if anyone passes on this its Columbus. Not Chicago.

Steve Rain

I would hang up the phone on Columbus. If you think Strome has no compete in him, have you watched Laine? Plus what do the Hawks do with him? All he would do is take ice time away from ADB, as they are basically the same player (except ADB competes hard, is getting better defensively, and all around offensively is better). And how much is Laine going to ask for?

Reason?

Murphy will never sniff Jones ability
Strome is a turd.

A 1st and 2nd for right to Laine is likely too low of a price in the scheme of the entire deal.......but if anyone passes on this its Columbus. Not Chicago.
- SteveRain

First, CMH would laugh at this offer. Second, I think that by the time this team is ready to contend again, those draft picks are more likely to be affordable contributors. Jones and Laine instantly make the team top heavy cap-wise again.

Stay the course, build through the draft. Maybe add a key piece or two in a couple of years.

Reason?

Murphy will never sniff Jones ability
Strome is a turd.

A 1st and 2nd for right to Laine is likely too low of a price in the scheme of the entire deal.......but if anyone passes on this its Columbus. Not Chicago.

Steve Rain

I would hang up the phone on Columbus. If you think Strome has no compete in him, have you watched Laine? Plus what do the Hawks do with him? All he would do is take ice time away from ADB, as they are basically the same player (except ADB competes hard, is getting better defensively, and all around offensively is better). And how much is Laine going to ask for?
- LAHawk

Strome can't hold Laine jock. You need 2 lines and if/when Toews come back who is skating with him and Kubalik?

Laine will be fine.....23 yr old, multiple time 30 a year goal scorers, and I think he cracked 40 as well.....are huge finds.

Are you really saying that giving up Murphy is the deal breaker here? Murphy, a 2nd, and 1st for Jones and rights to Laine. 2 huge pieces this team needs. I am all for the rebuild but if this WAS the asking price.....do you really think Chicago says no? Not a chance in hell.

Theo, I think you are absolutely correct in team's prospect list don't necessarily the same order as another.
BUT I really really doubt ANY TEAM closes their eyes to pass on Owen Power, especially after he fared well with all the pro players in the World Hockey Championships.
He can move fluidly, He is a two way defender and he is not a gentle giant and picks his spots to show physicality.
I think that after the team that wins the lottery and selects second, it were the very correct thought Corey Pronman had applies: "The top available prospects/ players are pretty much the top players and though a team's list might have the players ranked very closely, selecting second let you get the guy who "fits" your scheme, need or idea of what aspects are one's that teams organization is lacking, and helps the most to round out the stable.

I will not attempt to mention where the hawks may lean IF....
Superstition?, no, not as much as a waste of breath until we actually know after tonight.

I do think the big four defenders will be off the board in the top ten, and if they are not, you can throw the Central Scouting, draft experts, and lists out the window, because the NHL teams in those slots see less hype than you did, and smell something.

And I for one do not think the trend to draft top goalie candidates in the top end of the
first round as something that will stop. And I see two there (Waldstadt and Cossa) that
have huge upside and five teams in that to ten who have a long term need for one.

Will that need for a backstop outweigh the other forwards and defenseman. It could happen.
BTW, no one is trading these picks toady or five minutes before the draft.

Last year, I convinced myself Cole Perfetti and Marko Rossi were going of that board more quickly, because they are offensive hockey plays albeit shorter "smaller" ones.

The difference in this lesser herald 2021 class is there are only two players under six foot, William Eklund and Fabian Lysell in the top half.

What is so different is each player at each p[osition is so very different than the other defenseman, other forwards.

So, teams will extract what attributes are more easily built upon as they become pros.

I am not thinking that after the balls fall, the writers can start easily pegging which prospects go in which slots.

So after the top ten, there might not be the guy a team "actually thought would NEVER drop" you just maybe don't get the most comfortable option for your long term plan.

Btw, time to puff out my chest and say I got Dach right at three prior to the selections, no one else did.

First, CMH would laugh at this offer. Second, I think that by the time this team is ready to contend again, those draft picks are more likely to be affordable contributors. Jones and Laine instantly make the team top heavy cap-wise again.

Stay the course, build through the draft. Maybe add a key piece or two in a couple of years.
- Ogilthorpe2

Reasonable response I don't disagree.....on the price and Columbus saying no.

If we all think Hawks are in the window to win again in say 3 years, or even 4....laine is 27 and Jones is 29....I think that 29 isn't like a Keith/Seabrook 29 where they were playing heavy minutes in the playoffs.

both would be a nice add and for cap debates......I don't disagree with you.

Next thing I am very curious to see is in 13 months how much money Bowman is willing to offer Kane and Toews.....the latter if he's still playing. If he is, not way they can get the same AAV any longer.

Theo, I think you are absolutely correct in team's prospect list don't necessarily the same order as another.
BUT I really really doubt ANY TEAM closes their eyes to pass on Owen Power, especially after he fared well with all the pro players in the World Hockey Championships.
He can move fluidly, He is a two way defender and he is not a gentle giant and picks his spots to show physicality.
I think that after the team that wins the lottery and selects second, it were the very correct thought Corey Pronman had applies: "The top available prospects/ players are pretty much the top players and though a team's list might have the players ranked very closely, selecting second let you get the guy who "fits" your scheme, need or idea of what aspects are one's that teams organization is lacking, and helps the most to round out the stable.

I will not attempt to mention where the hawks may lean IF....
Superstition?, no, not as much as a waste of breath until we actually know after tonight.

I do think the big four defenders will be off the board in the top ten, and if they are not, you can throw the Central Scouting, draft experts, and lists out the window, because the NHL teams in those slots see less hype than you did, and smell something.

And I for one do not think the trend to draft top goalie candidates in the top end of the
first round as something that will stop. And I see two there (Waldstadt and Cossa) that
have huge upside and five teams in that to ten who have a long term need for one.

Will that need for a backstop outweigh the other forwards and defenseman. It could happen.
BTW, no one is trading these picks toady or five minutes before the draft.

Last year, I convinced myself Cole Perfetti and Marko Rossi were going of that board more quickly, because they are offensive hockey plays albeit shorter "smaller" ones.

The difference in this lesser herald 2021 class is there are only two players under six foot, William Eklund and Fabian Lysell in the top half.

What is so different is each player at each p
- wiz1901[osition is so very different than the other defenseman, other forwards.

So, teams will extract what attributes are more easily built upon as they become pros.

I am not thinking that after the balls fall, the writers can start easily pegging which prospects go in which slots.

So after the top ten, there might not be the guy a team "actually thought would NEVER drop" you just maybe don't get the most comfortable option for your long term plan.

Btw, time to puff out my chest and say I got Dach right at three prior to the selections, no one else did.

How is Powers foot speed? Videos I see of him at Michigan don't so a ton of explosiveness and wonder if that will be a detriment to his pro game once he matures. Isn't he 18?

Jone's announcement to listen to offers, doesn't put Columbus in a strong position to trade his rights.The market maybe no what he was expecting and the fit maybe more important off $ is close to equal.

Most big trades are not made until the layer and agent have a tentative agreement t in place before the deal id made.

If the next contracts of Jones and Laine were to be reasonable I´d have a shot at this. Laine is a bit of a problemchild being a tad on the dumb side but he smashing his lasers from Kanes pinpointpasses to the net would be a treat. So...ok, lets do this.