All this discussion about the Vlasic signing and if it does or does not screw the rebuild when we are nears dominant phases where guys need $ to re-up them.

Everyone is talking like all the pieces with fall into place and suddenly 2009 happens and you can SEE that they are GOING:

This deal has nothing to do with champions or challenging.

Did the drafts and signing fall in place in Detroit?

Hawks may be floundering WITH the kids they have drafted not achieving the results they expect, a coaching change, the lack of a goalie who can be a difference in the post season....too many variables that are out of our hands and Vlasic's deal is an issue?

Who knows it the defense in five years has none of the current rearguards and he is last to get traded with the failures.

The kid came in and proved he can be a NHL defenseman so they paid him. I am sure they feel good at that 2nd contract.
- wiz1901

But what fun would it be if we didn't find something everyday wrong with KD to female dog about..................

Sorry my mistake the IIHF U18 tournament. Too bad most of the top junior players aren’t there.
- paulr

The only one that matters (Eiserman) is there

Several examples to back up your facts, like Boston sponsoring Orr’sParry Sound peewee team to get Orr’s rights.
- LAHawk

And he was signed in Toronto’s backyard no less. And Bobby Hull and Stanley Mikita were both signed in Ontario as well. Toronto only ever won all their cups because for the most part they had first dibs on young Ontario and really western Canada players so they always had a poopload of depth, but until Matthews they never had a generational talent in their history. The stupid franchise has always been inept.

The only one that matters (Eiserman) is there

- vabeachbear

Do you think he’s the guy?

Do you think he’s the guy?
- paulr

He is kind of showing us what he might be able to do with better talent around him, cough cough Bedard, Nazar

He is kind of showing us what he might be able to do with better talent around him, cough cough Bedard, Nazar
- BetweenTheDots

I’m curious about the final rankings. Eiserman and a few others have been bouncing up and down the rankings for months. I’m sure this tournament will help Eiserman’s final ranking. But the biggest Junior tournament, the Memorial Cup starting May 24 will also highlight some other eligible guys.

USA leads Norway 6-1 in the 3rd. Eiserman with two more goals.
- boilermaker100

If you're watching or anyone, how's Eisermans compete level?

And he was signed in Toronto’s backyard no less. And Bobby Hull and Stanley Mikita were both signed in Ontario as well. Toronto only ever won all their cups because for the most part they had first dibs on young Ontario and really western Canada players so they always had a poopload of depth, but until Matthews they never had a generational talent in their history. The stupid franchise has always been inept.
- paulr

Well, the 'generational talent' has got some big time pressure on him tonight because if they lose this one its pretty much all over for another season. But then next season he can enjoy being the highest paid player in the league. Team has won 1 playoff series so far in his 8 seasons.

One thing the Leaf franchise is not inept at is squeezing every dollar they can out of their fan base. MLSE has absolutely no shame making ticket prices affordable to only their corporate buyers. They don't give a f$ck about the real hockey fan who lives and dies with the team because those people don't grease the financial wheel for them.

Go Bruins!

Well, the 'generational talent' has got some big time pressure on him tonight because if they lose this one its pretty much all over for another season. But then next season he can enjoy being the highest paid player in the league. Team has won 1 playoff series so far in his 8 seasons.

One thing the Leaf franchise is not inept at is squeezing every dollar they can out of their fan base. MLSE has absolutely no shame making ticket prices affordable to only their corporate buyers. They don't give a f$ck about the real hockey fan who lives and dies with the team because those people don't grease the financial wheel for them.

Go Bruins!
- RickJ

The Generational talent was a ghost last game. He hit a few guys and battled for positioning and pucks the previous game, I’m guessing he didn’t really have the appetite to play that way the last game. And Marner is just plain scared when the going gets rough. I hope KD factors in the playoff potential in the prospects he is reviewing, I don’t want to see regular season superstars like Matthews or Marner on Chicago.

The Generational talent was a ghost last game. He hit a few guys and battled for positioning and pucks the previous game, I’m guessing he didn’t really have the appetite to play that way the last game. And Marner is just plain scared when the going gets rough. I hope KD factors in the playoff potential in the prospects he is reviewing, I don’t want to see regular season superstars like Matthews or Marner on Chicago.
- paulr

So appreciative of the game Toews (and others) brought in the playoffs - the willingness to pay the physical price to win in the playoffs.

Do you think he’s the guy?
- paulr

He may not be KD's but he is mine

Eiserman is to VaBeachBear as Caufield is to Darth!

And as my last divert to the Bears and their rebuild here;

We got our Punter!

And i love the pick

He may not be KD's but he is mine

Eiserman is to VaBeachBear as Caufield is to Darth!
- vabeachbear

That's a bold statement.

Two quotes from things I've read with all the Bear coverage the last few days...

With their final pick of the draft, the Bears selected record-setting Iowa punter Tory Taylor. They used the highest pick on a punter in five years at No. 122 overall in the fourth round.

Taylor said he got this text from Caleb Williams on Saturday: “Hey, you’re not going to punt too much here.”

From The Athletic...

The Bears have remade their offense in two short years, and by selecting Odunze after getting Williams at No. 1, Chicago may have changed the trajectory of its franchise for perhaps the next decade. With Odunze, Allen and Moore working with Williams, the Bears have a potentially explosive offense. (Yes, let that sink in.)

He is kind of showing us what he might be able to do with better talent around him, cough cough Bedard, Nazar
- BetweenTheDots

But so many draft prognosticators have banished Eiserman to slot #8, because he needs more defensive detail to his game.

Not this guy:

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts

And as my last divert to the Bears and their rebuild here;

We got our Punter!

And i love the pick
- vabeachbear

And a surprise DE with Adam Booker with Buffalo's returning the #122 back for one next year.

But so many draft prognosticators have banished Eiserman to slot #8, because he needs more defensive detail to his game.
- wiz1901

Not this guy:

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts

While I don’t have a favourite per se, and trust whatever KD and his staff do if Eiserman’s defensive play is below average that will have to be factored in. Bedard is already a below average defensive player. That said you can’t teach scoring and Eiserman is probably the best pure scorer in the draft. But as I look around at other guys I see holes in all their games. While I had envisioned Lindstrom as the choice I’ve read about some concerns about his hockey IQ. I’ll leave it to KD to make the best choice.

That's a bold statement.

Two quotes from things I've read with all the Bear coverage the last few days...

With their final pick of the draft, the Bears selected record-setting Iowa punter Tory Taylor. They used the highest pick on a punter in five years at No. 122 overall in the fourth round.

Taylor said he got this text from Caleb Williams on Saturday: “Hey, you’re not going to punt too much here.”

From The Athletic...

The Bears have remade their offense in two short years, and by selecting Odunze after getting Williams at No. 1, Chicago may have changed the trajectory of its franchise for perhaps the next decade. With Odunze, Allen and Moore working with Williams, the Bears have a potentially explosive offense. (Yes, let that sink in.)
- HawkintheD

And this time they're not referring to explosive in the same fashion as when Elbows has too many beans for dinner.

And this time they're not referring to explosive in the same fashion as when Elbows has too many beans for dinner.
- mohel

My memory is so bad, and sometimes I watch parts of 5 games in a night, so I don't know where I saw this advertisement on the boards last night but the name of the joint was, Fat Bastard Burrito.

Hagel with a shorty. ... 2-nuttin.

IMO the NHL is better with Patrick Roy in it. Glad they extended the series and avoided the sweep....... Bortuzzi caught my eye a few times in this one. Battled hard for position, was physical in the slot, tied up some sticks, deflected a few passes.. Good to see him get the game winner.

If you're watching or anyone, how's Eisermans compete level?
- BetweenTheDots

USA's matchups in the opening rd are really lopsided except for the last game vs Finland then the knockout rd starts May 2nd. I'll pick up the tournament then and watch Eiserman closely....... The tournament is on NHL Network if you have that.


https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2024/wm18/schedule

My memory is so bad, and sometimes I watch parts of 5 games in a night, so I don't know where I saw this advertisement on the boards last night but the name of the joint was, Fat Bastard Burrito.
- Mr Ricochet

I think Ludwinski was the "FAT BASTARD BURRITO Performer of the Night" several times this year.

https://www.fatbastardburrito.ca/

https://www.oursportscent...ear-partnership/n-6029387

Thought I remembered this one:

https://twitter.com/OHLHo...her-blackhawks-bullets%2F

I think Ludwinski was the "FAT BASTARD BURRITO Performer of the Night" several times this year.

https://www.fatbastardburrito.ca/

https://www.oursportscent...ear-partnership/n-6029387
- totem

As the kids would say, "that's a hella cool name"...... What you watching tonight, totem?

And a heads up, the kid from Prince George you were talking about, Becher, is 20 yrs old. Parascak is 17 and first yr draft eligible. https://www.eliteprospect...860/prince-george-cougars

As the kids would say, "that's a hella cool name"...... What you watching tonight, totem?

And a heads up, the kid from Prince George you were talking about, Becher, is 20 yrs old. Parascak is 17 and first yr draft eligible. https://www.eliteprospect...860/prince-george-cougars
- Mr Ricochet

Wow OHL has the night off, on Saturday even. Don't see any draft prospects in the Victoriaville-Drummondville series. Boilard was quiet in the Baie-Comeau game last night. Interesting that Baie-Comeau goalie Gravel is the cousin of Blackhawks pick Alexis Gravel who went unsigned.

Becher is an older guy, he has scored well this year and I wonder how much of it is that he is on a loaded team. Like how he is usually pretty active though. Central Scouting has him at #69 NA skaters.

Still confused why some of these older guys from Europe are draft eligible and others can be signed directly (TB signed G. Szturc earlier and he is 20 and undrafted last year).

Wow OHL has the night off, on Saturday even. Don't see any draft prospects in the Victoriaville-Drummondville series. Boilard was quiet in the Baie-Comeau game last night. Interesting that Baie-Comeau goalie Gravel is the cousin of Blackhawks pick Alexis Gravel who went unsigned.

Becher is an older guy, he has scored well this year and I wonder how much of it is that he is on a loaded team. Like how he is usually pretty active though. Central Scouting has him at #69 NA skaters.

Still confused why some of these older guys from Europe are draft eligible and others can be signed directly (TB signed G. Szturc earlier and he is 20 and undrafted last year).
- totem

I understand that once an undrafted player reaches the age of 20 he can be signed as a free agent. So if that’s correct it wouldn’t make much sense to draft him.