If Toronto wanted to take on the entirety of Jones contract, I would make that deal in a heartbeat.

I think fans are becoming unrealistic with the Hawks being more competitive versus making the playoffs. They will surely be more competitive this year, but I don't have playoffs on the BINGO card just yet.

Marner is also a PPG player and two years younger than Jones. I would make a swap in a heartbeat if it was on the table. I like Seth Jones and don't think he's nearly as bad as many make him out to be, but if the Hawks could get out from under that contract and they have a team willing to take it on, make that deal.
- frafra

Ding, ding, ding!

Another new blog up.

That could be said about many of these prospects. The key for Chicago is to identify how each guy projects in 3-5-10 years not worry about who may or may not haunt them. Their guy may be Eiserman or Demidov or Buium or Lindstrom or one of four or five other guys. Also I suspect there will be many different opinions from different members of the scouting staff. There are going to be many sleepless nights ahead for KD and his staff. It would have been much easier if Bettman didn’t hate the Hawks and they won the draw last night.
- paulr

Those two guys have the most offensive skills among which is goal scoring. Catton may be another one. I pick based on need and scoring is their number one need. All i read on this board is how deep the hawks are in d-men prospects. I think you go after defense next year. Your points, however, are well taken. We alm want whats best for the hawks. If it has to be defense then its levshunov, Richardinson or yakumchuk for me. KD will indeed have some sleepless nights. I also think they trade to move up from the #20 pick.

You never draft for need. You draft best player available. Use FA and trades for needs. NHL draft history is littered with guys that absolutely lit up junior/college/EU only to fall flat in the bigs. Not to mention, we have no idea what most of the current prospects will end up being. No one has any idea of what Nazar, Moore, Lardis, Kantserov, Hayes, Greene, Dach, and a host of other prospects top out as until they get to the show.
- Chunk

So i guess you wouldnt have picked bedard because you had no idea what he would become. What elsedo you base your pick on but what they have done in the past? And not everyone drafts bpa, many draft on need. Everyone has a right to their opinion.

The greatest need is scoring, you take a forward. Then i trade to move up and pick one of the defensemen if wvailable. If not i would go after catton. I was all in on lindstrom until the back issue… at 17 its a red flag. They can pick up a d man in a trade or fa to place hold till the kids in the system are ready.
- LFS

You don't draft based on need you draft based on best available.

They should take the player they feel is best in that slot.

There are also some scorers in the pipeline. Hayes, Lardis, Nazar. Maybe not comparable to Eiserman but the first two look like they have projectable shots and if Hayes can thicken up - he could turn into a decent power forward.

Depends on what the back issue is. I think people exaggerate some of this stuff with younger players. As long as the back injury isn't related to a disk it's a non issue. Plus he's a kid who has probably grown super fast over the last few years. I wouldn't be overly concerned.

If Toronto wanted to take on the entirety of Jones contract, I would make that deal in a heartbeat.

I think fans are becoming unrealistic with the Hawks being more competitive versus making the playoffs. They will surely be more competitive this year, but I don't have playoffs on the BINGO card just yet.

Marner is also a PPG player and two years younger than Jones. I would make a swap in a heartbeat if it was on the table. I like Seth Jones and don't think he's nearly as bad as many make him out to be, but if the Hawks could get out from under that contract and they have a team willing to take it on, make that deal.
- frafra

Playoffs probably not but you'd like them to not be mathematically eliminated until game 76 or around there. That way they feel a bit of pressure to win games at the end of the year.

I don't think there is a compelling reason to move on from Jones. He'd also have to green light any deal and I doubt he'd be excited to go to Toronto but who knows.

You never draft for need. You draft best player available.
- Chunk

I am not so sure teams take the BPA...they access the implications and if polayers are close the go need.