“Best player available” is a leading mantra for drafting in any round so not looking at positions but skill sets, work ethic, consistency, hockey sense, and other intangibles.

With that in mind, one priority for draft day should be seeking prospects (skaters at least) who are excellent defenders and penalty killers. This would go for all rounds.

It would be nice, too, if the Hawks could acquire another 1st rounder to nab a Danault type forward or a Hjalmarsson type blueliner in the latter half of the round.
- AEL_Fox

Surely defensive abilty and special teams skills, along with skill sets, work ethic, consistency, hockey sense are part of the criteria when evaluating a player.

Can’t remember where I read it, but I read somewhere that team’s individual interviews at the combine and throughout the lead up to the draft with prospects play a critical role in team’s decisions on picks.

https://www.yardbarker.co...combine/s1_14825_28852331
- walleyeb1

I've often made this argument that the interviews are HUGE and we don't get to see that part of it from our vantage point. It probably varies team to team, but I can see it being a big part of those early picks.

I remember in past drafts after the Hawks made their picks then getting frustrated reading scouting reports on some of those selected because many of those reports would say things like needs to be better without the puck, be stronger defensively, etc.

Just as a example, Danault right away in juniors was billed as a stellar defensive forward with a nonstop motor, relentlessness, and high hockey IQ. He’s an example of prospects to consider, not just the top shelf offensive dynamos or smooth puck movers.
- AEL_Fox

I hear you and hope they draft some well rounded players who can play both ends. I just wonder how often those "defensive" and "away from the puck" scouting reports translate into reality. It is easy for us to take offensive numbers and analyze how often those translate into offensive numbers at the AHL/NHL level for these guys. It obviously becomes a lot more subjective with defensive play, both in how those are explained in a scouting report which can be hard to quantify and how to measure how that translates to pro level success.

I mean, if you take 10 different players and 10 different scouts and get 100 different scouting reports, you might get 50 different statements around how a player may need to improve defensively or away from the puck and it might not be clear how much the defensive aspects of each players game vary exactly. The stats that are easily tracked are just much more apparent.

I know what you mean though about wanting guys that are generally considered to be sound defensively, IMO the general feeling around the NHL is that many players develop that part of their game as they mature and it can be harder to really dissect the defensive aspects of the game.

I do hope we draft some gems.

Sign Ilya Mikeheyev 6-2 200 lbs and Pk's, for the 4th line. sign Kubalik for the 3rd line 6-2 as well, sign somebody to play 3rd line center, trade Forsling and hayden AA. Let Seabs, Dahlsrom koeke battle for 7th D. draft Bowen and pencil him in the lineup day 1. and be open to trading SAAD, GUS, Keith Boquist Crawford for the right offer. Also if you get a great offer for #3 and can move down to 5-9 consider it.

Sign Kevin hayes for 5 year 6 mil.
Sign darling after his buyout 3 year $750K
Sign Forsberg 3 year 1Mil with a euro out.
Sign perlini to a 3 year deal, Kahun 3 year deal, Kampf 2 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Um8vJ3kw8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZQefIyoLlg

I'm on the Bowen train at #3 nothing happened at he worlds that has convinced me that Turcotte is really in a different level then Zegras, Cozens, Krebs, Pods, Dach.

Keith and Craw you might be able to trade to FL is my thought. AA, Gus to Caroline or AZ, Gus or boquist to TOR JETS Vegas. SAAD jets Caro, Pitt,

what about SAAD, Keith and Craw for Reimer, huberdeau and matheson?
- kmw4631

Not sure how realistic all of these proposed transactions are but wondering what your suggested lineup would be if those transactions went through? Not trying to be snarky, just curious.

Sign Tanev, trade for Copp.
- DarthKane

That would be great. Or what if we were able to get Palat.. Hmmm

I hear you and hope they draft some well rounded players who can play both ends. I just wonder how often those "defensive" and "away from the puck" scouting reports translate into reality. It is easy for us to take offensive numbers and analyze how often those translate into offensive numbers at the AHL/NHL level for these guys. It obviously becomes a lot more subjective with defensive play, both in how those are explained in a scouting report which can be hard to quantify and how to measure how that translates to pro level success.

I mean, if you take 10 different players and 10 different scouts and get 100 different scouting reports, you might get 50 different statements around how a player may need to improve defensively or away from the puck and it might not be clear how much the defensive aspects of each players game vary exactly. The stats that are easily tracked are just much more apparent.

I know what you mean though about wanting guys that are generally considered to be sound defensively, IMO the general feeling around the NHL is that many players develop that part of their game as they mature and it can be harder to really dissect the defensive aspects of the game.

I do hope we draft some gems.
- breadbag

I think the interviews and whatever mental tests they put the players through are a big deal, at least as far as hockey IQ goes. You can have all the skill in the world, but if you do not understand where to be, where your teammates are, etc., you are more useless on the ice than a "smart" hockey player with less skills (Skille, Dylan Olsen Kyle Beach, Cam Barker), Andrew Shaw 5th rounder, Sikura 6th rounder, Hino 6th rounder, Kreuger 5th rounder)

That would be great. Or what if we were able to get Palat.. Hmmm
- BGKarras

Tyler Ennis!

Damn, I was hoping that this blog was going to be about a rumor regarding PK Subban getting traded to the Hawks. Perlini and a 3rd, get 'er done Stan!
- Dieselhead

Hard pass. Don't do 'er Stan!!

Wouldn't hurt to win the face off on the PK.

To many times 2 guys would end up in 1 spot, some forwards would guess and over commit.

Without a doubt block shots, i think Johnny is great but he really is awful at this

Hard pass. Don't do 'er Stan!!
- StutzBlackhawk

Roman Josi in that series looked like a poor man's Gustafsson

Wouldn't hurt to win the face off on the PK.

To many times 2 guys would end up in 1 spot, some forwards would guess and over commit.

Without a doubt block shots, i think Johnny is great but he really is awful at this
- BetweenTheDots

As he is getting older, I would like to see him less on the PK, not that he is not good at it, but to more limit his minutes.

I love Gus

Another thing I'd like to see on the PK even defensively defend the forehand shot almost always to often they fall for a backhand fake and leave the forehand wide open

I love Gus
- StutzBlackhawk

Get on the bus Gus

What we need is a Hossa-like player. Saad 2.0 isn't it.

What we need is a Hossa-like player. Saad 2.0 isn't it.
- StutzBlackhawk

Unfortunately they haven't cloned him yet

What we need is a Hossa-like player. Saad 2.0 isn't it.
- StutzBlackhawk

Marian Hossa would fix a lot of woes

So, in the 18-19 regular season, Danault was the 5th forward PKer in ice time and Hjalmarsson was 3rd for D?

Wow, it's too bad the Blackhawks couldn't get guys like that on their roster.
- scottak

But Scott - Stan is the bestest superist GM ever...don't worry he's going to fix that defense and sign some real stud UFA's you know just like he did last offseason...

But Scott - Stan is the bestest superist GM ever...don't worry he's going to fix that defense and sign some real stud UFA's you know just like he did last offseason...
- DK002

I think the way the season played out, most would agree that Stan did the right thing by basically staying pat.

As he is getting older, I would like to see him less on the PK, not that he is not good at it, but to more limit his minutes.
- LAHawk

All the Preds in that series looked like mere shadows of themselves. Certainly no continuity from one season to the next.

What we need is a Hossa-like player. Saad 2.0 isn't it.
- StutzBlackhawk

He's not Hossa, but Saad has a lot to like on the PK. Fast, big, can generate short handed scoring chances. I'd take a long look at Saad on the 1st forward pair PK.

But Scott - Stan is the bestest superist GM ever...don't worry he's going to fix that defense and sign some real stud UFA's you know just like he did last offseason...
- DK002

The Hjalmarsson for Murphy trade continues to be a head scratcher. I don't blame Q for being pissed about it. I can maybe go along with the Danault trade, because Stan was attempting to load up for the playoffs. He missed, but at least he was trying. But trading Hammer was giving up a heart and intangibles player that every team needs to be successful.

PK and the Preds. Perfect match. I am sure the Preds would love to have Shea Weber back. PK is all about PK.

Reimer is no better than Cam Ward, you need to pick up another goalie
- LAHawk

Not to mention Matheson is worse than Keith. Hayes for 6m? Trading Boqvist would be a huge mistake. Signing Perlini for 3 years? Oh hell no. I would sign Kampf for 3 years long before I even though of giving Perlini more than a one year deal.

Darling is broken. He is a great kid and I hope everything is okay with him but there is no way I would even consider signing him.

He's not Hossa, but Saad has a lot to like on the PK. Fast, big, can generate short handed scoring chances. I'd take a long look at Saad on the 1st forward pair PK.
- scottak

Think that's a solid recommendation. Wouldn't be averse to placing Sikura out there with him either. Assuming, of course, he isn't ever going to be a top six forward.