These commercials that start “The St. Louis Blues are Stanley Cup Champs...” every single break make me want to vomit.
- Ogilthorpe2

Waiting to see the Stanley Cup addition Jorts...

well at least hes a big kid
- southernhawk

how many times have I heard posters on this board: NO MORE SMURFS!

Well stanbow listened and headfaked all the "experts"...

and picked the guy who got 3% of the vote on this board; all by enzo

These commercials that start “The St. Louis Blues are Stanley Cup Champs...” every single break make me want to vomit.
- Ogilthorpe2

I’m glad Bowman didn’t acknowledge them in his pick speech. Well done Stan.

Interesting to see the Hawks post this picture up and to give Dach his #77 already.

I'll have more thoughts on Dach shortly in a follow up blog.
- Tyler Cameron

So what's Bowman's next move TC ?
Without taking BB, I'm thinking maybe he's got something planned for another experienced dman via trade. Maybe with Colorado since their draft of BB ? I'm just not going to be all-in for next year if Olli Maatta is our big improvement on the back end. Where's all the cap money going in FA ?

Just reported that Karlsson and Vegas close to a multi year deal. That means they have to unload money to somebody. We'll still take Eakin / Miller off their hands.....and then on to Tanev.

He still has plenty of work to do.

I really like the pick ,Cozens was my 1st pick but Dach was number two . Hope they don't rush him, send him back to Jr. let him rip it up ,play in the WJC at Christmas . He should be a good one . Surprised Cozens drop to Buffalo ,tough spot for the kid .

how many times have I heard posters on this board: NO MORE SMURFS!

Well stanbow listened and headfaked all the "experts"...

and picked the guy who got 3% of the vote on this board; all by enzo
- bogiedoc

LOL I voted Byram, but I'm pretty excited about the potential of this giant with high end skill.

So what's Bowman's next move TC ?
Without taking BB, I'm thinking maybe he's got something planned for another experienced dman via trade. Maybe with Colorado since their draft of BB ? I'm just not going to be all-in for next year if Olli Maatta is our big improvement on the back end. Where's all the cap money going in FA ?

Just reported that Karlsson and Vegas close to a multi year deal. That means they have to unload money to somebody. We'll still take Eakin / Miller off their hands.....and then on to Tanev.

He still has plenty of work to do.
- Hawkytalk

The draft isn't even over and you're getting your panties in a wad over stuff that will happen over the rest of the summer? Jesus christ

From The Athletic, on Dach:

Saskatoon Blades coach Mitch Love on Dach: “He’s a student of the game. He’s got a very high hockey IQ. His playmaking ability is second to none. There aren’t many 6-foot-4, 200 pound, 17-year-old players who can play center the way he can.”

Team Fit: Dach on a pure tools level is above, if not clearly above, both Alex Turcotte and Bowen Byram. I would have had some hesitation doing that pick at No. 3 given his production last season and alternative options, but if Chicago believes he will become the sum of his parts, he is absolutely worthy of this pick. This isn’t the first time an incredbly talented forward has gone high without great production. It reminds me of the Ryan Johansen and Mark Scheifele picks, which both worked out, although their circumstances were a bit different, with Johansen going through a growth spurt and Scheifele being a first year player in the OHL. Dach becomes the best forward prospect in the Chicago system by a wide, wide margin and the best prospect overall in the system. If the team did its homework and wasn’t scared off by his midseason slump, 6-foot-4 centers with his skill, vision and skating are rare to find, and he has the potential to become a star in the NHL.

So what's Bowman's next move TC ?
Without taking BB, I'm thinking maybe he's got something planned for another experienced dman via trade. Maybe with Colorado since their draft of BB ? I'm just not going to be all-in for next year if Olli Maatta is our big improvement on the back end. Where's all the cap money going in FA ?

Just reported that Karlsson and Vegas close to a multi year deal. That means they have to unload money to somebody. We'll still take Eakin / Miller off their hands.....and then on to Tanev.

He still has plenty of work to do.
- Hawkytalk

the knights are at the cap right now: they need backup goalie, 1-2 dmen and 4 forwards..

how the (frank) are they giving karlsson a multi-year deal? who the hell are they going to move: stasny, eakins, jag bag reaves and his unreal 2 mil plus contract...

The draft isn't even over and you're getting your panties in a wad over stuff that will happen over the rest of the summer? Jesus christ
- GPHawksfan

You should be banned for that comment dude. No need for it.

You should be banned for that comment dude. No need for it.
- Hawkytalk

You're a (frank)ing baby.

LOL I voted Byram, but I'm pretty excited about the potential of this giant with high end skill.
- EnzoD

so you are not the one...hmm...ok those who voted for dach stand up and be seen

You're a (frank)ing baby.
- GPHawksfan

so you are not the one...hmm...ok those who voted for dach stand up and be seen

- bogiedoc

I voted for him.

You're a (frank)ing baby.
- GPHawksfan

Hey GP, why are you so salty all the time comrade?

I don’t think Byram will play in the NHL next year. COL just moved Makar up and I don’t think Byram’s game will be at his level yet.

From Mitch Brown who tracks WHL/USDP games with some defensive insights:

The chart below shows “Neutral Zone Involvement,” which the sum of steals on the backcheck, prevented entries against, and recovered defensive zone dump ins by the opposition. Rather than rate it on a per 60 minutes scale, I’ve chosen to use per Corsi Against. Choosing this scale prevents players who spend a lot of time defending from having high scores; instead, it puts everyone on the same playing field.



Now, you might notice there is no Dach on the chart. That’s because he’s way off to the right. He’s 5.5 standard deviations above average in our backchecking metric. Kristaps Porzingis, 7-foot-3 basketball superstar, is 5.5 standard deviations above average height. I’m saying Dach is very far away from average.

Dach’s steals on the backcheck per Corsi Against ranks third of Saskatoon’s nine eligible defencemen. He’s another defender out there, using his length, closing speed, and lizard tongue-like hockey stick to break up plays. He just about always takes the extra ensure that he can strip away possession and begin the rush up the other way.
- L_B_R

If you weren't a girl you would be Da Man, LBR!! Was just reading up on Dach and ran across this from the Athletic: https://theathletic.com/9...afting-center-kirby-dach/

"Saskatoon Blades GM Colin Priestner said: “Kirby had an excellent sophomore season for us. He was consistently our top player on a very good veteran team. His size and his ability to see the ice and make plays will always garner the most attention, but his performance defensively against top centers every night was something I think goes a little under the radar. He has a Datsyukian ability to strip pucks and his reach is quite something on both sides of the puck. He dealt with a tremendous amount of spotlight and pressure from NHL teams all season and handled it all in a professional and business-like manner. He’s one of the most special players we’ve ever had and he will be a franchise centreman in the NHL for years to come thanks to his blend of skill, size, hockey IQ and work ethic. He’s a great person and has earned all the accolades he has been given.”

Hey GP, why are you so salty all the time comrade?
- Chief4Feathers

hey cheif...i am not much of draft speculation guy...don't really participate with all that talk here...

i wanted the hawks to pick a center who could play now...but i thought they would go with the dman bryman...

what did you see in dach? the dude is huge...

Lou Lamoriello is the NHL equivalent of Yoda... both in wisdom and physical similarities...

We now have the skilled big man, net presence, offense generator, and a reach in close, and a PK-PP physical player.

so you are not the one...hmm...ok those who voted for dach stand up and be seen

- bogiedoc

Me

hey cheif...i am not much of draft speculation guy...don't really participate with all that talk here...

i wanted the hawks to pick a center who could play now...but i thought they would go with the dman bryman...

what did you see in dach? the dude is huge...
- bogiedoc

He can move well for a large person, he has good vision and play-making abilities as a center - particularly in his passing and puck distribution... and he is very committed to defensive play. He might not develop into an offensive star, but he has the makings of a solid center that wingers will thrive on from his play.

And for me, his frame is an asset once the real season (playoffs) begin.

I could go on, but that’s the gist of it.

Edit: He’s Getzlaf without the farmer’s blow on the bench.

If you weren't a girl you would be Da Man, LBR!! Was just reading up on Dach and ran across this from the Athletic: https://theathletic.com/9...afting-center-kirby-dach/

"Saskatoon Blades GM Colin Priestner said: “Kirby had an excellent sophomore season for us. He was consistently our top player on a very good veteran team. His size and his ability to see the ice and make plays will always garner the most attention, but his performance defensively against top centers every night was something I think goes a little under the radar. He has a Datsyukian ability to strip pucks and his reach is quite something on both sides of the puck. He dealt with a tremendous amount of spotlight and pressure from NHL teams all season and handled it all in a professional and business-like manner. He’s one of the most special players we’ve ever had and he will be a franchise centreman in the NHL for years to come thanks to his blend of skill, size, hockey IQ and work ethic. He’s a great person and has earned all the accolades he has been given.”
- Mr Ricochet

I kind of glossed over him a lot before because of the supposed skating concerns and inconsistency issues, but I think the former is way overblow (his first step is lackluster but his speed is good once going and his agility/edgework is excellent for a guy his size) and the latter is less concerning when you look at how strong he was when going. And then I started to watch clips of his defensive play and the stats are so good there, it made my like of him go way up.

I don’t think Byram will play in the NHL next year. COL just moved Makar up and I don’t think Byram’s game will be at his level yet.
- Chief4Feathers

LOL not in a year either!


Believe me

What's your opinion on this?
- BGKarras

Blog coming out now.