Oakland goaltender Gilles Meloche


Traded with a guy who the hawks 'owned" (eg., on their negotiation lists from teenage and a member of the Teepees of St. Catherine Ontario), Paul Shymr to the Seals for Gerry Desjardins...

all the present era Cap casualties are tedious : Buff, Sharp, Brouwer, Ladd etc.

PHIL ESPOSITO
KEN HODGE
- wiz1901

I played against Paul Shmyr's brother Mike in an outlaw league back in the late 60's, what a goon. He actually beat up the ref at center ice and got banished from hockey. It took several players to get him off the ref after he was penalized intitially. They were all tougher than nails.

Welcome Theo - look forward to your posts and insight. I thought for sure you would have have Vorobiev on the list. For being a Russian (and Chicago does not have success with drafted Russians) I recall seeing him in his first cam (at the Edge in Bensenville) and he looked like a man among boys. I was rooting for him. Another draftee in the killer "B" days was Adam Berti. Another guy I was rooting for.
- powerenforcer

Good call on Adam Berti. Totally forget he actually played 2 games with the Hawks but that was it in his NHL career. No longer in hockey as of 2010.

In addition to the Killer B's in the 2004 draft, there was more where that came from in the years before and after.

2003: Michal Barinka, Mike Brodeur, Dustin Byfuglien

2005: Michael Blunden, Dan Bertram, Evan Brophey

I remember Tallon was on Cloud 9 after drafting Blunden. He was so giddy about Blunden in the post-draft interview.

I'll tell you what Theo - I'm disappointed with your first article of YOUR blog. After the build down of the roster you promised - it wasn't even close to being puke worthy.

Anyway ... congrats (again), and after constructing that roster you have nowhere to go but up.
- EbonyRaptor

Thanks, ER!

Glad the air sick bag wasn't needed Leave it for the next passenger.

Great start, Theo! Loved it.
- Tyler Cameron

Thanks, Tyler!

Like you with your favorite Blackhawks blog, I really enjoyed writing this one. Nice flashbacks and good test of the memory bank.

A nice read. Thank you, congratulations and welcome!
Nice to see another blogger I can read to learn a little more about another team! An unfortunately rare occurrence.
- Tonybere

Thanks, Tony!

Lots to get excited about for the Blueshirts. Lafreniere to go along with Panarin, Zibanejad, Kakko, Kreider, Chytil, Trouba, Fox, Shesterkin, etc.

Not to mention prospects like Vitali Kravtsov and K'Andre Miller. Would love to have Miller in the Blackhawks system.

Berti had bad knees which I think forced early retirement

I want to concentrate on some players whom were a tease with their talent. Each went on to experience success albeit not big time success. I get that prospects sometimes look good even produce points or solid performance in the AHL. You watch them for a season or two but ultimately most fade as prospects once they reached their AHL season or never got untracked in NHL or the training camps

Kontiola did go on to play well overseas and was in the last two Olympic teams - or two prestigious teams one was Olympics. He never was thought to be able to hack it in the NHL. I bet he could have scored some as a one way forward

Makarov dazzled as the star among the scrubs in the untra squad games. He was put in as an energy style bottom line AHL and received favorable review. He never amounted to much back in Russia


Kris Versteeg and Brouwer looked pretty good in their Rockford days. Versterg was crafty and Brouwer posted up and scored a lot - he posted up around the face off circle .

Among these players who disappointed you the most in terms of their NHL future or lack of future.
- jhawk59

Out of who you listed, Makarov was the one who disappointed most. Very talented and could play with compete but just never put it together consistently.

That's what will do in a lot of prospects. You have to show up to play every day or else others will leapfrog ahead on the depth chart.

Great 1st blog.

I was excited about Nabokov and love his 7 goals in his 1st 11 games. Then he was off to the Island in the Dumont trade, never to be heard of again. I met Ray LeBlanc when he was playing with the Indianapolis Ice. After his Olympic performance, I had high hopes for him.

Modern day? Danault, Darling both come to mind
- ikeane

Darling didn't get better after he left. He was dog poop

Nicely done and great start Theo!

To the ones that got away, I might add Dan Cleary. Carved out a decent career with the Oil and Wings.
- HawkintheD

I had an honorable mention list but didn't add that to the blog. Daniel Cleary was on that list.

Great call on him as he evolved himself into a very good middle 6 winger on the Detroit powerhouse teams led by Datsyuk and Zetterberg.

Also on the honorable mention list:

Bill Sweatt: small speed demon from the tiny village of Elburn outside of St. Charles and Batavia

Jonas Nordqvist: I had him marked as a defensive center like Kruger and Kampf but with more offense; he played 3 games for Chicago

Philippe Paradis: part of the Versteeg + Sweatt trade to the Leafs that brought back the Stalberg and DiDomenico; career minor leaguer but his game is comparable to Cedric Paquette or Matt Calvert

Jean-Yves Leroux: just liked his name as it was quintessential French Canadian

Great 1st blog.

I was excited about Nabokov and love his 7 goals in his 1st 11 games. Then he was off to the Island in the Dumont trade, never to be heard of again. I met Ray LeBlanc when he was playing with the Indianapolis Ice. After his Olympic performance, I had high hopes for him.

Modern day? Danault, Darling both come to mind
- ikeane

Thanks, ikeane!

I remember the hype around Ray LeBlanc after the Olympics. Part of me was excited to see him play in Chicago but another part of me knew deep down he wouldn't last long.

The Hawks did better with that Olympic magic by signing Dominik Kahun who has been a top player for Germany in international play.

Nice start and look forward to reading your articles! Good luck !!!Have fun!!
- CTblackhawkfan

Thanks, CT!

I shall try to keep y'all entertained and enlightened.

"* I will be fair by sharing an honest analysis with you and being up front with what I know and don't know while actively learning more about a subject area where I am unfamiliar.
* I will be researched by taking time to review content before posting so that I am knowledgeable and trustworthy.
* I will be insightful by going the extra mile in my writing to bring depth and analysis rather than share stats and info that any fan could easily look up or read from daily news sources."

Overqualified for this circus
- Udogs

We got a great community here. I learn a ton from them and love that it's a 2-way street.

Sometimes it feels like those odd intersections of 3 streets in Chicago that can confuse drivers. Heaven forbid the electric goes out on that block to shut down the crossing lights.

Excellent start to your Black Hawk coverage Theo, welcome and looking forward to your blogs. I can relate to all those names and your passion for Hawks hockey is obvious and that is the first good trait to have, haha. I can relate to you very easily as I have been running a fantasy league since 1979, that is 41 years of pretty much the same group of guys building through the amateur draft, ranking our teams by wins in interleague vs nhl competition. It is called the AHFO, Association of Hockey Franchise Owners. NO money in this one and just a hobby and members meet once a year in the summer for the annual AHFO draft and party. It is amazing with categories for bonus points, interleague vs each other and interleague vs nhl. Lot of work into this and all those Hawk players you mentioned have passed through our league. Anyway enough about that and welcome to HB.
- joegreif17

Great story, joe! Glad to see AHFO has been going strong for 40+ years.

It's weird, I read NHL fantasy guides religiously but have never entered a league or pool before. I just like reading the scouting reports, rankings, and stat projections.

The Lalonde reference has put Ogi in your corner forever.

Tho, he traded him a million times.

Good work, Theo.

Moreau and Dupont were 2 I always lamented getting away.
- Elbows15

Thanks, Elbows!

The roster I shared definitely has its share of whipping boys like Lalonde and Barker.

As PE pointed out, I glaringly left out all the Russian prospects like Vorobiev, Yakubov, and Radulov.

We got a great community here. I learn a ton from them and love that it's a 2-way street.

Sometimes it feels like those odd intersections of 3 streets in Chicago that can confuse drivers. Heaven forbid the electric goes out on that block to shut down the crossing lights.
- Theo Fox

As someone who has watched a ton of youth, Jr. and College hockey I always find it interesting to see the players that make it in the NHL and even more so, the ones that thrive in the NHL.

I have always found that there are some players that stand out in the group they currently play with but may struggle when they go to the next level. Kids that are big or mature for their age group may dominate early, but tend to fade when placed with all the other big or mature kids.

I have also noticed, especially with the last 15 years or so, that as the proliferation of power skating coaches, skills coaches, strength coaches, etc. becomes a reality in youth hockey, there has been the creation of a whole bunch of kids who are technically very talented but have no idea how to play the game. They are the ones that advance to each level with the promise of great skill, and then flame out when they can never learn the game.

This would be refreshing for a change, but is it possible

https://twitter.com/latim.../1300539231958261762?s=09

so who do we think surprises next year of the AHL or New signings fringe NHL hawks. I feel like there is always a few guys that surprise. Suter is probably a for sure. of the other guys Im going with Morrison because he has the most size. and kalynuk because he has the most speed. and if someone surprises Im guessing its a LD. the 2 biggest things that I took from Vegas is they bought into there system more, and they had more size up and down the lineup. with speed it was harder to say. Vegas played faster but that might have been a function of running a well oiled system. assuming most of the below are still in the mix for 2020 Rockford should be allot better.

Forwards/C

hagel 22
John Q 24
D sikura 25
Cam Morrison 22
E barrett 21
Pius Suter 24
kurashev 20
chalupa 22

D:
Gilbert 23
Regula 20
ian Mitchell 21
waytt Kalynuk 23
lucas Carlson 23
beaudin 20

Not posting a lot, but also would like to thank Tyler for the great work here and many interesting blogs. All the best for your future projects!

Thanks Theo for taking over and good luck!

Hey Wiz, I've posted before about my fascination with 2020 draftee Marat Khusnutdinov with the hope the Hawks select him. You have him going 29th so the Hawks selecting him at #17 would be a bit of a stretch but I'm still hopeful somehow, someway Stan calls his name and he puts on the IndianHead on draft day.

But here's why I'm bringing this up (again) - your analysis and the DobberProspects analysis on DraftSite state he is an elite skater. I just read the scouting report on him linked below and it is very high on him in all areas except skating - specifically saying he has a "heavy left foot" affecting his stride and crossovers from being better. What is your take on this.

https://smahtscouting.com...eport-marat-khusnutdinov/
- EbonyRaptor

Always like to read about what I never saw, and now sometime in the next couple I will review him.

Here's then the thing (like so many of these KIDS),
You look you see and you start thinking," this guy is really a high motor strong player...."
I wanna try and compare the pecking order between Tampa Bay and SKA St. Petersburg (Bare with me, there is a reason.)

With SKA St. Petersburg Marat Khusnutdinov playing more in a 3rd line role., in every sense of the word and match-up.
You remember LOU ANGOTTI, if it is before your time, when Angottin was thrown on the ice, he was basically rested not playing big shifts and when he jump over, he was full tilt energy and there was no way you could avoid seeing what seemed to be a qualitative higher level of play with him.

That's what Marat Khusnutdinov looked like each time for me. Wins face offs battle in each zone, smart fast and deadly like the opponents don't see what's coming.
There were other players on his solid club scoring and playing heavy all year on the higher lines. Right now Marat Khusnutdinov stands ahead of them on the draft lists despite the fact his role though it increased by the end of season, was always not a prominent one.

It's like he is /was playing in a role simlar to Yanni Gourde.
When the heavy line mates arrived in TB, he only got better at his 3rd line pivot role.

So everybody is looking towards a more seamless transition to the NHL from all the prospects and I see it for him.
Does he speak limited English?

Is under contract or ready to come?

Hell all I know id he looked like he was shot out of a cannon on every view, and whether he crosses over L to right as wells I want, that is fixable.
The smarts, the motor the fearlessness, the eye for set ups and the physical strength he has already...that is what I know and don't know.

(I review the vids on draft site below his profile but will go hunting for this skating issue...but if I dont take him its is because he is from a different culture, not a heavy left boot)


He has got a little Johnny Gaudreau in him that tempo / explosion but I see the comparison to Anthony Beauvillier since they both placenta and wing...

Skating issues is a copout in a lot of drafting analysis. I watched a lot of videos of the kid and I don't see any skating concerns. I mean, most players can improve a bit but I saw him getting by a lot of guys.
- Elbows15

Yeah, that's why I thought I would get other opinions because I don't have a critical eye for details like skating strides - I only see the speed and shiftiness or lack thereof.

I don't know if there are better players to be picked at #17, probably yes from what the prospect projections tell us, but there are diamonds in the rough that in retrospect begs the question how did we miss on that guy. The thing that leads me to think he will be a good to very good NHL player is the combination of skills and the warrior attitude he plays with ... but then again, I don't have the critical eye of a talent evaluator so what do I know?

the thing is there will be really good talent at slot 17 far better options than usual at this slot, and remember, everyone got less time to see and since there is no prospects evaluation and only Skype interviews with the nHL scouting staffs making questions as team group to a player at a time, some teams are gonna get it right while others are going to let players slip past them...


Lets hope the Hawks get it right.

BUT since we are no longer stuck on size, Elbows, and. Ebony, what do they do if the likes of 6 foot 180 lb. C-W Dawson Mercer, 5' 10" 175 lb.Seth Jarvis, 5 10 175lb. Mavrick Bourque or tough 5 11 165 lb. Ridly Greig are there at 17 ?????

Welcome Theo, Nice 1st piece.

Tony Tanti is one that comes to mind for me. High pick who we never gave a good look because he went on to score a pile of goals for the Canucks. Curt Fraser, who we got for Tanti, was one tough dude and a nice player for us for a while but we gave away a lot.

the thing is there will be really good talent at slot 17 far better options than usual at this slot, and remember, everyone got less time to see and since there is no prospects evaluation and only Skype interviews with the nHL scouting staffs making questions as team group to a player at a time, some teams are gonna get it right while others are going to let players slip past them...


Lets hope the Hawks get it right.

BUT since we are no longer stuck on size, Elbows, and. Ebony, what do they do if the likes of 6 foot 180 lb. C-W Dawson Mercer, 5' 10" 175 lb. Seth Jarvis, 5 10 175lb. Mavrick Bourque or tough 5 11 165 lb. Ridly Greig are there at 17 ?????
- wiz1901

That's a question I freely admit is better left to people with better talent evaluating chops than I possess. I'm more of a guy that gets enamored by a new shiny object and Khusnutdinov is my new shiny object.

Nice trip down Sad Memory lane.

I really remember Barker. Didnt until.now realize how the 3 drafted afterr him...The OTHER Bs...Bolland, Bickell, Brouwer....those 3 made solid contributions to our Cup runs.
The one we thought would be anchoring the D was nowhere to be found.
Odd how things work out sometomes...

the thing is there will be really good talent at slot 17 far better options than usual at this slot, and remember, everyone got less time to see and since there is no prospects evaluation and only Skype interviews with the nHL scouting staffs making questions as team group to a player at a time, some teams are gonna get it right while others are going to let players slip past them...


Lets hope the Hawks get it right.

BUT since we are no longer stuck on size, Elbows, and. Ebony, what do they do if the likes of 6 foot 180 lb. C-W Dawson Mercer, 5' 10" 175 lb.Seth Jarvis, 5 10 175lb. Mavrick Bourque or tough 5 11 165 lb. Ridly Greig are there at 17 ?????
- wiz1901

Toss up but I would be thrilled with Mercer or Marat.