Beat me to it -- nice post!
- Theo Fox

Pulford had chances and did nothing. I remember Bill Wirtz saying "we have so many great draft choices stockpiled if we aren't good soon I'll sell the team."

If it is a Dman, bring me Wallander

Exactly. In the 1st round series versus the Golden Knights, I kept cursing a certain player who was dishing out hits and playing a suffocating style on both ends of the rink.

When I looked closely to see who it was, it ended up being Jonathan Marchessault. All 5'9" 180 pounds of him. Pesky and skilled.

And that's saying a lot from a team that also has Ryan Reaves and William Carrier.
- Theo Fox

I know we have discussed size and playing heavy and board battles. Here’s my question that maybe someone more informed may know an answer. During our Cup runs we had both size and grit in: Bolland, Bickell, Big Buf (as a forward), Brouwer, Ladd, and Shaw to name a few. They actually forechecked and cycled the puck. People had to watch over their shoulder for Big Buf to come and pancake them. We have since moved away from this...and it started to happen during Q’s last few years. Is it a change in coaching “system” for puck possession....or was it the roster of players didn’t have the mentality to play this way. It’s very frustrating at times watching Hawks games when they do dump it in and then the forward skates by the defenseman who passes the puck and then the forward doesn’t finish the check and just skates by. There is no real pressure being applied it seems. Only a few players....and I think Highmore sort of fits the bill as our “Marchessault”, but maybe not as skilled. I’m hoping they do add some size/speed combo to the forwards. We do have some Dmen prospects that have size in Vlasic, Regula, & Demin that are interesting. Maybe it’s this “compete level” that we might be missing. We all know Kane isn’t going to throw around his body....but always attacking the puck and causing turnovers starts the offensive transition game, which we used to be one of the best at. I’m hoping our forward prospects coming up will bring this.

So who are these younger players who will be given opportunities to play next season? At forward probably Pope Pius makes the lineup. Hagel, Entwistle, Kurashev still a year away but I can see them given cups of coffee as injury replacements and not full time jobs. Highmore. Nylander and Dach will be on the team.

On defense Mitchell, Carlsson may make the top 7 especially if a vet is moved and 4K is not extended. Beaudin and Gilbert probably
first injury callups.

So that makes 2 skaters, Suter and Mitchell, who will be new to the team on a permanent basis. Not much of a roster shakeup IMO.

If it is a Dman, bring me Wallander
- Elbows15

Yes please, I second this motion. I’m hoping they can maybe get a late 1st from either NJ #20 or NY Rangers #22 to get Wallinder.

So who are these younger players who will be given opportunities to play next season? At forward probably Pope Pius makes the lineup. Hagel, Entwistle, Kurashev still a year away but I can see them given cups of coffee as injury replacements and not full time jobs. Highmore. Nylander and Dach will be on the team.

On defense Mitchell, Carlsson may make the top 7 especially if a vet is moved and 4K is not extended. Beaudin and Gilbert probably
first injury callups.

So that makes 2 skaters, Suter and Mitchell, who will be new to the team on a permanent basis. Not much of a roster shakeup IMO.
- boilermaker100

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What was the turnover last year? You can t turn over half your roster every year. Sounds like they are going to move on from Caggiula, and possibly KK.

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What was the turnover last year? You can t turn over half your roster every year. Sounds like they are going to move on from Caggiula, and possibly KK.
- LAHawk

It also sounds like if one or more of the youngsters look good enough, they will try to move a vet D-man out.

.

What was the turnover last year? You can t turn over half your roster every year. Sounds like they are going to move on from Caggiula, and possibly KK.
- LAHawk

I should have mentioned in my comment that you won't see a huge influx of young players in case some readers interpreted Stan's comments that way.

.

What was the turnover last year? You can t turn over half your roster every year. Sounds like they are going to move on from Caggiula, and possibly KK.
- LAHawk

I suspect Cags and 4k are on nobody's list until the dust settles on higher profile UFA'S.

How else are they going to get rid of that contract?
- LAHawk

Trade him with salary retention? Less years of dead space than a buy out

It also sounds like if one or more of the youngsters look good enough, they will try to move a vet D-man out.
- Chunk

Problems preventing goals if too many kids on blueline with little to no experience. Perhaps Carlsson and Mitchell. If they keep improving and can handle 17-20 TOI, then later in season I could envision Beaudin Kalynuk or even Kryz could get a look.

Eventually if all these kids show enough,, there is going to be a decision one of them is moved. Too many if they all work out.

As for Rogula: he probably should spend the season in the AHL (report says it may be a reduced amount of games this AHL season).

Also I don't know how you could trade Murphy since no one replaces his experience and toughness. Seeler, Gilbert. Cough. No.

Problems preventing goals if too many kids on blueline with little to no experience. Perhaps Carlsson and Mitchell. If they keep improving and can handle 17-20 TOI, then later in season I could envision Beaudin Kalynuk or even Kryz could get a look.

Eventually if all these kids show enough,, there is going to be a decision one of them is moved. Too many if they all work out.

As for Rogula: he probably should spend the season in the AHL (report says it may be a reduced amount of games this AHL season).

Also I don't know how you could trade Murphy since no one replaces his experience and toughness. Seeler, Gilbert. Cough. No.
- jhawk59

It all depends on how the Hawks view next season. With a strange schedule and no guarantee of fans in the stands (not to mention several overtures that there is a youth movement going on), there is a good chance they just run the kids.

On a different topic, with the Minnesota Twins choking up their baseball playoffs, now losing 18 straight playoff games, replaces the former record held by the Chicago Blackhawks (16 straight during 1975-1979).

The Blackhawks formerly, thankfully now the Twins currently, hold the longest losing streak in the history of the 4 main North American sports.

If that is the case, Saad to Montreal for the 15th pick, Murphy to Toronto for the 16th pick.
- LAHawk

If they do that, I hope Stan goes with two of Subban, Delia and Lankinen in net. The Hawks would be one of the teams with the most cap space (as long as Bowman doesn't overpay Strome and Kubalik), and would be able to take on a bad contract for even more prospects or high draft picks. Stock the cupboards with prospects for a run in 2021-22.

It all depends on how the Hawks view next season. With a strange schedule and no guarantee of fans in the stands (not to mention several overtures that there is a youth movement going on), there is a good chance they just run the kids.
- Chunk

What Stan isn't saying is he can't count on the AHL may as well use the NHL to get his young players developed. Makes a lot of sense when you look at it that way.

If they do that, I hope Stan goes with two of Subban, Delia and Lankinen in net. The Hawks would be one of the teams with the most cap space (as long as Bowman doesn't overpay Strome and Kubalik), and would be able to take on a bad contract for even more prospects or high draft picks. Stock the cupboards with prospects for a run in 2021-22.
- tvetter

I wouldn't be upset with those trades, although I do not want both to happen. And I am not sold on drafting someone with medical issues. I would like to know more about this Jarvis compete level. He might be available. Toronto if they keep their pick should draft a dman, not Jarvis (whom Wiz has projection).

ADD But you never know what a GM is thinking long term. Maybe Toronto scout and or GM likes someone a lot - say Jarvis - and so the GM rationalize one of my big scoring highly paid forwards I might be forced to trade if this fan attendance stays bad for a couple seasons - so let's take Jarvis. I don't really like any of those dmen this high (#15) anyway.

Run with the kids....here, there, maybe tendencies in many NHL cities

I could imagine they might try to push for that and see how it goes. Might sit a veteran and see how ANOTHER kid looks along side other kids already here. Can always re-insert the veteran

Bettman on NHL Radio said no hockey in December. Stan really doesn’t have to do anything except try and get some more draft picks. At least 3 months before the season is going to start.

I think the Bruins did that a few years ago and botched that draft. Would Stan do better with Holloway, Guhle, and Zary for example?
- ikeane

Playing Devil’s advocate (no pun intended). Using the Murphy to TOR for #15 and Saad to Montreal for #16 (I would consider adding a conditional 3rd 2021 that if they resign him, we get the pick back). Rangers looking for 2C (as is a few teams); how about Strome + Maatta 50% retain + Drake + 4th ‘21 draft for 22nd this year and C Lias Anderson? Maybe the Jets would give us the 40th overall for DeHaan 50% retain and a mid level prospect or ‘21 pick.

Using Wiz’s draftsite here’s my picks for the tear down and rebuild:

15th RW Jarvis
16th LW Holloway
17th C Zary
22nd LHD Wallinder
40th RHD Barron
46th C Foudy
78th LHD Jurmo
80th G Nico Daws or G Drew Commesso
109th C Evan Vierling
140th C Theo Niederbach
171th RHD Ian Moore or RHD Jeremie Biakabutuka (I like the fact his uncle played football and maybe he can actually hit some people with his size)

It might be painful 1-2 years but we might get another solid core from a deep draft like this year’s. Reality is, Stan probably won’t do anything really and we’ll be average for 3 years until the big contracts come off the books.

I’ll probably start doing that Fanspeak nhl fantasy draft soon to pass the time, since no more hockey to watch lol.

Don't qualifying offers to RFA's need to be submitted soon? Free agency is supposed be right after the draft (next week) and those not qualified will fall in that pool.

If it is a Dman, bring me Wallander
- Elbows15

Bring me the head of William Wallander.

That would be like the Bruins drafting Zboril, DeBrusk, and Senyshyn 13th, 14th, and 15th in 2015. Can you imagine the Hawks drafting 3 in a row at 15th, 16th, and 17th?

Imagine something like this: Mercer, Lapierre, and Holloway. Or any other trio that tickles your fancy.
- Theo Fox

Theo, see Hawks 2000 draft. Sorry Hawk fans.

Theo, see Hawks 2000 draft. Sorry Hawk fans.
- Angotti

Is that the one where Mike Smith hit on future HOF'ers Yakubov and Vorobiev with picks 10 and 11?

Is that the one where Mike Smith hit on future HOF'ers Yakubov and Vorobiev with picks 10 and 11?
- HawkintheD

Russian hockey?

Russian hockey?
- powerenforcer

Think this is applicable in a few ways here...Red Font.

Corey Pronman's 2020 NHL mock draft - Blackhawk picks:

17. Dawson Mercer, C, Chicoutimi - QMJHL
46. Jean-Luc Foudy, RW, Windsor - OHL
79. Kasper Simontaival, RW, Karpat - Jr A Liiga
81. Kasper Puutio, D, Everett - WHL
110. Mitchell Miller, D, Tri-City - USHL
141. Hugo Olas, G, Linkoping -J20 SuperElit
172. Joe Miller, C, Blake - US High School