An easy quick analysis how this kid turns out -

Plays 2-3 AHL seasons. If his decision making/IQ remains a negative, then what you might see should he stick in the NHL is a comparison to Zadorov.
- jhawk59

You know 59, most times I lose track of kids after they leave the USHL to an extent so I'm going off of a kid's game/development 2 maybe 3 yrs ago. So I can't speak with any certainty about W ilde other than what his stats are showing and they are excellent, a point a game Dman in the OHL and having watched him in the USHL I know he's physical.

And Zadarov too, I haven't laid eyes on him in a shift by shift look to get a feel........ But I will agree with you in that Wilde will be an NHLer, just a matter of how good.

When Wiz pops in he'll have a thought on Wilde I'm sure.

Under the right coaching staff and if they don't rush him too much, I think big Dobson could turn out to be as good or better than Weber and even Aaron Ekblad. Kids like him aren't in every draft. In the last game as Tampa was eliminating the Isles in a tight game, Trotz had Dobson out there in the last minute.

Wilde might take a little longer but talent is talent. But he better stay on the right side of Uncle Lou or he will get the Josh Hosang treatment.
- RickJ

Not much more need said except the kid has 50 point upside and is a big kid too. So so wanted the Hawks to take him over Boqvist if they were going with a Dman in that spot........ But, both players have 15 yrs ahead of them to answer the question which was the right pick.

Listen to the podcast. It provides a lot of insight. They still have to ice a team. Janmark and Wallmark are both on 1 year deals (and cheap). They are going with 2 of 3 untested, virtually league minimum goaltenders. They cannot do anything with the big four unless/until they ask to be moved. I'm not sure when, but I believe they will move at least one if not two D-men before the next season (they simply have too many).

What exactly would signal a new direction to you? They aren't going to ice a team of the core 4 and the rest rookies and AHL players. They are trying to build up the "compete and relentlessness" of the team. I think Zadorov, and the two "marks" are a very good start to that.
- Chunk

I'm half way into the podcast and will say it is hands down, no doubt the very best interview of Stan I've ever heard. ........ Great questions, the 1st being when did the rebuild start, that Stan is not ducking.

You know 59, most times I lose track of kids after they leave the USHL to an extent so I'm going off of a kid's game/development 2 maybe 3 yrs ago. So I can't speak with any certainty about W ilde other than what his stats are showing and they are excellent, a point a game Dman in the OHL and having watched him in the USHL I know he's physical.

And Zadarov too, I haven't laid eyes on him in a shift by shift look to get a feel........ But I will agree with you in that Wilde will be an NHLer, just a matter of how good.

When Wiz pops in he'll have a thought on Wilde I'm sure.
- Mr Ricochet

Wilde is a NYI draft. So if he can overcome or learn how to minimize any weakness in his game, he has the right coach in Trotz to help him out. Someone else might (emphasis "might") improve in certain aspects of playing the position after a lengthy AHL or just after several years shuttling back and forth AHL - NHL. In the old six team NHL players would debut age 28, for example. But they knew how to play their position. As a dman, a big part of success is repetition. Knowing where to go with puck and instantly doing so. For example, chasing down a puck from a dump in and under a forecheck. Some dmen are able to react quicker and make good decisions, while others need much preparation in the AHL.

Then too playing defense is a whole art of itself. I mean, look at Forsling in Chicago. I heard he was the best at read and react at speed to make a play. But the rest of his game was not good enough.

That is spot on with what is the perceived impact of Zadorov, Janmark, and Wallmark. At least that's what I'm reading in the tea leaves.
- Theo Fox

I nowvsee Janmark, Wallmark as the Hawks version of Jason Hammel, Scott Feldman at the trade deadline. Flipped to teams looking to strengthen their depth for a cup run. Hawks get picks and prospects.

I nowvsee Janmark, Wallmark as the Hawks version of Jason Hammel, Scott Feldman at the trade deadline. Flipped to teams looking to strengthen their depth for a cup run. Hawks get picks and prospects.
- LAHawk

I’d like to see the Hawks hang on to Wallmark, he’s a decent depth forward and should be a reasonable cap-hit.

For a guy selected 72nd overall, Cirelli is awesome. And the Lightning will do whatever it takes to get him re-signed. But its going to cost them assets somehow to do it. I don't see him moving.

How about the Isles - need to sign Barzal and Pulock. Good luck to Uncle Lou trying to move out Johnny Boychuk or Ladd or Varlamov to create the cap space.

One other guy I keep watching is Jonathan Drouin. Bergevin knows his coach doesn't like him and he has already gone ahead and signed Josh Anderson, Toffoli and Gallagher long term, big money. And I'm sure he wants to get Danault re-signed. Is Drouin available in a one sided deal? Could you get Ryan Poehling or Cayden Primeau in a deal to take Drouin's contract.

I hope Stan is still p$ssed and remembers what other GM's did to him when he had to move Leddy, Sharp, Stephen Johns, Bickel.
- RickJ

After 2010 Ladd, Buflgyien, he got very little.

I nowvsee Janmark, Wallmark as the Hawks version of Jason Hammel, Scott Feldman at the trade deadline. Flipped to teams looking to strengthen their depth for a cup run. Hawks get picks and prospects.
- LAHawk

Have to wonder how good a prospect, how early round a draft choice this particular trade deadline season. Because expansion is the season after, so you could be merely renting a player.

Have to wonder how good a prospect, how early round a draft choice this particular trade deadline season. Because expansion is the season after, so you could be merely renting a player.
- jhawk59

Renting Janmark anyway, he is UFA next year.

Rebuilding or not the Hawks do not want $5.25mil of dead cap space. Maatta and Saad's retained hits are less than $2mil and it will only be for 1 season.

As I have stated before, especially for a player at the level Kane is still playing at, there is absolutely no reason to retain salary for him. You want picks and prospects, fine, you want to take back a bad contract with one year on it, fine, but you don't put your cap situation in a 3 year $5mil+ hole.
- TheTrob

You are making a principled argument that it shouldn't take retaining salary to trade a player of Kane's caliber. OK, but I'll make the argument that the Hawks could get a better return from trading Kane if the Hawks retained 50% because it makes it more valuable for the team getting Kane - hence their willingness to give up more in the trade. Plus, it opens up the number of teams that could trade for Kane because most teams don't have $10.5M in available cap space.

Rather than thinking of the $5.25M still on the Hawks cap as dead cap space - think of the $5.25M the Hawks don't have to pay as available cap space. Trading Kane would get them prospects/picks and free up $5.25M in cap space.

Laz & Powers interview asked tougher, more pointed questions I suspect some of you on here would have asked:

https://theathletic.com/p...az-and-powers/?episode=64

Including "make your pitch to the fans that you are the right guy to lead this rebuild after squandering a few years of prime Kane and Toews" (paraphrased).
- pdx2ord

There was some good info in this interview, but I cannot stand Laz. He just can't help himself to inject all of his questions with his preconceived notions. He had maybe two questions that weren't leading.

The "make your pitch to the fans" question was ridiculous. He doesn't answer to the fans. He answers to Wirtz. If Wirtz thinks he's doing a crap job, he'll be fired, not because the fans are upset with the way the season is going.

The "you've wasted the last few years of Toews, Kane and Keith" lead was another POS.

Stan is far from perfect, but no one can say that he hasn't done virtually all that he can to try and keep the team competitive "now" while the core is still here. Several debatable moves, but (until now) the moves have been made to try and keep the team in contention.

Sorry, I'm ranting after a half bottle of wine.

You know 59, most times I lose track of kids after they leave the USHL to an extent so I'm going off of a kid's game/development 2 maybe 3 yrs ago. So I can't speak with any certainty about W ilde other than what his stats are showing and they are excellent, a point a game Dman in the OHL and having watched him in the USHL I know he's physical.

And Zadarov too, I haven't laid eyes on him in a shift by shift look to get a feel........ But I will agree with you in that Wilde will be an NHLer, just a matter of how good.

When Wiz pops in he'll have a thought on Wilde I'm sure.
- Mr Ricochet

He has a presence we need. Any team could use an intimidating force for the other team to worry about. We have a lot of young fiesty 4th liners too, so big Z should give these guys more confidence and space to potentially become 3rd line scorers. Remember how we had the best 3rd line in the league many championship years
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wI8YwviJeII
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eoDs-GpS0i0

New blog! Dissecting the Blackhawks public statement on the state and direction of the team and offering alternative perspectives to consider.

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=108005

on thing is they can only retain on one more contract. he talks about taking on some contract from a team up against the cap but we only have SAAD $1mil and smith coming off the books, Does not create much space. my guess is if SAAD did not fit the window then no one older then 25 does. I do feel like D men return more then forwards in mid season trade. Maybe de hann if he is healthy all year you can move him with some retention. Murph and keith I think could move on there own.
- kmw4631

It seemed like Stan was saying this will be a greater possibility next year. They have about $5m in space right now and need to sign Strome, which will probably be about a $2m from what people are saying?

Looking at Capfriendly, that flexibility comes next year as Smith (3.25), Janmark (2.25), Saad retainer (1) come off the books, so that’s $6.5m on top of the 3 they have now to come up to almost $10m. Maybe the can move Shaw for another $3.9 who will have 1 year left next offseason (I think this was a regrettable move).

They will need to potentially give raises to Zodorov, Nylander, Wallmark, this shouldn’t be more then a couple million dollars. So they should be looking in the ballpark of $7m next season in cap space without any additional cap clearing moves. Not a ton of space but definitely enough to take advantage of a needy team.

I’d like to see the Hawks hang on to Wallmark, he’s a decent depth forward and should be a reasonable cap-hit.
- DarthKane

There is a lot to like about him. He was one guy I was hoping they'd sign when FA started, just because of his low cap hit but ability to chip in a bit.