If even remotely true, don't you all think it would be the other way around?
- vabeachbear

More likely Theo Epstein coming to the Blackhawks.

Corey Pronman ranked all of the teams on the quality of their prospects - basically all players in the system under 22 years old.

He ranked the Hawks at #17, commenting:

Chicago has some good, if not very good, young players on the team or on the way. The Blackhawks need more and look to be committed to adding more. If Kirby Dach becomes everything he possibly could be, this could change the trajectory of the franchise.

He had them at #14 before the draft, so he doesn’t think much of their selections.

I was struck by the comment “some good, if not very good...”.

Now, this is one man’s opinion and I take these kinds of analyses with a lot of grains of salt, but there it is.
- StLBravesFan

He gave their selections a C+ for this year I think. Will be interesting to see where he has the. At the end of next season.

More likely Theo Epstein coming to the Blackhawks.
- rpeters01

Nah, pretty sure they’re replacing McD with Crane Kenney.

Well that's a funny word to use around here.

I think we would all like to see that answered. In theory, if all of our prospects reach their peak potential, we have an amazing blueline, an above average goalie, and average to slightly above average forwards. Good thing the only constant in the league is change.
- Chunk

Amazing blueline? As I mentioned yesterday, I don't think you have an amazing blueline without a true championship level #1. Who projects as a Norris contender? Could it happen? Sure. Has anyone shown that yet? I don't think so. Once one begins to show that, I'll get excited.

The average to slightly above average forwards is a problem. Same issue as with the defense, only with fewer prospects. Other than Dach, who is actually showing that they can be Top Six difference makers on a Cup contender? Kubalik and the Cat look pretty good. I think they need quite a few very good NHL forwards.

Goalie? They've shown they can add that, so I'm not too worried about it.

He gave their selections a C+ for this year I think. Will be interesting to see where he has the. At the end of next season.
- HawkintheD

I'm not yelling at you here, but BASED ON WHAT?!?!

I can't stand the report cards immediately after the draft. Unless it's a guy like McDavid they have no idea how these kids are going to pan out. There are so many factors that go into their success or failure it's just silly to try and project anything.

I'm not yelling at you here, but BASED ON WHAT?!?!

I can't stand the report cards immediately after the draft. Unless it's a guy like McDavid they have no idea how these kids are going to pan out. There are so many factors that go into their success or failure it's just silly to try and project anything.
- Chunk

it just means that at the draft his rankings on players was lower then were he had them. Im sure if we trade down to 22 and take reichel we a b-.

side not slavko bekovic said at 9:30 mentioned 4 hours. maybe that is when the announcement is coming.

barstool said he would update no later then 5pm

Nah, pretty sure they’re replacing McD with Crane Kenney.
- HawkintheD

That could be it! Excellent thought process. Who says drinking brown liquor in the morning is a bad thing?

Amazing blueline? As I mentioned yesterday, I don't think you have an amazing blueline without a true championship level #1. Who projects as a Norris contender? Could it happen? Sure. Has anyone shown that yet? I don't think so. Once one begins to show that, I'll get excited.

The average to slightly above average forwards is a problem. Same issue as with the defense, only with fewer prospects. Other than Dach, who is actually showing that they can be Top Six difference makers on a Cup contender? Kubalik and the Cat look pretty good. I think they need quite a few very good NHL forwards.

Goalie? They've shown they can add that, so I'm not too worried about it.
- mohel

See my previous rant..er... post about projecting prospects. My statement was based on their pedigree (draft status, and recent evaluations)

I look at it a different way Mo. I don't think you need a Norris contender if the collective talent is high enough.

To try and answer your question: Boqvist has been able to put up points wherever he has been. It typically takes him some time to settle in and understand his defensive role, but once that happens, the points pile up. Beaudin was progressing very quickly according to numerous reports. Mitchell is very highly regarded, not only by the Hawks org, but also a number of external reports I've read and his coaches. He is a solid all-around defender. Kalynuk highly regarded.

I'm not proclaiming we have our back end set by any means. They still have to show it, but the talent potential is definitely there.

Nah, pretty sure they’re replacing McD with Crane Kenney.
- HawkintheD

Don't they already have a Crane Kenney in Bob Pulford? Someone you hear about but never see.....

????

- Rota's Rooter

I would preferred waking up to a photo of the entire Pappin, Stemkowski Pulford line in Maple Leaf sweaters than this shocking yellow...ouch!

it just means that at the draft his rankings on players was lower then were he had them. Im sure if we trade down to 22 and take reichel we a b-.

side not slavko bekovic said at 9:30 mentioned 4 hours. maybe that is when the announcement is coming.

barstool said he would update no later then 5pm
- kmw4631

I know. My rant was rhetorical. I think my point stands, and I will add, what authority does he have?

You know those safety signs that say " ____ days without an injury"? For here, it should say " ____ days without discussing politics".
- I Am The Breadman

Well played!

I carried our drop in ballots to the voting center that had an employee and the box outside. There were plenty of others placing their votes against the establishment handing their ballots in.

It was not rigged...but I made sure to take a photo of the badged employees supervising outside.

This is what fear mongering causes...

Nick Fury said it best on the latest commercial.

When are they going to announce the new management structure with Doc as President and Eddie as the GM?
- mohel

With Jeremy Roenick in charge of player development?

Are those true #1 D studs?
- Ogilthorpe2

I would say yes.

Both handle both ends.

They are not Hedman-like, but they are certainly a notch above the "number one" defenders of many an NHL team.

I would preferred waking up to a photo of the entire Pappin, Stemkowski Pulford line in Maple Leaf sweaters than this shocking yellow...ouch!
- wiz1901

Ask and ye shall..

Pronman just loves me them lists....

To me my head spends from attempting to rank on prospect over another and he simply loves to ranks teams, rank draft hauls, rank organizational prospects, only to in 11 months re-arrange them when he isn't quite that accurate.

He reminds me of the Charlie guy on NBCSports Blackhawks who hears something from say Craig Button, and he is sold it is gospecl.

We all do not have the capacity to know and break down even NHL teams players to the point we have the most accurate pulse of their future. (So dont get excited when he says they guy is maybe gonna be a really good player.)
Honestly every year I am watching the hawks and the opposition has new guys (from college / Europe) I am surprised by...and I can't just base my idea of their NHL future on that game, and who the heck has the time to write these comprehensive listings unless they spend endless hours scouting the newbies in 31 (soon 32) cities?

I think the reason the Athletic has now basically taken away my ability to leave comments is I would go after the things I thought Wheeler and Prohman said in articles...and they of course their groupies would attempt to "battle" with me, and guess who didn't turtle...anyway...I just don't know how attempting to predict NHL hockey ahead of the present works...I get a special issue of the Hockey News every year where they predict the standings the playoff teams the winners...and it rare they are close to correct, and they are experts, right?

Ask and ye shall..


- Rota's Rooter

You must have lots of Hockey cards.

(I only have one hockey card set...the TV set pre-expansion set of the original six with the Bobby Orr rookie card...I am looking to sell kit w/o having it broken up.).

I had a sports opinion letter printed in the old Chicago Amercian where after the hawks were ousted from the play-off I advocated they trade Mikita for the entire Stemkowski line...little did I imagine I would get Pulford asa GM later...

Amazing blueline? As I mentioned yesterday, I don't think you have an amazing blueline without a true championship level #1. Who projects as a Norris contender? Could it happen? Sure. Has anyone shown that yet? I don't think so. Once one begins to show that, I'll get excited.
- mohel

The Norris trophy has morphed into an award fro a high attacking offensive man.

I get where you are going a guy who replaced Duncs and hopefully is bigger stronger to take care of physical business in his end too.

If they feel comfortable with Boqvist's ability to understand the entire 200 feet, they will eventually let him loose. There is plenty of upside offensively.
Makar he isn't at this point, but Makar got stronger taking the college route, and though he is smart defensively let;'s not over credit his play as a defenseman.

So the hawks have to get a "Miro Heiskanen" type maybe a guy a bit bigger than 6' 1" 188, but you get the idea.

We dont know on any of the new adds on dee...we have to play to win with them, right?

Nah, pretty sure they’re replacing McD with Crane Kenney.
- HawkintheD

You meant Crazy dan from Letter Kenny, right?

You meant Crazy dan from Letter Kenny, right?
- wiz1901

Squirrely Dan!

You must have lots of Hockey cards.

(I only have one hockey card set...the TV set pre-expansion set of the original six with the Bobby Orr rookie card...I am looking to sell kit w/o having it broken up.).

I had a sports opinion letter printed in the old Chicago Amercian where after the hawks were ousted from the play-off I advocated they trade Mikita for the entire Stemkowski line...little did I imagine I would get Pulford asa GM later...
- wiz1901

None. The Google picture box is an amazing thing.

With Jeremy Roenick in charge of player development?
- Rota's Rooter

Or better yet Human Resources, right up his alley.

I'm not yelling at you here, but BASED ON WHAT?!?!

I can't stand the report cards immediately after the draft. Unless it's a guy like McDavid they have no idea how these kids are going to pan out. There are so many factors that go into their success or failure it's just silly to try and project anything.
- Chunk

Totally agree. At the time of the draft last year, "experts" other than our own Wiz had the Hawks completely blowing it with the Dach pick at 3 vs taking say Byram or Turcotte there.

A year later many of the "experts" have done an about face on their previous sentiment.

Corey Pronman ranked all of the teams on the quality of their prospects - basically all players in the system under 22 years old.

He ranked the Hawks at #17, commenting:

Chicago has some good, if not very good, young players on the team or on the way. The Blackhawks need more and look to be committed to adding more. If Kirby Dach becomes everything he possibly could be, this could change the trajectory of the franchise.

He had them at #14 before the draft, so he doesn’t think much of their selections.

I was struck by the comment “some good, if not very good...”.

Now, this is one man’s opinion and I take these kinds of analyses with a lot of grains of salt, but there it is.
- StLBravesFan

A few posters have asked me to do a Top Prospects list here on HockeyBuzz and so I have already started writing out the content.

Just waiting for transactions to die down in case any prospects move in or out that would shake up the lists.

Planning to do lists for top forwards, top defensemen, and top goalies rather than a full Top 40 list with all positions together.

Seabrook to retire and sign a 4 year 5M contract to be head coach.