Theo Fox: First Among Equals A look at whether the Blackhawks have equivalents in the system for former 1st rounders who have been traded away over the years.

Plus, updates on the IceHogs team awards and future implications for the coaching staff.

Hey Theo, thanks for the Monday morning blog!

Someone posted a tweet here about Reichel expecting to sign at some point soon and of all the offensive prospects, I'm most interested in seeing him and Borgstrom.

Thanks Theo. I thought when Beach was drafted he was comped to Milan Lucic.....Either way he was never going to be Al Secord.

Reichel and Germany vs Canada in the World Championships on NHL Network today at noon CST.

Thanks Theo. This is from Chunk from last blog.


How about that for an evening of hockey. Tom Wilson is out of the PO’s, STL got swept, and McJesus is actually mortal (although, they were up 3 with under 10 to go). That’s a solid night right there.
-Chunk

However the Preds won again. I like the Canes, but some of those guys need to learn to take a hit to make a play if they want to win this series.

I noticed a big difference between the 2008-2010 drafts and the 2011-present drafts. Much improved. Why?

The very young Reichel is a very promising prospect..Despite any weight training this off season, I suspect this kid playing among men will soon realize his time has not come yet for the NHL.

Among the impressive list of dmen, only Kalynuk in some ways was ready for an NHL learn and play. The others were fast tracked and have for the most part shown they were not ready. Of course Boqvist has made great strides this season. And perhaps Mitchell will eventually hold down a job here.

If you will take an honest look at how all the prospects fit it, just as a comparison look at other league rosters. How long did it take each dman to retain an NHL job. And did it require playing alongside a veteran and or a couple years AHL?

The really good players are more often ready or close to ready in some aspects of the NHL game. They may play right away and the various parts to playing defense may come along nicely..Or not. It is a process and not each dman will develop the exact same.

I don't say there is a right or wrong way.

Colorado gave sheltered minutes but dressed Byram each game. Clearly far from a steady dman and lacking understanding and know how; perhaps another GM puts him in the AHL? Or he could have gone back and forth, with lots of input, review, learning from a host of minor league helpers or ast coaches. Chicago has this approach.

I believe Bowman and braintrust will continue this way. The prospects need to improve. Eventualy if they do not make enough progress, they are jettisoned and another prospect comes along. Whether Zadorov, Keith, Murphy or another NHL veteran, there probably is as many as three prospects on defense each game. Seven dmen dress; four could be considered rookies/ youngsters getting an NHL cup of coffee or an extended look.

The dmen need to get stronger enough so that they
can compete at no great strength disadvantage.

If the weight room was the only barrier that would be amazing. I suggest thaT we will we see the same approach next season

Thanks Theo. This is from Chunk from last blog.


How about that for an evening of hockey. Tom Wilson is out of the PO’s, STL got swept, and McJesus is actually mortal (although, they were up 3 with under 10 to go). That’s a solid night right there.
-Chunk

However the Preds won again. I like the Canes, but some of those guys need to learn to take a hit to make a play if they want to win this series.
- Angotti

Glad to see WSH (and Wilson) out of it. I read where this was their 3rd consecutive first round series loss. I wonder if they have a major shakeup over the summer. I think they have soured on Kuznetsov and may move him. 29 years old at $7.8M four 4 more years. Just a general comment, not saying the Hawks should kick the tires on him.

Also NYR wants to get tougher after Wilson manhandled Buchnevich and Panarin late in the regular season. Wonder if they would be interested in Zadorov? Throw in Strome to unite with his brother. (Even though that won't add any toughness). Maybe get something worthwhile back. I think Buchnevich would be a nice top 6 forward candidate. Hawks would have to add another piece?

I noticed a big difference between the 2008-2010 drafts and the 2011-present drafts. Much improved. Why?
- mohel

Daddy was advising the maintainer who to draft. DUH!

Daddy was advising the maintainer who to draft. DUH!
- paulr

I thought it was because they switched to the dartboard method.

I thought it was because they switched to the dartboard method.
- Chunk

That’s definitely a possibility.

Thanks Theo. This is from Chunk from last blog.


How about that for an evening of hockey. Tom Wilson is out of the PO’s, STL got swept, and McJesus is actually mortal (although, they were up 3 with under 10 to go). That’s a solid night right there.
-Chunk

However the Preds won again. I like the Canes, but some of those guys need to learn to take a hit to make a play if they want to win this series.
- Angotti

They're not pestering Saros enough. He's a good goalie but they need to make him more uncomfortable. (frank)ing Preds.

S'ok though. They tied up series will give fans a glimmer of hope but I don't think they've got enough offense to win the series.

It's painful to look at so many of Stan's blunders on one page

It's painful to look at so many of Stan's blunders on one page
- Hawkeynation

Especially those three Stanley cups

I noticed a big difference between the 2008-2010 drafts and the 2011-present drafts. Much improved. Why?
- mohel

Right? Tallon had some big first round hits but more misses when not drafting at 1st or 3rd overall.

They're not pestering Saros enough. He's a good goalie but they need to make him more uncomfortable. (frank)ing Preds.

S'ok though. They tied up series will give fans a glimmer of hope but I don't think they've got enough offense to win the series.
- HawkintheD

Yep, not enough net front presence, everything is to the outside, and won’t take a hit to make a play, but definitely more talent than Preds.

EXCELLENT WRITE UP THEO !!!! Watching the playoffs going on at this time, I see that several teams have very good fourth lines. Sometimes, we might say that a prospects ceiling is 3rd or 4th line, that's fine !! Fourth line should be much more than the spare parts that could not play on 1st through 3rd line. Whether it's to play a heavy game, employ a disrupting fore check, the fourth line should have some ability
With all of the right handed defenseman prospects coming up, I can truly see why Joki was traded. Taking a gamble on Nylander, from a position of strength. Hopefully, prospects are not rushed, unless they really show that they can contribute and make an impact. Hawks will have plenty of sophomores next year, waiting to take that next step. Let the others marinate, if they are truly not ready just yet

IMO calling Danault one of the worst trades in franchise history is bit dramatic.

Id have to go back and look but again.....Hawks were gearing up for another cup run, needed some veteran presence and had said shutdown center in Marcus Kruger. WHo if the Hawks would traded at that time, 82% of this board would have melted down.

Trade didn't pan out.....just like Lazerus losing his mind that the Hawks traded the immortal Marko Dano for Ladd in the same window to gear up for another cup.

Still don't have any qualms about Bowman being aggressive.....danault is a NICE player, but he's not anything great or anything that I miss.

EXCELLENT WRITE UP THEO !!!! Watching the playoffs going on at this time, I see that several teams have very good fourth lines. Sometimes, we might say that a prospects ceiling is 3rd or 4th line, that's fine !! Fourth line should be much more than the spare parts that could not play on 1st through 3rd line. Whether it's to play a heavy game, employ a disrupting fore check, the fourth line should have some ability
With all of the right handed defenseman prospects coming up, I can truly see why Joki was traded. Taking a gamble on Nylander, from a position of strength. Hopefully, prospects are not rushed, unless they really show that they can contribute and make an impact. Hawks will have plenty of sophomores next year, waiting to take that next step. Let the others marinate, if they are truly not ready just yet
- chuckdahammer

Also, he was not that great. I would be willing to bet that Joki's career closely mimics Forsling's. Takes a few years to improve, but middling at best.

Thanks Theo. This is from Chunk from last blog.


How about that for an evening of hockey. Tom Wilson is out of the PO’s, STL got swept, and McJesus is actually mortal (although, they were up 3 with under 10 to go). That’s a solid night right there.
-Chunk

However the Preds won again. I like the Canes, but some of those guys need to learn to take a hit to make a play if they want to win this series.
- Angotti

Caps d was not so good, no matter how many good forwards you have its hard to cover that up, like Panthers are finding out.

What an advantage to have Hedman on the ice to negate elite forwards like Barkov

IMO calling Danault one of the worst trades in franchise history is bit dramatic.

Id have to go back and look but again.....Hawks were gearing up for another cup run, needed some veteran presence and had said shutdown center in Marcus Kruger. WHo if the Hawks would traded at that time, 82% of this board would have melted down.

Trade didn't pan out.....just like Lazerus losing his mind that the Hawks traded the immortal Marko Dano for Ladd in the same window to gear up for another cup.

Still don't have any qualms about Bowman being aggressive.....danault is a NICE player, but he's not anything great or anything that I miss.
- SteveRain

The biggest mistake with the Danault trade was that Bowman and Quenneville were seemingly on completely different pages in that the players acquired for Danault weren’t players Q was able to work with.

Caps d was not so good, no matter how many good forwards you have its hard to cover that up, like Panthers are finding out.

What an advantage to have Hedman on the ice to negate elite forwards like Barkov
- BetweenTheDots

That’s where depth is so vital. In 2015 when Hedman drove Kane crazy there were other Hawk players able to step up.

Yep, not enough net front presence, everything is to the outside, and won’t take a hit to make a play, but definitely more talent than Preds.
- Angotti

They seem to in their own end but not in front of Juicy. Had he emerged earlier and taken the net from Rinne, maybe the Preds would have won a Cup.

It's a shame really.

https://www.thedraftanaly...ankings-final-top-32-may/

here was a recent draft ranking the most interesting thing is He has Simon edvisson down at # 22 everything else is pretty similar.

The biggest mistake with the Danault trade was that Bowman and Quenneville were seemingly on completely different pages in that the players acquired for Danault weren’t players Q was able to work with.
- paulr

That's fine....but this wasn't a generational talent, or a massive hole that the Hawks got rid of. It's Phillip Danault....who to this day I don't think has ever scored more than 15 goals in a season. HE had less skill than Bolland and Kruger was better defensively......holding on to this as a massive blunder? I don't see it.

If people want to lose their minds over Teuvo that's more acceptable. That is a top 6 hole that they have had issues replacing. Again, at the time due to cap issues to kick Bickell, Teuvo was the price.