Who believes attendance would drop significantly if both DeBrincat and Kane were jettisoned? As long as one stays, fans will still come see the team play. Probably not as many fans, but not a desertion if Toews compared to Kane particularly and DCat to a lesser extent. There would be some backlash of Toews left; hiwever, I suspect fans would get over their long time captain departure. As long as Kane and hopefully DCat is still here, the nowadays less productive Toews is something that can be overcome.

Of course the catch is well...all about "the catch."

As in, what compensation do we get for each of these players. Not much for Toews. But of course significant for both Kane and DCat irregardless if just one or both of those two is dealt.

My vote is only to move Toews if that is clearly what he wants.

I believe a new, better coach and few kids moving into the blueline crew combine to make us more competitive. Still lose about as much, though, due to the lack of a top center and overall a team with less talent than most everyone else

The draft is not this cure all we think it can be. The point to focus on with the Entry Draft, is that there is not automatically going to be a center who can help us available when our selections come up. If we are fortune to land Wright, however, his addition and kids moving in on blueline will be significant. Probably still miss playoffs..But there is hope with younger players continual improvement both previous and future picks when you have a base of Wright, D Cat and Kane + the young kids establish themselves on defense. Bottom line feeders could make us a more energetic checking team and harder to beat

The rise of Reichel and Teply would really help too.. in goal long term plan is likely to wait in Commeso and Soderstrom
- jhawk59

imo it comes down what the plan is with Davidson and whether rocky and Danny would sign off on a trade of dcat and Kane. Money money

No matter the spin, I don’t think KD is as positive about our pipeline (including defenseman) than the BOD. Kelly and Stewart have been in Chicago all during KD’s time with the Hawks. His first move on day 1 was to can them both. If he thought the Hawks scouting department was doing a good job, I don’t think he would of blown it up on day 1.
- LAHawk

But Maciver has only been gone a little less than 2 years? Maybe just maybe they learned from their mistakes in drafting dmen? Time will tell

I mean Mike Smith did draft Keith and Seabrook? Anything is possible

No matter the spin, I don’t think KD is as positive about our pipeline (including defenseman) than the BOD. Kelly and Stewart have been in Chicago all during KD’s time with the Hawks. His first move on day 1 was to can them both. If he thought the Hawks scouting department was doing a good job, I don’t think he would of blown it up on day 1.
- LAHawk

"Positive" and "BOD" in the same sentence. Gotta be a typo. My guess is there are players he likes in the pipeline but maybe wasn't enamored with Kelly's overall work over the last several drafts.

It's not a stretch for the new guy, whether he was previously in the Org or not to want to bring in a guy he trusts or go a different direction altogether.

Will be interesting to see if some of the defensive prospects are included in any trades to induce a better return.

I did say my preference is not to trade Kane or DCat. This despite some difficulty reeling in top young talent at forward and specificly #1 center. I have always been in favor of trading into the top tier round one where the very best players are found. . Hard to complete such trades.

ALSO If you draft best player avsilable in round one, how long and where do we purchase a #1 center? Needs to be from the draft. Only practical way - usually. Only so many centers we would desire as our future #1 pivot. Even with one of worse records, no guarantee such a center falls to us.
- jhawk59

And if the lotto ball falls the right way, we may just end up with another center. #1 center, now you have the luxury of Toews, Strome, Dach and Wright

Hey Wiz,

If Wright was in the draft next year instead of this year, what position would he likely be drafted?

Lankanin kicks the rebound right up the middle.

Gus and C Jones paired up, what could go wrong?

Don’t care how s****** the defense is lankinen is absolutely useless

Gus and C Jones paired up, what could go wrong?
- Angotti

A race for the Norris Trophy

A little net front presence would be nice

Morgan Cooley is a very good consolation prize, according to Wiz draftsite.com review. Because we need a center, if we took him at #2 overall I couldn't complain.

Our #1 '22 is protected if is the first or second, overall (after lottery May 10), correct?

I know best player available is the rule of thumb, but I choose Cooley than gamble on a position player who is less of a need in '23. Anyone concur?

Morgan Cooley is a very good consolation prize, according to Wiz draftsite.com review. Because we need a center, if we took him at #2 overall I couldn't complain.

Our #1 '22 is protected if is the first or second, overall (after lottery May 10), correct?

I know best player available is the rule of thumb, but I we old rather Cooley than gamble on a position player who is less of a need in '23. Anyone concur?
- jhawk59

Looks like we are either going to be 6th or 5th. The odds aren't good but it's a win win situation for them. They don't win the lottery this year they might next year

What a waste of time watching another pathetic Blackhawks game on Saturday night....I must have no life.

Morgan Cooley is a very good consolation prize, according to Wiz draftsite.com review. Because we need a center, if we took him at #2 overall I couldn't complain.

Our #1 '22 is protected if is the first or second, overall (after lottery May 10), correct?

I know best player available is the rule of thumb, but I choose Cooley than gamble on a position player who is less of a need in '23. Anyone concur?
- jhawk59

When a team finishes bottom six in the league, that means such team has many holes, so you take the best player available. Also, if the Hawks win the lottery, they would have to be insane to give that pick to Columbus, nothing is guaranteed next year.

When a team finishes bottom six in the league, that means such team has many holes, so you take the best player available. Also, if the Hawks win the lottery, they would have to be insane to give that pick to Columbus, nothing is guaranteed next year.
- Angotti

I agree, and it would be nice if we had some LWs that play a good 200 foot game, that position has been killing us this year

When a team finishes bottom six in the league, that means such team has many holes, so you take the best player available. Also, if the Hawks win the lottery, they would have to be insane to give that pick to Columbus, nothing is guaranteed next year.
- Angotti

Even with a 1st or second overall pick this year, we will be worse next year. If we don't give CBJ the first this year, we give them an unprotected pick for next year. With the way we look for next year, we will be bottom 3 team. Would you give up Beddard, Michkov or Fantilli to CBJ for Seth Jones? Also, with the way Wright has played this year, he may be the equivalent of a 5-10 pick next year.
Give CBJ their pick and enjoy a better choice in a year, even if the Blackhawks don't win the lottery next year.

A friend involved in the NHL came up with an interesting issue. If the Hawks get the 1st or 2nd overall this year, and try to give that protected pick to CBJ, CBJ may dispute the Hawks ability to do that as it goes against the trade obligations. Could be a much more exciting offseason that we thought.

The year when possibly two teams didn't want the top two players in the draft.

Even with a 1st or second overall pick this year, we will be worse next year. If we don't give CBJ the first this year, we give them an unprotected pick for next year. With the way we look for next year, we will be bottom 3 team. Would you give up Beddard, Michkov or Fantilli to CBJ for Seth Jones? Also, with the way Wright has played this year, he may be the equivalent of a 5-10 pick next year.
Give CBJ their pick and enjoy a better choice in a year, even if the Blackhawks don't win the lottery next year.
- wizardofi

I just hope we draft a center in '23. Otherwise Strome #1 center for a few years.

I just hope we draft a center in '23. Otherwise Strome #1 center for a few years.
- jhawk59

Strome being the #1 center the next few years is the least of the Hawks problems.

It seems a lot is being made of not having enough talent on the back end in our system based on where the kids were drafted. For me if our big guys turn out to be a version of Mattias Ekholm and Zdeno Chara, both drafted in later rounds, this team will be looking really really good, it would be something else if 3 of them do.
- BetweenTheDots

Chara is just a freak of nature with an awesome work ethic and Ekholm turned out to be an overlooked steal by the Preds. (As were Shea Weber and Roman Josi for that matter).

These 2 new signees are just names for the Hawks organization to list on their 50 man roster of signed players. Dmen who may or may not be NHL capable. What matters is how are they going to be developed and by whom.

I would be happy if either of these 2 and even Vlasic turned out to be a Ben Chiarot, Scott Mayfield, Robert Bortuzzo, Joel Edmundson type player - a 4/5/6 Dman, durable with some physical, ugly, nasty to their games.

Or they could turn out to be Dillon Fournier, Michael Palliotta, Carl Dahlstrom, Chad Krys.

Whatever became of Nicholas Beaudin?

I always got a kick out of Jack Skille' s name ( an oxymoron) and you know sometimes the best medicine is just to laugh.....you see if you grew up in the 1970's and fast forward to present days, both Cubs and Blackhawks so failed you. Excited for the latest prospects to emerge and poof they never were. Usually.

Jack Skille therefore became a legend in a bad way...his name is an oxymoron. He sure could skate fast down the wing and unload a shot.far out along the boards. I'll come back to Skille in the end.


Now moving to the past couple years and the futility of the Blackhawks is in a bad funk. Gets worse with Mitchell not ready, Beaudin a miscalculation, Reichel too green and Stan and company get whacked. Beach has his payday and kind of is fitting this story broke and is a bad mark on Wirtz and his management in a season all too painful

Paunful hurts to watch like the Bell/Arnason/Calder exasperation. Talk about non prospects!

Well I hoped to find solace in the Rockford Icehogs season. Hey ...they made the playoffs...clinched last night

They have a handful of prospects whom.probably will play on the NHL ponds. Not sure any stud future stars although both Teply and Reichel are green and could devlop.into more productive players than we thought. Mitchell is the top prospect and I hear ya 6628, substandard prospects overall.

The next wave though look more promising. Somehow despite getting usually outsot - sometimes by a wide margin, they've crafted a winning record and might upset a couple teams.. I just can't see them going too far though. Too much like Skille ....not the nice best prospects.you had hoped for and what a surprise farm team gets. outshot regularly

Chara is just a freak of nature with an awesome work ethic and Ekholm turned out to be an overlooked steal by the Preds. (As were Shea Weber and Roman Josi for that matter).

These 2 new signees are just names for the Hawks organization to list on their 50 man roster of signed players. Dmen who may or may not be NHL capable. What matters is how are they going to be developed and by whom.

I would be happy if either of these 2 and even Vlasic turned out to be a Ben Chiarot, Scott Mayfield, Robert Bortuzzo, Joel Edmundson type player - a 4/5/6 Dman, durable with some physical, ugly, nasty to their games.

Or they could turn out to be Dillon Fournier, Michael Palliotta, Carl Dahlstrom, Chad Krys.

Whatever became of Nicholas Beaudin?
- RickJ

I recently saw his picture on the side of a milk carton.

Chara is just a freak of nature with an awesome work ethic and Ekholm turned out to be an overlooked steal by the Preds. (As were Shea Weber and Roman Josi for that matter).

These 2 new signees are just names for the Hawks organization to list on their 50 man roster of signed players. Dmen who may or may not be NHL capable. What matters is how are they going to be developed and by whom.

I would be happy if either of these 2 and even Vlasic turned out to be a Ben Chiarot, Scott Mayfield, Robert Bortuzzo, Joel Edmundson type player - a 4/5/6 Dman, durable with some physical, ugly, nasty to their games.

Or they could turn out to be Dillon Fournier, Michael Palliotta, Carl Dahlstrom, Chad Krys.

Whatever became of Nicholas Beaudin?
- RickJ

I don’t think he’ll be back next season, he won’t be waiver exempt. My guess is that he’ll be included in a bigger deal or flipped for a late round pick.

If hawks keep those three then the Hawks management are not doing a rebuild. Debricant and Kane would bring the most back as far as prospects and picks. Strome depending on what team he goes to via trade could bring a 2nd and prospect. And what does Davidson and company view on dach and Reichel? Are they pieces to build around or not. Murphy and McCabe have to think one will be dealt. Towes what happens with him is unknown. Seth Jones imo has a immovable contract. We as fans will find out a lot when season is over and what the hawks management does at the draft and offseason.
- Scott1977

100 % Agree - good post

Kane is 34 this fall.
Those suggesting the Hawks will be a contender in time for 88 to be a part of it are dreaming.

Kane needs to chose
1- Staying here for a miserable 3 years then retirement
or
2- Be traded to a contender & play meaningful games
Somewhere like the Rangers- Kings or the Wild

As for Strome & Toews
Don't see them here next year