So if two teams under us win the lottery, we get Brayden Yager, defender Cameron Allen, nasty Gauthier or one of the other FIVE terrific centres there for us...
- wiz1901

Wiz say hawks end up picking 4 or 5 who is the pick in you opinion? Is there more than on generational players in this draft? Or is this going to be McDavid vs eichel draft?

So if two teams under us win the lottery, we get Brayden Yager, defender Cameron Allen, nasty Gauthier or one of the other FIVE terrific centres there for us...
- wiz1901

Wiz say hawks end up picking 4 or 5 who is the pick in you opinion? Is there more than on generational players in this draft? Or is this going to be McDavid vs eichel draft?

I’m calling Bettman to manipulate the draft so Pittsburgh gets the number one over, just like he manipulated the 2005 draft Crosby was selected in. Can you remind me again how Bettman manipulated that draft?
- paulr

Review the league a few years before that happened. Why did he allow all teams to have a chance at the lottery? Right there is was a cover-up. But I am sure you are still looking for the bat that started Covid.

Review the league a few years before that happened. Why did he allow all teams to have a chance at the lottery? Right there is was a cover-up. But I am sure you are still looking for the bat that started Covid.
- powerenforcer

No, actually I just booked a trip to Europe and I’m not sure where the edge of the earth is and I’m worried we may fall off.

How would you rate atm 2023 draft class compared to recent ones..let say to last five drafts?
- MjulQvist

You could literally combine the last 5 drafts and it still wouldn’t touch the 2023 draft. I’m not too old so the only two drafts that are even comparable in my mind are 2015 and 2003. But even then that’s for top end talent and depth respectively.

I’d also like to add if Michkov is passed at 2 due being Russian although it wouldn’t be shocking will be a blow to the picking teams fan base the moment he stepped on NHL ice. We saw it this past season with a guy like Gleb Trikozov dropping well into the second round(60th overall) along with others. But alot of people had him as high as 8 and generally hovering around 10-15 range. But dropped due to the same reasons Michkov may drop. Honestly though, it’s hard to see a miss in the top 10 of this draft unless they decide to play in the KHL forever which is why I wouldn’t be shocked to see Michkov drop, at a minimum you’re getting as likely an NHL player as you’ll get in most drafts without risking the “Russian factor”.

No, actually I just booked a trip to Europe and I’m not sure where the edge of the earth is and I’m worried we may fall off.
- paulr

Dude...was nice knowing you.

No, actually I just booked a trip to Europe and I’m not sure where the edge of the earth is and I’m worried we may fall off.
- paulr

You might finally find The Ledge!

Review the league a few years before that happened. Why did he allow all teams to have a chance at the lottery? Right there is was a cover-up. But I am sure you are still looking for the bat that started Covid.
- powerenforcer

From what I understand, it was because of the lockout the previous year. There were no standings to go by.

No, actually I just booked a trip to Europe and I’m not sure where the edge of the earth is and I’m worried we may fall off.
- paulr

That will only happen if you go by boat. If you fly you'll end up in outer space.

IMO with Korchinski's size, skating, hands the foundation is there for a 60+ point Dman who can skate the thing out. ... Is a 6ft 2in ++ skating Dman who can run the #1 PP, skate it out on his own and pot 60+ points a #1 Dman regardless how he does in his end in today's NHL?
- Mr Ricochet

No.

Huberdeau signed with Calgary. They have officially won that trade

Quentin Musty
Pass. His skating needs work.
- Elbows15

I guess when Sudbury made Musty the first player selected in the OHL draft (...not THEIR first, first overall) they should have asked you b/c I don't think they noticed his skating was a deficit.

How would you rate atm 2023 draft class compared to recent ones..let say to last five drafts?
- MjulQvist

In all my 72 years since the true universal draft started, EVERY draft where each respective draft starts to thin and where the prospects 20-45 blend into one tier which includes a group of guys with missing parts to their respective games.

This is the first time I have ever seen a draft where the top 34 players are SO talented and "safe" picks that will play in the NHL.
And you know what I have trouble not getting bubbly about picks past the second round d when you start seeing the defenseman and goalie prospects to go with that enormous smattering of quality forwards that has great toolboxes and scoring abilities.

I don't think Davidson was ignorant of that fact before securing a second late first rounder and knowing a tank would be we may get three EXCELLENT players without many weaknesses in their games.

You won't find any place else where you can see more that four rounds of prospects already, while we wait for Craig Button to tell us his first round, we all know there will be budding prep schoolers and guys in the OHL and Europe who have built better games .
The draft mocks will be out in February and I am going to predict no one in my early top 34 are not gonna be names on them.

There is not going to a last minute change of heart that the class is similiar to any past five drafts.
Has any of them given us a possible five generational players.
Gordie isn't telling people to write down the names of the Hlinka tourney for nothing...he knows there is something special down the pike, due to kore coaching dedication action from all involved and lots of kids working to make those NHL dollars.

IMO with Korchinski's size, skating, hands the foundation is there for a 60+ point Dman who can skate the thing out. ... Is a 6ft 2in ++ skating Dman who can run the #1 PP, skate it out on his own and pot 60+ points a #1 Dman regardless how he does in his end in today's NHL?
- Mr Ricochet

I think that there is at least one defender on most teams who is there to provide speed, offense and mailman abilities and enough speed defensively with speed to close on attackers.

No one is going call a fine skating finesse defender a number one if he can break up attacks.
Makar can do it with his abilities, so the NHL is not holding smaller defenders back if it balances.
This 16 year old for Finland, defenseman Aron Kiviharju has NO SIZE,but had an eye opening debut as a 16 year old in the 2022 World Junior U-18 where he showed the dangle of forward, and at 15 years of age he saw action in the with TPS U-20 A team, and has continued to open all eyes at the 2022 Ivan Hlinka Tourney with his tremendous playing speed, an ability to dominate on ice due to his hockey IQ and processing. At his current size, he will continue to be scrutinized an under-sized offense man type, but that is far from an honest evaluation. His skating is so elite along with his puck-handling, that on defense, few can disrupt him in transition, because no one gets near him. He simply doesn't get caught. He is so light on his edges that he blows through the neutral zone and enters the zone and has space to survey his trailing forwards for the bets option. I am not sure how far down NHL scouts drop him, by way of chinks in his armor. He is a revelation in the works.

This kid eligible in 2024 like Korchinski has to prove at the higher level he can continue to play fast in all the ways they can...

Calgary re-signed Huberdeau for 8 years with a $10.5 million AAV. I’m sure Calgary felt compelled to get a long term asset for Tkachuk, but this contract could look ugly in a few years.

Calgary re-signed Huberdeau for 8 years with a $10.5 million AAV. I’m sure Calgary felt compelled to get a long term asset for Tkachuk, but this contract could look ugly in a few years.
- DarthKane

Desperate GMs do desperate things

In all my 72 years since the true universal draft started, EVERY draft where each respective draft starts to thin and where the prospects 20-45 blend into one tier which includes a group of guys with missing parts to their respective games.

This is the first time I have ever seen a draft where the top 34 players are SO talented and "safe" picks that will play in the NHL.
And you know what I have trouble not getting bubbly about picks past the second round d when you start seeing the defenseman and goalie prospects to go with that enormous smattering of quality forwards that has great toolboxes and scoring abilities.

I don't think Davidson was ignorant of that fact before securing a second late first rounder and knowing a tank would be we may get three EXCELLENT players without many weaknesses in their games.

You won't find any place else where you can see more that four rounds of prospects already, while we wait for Craig Button to tell us his first round, we all know there will be budding prep schoolers and guys in the OHL and Europe who have built better games .
The draft mocks will be out in February and I am going to predict no one in my early top 34 are not gonna be names on them.

There is not going to a last minute change of heart that the class is similiar to any past five drafts.
Has any of them given us a possible five generational players.
Gordie isn't telling people to write down the names of the Hlinka tourney for nothing...he knows there is something special down the pike, due to kore coaching dedication action from all involved and lots of kids working to make those NHL dollars.
- wiz1901

Thanks! That 2003 draft was pretty deep. Anaheim got good ones there with 19th (Getzlaf) and 28th (Perry) picks. If Davidson gets lucky and something similar next year there will be some light in the end of the tunnel..

New blog! Thoughts on the Blackhawks power play units after the departures of Alex DeBrincat, Dominik Kubalik, and Kirby Dach.

https://bit.ly/3oXnkQY