Look how long it took McDavid to make Edmonton decent...
- rpeters01

If by chance Bedard is the equivalent of McDavid it will take more than him. Need 4 or 5 top forwards, at least 3 preferably 4 good defensemen, a better than average goalie along with 10 other decent spare parts. And fit everyone under the cap.. Plus everyone has to gel and stay healthy. That's a tall order. Looking back we were blessed at watching teams with that complement win three Cups over 6 years.

Look how long it took McDavid to make Edmonton decent...
- rpeters01

Perfect example of how even a "Generational Talent" and one of the top scorers in the league don't guarantee you anything. Season ends now EDM is not even in the playoffs, they may remain a bubble team all year. Hard to believe with McJesus at almost 2 points per game, Draisaitl at 1.5, and RNH and Hyman at around 1.0

Fair, but he's been injured a lot.
- Chunk

Yes, but he's not tearing it up when healthy. Maybe he gets an extended healthy stretch and turns out to be a "late developer".

Saturday is definitely a game the Hawks need to lose.

Finishing last goes guarantee the Hawks the #1 draft pick in 2023, but it does guarantee a top 3 pick. I’ll be happy if the Hawks get one of Bedard, Fantilli or Carlsson. One of those 3 will have a significant impact on the rebuild.

If the Hawks draft #4 or beyond I’m not sure who they go with. Michkov, for all his skill, may be too much of a risk. The Hawks need somebody that can make a contribution either next year or the season after at the latest.
- DarthKane

Sure looks like the Hawks will finish last and guarantee a top 3 pick but you never know. I think it's safe to assume if they get a top 2 pick they go Bedard or Fantilli and a 3rd they'd go Carlsson or Michkov but we can't be sure of that and if they pick 4th it's even tougher to prognosticate.

Seems right now Bedard/Fantilli are at one level, Carlsson/Michkov a level down and after that another level down........... If they draft 4th on down I do wonder if KD trades down if he feels Michkov is too risky.

I think maybe we see maybe Reichel up after the trade deadline? I have to think the Hawks will move anyone they can on the roster for picks. There really aren't any youngsters in Rockford I want to see on the big club. That is the saddest part.

Hawks will need high picks and hit on several lower picks.
- bhawks2241

Again, more interesting possibilities. Do they worry that Reichel isn't ready and without any combination of Kane, Toews, AA, Domi, Lafferty being traded the team will be worse. Do they wanna subject a quite not ready Reichel to that or play playoff hockey in RKF?

If they do make trades they need warm bodies in the NHL. If low level NHLers or cap disaster players come back they will take an NHL spot(s) but if not they're gonna have to dip into the AHL roster, but again they wanna keep that strong to get the prospects into the AHL playoffs.

Guttman, Slavin, Sikura, Hardman, Teply?

Hey Ricco, did you see this quote by Richardson regarding Phillips:


Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Richardson shouted out Isaak Phillips unprompted postgame. Hawks had a 10-7 scoring chance edge in Phillips' 14:16 of ice time.

"We were much harder in 1-on-1 battles. Especially Phillips, he was really good in the corners and being aggressive."
- LAHawk

No, I did not see this. Kid has played well and I wondered if he was making it tough/impossible to send back down. Seems he has a fan in Richardson.

They are in pretty good position with their picks. They have 12 picks in the first three rounds in next two drafts. And after March TDL there might be even more. But is crucial that those picks are more hits than miss. Not all of them are going to hit but including this years draft with five picks in first two rounds etc. these three drafts (22,23 and 24) will determinate eventually how Davidson´s strategy worked out.
- MjulQvist

Sorry for not finding the link but I watched a video a few weeks ago from a Stars fan site writer who talked about how Dallas is poised for many years of Cup contention because they now have a franchise F, D, and G -- coincidentally all in the 2017 draft -- with Robertson (2nd rounder) plus Heiskanen and Oettinger (1st rounders).

Davidson believes he has his franchise D in Korchinski. Bedard or Fantilli would arguably be that franchise F.

Soderblom and Commesso have promise but not sure if I'd dub either of them as franchise players -- at least not yet. Many would claim Korchinski isn't a franchise player either.

Anyway, the slew of 1st and 2nd round picks in 2023 and 2024 should give Chicago more swings of the bat to unearth franchise players and/or elite supporting core like Hossa, Sharp, and Seabrook (granted 81 and 10 were not drafted by the Hawks).

Interestingly, the Stars picked Oettinger at 26th overall after the Hawks traded down to take Jokiharju at 29th. They also got a 3rd rounder and selected Altybarmakian.

Saturday is definitely a game the Hawks need to lose.

Finishing last goes guarantee the Hawks the #1 draft pick in 2023, but it does guarantee a top 3 pick. I’ll be happy if the Hawks get one of Bedard, Fantilli or Carlsson. One of those 3 will have a significant impact on the rebuild.

If the Hawks draft #4 or beyond I’m not sure who they go with. Michkov, for all his skill, may be too much of a risk. The Hawks need somebody that can make a contribution either next year or the season after at the latest.
- DarthKane

If the Hawks are fortunate to win the lottery to select either Bedard or Fantilli, one wild scenario is packaging 1st round picks plus 2nd rounders and/or a prospect like Reichel to the team that holds the #3 pick then take Michkov.

Bedard or Fantilli would then be in the NHL as early as next season then practice patience with Michkov to run out his KHL contract and matriculate him in 2026. Very unlikely scenario that I'm sure most fans wouldn't like but weirder things have happened.

Personally, I'd keep those assets and go with quantity rather than quality in the case of Michkov (as the latter), especially if the Hawks are lucky enough to snag Bedard or Fantilli. The 2023 draft is deep enough to go with quantity.

If the Hawks lose the lottery, I'd lean towards selecting Carlsson over Michkov.

But if the Hawks fall down to 4th or later, then I'd take long looks at highly skilled playmakers and visionaries in Will Smith (US-NTDP), Andrew Cristall (WHL), or Jayden Perron (USHL).

If the Hawks are fortunate to win the lottery to select either Bedard or Fantilli, one wild scenario is packaging 1st round picks plus 2nd rounders and/or a prospect like Reichel to the team that holds the #3 pick then take Michkov.

Bedard or Fantilli would then be in the NHL as early as next season then practice patience with Michkov to run out his KHL contract and matriculate him in 2026. Very unlikely scenario that I'm sure most fans wouldn't like but weirder things have happened.

Personally, I'd keep those assets and go with quantity rather than quality in the case of Michkov (as the latter), especially if the Hawks are lucky enough to snag Bedard or Fantilli. The 2023 draft is deep enough to go with quantity.

If the Hawks lose the lottery, I'd lean towards selecting Carlsson over Michkov.

But if the Hawks fall down to 4th or later, then I'd take long looks at highly skilled playmakers and visionaries in Will Smith (US-NTDP), Andrew Cristall (WHL), or Jayden Perron (USHL).
- Theo Fox

I'm thinking Bedard is in a class all his own

Then Fantilli

If we have the 1st pick and Fantilli is picked then KD is a fool.

Russian blueliner Mikhail Gulyayev seems to be the top D-man on many 2023 draft boards. Same with Cameron Allen.

Definitely not with a top 10 pick but perhaps with the 1st from Tampa Bay (mid/late 20s), I would aim for Swedish rearguard Axel Sandin Pellikka. He reminds me of what the Hawks wanted out of Adam Boqvist: a dynamic puck mover but plays with more zest and compete at both ends.

If the Hawks are able to acquire additional 1st rounders in the teens, there are many forwards who would be enticing.

If the Hawks are fortunate to win the lottery to select either Bedard or Fantilli, one wild scenario is packaging 1st round picks plus 2nd rounders and/or a prospect like Reichel to the team that holds the #3 pick then take Michkov.

Bedard or Fantilli would then be in the NHL as early as next season then practice patience with Michkov to run out his KHL contract and matriculate him in 2026. Very unlikely scenario that I'm sure most fans wouldn't like but weirder things have happened.

Personally, I'd keep those assets and go with quantity rather than quality in the case of Michkov (as the latter), especially if the Hawks are lucky enough to snag Bedard or Fantilli. The 2023 draft is deep enough to go with quantity.

If the Hawks lose the lottery, I'd lean towards selecting Carlsson over Michkov.

But if the Hawks fall down to 4th or later, then I'd take long looks at highly skilled playmakers and visionaries in Will Smith (US-NTDP), Andrew Cristall (WHL), or Jayden Perron (USHL).
- Theo Fox

I don’t think any of the teams drafting top 5 or even top 10 are trading their 1st round picks in the 2023 draft.

Wouldn't Mitchell be sent down before Phillips at this point?
- Chunk

Interesting. Consider Mitchell much better than Phillips in AHL yet Phillips better (but still lacking) than Mitchell in the NHL. This as related to performance this season

Sure looks like the Hawks will finish last and guarantee a top 3 pick but you never know. I think it's safe to assume if they get a top 2 pick they go Bedard or Fantilli and a 3rd they'd go Carlsson or Michkov but we can't be sure of that and if they pick 4th it's even tougher to prognosticate.

Seems right now Bedard/Fantilli are at one level, Carlsson/Michkov a level down and after that another level down........... If they draft 4th on down I do wonder if KD trades down if he feels Michkov is too risky.
- Mr Ricochet

I think it is a possibility that the hawks make some subtractions that bolster playoff clubs where the return involves 2024, 2025, 2026 drafts.

Bedard is alone on ONE level: He is Stamkos right now projects as 600 goal scorer in an age when having quick teammates only makes him better

Fantilli has in my opinion taken a qualitative jump and college play gains guys 4-5 years older has only made him add detail to his game. He is in contentions the best player in College hockey. I didn't think Fantilli was gonna take a back step at Michigan, but a quick up to speed look at their last dozen games made me see what I didn't expect: this big kid scorer deciding he needed to work on details, to be better run all phases, in all zones. He did go there are try and fit; he decided he needed the staff to make him better, work with him, to be better all over, and for sure, this is not the Chicago mission Fantilli. He is a far better second overall pick not satisfied by his game (whether he reads about himself or not.)

But no way is he equal to what Bedard does. There is an uncanniness to Conner's abilities, low key devotion to the game, and just history in the making every time you see him.

I still see a quality dozen in that third tier with Michkov, and it is only because of MotherF Russia and his contract that I have him there with THEM.

Furthermore, there is fourth tier unlikes any I have ever seen....into the second round strong as our usual "guy drafted at say, 22."

On your advice I listened to those Elite Prospect scouts on YouTube, and each time I gasped about who they thought was a first rounder I kept thinking, "No matter if their or my opinion is correct (aligned with the ACTUAL Scout suggested first rounders, that means the rest are second rounders, just strengthening my argument of the unheard of 4th tier.

Next year 2024 will not over the luxury of this thickness. Neither will 2025. There may be a star in each but it ain't no Bedard.

Again, more interesting possibilities. Do they worry that Reichel isn't ready and without any combination of Kane, Toews, AA, Domi, Lafferty being traded the team will be worse. Do they wanna subject a quite not ready Reichel to that or play playoff hockey in RKF?

If they do make trades they need warm bodies in the NHL. If low level NHLers or cap disaster players come back they will take an NHL spot(s) but if not they're gonna have to dip into the AHL roster, but again they wanna keep that strong to get the prospects into the AHL playoffs.

Guttman, Slavin, Sikura, Hardman, Teply?
- Mr Ricochet

If Kane, Toews, Domi are traded the Hawks could either get veterans back or make other deals to take on other teams bad contracts. So ther may not be a need to bring up multiple players from Rockford.

If Kane, Toews, Domi are traded the Hawks could either get veterans back or make other deals to take on other teams bad contracts. So ther may not be a need to bring up multiple players from Rockford.
- Ztra

Ph I betcha to make some of these deals work, they are going to HAVE take journeymen back and they be the back-up if any kids fail to impress this quick at the NHL level on a crap team.

If Kane, Toews, Domi are traded the Hawks could either get veterans back or make other deals to take on other teams bad contracts. So ther may not be a need to bring up multiple players from Rockford.
- Ztra

If Kane and Toews are traded, Hawks will have have to find a couple of bad contracts or purposely enter into a bad contract to make the cap floor.

If Kane and Toews are traded, Hawks will have have to find a couple of bad contracts or purposely enter into a bad contract to make the cap floor.
- LAHawk

I’ll play for them for $5M a season. I’d do nothing to make them better, in fact I’d be a waste of a roster spot, but I’d help them get to the cap floor. Maybe a bunch of us could sign up?

I’ll play for them for $5M a season. I’d do nothing to make them better, in fact I’d be a waste of a roster spot, but I’d help them get to the cap floor. Maybe a bunch of us could sign up?
- paulr

I’d fight Lucic for the league minimum….

Exhale…..

I think it is a possibility that the hawks make some subtractions that bolster playoff clubs where the return involves 2024, 2025, 2026 drafts.

Bedard is alone on ONE level: He is Stamkos right now projects as 600 goal scorer in an age when having quick teammates only makes him better

Fantilli has in my opinion taken a qualitative jump and college play gains guys 4-5 years older has only made him add detail to his game. He is in contentions the best player in College hockey. I didn't think Fantilli was gonna take a back step at Michigan, but a quick up to speed look at their last dozen games made me see what I didn't expect: this big kid scorer deciding he needed to work on details, to be better run all phases, in all zones. He did go there are try and fit; he decided he needed the staff to make him better, work with him, to be better all over, and for sure, this is not the Chicago mission Fantilli. He is a far better second overall pick not satisfied by his game (whether he reads about himself or not.)

But no way is he equal to what Bedard does. There is an uncanniness to Conner's abilities, low key devotion to the game, and just history in the making every time you see him.

I still see a quality dozen in that third tier with Michkov, and it is only because of MotherF Russia and his contract that I have him there with THEM.

Furthermore, there is fourth tier unlikes any I have ever seen....into the second round strong as our usual "guy drafted at say, 22."

On your advice I listened to those Elite Prospect scouts on YouTube, and each time I gasped about who they thought was a first rounder I kept thinking, "No matter if their or my opinion is correct (aligned with the ACTUAL Scout suggested first rounders, that means the rest are second rounders, just strengthening my argument of the unheard of 4th tier.

Next year 2024 will not over the luxury of this thickness. Neither will 2025. There may be a star in each but it ain't no Bedard.
- wiz1901

This is a helpful post, Wiz, especially about Fantilli who would be the first overall in most past drafts. I've seen probably every Steel game he played for them for two yrs including both Summer Camps.

Haven't seen any games he's played with UM but your post mentioning his attention to detail to improve as a freshman at UM tracks with what I saw as a Steel player, starting as a 16 yr old.....

Kid's compete has been off the charts since Day 1 in a London Knights level program. But you could see improvements in his details even though he too often tried to be a 1 man show and carry the group his 2nd yr.

He plays all 3 zones, never coasts, backchecks hard, steps into scrums, have seen him fight for a teammate, never shies away from dirty areas. He puts in the work to improve, you could see that as each of his two yrs in Chicago went on. All his coaches talked about his work off the ice, a coach who was hired to run Toronto's AHL squad..... This kid will find his ceiling.

No, he's not on Bedard's level, nobody is, but after Bedard there is nobody on his level.

Yep, a deep deep draft. Bedard and Fantilli are consensus #1 and #2. Seems like today Carlsson/Michkov Michkov/Carlsson are #3 and #4 after that a whole bunch, 10-15 guys, are lumped in. ...... Gotta wonder if whomever has #5 on down for a handful of picks looks to trade down.

Yep, a deep deep draft. Bedard and Fantilli are consensus #1 and #2. Seems like today Carlsson/Michkov Michkov/Carlsson are #3 and #4 after that a whole bunch, 10-15 guys, are lumped in. ...... Gotta wonder if whomever has #5 on down for a handful of picks looks to trade down.

So deep, as you said, that Fantilli is a solid #1 most years w/0 hesitation.

If the Hawks get either they will be very fortunate.

Honestly, not sure if Michkov sticks around as long as Ivan Miroshnichenko (WASH #20), but, different circumstances. I love the scoring power behind this tank, but it starts to be Fantilli/Bedard type comparison where Michkov is the small but solid winner based on abilities.
Everyday I look at my board and shift some things but so far I cannot grip where the final selection place is for him.

I cannot decide on my top dozen! I guess it is an easy submit to got Carlsson at #3 and wait for him. (I am not so sure you wait long for Adam F or Conner B.)
After seeing more Dalibor Dvorsky I see him jumping.
And in the back of my mind, I think BIGGER players whether true centres are not that move at fast pace are on the minds of teams (and the Hawks.)
I know the organization feels right wing needs a big add.
So sure at five, every team may have a different favorite...and as much as I would love to think the Hawks have Bedard, Frankie Nazar, they would love their pick of the litter at #5.
But I am POSITIVE the GM is not giving even two picks for one.
And when was the last time a team traded out of #5 ?

A team last year traded out of #7 to get DeBrincat...but it looks like there are enough bad tanking teams who will try the same thing with their mini-Kanes, like SJ's Timo Meier, St. L's. O'Reilly, to sign him long term, and to a lesser extent Bo Horvat.

There is so much to like in that first half on day one.




And Michov?

Hell yeah the hawks should call his name at Tampa's first rounder...we got time to wait...

Michkov was loaned to HK Sochi that plays in KHL. BTW Altybarmakyan playes there too and is their leading scorer.. Michkov has played in four games there and has two goals. There is no way he should be drafted outside top 4. If Michkov was playing in NA he would be considered as consensus number 2 pick. And I wouldn´t be so sure between Fantilli and Carlsson.

If by chance Bedard is the equivalent of McDavid it will take more than him. Need 4 or 5 top forwards, at least 3 preferably 4 good defensemen, a better than average goalie along with 10 other decent spare parts. And fit everyone under the cap.. Plus everyone has to gel and stay healthy. That's a tall order. Looking back we were blessed at watching teams with that complement win three Cups over 6 years.
- boilermaker100

I'm just saying I'm not afraid of getting good too fast.

Im a huge, I mean huge Toews fan, but in an earlier shift he had no interest in playing defense, and was cherry picking while Columbus had possession the entire shift in Hawks zone, maybe he’s had enough. This tank job has to be to hard on him.

Big loss (win) for the tank.

Appears C. Dach is injury prone. Looks like he will miss some time with that arm injury.