I'm hope the Hawks have the worst record overall to secure a top 3 pick. That way the Hawks are guaranteed Bedard, Fantilli or their choice of Carlsson/Michkov.

I'd like to see the Hawks find a way to get another 1st round pick in 2023, but I think the only way will be another Mrazek-type of deal. KD could flip two 2nd round picks for a 1st and 3rd, but I'd like to see them move into the mid-first round rather than another pick in the late-20s.
- DarthKane

In the post-deadline podcast, KD specifically mentioned getting another pick in the first round.

The Hawks second will be almost a first rounder, and the other 3 seconds are late round, so I don't think they can combine 2 seconds to get very high into the first. Maybe he has another pick-swap for bad contract planned.

Paul - I never said Chicago was an important NHL city. In fact I am sure Bettman has no clue what is an important NHL city, as he is playing a major league team in a college stadium. As we can see now, it was McD who was pushing Chicago on the league, with all the outdoor games and prime time games.

I guess you didn't catch my sarcasm in that post.

Strange coincidence? Really? You must work for KPMG if you think they are the cleanest company on earth. Money talks. Money also makes people quiet.
- powerenforcer

So now we’re back to Bettman hates Chicago and they won’t win the lottery?

No I don’t, nor ever, have I worked for KPMG, in fact they made my life miserable for 30 years because they went over every single bit of code in computer programs with me to ensure everything was above board. And I worked for a major multinational company with far more resources the NHL could dream to have. And I assure you they would be extremely difficult to bribe or pay off. It’s not some single guy walking into the office doing the audit. It’s a team of twenty people, including lawyers, actuaries, accountants, and in our case computer experts. Bettman would have needed some serious coin to pay off that many people enough for them to risk years of jail time. While I’ll never say never, it’s almost virtually impossible to bribe a team of KPMG auditors.

Five open contract spots.

Would assume that Kaiser and Commesso get entry-level deals after their seasons, which would leave 3 more open spots. Slaggert gets a look maybe? Any undrafted NCAA stars worth a gamble?
- TommyHawk

Once all the UFAs and non-tendered RFAs are off the books they should be down to about 30 contracts or even less. Plenty of spots for prospects, but won't be able to get them into action this year.

Wise has had a really good year and I think they will sign him if he wants to come in. They have a lot of development time in with him.

Kaiser, Commesso, and Slaggert make sense. Dominic Basse has had a good year, so has Ryder Rolston (though injured now). Liam Gorman (obtained at 2022 draft) also.

Wondering about the Euros. Saarela's rights are expiring this summer. Stjernborg captained Sweden's WJC team. Safonov has gotten good reviews. I think Kayumov's contract is up and he could come over now.

Can't sign them all but there are at least a few good options.

So now we’re back to Bettman hates Chicago and they won’t win the lottery?

No I don’t, nor ever, have I worked for KPMG, in fact they made my life miserable for 30 years because they went over every single bit of code in computer programs with me to ensure everything was above board. And I worked for a major multinational company with far more resources the NHL could dream to have. And I assure you they would be extremely difficult to bribe or pay off. It’s not some single guy walking into the office doing the audit. It’s a team of twenty people, including lawyers, actuaries, accountants, and in our case computer experts. Bettman would have needed some serious coin to pay off that many people enough for them to risk years of jail time. While I’ll never say never, it’s almost virtually impossible to bribe a team of KPMG auditors.
- paulr

I've always been there. And even if he told me otherwise, I would still have my doubts.

If the lottery is rigged, I just wanna know whose crazy idea it was to give the Oilers the first pick four times in a six year span, and why.

I have a feeling that the Hawks will be placed in a position where Michkov is the best player on the board when they are on the clock and then they have a tough decision to make IMO.

The world's political climate is one thing plus Michkov is signed in the KHL until 24-25. I don't know how easy it would be for him to walk away from that contract if he wants to. Does anyone know if he even wants to play in the NHL? Do they let him play out 3 more seasons there? Do Hawk fans/management have the patience?

I can just picture them selecting Michkov and it turning into another Maxim Shalunov situation where the player doesn't want to leave the motherland.

Has anyone read or heard of the kids intentions? I have to think NHL teams have their scouts trying to figure out which way the wind is blowing with this kid.
- Rota's Rooter

I have visions of them pulling a Mogilny 2.0 and shuttling him from hotel to hotel as they sneak him out of Russia.

I laughed at PE because he went from to Bettman hates Chicago and won’t let them get the first to, Bettman knows Chicago is an important NHL city and will make sure Chicago wins the lottery. He’s pretty much hedged his bet, don’t you think?

As for what happened with Crosby and Edmonton, yes it’s a strange coincidence. But the one thing that’s makes me feel comfortable that the lottery isn’t rigged is because KPMG, a huge worldwide multibillion dollar company, audits the lottery. Now it’s very Difficult for anyone to suggest KPMG is willing to be in on rigging NHL draft lotteries. That requires even more proof.
- paulr

F$ck KPMG and their honesty. The Hawks need Arthur Anderson and his beancounters to oversee the lottery. With those boys in charge, the wheel would go round and round until it landed on the Indianhead.

F$ck KPMG and their honesty. The Hawks need Arthur Anderson and his beancounters to oversee the lottery. With those boys in charge, the wheel would go round and round until it landed on the Indianhead.
- RickJ

It worked for Enron, so why not us?

I'm not a big conspiracy theorist. There's too often a problem where too many people would have to be in on it, the motive is very weak, or the odds of the stated truth is still significantly higher than the conspiracy.

Here, only a few people would have to be in on it and there is a strong financial motive, and rigging a lottery draft would be relatively easy to pull off. Plus, the odds of all the big market teams winning by chance is relatively low.

Nobody can say for sure except a handful of people, but I think it's rigged (or at least was rigged)
- Hawkeynation

Well then they'd have to get all the teams representatives that witness the balls being drawn and the few journalists in there to lie about it.

The NHL had a problem roughly twenty years ago due to Mario being extremely pissed about being owed so much money and the Pens not being able to pay. So all of a sudden Lemieux winds up with a piece of the team. Not too long after that the lockout happens in 2005 and son of a b!tch who gets fist pick in the Crosby draft.
Doesn't prove anything, but it is quite the coincidence. It's one of the reasons I don't laugh at PE. I have often posted that money is first and hockey second. I'm not sure how they got Gretzky off their back due to him being owed a poop ton of money too.
- 6628

The lottery back then is quite different than it is today, so maybe it was rigged. But there is no proof of it.

Once all the UFAs and non-tendered RFAs are off the books they should be down to about 30 contracts or even less. Plenty of spots for prospects, but won't be able to get them into action this year.

Wise has had a really good year and I think they will sign him if he wants to come in. They have a lot of development time in with him.

Kaiser, Commesso, and Slaggert make sense. Dominic Basse has had a good year, so has Ryder Rolston (though injured now). Liam Gorman (obtained at 2022 draft) also.

Wondering about the Euros. Saarela's rights are expiring this summer. Stjernborg captained Sweden's WJC team. Safonov has gotten good reviews. I think Kayumov's contract is up and he could come over now.

Can't sign them all but there are at least a few good options.
- totem

Fantastic post, thanks for it. More info in it than any of the writers who are paid to cover the Hawks.

Is this the last yr the Hawks can sign Basse before he becomes a FA? Assuming Stalock is not signed, Soderblom shares the crease with Mrazak that leaves Stauber in RKF with Commeso and it seems Basse would have to play in Indy.

If it fell that way the goalie pipeline would be as deep as I can remember. ..... That said I still hope they find a way to draft Hrabal this yr. His disappointing yr on a horrible USHL Omaha team has him falling on some draft lists. A good thing for the Hawks flush with 2nd rd picks.

Ya winning the other night was fun but not very smart . My entire youth was spent doing that . I am ok if they win one in every 4 or 5 games ,but have to keep the eye on the prize . .Is the draft fixed, only when it becomes necessary . Is it necessary this year ? maybe .I heard that Bedard may pull a Lindros and demand his hometown Vancouver only . I have my Douds about that. Canucks have had dreadful luck in the Lottery ,maybe they catch break this time
If we are fortunate enough to land Bedard we will be on the fast track of a rebuild with pile of dough to spend and draft picks up the wazoo Tankhardfrobedard

Fantastic post, thanks for it. More info in it than any of the writers who are paid to cover the Hawks.

Is this the last yr the Hawks can sign Basse before he becomes a FA? Assuming Stalock is not signed, Soderblom shares the crease with Mrazak that leaves Stauber in RKF with Commeso and it seems Basse would have to play in Indy.

If it fell that way the goalie pipeline would be as deep as I can remember. ..... That said I still hope they find a way to draft Hrabal this yr. His disappointing yr on a horrible USHL Omaha team has him falling on some draft lists. A good thing for the Hawks flush with 2nd rd picks.
- Mr Ricochet

Thanks, from everything I can see Basse has another year of eligibility so they could wait until next summer. Is it better to have him at Indy or do another year at St. Cloud?

Also curious about the Michigan Tech goalie:
https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/316108/blake-pietila

Those are some stellar numbers for a goalie in a major NCAA league. Not drafted so is a free agent after this year. Maybe too small so the interest isn't there.

Nice work on the PP from AA, Reichel and Raddysh

Nice work on the PP from AA, Reichel and Raddysh
- HawkintheD

For someone who seemingly doesn’t pass the puck AA has been piling up the assists lately.

Nice work on the PP from AA, Reichel and Raddysh
- HawkintheD

Especially that little saucer pass by Reichel

Is the ice the reason we are having so much trouble keeping a pass on our stick.

2 zip now

Especially that little saucer pass by Reichel

Is the ice the reason we are having so much trouble keeping a pass on our stick.

2 zip now
- BetweenTheDots

Raddysh with another after some nice work from Guttman and TJ.

Raddysh with another after some nice work from Guttman and TJ.
- HawkintheD

They do have a lot of trouble getting through the neutral zone kind of don't get why Ottawa didn't take that approach.

They do have a lot of trouble getting through the neutral zone kind of don't get why Ottawa didn't take that approach.
- BetweenTheDots

I missed the 2nd period and apparently the Hawks decided to take it off too.

I missed the 2nd period and apparently the Hawks decided to take it off too.
- HawkintheD

Nah, they just had them pinned, unlike the Senators we only got one 2 on 1 in that period.

I missed the 2nd period and apparently the Hawks decided to take it off too.
- HawkintheD

Trying to remember goal is to lose and play OK from here on out.

Makes it easier to not get too upset with Caleb Jones............

I missed the 2nd period and apparently the Hawks decided to take it off too.
- HawkintheD

Stalock has played well, otherwise it would be 6-2. With that, I’d rather see Soderblom and Stalock in net next year vs Soderblom and Mrazek.

Trying to remember goal is to lose and play OK from here on out.

Makes it easier to not get too upset with Caleb Jones............
- vabeachbear

I’m okay with losing and not have to watch Caleb Jones, but losing and Caleb Jones, sometimes it’s just not worth watching, tbh.

Hahaha

Joey Friggin Anderson