Might want to pick up an NHL caliber Defenseman for Bedard to practice against.
- Dieselhead

Sounds like they are looking to sign a right defenseman in FA.

Rupp and Torchetti both saying last night that Bedard centering Hall and the speed of AA would be ideal.
- vabeachbear

I don't like AA on the first line. He had 20 assists in 81 games (granted he was not playing with offensively talented linemates most of the time.) He does not see the ice well. He does not have a high hockey IQ. He is not a great finisher. I really like the idea of trading for Arvidsson.

Hall, Bedard, Arvidsson
AA, Reichel, Raddysh
T. Johnson, Guttman, Foligno
For the 4th line pick three from these guys. Katchouk, D!ckinson, Anderson, Kurashev, Blackwell, Hardman, Entwistle, R. Johnson

It most certainly is.

- vabeachbear

I still cannot believe it. I'm giggling like a little school kid

I don't know about you but I have my three monitors set. (TV on ESPN)
Capfriendly
Hockey-Reference
HockeyBuzz
Any other sites you recommend?

I love drafting Bedard. But I think the last few hours before the draft and Rounds 2 and 3 will be crazy.

I predict KD will make a move that affects the 1st round. Either adding a 1st or moving up in the 1st by packaging later round picks and next year's picks.

Bring it on.

Off topic

How many points would B Hull and Makita garner if they played nowadays with Bedard? With Kane and Toews? D Savard? With Roenick?

Remember when B Nichols potted 150 points with Gretzky

Heck how many points would you or I amass? No, don’t answer this last one…..but you might dream about it some night, eh!

Yup, they’res going to be a flurry of trade activity today with FA looking meh and little cap wiggle room.

Let’s go KD and team

I don't know about you but I have my three monitors set. (TV on ESPN)
Capfriendly
Hockey-Reference
HockeyBuzz
Any other sites you recommend?

I love drafting Bedard. But I think the last few hours before the draft and Rounds 2 and 3 will be crazy.

I predict KD will make a move that affects the 1st round. Either adding a 1st or moving up in the 1st by packaging later round picks and next year's picks.

Bring it on.
- -Doh-

How much coffee are you on?

I'm most interested to see how many other cap deals he makes with desperate teams. I was reading an article the other day where he said he wanted to get the deal for ADB done early (and the groundwork on Dach) because there is virtually no privacy on the floor of the draft and he wanted to be under the radar. It is nice to see a GM being so deliberate about the overall plan.

I don't know about you but I have my three monitors set. (TV on ESPN)
Capfriendly
Hockey-Reference
HockeyBuzz
Any other sites you recommend?

I love drafting Bedard. But I think the last few hours before the draft and Rounds 2 and 3 will be crazy.

I predict KD will make a move that affects the 1st round. Either adding a 1st or moving up in the 1st by packaging later round picks and next year's picks.

Bring it on.
- -Doh-

Wish come true if we wind up drafting a forward even too 15 or very close (not later). Benson or Danielson odds quite high we get neither but you never know. We can offer three or four picks over two drafts with our first ‘24 non. Inclusive

Sounds like they are looking to sign a right defenseman in FA.
- BetweenTheDots

Petry and PIT's 14th pick for a couple of 2nds and a 3rd. Pens get cap relief for other moves this summer and multiple picks. Hawks obtain #14 and keep #19.

I don't think this kid is going to be what you think he will be.
I'd trade #1 to Anaheim. For their first this year, next year and the year after.(the latter 2 unprotected)

He's going to be a Tavares type player. Great hands, great shot, slow feet that get slower. And before you all rip away. Look at how good Lafreniere looked playing against boys. Or even Shayne Wright. He's good. But he's not Crosby or McDavid. It would be a bold move.

Petry and PIT's 14th pick for a couple of 2nds and a 3rd. Pens get cap relief for other moves this summer and multiple picks. Hawks obtain #14 and keep #19.
- boilermaker100

Are the Hawks buying out Zaitsev?

Would you take on 50% of Erik Karlson's contract ($5.75 mil for 4 years) for the San Jose #1 pick (4th overall) and a 1st round pick from the team that acquires Karlson. (Say the Predators second pick in the first round #24 overall or the Hurricanes' first #30 overall).

With all of our cap space and a cap that will likely be much higher in year 2027, I would take that.

I don't think this kid is going to be what you think he will be.
I'd trade #1 to Anaheim. For their first this year, next year and the year after.(the latter 2 unprotected)

He's going to be a Tavares type player. Great hands, great shot, slow feet that get slower. And before you all rip away. Look at how good Lafreniere looked playing against boys. Or even Shayne Wright. He's good. But he's not Crosby or McDavid. It would be a bold move.
- Octavarium

Thank you for the minority opinion, but NO F*^#ING WAY.

How much coffee are you on?

I'm most interested to see how many other cap deals he makes with desperate teams. I was reading an article the other day where he said he wanted to get the deal for ADB done early (and the groundwork on Dach) because there is virtually no privacy on the floor of the draft and he wanted to be under the radar. It is nice to see a GM being so deliberate about the overall plan.
- Chunk

Heck with coffee. I have a caffeine drip right into my arm. I might not sleep until the last pick on Thursday. (or after the first day of free agency). lol

Are the Hawks buying out Zaitsev?
- LAHawk

I heard KD talk about being a little thin at RD since they traded Mitchell and Regula and that they will be looking at FA and other avenues to add some depth

I don't think this kid is going to be what you think he will be.
I'd trade #1 to Anaheim. For their first this year, next year and the year after.(the latter 2 unprotected)

He's going to be a Tavares type player. Great hands, great shot, slow feet that get slower. And before you all rip away. Look at how good Lafreniere looked playing against boys. Or even Shayne Wright. He's good. But he's not Crosby or McDavid. It would be a bold move.
- Octavarium

Yea because those guys were considered generational talents?

Have fun watching him in a Blackhawks sweater

I heard KD talk about being a little thin at RD since they traded Mitchell and Regula and that they will be looking at FA and other avenues to add some depth
- BetweenTheDots

Could the Hawks trade Zaitsev as part of some larger complicated deal where the Hawks take back a worse contract or part of a worse contract and then the team that acquires Zaitsev buys him out and only has a cap hit of $1,666,667 this year and $833,333 next year (instead of his full $4.5 mil cap hit this season). It is a savings for that team of $2.83 mil this year in addition to dumping a worse contract that the Blackhawks take.

Could the Hawks trade him as part of some larger complicated deal where the Hawks take back a worse contract or part of a worse contract and then the team that acquires him buys him out and only has a cap hit of $1,666,667 this year and $833,333 next year (instead of his full $4.5 mil cap hit this season). It is a savings for that team of $2.83 mil this year.
- -Doh-

It sounds like KD is open to any move that's good for the Blackhawks in the long run

Would you take on 50% of Erik Karlson's contract ($5.75 mil for 4 years) for the San Jose #1 pick (4th overall) and a 1st round pick from the team that acquires Karlson. (Say the Predators second pick in the first round #24 overall or the Hurricanes' first #30 overall).

With all of our cap space and a cap that will likely be much higher in year 2027, I would take that.
- -Doh-

??? Why would SJ have to give up a 1st, and why aren't they getting anything back? I get they don't really want/need him right now, but he's the reigning Norris winner and just had a monster offensive year.

Despite the fact that I don't really like D-men who are primarily point producers (I'm praying KK is even average defensively), He's easily held in high regard by the league. Typically a "middle man" team just gets a mid-round pick for doing so. Not sure they'd get one 1st, let alone 2.

Would you take on 50% of Erik Karlson's contract ($5.75 mil for 4 years) for the San Jose #1 pick (4th overall) and a 1st round pick from the team that acquires Karlson. (Say the Predators second pick in the first round #24 overall or the Hurricanes' first #30 overall).

With all of our cap space and a cap that will likely be much higher in year 2027, I would take that.
- -Doh-

If they offered that yes I would do it. But defeats the purpose of why SJ is trading him (and that would be a steep price by the acquiring team to give a first + whatever they would give to SJ in the first place). They also would probably retain as well meaning the 2nd team would not be stuck with 50% of his full contract.

Are the Hawks buying out Zaitsev?
- LAHawk

They could. Or bury him in Rockford.

Or trade Murphy.

I don't think this kid is going to be what you think he will be.
I'd trade #1 to Anaheim. For their first this year, next year and the year after.(the latter 2 unprotected)

He's going to be a Tavares type player. Great hands, great shot, slow feet that get slower. And before you all rip away. Look at how good Lafreniere looked playing against boys. Or even Shayne Wright. He's good. But he's not Crosby or McDavid. It would be a bold move.
- Octavarium

at the world Jrs at 17.5 he was by far and away the best player playing against people 2 years older then him and the best in his world at that age. fantili look Avg in comparison. is he a burner like Mcdavid? no but he he is a solid skater and has a better shot then both Mcdavid and crosby right now. He has elite work effect and compete. never takes a shift off.

I don't think this kid is going to be what you think he will be.
I'd trade #1 to Anaheim. For their first this year, next year and the year after.(the latter 2 unprotected)

He's going to be a Tavares type player. Great hands, great shot, slow feet that get slower. And before you all rip away. Look at how good Lafreniere looked playing against boys. Or even Shayne Wright. He's good. But he's not Crosby or McDavid. It would be a bold move.
- Octavarium

You know what they say about opinions and bumholes ….

I heard KD talk about being a little thin at RD since they traded Mitchell and Regula and that they will be looking at FA and other avenues to add some depth
- BetweenTheDots

Some RD free agents.

Justin Holl, Travis Hamonic, Radko Gudas, Scott Mayfield

I don't think this kid is going to be what you think he will be.
I'd trade #1 to Anaheim. For their first this year, next year and the year after.(the latter 2 unprotected)

He's going to be a Tavares type player. Great hands, great shot, slow feet that get slower. And before you all rip away. Look at how good Lafreniere looked playing against boys. Or even Shayne Wright. He's good. But he's not Crosby or McDavid. It would be a bold move.
- Octavarium

I don't think anyone has criticized him as slow, he's just not an absolute burner like McDavid. At 17 years old that is certainly something that can be improved (and he's shown the work ethic to do so).

What about his skating would make you say that he would be getting slower?

One last Q. If he's a Tavares-level player, why would another team offer up three 1st round picks for him?