Maybe KD is following the Toronto Model, thereby skipping the drafting of defensemen altogether.
- mohel

The Maple Leafs have alsways had a strategy for building winning teams, it just takes time and patience to implement. Like 75 -100 years.

I am old enough to remember when much of the board was certain - certain - that Mitchell was really gonna be the goods. Oh, well....
- mohel

Fans more times than not overvalue their team’s prospects, it’s the nature of the beast. Not sure exactly about the goods, but I for one thought he’d be a decent NHL defenseman, that is until I saw him being manhandled in front of his own net during a game last year.

Hawks need talent, whoever the best available kid is you got to take him.
- BetweenTheDots

I hope the Hawks get one of these guys at 19 Leaonrd Barlow or Musty .I also think we may add another 1st pick .
I have this feeling the Hawks somehow end up with Cristall

Add Mitchell and Regula to the pile.
Forsling, Rutta, Kempny, Leddy, Boqvist, Jokiharju, etc…

Maybe KD is following the Toronto Model, thereby skipping the drafting of defensemen altogether.
- mohel

One could argue that's what Bowman's strategy should have been.

Hawks need talent, whoever the best available kid is you got to take him.
- BetweenTheDots

Agree supposedly, but wiz would know more, big nasty mobile stay defense man simashev is with some untapped offensive upside to his game. All depends where he is on Davidson and company draft board.

Add Mitchell and Regula to the pile.
Forsling, Rutta, Kempny, Leddy, Boqvist, Jokiharju, etc…
- Ztra

I think Leddy was different. He was a case of the Hawks reluctantly moving him because of cap issues and because Oduya was a better fit at the time.

Hawks need talent, whoever the best available kid is you got to take him.
- BetweenTheDots

So fans are going to learn what is a Shimoshev?

Once he arrives NHL and if he plays here

Agree supposedly, but wiz would know more, big nasty mobile stay defense man simashev is with some untapped offensive upside to his game. All depends where he is on Davidson and company draft board.
- Scott1977

Maybe skill first and add brawny players secondly
So IF Danielson is still on board…..,

Maybe skill first and add brawny players secondly
So IF Danielson is still on board…..,
- jhawk59

I pick him out of the four I mentioned. Build out goaltending defense center. I heard a long time ago on nhl network a former gm was interviewed, don't remember the gm's name, but he said every draft he made sure to draft a goalie defenseman and center no matter what.

KD dumped 2 defenceman today. He's zeroing in on Dmitri Shimashev with #19.
- RickJ

Comment = not very smart

I think Leddy was different. He was a case of the Hawks reluctantly moving him because of cap issues and because Oduya was a better fit at the time.
- paulr

Plus he was in Coach Q's doghouse.

Hey Wiz, I'm curious from my untrained eye...
Watching a guy like AA back in his Detroit days, he stood out to me as a player that simply looked "different" on the ice, even when you don't consider his ELITE level speed. He was someone that I was sure of would be a game-changing talent (evidently not). Taking Patty Kane as an example, slowing the game down, evading hits, his vision and playmaking... all of that has looked SO different from other players on the ice and it's been a joy to watch him for over a decade in the Indianhead.
- TommyHawk

As a guy who watched tons of AA's junior in London, playing with Chris Tierney, Domi, Greg McKegg, Austin Watson, THESE are the guys I have to watch to get any idea of who/what can move up.
I loved Tierney and AA's competitiveness, but in the back of my mind, I look at the links in their armor and the strengths ands attempt to press pass the now to the NHL.
I loved AA's junior game for its speed and instincts there was something there to cheer for. I watched how he lasted to the 4th rd. to the Red Wings, and I guess I never lost the impression to even last season, that al the speed didn't ever balance out the amount of pucks he lost in the process.

But Bedard... I don't know. I watch the videos. I read the reports. I scour the gaudy statistics pages. I'm trying not to blindly become enamored by the talent that everyone is clamoring about, but I just don't SEE it the way scouts do. Maybe it's because I didn't play the sport, or I'm not up close enough when I do go to games to see the marginal differences in how a player skates or shoots that makes or breaks their future, team, and overall game impact.
- TommyHawk

So I ask, as someone as experienced and has watched as many clips, videos, and highlights as you have... seen players in person and on screens... is he REALLY that transcendental? Or is there a certain element of conforming bias in opinions from experts that has swallowed up any kind of rational perspective out there.

Omigosh, I cannot feel anything but excitement because he is MORE than any team can expect.

This is an individual that does not fit any comparison, and is not even thinking he is close to through perfecting hie abilities.

I started with the shot.
I simply couldn't figure out if the goalies blew, or the shot was more than met my eye.
I analyze each shot (more and more much to my family's ire.
The only person close to having that release and sucess was Michel Bossy.
I didn't want to believe it. I am not going to make a comment that makes me look like a exaggerating hockey fanboy...but I kept watching this kid look far better than his weight class, and thinking size and nhl speed would humble him.

I don't think at this juncture, even though my team is getting him, that he is different, so different then the rest.
He is a new template, that cannot be called McDavid, or Matthews or Crosby.
He has assembled so many rehearsed attacking plans that the league will never get their video teams cUGHT UP.
It has less to do with what anyone says is his upside, or who he compares to.
He is the new template and all others in the future drafts will be compared to them.

I've literally never seen a player - in any sport - be as highly thought of as a prospect as he's been. Even for as hyped as McDavid was, people still found ways to nitpick his game. Maybe it's just the surreal feeling that this is a player that's going to be on one of my teams that makes me a natural skeptic, but I'm just having a tough time accepting/rationalizing that some sort of messiah is coming to change this team's fortunes.
- TommyHawk

Well, the NBA San Antonio's first rounders already being called the best player ever as his upside.
McDavid is even. better than he was in Eire, but that's what stars do: improve and excel.

Before I say more, if you are the guy in the suit at the games, I want to apologize for when I told you to take your blackbird ass out of my section...

This is really something different.
He simply doesn't fit a comparison. The Hockey News tried using Joe Malone, a 150 lb. 5'10" wing who scored143 goals in 126 games in his career 1917-1924.
No one was close to his totals.

Bedard is, well, my dream for over 3 years, and now as his season continued, he simply showed this WHAT he wants TO do, and will not stop in his growing his scoring.
It is alright for you to be skeptical, but I feel after he scores a dozen nhl goals it will dissipate and you will embrace the fact he is not Patrick KANE...BUT MUCH, MUCH more.

OK, got past me. AA seems like a million dollar arm 10 cent brain type to me. ... Love his size and speed though.
- Mr Ricochet

Bingo -post of the day, and I'm not even caught up yet.

Danielson Yager But or Honzek are there at 19th who you picking? I still agree with you in the big Finn if is able in the later round of the 1st I would move up and get him.
- Scott1977

Honzek or
But

KD dumped 2 defenceman today. He's zeroing in on Dmitri Shimashev with #19.
- RickJ

I almost laughed at this draft idea, but I like me some ASP at #19 Axel Sandin Pelikka, who I think deserves to be the first defender selected.

There isa very little correlation between cleaning out Mitchell and more about Vlasic, Kaiser, Korchinski, Allen, Phillips, DelMastro, Roos, and Crevier now seeing a bright sot they want to fill.

Not sure this big defender Shimashev isn't a reach at #19.

Honzek or
But

- wiz1901

Best available.

I almost laughed at this draft idea, but I like me some ASP at #19 Axel Sandin Pelikka, who I think deserves to be the first defender selected.

There isa very little correlation between cleaning out Mitchell and more about Vlasic, Kaiser, Korchinski, Allen, Phillips, DelMastro, Roos, and Crevier now seeing a bright sot they want to fill.

Not sure this big defender Shimashev isn't a reach at #19.
- wiz1901

You should have at least smiled, it was meant as a joke.

That said, a month or so ago I kept reading there would be very few Dmen selected in the 1st round because of the depth of outstanding forwards available. Now I see the names of 4 or 5 defenceman projected to go in Round 1. So who's to say where Shimashev goes, some team might like him early.

I just hope KD doesn't get sucked into picking some 160 lb 'puck mover' kid or a Chad Krys type at #19 who will take 5 years to gain 20 lbs and adapt. Success in the NHL almost always goes to teams with size and some significant nasty on the blueline

The Hawks already have enough D prospects for now to develop, they need talent and size up front.

Maybe skill first and add brawny players secondly
So IF Danielson is still on board…..,
- jhawk59

You pray that he can play with more intensity...a possible second line set up man at wing or centre but if he doesn't intensify, he is a 3rd liner...he is not as good a prospect as FLA Anton Lundell, a far better C prospect.

Best available.
- paulr

yup

One player I’m not seeing in Wiz’s list though I may have missed it is Red Deer Rebel Kai Uchacz who scored 50 goals 85 points in 68 games, 6’2 195. He did get himself into trouble a few years back when he called his own teammate a racial slur. Trouble maker, immature or just a Richard? No idea, but this may be the long shot type of pick.

One player I’m not seeing in Wiz’s list though I may have missed it is Red Deer Rebel Kai Uchacz who scored 50 goals 85 points in 68 games, 6’2 195. He did get himself into trouble a few years back when he called his own teammate a racial slur. Trouble maker, immature or just a Richard? No idea, but this may be the long shot type of pick.
- paulr

I realize this kid is an overager but his season came out of nowhere. Plus he added 9 goals in 12 playoff games!!...... Kid showed nothing in Major Junior, but he did pop a lotta goals in minor hockey. https://www.eliteprospect.../player/505754/kai-uchacz

The Hawks already have enough D prospects for now to develop, they need talent and size up front.
- RickJ

Agreed, but if a right shot Dman that falls on their board in rd 2 would not surprise me if KD and Crew nabs him, although I'd rather they didn't and go forward with their first 5 picks unless Hrabal is available after #19....... A Dman like Bonk or even Dragacevic? I do think they draft a RS Dman somewhere in this draft.

I pick him out of the four I mentioned. Build out goaltending defense center. I heard a long time ago on nhl network a former gm was interviewed, don't remember the gm's name, but he said every draft he made sure to draft a goalie defenseman and center no matter what.
- Scott1977

That is an old baseball and hockey axiom. It may have been appropriate for football and basketball too. However, so much zone and freak athletic ability - like Urlacher for Bears in his heyday just to give an example we all can identify - so it is more representative in baseball and hockey

It is not the only way or necessarily the best way to draft; it is thought sensible and a good idea. I bet I can come up with an interesting corollary and it wouldn’t be really a bad approach

The Bruins had the benefit of Chara size, reach and effectiveness for many years. He was hard to play against. Some players may even have deliberately chosen to attack against the Bruins on the opposite side. After Chara left beantown the fans, the players and the coach all must have really missed Chara.

You could have said that Chara had a lot to do with their success. When Chara left a part of their identity surely seemed to be missing

If the Bruins choose to play the same old same old, then the GM might have felt like he had to get a Chara clone

Of course the Bruins could win without Chara. His replacement has his own strength in his style.

Interestingly enough Bob Murray as GM had a penchant to draft a few hard nosed forwards and puck moving dmen seemingly each draft

And finally let us note that in a league where copying is sometimes adulated, from year - to -year it has not been a carbon copy chiseled in stone who wins the Cup plays the same way as the previous year’s best team

The dynamics in the game in sports too will cause a GZm to draft differently year to year. Let us not overlook the changes in roster composition due to injuries, salary cap, and old age of a player(s) may cause a team to draft differently

I know the Chicago fan base cries for a second genuine offensive center for years yet we won at least the last two Cuos being perceived as weak at the depth at the center I’ve position.

So all that and I will say again your scout’s draft strategy is a good idea but not necessarily written in stone the only best way to go about business

Entwistle & Blackwell are missing. Anderson maybe destined for Rockford. I can see a couple of more free agent forwards signed. Are Blackwell and D!ckinson expendable since Hall and possibly Foligno are filling the veteran roles?
- boilermaker100

Kurashev