This is a really good article:

https://theathletic.com/4...rs-connor-bedard-mcdavid/
- glennjpawlak22

I don't see the Hawks making the same mistakes as the Oilers. The Hawks have invested in every facet of the game, from scouting (pro and amateur), data analytics, nutrition, off-ice player development, facilities just to name a few.

KD has a plan to bring the Hawks back into contention. Bedard is part of the plan, he is not the plan. Bedard will obviously play the biggest role in the Hawks resurgence, but KD is focused on building a quality team with depth. The prospect pool is as deep as I can remember.

Grade A Prospects
- Bedard
- Reichel
- Korchinski
- Nazar
- Moore

Grade B Prospects
- Soderblom
- Commesso
- Vlasic
- Del Mastro
- Kaiser
- Gajan
- Rinzel

Grade C Prospects
- Kantserov
- Greene
- Dach
- Phillips
- Hayes
- Allan
- Ludwinski
- Savoie
- Marcel (although it was tempting to put him with the Grade As based on name alone)

I don't see the Hawks making the same mistakes as the Oilers. The Hawks have invested in every facet of the game, from scouting (pro and amateur), data analytics, nutrition, off-ice player development, facilities just to name a few.

KD has a plan to bring the Hawks back into contention. Bedard is part of the plan, he is not the plan. Bedard will obviously play the biggest role in the Hawks resurgence, but KD is focused on building a quality team with depth. The prospect pool is as deep as I can remember.

Grade A Prospects
- Bedard
- Reichel
- Korchinski
- Nazar
- Moore

Grade B Prospects
- Soderblom
- Commesso
- Vlasic
- Del Mastro
- Kaiser
- Gajan
- Rinzel

Grade C Prospects
- Kantserov
- Greene
- Dach
- Phillips
- Hayes
- Allan
- Ludwinski
- Savoie
- Marcel (although it was tempting to put him with the Grade As based on name alone)
- DarthKane

I can't argue (or even comment) about your evaluations, but IMO (which means squat on this board as i do not see one iota of the amateur games that a lot of posters on here do, but if I see a game that has a Hawk prospect on one of the teams I try and watch) Ryan Greene is more of a B prospect than C. He is already a very good defensively aware Center, but if he can continue to show offense like he did in his first Season at BU, I see him fitting nicely as the 3C behind Bedard and Moore, with Nazar moving to a top 6 wing position.

This fits the prospect pyramid they had on CHGO a couple of weeks ago. The 3rd tier was the most important as that is where a teams depth comes from.

I don't see the Hawks making the same mistakes as the Oilers. The Hawks have invested in every facet of the game, from scouting (pro and amateur), data analytics, nutrition, off-ice player development, facilities just to name a few.

KD has a plan to bring the Hawks back into contention. Bedard is part of the plan, he is not the plan. Bedard will obviously play the biggest role in the Hawks resurgence, but KD is focused on building a quality team with depth. The prospect pool is as deep as I can remember.

Grade A Prospects
- Bedard
- Reichel
- Korchinski
- Nazar
- Moore

Grade B Prospects
- Soderblom
- Commesso
- Vlasic
- Del Mastro
- Kaiser
- Gajan
- Rinzel

Grade C Prospects
- Kantserov
- Greene
- Dach
- Phillips
- Hayes
- Allan
- Ludwinski
- Savoie
- Marcel (although it was tempting to put him with the Grade As based on name alone)
- DarthKane

Kaiser is a A prospect and will exceed original expectations.

I don't see the Hawks making the same mistakes as the Oilers. The Hawks have invested in every facet of the game, from scouting (pro and amateur), data analytics, nutrition, off-ice player development, facilities just to name a few.

KD has a plan to bring the Hawks back into contention. Bedard is part of the plan, he is not the plan. Bedard will obviously play the biggest role in the Hawks resurgence, but KD is focused on building a quality team with depth. The prospect pool is as deep as I can remember.

Grade A Prospects
- Bedard
- Reichel
- Korchinski
- Nazar
- Moore

Grade B Prospects
- Soderblom
- Commesso
- Vlasic
- Del Mastro
- Kaiser
- Gajan
- Rinzel

Grade C Prospects
- Kantserov
- Greene
- Dach
- Phillips
- Hayes
- Allan
- Ludwinski
- Savoie
- Marcel (although it was tempting to put him with the Grade As based on name alone)
- DarthKane

Another guy to keep an eye on is Nick Lardis. Exceptional skater and a great shot.

DarthKane is a "C" prospect?

I don't see the Hawks making the same mistakes as the Oilers. The Hawks have invested in every facet of the game, from scouting (pro and amateur), data analytics, nutrition, off-ice player development, facilities just to name a few.

KD has a plan to bring the Hawks back into contention. Bedard is part of the plan, he is not the plan. Bedard will obviously play the biggest role in the Hawks resurgence, but KD is focused on building a quality team with depth. The prospect pool is as deep as I can remember.

Grade A Prospects
- Bedard
- Reichel
- Korchinski
- Nazar
- Moore

Grade B Prospects
- Soderblom
- Commesso
- Vlasic
- Del Mastro
- Kaiser
- Gajan
- Rinzel

Grade C Prospects
- Kantserov
- Greene
- Dach
- Phillips
- Hayes
- Allan
- Ludwinski
- Savoie
- Marcel (although it was tempting to put him with the Grade As based on name alone)
- DarthKane

The top three goalies in the B group huh? That's bold.

The thing I like most right now is that they have almost an over-abundance of competitive forwards right now. That will undoubtedly help as they team progresses and players ultimately want/need contracts that don't necessarily fit with their performance or the cap. The fact that KD has stacked higher draft picks in the coming years only helps in that sense.

For the record - I'm all in on Marcel. I love that he is playing in the AHL this year, and I can't wait to see him progress.

62 and still rocking a minus 23 probably.
- SC116

Right i mean Karlsson had 101 points with a minus 26. Won the Norris

I still say that if Jones made about $7M and was their #2 or #3, that he would be an asset to the team. Unfortunately he’s overpaid, and has had to play too many minutes due to the Hawks lack of talent on defense the last couple of years. With some of the young talent coming, his TOI will decrease, regrettably there’s nothing that they can do about his contract.
- Angotti

Definitely is over paid. The unfortunate part is he's the only talented dman we have currently. It's such a team sport and to say he's the problem, not you, is such a joke when the entire team around him is mostly made up of AHL players.

The salary doesn't matter its not like anyone is going to really get paid until Bedard's next contract is up.

If the Blackhawks put him on the market they would have no trouble trading him.

Right i mean Karlsson had 101 points with a minus 26. Won the Norris
- BetweenTheDots

Which is likely why so many people find it very strange that he won it. This argument has happened numerous times over the last 10-15 years.

Guys like Burns, Karlsson, Makar, Fox, Subban, etc are mostly offensive generators. I don't have anything particularly against that as I think it is an enormous advantage to have that type of player on the back end. However, to have a guy like Lidstrom, Keith, Hedman, Doughty, etc I think is light years more advantageous. The guys that have the complete game are the ones who normally make all the difference between winning and losing.

Which is likely why so many people find it very strange that he won it. This argument has happened numerous times over the last 10-15 years.

Guys like Burns, Karlsson, Makar, Fox, Subban, etc are mostly offensive generators. I don't have anything particularly against that as I think it is an enormous advantage to have that type of player on the back end. However, to have a guy like Lidstrom, Keith, Hedman, Doughty, etc I think is light years more advantageous. The guys that have the complete game are the ones who normally make all the difference between winning and losing.
- Chunk

Some have suggested an additional trophy for the highest scoring defenseman, The Bobby Orr trophy, to the defenseman who puts up the most points in a season. Then the Norris can be presented to the best defenseman.

Some have suggested an additional trophy for the highest scoring defenseman, The Bobby Orr trophy, to the defenseman who puts up the most points in a season. Then the Norris can be presented to the best defenseman.
- paulr

Maybe if they just went back to basing the decision on the original definition we wouldn't have this problem...

The James Norris Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position." The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season.

If a defenseman is that that interested in points he can have a go at the Art Ross. Otherwise, try to keep some pucks out of your own net.

Right i mean Karlsson had 101 points with a minus 26. Won the Norris
- BetweenTheDots

The Sharks were a -82, considering Karlsson played 42% of the minutes, didn't he significantly outperform his team.

Anyways The James Norris Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position. Doesn't say anything about the best defensive defenseman.

Karlsson had 27 power play points, Those don't count as plus minus, but I think scoring on the power play helps you win games. By contrast the Hawks #1 D man on the PP Seth Jones had a grand total of 12 power play points.

I guess the voters decided that Karlsson's magical offensive season on a weak team offset his defensive liabilities and thought him the best defenseman combining both offensive and defensive abilities.

historically, if you look at the Norris trophy winners, they are generally the defenseman with the better offensive output, and granted on top level teams, not on one of the worst team in the league. Of course Ernie Banks won 2 MVP's playing for a dismal Chicago Cubs team, was he really the league MVP when his teams were in last place?

Good argument for a Hjalmarsson trophy to recognize the best defensive defenseman just like they award the Bergeron (Selke) to the best defensive forward.

Grade A Prospects
- Bedard
- Reichel
- Korchinski
- Nazar
- Moore

Grade B Prospects
- Soderblom
- Commesso
- Vlasic
- Del Mastro
- Kaiser
- Gajan
- Rinzel

Grade C Prospects
- Kantserov
- Greene
- Dach
- Phillips
- Hayes
- Allan
- Ludwinski
- Savoie
- Marcel (although it was tempting to put him with the Grade As based on name alone)
- DarthKane

Good post Darth.

I would move Hayes up to the B group. He had a good World Junior Summer Showcase and stands a good chance to make the US WJC team this December.
Misiak may be a sleeper too.

And don't forget 5 picks in the first two rounds next summer and 4 picks in the 1st two rounds in 2025 hopefully will net a couple more A prospects and a couple of B prospects.

LVG is really a trend setter. Won the cup with 1 drafted player with the squad built on free agents and trades then with a handful of goalies. Trend setters or an outlier?

Goalies who won the cup the last 16 yrs. It's subjective but by my count in the last 16 yrs 11 teams had career very good to elite goaltenders.

23, Hill
22, Kuemper
21, Vasilevsky
20, Vasilevsky
19, Binnington
18, Hotlby
17, Murray
16, Fluery
15, Crawford
14, Quick
13, Crawford
12, Quick
11, Thomas
10, Niemi
09, Fluery
08, Detroit
- Mr Ricochet

When you are an expansion team what else are you going to be? Their deal got them good players because less were protected than in other expansion drafts. As for goalie, it happens...

I don't see the Hawks making the same mistakes as the Oilers. The Hawks have invested in every facet of the game, from scouting (pro and amateur), data analytics, nutrition, off-ice player development, facilities just to name a few.

KD has a plan to bring the Hawks back into contention. Bedard is part of the plan, he is not the plan. Bedard will obviously play the biggest role in the Hawks resurgence, but KD is focused on building a quality team with depth. The prospect pool is as deep as I can remember.

Grade A Prospects
- Bedard
- Reichel
- Korchinski
- Nazar
- Moore

Grade B Prospects
- Soderblom
- Commesso
- Vlasic
- Del Mastro
- Kaiser
- Gajan
- Rinzel

Grade C Prospects
- Kantserov
- Greene
- Dach
- Phillips
- Hayes
- Allan
- Ludwinski
- Savoie
- Marcel (although it was tempting to put him with the Grade As based on name alone)
- DarthKane

For me, the guy who I think will steadily and quietly move up the list is Nolan Allan. The Hawks will need the no frills steady defensive type and I think he will keep progressing.

You are right that Bedard is part of the plan, but he isn't "the plan" nor should he accelerate or greatly alter the plan. The Hawks should miss the playoffs over the next couple seasons and keep building.

Which is likely why so many people find it very strange that he won it. This argument has happened numerous times over the last 10-15 years.

Guys like Burns, Karlsson, Makar, Fox, Subban, etc are mostly offensive generators. I don't have anything particularly against that as I think it is an enormous advantage to have that type of player on the back end. However, to have a guy like Lidstrom, Keith, Hedman, Doughty, etc I think is light years more advantageous. The guys that have the complete game are the ones who normally make all the difference between winning and losing.
- Chunk

Disagree on Makar and Fox being lumped in with the offense only crowd. Those two are great in the neutral zone and defensive zone.

Another RHD I thought the Hawks might sign is elsewhere

The New Jersey Devils have signed defenceman Cal Foote to a one-year, two-way contract worth $800,000 at the NHL level and $350,000 in the American Hockey League.

Jones off the board to the Leafs for $875 K

Disagree on Makar and Fox being lumped in with the offense only crowd. Those two are great in the neutral zone and defensive zone.
- ObeseOprah

Right back at you. Disagree on Fox as to me he’s a defensive liability, now Makar I’m with you, he’s very good in his own end, very underrated there.

Jones off the board to the Leafs for $875 K
- wizardofi

Overpay.

Overpay.
- Ogilthorpe2

Martin not Caleb

Martin not Caleb
- LAHawk

Would anyone sign Caleb?

Would anyone sign Caleb?
- wizardofi

Stan Bowman’s ‘the Certainties’ has been making multiple offers

Some have suggested an additional trophy for the highest scoring defenseman, The Bobby Orr trophy, to the defenseman who puts up the most points in a season. Then the Norris can be presented to the best defenseman.
- paulr

Totally agree