It is Ken Solheim day! #31 {A lot of Goalies wore that number including Ed Belfour for one year} Larmer also wore it for one year but his day is coming up.

How many HOF defensemen not named Bobby Orr broke into the NHL under age 20?

I don't know if he can be sent down, but if he plays the 10th game i believe his contract doesn't slide.
- BetweenTheDots

If Korchinski has an early successes and threads water against big boy NHL forwards, I don't think the Blackhawks are gonna evaluate the 9 game and decide necessarily through ten if they are sending him back. They may just ease him in, protect him, and then gradually allow him play more minutes as the season goes on closer top the World junior Tournament Boxer day (Christmas time).

I don't think that the burning of the 1st year that playing 10 or more games will do will be a great factor in return to junior.

I am just spitballing' but there are over 30 NHL Blackhawk games that will be played before World Junior.

Unless KK gets overwhelmed and bullied to extinction by NHL players and loses all confidence the safer route is letting him play many games with smaller minutes than snap judging the first nine games and sending him back to play with youngsters.

How many HOF defensemen not named Bobby Orr broke into the NHL under age 20?
- 333inthe3rd

I think he was the first.

The six team NHL and the luxury of keeping defenseman on minor pro AHL teams into the mid and late twenties, and use them as threats against the team's pros when it was time to renew their salaries.

It is interesting how expansion changed that.

To think that the Sabres have been blessed with two defenseman in Dahlin and Power who could play right away.
It took Dahlin time and I think this last season was his big coming out as a quality high end pro.
Power is big and skates so well, he has enough skill to be added after a year of college and start playing w/o a huge developmental shortage.

Agree.
- 35Tony0

Agree as well, keep politics out of sports.

How many HOF defensemen not named Bobby Orr broke into the NHL under age 20?
- 333inthe3rd

Ray Bourque

I saw Seattle play and in crucial defensive situations Korchinski wasn’t on the ice. In the world juniors he wasn’t on the ice defensively. Most of the draft analysis last year mentioned his defensive game was lacking. And the few games I’ve seen on TV he didn’t show as being strong without the puck. He wasn’t terrible but he wasn’t in position many times, he wasn’t physically dominant moving players off the puck.
- paulr

Got it....so needs to sure up back end and hopefully get physically stronger. See how this kid looks in the preseason.

Blackhawks legend Prius Suter has signed a 2 year deal with the Canucks.

Got it....so needs to sure up back end and hopefully get physically stronger. See how this kid looks in the preseason.
- SteveRain

It would be really great if he’s pushing for a spot along with Kaiser, Allen and Del Mastro.

Is Kaiser’s name pronounced Kyser or Kazer? I’ve heard both pronunciations.

I would say he compares favorably to them, as they were all 19 years old at this stage of their careers


- dahawks8819

Judge Smails: Ty, what did you shoot today?
Ty Webb: Oh, Judge, I don’t keep score.
Judge Smails: Then how do you measure yourself with other golfers?
Ty Webb: By height.

Wonder how many more high sticking and slashing penalties there will be in the Q this year. No fighting, full facial protection on helmets, what can go wrong?
- LAHawk

Not exactly sure how they'd fight with helmets and full facial protection. Exactly what part of your opponent do you punch?

It would be really great if he’s pushing for a spot along with Kaiser, Allen and Del Mastro.

Is Kaiser’s name pronounced Kyser or Kazer? I’ve heard both pronunciations.
- paulr

KY + ZUH

Got it....so needs to sure up back end and hopefully get physically stronger. See how this kid looks in the preseason.
- SteveRain

Would it be possible to have KK play in Europe, say the SHL for a year (and is the SHL better in terms of competition than the WHL jr league) so he could play against older and stronger competition?

Not exactly sure how they'd fight with helmets and full facial protection. Exactly what part of your opponent do you punch?
- scottak

My point is instead of dropping the gloves, they will be swinging the sticks.

I saw Seattle play and in crucial defensive situations Korchinski wasn’t on the ice. In the world juniors he wasn’t on the ice defensively. Most of the draft analysis last year mentioned his defensive game was lacking. And the few games I’ve seen on TV he didn’t show as being strong without the puck. He wasn’t terrible but he wasn’t in position many times, he wasn’t physically dominant moving players off the puck.
- paulr

My only question on what you’ve written here is what kind of defenseman is KK expected to be. It seems as though he’s more of an offensive specialist. I’m 100% with you on wanting D-men to actually know how to play defense, but if he is “average” defensively, and a monster point producer I think I’d take that. They have a number of prospects who are defensive specialists.

How many HOF defensemen not named Bobby Orr broke into the NHL under age 20?
- 333inthe3rd

So far we have Wiz mentioning Dahlin and Power in Buffalo, and LA mentioning Bourque.

Another relatively recent name that comes to mind is Ekblad, picked first overall in 2014. Is he HOF bound?

There was also a guy named Henri Jokiharju who was 19 in his rookie season. If we're going to talk about a guy who was rushed up too soon...

The point is that we aren't coming up with a ton of names. Evaluating recent draft picks is hard enough before trying to guess if KK is a unicorn who can start in the show and stay there.

I don't think the question is would the Hawks be rushing KK if he was on the roster, but what is best for his development?, Playing #1 minutes in juniors, or sheltered minutes in Chicago being coached by Richardson, Dean ? Whether it is this year or next, he is still going to have a learning curve when he play's with the big boys. I am sure KD'S decision is about what is best for KK's development as opposed to what is best for the team now.
- LAHawk

Best for the team, prospect or organIzation? If it's good for the organIzation it's good for the prospect and vice versa? .......KK, like Bedard, is a part of the organIzational plan, not THE plan.

KY + ZUH
- DarthKane

When did you move to Jersey?

Entire organization is on the same page....it's been verbally hammered home every chance they get. They also hired a guy who helped develop some nice D prospects in Boston and very well could be this next wave's version of the immortal Trent Yawney.
- SteveRain

Great way to put it. And I'll bet LR gets a lot more support than Ty ever did. I've never heard of a coach at any level anywhere not having an assistant like TY had to do in the minors. You may have been joking but I'm not.

My only question on what you’ve written here is what kind of defenseman is KK expected to be. It seems as though he’s more of an offensive specialist. I’m 100% with you on wanting D-men to actually know how to play defense, but if he is “average” defensively, and a monster point producer I think I’d take that. They have a number of prospects who are defensive specialists.
- Chunk

Personally I’d like a guy who can play all situations. He’s on the ice at the most important times, a goal ahead, a goal behind, when the opponent’s top line is on the ice, on the power play and killing penalties. A guy who is very good offensively and average defensively will wind up with a huge contract, what good is a guy like that who can’t be on the ice in all situations? I don’t think Karlsson’s 100 point season and $10M contract is a positive thing for his team, or do you feel it is?

So far we have Wiz mentioning Dahlin and Power in Buffalo, and LA mentioning Bourque.

Another relatively recent name that comes to mind is Ekblad, picked first overall in 2014. Is he HOF bound?

There was also a guy named Henri Jokiharju who was 19 in his rookie season. If we're going to talk about a guy who was rushed up too soon...

The point is that we aren't coming up with a ton of names. Evaluating recent draft picks is hard enough before trying to guess if KK is a unicorn who can start in the show and stay there.
- 333inthe3rd

Hedman was 19 when he came up, I’m thinking that the HOF is very possible in the future for Hedman.

If anyone has been paying attention to how KD is handling the prospects, I have a feeling KK will likely play in the WHL this season. He'll then be in Rockford for most of the following year where he will be gaining experience playing against opponents of comparable size and speed. He'll be an old man of 21 by the time he pays regularly for the Hawks in the 2025-26 season.
- boilermaker100

I feel this is the way it'll go too. That not only will KD send KK down to jrs this yr but next yr he'll play AHL and go from there. ........ As I remember it once the CHL season/playoffs are over and the kid has aged out of jrs he can come up and play AHL or NHL.

So for 2023/24 KK plays WHL regular season, WJC, CHL playoffs and once they end up to the AHL to end that season then the AHL playoffs. A nice full season of big WHL minutes, a WJC and two playoffs (CHL and AHL).

2024/25 a handful of NHL games and a full season of AHL.

IMO the real question is Kaiser, Vlasic, Allan, Phillips and Del Mastro's path/development/NHL arrival date followed by Rinzel. Do you see all these guys getting a long NHL look, besides Rinzel, in the next 3 yrs or is one or two moved for an already established NHL Dman?

Hedman was 19 when he came up, I’m thinking that the HOF is very possible in the future for Hedman.
- Angotti

God one. I will be shocked if he doesn't get in on the first ballot.

Personally I’d like a guy who can play all situations. He’s on the ice at the most important times, a goal ahead, a goal behind, when the opponent’s top line is on the ice, on the power play and killing penalties. A guy who is very good offensively and average defensively will wind up with a huge contract, what good is a guy like that who can’t be on the ice in all situations? I don’t think Karlsson’s 100 point season and $10M contract is a positive thing for his team, or do you feel it is?
- paulr

I believe that you just described Makar, who in my book is a generational talent from the backend. You need all types of defencemen on a team, just not any with defensive deficiencies, like Gus. If KK is a stud offensively and average defensively, I’ll take that all day long.

God one. I will be shocked if he doesn't get in on the first ballot.
- 333inthe3rd

💯