Rick, don't know about you but you could see just how dialed in and efficient Mrazak was in preseason. His tracking, reads and efficiency was as good as I've ever seen from him and without seeing all NHL goalies IMO the guy is damn near as good as any goalie I've seen in the league this yr.

Indeed, he can help a lotta NHL playoff type teams in a difference making way. Maybe all the way to the cup. The only concern is will he stay healthy.

And as much as I was impressed with Mrazak from the jump I'm not with Soderblom at this stage. Nothing this guy does is clean and if he's the #1 when/if Mrazak is moved I think that solidifies the Hawks securing a top 5 pick.
- Mr Ricochet

I think Soderblom looks different than LY. if I remember correctly, LY he was smoother, less reactive and absorbed pucks. In the FLA game he lost his net on the 1st goal and was sitting on his butt & gave up the near pipe for the bank shot on the 3rd. I'm sure Waite can fix the current problems.

It would be a rarity for the first overall pick to be playing on a complete team, especially one this talented whom you would assume at least a handful of teams were tanking for.

They'll get there, have to admit, watching him play during the rebuild makes it much easier to take.
- vabeachbear

The idiocy of the coverage of Bedard sucks all the oxygen outa the room but we have rookies Reichel, KK, Vlasic and Kaiser that would be getting proper coverage if Bedard was not here.

Hawks really are a fun watch.

If the Hawks had any top 6 forward to play with Bedard, he would have more than 4 assists so far this season.
- LAHawk

I think Soderblom looks different than LY. if I remember correctly, LY he was smoother, less reactive and absorbed pucks. In the FLA game he lost his net on the 1st goal and was sitting on his butt & gave up the near pipe for the bank shot on the 3rd. I'm sure Waite can fix the current problems.
- scottak

Soderblom is a scrambly type goalie. There are some who that works for like MAF but it's safe to say it doesn't for the vast majority.. I don't see much technically from Soderblom, and never did, nor do I see the athleticism to overcome that.

Yet! Gun to my head today Soderblom tops out as an average backup at best.

Edit: Who is LY?

AA out week to week with lower body injury. Hall expected to practice Wednesday.

To me, Phillips will be the first of the young dmen moved, maybe in a package deal for a young forward or a young RD.
- Angotti

I have no problem with that. But he needs to prove he's an NHL D-man to get anything for him. I want to trade for real players, not suspects.

Soderblom is a scrambly type goalie. There are some who that works for like MAF but it's safe to say it doesn't for the vast majority.. I don't see much technically from Soderblom, and never did, nor do I see the athleticism to overcome that.

Yet! Gun to my head today Soderblom tops out as an average backup at best.

Edit: Who is LY?
- Mr Ricochet

Last Year

I just hope to see the Blackhawks work on keeping possession once they get the puck in their own zone. They must be one of the worst teams at it for now.
- BetweenTheDots

I think breaking a puck outa your own zone may be the toughest thing to do in hockey. The few times I sat in the 1st level of an NHL game every single time I was amazed at the size and speed of the players resulting in very little open ice with time and space in the Dzone.

Add a pure rookie is on every D pair with vet Dmen who should slot in a 3rd pairing (Jones a 2nd pairing guy) along with a roster full of bottom 6 type forwards and yea man, getting the puck out ain't easy.

It should improve as the rookie Dmen do.

The idiocy of the coverage of Bedard sucks all the oxygen outta the room but we have rookies Reichel, KK, Vlasic and Kaiser that would be getting proper coverage if Bedard was not here.

Hawks really are a fun watch.
- Mr Ricochet

It occurred to me that it could be worse - can you imagine if he was Kelce? Man there's more of whatever that is out there even still - and I agree with what I am thinking you're saying ... positively nauseating.

It's strange that in the course of one offseason, the backend has gone from one of the biggest concerns to one of the smallest. And the concern largely comes from the vets, not the young guys starting to fill the roster.
- Chunk

And with a rookie on every D pairing it sure was a concern and should have been. The concern being they'd be overwhelmed. ..... Personally, I could not have hoped for better from KK, Vlasic and Kaiser so far.

Hey Lou, I didn't realize you were going to the game in FLA, thought you meant you were going to the game when they got back to The City of Big Shoulders.

Where did you sit, what level? Did anything you saw confirm or refute anything you saw with the benefit of seeing the Hawks live? .. Curious how Reichel's speed looked live to you?
- Mr Ricochet

Sat in the upper level Rico, I don’t mind sitting up there, you can see the plays develop much better than in the lower bowl. They were outplayed, but hung in there thanks to wonder boy. Kaiser looked impressive, Reichel definitely showed his speed, he needs more talent to play with and he’ll breakout. Vlasic and Korchinski were fine, the young D looked good. Looks like Hall will be back to practice on Wednesday, AA out week to week with a lower body injury.

Anybody know anything about Vegas RD Kaedan Kirczak? 22 years old, 6-3, 190 pounder drafted in 2nd round in 2019. He's in the last year of his ELC. He has spent most of the time in the minors but has played about 20 games for Vegas over the years. Supposed to be a defensive defenseman. If KFC does any business with Vegas for a depth piece or maybe goalie (if Knights lose a goalie to injury), I wonder if he could be a target. Something like a Mrazek or D!ckinson for Kirczak.

Here's a scouting report on Kirczak.

https://www.capfriendly.c...ort/kaedan-korczak-123523
- boilermaker100

Nice work here, BM. Kirczak is the kinda guy that KD will start looking for in return in deals. A young guy who fits a need (RS Dman) who would be with the squad when it's time to win.

Kid has played on two of Canada's WJC clubs so he's shown to be a useful player at a young age. https://www.eliteprospect...yer/295911/kaedan-korczak

I think Soderblom looks different than LY. if I remember correctly, LY he was smoother, less reactive and absorbed pucks. In the FLA game he lost his net on the 1st goal and was sitting on his butt & gave up the near pipe for the bank shot on the 3rd. I'm sure Waite can fix the current problems.
- scottak

I think Soda just needs time. He's a rookie, plays a bit small for now but i think he's got to get a feel for the league, the opposing players and so on. So let him get back up experince at goalie for now.

Nice work here, BM. Kirczak is the kinda guy that KD will start looking for in return in deals. A young guy who fits a need (RS Dman) who would be with the squad when it's time to win.

Kid has played on two of Canada's WJC clubs so he's shown to be a useful player at a young age. https://www.eliteprospect...yer/295911/kaedan-korczak
- Mr Ricochet

Of course i sanction this type of move, yet another Saskatchewan Boy in the fold can never hurt!

Nice work here, BM. Kirczak is the kinda guy that KD will start looking for in return in deals. A young guy who fits a need (RS Dman) who would be with the squad when it's time to win.

Kid has played on two of Canada's WJC clubs so he's shown to be a useful player at a young age. https://www.eliteprospect...yer/295911/kaedan-korczak
- Mr Ricochet

Would have loved if KD could have picked up his brother in the Kane trade.

Nice work here, BM. Kirczak is the kinda guy that KD will start looking for in return in deals. A young guy who fits a need (RS Dman) who would be with the squad when it's time to win.

Kid has played on two of Canada's WJC clubs so he's shown to be a useful player at a young age. https://www.eliteprospect...yer/295911/kaedan-korczak
- Mr Ricochet

The red flag is “skates well for his size” this usually means is an average skater.

Mrazek isn't going anywhere unless/until the Hawks have a veteran replacement. The Hawks goalies have to stand on their heads to keep the game close, Soderblom isn't ready for full time work, and no way would I bring up Comesso this year behind this defense.
- LAHawk

Just throwing an idea out - What if there is a too good to pass up offer for Petr in the next few weeks. Could the team not sign a guy like Mike Smith (who might be good protection for Bedard in a way) and just play him until he falls apart?

Just throwing an idea out - What if there is a too good to pass up offer for Petr in the next few weeks. Could the team not sign a guy like Mike Smith (who might be good protection for Bedard in a way) and just play him until he falls apart?
- powerenforcer

Could be one game. He's a head case. Pass

https://x.com/chnews/stat...yHkfbIxjvlrziHvUNt-A&s=01

Good read, you can see a common element in a lot of these guys KD has drafted.

The red flag is “skates well for his size” this usually means is an average skater.
- paulr

That capfriendly scouting report link I posted in my original thought has his skating at 80. For comparison Korchinski at 82. FWIW.

Rick, don't know about you but you could see just how dialed in and efficient Mrazak was in preseason. His tracking, reads and efficiency was as good as I've ever seen from him and without seeing all NHL goalies IMO the guy is damn near as good as any goalie I've seen in the league this yr.

Indeed, he can help a lotta NHL playoff type teams in a difference making way. Maybe all the way to the cup. The only concern is will he stay healthy.

And as much as I was impressed with Mrazak from the jump I'm not with Soderblom at this stage. Nothing this guy does is clean and if he's the #1 when/if Mrazak is moved I think that solidifies the Hawks securing a top 5 pick.
- Mr Ricochet

Agree with you Mr. R, Mrazek came to camp ready to be the #1 this year in Chicago. And it just so happens that he needs to sell KD (or some other team) on a nice new contract with term. Based on his play so far, he will definitely find an employer. I see Mrazek as a middle tier NHL goalie who gives a team 40 - max 45 starts a year, so a team with him needs a top quality backup if they plan to be a playoff team. I guess I would be OK if the Hawks re-signed him for a couple years with a bump to $4M/yr and then hope what happens with Soderblom and Commeso is real good.

All that said, my view is that there are only 8 NHL teams with clearcut elite goaltenders on their roster, worth paying $6M or more to on multi year deals. If you have one you pay him. Those guys are Oettinger, Sorokin, Hellebuyck, Demko, Shesterkin, Saros, Swayman/Ullmark, Bobrovsky.

And then there are the borderline elite guys depending on whats in front of them - Carter Hart, John Gibson, Markstrom and Kuemper.

So thats 12/13 elite goalies for a 32 team league that has already seen 73 goalies play so far this year. The Hawks don't need one yet, they need to spend/acquire help up front.

That capfriendly scouting report link I posted in my original thought has his skating at 80. For comparison Korchinski at 82. FWIW.
- boilermaker100

I was being a bit smug but I generally find when a taller guy’s skating is qualified with “skates well for a big guy” it generally means he’s not a great skater. For example I haven’t read anywhere Korchinski skates well for a big guy, his scouting report just says he skates well. But I’m basing that strictly on that skating comment, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him play.

I was being a bit smug but I generally find when a taller guy’s skating is qualified with “skates well for a big guy” it generally means he’s not a great skater. For example I haven’t read anywhere Korchinski skates well for a big guy, his scouting report just says he skates well. But I’m basing that strictly on that skating comment, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him play.
- paulr

No problem. I haven't seen him play either. Just throwing out the idea of obtaining some useful plsyers instead of draft picks in future trades.

No problem. I haven't seen him play either. Just throwing out the idea of obtaining some useful plsyers instead of draft picks in future trades.
- boilermaker100

And I do agree with your idea about trying to find some prospects or younger roster players that he thinks are valuable. The Sharp for Ellison trade comes immediately to mind. And KD doesn’t even have to win a one sided trade, as long as he gets a player back who will be a fixture in the Hawk lineup.

And I do agree with your idea about trying to find some prospects or younger roster players that he thinks are valuable. The Sharp for Ellison trade comes immediately to mind. And KD doesn’t even have to win a one sided trade, as long as he gets a player back who will be a fixture in the Hawk lineup.
- paulr

The irony being that's effectively the Tony Tanti trade's rationale - and it worked out exactly that way for the Hawks in the 80's even if not everyone got that.

Curt Fraser was more of the type of player that the Hawks needed at that time -than a little scoring guy.