I bet that Celebrini will be a scoring #L1 wing. The top three picks are quality and that means the two forwards and your choice too dman

l sticks around after next season it has to be a low salary like $2 mill plus incentive based in go and scoring totals. Season after next if KD doesn’t like any of his drafts ready to be #L2 center then trade for a competent two way center and put Reichel on wing. Reichel has to start producing somewhat and look promising or at that time you have to make a decision on him to keep (looking better/Reichel) or cut loose.

The defense could be quite better with a few young guys playing well. Bedard, competent L2 center and sprinkle in youngsters on bottom line. Competitive team could challenge for .500. But warning: Soderblom and whomever have to be consistently good - not great but good. I don’t expect any other kids in net but for a look see next year. After that one of the duo in Rockford might alternate with Soderblom with Gajannin Rockford
- If Haljhawk59

Hall just turned 32, so at the beginning of the year after next, he won't be eligible to sign a 35+ contract.

Forget about a competent L2 center, the Hawks need 6 wings that are slotted somewhat correctly. They already carry about 9 4th line guys, so at least the Hawks are covered there.

Hall just turned 32, so at the beginning of the year after next, he won't be eligible to sign a 35+ contract.

Forget about a competent L2 center, the Hawks need 6 wings that are slotted somewhat correctly. They already carry about 9 4th line guys, so at least the Hawks are covered there.
- LAHawk

You sure about the team having 9 4th line guys? NHL or AHL?

I saw a few clips of the Cayden Lindstrom kid. Big, agile and fast, different assessors have him all over the place from 3 to 19. Depending where the Hawks draft I bet he’d look good going to the front of the net on Bedard’s line.
- paulr

I was just saying to Ricochet how 2024 is still a clear two horse race with Cellebrini a full length ahead of Eiserman, and you wait much longer for the rest on the class ti mature.
Cayden Lindstrom is in my top ten.
By the end of last night's ESPN telecast, there were saying the Hawks look like a bottom team hoping to get one of those two. (You will wait for the rest of the forwards lots longer.)
Ray Ferraro thinking out loud, said he thought Kyle would start looking for a "24 year old guy to play alongside of Bedard."
That they have to add from the outside to speed the advancement for Bedsy. I do see how the Ducks and the 'jackets could be considering trading Zebras and demoted Kent Johnson down the road. Maybe the Hawks young defensive depth will serve as some of the return and that Toronto first round

Hopefully I’m wrong, but Dach has third liner written all over him, but that’s okay, as SC winners normally have a top 5 third line.
- Angotti

I thunk that is a valid assessment with his heavier boots.

Just wow
- LAHawk

When Bedsy scored, I screamed out loud.

It was the best so far, the speed, as if there was no time for the adjustment, and shot in a blink.

I was just saying to Ricochet how 2024 is still a clear two horse race with Cellebrini a full length ahead of Eiserman, and you wait much longer for the rest on the class ti mature.
Cayden Lindstrom is in my top ten.
By the end of last night's ESPN telecast, there were saying the Hawks look like a bottom team hoping to get one of those two. (You will wait for the rest of the forwards lots longer.)
Ray Ferraro thinking out loud, said he thought Kyle would start looking for a "24 year old guy to play alongside of Bedard."
That they have to add from the outside to speed the advancement for Bedsy. I do see how the Ducks and the 'jackets could be considering trading Zebras and demoted Kent Johnson down the road. Maybe the Hawks young defensive depth will serve as some of the return and that Toronto first round
- wiz1901

Any idea why Eiserman was left off the USA roster?
Is he that much of a lock at #2?

Any idea why Eiserman was left off the USA roster?
Is he that much of a lock at #2?
- captainserious

He’s 17, not many 17 or 18 year olds make an impact in the WJC. A certain #98 excepted. Plus the US has a number of very good 19 year olds and are the favorites in the ‘24 WJC.

Right now Bedard on the current Blackhawk roster is like Mozart trying to conduct the Sex Pistols.
- paulr

I didn't know the Sex Pistols had a string section?

Chelios was on the Score this morning and actually made a few good points. He said Bedard either needs a distributor on the wing that can get Bedard the puck in prime areas or a big wing to open up space and drive the net. He said Bedard has no one around him to help. Haven't even seen his hockey IQ b/c there is no one to keep up with him.

He loves Vlasic. Said he thinks he will be a #1 for the Hawks. Size reach mobility. Thinks he will become a good PP QB too.
- bhawks2241

It would be nice to get the kid something.

I was not high on pickle to start the season but definitely impressed. Hockey players are so dense that all they can do is call him Vlasy instead of the obvious nickname.

It would be nice to get the kid something.

I was not high on pickle to start the season but definitely impressed. Hockey players are so dense that all they can do is call him Vlasy instead of the obvious nickname.


- fattybeef

Vlasic aka The Big Crunch!

The discussion wasn’t about “protecting “ Bedard from non existent bullying. The discussion was about the fact guys are hitting less because they have to fight almost every time they hit anyone with a clean hit. Give the guy instigating a fight such a harsh penalty he won’t come to the aid of a teammate who was hit cleanly. Or do you prefer there was less hitting in the NHL too?
- paulr

I wasn't flooding the discussion, but just the king he needed Tom Wilson on one flank.

Agree on your assessment of big hits.

Vlasic aka The Big Crunch!
- paulr

You’re on fire today! Vlasic gets a few seasons under his belt I’d love to see a nasty streak develop. Would be an epic nickname.

Kid can move for his size. I dream of him turning into a Hedman clone.

Any idea why Eiserman was left off the USA roster?
Is he that much of a lock at #2?
- captainserious

His game is not complete enough. No one will deny his elite scoring ability. But his skating is rough (enough that I cannot see the Hawks taking him), and most other aspects of his game are somewhat mid at this point.

Cole Eiserman's game is not complete enough. No one will deny his elite scoring ability. But his skating is rough (enough that I cannot see the Hawks taking him), and most other aspects of his game are somewhat mid at this point.
- LetsGoHawks

Yeah, where you can safely project Celebrini into various pro roles, Eiserman is basically a huge shot, but so rough along the edges and not even being pigeon holed to a specific position up front.

I thought TSN's explanation about how USA -NDT center James Hagens (2025) WAS selected because he is an elite driver from the centre position. Button: "You're looking at a player who can create offence and deliver the puck. His vision, his puck skills, and he's an underrated scorer. A very, very good player who can be elusive. He's creative."

Back to Eisrman:
I have seen a lot of him, and there is plenty of juice there.
With it you will see his want to be the man, take over, retaliate, not let things go, etc.
A kid.
One who knows he has talent, and doesn't hold back, and that has also deterred him.

No worries.

He is going to a really good pro with a deadly shot.

It is going to be more fun for Hawk fans than most World Juniors with Moore and lil Frankie Nazar showing their team games off.

He’s 17, not many 17 or 18 year olds make an impact in the WJC. A certain #98 excepted. Plus the US has a number of very good 19 year olds and are the favorites in the ‘24 WJC.
- paulr

Celebrini is 17 also. Hard to believe how good some of these kids are at that age. He's from Vancouver so Bedard must know him.

With a little draft luck, 2/3 of a new Kid Line.

Celebrini is 17 also. Hard to believe how good some of these kids are at that age. He's from Vancouver so Bedard must know him.

With a little draft luck, 2/3 of a new Kid Line.
- RickJ

Hawks would have the "B" and "C". They would have to hunt down an "A" in order to resurrect the ABC line.

Hawks would have the "B" and "C". They would have to hunt down an "A" in order to resurrect the ABC line.


- Rota's Rooter

They can go get Sebastian Aho from Carolina.

Hawks would have the "B" and "C". They would have to hunt down an "A" in order to resurrect the ABC line.


- Rota's Rooter

Something wrong with Joey Anderson or Andreas Athanasiou?

Something wrong with Joey Anderson or Andreas Athanasiou?
- paulr

Yes

I didn't know the Sex Pistols had a string section?
- rpeters01

Sid Vicious and Steve Jones

Celebrini is 17 also. Hard to believe how good some of these kids are at that age. He's from Vancouver so Bedard must know him.

With a little draft luck, 2/3 of a new Kid Line.
- RickJ

Yeah, they have been friends for years.

It would be all out unimaginable that we draft first two times in a row.

Celebrini can play anywhere up front with centre being the final destination.

Celebrini is 17 also. Hard to believe how good some of these kids are at that age. He's from Vancouver so Bedard must know him.

With a little draft luck, 2/3 of a new Kid Line.
- RickJ

Celebrini is gonna be a good pro. Thing about him is he's bigger than he looks. Hes's been listed at 5ft 11in 190lbs for awhile. He and Eiserman are the same size on paper but even when Eiserman was trying out for the NTDP he looked thick and still does today. ... At 16 with the Steel Celebrini wasn't taking any gruff. He's hard nosed despite his tremendous skill..... I also think Celebrini plays center in the bigs.

He's a June birthday, Eiserman got close to the September 15th cutoff with an August birthday so he's one of the younger ones in his draft class.

Sid Vicious and Steve Jones
- HawkintheD

I always thought Steve Jones had the coolest name out of the bunch.
Heard he has a radio show out in LA or somewhere in California.

Something wrong with Joey Anderson or Andreas Athanasiou?
- paulr

On a good NHL team does Joey Anderson even make the roster?

I've seen enough of Andreas "Hands Of Stone" Athanasiou. No thank you.

On a good NHL team does Joey Anderson even make the roster?

I've seen enough of Andreas "Hands Of Stone" Athanasiou. No thank you.
- Rota's Rooter

We see this question so often right now, and in some cases I'm sure it's warranted, but there are several guys that can help fill out the bottom six on a a "good" team.

I'd say Anderson is one of them. He's a decent skater, positionally aware, plays on the right side of the puck, forechecks pretty well and has been solid defensively. He also occasionally chips in defensively. When you go back and look at the guys that were in the Hawks bottom six in 2010, 2013 and 2015, they weren't great players, but they played their role. Outside of being mouthy, what the heck did Burish ever bring? His high water mark was 19 points in 65 games. He did play his role and was relatively hard to play against, but he was ultimately quite replaceable.