Good discussion by everyone on all these various topics. Time to make some grub and watch the NY-FLA game. should be a good one.

Wiz, are you mixing guys up or do you think Buium is below or even average defensively?
- Mr Ricochet

I think both Parekh & Buium will have to survive as stop gap defenders and not guys who can overpower, or wall up attacker. The strengths are jumping up jumping in and Buium has shone his ability to stay afloat at Denver, but he hasn't overpowered any on at either end.
Parekh on the other hand doesn't have to think jump in, as he instinctively attacks, not worried that his team will cover while he actually makes tremendous offensive plays. Buium wishes his offense was that dynamic.

Besides being near elite in gap control Buium's reads (brains) in all 3 zones are better IMO than any draft eligible Dman (except for Parekh in the Ozone).
- Mr Ricochet

Sorry, I just don't.

..... This kid breaks up plays and gets the puck out of his zone quick with his feet or brains. At the NCAA level, as a true freshman.
- Mr Ricochet

He is transistion work IS stellar. Has all the makings of the type of defender you see in Montour or others in the playoff with quick outs and ability to keep the back and forth when teams open up and trade chances.

Would not surprise me a bit if Buium ends up the best Dman out of his class
- Mr Ricochet

Really big predict since now have played.

and yea, I'm one who sees D!ckinson, Silayev, Levshunov and Buium with "1st pairing" upside. You don't?
Nope, right now I don't see a dominant #1 defender in this group.

Going along with this logic, Korchinski RIGHT NOW is a first pair defender everytime he plays with teh Hawks top pair defender, Jones.



Now, will all 4 of these guys be 1st pairing NHL Dmen? Top 2 NHL Dmen are rare so the odds say no but it's also rare, but less so, that a prospect has the tools to even project as a top 2 guy and IMO there are 4 in this draft. ...... You don't?
- Mr Ricochet

I think there are a dozen or more defenseman in this class, all who with time and development has offensive chops and the best player may come from the kids now still using their defensive defenseman skills to get noticed with the ice slowing down later for them

Oh, and JHawk59: Parekh is pretty damn tough...and Buium is fearless in the heat of the action....not soft at all.

I think both Parekh & Buium will have to survive as stop gap defenders and not guys who can overpower, or wall up attacker. The strengths are jumping up jumping in and Buium has shone his ability to stay afloat at Denver, but he hasn't overpowered any on at either end.
Parekh on the other hand doesn't have to think jump in, as he instinctively attacks, not worried that his team will cover while he actually makes tremendous offensive plays. Buium wishes his offense was that dynamic.


It's got to be tough for these scouts. I watch kids in different leagues and how do you really know who's going to be a stud and who's not. I know Silly playing in the KHL didn't produce much point wise but how does a team not draft him first and draft these other blue line kids who all played against inferior talent?



Sorry, I just don't.



He is transistion work IS stellar. Has all the makings of the type of defender you see in Montour or others in the playoff with quick outs and ability to keep the back and forth when teams open up and trade chances.




Really big predict since now have played.



I thuink there are a dozen or more defenseman in this class, all you with time and development has offensive chops and the best player may come from the kids now still using their defensive defenseman skills to gte noticed with the ice slowing down later for them

Oh, and JHawk59: Parekh is pretty damn tough...and Buium is fearless in the heat of teh action....not soft at all.
- wiz1901

It's got to be really tough for a scouting department. After watching Silly play for the KHL sure his offensive numbers weren't great but he probably played in the best league a 17 year old can play in. It would be hard for me to draft any other defenseman before him if i had my pick off the litter since all the other kids played in inferior programs.

If by some chance KD snags Necas, does he lean toward a D-Man or finish out the first line with Demidov?

Also, there was a previous discussion about can't win without defense and the reply was can't win without offense. We got the best offensive talent last year...why not take the "best" defensive talent this year? Seems only logical, eh?

You also cannot win without offense. If you dont score you dont win.
- LFS

I’ve never suggested you don’t need offense.

If by some chance KD snags Necas, does he lean toward a D-Man or finish out the first line with Demidov?

Also, there was a previous discussion about can't win without defense and the reply was can't win without offense. We got the best offensive talent last year...why not take the "best" defensive talent this year? Seems only logical, eh?
- Matt_Foleys_bro

Hawks already have that in Vlasic.

Hawks already have that in Vlasic.
- Chunk

Take best available player so David and company have to decide who that is. Demidov is the second best prospect in the draft.

Another guy who can't skate, but somehow in the game of ice hockey, scores goals at a record level.

Why would you want a guy who can just score???
- vabeachbear

Brandon Pirri could score.

Slaggert won't be in Rockford
- vabeachbear

Nope, not as 1C anyway.

Anything is possible. I'm thinking KFC is building those layers of prospects. And are you going to play Vlasic on the 3rd pair? If D!ckinson and Vlasic are eventually the top 2 LD, KK may be an expensive 3rd pairing option if he's asking for a lot coming off his ELC. Why couldn't he be future trade bait like Bryam, Chycrun, Hronek, Faber and Drysdale the last 2 years?

I agree with you, Rico, on the fact there is no #1 D in the system. This draft would be a good opportunity to get one. If that's the route the Hawks can either take a D at #2 or roll the dice and trade down, getting another asset or two and hope one is there at #4,5.
- boilermaker100

KK deserves a couple more years minimum to decide what he is.

About Lardis, next year I believe it's Juniors or the NHL. The AHL isn't an option.

I think the NHL ship has sailed on Luypen and Sarella, probably Rolston. Dach is so injury prone, I don't know if or when he fits in.

If I would guess the future forwards who eventually contribute in Chicago are:
2025-26 Hayes and Ludwinski after spending a year in Rockford, and Moore after one more year at U of Minnesota. I can see Moore pulling a Nazar and signing late next season after the college season and burning the 1st year of his ELC.

2026-27 Kantserov (after two more years in the KHL), Savoie after a couple of years at the Rock, Lardis after his Juniors stint and time at the Rock.

Greene could be in their somewhere too.
- boilermaker100

I know a guy who knows a guy who spoke to Oliver last week.

His plan right now is one more year at UM and then sign with Hawks.

Honestly, not joking around, its a true story.

Brandon Pirri could score.
- rpeters01

ya Brandon Pirri and Cole Eiserman's #s very similar at the same age


I see a bigger Alex Debrincat, and i remember the angst here when the smaller real Debrincat was traded

Nope, not as 1C anyway.
- rpeters01

Going to be hard pressed to find 3 better guys to play on 4th line in Chicago

KK deserves a couple more years minimum to decide what he is.
- rpeters01

Agree not really something to worry about at this point. Kid had a tough year and thought he performed well.

I was on record that i would have left him in Seattle, assume they know what they were doing though and they were happy with his development

For first four picks
Demidov 2
Bosevert or Hage depending who is there at 18
Solberg 34
ej emey 50

For first four picks
Demidov 2
Bosevert or Hage depending who is there at 18
Solberg 34
ej emey 50
- Scott1977

Emery won't last that long. Be surprised if he even makes it to the 2nd rd.

50 might be a good spot to take Stiga.

Emery won't last that long. Be surprised if he even makes it to the 2nd rd.

50 might be a good spot to take Stiga.
- Elbows15

OK at 50 John mustard

Who's Richardson?
- Mr Ricochet

And who's Yaremchuk?

How does Lindstrom compare to Slavkovsky and Byfield? If they were in the same draft, how would you have the 3 ranked?
- LAHawk

I wasn't trying to avoid thsi last night but I wanted to be construstcive (and LA, I knew you not forget my answer in the next decade.)


- LAHawk[quote=Mr Ricochet]These are always tough cuz watching players a couple yrs apart we develop biases. But I feel safe saying going into the drafts Byfield for sure was the higher rated prospect then a coin flip between Slafkovsky and Lindstrom with an edge to Slaf cuz of a larger body or work. ...... That's not taking into account if, or how much, Lindstrom's back prognosis comes into play.

Let’s deal with the the comparison as right now and my opinion.

Byfield based on what he can do on a NHL team whether it is Habs, Hawks or Kings.

He is an evolved NHLer and already added details to his play and uses his size and has a high upside as both a pro centre and pro wing with a physical game. I don’t think it is outlandish to project his future encompasses using his body and offensive side to a much higher level.

Slavkovsky based on what he can do on a NHL team whether it is Habs, Hawks or Kings.

He clearly has the makings of a big body who can score. At this juncture, he still is so far from figuring his positioning, and has got to improve his details.
(I am gonna call his Euro origin as a detriment; the North American kids have played under the coaches “the right way” and the smaller ice their lives.

I see the still playing junior hockey Cayden Lindstrom as a worthy candidate along the lines of Byfield and Slavkovsky
Common sense would place Slavkovsky by virtue of where he was selected as a 1( with scoring upside.) And then Byfield by virtue that he might be a top line centre. Slavkovsky more of a big scoring wing.
Cayden Lindstrom has all the upside he needs to be an NHL centre. HIs floor starts high, and arguably the same floor any scout would have suggested for the other two when they were about to be drafted.

I am not sure you could find anyone RIGHT NOW would compare Cayden higher than two guys who we have see already percolating in the big league waters…

I am tired of the same back talk on his back...if it is an issue, he wi;ll be there at #18

Emery won't last that long. Be surprised if he even makes it to the 2nd rd.
- Elbows15

EJ Emery is one of those "other" defenders I was just commenting on...

the defensive game is solid and therer is room to open up offensively once he solidies an NHL spot.

Alexis is having a really nice series, another very skilled play by the kid

Reinhart really looks ordinary in these playoffs.

If by some chance KD snags Necas, does he lean toward a D-Man or finish out the first line with Demidov?

Also, there was a previous discussion about can't win without defense and the reply was can't win without offense. We got the best offensive talent last year...why not take the "best" defensive talent this year? Seems only logical, eh?
- Matt_Foleys_bro

Best player available. Don’t draft on need. That’s how you get Eric Johnson instead of Toews.

Alexis is having a really nice series, another very skilled play by the kid
- BetweenTheDots

He’s really coming into his own. 28 goals this season and he’s almost a PPG player in the playoffs.

Another late bloomer from the 2020 draft. Maybe there’s still hope for Reichel.

He’s really coming into his own. 28 goals this season and he’s almost a PPG player in the playoffs.

Another late bloomer from the 2020 draft. Maybe there’s still hope for Reichel.
- DarthKane

Imo I see reichel like a Michael frolik with a little more upside. One he will be part of trade package or a solid role player pk killer 15 to 20 goals 40 - 45 point guy.