KD and staff should have conducted a lot of player interviews at the combine by now. Not only is this an opportunity to look at the prospects, but also for the GM's to get together and lay the groundwork for some future trades this summer. I wonder how many offers KD has received for the #2 pick?
- boilermaker100

I know you get around the internets with the best of em, BM. Any interesting reporting or rumors coming outa trusted sources from the combine?

Beck and guhle, Hutson not going anywhere. Hawks get two young players and draft pick one can play now the other a year away maybe. Plus if I m not mistaken guhle can play both ld and rd. It would have to be overwhelming offer for Davidson to trade the 2nd overall pick.
- Scott1977

Hes not exchanging picks for beck.

I did a mock draft online today. I know this will never happen, but it’s a great wish list.

2. Demidov
18. Eiserman
34. Beaudoin
50. Letourneau

The AI was asleep at the wheel for this mock draft.
- DarthKane

Love it!!

Elliott Friedman is saying he thinks the Blackhawks will be signing Guentzel on July 1st.

Thoughts??
- dahawks8819

At his age i dont see kd giving him term.

No, Siliyev is bigger than Vlasic skates much much better, even as good a skater as Vlasic is, he's meaner and much more physical and has set the points record for 17 yr olds in the KHL, the 2nd best league in the world........ Forget who but someone I respect in evaluating said Siliyev is the physical freak of this draft and from what I've seen I agree.

I hope the Hawks are doing their due diligence on Siliyev. Very real chance he's an NHL difference maker but he's a Russian so I pass. But if they do draft him I get a helluva dopamine hit and am all in ..... Can not miss with the #2 pick.
- Mr Ricochet

Yes! I´m all in whoever they pick at number two. And I´m not worried about the Russian factor because it is overblown. I say there is bigger chance of player picked from NCAA that refuses to sign with organisation that drafted him than top Russian prospect not to come NA. Yes the war but Putin uses people from periphery and prisoners as cannon food because he knows that people views on war might change if they send there young men from Moscow, St.Petersburgh and other big cities.

No, Siliyev is bigger than Vlasic skates much much better, even as good a skater as Vlasic is, he's meaner and much more physical and has set the points record for 17 yr olds in the KHL, the 2nd best league in the world........ Forget who but someone I respect in evaluating said Siliyev is the physical freak of this draft and from what I've seen I agree.

I hope the Hawks are doing their due diligence on Siliyev. Very real chance he's an NHL difference maker but he's a Russian so I pass. But if they do draft him I get a helluva dopamine hit and am all in ..... Can not miss with the #2 pick.
- Mr Ricochet

Cannot miss with #2 pick

Cannot miss with #2 pick
- jhawk59

Wouldnt bet on that

No, Siliyev is bigger than Vlasic skates much much better, even as good a skater as Vlasic is, he's meaner and much more physical and has set the points record for 17 yr olds in the KHL, the 2nd best league in the world........ Forget who but someone I respect in evaluating said Siliyev is the physical freak of this draft and from what I've seen I agree.

I hope the Hawks are doing their due diligence on Siliyev. Very real chance he's an NHL difference maker but he's a Russian so I pass. But if they do draft him I get a helluva dopamine hit and am all in ..... Can not miss with the #2 pick.
- Mr Ricochet

AHL>KHL. Check the top players in each league.

No, Siliyev is bigger than Vlasic skates much much better, even as good a skater as Vlasic is, he's meaner and much more physical and has set the points record for 17 yr olds in the KHL, the 2nd best league in the world........ Forget who but someone I respect in evaluating said Siliyev is the physical freak of this draft and from what I've seen I agree.

I hope the Hawks are doing their due diligence on Siliyev. Very real chance he's an NHL difference maker but he's a Russian so I pass. But if they do draft him I get a helluva dopamine hit and am all in ..... Can not miss with the #2 pick.
- Mr Ricochet

Hey Rico, I'm not taking anything away from your research or this kid personally, but I have a bit of an issue when you say he "set the points record for 17 year olds in the KHL". He got 11 in 63 games after 8 in 41 in the MHL the year prior. Call me jaded, but I don't think that really says much. How many 17 year olds have played that many games in the KHL? Maybe I'm just being female dogy this morning.

Edit: Son of a gun... found it. https://www.quanthockey.c...year-old-khl-players.html

He's played 25 more games than Tarasenko with one more point. D-man vs forward, so that's to be taken into account. He's also played just under 20 mins per game. Impressive for such a young kid.

Didn't know he was being coached by Igor Larionov.

Seems scouts believe he can/will grow into more offense as well. Should be fun to follow his career.

Hes not exchanging picks for beck.
- LFS

Why? We have no idea who KD is interested in. You have even admitted as much. Davidson may be invested 100% in Demidov and has absolutely no interest in moving that pick. Or he may have little to no interest in Demidov and a potential second line center in Owen Beck plus whoever is available at five may have more value to him.

From Blake Wheeler's mailbag

Who are the biggest risers from last draft? — Jeff
These picks look like potentially good value:
23. F Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers)
27. F Calum Ritchie (Colorado Avalanche)
28. F Easton Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs)
50. F Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken)
69. G Jacob Fowler (Montreal Canadiens)
75. D Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames via Vancouver Canucks)
123. D Luca Cagnoni (San Jose Sharks)
Honorable mentions:
62. F Felix Unger Sorum (Carolina Hurricanes)
64. F Riley Heidt (Minnesota Wild)
77. F Mathieu Cataford (Vegas Golden Knights)

No mention of Moore
Perreault was there for the taking if I'm not mistaken

Bored, so I'm just throwing some poop around to see what people thing

Rico! Any thoughts on Perreault,Cowan and Ritchie? Would you take any of them over Moore?

From Blake Wheeler's mailbag

Who are the biggest risers from last draft? — Jeff
These picks look like potentially good value:
23. F Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers)
27. F Calum Ritchie (Colorado Avalanche)
28. F Easton Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs)
50. F Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken)
69. G Jacob Fowler (Montreal Canadiens)
75. D Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames via Vancouver Canucks)
123. D Luca Cagnoni (San Jose Sharks)
Honorable mentions:
62. F Felix Unger Sorum (Carolina Hurricanes)
64. F Riley Heidt (Minnesota Wild)
77. F Mathieu Cataford (Vegas Golden Knights)

No mention of Moore
Perreault was there for the taking if I'm not mistaken

Bored, so I'm just throwing some poop around to see what people thing

Rico! Any thoughts on Perreault,Cowan and Ritchie? Would you take any of them over Moore?
- captainserious

I feel sorry for Cataford. Knowing that he was drafted just to be included in a TDL move.


Regarding the topic itself. It looks like he's just saying that the guys he mentioned played better than their draft spot. I wouldn't read too much into it. Not to mention - one year doesn't make a career and they still have to prove things in the NHL.

From Blake Wheeler's mailbag

Who are the biggest risers from last draft? — Jeff
These picks look like potentially good value:
23. F Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers)
27. F Calum Ritchie (Colorado Avalanche)
28. F Easton Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs)
50. F Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken)
69. G Jacob Fowler (Montreal Canadiens)
75. D Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames via Vancouver Canucks)
123. D Luca Cagnoni (San Jose Sharks)
Honorable mentions:
62. F Felix Unger Sorum (Carolina Hurricanes)
64. F Riley Heidt (Minnesota Wild)
77. F Mathieu Cataford (Vegas Golden Knights)

No mention of Moore
Perreault was there for the taking if I'm not mistaken

Bored, so I'm just throwing some poop around to see what people thing

Rico! Any thoughts on Perreault,Cowan and Ritchie? Would you take any of them over Moore?
- captainserious

Way too early to begin this type of analysis. These kids are only 19, lots of time for all of them to refine their respective games.

Way too early to begin this type of analysis. These kids are only 19, lots of time for all of them to refine their respective games.
- paulr

Bullpoop! We can establish a bust after one shift. No one ever put a stipulation on where that shift is played.

Bullpoop! We can establish a bust after one shift. No one ever put a stipulation on where that shift is played.
- Chunk

This is the banter I was looking for

I know you get around the internets with the best of em, BM. Any interesting reporting or rumors coming outa trusted sources from the combine?
- Mr Ricochet

Pierre Lebrun had an article in the Athletic the other day from the combine. Nothing on individual prospects, just some comments from a few GM's.

NJ looking for a goalie. #10 in play for an asset they can control for a few years. (Sounds to me an exchange of picks isn't what NJ wants.)

Nashville wants to add defense. They are looking at UFA Pesce.

Anaheim listening on Gibson and Zegras, but listening and pulling the trigger are two different things.

Montreal interested in Necas and Zegras. Hughes says they may trade down from #5 if all the forwards are gone and since they are loaded with young D.

Read it all here:
https://www.nytimes.com/a...ings-zegras-marner-saros/

Way too early to begin this type of analysis. These kids are only 19, lots of time for all of them to refine their respective games.
- paulr

Yeah I agree,like I said,just wanted to throw it out there to see what people think.

Lots of time to refine their respective games - like Lafreniere - came alive in the 2nd half of the season and during the playoffs.
Seems like his NHL curve is very similar to Barkov's - he had a rather bland first 4 years and then finally came into his own in his 5th season.

Yeah I agree,like I said,just wanted to throw it out there to see what people think.

Lots of time to refine their respective games - like Lafreniere - came alive in the 2nd half of the season and during the playoffs.
Seems like his NHL curve is very similar to Barkov's - he had a rather bland first 4 years and then finally came into his own in his 5th season.
- captainserious

You can say similar about MacKinnon. Unfortunately for him, the year after he signed his second contract he absolutely exploded. The Avs got six years of him at $6.3M when he was producing at a value about double that.

Long time lurker but infrequent poster.

While the point has been emphasized that the only draft list that matters is the one developed by the hawks, I do find it interesting to look not only at the ratings made by others but also the variability of those ratings.

So, on a rainy day, I did some mathematical analyses on the ratings using only those posted in the last 30 days (including our resident expert).

Using the ratings average, the "safest" picks (as defined by the least variability...or std dev for math majors) are:

1. Celebrini (consensus #1)
2. Demidov (Highest - 2, Lowest - 3)
5. Buium (highest - 5, Lowest - 10)
6. Richardensen (highest - 6, Lowest - 10)

The "riskier" picks (as defined by the most variability):
3. Levshunov (Highest - 2, Lowest - 10)
4. Lindstrom (Highest 2, Lowest - 12)
7. Parekh (Highest - 5, Lowest - 12)
8. Catton (Highest - 3, Lowest - 14)
9. Silayev (Highest - 3, Lowest - 16)
10. Iginla (Highest - 4, Lowest - 17)

Not sure what to gleam from this statistical exercise other than what is already known...there is little consensus aside from the 1st two picks. It also suggests that KD would be going against "conventional wisdom" by selecting anyone other than Demidov @ #2.

If anyone finds this interesting, I will repost once more "Final" ratings are released. If not, then I won't.

You can say similar about MacKinnon. Unfortunately for him, the year after he signed his second contract he absolutely exploded. The Avs got six years of him at $6.3M when he was producing at a value about double that.
- Chunk

Yup,him too.

After a solid rookie season, he had a few rough years and then turned into a top 5 player.
Hopefully the Blackhawks won't have the luxury of signing Bedard to a 6-7mill contract.
I'd rather him be really great in a short amount of time and have the Blackhawks pay whatever is necessary.

Long time lurker but infrequent poster.

While the point has been emphasized that the only draft list that matters is the one developed by the hawks, I do find it interesting to look not only at the ratings made by others but also the variability of those ratings.

So, on a rainy day, I did some mathematical analyses on the ratings using only those posted in the last 30 days (including our resident expert).

Using the ratings average, the "safest" picks (as defined by the least variability...or std dev for math majors) are:

1. Celebrini (consensus #1)
2. Demidov (Highest - 2, Lowest - 3)
5. Buium (highest - 5, Lowest - 10)
6. Richardensen (highest - 6, Lowest - 10)

The "riskier" picks (as defined by the most variability):
3. Levshunov (Highest - 2, Lowest - 10)
4. Lindstrom (Highest 2, Lowest - 12)
7. Parekh (Highest - 5, Lowest - 12)
8. Catton (Highest - 3, Lowest - 14)
9. Silayev (Highest - 3, Lowest - 16)
10. Iginla (Highest - 4, Lowest - 17)

Not sure what to gleam from this statistical exercise other than what is already known...there is little consensus aside from the 1st two picks. It also suggests that KD will go against "conventional wisdom" by selecting anyone other than Demidov @ #2.

If anyone finds this interesting, I will repost once more "Final" ratings are released. If not, then I won't.
- Snakebit12

Got confused about who you think KD is selecting..he will not choose Demidov,only someone else?

Got confused about who you think KD is selecting..he will not choose Demidov,only someone else?
- captainserious

I have no idea who he will choose. But the panel of "experts" (so far) consistently rate Demidov as the 2nd best player. The outlier was Wiz @ #3 reflecting his assessment of Lindstrom. Of course, everyone could be wrong about Demidov (see Kakko, Yakupovo, etc.)

I just thought that it was interesting to see a guy like Silayev ranging from #3 to #16 whereas a guy like Richardensen ranges from #6 to #10.

As someone posted earlier..."GMing is tough".

The Athletic just released their Broadcast survey results. Hawks came in second to last. Pang got rave reviews, Vosters got roasted.

beDARD


Jones

beDARD

Please make it stop.

No, Siliyev is bigger than Vlasic skates much much better, even as good a skater as Vlasic is, he's meaner and much more physical and has set the points record for 17 yr olds in the KHL, the 2nd best league in the world........ Forget who but someone I respect in evaluating said Siliyev is the physical freak of this draft and from what I've seen I agree.

I hope the Hawks are doing their due diligence on Siliyev. Very real chance he's an NHL difference maker but he's a Russian so I pass. But if they do draft him I get a helluva dopamine hit and am all in ..... Can not miss with the #2 pick.
- Mr Ricochet

I could see KFC take him. Question becomes, how much would you hate to play against him?

I could see KFC take him. Question becomes, how much would you hate to play against him?
- rpeters01

The same can be said of Demidov, Buium, Lindstrom, D!ckinson and others for different reasons. If Demidov is able to make those moves at the NHL level I’d hate to play against that. If Lindstrom is able to play like a runaway freight train in the NHL, I’d hate to play against that. If Buium is able to bring his two way game to the NHL …. well you get the idea.