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".
- Snakebit12

Let me just say that the time leading closer to the Vegas Draft, the ranks will close as all these experts will have hoped they sucked up to the correct real talent evaluators and they will "re-adjust" their boards, because of the most recent things they have heard.
SO where a kid is ranked has more to do with media than the NHL team analysis-
I will say it again:
Central scouting is a nice livli-hood for many an ex-player, and up into the 1970's some NHL teams use the Central Scouting list as bible, what they used to FORM their team scouting opinions.
(teams with new expansion franchises and teams with crappy low $ invested scouting staffs USED it as THE GOLD STANDARD.

Those days are gone and it is a so much more where NHL teams have sofiticated evaulation processes, each team different.

So at each pick you just need one outlier at #2 taking Cayden Lindstrom, not a concensus player team to team EVEN at #1 (Remember Shane Wright WAS everyones #1, until he wasn't.

For some teams, safe counts more than conviction.

I think we can ascertain who the safe picks are.

Celebrini safe pick who might be Toews like---but not but not David Pastnak.

Artyom Levshunov - the kids a beauty character wise, and solid clean in his movements and might have lots to give in upside all around -safe pick.

Zeev Buium - wheels 200 feet of jump and a good investment to play somewhere in you dee... safe.

Tij Iginla - super smart, character leader - no a Patrick Kane because he is down and dirty, but so safe as kid whose NHL points are even a consideration yet...just his compete that doesn't miss a beat. And will play a long time!

Sam Richardinson - lots of upside and will need some time but is also the real deal as a safe long term add to your defense.

So it is easy to project.

The difference is who the true selectors see as their guy despite the freaking lists!

Good riddance.

A sample of Ball's play by play while with Calgary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDzU0OKfHpU
- boilermaker100

Feel bad for Vosters.
I didn't think he was that bad.
But then again I liked Pierre Mcguire too, had good insight.

Good riddance.

A sample of Ball's play by play while with Calgary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDzU0OKfHpU
- boilermaker100

Good news. Glad that management realized Vosters wasn’t right for the role or that they read this forum.

Through free agency I’d like to see KD land a centre to take pressure off Bedard and allow D!ckinson to revert back to a defense-first role where he’s more comfortable.

This summer’s UFA centre crop isn’t the best, but for the right price and term guys like Roslovic and Wennberg could be decent options. I wouldn’t mind seeing Domi return as the 2C, but I think that ship has sailed.
- DarthKane

Wennberg and Roslovic are basically the same guy as D!ckinson, no? Neither really drive offense (anymore).

Good riddance.

A sample of Ball's play by play while with Calgary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDzU0OKfHpU
- boilermaker100

What team did he work for? He seems more excited when the opposition team scores. Is this a sign of things to come?

Having a threat on the blue line to stretch out the D so guys can get to the front of the net makes a difference.

The amount of space Makar creates for the Avs forwards or Hughes for the Canucks and Bouchard for the Oilers allows those guys to get to the net since the D is stretched.

Boston could sit 5 guys between and below the circles because there was zero threat from the Toronto blue line. There also weren't a lot of transition goals for the leafs because they don't have anyone competent to make a home run pass.

A player like TheChuck would have issues getting to the net regardless of how physical he plays if he was playing with the Leafs.
- fattybeef

I’d agree except in 8 years of playoffs I have yet to see Marner or Matthews be the best, hardest working Maple Leaf players. You’re talking production, I’m talking effort. If a star player’s effort ie. work ethic is determined by who his teammates are I think that player(s) is a huge problem, don’t you? How is it possible that Marner and Matthews haven’t outworked their own teammates in eight years of playoffs, regardless of how short the playoff runs have been?

What team did he work for? He seems more excited when the opposition team scores. Is this a sign of things to come?
- powerenforcer

The recently deceased Bob Cole was one of the best Canadian hockey play by play men. He called games for Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa and all three fan bases hated him because they felt he hated their team. That tells me he called games impartially and many fans want homers to call games. Personally I prefer an impartial broadcast crew. And BTW Bob Cole was apparently a Blackhawk fan although he never lost his impartiality when he called their games.

Wennberg and Roslovic are basically the same guy as D!ckinson, no? Neither really drive offense (anymore).
- Chunk

Possibly, but there isn’t much available via free agency this year.

I still like the idea of trading for Necas, although he’s not a centre he can drive offense for the Hawks for another 5-8 years, possibly. I just don’t know if the Hawks have the type of assets Carolina is looking for.

In the RFA market I’d like to see KD land Lundell or Pinto, but I don’t see that happening. Dawson Mercer would be a great option too, but I don’t see the Hawks having the assets needed to pry him away from the Devils. I think Robertson (TOR) would be worth a shot, for the right price.

What team did he work for? He seems more excited when the opposition team scores. Is this a sign of things to come?
- powerenforcer

Looks like the studio talent is going to be replaced also:

«Now that we have the booth set, our attention is going to be directed to the studio,» Faulkner said. «(In making those hires), hockey knowledge, some connection to the Blackhawks is important to us, energy is important. We are working on the criteria that is important to us because we will have the ability to decide who is in studio. Thankfully, we did have a lot of studio talent, both in the host position and otherwise that had been very strong for us.»

Possibly, but there isn’t much available via free agency this year.

I still like the idea of trading for Necas, although he’s not a centre he can drive offense for the Hawks for another 5-8 years, possibly. I just don’t know if the Hawks have the type of assets Carolina is looking for.

In the RFA market I’d like to see KD land Lundell or Pinto, but I don’t see that happening. Dawson Mercer would be a great option too, but I don’t see the Hawks having the assets needed to pry him away from the Devils. I think Robertson (TOR) would be worth a shot, for the right price.
- DarthKane

I was also thinking Robertson would be a good pick up, he’s run into some injuries and gets lost in Toronto’s glut of forwards. But he’s a very smart hardworking player with some skill.

I was also thinking Robertson would be a good pick up, he’s run into some injuries and gets lots in Toronto’s glut of forwards. But he’s a very smart hardworking player with some skill.
- paulr

He’s a top 6 forward, or maybe the offensive forward on the 3rd line. But Robertson never got that chance consistently with the Leafs. I don’t think he’d be the next Patrick Sharp, but he would improve the offensive depth for the Hawks.

I’m curious to see what happens with Raddysh. Was he injured last season? If not, will the Hawks bring him back in a defensive role? Towards the end of the season he played well on the PK. Or do the Hawks just move on from Raddysh?

Possibly, but there isn’t much available via free agency this year.

I still like the idea of trading for Necas, although he’s not a centre he can drive offense for the Hawks for another 5-8 years, possibly. I just don’t know if the Hawks have the type of assets Carolina is looking for.

In the RFA market I’d like to see KD land Lundell or Pinto, but I don’t see that happening. Dawson Mercer would be a great option too, but I don’t see the Hawks having the assets needed to pry him away from the Devils. I think Robertson (TOR) would be worth a shot, for the right price.
- DarthKane

Yeah, the pickings are rather thin in the middle. With Norris' shoulder issues and Pinto proving he can handle the workload last year, I doubt he goes anywhere.


I still wouldn't mind trying for Kakko. He'd have the opportunity to play higher in the lineup here with theoretically better line mates. He also wouldn't cost all that much to sign or trade for.

I think the one of the biggest wild cards for the Hawks next year is how long will Hall play and where in the lineup. That and how well do the kids integrate and grow.

Good riddance.

A sample of Ball's play by play while with Calgary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDzU0OKfHpU
- boilermaker100

is Pedro Grifol or Old Man Reinsdorf NEXT pls

He’s a top 6 forward, or maybe the offensive forward on the 3rd line. But Robertson never got that chance consistently with the Leafs. I don’t think he’d be the next Patrick Sharp, but he would improve the offensive depth for the Hawks.

I’m curious to see what happens with Raddysh. Was he injured last season? If not, will the Hawks bring him back in a defensive role? Towards the end of the season he played well on the PK. Or do the Hawks just move on from Raddysh?
- DarthKane

He got almost half of his points the year before on the PP (PP1 I might add). He was not playing with near similar talent this year, and his shooting percentage was 4.2% (down from 15.5%). He went on the shelf around New Years with a groin injury. Who knows how healthy he was the rest of the year. I personally think they move on from him (along with virtually all of the other RFA's and UFA's on the team.

is Pedro Grifol NEXT pls
- glennjpawlak22

I don't give 2 you know whats about baseball. As I've gotten older I find about as entertaining as soccer.
But you should really be asking to get rid of that clown Reinsdorf.
The guy is an absolutely terrible owner.

I was also thinking Robertson would be a good pick up, he’s run into some injuries and gets lost in Toronto’s glut of forwards. But he’s a very smart hardworking player with some skill.
- paulr

I would poke around Hronek if Vancouver can't fit him in their cap.

I don't give 2 you know whats about baseball. As I've gotten older I find about as entertaining as soccer.
But you should really be asking to get rid of that clown Reinsdorf.
The guy is an absolutely terrible owner.
- captainserious

Ill UPDATE my post accordingly - yes, he needs to go also - and their announcer seems to be always in the news also and not in a good way

I don't give 2 you know whats about baseball. As I've gotten older I find about as entertaining as soccer.
But you should really be asking to get rid of that clown Reinsdorf.
The guy is an absolutely terrible owner.
- captainserious

Baseball is only fun in October

What team did he work for? He seems more excited when the opposition team scores. Is this a sign of things to come?
- powerenforcer

I was laughing at the video, not sure about him (I've heard him before) but what it more says about the Flames that their announcers video is only of opposition scoring

I would poke around Hronek if Vancouver can't fit him in their cap.
- LAHawk

I can’t really talk to him, I’ve seen him but nothing really stood out. What does he bring?

Ill UPDATE my post accordingly - yes, he needs to go also - and their announcer seems to be always in the news also and not in a good way
- glennjpawlak22

They did have a good one briefly, but he went to Detroit. They still have Steve Stone, and he's a good a color commentator as there is. Was never crazy about Hawk.

ABOUT BALL:

The results: This is the second consecutive season in which Calgary has finished middle of the pack rather than bottom third in the league — that’s solid progress. Ball, with his even-keeled nature, deep, rich voice and knack for picking up details, was highlighted as the broadcast’s biggest strength by far.

“Rick Ball is consistently excellent,” wrote a Flames fan. “Articulate and has a solid sense of reading the game and anticipating big moments.”

“Ball isn’t flashy but he does a great job giving consistent and complete commentary with the right proportion of emotional emphasis,” added another fan. “He’s not a homer, he never misses obvious/interesting occurrences completely, and he helps make big moments feel big.”

The reviews for Hrudey’s color work were mostly solid but more mixed. Millen, who occasionally fills in for Hrudey, has grown on Flames fans. Host Ryan Leslie is very popular as well.

This was voted a quality broadcast overall, with Ball’s play-by-play commentary emerging as the standout feature.

Ill UPDATE my post accordingly - yes, he needs to go also - and their announcer seems to be always in the news also and not in a good way
- glennjpawlak22

Not sure who the announcer you speak of needs to go(just reading that I see it is terrible english but I'm leaving it )
Steve Stone?
I always like him as a young kid.

Not sure what is so bad ablut Griofol though?
I remember someone said he's basically in a Luke Richardson situation - good manager/coach stuck with below average players.
Not sure how true it is, like I said, I barely pay attention to baseball anymore.
But you are right,it does seem to get fun in October.

Chris Vosters is out of the TV broadcast and is replaced by Rick Ball.
- DarthKane

Second best day in Hawk history as far as I'm concerned.

I can’t really talk to him, I’ve seen him but nothing really stood out. What does he bring?
- paulr

Is only 26., Play's 23 minutes a night, has a cannon for a shot (would easily be first PP point on the Hawks), good in transition, not physical but uses his stick in the defensive zone. Would make S. Jones a second pair defenseman. Only thing is will probably ask for $8 mill. long term, for $7 mil. I would do it.