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

If I never hear about the "sheet" I will be happy.

If I never hear about the "sheet" I will be happy.
- bjphawkfan

Or he "flicks his wrists"

Only about about a month until things will be much clearer regarding the Hawks prospects and roster headed into next season. Draft and any trades leading up to it will be over, it will be a few days into free agency so some signings will have been made, and RFA's will be qualified or not.

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.Petersburgby a Euroh and other big cities.
- MjulQvist

Great point, Mjul. I do know this but still have that fear of managing risk. Demidov, and even Siliyev, are the kinds of guys you'd climb out on a limb for but there is still risk.

Not following your thought on Putin and his war(s). I know you live in Europe and I'm very interested to hear any perspective of Russia from a Euro.

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

You think so, Orca? IIRC I still read the KHL as the accepted 2nd best league in the world. ....... Cuz NHL organIzations do rank the leagues for player evaluation purposes.

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.
- Chunk

No, you're correct on that stat. It needs the proper context you gave it to show while it's a fine achievment it's not as amazing as it sounds.

And, I agree 100% Siliyev skating 17:00 a night for a full yr in the KHL is the greater achievment than his points as a 17 yr old. ...... It says much for a huge 17 yr old.

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

Like many have replied it is too early to say where these prospects will end up but the Perault kid may end up the best of this list. Kid just produces despite the skating that saw him fall in his draft.

Not sure where Moore will end up but I have few doubts he won't play in the NHL for 10 yrs. With his crazy speed, motor and hunger he'll play a lotta NHL games.

Wiz am I still on the hook?
- Scott1977

2 forwards and defenseman with 2 18 34
- Scott1977

Scotty, you are not off the hook!

Which one is the defenseman?

You told us your prediction for the Blackhawks first three picks but never said which pick was which.

So NO you are on the hook.

I am going to predict Forward (2),forward (18), defenseman (34).

A Is anybody going to say the take THREE defenseman?

B Is anybody going to say the take THREE forwards?

C Whose gonna say dee (2), dee (18), forward (34) ?

Are any of you thinking they do A, B, or C , enough to say place a wager?
Not advocating gambling; just want to see what you all think.


(((Scott, when I wentbackwards to refresh what we (me) were discussing, I found it and a postr by me up their FOUR freaking times!!!!! Old people!

That is simply not true.

When they went to the CF 2 years ago ze German was playing on a bum ankle and still racking up 2 points per game.

McDavid has been just as tremendous. But they have been an unbalanced team.

The biggest difference - and this analysis that it is some how McDavid's or ze Germans fault for poopty roster construction (same as the Leafs its 100% not Marner, Matthews and Nylander's fault) - is the maturity of Bouchard and the partnership with Ekholm and their ability to both shut down and flip the ice. It is arguably the best pairing in the NHL in all 3 zones. Only one that may be better is Makar and Toews if they're both healthy.

Nurse slotted on the second pairing where he belongs has been an improvement and their third pairing is more like a 2b. Top to bottom they probably have the best 6 defenders in the playoffs overall.

Transitioning the puck quickly and efficiently from one zone to the other is the most important predictor of playoff success. Just look at how much an injured Fox impacted the Rangers ability to create scoring opportunities.

Florida is tremendous across their top two pairings, even though there isn't superstar talent, at moving the puck from one end to the other and disrupting play in the neutral zone. The Stars transition the puck exceptionally well and are relentless going forward. The impact the little Hughes kid had for Vancouver was amazing.

Tornoto does not have anyone on their blue line that can fill that role with any reliability.

That is why the Oilers were not able to make it past the first round before Bouchard made the team. The play and production of the Oilers top players increased astronomically once they got their first pairing sorted out and Nurse appropriately slotted.

This narrative that it is all up to the superstar forwards to carry a team in spite of poor roster construction is lazy and incorrect analysis. If we could please stop it that would be nice.
- fattybeef

The problem hasn't been scoring for them, when i say passengers i mean defensively. Both McDavid and Draisaitl have become way way way more physical this year than playoffs past, same with being defensively responsible. Samething happened to the Bolts and Kucherov. When your best players finally get tired of being man handled and pushed around and start playing with an edge its as if it's the final step to a team being a Stanley Cup contender.

Scotty, you are not off the hook!

Which one is the defenseman?

You told us your prediction for the Blackhawks first three picks but never said which pick was which.

So NO you are on the hook.

I am going to predict Forward (2),forward (18), defenseman (34).

A Is anybody going to say the take THREE defenseman?

B Is anybody going to say the take THREE forwards?

C Whose gonna say dee (2), dee (18), forward (34) ?

Are any of you thinking they do A, B, or C , enough to say place a wager?
Not advocating gambling; just want to see what you all think.


(((Scott, when I wentbackwards to refresh what we (me) were discussing, I found it and a postr by me up their FOUR freaking times!!!!! Old people!
- wiz1901

Demidov
Jiricek
EJ Emery

You think so, Orca? IIRC I still read the KHL as the accepted 2nd best league in the world. ....... Cuz NHL organIzations do rank the leagues for player evaluation purposes.
- Mr Ricochet

I’m not an expert at anything but picking stocks, so take my analysis with a grain of salt. But the top guys in the KHL were guys who couldn’t hack it in the NHL: Gusev, Reid Boucher, and a bunch of guys who got mad when demoted so chased the cash to Russia.
The top guys in the AHL has plenty of similar journeymen, and disgruntled 5th liners. But it also has some top talent who would demolish the KHL like Stankoven, Fagemo, and other prospects.

The disparity of talent on teams in the KHL dilutes its validity to me. There are just too many dine out teams like the San Jose Sharks of this year, where your offense only Radulovs can pile up points while never crossing back over their own blue line.
I’ve heard it said that the AHL can be harder for some guys to score in, simply because of the chaos that sometimes happens vs the structure of the NHL.
I’d like to hear counterarguments.

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

Gimme his number and I'll phone him for ya

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.
- Snakebit12

Thanks for sharing your work, Snake. Be glad to reread this just before, and especially after, the draft......... Keep on posting.

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

I'm taking this as hard to play against in that dude is gonna make you pay anytime you're near him. In that context, yea man, a 6ft 7in guy that can skate better than you and seemingly enjoys the physical part of the game will be considered one of the top players listed as being hard to play against..... And that's not considering Siliyev's crazy reach to bust up plays/rushes from 12 ft away.

Per @Antho_Martineau interview with Artyom Levshunov:

He feels significant interest from Chicago, who have met with him several times this year.

Also adds that the combine will be the first time he's met with the Habs. Something tells me MTL doesn't think he'll be an option..


Cam Robinson tweet:
Levshunov has some things to flesh out in his game yet, but in our eyes, he's the top defensive option in the class.

I see him more as a nice 2D than a true No. 1

Sounds like he thinks Levshunov is a 1st pairing D man,just not a #1 d man? Or is 2D = 2nd pairing? I might be wrong but if that is him calling Levshunov a 2nd pairing dman,isn't the #2 pick kinda high ?

Juat read something in the suntimes - looks like there was some tension between Vosters and Panger?

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

I’ve seen Hronek play a lot in Vancouver and would take him in a heartbeat. He’d instantly be the Hawks #1 d-man and lighten the load for Jones.

I thought I read somewhere that the Hawks signed Anderson and Blackwell. Can anyone confirm that?
- bjphawkfan

Anderson is a kid who I hope the Hawks bring back conceding I don't know what the numberrs game with the roster after camp and preseason. ........ He was one of the few who looked like an NHLer all yr. A solid, simple, steadying game that allowed him to have the best fancies on the club.

He is 25 with 150ish NHL games and, didn't realize this, he's listed at 207 lbs so he's bigger than we might think. .... Not sure you wanna give Anderson a lotta term but he's a guy who's Hawk's team will be better when he's on the ice than when not assuming he's slotted correctly in the bottom 6.

This summer started with the ridiculous contract for Vlasic making him a UFA at 28. Then they gave away a 2nd rounder to move up 2 spots. Now they are dumping the play by play guy because Darren Pang didn't like him? In all the years Darren Pang has been an analyst, can you remember anything he's ever said besides "Holy Jumping?"

It’s narrowing …

https://youtu.be/n4ArvHmBQ1c?si=mhSRLpyRUOqLB0bk

A couple of surprises namely Sennecke and Parekh.
- paulr

It seems the sharp ones thought Parekh had a fine Memorial Cup and playoffs. I think you're in the same camp as I am in that I thought Parekh played his way down the draft list.

He wasn't a difference maker and was rarely dangerous...... Of course, it's not how you play as an 18 yr old it's how good you are at 25 and of course that takes projection.....

I'm leaning towards him being a Shattenkirk type but maybe, maybe, he ends up a Letang. If so where is the fair draft slot for him cuz you are swinging like you aren't with a Buium, Levshunov or D!ckinson who have much much higher floors.

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

The scent of lavender. No honestly haven't followed his game as much in VAN but he brought some offense when he was a Wing and would offer an upgrade over the pylons (Megna, Tinordi, Zaitsev).

This summer started with the ridiculous contract for Vlasic making him a UFA at 28. Then they gave away a 2nd rounder to move up 2 spots. Now they are dumping the play by play guy because Darren Pang didn't like him? In all the years Darren Pang has been an analyst, can you remember anything he's ever said besides "Holy Jumping?"
- stevefrmglencoe

They could've offloaded both Pang and Vosters AFAIC. They gave away one of their three 2nd round picks to move up two spots in the first (20 to 18) and four spots in the second (54 to 50). At least be accurate. Also, sorry for the directness, but you're the only guy whining about a contract that was roundly viewed as a solid signing.

When it stops raining in your world Eeyore...err Steve, let me know...or don't.

They could've offloaded both Pang and Vosters AFAIC. They gave away one of their three 2nd round picks to move up two spots in the first (20 to 18) and four spots in the second (54 to 50). At least be accurate. Also, sorry for the directness, but you're the only guy whining about a contract that was roundly viewed as a solid signing.

When it stops raining in your world Eeyore...err Steve, let me know...or don't.
- HawkintheD

They could've offloaded both Pang and Vosters AFAIC..
- HawkintheD

Well part of the problem is (according to their website) is it seems they think they'd actually employed someone by the last name of 'Peng' .... and of course I got a screenshot of same. . . hard to lose Panger - since he seems to be the guy with the red stapler from Office Space.

You think so, Orca? IIRC I still read the KHL as the accepted 2nd best league in the world. ....... Cuz NHL organIzations do rank the leagues for player evaluation purposes.
- Mr Ricochet

If that is the case, then for some, I'd say then the drop off in talent would be precipitous.

https://en.khl.ru/news/2023/08/22/515701.html

or exhibit 1, KHL legend Nigel Dawes .... Barker, etc - they're basically where some NHL players chose to go when given an option of which pasture to be put out to .... Runblad .... Regin (post Chicago and couldn't get a job in the NHL Regin) ... am pretty sure there are going to be more too.

The truth is that they're not- they might be, though, the 2nd best financed league in the world.

I don't actually care if they pick Demidov, if he actually is available (meaning is actually able to really come over- not some marketed version of a fantasy) - as if he is what you all seem convinced that he is - I'm all about the forwards ... but I mean ... well, ... perspective and hyperbole are on opposite ends of the reality spectrum in some areas.

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

I have been saying for years that Reinsdorf is very good at stealing money from 2 ignorant fan bases. They keep coming back to watch inferior talent assembled by incompetent G.M.s that only he likes.

I was at a funeral a few years ago for a White Sox player that was very good friends with my father, and Reinsdorf was right behind us in the consoling line for the wife. It was all I could do to not say something to the jerk.