Is he being objective though…or is it complaining for the sake of complaining?

I didn’t hate Vosters as much as som here on the board. I didn’t think he was great but was willing to give him a chance to grow into the job. That said, not sure how many people were able to get too attached to him during his 1 1/2 seasons as the PBP guy…not to the point where it can be attached to KFC’s perceived laundry list of mistakes.

That anyone would love or hate a trade that moves a pick up in each of the first two rounds and gives one up at the back end of the second is comical.

Ditto on the Vlasic deal. Have no problem with going against groupthink but Steve hasn’t made any real argument as to how that deal is a negative. Yes, Vlasic will be a UFA at the end of it and he’ll either take another deal from the Hawks or he won’t. What Steve never mentions is what the Salary Cap will be at that time. He doesn’t know…just like I don’t know if Vlasic will grow his game to the point where he prices himself out of being a Hawk.

Maybe I’m off here…but to me it’s just complaining when there is no real axe to grind.
- HawkintheD

Thanks for the back and forth.

The negative on the Vlasic deal is that it is absurd asset management and foreshadows more bad decisions in the future. What is Vlasic? Probably a solid defensive defenseman with a long reach and good skating. What is he not? Does not look like a very offensive guy. Not hard hitting. Not a fighter. With a bridge deal they would have plenty of time to see what he will become and then if he blows away expectations they could have inked him to an 8 year deal. That strategy would have him as a Hawk throughout most of his productive years properly paid. With the deal they did, they are overpaying him for what he is now and a couple of years after he reveals what he will become, he is an unrestricted free agent. He is overpaid by the Hawks if he turns into garbage and free to make a deal in his prime away from the Hawks if turns into a Chara. What is the good part of this deal? How does it inspire you that the decisions made upstairs are well thought out for the future when the Hawks might start contending again?

As for the 2nd round pick trade, timing is suspect. If on the draft floor at the Sphere a guy they love was still available and they felt they had to have him, OK move up. But what could they possibly know now about who is going to be available that forced them to do it now? 2nd round picks become valuable chips at trade deadlines as teams add. Do you think Dallas wishes they had traded a 2nd round pick for another veteran defenseman for the Oilers series? I am not suggesting the Hawks will be in the Conference Finals anytime soon, just highlighting value. Seems like they are throwing away a valuable asset.

The Hawks ran a long process and subjected the fans to a merry go round of guest announcers to land on Vosters. He has a unique style and it was not easy to replace Foley who is in the HOF. Did Vosters regress? Who in management made the decision to keep him and now dump him? This team would have been relegated in soccer and not much has changed in the front office or behind the bench. Is this because he could not get along with Pang? Pang adds little. Would have preferred dumping Pang and replacing him with John Scott who I think says more.

Appears Powers thinks the Hawks are leaning Levshunov with #2 pick
- LAHawk

I’d prefer Demidov, but I’d be ok with Levshunov and I see the logic behind making that choice. I’d KD goes with Levshunov let’s hope that Eiserman is still available at #18 or the Hawks move up in the draft to get him.

Thanks for the back and forth.

The negative on the Vlasic deal is that it is absurd asset management and foreshadows more bad decisions in the future. What is Vlasic? Probably a solid defensive defenseman with a long reach and good skating. What is he not? Does not look like a very offensive guy. Not hard hitting. Not a fighter. With a bridge deal they would have plenty of time to see what he will become and then if he blows away expectations they could have inked him to an 8 year deal. That strategy would have him as a Hawk throughout most of his productive years properly paid. With the deal they did, they are overpaying him for what he is now and a couple of years after he reveals what he will become, he is an unrestricted free agent. He is overpaid by the Hawks if he turns into garbage and free to make a deal in his prime away from the Hawks if turns into a Chara. What is the good part of this deal? How does it inspire you that the decisions made upstairs are well thought out for the future when the Hawks might start contending again?

As for the 2nd round pick trade, timing is suspect. If on the draft floor at the Sphere a guy they love was still available and they felt they had to have him, OK move up. But what could they possibly know now about who is going to be available that forced them to do it now? 2nd round picks become valuable chips at trade deadlines as teams add. Do you think Dallas wishes they had traded a 2nd round pick for another veteran defenseman for the Oilers series? I am not suggesting the Hawks will be in the Conference Finals anytime soon, just highlighting value. Seems like they are throwing away a valuable asset.

The Hawks ran a long process and subjected the fans to a merry go round of guest announcers to land on Vosters. He has a unique style and it was not easy to replace Foley who is in the HOF. Did Vosters regress? Who in management made the decision to keep him and now dump him? This team would have been relegated in soccer and not much has changed in the front office or behind the bench. Is this because he could not get along with Pang? Pang adds little. Would have preferred dumping Pang and replacing him with John Scott who I think says more.
- stevefrmglencoe

What type of extension would you have offered Vlasic and what is your logic behind that choice? This assumes that Vlasic would accept your offer.

What type of extension would you have offered Vlasic and what is your logic behind that choice? This assumes that Vlasic would accept your offer.
- DarthKane

Edmonton bridged Bouchard at $3.9. He's twice the player of Vlasic. Anything around $3 for 2 years would work either way.

Some new article out?
I just did a quick check and didn't find anything
- captainserious

Here'my latest 2024 NHL draft list of future Blackhawks:

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts


We look like a team who COULD strike it rich with the four in the top 50....

Edmonton bridged Bouchard at $3.9. He's twice the player of Vlasic. Anything around $3 for 2 years would work either way.
- stevefrmglencoe

He is still weak as a defender Steve.

And I am sure he was pitched "keeping the core intact salary negotiations.
So, what Bouchard takes specaks well to staying and isn't this simply Kucherov's move so that Tampa had $, and so did Stamkos?



So two Vlasic's equal Bouchard????
lol

Bultman: I think Scott’s point about maximizing the upside of this pick is a really interesting one. Corey, you obviously have Demidov lower on your list, but that list factors in more than upside. Would you agree Demidov is the highest-upside player?

Pronman:

You asked me how Chicago should look at it as well. I think we all can watch Demidov and Silayev on tape and compare it to what we’ve seen of Levshunov. We all have our opinions and I may be right or wrong, but I’m not going to get fired if I’m wrong on Levshunov vs. Demidov. The people in Chicago may, or it may be a major contributing factor, so I would want to be absolutely sure about that player and the lack of live views would weigh on me if I thought the decision was at all close.
- captainserious

Thanks for posting, Cap'n.

This is the reason I've been chirping about risk with the #2 since the draft lottery. I do not think KD has to worry about his job in relation to that #2 allowing him to play fast and loose....... But, and has been my concern and Pronman points out, there is a whole lot less risk drafting Levshunov over Demidov.

And it ain't like Levshunov is a swing or you gotta squint to see his talent, he's the real deal as far as prospects go AND he plays a super premium position AND is a right shot.

Both players have a chance to be a difference maker, as Wheeler was talking about, but Demidov comes with risk and is a winger....... The wild card for me is does the organIzation look at the draft with Bedard in mind? If so they just might go Demidov who IMO is the 2nd BPA in the whole draft.

hockey prospects radio (and Wiz's buddy Shane Malloy's sit final top 32 rankings

https://x.com/ShaneMalloy...98790182667198522/photo/1

Paul, they have your guy Sennecke at the Hawks #18 position

They have Demidov at #7. This podcast is where I first heard the concern's with Demidov's skating
- LAHawk

I just looked at Shane's the hawk pickings at #18...and they look MIGHTHY fine there, its as if the critics didn't understand the board difference in #18 and #20...

Edmonton bridged Bouchard at $3.9. He's twice the player of Vlasic. Anything around $3 for 2 years would work either way.
- stevefrmglencoe

I bet the Oilers regret not signing Bouchard to a long term deal. It’s going to cost them much more to re-sign him when his bridge deal expires vs. originally signing him to a long-term deal.

KD bet on Vlasic continuing to improve. Time will tell if he’s right or not. Right now, all signs point to Vlasic continuing his upward trajectory. If that happens it will cost more than $4.6 million to re-sign him.

If KD is wrong I don’t see this contract having a negative impact on the rebuild. The cap will continue to grow and other d-men will develop and earn their way onto the roster.

Edit: for other comparables looks at Miller (NYR) and Dobson (NYI). KD locked up Vlasic for similar value over a long term contract vs their short-term deals.

Here'my latest 2024 NHL draft list of future Blackhawks:

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts


We look like a team who COULD strike it rich with the four in the top 50....
- wiz1901

Depending on who’s actually available I like the possibility of Colton Roberts at #50.

Depending on who’s actually available I like the possibility of Colton Roberts at #50.
- DarthKane

Rather solberg I know he ld but from the description he could be a solid 2nd pair defenseman in a few years. I think at 34 if ej emery is there I think Hawks take him.

After reading the Pronman/Wheeler q&a I'm more confused than ever about who to draft.


.
- captainserious

No need to be confused, Cap'n. Planty of film available for YOU to make a distinction. ...... To my eye there is no question who is the better player at 17/18 yrs old. Buium and Demidov, Richardinson probably too, are the better players today than Levshunov. Levshunov needs more projection than either of the three I mentioned.

But, as I've posted before, it ain't who's better at 18 it's who's better at 25 yrs old.. That my friend is where the grizzled dog 30 yr scout/evaluators come into the picture and many of them see huge upside to Levshunov. .. They'll be the ones selling Levshunov to their GMs.

Me, I have Demidov at 2 and Buium at 3. .... But man, it is near impossible to pass on a guy with Levshunov's profile if he's on the board for any GM. .. Hawks go Levshunov.

Edmonton bridged Bouchard at $3.9. He's twice the player of Vlasic. Anything around $3 for 2 years would work either way.
- stevefrmglencoe

As a preemptive strike, who should they draft 2nd OA in your opinion?

Is he being objective though…or is it complaining for the sake of complaining?

I didn’t hate Vosters as much as som here on the board. I didn’t think he was great but was willing to give him a chance to grow into the job. That said, not sure how many people were able to get too attached to him during his 1 1/2 seasons as the PBP guy…not to the point where it can be attached to KFC’s perceived laundry list of mistakes.

That anyone would love or hate a trade that moves a pick up in each of the first two rounds and gives one up at the back end of the second is comical.

Ditto on the Vlasic deal. Have no problem with going against groupthink but Steve hasn’t made any real argument as to how that deal is a negative. Yes, Vlasic will be a UFA at the end of it and he’ll either take another deal from the Hawks or he won’t. What Steve never mentions is what the Salary Cap will be at that time. He doesn’t know…just like I don’t know if Vlasic will grow his game to the point where he prices himself out of being a Hawk.

Maybe I’m off here…but to me it’s just complaining when there is no real axe to grind.
- HawkintheD

Reading his posts do I think Steve has some kinda bias against KD and LR? I do, but Steve has posted things I hadn't thought of or missed and, the most important thing, he goes to Hawk practices.

That's big for me and as far as I know he's the only poster that goes to practices. If I gotta read some sniveling and maybe blow some smoke so a resource like him ain't run off I'll do so.

As for the 2nd round pick trade, timing is suspect. If on the draft floor at the Sphere a guy they love was still available and they felt they had to have him, OK move up. But what could they possibly know now about who is going to be available that forced them to do it now?



Is this because he could not get along with Pang? Pang adds little. Would have preferred dumping Pang and replacing him with John Scott who I think says more.
- stevefrmglencoe

What if the Hawks feel there is a drop off starting at #17? Do we know if KD has called around already feeling out trade up possibilities and ended up thinking we gotta get this done now so we're safely in a spot to get a guy on our board before a drop off? ..... And if it's an overpay as you say is there anything wrong with using an asset, of which they have many, to be sure to get your guy?

And count me as almost refusing to listen to Pang. As you said he brings little and his suck up and daily self deprecating humor style gets old yesterday. ... And it's the Lady Boss, who knows jack about hockey, that ran that hideous 10 man tryout 2 yrs ago and she landed on Vosters cuz he has lotsa Twitter followers.

Someone with hockey chops got to her and said, yea no, end this idiocy and get a hockey guy in and don't worry how many Twitter followers he has. ........ Pang is highly thought of as a man around the league it seems but it wouldn't surprise me if he can be a bit vengeful and sneaky. Maybe he ran Vosters out? ..... The why really doesn't matter though as long as Vosters is out but again, it doesn't matter to me cuz I'll choose the away feed so as not have to listen to Panger unless they play Baaaaaahstan, CAR or Utah.

Edmonton bridged Bouchard at $3.9. He's twice the player of Vlasic. Anything around $3 for 2 years would work either way.
- stevefrmglencoe

You know what sucks about bridging Bouchard is now the Oilers will have around 34 to 37 Mil tied up in 3 players. That'll be close to 40% of your salary cap tied up in 3 players

You know what sucks about bridging Bouchard is now the Oilers will have around 34 to 37 Mil tied up in 3 players. That'll be close to 40% of your salary cap tied up in 3 players
- BetweenTheDots

Bouchard’s contract (which is very team friendly so that the Oilers were cap compliant this year) is the same bridge for the approximate same Money that Byram, Dobson, and K’Andre Miller got. Bouchard is also still an RFA after the contract. Not defending Nurses or Campbells deal (although Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman’s contract are very team friendly) but what else should Edmonton have done ?

So $37 in 3 players ( if Bouchard gets that much AAV. Which one of McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard should they trade?

Bouchard’s contract (which is very team friendly so that the Oilers were cap compliant this year) is the same bridge for the approximate same Money that Byram, Dobson, and K’Andre Miller got. Bouchard is also still an RFA after the contract. Not defending Nurses or Campbells deal (although Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman’s contract are very team friendly) but what else should Edmonton have done ?

So $37 in 3 players ( if Bouchard gets that much AAV. Which one of McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard should they trade?
- LAHawk

I'm just saying those 3 would equal that and you throw Nurse in there at least $44 mil, damn.

I guess they'll have to play salary cap gymnastics for a few years. It would of been nice if they could of found a way to sign him to a long term deal instead of a bridge deal and be cap compliant

I'm just saying those 3 would equal that and you throw Nurse in there at least $44 mil, damn.

I guess they'll have to play salary cap gymnastics for a few years. It would of been nice if they could of found a way to sign him to a long term deal instead of a bridge deal and be cap compliant
- BetweenTheDots

What team with a decent shot at winning a cup next year doesn’t have cap issues, let alone some bubble playoff teams with issues as well?

What team with a decent shot at winning a cup next year doesn’t have cap issues, let alone some bubble playoff teams with issues as well?
- LAHawk

The Blackhawks

The Blackhawks
- BetweenTheDots

So I have you down for the Hawks to be cup contenders next year, got it.

Thanks for the back and forth.

The negative on the Vlasic deal is that it is absurd asset management and foreshadows more bad decisions in the future. What is Vlasic? Probably a solid defensive defenseman with a long reach and good skating. What is he not? Does not look like a very offensive guy. Not hard hitting. Not a fighter. With a bridge deal they would have plenty of time to see what he will become and then if he blows away expectations they could have inked him to an 8 year deal. That strategy would have him as a Hawk throughout most of his productive years properly paid. With the deal they did, they are overpaying him for what he is now and a couple of years after he reveals what he will become, he is an unrestricted free agent. He is overpaid by the Hawks if he turns into garbage and free to make a deal in his prime away from the Hawks if turns into a Chara. What is the good part of this deal? How does it inspire you that the decisions made upstairs are well thought out for the future when the Hawks might start contending again?

As for the 2nd round pick trade, timing is suspect. If on the draft floor at the Sphere a guy they love was still available and they felt they had to have him, OK move up. But what could they possibly know now about who is going to be available that forced them to do it now? 2nd round picks become valuable chips at trade deadlines as teams add. Do you think Dallas wishes they had traded a 2nd round pick for another veteran defenseman for the Oilers series? I am not suggesting the Hawks will be in the Conference Finals anytime soon, just highlighting value. Seems like they are throwing away a valuable asset.

The Hawks ran a long process and subjected the fans to a merry go round of guest announcers to land on Vosters. He has a unique style and it was not easy to replace Foley who is in the HOF. Did Vosters regress? Who in management made the decision to keep him and now dump him? This team would have been relegated in soccer and not much has changed in the front office or behind the bench. Is this because he could not get along with Pang? Pang adds little. Would have preferred dumping Pang and replacing him with John Scott who I think says more.
- stevefrmglencoe

Vlasic at worst played like a 2nd pairing dman. No one knows what he becomes but how many teams would like to have a 2nd pairing dman locked in at $4.6M for 6 years. Pretty sure all of them. So that is actually good asset management and also shows the Hawks are willing to reward their own players for performance.

They gave up their third pick in the second round to move up from 20 to 18 and 54 to 50. They also still have two third round picks I believe. Idk but maybe let things play out before simply panning the move.

Like I said, I would've been fine if they would've gotten rid of both Pang and Vosters.
They are both replaceable.

Vlasic at worst played like a 2nd pairing dman. No one knows what he becomes but how many teams would like to have a 2nd pairing dman locked in at $4.6M for 6 years. Pretty sure all of them. So that is actually good asset management and also shows the Hawks are willing to reward their own players for performance.

They gave up their third pick in the second round to move up from 20 to 18 and 54 to 50. They also still have two third round picks I believe. Idk but maybe let things play out before simply panning the move.

Like I said, I would've been fine if they would've gotten rid of both Pang and Vosters.
They are both replaceable.
- HawkintheD

Seriously I don’t get the complaint by Steve from Glencoe regarding Vlasic and the 2nd round pick.

Six years from now very well should be glad he played the last 2-3 years at that salary. It is most likely a fair pay for a player who most project as a solid second pair but aren’t saying he could become a number one pair (on a good team). Now if the term were shorter then maybe could gripe. Maybe Six years is a long time to be locked in. And truthfully the seriousness of injuries - even only concussions - is a frequent enough occurrence league wide to cause myself if a GM to hand out a contract longer than six years. Very few would I give such long term contracts - yes Bedard and that is it among the current construction of this team

Now about that second round choice be it duly noted that we have how many second round choices in 2924 draft alone? The 18th pick instead of the 20th yields maybe a player from
Our top tier or second tier rating who slipped down some team(s) list or another team (s) made questionable early selection(s). The 18th pick is easier to trade than the 20th if KD wants to land an earlier first round selection. It is first round selections who usually become your best players and we just increased the odds for the drafting of a better player. We can live without the choice we gave up, too, as we have multiple picks remaining after this trade A win win on both fronts as far as I can figure.

Edmonton bridged Bouchard at $3.9. He's twice the player of Vlasic. Anything around $3 for 2 years would work either way.
- stevefrmglencoe

Work for you. But youre not being signed. Player has something to say.

Thanks for posting, Cap'n.

This is the reason I've been chirping about risk with the #2 since the draft lottery. I do not think KD has to worry about his job in relation to that #2 allowing him to play fast and loose....... But, and has been my concern and Pronman points out, there is a whole lot less risk drafting Levshunov over Demidov.

And it ain't like Levshunov is a swing or you gotta squint to see his talent, he's the real deal as far as prospects go AND he plays a super premium position AND is a right shot.

Both players have a chance to be a difference maker, as Wheeler was talking about, but Demidov comes with risk and is a winger....... The wild card for me is does the organIzation look at the draft with Bedard in mind? If so they just might go Demidov who IMO is the 2nd BPA in the whole draft.
- Mr Ricochet

Based on video i am not convinced levshunov is a difference maker. He has attributes that several d men have in this draft. I dont see anyone with demidov’s offensive skills. But its up to KFC .