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.
- Mr Ricochet

Who is running him off?? Some people just have a differing opinion. So he goes to practices. Stop the presses.

Who is running him off?? Some people just have a differing opinion. So he goes to practices. Stop the presses.
- LFS

Actually I feel Steve makes some good points and I appreciate his digging into things. I don' always agree with his posts but hey I not always right
. I appreciate his insight.

I know that he is wiz friend and they go back a ways.Blueline, Draft previews they ha e been at the firefront of Blackhawk hickey.

Now I see that Steve has a teenage son who so far is interested in sports management or something like that probably with a business degree......so I will be curious and cheering for him if he pursues that path.

I just looked at Shane's the hawk pickings at #18...and they look MIGHTHY fine there, its as if the critics didn't 8nderstand the board dioffernce in #18 and #20...
- wiz1901

Looks like your buddy doesn't have Hage anywhere on his top list.
Yet you have him at #18 right now at lines.com
I wonder if his injury had anything to do with Shane leaving him off his top list.

He is still weak as a defender Steve.

So two Vlasic's equal Bouchard????
lol
- wiz1901

He's leading the league in playoff +/-. Pretty good for a weak defender.

He's leading the league in playoff +/-. Pretty good for a weak defender.
- stevefrmglencoe

Well it helps when you have Ekholm as your partner. Nothing to take away from Bouchard´s play. He has been really good.

Thank god Hawks picked Boqvist before him and Dobson..wait..no?

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

I like Demidov the most.

Demidov's highlights are amazing. I've never seen him live so I don't know what he does without the puck. Is he standing still at the blueline or perfectly positioned to steal pucks and get going? With only 178 goals for in 23-24 I am all for drafting dynamic offensive players high in the first round. 8 of the 10 top point producers are on the team that drafted them and 6 of the top 10 point producers are on the team that drafted them.

Not going to boo, I am going to be at the draft this year if anyone else is going, if they pick Levshunov. He looks to be a solid D man soon. 9 of the top 10 point producing defensemen are on the team that drafted them.

Lindstrom is what they don't have and probably need the most. Big, strong centerman battle tested in the WHL. The injuries scare me.

Hard to complain if they take the kid from London. Good size and most of the guys that come out of there know how to play NHL hockey.

I am hoping they don't trade down or go far off the board. Hopefully they let them all develop for another year or two far from the current train wreck.

I like Demidov the most.

Demidov's highlights are amazing. I've never seen him live so I don't know what he does without the puck. Is he standing still at the blueline or perfectly positioned to steal pucks and get going? With only 178 goals for in 23-24 I am all for drafting dynamic offensive players high in the first round. 8 of the 10 top point producers are on the team that drafted them and 6 of the top 10 point producers are on the team that drafted them.

Not going to boo, I am going to be at the draft this year if anyone else is going, if they pick Levshunov. He looks to be a solid D man soon. 9 of the top 10 point producing defensemen are on the team that drafted them.

Lindstrom is what they don't have and probably need the most. Big, strong centerman battle tested in the WHL. The injuries scare me.

Hard to complain if they take the kid from London. Good size and most of the guys that come out of there know how to play NHL hockey.

I am hoping they don't trade down or go far off the board. Hopefully they let them all develop for another year or two far from the current train wreck.
- stevefrmglencoe

I agree with a lot of this. It'll be interesting to see who they actually draft.

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.
- Mr Ricochet

Yes you are right. If he has been able to canvass the other GM's and is certain that the guy he wanted with the 2nd pick would be gone then he deserves credit for having the guts to trade away a 2nd to move up.

As for Vosters, they gave a young guy a chance and then they gutted him. I don't know if they have been telling him all along, "We need you to do this or that," and he didn't listen. Don't know if he was difficult to work with or if he was unprofessional and over his head. This franchise is under the microscope because of how they treated Beach. Rocky's outburst during the Town Hall. How he treated the reporter and Danny. I think it is another example of chewing someone up and spitting them out. In conjunction with, in my opinion, many questionable moves at the NHL level. One of the worst team's in the league fires their announcer. Coaching and scouting staff stays the same.

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

In all seriousness i thought Carolina managed the cap well for years, they just wouldn't sacrifice that 1st rounder for a rental until this year, but because they make it conditional i guess they didn't.

Yes you are right. If he has been able to canvass the other GM's and is certain that the guy he wanted with the 2nd pick would be gone then he deserves credit for having the guts to trade away a 2nd to move up.

As for Vosters, they gave a young guy a chance and then they gutted him. I don't know if they have been telling him all along, "We need you to do this or that," and he didn't listen. Don't know if he was difficult to work with or if he was unprofessional and over his head. This franchise is under the microscope because of how they treated Beach. Rocky's outburst during the Town Hall. How he treated the reporter and Danny. I think it is another example of chewing someone up and spitting them out. In conjunction with, in my opinion, many questionable moves at the NHL level. One of the worst team's in the league fires their announcer. Coaching and scouting staff stays the same.
- stevefrmglencoe

For me it was his lack of knowledge of the sport. He did get better but half the time he didn't know why play had stopped.

Work for you. But youre not being signed. Player has something to say.
- LFS[/quote

He was an RFA. What were his options? Go to the KHL? Work in private equity?

Actually I feel Steve makes some good points and I appreciate his digging into things. I don' always agree with his posts but hey I not always right
. I appreciate his insight.

I know that he is wiz friend and they go back a ways.Blueline, Draft previews they ha e been at the firefront of Blackhawk hickey.

Now I see that Steve has a teenage son who so far is interested in sports management or something like that probably with a business degree......so I will be curious and cheering for him if he pursues that path.
- jhawk59

My son created this website and is working on the update for 23-24.

https://www.nhlfrontofficedatabase.com/

I like Demidov the most.

Demidov's highlights are amazing. I've never seen him live so I don't know what he does without the puck. Is he standing still at the blueline or perfectly positioned to steal pucks and get going? With only 178 goals for in 23-24 I am all for drafting dynamic offensive players high in the first round. 8 of the 10 top point producers are on the team that drafted them and 6 of the top 10 point producers are on the team that drafted them.

Not going to boo, I am going to be at the draft this year if anyone else is going, if they pick Levshunov. He looks to be a solid D man soon. 9 of the top 10 point producing defensemen are on the team that drafted them.

Lindstrom is what they don't have and probably need the most. Big, strong centerman battle tested in the WHL. The injuries scare me.

Hard to complain if they take the kid from London. Good size and most of the guys that come out of there know how to play NHL hockey.

I am hoping they don't trade down or go far off the board. Hopefully they let them all develop for another year or two far from the current train wreck.
- stevefrmglencoe

I agree.. demidov and dont look back. Levshunov is talented but he doesnt separate himself from other defensemen like demidov from other forwards. Plus i read there may be an issue with levshunovs true age. I like lindstrum but his back injury at 18 scares me. I also like catton. Enjoy the draft in person. I moved to europe so i can only stream.

Yes you are right. If he has been able to canvass the other GM's and is certain that the guy he wanted with the 2nd pick would be gone then he deserves credit for having the guts to trade away a 2nd to move up.

As for Vosters, they gave a young guy a chance and then they gutted him. I don't know if they have been telling him all along, "We need you to do this or that," and he didn't listen. Don't know if he was difficult to work with or if he was unprofessional and over his head. This franchise is under the microscope because of how they treated Beach. Rocky's outburst during the Town Hall. How he treated the reporter and Danny. I think it is another example of chewing someone up and spitting them out. In conjunction with, in my opinion, many questionable moves at the NHL level. One of the worst team's in the league fires their announcer. Coaching and scouting staff stays the same.
- stevefrmglencoe

What does one have to do with the other? Sounds like you're implying when they parted ways with Vosters they also should've shown KFC and LR the door? Makes sense.

I like Demidov the most.

Demidov's highlights are amazing. I've never seen him live so I don't know what he does without the puck. Is he standing still at the blueline or perfectly positioned to steal pucks and get going? With only 178 goals for in 23-24 I am all for drafting dynamic offensive players high in the first round. 8 of the 10 top point producers are on the team that drafted them and 6 of the top 10 point producers are on the team that drafted them.

Not going to boo, I am going to be at the draft this year if anyone else is going, if they pick Levshunov. He looks to be a solid D man soon. 9 of the top 10 point producing defensemen are on the team that drafted them.

Lindstrom is what they don't have and probably need the most. Big, strong centerman battle tested in the WHL. The injuries scare me.

Hard to complain if they take the kid from London. Good size and most of the guys that come out of there know how to play NHL hockey.

I am hoping they don't trade down or go far off the board. Hopefully they let them all develop for another year or two far from the current train wreck.
- stevefrmglencoe

Thinking of going also, never been, and isn’t this the last one where all the teams will be in one place? Next year will be just a big zoom call?

What does one have to do with the other? Sounds like you're implying when they parted ways with Vosters they also should've shown KFC and LR the door? Makes sense.
- HawkintheD

You are right they don't have a linear connection.

I think it is ironic that they choose to beef up the broadcast booth with a 10 year NHL vet when in my opinion the coaching staff and front office need it more.

Thinking of going also, never been, and isn’t this the last one where all the teams will be in one place? Next year will be just a big zoom call?
- LAHawk

Yes they changed the format for next year. Also, my kid, who is the real reason why I am going, is taking a seminar from the Sports Management Worldwide who holds an event at the Draft with NHL GMs and Front Office personnel for people who want to work in the league.

For me it was his lack of knowledge of the sport. He did get better but half the time he didn't know why play had stopped.
- BetweenTheDots

Vosters had big shoes to fill. But the woke jokes made their decisions based on social media. Foley doesn't do it and Vosters does. Now I'm not knocking them for trying to be up to modern standards and certainly moving forward it's a way to connect with a younger audience. BUT, there's this thing called HOCKEY. And if you ask a dinosaur like me I would tell you that hockey is the most important thing. But I know I'm wrong in this day and age. It is about money first and that's where the marketing comes in.

A Cubs executive to run a professional hockey club. What could go wrong? I try to maintain an open mind and will continue to do so. But I had high hopes when Danny came in and so far I'm left disappointed. How tough is it to realize a hockey person should be in charge?

Yes you are right. If he has been able to canvass the other GM's and is certain that the guy he wanted with the 2nd pick would be gone then he deserves credit for having the guts to trade away a 2nd to move up.

As for Vosters, they gave a young guy a chance and then they gutted him. I don't know if they have been telling him all along, "We need you to do this or that," and he didn't listen. Don't know if he was difficult to work with or if he was unprofessional and over his head. This franchise is under the microscope because of how they treated Beach. Rocky's outburst during the Town Hall. How he treated the reporter and Danny. I think it is another example of chewing someone up and spitting them out. In conjunction with, in my opinion, many questionable moves at the NHL level. One of the worst team's in the league fires their announcer. Coaching and scouting staff stays the same.
- stevefrmglencoe

You know, lots of speculation there to trash the organization. No one, and i mean no one did I ever hear say Vosters was doing a good job.

Everyone gets a break in life, and you either take advantage of it or learn from it. He didn't take advantage of it, hopefully, he'll learn from it.

Its professional sports, whether you're in the front office, announcing, training, coaching, playing, there are a 1000 people waiting in the wings to take your job, not just with the Chicago Blackhawks, every professional team, in every sport, around the world.

Maybe he just wasn't good enough, and no conspiracies. He proved over the time he was here, he just wasn't good enough.

You can blame the organization all you want, speculate on the 100 ways they conspired to "Beach" him, but sometimes, people need to take personal responsibility, and sometimes in pro sports, you just aren't good enough.

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

Just curious why is Demidov bpa at 2 for you?
Have any contacts in Russia that have been watching him?

Isn't the whole RHD thing being blown a bit out of proportion?
If Levshunov was a LHD,would he still be as high as number 2 in this year's draft?

Yes you are right. If he has been able to canvass the other GM's and is certain that the guy he wanted with the 2nd pick would be gone then he deserves credit for having the guts to trade away a 2nd to move up.

As for Vosters, they gave a young guy a chance and then they gutted him. I don't know if they have been telling him all along, "We need you to do this or that," and he didn't listen. Don't know if he was difficult to work with or if he was unprofessional and over his head. This franchise is under the microscope because of how they treated Beach. Rocky's outburst during the Town Hall. How he treated the reporter and Danny. I think it is another example of chewing someone up and spitting them out. In conjunction with, in my opinion, many questionable moves at the NHL level. One of the worst team's in the league fires their announcer. Coaching and scouting staff stays the same.
- stevefrmglencoe

Vosters stunk, stop searching for a problem.
Colliton got canned, as did head of scouting Kelly. They have not stayed the same. You’re the only one who has a problem with these moves.

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

Eiserman

Who is running him off?? Some people just have a differing opinion. So he goes to practices. Stop the presses.
- LFS

That hockey, or any part of it, that matters to me doesn't to you does not shock or surprise me in any possible way.

NBC Sports Chicago website has already done a celebratory look at the their years carrying the Blackhawk coverage, signaling farwell to the Indianhead as the team moves to the new sports channel alternative.


I see that the "Blackhawk insider, Charlie Roumeliotus put up a
"Artyom Levshunov goes to dinner with the Hawks staff" and he is listed as the Blackhawks Insider for NBC Sports Chicago, and (always) sponsored by Insuarnce guy Jeff Vukowich.

This signals to me he abnd Pat Boyle are under contract by NBC Sports, isnce they also voice the "reflecting on the last 20 years of sports there...

This is encouraging.

Hopefully they stay there.

Pat Boyle had a chubby five minutes after a segmant on goalie Drew Commesso calling him the future starting goalie about 6 years before he wins and net.
Charlie and his Elmhurst Colleg sports degree smells of connection with the sportschannel ownership and hopefully he can stay with NBC Sports as his inside tidbits are not special.

Give me smart hockey people on the new channel.
They don't have to be specifically Chicago-area born, but now what they just watched between the intermissions and can speack to THAT.
Sure, we love the freindly faces, but I just prefer positivity of the group that we hit the ice with.
It is alright to critique young defenders and the entire forward lineup in context to the "game" we are currently watching.
(It is tough when the team back-slips game to game.)

If you are going to give me another "Blackhawk insider" (not Sorry Charlie) actually give him some insider stuff to discuss.

An aside:
It bugs me about how much I have learned about Gustav Forling NOW.
Why didn't I know when the Blackhawks acquired him for Vancouver in exchange for Adam Clendening on 29 January 2015, before he played an NHL game, that Ulf Samuelsson was acquainted with him and pushed for the trade.
(You would think this is a true example of soemthing Hawk fans would have interest in.)

I never remember it being mentioned.

Or that Forsling was a avid body builder / weight room guy...that his 90 mph shot and fleet feet were going to be getting more muscles to help add to his NHL defenseman physique?

I mean doesn't this type look at a younger player back in 2016-17 help keep fans like me interest in the persons?

Do i ahve get an account on the Hawk fan blog to make my case of what might be a way to REALLY tak fans inside the currect team and kids?
No one wants over-pumped evaluations but it is a way to highlight the young group, no matter if they become future Cup winners for Chicago.

Here in St. Pete, the Lightning have a big chucnk of coverage on their own play by play station.
After game sof on off nights I happend upon a 30 minute special of Brandon Hagel (all 6.5 million dollar salaried) - I didn't see the entire thing, to see if it documeneted that the sabres drafted him, he didn't sign and if tehre was anything non Tampa to the story, but they did show his frends familt and his goal to be a player.

My point is in a large market in Chicago should be getting inside looks --- since these two examples were more than I got from inside from the Balckhawks.

Yes you are right. If he has been able to canvass the other GM's and is certain that the guy he wanted with the 2nd pick would be gone then he deserves credit for having the guts to trade away a 2nd to move up.

As for Vosters, they gave a young guy a chance and then they gutted him. I don't know if they have been telling him all along, "We need you to do this or that," and he didn't listen. Don't know if he was difficult to work with or if he was unprofessional and over his head. This franchise is under the microscope because of how they treated Beach. Rocky's outburst during the Town Hall. How he treated the reporter and Danny. I think it is another example of chewing someone up and spitting them out. In conjunction with, in my opinion, many questionable moves at the NHL level. One of the worst team's in the league fires their announcer. Coaching and scouting staff stays the same.
- stevefrmglencoe

At #18 I doubt KD, or any GM, knows anything for certain. Maybe the top few but after that hells bells of any draft... KD hasn't struck me as throwing assets around so with the trade up I'm assuming he has some kind of idea that he sees/hears something that concerns him.. Can't imagine trying tackle a big league draft but am guessing it there is some art to the science of drafting.