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

Isn't the whole RHD thing being blown a bit out of proportion?
- captainserious

No. As long as most people do not write left handed in equal proportion to people who write right handed.

During the original six teams, I would see a less than a half dozen right shooters on defense.

It is is interesting to note, that while I am scouting this 2024 right handed dee-man crop it is cool (and odd) how so many of them play the LEFT side as well as the right. Levshunov can and will play there if asked.,


Parekh moves all over the five postion attack schemes and is as good on the left even in theh way he can defends, and Carter Yakemchuk thinks he as valuable creeping in to the left half wall as the right point pinch. (He LOVES being a PP sniper, ala DeBrincat even when there is nO PP!)

If Levshunov was a LHD,would he still be as high as number 2 in this year's draft?
- captainserious

Excellent ask.
It is quite a bonus I am sure that hawks are taking in the consideration: They already have an improving college RH defender from the swing for the fences 3rd First rounder in Samuel Rinzel, who btw had just a few less points than Levshunov this college season.
I think for the Blackhawks, having Rinzel and then drafting Levshunov helps to fill any scarcity in the right side, although it could be addressed LATER, this kid has so many favorable attributes on and off the ice, he seems closer to a no brainer acquistion over selecting defenders like I did in my mock of RD Spencer Gill & RD Colton Roberts who bring size and some upside but surely less guarantee they fill a top 3 defender NHL role.

If another team was picking and Levshunov was left shot, they might have him closer to the pack of defenders but he's still be up around where he is.
(Just to follow the logic on thsi one)

He is not in consideration as atop three defnder in the class, but Carter Yakemchuk, well HE COULD get selected faster based on his size right shot and staickhandling expertise. (I think you all see my point where a team favors his qualities and find enough rationalization to make he the equal to D. I. C. K. E. R. S.on, Biuum,Anton Silayev and over the lesser light size wize Parekh.

The fact that the Florida RUSSIAN meet n greet will have some of the aspects of the Buffalo player evaluations, I guess your initial question is one the Blackhawks decide internally.
I don't think that what decide screws up the reboot, but I think this might be the most difficult concensus deciosn the scouting staff makes. (and I am betting Soupy Campbells imput may have weight...)


Oh, and no need to pan the hawks 3 for 2 draft pick moves in the mid first and second.
Just look at my draft board and YOU decide if you like what MIGHT be there at #18 and or if those extra two slots in the first and if those extra four slots in the secon and see if you prefer the current options over the pre-Islander trade pickings...[/color]

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.
- BetweenTheDots

I think there is a lot to emulate from the CAR way of doing things but as good as they were, as well for the playoffs as they were built, as well as the drafted/developed, as well as they use analytics, as well as they are coached, as well as they had buy in from the skate sharpener to the owner they just didn't get it done.. But, lots to like.

I also like that they decided as good as Wadell had been they weren't winning it all and moved on and Wadell seems happy not to have to work under the conditions put upon him in CAR.... No such restrictions in CLB.

One of the top things I'll watch this yr is CLB. Love that they hired Wadell to point the organIzation in the right direction. Seems like a good fit.

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

Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes! Best post I've read in this group.

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

Practice only tells you which of their six #13 forwards and three #7 defense men are going to play that night.

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

My mock doesn't start with a defender at #2 overall.

If they do finish out their defense shopping list there, I could see the hawks going more forwards after.

The think is I love so many of this crop of defenseman and I like many left shots and want more size.
Heck, it is easy to assess that ex-Bedsy linemate Tanner Howe might make Bedard happy, or again taking the best goalie prospect in the second round.
I think Kyle was alluding to the idea that many of the prospects the Hawks like in the first may drop inot the second and they may be upside gems.
He may think that tghe teams selcting in the bottom of the first are locked on more defenders that they think will be gone before they select with a second pick.

I just think the hawks are in a enviable position with these 4 picks and as much as i like San Jose picks and Anaheim picks I don't see both clubs sticking with one position.

That is what makes the Hawks Euro scouting more important when the second round starts seeing drops and inner scout debates as to stay or go as the get to the second and simply use bpa in the 3rd round for longer term prospects .

I keep thinking San Jose may see the 2nd pick as where they go defenseman.

I keep thinking Anaheim may see the later picks in slots #32 and #35 as where they go defenseman if they don't grab one at #3...and as slots where the bulk up on defense. (they have the hefty stable forward unless there is a big man forward there they really like----like when LAST YEAR San Jose took Londons Knight's big Finn wing, Kasper Halttunen grrrr)

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

LOL!

he must have set up more thasn that one McDavid overtime goal.

Isn't plus minue about FIVE guys?

Let's watch the final.

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.
- Scott1977

Sure, EJ fills a prospect need if they feel he is boa at some point.

I saw that 7 defenseman vs 13 forwards comparison, but if you HAVE six all around good defenders and you added all via the draft, you have a the through start of a good team as long as you have scorers too.

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

https://www.nhlfrontofficedatabase.com/
- stevefrmglencoe

Wow, great idea and subject matter. Very cool...

This was interesting. Last yr 33% of NHLers came from rd 1 followed by 17% from rd2 followed by 16% who were undrafted!!

Levshunov
https://x.com/CRoumelioti...tatus/1799487271374049294

@sabremetrix
Looks like Kevyn Adams got up to talk with Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson

Skinner for a Pequod's pizza
Half salary retained
We'll cover the tip

Wow, great idea and subject matter. Very cool...

This was interesting. Last yr 33% of NHLers came from rd 1 followed by 17% from rd2 followed by 16% who were undrafted!!
- Mr Ricochet

Son you’re saying we should trade all our 3-7 round picks for prospects… 😂😂

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 is an excellent defender. Not kind of good, not okay, he's excellent. His ability to flip the ice on a very bad team with a lot of d zone starts is very very good. He retrieves the puck well and does a good job standing up the blue line.

His ability to make a 200 ft pass is excellent. If the Hawks had a better team his point total would probably be much higher.

He also plays against the other team's best players.

4.6 is fair value now and will be even if there is no significant improvement.

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?
- 6628

I'm pretty sure KFC has been in front office hockey (working for the Hawks) since college...

They hired an exec from the Cubs (who got a MLB GM job) to update their data management and modernize that side of the org so they weren't emailing 30 different spreadsheets and handing off folders of player information.

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.
- wiz1901

I'm convinced thats a hockey culture issue not a Hawks specific one.

Players are generic platitude reciting brick walls and the analysis across the board is skate harder, win more battles, blah blah blah.

Not any technical analysis on why one player is excellent and another just ok. Powers does a decent job with video but I'd like to see some pictures that explain team tactics a the why a bit better.

Levshunov
https://x.com/CRoumelioti...tatus/1799487271374049294
- 35Tony0

I think that is one where the off ice stuff is very important. looks like his floor is very good BUT having a guy who is the opposite of Bedard - laughing, joking, going to basketball games - to keep things loose and build team unity away from the rink is just as important.

Thats probably a guy you'd have rookies living with 5 years down the line like they did with Seabrook.

I think that is one where the off ice stuff is very important. looks like his floor is very good BUT having a guy who is the opposite of Bedard - laughing, joking, going to basketball games - to keep things loose and build team unity away from the rink is just as important.

Thats probably a guy you'd have rookies living with 5 years down the line like they did with Seabrook.
- fattybeef

His speech reminds me of Bryzgalov. Seems like a fun character, and I agree that would be a good addition to the team.

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?
- captainserious

I could peck away awhile listing why I have Demidov as the 2nd best BPA but would simply say this is the closest I've seen to Datsyuk ever. A player who I will simply not over think.

I see a player zig, zag, twist, turn and carve up a defense on his physics defying edges at pace and finishes off his work with a shot or feed. Destroys an opponent's structure. Elusive like a Kane where he doesn't get hit square but more so cuz he's quicker. But it's not his best trait, it's his vision/IQ. ..... Just like Datsyuk. What's to think about????

Read a new term from Pronamn that I like, checks boxes with "emphasis". Indeed, Demidov does just that.. ..... Datsyuk. What is there to think about? That kinda freakish package translates to any level, it dominates and is rare.

Vlasic is an excellent defender. Not kind of good, not okay, he's excellent. His ability to flip the ice on a very bad team with a lot of d zone starts is very very good. He retrieves the puck well and does a good job standing up the blue line.

His ability to make a 200 ft pass is excellent. If the Hawks had a better team his point total would probably be much higher.

He also plays against the other team's best players.

4.6 is fair value now and will be even if there is no significant improvement.
- fattybeef

On any other team Vlasic is excellent. On the Hawks he’s somewhere between “so-so” and a bust. 🤣

Seriously though, I agree with everything you said.

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

How utterly stupid is this? ...... I'm not generally a fan of much off the playing surface for any sport but the drafts rock. Lotta intrigue as you watch all 32 teams mill around as players come off the board.

It's exciting.

@sabremetrix
Looks like Kevyn Adams got up to talk with Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson

Skinner for a Pequod's pizza
Half salary retained
We'll cover the tip
- captainserious

Skinner and 11OA for Raddysh and 72OA.

Get ‘er done Kyle!

How utterly stupid is this? ...... I'm not generally a fan of much off the playing surface for any sport but the drafts rock. Lotta intrigue as you watch all 32 teams mill around as players come off the board.

It's exciting.
- Mr Ricochet

It is dumb. They are doing the draft like the NFL. I don't know if they are going to do the central location for the draftees and the league president for the first day though.

It is dumb. They are doing the draft like the NFL. I don't know if they are going to do the central location for the draftees and the league president for the first day though.
- wizardofi

No, there are going against the centrally located draft with a million people in tow.

The league wants the 32 local arenas full of the home twon consumers while they watch the selections w/o the fans trekking elsewhere.

All the kids and families will be there at the central draft spot.

But now we don't have the droves of people that were starting to BE like the NHL draft where rooms are not for rent, and the spectacle is shred with eth goofy costumed fan base.

Skinner and 11OA for Raddysh and 72OA.

Get ‘er done Kyle!
- DarthKane

Skinner has spent a career dealing with his lack of size. Why pay for more of that?

Get me a real forward who with good passes wiill score AND play 200 feet.

If the draft brings Artyom Levshunov, they may bring him in ion day one like KK.

So no Chatfiled signing.

Salary Cap upper limit $88 mil. 300K higher than projected. Floor is $65 mil.

Skinner has spent a career dealing with his lack of size. Why pay for more of that?

Get me a real forward who with good passes wiill score AND play 200 feet.

If the draft brings Artyom Levshunov, they may bring him in ion day one like KK.

So no Chatfiled signing.
- wiz1901

KK went back to the Dub for 1 season after he was drafted.

If the Hawks draft Levshunov he could play next season, aside from Celebrini is appears to be the most NHL ready prospect. However, I expect he’ll either go back to college for another year or play in the AHL next season.