2 forwards and defenseman with 2 18 34
- Scott1977

Scotty, you are not off the hook!

Which one is the defenseman?

https://twitter.com/spittinchiclets/status/1798026164424061136?t=zH9ciYyo8B8UFBXaT-kUgw&s=19

Hockey players are just a different breed as much as i think Trouba is an ass, tough kid to play with a broken ankle
- BetweenTheDots

Didn't Bergeron in the 2013 Finals play with a ruptured spleen?

On one episode of Hockey Prospects Radio on Sirius (Shane Malloy & the other guy) said they thought overall this year was more of a defenceman & goalie draft. They were meh about the depth and quality of forwards available.

Your opinion? You know better than me!
- RickJ

Yeah, a terriific year for top two pair defenders, developmenatl middle pair defenders, and lots of long term developmentaldefenseman who can grow their games in the minors, and maybe ven two or three top 2 defenders (as in guys wh will NEVER be considered elite all around dominant at both ends but will have the ability to offset a true #1 on a team.)

There are lots of goalies worth selecting but few on a fast track where they have already shown strong all around play.
I don't see anyone praising one goalie specifically.

I think when the season started, there seemed like very few forwards were going to break through that strong top seven defenders and that teams selecting late in the first would STILL be taking many of the big kids who were still building parts of their game as defenders...so that is where the idea of it being less of a forward draft.

You probably saw the Pronman piece about how real scouts told him that there are less true NHL centres in the entire draft.

Whether that gives teama pause in taking some kids, that may mean they go dee and the hawks get a centre who proves them incorrect.
It is not like Moore and Nazar don't fit the ability level but you have to think a big centre is still on the Hawk want list.

I just can see an advantage to taking three of the high paced scoring types, as long as the wingers can handle 200 foot business.

I saw a Demidov tape that made me think he easily can be a NHL F-1 (as in Hagel) who si first in, first going to take pucks and keeps the press on.
If he cannot do that, why convince yourself that he can be a one zone guy who you are covering for?
Does he shoot like Bedard? If so i missed that too.

I can see Anton Silayev or Artyom Levshunov will; have significant value to a improving Hawk club.

Whether you concern about Lindstrom still lingers and then Pronman says "he's not a centre" (LOL) , but you do know Cayden hits lots of people...HARD...and engages with a competitive edge. like Capitals Wilson.

So besides Eiserman's cannon, there are lots of options before the team SIMPLY PLANTS THEIR FLAG on the kid they like.

It doesn't matter what you think or the entire draft thinks is the second overall...they control it. they basically decide which kid should go second.

And now that today there was a Carolina ditty about hoe they are unhappy with Kotkaniemi, and mightv be put him on the market.
He is making a bit less than 5 million until 2030 and is 23.

If they want pick #18 I would take a chance, more guarante a pro than a kid at #18.

Scotty, you are not off the hook!

Which one is the defenseman?
- wiz1901

18 jirchek or emery at 2 Lindstrom at 34 surin at 50 if they keep might be a reach but John mustard. No matters who the Hawks take at 2 Wiz they getting a foundational player for the future. Imo it's a three headed race at 2 Lindstrom Demidov Levshunov in that order and make a case anyone of those players.
Lindstrom checks all the boxes except medicals but they will come to light at the combine. Demidov one two punch with Demidov similar to Stamkos and kucherov in Tampa. Levshunov number 2 defenseman with the potential to be a number one dman soildfys your d core for years to come.
Valsic Jones
Kk Levshunov
Del mastro Murphy
Pretty good top four d core for the future

Yeah, a terriific year for top two pair defenders, developmenatl middle pair defenders, and lots of long term developmentaldefenseman who can grow their games in the minors, and maybe ven two or three top 2 defenders (as in guys wh will NEVER be considered elite all around dominant at both ends but will have the ability to offset a true #1 on a team.)

There are lots of goalies worth selecting but few on a fast track where they have already shown strong all around play.
I don't see anyone praising one goalie specifically.

I think when the season started, there seemed like very few forwards were going to break through that strong top seven defenders and that teams selecting late in the first would STILL be taking many of the big kids who were still building parts of their game as defenders...so that is where the idea of it being less of a forward draft.

You probably saw the Pronman piece about how real scouts told him that there are less true NHL centres in the entire draft.

Whether that gives teama pause in taking some kids, that may mean they go dee and the hawks get a centre who proves them incorrect.
It is not like Moore and Nazar don't fit the ability level but you have to think a big centre is still on the Hawk want list.

I just can see an advantage to taking three of the high paced scoring types, as long as the wingers can handle 200 foot business.

I saw a Demidov tape that made me think he easily can be a NHL F-1 (as in Hagel) who si first in, first going to take pucks and keeps the press on.
If he cannot do that, why convince yourself that he can be a one zone guy who you are covering for?
Does he shoot like Bedard? If so i missed that too.

I can see Anton Silayev or Artyom Levshunov will; have significant value to a improving Hawk club.

Whether you concern about Lindstrom still lingers and then Pronman says "he's not a centre" (LOL) , but you do know Cayden hits lots of people...HARD...and engages with a competitive edge. like Capitals Wilson.

So besides Eiserman's cannon, there are lots of options before the team SIMPLY PLANTS THEIR FLAG on the kid they like.

It doesn't matter what you think or the entire draft thinks is the second overall...they control it. they basically decide which kid should go second.

And now that today there was a Carolina ditty about hoe they are unhappy with Kotkaniemi, and mightv be put him on the market.
He is making a bit less than 5 million until 2030 and is 23.

If they want pick #18 I would take a chance, more guarante a pro than a kid at #18.
- wiz1901

Didn't Waddel say there is going to be changes

I see these 2 teams making some deals, Waddel will want to bring his guys in.

Not a big fan of Kotkaniemi

Probably foolish but looking at all their videos have to say if i was drafting 2nd OA i would draft Silyaev.

I'm not trying to turn this into a travel blog, but I'm heading to the Banff/Lake Louise area in a couple weeks. To the Canadians here, anything to definitely do or avoid? Planning on a number of hikes and visiting some microbrews.
- Chunk

Yeah...Paul, except he's usually in Ontario.

Didn't Waddel say there is going to be changes

I see these 2 teams making some deals, Waddel will want to bring his guys in.

Not a big fan of Kotkaniemi
- BetweenTheDots

He said to expect half a dozen new faces in CBUS.

He said to expect half a dozen new faces in CBUS.
- Chunk

I posted this after you responded

Probably foolish but looking at all their videos have to say if i was drafting 2nd OA i would draft Silyaev.

I really like Letourneau the more I read and see about him. Maybe lasts to #34?
- Chunk

Not sure if I dislike anything more than a prospect staying in HS and trying to evaluate him. Big guys who can skate even vs pee wees will always have eyes on him but good luck trying to evaluate the kid. ....... Wiz will remember O"Brian drafted by Philly outa HS 5ish yrs ago in rd 1. Kid looked like a player with a lotta tools v high schoolers but he was a bust. ...... Hawks drafted a big kid outa HS (rd 3?), another that didn't wanna leave home and step up in class, which is a red flag for me unless it's a MN high school. They grow up wanting to win a state title same as a Canadian kid wants to win the Memorial Cup. ... He busted too.

Letourneau is a swing. Just a matter of when to take that swing.

Eight & a backup goalie.

Point of informations Bedards cousin (by marriage not BLODD) is the top pick in two drafts 2026.

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts/2026

No team really trades these picks without the top TEN protected tag jimbo, so forget about these first round trades at the beginnng of a draft.
- wiz1901

I think McKenna played OHL or WHL this yr as a 15 yr old and hung with that competition.

After careful consideration, I've narrowed down the second pick to a large or small, offensive or defensive player.

- rpeters01

I think this is what the Hawk's War Room sounds like. Might come down to flippin a coin.

head to Calgary and catch the Calgary Stampede.
- paulr

Hey Canadians, what do you guys watch/prefer the CFL or NHL, or do you watch both?

I thought the elite prospects guide was far more definit,




- wiz1901

Is Elite Prospects where Cam Robinson is working these days?

Hey Canadians, what do you guys watch/prefer the CFL or NHL, or do you watch both?
- Mr Ricochet

NFL, I’m a Steelers fan. The CFL has a potentially more exciting game with three downs and a larger field but the players are for the most part, second rate.

BTW I was referring to the Calgary Stampede, the annual rodeo ,not the Calgary Stampeders football team.

Yeah...Paul, except he's usually in Ontario.
- HawkintheD

If you don’t have anything nice to say ….

On one episode of Hockey Prospects Radio on Sirius (Shane Malloy & the other guy) said they thought overall this year was more of a defenceman & goalie draft. They were meh about the depth and quality of forwards available.

Your opinion? You know better than me!
- RickJ

I know you didn't ask me but I think many of those who matter see this draft as a possible historic one for Dmen both in quality and maybe even quantity too.

I get the feeling you've started out watching the NHL on a black and white tv and would agree it is so so tough to pass on a big right shot Dman who can skate, has puck skills with offensive upside yet takes his own zone seriously and checks most every box. ...... No matter who picks after SJ if Levshunov is on the board it's almost like hitting the lottery so passing on a player like that is really tough for any organIzation.

A lot also depends on who is picking. Lotta GM's feel a lotta pressure from above and in that atmosphere some are almost picking not to lose their job, which at the moment KD does not have those worries.

One GM standing in the tee box gets the yips another is playing fast and loose. KD needs to keep the thing on the fairway with that #2 pick.

NFL, I’m a Steelers fan. The CFL has a potentially more exciting game with three downs and a larger field but the players are for the most part, second rate.


- paulr[BTW I was referring to the Calgary Stampede, the annual rodeo ,not the Calgary Stampeders football team.

Like anyone I've seen bull riding on tv. I always thought checking out a rodeo is something you gotta do at least once. I'd imagine a rodeo ranks way up there in events that you gotta see live, that tv does not come close to capturing the action.

Them bulls are big and angry.

Like anyone I've seen bull riding on tv. I always thought checking out a rodeo is something you gotta do at least once. I'd imagine a rodeo ranks way up there in events that you gotta see live, that tv does not come close to capturing the action.

Them bulls are big and angry.
- Mr Ricochet

Only PBR event I ever went to was in Vegas. Crazy fun, but you kind of have to like that kind of thing. Had one friend out of five that was bored out of his mind. 😂

Like anyone I've seen bull riding on tv. I always thought checking out a rodeo is something you gotta do at least once. I'd imagine a rodeo ranks way up there in events that you gotta see live, that tv does not come close to capturing the action.

Them bulls are big and angry.
- Mr Ricochet

So are Sam D!ckinson, Yakemchuck, Lindstrom, and Beaudoin among others.

Only PBR event I ever went to was in Vegas. Crazy fun, but you kind of have to like that kind of thing. Had one friend out of five that was bored out of his mind. 😂
- Chunk

They have a chuckwagon race and every year a horse or two gets hurt or worse and you get the PETA crowd losing their minds.

NFL, I’m a Steelers fan. The CFL has a potentially more exciting game with three downs and a larger field




- paulr

For awhile now I've believed the athletes today are just too damn big, strong and fast to play on surfaces designed 100 yrs ago. I think after enough lawsuits from guys whose brains are scrambled the NFL will go to a Canadian sized field and the NHL to an Olympic sized surface........ But of course, the arenas will have to be refigured and that is a big cost so they continue on, for now.

With guys weighing 260 running 4.5 forties and the equivalent of that for NHLers there is just no time and space to avoid enough contact to keep your brains from turning to mush.

For awhile now I've believed the athletes today are just too damn big, strong and fast to play on surfaces designed 100 yrs ago. I think after enough lawsuits from guys whose brains are scrambled the NFL will go to a Canadian sized field and the NHL to an Olympic sized surface........ But of course, the arenas will have to be refigured and that is a big cost so they continue on, for now.

With guys weighing 260 running 4.5 forties and the equivalent of that for NHLers there is just no time and space to avoid enough contact to keep your brains from turning to mush.
- Mr Ricochet

Huge lawsuits from fans getting hit by pucks and baseballs caused the NHL and MLB to put up nets. I also think when an NHL player dies during a fight the resultant lawsuit will force the NHL to ban fights. Larger fields and ice surfaces make sense.

Only PBR event I ever went to was in Vegas. Crazy fun, but you kind of have to like that kind of thing. Had one friend out of five that was bored out of his mind. 😂
- Chunk

I'd think the sound of a rodeo might stick with you a long time.... Went to BUF to see the WJC maybe 10 yrs ago and went to see Niagra Falls while I was there. One helluva sight but it's the power of the roar I remember.

Huge lawsuits from fans getting hit by pucks and baseballs caused the NHL and MLB to put up nets. I also think when an NHL player dies during a fight the resultant lawsuit will force the NHL to ban fights. Larger fields and ice surfaces make sense.
- paulr

Yep, when the cost benefit is favorable for the leagues/owners they'll be happy to enlarge the playing surfaces. Until then it's like an Indy car on a 1/4 mile track.

It was that little 10 yr old girl at a B Jackets game for her birthday that was struck by a puck and killed, no?

https://twitter.com/Mario_Tirabassi/status/1798068234677297327?t=KooVsFCfWuqwXQgxTLNvzA&s=19

Joe Pavelski was an outlier, another case of trying to accumulate a many top picks as you can.
- BetweenTheDots

McKeen's ranks the Hawks prospect pool 19th in the NHL and listed the top 10 prospects here. Love seeing Del Mastro ranked 3rd cuz his feet worried me in the tiny 2 NHL games sample he played.

https://twitter.com/mckee...tatus/1798097248493899928