I think the bigger thing is having that special dynamic player on the blue line to dictate the pace of the game OR 3 or 4 good players by committee that are just so good at exiting the zone it's a constant onslaught going forward.

Florida, for example, is more by committee as well as Vegas. Vancouver or the Oilers have that one stud that they lean on.

The Avalanche had 4 guys who could advance the puck and one extremely special player.

I think it's pretty clear you can't win with only excellent forwards. That push from the blue line is the most important thing and can be accomplished a few different ways.

It's no coincidence that once Hammer and Seabrook fell apart physically and Oduya aged out \ left that they got their asses handed to them in the playoffs and finished 7th or 8th every year but one after that. Keith was at the point he couldn't do it anymore all himself. And that was with Kane, Toews and Debrincat all banging in over 35 goals each, 2 of them over 40.
- fattybeef

Fatty, your excellent post points out the very reason the Hawks, or any organIzation, would have such a hard time passing up on Levshunov. .... You're spot on when you use the verb dictate when describing good/great Dmen and the need for them.

These guys are like catchers in baseball. They have a view of the chess board that forwards do not and QB/trigger/dictate with reads their birds eye view allows them.

Not at all unlike a top end left tackle in football. The nuts and bolts, the elbow grease of the machinery. A no short cuts way to build a squad that does not have to look for trickery/pure skill to be consistent.

A really good post, fatty, and the reason the Hawks made the correct pick that I knew they would once the lottery was drawn. ...... KD seems like an old soul mixed with modern problem solving skills. The game is won between the dots from the tops of the circles down and along the walls and KD drafting centers and Dmen seems to see the game that way.

That said, I would not be surprised in the least if it was Lindstrom he was trying to move up to the 4 slot for even though a possible, if not probable, 100 pt guy in Demidov was still on the board.

John Mustard stilll out there? Hope so.

Hawks take him at 67. Yes!!!
- boilermaker100

He is, and you can be sure the Hawks have seen a whole bunch of Mustard since they drafted teammate Boisvert. ...... Another burner.

Not really they got about 10 players who are 25 or older in the Rock. Plenty of room for a bunch of recently drafted 18, 19 year olds.
- BetweenTheDots

9 now not counting Marcel
Dach - 21
Hayes - 20
Savoie - 20
Luypen - 22
Ludwinski - 20
Saarela - 23
Misiak - 19
Slaggert - 22 (may be in CHI)
Rolston - 23

Next year - out - Saarela, Luypen probably

In: Greene, Thompson, Moore, Kantserov, Felcman, Lardis
Possible: James, Pharand


A bunch of these guys better move up or they will run out of spots.

At #72 Hawks take AJ Spellacy (wiz had him at 195!).

There's the reach.
- boilermaker100

Seems like Wiz has him ranked 125 spots lower than the vast majority.

https://www.eliteprospect...player/790498/aj-spellacy

It only takes a couple of strides or a crossover burst for Spellacy to separate from defenders. Many of his rushes are dynamic, pressing the dot lane to get defenders moving in the wrong direction before he finds another gear to drive the net. The effort matches the speed. Spellacy easily catches opponents, even from massive disadvantages, to steal pucks off their sticks. He’s a proactive down-low defender, bolstered by his constant desire to make contact. -EliteProspects 2024 NHL Draft Guide

Hawks add a goalie to the pipeline and throw a bone to the Euro scouts. Joel Svensson. a Swede, 25 years old, 5-11, 165 lbs. Don't think he will grow much more.

As far as I know Joe Nieuwendyk is still part of the ownership group. When I was there last year I saw Alex Lifeson from Rush in the restaurant and apparently Ryan O’Reilly had teed off earlier in the day.
- paulr

Crazy thing Paul, I have played golf all over North America at some great courses and clubs but have never gone to Wooden Sticks to play. What do you think of the replica holes and the course in general?

Devils have acquired F Paul Cotter and Vegas third in 2025 for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid

9 now not counting Marcel
Dach - 21
Hayes - 20
Savoie - 20
Luypen - 22
Ludwinski - 20
Saarela - 23
Misiak - 19
Slaggert - 22 (may be in CHI)
Rolston - 23

Next year - out - Saarela, Luypen probably

In: Greene, Thompson, Moore, Kantserov, Felcman, Lardis
Possible: James, Pharand


A bunch of these guys better move up or they will run out of spots.
- totem

I wouldn't lose much sleep over it Totem. Moore Dach, Hayes may be in Chicago by that time. And there's always the ECHL.

Joel Svensson is a second yr eleigible centre...

Ty Henry at 163. 6-4 LD. Ranked 129 by NHL Central Scouting


The 6-foot-4 defenceman brings NHL-calibre skating and a clear dimension: Defence. On retrievals, Henry wins body positioning early, then sinks into a deep, explosive punch turn for the escape. He’s a quick, fluid mover who easily closes the distance on opponents, especially laterally. His physicality shines along the boards, where he matches footwork, closes the distance, and battles to get inside the hands. When all else fails, his mobility and reach allow him to recover and disrupt.

Joel Svensson is a second yr eleigible centre...
- wiz1901

My mistake. I mistook the C for a G.

Crazy thing Paul, I have played golf all over North America at some great courses and clubs but have never gone to Wooden Sticks to play. What do you think of the replica holes and the course in general?
- RickJ

Played there a couple dozen times, mostly when taken by vendors before I retired. It’s pricey but it’s full service, drive car to entrance they take your clubs and shoes to get cleaned, park your car, they have a four star restaurant and all the amenities. They drive you to the driving/putting range where a cart with your clubs and stocked with beverages and snacks is waiting. Nice track, first time there I managed to stick it on the 17th hole sawgrass island hole for a birdy but I’ve probably skipped off the green 10-15 times. Maybe a bit gimmicky but I liked it.

Played there a couple dozen times, mostly when taken by vendors before I retired. It’s pricey but it’s full service, drive car to entrance they take your clubs and shoes to get cleaned, park your car, they have a four star restaurant and all the amenities. They drive you to the driving/putting range where a cart with your clubs and stocked with beverages and snacks is waiting. Nice track, first time there I managed to stick it on the 17th hole sawgrass island hole for a birdy but I’ve probably skipped off the green 10-15 times. Maybe a bit gimmicky but I liked it.
- paulr

Hey, how about that guy playing the U.S. Senior Open this week at Newport CC who made back to back hole in ones. Crazy amazing.

Hey, how about that guy playing the U.S. Senior Open this week at Newport CC who made back to back hole in ones. Crazy amazing.
- RickJ

I read about it. Haven’t seen the video. Ever hit one?

I read about it. Haven’t seen the video. Ever hit one?
- paulr

Yes 2.

Annoyingly my daughter has 5. But she is a player and I am not, so thats my excuse.

Yes 2.

Annoyingly my daughter has 5. But she is a player and I am not, so thats my excuse.
- RickJ

I’ve had a couple double eagles but never had a hole in one. But as much as I enjoy it I'm not much of a golfer.

Nice bit on Spellacy. Had 5 NCAA scholarship offers to play football and opted for hockey. Excelled in fitness testing at combine.

https://thehockeynews.com...per-in-the-2024-nhl-draft
- resqmed99

Thanks for posting, this....... This Spellacy kid is really interesting. Firstly I like he played on the US Hlinka club. Great size and he seems longer than his 6ft 3in would suggest, long arms and legs. Nice speed but not sure if he shows much explosion. I counted in the clip of this yr he had 4 penalty shots. Kid must put a lotta pressure on the opponent to have drawn so many penalty shots.

He looked to be on the 2nd unit PP and 1st unit PK as the kid had 5 shorties on the yr. An all situations kid.

But, best of all he only shows 4 yrs of hockey at his EP page. Says the kid is really raw and despite that showed well in the best jr league in the world playing in all situations and was selected to the US Hlinka club.

This kid is very very interesting. https://www.eliteprospect...player/790498/aj-spellacy

Looks like TOR trying to acquire rights to Chris Tanev.

He is, and you can be sure the Hawks have seen a whole bunch of Mustard since they drafted teammate Boisvert. ...... Another burner.
- Mr Ricochet

Check this. Mustard and Boisvert were not teammates. Both played USHL but Mustard played for Waterloo and Boisvert for Muskegon.

I wouldn't lose much sleep over it Totem. Moore Dach, Hayes may be in Chicago by that time. And there's always the ECHL.
- boilermaker100

Some of the drafted players won't even be offered a contract. Happens all the time

Some of the drafted players won't even be offered a contract. Happens all the time
- GPHawksfan

Typically, yes, but every player drafted in the 1st or 2nd round by KFC in the past few years will have long NHL careers. I read it here, on this very site.

Some of the drafted players won't even be offered a contract. Happens all the time
- GPHawksfan

I think we can write off all of them taken in rounds 5, 6, and 7 unless they make a huge jump (including Marcel). I didn't count any of those guys in my list. Would expect all, or at least most, top 100 picks to get an ELC.

Edit: I did have Saarela and Luypen in there but I expect they will be gone after this year if things stay the same.

Geez is there going to be a lot of competition for spots in a few years. Guys will really have to up their game.

Moore, Hayes, Lardis, Kantserov, Ludwinski, Savoie, Greene, Boisvert, Vanacker, Mustard, Spellacy, Pridham.

I can see Marcel, Misiak and James falling out of the mix.
- boilermaker100

Nope, he's going to be a player, and a pain in the arse to play against. Bigger, stronger, better scorer Marcus Kruger

Strange journey for the kid. He’s from a town 20 miles north west of where I live. How the helldid he wind up playing in a tier 2 Jr. A team in British Columbia? If he wanted to keep his College options open there are plenty of non Major Junior A teams in Ontario or the USHL?

And any golfers, he lived close to a golf course Wooden Sticks owned by a few ex NHL players that has each hole dedicated and copied to resemble a famous course’s iconic hole … St. Andrew’s , the water hole at Sawgrass etc …

https://search.app/QrpbK3ZQLFoo13kW7
- paulr

Would love to play that course.

Can you believe the league has seen fit to end a centralized draft that fills arenas and gives fans of all ages access and memories you can't get anywhere else? A damn shame.

Sounds like you and your boy soaked in all there was for a fan to bond with the sport. ..... As always, thanks for sharing.
- Mr Ricochet

I know they are going to not have the tables and GMs sitting there, but are you sure they just won't run it like the NFL draft?