On a side note it's nice we're finally arguing again about who should be on the ice and who should be riding the pine or in Rockford instead of assuming anyone who can skate will make the team and hopefully not be dreadful.
- fattybeef

Right on, Fatty. The Hawks have moved to the next phase of the rebuild adding some legit NHL players post tank. For a fanbase starving for any semblance of even decent hockey the time has come to engage like a normal fan arguing their point about lineups and rosters.

Fair point on Todd, but Tyler plays very very aggressive to the point of Andrew Shaw. Maybe not as many concussions but still. I'm just hoping we still to our plan of developing within and churning stars over and over and keeping our cap low enough to be competitive yoy. I suppose we shall see.
- Hawk4life

All have differing opinions, but i think he's just what Bedard needs on one of his wings.

I'd put Hall on the other wing.

TT is an explosive quick twitch athlete. It allows him to be lightning quick suddenly and that puts all 6 opponents on their heels. For a goalie if he's moving slightly his weight is not on his skates in a position to move or react quickly to a puck suddenly coming at him. Same for Dmen and forwards, the sudden 1-2 ft burst opens lanes cuz they can't react quick enough.

Indeed, TT caught many a goalie unprepared and flat footed when he fires unexpectedly...... Reichel was blessed with that rare quick twitch too. He can learn a lot watching and talking to TT.
- Mr Ricochet

I know we're all cobbling lines together and I'm sure it will work itself out, but I'd like to see TT with Reichel and maybe AA at center.

I will say I've been a supporter of what Buffalo is doing, i have to ask why aren't they doing anything?
- BetweenTheDots

Can you imagine this place if after that many years of a rebuild KD hasn't even sniffed the playoffs?

Yo VAbear, 32 thoughts on the June 30th post draft podcast opens with Friedman talking about the draft not being centralized from now on. Worth the 2-3 minute listen.

No Marek on the pod so Friedman was alone which means zero nonsense and two nerds trying to be hip. A quick 18:00 pod pre free agency and a helluva lotta scoop. Well worth the listen. https://open.spotify.com/...ow/7j9CZOPTcoVUVslvqKBu9x
- Mr Ricochet

I know we're all cobbling lines together and I'm sure it will work itself out, but I'd like to see TT with Reichel and maybe AA at center.
- HawkintheD

Reichel has always played well with AA, TT on the line may really help him get Reichel get untracked.

All have differing opinions, but i think he's just what Bedard needs on one of his wings.

I'd put Hall on the other wing.
- vabeachbear

Have been thinking Hall or Kurashev, but definitely Bertuzzi as one of his wings.

Other than his best statistical season I thought Kurashev looked a lot stronger on the puck and extending Ozone time especially as the season went on.

Yo VAbear, 32 thoughts on the June 30th post draft podcast opens with Friedman talking about the draft not being centralized from now on. Worth the 2-3 minute listen.

No Marek on the pod so Friedman was alone which means zero nonsense and two nerds trying to be hip. A quick 18:00 pod pre free agency and a helluva lotta scoop. Well worth the listen. https://open.spotify.com/...ow/7j9CZOPTcoVUVslvqKBu9x
- Mr Ricochet

And I'll say, no reason it can't be a big party still, and have the exact same situation. You could even have the teams announce their pick via Teams or equivalent if you like the Teams announcing instead the Commissioner (and who wouldn't prefer no Bettman)

Like I said, NFL does the draft this way, what did they say last year in Detroit it was over 1 million people for the 3 days? Not to mention events start 3 days before the draft, its really a week long event.

NHL would be good to follow that model. You could really have a bigger event then it is already.

Mitchell Brown was the person who watched the indicated number of minutes and tracked each of those stats on a piece of paper or excel spreadsheet manually.

I love this kind of stuff but no thanks.

I had a bunch of stuff written buuuuut then accidentally logged out here is what I think I mostly wrote and how I would look at the stats:

Carrying puck and decision making - Boisvert maybe more well rounded in terms of results. Very good at controlled entries (so anything not a dump where they maintain posession and get into zone) especially when compared to his teammates.

Unexpected - Everyone talks about his shot and forcing plays but based on the provided stats his cross ice attempts weren't crazy high but his passes into the slot were AND his success rate relative to Hage was better rated.

I'm assuming the OZ retrieval stat is getting dump ins but it's getting the puck somewhere lol so you see constant involvement in the game.

His xP1 involvement - which is expected primary points (goals + primary assists)- is higher than either player so involved directly in more goals than them. Big Arty had a fairly high number here as well apparently.

Your guess is as good as mine as to what the (frank) an off puck assist is.

So his passing is probably underrated and his forcing of plays is probably exaggerated. He is a direct play driver creating opportunities with the puck on his blade and was probably the best player on his team.

I mentioned Arty above but also of note Vanacker had the highest xGF of any other draftee. Boisvert was rated as one of the best forecheckers. Probably some kinda method to Kyles madness. They didn't just pull these guys out of a hat.

In the link below you see Levshunov's name an awful lot. Would think that weighed into their choice combined with the point outcomes, size, skating ability and all that jazz.

edit: also shows that everything that Bill saw related to Lindstrom translated to trackable events and was probably drafted maybe a spot or two late.

edit 2: also everyone thinks that big Arty is going to be this stay at home defensive stud when you look at some of the underlying numbers he drives an absolute poop ton of events on the ozone.

https://nhlentrydraft.com...-analytics-north-america/

edit 3: here's those cards splained https://www.patreon.com/p...new-player-cards-62778012
- fattybeef

Thanks fatty, didn't realize Levshunov underlying numbers were so good.

I know we're all cobbling lines together and I'm sure it will work itself out, but I'd like to see TT with Reichel and maybe AA at center.
- HawkintheD

Bertuzzi- Bedard- Kurashev
Hall-TT-Reichel
Mikheyev-D!ckinson-Anderson
Smith-Foligno-AA
Donato Maroon

Can you imagine this place if after that many years of a rebuild KD hasn't even sniffed the playoffs?
- vabeachbear

I can't imagine the Blackhawks trading a 27 year old top 4 defenseman for basically nothing?

I can't imagine the Blackhawks trading a 27 year old top 4 defenseman for basically nothing?
- BetweenTheDots

Which defenseman did Buffalo trade?

Bertuzzi- Bedard- Kurashev
Hall-TT-Reichel
Mikheyev-D!ckinson-Anderson
Smith-Foligno-AA
Donato Maroon
- Ztra

Have been tempted to throw TT at center but can't recall if he's played much there?

Which defenseman did Buffalo trade?
- Chunk

Sorry switched teams, Bolts.

Sorry switched teams, Bolts.
- BetweenTheDots

That's good, cause I was thinking it would really be a shame if the Sabres gave up on Dennis Gilbert.

Going to be interesting to see what Utah does now that they've taken over the Yotes. Getting Sergachev was a really good get.

I can't imagine the Blackhawks trading a 27 year old top 4 defenseman for basically nothing?
- BetweenTheDots

Assuming you're talking about TB. Yeah they sort of boxed themselves into a corner when they obtained McDonagh and had to move out someone. Sergahev was the guy they moved for a couple of younger players from Utah who may or may not pan out. Not only are they young, They are cheap. And the cap space they obtained helped pay for Guentzel. So you can look at it as a Sergahev for Guenzel + + trade. Guenzel's contract may not age well and Sergahev is in his prime so it may not look good right now, but TB will continue to be very good team for the next few years at least.

I can't imagine the Blackhawks trading a 27 year old top 4 defenseman for basically nothing?
- BetweenTheDots

They got a defenseman back who was top 4 in Arizona, plus Geekie a #11 overall draft pick in 2022. He was rated higher than Nazer, higher than McGroarty. they also got a second round pick.. And cap space to sign Guentzel.

i think that is more than basically nothing. As with KD's trades, will take a few years to determine the outcome.

That's good, cause I was thinking it would really be a shame if the Sabres gave up on Dennis Gilbert.

Going to be interesting to see what Utah does now that they've taken over the Yotes. Getting Sergachev was a really good get.
- HawkintheD

they traded Montour though for a 3rd round pick right? He was very important for Florida cup win

they traded Montour though for a 3rd round pick right? He was very important for Florida cup win
- vabeachbear

Yeah but Montour when he was in Buffalo was the worst defenseman in the league based on advanced analytics. Did the player improve that much, or was he put in a better system/used to his strength's?

they traded Montour though for a 3rd round pick right? He was very important for Florida cup win
- vabeachbear

Mostly that was a shameless attempt to crowbar Gilbert’s name in there.

They got a defenseman back who was top 4 in Arizona, plus Geekie a #11 overall draft pick in 2022. He was rated higher than Nazer, higher than McGroarty. they also got a second round pick.. And cap space to sign Guentzel.

i think that is more than basically nothing. As with KD's trades, will take a few years to determine the outcome.
- LAHawk

The past couple of years KD has shown he is an aggressive GM by moving out players and acquiring draft picks for the rebuild and by swinging additional trades on the draft floor.

Now he has signed several free agents, like them all or not, for the next phase to surround Bedard with some talent while the kids grow in Rockford, the CHL or NCAA. None of these UFA contracts are back breakers at this time and none have any type of no movement clause. Cap management wise, that's a good sign for what he plans in the future.

Hopefully some success will occur within a few years and in order to prolong that success, I hope KD keeps making aggressive moves. If it takes trading, for example, a good 27year old defenseman to improve the team, so be it.

[quote=Hawk4life]

Ottawa and Buffalo took the sign guys early approach. Probably not a great idea. You just pay guys when they earn it and have to be ready to retool like Florida, Tampa, Pittsburg and Colorado have and hopefully Bedard gets more than one shot.

Thanks fatty, didn't realize Levshunov underlying numbers were so good.
- BetweenTheDots

I didn't either. Its also interesting some of the talk about him being a big defensive defender when it really looks like he's a foot on the gas attacking player that hopefully isn't a liability on the d zone or getting too aggressive. I think another year of him in the NCAA just pecker smacking the league and coming into the NHL closer to 225 wouldn't be bad.

Also gives some insight into why Waddell was so high on Lindstrom. They were pretty heavy on analytics in Carolina.

Right on, Fatty. The Hawks have moved to the next phase of the rebuild adding some legit NHL players post tank. For a fanbase starving for any semblance of even decent hockey the time has come to engage like a normal fan arguing their point about lineups and rosters.
- Mr Ricochet

It's good stuff. Probably too early to start playing over under for Bedard and 100 points but 85-90 I think isn't a huge reach. With someone to pass him the puck half are probably goals.

The past couple of years KD has shown he is an aggressive GM by moving out players and acquiring draft picks for the rebuild and by swinging additional trades on the draft floor.

Now he has signed several free agents, like them all or not, for the next phase to surround Bedard with some talent while the kids grow in Rockford, the CHL or NCAA. None of these UFA contracts are back breakers at this time and none have any type of no movement clause. Cap management wise, that's a good sign for what he plans in the future.

Hopefully some success will occur within a few years and in order to prolong that success, I hope KD keeps making aggressive moves. If it takes trading, for example, a good 27year old defenseman to improve the team, so be it.
- boilermaker100

Yeah all good points. And I think with what we've gone back and forth with as well there will be enough of these guys missing time (since everyone is either old or injury prone) where some of the kiddos will get a shot, even if its not the opening day roster, and if they end up sticking and Luke has 3 veterans rotating through one position that would be a great headache for them to have.