I like Martone. Hawks have a need for a skilled power forward

I also like Misa. Looks like a true goal scorer.

I'm beginning to like Schaefer. I've read he is being compared to Makar. If he's the pick, someone has to go among the D corps, right?

Hagens is my last choice. He got the skill and is Jack Hughes like, but his size is a concern of mine.

If the Hawks pick top 4 they should get a very good player.

What's your choice Paul?
- boilermaker100

I absolutely love Schaefer‘s game, outstanding skater, great skill, smart, great passer, good shot and he’s solid defensively. Makar? I won’t go that far just yet but he’s that number one all purpose “stud” that can be on the ice in any situation. But as you say the Hawks need forwards. Hagens appears to be the top guy in that regard. As you said Martone brings a two way power forward game and Misa is also a good two way game.

As I said my choice changes by the hour, at 8:00 pm EST it’s Schaefer but ask me at 9:00 and I’m sure it’ll be one of the other three.


https://youtu.be/nay00cgyr-E?si=wDjw10R5BdgS-ipU

Lardis and Vanacker each with an assist in the 1st.
- rickboardman

Against Martone.

Interesting indeed. I was in Banff in June. I also thought (while there was a bit of sticker shock in the stores and restaurants) that when I looked at what I spent in my account, that it was very reasonable and almost - dare I say it - cheap.
- Chunk

I worked in the auto industry and the cars were about 30-35% more expensive here. Service things like restaurants have to do the best to attract tourists.

How did you like Banff and if you went Lake Louise?

Hadn't heard about this one. Wonder if we will be able to see it here south of the border:

Forty-two OHL players on the NHL scouting radar will hit the ice in Brantford on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 for an exciting, first of its kind event for the Ontario Hockey League.

The inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas pits the league's top prospects from the Eastern Conference against those of the Western Conference as NHL scouts will be out in full force at the Brantford Civic Centre to witness this highly anticipated event.

---------------------------------------------

Catching the Soo-Sudbury game tonight. Travis Hayes (2025 Eligible, RW, 5-11, 169, 8-8-16 pts in 28 games), Gavin Hayes's little brother, has the first goal of the game. He is fast and handles well, esp. on the rush. Probably not scoring as much as he'd like to, but still might be an interesting draft possibility in the mid rounds.

Pharand seems to have a nice game, knows where to be and what plays to make. In the o-zone, he lives in the slot and in front of the net, good attribute for a bottom 6 forward. Should be worth signing if they can find him a spot at ROC.

Lardis just scored.

I worked in the auto industry and the cars were about 30-35% more expensive here. Service things like restaurants have to do the best to attract tourists.

How did you like Banff and if you went Lake Louise?
- paulr

Absolutely loved Banff (we stayed in Canmore and drove everywhere). Heartbreaking when we heard about the fire in Jasper. Hiked Lake Louise a few times in different directions. I can't say enough good things. You've got a darn nice country up there (well at least the part I saw west of Calgary).

Lardis just scored.
- paulr

Just one?

Hadn't heard about this one. Wonder if we will be able to see it here south of the border:

Forty-two OHL players on the NHL scouting radar will hit the ice in Brantford on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 for an exciting, first of its kind event for the Ontario Hockey League.

The inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas pits the league's top prospects from the Eastern Conference against those of the Western Conference as NHL scouts will be out in full force at the Brantford Civic Centre to witness this highly anticipated event.

---------------------------------------------

Catching the Soo-Sudbury game tonight. Travis Hayes (2025 Eligible, RW, 5-11, 169, 8-8-16 pts in 28 games), Gavin Hayes's little brother, has the first goal of the game. He is fast and handles well, esp. on the rush. Probably not scoring as much as he'd like to, but still might be an interesting draft possibility in the mid rounds.

Pharand seems to have a nice game, knows where to be and what plays to make. In the o-zone, he lives in the slot and in front of the net, good attribute for a bottom 6 forward. Should be worth signing if they can find him a spot at ROC.
- totem

Pharand PP goal. Missed a tap-in on the rush earlier.

Just one?
- Chunk

He’s a bum.

Just one?
- Chunk

Alex Pharand with a goal. Lardis has 2 assists.

Yo Hawk fans, watching RKF at IA. 1st unit PK Dmen ar Del Mastro and Phillips. Phillips is wearing a letter. .. The Cossack ain't even on the 2nd unit PK.

Absolutely loved Banff (we stayed in Canmore and drove everywhere). Heartbreaking when we heard about the fire in Jasper. Hiked Lake Louise a few times in different directions. I can't say enough good things. You've got a darn nice country up there (well at least the part I saw west of Calgary).
- Chunk

Lots of beautiful places coast to coast. No different than your country. I’d love to visit Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Alaska. Been to and loved SanFrancisco and Hawaii. Been to Chicago many times, I love the city.

Alex Pharand with a goal. Lardis has 2 assists.
- rickboardman

Pharand with another goal.

Pharand with another goal.
- rickboardman

Pharand with the hat trick.

Hadn't heard about this one. Wonder if we will be able to see it here south of the border:

Forty-two OHL players on the NHL scouting radar will hit the ice in Brantford on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 for an exciting, first of its kind event for the Ontario Hockey League.

The inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas pits the league's top prospects from the Eastern Conference against those of the Western Conference as NHL scouts will be out in full force at the Brantford Civic Centre to witness this highly anticipated event.

---------------------------------------------

Catching the Soo-Sudbury game tonight. Travis Hayes (2025 Eligible, RW, 5-11, 169, 8-8-16 pts in 28 games), Gavin Hayes's little brother, has the first goal of the game. He is fast and handles well, esp. on the rush. Probably not scoring as much as he'd like to, but still might be an interesting draft possibility in the mid rounds.

Pharand seems to have a nice game, knows where to be and what plays to make. In the o-zone, he lives in the slot and in front of the net, good attribute for a bottom 6 forward. Should be worth signing if they can find him a spot at ROC.
- totem

Pharand 3G, 5 SOG
Travis Hayes, 1G, 1A, 2 SOG.

Like Hayes as a potential mid-round pick. He was getting to dangerous spots all night and could have had another point or two.

Pharand 3G, 5 SOG
Travis Hayes, 1G, 1A, 2 SOG.

Like Hayes as a potential mid-round pick. He was getting to dangerous spots all night and could have had another point or two.
- totem

Pharand has as many points so far this season as he did all last year, in less than half the games. Last year he was a kind of perimeter player who didn’t drive the net and who wasn’t great defensively. This season he’s playing a more robust game, driving the net, winning board and puck battles. His defensive game has improved and his scoring has obviously gotten better.

So what is he? Late bloomer or an older, 19 year old, against younger players?

Pharand has as many points so far this season as he did all last year, in less than half the games. Last year he was a kind of perimeter player who didn’t drive the net and who wasn’t great defensively. This season he’s playing a more robust game, driving the net, winning board and puck battles. His defensive game has improved and his scoring has obviously gotten better.

So what is he? Late bloomer or an older, 19 year old, against younger players?
- paulr

Hard to say how Pharand progresses as a professional and it may also be difficult for KD to sign all of the prospects; there are only I think 50 spots per team on the respective nhl and and other pro leagues rosters per your signed players.

I am going to guess majority of the draft choices we have discussed will be good enough to play professionally. How many could make it to Chicago or another NHL team … well you can guess but a better guesstimate is that many of them could become descent AHL players. Whether that is like a Guttman. A Mayhew, dare I say Phillips - just figure it is likely our Rockford team will have a much better profile of capable forwards who can score

Really now it is quite a lengthy list of prospects who appear to be progressing, putting up better scoring totals this season. There may even be a couple who get assigned to ECHL

It will be a testament to KD drafting acumen but in the final analysis it is all about how many became impact players in the NHL.

Yo Hawk fans, watching RKF at IA. 1st unit PK Dmen ar Del Mastro and Phillips. Phillips is wearing a letter. .. The Cossack ain't even on the 2nd unit PK.
- Mr Ricochet

Yeah, I saw the game too. Nazar still a beast. Their goalie good. Weeks was really bad - let in a 190’ goal. Not a good game for Lev. It’ll take him a year.

I hate to see our young players get traded

That said, the surest way and fastest way to acquire a bona fide NHL scoring center is to trade someone of high value basicly straight up

Sure if you don’t know how badly you really want or want to overspend on a free agent, then trade Vlasic straight up. Then draft the dman Schaeffer

Solace perhaps in that Schaeffer has a higher upside than Vlasic

Yeah, I saw the game too. Nazar still a beast. Their goalie good. Weeks was really bad - let in a 190’ goal. Not a good game for Lev. It’ll take him a year.
- Chunk

Here’s a funny line: Rome wasn’t built in one well not even one or two years but it won’t take as long for some of our top prospects to learn and grow into NHL players. Really curious. Right.

Against Martone.
- paulr

Nope. I tuned into that Brampton v Brantford to see Martone again and get to see Vanacker and Lardis too. ..... Martone didn't dress so I tuned into the RKF v IA for a bit then watched 2 periods of a helluva game that went to a shootout, Prince George v Tri City. Great game, two well coached squads that execute.

Left shot 6ft 3 in Dman Jackson Smith is listed as the 3rd Dman in some rankings so I watched for him. Kid shows quick hands and handled the puck nicely deking a forward as he drove the net and got a wrister off........ I can see what people like Smith but the TC coach really just rotates his pairs so he wasn't on the ice that much so one viewing just scratches' the surface.

Left hand catcher Ravensbergen is as advertised. Kid moved, tracked and played really well. Some rankings have him going in the teens of the 1st rd. ......... Think he might be Canada's starter in the upcoming U-20 WJC so we'll get a real good look at him if indeed he's the guy.

Yeah, I saw the game too. Nazar still a beast. Their goalie good. Weeks was really bad - let in a 190’ goal. Not a good game for Lev. It’ll take him a year.
- Chunk

Yea Chunk, the more Hawk fans see Levshunov they'll be moaning. Kid needs some work but what a package the kid is. Big kid can really move and is athletic but looks nothing like that.

He needs some time. Remember all of his advancement have been huge jumps. Low level Belarus jrs, to a different continent and the USHL to the NCAA to RKF all in 3 yrs!!.... Kid hasn't stayed more than a yr at any stop.

He has a chance to be beastly, a man child, but he's raw slotted this high with his background at his age. .... It's gonna be a lotta fun if both Levshunov and Rinzel hit and they've done nothing that says they won't. So far.

Nazar is coming, he’ll be up before year end. It’s very challenging to trade for a decent forward that fits their timeline, yes Frost does but does he move the needle? I don’t think that he does. There are rumors out there that Cozens could be available, that KD should look into. Buffalo has been looking for a right shot defenseman for a couple of years, maybe there’s a package that KD can put together to make a deal.
- Angotti

I',m with you on this, Lou. It's reasonable to think KD wants to make moves to strengthen the Big League roster but it has to fit his timeline which narrows the field.

But, he still make moves to help that don't fit the timeline cuz he has tons of prospects and draft capital to make a move that won't hurt his prospect pool.

Frost is interesting cuz he has size and IIRC plays center and the cost shouldn't be too high but as you say, how much does that move the needle?.......... One guy does though and that's Cozens.

Kid came up at 20 with a yr left of jrs eligiblity and did not look outa place putting up 13 in 41 then 38 in 79 in the Bigs and then popped for 31 goals and 68 in 81 as a 21 yr old!!!! https://www.eliteprospect...layer/286938/dylan-cozens

Kid is 6ft 3in 200 lbs, is a centerman, crushing in his WJC's for Canada, went 7th overall who fits the timeline nicely as he's 23 right now. He's locked up thru 29/30 at 7 mil per and looks to be a legit 2C who profiles to be in his prime in 2-3 yrs when Bedard has a few yrs NHL under his belt.

Cozens will cost and Adams is a goof trying to annihilate in every trade. Right shot D they need? Rinzel plus would be my guess or are you thinking Murphy plus plus big for immediate help for the BUF Big League roster?

Cozens for Rinzel and a 1st and 2nd? ....... I know you don't dig him Fatty and I don't see BUF like I did 2-3 yrs ago when I made it a priority but Cozens looked good and certainly not soft. He doesn't run people over but the big kid can really skate and played a north south get it going style and wasn't afraid of the slot.

His draft yr I thought he was too stiff to maybe reach the ceiling his skating, hands and solid IQ would allow. But he looks pretty damn good in the Bigs and at a damn young age. And he's a centerman. And he has size. And he's 23. And if he reaches 60-70 pts every yr until 29/30 you have a steal at 7 mil per!

1-2-2 is a neutral zone trap. The Hawks had their defenders retreating a little early rather than pressuring up on the blue line. Jones does not move well laterally so him being more aggressive is going to cause problems IMO. Martinez, Brodie and Murphy probably don't move well enough to be that aggressive unless they have someone very mobile playing safety - though Martinez and Murphy read the game fairly well.

Anyway they forced things outside, limited opportunities in the middle as well as chances off the rush but didn't really limit entries. They conceded the blue line which I've never cared for.

Moving forward, the fun party about Vlasic, Kaiser, Korch, Allen - is that those guys are all very mobile and good enough laterally to make a play at either blue line or cover for a slower veteran.

Add Levshunov and Rinzel to the mix and you've got 6 plus to tremendous skaters in all directions on the blue line and it can cause all kinds of hell for the other team.
- fattybeef

We'll agree to disagree on LR trapping. Yea, you can play conservative or aggressive from a 1-2-2 that's why I like it as a base but think a coach should switch up his forecheck/set up a few times a game to confuse. .... From 10 rows up I watched USHL's winningest ever coach er, PK O'Handley confuse the hell outa the Steel changing from the lowest forward at the attack blueline to an all out hair on fire two forwards below the circles and the 3rd forward high was 10 feet inside the bluline. All in the same period!! And man it worked and was an honor to witness.

No, a 1-3-1 is a trap setup not a 1-2-2 although, as stated, you can keep the high forward at the blueline from that formation.

And I swear Allan has taken a big step since his scratch. And his skating is very very good and the kid seems bigger. He's my new guy to zero in on shifts. Big kid has a lotta shut down tools (possibly 2nd pairing 4th Dman that plays the PK) and maybe most importantly, he knows his role ...... 2 weeks ago I thought Crevier would stay up and Allan would go down but no, Allan is playing real well, too well, showing progress at the big league level despite his fancies.

Looks like Martinez could be out a little longer, we’ll see.

After missing time with an upper-body injury earlier this season, Blackhawks defenseman Alec Martinez is dealing with a recurrence of that injury, causing him to leave practice early today, relays Mark Lazerus of The Athletic.