Can I nominate this for post of the year? Said it all pretty much. I don't even know if I have to post anymore.

I actually think Jones hates Bedard b/c he gets the spot light on him instead of Jones. I swear Jones intentionally will ignore Bedard and not pass him the puck on the PP. Quite a lot.


- bhawks2241

I do as well....and neither look all that enthusiastic when the other scores.

Wasn't it Kane who asked Jones "WTF ARE YOU DOING?" when he first got here? Maybe Seth should look in the mirror instead of blaming everyone else for why he doesn't win....Nashville gave up on him.....Columbus was happy to deal him.....We will deal him...

Well now you have two posts nominated for post of the year.


- bhawks2241

Nah.....just tired of the losing and not coming out of this rebuild with signs of optimism.

Bedard Nazar and some young D men....sure....the rest can launch into the sun.

I get some are placeholders but most are arguably a detriment for LT success based on having to be that guy's teammate for an entire year.

Selfish, egotistical teammates are the absolute worst, and Seth Jones is exhibit A. Addition by subtraction makes sense here.

Nah.....just tired of the losing and not coming out of this rebuild with signs of optimism.

Bedard Nazar and some young D men....sure....the rest can launch into the sun.

I get some are placeholders but most are arguably a detriment for LT success based on having to be that guy's teammate for an entire year.

Selfish, egotistical teammates are the absolute worst, and Seth Jones is exhibit A. Addition by subtraction makes sense here.
- SteveRain

You notice when Nazar is on the ice with Bedard, it looks like a totally different game than normal Hawks' hockey (at least in the ozone and through center ice)? Tells you all you need to know about how bad the roster is this season.

Bedard also plays differently when he has Nazar on his wing. I think Bedard understands Nazar has a similar skill level and that he (Bedard) can play his actual game.

I don't think we've even seen Bedard's elite playmaking/passing yet.

I wonder how many passes he wants to make/anticipates he should make before he even gets the puck on his stick and he can't because he doesn't have other top 6 talent around him. His wings just aren't or can't get to the spots they should be. Often because they just do not have the hockey IQ and anticipation top line players have.

So instead of making the pass Bedard has to eat the puck a long the Boards, go 1 on 3, or try the Kane pull-up just across the redline. The later is usually shut down right away because the other team isn't worried about anyone else and someone just goes and takes away all of Bedard's time & space.

That and most of the Hawks can't get a pass to, on, or close to Bedard's tape, in stride. He get's a lot of passes where he has to slow down or completely stop in order to receive it.

You notice when Nazar is on the ice with Bedard, it looks like a totally different game than normal Hawks' hockey (at least in the ozone and through center ice)? Tells you all you need to know about how bad the roster is this season.

Bedard also plays differently when he has Nazar on his wing. I think Bedard understands Nazar has a similar skill level and that he (Bedard) can play his actual game.

I don't think we've even seen Bedard's elite playmaking/passing yet.

I wonder how many passes he wants to make/anticipates he should make before he even gets the puck on his stick and he can't because he doesn't have other top 6 talent around him. His wings just aren't or can't get to the spots they should be. Often because they just do not have the hockey IQ and anticipation top line players have.

So instead of making the pass Bedard has to eat the puck a long the Boards, go 1 on 3, or try the Kane pull-up just across the redline. The later is usually shut down right away because the other team isn't worried about anyone else and someone just goes and takes away all of Bedard's time & space.

That and most of the Hawks can't get a pass to, on, or close to Bedard's tape, in stride. He get's a lot of passes where he has to slow down or completely stop in order to receive it.
- bhawks2241

Agreed 1000%

Well said.

and yes I am all for the rebuild, have been, and continue to be, but they can't keep trending in the realm of top 3 picks year after year......they need to take a step forward like say.....Anaheim.

Hawks and Bears have big drafts and big UFAs looming and 1 can't afford to continue to wallow in putrid performance.


I likely need to go dig...but when was the last next great rookie paired with such crap for the 1st years of his deal?

I mean and on top of it, does Donato have pics on Sorrenson to warrant top line minutes? Hell, why not skate Maroon with him at this point. OR smith.

- SteveRain

Donato warranted top line minutes because he was playing like the closest thing to it on the team. As you've correctly noted, they don't really have any talent, so the best they can do is put Bedard with whoever is playing best that point in time. For a good while, he was getting to the net, and forechecking well. He's got a decent enough shot to be kinda dangerous and he is at least willing to use it.

To be honest, I would almost rather that they put Donato on the top line with Bedard and Nazar instead of Bertuzzi. I'm kinda thinking at this point, would it be better to go hard to get both Ehlers and Boeser instead of Rantanen or Marner (save it paulr :lol

Nah.....just tired of the losing and not coming out of this rebuild with signs of optimism.

Bedard Nazar and some young D men....sure....the rest can launch into the sun.

I get some are placeholders but most are arguably a detriment for LT success based on having to be that guy's teammate for an entire year.

Selfish, egotistical teammates are the absolute worst, and Seth Jones is exhibit A. Addition by subtraction makes sense here.
- SteveRain

That's because we're not coming out we're still tanking and we were still tanking at the start of the season. What KD said was lip service. If you're the worst team in hockey and you add a few middling vets at best along with no particular young top tier players up from your system, you're still the worst team in hockey.

That's because we're not coming out we're still tanking and we were still tanking at the start of the season. What KD said was lip service. If you're the worst team in hockey and you add a few middling vets at best along with no particular young top tier players up from your system, you're still the worst team in hockey.
- rpeters01

If your C is on the chest of a 36 year old Nick Foligno playing 3rd/4th line, writing was on the wall. The problem is all the young guys are playing the new age hockey based off speed/skating and the old guys are slow and heavy so they can't play together. Even Foligno needs to go and fill in the voids with vets that can skate a la Donato. This also points to question the Boisvert pick as he's one of the slowest skaters in college hockey and hasn't improved

If your C is on the chest of a 36 year old Nick Foligno playing 3rd/4th line, writing was on the wall. The problem is all the young guys are playing the new age hockey based off speed/skating and the old guys are slow and heavy so they can't play together. Even Foligno needs to go and fill in the voids with vets that can skate a la Donato. This also points to question the Boisvert pick as he's one of the slowest skaters in college hockey and hasn't improved
- Assman22

It's not all about skating speed. Bedard isn't necessarily fast, but he thinks and plays the game at a high speed. Boisvert (at least from y viewings) is very good at knowing where to be as the play develops. That allows him to be very effective in all zones. He's also a rather good forechecker.

Despite his "slow skating" he's the one of the best freshmen in hockey, currently the highest goal scorer on his team and second by 1 in total points (to a defenseman with a crap-ton of assists). He can play the style that they want to ultimately play.

It's not all about skating speed. Bedard isn't necessarily fast, but he thinks and plays the game at a high speed. Boisvert (at least from y viewings) is very good at knowing where to be as the play develops. That allows him to be very effective in all zones. He's also a rather good forechecker.

Despite his "slow skating" he's the one of the best freshmen in hockey, currently the highest goal scorer on his team and second by 1 in total points (to a defenseman with a crap-ton of assists). He can play the style that they want to ultimately play.
- Chunk

I respectfully disagree that "he can play the style that they want to ultimately play". Every game of Boisvert's I've watched he's been behind the play and/or rush in transition the majority of the time and his team isn't all that fast to begin with. His team also isn't great and their schedule has been pretty weak. Hope he prove me wrong, but I won't hold my breath.
Also, college hockey is pretty watered down this year as far as parody. There's maybe 3-4 teams loaded teams that have a chance at winning it.

I am not concerned with his hockey skills as I think those are elite. I do have grave concerns all this kid has been subjected to for his 1st 100+ NHL career games is just constant losing. Kid has 110 pts in 126 games and what marque talent has he played with? In fact, what top 6 player on a true contender has he skated with? Not a single one. Hes dragged around corpse after corpse and at some point his frustration is going to unleash much like that idiot Jones did last night.

I don't like Jones, but what he said is very much accurate. You look at this team...and what do you have? You have a collection of rookies trying to earn their keep, veterans playing FOR THEMSELVES to raise their value to be shipped off, or get another a contract this summer, or guys hanging on to a roster spot (maroon).

With the cap space they have, and the cap going up, they need to make a commitment to a top tiered guy NOW this summer. If you don't want to go 7, go 4-5 but it can't be a riding on fumes Teuvo, or a journeyman like Bertuzzi.

back to Jones....i said for years how idiotic these so called leaders on this team were. Murphy and Jones in particular. These talks just talk in chardes and cliches and never get a response in the room. They can try to lead, but does anyone follow? Not one player. Or not enough to at least set the right blueprint in that room for the young guys. Hate to say it...same can be said for Foligno and Maroon, and Smith.

They should have lost 6-0+ last night. They couldn't even muster a push and it goes far deeper than Reichel but coach after coach now doesn't "get it" with Reichel so what makes anyone here think he's ever going to be much more than a 3rd or 4th line player in this league on a crap team? Same can be said for Kurashev....

As for Donato...you haven't seen BOD yet because god willing they trade him before the deadline next Friday, this board will melt down because of a guy pushing hard who almost didn't make a lottery team roster out of a camp, who somehow has found it OR has he found enough to get paid? SOrry....you can find the Donatos a dime a dozen when it's time.....but their main goal has to be the kids on D, Nazar, and Bedard.....and for the love of christ....get 98 a proven skilled star and overpay somewhat if you have to because not one person here knows where Bedard's ceiling is because he hasnt had a single linemate to challenge him a good way and push him the way kane and Toews had their Sharps and Hossas of the world.....Bedard has a bag of $hit.
- SteveRain

Awesome post!

This team is exactly where they should be with the way their roster is constructed. They have a weird mix of young players with a bunch of old/aging vets who are anchors and holding them back it seems.

This team wasn't going to compete this year and I think it's foolish for anybody to believe otherwise. This is "year two" of their rebuild; they weren't going to make a huge jump in the standings...especially with their lackluster off-season this past summer.

I like what KD has done. Now, to your point, he has to go big-game hunting this summer and bring in quality. Love them, hate them, I hope the Hawks are in on BOTH Marner and Rantanen. Not specifically to play with Bedard, but to add to a lineup and make life easier for Bedard and the youth that is coming. You talk about veterans who would make a difference, spend the money on those two and see how much better your entire forward group becomes. People will argue why those two shouldn't be paid, but they are 27/28 years old and career PPG players. These are the kinds of players the Hawks should be looking to add, and can afford to overpay right now with how the talent in their organization is spread out.

It is very easy for teams to shut down Bedard on any given night because he is a one-man show. This team doesn't have the balance of four lines to make it easier for Bedard. While Kane and Toews got to play with significantly better players than Bedard has up to this point in his career, the Hawks during those years almost always had three, if not four very good lines to play against. The version of the the Hawks currently have three lines of third/fourth liners.

I am ready for Murphy/Jones to be gone. At this point, let your youth play together and start building. I would rather watch Korchinski, Levshunov, EDM, & Allen than Murphy/Martinez/Brodie any day of the week.

Donato warranted top line minutes because he was playing like the closest thing to it on the team. As you've correctly noted, they don't really have any talent, so the best they can do is put Bedard with whoever is playing best that point in time. For a good while, he was getting to the net, and forechecking well. He's got a decent enough shot to be kinda dangerous and he is at least willing to use it.

To be honest, I would almost rather that they put Donato on the top line with Bedard and Nazar instead of Bertuzzi. I'm kinda thinking at this point, would it be better to go hard to get both Ehlers and Boeser instead of Rantanen or Marner (save it paulr :lol
- Chunk

Donato is a try hard type player who has limited skill and plays an up and down game. Limits what Bedard can do....is he OK at possibly puck retrieval? Sure.....but I would rather see Bertuzzi and Nazar with him......Donato will be a depth add by a contender (fingers crossed) but nothing this team will miss in 2 years...if that.

That's because we're not coming out we're still tanking and we were still tanking at the start of the season. What KD said was lip service. If you're the worst team in hockey and you add a few middling vets at best along with no particular young top tier players up from your system, you're still the worst team in hockey.
- rpeters01

That's fair and a good point out by you.

I really thought they would be better. They hung around some games early but now just seem resigned to get the season over with. Too many passengers and too many veterans spitting out cliche after cliche.

After this season, it's hard to say they've hit rock bottom and the longer they stay in this turmoil, the more of a loser mantra they build and it will take a lot of guys, all on the same page, a head strong coach, to pull them out of this..... That to me should be keeping KD up at night and when rookies see veterans play for themselves why should they buy in to play a team game and so the turnovers and dumb hockey plays multiple in games and lead to chances which ultimately end in the back of your net and it's not a matter of IF, just when....see Tuesday night. More of that is very likely.

I really don't know if KD should be given another draft or UFA at this point......Bedard fell into his lap, but the roster construction and UFA signings are $hit right now.....

It's not all about skating speed. Bedard isn't necessarily fast, but he thinks and plays the game at a high speed. Boisvert (at least from y viewings) is very good at knowing where to be as the play develops. That allows him to be very effective in all zones. He's also a rather good forechecker.

Despite his "slow skating" he's the one of the best freshmen in hockey, currently the highest goal scorer on his team and second by 1 in total points (to a defenseman with a crap-ton of assists). He can play the style that they want to ultimately play.
- Chunk

I get your point but look at 4 nations and the best of the best.....most of those guys move at the very least...an above average level to an elite level to a generational level (MacKinnon/McDavid).....if you are a step behind you best be at least 2 steps ahead mentally to getting to the right spot OR be big enough to play a physical game to neutralize the speed......

Awesome post!

This team is exactly where they should be with the way their roster is constructed. They have a weird mix of young players with a bunch of old/aging vets who are anchors and holding them back it seems.

This team wasn't going to compete this year and I think it's foolish for anybody to believe otherwise. This is "year two" of their rebuild; they weren't going to make a huge jump in the standings...especially with their lackluster off-season this past summer.

I like what KD has done. Now, to your point, he has to go big-game hunting this summer and bring in quality. Love them, hate them, I hope the Hawks are in on BOTH Marner and Rantanen. Not specifically to play with Bedard, but to add to a lineup and make life easier for Bedard and the youth that is coming. You talk about veterans who would make a difference, spend the money on those two and see how much better your entire forward group becomes. People will argue why those two shouldn't be paid, but they are 27/28 years old and career PPG players. These are the kinds of players the Hawks should be looking to add, and can afford to overpay right now with how the talent in their organization is spread out.

It is very easy for teams to shut down Bedard on any given night because he is a one-man show. This team doesn't have the balance of four lines to make it easier for Bedard. While Kane and Toews got to play with significantly better players than Bedard has up to this point in his career, the Hawks during those years almost always had three, if not four very good lines to play against. The version of the the Hawks currently have three lines of third/fourth liners.

I am ready for Murphy/Jones to be gone. At this point, let your youth play together and start building. I would rather watch Korchinski, Levshunov, EDM, & Allen than Murphy/Martinez/Brodie any day of the week.
- frafra

Thanks! Agreed with most of this!

To your point what is the harm playing the young kids and making mistakes vs the guys you mentioned? I mean TJ Brodie is DONE. So likely is Martinez.

I get your point but look at 4 nations and the best of the best.....most of those guys move at the very least...an above average level to an elite level to a generational level (MacKinnon/McDavid).....if you are a step behind you best be at least 2 steps ahead mentally to getting to the right spot OR be big enough to play a physical game to neutralize the speed......
- SteveRain

Old man Crosby was one of the slower guys on Canada. He still skates above avg for an NHLer too. It is just a lot harder in today's NHL to be an avg or below avg skater and still be a legit top 6 talent. Still doable but you have to be that much better than other NHL guys in anticipation, hockey IQ, etc.

I respectfully disagree that "he can play the style that they want to ultimately play". Every game of Boisvert's I've watched he's been behind the play and/or rush in transition the majority of the time and his team isn't all that fast to begin with. His team also isn't great and their schedule has been pretty weak. Hope he prove me wrong, but I won't hold my breath.
Also, college hockey is pretty watered down this year as far as parody. There's maybe 3-4 teams loaded teams that have a chance at winning it.
- Assman22

Indeed, we respectfully disagree.

Donato is a try hard type player who has limited skill and plays an up and down game. Limits what Bedard can do....is he OK at possibly puck retrieval? Sure.....but I would rather see Bertuzzi and Nazar with him......Donato will be a depth add by a contender (fingers crossed) but nothing this team will miss in 2 years...if that.
- SteveRain

Sure. You asked (maybe rhetorically) why Donato was getting top line minutes. I just explained that there was basically no one else that was playing well enough to deserve it and he was. That doesn't change the player he is. It's just a condemnation of the talent on the roster.

I get your point but look at 4 nations and the best of the best.....most of those guys move at the very least...an above average level to an elite level to a generational level (MacKinnon/McDavid).....if you are a step behind you best be at least 2 steps ahead mentally to getting to the right spot OR be big enough to play a physical game to neutralize the speed......
- SteveRain

Yeah, but in the NHL there is a salary cap. You aren't going to be able to ice an entire team of top talent. The Hawks have plenty of speed in their prospect ranks. Having a few guys who aren't quite as fast, but know where to be at all times and how to get there is a good thing to have as well.

What's the biggest knock on Moore? He needs to work on when to use his speed and changing gears. Just having speed isn't enough (nor is just having size). You need actual good hockey players. Bedard is a phenomenal hockey player who has some physical limitations. Doesn't seem to be slowing him down much.

Sure. You asked (maybe rhetorically) why Donato was getting top line minutes. I just explained that there was basically no one else that was playing well enough to deserve it and he was. That doesn't change the player he is. It's just a condemnation of the talent on the roster.
- Chunk

Fair point.....I just can't think of any next young superstar who's had 2 years of ZERO support. Not even a bonafide top 6 player on a cup contender, let alone another top end talent to skate with. I mean this is a colossal failure on KD's part.

AM I missing somebody?

I mean Davidson has stockpiled picks, but what NHL ready Fs does this team have? I think Nazar is a nice kid but unsure where his ceiling lies. D men all have their moments.....but if its me I am finding a way to go full Houston Texans this draft and getting 2 picks in the top 5....use your capital and a plethora of D men to get it done. Imagine getting a combination of Misa/Martone/Hagens and having 2 of those with Bedard. Go sign a top UFA this summer......and you take a GIANT step forward. That's before you deal off Donato, Martinez (take a bag of pucks), Murphy, Jones this deadline. Retain on Jones and take less to move on from Murphy. Get NHL ready Fs for any and all.

THey have the picks to become more aggressive.....time to stop hanging out at the bottom of the pool.

Fair point.....I just can't think of any next young superstar who's had 2 years of ZERO support. Not even a bonafide top 6 player on a cup contender, let alone another top end talent to skate with. I mean this is a colossal failure on KD's part.

AM I missing somebody?

I mean Davidson has stockpiled picks, but what NHL ready Fs does this team have? I think Nazar is a nice kid but unsure where his ceiling lies. D men all have their moments.....but if its me I am finding a way to go full Houston Texans this draft and getting 2 picks in the top 5....use your capital and a plethora of D men to get it done. Imagine getting a combination of Misa/Martone/Hagens and having 2 of those with Bedard. Go sign a top UFA this summer......and you take a GIANT step forward. That's before you deal off Donato, Martinez (take a bag of pucks), Murphy, Jones this deadline. Retain on Jones and take less to move on from Murphy. Get NHL ready Fs for any and all.

THey have the picks to become more aggressive.....time to stop hanging out at the bottom of the pool.
- SteveRain

In theory, I'm with you, but those kids are likely going to need a year or two to get to the NHL. It's not like they are for sure going to line up next to Bedard anytime soon.

I'd love to see him trade for or sign two legit top line players to just get a solid baseline started. Inch-worming your way to competitive just wastes cheap contract years. The Hawks have like $58-59M tied up in salary for next year at the moment. They'd need to spend over 10 just to get to the floor. Might as well use that on good players instead of placeholders.

Fair point.....I just can't think of any next young superstar who's had 2 years of ZERO support. Not even a bonafide top 6 player on a cup contender, let alone another top end talent to skate with. I mean this is a colossal failure on KD's part.

AM I missing somebody?

I mean Davidson has stockpiled picks, but what NHL ready Fs does this team have? I think Nazar is a nice kid but unsure where his ceiling lies. D men all have their moments.....but if its me I am finding a way to go full Houston Texans this draft and getting 2 picks in the top 5....use your capital and a plethora of D men to get it done. Imagine getting a combination of Misa/Martone/Hagens and having 2 of those with Bedard. Go sign a top UFA this summer......and you take a GIANT step forward. That's before you deal off Donato, Martinez (take a bag of pucks), Murphy, Jones this deadline. Retain on Jones and take less to move on from Murphy. Get NHL ready Fs for any and all.

THey have the picks to become more aggressive.....time to stop hanging out at the bottom of the pool.
- SteveRain

I’ve been solidly in KD’s camp but if he’s unable to ice a team that is dramatically better next season he’s as good as gone. So far he’s proven he can dismantle a team. He can accumulate draft picks. It will take a few years to determine how good the drafting was. But he hasn’t yet proven he can make a trade to improve the team.
And so far he has done a very average job of signing free agents. Davidson has to make a trade(s) and has to sign a UFA or RFA to ice a better team for next year.

I’ve been solidly in KD’s camp but if he’s unable to ice a team that is dramatically better next season he’s as good as gone. So far he’s proven he can dismantle a team. He can accumulate draft picks. It will take a few years to determine how good the drafting was. But he hasn’t yet proven he can make a trade to improve the team.
And so far he has done a very average job of signing free agents. Davidson has to make a trade(s) and has to sign a UFA or RFA to ice a better team for next year.
- paulr

There are a few intriguing RFA's coming up. KD has a ton of draft and prospect capital. If there are teams that can't fit new deals in to sign their guys, KD should be ready and willing to pony up to try and acquire them.

Fair point.....I just can't think of any next young superstar who's had 2 years of ZERO support. Not even a bonafide top 6 player on a cup contender, let alone another top end talent to skate with. I mean this is a colossal failure on KD's part.

AM I missing somebody?

I mean Davidson has stockpiled picks, but what NHL ready Fs does this team have? I think Nazar is a nice kid but unsure where his ceiling lies. D men all have their moments.....but if its me I am finding a way to go full Houston Texans this draft and getting 2 picks in the top 5....use your capital and a plethora of D men to get it done. Imagine getting a combination of Misa/Martone/Hagens and having 2 of those with Bedard. Go sign a top UFA this summer......and you take a GIANT step forward. That's before you deal off Donato, Martinez (take a bag of pucks), Murphy, Jones this deadline. Retain on Jones and take less to move on from Murphy. Get NHL ready Fs for any and all.

THey have the picks to become more aggressive.....time to stop hanging out at the bottom of the pool.
- SteveRain

Ya know... I have been in the camp of rebuild is early on still but I did go take a little lock back at the '06 and '07 Hawks. At least Sharp was there in '06 (first 20g season) and Havlat. When Kane and Toews arrived in '07, Sharp and Havlat were in place. Robert Lang even potted 20g and 50pts in '07 for the Hawks.

The talent is so bad on this team right now, you don't have the equivalent of a 2nd year Sharp and an often injured Havlat. You really don't even have a Robert Lang equivalent....he scored 20g plus 7 times in his career.

TT has been bad to the point I would not care if they launched him into the sun for a bag of pucks. He's every bit as soft and afraid of contact as he was when the Hawks drafted him.

Bertuzzi is meh.

Who on this roster is going to pot you 30g next year (Sharp 36g first year of Kane and Toews) and .8 ish ppg player (Havlat on the Hawks when actually healthy).

Hawks have to acquire/find some real top 6 guys. You can't have year 3 of Beard without a real 30g scorer on his line.

Fair point.....I just can't think of any next young superstar who's had 2 years of ZERO support. Not even a bonafide top 6 player on a cup contender, let alone another top end talent to skate with. I mean this is a colossal failure on KD's part.

AM I missing somebody?

I mean Davidson has stockpiled picks, but what NHL ready Fs does this team have? I think Nazar is a nice kid but unsure where his ceiling lies. D men all have their moments.....but if its me I am finding a way to go full Houston Texans this draft and getting 2 picks in the top 5....use your capital and a plethora of D men to get it done. Imagine getting a combination of Misa/Martone/Hagens and having 2 of those with Bedard. Go sign a top UFA this summer......and you take a GIANT step forward. That's before you deal off Donato, Martinez (take a bag of pucks), Murphy, Jones this deadline. Retain on Jones and take less to move on from Murphy. Get NHL ready Fs for any and all.

THey have the picks to become more aggressive.....time to stop hanging out at the bottom of the pool.
- SteveRain

Well, not really ZERO support though, that is an exaggeration.

You could make the argument that he added two top 6 forwards from contenders in both Bertuzzi and Teravinen. TT playing with Aho and Svechnikov. Bertuzzi with guys like Taveres and Nylander. The Hawks were in on Guentzel but it's tough to land a guy like him when you have to compete with teams not in the middle of a rebuild.

What we don't have is any other star players up front currently, and those are not as easy to land. Most of the time when a top end talent is traded, it's not for picks, draft capital or prospects. It's for a package with another high end player or a player breaking out. If we want high end talent we need to wait to have some of our own to deal or we need to keep fighting to sign some on the UFA market, without signing idiotic contracts that will bite us when the team is actually ready to compete.

Fans want them to turn it around quickly and sure that's great as long as they don't screw up the long term. Having another superstart for Bedard to play with is nice, but it doesn't change his ceiling, make or break the team or really change his timeline on maturing, or speed up the rebuild. It really just moderately improves the short term, which again, is fine as long as they don't screw up where the want to be in 2-3 years or even 5 years down the road.

I’ve been solidly in KD’s camp but if he’s unable to ice a team that is dramatically better next season he’s as good as gone. So far he’s proven he can dismantle a team. He can accumulate draft picks. It will take a few years to determine how good the drafting was. But he hasn’t yet proven he can make a trade to improve the team.
And so far he has done a very average job of signing free agents. Davidson has to make a trade(s) and has to sign a UFA or RFA to ice a better team for next year.
- paulr

Same....the organization's ability to look at what they have a lot of, or is a declining asset before the rest of the league finds out, and trading for another team's surplus and/or soured fruit needs to happen. Uncle Dale was good at that....couldn't manage a cap but flipped guys you never heard of again (maybe except Ruuttu) for the Versteegs, Leddys, Sharps, and Ladds of the world. Davidson needs to make a hockey trade but my issue is what value does Reichel have right now? Not much.