As much as I really don't like the Athletic, a friend of mine showed me Laz's recent article where he asked MacKinnon (and a few others) about Bedard. It's a good read and needed perspective.

The gist is that people should not be worried about Bedard. MacKinnon was worried he would be traded after his fourth year. He wasn't playing top line minutes and was taken off the power play for stretches. To be able to accomplish what he's been able to at 19 is no small feat. That said, he certainly needs help and will need to learn to play with help as well.

Say hello to Jason D1ckinson. He lives there.
- Elbows15

Why didn't they wait until San Jose on Thursday to have him return to the lineup? Denver is the last place to break someone back in after a long injury absence.

On the bright side right now, the team is pushing things slowly in the right direction. After an awful start with LR as the head coach, things have improved to some measurable degree.

In the calendar year of 2025 Hawks are 8-12-7 with a 0.426 points% - 82 game pace of about ~70pts.

In the 2024 half of the season (mostly under LR) we were at about a ~56 point pace. Now it's looking like we may finish around 63-64 points in the final standings.

Lots can still change between now and then but not unreasonable to expect the team to start to push into that 75+ points range. Assuming the coach is still Sorensen or better.

Why didn't they wait until San Jose on Thursday to have him return to the lineup? Denver is the last place to break someone back in after a long injury absence.
- 333inthe3rd

Who knows!

Did anyone else notice the massive difference in body development between Lev and Bedard? Lev looks like a balding 24 year old that just spent 4 hard years in the Russian army.

Bedard looks like he's a 15 year old in his sophomore year of high school.

Who knows!

Did anyone else notice the massive difference in body development between Lev and Bedard? Lev looks like a balding 24 year old that just spent 4 hard years in the Russian army.

Bedard looks like he's a 15 year old in his sophomore year of high school.
- bhawks2241

Belorussian army.

Who knows!

Did anyone else notice the massive difference in body development between Lev and Bedard? Lev looks like a balding 24 year old that just spent 4 hard years in the Russian army.

Bedard looks like he's a 15 year old in his sophomore year of high school.
- bhawks2241

Lev is also 6'2" 210ish. Kinda makes what Bedard has been able to do in his time in the NHL that much more impressive. I can't wait until they get him some consistent linemates.

When I graduated high school, I was 5'9 and 160 at best. In two years of college I jumped to 6' 180. It'll be interesting to see what Bedard's peak physical condition ends up being. I gotta think the big thing he'll work on this summer is his skating and balance.

On the bright side right now, the team is pushing things slowly in the right direction. After an awful start with LR as the head coach, things have improved to some measurable degree.

In the calendar year of 2025 Hawks are 8-12-7 with a 0.426 points% - 82 game pace of about ~70pts.

In the 2024 half of the season (mostly under LR) we were at about a ~56 point pace. Now it's looking like we may finish around 63-64 points in the final standings.

Lots can still change between now and then but not unreasonable to expect the team to start to push into that 75+ points range. Assuming the coach is still Sorensen or better.
- breadbag

Give LR credit he kept the team playing respectable hockey and the games within a 5 goal margin.

Give LR credit he kept the team playing respectable hockey and the games within a 5 goal margin.

- rpeters01

There were some positives under LR, but the results to start the season weren't great in the standings and no scoring.

Who knows!

Did anyone else notice the massive difference in body development between Lev and Bedard? Lev looks like a balding 24 year old that just spent 4 hard years in the Russian army.

Bedard looks like he's a 15 year old in his sophomore year of high school.
- bhawks2241

I've seen his legs, Bedard's legs are major league, full stop.

No one is struggling with the rebuild. If anything, Pasta would help. He is a legit 1st line player. It allows the coming prospects to slide into more appropriate slots without having to learn against every team's top pairing. Until and if they are ready.

For instance, you mentioned Bennett and Boeser and they are 50 ish point players where Pasta is a 80+ guy. On a signed deal. Bennett is not going to age well cause of his game. Boeser has never played a full season as it is. Pasta will age far better.

So yeah, I would give up 2 1st and KK for a guy who will still be better 4 years from now than anyone you can draft in the top 5 .

Also, have you seen what the projected contracted for Bennett and Boeser look like? Take a look. There are a couple of sites that do a fairly accurate projection.

If you want a old vet to sign.Tavares would be the one I target. Shorter deal Plays center and can still play.
- Elbows15

You bring up very good points i just think the price is a bit much just to make young players slot properly.

When you look at past drafts top 5 picks, lots of stars out of that bunch, i personally would never trade a potential future star for one on the decline.

Would love to have Pasta on this team but the cost will be crazy high. If they would take Reichel, KK and Tor and FL's 1st would make that trade in a second. But think they would want our 1st this year and next. That may be a bit too steep. He had a monster season in 22, but he seems to be regressing a bit and wonder if that is just who he is playing with (and if so if that would continue in Chicago) or if this is the start of a downward trend?

Do you think Philly would trade Konecny, and if so for what?

Not interested in Boeser (think that would bite us in the ass given the $ and term it would probably cost to get him here).

The list of FA's is pretty bleak

https://hockeycomparables.../2025-top-50-free-agents/

So because the UFAs you suggest I have some reservations about because of their age, how effective they will be when the team is ready to compete, how signing an older free agent potentially risks how KD is trying to rebuild the team means I want the team to be ten years away from competing?

Does that mean your, going all in fanboy approach and not factoring in anything but how to try to get Bedard to win a scoring championship in the next couple of years means you don’t care about a championship at all?

Remember Steve when the Hawks were winning championships and I was happy while you were female doging about everything from them not being big, not having a good face off percentage, not being physical? Yeah I remember them too.
- paulr

Did they address those needs Paul? Believe they did and why the won the cup a few times by tweaking guys in and out of the core.

Just keep beating that drum that miraculously some 23-25 yr old top flight player will become available but I think it's more about Marner and how they can sell him on coming here because if the reports are TRUE that they asked him to waive his NTC for Rantanen then I look forward to you complaining about Marners lack of playoff success while he puts up damn near a point a game but because a dolt like Shanahan has allowed that team to be top heavy in F only they lose....

Good luck cat fishing your next blogger with your little sewing circle. Fan boy...you are rich. No wonder this board drops in numbers by the days....

Elbows suggested it on the other site and then read that this morning too in BN and I kind of like that vs signing Marner at the top of the market. Marner turns 28 in May so comparable.

You’d have to give up some assets but this is one possible player I think would be worth trading some of them for.
- HawkintheD

Wouldn't that be a last ditch effort to make a trade if they can't find a UFA they like marner? Does Pasta have trade protection? Not against it, but feel Marner is a more complete player.

Wouldn't that be a last ditch effort to make a trade if they can't find a UFA they like marner? Does Pasta have trade protection? Not against it, but feel Marner is a more complete player.
- SteveRain

Pasta has a full NMC. That moots the debate as it pertains to him, though not the conceptual debate over picks/prospects for an established star.

No seriously, he brutal on it.
- Chunk

Agreed....I also don't get the continual juggling of lines from game to game. Richardinson skating on line 1 again and watching him 2 zones behind is just comical.

I've seen his legs, Bedard's legs are major league, full stop.
- 35Tony0

Massive which is why it's puzzling he's so easily knocked off the puck because the foundation is there. He goes down very easily. Something he has to work on in the offseason. Watch Kane film....as Kane rarely was on his @ss. Bedard is there at least 1-2 times a game. Sometimes just blowing out a tire....maybe he has Keith's skates from the end of the 2010 season....

As much as I really don't like the Athletic, a friend of mine showed me Laz's recent article where he asked MacKinnon (and a few others) about Bedard. It's a good read and needed perspective.

The gist is that people should not be worried about Bedard. MacKinnon was worried he would be traded after his fourth year. He wasn't playing top line minutes and was taken off the power play for stretches. To be able to accomplish what he's been able to at 19 is no small feat. That said, he certainly needs help and will need to learn to play with help as well.
- Chunk

Good article...he's an @ss bag but he also had a nice article on Toews yesterday as well.

Against a top flight team like Colorado, Arty looked pretty damn good for as raw as he is. Little timid which is to be expected but it's nice to see some some kids vs veterans going no where. Looking forward to the Brodie buy out.

Pasta has a full NMC. That moots the debate as it pertains to him, though not the conceptual debate over picks/prospects for an established star.
- 333inthe3rd

yeah, good point. Sounds like Davidson is up for improving but sure he will go UFA before he goes trade route for a similar aged player. If Brady Tkachuk wants out of Ottawa, be all over that. Talk about a 1-2 punch.

Still hoping they end up with martone or Misa.

Believe Wiz said Martone is very raw skating wise......

Massive which is why it's puzzling he's so easily knocked off the puck because the foundation is there. He goes down very easily. Something he has to work on in the offseason. Watch Kane film....as Kane rarely was on his @ss. Bedard is there at least 1-2 times a game. Sometimes just blowing out a tire....maybe he has Keith's skates from the end of the 2010 season....
- SteveRain

Bedard has some beefy quads on him. Maybe he's just really quad dominant. Needs more junk in his trunk. Power comes from the ole glutes lol.

I know several guys that have skinny looking legs that can squat a house. Know guys with massive quads that aren't strong athletically speaking.

He also seems to skate with a very narrow stance at times and is not ready for contact. When your feet are 6 inches apart from each other you are going to get knocked down very easily.

You bring up very good points i just think the price is a bit much just to make young players slot properly.

When you look at past drafts top 5 picks, lots of stars out of that bunch, i personally would never trade a potential future star for one on the decline.
- BetweenTheDots

He is on pace for 99 points.

Bedard has some beefy quads on him. Maybe he's just really quad dominant. Needs more junk in his trunk. Power comes from the ole glutes lol.

I know several guys that have skinny looking legs that can squat a house. Know guys with massive quads that aren't strong athletically speaking.

He also seems to skate with a very narrow stance at times and is not ready for contact. When your feet are 6 inches apart from each other you are going to get knocked down very easily.
- bhawks2241

Or ya know, he is 19 playing in a man's league. Crosby was pretty easy to knock around early in his career, too.

Pasta has a full NMC. That moots the debate as it pertains to him, though not the conceptual debate over picks/prospects for an established star.
- 333inthe3rd

Players are traded with NMCs all the time. Hawks just traded one. It is entirely possible Chicago isn't a team he would waive for at this time, but Boston is heading for the basement. So who knows until you try.

Wouldn't that be a last ditch effort to make a trade if they can't find a UFA they like marner? Does Pasta have trade protection? Not against it, but feel Marner is a more complete player.
- SteveRain

You want to pay Marner 14M? I sure don't. Marner isn't leaving Toronto. If anything, he would use the threat to squeeze more money from the Leafs.

Or ya know, he is 19 playing in a man's league. Crosby was pretty easy to knock around early in his career, too.
- Elbows15

I agree but some of the pics I saw of Bedard he’s pretty thick/jacked. He’s definitely not Tuevo/Reichel skinny.

You want to pay Marner 14M? I sure don't. Marner isn't leaving Toronto. If anything, he would use the threat to squeeze more money from the Leafs.
- Elbows15

Leafs need to go spend on D with Tavares money and hope Marner’s cap hit only goes up 3 mil ish from his current one.

One of Nylander Matthews and Marner is going to have to carry his own line.

Still don’t think they would be good enough but that’s they should do b/c there is no way I see that front office letting one of them walk.