Bedard with -3 tonight
Demidov with 4
- HamiltonHawk

Lev -4
Fixed.

Sounds like we're in agreement?
- rpeters01

Per Ben Pope

Blackhawks lines in Montreal:

Donato-Bedard-Mikheyev
Teravainen-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Greene-Moore
Slaggert-Veleno-Reichel

Vlasic-Rinzel
Murphy-Crevier
Kaiser-Levshunov

Soderblom

*Korchinski and Kurashev are scratches
- Angotti

That's fantastic 11 kids in the line up

Curious to see how Greene plays

Has he developed enough to actually be a starter?

Per Ben Pope

Blackhawks lines in Montreal:

Donato-Bedard-Mikheyev
Teravainen-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Greene-Moore
Slaggert-Veleno-Reichel

Vlasic-Rinzel
Murphy-Crevier
Kaiser-Levshunov

Soderblom

*Korchinski and Kurashev are scratches
- Angotti

Foligno will be lucky to cross center ice when those other two are in the scoring area

Curious to see how Greene plays

Has he developed enough to actually be a starter?
- BetweenTheDots

He was the co-captain, 1C, all situations player for the BU team that just lost in the Frozen 4 final, and also put up almost a PPG. His goals for the year were to improve his strength, 200' game, and drive more offense. While he only slightly improved his offensive numbers, he hit every single one of his goals. He's somewhere between 6'1' and 6'2 and 190+ as a 21 year old.

We'll obviously have to wait and see how he does against men, but he's the most complete player coming out of college of any of the guys signed this year.

Like all rookies, I'd watch how he handles the speed of the game/speed of his decisions, and how he can be a playmaker in the offensive zone. That's what showed up the most for me watching him this year - his ability to control the puck and create chances for his teammates. Not flashy at all (kind of the anti-Nazar), but very effective.

That's fantastic 11 kids in the line up
- BetweenTheDots

You still counting Vlasic as a kid?

Curious to see how Greene plays

Has he developed enough to actually be a starter?
- BetweenTheDots

Defensively yes. Pass first type, leader mentality, and solid at the dot. His size is a welcome addition up the middle at 6’2 and 192 lbs. Potentially replaces Richardinson at 3C.

Curious to see how Greene plays

Has he developed enough to actually be a starter?
- BetweenTheDots

His skating, IQ, and defensive game suggest he'd ready for the NHL. His pace in the offensive zone and executing skill at NHL speed suggest he's not ready for the NHL. In all, we shall see in this two game intro. His ceiling is a Selke with tertiary offensive production. I'm rooting for him.

Defensively yes. Pass first type, leader mentality, and solid at the dot. His size is a welcome addition up the middle at 6’2 and 192 lbs. Potentially replaces Richardinson at 3C.
- Assman22

D!ckinson should be moved this offseason, although he may require a sweetener or retention. Hopefully KD doesn’t overpay anymore fourth line players after a career year.

That's fantastic 11 kids in the line up
- BetweenTheDots

Only one grey beard - Foligno (37).

Next oldest is Murphy (31).

Two guys (30) Turbo and Mickey.

Bert (29), Donnie (28), Veleno (25).

Everyone else (skaters) is 23 or younger. Incredibly young lineup.

D!ckinson should be moved this offseason, although he may require a sweetener or retention. Hopefully KD doesn’t overpay anymore fourth line players after a career year.
- Angotti

Do you have someone specific in mind with this comment?

Do you have someone specific in mind with this comment?
- Chunk

I may be in the minority, but yes. If it’s for reasonable term and money, then I’m okay, however I wouldn’t pay like he’s a 25 goal scorer. He’ll most likely never score more than 20 again. There are about eight years of sample size and one outlier year.

D!ckinson should be moved this offseason, although he may require a sweetener or retention. Hopefully KD doesn’t overpay anymore fourth line players after a career year.
- Angotti

He's here for one more season. There is no cap crunch. Unless he's a locker room problem, and I have heard nothing that would lead me to believe that, then there's no urgency. I don't anticipate an extension for him. Best approach is probably hope he stays healthy and is a tradable asset at the next deadline, and we get best possible value. Mikheyev fits the the potential deadline trade profile, also. And Murphy for the right price, assuming he's healthy.

You still counting Vlasic as a kid?
- Chunk

I am

His skating, IQ, and defensive game suggest he'd ready for the NHL. His pace in the offensive zone and executing skill at NHL speed suggest he's not ready for the NHL. In all, we shall see in this two game intro. His ceiling is a Selke with tertiary offensive production. I'm rooting for him.
- LetsGoHawks

That would be amazing if his game will translate to the NHL, then one of those darts you had after the 1st round would be a big get to the rebuild

I may be in the minority, but yes. If it’s for reasonable term and money, then I’m okay, however I wouldn’t pay like he’s a 25 goal scorer. He’ll most likely never score more than 20 again. There are about eight years of sample size and one outlier year.
- Angotti

I think Donato will end up around $4MX4. He's not yet signed $4MX3. I think with his improvement in skating and his overall game, I wouldn't be upset at all with that number or term especially with the cap going up.

He's here for one more season. There is no cap crunch. Unless he's a locker room problem, and I have heard nothing that would lead me to believe that, then there's no urgency. I don't anticipate an extension for him. Best approach is probably hope he stays healthy and is a tradable asset at the next deadline, and we get best possible value. Mikheyev fits the the potential deadline trade profile, also. And Murphy for the right price, assuming he's healthy.
- 333inthe3rd

I'm kinda with Lou on this for the simple fact that they have other guys that can do the same thing and they are starting to duplicate roles. JD is basically who he was this year. Joe Veleno is virtually the same guy. More defensive usage and will occasionally throw some points at you.

I'm kinda with Lou on this for the simple fact that they have other guys that can do the same thing and they are starting to duplicate roles. JD is basically who he was this year. Joe Veleno is virtually the same guy. More defensive usage and will occasionally throw some points at you.
- Chunk

If they extend him three years, then I give up. Next year should be the year they start to shed the training wheels. We also have to keep in mind they need to stay above the salary floor throughout the season. Weber's contract only gets them so far on that.

If they extend him three years, then I give up. Next year should be the year they start to shed the training wheels. We also have to keep in mind they need to stay above the salary floor throughout the season. Weber's contract only gets them so far on that.
- 333inthe3rd

Helloooooooo Marner.

I think Donato will end up around $4MX4. He's not yet signed $4MX3. I think with his improvement in skating and his overall game, I wouldn't be upset at all with that number or term especially with the cap going up.
- Chunk

$4x3 is fair and he should take it.

Pitt
Chi
SJ
Nash

I want to make mention of this before puck drop in MTL. IMO last game Bedard was as close to a hockey player as I have ever seen him. From first shift in the preseason you could see the kid understood last yr was not even close to being acceptable as a hockey player. .... Just can win in the Bigs playing rat hockey.

Without ticking off all the boxes he checked last game IMO he was not just engaged in all 3 zones, his effort was consistent for 60 minutes the kid made plays the best being the kid came flying on the back check and was 1/2 foot of breaking up a play in the low slot.

It wasn't a stick waving, that's good enough effort off the puck stuff but an off the puck game that was as effective as I've evr seen outs him.

If we see that consistently it will have been the biggest takeaway this season for me, in a season with loads of em. .... This team will run thru Bedard for a decade. If that player is a one trick pony they ain't winning nuttin. I think Bedard knows that and is putting in the work on and off the ice to be at the very very least acceptable off the puck.

When that happens I think a lotta dominoes start to fall as the top 6 falls into shape and wins start to come.

Anyone else see a 3 zone Bedard last game they haven't seen going back to jrs?

You know i was watching you tube draft ratings the other night. Funny a guy went back to 2019 team prospect ratings and even though teams were rated high, in hindsight the rankings were pretty bad.

One thing i do know is the odds of drafting a pro in the 1st round is greater than any other. Sam Rinzel was rated what 4, 5, 6th best prospect in the system? I have to say he's leapfrogged all of our kids on the ice, it's got to be Sam, Arty, Nazar in that order for now.

If they extend him three years, then I give up. Next year should be the year they start to shed the training wheels. We also have to keep in mind they need to stay above the salary floor throughout the season. Weber's contract only gets them so far on that.
- 333inthe3rd

Here's what they have right now if they sign a FA (Marner, Boeser, Ehlers, etc)

Mikheyev - Bedard - *free agent signing*
Bertuzzi - Nazar - Teravainen
Veleno - D!ckinson - Foligno
Dach - Donato - Slaggert
Reichel

Thompson - Moore - Greene
Savoie - Ludwinski - Hayes
James/Pharand - Misiak - Lardis

And some other possibilities; Guttman, Luypen, Raty, Marcel, Safonov, Seney, etc.

Not super deep yet. Am guessing only one high level FA comes in. Let the young guys cook at Rockford for at least a half a season and trade at the deadline as needed to open up spots.

Fall of 2026 is decision time as 2025 top 4 pick, Boisvert, Vanacker, Spellacy, Kantserov, and maybe a couple of others are coming in.