I hope KD steers clear of the retread coaches the Boudreau‘s, the Laviolette‘s, the Tortorella’s and the like.

In the unlikely event Jon Cooper becomes available I’d like to see him in Chicago. The best of both worlds, a progressive thinking coach who seems to relate to young and older players.

All I have read is the guy who may be a really good choice would be David Carle. Because he hasn’t coached in the NHL could he be viewed as a risky pick?
- paulr

+1

2-0 Loafs.... Ottawa can't take stupid penalties

I forget who went to Kane's trainer? But this kind of thing happens all the time.

- rpeters01

Kane? A guy with hardware. Several hawks did I believe.

What do I know? Not that much. Just seems odd that Donato is the guy Bedard is going to for offseason training advice, etc.

I really don't want to be an bumhole, but this is a horrible take. Donato was told over and over again that he wasn't fast/quick enough and that is why he wasn't going to even be more than a glorified 3rd liner. He got training in the offseason, improved both his speed and quickness and it translated into his best ever season. Sure motivation could be part of that, but to say that Bedard going to Donato is in any way a negative because he's not a cup winner is just blind. Especially since he not only improved in an area that Bedard wants to, but notably outperformed him in goal scoring - the area that Bedard wants to improve.
- Chunk

No problem with your response. He wants to use Donatos skating coach that’s cool.

Donato is an ok hockey player who had a career year. He’s bounced around the league. He’s never won at the NHL level. I’d prefer a vet or two who have won at the NHL level and can teach Bedard what it takes to win, including all the offseason work.

2-0 Loafs.... Ottawa can't take stupid penalties
- BGKarras

Injury bug crushing the Devils still kept it close with Carolina.

Well, he rode "glide mode" to 71 goals this year, so it doesn't seem to be that much of a negative. He spent the year working on getting to the middle of the ice more and battling better and it seems to have paid off. No sure where you see the tentativeness in his game.
- Chunk

I am talking about away from the puck...

Wondering if you saw the Demidov debut against Hawks?

Still have the funky skating thing, or did it look different?
- vabeachbear

Nope looks the same: gets too wide and it is gonna catch him.
I am happy theHab fans are so happy, becaus ehe is a nice puck generator.

Kane? A guy with hardware. Several hawks did I believe.

What do I know? Not that much. Just seems odd that Donato is the guy Bedard is going to for offseason training advice, etc.
- bhawks2241

He's seen the change in Donato's body...Can't believe I said that.

Injury bug crushing the Devils still kept it close with Carolina.
- bhawks2241

Yea it doesn't help that Jack Hughes can't stay healthy. 2 years in a row he is only able to play 3/4s of a season.

Timo Meier away from San Jose looks more and more like a very expensive Brandon Saad.

When I posted this it was just repeating those cheeky Darth & other posts:


I don’t care where the Blackhawks draft as long as it is Misa.

Top 4 in 2025, that means you get a legitimate talent with the will to play star quality revues.

Does his play at the end of the year in the post-season give you any pause? If I'm not mistaken, that's two straight seasons of disappointing playoff performances. Meanwhile, Desnoyers turned it up (I'm aware the OHL is more difficult than the Q).
- TommyHawk

Look, i just kniow there is enough there no matter if you choose 3, 4, to get a REALLY fine player.

Desnoyers is a possible if they don't want the currently undersized Hagens, but Frondell is real deal, and for all the criticism about how he doesn't have decent get off the mark feet, Martone is simply really really good big man in front, and one who will go to the boards and you'll know who was rubbing you out.
I do think he is agoing to be a very nice pro.

When you draft a Reichel, you are looking for a guy whose skills and feet drive him as a scorer, but when it doesn't work out, you look at all the darftees available and look for a scoring generator who can play up & down if expectations lower.
I am not Hagens can play everwhere.

That's why many of the new guys can play lower end roles and progress to improve.

I just have seen so many years (50 !!!) where scores get picked and never get by as one way guys.





I cannot play Tank lotto, because it won't matter much if ourc scouts find their guy.

And besides UNLESS you hit RESET your list of five chances are simply the same rote one we all can merry go round to...they are set not to random, but a formula that repeats all the possibilities but basically in the same order over and over where we each could "get to it when we get on the merry go round.

You have to reset after each pick if you need five chances to guess.

No problem with your response. He wants to use Donatos skating coach that’s cool.

Donato is an ok hockey player who had a career year. He’s bounced around the league. He’s never won at the NHL level. I’d prefer a vet or two who have won at the NHL level and can teach Bedard what it takes to win, including all the offseason work.
- bhawks2241

I don't know, i think if things come easier for players it's harder for them to teach it to others.

Toews and Kane knew how to win when they had a talented team around them, not so much when the team got old and thin.

Nope looks the same: gets too wide and it is gonna catch him.
I am happy theHab fans are so happy, becaus ehe is a nice puck generator.
- wiz1901

Hi wiz who in this upcoming draft in round 1 is a sleeper pick not to overlook.

He's seen the change in Donato's body...Can't believe I said that.
- rpeters01

Lol. I think I have to agree now you said that.

Did the broadcast for the Panthers Lighting game just blame the Hawks for Jones struggles because he played heavy big minutes for the Hawks for many years? It was too much for him.

Did the broadcast for the Panthers Lighting game just blame the Hawks for Jones struggles because he played heavy big minutes for the Hawks for many years? It was too much for him.
- bhawks2241

I've always said he's not good enough to play 25 minutes a game

TBs defense looks horrible

The infamous Gaudette ties the game in Toronto, real quiet in that arena right now

I've always said he's not good enough to play 25 minutes a game
- BetweenTheDots

I agree but not sure that was the reason/issue he’s the same player whether he’s playing 22 mins a night or 25 mins.

Also prob won’t matter. Panthers just loaded at forward.

When I posted this it was just repeating those cheeky Darth & other posts:



- wiz1901I don’t care where the Blackhawks draft as long as it is Misa.

Top 4 in 2025, that means you get a legitimate talent with the will to play star quality revues.




Look, i just kniow there is enough there no matter if you choose 3, 4, to get a REALLY fine player.

Desnoyers is a possible if they don't want the currently undersized Hagens, but Frondell is real deal, and for all the criticism about how he doesn't have decent get off the mark feet, Martone is simply really really good big man in front, and one who will go to the boards and you'll know who was rubbing you out.
I do think he is agoing to be a very nice pro.

When you draft a Reichel, you are looking for a guy whose skills and feet drive him as a scorer, but when it doesn't work out, you look at all the darftees available and look for a scoring generator who can play up & down if expectations lower.
I am not Hagens can play everwhere.

That's why many of the new guys can play lower end roles and progress to improve.

I just have seen so many years (50 !!!) where scores get picked and never get by as one way guys.





I cannot play Tank lotto, because it won't matter much if ourc scouts find their guy.

And besides UNLESS you hit RESET your list of five chances are simply the same rote one we all can merry go round to...they are set not to random, but a formula that repeats all the possibilities but basically in the same order over and over where we each could "get to it when we get on the merry go round.

You have to reset after each pick if you need five chances to guess.

Watching these playoffs I'd have no problem with Martone on the Blackhawks

Hi wiz who in this upcoming draft in round 1 is a sleeper pick not to overlook.
- Scott1977

I would like the Chicago area kid with the Hawks second first rounder, Ryker Lee
.

I think you can take one of the top ight guys and will end up happy; after that it really tough to slot them as who will really succeed paast their present selves.
There really are a flock of Russians and kids from all over Europe who can play.

OK, I will guess that this year a lot of Euros look like they may be sleepers.
I like the college kid, Shane Vansaghi, because he lights people up with hits, and has size AND good jump at his size.

And the goalies! This is a great year for goalies.

So the open HC spots are:
ANA
CHI
BOS
NYR
PHI
SEA
Possibly VAN
Possibly NYI

If you are a coach that wants to step into a team that is more ready to win now, I'd say it's either NYI (if actually available) ANA, or BOS.

If you are looking at the big picture and not needing to be torn down in the next 3-5 I'd say the Hawks are the best option, with ANA a close second.

Both NY teams look like nightmares, although NYI have some cap space opening up. No idea what PHI or SEA are doing at this point. BOS has some good pieces. I think they'll try to do the same as WSH did.

With Allvin running the show, VAN looks like a crap show as well. Things are lookin up.


- Chunk

Heard a take that Seattle is ready to rebuild as they have 9 picks in the top 2 rounds in the next 3 years.

Greedy bastid KFC has 12 picks in the top 2 rounds in the next 3 years.

Holy crap. Someone hold Powers back. Safonov's contract is over and he is expected to be to leave AK Bars for North America. Guess we need to watch for an ELC??
- Chunk

There was a rumor about Safonov coming over a few weeks ago. Seems like it would be now or never.

https://www.eliteprospect...layer/512834/ilya-safonov

23 yo, 6-4, 205, LC. Good size, good numbers in regular season last 3 years, pretty decent in playoffs/international. Guess it would be a 2 year contract due to his age. Wonder if he would be expecting to be in the NHL right away.

I've always said he's not good enough to play 25 minutes a game

TBs defense looks horrible

The infamous Gaudette ties the game in Toronto, real quiet in that arena right now
- BetweenTheDots

A lesson on not to trade away your top young D man....................

They are where the Hawks were, first round out hell.

Will they be smart, trade off their tradeable players and start their rebuild??

They aren't going to make a move allowing them to win more cups. Stamkos got away for nothing, (though they did get glorious cap space) Hawks waited too long, lets see what Tampa does.

Did the broadcast for the Panthers Lighting game just blame the Hawks for Jones struggles because he played heavy big minutes for the Hawks for many years? It was too much for him.
- bhawks2241

Or maybe he's just not that good.

Look, mate (meaning the Panthers guy), you pay a guy 9.5 mil per year as a cap hit, you bring him in as your number 1 defenseman (after all it was more than they'd ever paid anyone in that position), you give that guy a NMC (that was in effect), you give the guy an A -- but um ... yeh you expect that guy to be playing big minutes, and better than that- to be playing them, effectively.

Ok - so he didn't - that fail is on the team that traded for the guy (meaning the Hawks when they traded for the guy from Columbus) ... dude's struggling ... frankly, because the dude isn't nearly as good as his cap hit (even his reduced cap hit).

Thanks for the goalie and a 1st round draft choice - it was worth 2.5 mil for the what- 5 seasons.

Also some unsolicited advice to the Florida Panthers ... better not let Ekblad get away ... as Jones is not a replacement. He's also not a leader --- can't believe those guys believed any of that ... but whatever ... there's one born every minute. Even when all evidence was out there -that contradicted their own opinions.

Or maybe he's just not that good.

Look, mate (meaning the Panthers guy), you pay a guy 9.5 mil per year as a cap hit, you bring him in as your number 1 defenseman (after all it was more than they'd ever paid anyone in that position), you give that guy a NMC (that was in effect), you give the guy an A -- but um ... yeh you expect that guy to be playing big minutes, and better than that- to be playing them, effectively.

Ok - so he didn't - that fail is on the team that traded for the guy (meaning the Hawks when they traded for the guy from Columbus) ... dude's struggling ... frankly, because the dude isn't nearly as good as his cap hit (even his reduced cap hit).

Thanks for the goalie and a 1st round draft choice - it was worth 2.5 mil for the what- 5 seasons.

Also some unsolicited advice to the Florida Panthers ... better not let Ekblad get away ... as Jones is not a replacement. He's also not a leader --- can't believe those guys believed any of that ... but whatever ... there's one born every minute. Even when all evidence was out there -that contradicted their own opinions.
- SC116

If it comes to signing Ekblad or Bennett, IMO he signs Bennet, like last year when he chose to sign Reinhardt over Montour. He will just go pluck a cheaper replacement like a Savard or Jokiarihu in free agency as a plug and play.

Look at Zito's history. He has brought in Montour, Forsling, Ekman-Larson, Kulikov, Shmitt etc. off the scrap heap and somehow their careers were resurrected.

Not that we're not having a total blast running up the number of pages, but has anyone heard anything regarding a new Hawks writer? Kinda crazy that one of the highest engagement blogs can't get a writer.

I don't know, i think if things come easier for players it's harder for them to teach it to others.

Toews and Kane knew how to win when they had a talented team around them, not so much when the team got old and thin.
- BetweenTheDots

I believe this to be true most of the time.