The whole point is none of these teams were dreadful on purpose and none of them took this long to get into the playoffs and be relevant after they tore things down.
- fattybeef

I forget Fatty, were you for or against a total tear down for the Hawks.

I'm having a near impossible time getting an AHL feed so unless you and I had a much different evaluation on him predraft you see how raw the kid really is. .. Lev has a ways to go, maybe 2 yrs of AHL or more.

IMO, just as Bedard has been for guys like me, there are gonna be a lotta times/games (years?) that watching him develop is gonna be difficult and probably more so cuz playing D in the NHL is 100 times more difficult/crucial than playing forward.

How do you see KK this yr? The 2-3 RKF games I saw this yr the kid is much more poised/unhurried than he was as a 19 yr old thrown to the NHL wolves last yr. ... Are you familiar with OTT Dman Thomas Chabot? Watching KK this yr he reminded me of Chabot.
- Mr Ricochet

KK looks great, at times though he makes some passes in the ozone it's like what are you doing, a big thing both KK and Levshunov both need to keep working on for sure it's passing in the ozone along the blue line. At times they really compromise the team with those passes.

KK looks so much better without the puck playing defense. That first step Levshunov has is incredible at the Rock level his ability to close the gap on a pass looks elite.

Bowman tried to make this team relevant because he knew he was going to be (Beach incident) scrutinized by everyone. He did what you wanted him to do trade away draft picks, sign free agents and it all blew up in the franchises face and guess what set them back. So KD blows it up and does what they should of done 3 years prior and you want to do the samething Bowman did 5-6 years ago.

You say you don't but what's it going to cost to bring in real young talent? It's going to cost a lot and the kids is just beginning to build this team back up.
- BetweenTheDots

No he did not do what I wanted him to do.

I wanted Seabrook traded before he fell apart and got beat up here for suggesting that. I wanted Sharp moved before he started to decline and still had value also got beat up for that. Seeing Panarin traded and not getting any draft capital back was pretty unforgivable. Losing literally every Brandon Saad trade was ridiculous. I wanted nothing to do with Jones. If they were going to do anything they should have signed Hamilton rather than giving up draft capital for Jones.

He also drafted none of the players I wanted him to draft. I wanted Bouchard as he seemed like the natural replacement for Seabrook. And in the other draft I wanted one of the NDP guys either Zegras of Caulfield to eventually replace Patrick Kane.

I constantly criticized the professional scouting and most of the trades during the Bowman regime because it was rubbish. Aside from the Nick Leddy heist.

I want them to add good players who are going to contribute to them building a solid team rather than sitting on prospects and picks and assuming all these guys are gonna work out and that its ok to be bad because in 9 years everything will be great when all these guys achieve their dreams.

This nonsense that Kirby Dach or Boqvist failed because they weren't developed properly has got to stop. They were bad picks and players who had unfortunate injury history and a lack of killer instinct.

And if a RS Dman can play they're gold. Another reason I didn't think KD, or any GM really, could pass on a Levshunov. ..... I'm over the moon on Demidov but understand drafting Lev.
- Mr Ricochet

Korchinski is apparently playing the right side now so that's rather bizarre.

I forget Fatty, were you for or against a total tear down for the Hawks.
- Mr Ricochet

I was for moving assets to acquire draft capital to reload for the long term and tanking for Bedard.

I was not for waiting an eternity for every prospect to work out vs starting to build an actual good hockey team once they knew they had Bedard.

The advantage with Norris, if he is healthy, is that he is a true two way 200ft center who can also score.
- fattybeef

When healthy IMO Norris is a legit #2 NHL centerman on a playoff team. ....... OTT is a great watch by the way if only to see budding superstar Stutzle play hockey. An athlete much like Reichel but the guy can flat out play. Reichel went 18th in the 2020 draft, Stutzle went 3rd in the same draft IIRC.

I was for moving assets to acquire draft capital to reload for the long term and tanking for Bedard.

I was not for waiting an eternity for every prospect to work out vs starting to build an actual good hockey team once they knew they had Bedard.
- fattybeef

So, you're for tearing it down to get a Bedard type and want to add front line free agents and or trade big young pieces/high draft picks for established NHL vets in yr 2 removed from the total tear down?....

We are 1 season and 25 games from the total tear down. Time to win, make the playoffs?

Interested to see if Crevier gets the call today and if Allan sits his 4th game in a row. .... I hope they start spelling Mrzak some. If this guy goes down you'll see just how flawed the Hawk roster is. This guy has been KD's best get and their best player, by far, since the day he signed.

Love to see Soderblom start getting 35% of the starts. Would be no problem for me if Broiset doesn't play a game as a Hawk this yr and Soderblom is this yrs #2 in goal.

Anytime I can see that bowling ball with speed, size and skill, Fantilli, play hockey it's a good day. Be good to see how far Kent Johnson has progressed. ....... Elvis is a bum. He should give the Hawks a softie, maybe 2, and the Hawks have a chance to score 4-5 vs this guy.

There are many ways to build a SC contender, however it is very difficult to build one without a couple of top picks. The hawks have two, and possibly a third this coming year, so they will have met that criteria. They also have the defensive prospects, prospects do not guarantee success, but a real good amount of darts there. They could use more offensive talent, hopefully they get one this coming draft(Martone/Misa?),however to finish off the construction of this team they will need to bring in more offensive talent, either through FA, and or trade. The good news is that it is much less difficult to find top six forwards than top four defensemen. Toronto’s pick and a rostered player or two should be in play for a decent <25 year old forward this offseason.

For sure. Moore I think is a very low floor player. Toughest part with him is do you leave him in the NCAA for a third year to see if some kind of offensive flair sparks or just say f-it he's gonna be a solid north south player and you need those too?
- fattybeef

I am not going to say I know how Hawks management sees managing Ollie Moore after this year. On one hand you can say he needs more time but is college practice and gym time or Rockford playing time in 2025-26?

We all know it is nice to have guys signed before they might get the itch to bolt elsewhere.

The Hawk current situation isn't one where kids most likely shy away from it's allure, b/c they see the veteran roster as one that is leaving, as they probably stay in the fold...

Puis Suter just scored his 9th of the season to tie DeBrusk for the team lead in goals for Vancouver.

I am not going to say I know how Hawks management sees managing Ollie Moore after this year. On one hand you can say he needs more time but is college practice and gym time or Rockford playing time in 2025-26?

We all know it is nice to have guys signed before they might get the itch to bolt elsewhere.

The Hawk current situation isn't one where kids most likely shy away from it's allure, b/c they see the veteran roster as one that is leaving, as they probably stay in the fold...
- wiz1901

Really good post, Wiz. Being able to play 35ish NCAA games against older players with the other time not playing 70-80 games used in the weight room and practice time is a real value to some players and Moore really fits that profile.

Can you see Moore developing into a Blake Coleman/Connor Garland type NHLer? I don't think you'd have to squint too hard to see that being a good possibility and those are the guys any team would love to have.

There are many ways to build a SC contender, however it is very difficult to build one without a couple of top picks. The hawks have two, and possibly a third this coming year, so they will have met that criteria. They also have the defensive prospects, prospects do not guarantee success, but a real good amount of darts there. They could use more offensive talent, hopefully they get one this coming draft(Martone/Misa?),however to finish off the construction of this team they will need to bring in more offensive talent, either through FA, and or trade. The good news is that it is much less difficult to find top six forwards than top four defensemen. Toronto’s pick and a rostered player or two should be in play for a decent <25 year old forward this offseason.
- Angotti

Good post Lou, especially the bolded. I highlight that cuz you are right, if a franchise lands 3 top 5 picks in a 3 yr span and they play to expectation you have a core to compete for a cup every yr for 5-6-7-8 yrs. ........

I'd say if the Hawks end up drafting top 4 they are golden assuming they end up with Hagens, Misa or Martone but especially so if it's a centerman. Maybe even top 5 if McQueen's back isn't a problem and he ends up a Hawk at 4 or 5. IMO one of those guys with Bedard and Lev is a legit cup contending type core without talking about the possibilities of Nazar, Boisvert, Lardis, Rinzel or Spellacy, even Moore, being a part of that inner core.

We're gonna hear more and more about big WHLer Roger McQueen so I looked into his injury history of a bad back. This kid is 6ft 5in and is a really skilled athletic 6ft 5in. A real chance to be an NHL difference power player.

He missed 15 games last yr with a bulging disc and has had to miss games this yr too, again cuz of his back. That's scary but the kid is the kinda player teams are still gonna swing on in or near the top 5.

A good quick read dated Oct 4th to get a good feel for the kid as you see and hear more of him towards the draft. https://www.brandonsun.co...-central-scouting-ranking

Very poor play(s) by Vlasic on that goal against.

Very poor play(s) by Vlasic on that goal against.
- Mr Ricochet

That is something that i don't understand, how it seems it is more important to just get the puck out of the defensive zone instead value placed on possession once you have the puck on your stick, they are all guilty of this.

One of my favorite moves of the Wild was if nothing was there they would reverse direction instead of forcing something up ice and reset.

If you watched the last 5 minutes of the Rangers/Canadiens game, the price for Kakko went up and the price for Kirby Dach went down.

Kirby Dach. 22 games. 1 goal. 7 assists. A minus 18. $3.3mil cap hit for 2 more years. Yikes.

Hawks selected Nazar with pick they got for Dach.
- Ztra

Nazar and Hayes

CLB is 5-1 last 6....... They look like a nice little club so far.

There's Brodie with an unforced error which eventually kills possession in the offensive zone and now we are down 2 to 1. I really miss having players who made barely any unforced errors.

Maybe we need to give our number 1 goalie a rest LR?

There's Brodie with an unforced error which eventually kills possession in the offensive zone and now we are down 2 to 1. I really miss having players who made barely any unforced errors.
- BetweenTheDots

You can see why KD drafted guys like Boisvert, Vanacker, Spellacy, Savoie and others. So many Hawks players don’t want to get engaged physically and are happy trying to reach in with their sticks trying to keep their body as far away from harm as possible.

You can see why KD drafted guys like Boisvert, Vanacker, Spellacy, Savoie and others. So many Hawks players don’t want to get engaged physically and are happy trying to reach in with their sticks trying to keep their body as far away from harm as possible.
- paulr

Yea there is a lot of that as well. No value on puck possession, forcing passes to guys who are covered. Looked like sh it this 1st period.

That is something that i don't understand, how it seems it is more important to just get the puck out of the defensive zone instead value placed on possession once you have the puck on your stick, they are all guilty of this.

One of my favorite moves of the Wild was if nothing was there they would reverse direction instead of forcing something up ice and reset.
- BetweenTheDots

Dots, your heart rate when you are a Dman and you have the puck on your stick in the crease/low slot is higher than at any other time. Each nano second you you fear it will be taken from you or knocked towards your goalie so you just want the thing away from there, now..

Unless you're one of the few born with an innate ability it takes thousands of NHL reps to become calm and get your head up, if you ever really do... Tough play for Vlasic to make a poor outlet pass/clear from the crease then chase the damn thing and are out of position when his man scores.

Tough play for a young Dman but it cost a goal against.

You can see why KD drafted guys like Boisvert, Vanacker, Spellacy, Savoie and others. So many Hawks players don’t want to get engaged physically and are happy trying to reach in with their sticks trying to keep their body as far away from harm as possible.
- paulr

Too many drive by "puck battlers". Throw Moore into your list of players who love to engage.

Dots, your heart rate when you are a Dman and you have the puck on your stick in the crease/low slot is higher than at any other time. Each nano second you you fear it will be taken from you or knocked towards your goalie so you just want the thing away from there, now..

Unless you're one of the few born with an innate ability it takes thousands of NHL reps to become calm and get your head up, if you ever really do... Tough play for Vlasic to make a poor outlet pass/clear from the crease then chase the damn thing and are out of position when his man scores.

Tough play for a young Dman but it cost a goal against.
- Mr Ricochet

I know Rico it's just frustrating because he was along the boards and i think if they practiced not just getting the puck out of the zone but stressing keeping possession over time they would get better at it.

Vlasic inability to clear the zone or maintain possession is leading to the puck in the back of our net today