Theo Fox: Known Quantity A look at the Blackhawks decision to protect David Kampf in the expansion draft and why that was a wise decision.

Plus, brief updates on the 2021-22 preseason and regular season schedules.

Thank you, Theo.
I too am ok with protecting Kampf for the reasons you have stated.
Am looking forward to seeing how the expansion draft plays out.

5 years from now, we'll be joking about "remember when the board was stressing over Adam Gaudette

Thanks Theo - If people are complaining that Kampf doesn't score enough, then there are other issues with the roster. Players like Kampf are needed to win championships, so it was the correct move to protect him.

5 years from now, we'll be joking about "remember when the board was stressing over Adam Gaudette
- vabeachbear

After he signs with the HockeyAllsvenskan. The 2nd level league in Sweden.

Theo,

Will you list your top four choices assumig Chicago retains their first round choice

Ironically some fans have cried how we do not draft or have a power forward whom is a load to handle. Sillinger might be the player to change that complaint. But he doesn't skate as well as we want to see.

My prediction is that Wise will be a surprise addition after his one season at Ohio State.

5 years from now, we'll be joking about "remember when the board was stressing over Adam Gaudette

vabeachbear

It will be a JC fail because of his defensive system.

Theo,

Will you list your top four choices assumig Chicago retains their first round choice

Ironically some fans have cried how we do not draft or have a power forward whom is a load to handle. Sillinger might be the player to change that complaint. But he doesn't skate as well as we want to see.

My prediction is that Wise will be a surprise addition after his one season at Ohio State.
- jhawk59

Cole Sillinger may be available at 11/12 when the Hawks pick. He checks a lot of boxes (he's not a goalie), decent size, decent shot, responsible in both ends but, there is a question that his skating may be below par.

I know that some on here have said skating can be improved. I thought I'd take a look at the pre-draft scouting reports of Dylan Strome since a lot of us question his skating now. Many reports stated that he has trouble keeping up in an increasingly fast game.

Maybe Sillinger can improve his skating. Maybe there are enough pluses in his game that how he skates won't be a hindrance. I don't know. But if a flaw is identified in the scouting report I'd question whether something like that can be fixed.

At pick 11/12 I don't think the Hawks get a guy who steps right in. It reads that aside for the top 2/3 picks all them seem to have some issue with their skating.

I'll go with the "no goalie in the 1st round" crowd but I'm really not sure anyone available at the Hawks pick floats my boat.

Well if that Andy Strickland guy report is true Seattle will select Z. So all these keystrokes about the merits of Gaudette versus Kampf are wasted.

Maybe the discussion should turn to the make up of the Hawks defense next season. With both Keith and Z out of the picture the only remaining veteran LD is deHaan. I assume he'll be on the team to begin the season and likely (if healthy) be traded at the TDL with salary retained for a 3rd or 4th round pick.

Hawks probably have to obtain a veteran LD who could slot into the 1st pair. I wouldn't mind UFA RD Larsson signed for a few years too. Maybe that would make Murphy expendable at the TDL too.

Well if that Andy Strickland guy report is true Seattle will select Z. So all these keystrokes about the merits of Gaudette versus Kampf are wasted.

Maybe the discussion should turn to the make up of the Hawks defense next season. With both Keith and Z out of the picture the only remaining veteran LD is deHaan. I assume he'll be on the team to begin the season and likely (if healthy) be traded at the TDL with salary retained for a 3rd or 4th round pick.

Hawks probably have to obtain a veteran LD who could slot into the 1st pair. I wouldn't mind UFA RD Larsson signed for a few years too. Maybe that would make Murphy expendable at the TDL too.
- boilermaker100

I suspect Murph will be signing a new deal soon.

Theo,

Will you list your top four choices assumig Chicago retains their first round choice

Ironically some fans have cried how we do not draft or have a power forward whom is a load to handle. Sillinger might be the player to change that complaint. But he doesn't skate as well as we want to see.

My prediction is that Wise will be a surprise addition after his one season at Ohio State.
- jhawk59

Sillinger looks like a man, acts like a man and plays like a man. Kid is hungry, strong, wants the puck, wants to haul the thing like a wrecking ball to a scoring area and fire. Kid has the puck with 3 guys around him and out of that scrum comes a screaming lazer that knocks goalies a bit of balance if it hits them high cuz he caught him flat footed. Nobody expects a sizzling bowling ball to come at them when the shooter has no room to get it off but Sillinger does.

Theo gave him a comp of Jamie Benn and I've read that too and I love that comparison. I likened him to TJ Oshie with more power. ........ This kid is not a bad skater at all. Nothing prevents him from getting to where he needs to be it's just his form getting there the experts don't like. I don't care how a sprinter looks running a 4.3 40 I just look at his time. Some do it all knees and elbows head flailing some do it smooth as silk but they both get there.

Hell the kid may bust. Just never know predicting an 18 yr old kid but this kid is fun to think about as a 25 yr old NHLer. Conversely looking back 10 yrs from now Sillinger may be a top 5 NHLer out of this draft. Kid has that look.

Sillinger looks like a man, acts like a man and plays like a man. Kid is hungry, strong, wants the puck, wants to haul the thing like a wrecking ball to a scoring area and fire. Kid has the puck with 3 guys around him and out of that scrum comes a screaming lazer that knocks goalies a bit of balance if it hits them high cuz he caught him flat footed. Nobody expects a sizzling bowling ball to come at them when the shooter has no room to get it off but Sillinger does.

Theo gave him a comp of Jamie Benn and I've read that too and I love that comparison. I likened him to TJ Oshie with more power. ........ This kid is not a bad skater at all. Nothing prevents him from getting to where he needs to be it's just his form getting there the experts don't like. I don't care how a sprinter looks running a 4.3 40 I just look at his time. Some do it all knees and elbows head flailing some do it smooth as silk but they both get there.

Hell the kid may bust. Just never know predicting an 18 yr old kid but this kid is fun to think about as a 25 yr old NHLer. Conversely looking back 10 yrs from now Sillinger may be a top 5 NHLer out of this draft. Kid has that look.
- Mr Ricochet

Well that's certainly an optimistic report on him.

If his skating is just "awkward" and doesn't prevent him from getting done what needs to get done then good.

I remember Steve Larmer always looking like he was skating in mud but he got there and got thinks done. Larmer was always the guy you wanted out there in a tight game or critical point in the game.

Cole Sillinger may be available at 11/12 when the Hawks pick. He checks a lot of boxes (he's not a goalie), decent size, decent shot, responsible in both ends but, there is a question that his skating may be below par.

I know that some on here have said skating can be improved. I thought I'd take a look at the pre-draft scouting reports of Dylan Strome since a lot of us question his skating now. Many reports stated that he has trouble keeping up in an increasingly fast game.

Maybe Sillinger can improve his skating. Maybe there are enough pluses in his game that how he skates won't be a hindrance. I don't know. But if a flaw is identified in the scouting report I'd question whether something like that can be fixed.

At pick 11/12 I don't think the Hawks get a guy who steps right in. It reads that aside for the top 2/3 picks all them seem to have some issue with their skating.

I'll go with the "no goalie in the 1st round" crowd but I'm really not sure anyone available at the Hawks pick floats my boat.
- Rota's Rooter

I wouldn't have an issue with Strome's skating as much if he weighed 230 instead of 200 wet so he could park his ass below the blue line or infront of the net and provide some value there.

I think as a player at that point you have to be smart and if you're not going to be fast (though i thought his skating got better before he hurt his ankle) you should at least be strong. At 19 putting on a bunch of weight maybe not so easy but approaching 25 there should be a bit more lead in his ass.

The vision and skill is there but some onus should be on the player at this point to figure himself out even if he's fallen out of favor with the org. Pitter patter.

Well that's certainly an optimistic report on him.

If his skating is just "awkward" and doesn't prevent him from getting done what needs to get done then good.

I remember Steve Larmer always looking like he was skating in mud but he got there and got thinks done. Larmer was always the guy you wanted out there in a tight game or critical point in the game.
- Rota's Rooter

The athletes at that point were of a quality where someone like Savard, who was tiny but an outstanding skater, could rip a half a pack of smokes during the game and still run circles around everyone.

I wouldn't have an issue with Strome's skating as much if he weighed 230 instead of 200 wet so he could park his ass below the blue line or infront of the net and provide some value there.

I think as a player at that point you have to be smart and if you're not going to be fast (though i thought his skating got better before he hurt his ankle) you should at least be strong. At 19 putting on a bunch of weight maybe not so easy but approaching 25 there should be a bit more lead in his ass.

The vision and skill is there but some onus should be on the player at this point to figure himself out even if he's fallen out of favor with the org. Pitter patter.
- fattybeef

I agree with this statement about Strome. It's surprising he was surprised with being a healthy scratch? I don't blame the Hawks for hoping this kid is a late bloomer he definitely has hockey skills, hopefully he's found some urgency to improve his off season workouts to be a quicker and tougher player on the ice

The athletes at that point were of a quality where someone like Savard, who was tiny but an outstanding skater, could rip a half a pack of smokes during the game and still run circles around everyone.
- fattybeef

I remember Savard being a smoker during his playing days. I'm sure there were many. Wasn't "Le Démon Blond", Guy Lafleur a smoker too?

Boy, it's hard to even conceive of player doing that now.

I remember Savard being a smoker during his playing days. I'm sure there were many. Wasn't "Le Démon Blond", Guy Lafleur a smoker too?

Boy, it's hard to even conceive any person doing that now.
- Rota's Rooter

Fixed.

I can’t believe anyone still smokes period.

I wouldn't have an issue with Strome's skating as much if he weighed 230 instead of 200 wet so he could park his ass below the blue line or infront of the net and provide some value there.

I think as a player at that point you have to be smart and if you're not going to be fast (though i thought his skating got better before he hurt his ankle) you should at least be strong. At 19 putting on a bunch of weight maybe not so easy but approaching 25 there should be a bit more lead in his ass.

The vision and skill is there but some onus should be on the player at this point to figure himself out even if he's fallen out of favor with the org. Pitter patter.
- fattybeef

I've been saying for two years "I can't believe Strome hasn't figured out he needs to get stronger - he's not Gretzky." I saw him try very hard at a Carolina game and simply get outmuscled to the puck for 3 periods. He could be a different player if he was stronger but "so far so/no good."

The protected list has two aspects. Who is more valuable to the Hawks and who is more valuable to the Kraken. If I am the Kraken I think Zadorov can be flipped for a 3rd round pick now. DeHaan if he stays health could play some decent defense and be flipped at the TDL. Kampf could be a solid 4th line no offense center with PK and faceoff capabilities. Gaudette is more of a wild card that could be a productive middle six forward.

The unprotected lists league wide have more bottom 6 players and wild cards than 2nd pairing dmen. However deHaan and Zadorov have greater cap hits. So it is tough to handicap who the Kraken take. For cap reasons I have to think the Hawks hope to lose a dman.

5 years from now, we'll be joking about "remember when the board was stressing over Adam Gaudette
- vabeachbear

Or asking I wonder whatever happened to Kampf?

Well if that Andy Strickland guy report is true Seattle will select Z. So all these keystrokes about the merits of Gaudette versus Kampf are wasted.

Maybe the discussion should turn to the make up of the Hawks defense next season. With both Keith and Z out of the picture the only remaining veteran LD is deHaan. I assume he'll be on the team to begin the season and likely (if healthy) be traded at the TDL with salary retained for a 3rd or 4th round pick.

Hawks probably have to obtain a veteran LD who could slot into the 1st pair. I wouldn't mind UFA RD Larsson signed for a few years too. Maybe that would make Murphy expendable at the TDL too.
- boilermaker100

I would not automatically say Z is gone. (Unfortunately)

I wouldn't have an issue with Strome's skating as much if he weighed 230 instead of 200 wet so he could park his ass below the blue line or infront of the net and provide some value there.

I think as a player at that point you have to be smart and if you're not going to be fast (though i thought his skating got better before he hurt his ankle) you should at least be strong. At 19 putting on a bunch of weight maybe not so easy but approaching 25 there should be a bit more lead in his ass.

The vision and skill is there but some onus should be on the player at this point to figure himself out even if he's fallen out of favor with the org. Pitter patter.
- fattybeef

And is it Strome’s skating or his motor that is the issue. For me it is his motor I see him coasting or standing way too often.

Theo,

Will you list your top four choices assumig Chicago retains their first round choice

Ironically some fans have cried how we do not draft or have a power forward whom is a load to handle. Sillinger might be the player to change that complaint. But he doesn't skate as well as we want to see.

My prediction is that Wise will be a surprise addition after his one season at Ohio State.
- jhawk59

In a final draft preview blog on Friday morning, I'll have my final prediction for the Hawks 1st round pick. My latest selection has been Lucius but will say I'm starting to lean back toward who I had pegged from the start: Sillinger.

Ricochet had a great post about Sillinger's skating. I would agree with how he characterized it: Sillinger may not have perfect technique but he gets the job done. His assets make up for a shortcoming like this.

I also agree on Wise being a surprise prospect to rise from the ashes. Finish his NCAA career then spend 2 years in the AHL before knocking on the NHL door.

Well if that Andy Strickland guy report is true Seattle will select Z. So all these keystrokes about the merits of Gaudette versus Kampf are wasted.

Maybe the discussion should turn to the make up of the Hawks defense next season. With both Keith and Z out of the picture the only remaining veteran LD is deHaan. I assume he'll be on the team to begin the season and likely (if healthy) be traded at the TDL with salary retained for a 3rd or 4th round pick.

Hawks probably have to obtain a veteran LD who could slot into the 1st pair. I wouldn't mind UFA RD Larsson signed for a few years too. Maybe that would make Murphy expendable at the TDL too.
- boilermaker100

You can say wasted keystrokes about countless topics.

To 2 of your points, I suspect Bowman makes a big trade, Seth Jones or not, & I also suspect Murphy gets a new deal. Personally, he earned it.

You can say wasted keystrokes about countless topics.

To 2 of your points, I suspect Bowman makes a big trade, Seth Jones or not, & I also suspect Murphy gets a new deal. Personally, he earned it.
- I Am The Breadman

Involving Kampf? Gaudette?