Sure the Hawks would but, I think his "prime" was 7-8 years ago.

Now that being said, he would probably be solidly in the top 4 of what we currently have on the Hawks. I just think he'll want too much for too long and in 3-4 years the Hawks will wonder what they do with him.
- Rota's Rooter

Was thinking more in terms of accrued knowledge over time. Takes awhile for D-men to "get it" and some never do. Need someone solid game in and game out. Agree with you, that if he's asking for an absolute boatload of money, I'll pass, too. But, ending your career in a revamped Chicago, wouldn't be a bad gig.

Wiz, Bowman/Chicago have a tendency to buck draft projections and pick guys who could be special players instead of going the "safe" route, ie: Boqvist ahead of Dobson or Bouchard. Do you have a real idea what Chicago may do in this draft? do they go safe like say Cozens or go for the Russian and risk him not leaving the KHL etc.?
- paulr

I dunno if Boqvist over Bouchard or Dobson was a reach...they took the most dynamic offensive scoring moving defender over the big kid Dobson who was clearly gonna eventually be big and handle minutes and play and Bouchard who was positional smart but not some fireball and a fine set up guy.

I am the guy who is sitting with the draft age players and their families at the UC and so happy I am home in my rink, my draft, already saddened by the shocking Panarin and Hammer departures...and not happy at all with the return on each, but willing to understand the Cap aspect to it all, but still smarting......I watch the draft board starts drying up and knew that Ryan Poeling was a guy that HAD to be on their radar, get picked...but still liking Bowers Kole Lind, and the Russian klim Kostin, and the two defenders big Nicolas Hague and Conor Timmins....
can you imagine my disappointment when they take Jokiharju, a guy I had #49 b/c he never stood out, seemed so light and "non-defensive aka finesse" and they select him?

Sure wasn't on my plan.
I understand the changing game, but I also understand that you can't have all six footers back there and this WAS all about trying to find dynamic push attackers b/c they know that IS THE FUTURE OF THE GAME?

And I have no flies on the wall planted for their last post draft strategy meeting...I wish I did.

(Not like that draft in Nashville, where we were roaming the terrace area when all the teams were in their day before final rap up and Calgary's Darryl Sutterthought we were listening b/c we peeped through the door and mighta got wind they're taking Phaneuf...(or maybe it was when I verbalizing engaged him, saying. I know you are gonna give the Blackhawks a break and let dion drop to them..." truth.)

I simply cannot get off this idea that will take Byram Bowen, it iOS stuck in my head like a virus...but if that is outlandish think about this: IF in fact there is little separation between all the top prospects except for Hughes, and after the Rangers clearly need a push defender for their future, wouldn't Kaapo Kakko to the hawks by way of Bowen being a surprise number two overall make us all happy?

You have two centres in place in Chicago now and this big Finn adds size on the wing,
and when it is time for Toews to depart, they slide KK over

pleasant dreams

Was thinking more in terms of accrued knowledge over time. Takes awhile for D-men to "get it" and some never do. Need someone solid game in and game out.
- gabriel

Applying this to Byram Bowen: he just needs to get stronger, b/c he is gonna be jumping up into every rush, with no need to fit as a defender other than having speed back in transition to attempt to cover some one, but one his horse as soon as a save or steals made....that is the way the new age NHL defense are tailored-to get man to man shadows but give leeway and new importance in a free styling" Gutafssson. "


Just watch these playoffs and see how not only are the calls on liberties taken lightened but more and more odd man breaks...

I am thoroughly convinced I now have to walk away from thinking on hawks pick, lol!

Applying this to Byram Bowen: he just needs to get stronger, b/c he is gonna be jumping up into every rush, with no need to fit as a defender other than having speed back in transition to attempt to cover some one, but one his horse as soon as a save or steals made....that is the way the new age NHL defense are tailored-to get man to man shadows but give leeway and new importance in a free styling" Gutafssson. "


Just watch these playoffs and see how not only are the calls on liberties taken lightened but more and more odd man breaks...

I am thoroughly convinced I now have to walk away from thinking on hawks pick, lol!
- wiz1901

Walk away from a good old-fashioned adrenaline rush? Nah! Keep it coming.

Those points seem lost one some posters who think Sikura is a write off. Even if he can't score at all he becomes a younger Kruger, a guy who can anchor the 4th line and penalty killing unit. If he can score, as his talent and past suggest, he then becomes a possible tiop 9 player who can be a solid penalty killer and who the coaches can play in most situations.
- paulr

Difference being that Kruger has never had an offensive thought or tendency EVER. I have never seen someone even with wide open lanes, open ice or scoring opportunities pass them up as much as Kruger. Sikura has all the right tendencies and makes the right plays. Once he bags his first, the rest will come easier and he will squeeze the stick a little less.

My guess is he CAN score - he did at NE, he did at Rockford.

I would look at 20+30=50 as typical for him, once he gets a couple going in. His history suggests more assists than goals.
- StLBravesFan

That sounds about right. If Sikura is a 3rd liner, 35-40 points seems doable. If he happens to get time in the top 6, 50 points could be in reach. Agree that he's likely more of an assist machine than a scorer. Those projections are similar to what is achievable for Kahun, too.

Taking and running with what Wiz was talking about regarding the Rangers possibly looking at Byram to help rebuild their poor d-corps - their d-corps isn't very good. They've got Skjei and that's about it. There aren't any minor league d-men that look like they could be top-4, let alone top-2. I don't know who they "own" in the NCAA or Europe so maybe they have some hidden gems - don't know.

But if they are in need of a top-end d-man, maybe we package the #3 and Mitchell to move up and grab Kakko. With Jokiharju, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, and Krys all 1st or 2nd round draft picks - they have value and not all 5 of them will play on the Hawks at the same time - so use one or two of them as trade chips. The only non-negotiable untouchable of those 5 d-men is Boqvist for me. Joki is a year ahead of the others so I would prefer any one or two of the other three be used as trade chips to improve trade leverage.

I understand the rationale in drafting the best player available, but there should be room for context. For a silly example: if the best BPA for 8 straight years is a d-man, do you still draft the BPA and end up with 8 d-men? I think maybe there's some wiggle room in that rule of thumb, especially if there isn't a huge difference in talent and there are other circumstantial factors.

If Patrick Kane were sitting there at #3 and the Hawks needs were top-pairing d-man and top-end center and Byram and Cozens were available too - I would pick Kane because he would be clearly better than the other guys and he proved it with a monster year in the OHL. Podkolzin potential has wowed scouts but he hasn't put up numbers anywhere near what Kane did in London, even after factoring in the different scoring numbers for the various Russian leagues Podkolzin has played in in the past year or two. I would be hesitant to select Podkolzin even if we were certain he would come over and play in N.A. next season because there is more projection of him than actual game proof that he's everything his potential claims he is.
- EbonyRaptor

Don't think of players as people, think of them as assets or commodities. The Hawks don't have to find spots for 8 defensemen they have to build a team of 20 players. It's better to have the best available player for the team or for trading purposes then it is to have a lesser player in the organization. I think you can never go wrong selecting the best player available and if there are two players assessed as having equal ability then you can look at position, size, place of birth or hair colour.

Don't think of players as people, think of them as assets or commodities. The Hawks don't have to find spots for 8 defensemen they have to build a team of 20 players. It's better to have the best available player for the team or for trading purposes then it is to have a lesser player in the organization. I think you can never go wrong selecting the best player available and if there are two players assessed as having equal ability then you can look at position, size, place of birth or hair colour.
- paulr

Witness: the Portland Trailblazers at the 1984 NBA draft.

They already had Clyde Drexler - so, assuming they had their 2 / 3 for the next generation - they didn't go for the BPA (Jordan) but went for Sam Bowie.

Houston taking Olajuwan at #1 is certainly logical and acceptable - the best big man in the draft turned into a HOF player and got them two titles.

But Sam Bowie....

Take the BPA and figure it out.

BPA can always be flipped to another team for a NEED.

Don't think of players as people, think of them as assets or commodities. The Hawks don't have to find spots for 8 defensemen they have to build a team of 20 players. It's better to have the best available player for the team or for trading purposes then it is to have a lesser player in the organization. I think you can never go wrong selecting the best player available and if there are two players assessed as having equal ability then you can look at position, size, place of birth or hair colour.
- paulr

BPA - even with the T&K Window thing? If you believe the T&K Window thing is a real thing, and I believe it is, then the only thing needed is to figure out when the thing ceases to be a thing, i.e. when the T&K Window thing shuts. The thing is, it's probably fair to think the thing lasts at least 3-4 years but it's one of those things that's impossible to know for sure. BPA is a fine thing and usually the best thing to use strategically, but all things considered, I think the T&K Window thing overrides other things like BPA.

Thing about it ... err ... I mean - think about it.

Witness: the Portland Trailblazers at the 1984 NBA draft.

They already had Clyde Drexler - so, assuming they had their 2 / 3 for the next generation - they didn't go for the BPA (Jordan) but went for Sam Bowie.

Houston taking Olajuwan at #1 is certainly logical and acceptable - the best big man in the draft turned into a HOF player and got them two titles.

But Sam Bowie....

Take the BPA and figure it out.
- StLBravesFan

I understand the BPA argument but I think the Bowie/Jordan example is not a good one because Bowie's career never got on track because of injuries ... and obviously because Jordan turned into Jordan making the Bowie pick worse than it was at the time of the draft.

I picture TG lying in a fetal position, thumb in mouth trying to understand how the Great Tampa Lightning may get swept by a rag tag Blue jacket team with an old school coach who lives by the defensive game. It's OK TG we won't give you the gears, OK maybe a little bit but we've all been wrong before .... maybe not this wrong .... but wrong.
- paulr

I am not afforded the luxury of your Ministry of Hockey Blogging job as mandated by the Peoples Republic of Canada. Some of us have to make an honest living. So forgive my absents.

Maybe if I started charging you rent for that space I occupy in your head I could sit and blog all day long.

What am I wrong about? Really, I am as wrong as you and most of the hockey universe who expected this team to win the cup.

Tampa has been disappointing. Ironically, I do recall you picking them as well, but who keeps track of what everyone writes?

Injuries on the blue line, especially Hedman were the teams greatest risk, and clearly that is a problem. But yes, it is much deeper than that. Team went into a tailspin after a bad third period in game 1, where entitlement slapped them in the face.

I know you will rant and rave, like a broken record, on how just nobody understands hockey like you etc...we get it...its probably just part of your job Minister. But as I also pointed out, you could easily see Colorado, Dallas and Stl win the first round along with Vegas, which is not so much a surprise.

Tampa clearly has been let down by its leadership starting with Hedmans half ass play in game 1 and Kucherov selfish actions in game 2.

They finally began playing again in the third period of game 3. If they get that rolling, they have a chance. Contrary to your played out narratives, during the course of the season, Tampa played and won any way the opponent wanted. There was a stretch in Feb and Mar, where they gave up nothing defensively.

While it is a tough hill to climb, they are capable of getting on a roll. Whether that happens remains to be seen.

But hey, thanks again for bringing me up on the board. It is that leadership we need around here come playoff time. And great call on the Bruins sweeping the Leafs...

Its a good thing TB was playoff ready.

Its a good thing TB was playoff ready.
- Elbows15

Damn.... it’s ugly

Wow Jackets off to another great start 2-0.

Damn.... it’s ugly
- DarthKane

Outscored like 15-2 since the 3-0 lead in game 1. Its a curb stomping.

Shambles...confirmed.

Stamkos gives Tampa a glimmer of life.

Stamkos gives Tampa a glimmer of life.
- walleyeb1

May be taken away. Looks like it came out on first look.

May be taken away. Looks like it came out on first look.
- Elbows15

That was the Jackets goal that got called back. Gutsy call by Coop.

That was the Jackets goal that got called back. Gutsy call by Coop.
- walleyeb1

I was referring to the life part of your comment.

i gotta go revive my predraft preview that says The NY Rangers may have 3 #1 picks...if T B wins the Cup

I dunno if Boqvist over Bouchard or Dobson was a reach...they took the most dynamic offensive scoring moving defender over the big kid Dobson who was clearly gonna eventually be big and handle minutes and play and Bouchard who was positional smart but not some fireball and a fine set up guy.

I am the guy who is sitting with the draft age players and their families at the UC and so happy I am home in my rink, my draft, already saddened by the shocking Panarin and Hammer departures...and not happy at all with the return on each, but willing to understand the Cap aspect to it all, but still smarting......I watch the draft board starts drying up and knew that Ryan Poeling was a guy that HAD to be on their radar, get picked...but still liking Bowers Kole Lind, and the Russian klim Kostin, and the two defenders big Nicolas Hague and Conor Timmins....
can you imagine my disappointment when they take Jokiharju, a guy I had #49 b/c he never stood out, seemed so light and "non-defensive aka finesse" and they select him?

Sure wasn't on my plan.
I understand the changing game, but I also understand that you can't have all six footers back there and this WAS all about trying to find dynamic push attackers b/c they know that IS THE FUTURE OF THE GAME?

And I have no flies on the wall planted for their last post draft strategy meeting...I wish I did.

(Not like that draft in Nashville, where we were roaming the terrace area when all the teams were in their day before final rap up and Calgary's Darryl Sutterthought we were listening b/c we peeped through the door and mighta got wind they're taking Phaneuf...(or maybe it was when I verbalizing engaged him, saying. I know you are gonna give the Blackhawks a break and let dion drop to them..." truth.)

I simply cannot get off this idea that will take Byram Bowen, it iOS stuck in my head like a virus...but if that is outlandish think about this: IF in fact there is little separation between all the top prospects except for Hughes, and after the Rangers clearly need a push defender for their future, wouldn't Kaapo Kakko to the hawks by way of Bowen being a surprise number two overall make us all happy?

You have two centres in place in Chicago now and this big Finn adds size on the wing,
and when it is time for Toews to depart, they slide KK over

pleasant dreams


- wiz1901

Wiz,
I am keeping my fingers crossed and praying that what you stated regarding Kappo Is exactly what happens! I just hope Stan doesn’t screw it up if this kid falls right into his lap.

Tampa not going down without a fight.