OT: Blackhawks Draft / Rebuild

[GRADEN]

I’d like to point out that 2023 draft already has 2 franchise players and at least 4-5 all star type prospects after that

1. C Bedard
2. RW Michkov

3. C Fantilli
4. RW Benson
5. C Ritchie
6. C Dvorsky

7. C Barlow
8. LW Haltutenn
9. C Yager

Those 9 really look like a legit group of game changers

Honestly I know Bedard and Michkov (not that different) are the prizes but 3-6 even up to 9 will offer the Hawks a supreme prize of a prospect

If we end up with Dvorsky or Yager it will still be the best prospect we have by miles

[Mbrahv0528]

Kane to Aves if it were me

Convince him it’s then a 50% cup move and he’d do it

Alex Newhook, 2023 1st (30s) and some filler and pay 1/2 of salary (5.25) and call it a day

This works:

Jack Johnson (then buyout)
Alex Newhook
2023 1st
2024 3rd

Patrick Kane (5.25)
Riley Stillman

Kane needs and should retire as a Blackhawk.

Sent from my SM-F711U using RealGM mobile app

[TheSuzerain]

What's the max you can retain on a contract (e.g. Kane's contract) to make it more appealing as a trade asset?

[GRADEN]

The max is 50% in 1st year

And you are wrong on keep and retire…. I know he wanted that but what for? This team is now a 60pt team and without Kane a 45-50pt team. I know he wants the all time hawks records and 1 team etc…. But Davidson will not extend him at 9-10 per tip retirement.

It’s sentimental short sidedness. Get assets / rebuild.

Here is some perspective btw;

This really puts the dealings into view


Full deal:

Traded away:
LW Alex DeBrincat
C Kirby Dach
RW Brandon Hagel
LW Alex Nylander
2022 2nd (38th)
2022 3rd (94th)

Received:
2022 1st (7th - D Korchinski)
2022 1st (13th - C Nazar)
2022 1st (25th - D Rinzel)
2022 2nd (39th - C Ludwinski)
2022 3rd (66th - LW Hayes)
2023 1st (Tampa Bay)
2024 1st (Tampa Bay)
2023 3rd
2024 3rd
G Petr Mrazek
LW Taylor Raddysh
RW Boris Katchouk
LW-C Sam Lafferty

If you had a GM say to you I’ll give you:

5 1sts and 2 3rds for DeBrincat, Hagel, and Dach…. would you do it? Because that’s basically the deal here.

[GRADEN]

Was thinking too

Aves have an albatross contract in Sami Girard… has 5x5 left and is hurt

If this deal was on the table I’d do it:

C Newhook, D Girard, RW Sampo Ranta, 2023 1st, 2024 2nd, 2025 1st

For Kane (5.25) and Kalynuk

That’s the deal I’d do. Get in a ready to go top 2C, a middle 6 wing prospect, a younger D, and 3 picks in that 25-60 range.

[robert76]

Hearing Kane meeting with team - may want out

He would choose the team / teams he excepts

Rangers / Aves at the top
Sabres / Islanders / Leafs / Kings perhaps

Have to think Rangers and Aves here

Rangers package
Kappo Kakko, 2023 1st, D prospect Matthew Robertson, D Ryan Lindgren, and the IR 1.6 they have

For Kane on 50% 5.25

Aves easier deal: D Jack Johnson, C Alex Newhook, 2023 1st, 2024 2nd (for Johnson cap) prospect filler

Kane at 5.25

Look these are the fair deals and Newhook is a future captain so I’m all in for Aves deal

Are you sure you don't mean Erik Johnson? If I remember correctly, Jack Johnson is an UFA.

[thedarkstark]

would love to see Kane and Breadman reunited. As long as we get a top prospect an unprotected 1st, and another asset (3rd rounder?) I think we should make a deal.

If Kane wants to stay you try to honor his wishes but he'd have to probably take a pretty big discount next season.

[GRADEN]

Yes sorry Erik - hard to keep them straight 1/6 left Johnson and not Banana Pancakes Johnson


And on que there is Freidman bringing up Aves talk again.

Look it makes too much sense:

#1 Kane gets to play with champs with a legit shot at winning 1-2-maybe 3 more in the next 5-6 years. That’s how stacked and young the roster is. I’d give them a 45-50% chance verses the field next season with Kane .

#2 Hawks can help them with salary and with fitting Kane in on any deal

#3 They have a prospect that is legit. No they won’t give Byram … he is going to be a top tier D for a long time. However Newhook would be the centerpiece here and I know he’d be a 60pt center in year 1 for us. Add in a late 2023 1st and I’m good. If they did a Erik Johnson at 6 and Newhook with 50% Kane they’d even be saving almost 2m which to them would be massive given they just paid VN way too much.

It’s a legit thing. Make this happen.

I don’t want Kakko or Sabres rejects.

Btw if Kane did go to Sabres then they would want to extend and I wonder if they would just be like stay til retire whatever the price… and he did like 6/68 or something ridiculous

[GRADEN]

On 1st day of prospect camp:

Kids look faster than normal. I think Ludwinski stood out. Has size, looks mean, and can skate. I think he looks like a solid middle 6 center. Maybe a PK guy and FO center that checks and grits out some points in that .3-.4 per game.

So the QOs came. Umm wow, goodbye EVERYONE

Strome, Kubalik, Altybarmakian, Morrison all gone

Only Caleb and Kurashev got retained

Connelly and Borgstrom cut and buyouts…. I mean for nothing…

1 more day and madness comes. I expect Gaudreau to get 10m over 7 from Devils. Philly may even go higher 75m?

Expect hawks to go after 1 or 2 year low money deals with average vets or non qualified former higher picks and that’s it.

Remember it’s tanking season so 45-55pts and that’s it.

Btw as I’ve mentioned it’s a draft that’s not just Bedard - Michkov…. ZACH BENSON was just called “Patrick Kane” type of impact player by Button. I’m high on him too would even take him above Fantilli

[robert76]

Yes sorry Erik - hard to keep them straight 1/6 left Johnson and not Banana Pancakes Johnson


And on que there is Freidman bringing up Aves talk again.

Look it makes too much sense:

#1 Kane gets to play with champs with a legit shot at winning 1-2-maybe 3 more in the next 5-6 years. That’s how stacked and young the roster is. I’d give them a 45-50% chance verses the field next season with Kane .

#2 Hawks can help them with salary and with fitting Kane in on any deal

#3 They have a prospect that is legit. No they won’t give Byram … he is going to be a top tier D for a long time. However Newhook would be the centerpiece here and I know he’d be a 60pt center in year 1 for us. Add in a late 2023 1st and I’m good. If they did a Erik Johnson at 6 and Newhook with 50% Kane they’d even be saving almost 2m which to them would be massive given they just paid VN way too much.

It’s a legit thing. Make this happen.

I don’t want Kakko or Sabres rejects.

Btw if Kane did go to Sabres then they would want to extend and I wonder if they would just be like stay til retire whatever the price… and he did like 6/68 or something ridiculous

To be honest, I don't see it. The Avs prospect cupboard is pretty barren and they basically didn't have a pick this year. So I don't see them ready to lose Newhook and a 1st for an aging Kane. I think they'll turn to free agency to replace Kadri and (probably) Burakovski and they'll trust the growth of Newhook and Ben Meyers.
Also, EJ is not gonna leave this year. He'll probably retire after this season or play for a much cheaper contract, to end his career as an Av.
Then again, I'm not a GM.

[GRADEN]

Sakic is in the business of winning cups. They just got 1 and trading in Newhook for Kane would increase those odds for another one. It’s as simple as that for Sakic.

Btw Kane aging? His game is ripe to play until he is 38-40 and still at a high level. He potentially could score another 400 points to be honest and finish with close to 1500.

Selling winning for potentials gets GMs fired. Win and win now.

Aves have NMK / Gabe / Miko/ Makar / Toews / Byram / Neus / Bura on and on… add Kane now and take away none of that. Who wouldn’t do that for another cup

[GRADEN]

Ok so big update… tons happened

So Strome / Kubalik gone

Signings:

C-W Andreas Athansiou 1x3m
LW Max Domi 1x3m
C Colin Blackwell 2x1.2m
G Alex Stalock 1x750k
C-W Dylan Sikura 2way
C-W Like Philp 2 way
C-W Brett Seney 2 way

Camp happening… Nazar and Korchinski look good and fast as well as D Vlasic looking “like a pro” says a lot of media.

Slaggert, camp invite Serpa, D Kaiser, RW Dach all standing out

Hawks say Goalie tandem set with Mrazek - Stalock. Soderblum - Stauber will be Rockford tandem. Commesso back for 1 year at BU.

And then the really big news: Kane will not be traded now and will revisit this at the deadline… to see “what we are working with”

Athansiou is the big signing here… he will have tons of TOI with the big boys and could be .8-.9ppg I’d guess which will give him great value at deadline.

If I had to guess I’d say he is like a 14-23-37 in. 45gms before getting a late 1st return from a Rangers type of team. Or maybe a 2nd and 3rd return.

Domi is a nut. He will likely be a 22pt-48gm trade for a 3rd.

Either way all the moves are fine.

[GRADEN]

Just watched full scrimmage at prospect camp

Red won 4-3 on last second goal by Serpa. White won shootout on Korchinski goal.

Watched every second and have lots of thoughts:

1. They need to sign camp invite Joseph Serpa asap! He played in OHL last year and really would be an amazing addition in Rockford.

2. I had 2 tiers of players that played really well:

1st Tier (guys that were clearly ready to compete) Serpa, Slaggert, Vlasic, Juntorp, Kaiser, Dach, and Thompson

2nd Tier (had great moments but a few missteps too) Roos, Commesso, Nazar, and Allan

Everyone else id say had a little more missteps versus “pro” moments

3. Nils Juntorp looks LEGIT. Definitely a skilled offensive wing that looks way better than his draft position rd 6 p 27

4. Colton Dach is mean. He and Nolan Allan are big and physical… not sure how skilled but they use their physical play to grit in goals and make stops.

5. Alex Vlasic is 6’5.5 and 211 wow…. And is a defensive dman that stays his ground

6. Nazar makes all the correct passes but not good in faceoffs

7. Slaggert is super aggressive… reminds me of Entwistle a little bit in terms of projection as a possible bottom 6 hustle player

8. Wyatt Kaiser can skate in tight corners.

9. Commesso is not athletic but he is very very sound in position at all times

10. Finally, noticeable size and speed differences at this camp over others…

Davidson, sign Serpa asap to get with Rockford!

[GRADEN]

Many reports …. A couple teams trying to clear space to sign Kadri.

That’s where the hawks should come in. If there is a 2023 2nd for taking 5-6m we should jump all over it.

Predictions for the 3 firsts:

Nazar - going to play 2 years at Michigan and then I guess a little time in Rockford before coming up - 20 yo

Korchinski I think should play all next year back with Seattle and then I think even another year as at 19 he can’t play in Rockford so then time in Rockford before before being a late season call up - 21yo

Rinzel has a long road… ushl then 3 seasons Minnesota then 1 year Rockford - 23yo

A player like Ludwinski or Greene or Thompson are likely to get quicker looks

[Michael Jackson]

C'mon Eddie O is gone now? Man that hurts

[molepharmer]

C'mon Eddie O is gone now? Man that hurts

Gonna miss him, especially considering the current bad cast of announcers the Hawks had manning the booth last year. Hopefully Hawks will find somebody good to do the color now. Guess with Foley's retirement and all the new faces in the organization and on the ice, Eddy felt now was as good as time as any to move on and join his brother in Seattle.

[Michael Jackson]

C'mon Eddie O is gone now? Man that hurts

Gonna miss him, especially considering the current bad cast of announcers the Hawks had manning the booth last year. Hopefully Hawks will find somebody good to do the color now. Guess with Foley's retirement and all the new faces in the organization and on the ice, Eddy felt now was as good as time as any to move on and join his brother in Seattle.

No it surely is a good time for him to make the change as this is a complete rebuild and if you were going to do it from his perspective this is as good of a time as any to pull the band aid off. For the Hawks it sucks because it gives fans even less reason to tune in this year but that was the route it was going anyway so maybe better to find the replacement now than in a couple years.

[GRADEN]

Yep pretty ridiculous play out here…

So reports are he got a 5yr pretty decent deal from hawks but it was only guaranteed for first 2 years and Kraken stepped in and gave full guarantee 5 yr with more money and just blew it out of the realm of saying no.

There is a reason here…. It’s because the hawks tv / radio will change in 2 years and they are likely to create their own brand.

Now look I love Edzo and his insight…. I just don’t know if he was going to want to stick through this…. Remember he came on 16 years ago right when it got good. Next 3 years will be 45-55-70pt win range.

I like Vosters, I like Cohen, I like Cheli daughter, I wish Kendall would do it but she enjoys the coaching…. Maybe Sharpie, Burr, Steeger all step in for some air time… but make no mistake more changes coming.

Also Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk linked to that terrible story from Canada now smh. You can google.


On news on ice… a lot of analysts/ media seem to see it like I do: Vlasic will and should make the Blackhawks.

Also just reading between the lines it seems Penguins and Hawks maybe were talking Murphy during draft…. Something like Murphy and a 3rd for pick 21… not sure what fell apart but would have been nice

[waffle]

don't think they got enough for 'cat but otherwise I think they did pretty well on draft night

Of course drafting is a crap shoot. Let's hope the new brain trust has a clue

Want Kane to retire a Hawk but TBD. I could see some team needing exactly what he provides and that could force the Hawks hand

HUGE Toews fan but man he was bad for most of last year. Towards the end looked like himself. No idea what his worth is but he sure sounds like he would waive is NTC

[GRADEN]

Kane is amazing, would love for him to retire a Hawk as all time leader…. So would he. Yet, the reality is this is his final contract year and he is still a 9.5-10m player. That is not in the current state of things type of move.

His value won’t be the same at say 36 etc….

If you could get 1 truly legit asset for a Kane trade, you do it. That’s Newhook, that’s Lafreinere (no shot), that’s 2 1sts etc…

On Toews…. Look his F bombs are over under 100 every night at this point and he doesn’t have that elite 2 way game anymore… total
Understandable too. His value is mid round pick and we take half to we include decent prospect for someone to take him.

Murphy is really the only decent chip we have after Kane. Contending team at deadline maybe would part with a 1st and that would be amazing

Notes:

Rockford adding in some proven AHL players: D Adam Clendening and RW David Gust…. Both will be top 4 / top 6 players. Awesome moves and really sets up Rockford to be a playoff team. This is THEE make or break year for Evan Barratt too….