Blackhawks Draft Options / Summer Discussion

[GRADEN]

Quick recap of recent news:

- Vosters / Enzo / Cohen for next year (I like it)
- Small deals getting done Reese Johnson, Sam Lafferty etc
- Ice Hogs get swept by Wolves but successful year
- Barry Trotz on market now
- Hawks don’t get too 2, #6 to CBJ

So basically Cole Sillinger, Adam Boqvist, and #6 for Seth Jones…

More importantly now is the Conor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, and Adam Fantilli sweepstakes is still on the table.

We have 5 picks in that 38- 92 range right now so in my view we should get 2 of them as full roster players to have a successful draft.

I’ve done about 3 weeks of research on this draft. I never take others word for a player and watch my own tape and analyze their bio / sizes / stats.

Here is what I’ve seen:

1st ROUND

1. MTL - C Shane Wright
2. TRADE: CBJ trades #6 and #12 to NJD for #2 and #69 and 2023 4th - C Logan Cooley
3. AZC - RW Matt Savoie
4. SEA - RW Juraj Slafkovsky
5. PHI - RW Joakim Kemmel
6. NJD via CBJ (CHI) - D David Jiricek
7. OTT - LW Jonathan Lekkerimaki
8. TRADE: SJS trade #11 and 2023 2nd to DET - D Simon Nemec
9. BUF - C Conor Geekie
10. ANA - LW Cutter Gauthier
11. DET (via SJS) - D Pavel Mintyukov
12. NJD - RW Jimmy Snuggerud
13. NYI - D Kevin Korchinski
14. WPG - RW Isaac Howard
15. VAN - LW Brad Lambert
16. BUF (VGK) - RW Jagger Firkus
17. NSH - RW Danila Yurov
18. DAL - C Noah Ostlund
19. LAK - RW Frank Nazar
20. WAS - LW Liam Ohgren
21. PIT - D Denton Mateychuk
22. EDM - RW Filip Mesar
23. ANA (via BOS) - D Lian Bischel
24. STL - RW Gleb Trikozov
25. TBL - C Jiri Kulich
26. NYR - C Marco Kasper
27. MIN - D Lane Hutson
28. TOR - C David Goyette
29. MTL (via CGY) - D Maveric Lamoureux
30. AZC (via CAL) - D Seamus Casey
31. BUF (via FLP) - C Rutger McGroarty
32. AZC (via COL) - RW Ivan Mirochechenko

2nd ROUND

33. MTL - C Nathan Gaucher
34. AZC - G Hugo Havelid
35. SEA - C Owen Beck
36. AZC (via PHI) - D Ryan Chesley
37. NJD - D Elias Salomonsson
38. CHI - D Tristan Luneau
39. OTT - D Owen Pickering
40. DET - C Luca Del Bel Belluz
41. BUF - RW Jani Nyman
42. ANA - D Calle Odelius
43. AZC (via SJS) - C Danil Zhilkin
44. CBJ - C Jackie Hughes
45. AZC (via NYI) - LW Kirill Dolzhenkov
46. WAS (via WPG) - D Mattias Havelid
47. MIN (via VAN) - D Ty Nelson
48. VGK - C Topi Ronni
49. SEA (via NSH) - C Filip Bystedt
50. DAL - D Noah Warren
51. LAK - LW Alexander Perevalov
52. DET (via WAS) - LW Adam Ingram
53. ANA (via PIT) - G Topias Leinonen
54. MTL (via EDM) - C Cruz Lucious
55. BOS - RW Reid Schaefer
56. WPG (via STL) - RW Jack Devine
57. OTT (via TBL) - RW Maddox Flemming
58. WPG (via NYR) - LW Julian Lutz
59. CHI (via MIN) - C Paul Ludwinski
60. SEA (via TOR) - C Reiger Lorenz
61. CGY - D Christian Kyrou
62. CAR - C Pano Fimis
63. NYI (via COL) - C Matthew Poitras
64. SEA (via FLP) - RW Jordan Dumais
————————————————

3rd ROUND

65. MTL - D Sam Rinzel
66. AZC - D Keaton Dowhanuik
67. SEA - LW Matyas Sapovaliv
68. PHI - D Mats Lindgren
69. NJD - RW Matthew Seminoff
70. CAR (via CHI) - LW Ludwig Persson
71. OTT - C Hunter Haight
72. DET - C Aleksanteri Kaskamaki
73. BUF - RW Devin Kaplan
74. MTL (via ANA) - C Justin Cote
75. SJS - C Jordan Gustafson
76. WPG (via CBJ) - D Otto Salin
77. NYI - D Kirill Kudryavtsev
78. TOR (via WPG) - C Ilya Kvochko
79. VAN - C Max Namestikov
80. CHI (via VGK) - LW Adam Sykora
81. NSH - C Liam Arnsby
82. DAL - RW Ryan Greene
83. NSH (via LAK) - D Simon Forsmark
84. WAS - LW Antonin Verreault
85. LAK (via PIT) - D Elmeri Laakso
86. CHI (via EDM) - G Tyler Brennan
87. OTT (via BOS) - C Fraser Minten
88. STL - C Jake Karabela
89. CBJ (via TBL) - LW Quinn Finley
90. VGK (via NYR) - C Marcus Vidicek
91. MIN - D Tomas Hamara
92. CHI (via TOR) - LW Matthew Ward
93. BOS (via CGY) - C Fabian Wagner
94. MTL (via CAR) - C Jere Lassila
95. COL - G Jan Spunar
96. FLP - C Kasper Lundell




Thoughts? I think that the 38th pick will lead to a player that may just slip through. Luneau would fit that as I think he could go anywhere 20-45 honestly.

[GRADEN]

So a couple of things I noticed when I was grading out the prospects:

#1 is that Matt Savoie is ready to score goals in the NHL… he could be an Alex DeBrincat type of player to be honest…. 5’9-5’10 super quick with great hands and a hard to pick up release point. I think he is just ahead of Kemmel. I highly doubt he goes anywhere outside 3-7 at this point.

Slafkovsky is widely considered a lock to go #2 but honestly I wouldn’t do it. I definitely have Cooley and Savoie ahead and even Jiricek and Kemmel have a higher floor than he does.

On defenseman - only Jiricek and Nemec envoke top pair grades this draft…. With Jiricek being the CLEAR better prospect. Nemec value is squarely in the PP point man and in the offensive blue line skater role. He excels there but dang on D he is a liability.

Jiricek is going to be a top pairing shut down feared guy. No question. I love his overall game. If he gets past 7-8 range I’d be shocked.

Lekkerimaki can score and is fast. As early as 5 but not past 11-12 is what it seems like for him.

Then the wild cards…. Mintyukov is a top 10 pick any day of the week but has that baggage and political stigma right now which has nothing to do with him. On the ice he is an amazing skater and can really dance the line with control… D wise he shows poise.

Now let’s talk about my favorite prospect: D Lane Hutson

Look if Hutson was 6-0 195 he’d be a top 3 pick. He isn’t, he is 5’8 155 on a good day. He also plays D for that size… so no one really knows what will happen. He is going to BU to bulk up and play in the rugged east against BC / Duke etc… likely 2-3 seasons

Let me say this… he absolutely has Makar like skill and is the best skater in the draft… has that extra gear few due and killer hands.

I can’t see a team in that 20-30 range saying there are better players on the board so I highly doubt he gets to 38 but if he gets to the 29-34 range I’d sell say 80, 38 combo to grab him in 2 seconds.

As for the picks I guessed for us…. That’s almost like a dream scenario of players but I don’t think any are wild in terms of their draft range at all.

[GRADEN]

I’m wondering here with all this Senators #7 talk and the want for a top 4 D if they’d be willing to do this;

Connor Murphy and #38 and 2023 3rd for #7

I think it’s fair and would benefit both teams…. Maybe if hawks take on 25-50 of year 1 salary then it gets done

Look, this draft is 7 guys and then guys 8-45 are pretty much all even so getting 7 gets you a chance at one of these 4

Jiricek, Nemec, Savoie, Kemell

The top 3-4 are set to me so one of those 4 going to 7 will be huge get for the team there so I’d do that deal asap

I don’t think Jiricek makes it to 7 so I think it’s Nemec / Savoie, or Kemell and all 3 have positives and negatives but are all elite talents

[GRADEN]

Playing out the scenario I think these are in play:

1. MTL - Wright
2. NJD - In play but price hawks can’t offord also think they want to stay in top 8 for Nemec or Jiricek
3. AZC - too many picks already and need talent so stay and take Cooley / Savoie
4. SEA - keep it to get talent - taking Slafkovsky- Cooley - Savoie I’d guess
5. PhI - need centers so try to go to 2 for Cooley if not stay and take Savoie or Kemell
6. CBJ - try and package and move up for Cooley or stay and get Jiricek or Savoie
7. OTT - have lots of young talent so stay and take BPA or trade for vet and future picks

That’s how I think they are seeing it

[GRADEN]

Recent rumors are a little nutty but honestly I’m all for “blowing it up”

- Kirby Dach to Montreal for 29th pick, a top prospect(Joshua Roy), and a veteran (

- NJD all in for DeBrincat and would have to give up a ton… like #2, RW Alexander Holtz, 2023 unprotected 1st, and a young roster asset

- Redwings want DeBrincat too - #8, Joe Velano, 2023 1st and 2nd, and veteran

Look if that’s all being discussed then I’d be all in to convince Kane to look at a deal to NYR to make them cup favorites

Give me Lafreinere, 2023 1st, Ryan Lindgren, and rights to Georgiev and I’d do it with 50% take back salary

If someone told you that’d you get
#2 (Logan Cooley)
#29 (Lane Hutson)
2023 1sts (Devils and Rangers)
Joshua Roy as young center
Alexis Lafreinere and Alex Holtz as your top wings
Alex Georgeiv as trial young goalie
Ryan Lindgren as 4-5th D
And 2 vets in that Lafferty-Raddysh-Katchouk level

For Dach-Cat-Kane…. Who wouldn’t do that!!!?

[GRADEN]

Wow did Logan Cooley just give an interview!

Most and I mean really ALL prospects are polite and political with answers but then there is Cooley…. Whom literally just said I’m the best and I’m ready and I am the best player…. It’s polarizing responses for sure. You will either love the confidence or run from it…. But wow every answer was just lights out “it’s me, I’m the best”…. It was soooo different than Wright or anyone else.

I wonder which team will take him.

Btw Arizona - who knows what they will do, If Cooley goes 2 would they skip to a Jiricek?

Slafkovsky, I’m not super impressed with right now…. But he also said his best skill is not losing possession which is what you want to hear from a PF RW.

I see a handful of guys already in that 20-50 range that if they get to late 20s early 30s I’d love to jump up for:

D Lane Hutson
D Ryan Chesley
RW Reid Schaefer
C Rutger McGroarty
C Noah Ostlund

The guys picked 13-52 to me are all pretty close….

[GRADEN]

I wonder if the Devils whould give up a package centered around #2 and RW Alex Holtz for DeBrincat?

If they gave both those assets with a future protected 1st I’d do that deal….

Logan Cooley, Alex Holtz, pick #18 say next year and say a decent middle 6 nhl now guy for DeBrincat? I think you’d have to do that deal. It’s a win-win too, they’d love to get him with Hughes and Nico

[GRADEN]

Cat to NJD for #2 starting to get some traction and mentions…. Odd though is that nhl com seems to think the hawks would have to kick in a sweetener with cat to get #2….. ummm no

DeBrincat > Cooley or Slafkovsky all day every day

It’d have to be #2 and Holtz for me…. And honestly a sweetener like a future 2nd

Also the more and more I look at this draft pool I see some things that really stick out

1. That players for me say 13-38 are pretty much even which is crazy.

2. I think Savoie if passed on at 3 or 4 will go on to be the steal of the draft…. His floor is very high.

3. No goalies stand out as NHL #1s…. But a few backups are in this class

4. Cooley is super cocky, may be a good thing but then again Turcotte was that way too

5. There will definitely be a standout D man in the 13-38 selections that we will look back on a say how’d these teams pass on him?

6. Almost all the high end forwards will go early and then there are none left.

7. That Jiricek should be a top pairing D by age 20

8. Nemec is super risky of a pick

9. Korchinski and the Islanders is too good of a fit not to happen

10. Lastly, I’d be shocked if the hawks didn’t get into the first. Clever way…. Package Strome rights with 38 to get to say 20…. And take a forward there as that’s right around the range where the forwards with nhl top 6 potential will die out