OT: Blackhawks Draft / Rebuild

[GRADEN]

Also for anyone doubting Hawks draft listen to the draft analyst Steve C pod and he really thinks hawks killed it

Sam Savoie sounds like Andrew Shaw light to me

[GRADEN]

Also have a hot take:

Matvei Michkov > Connor Bedard

Also

Zach Benson, Brandon Yager > Adam Fantilli

[GRADEN]

Michkov got this said about him from probably the best scout in the business:

“There is not a better player in the world in terms of offensive IQ with shooting”

The pod guy says “for prospects”

Response “ no, any player pro or otherwise “

[GRADEN]

Hawks sign RW Buddy Robinson

6’6 230 30yo wing

He has played 50ish nhl games but his value is as an AHL veteran and a good top 6 AHL pt producer…. Great move.

Rockford looks legit

[GRADEN]

Also…. RADDYSH AND KATCHOUK have not cleared themselves via any statements… many have already and their are listed 8 players as listed John Doe…. So ummm yea not good

[GRADEN]

Wow Matthew Tkachuk to Panthers for watch this return:

Jonathan Huberdeau (115pts!)
Mackenzie Weeger (Awesome top 4 D in prime)
1st round pick (2025 top 16 protected)
RW Cole Schwindt (21 - B level prospect)

That’s for 24 year old 100pt guy and extended 8x9.5 (Seth Jones deal)

Basically they bought 5 years for Weeger and a late 1st

Huberdeau is 5 years older and they are similar players in terms of pts and impact.

It’s kinda an equal deal to me bc it keeps the flames competitive and buys the panthers a bigger window.

Also on Patrick Kane trade rumors…. Not sure why but Oilers always come up… pretty sure it’s just crazy Canadian wishers but no way Kaner leaves and decides Edmonton is his place…. Colorado, Lightning, Rangers, Panthers, maybe Kings…. Those are the teams he’d eye for a run I’d guess.

[GRADEN]

Also Weeger whom is a legit good top 4 D is in final year of a very underpaid deal… I expect they will extend him something like 4/18 or maybe even higher up to 4/22.5 range

[Sinistar6]

Thanks for the write up Graden! Outstanding work per the usual. This really helped me understand what happened on draft day and the prospect explanation is sweet. I am so into the hawks future now, this seems like a eddy/Tyson Chan blackhawks draft. Let’s hope for top 2 pick next year and if at all possible maybe multiples in top ten.

[GRADEN]

Thanks sinister!! Appreciate it and remember our old convos

Yes it’s very exciting times/ changes…. Seeing the Tkachuk return really put Cat return into focus didn’t it?

Cat wasn’t going to extend with any team interested and therefore a 7/39/3rd maybe was just right

I heard that the kraken were in on it too with 4th…. So umm damn could’ve been Wright there

Kane rumors yesterday saying engaged with Stars and then every notable media came in to say Dave Pags is full of it per usual

I’m still sticking with this scenario / will play 35-45 games and then be dealt for a young nhler and a 2023 1st and filler

I still think a Kakko / 1st / salary fill / B prospect will get it done

I did a a top 10 lotto drawing and unfortunately here is how it came out:

1. Sharks (3) - C Connor Bedard
2. Flyers (7) - RW Matvei Michkov
3. Coyotes (1) - C Adam Fantilli
4. Blackhawks (2) - RW Zach Benson
5. Sabres (4) - C Brayden Yager
6. Jets (5) - C Callum Ritchie
7. Islanders (6) - C Dalibor Dvorsky
8. Senators (8) - D Theo Lindstein
9. Kraken (9) - LW Kasper Hultennen
10. Blue Jackets (10) - RW Charlie Strammel

Look it won’t be bad anywhere in the top 5 guys… Benson and Yager are legit star prospects

Start looking up Benson - mini Kaner

[GRADEN]

Also some more thoughts on hawks picks as I round out a prediction:

Korchinski - PP QB / top 4 puck mover
Nazar- speed top 2 C
Ludwinski - bottom 6 Swiss army hustler
Hayes - AHL vet
Greene - Cup of coffee NHL
Thompson - AHL leader
Savoie - fringe nhl / AHL hustler
Riko - never come to play NA hockey

And Rinzel - total gamble roll of the dice…. He is a 5 year project and maybe even more. Honestly has a mean streak and can skate so kinda see him in the Nolan Allan / Ethan Del Mastro camp of looks the part but likely just “a guy”

Not sure I see a lot Bey

[GRADEN]

Was thinking about this as if I wasn’t so in depth with the 2023 group so I wanted to say this for all:

If we don’t get a top 3 pick next draft, it’s OK!

I fully expect it to be Bedard and then Fantilli / Michkov as top 3 and rightfully so but please know that Brayden Yager would be the #1 pick in some drafts and Zach Benson a consensus top 3 pick in almost every draft of the past 10 years…. Also Ritchie, Dvorsky, and whomever rises in that 8-15 range up would almost surely be a top tier prospect. I truly look at all 5 guys as franchise changing guys.

Bedard - Aho / McDavid mix
Fantilli - #1 center leader
Michkov - goals, goals, goals
Yager - Leader / #1 center
Benson - puck wizard / points
Ritchie - top 6 mainstay
Dvorsky - tough to play against top 6

Yager and Benson played amazing WHL years each around a pt per as 16 year olds. Yager is the bigger player around 6’1 and a true center , does all the little things too. Benson is the 5’10 Kaner sized puck on a string guy that plays center but is likely a RW as he goes forward… he is the one that gets the crowd to go “wow”

[GRADEN]

Also note that Matvei Michkov may go 3rd as he is signed in KHL through 26-27 or the equivalent to him being 22 almost 23. That will likely put him being drafted 3rd. However, when he does come to NHL he will likely already be at an all-star level player. Think of it as a Kaprizov rookie year.

[GRADEN]

Also note that Matvei Michkov may go 3rd as he is signed in KHL through 26-27 or the equivalent to him being 22 almost 23. That will likely put him being drafted 3rd. However, when he does come to NHL he will likely already be at an all-star level player. Think of it as a Kaprizov rookie year.

[GRADEN]

And

Dominic James - AHL middle 6 hustler
Nils Juntorp - Intriguing shot release / NHL cup of coffee

Hawks sign 7th rounder Jalen Luypen (lie-pen) to ELC after big time year. The 20 year old played like he was a late 2nd rounder this past year so this note worthy

[GRADEN]

Like to add as I don’t live in Chicago anymore… the Icehogs I think will be pretty good and everyone should go!

They have changed their approach I feel to “young only draft picks” to a great blend of vets and young draftee’s.

Their defense could be one of the better AHL groups too. Dylan Sikura is back in case you missed it and he was one of the premier forwards for Colorado AHL team last year.

I think the additions of say Roos / Clendening / Sikura / Buddy Robinson is going to push Rockford into one of the top teams in the AHL and really challenge the Wolves.

I fully expect Reichel to be up the entire year now but the top 3 lines in Rockford will still be legit good: Sikura / Robinson / Slavin line could be lights out imo.

Of notes:

Kalynuk now is being coached by….. Jeremy Colliton lol

Kane rumors are all false… he hasn’t decided at all and any Pagnotta nonsense is just clickbait

Toews to Avalanche rumor now out there…. Now sure but I’d be down for that if he is. He definitely is salty about a rebuild and tank season. It’d have to be a dump and little return so like a pay half and take on Johnson 6m with a 2nd is what I’d expect with the 2nd mostly being taking on Johnson 6m and saving 750k for Aves

And I’d do that deal! Toews playing middle 6 center for the champs? How could he pass that up?

[GRADEN]

Potential RIH team:


Teply - Sikura - Robinson
Slavin - Barratt - Hardman
Pour - Lyupen - Seney
Philp - G. Mitchell - Gust
13th: Gicewicz
14th: Lynch
15th: McKay

Obviously listing alot of guys as there will be some call ups. I also listed Jalen Lyupen as I think he may be eligible to join at age 20 now and just signed his ELC.


Clendening - Galvas
Phillips - Regula
Crevier - Beaudin
7th: Roos

This is a really legit top 4 at the AHL level. Sadly I think this is the end of the line for Beaudin… I think his game may a good fit for the big ice in say the SHL / DEL better than NA hockey.



Soderblum - Stauber - Weeks

It’s a great trio obviously led by Soderblum whom could be one of the better AHL goalies.

Graduate: Ian Mitchell, Lukas Reichel

I think the hawks will give each guy plenty of opportunity and it’s going to be sink or swim for both guys.

I’ve also not included Alex Vlasic as I think he is firmly in the top 6 for hawks.

Jones - McCabb
Murphy - Mitchell
Jones - Stillman - Vlasic as a rotating bottom 3

I think Murphy not Kane is our big trade sell and could get a late 1st from a contender. He is a good top 4 when healthy and contract is decent for that player. McCabb and Jones aren’t moving and everyone else is playing to stay in the league / make the league. Regula / Galvas / Phillips should all get more time with the hawks too.


It’s a great 25 man team. Led by true vets and the team should win and I think Sikura could be an MVP candidate in the A as I expect him to be 1.2-1.3ppg and the team to win.

[GRADEN]

Not sure if anyone here is watching the WJ tournament but it’s been awesome. Kent Johnson had a Michigan goal and the US and Canada appear to be on a collision course.

The 3 American hawks prospects have all played great which is the best part

Wyatt Kaiser - Top 4 consistent player with goals and hits and tremendous puck moving all tournament

Landon Slaggert - wears the A and does all the dirty work and lives in front of the net, a constant annoyance all game

Dominic James - wow, he is a legit center and not a wing, really good passer and 65% FO win so far holy holy moly on that right

Our other prospects in countries are all meh but the Kaiser info should intrigue everyone. And he is listed at legit 6 ft now whereas I think was drafted at like 5’10 3/4

[GRADEN]

Huge WJ games happening today - both USA and Canada are undefeated and boasting +18 and +20 goal differential which is insane!!

Mason McTavish - next great NHL superstar? Looks like he is on his way to an Austin Matthews type of arc?

[molepharmer]

Huge WJ games happening today - both USA and Canada are undefeated and boasting +18 and +20 goal differential which is insane!!

Mason McTavish - next great NHL superstar? Looks like he is on his way to an Austin Matthews type of arc?

Games are tomorrow (Wed), not today. USA vs CZE is the last game of the day, which might be ~9:00pm cst.

[GRADEN]

Yep super exciting games!

Hawks sign vet D Jack Johnson

1/950k

TOI eater 16:45per - 1000games cup champ locker room asset

Just seems like a solid mentor to a Vlasic if I’m being honest. Likely his last season to a somewhat disappointing career just given fact he went 3rd…. 300 pts with 4ish all star fringe seasons….

The easy prediction is Canada - USA but you have to think Finland - Sweden - Czechia all have a shot at the upsets here. They all have good if not better rosters than US on paper at least.

It’s a shame Sykora got the boot he was very exciting out there…

If you’ve been watching do you have a take on Kaiser - Slags - DJ?