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Post by steamer on May 27, 2023 9:12:07 GMT -6
“ The Chicago Blackhawks denied a request from the Pittsburgh Penguins to interview Blackhawks associate general manager Jeff Greenberg for the team’s general manager vacancy, per The Athletic’s Scott Powers. Greenberg completed his first year as an NHL executive in 2022-23 after spending ten years in the baseball operations department for the MLB’s Chicago Cubs. He’s quickly gaining esteem around the league, and Chicago isn’t willing to part with him.” He may indeed be a 'Natural',ala Roy Hobbs(sorry for the baseball reference....LOL),but would you be comfortable tapping a guy to run your team with only one year of FO hockey experience? I'm not sure what his duties as Assoc GM are but I'll assume they include applying a MLB-like statistical analysis to the team's current and future players. If this is the case,then like the young GM,how can we assess the performance of either guy until the many draft picks and prospects play at the NHL level? Do we see a 'honeymoon' period of 2-3 years with accolades before accomplishments and little to no 'on-ice' accountability until the future phenoms make it due to more tanking? I know it'll take patience and it's only two year's in but all 'honeymoons' end and actual assessment of the new FO's performance has to happen at some point. How much 'on-ice' accountability can we possibly expect until the many draft picks and prospects make the big club? That's still the only way to assess a young player and that's still a few years off by design. Will another 30th place finish result in more back-slapping? Will winning back-back draft lotteries result in GM of the year votes? Happy Honeymoon. Good questions. I think you are correct that the jury’s out for at least one more year for a full assessment on the FO’s effectiveness. These judgements are fickle and fleeting as well. Zito was a bust last year with collapse in the playoffs; avoided a possible death knell bust thanks to Hawks last win over Pens; and is now up for GM of the year! LOL! |
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Post by BigT on May 27, 2023 10:11:40 GMT -6
Very true Steamy! A lot has to go right for a GM to be successful. Look at Colorado. Everything was perfect last year. Now they have their captain and his career more than likely shot. Plus the cap and everything else. They may be a one and done team. With MacKinnon’s new 13 million a year deal about to kick in. That team is pretty much done for. He’ll probably do ok, but the team will be on the verge of playoffs now.
Don’t think it’ll be all roses. There’s always ebbs and flows. But I feel the entertainment factor will be amazing. Star players also have to realize that if they want the money. The product won’t be that great!!!
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Post by LordKOTL on May 27, 2023 12:28:51 GMT -6
LAfferty has been OK IMO. He is one of a very few that has decent speed. And very willing to go in the corners. Reminds me of Desjardin a few years back. The thing about Lafferty is that you always know when he steps onto the ice. His speed draws your attention. Laffy Taffy was a MAJOR upgrade over Nylander, even if he was just "OK". Nylander needed a heart transplant. |
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Post by phill9 on Jun 1, 2023 9:15:25 GMT -6
So once the draft is over and Bedard is officially a Hawk, I'd be curious how many UFA's, whether they be from last years team or another team, that Davidson would/could save cap space on by using the opportunity to play with Bedard card?
Would AA take less to stay with Hawks over going to another team? Would anyone in order to play with a soon to be 18 year old generational player? Or would it be waaaaaaay to early to see that?
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Post by BigT on Jun 1, 2023 17:55:21 GMT -6
So once the draft is over and Bedard is officially a Hawk, I'd be curious how many UFA's, whether they be from last years team or another team, that Davidson would/could save cap space on by using the opportunity to play with Bedard card? Would AA take less to stay with Hawks over going to another team? Would anyone in order to play with a soon to be 18 year old generational player? Or would it be waaaaaaay to early to see that? Too early. This is why the tank should continue. The Hawks are not winning a Cup in the next couple years guaranteed. So why not introduce players little by little and get a little more outta the draft? You won’t a Cup soon but losing a future one is possible by not getting the top talent!!! |
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Post by LordKOTL on Jun 7, 2023 11:12:36 GMT -6
So once the draft is over and Bedard is officially a Hawk, I'd be curious how many UFA's, whether they be from last years team or another team, that Davidson would/could save cap space on by using the opportunity to play with Bedard card? Would AA take less to stay with Hawks over going to another team? Would anyone in order to play with a soon to be 18 year old generational player? Or would it be waaaaaaay to early to see that? Too early. This is why the tank should continue. The Hawks are not winning a Cup in the next couple years guaranteed. So why not introduce players little by little and get a little more outta the draft? You won’t a Cup soon but losing a future one is possible by not getting the top talent!!! I think that "tank" should be somewhat lessened for next year. I agree that the 'hawks are not going to win anything, but I think that the shift needs to be for the kids to start taking over the reins next year--the ones that hit NHL ice, of course. If, hypothetically both Korch and Allan (or any of our D prospects) get some primo chemistry and as the season progresses they rise to a high level of responsibility over Jones/Murph/Zaitszev (or including/excluding whoever based on moves), then the 'hawks should run with it, even if they move out of the cellar and into the 15-20 bracket. If not, then tank away, but I think the purpose of signing guys should still be movable placeholders, guys we can flip mid-season if needed. This past season yeah, it needed to be taking the elevator of the tower of turd to the subbasement and keep hitting the "down" arrow. This coming year? If the kids can keep us out of the cellar, let them. If they can't then they can't. We shouldn't be backfilling with good support players (yet), but we also shouldn't be signing lukewarm bodes for immovable deals. My $0.02. |
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Post by steamer on Jun 7, 2023 11:56:45 GMT -6
I look for Seth to have a big year if Bedard plays regularly and on the PP.
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Post by BigT on Jun 7, 2023 12:47:16 GMT -6
Too early. This is why the tank should continue. The Hawks are not winning a Cup in the next couple years guaranteed. So why not introduce players little by little and get a little more outta the draft? You won’t a Cup soon but losing a future one is possible by not getting the top talent!!! I think that "tank" should be somewhat lessened for next year. I agree that the 'hawks are not going to win anything, but I think that the shift needs to be for the kids to start taking over the reins next year--the ones that hit NHL ice, of course. If, hypothetically both Korch and Allan (or any of our D prospects) get some primo chemistry and as the season progresses they rise to a high level of responsibility over Jones/Murph/Zaitszev (or including/excluding whoever based on moves), then the 'hawks should run with it, even if they move out of the cellar and into the 15-20 bracket. If not, then tank away, but I think the purpose of signing guys should still be movable placeholders, guys we can flip mid-season if needed. This past season yeah, it needed to be taking the elevator of the tower of turd to the subbasement and keep hitting the "down" arrow. This coming year? If the kids can keep us out of the cellar, let them. If they can't then they can't. We shouldn't be backfilling with good support players (yet), but we also shouldn't be signing lukewarm bodes for immovable deals. My $0.02. I’d rather see kids try to make it. And not just Hawks draft picks. Sign NCAA free agents. CHL and Euro too. Try ‘em out for a year. Maybe you find a Panera or a Hyman etc. If you lose with them, and you probably will, so be it. Just keep a few guys around like T Johnson, Seth, etc. That’s what I mean by tanking. Tank but give a kid a chance at the same time. Never know, maybe you find some gems. Tallon did it and found a few guys, Sharp was one!!! |
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Post by T-man2010 on Jun 7, 2023 13:16:00 GMT -6
I think that "tank" should be somewhat lessened for next year. I agree that the 'hawks are not going to win anything, but I think that the shift needs to be for the kids to start taking over the reins next year--the ones that hit NHL ice, of course. If, hypothetically both Korch and Allan (or any of our D prospects) get some primo chemistry and as the season progresses they rise to a high level of responsibility over Jones/Murph/Zaitszev (or including/excluding whoever based on moves), then the 'hawks should run with it, even if they move out of the cellar and into the 15-20 bracket. If not, then tank away, but I think the purpose of signing guys should still be movable placeholders, guys we can flip mid-season if needed. This past season yeah, it needed to be taking the elevator of the tower of turd to the subbasement and keep hitting the "down" arrow. This coming year? If the kids can keep us out of the cellar, let them. If they can't then they can't. We shouldn't be backfilling with good support players (yet), but we also shouldn't be signing lukewarm bodes for immovable deals. My $0.02. I’d rather see kids try to make it. And not just Hawks draft picks. Sign NCAA free agents. CHL and Euro too. Try ‘em out for a year. Maybe you find a Panera or a Hyman etc. If you lose with them, and you probably will, so be it. Just keep a few guys around like T Johnson, Seth, etc. That’s what I mean by tanking. Tank but give a kid a chance at the same time. Never know, maybe you find some gems. Tallon did it and found a few guys, Sharp was one!!! Sharp came via trade with the Flyers after 3 years with them. |
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Post by mikeveisor on Jun 7, 2023 14:50:34 GMT -6
I’d rather see kids try to make it. And not just Hawks draft picks. Sign NCAA free agents. CHL and Euro too. Try ‘em out for a year. Maybe you find a Panera or a Hyman etc. If you lose with them, and you probably will, so be it. Just keep a few guys around like T Johnson, Seth, etc. That’s what I mean by tanking. Tank but give a kid a chance at the same time. Never know, maybe you find some gems. Tallon did it and found a few guys, Sharp was one!!! Sharp came via trade with the Flyers after 3 years with them. KD does seem to be re-tracing some Tallon steps with Sam Lafferty and Taylor Raddysh being the best "steals" to date. Hope he has a few more in him and his luck does not end with the ping-pong balls falling our way in this year's draft. Looking forward to see is Guttman and Bjork can stake steps in that "steal" direction next season. |
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Post by BigT on Jun 7, 2023 15:41:40 GMT -6
I’d rather see kids try to make it. And not just Hawks draft picks. Sign NCAA free agents. CHL and Euro too. Try ‘em out for a year. Maybe you find a Panera or a Hyman etc. If you lose with them, and you probably will, so be it. Just keep a few guys around like T Johnson, Seth, etc. That’s what I mean by tanking. Tank but give a kid a chance at the same time. Never know, maybe you find some gems. Tallon did it and found a few guys, Sharp was one!!! Sharp came via trade with the Flyers after 3 years with them. Exactly what I want to see. Make some lateral trades, some work out, some don’t. I believe they need to keep sifting through the players It’s gonna be a bit longer than most think. I know many are high on ALL the draft picks. But chances are 15% will make it. Maybe 20%. So we need to get more top picks. It’s very short sighted to think the rebuild is just about over. It has just begun. It would be nice to get a top 5 pick next year. Top 3 even better. This is why I liked what KD said when asked “Does getting the #1 overall change your plans?”. He said “No, we have to make sure we have enough good players”. So I’m happy he’s still on the level. I’m not convinced the rebuild is near completed. So I say “Tank on”!!! |
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Post by LordKOTL on Jun 7, 2023 15:43:58 GMT -6
I think that "tank" should be somewhat lessened for next year. I agree that the 'hawks are not going to win anything, but I think that the shift needs to be for the kids to start taking over the reins next year--the ones that hit NHL ice, of course. If, hypothetically both Korch and Allan (or any of our D prospects) get some primo chemistry and as the season progresses they rise to a high level of responsibility over Jones/Murph/Zaitszev (or including/excluding whoever based on moves), then the 'hawks should run with it, even if they move out of the cellar and into the 15-20 bracket. If not, then tank away, but I think the purpose of signing guys should still be movable placeholders, guys we can flip mid-season if needed. This past season yeah, it needed to be taking the elevator of the tower of turd to the subbasement and keep hitting the "down" arrow. This coming year? If the kids can keep us out of the cellar, let them. If they can't then they can't. We shouldn't be backfilling with good support players (yet), but we also shouldn't be signing lukewarm bodes for immovable deals. My $0.02. I’d rather see kids try to make it. And not just Hawks draft picks. Sign NCAA free agents. CHL and Euro too. Try ‘em out for a year. Maybe you find a Panera or a Hyman etc. If you lose with them, and you probably will, so be it. Just keep a few guys around like T Johnson, Seth, etc. That’s what I mean by tanking. Tank but give a kid a chance at the same time. Never know, maybe you find some gems. Tallon did it and found a few guys, Sharp was one!!! I think we're actually on the same page, then. I agree: don't sign any big-name guys, but see what the kids can do. |
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Post by LordKOTL on Jun 7, 2023 15:44:50 GMT -6
I’d rather see kids try to make it. And not just Hawks draft picks. Sign NCAA free agents. CHL and Euro too. Try ‘em out for a year. Maybe you find a Panera or a Hyman etc. If you lose with them, and you probably will, so be it. Just keep a few guys around like T Johnson, Seth, etc. That’s what I mean by tanking. Tank but give a kid a chance at the same time. Never know, maybe you find some gems. Tallon did it and found a few guys, Sharp was one!!! Sharp came via trade with the Flyers after 3 years with them. I still ask a few of my Flyer fan friends how Matt Ellison is working our for them. |
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Post by BigT on Dec 15, 2023 12:13:35 GMT -6
Bringing this gem back from the depths of the boards.
Now we can discuss KDs moves, or non moves. Here ya go MVR! Merry Christmas!!!
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Post by BigT on Dec 15, 2023 12:15:53 GMT -6
So anyways. I disagree that KD should have made a claim on the last two recent waiver wire fellas. Vrana is not needed here. And neither was Foudy. I do agree with MVR that maybe a bigger contract should be brought in for help and some nice presents under the asset tree!!!
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Post by mvr on Dec 15, 2023 13:37:08 GMT -6
Thank you Big T.
I will go on the record here reiterating my position that a total teardown strip rebuild is just about the dumbest move made by any Hawks general manager in my lifetime (even despite the lucky lottery win).
This guy needs to go. The sooner the better. (At least he comes cheap).
This team is going to get worse before it gets better. How many kids' careers will be destroyed before Davidson is shown the door? How long before Bedard becomes part of the problem?
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Post by BigT on Dec 15, 2023 14:58:51 GMT -6
I believe most will be shown the door in that front office, but not for a few years. It always takes the one guy to do what no one else wants to do. Rebuild.
If this was done in 2017. Once everyone except the last shit stain realized the cupboards were bare, the team will need help. 2 years down and the team had a chance to get the cap in order and restock the shelves. They could a went for it again in 2020/21. But they traded every asset possible.
The next best thing to do “next time” would be to start to get guys replacements while they’re there. For example. Get a big mobile dman while we had Seabs around. Get the smooth skating puck moving dman while Keith was around. Draft center men while Toews was around etc. have those guys show the way. Those guys play a role until the old guard can’t do it anymore. Then you let them take the reins!!!
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Post by jacksalmon on Dec 15, 2023 17:28:25 GMT -6
Thank you Big T. I will go on the record here reiterating my position that a total teardown strip rebuild is just about the dumbest move made by any Hawks general manager in my lifetime (even despite the lucky lottery win). This guy needs to go. The sooner the better. (At least he comes cheap). This team is going to get worse before it gets better. How many kids' careers will be destroyed before Davidson is shown the door? How long before Bedard becomes part of the problem? MVR: I am writing not to disagree with anything you wrote. It is just that you provided no timelines on your statements above, so I am looking for a little clarification. First, you seem to have a different outlook than the average poster here who believes, as far as I can tell, that next year the Hawks will improve when the most recently drafted forwards currently playing in college, juniors and Rockford make it to the NHL squad. I have always believed it ain't gonna happen that fast, if it happens at all. So, how much longer do you think the team "is going to get worse before it gets better." Why do you think kids' careers will be destroyed? What do you mean by saying Bedard could be part of the problem and what timeline do you have about when that occurs, whatever meaning you attribute to that phrase (Bedard becomes part of the problem)? Would you be advocating that KD be fired now and no later than now? Anway, I always appreciate comments from you and Big T, so please feel free to add any thoughts that occur to you as you see fit. Thanks. |
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Post by mvr on Dec 15, 2023 18:14:26 GMT -6
Jack: When a team starts burning through its prospects and young players, I get concerned.
When a prospect does not make it, the tendency among most observers is to look at the amateur draft board and blame scouts for making poor decisions. Others blame the kids for not having enough "heart" to make it.
I tend to look at the post draft development situation and a team's culture.
Since Davidson took over, the team's development problem has floundered. Kirby Dach, the third overall pick, did not meet expectations and was shipped off. Last year, the team said goodbye to Ian Mitchell, a top pairing defenceman for Team Canada Jrs. Now we are disappointed in both Soderblum and Reichel (both highly rated prospects not so long ago). Given this track record, why would anyone think the young prospects developing in the system will fare any better?
I am no Stan Bowman apologist by any means, but Kyle Davidson did not start with an empty cupboard. He cleaned it out entirely, burning it all to the ground and then knocking out the supporting studs as well. He replaced NHL talent with draft picks (mostly disappointing trade returns for legit assets such as Debrincat, Hagel, Kubalik, Lankinen, Dehaan, Toews, Kane, Caleb Jones, Ian Mitchell etc.).
Given the present roster, I see a real rough next several months. I believe the team will be buyers in the summer, but the only players interested in coming here will be mercenaries looking for max dollars. My fear is that Bedard will eventually develop a cynical me-first attitude to cope with all the losing. We have seen this kind of thing before - but never with this team.
Players are human beings, not commodities for exchange. They need to feel connected. Well managed hockey organizations succeed when they develop an effective and consistent team culture with low turnover. The best ones keep their core players together for their entire careers.
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Post by mvr on Dec 15, 2023 18:25:50 GMT -6
Some will point to this year's draft as a sign of optimism. Sure, it is likely this team picks in the top five again. Davidson might again get lucky and win the lottery.
If so, is this really an "accomplishment" for the general manager? Should we put him on a pedestal for steering the team in this direction?
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Post by hsbob on Dec 15, 2023 18:39:37 GMT -6
Jack: When a team starts burning through its prospects and young players, I get concerned. When a prospect does not make it, the tendency among most observers is to look at the amateur draft board and blame scouts for making poor decisions. Others blame the kids for not having enough "heart" to make it. I tend to look at the post draft development situation and a team's culture. Since Davidson took over, the team's development problem has floundered. Kirby Dach, the third overall pick, did not meet expectations and was shipped off. Last year, the team said goodbye to Ian Mitchell, a top pairing defenceman for Team Canada Jrs. Now we are disappointed in both Soderblum and Reichel (both highly rated prospects not so long ago). Given this track record, why would anyone think the young prospects developing in the system will fare any better? I am no Stan Bowman apologist by any means, but Kyle Davidson did not start with an empty cupboard. He cleaned it out entirely, burning it all to the ground and then knocking out the supporting studs as well. He replaced NHL talent with draft picks (mostly disappointing trade returns for legit assets such as Debrincat, Hagel, Kubalik, Lankinen, Dehaan, Toews, Kane, Caleb Jones, Ian Mitchell etc.). Given the present roster, I see a real rough next several months. I believe the team will be buyers in the summer, but the only players interested in coming here will be mercenaries looking for max dollars. My fear is that Bedard will eventually develop a cynical me-first attitude to cope with all the losing. We have seen this kind of thing before - but never with this team. Players are human beings, not commodities for exchange. They need to feel connected. Well managed hockey organizations succeed when they develop an effective and consistent team culture with low turnover. The best ones keep their core players together for their entire careers. And Dylan Strome didn't skate well enough or have that two-way game demanded from the new 'brain trust'.......our standards are excruciatingly high! His 22 goals bests anyone on the Hawks last year and he had 16 more points than Domi's team leading 49 and his 12 goals so far this year tie Bedard. His new coaches like his game but his new coaches also helped his game,he'd easily be the team's 2nd best player but he just didn't measure up to a 3.6M QO! |
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Post by BigT on Dec 15, 2023 18:42:19 GMT -6
Some will point to this year's draft as a sign of optimism. Sure, it is likely this team picks in the top five again. Davidson might again get lucky and win the lottery. If so, is this really an "accomplishment" for the general manager? Should we put him on a pedestal for steering the team in this direction? Yes. In your scenario the team would be stuck in the middle picking 7-12 slots. Just like they were. Then the last GM wore out the last 8 years of the cores careers with constant turnover and crapshoots. One thing I’ve never understood from you MVR is that you’re obviously very knowledgeable and very well spoken. However you dont wanna pay UFAs big dollars or term. You don’t wanna strip down a roster to get those types of players. You make it sound like you can build a cup contender with 2nd-5th round picks, waiver wire pickups, and dumpster dives in the UFA market. I have never seen a team do much with what you’re proposing. I think the path the team is on is much better than a middle of the pack team with not much to look forward too. I don’t think Reichel is being “ruined”. I think this is on him. He clearly didn’t come in ready to go. He started off with the same linemates he had the year before. It wasn’t working and they tried him on center for quite some time. That didn’t work out. They tried him on every line. That hasn’t worked out. At some point, he’s gotta be a man and step up. Maybe we as fans looked too much into his numbers. Somebody recently posted (sorry forget who it was) that in the last nine games or something like that, the Hawks played all playoff bound teams and he had zero points I believe. So maybe Reichel just isn’t that good? That’s something we have to always keep in mind!!! |
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Post by vadarx on Dec 15, 2023 19:32:23 GMT -6
Lazarus and KD in the Athletic today:
Laz: Let’s start with Connor Bedard. There was so much hype and histrionics about him coming in. Has he met your expectations? Exceeded them?
KD: In some respects, he’s met them, but also he’s exceeded them as well, because you just never know how that transition’s going to go. You are very confident that he’s going to be very successful, but lots of really, really good players don’t step in right away and have as many goals as he has.
LAZ: Right, look at Jack Hughes’ first year versus his fourth year.
KD: Right. And that doesn’t mean that someone’s not meeting expectations. You mentioned Jack. Maybe not an electric first year, but he’s certainly playing that way now. He’s everything that you’d hope out of a No. 1 pick. But just seeing Connor do some of the things he does night after night, you can’t help but be excited and then go beyond your expectations. Some of the things he’s doing, you just don’t see.
Laz: That said, do you feel any obligation to get him someone to play with, with Taylor Hall out for the season and Corey Perry kicked off the team? I know it’s hard to do midseason, but he needs help. Do you feel obligated to find him some guys who can hang at his level?
KD: Yeah, it’s definitely something we’re always talking about. But like you said, at this point, it’s really hard. Some other teams are willing to pay some serious pieces that frankly they just don’t care about now, but we do care about them. And that’s the tough part. We’re not in a position to do that. Having said that, you’re always going to be looking to maybe enhance some things. But it’s just so hard with (it being) the middle of the season. If other teams are good, they’re not giving up players. If they’re not doing so well …
Laz: You do have the assets, though. Does it just not feel that urgent to you?
KD: It doesn’t, no. It does not feel that urgent to me. It’s not something I’m against, but it’s not urgent.
Laz: It’s no knock on Phil (Kurashev) or (Ryan) Donato, it’s just that Bedard’s a different caliber of player. It’s like the Kane-Panarin dynamic, you need someone who can think the game the way he does. I see a lot of ridiculous Bedard backhand passes that nobody’s ready for. Maybe Taylor Hall would have, but he’s not here.
KD: We were fairly lucky from an injury standpoint last year. This year, it doesn’t seem like we’re as fortunate. Two of our top-six wingers are not in the lineup. Andreas (Athanasiou) hopefully will be back soon, but Taylor won’t be back soon. That’s not easy. And then obviously Seth (Jones) being out; hopefully he’s back soon. Those are big holes to fill, and not ones you can just go out on the waiver wire and fill. Otherwise, you’d probably do that. But even then, all of a sudden you’ve got 16 forwards and then you’ve got another issue when people start coming back in the lineup.
Laz: You only have three forwards signed for next year, so you theoretically have all the room to work with if you wanted to go get someone long term. Does that maybe enter the picture in the summer, where it might not yet be win-now time, but it’s time to get someone to support Connor?
KD: Obviously, Connor is part of the team, so he’s a consideration there. But we’ve got some money to spend. We’re going to have to spend some money. That’s something we’re going to have to explore. It’s going to be an option for us, free agency or trade. Trade, it’s probably more age-window dependent. But free agency is something we’ll likely explore just because there’s a salary floor to meet, we’ve got a lot of money coming off the books, and that’s something we’re going to have to look into. It’ll be a consideration for sure.
Laz: One of the guys we thought could fill that role was Lukas Reichel, but he’s really struggling this year. He doesn’t look like himself, like the guy we saw last spring. Luke (Richardson) seems concerned. Are you concerned?
KD: Concern is probably not the right word. We definitely expected more, 100 percent. We came into this year and felt he was NHL-ready — and I still do believe he’s NHL-ready — but there’s a bump in the road here. He’s still 21 years old and we’ve talked about development not being linear. This is an example of that. It’s something he’s going to have to try to overcome. We’re working with him to try to overcome it. But at some point, a good bounce here or there and confidence is a fickly, funny thing. He was playing with a ton of it last year. And we’ve seen what kind of player he can be at the NHL level. Hopefully he can find that. It’s been a slow start, I know it’s been a tough go for him here. But we’re hopeful things turn around.
Laz: Is sending him to Rockford a consideration?
KD: I don’t think we’re there yet. There are still some things we’ll try to have him work through at the NHL level first. Again, sometimes just one bounce, seeing one puck go in, one rush where you feel you beat guys, and you feel that good vibe going again. Hopefully he can have some of those games and string something together. String together a couple shifts and go from there. But we’re not at the Rockford point right now.
Laz: In some ways it’s a positive that the wins and losses don’t matter much, because you can give him that leash. But if the losses keep piling up and it starts weighing on him, it can have a snowball effect.
KD: At some point, you have to run your team as a meritocracy, And if some guys just aren’t getting it done, other players have to step up in their place. And until you prove that you’re the person to get more ice time and get a bigger role, that’ll happen. But it’s hard to build a team concept and a good culture without some accountability there, too.
Laz: On the other side of the age spectrum, Nick Foligno has become the captain of this team, whether he has a “C” or not. Especially now with Hall and Perry gone. Have you thought of him as a guy you might want to keep around for a couple years to help with this transition? If he’s up for it?
KD: It’s definitely not too early to be thinking about. It’s too early to be talking about it, CBA-wise (contracts can’t be extended until Jan. 1). But Nick’s influence has been so positive within the organization.
Laz: He’s the team dad.
KD: He is. And that’s exactly what we wanted out of Nick. I think we’ve gotten everything we’ve expected and more out of him. From my perspective, I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t want to have that around moving forward.
Laz: And you can afford to keep paying him more than everyone else can.
KD: That’s true.
Laz: Let’s talk about Luke a little bit. I feel like last year he knew exactly what he was getting into. This year, it seems like the losses are frustrating him a little more, like he’s getting impatient. Do you start worrying about him buying in to the process, and instead wanting to speed things up?
KD: I don’t worry about that at all, no. Believe me, the losses aren’t easy for me and the management, either. But you do have more visibility into the long-term vision of things, so you can lean on that. You can take solace in that. Whereas the coaches and the players are in the mix every day, and their focus is on that night, that game. I would be surprised if it didn’t sting a little bit every time the result isn’t there. He’s trying to affect that change, right? Turn some of those losses into wins. And I get it. But I don’t sense one little bit that he’s not on board with what’s going on or the journey that we’re on.
Laz: Are you fully satisfied with the job he’s doing? The team doesn’t always have that relentless identity that it had last year.
KD: I’m totally happy with the job he’s done.
Laz: I only ask because, let’s face it, it’s unusual for a coach to get to lose this much in the NHL.
KD: We’re also a very different team than we were last year. We were veteran-laden last year. We have veterans this year, but we have a lot of youth, and with that comes inconsistency and learning how to play at the NHL level. For all intents and purposes, at the start of the season, we started with rookies on every D-pairing, our first two centermen and one of our goalies. That’s not easy for any coach. No matter how optimistic you are about the future of those young players, young players are young players and the NHL is a hard league. There’s going to be the ups and downs, and some of the inconsistency that maybe we didn’t see last year is going to creep in with youth. So that’s part of the development of the team, too.
Laz: Going back to what we were talking about with Bedard, did you ever reach out to Patrick Kane about playing with him? Once you won the lottery and got Bedard, did that change the equation in any way? Or was that decision just absolutely final?
KD: Yeah, we had made that decision at the end of last season, knowing that Connor was a possibility. Maybe an 11.5 percent possibility or whatever the heck it was.
Laz: But when it got to 100 percent, it didn’t change your thinking in any way?
KD: It did not, no. And I’ll speak on Jonathan (Toews) there as well. Such a great run with both of them. When we made the decision, we did that with the understanding that this could happen, but we had drawn the line and that decision was made. And I think it was made on both sides. It was a great opportunity for Patrick to be on a good team and try to make a run last year with the Rangers, and now with the Red Wings.
Laz: Weird to see him in that jersey, though.
KD: It’s a little bit weird. But it was weird to see him in the Rangers jersey, too. You know, that happens. That’s sports. He’s still a part of that Blackhawks family. But he’s on a good team and hopefully he does really well. I’m just excited to see him back and playing. It’s good for hockey.
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Post by tincup on Dec 15, 2023 19:41:03 GMT -6
Lazarus and KD in the Athletic today: Laz: Let’s start with Connor Bedard. There was so much hype and histrionics about him coming in. Has he met your expectations? Exceeded them? KD: In some respects, he’s met them, but also he’s exceeded them as well, because you just never know how that transition’s going to go. You are very confident that he’s going to be very successful, but lots of really, really good players don’t step in right away and have as many goals as he has. LAZ: Right, look at Jack Hughes’ first year versus his fourth year. KD: Right. And that doesn’t mean that someone’s not meeting expectations. You mentioned Jack. Maybe not an electric first year, but he’s certainly playing that way now. He’s everything that you’d hope out of a No. 1 pick. But just seeing Connor do some of the things he does night after night, you can’t help but be excited and then go beyond your expectations. Some of the things he’s doing, you just don’t see. Laz: That said, do you feel any obligation to get him someone to play with, with Taylor Hall out for the season and Corey Perry kicked off the team? I know it’s hard to do midseason, but he needs help. Do you feel obligated to find him some guys who can hang at his level? KD: Yeah, it’s definitely something we’re always talking about. But like you said, at this point, it’s really hard. Some other teams are willing to pay some serious pieces that frankly they just don’t care about now, but we do care about them. And that’s the tough part. We’re not in a position to do that. Having said that, you’re always going to be looking to maybe enhance some things. But it’s just so hard with (it being) the middle of the season. If other teams are good, they’re not giving up players. If they’re not doing so well … Laz: You do have the assets, though. Does it just not feel that urgent to you? KD: It doesn’t, no. It does not feel that urgent to me. It’s not something I’m against, but it’s not urgent. Laz: It’s no knock on Phil (Kurashev) or (Ryan) Donato, it’s just that Bedard’s a different caliber of player. It’s like the Kane-Panarin dynamic, you need someone who can think the game the way he does. I see a lot of ridiculous Bedard backhand passes that nobody’s ready for. Maybe Taylor Hall would have, but he’s not here. KD: We were fairly lucky from an injury standpoint last year. This year, it doesn’t seem like we’re as fortunate. Two of our top-six wingers are not in the lineup. Andreas (Athanasiou) hopefully will be back soon, but Taylor won’t be back soon. That’s not easy. And then obviously Seth (Jones) being out; hopefully he’s back soon. Those are big holes to fill, and not ones you can just go out on the waiver wire and fill. Otherwise, you’d probably do that. But even then, all of a sudden you’ve got 16 forwards and then you’ve got another issue when people start coming back in the lineup. Laz: You only have three forwards signed for next year, so you theoretically have all the room to work with if you wanted to go get someone long term. Does that maybe enter the picture in the summer, where it might not yet be win-now time, but it’s time to get someone to support Connor? KD: Obviously, Connor is part of the team, so he’s a consideration there. But we’ve got some money to spend. We’re going to have to spend some money. That’s something we’re going to have to explore. It’s going to be an option for us, free agency or trade. Trade, it’s probably more age-window dependent. But free agency is something we’ll likely explore just because there’s a salary floor to meet, we’ve got a lot of money coming off the books, and that’s something we’re going to have to look into. It’ll be a consideration for sure. Laz: One of the guys we thought could fill that role was Lukas Reichel, but he’s really struggling this year. He doesn’t look like himself, like the guy we saw last spring. Luke (Richardson) seems concerned. Are you concerned? KD: Concern is probably not the right word. We definitely expected more, 100 percent. We came into this year and felt he was NHL-ready — and I still do believe he’s NHL-ready — but there’s a bump in the road here. He’s still 21 years old and we’ve talked about development not being linear. This is an example of that. It’s something he’s going to have to try to overcome. We’re working with him to try to overcome it. But at some point, a good bounce here or there and confidence is a fickly, funny thing. He was playing with a ton of it last year. And we’ve seen what kind of player he can be at the NHL level. Hopefully he can find that. It’s been a slow start, I know it’s been a tough go for him here. But we’re hopeful things turn around. Laz: Is sending him to Rockford a consideration? KD: I don’t think we’re there yet. There are still some things we’ll try to have him work through at the NHL level first. Again, sometimes just one bounce, seeing one puck go in, one rush where you feel you beat guys, and you feel that good vibe going again. Hopefully he can have some of those games and string something together. String together a couple shifts and go from there. But we’re not at the Rockford point right now. Laz: In some ways it’s a positive that the wins and losses don’t matter much, because you can give him that leash. But if the losses keep piling up and it starts weighing on him, it can have a snowball effect. KD: At some point, you have to run your team as a meritocracy, And if some guys just aren’t getting it done, other players have to step up in their place. And until you prove that you’re the person to get more ice time and get a bigger role, that’ll happen. But it’s hard to build a team concept and a good culture without some accountability there, too. Laz: On the other side of the age spectrum, Nick Foligno has become the captain of this team, whether he has a “C” or not. Especially now with Hall and Perry gone. Have you thought of him as a guy you might want to keep around for a couple years to help with this transition? If he’s up for it? KD: It’s definitely not too early to be thinking about. It’s too early to be talking about it, CBA-wise (contracts can’t be extended until Jan. 1). But Nick’s influence has been so positive within the organization. Laz: He’s the team dad. KD: He is. And that’s exactly what we wanted out of Nick. I think we’ve gotten everything we’ve expected and more out of him. From my perspective, I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t want to have that around moving forward. Laz: And you can afford to keep paying him more than everyone else can. KD: That’s true. Laz: Let’s talk about Luke a little bit. I feel like last year he knew exactly what he was getting into. This year, it seems like the losses are frustrating him a little more, like he’s getting impatient. Do you start worrying about him buying in to the process, and instead wanting to speed things up? KD: I don’t worry about that at all, no. Believe me, the losses aren’t easy for me and the management, either. But you do have more visibility into the long-term vision of things, so you can lean on that. You can take solace in that. Whereas the coaches and the players are in the mix every day, and their focus is on that night, that game. I would be surprised if it didn’t sting a little bit every time the result isn’t there. He’s trying to affect that change, right? Turn some of those losses into wins. And I get it. But I don’t sense one little bit that he’s not on board with what’s going on or the journey that we’re on. Laz: Are you fully satisfied with the job he’s doing? The team doesn’t always have that relentless identity that it had last year. KD: I’m totally happy with the job he’s done. Laz: I only ask because, let’s face it, it’s unusual for a coach to get to lose this much in the NHL. KD: We’re also a very different team than we were last year. We were veteran-laden last year. We have veterans this year, but we have a lot of youth, and with that comes inconsistency and learning how to play at the NHL level. For all intents and purposes, at the start of the season, we started with rookies on every D-pairing, our first two centermen and one of our goalies. That’s not easy for any coach. No matter how optimistic you are about the future of those young players, young players are young players and the NHL is a hard league. There’s going to be the ups and downs, and some of the inconsistency that maybe we didn’t see last year is going to creep in with youth. So that’s part of the development of the team, too. Laz: Going back to what we were talking about with Bedard, did you ever reach out to Patrick Kane about playing with him? Once you won the lottery and got Bedard, did that change the equation in any way? Or was that decision just absolutely final? KD: Yeah, we had made that decision at the end of last season, knowing that Connor was a possibility. Maybe an 11.5 percent possibility or whatever the heck it was. Laz: But when it got to 100 percent, it didn’t change your thinking in any way? KD: It did not, no. And I’ll speak on Jonathan (Toews) there as well. Such a great run with both of them. When we made the decision, we did that with the understanding that this could happen, but we had drawn the line and that decision was made. And I think it was made on both sides. It was a great opportunity for Patrick to be on a good team and try to make a run last year with the Rangers, and now with the Red Wings. Laz: Weird to see him in that jersey, though. KD: It’s a little bit weird. But it was weird to see him in the Rangers jersey, too. You know, that happens. That’s sports. He’s still a part of that Blackhawks family. But he’s on a good team and hopefully he does really well. I’m just excited to see him back and playing. It’s good for hockey. Spoken like a man who knows he’s on a long tether. |
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Post by jacksalmon on Dec 15, 2023 20:00:39 GMT -6
Lazarus and KD in the Athletic today: Laz: Let’s start with Connor Bedard. There was so much hype and histrionics about him coming in. Has he met your expectations? Exceeded them? KD: In some respects, he’s met them, but also he’s exceeded them as well, because you just never know how that transition’s going to go. You are very confident that he’s going to be very successful, but lots of really, really good players don’t step in right away and have as many goals as he has. LAZ: Right, look at Jack Hughes’ first year versus his fourth year. KD: Right. And that doesn’t mean that someone’s not meeting expectations. You mentioned Jack. Maybe not an electric first year, but he’s certainly playing that way now. He’s everything that you’d hope out of a No. 1 pick. But just seeing Connor do some of the things he does night after night, you can’t help but be excited and then go beyond your expectations. Some of the things he’s doing, you just don’t see. Laz: That said, do you feel any obligation to get him someone to play with, with Taylor Hall out for the season and Corey Perry kicked off the team? I know it’s hard to do midseason, but he needs help. Do you feel obligated to find him some guys who can hang at his level? KD: Yeah, it’s definitely something we’re always talking about. But like you said, at this point, it’s really hard. Some other teams are willing to pay some serious pieces that frankly they just don’t care about now, but we do care about them. And that’s the tough part. We’re not in a position to do that. Having said that, you’re always going to be looking to maybe enhance some things. But it’s just so hard with (it being) the middle of the season. If other teams are good, they’re not giving up players. If they’re not doing so well … Laz: You do have the assets, though. Does it just not feel that urgent to you? KD: It doesn’t, no. It does not feel that urgent to me. It’s not something I’m against, but it’s not urgent. Laz: It’s no knock on Phil (Kurashev) or (Ryan) Donato, it’s just that Bedard’s a different caliber of player. It’s like the Kane-Panarin dynamic, you need someone who can think the game the way he does. I see a lot of ridiculous Bedard backhand passes that nobody’s ready for. Maybe Taylor Hall would have, but he’s not here. KD: We were fairly lucky from an injury standpoint last year. This year, it doesn’t seem like we’re as fortunate. Two of our top-six wingers are not in the lineup. Andreas (Athanasiou) hopefully will be back soon, but Taylor won’t be back soon. That’s not easy. And then obviously Seth (Jones) being out; hopefully he’s back soon. Those are big holes to fill, and not ones you can just go out on the waiver wire and fill. Otherwise, you’d probably do that. But even then, all of a sudden you’ve got 16 forwards and then you’ve got another issue when people start coming back in the lineup. Laz: You only have three forwards signed for next year, so you theoretically have all the room to work with if you wanted to go get someone long term. Does that maybe enter the picture in the summer, where it might not yet be win-now time, but it’s time to get someone to support Connor? KD: Obviously, Connor is part of the team, so he’s a consideration there. But we’ve got some money to spend. We’re going to have to spend some money. That’s something we’re going to have to explore. It’s going to be an option for us, free agency or trade. Trade, it’s probably more age-window dependent. But free agency is something we’ll likely explore just because there’s a salary floor to meet, we’ve got a lot of money coming off the books, and that’s something we’re going to have to look into. It’ll be a consideration for sure. Laz: One of the guys we thought could fill that role was Lukas Reichel, but he’s really struggling this year. He doesn’t look like himself, like the guy we saw last spring. Luke (Richardson) seems concerned. Are you concerned? KD: Concern is probably not the right word. We definitely expected more, 100 percent. We came into this year and felt he was NHL-ready — and I still do believe he’s NHL-ready — but there’s a bump in the road here. He’s still 21 years old and we’ve talked about development not being linear. This is an example of that. It’s something he’s going to have to try to overcome. We’re working with him to try to overcome it. But at some point, a good bounce here or there and confidence is a fickly, funny thing. He was playing with a ton of it last year. And we’ve seen what kind of player he can be at the NHL level. Hopefully he can find that. It’s been a slow start, I know it’s been a tough go for him here. But we’re hopeful things turn around. Laz: Is sending him to Rockford a consideration? KD: I don’t think we’re there yet. There are still some things we’ll try to have him work through at the NHL level first. Again, sometimes just one bounce, seeing one puck go in, one rush where you feel you beat guys, and you feel that good vibe going again. Hopefully he can have some of those games and string something together. String together a couple shifts and go from there. But we’re not at the Rockford point right now. Laz: In some ways it’s a positive that the wins and losses don’t matter much, because you can give him that leash. But if the losses keep piling up and it starts weighing on him, it can have a snowball effect. KD: At some point, you have to run your team as a meritocracy, And if some guys just aren’t getting it done, other players have to step up in their place. And until you prove that you’re the person to get more ice time and get a bigger role, that’ll happen. But it’s hard to build a team concept and a good culture without some accountability there, too. Laz: On the other side of the age spectrum, Nick Foligno has become the captain of this team, whether he has a “C” or not. Especially now with Hall and Perry gone. Have you thought of him as a guy you might want to keep around for a couple years to help with this transition? If he’s up for it? KD: It’s definitely not too early to be thinking about. It’s too early to be talking about it, CBA-wise (contracts can’t be extended until Jan. 1). But Nick’s influence has been so positive within the organization. Laz: He’s the team dad. KD: He is. And that’s exactly what we wanted out of Nick. I think we’ve gotten everything we’ve expected and more out of him. From my perspective, I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t want to have that around moving forward. Laz: And you can afford to keep paying him more than everyone else can. KD: That’s true. Laz: Let’s talk about Luke a little bit. I feel like last year he knew exactly what he was getting into. This year, it seems like the losses are frustrating him a little more, like he’s getting impatient. Do you start worrying about him buying in to the process, and instead wanting to speed things up? KD: I don’t worry about that at all, no. Believe me, the losses aren’t easy for me and the management, either. But you do have more visibility into the long-term vision of things, so you can lean on that. You can take solace in that. Whereas the coaches and the players are in the mix every day, and their focus is on that night, that game. I would be surprised if it didn’t sting a little bit every time the result isn’t there. He’s trying to affect that change, right? Turn some of those losses into wins. And I get it. But I don’t sense one little bit that he’s not on board with what’s going on or the journey that we’re on. Laz: Are you fully satisfied with the job he’s doing? The team doesn’t always have that relentless identity that it had last year. KD: I’m totally happy with the job he’s done. Laz: I only ask because, let’s face it, it’s unusual for a coach to get to lose this much in the NHL. KD: We’re also a very different team than we were last year. We were veteran-laden last year. We have veterans this year, but we have a lot of youth, and with that comes inconsistency and learning how to play at the NHL level. For all intents and purposes, at the start of the season, we started with rookies on every D-pairing, our first two centermen and one of our goalies. That’s not easy for any coach. No matter how optimistic you are about the future of those young players, young players are young players and the NHL is a hard league. There’s going to be the ups and downs, and some of the inconsistency that maybe we didn’t see last year is going to creep in with youth. So that’s part of the development of the team, too. Laz: Going back to what we were talking about with Bedard, did you ever reach out to Patrick Kane about playing with him? Once you won the lottery and got Bedard, did that change the equation in any way? Or was that decision just absolutely final? KD: Yeah, we had made that decision at the end of last season, knowing that Connor was a possibility. Maybe an 11.5 percent possibility or whatever the heck it was. Laz: But when it got to 100 percent, it didn’t change your thinking in any way? KD: It did not, no. And I’ll speak on Jonathan (Toews) there as well. Such a great run with both of them. When we made the decision, we did that with the understanding that this could happen, but we had drawn the line and that decision was made. And I think it was made on both sides. It was a great opportunity for Patrick to be on a good team and try to make a run last year with the Rangers, and now with the Red Wings. Laz: Weird to see him in that jersey, though. KD: It’s a little bit weird. But it was weird to see him in the Rangers jersey, too. You know, that happens. That’s sports. He’s still a part of that Blackhawks family. But he’s on a good team and hopefully he does really well. I’m just excited to see him back and playing. It’s good for hockey. Spoken like a man who knows he’s on a long tether. And who knows how to talk about "all the possibilities" without really having a clue about a definite path forward. I never liked the idea of making the Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man without any hockey know how the GM of a hockey team, so I have little faith in the guy, but he can prove me wrong, if he wants. |
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Post by jacksalmon on Dec 15, 2023 20:02:09 GMT -6
Jack: When a team starts burning through its prospects and young players, I get concerned. When a prospect does not make it, the tendency among most observers is to look at the amateur draft board and blame scouts for making poor decisions. Others blame the kids for not having enough "heart" to make it. I tend to look at the post draft development situation and a team's culture. Since Davidson took over, the team's development problem has floundered. Kirby Dach, the third overall pick, did not meet expectations and was shipped off. Last year, the team said goodbye to Ian Mitchell, a top pairing defenceman for Team Canada Jrs. Now we are disappointed in both Soderblum and Reichel (both highly rated prospects not so long ago). Given this track record, why would anyone think the young prospects developing in the system will fare any better? I am no Stan Bowman apologist by any means, but Kyle Davidson did not start with an empty cupboard. He cleaned it out entirely, burning it all to the ground and then knocking out the supporting studs as well. He replaced NHL talent with draft picks (mostly disappointing trade returns for legit assets such as Debrincat, Hagel, Kubalik, Lankinen, Dehaan, Toews, Kane, Caleb Jones, Ian Mitchell etc.). Given the present roster, I see a real rough next several months. I believe the team will be buyers in the summer, but the only players interested in coming here will be mercenaries looking for max dollars. My fear is that Bedard will eventually develop a cynical me-first attitude to cope with all the losing. We have seen this kind of thing before - but never with this team. Players are human beings, not commodities for exchange. They need to feel connected. Well managed hockey organizations succeed when they develop an effective and consistent team culture with low turnover. The best ones keep their core players together for their entire careers. And Dylan Strome didn't skate well enough or have that two-way game demanded from the new 'brain trust'.......our standards are excruciatingly high! His 22 goals bests anyone on the Hawks last year and he had 16 more points than Domi's team leading 49 and his 12 goals so far this year tie Bedard. His new coaches like his game but his new coaches also helped his game,he'd easily be the team's 2nd best player but he just didn't measure up to a 3.6M QO! Strome is an excellent example of why it is hard for me to have any faith in the so-called braintrust of the Chicago franchise. |
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Post by jacksalmon on Dec 15, 2023 20:08:53 GMT -6
Jack: When a team starts burning through its prospects and young players, I get concerned. When a prospect does not make it, the tendency among most observers is to look at the amateur draft board and blame scouts for making poor decisions. Others blame the kids for not having enough "heart" to make it. I tend to look at the post draft development situation and a team's culture. Since Davidson took over, the team's development problem has floundered. Kirby Dach, the third overall pick, did not meet expectations and was shipped off. Last year, the team said goodbye to Ian Mitchell, a top pairing defenceman for Team Canada Jrs. Now we are disappointed in both Soderblum and Reichel (both highly rated prospects not so long ago). Given this track record, why would anyone think the young prospects developing in the system will fare any better? I am no Stan Bowman apologist by any means, but Kyle Davidson did not start with an empty cupboard. He cleaned it out entirely, burning it all to the ground and then knocking out the supporting studs as well. He replaced NHL talent with draft picks (mostly disappointing trade returns for legit assets such as Debrincat, Hagel, Kubalik, Lankinen, Dehaan, Toews, Kane, Caleb Jones, Ian Mitchell etc.). Given the present roster, I see a real rough next several months. I believe the team will be buyers in the summer, but the only players interested in coming here will be mercenaries looking for max dollars. My fear is that Bedard will eventually develop a cynical me-first attitude to cope with all the losing. We have seen this kind of thing before - but never with this team. Players are human beings, not commodities for exchange. They need to feel connected. Well managed hockey organizations succeed when they develop an effective and consistent team culture with low turnover. The best ones keep their core players together for their entire careers. Yeah, if they go the trade route to acquire experienced talent, then they gotta get rid of their prized draft picks. They aren't going to get "stars" by the trade route, so the good quality, but not stars players they get will end up having to play with more rookies and not much talent and that will accomplish not much more than has been accomplished already. Even if they go the free agency route, they spend a bunch of money and get good quality players who will still have no, or not much young talent as teammates. KD has created a real mess for himself and will be completely dependent on his Moore/Nazar type draft picks blooming into bona fide stars. If they don't, he is screwed. |
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Post by steamer on Dec 15, 2023 20:15:08 GMT -6
He didn’t create the mess - he inherited a team that was sliding to the bottom. Whether he’s ultimately “successful” with a rebuild I don’t have a clue but I think trying to accumulate highly rated young prospects is a start and at some point - I don’t know exactly when - it will be time to add quality experienced players. Meanwhile it will be a tough go - what is so shocking about this?
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Post by galaxytrash on Dec 15, 2023 21:02:51 GMT -6
I am no Stan Bowman apologist by any means, but Kyle Davidson did not start with an empty cupboard. He cleaned it out entirely, burning it all to the ground and then knocking out the supporting studs as well. He replaced NHL talent with draft picks (mostly disappointing trade returns for legit assets such as Debrincat, Hagel, Kubalik, Lankinen, Dehaan, Toews, Kane, Caleb Jones, Ian Mitchell etc.). maybe not empty cupboards but almost. some of our draft pool rankings from 2021. in order from top to bottom, chicago is ranked 28th, 24th and 28th. eprinkside.com/2020/11/23/the-eliteprospects-rinkside-2020-21-off-season-prospect-pool-rankings theathletic.com/2229558/2021/02/09/nhl-team-prospect-rankings/ dobberhockey.com/2021/07/31/the-journey-2021-nhl-prospect-pool-rankings/ skip ahead to 2023. from top to bottom we're ranked 2nd, 4th and 1st. wheeler's ranking at the bottom has us at 5th but that was before drafting bedard. thehockeywriters.com/nhl-farm-system-rankings/lastwordonsports.com/hockey/2023/10/10/2023-24-nhl-team-prospect-pool-rankings-part-three/www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ranking-every-nhl-team-prospect-pool-from-1-32theathletic.com/3923067/2023/01/09/nhl-prospect-rankings-2023/all of these picks present and future might not amount to a hill of beans...and yes, perhaps KfC could've done better on some trades. but he jumps from high 20s in prospect ranking to top 5 in 2 years with a shitload of high picks still not drafted and people already want to tear him down. and tell me....who here has put kyle davidson on a pedestal?? i don't know. i don't fucking get it. it seems people can't wait for him to fail. |
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Post by squishy24 on Dec 15, 2023 21:40:45 GMT -6
I am no Stan Bowman apologist by any means, but Kyle Davidson did not start with an empty cupboard. He cleaned it out entirely, burning it all to the ground and then knocking out the supporting studs as well. He replaced NHL talent with draft picks (mostly disappointing trade returns for legit assets such as Debrincat, Hagel, Kubalik, Lankinen, Dehaan, Toews, Kane, Caleb Jones, Ian Mitchell etc.). maybe not empty cupboards but almost. some of our draft pool rankings from 2021. in order from top to bottom, chicago is ranked 28th, 24th and 28th. eprinkside.com/2020/11/23/the-eliteprospects-rinkside-2020-21-off-season-prospect-pool-rankings theathletic.com/2229558/2021/02/09/nhl-team-prospect-rankings/ dobberhockey.com/2021/07/31/the-journey-2021-nhl-prospect-pool-rankings/ skip ahead to 2023. from top to bottom we're ranked 2nd, 4th and 1st. wheeler's ranking at the bottom has us at 5th but that was before drafting bedard. thehockeywriters.com/nhl-farm-system-rankings/lastwordonsports.com/hockey/2023/10/10/2023-24-nhl-team-prospect-pool-rankings-part-three/www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ranking-every-nhl-team-prospect-pool-from-1-32theathletic.com/3923067/2023/01/09/nhl-prospect-rankings-2023/all of these picks present and future might not amount to a hill of beans...and yes, perhaps KfC could've done better on some trades. but he jumps from high 20s in prospect ranking to top 5 in 2 years with a shitload of high picks still not drafted and people already want to tear him down. and tell me....who here has put kyle davidson on a pedestal?? i don't know. i don't fucking get it. it seems people can't wait for him to fail. Its the percentages, the chances of kfc failing is monumental than him succeeding. So in the end its easier to say “i told you so” |
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