We'll agree to disagree, I just know if it was me, and my kid had a good chance of playing in the NHL, I'd go the USHL and College route to give me the most flexibility when the decision time comes.

Other factors like NIL money would come into play, but I would want the most flexibility i could get to leave all my options open.

CHL doesn't give me flexibility. Obviously all options when you are good get you to the NHL so not saying CHL is wrong, in fact I would argue that getting rid of that rule would make CHL the best route
- vabeachbear

I agree VB, except I would alter the CHL ruling, I would not get rid of it altogether. Maybe each team can use the AHL for one 18/19 year old player every two or three years, something like that, a little compromise. Of the top 50 picks over the last two NHL drafts (2022/23) twenty-four are currently playing collegiately, so I’m going to respectfully disagree with wizardofi on his assessment of NCAA players drafted. There are three things for sure in life, death, taxes, and change.

While Dachs injury was a setback, you'll never convince me, nor will I be able to prove it, but that best thing for him would've been to go to Rockford for at least a year. I would even argue going back to jrs for a year, and Rockford for a year and he would be a different player.
- vabeachbear

You're probably right, the thing for me is i just don't think Dach is built physically for the NHL. When i saw him break his wrist on what i thought looked like a normal hockey play it raised concerns. I worry about his brother as well with all his concussions, I'm not worried he won't play for us, as a parent what kind of quality of life is he going to have?

I may be wrong but i have to imagine Korchinski not only surviving but getting better defensively playing against the best in the world will only give him more confidence. As i said before watching him live he by far is the most athletic hockey player they had on the ice. I don't know how that will translate to hockey but i have to imagine it helped him survive vs the big boys.

Speaking of KKs athleticism, wonder how athletic Spellacy is considering he got a few football scholarships and models his game after Tom Wilson? Won't that be fun if he can develop his game.

Gotta add, id rather sign Brodie to 2 years than sign Suter for 1 year. (frank)ing Blues.

Link to an article from the hockey news

https://thehockeynews.com...peline-bursts-with-talent


Strengths
The Blackhawks have a surplus of talent up front. Even though many of the players they have in the system won’t reach their top-end potential, there are so many quality forwards that they will be injecting youth up front for years to come.

Weaknesses
Even after adding Levshunov, the Blackhawks' defense pipeline is still a weakness. It’s certainly improved over the last couple of years, but there is still work to do in terms of adding talent.
Korchinski and Vlasic are already on the NHL roster, but neither look like true top-pair D-men, and Levshunov more than likely tops out as a No. 2. The Hawks could use a true No. 1 defender

Gotta say, after they went after Levshunov, I wouldn't think of their D as a weakness.
Maybe I'm wrong,but they seem like they have a good amount of talent/depth.
I'm more worried about their fwds
- captainserious

This is brilliant and exactly why I love when national publications put out prospect reviews. How in the hell do they know who will reach their potential and who won't?

Defensemen routinely take years to get up to speed. WTF.

20 minute interview with KD on WSCR radio this morning.

https://www.audacy.com/po...-tough-team-to-make-da9bd

I see the upcoming season as one where we see variuos Rockford icehogs up as rewards., both at defense and forward, and injuries.

So we will start seeing new kids...

Gotta add, id rather sign Brodie to 2 years than sign Suter for 1 year. (frank)ing Blues.
- BetweenTheDots

I love seeing the Blues be so middling. If they didn’t have Thomas and Kyrou they’d be seen as a complete tank. Aside from Snuggerud I can’t name any of their prospects. Are they the new Wild? Not good enough to compete, not bad enough to draft top talent.

Only thing I love to see more is Nashville going all in on two players who are falling off a cliff. Stamkos and Marchessault are both pushing mid 30s and this is where players start to rapidly decline. Those deals are going to look awful. Feels good.

This is brilliant and exactly why I love when national publications put out prospect reviews. How in the hell do they know who will reach their potential and who won't?

Defensemen routinely take years to get up to speed. WTF.

- Chunk

Right, the Blackhawks drafting Levshunov tells me they believe he has a chance to be one of the best defenseman in the league. Many thought the Ducks were drafting a dman? I wonder if Arty was their 2nd over all as well.

Let's face it they really don't know, it's just an educated guess.

Link to an article from the hockey news

https://thehockeynews.com...peline-bursts-with-talent


Strengths
The Blackhawks have a surplus of talent up front. Even though many of the players they have in the system won’t reach their top-end potential, there are so many quality forwards that they will be injecting youth up front for years to come.

Weaknesses
Even after adding Levshunov, the Blackhawks' defense pipeline is still a weakness. It’s certainly improved over the last couple of years, but there is still work to do in terms of adding talent.
Korchinski and Vlasic are already on the NHL roster, but neither look like true top-pair D-men, and Levshunov more than likely tops out as a No. 2. The Hawks could use a true No. 1 defender

Gotta say, after they went after Levshunov, I wouldn't think of their D as a weakness.
Maybe I'm wrong,but they seem like they have a good amount of talent/depth.
I'm more worried about their fwds
- captainserious

I'm with you, I think the writer has it twisted a bit. There is a reason we only took 2 dmen in the draft. To be fair thought, the prospect pipeline is better in each position than it was just a couple years ago, so picking a weakness isn't as easy. We have some promising players at goalie, D, and forward, so it kind of will depend who pans out.

I love seeing the Blues be so middling. If they didn’t have Thomas and Kyrou they’d be seen as a complete tank. Aside from Snuggerud I can’t name any of their prospects. Are they the new Wild? Not good enough to compete, not bad enough to draft top talent.
- ObeseOprah

Oh, I am sure the Blues press staff is ready to hype their best prospect imo, Dalibor Dvorsky.

He's not going to beat many defenders one on one in open ice, but he has such a great offensive smarts that the lack of long span quickness odesn't hamper his abilty ot be both offensive generator and shooter.
This Slovakian start at home and then went to Swededn where he played at the middle level Allsvenskan league, for AIK, and finally was brought over to play with Sudbury Wolves. He finished the season there with 45 goals and 88 points. He is not a guy looking for trouble, but he uses his body to make plays.

I love seeing the Blues be so middling. If they didn’t have Thomas and Kyrou they’d be seen as a complete tank. Aside from Snuggerud I can’t name any of their prospects. Are they the new Wild? Not good enough to compete, not bad enough to draft top talent.

Only thing I love to see more is Nashville going all in on two players who are falling off a cliff. Stamkos and Marchessault are both pushing mid 30s and this is where players start to rapidly decline. Those deals are going to look awful. Feels good.
- ObeseOprah

I agree, i look at the moves we made, i think there's a good chance we might soon be a middling team. I can see us realistically competing with at least 10 western conference teams this year.

I agree, i look at the moves we made, i think there's a good chance we might soon be a middling team. I can see us realistically competing with at least 10 western conference teams this year.
- BetweenTheDots

That would mean the Hawks would need around 85-90 points, a 33-38 point improvement. Most projections I see have a 20-25 point improvement. I would think it would be a very successful season if the Hawks improved 20-25 points.

I do not see this being a 90 point team, I think 75 would be a very good step forward.

That would mean the Hawks would need around 85-90 points, a 33-38 point improvement. Most projections I see have a 20-25 point improvement. I would think it would be a very successful season if the Hawks improved 20-25 points.

I do not see this being a 90 point team, I think 75 would be a very good step forward.
- LAHawk

We'll see what kind of start they get off to. Slow start then probably around top 5 pick, good start i can see them around a top 10 pick, but if they have puck luck especially in 1 goal games with a good start we can be the next Philly team.

Oh, I am sure the Blues press staff is ready to hype their best prospect imo, Dalibor Dvorsky.

He's not going to beat many defenders one on one in open ice, but he has such a great offensive smarts that the lack of long span quickness odesn't hamper his abilty ot be both offensive generator and shooter.
This Slovakian start at home and then went to Swededn where he played at the middle level Allsvenskan league, for AIK, and finally was brought over to play with Sudbury Wolves. He finished the season there with 45 goals and 88 points. He is not a guy looking for trouble, but he uses his body to make plays.
- wiz1901

I think your scouting report said he could fly? Something changed or he isn't as fast as you thought he was?

You haven't looked at the Bulls players salaries the last few years and signing Zach Levine to a max contract was a terrible mistake.
- rpeters01

Nah, they're in the bottom half of NBA pay rolls and a mediocre team.

If they had interest in winning - not dissimilar to the white sox - they could open their check book and build a contender with something other than bargain and trash bins.

I agree, i look at the moves we made, i think there's a good chance we might soon be a middling team. I can see us realistically competing with at least 10 western conference teams this year.
- BetweenTheDots

yeah, we do still have a long way to climb. How we ranked last season at 5v5 when the score was close (within 1)

Corsi% 32nd
Fenwick% 32rd
Shot% 31st
Goals% 32nd
ExpectedGoals% 32nd
ScoringChance% 32nd
HighDanger% 32nd
Sv% 29th
Shooting% 30th


When we were trailing and trying to get back into a game, we were only slightly better, we beat out SJ in most of the categories, but were still pretty much second worst. Basically, teams took it to us pretty badly and only let up a bit once the game was pretty much out of reach. I know some folks don't like "Fancy Stats" but they do tell a story and you can see the teams like Edmonton/Florida and other contenders near the top in most of these categories.

Next season we are probably below the average in those kinds of categories again, but maybe we get a good step closer to the middle of the pack.

I think any more drastic improvement will come from the young players stepping up and overall we win some more games if we get better goaltending more often, which we really might.

Nah, they're in the bottom half of NBA pay rolls and a mediocre team.

If they had interest in winning - not dissimilar to the white sox - they could open their check book and build a contender with something other than bargain and trash bins.
- fattybeef

As building teams go, i would trust Arturas to piece it together, he did for Denver.

Celebrini was a outlier with regards to Canadian talent going to the NCAA. Usually if a Canadian player goes the NCAA route, he will not be invited to the Canadian national team unless he is well above average, as Celebrini was. These politics have been a point of contention in the past on previous WJ teams that have lost.

Levshunov would have gone to the CHL if he was allowed to be drafted in the CHL European draft, but he went the USHL/NCAA. Russians and Belorussians can't be drafted in the European draft right now.

Right now the Canadians that go the USHL/BCJHL route to get to the NCAA are those that feel they need the college backup in case their NHL aspirations are derailed. I used to work with a father whose son went the NCAA route because his kid probably wouldn't make the NHL, and he didn't.
- wizardofi

Fantilli, Makar - a lot of really high end players are coming through the NCAA. The lighter schedule allows these kids to process and analyze their games more effectively as well as hit the weight room and add strength.

While Dachs injury was a setback, you'll never convince me, nor will I be able to prove it, but that best thing for him would've been to go to Rockford for at least a year. I would even argue going back to jrs for a year, and Rockford for a year and he would be a different player.
- vabeachbear

He wasn't ever an imposer of his will like Cayden Lindstrom is, for example. He's a 6'4, still at or under 200 gentle giant who is going to be an okayish player but not anything special.

Having a depth player like that is important to winning a cup but they aren't going to lead the team there.

We'll see what kind of start they get off to. Slow start then probably around top 5 pick, good start i can see them around a top 10 pick, but if they have puck luck especially in 1 goal games with a good start we can be the next Philly team.
- BetweenTheDots

There are thousands of "what if's" with this team right now. If a lot of those questions get answered in the positive, it's not outside the realm that they can stretch to 80-90 pts. A couple things I like:

1) No one will be given a spot, they all have to be earned.
2) The increased number of vets available increase the chance that players at least will know where they should be.
3) I really don't think you can overstate how important the Broissoit signing is. Much higher quality 1B and will keep Mrazek fresher.

We'll see what kind of start they get off to. Slow start then probably around top 5 pick, good start i can see them around a top 10 pick, but if they have puck luck especially in 1 goal games with a good start we can be the next Philly team.
- BetweenTheDots

12 of their first 18 games on the road. Most of them are out West. Maybe they'll gel and bond on these road trips which would be beneficial going forward. Maybe not.
I would guess they finish somewhere in the 6-8 range.

Speaking of KKs athleticism, wonder how athletic Spellacy is considering he got a few football scholarships and models his game after Tom Wilson? Won't that be fun if he can develop his game.
- BetweenTheDots

Def a project but a whole lot of upside there if something clicks.

That would mean the Hawks would need around 85-90 points, a 33-38 point improvement. Most projections I see have a 20-25 point improvement. I would think it would be a very successful season if the Hawks improved 20-25 points.

I do not see this being a 90 point team, I think 75 would be a very good step forward.
- LAHawk

Being in the 75 point range is probably a really good step and based on the research I've done myself looking at teams climbing out of the bottom over the last 30 years, probably realistic.

I look at our Central Div last season, we had
Dal - 113 pts
Win - 110 pts
Col - 107 pts
Nash - 99 pts
StL - 92 pts
Min - 87 pts
Utah - 77 pts
Chi - 52 pts

We were the only really bad team and I can't see too many of our rivals falling off too hard. I can see a case for saying maybe Dallas and Winnipeg are slightly weaker year over year, but not much. Colorado looks dangerous still. Nashville added big and could climb above the wildcard. St Louis maybe struggles a bit, but probably not going to be awful. Minny is inconsistent but has some good young players too. Utah might be in the mix for postseason, they have some under-rated guys.

I just can't see right now who we'd beat out in the Central. I think we'd need an incredible improvement from out young guys to get there, like Bedard on pace for 100+ points, Reichel playing like a legit top 6, Kurashev shoring up more of his game, Korchinski rivalling Jones offensively, Nazar playing like a Calder candidate.
etc..

Maybe some of those things can happen, but feels like we'd need a perfect storm of young guys just hitting their stride to get there next season and I can't see it.

As building teams go, i would trust Arturas to piece it together, he did for Denver.
- BetweenTheDots

Doesn't matter if Reinsdorf needs to sign off on everything.