With the exception of Vlasic I think it's probably Arty (because it has to be with that 2OA pick) and Korch OR Rinzel but probably not both.

Not all of Kaiser, Philips, Crevier and EDM are going to be NHL Players and I think Kaiser is the only one that is close.

Allen we'll have to see some games. Biggest thing will be is he making the right decisions even if he is making them to slowly. Issue with Philips is he doesn't decision well at all.
- fattybeef

Or if they are, it won't be on the Hawks.

Happy to see i can trade my Rockford Nolan Allan sweater for a Blackhawks!
- SaskHawkFan

Its great to see Allan get a shot in the NHL, he's earned it. I think that Allan spot could be filled by KK, Kaiser or EDM if he doesn't pan out. The same could go for Phillips, but he'd have to go through waivers before being sent to Rockford.

If the current practice lines are accurate the four lines are:

Bertuzzi - Bedard - TT
Hall - Kurashev - Mikheyev
Foligno - Richardinson - Anderson
Maroon - Donato - Smith

Reichel - AA.

I smell a trade with CBUS coming.

I actually don't hate the lines. They aren't world beaters by any metric, but seems competent defensively, and the potential for offense. Actually, wouldn't be all that surprised to see Bertuzzi and Hall switched either.

If the current practice lines are accurate the four lines are:

Bertuzzi - Bedard - TT
Hall - Kurashev - Mikheyev
Foligno - Richardinson - Anderson
Maroon - Donato - Smith

Reichel - AA.

I smell a trade with CBUS coming.

I actually don't hate the lines. They aren't world beaters by any metric, but seems competent defensively, and the potential for offense. Actually, wouldn't be all that surprised to see Bertuzzi and Hall switched either.
- Chunk

This roster is weirdly put together by KD. Somehow they need to find playing time for Reichel (or move him).
I guess AA will be a Swiss Army knife and will be plugged in the lineup as needed.

IMO, the decision to have KK at least start this season in the A was determined at last years end of seasons players evals. Otherwise, the Hawks would not have signed Brodie in addition to Martinez in the off season.
- LAHawk

Still not sold on the Brodie move, but whatever. Maybe the plan is moving him and/or Murphy at some point. Gives the younger guys a little more time in the Rock to develop before stepping in.

In terms of KK, time in Rockford will be good for him. The game in the AHL is just enough slower to let him gain back his confidence and be more effective offensively than he could be in the NHL. By all accounts he has put on some weight and strength and that should also help him in his own end.

KK, EDM, Allan, Rinzel, Levshunov are all 21 or younger. Phillips and Crevier are 23 and have a few years under their belts.

You’re right he didn’t play a full season, but that’s not really the point. Most thought that Vlasic looked the part when he first got his first cup of coffee. There was a lot of surprise when he was sent back to RFD. He himself has said that his time with the Hogs was huge for his development regarding realizing what he could get away with and working on the defensive details of his game.

KK played all of last year in the NHL and made very marginal improvements. Considering they have actual players that can replace him this year, and they are trying to win games, does it make more sense to have him log huge minutes in a place where he can try things and iron out the blemishes or occasionally get scratched reduced ice time?
- Chunk

Lets not lose sight of the fact that Vlassic also played 3 years of major college hockey at Boston University beforehand also.

This roster is weirdly put together by KD. Somehow they need to find playing time for Reichel (or move him).
I guess AA will be a Swiss Army knife and will be plugged in the lineup as needed.
- Ztra

I can't see Maroon being a full time player, so there will be some substitution there. I'm sure there will also be injuries. From what has been shown thus far, AA and Reichel don't really deserve to be on the ice.

I would bet that LR/KD find a way to shoehorn one or both of them into the lineup in order to get some good film on both. The problem is that they need to actually do something with the ice time. I have been as patient as anyone on Reichel, and he just doesn't seem to get it. He's shown in the past that he can do it, but either his head or his heart isn't letting him do it. He's the Ian Mitchell of forwards. Great in the AHL, can't seem to do in in the NHL.

Lets not lose sight of the fact that Vlassic also played 3 years of major college hockey at Boston University beforehand also.
- TheTrob

I'm with you there. As I said, I don't see any issue with him being sent down at all. I want him and Nazar to reach their potential. If the coaches feel this is the best way, I have to trust them on it.

This roster is weirdly put together by KD. Somehow they need to find playing time for Reichel (or move him).
I guess AA will be a Swiss Army knife and will be plugged in the lineup as needed.
- Ztra

AA is the enigma he has been everywhere he goes. So much speed, so much promise, but so little production to match that promise. He's 30 now, so to keep expecting more is kinda pointless. He is what he is. He's not really a prototypical 3rd or 4th liner, so maybe your right, just plug him in where/when needed.

If the current practice lines are accurate the four lines are:

Bertuzzi - Bedard - TT
Hall - Kurashev - Mikheyev
Foligno - Richardinson - Anderson
Maroon - Donato - Smith

Reichel - AA.

I smell a trade with CBUS coming.

I actually don't hate the lines. They aren't world beaters by any metric, but seems competent defensively, and the potential for offense. Actually, wouldn't be all that surprised to see Bertuzzi and Hall switched either.
- Chunk

I agree on flipping Hall and Bertuzzi. I am not that high on Bertuzzi. The best 1st line is Hall, Bedard and TT. If they want to move Hall at the deadline for a big return why not put him on the top line with two other offensive players to pad his stats.

IMO, the decision to have KK at least start this season in the A was determined at last years end of seasons players evals. Otherwise, the Hawks would not have signed Brodie in addition to Martinez in the off season.
- LAHawk

The veterans were allegedly brought in to mentor the young guys not be place holders, at least if you're going to take KD at face value.

That may not be far from the truth though but then they just spent a bunch of money on mediocre veterans to waste another year of Bedard's entry level deal.

If the current practice lines are accurate the four lines are:

Bertuzzi - Bedard - TT
Hall - Kurashev - Mikheyev
Foligno - Richardinson - Anderson
Maroon - Donato - Smith

Reichel - AA.

I smell a trade with CBUS coming.

I actually don't hate the lines. They aren't world beaters by any metric, but seems competent defensively, and the potential for offense. Actually, wouldn't be all that surprised to see Bertuzzi and Hall switched either.
- Chunk

makes sense column needs to get to the cap floor so reichel + AA for ? Or AA for 4th

The veterans were allegedly brought in to mentor the young guys not be place holders, at least if you're going to take KD at face value.

That may not be far from the truth though but then they just spent a bunch of money on mediocre veterans to waste another year of Bedard's entry level deal.
- fattybeef

No, they acquired the veterans to give the prospects the time to get their respective games to the NHL level. KD saw the mistake of bringing up a guy, KK, who wasn’t ready. He can’t make that mistake again.

I agree on flipping Hall and Bertuzzi. I am not that high on Bertuzzi. The best 1st line is Hall, Bedard and TT. If they want to move Hall at the deadline for a big return why not put him on the top line with two other offensive players to pad his stats.
- Ztra

Teams will shut us down if they don’t believe there is a valid scoring second line or just any line beside the Bedard line that will pot some goals. So I have my fingers crossed that the speed, the verve the threat for a player on a second offensive line is going to have to be………..(eventually and upon recall) Nazar. Just have to find complimentary players and just maybe we will see oh maybe around trade deadline a good fit would be (sigh) another young guy who has the tools and is a goal scorer but actually has worked to become a more balanced player on both sides of the puck……you know the kid I have been pushing Hayes.

After all not counting on AA and Reichel would be a nice surprise but don’t bet on him

Next season I don’t know that Moore or Greene yes Lardis too are ready without some AHL time.

I don’t expect KD to pick up a forward unless he is moving another forward who would probably be just a fill in as a mediocre scorer since we don’t really have anyone

TT = nice player but not going to make a second line go. Neither will Kurashev. I kind of just feel like saying “hang on sloooy, help is on the way” via the prospects. That is the realization, the hope. As well, the Russian kid and or might draft a top line calibre forward in ‘25

If the current practice lines are accurate the four lines are:

Bertuzzi - Bedard - TT
Hall - Kurashev - Mikheyev
Foligno - Richardinson - Anderson
Maroon - Donato - Smith

Reichel - AA.

I smell a trade with CBUS coming.

I actually don't hate the lines. They aren't world beaters by any metric, but seems competent defensively, and the potential for offense. Actually, wouldn't be all that surprised to see Bertuzzi and Hall switched either.
- Chunk

Sure, AA and Reichel for Kent Johnson, works for me. I see that Cayden Lindstrom is out tonight with a back issue, that sucks. Lots of talent there, I feel bad for the kid.

I can't see Maroon being a full time player, so there will be some substitution there. I'm sure there will also be injuries. From what has been shown thus far, AA and Reichel don't really deserve to be on the ice.

I would bet that LR/KD find a way to shoehorn one or both of them into the lineup in order to get some good film on both. The problem is that they need to actually do something with the ice time. I have been as patient as anyone on Reichel, and he just doesn't seem to get it. He's shown in the past that he can do it, but either his head or his heart isn't letting him do it. He's the Ian Mitchell of forwards. Great in the AHL, can't seem to do in in the NHL.
- Chunk

Aren't AA and Mikheyev the same player?

This roster is weirdly put together by KD. Somehow they need to find playing time for Reichel (or move him).
I guess AA will be a Swiss Army knife and will be plugged in the lineup as needed.
- Ztra

We're still in tank mode and will be until multiple young guys actually show something. Then we can sign some real UFA's. We're just not calling it tank mode.

The veterans were allegedly brought in to mentor the young guys not be place holders, at least if you're going to take KD at face value.

That may not be far from the truth though but then they just spent a bunch of money on mediocre veterans to waste another year of Bedard's entry level deal.
- fattybeef

If memory serves, they brought in the vets to provide more depth so that they wouldn't have to fill the backend with buys like Tinordi/Megna/Zaitsev. Sure mentoring the younger guys was expected to be part of it, but they needed guys that could reliably take an NHL shift and make the young kids actually earn their spots instead of them being given out by necessity.

Again, you've got a 37 and 34 year old guy coming in along with Murphy who can rarely get through a full season. The kids will get plenty of opportunity.

Is it really wasting a year of Bedard's ELC if the team is playing better defense has defenders who can process the game quick enough to make the safe/solid first pass to generate offense the other way? The Hawks aren't going to spend money on FA's/trades for guys that will be long term pieces considering they have all these prospects waiting to come up.

Aren't AA and Mikheyev the same player?
- rpeters01

By pretty much all the metrics I can find, Ilya is a better overall player and specifically defensively.

Sure, AA and Reichel for Kent Johnson, works for me. I see that Cayden Lindstrom is out tonight with a back issue, that sucks. Lots of talent there, I feel bad for the kid.
- Angotti

He had surgery I think right after the draft. I think they are just being cautious.

We're still in tank mode and will be until multiple young guys actually show something. Then we can sign some real UFA's. We're just not calling it tank mode.
- rpeters01

Ding, ding, ding.

Exactly right.

Sure, AA and Reichel for Kent Johnson, works for me. I see that Cayden Lindstrom is out tonight with a back issue, that sucks. Lots of talent there, I feel bad for the kid.
- Angotti

via GIPHY

IMO, the decision to have KK at least start this season in the A was determined at last years end of seasons players evals. Otherwise, the Hawks would not have signed Brodie in addition to Martinez in the off season.
- LAHawk

Sure looks that way, LA...... I think we've seen enough to say KD has a slow and steady plan and is not deviating from it. Bringing in a handful of vets to allow not only a semblance of roster competition and theoretically more wins this yr but a Nazar and KK can be sent down to develop the way KD envisions prospects should.

He's got a foot in the bucket of ideas of those who say you never heard anyone say a player spent a yr too long in the AHL.

I can't see Maroon being a full time player, so there will be some substitution there. I'm sure there will also be injuries. From what has been shown thus far, AA and Reichel don't really deserve to be on the ice.

I would bet that LR/KD find a way to shoehorn one or both of them into the lineup in order to get some good film on both. The problem is that they need to actually do something with the ice time. I have been as patient as anyone on Reichel, and he just doesn't seem to get it. He's shown in the past that he can do it, but either his head or his heart isn't letting him do it. He's the Ian Mitchell of forwards. Great in the AHL, can't seem to do in in the NHL.
- Chunk

I think KD brought Maroon in to play the role he brought Perry in for, and Maroon is pretty good at it. Excellent size, soft quick hands in the low slot/traffic, good wall play if engaged, 3 cups and he's a middleweight.

Having a guy play that role can be useful.

Aren't AA and Mikheyev the same player?
- rpeters01

Do you think so?