No

Probably not. By the time the Hawks are competitive, Bedard is still in his early 20's and McDavid will have bolted at the first chance to be a UFA rather than waiting on the Hawk prospect pool to mature. Both players are in a good spot for where they currently are at.

Nope. I love McDavid, but I'll take the player that's 8 years younger and making 11 million less.

I hope each team enjoys their own player. These two teams can't be more opposite. Hawks clearly rebuilding. They're not in a place to be rushing that. EDM clearly trying to win a cup.

I think you are going to get a "No" from most, if not all, Hawks fans, and anyone who says otherwise doesn't realize what they are talking about. No doubt, McDavid is F#$%ing amazing, but Age, cap hit, and control play a huge role in this debate. Bedsy is just getting started and we are in a rebuild. There is no reason for CHI to even consider something like this.

Both teams decline.

Curious to get you guys thoughts on a slightly different subject. Powers wrote an article in which Roman Kantserov (his interpreter really) mentions that St. Petersburg SKA doesn't appear to be all that willing to let Demidov go to the NHL. How would this...IF TRUE...factor into your draft decision at all?

"Unfortunately, there are some circumstances with St. Petersburg SKA. I would say they’re creating some hurdles for him to come to the NHL and to be selected in the draft. So hopefully it’s all going to be resolved and he get his chance to play in NHL."

link to article below
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5493145/2024/05/15/blackhawks-roman-kantserov-nhl-khl/

My preference would be to draft Levshunov. Great size, skater, offensively gifted. Needs work on his defensive game but then what young d-man doesn’t. Reports are his defensive game has already improved by leaps and bounds in his two years in NA. On top of that he is already in NA.

Demidov is apparently really talented but I have concerns about the level of competition he has faced, has not played KHL games to ease that concern. No international competition against his own age group for comparison purposes. The Hawks need to nail this pick, they need to get a key building block and foundational player for the next 10 -12 years (at least).

Yeah. I saw that too. I think what they mean is SKA could have some sway on whether he has to sign an extension. I don't think there is any question whether he will come to the NHL or not, though, there just might be a question of WHEN he will come. Extension or not, it doesn't really change my opinion of the player and I don't think it changes the timeline of the rebuild much, if at all. Honestly, it might even be best for him to get a couple years in the KHL before coming over. Simply put, it doesn't worry me personally. It might worry KD, though. Who knows.

I still very much have Lindstrom in the conversation, too. If some questions about his health can be answered at the combine and he performs well enough there, I don't see a reason why he shouldn't be a consideration at 2nd overall.

SKA is very particular about who they put on their KHL roster and very methodical about development. Think of the Blackhawks in the cup era, how many kids couldn't crack the lineup simply because they were kids, how many prospects were moved prematurely because they couldn't get ice time under Q. That is SKA. Michkov didn't get any time either, he essentially had to demand a loan to get KHL ice time. Also, Demidov won a spot on the KHL roster out of camp in the 22-23 season OVER Michkov.

KHL clubs are mostly run by oligarchs and the government. They run everything with an iron fist.

I don't follow the KHL super closely, but I thought I heard somewhere that the Michkov training camp stuff was trying to get Michkov to sign a longer term deal.

Sounds speculative. But, who knows. Could have something to do with it. I pay attention as much as possible, but the games are so early here in the US and there aren't many english speaking resources for the KHL.