Edited Feb. 18, 2018 at 5:43 p.m.
Quoting: MG1986
If the Blackhawks sold a couple solid pieces, like Saad, for example, they'd have a solid chance of making it at least into the top-5, then they could always try and trade up, especially if they had more 1st rounders to bundle-up.
Well, I'm confident the Hawks will make it into the top 5 if Crawford doesn't return.... Tanking would absolutely be the right thing to do at this point.
Dahlin is a generational talent, I just cant see a team - even Arizona trading the pick,. Dahlin is like the McDavid of defensemen - heck, I think Dahlin could be a McDavid if he were moved to forward, and that may be something the team that drafts him should consider or at least try because he is that good with the puck and it would be difficult to waste those skills on a defenseman... Dahlin is this generations Bobby Orr.... I mean it would take a lot for a team to give up that pick and I don't know (if I were Bowman) how comfortable I would be giving up the assets required to get Dalhin.... Say the Hawks end up with the 3rd overall pick... I would imagine the Hawks would - at least - have to add Schmaltz, DeBrincat or both + Saad or Anisimov... If Bowman could move up from say #3 to 1 for the price of Saad you do it all day - especially when JvR is going to be a UFA and could easily replace Saad.
So you're looking at a package like this for that 1st overall pick: 3rd overall, Saad & DeBrincat for the 1st overall pick (Dahlin)..
That is a decision that needs time, it certainly couldn't be debated on the draft floor with 15 minutes before the start of the draft.... And despite how generational Dahlin is that is a huge price to pay for any player, especially when you consider the Hawks lack younger top-end talent... I think the Hawks would be better off keeping the 3rd overall pick and drafting Andrei Svechnikov or Brady Tkachuk in that spot if that was the price for Dahlin.
But God knows, I would love to see the next Bobby Orr in the Indian Head.
Then again the Hawks could slip into the top 5 (which I think they will) could get lucky, win the draft lotto then walk away with Dalhin grinning at the misfortunes of this season.. lol
You can bet the Hawk haters heads would explode if the Hawks ended up drafting first overall... The Hawks get Bobby Orr circa 1966 for one terrible season.